The Retro Blog

These instructions for How To Make Postcards From Vintage Book Covers are simple and lovely.

Do you have 64 1960s Barbies lying around? I sure wish I did after seeing this Barbie starburst mirror.
[via retro renovation]

If you’re feeling crafty and can navigate your way through a Japanese web site, you should check out these paper computer speakers from Princeton. You fold them yourself into cute little retro designs.

This comes a little late, but Modern Mechanix has some interesting ideas for making animals out of Easter eggs.

Way back in the early days of The Retro Blog, I did a post about creative uses for vintage suitcases, like cat beds, tables, and ottomans. Here’s one I missed entirely – medicine cabinets! This etsy seller does a lovely job.

Here’s another wonderful hand crafted retro inspired object of envy: a homemade wooden vespa scooter. Carpenter Carlos Alberto crafted it, and you can follow his process on this site.

[via boing boing gadgets]

Martha Stewart’s site has a printable template for these vintage art styled squirrel party favors. I would love to go to a party and find a paper squirrel filled with candy waiting for me at the table, wouldn’t you? Why is it that nobody I know throws Martha Stewart style parties? Le sigh.

This roundup of free Photoshop brushes has a wonderful retro/vintage category. Remember Teenage Mother? Now she’s a graphic design tool!

Hey guys, remember tennis for two? Now you can build your own! [via boing boing]

Old electronics are some of the easiest retro items to find at garage sales, thrift stores and the like. People are quick to do away with their vintage electronics because they seem so incompatible with modern technology. If you’re in the mood for a little “do it yourself,” however, there are a lot of great [...]

I can barely stitch up a hole in a pair of pants, but I’ve always had secret aspirations to sew elaborate retro dresses. Maybe someday I’ll hunker down and learn how to sew something other than a straight line, and at this time Sew Retro will become a resource rather than an envy inducer. It’s [...]

Retro styled swimsuits can be pretty pricey, but with a little sewing knowledge (or at least a really good friend with some sewing knowledge) you can make your own. Craftster user ecinahs3000 has posted a tutorial on how to make your on 50’s style bathing suit. Just make sure you pair it with a nice [...]

Flickr user DSchrubbe managed to squeeze a modern computer and flat screen monitor into the guts of a 1957 television. I’m jealous. Despite their great efforts, even macs don’t look this good. [via make]

Tired of being unable to afford revamping your house with stylish designer furniture? Well at least you can enact your dreams in miniature. I found large collections of dollhouse sized mid-century modern furniture at Tokyu Hands, a chain department store in Japan specializing in a DIY lifestyle. I guess the DIY part here is how [...]

I’m constantly finding myself at junk stores, thrift shops, and garage sales looking at broken bits of things and thinking about how I might use them in some kind of decorating or animation project. Guy Robot makes for a great source of inspiration. The artist crafts retro junk into the cutest little robots you’ve ever [...]

Need tips on giving your home some mid-century flare? The folks over at Populuxe Books are here to help. They’ve been collecting 1950’s and 60’s interior design, architecture, art, and DIY books from thrift stores. I’m sure they put in long, hard hours digging through the dreck at Goodwill so you don’t have to. They’ve [...]

Having recently made my opinions about Design Within Reach known, I went looking for alternatives. One of the easiest ways to make yourself some instant mid-century cred is to stick some of these hair pin legs on just about anything. Any coffee table, side table, sofa, or credenza gets an instant 50’s restyling simply [...]

I’m always seeing cheap old suitcases at thrift stores and estate sales, and they’re hard to pass up. I mostly use them for stylish storage, but I’ve found some more creative ideas I’d like to try. They’re great for transforming into cat beds, tables, and ottomans. Now I can feel ok when I grab yet [...]

While most people are abuzz with rumors about the upcoming Batman film, there are some of us who still prefer our dark knight with Adam West and more than a touch of camp. I can’t really picture Christian Bale saying “let’s go, Robin. We’ve set another youth on the road to a brighter tomorrow,” which [...]

Flickr user ignutzz posted a step by step slideshow demonstrating how she updated some vintage food canisters. It’s a simple and inspiring DIY project to give your kitchen a retro touch. They’re gorgeous and encourage shopping in the bulk items bin; therefore I heart. Her mixer’s eye candy too.