Catching Up

Catching Up: "Some of these photos have been in my picture folder forever, I just never seem to get around to posting them for some reason! Anyway, here is a short roundup of the last few retro projects that I've sewn...

I loved the look of this bowling shirt as soon as I saw the pattern. It was sold in the day as either a men's pattern or a woman's pattern, unfortunately I could only get my hands on the men's one but I doubt I will ever wear it done up, I see it more over a tank top with jeans, so I wasn't too worried about the shaping.

I got the iron-on name badge from Etsy, I have ironed it on since taking these photos, it was just pinned on to make sure I actually liked it in that spot. The buttons I thought were cute although they're more baseball than bowling, but they worked with the whole black and white theme.

And why not use a bit of zebra print whenever you can?!? I'm really happy with the way this shirt came out and I'm sure I'll use the pattern again in the future for different colour and pattern combinations.

If you've read any of my posts before you'll know I have a thing for vintage shirts and tops. I seem to especially gravitate towards 60's and 70's tunics for some reason. This is another one that was originally released as either a men's or women's version and I got the 'Miss' one this time around. I had a nice floral cotton in the stash which I thought would go well and this is the finished result.

I love the way this shirt came out, it's so simple and yet it's got such great style. I know I'll be getting this pattern out over and over again over the years.

Next up is some sewing for my almost 3 year old. I do love a good pair of dungarees (I've posted about my previous sewing projects of those from vintage patterns).

As vintage patterns only come in one size for kids and mine had outgrown the last pattern I used I was happy to find this one on Mom's Patterns. I omitted the snaps around the crotch as I'm not a fan of that look, and really how much harder is it to take dungarees off a toddler than it is a pair of trousers?

The fabric and applique were in my stash and the buttons came out of my Great Aunt's knitting bag a week before I decided to use this pattern! The denim is medium weight so not too stiff for running around and throwing yourself on the floor in and I did the facings with some men's shirting I had to hand.

I adore the way that these came out and as he's now grown into them I have a second pair cut out in some babycord which I will try and remember to post when they're done.

Finally a modern reprint of a vintage pattern, this one is from Simplicity 4047. I apologise in advance for the creases in it, I had taken it away with me before I could get a photo and didn't bother ironing it before I did take one...

This fabric had been in my stash for a few years, it's a shirting cotton with synthetic ric rac type stuff on it. I really love the way this pattern uses all different methods of shaping in one garment, there are tucks and darts along with curved seams, you just don't get that nowadays which is a pity as it looks so good.

I was especially proud of my pattern matching on the back, normally I just chop out the pieces and don't worry about it too much but it does look good when you take that little bit of extra time (I will admit I had to sew it twice as the first time I managed to miss every bit of matching by about half an inch!).

So, that's what I've been up to with my retro sewing in the last few months. Along with the dungarees I also have a dress from the 70's cut out which I hope to get to one day soon.

More of my sewing, retro or not, can be found on my blog finally waking up.

Happy sewing!

Anna

"

Pretty Stinkin’ Green

Pretty Stinkin’ Green: "

I first came to Pretty Stinkin’ Green when I stumbled across their fun tee-shirt skirts. Then I saw these graphic coffee sack totes and I loved the combination of vintage fabrics with the burlap. When I found out that the business is the result of a flourishing friendship, I loved it even more!

Deb and Hannah met about three years ago at their local scrapbook store in Traverse City, Michigan. They quickly became friends when they realized their shared hobbies ran deeper than paper crafts. Every time they got together their minds would go crazy with ideas.

we came up with new projects that we wanted to try, things we wanted to make, ideas we wanted to put into action, and we just couldn’t help ourselves, we wanted to do it all!

I can identify with that! But when a move forced them apart, they kept in touch by trading scrapbook kits and blogging together. That has been just less than a year ago, and they are closer now than ever! And while they continue to enjoy paper crafting with each other, Deb and Hannah have also continued to share their other passions, like green crafting, and inspire each other along the way. The focus of their business is to use upcycled & recycled materials. Nearly every part of ever item has had a prior life! Reuse, recycle & create!

Both Hannah and Deb gather inspiration of inspiration from blogs and websites, but their biggest inspiration comes from each other. Nearly everyday they’re exchanging ideas and inspiration.

Deb:: My favorite item changes constantly. I always get excited to make something new, or to put a twist on something that we have just made. That is what makes Pretty Stinkin’ Green so fun, we work with new materials all the time and we are challenging ourselves to come up with new ideas.

They are super friendly and love making connections with their clients! They’re open to special orders and love to work through the process of bringing an idea from inspiration to creation. And they’re not just limited to the types of items in their shop; they’re working on a custom bridal garter right now!

They also love to package their items creatively, they are paper crafters after all. You won’t find your item shoved in a priority mail box if they can help it! Their green mission is evident in their use of recycled products in their packaging. Each item is carefully wrapped up and sewn shut in recycled paper and mailed in old flour bags or reused boxes, carefully padded to ensure your items arrive safely!

Hannah ::I love the Stinkin’ Market Totes! I use a different one everyday! They have so much room inside, and can hold everything you want to take along with you. I also enjoy taking a couple along with me when I do my shopping, and then I don’t have to use paper or plastic bags!

Pretty Stinkin’ Green currently has items listed on both Artfire and Etsy, each with its own stock of unique upcycled products. Though, in the near future, their online listings will be with Etsy exclusively. Their items can also be found in a few unique shops in Traverse City, Michigan and a handful of craft shows this summer (Northern Michigan and West Central Ohio). Keep up with the latest by following them on their blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Chelsey loves to explore all areas of creative expression and she writes about her adventures on her blog Silverbug Studio Creations. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr or stop in at her Etsy store.

"

real life test kitchen: caramelized brown butter rice crisp treats

real life test kitchen: caramelized brown butter rice crisp treats: "

Brown butter is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest-tasting things on the planet. The deliciousness originates from the browning of milk solids that separate from the fat when butter is melted, lending a toasty, nutty, butterscotch-like complexity to whatever you serve it with, sweet or savory. So when I saw this New York Times recipe for caramelized brown butter rice crisp treats, I instantly bookmarked it, hoping to make them soon — and then promptly forgot all about it. At 11 p.m. last Friday, I realized that I needed to bring a dessert to an event at 7 a.m. the next day. I was so glad to not only have this recipe waiting in my arsenal, but also, serendipitously, the ingredients on hand. Shazam! In a mere 15 minutes, I had an impressive, portable dessert that turns the old fashioned Rice Krispy Treats up to 11. I made a couple of modifications to the original recipe, using only 1/2 the butter and subbing out organic puffed brown rice cereal for the Rice Krispies and was elated with the results: super-crunchy, brown buttery, and just enough sugar and salt to make them crazy addictive. — Megan B. Click for the recipe!

Caramelized Brown Butter Rice Crisp Treats

adapted from the New York Times

Makes at least 30 squares

4 oz. butter, salted

10.5 oz. bag of marshmallows

9 1/2 cups of puffed brown rice cereal (I used Nature’s Path) or Rice Krispies cereal

1/8 tsp. sea salt

Line rimmed sheet pan with silicone mat, parchment paper, or wax paper.

In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Watch closely and stir often.

When butter is evenly browned, stir in marshmallows and sea salt. Melt and cook, stirring often, until mixture turns pale brown, then stir constantly until lightly browned but not dark, 3 to 5 minutes.

Turn off heat, add cereal, and mix well, preferably with a silicone spoon or spatula. Scrape into prepared pan and press down lightly. If necessary, butter hands to press mixture flat. Let cool for at least an hour and cut into squares or bars. Store in a well sealed container to keep them as crunchy as possible.

"

Process: Luke Bartels & Jeff Canham.

Process: Luke Bartels & Jeff Canham.: "

****This installment of the Process/Inspiration Series comes to us by way of San Francisco from from Jeff
Canham . Over the past couple of months Jeff and Luke Bartels have been working on a group of bird houses for their upcoming show, For the Birds at The Curiosity Shoppe which opens on April 9th. Jeff and Luke share with us step by step the process of building the birdhouses. Between Luke's wood working skills and Jeff's sign painting finessing the detail is amazing and hilarious! Bird Bath and Beyond!? Brilliant. Enjoy!****

And as always more Images after the JUMP.

An establishing shot of my studio where the birdhousing is
going down.

A corner of Luke Bartels' woodshop where
the two of us do
most of the building and assembling. Rather that's where Luke does most
of the building and assembling and I make witty comments while he's
working.

Some of the elements (rooftops, vents, etc.)
that will go on the
finished birdhouses. You can see a couple of the blank boxes at the end
of the shelf.

Blanks.

Bad cell
phone photo of the painted blanks.

Bail Bonds work
in progress.

Security cameras. Luke's a genius. Not
only did he whip out all these great little cameras, he also built this
stand so they could dry after they're painted. You are being watched!

More
work in progress. It's kind of exciting seeing them lined up like this
and looking like a neighborhood.

Madame Cuckoo,
Psychic. Painting these tiny letters is kind of a pain in the ass, but
it's all worth it when you see the smiles on the bird's faces.

Luke
and I are both especially proud of the empty beer bottle on top of the
recycling bin (lower right).

Billboard."Sale!" was added and then it was installed on the side of
the Bail Bonds place.

Luke during a birdhouse photo
shoot. He kept saying "More emotion!"

Seedy's
Liquors.

Detail with one-legged bird. Sounds like a
Tom Robbins novel.

Hawk's Pawn Shop. Cheep!

Finished
products.

Finished products.

"

Finally, Bedroom Redo #2

Finally, Bedroom Redo #2: "It's time for a reveal. I finished the window coverings for our Bedroom Redo #2 last week, so I can finally post a few pictures. This room wasn't a total redo. You can read the preliminary post here. No new furniture was needed. I only painted the bottom half of the walls because the paint on the top half of the walls was pristine. Then I added some new bed linens and a few small pieces throughout the room, including the pillows I made -- favorites to be sure! I also made some shams that I told you about yesterday.

A little background... All our children are grown and have left home, so all four of our 'extra' bedrooms are guest bedrooms now. My intent for a guest room is to keep it simple. I like a few homey touches, but I prefer just a few items on surfaces so the room doesn't feel cluttered when guests move in and unpack all their essentials!

I'm slightly uncomfortable with how much blue is in the room. It feels predominantly blue -- perhaps a little too blue. I'm going to live with it for awhile, but I may change the paint on the bottom half of the wall. I'm just a little unsettled with it. I am happy with the shams that I made yesterday. They help to break up the all blue bedding. A component that I do like about the room is that it feels very 'restful.' It's a room you can relax in. Very calming and tranquil. I like that in a bedroom.

Please excuse my photos. My camera does not know the first thing about taking a decent indoor photo when there is lousy light. The whole reason we bought this camera was because it was supposed to have an IQ above 160. Its genius was greatly exaggerated. Now that I'm done ranting, let's start with a panorama of the room...

My very most favorite thing in the whole wide room are the window coverings. I love them. This beautiful Tanya Whelan fabric is from her collection, Dolce. The shade of teal in this fabric is dreamy. I love the art deco/asian motif in this line. It takes you back to a more glamorous time, yet the collection has a fresh modern color palette. Generally I'm not a sucker for florals, but the fabrics in this line are the exception to that rule...

I purchased a few inexpensive decorative items in California and Colorado. I found this pretty birdie tray in California at Pier 1 Imports and hauled it home. I was looking for something just like this to place on the dresser for my kids to put their keys and misc items on when they are visiting. I'm picky about scratches on my furniture. In short, I don't like them, so I try to make it avoidable by giving them a 'place for everything.'

I bought the 'home sweet home' birdie wall plaque (below) at Real Deals. They live up to their name. Do you notice I am developing a theme?

Yup, birds. One can't help but develop that theme this year because birds are everywhere! I've never seen so many feathered friends. Alfred Hitchcock would be proud. I also bought the nest and birds below at Real Deals -- along with that awesome ceramic teal vase. The vase is my second mostest favorite thing in the whole room -- it was $14!

And finally, before you get completely tweetered out. I found this mug at Pottery Barn for under $10. I filled it with a little moss and some greenery I had on hand. (My third most favorite thing -- the mug.) See the little birdie perched on the handle -- goodness that's cute. I try to keep a little bowl filled with goodies for our guests next to the bed. Who wouldn't want a Snickers right before they nod off?

Oh dang. I forgot. The pillows are favorites too -- and the shams. I'm not sure where I rate them, but they are definitely on the list.

So, what do you think? Too much blue? Too many birds? Should I throw a great big orange chair in the corner and place a hungry cat on it to give the room some balance? Let me know what you think, but please be kind.

Have a great day!

"