Friday, November 26, 2010

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

1960'S ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREES!

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 09:28 PM PST


This Beautiful Tree is for sale on Ebay!

As my readers already know I am obsessed by all that is 1960's vintage. One of my favorite icons of 1960's design is the aluminum Christmas tree, featuring ornate branches made of shiny tinsel like aluminum. It think the people who invented this odd looking tree (for the time) we sick of stringing tinsel 2 strands at time and not in globs that resembled spider webs as my mom used to say..



They are a very striking gorgeous, shiny symbol of the space age and in fact on television they were called "Space Age Christmas Trees" in the commercials.

The most popular color for sale was silver, but trees in other colors were made too -- pink, red, green and blue. Today, original vintage pink aluminum trees are rare and they are very expensive on Ebay that is if you can find one.



My family never had one, we didn't like them as children. No tinsel, no lights, a few ornaments fit on these trees, boring. My Uncle Ernie had the first one in my family. I remember their tree had photos of Ski-Doo Snowmobiles on it. When I asked him why, he told me that the family received the Ski-Doos as their gift. Hard to wrap a snowmobile I guess! Ernie was always ahead of his time.


The History of Christmas Tree Tinsel

As time went on I really started to love these space age looking trees. I still do not have one as my daughter liked a more ornate style tree. We did have flocked trees in blue, white and pink. Then I did have several white artificial trees and now have a tall skinny green with multicolored lights.


Vintage Aluminum Christmas Tree

Here's a fun, unique holiday outing that will make you smile and brighten your day. The Aluminum Tree & Ornament Museum (ATOM), the world's only museum dedicated to vintage aluminum Christmas trees, reopened for this holiday season, celebrating 50 years of the aluminum Christmas tree.


The History of Aluminum

Dozens of trees and thousands of ornaments are on display in whimsical themes, with displays dedicated to the Wizard of Oz, (Right up my alley!) and Elvis. Numerous color wheels and revolving tree stands from the era are interspersed with artifacts from the aluminum trees' glory years.

GEORGE HARRISON: ALL THINGS MUST PASS 40 YRS

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 09:44 AM PST



Friday, 26 November - George Harrison's magnificent 1970 solo debut, All Things Must Pass, is released today in a limited-edition, numbered 180-gram vinyl set in its original 3 LP configuration, with faithfully replicated original monochromatic album art, poster and lift-top box packaging.

Mastered at Abbey Road Studios from the original analogue master tapes, the deluxe vinyl reissue commemorates the landmark album's 40th anniversary and is available at Record Store Day participating independent music retailers across the U.S.

A strictly limited number of vinyl box sets is available for purchase at GeorgeHarrison.com, along with an exclusive All Things Must Pass Deluxe Bundle, which features a brand new "I Dig Love" t-shirt design (choice of men's or women's style) and collectible pin set.

Order your box set or deluxe bundle through GeorgeHarrison.com to receive a free All Things Must Pass turntable slip mat (while supplies last).

All vinyl orders ship from the US. The last day to order for holiday delivery is December 10 (international) or December 17 (US domestic).

Totally cool for your Beatles collection!

Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


Curiosity Shop design by Emily Sutton for St Jude's

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:58 AM PST

Emily sutton
This Curiosity Shop design by Emily Sutton is the latest in the St Judes great range of fabrics. 

Emily Sutton is a recent graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art and this design takes inspiration from some of the toys and curios in the city's museum of childhood, including spinning tops and miniature trains and much more. It bodes well for her future project - illustrating a children's book for the V&A Museum.

The design is available in the dark blue/mustard colour combination pictured, or in maroon/blue and costs £36 for a ready-made cushion cover or £44 for a metre of the fabric. 

Buy it online

Dior Gruau Tailleur Bar palette

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:45 AM PST

Gruau tailleyr
If the Dior Illustrated exhibition at Somerset House has wetted your appetite for the work of Rene Gruau, you may want to invest in the Dior limited edited Gruau Tailleur Bar palette

This beautiful eyeshadow is based around one of Gruau original illustration and shows 'Bar', one of Dior's most famous designs which is held to be the iconic example of his 'New Look'. The palette uses classic Dior colours, with the grey, black and purple shades reflecting the period in which it was designed. The eyeshadow is also imprinted with a copy of both Gruau's and Dior's signatures alongside 'London' and the date, making the palette a future collector's classic.

The palette costs £60 and is available exclusively from Selfridges

eBay watch: 1970s Jacob Jensen-designed Beocenter 2000 audio system

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:36 AM PST

Bang1

I personally think vintage B&O is undervalued - great audio quality and stylish looks, very much of an era. In fact, as I write, this Bang & Olufsen Beocenter 2000 audio system is under £1.

Which is madness when you think about it. It's been designed by Jacob Jensen, it's got a stylish teak surround, slightly space looks, that B&O audio know-how and best of all, is still a practical item - able to play our vinyl, radio via AM and FM and of course, playback for all your old tapes.

It's also in 'very good condition' and full working order, despite being over 30 years old. All you need is some speakers. For 99p, it's a giveaway. Another shot of it over the page.

Find out more at the eBay website

Bang2

Limited edition Alphabet print by Sean Sims

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 03:21 AM PST

Alphabet

There is probably no cooler way of teaching our children the basics of reading than by using this limited edition Alphabet print by Sean Sims.

A bright and bold A2 print, reminiscent of something out of the early 70s, it offers up a different mini design (and word) for each letter of the alphabet, all on a limited edition print that's also signed by the artist.

Whether you want it for your own kids or the big kid that's yourself, it's a winner. Yours for £40 and limited to just 250.

Find out more at the Brighton Pod website

Photowall Retro Wallpaper

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 03:03 AM PST

42797-2 
Photowall has a range of retro wallpapers that you would have to be pretty brave to use as even restricted to a feature wall, they make a bold statement.

Helpfully, the site has computer generated images of each wallpaper design in various rooms, so you can see how it might look in different settings, although noticeable all of these rooms lean towards minimalism. Pictured here is the design they simply call Retro – Orange, which I'm sure is pretty similar to a pair of curtains we had back in the Seventies, so have a soft spot for (although I think I might tire of it quickly looking at it every day). Other designs include concentric hexagons, curved corners squares, diamond shapes and other psychedelic styles, all in bright or strong colours.

Whereas most wallpaper is sold by the roll, Photowall sells its designs by the square metre so you can order exactly how much you need for your wall. Designs in the retro collection cost either Euros 21 per m² or Euros 24 per m². Visit the Photowall website to see the whole collection.

Slazenger Heritage 1970s 'Bing Crosby' lambswool cardigan

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:57 AM PST

Bing

Christmas is coming and what could be more festive than the strains of Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing Little Drummer Boy? Well, we'll tell you - wearing this Slazenger Heritage 1970s 'Bing Crosby' lambswool cardigan while you listen to it.

Yes, Slazenger has nipped into the archives and founnd the design for the cardigan Bing was wearing at that recording in 1977, a light blue number in extra fine lambswool with six-button fastening, a classic Slazenger logo on the chest and a slim fit.

Perfect for the Christmas day wear, you can pick one up while stocks last for £75.

Find out more at the Stuarts of London website

Craig Ennew Limited Edition Prints for Pedlars

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:44 AM PST

Oldreliable 
Craig Ennew has joined the growing ranks of artists and designers creating exclusives for Pedlars. He has produced three limited edition print designs, each consisting of a montage of vintage images around a particular theme.

Pictured here is the design "Old Reliable" which brings together a collection of traditional British images, including Queen Victoria, a cup of tea, a detail from a banknote and Union Jack. The other designs are "Woman and Shoes" which features a woman from the 1940s grasping a giant shoe, surrounded by other footwear from various periods, and "Good Morning, Many Things to Do", which includes a cockerel, breakfast cereal and a vintage caravan.

The prints are limited to ten for each design and are sold framed for £199. Visit the Pedlars site to buy.

The Harper midcentury sofa at Love Your Home For Less

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 01:22 AM PST

Harper
Liking the midcentury style of The Harper sofa at Love Your Home For Less.

In fact, it's not a million miles away from the classic Florence Knoll sofa, especially when it comes to those sharp edges and buttoned leather seats. The sofa has a handmade sold been frame, feather wrapped cushions and upholstery on Italian aniline leather.

More images at the site, expect to pay around £1,498.

Find out more at the Love Your Home For Less website

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