CHOPiT! Get Kustomized!

I am not a car guy.  I have always appreciated the beauty of well-designed automobiles but, because my brain is not what one would call "mechanical," I have always felt completely ignorant when it comes to the finer points of the modern combustion engine, makes/models, and the great debate of stock vs. custom.  I just felt safer keeping my big trap shut and my interests elsewhere.  Don't get me wrong; I have been to more than my fair share of car shows but I never graduated from the "That looks so cool" school of auto appreciation.  Making friends with the fine folks at Chopit Kustom Hot Rods, I am not only learning a little something about cars, I am developing a more genuine interest in car culture.

On June 1, Chopit Kustom threw an open house/car show and we were privileged to get a full tour of the shop by the Chopit kids (and our pals), Nick and Fabian.  I am at a loss for any kind of proper camera right now so I caught just a few snaps of the day.

Nick & Mary

Fabian oversees Mary as she tests out the beautifully-grilled Chopit roadster.
If you see Mary, don't mention it to her that her legs were too long to fit
 on the driver's side...she's pretty sensitive about it and doesn't want anyone
to know.  For some reason she thought that if she fit, the car would be hers...

Do, however, remind her to follow instructions and read signs.
She practically created a crime scene's worth of finger prints on this one.

Jet Age hood ornament

A small fraction of the model car collection

Why is that new cars don't have after market propellors readily available?
It's a crying shame!

Dig that crazy headliner!!!
This will sound totally inappropriate but doesn't it seem like one would eventually
have to spend a good amount of time combing dingleberries out of that shag???

I appreciate the sentiment; if I found a car that I truly loved, I would never want to sell it.

And then there was the star of the show Chopit Kustom's very own Beatnik Bubbletop.  Built by Gary "Chopit" Fioto, the Beatnik Bubbletop captures the essence of every aspect of mid-century car culture - the high-end concept cars, the low brow "kustomization" of ingenious builders, the freedom of untamed hot rods.  Belonging now to Barry Weiss of Storage Wars fame, this feat of mechanical and design genius makes the rounds at all the biggest car shows.

I don't know how they dream all of this stuff up; I wish my dreams were this cool!

I guess that we fawned over it enough that we were invited for (read: practically strong armed ourselves into) a ride in the Beatnik Bubbletop.  The perfect opportunity for a ride arose in the Legend of Kustoms Cruise Night at Bog's Big Boy Broiler in Downey, CA.

What does one wear when riding inside a bubble?  It took me a fair amount of time to convince Mary that her idea of dressing like Glinda the Good Witch would be entirely inappropriate.  We decided to wear something relatively cool (temperature wise) because it seemed to me that riding in a bubbletop car would be akin to being an ant under a magnifying glass. 

Boy was I wrong!  Except for my noggin being a little close to the bubble, riding in this car had all the comforts of a luxury automobile.  Fully-functioning air conditioning keeps everything cool under a dome that is on record as the world's largest blown-glass bubble!

Nick & Mary in the Beatnik Bubbletop
I wasn't even in the car yet, but just to see it going down the street made me feel, if only for a
second, all of the optimism and wonder that mid-century concept car designers must have felt.

And I wasn't alone.  As you can imagine, the Beatnik Bubbletop is the
subject of much admiration.  It was hilarious to see all of the rubbernecking,
scrambling for cameras/phones, and near accidents caused by this car's very presence.
  Turnabout only seemed fair play so I snapped a photo of someone snapping our photo.

Chopit & Mary
All the freedom and visibility of a convertible without
the annoyance of lost porkpies and windblown hair.

A short video of our arrival at the Broiler.

Not my best camera work (which isn't saying much)

but if you have ears particularly sensitive to strong 

language, you might want to mute the sound.  HA! 

Mr. Tiny tries to out bubble top the bubbletop...fail.

The Beatnik Bubbletop after hours
The interior adopts a violet glow.

Got a light?

I think I have been converted.  Ever a late bloomer, I can now truly see the allure of automobiles (classic, kustom, and otherwise).  I am so grateful to the whole Chopit gang for giving me the otherworldly opportunity of riding in the Beatnik Bubbletop; it is as close to riding in a spaceship as I'll ever get!

Plus it is the only time in my life when I can earnestly and thankfully say,
"Been there, done that, got the t-shirt."  Thanks a million!!!

Mr. Tiny & Mary make like Elroy & Judy Jetson

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

p.s. Don't be too concerned if things are a little quiet on the wacky tacky front for the next couple of weeks.  Mr. Tiny will be, to borrow a phrase from his sister, losing his "West Virginity."  My sister, brother-in-law, and the cutest nephew in the world have left Southern California for all of the wonder of Appalachia.  I have never been to that part of the country so I am excited to explore and broaden my wacky tacky horizons.  I'm going HILLBILLY!!!!  I might have some time for blogging while I am gone...but I'd rather be on an adventure!!!  See you when I get back!

The "Chic" of Araby: Ali Baba Motel

It is a great feeling to be traveling mindlessly down the streets of suburban Southern California one minute and in a split second be transported to the arid climes of the Mideast.  Standing sentry over Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa, CA, the Ali Baba Motel is the stuff of myth and legend, making every visitor feel like The Sheik (or Sheba) of Araby!

Ali Baba Motel - Costa Mesa, CA
Mr. Tiny, the Sheik of Failure at self-portraiture

The gleaming golden dome and the mini minarets remind drivers that California is still the land of fruits and nuts (dates and pistachios, naturally), famous for it's brilliant, if altogether anachronistic, architecture.

A view of the dome from the interior courtyard.
Don't you love the atmospheric creeping vine and those aluminum sun covers?!!
The funny part about the Ali Baba (and most roadside motels of a similar vintage) is how
 with just a few cosmetic changes the entire theme could so easily change.  Imagine the
 Capitol Dome Motel; do you think there is a sister motel in the DC area?

The magic is really in the details (like this exterior tile) that are probably
 easier to change than to maintain.  Fortunately, the Ali Baba remains
 mostly intact, setting it apart from the many themed motels that have
 been changed over the years from magic Arabian palaces to just boring,
beige Best Westerns.

A view of the oasis pool through the geometric, Islamic-style screen.
Spaces like this help me dream of really awesome 60's soirees
that are equal parts I Dream of Jeannie and The Party.

Like many of its mid-century, themed counterparts, the Ali Baba has definitely seen better days and more prestigious clientele.  Odds are that plenty of pipe smoking occurs on the premises but I think one would be hard pressed to find a proper hookah.  Moreover, I'm pretty convinced that it is the official hideout of the original forty thieves.  Nevertheless, we can dream of the Ali Baba's glory days; if I found a magic lamp it is more than likely that I'd commit one wish to seeing the Sultan's Suite (there certainly has to be a deluxe room called the "Sultan's Suite," doesn't there?) as it was in 1965.

This is how Mr. Tiny sees himself at the Ali Baba Motel.
Just the hookah, the harem, and the Sheik of Araby.

"The Sheik of Araby" - Spike Jones & His City Slickers

Do you have any wacky tacky, themed motels in your area?  What's the funniest motel in which you've stayed?

Ali Baba Motel

2250 Newport Blvd

Costa Mesa, CA

(949)645-7700

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Sew What?! The Copy Cat's Pajamas

I guess when one is sewing with a vintage aesthetic in mind, there may not be a truly original idea left under the heavens.  Having said that, there are a few staples that every well-stocked vintage wardrobe ought to have and are therefore common amongst the old-timey set - including beach pajamas.  I have always been smitten with women's beach pajamas and having seen the awesome, spacey, satin set Betty Grable wears in the "Let's K-nock K-nees" number in The Gay Divorcee, I attempted to make Mary a set very loosely based on the same (although my version was neither spacey nor satin). 

That was a few years ago.  Having sufficiently scratched the itch, I left the idea of "beach pajamas" alone for a while (mostly because I wasn't sure if the two-piece ensemble I made even counted as beach pajamas).  Well apparently enough summers had passed and the inspiration to sew a new set struck in the form of a reproduction, feedsack-style print that I found in the flat fold, discount section of our local fabric store.

It's funny, up close the pattern is very meandering but from far 

away it is easy to see the stripes created by the pattern's repeat.

I used a reproduction feedsack-style print in primary colors and a
vintage trim that was inherited from my great-grandmother's stash
(two rows of the trim is used at the hem of the wide-legged pants).

After sewing up the whole thing I realized that this outfit seemed distractingly familiar; familiar not only because it was inspired by looks of a bygone era but because I so obviously, if subconsciously, appropriated it from our pal Lauren at Wearing History (see this one but more specifically this one).  THE COPY CAT'S PAJAMAS!!!!  I accept that they are similar but not exactly the same; she of course, she did it much better and more historically accurate than I.  If I had only put in some thought I would have simply used one of her beautiful patterns for vintage beach clothing instead of making up my own revisionist ensemble.

Mary ended up wearing the purloined pajamas to our friends' Memorial Day party and received enough compliments to boost my confidence.  So, I am setting into make another set in a floral-printed, rayon-linen blend that has been languishing at the bottom of fabric mountain for too long.  If you get a hankering to make a set of your very own beach pajamas, then do things the smart way and get a Wearing History pattern.

I'm already halfway there!

How do you feel about beach pajamas?  Are you sewing anything special for summer? 

"The Cat's Pajamas"

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Signs of the Times: Cozy Corner Drive-In

It wasn't until we were asked by our pal Charles for a guided tour of our hometown that I truly appreciated our sleepy little hamlet.  Forced to look at everything with fresh eyes and a renewed interest, I came to realize that every town has treasures of which it should be proud (and preserve).

Locked in my own routine, I drove by wacky tacky-worthy landmarks everyday without so much as a second glance.  While Cozy Corner Drive-In isn't in my city, it is a sign that I drive by frequently.  Each time I pass, I make a promise to myself that one day I will stop for a photograph; it is a promise I have been making for years.  Well, tonight I finally made good on my oath.

Cozy Corner Drive-In, Santa Ana, CA

The surrounding neighborhood might leave a little to be desired but the twinkling lights, glowing neon that flashes on and off, the starburst and giant bent arrow, and the promise of tacos, burritos, AND hamburgers makes our mouths water - literally and figuratively.  Plus it's all in the name, "Cozy Corner;" something so simple yet so charming makes me wish that I had thought of it first.

Cozy Corner Drive-In

426 N Harbor Blvd

Santa Ana, CA

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Sew What?! Pineapple Princess

For as much sewing as I do, the sad fact is that I kind of hate it - the cutting, the pinning, the hours spent hunched over the sewing machine breaking needle after needle because I am too lazy to remove pins (which only results in more work/time changing the needle).  When the mood strikes, however, you will always find me hunkered down there in the "treadle trenches" armed for battle with my disappearing-ink pen and scalloped shears.  Never knowing when inspiration will come, I of course shroud surround myself with an endless supply of fabric, thread, and notions so that I will have everything I need (except, of course, that one thing for which I will invariably have to make a last minute run to the fabric store).

As organized as ever...

As reluctant a seamster as I may be, the prospect of designing garments is my ideal.  The challenge of designing/constructing something with very little time and very little material creates enough motivation to rouse a little fire in my evidently-dormant competitive gene.  Last Saturday we were headed to our pal Emily's birthday barbecue.  Having just created one of my floral, basket purses as her gift, I still had some residual creative energy and found a scant yard of vintage, pineapple-printed material that we had picked up in a homemade, roadside, thrift shop on one of our desert adventure days.  Confounded for about a year over what to do with the material; the answer was really a cinch - a gathered bra top and bolero!

The yardage was just enough to eke out the top and the outer shell of the
 short-sleeved bolero (I had to piece together leftovers to make the string halter).
  Wanting to line the bolero with a solid grey like the one found in the pineapple
 print but knowing that I really didn't have enough time to go to the store AND
finish the project, I lined it with a remnant of white cotton that I had on hand.

I can't show what she wore on the bottom because I didn't have time to make ANYTHING!!!

The teal, grey, and white color story was one I had never used before and
I quite like it.  Next up will be some kind of coordinating skirt, shorts, or
combination of the two - inspiration might have struck but the clock was
 striking too and we didn't want to be late for the party!  

It is often believed that Annette Funicello never wore a two-piece bathing suit but the clip below not only provides thematically-appropriate musical accompaniment but also proof to the contrary.  YOWZA!!!

"Pineapple Princess" - Annette Funicello

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

This Ain't No Chicken Dinner but We do Have a WINNER!!!

Well folks, the Great Random Number Generator in the Sky has spoken and the winner of our third, and most thrilling, giveaway is the incredibly-stylish Wendi at Haute Rockabilly Fahionista!

Congratulations Wendi!  We hope that you'll be able to find something to wear with this crazy "bag-sket!"  To claim your prize simply email me at wackytackytiny {at} gmail {dot} com with your shipping information and the size of wacky tacky t-shirt you would like (Child's XL-Adult XXL).  

Thank you to all who entered and to all those who read and support wacky tacky!  Until our next giveaway, I wish you all good luck.


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

201 Reasons for a GIVEAWAY!

Well another milestone has been reached here at wacky tacky and true to our word we are having a giveaway!  We are now in the 200+ followers club and it is our pleasure to show our appreciation by offering our third, and may we say, most exciting giveaway to date!

You might remember that for our first giveaway, we offered a handmade basket purse of Mr. Tiny's own design plus our entire selection of wacky tacky collectible pinbacks.

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Our second giveaway saw the debut of our wacky tacky signature tee and the set-of-four wacky tacky collectible pinbacks.

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For our third giveaway, we are upping the ante and giving away our wacky tacky signature tee, our set-of-four wacky tacky collectible pins, AND a handmade basket purse by Mr. Tiny!!!

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A-tisket, A-tasket, a green and yellow basket!
A yellow, rectangular basket in a traditional basket weave is topped by a lined,
green, burlap upper, and trimmed with vintage brocade ribbon and three yellow roses.
This weird yet wonderful basket purse is the must have accessory for spring and summer.
According to our sources, "Goes with nothing" is the new "Goes with everything." 

This giveaway has something for everyone!  The t-shirt is unisex.  The purse is ideal for a woman, a gift, or an adventurous gentleman.  And the pins can just as easily be applied to the lapel of a fine suit as they can be to a denim, biker vest.  To win all of these great prizes, all you have to do is enter!

RULES OF ENTRY:

1.  All entrants must be an official follower of wacky tacky, meaning your face must appear in the followers section over here ------------------------------------------> somewhere.  If you are not yet a follower, don't be ashamed; quickly become a follower and you too will be eligible for the prize.
2.  All entrants must leave a comment in the comments section of this post indicating your desire to be part of the giveaway (worth one entry).
3.  Entrants may share the giveaway on another social media outlet (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, etc.) to earn additional entries (each share is worth one additional entry; you must leave a link in another comment on this post).
4.  All entrants must have a valid mailing address that is deliverable via the USPS (foreign or domestic).

5.  All entries must be made by 12am (PST) Sunday, May 26, 2013.

6.  All entrants must be able to play the tuba.  This point is negotiable pending a valid argument in the comments section of this post and/or the ability to play the kazoo.

On a serious note, I would love to broaden our base (figuratively speaking, of course); if you know of someone who would enjoy our type of fun, please spread the wacky tacky word.  Also we are always looking to feature cool houses, cool collections, cool shops, and cool people; if you have any or all of these things and would like to be featured on wacky tacky, please email us: wackytackytiny {at} gmail {dot} com.

Stay tuned; one winner will be chosen at random and announced here after all entries have been collected.  Thank you for your support and participation; I've got plenty to be thankful for!

"I've Got Plenty to be Thankful for" - Bing Crosby

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny