Berry contributed the 1,000th photo to our Save The Pink Bathrooms flickr pool. As a token of appreciation, this vintage apron – never used – is on its way to her. I bought this apron at the amazing Adams time capsule house. The fabric is a polished chintz – really nice – and I love the little terry cloth towel detail, which I have never seen before. Thank you, Berry, I hope you put it to good use.
Mid Mod Madness
Kitchens – Countertops

These are sure a blast from the past: Glass combination trivets and cutting boards that are installed directly into your kitchen countertop. Yes: with metal rim aka Hudee ring. I think that these built-in cutting boards were all the rage in the 1970s, because there was one in our 1975 countertop, to the left of the sink. I’m not sure [...]

If you are looking for retro-style laminate for a kitchen or bathroom countertop, you have some blinding research ahead of you. Unless there is a home-run-out-of-the-park solution — like the boomerangs, crackle ice or dogbone still available — it’s going to be a hunt-peck-and-forage to find something that’s “close enough” to original laminates from the [...]

How is this one, Retro Renovation readers? I recently scored a full box of est. 1960-65 era GE Textolite laminate samples, absolute mint condition unused. This is the first bunch — the others aren’t so over-the-top FABULOUS, but still are great gauges of what to look for. OMG. What else do I need to say. [...]

Our arsenal of suppliers for metal kitchen countertop edging continues to grow — with the addition of Eagle Moulding, a distributor in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Eagle Mouldings’ large inventory includes a two styles of aluminum countertop edgings, in a variety of sizes.Eagle Moulding is the direct supplier to many furniture manufacturers and, in fact, I see at [...]

“…Eliminates the final telltale sign of laminate – the brown line.” I am a big believer in the idea that the most significant design shifts tend to come from technological breakthroughs. The advance of laminate kitchen countertops — replacing linoleum and wood in most kitchens in the 1950s — came as a result of the [...]
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Jessie Steele aprons
Vintage style aprons from Bella Pamella
16 vintage bathroom towel rings and rods — my first etsy Treasury 














My grandma made several of these type of aprons for my mom when she got married back in 1980. The hand towel sewn on is great because you don’t have to move across the kitchen to wipe your hands – you already have a towel with you. Most of Mom’s were made out of gingham. Mom always made us use them as giant bibs when we had our good clothes on and we had to eat before going somewhere.
What a great Apron. Congrats Berry!
Congrats, Berry. Send us a photo!
Clever, practical and attractive. Love the little fringe on the pocket, taken from the end of the towel.
Oh my goodness! My mother had two aprons that were identical to this! Different fabrics and colors, but the towel hanging from the waistband on one side and the other end of the towel used as pocket trim (if I remember, one of Mom’s was yellow and one was turquoise and they had the same white, brown, and turquoise striped towels on them). I’ll have to see if she still has them. Must have been a popular pattern – I’m pretty sure my mom made hers – unless my grandmother made them for Mom’s wedding in 1955. Cool!
Congrats Berry! What a great prize!
What a great prize – that’s a fantastic apron!
I am chuckling imagining Missouri Michael wearing one of these as a giant bib!
Aprons are cool again! I made aprons for my nieces last year for Christmas presents with a cherry print (we had cherry orchards). My mom has made me several aprons and I’m always on the lookout for new ones –this is a great one!
How adorable! Now I know what to get my friend-that-already-has-everything for the holidays. Hooray, Pam!
I just ran a quick google search and found this fun site that sells MCM-inspired aprons…some even have attached towels. http://www.jessiesteele.com/index.php
Hi Genjenn, love those Jessie Steele aprons and will have to do a feature! Meanwhile, remember Bella Pamella, too: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/03/26/vintage-style-aprons-from-bella-pamella/
what a great idea! i’ll have to remember that if i make myself a new apron, or i might just add a little towel to my favorite spiderman apron =)
Thank you so much Pam! I’m enamored with it!
I love my vintage apron with its sewn-in terry towel (mine’s pink, too!). It really is the handiest thing…..when it finally wears out, I’ll have to make another.
I’ve never commented here before and I know this is an old post from November that no one seems to be reading at the moment, but this apron pushed me over the edge. My mother had one of these when I was growing up in the 70′s. Hers was in the same pattern, only a gold colorway, so maybe these were not all handmade? I enjoy the site very much and check it out a few times a week with great pleasure.
Welcome, Veronica! Yes, these aprons are super sweet – so glad it brought back memories for you!