Mid-Century Recipe 2 - Braised Oxtail

I have made this dish twice now - the family demanded a repeat performance.  There is not much meat on an oxtail, but the flavor is delicious, and if your family enjoy chewing on bones, like mine do, they will love it. It's also cheap - about $5 per oxtail.  This quantity serves four - I double it for our family.

What you need

Some chopped parsley for colour would look nice if you have it. And don't worry if you don't have little onions, just add another large one sliced.

It takes about 15-20 minutes to put together and two to three hours to simmer.  You can transfer it to the oven, just keep it on low.  I put it in the oven last night at about 4.30, before a school concert, and when we returned (starving) at 7, it was ready to eat.

Yummy!

I had never heard of oxtail until I had dinner at my mother-in laws one night.  A girl of the 50s, her oxtail soup was a specialty of hers.  This recipe is similar - just add a bottle of red wine to the sauce if you want soup.

♥ Deb

Mid-Century Movie - Female on the Beach, 1955

It has been quite a while since I have done a movie post.  I have been wanting to watch this one for some time, and finally found a copy.  I even managed to get my husband to watch it with me - and he liked it!  The house is one of the stars in this movie, and it's worth watching for that alone, but the costumes are also great, and the story's not bad.

The Low Down

'Female on the Beach' is a 1955 feature film starring Joan Crawford as a widow and Jeff Chandler as her 'beach bum' lover. It was directed by Joseph Pevney (who directed many Star Trek episodes) and produced by Albert Zugsmith (who also produced Orsen Welles 'Touch of Evil' in 1958). It did not get great reviews at the time.

Hints on Handcare

I have been doing a lot of paining and cleaning lately, which makes the house look good (well better) but is not really great for my hands. luckily for me I came across this little tidbit in the Australian Women's Weekly, (from August 1956):

Wearing Pearls - 8 Inspirational Women

I love pearls.

I tend to wear them every day, either as stud earrings, a brooch or a necklace - real and fake.  They can give a vintage touch to any outfit, and any era.

There is something special about pearls - their lustre, they way they catch the light, and the way they feel.  The fact that they are made by nature, with a little help from man now and then, is also amazing. 

Nothing evokes timeless elegance more than pearls - when I think pearls I think Coco Chanel,  Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor and other glamorous women. Putting on a strand of pearls gives us a link to that glamour, to that past.

Grace Kelly in Rear Window, 1954

Here is British actress Alma Taylor, who appeared in over 150 movies the 1910s and early 1920s. In 1915 she was voted the most popular British performer by readers of Pictures and the Picturegoers, comfortably beating Charlie Chaplin into second place, and she was on the cover of Life Magazine.

Alma Taylor on the cover of Life, 1915 source

I even like fake pearls and cultured pearls - much easier to look after, cheaper and great to wear en masse.  Cultured pearls began to appear on the market in the 1900s when real pears were in short supply.  Neither cultured and or artificial glass pearls were accepted immediately.  Coco Chanel was one of the first designers who started to work with imitative or imitation jewellery, including pearls and gemstones, in the 1920s.  Rather than being for those who could simply not afford buying the real luxury, Chanel brought imitation to the state of art.   She often made her costume jewellery pearls bigger than natural, and her simple dresses were ideal for wearing jewellery.  Chanel herself  wore her own creations, often wearing strands of pearls at a time.

Coco Chanel c. 1936, with red lipstick and strands of pearls source

Jacqueline Bouvier , before she was a Kennedy, apparently purchased her famous  pearls in the late 1950s - at Bergdorf Goodman for about $35. She wore her fake pearls with grace, elegance and dignity, whether she was greeting dignitaries or looking after the children, when she was young and when she was older – if she could do it so can we! 

More glamorous ladies - actresses Sophia Loren and Gene Tierney -

Gene Tierney c. 1945 source

I love this photo of Shirley McLaine with her daughter Sachi taken in about 1958 - not really glamorous, but fun!  It' s great to instill a love of pearls into your daughters!

source

Doris Day, always so happy, and beautiful in pearls - 

source

Are you a pearl wearer?

♥ Deb

The Winners...and 1961 fashion

Thank you to the lovely ladies who entered my giveaway last week. The winners are:

Shauna from Mid-Century Girl , who chose this Lucite compact.

and Brahdelt from FriendSheep who chose this 1961 issue of The Australian Home Journal.

Mid-Century Recipe 1 - Beef Stew

This is the first vintage recipe I have attempted with our new menu. I often make stew, usually a 'clean out the fridge' stew at the end of the week, with a tin of tomatoes or beans added.  This recipe looks very basic, but the flavor was quite surprising.  Everyone loved it, even the teenage daughter, and we turned the leftovers into pies (using frozen puff pastry and muffin pans) the following day, which were fantastic (much better than four'n'twenty but a similar flavor).

Beef Pies

So what you need is this:


Recipe - see below
Time - takes about 15 minutes to put together and two hours to simmer.

• Diced beef (stewing steak) about 700g (1 1/2 pounds)
• 2 onions
• Stock (beef, or I used Vegemite in water) 2 cups (1 pint)
• Fat (dripping, or I used coconut oil) about a tablespoon
• Flour about 1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces)
• Vinegar, 1 teaspoon
• Salt and pepper
• Herbs (bunch of mixed fresh or spoon of dried, I used a stick of 'mother of herbs')

Serve with mashed potatoes and a green veg medley.

Meal Planning Mania

I mentioned the other day that as part of my being a good mid-century housewife I cam going to go back to planning our weekly meals. This is the sort of thing I want to do -

You may be able to tell, by the little giveaways like 'liver and bacon', 'fricassee of rabbit' and dessert with every dinner, that this is a vintage meal plan. From my 1960 copy of 'Mrs Beetons Cookery and Household Management,' to be exact.

Dreaming of Squirrels and a Pattern

I had a dream about squirrels the other night.

Which is strange, because we don't have squirrels in Australia.

I have seen them  in Sweden and in New York, though - so cute.

Squirrel in Central Park via

Happy Birthday Eero Saarinen

Eero Saarinen (August 20, 1910 – September 1, 1961) was one of my favourite mid-century designers.

Hailing from Finland, Saarinen emigrated to the US when he was thirteen, and studied furniture design and sculpture at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where his father was a teacher. His fellow students included Charles and Ray Eames, and Florence Knoll (née Schust).

Eero Saarinen  c. 1937 via

He was also an architect and interior designer, having studied architecture in both Paris and at Yale, and loved simple, modern designs with sweeping curves. Such as this.

reception desk by Saarinen via

My week in a nutshell

This week I have been:

♥ Bike riding with the kids - yes I remembered how!
♥ Drinking a vodka martini with my husband (half vodka, half dry vermouth, twist of lemon).
♥ Eating home made meat pies (recipe soon).
♥ Listing lots of new vintage items on my Etsy store.
♥ Planning my mini kitchen renovation and buying floor tiles.
♥ Playing Backgammon with the family.
♥ Reading "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie).
♥ Sitting around the fire-pit with my visiting (no longer living with us) son and his girlfriend.
♥ Watching Dr Who repeats (love David Tennant) and new to Australia Ripper Street.

Our 'new' 1970s backgammon board game, thrifted for 50cents

What have you been doing?

♥ Deb

Don't forget to enter my giveaway, here.

400 Posts!! And a Giveaway.

I have been inspired by my lovely friend and fellow blogger, Miss Fairchild, to celebrate my 400th post.

It is quite an achievement - especially for a girl who swore she would never write again after her last English exam.

I began blogging so that my children would have a bit of a record of what their mum was like.  Then I decided to keep jottings of my research on various aspects of history and fashion.  Then old movies I'd seen. And now my love of vintage, mid-century, home-making tips, recipes, fashion and old photos.

Now and then I receive a lovely comment. Which is nice. I love comments!

So to encourage a few more of my followers to leave comments,  and my readers to become followers, I am having a give little away.  I have spent ages trying to think what to have as a prize, but as everyone's loves, and sizes, are different, I have decided to simply offer something from my Etsy store.

May 1962 Home Journal on Etsy

Now my Etsy store is only small - there are about 40 listings, although I am trying to add a few each day (I actually sold five things last week!)  This store is a little hobby of mine.  It's sort of an excuse to go to thrift shops and garage sales and even vintage fairs -' I'm not going for me babe, it's for the store.'

But, there maybe something that you like.  If you do, please leave a comment on which item and why.  Each person who leaves a comment will get a 10% discount voucher, and next Friday afternoon one comment will be picked at random and win the item of their choice.  Postage will also be included, to where ever in the world you are.

Vintage 1950s Lucite Compact on Etsy

Also, if you follow my store on Etsy you will also receive a 10% discount voucher.  The vouchers will be valid until the end of September.

This blog has had 73,071 page-views in it's two years and 400 posts, with readers from Australia and around the world including the US, the UK, Europe and Brazil.  Wow! And thankyou!

Entries close midday Friday (Eastern Standard Time). Click the shop link above, or here, for my Etsy store.

Thank you again and good luck.

Deb xx

My new life as a mid-century house wife

As I get closer to my 400th post, I have been doing some re-evaluating and decision making.  This blogging experience has taken me from pure research to personal moments, looking at WWII and 1942, new technology and 1913, and now back to my favorite era - mid-century.  So, now what do I want, and which direction will my blog go in?  This could be a long post, but it's more for my own planning purposes than anything, so feel free to just look at the pictures.  There will be more news at the end though.

In my dreams, my home is immaculate.   The children are happy and never argue, the pets don't smell  and my husband has a drawer full of clean socks.

Mackay - "The Honolulu of Australia" in the 1950s

If you've read my blog for a while, you will know that I live in Mackay in North Queensland, Australia.  It's a town of about 90,000 people that depends more on mining and sugar growing rather than tourism, however it is seen as the gateway to the Whitsundays and the Barrier Reef.

I have lived here for about 10 years.  Apart from having to drive only 10 minutes to work, the best thing about Mackay is it's winters.  We don't need any sort of heating, and usually in winter we don't the air-con or fans either.   I do usually wear a jumper in the evenings, but rarely during the day.  And we don't usually get much rain in winter - the rainy season is November to March.

I recently found this ad from August 1952 which plays nicely on our sunny winters.....

Mid-Century Art - The Posters of David Klein

If you have been reading this blog for a while you will know that I have a little obsession with Zebras. (You can see some previous posts here.)  So when I found this image I just had to get myself a copy, and find out more about the artist.

This Poster is one of many designed and illustrated by David Klein (February 23, 1918 – December 9, 2005), a native Texan, who is best remembered for his advertising work during the 1950s and 60s, especially for TWA.  This one was produced in 1967, which is a little out of my mid-century range, but it's till older than me so it's OK!

David Klein in his studio c. 1957 via

A deb ball and fiive vintage ads from 1955

A big weekend - my daughters deb ball was last night, so a quick post today.

She looked beautiful and the dress ( that I had to hem as she had bought one with a train) was perfect for her. Here she is being presented with her partner.

Tartan or Plaid - 1950s style

If, like me, you love Scottie dogs, there comes a time when you take a serious look at tartan (or plaid for my American friends).  Tartan and Scotties go together like.....Scotties and Jell-o...

1950s Evening Dress Inspiration & win a pattern

I went to spotlight Fabrics yesterday to try and get some more of the fabric I am covering my lounge room chairs in.  Of course they have sold out, but I did find the most beautiful iridescent pale blue/mauve/brown shot taffeta instead.  A bit like this.

I oohhed and aahhhed and thought and dreamed......and then didn't get it.

But now I am going to go back and get it, because I have found the perfect pattern!

It's 50s style, but isn't full skirted so won't use ten metres of fabric.  And it's in my size - or any size really.

And it's a PDF so I can get it instantly. 

"You Can Wear Any Color" 1955

From Everywoman's Magazine, September 1955

"How often have you heard statements like these: 'I look ghastly in yellow'...or "Blue is the only color I can wear'... or 'I can wear any color, so long as it's green'? Well, we believe you can wear any color-- any of the six lovely fall colors we show on our suits-to-sew, plus many, many more..."

Fashion from August 1951

Today some fashion photos and ads from the August 1951 issue of the Australian Women's Weekly magazine.  These look like wrap capri pants - I just love the turned up cuff.

Interestingly August is still winter in Australia, but many of the articles and ads feature summer clothes.

Oh, give me some of that'youthful separation' please!

I think I need want this whole ensemble.

Some more American mannequins - we loved US models in the 50s.

 

So nice to see flat sandals on a bathing suit spread rather than high heels - but as for that hat!

More images on tumblr!

Deb xx

Mid-Century Style Art by Matte Stephens

I have been searching for some great mid-century style art for my dining room, and came across this illustration of Central Park.

A view of Central Park. By Matte Stephens.

It's just what I am looking for, both style and colour wise.  It's also of somewhere I have been and have fond memories of.  I just love it!

The artist is Matte Stephens, who is based in Peterborough, New Hampshire, one of those small, picturesque American Towns popular with tourists, and home coincidentally of the Pulitzer prize producing MacDowell Art Colony. 

Matte has exhibited his work widely in the US, and counts among his customers Tiffany & Co., American Express, IBM and more importantly Herman Miller.  As well as being self taught and super talented, he also seems a really nice guy, who was happy for me show you his work - I did ask just to be sure!

Matte says that he loves modern design and is inspired by mid-century designers Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard (textile designer), George Nelson, Irving Harper (think marshmallow sofa) and also artists like Ben Shahn and Paul Klee.  I love Klee's work, but hadn't heard of Ben Shahn (thanks for educating me Matte!)

Much of Matte's work features city's such as new York and Chicago, but also overseas cities such as Paris, Sydney and Melbourne.  I was in Sydney recently, and this painting captures the best bits of the city.

Sydney. Matte Stephens.

Some of Matte's other work is just plain funny.

Capturing the bear in his natural habitat.  Matte Stephens.

With their witty titles they're like the readers I had in grade school, only much cooler.  In fact matte has actually illustrated a couple of books for early readers.

Mr Flux, via

The Foolish Fox, via

As well as foxes, Matte also obviously loves cats.

Cat Bird. By Matte Stephens.

And has a great sense of adventure.

I shot an arrow into the air, they fell to earth in Berkeley Square. Matte Stephens.

The colors he uses are more muted than some mid-century style work around, which I quite like.  You can find him on Etsy, which is where I found these images.  They are quite affordable (from $35), and originals and various size prints are available.  I think I need quite a few.  Don't you?

Deb xx

TVs & Fun with Packaging

My new dining chairs came in rather large boxes - three of them.  Although my daughter grabbed two for storage, my eight year old son decided one would make a great TV.

When I told him it looked like a TV my parents used to own, he thought I was joking - he is used to our flat screen TVs.   But then I found this image from about 1960.

via

Fair to say his jaw dropped open! "Wow mum, you used to watch a TV like that?"  "Well, no, not really," I told him - "ours was in black and white".  Australia didn't have colour TV until the 1970s. "Oh Mum, poor you - and you didn't even have a computer!"

How did we ever manage? No wonder I spent my childhood drawing and colouring!

By the way, you can see my new chair fabric draped on a living room chair in the first photo - more on that soon.

Deb xx

Searching for a sideboard

So my new dining room is almost done. I am still on the lookout for a mid-century sideboard or buffet - something like these.

Teak veneer desk/sideboard $1300 via

Jon Jansen sideboard  - $990 via

teak veneer Chiswell sideboard from $200 via

I have found some vintage sideboards, like the one above, for great prices on ebay - only they won't deliver, and even if they did freight to my place is expensive.  I'll just have to keep checking the thrift shop!

Mind you I do quite like this replica Borge Mogensen sideboard from Replica Furniture, and delivery is about $160.

Replica Borge Mogensen sideboard $995

I'll keep you posted.

Deb xx