It’s just about two weeks until Mother’s Day. I came up with a four ideas. To start: Anne Taintor is now offering 8″x8″ canvas print wall art of three of her sassy sayings, $33.99. Yes, it’s not romantic, but I sure want someone to come and clean my whole house. Link: Canvas print wall art by Anne Taintor.

Gainey bird feeders and planters – on sale: Over on fab.com, Gainey Ceramics has a nice variety of mod style bird feeders and planters on sale by about 30% or more. You must register to fab.com to look, but it’s very easy. Disclosure: I became an affiliate, and if you register via my link and buy something, I get a little spiff. Helps keep the blog boat afloat, and I only ever show stuff I think would be relevant to readers. Link: Register on Fab.com then go to the Sales tab for “Gainey” to see these ceramic deals — note, the Gainey sale expires over the weekend.

Above: I have not read Atomic Ranch’s new book, Atomic Ranch Midcentury Interiors (affiliate link), but I’m sure it’s a goodie. That’s one of our readers’ houses on the front cover — Steven and Michael’s Alcoa Aluminum house! And someone told me Retro Renovation is mentioned inside. Yay for ranch love from all sources.

Runaway Rabbit bunny slippers: I feature these every year, because I love them so: Reproduction bunny slippers, just the way you remember them, from Runaway Rabbit. If you’re in a warm clime, there are bunny rabbit flip flop slippers, too. Guaranteed to make mom’s day. Link: Bunny slippers from Runaway Rabbit…. and Flip Hop flip flop slippers, too.

Readers, do  retro you have other,
retro gift ideas for Mother’s Day to share?

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Beth bought three pairs of 1970s shoes.

If you’re interested in pursuing some of your own, check out the website here.

Mike also sent along the photo, above. Beth says it’s his father using a really old shoe repair machine that is still in working order.  :) Thank you, Beth and Mike!

Update March 26. Mike sends this email: 

Hello!

First off, I want to thank you all for the outpouring of support and best wishes for my family’s shop.  Since the Retro Rennovations (big thanks to Pam on that!) posting last week, I have received a deluge of emails inquiring about our stock, where to find picutures, sizes, and if shipping for non-local inquires is avaialble.  I am currently working to place a catalog with images and size runs in PDF format.  I was at the shop this past weekend inventorying and getting images.  There’s about 60 styles of very awesome Connie Brand shoes alone..translating to around 250 – 300 pairs of shoes;  and that’s just for starters! I still have to tackle the Naturalizers, Missy Mates, Jacquelines, Hi-Brows, Trolls, and various one-off brands from yersteryear. Got to hand it to my grandparents and my parents…. they liked to buy funky,and they liked to buy A LOT!

Please keep the inquires coming I’ll do my best to answer you.   Do note I can answer specific sizing and image inquires once the catalog is complete and ready for your viewing.  Shooting for mid-April on that.

Also, some FAQ’s and answers:

Q:  “I’m Dying!  How can I see more of this stuff and buy it.  I’m not in Mpls/St Paul”

A:  I’ll be sending out a catalog soon for your shopping pleasure!  Sales will be conducted similar to Craigslist via email correspondence.  Payment will be through paypal.  More to come on that.

Q:  “Does Williams Store still have vintage clothing and shoes?”

A:  Yes, we have a wide assortment of men’s suits, women’s clothing, and youth.  Shoes will be the first items to get cataloged, and I’ll work on the clothing side as I chip away at the massive surplus from 90 years of business.

Q:  “Can I come and see the shop?  What are your posted hours?”

A:  Absolutely!  We do showings by appointment.  If interested please email me.

Q:  “Is any of your merchandise second-hand?”

A:  Nope!  All of our inventories are NOS with the original, super hip, packaging and tags.

Q: ”What if I buy a pair, and they don’t fit?  Can I return them?”

A:  Due to the logisical nightmare of shipping items back and issuing credits (pay pal), ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

Lastly, a bunch of people have asked just about our story and the history of my family and the shop.  It’s really touching that you all have taken an interest in that.  I thank you, and so do the generations before me.  So with that, attached is a picture of Ed Williams, founder of Williams Store, c 1939, behind the counter of his first location shoe repair shop in Minneapolis.

Thank you, and have a great week!

- Mike

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Palm Springs Stephan was at the Palm Spring Modern Show last month, and sent me an email crowing about the atomic clock and sign art of Stevo Cambronne — aka Stevotomic. I caught up with Stevotomic as he was driving home from the show, and he told me about his evolution from telephone installman… to ski bum… to creator of atomic art. Yes: Quite similar to D’Lana and James at Moon Shine Lamp & Shade, here’s another story about reinvention inspired by the gravitational pull of midcentury design. Today, Steve and his wife Beverly together craft beautiful atomic-, midcentury-, and googie-inspired wall clocks, diner clocks, welcome signs, tiki art, and more.

“I have been a fulltime artist for 27 years,” Steve told me. “This began when I was 32, and a very unhappy telephone installer. I was one of those lost puppies who knew that there was something I wanted to do… and I went to find it.” Steve moved to Denver. Those were his ski bum/instructor days. Beverly was his girlfriend there. Stevo’s “Aha moment” of inspiration to become an artist, he said, came when he was browsing the piles at a Denver bookstore and opened a book by Alexander Calder. That was it. He and Beverly started making jewelry and sculpture, and that was successful for the next 15 years.

But 12 years ago, when the pair (now married) moved from Denver into a fabulous midcentury modern house in the Wisconsin Dells,  it was a “colliding of two worlds.” Steve said. It was then that pair began creating functional art for mid mod homes.

Steve explained to me that all these clocks and signs are cut from steel. He does the design and welding. Beverly does the painting. They are self trained. “These are built to last,” he says. “They are one of a kind unless someone finds one they want to reproduce. I am not a production artist. I’m blessed with the ability to create one right after the other.”

Steve marvels, by the way, at the vast array of colors now available in enamel spray paints. Twelve years ago, he said, it was white, red, blue… the basics. Now, there is a huge pastel rainbow — great for adding color to his works. Good times.

Steve is quite chatty — exuberant about his work. I like Steve and Beverly and their story and their atomic clocks and signs and how they are Living the Dream in mid mod atomic land. Very much. xoxo

Thank you, Steve, for taking the time to talk to me, and thank you both for granting permission for me to feature

See more from Stevotomic and Beverly at: Stevotomic.com

 All material as published on this blog is copyright RetroRenovation 2012.
None of the materials in this story may be reproduced in any form without written permission. 

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