Erica Wilson shows us how to do bargello needlepoint in this 1971 video

Posted by: • February 15, 2012

Plus: Erica a-go-go!

needlepoint go go bootsIt’s Erica Wilson a-go-go in this 1971 segment from her famous needlecraft TV show, Erica. Not only does she show us exactly how to do bargello needlepoint — for pillows, seat covers and the like — but she also shows off her gorgeous red-fuschia-and-purple bargello go-go boots. This woman had it going on, I tell you! Bargello needlepoint pillows are my all-time favorite for pillows for midcentury modern and modest living rooms alike. I’ve been blathering on about them for, what?, three years now. Now, the Goddess of Needlecrafts Erica Wilson herself shows us how it’s done.

I watched the episode and made notes of my favorite Erica-sez moments. Hands down the best — an absolute classic — she says:

It’s like eating peanuts, you can’t stop once you begin.
The kettle will boil…
The children will murder each other…
But never mind, we must finish our bargello.

Continue for some additional notes on this important historical episode.  Heck yeah there is more →

Breaking News: Erica Wilson PBS videos now online — Erica shows us how to stitch an owl!

Posted by: • February 14, 2012

erica wilson with vladimir kagan embroidered chair

screen shot from video - Erica Wilson with her stitched Vladimir Kagan rocker.

Oh my gosh, today is a a Wonderful Day, because I see that this morning, Erica Wilson Nantucket has started to post segments from Erica Wilson’s 1971 television series “Erica”, originally produced by PBS. Erica Wilson was the “First Lady of Stitchery” in the 1960s and 1970s — The Needlecrafts Goddess. She published at least 16 books and starred in two television series. She died in December — please see my comprehensive online biography and guide to Erica Wilson’s life and work. I am stunned and ecstatic with amazement at the opportunity to view these videos — this is going to be the best thing ever! In this first video, the amazing Ms. Wilson shows us how to stitch an owl. She stitched an owl like this onto a rocking chair designed by her husband Vladimir Kagan. Heck yeah there is more →

John’s kitchen before-and-after: Linoleum tile flooring transforms the room

Posted by: • February 14, 2012

From this:

vinyl kitchen floor

To this:

red linoleum floorAtomicHipster John has been updating (well: backdating) his ranch house in Western Mass. for a while. His latest project: Installing Marmoleum linoleum tiles in his kitchen, using a pattern he devised himself to make the most of the design of the kitchen and his desire for a red, black, and light gray palette. Party on for more photos and information about this impressive kitchen transformation.

Heck yeah there is more →

Tupperware & Brownie Wise: Amazing documentary about women and plastics and reinvention in Post World-War II America

Posted by: • February 13, 2012
tupperware history image

In the 1950s, Tupperware ladies fanned out across the nation's living rooms, selling efficiency and convenience to their friends and neighbors. Here, marketing genius Brownie Wise (right) tosses a bowl filled with water at a Tupperware party. AMERICAN EXPERIENCE charts the origins of the small plastics company that became a cultural phenomenon in "Tupperware!" premiering on PBS Tuesday, February 14, 2012 (check local listings). Credit: Smithsonian Archives Center, National Museum of American History This image may be used only in the direct promotion of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: "Tupperware!". No other rights are granted. All rights are reserved. Editorial use only.

Thanks to Mod Betty’s recent story about visiting the Tupperware Museum in Orlando, I learned that what looks to be a fabulous video about Tupperware’s origins is playing again on PBS tomorrow night, Feb. 14, looks like 8 p.m. Eastern, check listings. Increasingly, I am just fascinated with the role that women played in creating the look and feel of America after World War II. The “status quo” wanted them to go back to the home and free up “real” jobs for the men. Even so, many women just wouldn’t have it so. Brownie Wise — a homemaker from Detroit who was in fact a marketing genius — was one such woman. It sounds like she alone is the catalyst that turned Tupperware into an iconic international brand. I reached out to PBS and they sent me a complete write up about the show, along with these great images. The website also is Terrific with a capital T. For example, here is Chapter 1 of the documentary:

Heck yeah there is more →

Polished concrete floors for Troy’s Eichler house — new radiant heating system, too

Posted by: • February 13, 2012

Troy has been continuing to deliver the TLC to his 1960s Eichler home in the San Francisco Bay area. Recently, he had all the carpet and vinyl tile removed, then had the concrete underneath sanded and polished. Gold star: He had all layers tested first and indeed, needed to engage licensed professional asbestos abatement. As preparation for the polished concrete floors, he also had a new, radiant-flooring system installed. Concrete is an ideal heat-sink for radiant heating and for passive solar heating, too. Cozy on the toesies. Read on for Troy’s story. As usual, he has been amazingly generous with 12 more photos, too.

Heck yeah there is more →

“It’s not garbage if it’s new to you” — Zooey Deschanel and Bein’ Quirky

Posted by: • February 13, 2012


Many thanks to reader Jessica, who sent me this link to this Saturday Night Live skit, “Bein’ Quirky with Zooey Deschanel.” Tribe: It is a very serious deal that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Also: Points out there is Hope for the Future, I love these kids. Yes, as Jessica says:

“It’s not garbage, if it’s new to you!” Hilarious!

Retro house bloggers install a Sputnik chandelier… bullet lights… Ikea curtain tracks and more

Posted by: • February 11, 2012

sputnik lightThis week’s spotlight on busy-bee-retro-bloggers and other relevant home design news starts with nickarmadillo of Mid-Century Midwest, who finally got his vintage sputnik light installed. Nick lives in St. Louis, a midcentury treasure trove, and bought this “for a song” last year at an estate sale. Nick, we all completely understand it when you write,

I <3 this chandelier!  I mean I REALLY LOVE it.  If marriage to inanimate objects was legal in the state of Missouri, I’d be writing my vows right now.

Continue on for news from Retro Roadmap… Midcentury Reno… No Pattern Required… Retro Ranch Revamp… Mr. Modtomic… and Uncle Atom.

Heck yeah there is more →

Retro Renovation Breaking News: New midcentury modern Samba exterior door hardware from Rejuvenation

Posted by: • February 10, 2012

midcentury modern doorset escutcheon, samba by rejuvenation
You read it here first: On Monday Feb. 13 Rejuvenation will be officially launching their new Samba doorset escutcheon. But I saws the catalog posting Friday, jumped on it and posted the first photos last night. This morning, I got these fullsize photos from the PR department, along with some additional info. According to Rejuv, the Samba is a reproduction of a doorset introduced by the Weiser Company in the latter half of the 1960s. Then, it was simply named “Modern Escutcheon.” About the design, Rejuv says, “It spotlights the dynamic dance between dramatic mid-’60s sophistication and the clean simplicity of Mid-Century Modern design.” I would call it brutalist.

Overnight I also asked Rejuvenation industrial designer Tim Wetzel for his thoughts:

This is one we really had a hard time figuring out. I disgree with Bo’s Brutalism tag, but you can be the judge. Brutalism is one of those terms that sends most people (self included) off to Google for a definition. I found this site that seems to explain Brutalism well: http://criticundertheinfluence.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/brutalism-the-word-itself-and-what-we-mean-when-we-say-it/ [Note from Pam, here is my story on Brutalist Furniture: http://retrorenovation.com/2010/10/13/brutalist-design-furniture-from-lane/]

To me Samba is all about decoration for decoration’s sake, which is 180 degrees opposite of the concepts of Brutalism. But what the Samba style is seems really tough to pin down. Maybe there is some vaguely Polynesian reference.  Maybe it was just a crazy fun doodle that we are over-thinking.  We still have the package it came in, but there is no clue on that as to the style – it was labeled simply “Modern”.  One thing for sure- it is striking, unusual and beyond the motifs typically seen on fancy door sets.

It will be interesting to see if your readers have a name for this style, or if they can point to other items with a similar motif.

Continue on for big honkin’ photos of all the finishes — and a lovely room shot.

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