Sizzling Summer Style: Mid-Century & Atomic That Turns Heads

This summer has been full of firsts, fun, and fabulous mid-century atomic vignettes! Gary and I had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with two incredible antique shops right here in Sonoma County—Antique Harvest in Healdsburg and Antique Society in Sebastopol—to bring a little of our mid-century magic to their spaces. From window styling to themed showroom vignettes, we’ve been diving headfirst into the world of visual merchandising, and the response has been absolutely heartwarming!

A Retro Road Trip Window at Antique Harvest, Healdsburg

Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic
Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic

Let’s start in Healdsburg, where we had the absolute privilege of collaborating with the incredible Carol Eagle, who owns Antique Harvest along with her husband Phil. Carol is truly the heart and soul of the shop—and one of the kindest, most generous people you’ll ever meet. Her deep knowledge of antiques, estate jewelry, and mid-century treasures is only matched by her sharp wit and warm, joyful spirit.

Carol brings so much care and humor into everything she does, and she’s the kind of shop owner who goes above and beyond to support her dealers—always cheering them on, sharing insights, and creating a welcoming space where everyone thrives.

Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic
Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic

Designing the Mid-Century Summer Vacation window display with Carol was an absolute highlight for Gary and I. She’s a true vintage visionary and even contributed some fabulous pieces of her own, including atomic barware, classic 1950s books, and original records that added nostalgic depth and character to the scene. It was a beautiful collaboration that transformed the front of the shop into a vibrant, living postcard from the past.

Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic
Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic

Gary and I rummaged through our storage units to find just the right pieces to bring the vintage road trip theme to life:

  • Our cherry red Formica dinette set (yes, we’re obsessed!)
  • Stacks of vintage suitcases ready for adventure
  • Classic cameras to capture travel memories
  • Pinup-style polka dot dresses and circle skirts
  • Teak lamps with atomic fiberglass shades
  • Pink Pyrex Gooseberry & Amish Butterprint Cinderella stacking bowls
  • Atomic bar carts and barware and so much more!

The joy has been in the reactions. Because it’s the front window of the shop, we’ve had the unique pleasure of seeing people stop, smile, point, and even tear up as they reminisce.

We’ve heard so many sweet stories from visitors about growing up with these exact pieces in their homes—or at grandma’s! And for younger generations, it’s been all about the color, style, and “wow factor” of this atomic-era wonderland.

Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic
Antique Harvest Mid-Century Modern Atomic

If you’re in Northern California, be sure to stop by! Antique Harvest in Healdsburg, CA is open daily—and our vignette is still turning heads.

Atomic Summer Pop-Up at Antique Society, Sebastopol

Antique Society Mid-Century Modern Atomic Formica Chrome Table Chairs
Antique Society Mid-Century Modern Atomic Formica Chrome Table Chairs

Over in Sebastopol, we brought the heat (and plenty of chrome) with our Atomic Summer pop-up at Antique Society! We were delighted to be working closely with the shop’s inspiring owner, Angela Vidinsky. Collaborating with Angela on this theme was an absolute joy—she’s not only incredibly talented when it comes to color coordination, display, and visual storytelling, but she also brings a thoughtful, values-driven perspective to everything she does.

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The Perfect Gingham Dress: A Review of Collectif’s Swing Dress

Yasmina Greco in Collectif Clothing Roberta Gingham Swing Dress
Yasmina Greco in Collectif Clothing Roberta Gingham Swing Dress

When I wear gingham, I feel like sunshine and picnics. Nothing says hello summer more than a pretty gingham dress. In fact, gingham is the biggest trend of the season and it never goes out of style. It’s the first weekend of June, and the weather couldn’t be more perfect for a day out with my sweet hubby Gary, so I am wearing my new 50s inspired Roberta Gingham Swing Dress from Collectif Clothing.

Yasmina Greco in Collectif Clothing Roberta Gingham Swing Dress
Yasmina Greco in Collectif Clothing Roberta Gingham Swing Dress

Collectif Clothing: Celebrating vintage styles UK-based Collectif Clothing offers a unique blend of vintage and retro-inspired styles, all designed with high-quality materials and an eye for timeless aesthetics. Their size-inclusive collections, which range from XS-22, elegantly celebrate every body shape and size, re-imagining the enchanting fashion of the 1940s and 1950s for the contemporary woman.

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The Best Tips for Collecting Vintage Mermaids and Fish

Vintage mermaids and fish

Join me to learn the best tips for collecting vintage mermaids and fish and even what to look out for from top manufacturers like Norcrest, Lefton, Bradley, and Freeman McFarlin and the history behind them! Let’s dive into the magical depths of yesteryear and discover the irresistible appeal of these delightful figurines.

A Brief History of Vintage Mermaids and their Makers:

The 1940s-1950s marked the golden age for the production of vintage mermaids and fish. During this time, countless families across the US adorned their bathrooms and vanities with these enchanting wall plaques, available at local five-and-dime stores and souvenir shops.

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The Best Tips for Collecting Vintage 1950s Spaghetti Poodles

Yasmina Greco Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950sToday I am thrilled to share one of my passions with you all – collecting vintage Spaghetti Poodles! These little guys are positively precious, and they add a wonderful sense of cuteness while perfectly fitting into my mid-century modern aesthetic.

My favorite pieces from the collection have got to be the 1950’s Norcrest poodle trio in glasses & bows on the tray plus Lipper & Mann’s ‘NOEL’ set for Christmas time. Also included in this beloved assortment is an array of delightful lipstick holders, planters, vases – it just can’t get any better than that!

UPDATE: You can ready about my collections on a recently published piece in the Antique Trader

Norcrest Napco Lefton Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950sTake a step back in time and revel in the kitschy cuteness of 1950s poodles! Back then, these furry four-legged friends were everywhere – from classic Poodle skirts to intricate spaghetti art ware figurines. Ceramic artists crafted unique pieces using a special technique that mimicked the pup’s fur and sparked an excitement for all things “spaghetti” poodle!

Spaghetti art wear is made from clay, porcelain, and ceramic which is applied as “fur” to form various textures of a poodle’s hairdo. To accomplish the spaghetti look, ceramicists and designers would have different techniques like using tea strainers to push the material through to form strands that were then attached to the poodle giving it a pom-pom look or they would swirl it onto to the poodle for a curly look. The spaghetti is very fragile and tends to break or chip over the years.

Norcrest Napco Lefton Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950s Yasmina Greco

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Proven Strategies for Finding Antiques at Bargain Prices

For vintage buffs, antique malls, flea markets, and thrift stores are like Disneyland. It’s a place where dreams of finding hidden gems come true. While it may seem overwhelming at first, with a little know-how you can score some serious treasures without breaking the bank. So follow along and learn how to master the hunt with my expert tips for scoring antiques at bargain prices at antique malls, thrift stores, and vintage festivals. Happy hunting!


Buyers and sellers are all looking for the same thing in the end and that is a “bargain”. The buyer is looking for a bargain item to add to their collection and the seller is looking for a bargain item that they can re-sell for a profit. Many people today still ask “Are there any bargains out there left to be had”? My answer is YES, you just need to know how to spot the bargain and have patience.

Shopping Antique Malls

Treasure Hunting – as I like to call it requires lots of careful hunting, seeking, and searching to locate that bargain item.  Also, you have a lot of competition as you are not the only one out treasure hunting. With the popularity of online auction sites, antique & collectibles shops, more and more flea markets popping up regularly and shows like Antiques Roadshow, there are a lot of treasure hunters indeed. But, with that being said, all these venues for seeking treasure may actually make it easier to find a bargain…..that’s right, I said easier.

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Holt Howard Pixieware Haven: The Best Tips for Collectors

Yasmina Greco with her Holt-Howard Jam ‘n Jelly Pixieware Jar and matching T-Shirt

Nothing sparks my interest in vintage kitchenware from the 1950s and 1960s quite like Holt Howard Pixieware. These delightful items, such as jam ‘n jelly jars with tiny tongues savoring the sweetness, instant coffee pixie jars, relish pixie jars, and the cheerful girl set, epitomize imaginative design. Manufacturers like Holt-Howard, Davar, Lefton, Lipper & Mann, Norcrest, Napco, and Menschik Goldman, to mention a few, showcased unparalleled creativity with their vibrant, quirky creations. Continue reading for my best tips becasue the fervor for collecting Pixieware as it remains strong and shows no signs of waning!

1958 Holt Howard Relish Pixieware Jar
Holt-Howard Relish Jar with Spoofy Spoon 1958
Holt-Howard Pixieware Condiment Jars
Holt-Howard Pixieware Condiment Jars

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