Rita Deco's World

July Finds: Playmates & Bathing Beauties

2010-07-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

One recent find was an awesome 1970 issue Playboy "Playmates" calendar. Featuring a lovely array of girls in skimpy or completely missing outfits. I love the retro hairdos and the "let it all hangout" attitudes of the ladies.

This one is gonna get a sunburn on her fanny......

This is a "tamer" collectible. A vintage California pillow with some very modest seaside bathing beauties. These girls would never take off their clothes.

July Finds: part one

2010-07-27T16:54:00.001-07:00

The merchandise is flowing into the Rita Deco Shop. July has been a great month for new fabulous finds! This is the recent stash of ceramic goodies. Lot's of solid mid-century pottery, decor, and tabletop. Available now in the shop. Stay tuned......more in the next few posts.

A wonderful 1950's apron to go with all that vintage kitchenware. This item is in pristine condition and features a retro western theme: "Jackson Hole - Wyoming"

A Message to BP Oil

2010-06-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hey BP..........

(a special thanks to Lady Gaga for her participation)

Welcome to the World

2010-06-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome....to the world of smartphones. After years of never wanting or having a cellphone.......I took the plunge and entered the world of mobile phones. I decided it was time to join the masses and become connected. I don't text. Let's get that clear right now. I will use this machine mainly for social networking, ebay, and websites. Oh yes....I will make a call occasionally.

I've spent a small amount of time "working" with the phone to set up screens and lists. I only labor for a short time and then put it away. The phone is smart....I'm not that smart. We are getting to know each other. But in one day....I linked my emails, found ebay and facebook, and made a few calls. I'll tackle more tomorrow!

Friday Stuff....

2010-05-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

A couple of boxes arrived at the shop this week. Included were the following yummy finds:

An original 1960's "Napco" lady head vase....

Printed 30's sheet music: "Chong, He Come From Hong Kong"....

Two beautiful (older) Japanese figures....

A 1970's ceramic vase from Eduador. Made by Eduardo Vega (this is a nice piece!)....

Art deco "travel salt & pepper". Includes case and shakers....

English ceramic basket (about 1960)....

Vintage sewing skirt marker....

Makes A Teen A Queen !

2010-05-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

North Portland Pickin'

2010-05-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

This week I had another chance to "pick" a basement that was being prepared for an estate sale. I was let in to take first grabs before the sale began this weekend. It was heaven and I ended up with a truck load of good grabs. Below is a small sample.

Old and original world's fair souvenirs.....

An amazing original 1930's 'art deco' ceiling light fixture.....

Mid-Century glass and pottery finds.....

Carnival glass, miniature chairs, jewelry, and decorative ceramics.....

Footstool and various boxes/trims with girly-girl florals.....

1930's Royal typewriter with forest green keys!

Fabulous 1960's hand-tooled western handbag.....

This is just smidge of the cool finds. I will be showing more goodies in upcoming posts.

All available right now at the shop!

Sunday in Sandy

2010-05-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we traveled east to the town of Sandy. We went to the plant sale held by the Sandy Optimist Club. Local nursery outlets donated some outstanding trees and shrubs for this fundraising event. The prices were amazing for the size and quality of the plants. The sale will also be held this Saturday, May 8th. Located at Hwy 26 and Wolf Dr. at the east end of town. Hours are 9am - 5pm. Plenty of great plants still available.

These Japanese maples were only $15.00!

We stopped for a yummy breakfast at the Tollgate Inn restaurant. They feature a great breakfast menu and hearty portions. The complex features a restaurant, lounge, and large store and bakery. The store had cute retro gift items, books, and souvenirs. The bakery had fresh pies, cakes, muffins, bread, and cookies. This is worth a visit if you are traveling to Mt. Hood or central Oregon on Hwy 26.

Portland Pickers: Freestylin'

2010-05-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

"Freestylin" is a vintage picker's term for driving and finding treasure without a map or plan. Last weekend, I went to a few sales that were on my list. I was out and away from home so I decided to "freestyle" on my journey back to the house. I stopped at a couple of very "un-advertised" driveway sales (you know the ones where people just drag a bunch of crap onto their driveway). I bought an amazing array of vintage photos from a man who had them in a cardboard box that he dumped on his driveway. There were many large photos including vintage fashion photography, old buildings, swimsuit modeling, pre-1920 family photos, military soldiers, and a packet of snapshots showing deep sea bell diving. I bought the entire box and was on my way! Here's a tiny sample of my "freestylin' finds".....

Portland Pickers: Part Two

2010-04-27T12:45:00.001-07:00

Part two of the basement dig that happened on Friday. All of this stuff was found in a house in North Portland that's being emptied out before it's sold. Included were: a wonderful floral tea cart, mid-century lamps, round beveled mirrors, 1940's mirrored pictures, knick-knack benches and shelves, decorative planters, old 50's prints, retro glassware, and Xmas goodies. Everything is very clean and quite wonderful! All stock is now available on the store floor and ready to go home with you!

Portland Pickers: Part One

2010-04-26T14:27:00.001-07:00

This past weekend was a flurry of picking and finding vintage treasures. I'm going to show the bounty in a few blog posts. I will also include a post showing some REALLY great finds that I got just driving to "Mom & Pop open up their garage" type of sales. Below are some of the goodies I got from a Friday "dig". Stay tuned for more fabulous finds.....

Frog Friday

2010-04-23T11:01:00.001-07:00

The frogs have returned to Beech Street Gardens (my backyard). These noisy creatures appeared in the water garden bowls about a month ago. A few years ago, we added some tadpoles we got at a local garden center. These babies were put in the water bowls and left to "do the frog thing". Every spring and summer these frogs fill the night air with a concert of croaking. Even our neighbors across the street can hear them! They are quite tame. If you approach the bowls slowly.......the frogs will sit for a picture. They don't like sudden movement or birds. Frogs are easy to add to your landscape and they eat all kinds of bugs & garden pests.

April Stroll

2010-04-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

An April stroll through the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop reveals many treasures and recent arrivals.

Assorted vintage pottery and ceramics. I look for this kind of stuff all the time in my travels. I have a personal interest in art pottery and like to share the finds with customers.

These black memorabilia items arrived as one large collection.

Who can resist "Lady Ellen Hollywood Klippies"...? We always have fun ladies hair doo-dads and vintage styling tools in stock.

A 1950's kitty cat TV lamp in amazing condition.

We carry old clocks, music boxes, and unusual accessories. I love this art deco salt & pepper travel set. It's made from old-school green plastic.

Ceramic "whirling dervish" figurines from the Middle East. I don't have a place in my house for these or else they would be there...!

Stop in the store today and take an "April Stroll" through the Rita Deco Shop. Vintage treasure is waiting just for you!

Hughes Water Gardens

2010-04-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we took a morning trip to "Hughes Water Gardens" located south of Portland. This nursery and garden center is heavy on water features and water plants. It's an amazing resource for water lilies and water specimens for bowls and ponds. They also have goldfish and koi. We saw a great array of cool fountains and garden art also. The prices (in my opinion) are high and you really have to love it to purchase it. But Hughes is a great destination for browsing and getting ideas. We had a good time despite a very surly cashier and the fact that they have no real toilet facilities. Hey, when you are selling fountains that cost $1450.00, could you please have a private, clean toilet and a place to wash your hands? That's just my complaint/hang-up. But this garden center is worth a look if you want to venture south of the city.

Hughes Water Gardens

25289 SW. Stafford Road / Tualatin, Oregon 97062

503-638-1709

Sunshine arrivals.....

2010-04-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

The recent spring sunshine has resulted in a flurry of vintage finds arriving at the shop:

A very nice (large) paint by number landscape.

Vintage kitchen tins including this amazing "dutch boy" potato chip tin.

A whole new gaggle of vintage flour sifters including many with amazing paint jobs.

I made more retro state magnets. Very colorful and perfect for the vintage kitchen.

A whole collection of "Guardian Service" aluminum cookware. Awesome vintage style with glass lids. We have many hard-to-find pieces including roasters, casseroles, and rare handles.

Vintage kitchen ceramics and doo-dads.

1950's roulette set for home parties.

Nice early 60's world globe (older than I usually see).

All stock in the store right now! Hurry in for best pick!

Vintage Photo Treasure Trove

2010-04-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

I got a box of vintage photo albums from the 1960's and 1970's recently. These came from a man who shot the pics here in Portland and on various trips. There are tons of train photos and many albums of vacation trips to Europe, US East Coast, and California. He also liked buildings and took many photographs of local Portland landmarks being constructed. But in this mix, there were several sections of "interesting" subjects......

Vintage Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood (that's pretty standard).....

It got more interesting with a drag queen fashion show circa 1972.....

These shots show a college fraternity hazing including a display of paddles and some actual spanking of the underclassmen....

A sprinkling of very cool vintage automobiles.

A retro cat show......circa 1973.

Spectacular vintage photos of cactus taken on an Arizona vacation.

Late 60's Rose Festival parade floats and the Portland Mayor standing next to the Mayor's trophy award winner.

Several pictures of interesting-looking women.

Many pages of vintage homes and people (Grampa & Grandma) doing fun things. Holiday photos of the same house over many years.....

A groovy 1970's cowboy smiling for the camera.

And finally..... many pics of men doing tasks and posing for photographs while on vacation.

This is only a fraction of what I found. A few select pieces will go into my own collections. But the majority of the photos will be available for purchase at Rita Deco in Hollywood and also at the Fremont location. These old pics make great collectibles and can be made into artwork and cards. So much fun!

Rita on Fremont

2010-04-05T15:56:00.001-07:00

Rita Deco has opened a second location on NE Fremont Street in Portland. We are upstairs at "Found On Fremont" in Beaumont Village.

Found On Fremont features many unique vintage vendors and craftspeople. Two levels of interesting finds and goodies. Always something new and exciting happening with the gals that run this place!

Rita's space is located on the second level behind the staircase. Stop in soon and take a look!

Found On Fremont is located at 4743 NE Fremont / Portland 97213 / 503-282-2533

http://www.foundonfremont.typepad.com/ - facebook: found on fremont

Furniture too....!

2010-04-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

Some folks might think our shop only stocks "smalls". But we do carry vintage furniture and accent pieces for the home also. We get chrome dinettes, vanity sets, hampers, old chairs, and shelving units. We use the items for display purposes......but honey, everything is for sale!

Our larger pieces are always a great price so they move out quickly. Stop by soon and see what we have available. There's always something arriving at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop!

Bunny Trail

2010-03-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

Some new arrivals at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop....

Old-school style, light up Easter bunnies.....a boy and a girl!

Vintage magazines including Sunset and home decor publications.

Funky 1970's era dollhouse furniture in retro style and color.

Pink flamingos for the lawn.

Vintage yard and garden....watering cans, old sprinklers, pots and planters.

New New Old Stuff

2010-03-19T16:29:00.001-07:00

Several boxes of "stored" treasures were recently uncovered in a basement Spring cleaning. These items were gathered months ago and disappeared for a few months. But I was happy to find them again and get these goodies in everyone's hot little hands.....

Two beautiful 1930's ceramic art deco heads and a sweet 20's figural print in painted shadow glass.

Several nice ceramic vases, a pair of California restaurant plates, and a stunning 4-pc art deco set of cocktail glasses.

Original and authentic "wanted" posters circa 1947-1952. A pair of iron handcuffs.

Western collectibles and vintage miniature Mexican sombreros.

Vintage toys, paper finds, postcards, photos, and magazines.

You'll find all this fabulous stuff right now at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop...!

Retro Rigs at the RV Show

2010-03-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

We attended the 2010 Portland RV show last weekend. There were a few surprises including this 1950's Spartan vintage trailer. It had been restored (not pristine however) and was selling for $6700. That's alot of money for a really old trailer. The company that had this trailer fixes and restores old rigs. The exterior was far more impressive than the interior.

There were also a few modern trailer companies selling "retro-inspired" travel trailers. The trailers below were very "tricked-out" and had weird things like pop-outs which is strange when you are trying to base your design on a teardrop trailer. These also had ugly interiors and horrible exterior paint jobs.

These little "mpg" trailers were cute but had really fancy (out of place) deluxe interiors. They felt like an uber-slick boutique hotel on the inside. These looked retro on the outside but lacked any real vintage charm.

The following photos show the "sportsmen classic" trailers by K-Z.

These little units were adorable and like a modern "remake" of a vintage trailer. Our favorites were a sweet 14 footer and an awesome 16 footer. The "16" featured a bunkhouse design with twin bunkbeds and front dinette. These rigs have retro styling and loads of charm. The interiors feature nice wood, fabrics, and trims. This trailer line was the best by far in the small trailer category.

Something to put on the "wish list"......

Arriving Sunday....

2010-03-15T15:38:00.001-07:00

Sunday saw a wonderful array of new "stuff " arriving at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop.

A lovely little 40's era McCoy planter, some neat-o glitter plastic swizzle spoons, fabulous condition early 50's picnic basket, assorted mid-century ceramics, and an incredible original Niloak ball jug (in PINK!).

A fabulous 1960's signed Enid Collins purse called "carriage trade".

Huge rhinestone pins....in yummy colors.

A stash of interesting paperbacks, booklets, brochures and postcards.

Original 1930's writing journal with a ledger book called "Hollywood Portfolio".

Postcards from 1960's Portland car dealership featuring old-time automobiles.

Easter Parade

2010-03-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

The Easter treasures have arrived at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop. Many one-of-a-kind items....so hurry in for best pick! Available now on our store floor. We also have Easter cards and paper items. Many items are under $10...what a great place to pick up some Easter cheer!

Spring Fling Sale

2010-03-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

Spring Fling Sale now underway! Storewide savings up to 50% off!

We must make room for new arrivals.

Hurry in for best pick.....

Western Holly Gas Stove

2010-03-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

The vintage gas range turns "one" this month. This retro treasure is over 55 years old but celebrates it's one year anniversary in our kitchen in March 2010. Made by Western Holly Stoves, this baby is pure cooking heaven. It features a large range top, big oven, and best of all.....a restaurant-style griddle in the middle. Pancakes, grilled cheese, and bacon are just like what you get at the local diner. This vintage range was refurbished and works great. It even cooked a large Thanksgiving turkey with no problem. It's very "old school" and the centerpiece of our kitchen. It just feels good having it in the room.....like an old friend!

Cute Sailor Photo - Day #2

2010-02-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

Circa 1945.....
This handsome guy makes a group of vintage goodies look extra nice. Note the flower lei around his neck. He was probably located in the Pacific Islands. He looks like a movie star!

Cute Sailor Photo of the Day

2010-02-22T12:59:00.000-08:00

Circa 1960.........

Buck and Jolene's Wedding

2010-02-17T17:05:00.000-08:00

In my kitchen there are a pair of paintings with quite a history. These original pieces are by famed western artist Buck McCain. These were painted early in his career when he was showing art in California and the Southwest. I picked these up a few years ago. They have the original handmade frames (which we believe were probably made by McCain himself). These are on display in our western-inspired kitchen.

While junking recently, I found this pair of western paintings. They are not by Buck McCain. They were painted by an artist named "Jolene". They are much smaller and we have a perfect spot in the kitchen for this pair. In our kitchen....."Buck" got married to "Jolene" and it's a happy union.

Dogs, Dioramas, and the Avon Lady

2010-02-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

The weekend was pretty sparse for garage and estate sales. I did venture out later in the weekend. Sometimes, I can go on a Friday but I don't like full-price days and I don't like standing in line with housewives and the unemployed. There were a few decent sales and I did end up with a box of odds & ends. Below are Avon bottles. I usually DO NOT shop for old Avon collectibles. But these examples are highly collectible due to their subject matter. The bottles that are campers are popular with RV people and vintage travel collectors. The VW beetle bottles are hot with Volkswagen collectors and car buffs.

This is a 1950's Arizona diorama. These were popular at tourist gift shops in the Southwest. I've had a few of these and they always sell. The frame is cactus wood and the scene is decorated with real bits of desert plantlife.

This is just a hodgepodge of knicky-knacks. Some really cute 60's ceramics.

And finally.....dog books. Everyone knows "Benji" from the movies. The older book is dated 1950 and features many retro photographs of dog breeds and their owners.

Summer Plans....already!

2010-02-09T15:12:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you take a vintage trailer....

Add the McKenzie River....

A historic covered bridge....

Scenic views of trees and mountains....

And throw in a little whitewater....?

It's a summer trip to celebrate a family reunion. Plans are underway for my family's famous (every 3 years) gathering. This year it will be held at the Holiday Farm Resort on the McKenzie river. While most will be staying in cute, cozy river cabins.....we will be camping in our 1964 vintage camper. The resort has opened a new rv/camp park adjacent to the lodge and cabins. Only a short walk to the river, fishing, and rafting. Even though it's February.... the excitement is already building for this fun family event. If you have never explored the McKenzie river or the area east of Eugene, Oregon....check it out. It's a fabulous and relaxing vacation destination located at the base of the Cascade mountains.

Vintage Cards & Greetings

2010-01-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

We have a cute selection of vintage Valentine's Day cards and paper. Some are old and original. Some are retro reproductions using older images. Many to choose from.....

We have some darling new (old stock) cards in the shop. Springtime birds as well as occasion cards. Birthday and plain notecards. All vintage and unused. Many 1950's-60's styles to choose from.

Paper Trail

2010-01-27T14:38:00.001-08:00

The Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop is full of interesting paper finds. Old advertising, photos, postcards, travel brochures, retro menus, catalogs and magazines. We have a treasure trove of paper bins to dig through. This kind of paper collectible is called "ephemera" which means something that was produced to be used, read, and then tossed out. Fortunately, some of this paper history has survived. Come take a look.....we've got enough to keep you busy for an hour or two!

Tuesday's Treats

2010-01-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

New finds are arriving in the shop everyday!
We got a great pair of 40's era lamps with floral silkscreened shades. A wonderful shabby metal laundry hamper. Cool 1950's kitchen stool with "pop-out steps" in excellent condition. And a very sweet vintage oil painting of a pretty 'oriental' lady. The painting is covered with interesting Asian lettering and messages on the back of the canvas. Handpainted and from the 1950's. All items are available now @ The Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop. Stop by for a look...

Movie Star Rita

2010-01-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

The movie "Extraordinary Measures" opens tonight. The film was shot here in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2009. I met the production designer and a few of her assistants when they were shopping in the Hollywood District. They spent a fair amount of time in the shop and bought several bags of knick-knacks and artwork. The team was here on two different days and seemed quite pleased with the items they purchased. I was told that most of the items would end up in Harrison Ford's house and office (in the movie). I'm curious to see if I can spot any items that came from Rita Deco. I love when the "movie people" come to Portland. They are always interesting to talk with and they spend money....YAY!!!

Grey Gardens Recipe Box

2010-01-21T14:55:00.000-08:00

I recently found something for my own collection. This is an early 1970's recipe box that is featured in the original "Grey Gardens" documentary and the recent HBO film. It's just a simple metal box with a retro-70's pattern...but it holds much more meaning to any fan of Grey Gardens. In the original documentary, this box is given to Big Edie at her birthday party (you might remember the scene because it's one of the few times she comes downstairs). Big Edie is presented this box by a guest at the dining table. This box also shows up in the HBO film starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore. Near the end of the film, Big Edie gives her wedding jewelry to Little Edie to wear at the premiere. She stores the jewelry in a recipe box exactly like this one. My recipe box is EXACTLY like these two examples....made by the same company and distributed in stores about 1972-76. I was thrilled when I found mine at a local estate sale. This simple recipe box is considered a "must have" by any GG collector and they do sell for a hefty price if you can find one. I'm just thrilled to have it!
As Little Edie would say:"It's absolutely terrific....honestly!"

New (old) Stuff

2010-01-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

Recent arrivals at the Rita Deco Shop: a wonderful 1910-1920's table. Vintage luggage. Bird prints and decor items. "Occupied Japan" china & ceramics. Old historical collectibles. Royal Family souvenirs. Centennial and World's Fair memorabilia. Stop by for a look!

Flour Sack Towels & Pillows

2010-01-18T14:58:00.001-08:00

A new batch of flour sack towels and printed pillows have arrived at the Rita Deco Shop. Several new designs in stock now. These are top-quality cotton that washes up beautifully.

The selection includes "retro travel" themed towels and pillows. Perfect for the beach house, cabin, or travel trailer. These make great gifts or a fabulous surprise for your vintage loving pals.

Just in from a recent estate.....old hankies, table runners, and handmade doilies. These are priced to sell and we have a large collection to choose from.

Laundromat Luxury Car

2010-01-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

If you owned a $60,000 car, would you sit in a dirty laundromat weekly to do your laundry?
There's a strange scenario I see almost everyday. People arrive at the laundromat next door and do their weekly laundry.....in luxury cars.

These are not people whose home machines are broken. They are not washing comforters or large items. These people are REGULARS. They schlep in laundry baskets full of dirty togs for the weekly wash. Same cars and same people everytime. Mercedes, BMW's, Cadillac Escalades, Lexus sedans pull up in front and the dirty clothes spill out.

If you can spend major money on a car.....can't you buy a washer/dryer or live someplace with a decent laundry room setup? Hmmm......I'd rather have a $30,000 car and do my laundry at home or in a clean laundry room at my apartment building. But that's just me.

"Odds & Ends" for the New Year

2010-01-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

I was doing some organizing in my photo files. I had these previously unseen photos hanging around and thought I'd post them. These are shots of the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop....both inside and outside. A few photos give a wide angle of the space and what the store looks like when you visit. I just wanted to share before they get lost and forgotten....

Crying Towels

2010-01-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

New 2010 arrivals at the shop include these vintage inspired "crying towels". Made from flour sack cloth and printed with retro printing and illustrations. The fisherman's towel make a great gift or surprise for the sport fishing fanatic in your life.....

There's also a cute bowler's crying towel. Bowling gifts and memorabilia is hard to find. This piece would be a great gift for anyone who spends time at the bowling alley or league member!
Towels are very well made and truly affordable at only $5.50 each. In stock now at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop.

Happy New Year !!!

2009-12-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

May you "dance in" the New Year with laughter and joy! See you in 2010.....

Merry Christmas 2009

2009-12-24T14:38:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas....my pets!

Stay tuned for many exciting happenings in Rita Deco's World.

Happy New Year !!!

A Spaceship in Hollywood

2009-12-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

If you spend time in the Hollywood area or NE Portland....perhaps you've seen this spaceship. It's known as "the star cruiser HMS Uranus". It's complete with an alien family in the backseat.
This advanced outerspace vehicle may be driving past you very soon.....
And it always makes me smile!

Can I take this to the planet to see the "Avatars"....?

Christmas is almost here!

2009-12-20T14:03:00.001-08:00

Christmas is still goin' strong here at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop. We have a nice array of last-minute gift ideas. Lots of fun vintage decor for your festive home. Perfect place to find a "stocking stuffer" or cutie-patootie hostess gift. We also are jammed packed with all of our usual vintage and retro bargains. Hope to see you soon........!

Lovely Lamps....Lovely Ladies

2009-12-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

Several lovely items have arrived recently at the shop. This is an amazing pair of mid-century lamps. A matched pair in very clean condition. Fabulous original shades in perfect shape. Currently at the shop and available for purchase.

Several lovely ladies have arrived: porcelain statues, ceramic heads, 1950's Asian motif decor, old paper items, and advertising finds.....all with that "feminine touch"...!

This Coca Cola tray is original and about 60 years old. Paint design is fabulous and it's in very nice condition.

Gnome for the Holidays

2009-12-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

This pair of gnomes recently set up housekeeping here at Rita Deco. I told them I would provide them a "foster home" until a new owner steps forward. The boys spent a few hours in front of the shop yesterday.
They even brought a sign to display in their new home.

They got cold after the sun went away.....so I let them spend the night inside. These cute little guys are here at the shop waiting for YOU to take them home. They are easy to care for and they don't eat much....

Rita's Christmas Creations

2009-12-07T15:04:00.001-08:00

We are featuring some great handcrafted Christmas creations here at the shop. These are made from vintage trims and found objects. Every items is unique and 'one of a kind'. Hurry in for best pick.....!
Included are bottlebrush tree Santas, vintage paper houses, and a gathering of angels.

We also have some holiday and Christmas signs. These are perfect for inside displays and tabletop. We even have some heavy-duty metal & wood signs that can be placed outside on a porch or entryway.

Next post will include old concrete gnomes and some fabulous paper finds.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. The Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop will be open the Friday after the holiday. We have a great selection of vintage Christmas and fabulous gift ideas. New (old) stuff is arriving every day. Stop by for visit......

Christmas Corner

2009-11-20T15:12:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is in "full swing" at the Rita Deco Nostalgia Shop. We have a wide array of decorations for your holiday home. Outdoor signs and displays. Tabletop Santas, houses, and lighting. Plus lots of small decor & trims perfect for projects or cute gifts. More holiday items will be arriving in the next few weeks. Hurry in for best pick.....

Holiday Heyday

2009-11-07T11:49:00.001-08:00

The holiday goodies are rolling into the shop. We have two sections full of vintage delights and by the middle of next week our "Christmas Corner" will be complete with a whole stash of treasures we've been collecting all year. We have also been working on three estates (which did not have "estate sales") ...... so all those newly discovered items are currently being processed into the shop. Now is the time to come take a look and find those special gifts and retro collectibles. I'll be showing a few of the fabulous finds in the next few blog posts....STAY TUNED!!!

Rita's Halloween

2009-10-24T12:11:00.001-07:00

It's Halloween time at Rita Deco! We have an array of spooky vintage finds and fine reproduction gift items. Below are some original 1960's era paper candy/treat bags.

Bottle brush Halloween trees. Festive paper Halloween lanterns. Seasonal paper trims and cut-outs. Black kitty cats. Wall decor and window hanging decorations.

Old-fashioned paper cutouts. These feature designs from the 1930's & 1940's. Perfect for card-making or use to decorate a window or tabletop.

The shop is full of Halloween cheer. We are fully stocked and many new items have arrived from recent estate liquidations. Lamps, tabletop, vanity items, linens, and jewelry are just a sample of what's new in the Rita Deco Shop. Stop by soon for a little nostalgia...!

Pretty as a Peacock

2009-10-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Peacock After Dark is a fabulous variety-entertainment show held at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts / Newmark Theatre. It is a fundraiser for the Audria M. Edwards scholarship fund. This organization gives money to gay and lesbian students so they can complete their education. The show features local talent and several acts from all over the western United States. I will be helping out with the show this year and I wanted advertise it here on the blog. Tickets are still available to this huge show which is fast becoming "the event of the season". Read more about it at: www.peacockafterdark.com
The show is Sunday, October 11th at the Newmark Theatre - Downtown Portland - 7pm

www.peacockafterdark.com

Corn Dog

2009-10-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

This is my dog. He REALLY likes corn on the cob. He eats it just like a person.
He learned this when he was a puppy. His name is Diego.
See video clip....

Dolly in Hollywood

2009-10-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

I found a dollhouse recently filled with 1970's era furniture and trinkets. The house is not displayed here because I'm still spiffing it up. I will post a few pics when it's ready to show. It's hardcore 1970's era and looks like a European "Brady Bunch" house. My favorite dollhouse furniture pieces were the kitchen units pictured above. They look like something in the Ikea showroom.

This doll family has to be the ugliest group in all of "Dolltown". Yikes....what happened to them?

Dad's face is melted off. Mom's dress/slip is held on by a dirty staple. And the kids look like aliens. Although..... I have to say, I've had uglier (real-life) neighbors than these folks.

All of this miniature home decor is now available at our Hollywood shop. Wide array of items and all priced to move out quickly. These make great gifts for a careful child or adult collector.

hanky panky...bowling...and true crimes

2009-09-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

Recent arrivals at the shop include a wonderful assortment of vintage hankies in amazing (fresh) condition. This great old "bowling portrait" featuring the team from Sigman Meat Co..... the players are (from left to right): "Roger"- "Margaret" - "Phyllis"(she has the gold sparkle ball) and "Jim". They bowled at the old 20th Century Bowl (SE Portland?).

These are great old detective magazines from 1947. They feature young women in perilous situations. The titles read: "Home Front Heroine", "Death Trap for a Lady in Love" and "Sailor's Bride - He Sent Me to My Doom". These were in a box of old magazines I picked up.

Nice 1960's metal vanity. This piece has great scrollwork and would be perfect for a "re-do". The top pops off and can be painted or covered. This would make a cute hall table or patio/garden potting bench.

Some very cute miniature garden chairs. The old doll high chair has a flip-up tray so dolly can fit on the seat. These make great gifts or group a few of these with some plants on the front porch.

Sad Little Rabbit

2009-09-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

I rescued this sad little rabbit from a recent 'free pile'. He was hiding among discarded toys, socks, assorted lids and plastic throwaways, and a few incomplete board games. This guy is about 12" tall and made from concrete. He had an accident in his past and his ears have been carefully re-glued. I plan to sand off the glue residue and paint him. He will have a new home in our garden. His future looks brighter than a week ago.

Let these pictures do the talking....

2009-09-17T21:42:00.001-07:00

Pam at "One Gal's Trash" challenged her readers to "show all your junk" and "show what you've been hiding". Well.....my partner Steven said if I get anymore junk in the house and garage it will be just like "Grey Gardens". I confess this will be me in about twenty years. Enuff said....

Lotsa Little Stuff

2009-09-14T13:22:00.001-07:00

Lots of "little stuff" is what I found on my junking adventures this weekend. Many nice small things.....miniatures, decor items, and paper finds. The collection below features a ceramic girl napkin holder. Two awesome art deco wood frames. Miniature chairs and a metal doll stove. Teacups and saucers. I love the ceramic hand!

A whole lotta little bottles and vintage medicine knick-knacks. Old books and advertising. Banks and store promotional items. Antique tins and art supplies.

Two very nice 1940's era scrap/photo books. 60's Christmas boot mug. Sequin ornament birds. A wooden corner shelf. Ladies hats and misc. sewing notions.

A treasure trove of 1940's era paper items......old photos, postcards, menus, and advertising. PLUS.....an autographed photo from movie star Jane Powell (who is from Portland). This is a real handsigned item and it's going home to join my autograph collection.

Wooden birds on stands. An original 1960's oil painting of Mt. Hood. Ceramic animals including frogs and a duck. So this weekend it was all "smalls"......who knows, maybe next weekend it will be large furniture items. Stay tuned!

Who's Theda...?

2009-09-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

Recent arrivals to the shop include this vintage beauty salon sign. It's from the 60's or 70's. Someone told me they thought the location was in SE Portland near Woodstock Street. But no confirmation on that information. I just liked the idea of a huge "beauty salon" sign.... everything is just a "salon" these days. A "beauty" shop is very 'old school' and that appeals to me!

These two paintings are a recent find. Oil on canvasboard. From the 1920's and found in a local estate. Above is Mt. Hood and the Columbia River. Below is the Columbia Gorge with rocks and the river. Both of these have sold!

This cute metal vanity makes a great backdrop for vintage linens and knick-knacks. The pair of lamps are unusual.....they are glass with plastic molded shades.

After the 50's dinette set sold last week, I needed to place the Homer Laughlin dishes in a new spot. I found this dark wood shelf unit and I like the result of the move. Customers can now see everything very clearly and the colors show off nicely.

mystery lady

2009-09-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

Who is this woman?
I bought a painting this morning. It's large and did not have a frame. She looks very much like writer Barbara Cartland. But I think it's someone more local. This lady liked her dogs (pomeranians) and pearls (necklace AND earrings). She's very nicely styled and looks rich. Why was this painting in a thrift shop? Who is she and what happened to her? Please tell me your story.... my mystery lady.

What Satan's up to....

2009-09-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

I found this book today. It was just too disturbing....I had to buy it. This book is dated 1974 and is titled: "Hell On Earth - a sobering view of what Satan's up to". The funny thing about this is the artwork. It features whimsical hippy-style illustrations that look like HR Pufnstuff characters. If that's Satan.....he's a pretty hip guy.

I read about the author. His name is Bob Larson and his bio says: "Bob was a child rock music star, a rock DJ, and is a minister. He has authored several books mostly about the moral analysis of rock music". Very interesting....and groovy!

I Love Lamps.....

2009-09-01T11:11:00.001-07:00

Just arrived...
A pair of interesting 1950's lamps. These appear to be Indian (India) motif with a royal touch. These are very pretty men with turbans, crowns, and jewels. No shades....I would suggest large black shades in a mid-century design. This pair would be fabulous in the right setting. Excellent condition and available right now. I love lamps!

Bigger isn't better.....

2009-08-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Bigger isn't better when it came down to estate sales on Friday. There were several large advertised sales which I had no time for. I opted to hit a couple of "family estate sales" that were on my way to work. These sales were small but filled with lots of inexpensive treasures and a few fabulous finds...... Vintage 60's sad-eye girl print. Two old Christmas window wreaths with the original boxes.
LustroWare kitchen storage boxes in original plastic wrap. Glove forms for drying vintage gloves. A very cute dancing clown music box. And....FREE vintage gift wrap!

English teacups/saucers. Art Deco vanity mirror and powder box. Art glass paperweight. A flock of vintage ceramic and glass birds. Vintage hankies and linens. A ceramic clown bottle.

Vintage luggage. Old 50's mechanics books. Fabulous 1940's copper and brass trophies.

Retro desk knick-knacks. Two 1930's era paintings....... Mt. Hood and The Gorge.

A fantastic four-piece vintage 40's kitchen bowl set in great shape/ awesome colors.

Not bad for 20 minutes of "huntin and diggin".

What's in the nooks & crannies....

2009-08-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

The shop is full of interesting merchandise right now. Inside and outside.....every nook and crannie is full of fun stuff. Here's a short tour:

Wonderful pottery in all shapes, styles, and colors. A really great "Pacific Coast" vintage sign.

Two vintage bird motif framed art pieces. These are created from real feathers and they are in perfect condition. These are larger and better quality than the smaller ones I often see.

A couple of shabby white rattan chairs. Just add some vintage fabric pillows and they would be a stunner on the front porch or sunroom.

A very cool 1920's framed print featuring an alluring and mysterious lady. The gold mirror has "art nouveau" details and will fit a small space.

Old typewriters, telephones, luggage, and travel items.

All items are in the shop and available to take home today!

Wheelin' and Dealin'

2009-08-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Last week was a whirlwind of 'wheelin and dealin'. I sold the cool vintage travel trailer to the first person that looked at it. Plus I had about 8-10 parties lined up that wanted it. I wish I had about 5 of these to sell!

We have been "re-doing" a bedroom in our house. We decided to ditch our old futon and replace it with a loveseat that looked more mid-century. I listed this very nice solid wood futon on Craiglist and sold it to the very first gal that looked at it! We had a little cash in our pockets.....so we ventured out to Ikea to look for a loveseat. I wanted something plain and kinda 1950's. We found this one but with the cover we wanted it was almost $500 bucks....dang it. The cheaper Ikea sofas and loveseats looked like bad dollhouse furniture.....so we decided to wait and maybe save up some $ and get the one we REALLY wanted. The next day I was cruising around on Craigslist and found this exact Ikea loveseat for one fourth of the price. It had a brown cover but that's ok since we would want to put a new cover on any "used" piece of furniture we got. I went out to look at the (amazingly fresh & clean) loveseat and before you can say "good deal"....it was in the back of the pickup. We bought a brand new retro nubby green cover.... and voila! A clean perfect new loveseat for $100 + our futon money. It even looks great with the tropical barkcloth pillows we were using in the "old room" decorating plan.

So how's that for a week of deals and finds!

Vintage Travel Trailer is now for sale!

2009-08-19T16:18:00.001-07:00

The great little travel trailer I mentioned in a previous post is now up for sale.
This is a 1966 Aristocrat LoLiner. 14 feet and 1300 lbs. Easy to tow with a small truck, van, or suv. Clean trailer ready for a cosmetic makeover. Has stove, sink, and lots of storage. Ready to tow and has good tires and electrical. A super deal at $900 or best offer. Portland Oregon area.
Interested parties can contact me at: wspencer35@comcast.net

This vintage cutie justs needs your creative touch to make it a true retro gem!

What a fun project for the vintage and nostalgia crowd........

One amazing dinette set

2009-08-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

This fantastic 50's chrome dining set arrived in the shop today. Fabulous colors and details on this original, vintage gem. Unusually fancy chrome details and extra special chair fabric add up to one awesome dining set. In the shop right now and priced at a low $300 bucks!
Hurry......this one won't last long!

The most polite "no smoking" sign....

2009-08-14T12:46:00.001-07:00

Recent arrivals at the shop include the most polite "No Smoking" sign I've ever seen. This sweet sign is tile with metal trim. Flowers and birds remind visitors to snuff out those disgusting tobacco bombs when they enter the premises.

Wonderful shabby stool with 50's nubby cloth seat. I love the mint green wood with the pink vintage fabric. This item is perfect just the way I found it!

Everyone knows someone who had a "Gremlin" car in the 70's or 80's. This is the car that my partner Steven had when we first met. It was purple with a black vinyl interior. I wish we still had it.......collector's item!

A group of cool 60's tourist plates including several excellent Seattle World's Fair items.

A sweet flocked deer and "deer crossing" sign. Sneak the baby deer into someone's garden and see what happens! They may call the state wildlife division!

Do you ever have a day like this?

2009-08-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Feeling stressed? Having a bad day? Is the family driving you crazy?

Why not take a break and go see a movie. Sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. You deserve it!

See video below...

Have a carefree day!

New "Vintage" Linens & Tabletop

2009-08-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

Recent arrivals to the Rita Deco Shop include these fabulous towels, pillows, and tabletop items.

The teapot design is set of (4) nifty placemats. These are plastic coated and would be great for the breakfast table or picnic table.

The Hawaii design is a large tea towel which can be used as a towel or fabric centerpiece. Perfect for creating a 50's retro table design.

This vintage Oregon map design comes in a tea towel and a pillow.

Very sweet "coffee-time" retro inspired flour sack towel. I washed and pressed one of these......they launder great and look fabulous when hung in the kitchen.

This is the Washington state style.......tea towel or pillow.

This is the "Vacationland" pillow. Nice quality and has zipper/removable cover.

All of these items are very smartly priced and available now in the shop. The quality is great and they make wonderful gifts...!

Hobo Pie Irons

2009-08-08T15:22:00.001-07:00

Hobo Pie Irons are the newest attraction at our summer campsite. Pie irons have been around for decades but we just recently got interested in adding them to camping menu options. These campfire cooking devices are cast iron with metal arms and wooden handles. You can cook a variety of "sandwich style" toasted goodies. We had breakfast pies.....ham & cheese, egg & sausage, etc. Plus you can do "dessert pies".....bread with fruit filling.
The process goes like this: you get a good hot fire going. Put your pie iron on the grill to warm it. Then make your sandwich and get it ready. Take the iron off the heat and open it up. Spray some Pam on both sides of the opened iron. Put your sandwich inside and close the pie iron. Put it on a hot spot over the fire. Turn about every 1-2 minutes. Check the sandwich after about 5-7 minutes. Remove from the heat when toasted.

Our camping buddy Patty tried a variation on the sandwich using a toaster waffle. She filled the waffle with nutella and cherry pie filling then toasted until crispy brown.

Watch the video (below) to see a delicious waffle prepared in a hobo pie iron!

Hobo Pie Irons are available from several outdoor stores. I would recommend buying a quality iron (Rome Company) and don't get the cheap Walmart versions. Be careful while using them because they get REALLY hot. Supervise children and drunk adults when using the pie irons around the fire. Hobo Pie Irons are alot of fun and the pies are delicious....!

New arrivals.....and one BIG arrival!

2009-08-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

New arrivals to the shop include: vintage Coleman coolers and water jugs. Old picnic baskets & dishes. Vintage camping stools. Old real western horseshoes (great for decorating).

Great early 60's typewriter in carry case......excellent condition!

Dolls, trolls, Mattel, Barbie & misc. vintage toys....

Very nice metal/enamel Art Deco smokestand. Includes several accessories. Great green color.

And finally......how about a 1966 Aristocrat LoLiner travel trailer....!

I picked this trailer up to resell it. Great retro design inside & out. This unit will be ready to

sell in a few weeks. It's 14ft, lightweight, and easy to tow. This trailer is very similiar to my '64 trailer which I've restored and use for camping and vacations.

The trailer I will be selling is a great "fixer-upper" and it will be less than $1000.

I will post more pics when I get closer to selling it.

Stay tuned!

Columbia Gorge Adventure

2009-07-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

After several days of heat, air conditioning issues at the shop, and cranky HVAC people......

A vacation in the Columbia Gorge will be a welcome relief!

Traveling east for a few days of family, campfires, and relaxing.

Beech Street Gardens will be tended to by a helpful neighbor and the Rita Deco shop will be open regular hours this weekend. Jason will be in the shop 11am - 5pm (Fri-Sat-Mon).

Stop by and say hello!

Fifteen minutes on Friday

2009-07-24T13:54:00.001-07:00

I had about 15 minutes to cruise through a couple of sales on Friday. I managed to pickup a fairly nice selection of items that are not a "repeat" in the shop.
Two super-nice white 40's vases. Ceramic 60's dogs and pink poodle earring holder.
Alaska tourist tray. Vintage deer and a really great (large) bottle brush xmas tree.
The tree is going home with me since I collect 'em.

Wooden doll house.....great project/fixer upper.

Funky fashion purse with Audrey Hepburn and (fake) "Tiffany" diamond trim.

Awesome original "anchor hocking" snack set. White glass with vintage wheat motif. This set is in the factory display box and is in mint condition. A nice silver fruit bowl and turned silver candlesticks. Not too bad for 15 minutes on a Friday!

People who live in skinny houses...

2009-07-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

People who live in skinny houses don't like to park in their own driveways.
We had these "skinny houses" appear in our neighborhood about 3-4 years ago. I have mixed feeling about them. On the negative side: they are not all that attractive. They caused the density on the street to triple off of one lot. They look weird with the rest of the older homes.
On the positive side: they are a hell of alot better than the trashy hillbilly house that used to be in this exact spot. These neighbors are owners.....no renters here. These properties are clean and new. We like the folks who occupy this trio.

But.....what's the deal about not parking in the friggin' driveways???
People who live in skinny houses do not like to park in their own driveways. I've seen this habit about a block down the street where there is another group of these dwellings. Please note in the photograph below: the cars parked in the strip directly across from the skinny houses belong to these addresses. And....get this....if the garage doors are open there's nothing inside except a few garden rakes and maybe a couple of garbage cans. Empty garages......but still feel the need to park across the street....?

Looking to the south.......no one's home.
Looking to the north.......a full parking lot.
Looking to the east......me looking at all this "mystery".
People who live in skinny houses do not like to park in their own driveways.

Humpf.

Statement for the day

2009-07-22T13:38:00.001-07:00

Hot Sunday Finds.....Garden Galore

2009-07-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

Hot deals and new stuff arriving all the time at the Rita Deco Shop. Great big (baby blue) birdcage. Excellent cage for decorating project or hanging in the garden.

Really nice older wicker/rattan chair. Shabby white paint and horrible 80's fabric cushions. A quick recover in vintage floral fabric and this chair is ready for "Country Living Magazine"...! Nice solid wood baby crib from the 1950's. Lovely western framed print.

Classic Coleman camping jug circa 1965.

A whole bunch of rubber stamping letters from the 1950's. Including letters, numbers, and symbols......only 75 cents each! Spend a few minutes and dig for your initials!

We have alot of garden and patio doo-dads in stock right now. Awesome pair of iron garden lanterns. These are heavy duty for wall mount and will work for potted plants or candles. There is a bounty of garden decor and trims.....makes wonderful summer hostess gifts!

Junkin' the Western Trail....

2009-07-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

Recent finds that arrived at the shop include this awesome 1950's/60's children's western shirt. Made by "Rob Roy" under the clothing line of "The Hitching Post". This vintage gem is a kid's size 10. Very good condition......needs a spiff up by a talented laundry person. Rare vintage clothing item....!

Still has the original vintage label, stitching, and all the original buttons.

Other fabulous stuff......60's "artmark" display doll, signed print by Gerald W. Marshall, kid's vintage books, barber pole bottle, great 1940's vintage framed photo of the 3 Sisters mountain range, lunchboxes, and a very sweet 60's carousel music box with dancing horses.

It's state fair season! This is an original movie poster from the 1962 film: "State Fair".....starring Pat Boone, Ann Margret, Pamela Tiffin, Alice Faye, and Bobby Darin. This is a fun poster. Rent the movie.....it's a hoot-fest !!!

Happy Camper

2009-07-14T22:20:00.001-07:00

It's vacation season and we have a few trips planned in our vintage trailer. I thought I would share some photos of my 1964 Aristocrat LoLiner. Built in Morgan Hill, California in the summer of 1964. This trailer traveled around the Northwest for 40 years before I found it. I spent about 9 months cleaning and "fixing" before we made the first trip.
Below photo is a trip to the Prineville Reservoir a few years ago.

This is when we ventured to the Oregon Coast and spent a few days near Fort Stevens.

It was 100 degrees in Portland and we thought we would escape the heat. It was about 85 degrees at the campsite..... so much for cool ocean breezes!

This (below) was the first trip ever with the trailer. Central Oregon in June.

Interior shots of the booth and table. The trailer was very original. We got rid of anything old and dirty. I kept the original curtains and replaced the trim and tiebacks. We had the cushions recovered (striped cushions are the old ones) and added more vintage signs and decor.

The trailer has the original interior wood paneling. Many older trailers have been painted which lowers the "vintage value" of the unit. The wood is in good shape.... at some point I will remove everything inside and (lightly) restore the wood. I'd also like to replace the floor and work on the bench units which show some wear and tear.

Original kitchen was really dirty but had amazing vintage appliances and trim work. Trailer had original icebox and stove. The range top works but the oven is missing parts.

This is a recent trip to Beverly Beach State Park. This shows our setup for cooking outside and all of our extra camping junk. Vintage trailers are a fun way to camp. They are primitive enough that you feel like you are "really camping" yet offer a nice bed and cozy living space. Plus they are dry.......much better than a tent!

Bric a Brac / Knic a Knac

2009-07-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

New arrivals at the shop......
1950's kid's coloring books. Halloween lightup dated 1969. "Hell's Belles" - 60's bad girl movie poster. 50's pottery. Super-clean milk glass flower vase. Tourist pillow from Georgia.

Art Deco smoke stand & accessories. Small solid wood side table. Mid-century lamps. Paper and vintage postcards. Chinese ceramic kitties. Wire cages & garden decor. Everything is here and priced to sell. Stop by for a visit...!

Friday Arrivals = New Stuff !

2009-07-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

New arrivals this week at the shop: old hurricane glass lamps....one is an oil lamp and the other is wired with electric light. Exceptionally cute silver wire baskets. Kewpie doll and old toys.
Ladies vintage jewelry: amazing glass bead necklaces from the 1920's. Rhinestones. Old watches and sunglasses. Bakelite bracelets and various metal bangles. A few pieces of Mexican silver including a very pretty pin. Mid-century pins and earrings. Plus a box of skeleton keys!

Vintage handbags....black patent leather and a very old alligator bag. Barbershop sanitizer with original box. 1950's pottery and birds. 1940's telephone in working condition.

All items priced and available on our store floor.....

Pink Flamingos

2009-07-06T13:37:00.001-07:00

Just arrived at the shop......1950's mirror with the retro"pink flamingos" motif. This one is excellent with the original frame. Measures 31" x 21". Mirror and design in fabulous clean condition. Perfect for your 50's room or great in bar/restaurant. It's here now and priced to move out quickly!

Red White Blue

2009-07-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July...!

Sunday Sweets

2009-06-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Some sweet finds are making their way to the Rita Deco Shop........

Vintage Christmas trims. Old picnic baskets and dishes. Vintage coffee cans. Two nice redware teapots. A wonderful 1954 "vacation coloring book".

Round mid-century mirror with floral trim. Vintage postcards & foldouts. Several super-clean painted metal trays. Vintage American flags. Old yard & garden including assorted vintage sprinklers and spayers.

Original early 60's Barbie case. An assortment of super-clean vintage Barbie fashions and trims.

All old and original. Everything is at the Rita Deco Shop and ready to sell. Stop by for a closer look!

Friday Finds......

2009-06-26T14:12:00.001-07:00

New arrivals to the shop include:
straw garden hats, watering cans and birdhouses.

Really old child's wicker chair. Metal 1950's child's typewriter. French floral buckets.
Original mid-century telephone in working condition.

1950's cat TV lamp made by Lane Co.

Old dress patterns (really nice ones!)

The vintage dishes keep pouring in......Fiesta, Harlequin, Riviera, Franciscan, and Early California. Lots to choose from and priced below book values!

Sam Adams, Michael Jackson, Lindsey Lohan.....

2009-06-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Sam Adams, Michael Jackson, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, that Governor with the Argentine mistress, summertime television programming, our current health care system, Mickey Rourke, Nick Nolte, Gary Busey, Heidi & Spencer......etc. etc. etc.

That's what I was thinking of when I purchased this book today.

Beech Street Gardens

2009-06-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

I recently toured "Beech Street Gardens" in NE. Portland. It's a beautiful city garden and it's located right in my backyard! This green space is where my partner Steven spends most of his free time. The yard is large and filled with many interesting plants. We also have a greenhouse filled with cactus and various specimens that I have no clue on what they exactly are. But I do enjoy a nightly stroll through "Beech Street Gardens". The garden is open for tours.....just ask!

This last photo shows a party we had on Memorial Day. Several of these nice photos were taken by my sister-in-law Susy Spencer. She is the past President of the Aloha Garden Club (so she and Steven engage in much "plant talk" when they see each other!).

Third Thursday.......Hollywood District !!!

2009-06-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday June 18th is "Third Thursday" in the Hollywood District. Stores and businesses will be open until 9pm. We will have live music, games, prizes, and special promotions. This is a FREE event and a nice chance to walk the neighborhood and see what's happening.

The Rita Deco shop will be open until 9pm and we will have giveaways and all of our cool stuff out on the sidewalk. We have lots of new arrivals and fabulous finds. Stop by for a visit!

1925 NE. 42nd #D - Portland / 503-253-5793

Back to business.......Sunday finds

2009-06-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Fueled by 7-UP and cough medicine, I decided to hit a few sales on Sunday. There actually was a fair amount of good stuff out there. Lot's of great 50's-60's household and kitchy clutter.

I scored several pieces of "Harlequin" - Homer Laughlin dinnerware, vintage games, neat mid-century plastic-cast vehicles, tin trays, vintage dress patterns, retro partyware, and paper stuff.

Vintage bird theme stencils for fabric projects, 60's Barbie, 1959 BBQ book, cookbooks, and postcard foldouts.

I also found a rare "Enid Collins of Texas" wood box purse. This one has the armadillo theme and is called "Night Raider". This item needs TLC.....but is fine for display. This purse would be a great restoration project. It's stable with 85% of it's paint. Funky, retro handbag!

Chicago wrap-up......

2009-06-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

I will end the Chicago trip with a few misc. photos and stories. We managed to do some shopping while on vacation. The issue with Chicago antique and collectible stores......they are spread far and wide. It just didn't make sense to spend half a day finding one store. We did hit a few nice clothing shops (mainly the Munsingware Penguin Store) for items we can't get in PDX.

We did find this REALLY cute shop just a few blocks from our hotel. It's called P.O.S.H. and the website is: http://www.poshchicago.com/ . This lovely shop has wonderful European flea market finds. Restaurant china and hotel silver. Lots of cool tabletop and gift finds. The shop has a "French feel" but is not overdone (candles/scents) like some stores. I fell in love with several original old floral paintings that were found in Belgium flea markets. If I had an open wallet, I'd have bought 6-8 of them! Instead, I bought a cool Chicago tea towel and some misc. paper items.

This was a "hot" nightspot near our hotel. I liked the cute winking girl. This place was packed in the evenings. We never went there......maybe next time!

Below are a few photos taken directly north of our hotel. This is a historic property that has been turned into a private club. The entire home, yard, and buildings have been expertly restored. They even had an incredible 30's Cadillac limosine just sitting in the driveway. Very ritzy!

A final shot taken looking directly into "the Bean" in Millennium Park.

Peace Chicago! We hope to return soon.......

Chicago Museum of Science/Industry & Obama's Hood....

2009-06-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

We ventured to the south side of Chicago on Monday. We visited the neighborhood of the Obama's. They lived within blocks of here and Barack was a teacher at the University of Chicago (seen in the next two photos). The area is quite compact and the University buildings are old and resemble "Harry Potter" movie scenes.

We had wanted to go see the Obama's house on Greenwood Avenue (only a few blocks away). But the Secret Service has the entire area within three streets of the house blocked off. I heard that if you try to sneek a photo from even blocks away......they are right on yer ass! So the photo below is compliments of google maps.

We went to the "Museum of Science and Industry". This huge attraction took about four hours to see. It was a traditional 'old-school' museum with full size airplanes, trains, submarines, cars, and farm equipment. They had funky retro exhibits like "hatching chicks" and "make your own plastic molded toy". Plus I enjoyed seeing the "Colleen Moore Dollhouse" - a spectacular 1930's fantasy dollhouse I had heard about since I was little. Yes.....there were TONS of children and it was noisy and busy. But we managed to make it on a free admission day....! Cool, we can use that money for a nice dinner!

This dress was made from led lights. It moved around to a music soundtrack. This would be a great Halloween costume!

Full size and real Boeing 727 airplane inside the museum's main building. It's just hanging there and flying parallel to the second floor! That was cool.......

This is the famous "Robie House". It's located adjacent to the University. It's probably the second most famous Frank Lloyd Wright building in Chicago (next to the home/studio). It's open for very limited tours and some of it is closed. We will wait a few years and maybe tour this property when the 10 year renovation is complete. It was still great to see it in person and take a few photos. Right after these photos were taken, we experienced a massive mid-west thunderstorm and 30 minute HARD rain shower. We packed it up after this and returned to the hotel.

94th Floor Observatory & Chicago eats....

2009-06-09T11:15:00.001-07:00

Since our hotel was only a few blocks away from the John Hancock Building, we waited until a clear weather day to visit the 94th floor observatory. You buy your ticket and take "the quickest elevator ride" in America (0-94 floors in 45 seconds). The view is fabulous and gives you an excellent panorama of the buildings and geography of Chicago and it's suburbs.

This is looking in the direction of the downtown "loop" with the Trump tower and Sears tower in plain view. Keep in mind.....a 60 story building is small in this skyline.

Looking at the center of this photo, you see a swimming pool. Right next door is our hotel. It's the tall, skinny 16 floor Hotel Cass. It' s a midget compared to the other buildings in the area.

This is looking to the beaches, suburbs, and parks located north of the city's core business district. Wrigley Field, gay neighborhoods, shopping and restaurants, and upscale housing is located in this area.

Chicago is known for great restaurants. We sampled a few that were famous with the locals. This was "Pizzeria Uno" which featured traditional Chicago deep-dish pizza.

We ended up at this place after someone in a store told us the food was good. It was called "The Tilted Kilt" and is best described as "Hooters with a Scottish motif". The girls wore tiny kilts, skimpy blouses, and pushup bras. The food was indeed very good and you got a free side of boobs with every meal. This photo shows several waitresses entertaining three sailors from a nearby Naval Station. Everyone was so young and cute.

This is Maggiano's Little Italy. Located just a few blocks from our hotel. We had a wonderful sit-down Italian dinner here. Very traditional restaurant with a large menu. We sat on their side walk dining section. I normally don't like to sit on the street for dinner but this place was different. They had a large three foot wide planter box filled with shrubs and flowers that separated the sidewalk from the dining area. So you could see all the street activity but people were at least six feet away from you. The weather was great (no flying bugs) and the view of several skyscapers was amazing. Totally relaxing dinner in the heart of this bustling city.

This is the world's biggest McDonalds. I have to admit we did pick up a few snacks here. Open 24 hours....it's a good option at 2 a.m. after the bars. This is a "flagship" McDonalds store with two floors, a rooftop garden, escalators, museum, and fancy trims. The restaurant occupies an entire city block. It's busy day and night.......any hour or day of the week. CRAZY!

Next posts......Hyde Park, Obama, Science Museum.

Chicago Loop & Mary Poppins

2009-06-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

This is how we traveled in Chicago. The "el" is the train that runs above and below ground all over the city. It's fast, clean, and easy. We bought 7-day passes and we used them many times a day. We took the train for long day trips and just short hops when our feet hurt from walking.

Marshall Field is a famous (100 year old) department store in Chicago. A few years ago, it was bought out by Macy's and that caused major drama with longtime residents. Although the store is officially labeled as "Macy's", they left the Marshall Field signs to soothe citizens. The store is huge and occupies an entire city block.

This is Buckingham Fountain. It's about 110 years old and is a city landmark. The fountain has an hourly water show and lights up in the evening.

There are so many interesting buildings in Chicago. This one had an awesome roofline. You look at the buildings and appreciate the details.....but it would take years to learn their names and what they are used for. Chicago is a HUGE city!

Sunday night was "theater night". We saw the musical "Mary Poppins" at the Cadillac Palace Theater. This production is the newly mounted 'national tour'. The show has been redesigned for the tour and it is gorgeous! I've seen shows in London, New York, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Portland.......this production was (by far) one of the best I've ever seen. Great cast, tight musical numbers, special effects, and pure entertainment. I was left speechless by the end of the evening. It was AMAZING! We stood by the stage door and got to meet all of the leads in the show. Gavin Lee (Bert) was so kind and he actually said he was sorry for "taking so long to get out of the theater". Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) was gorgeous in person. When we mentioned we were from Portland, she instantly asked if I was the one who gave her the gift and card. The day before, I dropped off a gift for her at the stage door. I recently found a darling vintage pin that had an umbrella and carpetbag motif. It looked just like the ones that Mary Poppins uses in the show. I wanted Ashley to have it. So I sent it backstage to her. I was thrilled when she remembered me, the pin, and the fact we were from Portland! Wow.....how cool is that? Here's a photo of all my autographs and loot. The next photos are the theater and lobby. We had so much fun at "Mary Poppins".....!

Next post: the view from the 94th floor of the Hancock Tower and Chicago eats.

Chicago: Baha'i Temple and Millennium Park

2009-06-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

We took the train far north to the town of Wilmette, Illinois on Saturday. We wanted to see the famous Baha'i Temple located in this beautiful lake shore park. The temple was constructed between the 1930's - 1950's to serve the Baha'i worshippers in North America. It's one of only a handful of temples located around the world. The temple is huge and inspiring. There's really not much else around here except for the small town of Wilmette. The town has a small business core surrounded by quite "chi-chi" neighborhoods. We saw some very pretty houses in this district.

We spent a bit of time downtown in Millennium Park. This area is only about 8-9 years old and is a popular spot to visit. Many acres of landscaped gardens, public spaces, and large art installations. The garden area is known as "Lurie Garden". It is maintained and planted as a seasonal garden so it's changing all the time. The photo with the large grassy field is where President Obama gave his acceptance speech after winning the election. The face spewing water is an art piece that changes it's expression then spits out the water. There's two of these with various faces representing Chicago.

This piece of art is known as "the Bean". It's only a few years old but already has become a Chicago landmark. It's official name is "Cloud Gate". There were tons of tourists taking photos of it when we visited. People were even laying on the ground and taking upside-down photos!

Stay tuned for more downtown adventures plus the musical "Mary Poppins".....

Conservatory & Frank Lloyd Wright

2009-06-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

On Friday we took the train out to Garfield Park Conservatory. These botanical greenhouse gardens are nearly 100 years old. There are several (huge) glass buildings that house different types of tropical plants. They also have a desert and cactus house. Very impressive!

After we finished with the gardens, we boarded the train and headed further west to the village of Oak Park. We toured the home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright. This national treasure has been carefully restored back to 1909.....the last year Mr. Wright lived there. It's full of wonderful details and original furniture.

We walked to Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple. This is one of his most famous buildings. It's 100 years old and in need of restoration. It is on the list of "the 10 most endangered" historic buildings in the US. There is a huge fundraising effort underway to raise the cash needed to save this masterpiece.

The next few photos are what you see on a stroll through the Oak Park neighborhood. Many wonderful homes and gardens built between 1880 and 1910. This area has the most FLW homes in any one area. It's amazing to just take a casual walk and see these homes right there in front of you. We had great weather and truly enjoyed our time in this quaint village.

Next post will include the Baha'i Temple and Millennium Park.....stay tuned!

Art Institute of Chicago.....a marathon.

2009-06-04T16:15:00.000-07:00

After the morning boat trip, we spent six hours at the Art Institute of Chicago. This museum is amazing. They feature so many famous pieces by legendary artists.....Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, O'Keefe, Pollock, Warhol, Seurat, and many more I can't name. Even if you go at a steady clip, it's hard to get through the place in one day. We saw 95% of the collection (I think we missed the "Native American" section).

This is a painting by John Singer Sargent. It was huge.....bigger than life-size. The photo showing the full length woman is how it appears when you stand about 5-8 feet away from the piece. Below is what the painting looks like close up.....loose strokes and globs of paint. Sargent was a master at layering and light. Gorgeous painting.....!

This is the garden court where we relaxed and had a cold drink. This was our rest before tackling the second half of the museum.

The museum just opened it's brand new "modern wing" May 15th. We got to see the light and spacious building while it's still fresh and new. The collection here consists of many famous modern artists. I did feel this section was only going to improve as the collection of modern art expands into the large galleries. Andy Warhol is below followed by an amazing Jackson Pollock.

There also was a beautiful section of Asian and Roman sculpture and architectural artifacts. Much of this was centuries old and very rare. Very nicely displayed with awesome lighting.

More Chicago in the next post.....Oak Park and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Back from Chicago!

2009-06-04T15:47:00.001-07:00

We arrived home from a fabulous vacation in Chicago. I will be doing just 4-5 posts about the trip. I don't want bore people too much with the details. But I did see a few things that I would like to share with others. Chicago is a great destination. The people are friendly and kind. The food and entertainment is top notch. There is always something to do and so much to see.

This was our room in the "Hotel Cass". This property had a fantastic location only two blocks from Michigan Avenue. It was close to the trains and was quiet (amazing!). Great free breakfast every morning. Excellent service and we met travelers from around the world. The room was quite nice but a bit on the small side.

But this was the view from our hotel room window.....WOW!

The rooms are decorated with cool 1950's era fashion photos.

We went on a river/lake cruise on our first morning in Chicago. They take you up the river to see all the famous skyscrapers. The boat turns around and then ventures out to Lake Michigan for panoramic views of the city. This was very reasonably priced and totally worth the time.

Sears Tower.....over 100 stories tall. It's wedged in a cluster of other tall buildings at least 60-80 stories tall. This makes Portland's buildings look like high school drafting projects!

Nice view as we head out to the lake. The tall skinny building in the center is Donald Trump's new hotel and condo project. It's due to be finished this summer.

Stay tuned......more Chicago highlights in the next few posts!

Sign Malfunction....!!!

2009-05-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

I learned a funny story about the hotel we are staying at in Chicago.
The property fell into "disrepair" several years before the big renovation of 2007. The small hotel offered cheap rooms and not much more. A story centered around the shabby neon sign near the entrance. Apparently old-style neon signs are wired in sections. When the sign for "Hotel Cass" malfunctioned......the result was this (see below).

The sign stayed for awhile. It was later removed when the hotel got it's big facelift.

Imagine pointing a cab driver to this address......!

Sunny Sunday Finds

2009-05-18T12:23:00.001-07:00

A quick trip out to a few sales on Sunday amounted to a box and bag of goodies. I found some cool paper items at a driveway sale near my house. Then I drove to an estate sale that was full of REALLY dirty stuff. I felt like I needed a shower after that one. But the house had many old things from the 1930's-50's. Included were an art deco clock, watering can salt & pepper, flower frogs, Japanese ceramics, and two shabby glass domes. I found an amazing original framed watercolor from Germany. After about 45 minutes, I returned home to spend time in the garden and doing projects. What a great sunny Sunday!

A date with Mary

2009-05-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

I have a date with Mary Poppins! The national touring company of the Broadway hit musical "Mary Poppins" is launching the tour in Chicago.....and we've got tickets. I have wanted to see this show since it opened in New York in 2006. The lead actors from the original production are starring in this Chicago version. The show is amazing (I've heard) and I can't wait to finally see it.

Mary Poppins is probably the most memorable and favorite movie from my childhood. I'm excited to see what they do with it onstage. This production is huge with elaborate sets and costumes. The show is housed in the historic Cadillac Palace Theatre. It's over 80 years old and started out as a vaudeville and "circuit" theater. All of the big names (Garland, Crosby, Hope, Durante, many others) have performed there.