We Wish You a Very Festive Holiday Seaon!

We wish all of our family and friends a wonderful holiday filled with the joy of the season. We'll be taking a short break and back in January to share some lovely vintage swimsuits and other related gear. Until then, stay safe!

Decorating for the Christmas Holiday

We've been busy decorating the house for Christmas and having some fun making up some whimsical decorations.

This is our mantle so far. It contains my beloved vintage jewelry tree and some bits and bobs of holiday bulbs.

A special small selection, the old iron cross was a present from my sister Jody last year, the paper mache cross in the background is a creation I made which I displayed with peacock feathers framing it.

The following are a few snaps of  an easy display project for you crafty people out there. Take some old bottles and fill them with tinsel or holiday decor and display them with other festive offerings.

For this one we just snipped some ends off some vintage tinsel garland and put inside the bottles. Also clipped the balls off the bubble spray and loaded them into a bottle as well.

And voila, you have some colorful and festive decorations.

I added another taller bottle with some vintage strung holiday beads and added the holiday salt and pepper shakers to make a lovely display. Cute right?

Here's another bell collection we put into a star shaped bowl and laid upon a vintage linen. How do you decorate for the holidays? Tomorrow we'll look at the Christmas tree trimmings. Hope you are having fun with your holiday decor.

Artist Giacomo Gabbiani - Selected Works

All artworks by Giacomo Gabbiani (1900-1989). I became enamored with his artwork after I found a catalogue of his artworks this past weekend. The catalogue is in Italian and from a gallery called Robertaebasta. So I can't translate what it says, but I can show you some of the pictures from it. This is only a small selection.

Bather, undated

Bather, 1939

In the Mirror, 1931

Javelin, 1937

Naturist, 1946

On the Beach, 1938

Most of the works included are of people, and they are quite beautiful I've just scanned a selection for you here. I do believe I will mat and frame some of these, but I'm almost hesitant as the catalogue is numbered and the artist is now deceased. To top that off, I can't find much information in English about this artist. Perhaps I should scan the bio page and see if one of my dear readers know's enough Italian to translate. I would love that!

Beauty at the Beach

 1938

Happy Friday all. We're off to get our tree this weekend and enjoy some family time. Here's hoping you and your's have a festive holiday season!

Cheers!

Lastex not Lycra

Nice ad right? I particularly like the style #23. It doesn't tell me who the maker is only that it's made with lastex, which was an early pre cursor to lycra. And I'll tell you this. May of the suits we have from the 40s and 50s which have Lastex have held up much longer that anything I've seen with lycra.

What peaks my interest in this ad is Janet. Who is she. Upon doing a search with that name all I keep getting is images and info on Janice Dickinson, that just not right. Anyone know anything about Janet?

1935 Catalina Swimsuits + Hollywood

Starlets, Hollywood and Swimwear, a winning combination. Catalina used this to their advantage in creating advertisements featuring all 3.

 Orry Kelly designed these wonderful suits for Catalina in 1935 while he was designer for Warner Brothers. 'Shades of Old Monterey' with serape stripes. And Warner Brothers also supplied the actresses, a winning combo.

 I find this ad from 1935 quite intriguing. Again it features Orry Kelly, Warner Brothers, Hollywood and starlets a winning combination. Worthy to note, the two piece suits by Catalina. But this ad also features Jantzen and Gantner swimsuits.

And finally another Catalina ad from 1935, this one features Ginger Rogers. I adore all of these.

Yes Please, I'll take one of those...

Source: flickr.com via Chuckie Ray on Pinterest

Darn tootin, yeah, another fabulous suit. Source doesn't give designer info, but it's from Vogue May, 1954. I adore this look, the little bolero shrug, the knit, the fit, the neckline. Anyone know who the model is or where I can get my hands on that swimsuit ensemble?

Jantzen Sun Lustre Swim Cap - A Swim Cap That Sparkles

 Thanks to that new Jantzen finish you can have a swim cap that sparkles, well you could of in 1953, the date when this ad ran. Not only that but it also has a fluted chin strap, that means no double chin for you!

 And wait there's more! How about some Jandals, Jantzens rubber sandals, to go with that swim cap. Available in 8 heavenly colors. I've never seen either of these, but I'd like to.

Happy Monday all!

Pose Like a Water Baby

The year is 1959 and these shots are from Mademoiselle magazine. Aren't they fun how they capture the look of being in the water, but actually not? Which is your favorite?

Natural Bridges Beach Santa Cruz, Ca. Day Trip

This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous weather wise in Northern California. We decided to take a trek over to the shoreline and ended up at Natural Bridges, located in Santa Cruz Ca. It's such a beautiful spot.

There were lots of people out enjoying the day. Some in the water, some on the shoreline.

We took a nice long walk and along the way spotted some treasures...

Nature, never ceases to amaze me with her beauty.

Many many tide pools, each with their own natural habitats, no two alike.

The sea anemones were in full glory, little tiny ones to large open ones.

The natural rock forms also provided so resilient beauty, natures natural wrinkles of time...

And then there's the true natural beauty of my family.

natural Bridges is also home to a Monarch Resting area where the butterfly's come to call home for a while. It was so peaceful looking up into the trees to see many small wonders floating and fluttering amongst the leaves and branches.

One of my favorite days from the summer. I highly recommend a visit. Fresh air, family and fun, all for FREE too!

You can see more about the park here.

Vintage 1960s Jumbo Jet Crochet Hat Pattern - FREE

Good morning and happy cyber Monday folks! I'm so thankful for my readers, and today if you knit or crochet perhaps you'd like to make this sweater and matching hat. I think the hat is kind of adorable but I'm afraid I would catch any and every last little thing with those sleeves.

The pattern is from Modern Needlecraft 1967. You can click on the picture to enlarge the directions. And if you make one, I'd love to see a picture! The set is called Jumbo Jet Knit raglan pullover and crocheted hat. Made of Reynolds Monique, Plumage and Scotch Mist yarns.

And if you like to sew, knit, crochet or just have vintage reference material for your sewing room, you should visit our vintage pattern store Glamourstitch for more like this. We carry a large supply of vintage sewing patterns, fabrics, vogue books and magazines, early McCalls magazines, and knitting patterns.

Enjoy!

Polar Bear Swimmers - The Authentic Vintage Wool swimsuits are IN!

For those of you who participate in the annual Polar Bear Swim events on New Years Day, or there abouts, we've just launched a nice selection of vintage wool swimsuits for men and women.These always sell out fast when we have them, so visit early, and often. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter while you're there.

	Vintage late 20s early 30s UNISEX Black Wool Swimsuit M/L B 40 Vintage late 20's early 30's black wool unisex swimsuit. Label reads: The "King" of Water Sports Pure Worsted trade mark N. Y. C. This would be a unisex swimsuit. There is a button at the left shoulder. Modesty panel with boy cut leg openings.
	Vintage 30s Deep Ocean Blue JANTZEN Wool Swimsuit sz 40 Vintage 30's deep ocean blue wool and lastex swimsuit by Jantzen, size 40. The bust line has small pleats underneath for a form fit. Textural wool with a modesty panel and boy cut leg openings.
	Vintage early 1930s MUNSINGWEAR Black Wool Swimsuit sz 44 Vintage 1930s Munsingwear Swimsuit Bathing Suit size 44. Swimsuit features a scoop neckline and armholes and a front and back overskirt with longer leg openings. Label reads: Munsingwear 100% Wool. It also has a patent date of Dec 1930.
	NOS Vintage 30s BRADLEY Black Wool Swimsuit sz 36 New old stock with store tags, vintage 1930s Bradley Swimsuit Bathing Suit size 36. Swimsuit features circular cut outs at the sides and a front and back overskirt with longer leg openings. Label reads: Bradley 100% Pure Wool.
	Vintage 30s Black Wool Swimsuit M Vintage 1930s Swimsuit Bathing Suit. Swimsuit features circular cut outs at the sides and a front and back overskirt with longer leg openings. Single button closure at left shoulder. Label reads: Guaranteed 100% All Wool.
	Vintage 40s Khaki Tan Textural Wool Swim Trunks Briefs Mens vintage wool swim trunks briefs. All wool khaki textured trunks have a green belt with a web design and a silver toned adjustable buckle. The front has a grey wool gusset panel that extends up to the waist.