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Another Thrifty Weekend....

I can't say enough about how fun the meet up was on Thursday. There's something really cool about meeting blogging friends in the real life flesh. I don't know if it's the coolness of meeting someone "for the first time" - but knowing for a fact that we'll have lots in common. Or if it's the conversation of this n' that about our lives that takes place and we're all familiar with historical references. We know each other...kinda...but just enough. It was great.

If you missed out this time, don't worry, it wasn't the last time we're meeting up. We vowed to do it again....

Also great, are these here treasures found thrifting...estate-sale shopping & all-around "junking" (as they say, although I hate to use that word, since clearly these are treasures!).

The strangest thing about living in this relatively stylish city, is that the thrift store options don't at all reflect the print + pattern you see on the streets. For lack of a better word, I'd have to say that thrifty in San Francisco is pretty "weak". The options are "ok".....and the prices are usually too high. Same goes for estate sales. Trust me though, it doesn't stop me from trying.

Sacramento, my friends, is where all the action is. Myyyyy gooooodness, boooy did I hit the mother load of vintage fabric today.

Pictured here is just a small sampling & I'm sitting at "home" (is it weird that I still call my mom & dad's house "home"?) listening to the hum of the washer as it works hard to prepare the bounty for the cutting + sewing that will sure to come this week.

Shutting down the computer now to watch some type of ridiculous fighting/wrestling competition with my dad. Because, you know, it's Fathers Weekend, and if my pops wants to watch a fighting show with his daughter, then THAT is what I'll do.

~.~ a peaceful holiday to you all ~.~

Bag Lady

As if their lives weren't hard enough, they have ding-dong's calling them ridiculous names making fun of some of the only things they have.

So when I say "bag lady", I'm not saying "homeless woman, down on her luck", I'm saying frantic, Madame String who spent the whole weekend making bags. And, shopping for thifted fabric, of course...to make bags. Because there is always time for that.

The walk, to the thrift store was, of course, colorful. I wonder who "Babby" is....

...and then there was the obstacle of the naked men on bikes (wouldn't that hurt?). [click on the photos if your interested in the detail. Go, ahead, you know you want to....]. Nice camera, dude!

A little street art. Who needs graffiti when you have crazed-cupcakes? hmm....

 

...and the bounty....YUM! This was my first time to this thrift store and when I got there, I noticed 3 or 4 crafter types already cruising the linens section. This weird frantic feeling swept over me & the desperate thoughts of "they're going to take all the good stuff" creeped into my calm saturday-mind. It was overwhelming, really. I finally got a hold of myself,  and kept repeating the "there's plenty to go around...not eveyone loves the 70's..." mantra. Stay Calm & Carry On. Turns out they were into "solids", which, I clearly am not. So, we're friends now.

....and magically, some of that 70's fabric turned into this.

...and a bunch of other stuff that I'm going to hold out until tomorrow to share.

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Bay Area peeps - Movie night is this Thursday! Details here....

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Presenting Fifi Trixiebelle

...and...the prize goes to Charlotte!

Out of the 40-some-odd choices, the name was partly chosen by me, but mostly chosen by the hubs. Who knows why he might be attracted to such a name. A "Fifi" type is usually a vixen....a little sassy...and maybe even a little...uhmm...slutty? So, what man couldn't resist a name like that?

Ok, people, we're talking about a mannequin here, so let's move it along.

Oh, and to answer a few pressing questions of the day....

Where is that Yellow Sweater from? The yellow sweater is from a super-cheesy-teeny-bopper type store in SF (on Haight Street) called "X Generation". A little embarrassed to admit that I've shopped there, but such is life when you post things on the Internet for the world to see (and comment on).

Where can I adopt my own Fifi Trixiebelle? Unlike Bragelina, one does not need to travel to Vietnam, or Darfur or any other exotic locale to adopt one of these babies. A trip to E-Bay or directly to their on-line business, Rox Studio is all your need to visit. A couple of clicks, and your there. And they're cheap too! About $70 with shipping, a $50 price difference then what you'll find at JoAnns.

A few tips when getting your own Madame Mannequin....

• It's cheaper on E-Bay vs. their on-line store from what I can tell.
• Make sure you're picking out the right size & base (wood vs. metal).
• If you're trying to get one to make things for yourself, get one that's a little smaller in size (then your measurements).
• This dress-form is not a hard-core sewers form. More of a every-once-in-a-while sewers form, but mostly to display-pretty-things-in-my-studio type of form. What I'm saying is, she's a little tough to pin, not a lot of padding there.

Email me if you have more questions, I've been looking for the perfect dress form for a while, and I'm happy to help.

Ooh, and those fluttery spring flower brooches flying all around Fifi were made using a tutorial by Blair of Wise Craft. They're unbelievably easy and addicting - check out the flickr group.

Be Honest

What do you think of the new look?

I've had a tendency lately to go a little over-board with the yellow...and I think I may have done it again here. But I like it & I'm deluded, so, tell me...and be honest, what do you think?

P.S. Sorry about the creepy photo. I couldn't think of anyone else who might appreciate this strange parking lot encounter.

Moo Cards & Etsy Finds

Have you caught on to the latest Moo Card craze yet? I'll admit to be a total sucker for crafty internet "gadgets" (gadgets without wires of course)...the photo on the mug or tote bag...customized calendars - I fall for it every time.

Moo Cards are right up my alley. And people are getting pretty crazy with them, you know...parties...and magnets too. They kind of remind me of "picture time" in junior high when everyone would swap wallet size school photos of themselves with the intent on building the biggest collection ever. You know, as if they were baseball cards. Kinda of strange, kinda cool.

They also offer me a healthy distraction from preparing my house for this weekends festivities. Hours and hours of time can be passed re-arranging the cards in various piles...by color..by subject...by craft...

...And by "Knitting Project To-Do's":

This will be part of what will soon become my "inspriration board" in the little studio...

With that said...and in the spirit of our inner pre-pubescent-adolescent selves - who wants to do a little (junior high) Moo-Card Swap? Nothing extravagant, maybe just a 5-for-5 card swap...a simple throw-'em-in-an-envelope and send 'em off kinda deal....(post a comment here if your interested).

Onward....

Another place I've been coveting big time lately is Etsy. I've lingered about and have bought quite a few treasures in the past, but I've been especially interested lately since I'm working on decorating that little studio of mine with as much inspiration as possible. And inspiration, I found. Check out these babies:

Found by Mandy Sutcliffe of MillyMollyMandy. I'm not sure what I love more, the obvious talent and emotion portrayed in the print (how sweet are those two?) or the beautiful bonus gifts of stickers and a small (hand written, mind you) "thank you" card. See, this is what I love about Etsy, the direct connection you have with the artist...the personal "service" in the transaction...and all the love that goes around & around from artist to "customer" and back again. (Thanks, Allegra for turning me on Mandy's work).

Chair Art by Annie Wilkinson of Girl vs. World. Another amazing talent. This is a large print on (what I think) is stiff fancy photo-like paper. The colors in this print are so rich and saturated with detail - something I just can't portray in this photograph. The stance, the prints, her expression - all so unique and beautiful.

Impromtu Blogging Break

Apparently I took a short break and didn't even realize it - I guess Vegas and the chaos of the Celebration Extravaganza will do that to you. Speaking of Vegas, man am I glad to be home. I'm glad to be home, even if it's only for 2 hours to swap out the work clothes in my suitcase for this seasons graduation uniform. And catch up on my blogging, of course.

This is a short post today, partly because I'm swamped with obligations and partly because I just don't have a whole lot to say. I've been working 18 hour days the past week and I'm drained to say the least. Things are looking up now that I'm home, tonight I get to spend some much needed time with the hubs, driving up to Chico, CA and a much anticipated weekend with my best friends from high school.

Have a lovely weekend, see you next week.

Corners of My Mother-In-Law's Home

This was a sign i found, here in the home of my in-laws. The house is primarily decorated by my mother-in-law with little tid-bits of inspiration & influence from her husband and four children. Walking in the home is like walking into a living museum of my husbands childhood. This sign is so sweet and gentle and is just one of many examples of pieces that represent her kindness.

Spending time here also re-connects me to some of the personality traits my husband has that I know must come from her. Things I take for granted or forget are unique. Like his ability to be so relentlessly forgiving and kind.

And, experiencing their relationship with each other, makes me hopeful, that one day, I should be so lucky to have a relationship like that with my son, if I were ever to have one.

Mother's day for me is a celebration of all the mothers in my life (aunt's, and grandmothers alike). But, I can't help but think about the women who long to be mothers, but can't or are having trouble becoming one. Or those that have lost their mothers. I bet Mother's Day is challenging for them.

So to that, I wish you a very peaceful weekend. Weather you spend it with your children, or think about those you may have some day, I hope your day is filled with calm in remembering the women in your life who have given you the gift of love and care.

With the exception of the first one, the photographs are treasures that I picked up yesterday at an estate sale. Feminine in color and texture, and fitting for this post, I thought.

Bouncing Nurses

My apologies if my writing comes across as (obnoxiously) whimsical, but I'm reading Anne of Green Gables right now, and I have an annoying habit of bastardizing taking on the speaking style of whatever book I'm reading at the moment. Today it will be the literary style of Prince Edward Island (Ingrid, you know what I'm talking about).

Does that happen to you? The phenomenon is extended to movies as well as interesting accents of people I spend a lot time with. Southern US accents are exceptionally contagious.

Have you ever been to a Daiso? As of recently, the Daiso has become the reward you get in casa string*THEORY for trekking out to the suburbs on a Saturday (or Wednesday). Actually it's really only a reward for me, and extended suburban torture for the hubs. Poor guy. Yesterday, I did just that. I headed down to Daly City and stopped in one my favorite tacky little stores. It's actually not tacky at all, but a fun house of cheap little Japanese treasures. Like that bouncing nurse up there, who will soon become the focal point for my new craft room. Which, the painting is done by the way. And, to answer Pamela's question, the paint color is "Chesapeake Sunset VM32" by Ralph Lauren.

I'm in southern California now, for a quick trip to give my mother-in-law a big bear hug for mom's-day before I turn around to trek up to Sacramento to be with my mama. So excited to see my parents.

This also kicks off the "4-Week Celebration Extravaganza"...involving:

2 Mothers Days

3 Graduations

5 Cities

5 Gifts, and

1 weekend hosting 25 relatives at my 2 bedroom apartment.

You'll be with me...every.step.of.the.way. Keeping me sane, of course.

Hmm, Much Better.

 

Yesterday was a busy, exhausting day involving much patience and cooperation from the hubs. So I'll need to take a second to give the guy some props. Seriously. Friday night he spent helping me empty out the future craft-room into the front room. Saturday night...painting (the school bus). Sunday (as if that wasn't enough)....a drive to the burbs...in 94 degree weather...scouring the antique fair (and walking around in circles) for the perfect desk. Then a trip to Home Depot. Then to Jo-Ann's (for a bobbin rack - because I'll have room for one now!). Then to Michaels (I had to check out the new Martha Stewart display!).

::Improved?::

Then back home again...to start re-painting...until 11:30pm. Wow! And about that hand? It's doin' alright, and he told me to tell you that I exaggerated a bit. I didn't exaggerate, but I promised that I'd pass his message along.

So the perfect desk is still waiting for me in someone's basement...or office...or an old school storage closet. It hasn't quite made it out to the "reuse" moment in it's life-cycle where it will be put out on display for me to find and squeal and jump up and down before I realize that I need to play it cool to...you know, wheel and deal. I saw a few that came close - but nothing that was quite right, and I'm going to do my best to be patient. It's a challenge though - I had many break-down moments yesterday, when I nearly threw up my hands and marched right into Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel.

Anyway, there's much to do before I'm even close to the point of wedging a giant desk into my humble eight square feet space. While watching the paint dry (finger nails bitten as i hope in agony for a pleasant shade of yellow to emerge), I'm taking care of the details. Bulletin boards to design, curtains to sew, ergonomic planning of what will go where on the shelving unit. All the little things that will make the space functional.

Ooh and something else I've been meaning to show you. I look at these often and dream about what they will turn into to...and where their new home will be in the studio. These pretties are from Kristy (go check out her blog & beautiful blue-eyed sirens).

We did a little Vintage Button swap-a-roo organized by Ms.Sally. And, man was Kristy ever so generous...and meticulous with her presentation...and ooh...do I really have the strength to remove these pretties from their carefully crafted butterfly backings? And the brooch...everything so beautiful.

Thank you, Kristy!

They Call Me Mellow Yellow

I'm just mad about Saffron. And Saffron's mad about me. They call me mellow yellow. Quite Rightly. They call me mellow yellow.

This is the very song that streamed through the 1980's radio at the thrift store this past week. It creeped into my mind and quickly became the soundtrack hummed by my mom and I the rest of our thrifting adventure that day. Not only was it the hymn du jour, it was also the guiding light for my purchases, as everything I seemed to pick-up...and buy...was just that. Mellow yellow. Beautiful, happy shades of saffron.

Saffron (or "butter"..."honey"...whatever shade you prefer...) has more then just creeped into my mind these days. It's starting to take over my life completely.

This is the weekend of change and renewal, and I'm finally getting to designing that nasty storage room I call my "studio". I've choosen a bold shade of yellow to keep things bright and jovial - the first coat went on this evening... and I hate to jump to conclusions...but it's really really YELLOW. Maybe....too yellow.

Photos of it's progress to come....