Kitchens often seems to inspire retro treatment and that's certainly the case with these kitchen illustration postcards by Amy Walters.
The London-based designer has produced a charming design, showing everything from whisks to spatulas. The set includes four different colourways, each with a 50s flavour, that have been printed onto recycled card for sending or saving as you see fit.
The set of four cards costs $5.
Buy them from her Etsy store
An object that many people will hold dear is celebrated on this Heritage sewing machine tote by Stephanie Cole Design.
Yes, the bag celebrates the instantly recognisable looks of the Singer sewing machine, based on an original illustration by this Cirencester based designer. If you like this number, you may be pleased to learn that it is also available on a cushion.
The bag costs £6.95.
Buy it from her Etsy shop
Next time you shirk away from your ever-growing pile of socks in dire need of darning, this cheerful little print should give you a gentle reminder to sit down and get stitching.
The Make Do and Mend print from Farouche embodies one of the most enduring sentiments of wartime Britain and, with our pockets feeling a little lighter of late, is as relevant now as it was back then. The simple cursive typography, finished with a simple needle motif and vintage-style border, is available with a mint green, peach or dove grey background.
The Make Do and Mend print is at a credit-crunch friendly price of $18 from the Farouche store on Etsy.
It's a not-so-secret fact that we love retro sci-fi, particularly the sort that involve shaky sets, dodgy special effects and not-so-scary monsters. Of course, no far-fetched adventure in outer space would be complete without ray guns.
If you're the sort of person who worries that giant spiders or robots may come knocking at your door some day, you'll need these b-movie inspired Marooned on Mongo cushions from Diffraction Fiber on Etsy. Made of eco-felt (produced from recycled plastic bottles), this set of handcut cushions feature a space age ray gun on one and an old school Batman-esque sound effect 'Pew! Pew!' bubble on the other. We can't promise you that it'll protect you from an army of martians but you can at least bash them over the head with it.
The pair are $40 from Diffraction Fiber's Etsy store.
Make sure you throw the party to end all parties with this party starter package.
It's a whole box full of fun which will ensure hours of laughter – just make sure you've got your camera handy. Everyone loves to dress up and this gives another excuse for taking on a new persona. The kit includes; four moustaches, one beard, four glasses, four lips, one pipe and three bow ties.
Get yours from FunnySideofLife at Etsy online for $48 ($2 delivery outside of the US).
Many retro-styled dresses out there a perfect for parties & summer picnics but vintage chic suitable for the office is an area that's often overlooked.
Designer Michelle Tan creates vintage inspired frocks that look as if they were plucked straight from the Mad Men costume department. The Peggy dress in particular would look picture perfect wandering the corridors of Sterling Cooper. The oversized collar & faux pockets with red stripe accents give the plain navy an understated flair. An ideal way to bring a slice of retro refinement to the office, no matter how far your place of work may from 60s Madison Avenue.
The Peggy dress is made to order to your measurements and is available with short or ¾ length sleeves. $120 from Michelle Tan's Etsy store.
