Holiday Greetings

To my faithful blog readers - thanks for sticking with me through the years even though I only post occasionally these days. You can follow me these days on Facebook - where I hope to be more timely in my posting. Hope you all got exactly what you wanted for Christmas! Enjoy these wonderful vintage cards I recently picked up for 25 cents each!

Dougsploitation Holiday Dream House

Back by popular demand...

I've been collecting vintage Christmas decorating books and magazines for a few years now, so it's about time I share some of my favorite photos with you all. The above picture is an example of what the Dougsploitation Holiday Dream House would be like. A blazing fire with a highly flammable wreath hung above it. All the fellas would wear red vests and the gals (whether real or factory-made) would be as pretty as could be. Our Reader's Digest Condensed Books would be in year order on the shelf and popcorn would be offered to all guests.

Our white tree would be decorated with red balls and Mariah Carey meets Mothra style butterflies.

Or maybe we'd do a blood red tree simply decorated with White Wing Doves. All gifts would be wrapped in red so as not to stand out from the tree.

In addition we'd have this smart pastel spiral tabletop tree in our green room.

Our dining room credenza will be decked out in throngs of gold garland with gold balls on thick red ribbons hanging in front of the mirror. Who needs to look in the mirror anyway?

Speaking of garland - lets just hang all of it over the living room window. Take a gander at that gold candelabra. Classy, eh?

Our other fireplace would have an amazing Santa with bells and reindeers display. The three stockings add a nice touch to the already festive mantle story.

Our snacks would be served in the most unique ways...who else has a donut caddy? The pretzel tree is a bit sloppy, but I have no idea what's go on with that thing on the right. Any ideas?

And finally, our third fireplace would be adorned with a life-size Baby Jesus coming out of the wreath to greet us. Who wouldn't want to spend the holidays in this Dream House?

Let's Play Christmas "Caption This"....

Hey readers! Post your most clever caption for this holiday photo.

Cards from Christmases Past - Part 4

Here's the last batch of vintage greeting cards for your enjoyment.

This die-cut number also features a sample of forced perspective. Pretty cool.

This IT'S A SMALL WORLD inspired design is just too cute for words - no matter what language you say it in!

This beautiful winter scene is one of my favorites. No red or green needed to convey the spirit of the season.

And finally - the oddest one in the collection. A pink and gold bell-shaped die-ct with an angel wearing a bird for a hat and carrying a poinsettia flower. Gotta love it. Gotta love the 1960s and all the wonderful holiday memories they evoke. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Cards from Christmases Past - Part 3

I continue my look at some smashing greet card designs from a recently acquired 1964 catalog.

Here's a wonderful Santa face in a die-cut wreath. Love the embossed berries.

Here's a very jolly and glittery Santa, ready to welcome you into the Christmas spirit.

Here's another take on jolly St. Nick - probably from the same artist as the top card. Surrounded by lovely snowflakes.

And finally - the whole Claus family gets in on the act! Adorable. I hope to have some more designs to share tomorrow.

Cards from Christmases Past - Part 2

As promised, here's more more great vintage greeting card designs from 1964. Today I'll look at some humorous designs.

Here Santa and his eight reindeer have traded in their sleigh for a camper. Very cute, but not so eco-friendly.

Santa drops a giant maraschino cherry into a cocktail glass...CHEERS!

Santa shares some home movies in this die-cut design that includes a place for you to insert your own photo. How clever!

Oh those elves! They've wrapped the zebra in very gay apparel. 

And finally, Republicans and Democrats are dancing under the mistletoe. It was a much simpler time. More fun to come tomorrow!

Have a Happy...

Hello readers, it's been a super busy year between my "day job", working on PRETTY and just life in general. I intended to post many more wonderful holiday themed items over the past few week, but alas there is not enough time in the day. I do hope you all are having a great holiday no matter WHAT or HOW you celebrate and look forward to a big, bright New Year for us all. Peace, peeps.

Foodsploitation: Humpty Dumpties

When Humpty Dumpty slipped and fell,
He suffered from a fractured shell,
And when he saw his cracks and creases,
Poor Humpty simply went to pieces,
He'll make a happier landing, though,
In candy-sprinkled yeasty dough.

This frightens me.

Foodsploitation Extra: Awesome Cookbook Covers

This pair of "cook booklets" have always been "suitable for framing" and maybe one day I will do just that - in the meantime I'd just like to share them with you.

Not sure what that floral-type shape is supposed to be - and I don't care. It just makes the design all the more special.

Obviously inspired by BEWITCHED, this witch isn't afraid to use her witchcraft in the kitchen, even if "sour cream" is her secret ingredient. Enjoy!

Even More Dougsploitation Holiday Decor

As promised, here are some new additions to my holiday decor. All purchased cheaply or acquired for free!

Santa & Mrs. Claus candle holders. These cuties were from my childhood. I "rescued" them from the cold, dark garage on my last visit back home. I think they are much happier in my home than they were collecting dust in New York.

These imports came to me via Whacko/Soap Plant in Los Feliz - $6 for the pair. Not sure what anime characters they are based on, but they are a welcome addition to my collection.

I found this little creepy Santa in a random box in the old garage. It's not from my childhood, but I thought he needed a good home anyways.

I bought this candle duo for my Mom back in the swingin' 70s at the local Hallmark card store. They managed to survive over 30 years and not melt! Glad to finally have them among my treasures.

This pathetic little guy not only lost his nose, but he seems red with embarrassment over the situation. Certainly a misfit decoration if there ever was one.

This plastic garland of bells was part of my childhood, and makes quite a statement hanging over my new Jaclyn Smith Collection drapes from K-Mart!

The candle and base are brand new from Ikea - but the plastic wreath is from the family garage. The perfect blend of new & vintage.

Here's another plastic garland - this one has musical instruments hanging from it. I loved this as a kid - and still do!

And finally, I've added a few dozen new glass ornaments to my white tree. Many are from my family's collection and a few a recently acquired from local thrift shoppes. The blend of old, new, borrowed and found makes for a wonderful Christmas story, and the perfect way to continue the best holiday traditions. I hope your decorating is as fun and meaningful to you as mine is to me. Happy Holidays, Dougsploitation readers!

More Dougsploit-decorating for the Holidays

Here's some more snapshots of my Holiday decorating from last year
It's taken me a long time to finally get the white tree I've always wanted, so here it is, all lit up!

It's even quite attractive when not lit up, if I do say so.

Here's my infamous "LP wall" (and the retro lamp I bought at the PASSIONS prop sale in 2008). Notice Sing with Marcy on the lower left. She's be on the wall again this year because nothing says Christmas like a creepy ventriloquist dummy.

This is weird little ornament I found at a local shoppe in Burbank. Santa is darn lucky that house has a raised roof!

A vintage table centerpiece I found cheaply in '08.

This ceramic Santa was a favorite in my New York house as a kid. I shipped him to myself cross country last summer, and now he's proudly displayed in my California home.

Here's a vintage Jewel Brite ornament I got for a buck.

And one in a series of cute diaramas that I found in the Jewel Brite tradition.

I got this vintage Lil Susie Snowflake figurine last fall in Arizona for a few bucks, she has now joined my tchotchke set-up by the kitchen window.

Also by the kitchen window are these wacky elves from my friend Laura's garage. Three in red...

And three in green. My mix of vintage and retro ornaments and decorations has made my budget-conscious Christmas a merry! Additionally this year I've added more stuff from my parent's garage and a few other places - all free and/or real cheap. I hope to have some pix of those as well very shortly.