Same As It Ever Was

There seems to be quite a bit of misunderstanding as to what makes a real Cowichan sweater~ it isn't just a keyword that should be thrown around in hopes of hocking your random vintage cardigans. Many zip-up cardigan sweaters that were made using Mary Maxim patterns are spammily being called "Cowichan" which is, in fact, completely wrong and doesn't reflect much intelligence on the seller's behalf. That's like calling an AMC Pacer a Cadillac: just because they're both cars doesn't make them the same kind of car. I'm sure the Cadillac would be piiiissed.

While Mary Maxim and Cowichan sweaters share alot of the same characteristics, their quality and history are vastly different. Authentic Cowichan sweaters have been handmade (ie: no factories, no mass-produced corporate lines--And don't even get me STARTED on all the repros out there being made by the Eddie Bauers and L.L. Beans of the world and being called "vintage style Cowichan") for almost a century by the Coast Salish Indian knitters of southern Vancouver Island by generations of only women using handspun, natural sheep wool. Their techniques and styles haven't changed much over the years, with instructions being passed down to each new generation of girls.

The designs on the sweaters were one-of-a-kind and carried meaning and importance to their culture, revolving around nature and animal themes- as opposed to the much more kitschy and whimsical designs of Mary Maxim sweaters like motorcycles and bowling balls. Don't get me wrong, Mary Maxim sweaters are fantastic, in fact, I collect them myself and am trying to get as many of the designs as possible! But confusing a fun, make-it-yourself fashion craze of the 1950's-70's with a long-standing cultural tradition is just...gross.

I've been very fortunate to get my paws on one recently, and it may sound cheesy with all the drama of a Tori Spelling Lifetime Movie, but I gotta say, it's pretty awe-inspiring to actually have one in my hands. Care to see a real Cowichan sweater? Just listed to Fast Eddie's Retro Rags is this exceptionally rare Vintage 70's AUTHENTIC Cowichan Indian Elk Sweater:

My (Aqua) Blue Heaven Friday: Shirt Happens

It's another Aqua Blue Heaven Friday, kids! Today's post is gonna be like Mini Me, on the short side, because I have very important lounging-around, junk food-eating and all around slacking to do, and you know me: if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself.

I heard from a peep or 2 that they'd like to see more stuff for men around here. I can only assume they meant boobs, beer and beef jerky, but, sorry to disappoint, vintage clothing for men will have to do. I've been looking around for a while now and like a lot of the aqua themes here, finding cool vintage men's shirts in some kind of aqua isn't exactly easy. Of course, there are tons of Hawaiian shirts in aquas, but I didn't have Hawaiian shirts in mind. I didn't find many regular old standard 50's and 60's shirts. I wonder why that is? I'm sure they had to be popular back in the day, no? Maybe it was just an off week for finding them? It couldn't be that aqua is too girlie because, hell, men were wearing pink in the 50's. Even ol' muy macho Rico Suave himself Ricky Ricardo wore pink on occasion. This is too much thinking and it's cutting into my Twinkies and Maury Povich "Who My Baby Daddy?!" time, so please enjoy these vintage 50's-60's men's shirts!



Vintage 60's Embroidered Shirt Jac.



But dig the slap-happy bongo-beatin' guy! That pretty much RULES.





Vintage 60's Aqua & Olive Hawaiian Tiki Shirt.






Vintage 60's Hawaiian Barkcloth Shirt.






Vintage 60's Waltah Clarke Atomic Fish Hawaiian Shirt.





Vintage 50's Hollywood Rogue Rayon Shirt.






Vintage 50's Campus Rockabilly Shirt. Now this is what I'm talking about! This one is killer. You can't really see, but the collar actually has little red and white hearts on it!

Come and Knock On Our Door...

Shortly after they heard news that the old broad kicked the bucket, Janet and Chrissy raided Mrs. Roper's wardrobe faster than you can get Jack to put on a pair of daisy dukes. Now that the cougar downstairs was gone, all they were waiting on was the shipment of knee-high socks and terrycloth tube tops to arrive, then the "Mr. Roper & The Girls Next Door" drug-smuggling sex ring could spring into action.





(Thanks to Femme Fatale Vintage for supplying the pattern!)

Way-Out Wednesday: Put Your Head On My Shoulder...Or Wall.

It's Way-Out Wednesday, kids!



I've really gotta stay away from the handmade section on Etsy, because I always find the most creative and bizarre things on there that I covet deeply and wish I had thought of. (I just ended a sentence with a preposition. The horror!)

Do you have that annoying friend who likes to lecture about the perils of eating animals and the moral and ethical wrongness of it and how animals are people too and who have PETA on speed dial and would rather burn out the retinas of their fellow man by going naked than wearing fur and refuse to wear products made from animals or tested on animals but like to wear synthetic clothing that looks like it came from an animal and eat tofu-based food that tastes like animal and their reasoning is that it's irony even though you explain that's crazy talk because it's not irony at all dumbass, but hypocrisy? Or maybe you just have a friend that likes fun, clever stuff?

If so, I may have found the perfect seller for you. I strongly suggest you tell that friend to, in the words of Arthur Fonzarelli, "sit on it." I also strongly suggest you check out Data Mafia, who makes stuffed animal mounted heads. I really could make a "that's not the only thing that should be mounted" joke, but I will refrain. Plus, their shop banner rocks: "Hip Modern Art That Doesn't Match Your Sofa".


Behold:














This one is by far my favorite, and apparently everyone else wants to see that stupid Fozzie bear dead too, because it's already sold. But at least you can sleep soundly tonight knowing a menace like him is off the streets, torturing innocent bystanders with his corny jokes, bad puns and one-liners. He was asking for it. Now if only someone would do that to Carrot Top. Wocka wocka!

Atomic Tuesday: Swingin' Them Jingle Bells

Welcome to Atomic Tuesday!




I can't believe I'm bringing up the topic of Christmas, but you know, it's really not all that far off. Usually I'm one of those people that waits until *thee* very last minute to buy gifts- not because I hate doing it, in fact, I'm a fairly kickass gift-giver (most of the time, when I think of other people's wants and feelings and human emotions or whatever it is they have) and love buying other people crap I know they'll dig. I wait so long because...I wait so long. No excuse, really. I'm just a procrastinator. And every year I swear that next year I'm gonna be on top of it and start shopping months in advance and go all-out with crazy-cool presents and I won't make baby jebus cry because I'd rather park my keister on the couch and watch a marathon of Absolutely Fabulous with a side of Cheetos than go out into the cold and head to the mall, or wherever. However, this year baby jebus will shed tears of wonder! and joy! and relief!, for I have bought my second Xmas present so far. Second! I also plan to do alot more online shopping than before. I could say it's to "save gas and protect the environment" but screw that, it's really because I'm lazy. I'm still motivated though and could keep going, looking around for other peeps on my list...buuuut I'd rather not. 2 presents are good enough so far, so it's break time. Bust out the chips and cherry coke, it's procrastinate time. (Simmer, baby jebus, I'm on a break.)

So in keeping with the "holiday spirit" (bah), today's Atomic Tuesday is along the lines of really cool, slightly offbeat (the best kind!), atomic-themed items that I think would make pretty kickassular gifts. I adore those crazy Etsy crafters. Enjoy, my little figgy puddings:




Handmade Atomic Clock Bracelet. It's so clever! It totally gets my crafty mojo workin'! But then I figure I'll leave the artsy craftsy to the experts so's I can get back to my stories.




Atomic Symbol Ring I looove this idea- it also comes with a chunk of red sealing wax, so you can seal your letters with an atom stamp. What old-timey fun!




Atomic TV Night Light. The night light is actually handmade with glazed porcelain. I'm going to buy one of these for a hip kid I know who is obsessed with nuclear bombs of the 50's, making that 3 presents bought so far! I'm on a roll.




Hand thrown/handmade Fully Functional Atomic Porcelain Tea Pot. I don't even...I mean, what can I...Coooool.





Nuclear Squid T-Shirt. My indie unhipness is showing, but what does a squid have to do with an atomic symbol? All's I know is that I likes it! Wasn't there some sci-fi b-movie in the 50's about a giant nuclear squid? And it came to Earth in a spaceship and had plans to destroy the human race with it's Ink of Doom but changed it's mind, thus teaching us all how to love again? I dunno, I made that last part up.






"Swingin' Them Jingle Bells" by Fats Waller.

The Real Housewives of Flatbush

This has gotta be my most favorite vintage pattern of all time. I want to get a tattoo of these broads. It's so ahead of it's time. You know, assuming it meant to be ahead of it's time in a trashy cliche Mafia wife kind of way. Which I'm sure was exactly the look the pattern illustrator was going for.







Stripes: "So I says to him, I says: "Hey! Whassa matta you? What do I look like, a side of veal? Fuggedaboudit! I ain't nobody's goomar, so gets your doity paws off me! You can stuff your cannoli in somebody else's ziti', if you's know what I mean. Then I took Johnny to soccer practice and drank half a carafe of red wine while I sat in da minivan. Oh my gaaawd, I was so mad. What a daaawg."

Solid: " 'Sup. You want me to gets da boys and go medievel on his ass? Maybe he'll gets a pair of cement shoes. Maybe they'll have a pair of mohair knit booties to match. And maybe he'll up 6 feets unda Prospect Park. You never know how my boys roll. 7-1-8 represent, yo."