Anne Taintor’s Vintage Revisited

Anne Taintor is the unrivaled queen of of cheeky, ironic, retro style, 50s nostalgia items! Anne takes images from the 1940s and 1950s and pairs them with unique, playful (and often quite sassy) text. People all over the world are scooping up her designs, and so the Anne Taintor product line just keeps growing and evolving.

As of May 2008 here are the available product lines:

• Office products: notepads, sticky notes, envelopes, file folders, address books
• Postcard packs & calendars
• Bags & Accessories: tote bags, messenger bags, cosmetic bags, coin purses, ID cases, compacts, luggage tags, key rings, pillboxes
• Flasks: for days when vitiamin C simply isn’t enough!
• Emery Boards: keep nails looking lovely the Anne Taintor way
• Magnets, air fresheners, stickers, pinback buttons, magnetic notepads, and mini notepads

There’s about a million clever Anne Taintor designs (and these are best appreciated when you can see the image that goes along with it) but some of our absolute favorite Ann Taintor phrases are:

• there was nothing passive about her aggression
• you can’t TiVo this, honey!
• it’s so involved being me
• honey, you couldn’t pay me to be twenty
• because i’m the mother… that’s why!
• she was one cocktail away from proving his mother right

You can get the best deals on Anne Taintor on eBay:
If you don’t have a free eBay account, you can register here.

NEW She Liked Imaginary Men …

US $5.99 End Date: Friday May-16-2008 2:29:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $5.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Mug I Dreamed My Whole House Was Clean

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 6:10:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Retro Gal Mug "Domestically Disabled" New

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 6:11:37 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Mug Life too short to cook for you people

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 6:23:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Retro Glamour Coin Purse Born to be wild

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 6:37:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Retro Gal Mug Maybe I Want to Look Cheap

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 7:11:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Tote Bag My Garden Kicks Ass NWT

US $29.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 13:10:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $32.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Mug I Don’t Recall Asking For Your Opinion

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-16-2008 19:45:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

ANNE TAINTOR, "DOMESTICALLY DISABLED", COLLECTIBLE, MUG

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday May-17-2008 9:06:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Pill Box True, there were side effects…

US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday May-18-2008 16:05:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $10.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Cosmetic Bag "Not a Shrinking Violet" NEW!

US $12.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday May-18-2008 16:40:04 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Mug She Could No Longer Pretend He Was Not

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday May-18-2008 17:32:31 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Retro Gal Mug "I Love Not Camping"

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday May-18-2008 17:34:25 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Luggage Bag Tag "I love not camping" New

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-19-2008 11:55:36 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Retro Gal Coin Purse Medicated & Motivated

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-19-2008 12:23:24 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Retro Gal Towel & Pot Holder Medicated.NWT

US $17.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-19-2008 13:09:06 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Retro Kitchen Towel You’ll eat it…You’ll

US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-19-2008 13:10:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $10.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Luggage Bag Tag "High maintenance doesn’t"

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-19-2008 13:12:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Anne Taintor Luggage Bag Tag Domestically Disabled New

US $7.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-19-2008 13:14:52 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Flip-flop notes-IKEA Table covers-magnets ~ Neat Stuff

US $8.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday May-19-2008 13:21:08 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

View all anne+taintor items on eBay

Big Wheel Bike

Depending on what decade you grew up in, the Big Wheel just might be the quintessential retro toy. Young boys and girls alike in the 70s and 80s wanted little more than to cruise around their neighborhoods on a big old Big Wheel bike and maybe catch up to the ice cream man for a Bombpop. Once your 70 pound butt started to bend the plastic frame you had to move up to a banana seat bike, but that’s not true today! There are actually a few styles of adult sized Big Wheels, as well as the child sized ones that you’re familiar with. Even Spongebob and Orange County Choppers are creating their own Big Wheels. It’s so kitschy we can’t stand it: we love just about any reproduction retro toys! Get one for you and your tyke so you can prowl the block in style.

Big Wheel Rally, manufacturer of metal frame adult Big Wheel tricycles, currently only offers a couple styles. Buy one while those are still available!

Related products: Water Rockets, Potato Guns

Create a Beautiful Vintage Bathroom

VINTAGE BATHROOMS are a unique and beautiful way to improve your home or apartment. With so many options and price points, everyone from home owners to renters, and all budget sizes can create a retro haven in their bathroom. With all the information and sometimes all the supplies available on the Internet, DIY vintage decor has never been easier to recreate.

NEW TO VINTAGE BATH DECOR? Reproducing a look as exactly as possible can be rewarding, but it leaves little room for creativity. When making decisions for your new bathroom’s decor be sure to leave some room for “creative license” on your part. That personality will really make your vintage bathroom shine.

Each decade has its own unique look complete with holdovers from the years preceding, and little glimpses of the future of design. Choose your time period carefully,and then research it as well as the time periods surrounding it. This will give you a solid understanding of just what makes your chosen decade or time period so unique. Is it the particular color patterns, shape of the fixtures, or cut of the moldings? Look for books and online resources that are specific to your time period (”50’s home decor” rather than “50’s bathroom”)and you’ll find lots of imagery and explanations that will help you choose the specifics of your new vintage bathroom. No matter if you’ve chosen Victorian or 1920’s, the cornerstones of bathroom design remain largely the same.

VINTAGE BATHROOM CORNERSTONES: Despite the wide ranging nature of vintage bathroom decor, the basic foundational pieces remain the same throughout most time periods;

Vintage Bath Tub- Whether new, existing, or salvaged, a period tub is a must. Thankfully there are a couple manufacturers of reproduction vintage tubs, all of which are available from Vintage Tub & Bath in PA. All items get free shipping in the continental US and their selection is exhaustive, so check them out. Restored bathtubs are also a great money saving option and allow you to use your existing tub as long as it is in decent condition. Over time you’ll actually save time and money buying a new vintage tub, but but restored tubs can last several years without needing extra repairs. Regardless of the time period, you’ll probably be looking for a clawfoot tub or pedestal tub in either acrylic or cast iron. Other gorgeous derivative styles are slipper bathtubs and double ended bathtubs.

Vintage Sink- If you could only afford one splurge item, a vintage sink should be it. It can be tempting to stick with a “built-in” vanity sink due to the extra storage they provide, but other hidden shelves can tastefully perform this function so you have room for a period pedestal sink or vessel sink.

Vintage Toilet- Styles of readily available vintage toilets don’t vary as much as other vintage bathroom decor items, but many unique options still exist. Pull-chain water closet styles as well as ornately decorated cisterns are excellent for Victorian style bathrooms. Unless your toilet is a dated color (think pink 50’s or green 70’s) that doesn’t work with your scheme, you may do well to keep your existing toilet. Kitschy themed bathrooms can utilize custom toilet seat covers or novelty toilet seats.

Vintage Bathroom Lighting - Perhaps the cheapest of the “large”purchases you can make, period lighting is essential to recreate an authentic vintage look, and is generally easy to install. Be sure to consider how much light output you’ll want as well as the style of the lighting fixtures. And even though energy efficient lightbulbs weren’t around very long ago, using them in your vintage bathroom will save electricity and energy costs.
Lamps Plus has countless styles available, tons of which have a vintage look.

Vintage Tile & Other Flooring - Vintage flooring options are numerous, but ceramic tile usually gives the most authentic retro look. Depending on your time period, don’t forget to investigate vinyl and hardwood styles, too. For an added bit of luxury, tile warmers can be installed to take the shock out of the cool floor when stepping from a warm bath.

Vintage Window Treatments - Because bathrooms go through many temperature changes, vintage curtains or other window treatments will not have a long shelf life. It’s better to buy a new set of window dressings or buy deadstock (new, unused) vintage fabric and sew your own. Since new “vintage look” materials generally stick to the stuffy flowered Waverly patterns or Mid-Century Modern styles, your best bet is to search eBay. There are always a variety of unique period window treatments and fabrics available.

Vintage Bathroom Extras - This encompasses everything else available to create a vintage bathroom. If you’re on a super tight decorating budget and not doing any renovations, this is the place to start. This includes artwork, towels, towel bars, door knobs & hardware, wall decor, shower curtains, scales, towel warmers (most popular in the 1920’s), or any other antique artifacts. eBay is loaded with vintage bathroom decor goodies so be sure to check the auctions below or search online yourself.

I’M READY TO START DECORATING! Now that you have some basic ideas and information you can start stocking up on supplies! You might also get some inspiration from other sites on the Web: 1920’s bathroom makeover, general vintage bathroom renovation tips, period style bathrooms. Good luck with your vintage bathroom!

Fake Food

You don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate fake food- but it helps. You know that feeling you get when you walk past a bakery window or see beautifully decorated food on cooking shows? You just sort of stop, stare, and probably wish you had more money and a faster metabolism. Or maybe that’s just me!

There is wide spectrum of quality in fake food items, ranging from very durable (and usually less realistic) pretend play food, all the way up to restaurant-quality, life-size, fake display food that looks and smells good enough to eat. Play food items are made of all non-toxic materials and are safe for children to play with. These are often scaled down, plastic foods, but can still look very realistic. Artificial food that is meant for display (fake cakes for bakeries, and other fake desserts for restaurants, etc.) tend to be made with one or more toxic ingredients, so they are NOT safe for kids. However, they have a potentially endless shelf life, and look the most mouth-watering. Prop foods for stage productions are often somewhere between those two extremes.

As expected, the price of fake food items is as wide ranging as the quality available. Some online stores charge double-triple the average retail price, some require $100 order minimums, others offer no online ordering, and one even has an insecure online ordering form! Buying fake novelty food shouldn’t be such a hassle (no online shopping should!), and thankfully there are a lot of good stores out there. eBay is loaded with such sellers who carrying a wide variety of unique fake foods (see below for some examples). Whether you want a scented cupcake decoration, wax food, a slice of fake pie, a spilled soda, a phony fruity cocktail, a pretend grilled sandwich, or a colorful faux garden salad, you can find it on eBay. There are even how-to instructions and kits if you want to learn how to make your own bakery crafts. Scented candles and soaps in the shape of fake foods are also abundant, so you can see and smell yummy food in every room of the house!

On a personal note, I find fake food items to be so eye-pleasing that we use them as part of our office decor. It definitely doesn’t fit with everyone’s design ideals, but fake food fits perfectly with our kitschy, fun atmosphere.

Unique Shower Curtain

In our opinion, the shower curtain is a very under-appreciated media for unique decorating and personal expression. Thankfully, with the growing number of unique shower curtains available, this seems to be changing. With novelty shower curtains featuring anything from animal prints or characters (Hello Kitty, Spongebob, Mickey Mouse, etc.) there are tons of cool shower curtains to choose from. Animals are a cute option (duck, butterfly, and fish patterns are the most popular), but the more outlandish styles really spice things up: clear pocket shower curtains, solid pink or black, or the infamous Psycho shower curtain! Maybe I’ve seen just Psycho too many times, but I prefer the clear ones with tiny full-color prints: unique, but with a good view!

But bathroom creativity isn’t limited to just the wacky designs. Many contemporary shower curtains come in tasteful striped or polka dotted color schemes that will compliment any bathroom. If that’s more your style, make sure to check out Mirabella’s gorgeous designs, especially the pink and brown line. IKEA also makes shower curtains with retro modern prints, novelty themes, and plain colors.

Find Mirabella unique shower curtains now

No matter what you choose, just make sure it fits your personality and and comes in colors that aren’t too hard to match. Pair your unique shower curtain with some equally unusual curtain hooks and your bathroom will be beautiful and funky in no time!

Matt & Nat is a line of ultra cool and functional purses made in Montreal, Canada. Matt & Nat bags are made with the highest quality cruelty-free synthetic leathers and fabrics on the planet. Each bag has the "signature of positivity" message printed on the bottom, and is stamped with the Matt & Nat logo.

The Matt & Nat line of purses is huge and always changing, so when you find a style you like buy it before it sells out! Whether you’re intentionally looking for a vegan purse (free of animal skins or fur) or just want a hip and functional handbag, Matt & Nat will undoubtedly surpass all your expectations. Here’s a review of the Ibiza style.

Your best bet to find Matt & Nat purses is probably to find them on eBay. Check out the eBay listings below for items that are ending soon, or browse eBay for Matt & Nat Handbags.

Replica Lightsabers

NOTE: Master Replicas no longer produces the Force FX replica lightsabers or any Star Wars items. It has just been announced that Hasbro and eFX will resume production of these products in 2008. Yah! In the meantime, finding a replica lightsaber has become more difficult, with most styles only available on eBay.

For a Star Wars fan, a realistic replica lightsaber is one of the ultimate collector’s items. It ranks right up there with a lifesize Han in carbonite, a homemade Slave Leia metal bikini costume, and the mythical rocket launching Boba Fett figure (the latter of which never existed, by the way). The Mable’s crew camped out for 9 days at the Big Newport theater to see the 12:01 screening of Episode III, and every time we turned around there was another group of lightsaber wielding Jedis and Siths! Click here to see a picture of the fun.

Don’t get me wrong, the cheap plastic, retractable lightsabers have their place. They’re perfect for your little sister’s Luminara Halloween costume or even adult use when waging duels. For the serious fan or costumer, you’re going to want something befitting a true Jedi Master or Sith Lord. You want a Master Replica lightsaber.

As the current licensed producer of Star Wars replica items, Master Replicas has made some jaw dropping props. They are all limited edition so many are all ready discontinued, but new ones are always created. Darth Maul and Yoda’s lightsabers, as well as Luke’s training remote are just a few of the discontinued and highly sought Master Replica items (sometimes available on eBay, see below). Many of the available models are from the Force FX Edition, which are not only spectacular but surprisingly affordable (see tons of pics here):

Updated May 2008

Force FX Lightsaber Series
($99 - $199- with blades)

(EP II and III) Yoda Force FX lightsaber
Available at BuyCostumes, Entertainment Earth, Think Geek,
Hammacher & Star Wars Shop

(EP I) Darth Maul Force FX double bladed lightsaber
Available at Hammacher & eBay

(EP IV) Darth Vader Force FX lightsaber replica
Available at Think Geek & eBay

(EP V) Darth Vader Force FX lightsaber replica
Only available on eBay

(EP IV) Luke Skywalker Force FX lightsaber replica
Available at Think Geek, Sharper Image & eBay

(EP III) Anakin Skywalker
Force FX lightsaber replica
Only available on eBay

(EP III) Obi Wan Force FX lightsaber replica
Only available on eBay

(EP II) Mace Windu Force FX lightsaber replica
Only available on eBay

Limited Edition Lightsaber Series
($369- without blades & with display case & certificate
All of the Limited Edition sabers are SOLD OUT and Master Replicas won’t be making anymore due to non-renewal of their licensing agreement with Lucas.
In 2008 Hasbro should be making new ones!

Also, Entertainment Earth will get a few discontinued lightsaber replicas in stock, so check out their whole collection to see what’s currently available.

Retro Phones

Consumer electronics today may be rather bland design-wise, but back in the day they had flare! Televisions, radios, kitchen appliances and telephones are just a few of the machines that experienced some major design revolutions over the years. Made in an array of materials i