Scenes from a Retro Housewife Vintage Bridal Shower....

The Farm Chicks inspired this: sprinkle-filled desert cups with the tea lights inside...believe it or not, the sprinkles were not affected by the candles burning for over three hours! I had some really good friends that helped me set up and make up the displays, I enjoyed the hours we spent together Friday getting the room set up and ready!

I scattered jump rope rhymes around with the little vintage displays....

(Click any photo to enlarge)

My old ironing board was put out for a display of fun old dishtowels, some repro-feedsacks, and other laundry items...

These little fingertip towels were found at a garage sale this summer....


An old laundry basket with folded rag rugs inside...


Used the leftover postcard invitations to scatter around on the tables...

The Lord gave us a beautiful, sunny (but cold) day!

The jump rope rhymes were too cute with the bride and groom's names inserted...I remember long recesses at elementary school learning the jump rope moves!

Salvation Army tea set...

Sam's Club bakery did a wonderful job on the cupcakes with mini rosebuds to match the teacups...got way too many and had to send 'em home with anybody who would take some!
Too much is better than too little, is my motto.

I was channeling MaryJane's Farm all the way....

This was a display my older sister brought to contribute...a gorgeous basket with one of my favorite Martha Stewart dishtowels and baking supplies and vintage baking tools, LOVED IT!


It seemed like everyone enjoyed getting into the theme of the shower, and making the displays, and talking about the linens and vintage items on display, inspired conversation was what I was hoping for...it really worked!

Autumn's new old dishes in a tote, ready to go home with her. On the top are vintage magazines and catalogs to browse through...

I enjoyed putting the displays together and letting everyone enjoy the old embroidered linens I've loved finding at garage sales and thrift stores over the years. I was thinking about it today that I've collected more embroidery than I could have ever done myself! I wonder sometimes how the women back then had the time to do all the hard work and chores and caring for large families PLUS doing fine needlework like this!

Scrabble tiles are FUN to decorate with...don't pass by those at garage sales!

The bride opens all her goodies....

This gift basket was put together by my sister who is a florist, it was a specialty basket of all things Italian/gourmet!

All the aprons I had (and a few that I borrowed) were taken and worn by all the guests who wanted them...it was so much fun!

We forgot to take pictures of all the gorgeous food! The baked potato soup was a big hit and the Olive Garden salad, too! The chicken salad sandwiches were delish.

I used vintage ad copy for guests to choose their name tags to wear...

It was all fun and the bride loved and enjoys with all of us, the vintage and retro items which made it even more enjoyable and rewarding! She was sweet this morning with a little thank you gift of six vintage cloth napkins in a beautiful mint green color linen that I can't wait to use for Easter dinner and cuter than cute bracelet made of a vintage pin (I can't wait to show you that in another post)!

So worth all the work to see Autumn happy and enjoying it. Great memories were made which is what it's all about! And now our best wishes to the bride and the groom in their new life to come (in June!) and setting up their first home and all the special joys that the first year will bring!

(Special thanks for all my "helpers", from nieces to sisters and friends, it was a big job and all your help made it possible. THANKS again!)