whirlwind

Oh My God! Where to begin haha! This year has started off with a bang! I moved into my lovely studio downtown in November. I’m so lucky and bless to bring in the New Year in my studio by myself with a glass of wine watching the sunset! January, I had my first art opening in my studio “Mountain Top Dreams”. I had five artist including myself showcasing art about the civil rights movement and how it affect us in a positive way in present time. The artist were Erica Qualy, Tonya Pearce, House Stack and Rahn. The opening was Friday, January 19th and Movie night (“Selma”  & “I’m not your Negro”) Sunday, January 21st at Mint Cream Studios. Afro-Futuristic Artist (House Stack) sold three of his original paintings & his first art show at Mint Cream Studios.

We end January with “The Revival” more on a spiritual note, yoga & meditation. Taking in the moon energy!

 

 

Blood

Blue

Eclipse

Super

 

It was perfect to end the month with self – wellness especially after the snow storm. So after the snowy January here comes rainy February. We start the month out with our winter sale for Mint Cream Shop and Sold a few goodies. We attend The Ameripolitan Awards and I had a BLAST! I met new people, laughed with old friends & styled musicians in Mint Cream.

Rosie Flores, Matt Goldpaugh, Bloodshot Bill, & Eli Marzana.

 

 

The events at Mint Cream Studio, celebrating Black History Month. First, Comedy Movie Night “Coming to America” & “I’m Gonna Get you Sucka!” $5 ,February 18th 7pm. Snacks provided by Richard HiQue.

Secondly,”Black Royals” art opening showcasing African royalty & greatness. The art opening is February 23rd 6pm to 9pm and February 24th & 25th 12pm to 5pm. Featuring Artist Amy Dobbins, Siphne Sylve, Rahn Marion & Kennedie Toney.

 

P.S watch out for our spring looks previews on Instagram: @mintcreamshop

Click to SHOP!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2018 Vintage Markets…Here I Come! —

So, as I stated in my last (and my very first post) that I left my, not so profitable booth in a nice but old antique mall, so I could pursue vintage markets for the upcoming year. Well, I signed up for my first one about a month ago and was very nervous that they […]

via 2018 Vintage Markets…Here I Come! —

Pop – Up on Main avec Tako’s Treasures

Erica Qualy Owner of Tako’s Treasures

 

We’re so honored to be apart of Tako’s Treasures Pop-up Shop on North Main st. in Downtown Memphis,TN. Mint Cream Shop had a chance to present it’s rare collections from 1930’s-Early 90’s inside TT’s. We met wonderful people who loves vintage and also our music selection (we spin vinyls in shop). Grab your friends & HOP! on the trolley and go down memory road with TT’s 2017 Pop-up shop on N. Main st.

First, We going to start with November 2017 Pop-up on 9 N. Main. We will be here until November 30th, so you still have time to shop with us. This month in TT’s Pop-up is home to Mint Cream Shop,Style & Substance,Sonic Temple & Bad Timing Vintage. The shops add more variety of vintage goodies for families (Women,men &kids) and Home decor etc.

Bad Timing Vintage & Sonic Temple

Mint Cream Shop,Tako’s Treasures & Style & Substance

 

Mint Cream Shop fall sweater collection “Pops of Color” stood out in the shop and customers add colorful sweaters to personal wardrobe. The beautiful model and friend Khalifa Kofi look stunning modeling our collection.

Khalifa Kofi

Amy Dobbins owner of Mint Cream Shop

We also met other Pop – up Shops along North Main st. like Bozwell + Lily. The shop has variety of vintage goodies,screen-printed tees and a coffee shop inside Lowfi Coffee. I love stopping by to check out awesome vintage,drink a cortado and just chill with the fellas. When the sun goes down B+L hosts live music inside the shop.

Pop-up

Hop

Shop

They’re just a skip away from TT’s at 7 North Main until November 30th.

Bozwell + Lily

Bozwell + Lily

Bozwell + Lily

Bozwell + Lily

Lowfi Coffee

Lowfi Coffee

 

        Tako’s Treasures Fall-o-ween ,October 2017 Pop -up Shop was held at 7 North Main. What a month we had at that place. TT’s was home to Mint Cream Shop,Hearts & Hearts,Style & Substance,Sonic Temple & Bad Timing Vintage. We had events there like the Spooktacular art show,Yart Sale and also variety of workshops by Erica Qualy. It was such a great turnout and downtown residence was loving us so much they just come by to hangout at times.

“The coolest shop downtown!”

“Please stay!”

“We love Tako’s Treasures!”

The beginning with TT’s N.Main St. Pop-up Shop started in January 2017 at 101 N. Main st.  The shop host Mint Cream Shop,Tire Designs by Tad Pierson,Style and Substance,Janelle and Hempwits with Will Cructhfield. We made great memories at this place and my favorite one was with Little Elvis. The downtown residence enjoyed shopping with us and taking pictures with Little Elvis. January was a cold and snowy month but Magical.

The trolley ride down North Main st. with Tako’s Treasures has ended. What an amazing year for Tako’s Treasures and other vintage shops in Downtown Memphis. We look forward for more adventures with TT’s and Mint Cream Shop would love to give apreciation to Erica Qualy,Thank you for the opportunity! XOXO

 

Click on featured shop links;

Mint Cream Shop

Tako’s Treasures

Sonic Temple

Style & Substance

Bozwell + Lily

Lowfi Coffee

Hearts and Hearts Vintage

BANG IT!

Live “Bang It” hair tutorial @ Paulettes Closet

MINT CREAM

We all go through bad & lazy hair days. Just put on a snood/silk scarf and part your frontal hair (BANG) from the crown. Watch my video below for pompadour,suicide rolls, tsunami & victory roll tutorial!

Click on BANG IT!

BANG IT!

I lightened my hair with two packs of lightners,40 Cream developer and Amore hair dye in “Emerald”,pick any dye of your choice. The reason I got the 40 cream developer because I can take my time to lighten my thick hair. The lightening process is slower.

If your hair is relax go to a professional!

More vintage hair tutorials for African American/other stylish women coming soon!

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MCVE 2017: Vintage & Food Drive Market

May of 2017 Mint Cream Vintage Expo host their second vintage market. The expo was at American Dream Safari, a indoor trailer park warehouse in the middle of the medical district and the edge district. This the second expo and the first can good drive market in Memphis,TN.

 

“What better way to help small business & feeding the city. Mint Cream mission..”-Amy

It’s a family fun event for everybody! We got vintage boutiques with clothes, jewelry, toys, car show and other rare goodies. Also, we had artisans of handcrafted items ranges from bath products, home decor to jewelry.

Shannon Donovan

Face Paintings

I really enjoyed Eddy’s Pepper food truck and so did the crowd. They serve delicious tex mex and unicorn corn.

The vintage hair demos went great and spectators got helpful tips. Kasey Dee demonstrated the sixties hair on her niece  and she look so retro. Rob Brennon demonstrated the pompadour on his client for the men spectators. The models look so retro and ready for the vintage life.

 

The Memphettes fashion show was so much fun! The ladies modeled in vintage attire from 40’s to 60’s and they look dashing.

Catwalk

Pose

Style

While the models strutting around American Dream Safari,Los Psychosis was rocking the house of wild and shaking Rock & Roll!

Cool

Wild

Smokin’

Tad’s Big Reveal Giveaway was the expo finally and some guy (with not so funny jokes) announced the winners. Winners got sweet digs from Tad’s garage and his artisan pieces made by Tad himself.

Vintage Car Door Handles

Tire Ties

Elvis Collars

 

We raised over 500 can goods for Mid South Food Bank. I would like to thank Tad Pierson, Vendors, The Memphettes, Los Psychosis, Eddys Pepper, Chad Irwin, Kasey Dees, Rob Brennon and Shoppers.

 

Mint Cream Vintage Expo Fall 2018-Save the Date

 

Mint Cream Vintage Expo can come to your city.  Got a venue? Want to be a vendor? Go to our website for more information.

Mint Cream Market

Mint Cream Haul

Mint Cream Haul

 

 

 

 

 

 

TV network could save Aretha Franklin’s crumbling Memphis home

Read more about it by clicking the link.

 

http://www.highgroundnews.com/features/DIYNetworkArethaFranklin.aspx

786

Red’s Java House is a San Francisco waterfront restaurant that opened in the 1930s, serving breakfast to the longshoremen and sailors. In a city where the ruthless competition for Michelin star ratings and world-famous chefs never ends, there are plenty of eateries you can go to for the most delectable food. Red’s is […]

via Red’s Java House — Jet Eliot

Imperial Lanes: Strikes Out!

Yes! You read that correctly Imperial Lanes mid-century bowling alley is gone! The building is being bulldozed as I type away. Personally, I hate to see the mid-century beaut go in such a destructive way for a Planet Fitness.It’ll be cool to keep the exterior of the building.. Planet Fitness but no gentrification strikes again.

Photography by Clinton Yelvington

Photography by Clinton Yelvington

Photography by Clinton Yelvington

I read stories about the bowling alley on a Facebook page called “The Summer ave.Gang”. People were reminiscing the good times, discussing different bowling teams  and first time bowlers since childhood. The group also shared photos and memories of Imperial Lanes during it’s prime.

“Hotdogs, Fries & Med. Drink $3.25”

“Please pay for bowling before returning rental shoes”

Imperial Lanes was the highlight of Summer ave. a bowlers dream. I talk to one bowler about her time at Imperial Lanes:

 

Linda Brooks

“I sure will miss the Imperial Lanes. So sad it closed up. Learned to bowl there and had many dates and double dating there. And of course midwife bowling. I still have my Black Beauty bowling ball and the bag I got when I was in 4th or 5th grade. Went there after school from Graham wood to learn how to bowl. I think Linda Novarese dad kept score. I know he wrote a lot of zeros for my score, he called it a big fat goose egg score !! I played on a few leagues later and became a pretty good bowler !!”-Linda Brooks

Don’t fret! Walk down memory lane on Imperial Bowling lanes at Java Cabana. I stopped by Java to check out the lanes and I talk with Robert that works there.

“The lanes been here for 3 years now. 3 1/2 wide and 1 1/2 inches thick  lanes weighs about 200-300 pounds. Imagine how heavy that was, it took us 2 days to nail the lanes to the floor. Mary got the idea to get the lanes at Memphis Flyer “Best of Memphis Party” which  was held at Imperial Lanes. When we got there the lanes was not in sight, it was covered with wood nailed into the lanes. We had to take the nails out the wood & lift it off the shiny bowling lanes. People came up from Georgia and Alabama to get a piece of Imperial Lanes” – Robert, Java Cabana

I had to take a picture in my Tatyana bowling dress and my vintage bowling bag. I’m standing on Imperial Lanes waiting on my bagel and Mystery Train Mocha at Java Cabana.

Oh! I forgot to mention, I stopped by Imperial Lanes in November. I was heading to work and I saw people outside and the doors were open. I pressed my luck and asked can I go inside to take photos but I couldn’t so the owner gave me a red bowling pin!! Yaay! I have a piece of Imperial Lanes all to myself!!

Share your stories of Imperial Lanes in the comments!

 

 

 

 

 

Futuristic Atlanta bank recommended for landmark status

I’m in love with the futuristic bank! Who wants to tear down this Mid-Century beauty?!?  I hope it gets saved.

Bonnie Mikesell

Threatened with demolition for a storage facility, Jova-designed bank building could theoretically get a reprieve

Lovers of midcentury?

Continue reading on Medium »

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The Year of Mint Cream

I don’t know where to begin describing The year of Mint Cream. Mint Cream originally started in 2014 as an idea & I just ran with it. I wasn’t active on my blog that year at all due to personal complications “LIFE”. I became more active with my blog Spring of 2015 and haven’t stop yet. I try to post on my blog once or twice a month and I’ve miss like two or three months due to “LIFE” & it kills me because I really enjoy blogging. So, here are a few highlights of Mint Cream 2015-16′ and frequently asked questions about Mint Cream.

 

What’s Mint Cream all about?

Why the name Mint Cream?

What’s Mint Cream mission?

Who’s behind Mint Cream?

How can I benefit from Mint Cream?

Wheels on the Bus, is my first blog post other than “Meet the blogger” in 2014 post. I was on my way to Nashville Boogie 2015 and took the Greyhound for the first time to Nashville (I usually drive or fly). The first stop was at a 30’s designed bus station in Jackson ,TN.

Its such a BEAUT!

I had to write a post about the retro bus station. Wheels on the Bus means a lot to me because it’s mainly what Mint Cream is about. Mint Cream represents vintage and retro lifestyle, fashion, music & historic architecture.

How refreshing!

Read more about it:  Wheels on the Bus

Zig Zag Bank, caught my eye with its white mid-century zig zag rooftop and that perfect teal tiles on the walls. The Zig Zag Bank post is about “The People’s Bank” in Lexington, KY that was under destruction. The Big Bad Monster called GENTRIFICATION wants a movie theatre. My friend contacted me to blog about the bank and help raise money to save the bank.

 

Update: The Bank is saved!

 

Read more about it:Zig Zag Bank

 

HISTORY

BuFFs

FANATICS

NerdS

How Sweet it is, when blogging got fun and adventurous, I went to Afropunk 2015 in New York and it was so awakening. Different styles from all walks of life and music from hip hop to punk rock. I never felt so relaxed around thousands of people with no violence or mishaps, just pure fun and dancing lots of dancing! The trip made me realize more about what Mint Cream is all about! Mint Cream is about bringing people from all walks of life to enjoy, save beautiful historical architecture and benefit from each other crafts. If you don’t get our mission then Mint Cream isn’t for you. Mint Cream readers have to be open minded to adventures from a wide prospective of music, festivals, history, fashion & art.

Read more about it:AfroPunk “How sweet it is” pt.1.

Spring Fever….Oh now you wanna get up close and personal! Spring Fever post is the heart of Mint Cream! A mixture of history ,festivals and fashion all happened within three months in Spring of 2016. I visit Louisville, KY for the first time and had a full day of history, good eats and end it with a play at one of the best known theatres in the south. Mint Cream Vintage Expo was held on April 30, our first expo at “American Dream Safari”. We had over 1,000 shoppers and every vintage vendor sold tons of beautiful vintage items also, “The Million Dollar Quartet” CMT people shop their asses off at the expo (watch the show and see wardrobes from the expo). What better way to end Spring 2016 Nashville Boogie of course.

Read more about it:Spring Fever

I launched Mint Cream Shop in September on Etsy. Mint Cream Shop is a vintage shop that sells handcrafted jewelry, clothes and accessories from 1930’s to 1970’s also cool new accessories. A mixture of old and new.

Shop:Mint Cream Shop

How can you benefit from Mint Cream?

 

Subscribe – Receive post updates by email, Mint Cream events, Giveaway alerts.

Advertise – Business logo or flyer ,Spread the word & Modeling your merchandise. Contact for rates @mintcream13@gmail.com

Style – Personal Shopper, Stylist & Etsy shop.

 

Thanks for supporting Mint Cream in 2015-16