Sunday, January 20, 2013

Curious Finds

I hit up two different thrifts over the last few weekends and lucked into to honest to goodness vintage finds. The first being this:


When I saw it in a bag I just assumed it was a new egg made to look like a vintage one. What a pleasant surprise when I got home and looked inside to find "made in the Republic of Germany" and some grass:


The other side is cute, too.


A lucky vintage find! And the cost? 59 cents. In that same trip I came across a box of flash cards from 1963:


They are a good size and I love the graphics.

This weekend I went to a thrift that is further out that I don't visit too often. I noticed immediately that a woman had one of my coveted Ralph Lauren flowered/striped sheets in her basket. I hate seeing that! I followed her for a bit hoping she might ditch it but no luck. (yes I'm a thrift stalker. Sue me.) But then it was like the thrift gods took pity on me and I found this in the section of random bagged items:






An entire baggy of true velvety vintage millinery flowers. I snatched that bag and hid it in my cart. I honestly checked later to make sure it was still there. I pretty much got over that sheet. There were 8 bunches of flowers. I think those brown ones are my favorites.


I snagged the small cracker jar on the same trip knowing it would make a good home for my fanciful find. So what did I pay? 99 cents for the jar AND 99 cents for the entire bag of flowers.

On this same trip I also found a fun apron:


I love the red gingham and the smocking. I believe this was meant to be a pinafore but whomever made it put embroidery on the top part but on the wrong side:



However it is still sweet and I was happy to pay $2.99 for it and I think I'll just fold down that flap, what do you think?


So all in all a good couple of adventures. True vintage is nearly extinct in the thrift these days. I found a few more items on both trips but mostly utilitarian things like hangers and baskets for organizing. I went in search of an old Scrabble game to scavenge the tiles but no luck. Maybe next time.

Cheers


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Winter Sips

While it isn't very winter like here in NYC this year yet we are still having some cold and damp weather this week. (Better than snow!) We are big coffee drinkers and the winter nights mean it's tea time as well. We picked up some spicy chai at Teavana and it is delish. Warms in more ways than one. Sometimes, though, one needs something more to get through the cold winter nights, no?

Our winter cocktail this year is the Negroni.

NEGRONI

1 part good gin (we prefer Bombay Sapphire)
1 part sweet vermouth
1 part Campari

I make it with a lot of ice and a lemon twist. Yum.

Bottoms up!

Friday, January 11, 2013

There's a Moose on the Loose

Even though I wasn' very productive in the hand made gifts arena this year, I had to make something special for my sweet nephew Gabriel. I won't bore you with the reason I picked a moose (MOOSE PAJAMAS @ Mandi Loranger) but I did and he came out pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Photobucket

I don't usually do stripes, they are a pain and I ended up with yarn spaghetti more often than not. But once I started I liked the look and it was nice to use up some yarn that's been hanging around way to long. The ears have green fabric inside that I found in my scrap pile and the antlers are wool felt. I like combining crochet and fabric, particularly felt. He's much cuter in person though I did forget to give him a tail.

I'll post some photos of him in action as soon I can locate them. I have yet to upload my pictures from Christmas.

Happy Friday!
RR

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

For the Love of Shoes & Socks (and tights!)

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of No nonsense. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

For the Love of Shoes & Socks (and tights!)
 
So, I'm guessing that most of you know I broke my ankle a few years back. (I've been known to over talk about it.) Well it was so swollen that I thought I'd never wear normal shoes again. Seriously, I wore wide flats (which were still painful) and Crocs like it was my job for more than a year and half. Then something magical happened. Shoes started to fit again AND not hurt so badly.

Needless to say I've been racking up some new pairs (including a pair of boots with heels!) but I do still have some issues. I love this time of year because it means I can wear tights with everything. They really help cut down on the friction from my new shoes (and my foot does still swell a bit after a full day of work) and also, they give you a nice silhouette, even under pants. I love them. LOVE them. And because they are oh so popular these days you can find them in so many colors and textures. My favorite brand is No nonsense. Aside from fitting the best and lasting the longest the No nonsense brand was launched in 1973. The same year I was launched. Well you know what I mean.

I love the Silky Opaque Control Top the best. But come spring I'll be sporting some of those but in the footless variety. At Nononsense.com you can even order them in gift boxes!

Jewel Tone Assortment - 4 Pair Box
picture from www.nononsense.com

I know it's wrong to be this excited about tights but as a New Yorker I spend a lot of time hoofing it around the city in the cold and layers are your friend, believe me. Also, I have a very high waist and the No nonsense brand are long enough to not feel like I'm wearing a pair two sizes too small because they won't come up over my hip bones. In the summer I wear their knee highs and hose to the office since I'm supposed to be all professional-like. And being the thrifty girl that I am I wash them and wear them again and again and they last! I read that Jill Martin is partnering with No nonsense for a new line of tights of leggins. Hmmm, can't wait to see those! I also love that you can easily pick up a few pairs right at the Target along with your dog food and bananas. Much better than dropping $$ on other pairs at the big department stores especially when I wear them so often.

Want to find your own? Click here: No nonsense tights and leggings
 
You can also connect with No nonsense on Facebook here: No nonsense on Facebook
 
 
I'm getting off my shoe and sock pulpit now and will return you to your regularly crafty broadcasting . . . . tomorrow.

cheers!
RR

 

Visit Sponsor's Site

For the Love of Shoes & Socks (and tights!)

So, I'm guessing that most of you know I broke my ankle a few years back. (I've been known to over talk about it.) Well it was so swollen that I thought I'd never wear normal shoes again. Seriously, I wore wide flats (which were still painful) and Crocs like it was my job for more than a year and half. Then something magical happened. Shoes started to fit again AND not hurt so badly.

Needless to say I've been racking up some new pairs (including a pair of boots with heels!) but I do still have some issues. I love this time of year because it means I can wear tights with everything. They really help cut down on the friction from my new shoes (and my foot does still swell a bit after a full day of work) and also, they give you a nice silhouette, even under pants. I love them. LOVE them. And because they are oh so popular these days you can find them in so many colors and textures. My favorite brand is No Nonsense. Aside from fitting the best and lasting the longest the No Nonsense brand was launched in 1973. The same year I was launched. Well you know what I mean.

I love the Silky Opaque Control Top the best. But come spring I'll be sporting some of those but in the footless variety. At Nononsense.com you can even order them in gift boxes!

Jewel Tone Assortment - 4 Pair Box
picture from www.nononsense.com

I know it's wrong to be this excited about tights but as a New Yorker I spend a lot of time hoofing it around the city in the cold and layers are your friend, believe me. Also, I have a very high waist and the No Nonsense brand are long enough to not feel like I'm wearing a pair two sizes too small because they won't come up over my hip bones. In the summer I wear their knee highs and hose to the office since I'm supposed to be all professional-like. And being the thrifty girl that I am I wash them and wear them again and again and they last!

I'm getting off my shoe and sock pulpit now and will return you to your regularly crafty broadcasting . . . . tomorrow.

cheers!
RR

Sunday, January 06, 2013

It Takes a Village

Years ago I cut a picture from a magazine of a glittered witch hat with a tiny Christmas village on it. It was a display piece at Tinsel Trading and the picture is somewhere in my inspiration book (which is sadly ignored, thank you Pinterest.) Last year I found some small paper mâché witch hats at Michaels and quickly set to making a similar project. I used tiny houses I had on hand from a line of Martha Stewart for Macy's ornaments I bought for super cheap. Add some bottlebrush trees and some vintage plastic reindeer and voila! Hat village. Never mind that the reindeer are as big as the houses. I love them regardless. Silly craft? Perhaps but I think it's destined to become a favorite Christmas decoration. If not I'll add some ribbons and wear that sucker as a hat.





Friday, January 04, 2013

Sweet Bunny

I only made a few handmade gifts this year. My time was limited and my energy level was blah. One that I made early on is this sweet guy:

Photobucket

He came out so cute! I based him on a bunny I saw somewhere online and whipped up my own pattern. I used yarn I had on hand (Caron Simply Soft) and used a small hook to get a really tight weave. The black safety eyes and vintage pearl button are nice details.

Photobucket

Here he is all packed up to go to his new home with my friend Nina who has a sweet little grey bunny who this bunny was made to honor. 




Thursday, January 03, 2013

Happy New Year :)

Yes I am a few days late. That seems to be how I roll these days. But one of my (many) New Year's Resolutions is to be more organized and thus, blog more with all my extra time. Ahem.

ANYway, my DH gifted me with an iPad mini and a cord to attach my camera to it so I can blog on the go. Let's give it a shot, shall we? Here's a quick "pinned it and did it" snippet:

Hmm okay so maybe I don't know how to put the photo in the right spot using the Blogger app yet. Let's carry on. I saved a few paper egg cartons for some small tree ornaments (as seen on Pinterest) and it worked like a charm. Hopefully you can see the photo.

Here's to a safe and prosperous New Year for us all.

Ciao ~ Rebecca

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