Altered Clothes - take 1

thrifted strapless top turned into bag

Hello Y'all!  You will have to excuse me for just a moment while I whine, kvetch, and moan about there not being enough time in each day!!  Where do they go, these days of mine?  Monday, where are you?  You were a flash in the pan!  I actually miss you Monday.  I don't want it to be Tuesday, mostly because it means one day less this week to get "stuff" accomplished.  Oh, Tuesday, come on baby, be my day of massive "doing!"  Maybe I can stop sleeping and get it "all done."  There's an idea.  Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?!  Ha!

OK.  Enough of the complaining.  I have actually been trying to train myself lately to focus on the things I accomplish, instead of the things that are still left to do.  It's hard for me.  Being a first born, Capricorn, perfectionist and all.  But I try.  Thus, one reason I blog, is to document and convince myself that I do actually get some things accomplished!  Look!  I have some photos to prove it!  Now I just have to believe it;  That I do get enough done in one day and that the world will not go to pieces if i don't get one more thing made, one more project sewn, one more meal perfect.  Let it go, let it go, let it go....

So I made a few things!  I did get "something" done!  The above photo is of a pretty little strapless silk top I found thrifting.  It looked so sweet but I NEVER do strapless so I just kept looking at it, trying to figure out what it could become.  When all else fails, make a bag!  Like I really need another, when I have a hundred and one already.  I guess I should really consider selling some of these things!

this is what the original top looked like, bottom edge ruffle and all

In the first photo you can see the silk ribbon I used on the inside to make a drawstring type closure.  I have it hanging over the outside edge so you can see it, but it usually stays on the inside.  Since there was already a ruffle around the bottom edge of the top, I just turned it inside out, tucked in the ruffle, and sewed the bottom of the shirt closed.  Then, around the top, where there was a casing with elastic (to hold up the strapless wonder!), I seam ripped two little holes to thread the silk ribbon thru, and then I tidied up the two holes with a few stitches.  So now I can cinch the silk ribbon on the inside to close up the top of the bag.

close-up of the circle print detail and random sequins

For a strap, as you will see below, I used some left over materials.  I personally like things to look a little deconstructed so I like to use a hodgepodge of materials and textures.  I had some left over grey and dark greenish-blue silk and I had an old top that was batiked with lanterns, moons and stars, so I used a combo of these.  One side of the strap is all the batik and one side is random lengths of the silks, including the button placket from the dark greenish-blue.  May be a little hard to see here....
 
detail of strap

I love the prettiness, lightness, and effervescence of this frilly little bag.  It's not usually my style but for dress up it might be nice.  Its not super hardy and durable so I guess it is meant for once in awhile use.  What are you making, altering, upcycling, or crafting these days?  Do tell! 

Make love, do craft, and carry on! 


Long Time No See


Hello Friends!

Long time, no see!  What a fun but crazy week I have had.  J has been in circus camp all week at SANCA so I have enjoyed being in Georgetown, Washington.  So much to do, see and eat in Gtown!  If you are in the Gtown area check out the following:
Fruitcocktail for fun and funky treasures, Hangar Cafe for the BEST sweet and savory crepes around, Great Stuff and Susan Wheeler Home for TO DIE FOR art and collectibles.  I want every single thing in these stores!!! Plus Kirk and Susan are so friendly and helpful.  Check them out!
Also, go to the yellow falafal truck for the best Schwarma you have ever tasted.  It is served with pickled beets and tender meat on a bed of lettuce and pita with a wonderful garlicy but cooling tzatziki sauce.  Yummy!  And don't miss Maruta Shoten, "the working persons Uwajimaya," where you can stock up on noodles, sauces, toiletries, and snacks all while ordering a delicious lunch from the deli and take out counter. 
If you like to shop for antiques, head over to Pacific Galleries, a few blocks away, to walk into a wonderland of unusual and amazing curiosities.  There is much I love but can never afford here so I treat it as if it were a museum and just go visit all the cool stuff! I did, this time, however, get to splurge on two special treats which I will share in another post very soon!

Another place to eat is Iron Pig BBQ.  The best bbq in south Seattle!

The Foundry is another store in Georgetown that I love to search thru.  Its like a big rummage store but with only super cool stuff, crammed in here and there.  It reminds me of a New Orleans store so much, in that, its crammed with stuff, its never open the hours the sign says, its hot as Hades in there, many items aren't priced, and everything I pick out is the expensive stuff!If you go and its not open, go down to the corner coffee place and ask if the owner is there to let you in the Foundry.  He owns both and is often at one or the other.  Here are some photos from the Foundry:


slab-o-wood for a table top


galvanized vent/fan/finial thingy


Love this chair!  Turn of last century, old, perfect.


The blue on this lamp was amazing.  That's A. in the background, holding the long, large net I bought.


great green industrial(hot, hot, hot!) stool


yards and yards of ticking.  yummy!


great old toolbox.  natasha got the best one though, turquoise, perfect, and i will try to get a photo


industrial wood and metal shelving.  want, want, want

So, it's been a busy week folks.  Lots more to share but just wanted to get you one post, at least!  Typing on my new computer and loving how much faster it is.  And loving that its a lap top so I can take it along on some adventures this summer.  I will keep you posted!  Stay cool, be cool, you are cool!

Off to water my tomatoes,
jennette

Black Cabinet Makeover

Revamped Black Cabinet!

Black sliding door cabinet found at tag sale.  Glass from one panel missing. 


Grungy cabinet.  It has a hole in the back, I presume for cords, so you could use this as a media cabinet to hide your whatnots.

When I saw this I thought I could do something with the doors to make it cute and usable.  So I decided to cover some heavy duty cardboard with fabric and use that in place of the missing and broken glass.  It turned out a little shabby chic and I like it.  It's for sale down at M and M and would make a great craft, media, games, art supplies cabinet.  Come check it out if you need some new storage solutions!

Here are some photos of the process of gluing the fabric to the panels to be inserted in place of glass.

The gluing worked really well and made the panels even stiffer.  By using this method, someone could change the  fabric quite easily by covering over existing panels or just creating new panels to attach different fabric to.  Simple, simple.


View of the new and improved black cabinet.

Another view.

With doors slid open to the middle.


Got a project you've been working on?  Do share.

Create, make, do.  Be awesome, pay attention, and keep breathing.

Buying Trip Treasure

Small child size vintage suitcase

vintage half embroidered pillow case

close up.  love the faded colors and unfinished-ness of it.
I will leave it as is but make it into a pillow.

soft hand knit baby booties

The Drake Casket Company.  A new brush for my brush collection. Strange.  But true.

vintage table runner.  embroidered at both ends with same scene.  perfectly faded blue bird and cherries.  Will become a bag and a pillow.

big blue vintage first aid kit box

small orange vintage first aid box

the new Royal blue vintage typewriter

the Remington vintage blue typewriter

vintage blue and green tool boxes

Some, most or all of this loot will eventually end up at M and M.  Come check it out or email me if you see anything that strikes your fancy.  More photos to come, stay tuned!

What do you collect?  What do you buy? 

Be awesome!

For the Birds

Tiger Birdhouse

I found this wonderful tiger birdhouse over in Eastern Washington this past weekend.  I thought the use of the old lino cut tiger to make the front piece was pure genius!  And it gives it so much character! 
The tiger was created by carving into a large linoleum block.  To get the print you then roll on ink with a brayer. Then you press it to paper to get the image printed.  Love it when people can figure out how to do lino block printing because I have such a hard time thinking in reverse about where you do and don't want color in your print.  My friend Julie does something like this and she is becoming brilliant at it. 


So there was a nest in it!  And the top had two screws holding it on so I knew I could get it out.  Also, I had an idea for the birdhouse the moment I saw it so I will show you what I did with it below.  First the nest:

A birdhouse shaped nest.  It had a lot of colorful feathers in it and twine too.  Who built it?

Here is the nest out of the house, shaped just like the house!  It was very delicate.

Empty birdhouse.  Ready for roof to go back on.  But not before the next step.

Now here is where the project comes in because it involves me using the power tools!  I have had this old wood, stand, tree, perch thingy, forever.  It's lived on the side of our house waiting for something to be done with/to it for years.  I was told it was originally a perch for big birds.  Some of the limbs must have been longer originally.  Oh, I am just remembering, this came from my dad.  One of his many cool finds that he passes along to me, knowing I will eventually come up with some crafty use for it!  Anyways, you can see it here:

Notice the super cool and very heavy base.  Its all rusted now, which I like.

Back view of house on tree stand

Before I put the roof back on I attached the house to the top of the "tree stand."  First I had to get my saw and cut a limb in the front lower and more even so the house could sit on it.  I added an "L bracket" behind that front limb to help keep the house steady.  Then I screwed in little screws in the back so I could "lace" wire over, under, and around them to hold the house tight to a back limb.  I made sure I balanced the house in three places so you can see it resting on a third limb, on the left in this photo.  It seems really solid so I am happy with it!

close up of tiger birdhouse attached to top of tree stand, with roof  :)


Full view.

This is where the birdhouse tree stand lives for now.  Near my front door.  I doubt a bird will be brave enough to nest this low and close to the house but we use our front door so rarely, they might!  You can see our sand dollar spiral from the sand dollars amassed at Westport.  And you can see my metal work owl in this photo too.  More coming on the owl collection, in near future.

What projects have you been doing lately?  What is being created?  Do share!

Make, Do, Create.  Get inspired, be inspiring, and live life to the fullest!

I've gone to Typewriter Heaven




Four typewriters, right now.  4!

Gotta love a good "old-fashioned" typewriter!  We always make sure to have one around the house, in full use, most of the time.  We make our "special" lists on it.  Like our "What was so fine about 2009" list.  I needed that one to remind myself that last year was good.  And what better way to make a list than on an ol' typewriter.  The kids LOVE them.  We often have a story line going, that every one adds to, and they end up so hilarious.  I put those ones away in the scrap book.  And having a typewriter always available gives Jasper something "important" to do when I am at the computer and he needs a task. 

We had two typewriters already and then I scored 2 more this weekend on my so-called buying trip.  For me its hard to believe that there are people out there who have no clue of the value of a vintage typewriter!  I cant believe how crazy cheap they are when you find them at rummage sales and yard sales. Lucky me folks, lucky me!  So I will be bringing two down to M and M to sell and I will keep my two favorites around here so we can use them and have a back up :)

This is the Royal Signet.  This one will be for sale.  We had it around here all winter but I just found this other Royal that we will keep for a while:

This is the Royal Century.  I think its a little newer but I LOVE the blue color of it.  It's a keeper!

This blue one is a Remington.  It was made in Holland and its case was made in West Germany.  It will also be for sale at the shop.  Both of the typewriters I am taking to M and M are in great working order.  Did you know you can still buy new ink tape for these at the office supply store.  Who woulda thunk it?!

This is the other one we will keep around for a while.  Its an Olympia.  Probably the most vintage of this group.  Big, heavy, beefy.  It still has a dust cloth and dust brushes in a little case and the operating instructions.  Gotta love the completeness :) 

I find that now days people are buying these to take the keys off to use in jewelry making.  It amazes me that someone will spend $40-50 on one just to get the keys.  Also, last year my friend bought one just to use as a sedum planter!  I know!  Sounds like something I would do!  I guess if I took all the keys off and had one in really bad, unusable shape, I would plant the top and key area with sedums.  It would be darn cute!  I actually have a picture from a magazine of some such beauty.  If I can find it, I will scan it, so you can see.  And if I do that, then I will also take a photo of my ANCIENT Royal typewriter I have from my Grandma, that was her folks, so you can see how magical it is!  Its so vintage it has beveled glass panels on the sides and back of it!  Its total awesomesauce!  I gotta dig it out so you can see :)

Type on a vintage typewriter, be old school, feel cool and be awesome!  Word!



Vincent Schoolhouse

Vincent School House, Carnation vicinity, ca. 1915

Vincent Schoolhouse (1905) is located at 8010 West Snoqualmie Valley Road NE,Carnation.

http://www.historylink.org/ says this about it: The small farming community of Vincent is located on the western side of the Snoqualmie Valley south of Carnation.  In 1905, residents built a schoolhouse so their children could attend school close to their homes.  The school housed all grade levels and included students from many pioneer families in the Snoqualmie Valley.  About 20 students at a time attended the school.  Teachers were typically hired for two or three month terms in the fall and spring, seasons when parents could release the children from their farming duties to attend school, and milder weather eased travel for the students from outlying farms.  The school closed in 1942, but the Vincent Community Club still uses the building for social and community events.


side elevation, Vincent Schoolhouse

So I am kinda obsessed with this building.  I love it.  I have always loved old schoolhouses, community centers, churches, and barns.  I have also always wanted to live in one! 
I know.  Impractical and strange.  But oh, the ideas I have!  Before we bought our current house I dragged the family to look at an old church that was for sale in Snohomish.  It sat high on a hill and was SO GORGEOUS!  Alas, it was not livable nor in our price range so that tiny little dream was put on the shelf.  Also, when Gus was an infant, I saw an ad in the Little Nickel for a barn that was for sale.  It needed to be disassembled and taken away.  I dragged our young family there too, just to have a looksee, and it was so awesome.  It was a big old classic barn in Bothell and there was no way in hell we would ever have been able to number each board and beam, disassemble and reassemble that barn.  We had to experience, no expertise and nowhere to move it to.  But oh how I longed for that old barn.  I still dream of one day restoring and living in a historic building of some sort.  An old Odd Fellows Hall or Rebekah Lodge would be ideal!  There is an old schoolhouse in Port Angeles I have my eye on.  Its way up in the hills and overlooking the Strait. 
If anyone ever sees the sweet little Vincent schoolhouse go up for sale, I best be the first person you call to tell the good news!  Love me some old stuff, I do, I do!


Current photo of my schoolhouse :)  Look at that cute little porch.

Can't you see me living here with all my smashing rubbish! 

I want to go peek in the windows. So. Bad.

Bye bye sweet schoolhouse.  I love you.



Firsts

A First.
Last night Chad was sitting at the computer and he asked me a question about my blog.  Unusual, I thought.  He has never asked much and lets me alone to do my thing here in blog land, undisturbed.  I said something like - it's kinda strange that I have this whole other blog life and you have no clue, whatsoever, what I even talk about or show to the world.  On I went, making dinner, roasted whole lemon chicken, caesar salad, steamed broccoli and sliced oranges.  Eventually I look back over and see tears in his eyes.  He just looks at me and says - pretty awesome this blog.  And I can see he has been reading it all.  And I can see he is proud of me.  This not a first, by far, but the reading of the blog, a first.  For sure.
Another First.
Celebrating our 16 year anniversary this coming weekend.  Amazed.  Both of us.  How did time go that fast and where has the time gone?  Now closer to twenty years.  Wow.  Hard work for us but oh so worth it.  Love, love love my life and family!
One more First.
I have a 10th grader and a 2nd grader now.  Summer break has begun.  Will I survive this summer with them?  I suppose.  One is going to circus camp for the first time and one is going to bird banding camp for the first time.  If they don't hurt each other first.  If we all survive the over exposure of each to the other, first.  Love my boys but sometimes wish I could will them to stop acting like brothers to one another.  Treat each other like you would your grandparents.  You don't scream at, slap, spit on or hit your grandma.  And you don't antagonize, pick on, or poke at your grandpa.  (Well, a little bit, you do, but you know what I mean!)Leave each other alone,  To begin with,  The first time.

Live, Laugh, Learn.  Be a super star.  You are awesomesauce. 

Sedum Table

Ta da!

The sedum-succulent table top is DONE!

The table.  Exactly how I found it.  Do you think it had glass in the middle before?  Hmmmmm......

A different view.

View with chicken wire attached.  Yes, that is chicken wire attached with green twisty ties since I couldn't find the clear plastic zip ties.  Yes, I am resourceful :)  And determined!
Photo with center dowel brace installed.  Find an old dowel that used to be a chicken roost.  Cut the ends at similar angels.  And shove it up and under your first layer of "mesh."  Voila!  Center brace!
Table with second layer of "mesh."  I used "Gutter Gaurd" for this layer since I wanted a smaller weave than the chicken wire.  Both, together, give this structure, heft, and just the right size for water to drip thru but not spanish moss or soil to seep thru.  perfectomundo!

Topped with Spanish moss.
Close up of one corner.  I was trying to show how you can still kinda see the wire mesh mess underneath even though it has a nice thin layer of moss on top.  Key with the moss is to use "just enough," and not too much.  Especially if you are buying it from the hardware store.  Be frugal!
Which layer is this?  Oh yeah!  Like the 4th layer, or so.  Soil on top of Spanish moss, I guess :)
Another view of the finished table just after planting and first watering with organic fish food fertilizer.

View with another newly planted sedum chair, as well. 

Plant, grow, nurture.  Have fun and make art!


Lovely Ladies

Yes.  A smidge creepy.  And perfect.

These came from Kathy at the M&M.  I had to have all three.  Dealer charge.  Thank you very much.

These are French and German "vanity" dolls.  Sometimes they are attached to a big wire frame "skirt."
I LOVE this ones flaming pink hair!  So unusual.

It's hard to see in these photos, but their eyes are so bright and so are their little red lips!
I adore how they all have a different pose.  Want. More. Now.

Not the best photo but this lovely lady hangs in my studio.  She is a French Boudoir fashion doll.  Her head is made of the same plastery/chalk/porcelain the others are but the rest of her body is blocks of wood linked together with metal loops.  Her hands and one foot (missing one) are carved wood.  Her costume is amazing old silk and net tulle with jewels and metallic trim.  Her eye makeup is so dramatic and daring!  Love. Love. Love.


These two bald beauties are my studio mascots, of sorts.  I found these in an amazing old antique store near Twin Falls, Idaho, out in the middle of East Ankle Scratch, and they called to me.  What's different about these is it doesn't look like any hair was ever attached.  Also, their bodies are all cloth and even have some embroidery on them, that I didn't do.  I think the bodies were made and added much later.  And, the pink bodied ones legs are attached on backwards so her feet face to the back.  Love that.  Yes, I dress these dolls.  Weird.  I know.  But I love little doll stuff so when I found the silver sequin and velvet collar, the silk pale blue cape, brooch from New Orleans, and depression era green dress, they had to be out, on display.  A girls gotta love a doll. 
I love me a doll.
I do, I do.

Garden Shed, I love you!

My garden shed.  You know, where the clippers, mower gas, and Spanish moss are stored!

Shed, I adore you.  You please me.  When you were brown, you were sad.  Now you're blue.  With some green.  And you are fun to look at from the kitchen window, all winter long.  You make me happy, garden shed!

You are adorned with my old broom-flying-witch-weather-vane piece that blew off the chicken coop and broke in a wind storm.  You have a vintage mermaid float attached to your eve, the twin of the one I gave Kirsten, after we found them 13 years ago in a thrift store.  Your good luck horseshoe came all the way from England when my best friend in fourth grade visited her grandma and brought it back for me.  Your galvanized bbq table turned potting bench delights me.  You are the best blue garden shed. 

I love the bird house next to you.

I love you blue bench, by blue bird house, by blue shed. 


I especially love you.  Old green rockerless, rocking chair.  A gift from my mama, 16 years ago.  When I was newly pregnant for the first time, young and secretly terrified.  Before your rockers were broken, you held me, rocked me, while I held him, rocked him.  My boy.  Now 15.  No longer rockable.  And you remind me.  That he is still my baby.  Still my little boy.  And I love you green chair.  You held me.

Another Monster Sweatshirt


Here are the wool felt monsters i made for Jasper and Rowan, just like Iorek's.


This one is/will be Jasper's

This one is Rowan's

Just like Iorek's, Rowan's Birthday Sweatshirt has his birth year too, 03

Rowan likes his Monster Sweatshirt but I have not been able to catch up with him to get a photo of it on him.  Once I find a plain sweatshirt for Jasper, I will finish his and then I will try to get a photo of all three boys in their sweatshirts, together.  Seeing all three, almost finished, made a few of us in our craft group want to make some for ourselves.  Not monsters though....... What should we have?  Whatever it is, I doubt we will be adding our birth years to ours!  Maybe we will come up with a name for this craft group and then we can have it opposite our emblem!  Ha! 
The most likely name for our craft group right now would fall along the lines of : Crafty Wine Swillin' Mamas, or, Mamas Craft and Stitch and Bitch, or, Eat, Drink, & Craft Mamas!

Sew, Stitch, and Mend.  Make, Create, and Imagine.  Smile and Dance.  Do what you Love!




Around my Studio

above my sewing table


boxes and tins of treasure, trinkets and whatnots


a wee bit of all the rick rack, bias tape and seam binding in my collection


another corner of craft love


studio display


more in studio display


I love that I get to "work" in this space.  It makes me happy and I am a lucky girl.  Many of the items you see are an ever evolving and rotating mishmash of pieces that live here for a while and then eventually find their way to the antique mall.  Maybe I will start posting picks of the items I am taking there to sell so you can see what is moving thru.  By the end of summer I hope to have an Etsy link and sell "smalls" there, along with some of my hand/homemade goods.  Stay tuned!

Be kind, try not to yell, and when you do, go gentle on yourself.  Dance.  Sing.  Listen to B. Marley and P. Tosh.  Relax and have fun!

Jasper Parkour Ninja



Check out my Parkour Ninja!  For Jasper's 7th birthday our good friend Brooke gifted him an afternoon lesson with a real parkour Ninja.  Ha!  He had SO MUCH FUN!  And just so you know, he was very careful, rolled in sand, and didn't get hurt :)

Busy Bees Use Flower Petals for Nest Wallpaper

This nest holds a single egg!


I found this amazing story over at NPR !

Its all about a rare solitary bee that makes nests by plastering together flower petals!  Can you imagine?!


An egg laid on top of nutrients.

This is an amazing story by Kathleen Masterson .  And an amazing discovery, by two seperate teams, on the same day, in Turkey and Iran!  Make sure to check this out!


Multiple nests of the O. avoseta bee nestled in the ground.

So super amazing!  Wow, life is thrilling!