Parsimonia {Secondhand With Style}

March Is...

2012-03-01T10:44:00.000-06:00

1. Kite 5x7 print/postcard // Chipmunk Cheeks
2. Kite pillow cover // Sukan Art
3. Set of 7 Plastic Resin Kite Buttons // Retro NaNa
4. Kite Brooch // Esberts Collection
5. Rabbit flies kite print // Lulu Froot
6. Hand-carved kite stamp // Hugfish and Orange
7. French Bulldog kites greeting card // Kitschy Hippo
8. Vintage kite winder // V. Dumont
9. Kite Cookery book // The Wee Shed
10. Kite cookies with sugar tails // The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle

Sustainable Style: Global Mamas

2012-02-29T14:47:00.001-06:00

Spring is starting to, well, spring, and I can't wait! I've missed the days of bright skies and colorful clothing that comes in the warmer months. So these pieces from Global Mamas (launched in 2003) are definitely hitting the spot — especially since they're fair trade and support the hard-working women (and some men) in Africa who craft them. I am beyond in love with that gray-and-white zebra stripe skirt...which one is your favorite?

Fisheye J. Dress

1. Fiesta Patchwork Skirt // 2. Woven Glass Lily Skirt // 3. Zebra Lily Skirt

Retro Circle Fans Dress

Cityscape Emi Dress

Fav Freebie

2012-02-29T08:30:00.001-06:00

I spotted these labels on Pinterest last week (they were created over at The Painted Hive and are free to download and print!) and have been keeping my eyes peeled for these glass canisters at the thrift so I can try them out. Such a lovely, modern rustic way to store your basic baking supplies. Or, if you're handy with Photoshop, you can follow Kristine's instructions and design ones that fit your needs (maybe craft storage?). Yet another reason to be grateful for those who share their gifts of creativity! :)

Vintage 101: What I Learned This Weekend

2012-02-28T15:33:00.000-06:00

If you tuned into Style Spots yesterday, you may remember that I found something that's been on my want list for a while: a Pyrex double boiler. Not that putting a bowl over a saucepan with simmering water hasn't been fun...oh heck, who am I kidding? It hasn't been. I've burned my hand more times than I can count while trying to save the bowl from slipping as I stir, and I'm beyond excited to finally have something that was made specifically for this often tedious cooking task.

I found this little guy at the Midway Antique Mall in Midway, Mo., and he actually wasn't the only one. There was a second in a different booth that was bigger, but its condition was a little rough, and the handles didn't come off. I did what research I could on my phone, trying to date each one, but finally abandoned the effort and picked the smaller one, making a mental note to continue my research at home.

Anytime I'm trying to learn things about Pyrex products, I go to one site, Pyrex Love, and one book, Pyrex: The Unauthorized Collector's Guide. Linda and Bryan, the authors of the former, have put together an amazing amount of research for those of us addicted to vintage Pyrex, including pattern identification, how to clean and care for it, etc. Then, couple years ago, I got the book, written by Barbara E. Mauzy, and spent hours poring over the pages, drooling over patterns I'd never seen in person.

When I got to Chapter 2, which talks about a line of products called Flameware, I was totally hooked. The pieces are simple, all clear with stainless bands attached to a handle, but I just really loved the idea of getting to see the cooking process while you make food and drinks in them.

So I returned to this chapter when I got home and, according to Mauzy, the line was started in 1936, with the first pieces made from a bluish glass with a clear top. I stopped and looked at mine, which was also a bluish glass with a clear top (score!). The other one hadn't been, so immediately I was happy about my decision. The author also said that the first generation of Flameware (meaning the first decade, so 1936-1946) had the Pyrex name and flames stamped in green ink on the bottom. She also mentioned that a lot of these stamps came off over time and with use, but mine is in pretty good shape (score again!).

As for the handles, these also designated them as earlier pieces because as time went on, the handles became wooden, and then back to glass but permanently attached. So, as far as I can guess, the handles on this piece suggest it was made in 1943, which is when the all-glass, removable handle became available.

Either way, I'm just happy it has a home...and that the home is mine! :)

St. Louis Clothing Swap

2012-02-28T09:39:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Cristina, a grad student at Wash U here in St. Louis, asking if I wanted to join in the fun of a clothing swap, to which I will always say "yes!" We used to do these among our circle of friends in Santa Monica, with everyone bringing whatever they were itching to get rid of from their closets, and we'd throw it all in one room while people went in one by one to get one item at a time. The rest of us would hang out in the living room, where there were snacks and drinks, and it turned into a great time of hanging out, meeting new people and trading in something older for something new to you.

So, I wanted to officially extend an invitation to whomever would like to attend the swap, which will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. Cristina has set up the event on Meetup.com, where can you see all the fine print, but the basic rules are you bring at least 3 items to swap that are in good condition. Everyone pays a $2 entry fee to help take care of organizing costs, and we'll be setting up tables according to size to make finding something that will fit a bit easier.

Since it's the first swap, the max attendance was set at 40, of which only 29 spots are left (but please, please, please don't sign up unless you are 100% sure you'll be there, otherwise it eats up a spot that could go to someone else). To RSVP, you have to sign up for a Meetup.com account (which is free), then go to the event homepage and let us know if you'll be attending.

Once all is said and done, everything that's left will be donated to the Salvation Army.

Hope to see you there!

{Image source}

Style Spots: Omaha

2012-02-27T12:48:00.000-06:00

Hey all! How was your weekend? Mine was spent visiting my bro and sis-in-law in Omaha, eating good food and definitely hitting up the thrift scene. There are a lot of thrift stores in their area, including some Goodwills that (possibly for worse?) look like something straight out of a department store.

I'm starting to see this nonprofit's trend all over the country, and am not totally on board with it. I know it sounds like a reseller who just wants to complain, but I'm thinking more about the people who have shopped at thrift stores and depended on them since before they were trendy. My guess is their incomes haven't gone up like the prices in these stores have, and I really hate to think that they can't get basic necessities like clothes anymore because of this shift.

Anyway...

I did find some good stuff at a couple of Thrift Worlds, and on the way home we stopped just outside Columbia, Mo. (and my college alma mater) to check out Midway Antique Mall...which is huge! I could kick myself for never having gone in the four years I lived in that town. Here's what I brought home from our traveling adventures...

Some vintage cream boots that I couldn't stop wearing this weekend!

Another Samsonite travel bag in a pretty reddish color.

A red-and-white floral peasant top.

A gorgeous beaded cocktail dress.

A lovely teal Glasbake mixing bowl for the kitchen!

A brown Pyrex refrigerator dish.

A pink Pyrex pie plate.

A white hobnail pitcher.

Three orange Glasbake soup bowls/mugs.

And something I've been trying to find for a very long time: a Pyrex Flameware double boiler.

So, clearly, this was a vintage kitchenware weekend. I must have Pyrex and Glasbake on the brain!

You turn! What goodies did you find this weekend?

Linking up with:
Flea Market Finds
Thrift Share Monday
The Penny Worthy Project
Magpie Monday

Whimsical Weekend {Love Is in the Air}

2012-02-25T09:19:00.000-06:00

Pinned here. {Source unknown/uploaded by user}

The Thrifted Kitchen {Golden Peach Crunch}

2012-02-23T11:07:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday night, I went into a flurry of rearranging the living and dining rooms. I mostly blame it on watching copious amounts of HGTV, which I usually have on in the background while I'm working (that or Food Network), but I have to lay some blame on my constant change of mind. Something I like one week oftentimes becomes a "What was I thinking?" moment the next month.

But I digress.

While switching out the buffet in our entryway with the one in the dining room, I uncovered my stack of Better Homes & Gardens issues from the '60s. I had been wondering where they'd gone, and I guess I shoved them under the buffet in a speed cleaning session. Yesterday I had some free time to sit down with the March issues from 1963, 1964 and 1967, and came across a dessert I knew we had to try that night: Golden Peach Crunch.

It couldn't be more simple to put together, and the flavors were so refreshing! Sliced peaches mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg, then topped with a mixture of quick oats, brown sugar, butter and salt. Throw it in the oven, and 30 minutes later you're in piping hot, fruit-filled heaven.

I, of course, made one little tweak, which was the addition of some fleur de sel caramel on top of the whipped cream. It's my latest food product obsession, and it offset the sweetness of this dish so nicely! I highly recommend you give it a try (you can find it at Trader Joe's).

Now I'm off to pack for my trip to Omaha this weekend, visiting my brother and sis-in-law. Last time I was there, I was up to my ears in snow, but the weather looks much milder this time around. The rentals and I might be stopping at some antique malls along the way, so you can bet I'll have some vintage goodies to share with you on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Golden Peach Crunch
Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens, March 1963
Makes 8 servings

2 cans (1 lb. 13 oz. each) cling peach slices
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup quick oats, uncooked
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon salt

Drain peach slices thoroughly; mix with cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice; turn into 8-inch baking dish.

Combine oats, butter, sugar and salt; mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over peaches.

Bake in 375-degree oven about 30 minutes.

Serve hot with plain or whipped cream.

Fav Freebie

2012-02-22T10:00:00.001-06:00

Last night I finally paid a visit to my Google Reader account after weeks of negligence (and thousands of posts to read!), when I came across these super cute free vintage camera printable by The Handmade Home (I saw them via Creature Comforts). Wouldn't they be a great thing to frame and brighten up any room in the house? I'm thinking I'll print them out and hang them above my actual vintage camera collection...what about you? Where will you put yours?

Bites {Vegetarian Beef Stew}

2012-02-22T08:30:00.001-06:00

Every other month, I contribute a vegetarian column to Sauce, a local food publication here in St. Louis. This month I introduced our readers to the wonder of seitan — and its amazing ability to taste like stew meat — and I have to say, I'm pretty proud of it! I took some elements from my mom's recipe, and some from food connoisseurs such as Mollie Katzen, Mark Bittman and the staff at Cook's Illustrated, and what came together was a slightly sweet take on a classic comfort food recipe.

One of the interesting things I found while researching the recipe was there are tons of variations of this dish. I grew up with a simple combination of beef, carrots, onion and potatoes, but my husband's family uses corn in theirs. Others didn't use carrots at all, and some put broccoli in theirs. What about you? What are the staple components of beef stew in your household?

If you'd like to try my recipe, hop on over to the Sauce site for the complete recipe, and also check out my friend Kristi's photography site. She shot the dish and made it look so yummy!

All photos by Kristi Schiffman Photography.

Sustainable Style: Kadabros

2012-02-21T12:21:00.000-06:00

Let's be honest...when you work from home, you kind of get used to being comfortable. Most days, if you come by my house during working hours, you'll find me in a pair of black stretch pants and a sweatshirt. Not so glamorous, I know, but that's just the kind of creature I am.

The one thing missing from this stunning ensemble, however, are some casual house shoes. During my breaks, I'm often running two floors down to the basement to do laundry, letting the dog out in the backyard, or any number of things that make my feet go pitter-patter around the house. And I would just love to have some casual "shoes" to slip on in the morning and not want to take off all day because, despite all that activity (and my husband can attest to this), my feet are always cold. Call it bad circulation or poor genes, but they are.

Enter Kadabros, located in Lithuania. I've had her eco-friendly felted footwear in my saved links folder for some time. I love how simple and sustainable they are, and that each pair is handmade to order using only water, soap and natural wool. I think my favorite are the simple gray ones, but the ones with the rounded toes and the circle swirl are kinda cute, too. How about you? Which ones are your fav?

Style Spots: Shop Update

2012-02-20T10:01:00.000-06:00

What a weekend! One of my dear friends was in town from L.A., and we did St. Louis right over the past three days...eating dinner at Local Harvest, seeing Darell Scott play at Old Rock House, breakfast at Crepes, Etc., shopping in Maplewood, lunch at Schlafly, naps, dinner at Herbie's Vintage 72, shuffleboard at Foley's...needless to say, my stomach is wondering what the heck happened this weekend, but it was worth it! :)

Yesterday, was a special day, too. The hubs and I became godparents to our friends' little boy. We've known him since birth, and his parents for a long time, and we were very blessed and honored to take on such a role in his life. Then that night we took my mom out to dinner for her birthday. We went to what's probably our favorite restaurant right now, The Tavern in Valley Park, and the night ended with a soft-baked cookie cake topped with cookie dough ice cream, peanut butter mousse and mini-M&M's. It was positively sinful.

You might have guessed that with all this fun, I didn't really do any thrifting or estate sales this weekend, which is okay. I really do have SO much stuff that needs to go into the online store, and I actually might take a mini-break from rummaging until I get all that posted. (I say that now, but we'll see!) So, if you don't mind, I thought for this Style Spots I'd post what's new to the store from the past week...shameless plug, I know, but it counts! I did spot them thrifting at some point! :)

Black Entienne Aigner Riding Boots

La Vanti by Lamar Brown Women's Blazer

Scaasi Black Cocktail Dress With Scalloped Neckline

Hyde Point Petite Charcoal Gray Blazer

Russ Sleeveless Stripe Sweater

Knit JCPenny Button-up Poncho

Red Wool Pendleton Jacket/Blazer

I hope to get lots more up this week, so stay tuned, and happy Monday!

Whimsical Weekend {Balloons & Bicycles}

2012-02-18T12:25:00.000-06:00

Image source.

DIY Friday

2012-02-17T09:12:00.000-06:00

Hey all! Happy, happy early weekend! Do you have anything fun planned? I'm still in shock over the weird winter we've had...snowing one night and in 50s the next day, so I hardly know what to wear each day. Then again, I work from home (ha), so I guess I can wear whatever I darn well please! In any case, no matter what the weather brings you this weekend, I hope it's great, and it inspires you to get a little creative over the next couple days. Here are some great projects to get those wheels a-turnin'!

1. Birch Bark Lamps // Nora for Ruffled // via Poppytalk

2. Custom Repaired TOMS // Under the Sycamore

3. Wrapped Bottles // Penelope and Pip

4. Animals Bookends // Hi Sugar Plum // via Dollar Store Crafts

5. Macrame Bracelets // Mary and Patch

6. Streamer Chandelier // Strawberry Chic

Happy Grapefruit Month!

2012-02-16T09:15:00.000-06:00

1. Grapefruit Lip Balm // BL Soaps
2. Pink Grapefruit Stripe Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter // Pink Fawn Designs
3. Grapefruit Watercolor Painting // Mangu Love Art
4. Retro Pink Grapefruit Print // Can It Be Sew
5. Grapefruit Earrings // Love Your Bling
6. Glistening Grapefruit Natural Eye Shadow // Willow Tree Minerals
7. Embroidered Pink Grapefruit Pin Cushion // Sea Pinks
8. Grapefruit Cleanse and Hydrate Balm // Stark Skin Care
9. Grapefruit Vegan Mineral Blush // Naked Elements

Sustainable Style: Little Miss Loolies

2012-02-15T10:47:00.000-06:00

{Knit cozies}

The hubs and I try to be conscious consumers as much as we can, and that often includes brainstorming ways to reuse or recycle things instead of just tossing them. It's a challenge just to do this with common household items, so when people have the vision take this practice and create beautiful home accessories, I'm always in awe (and always a wee bit jealous!).

{Self-adhesive fabric sheets}

{Knit Poufs}

One such lady is Sarah Hepworth, whose Etsy store, Little Miss Loolies, takes "life's little leftovers" and turns them into items that are "fabulous and fun." What drew me in at first were her knit poufs, which have such vibrant colors and patterns. But as I delved a little deeper, I also fell for her knit bottle and vase cozies, self-adhesive fabric sheets (using some vintage fabrics!) and her adorable matching sweater rabbits (I mean...come on...they're SO cute!).

{Matching sweater rabbits...be still my heart!}

The only down side (for me at least) is she's based in the UK, which means hefty shipping costs for those poufs. But that doesn't mean I can't admire them from across The Pond, right?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T09:18:00.000-06:00

Image source.

Style Spots: Breakthrough

2012-02-13T14:35:00.002-06:00

So I feel like the past three weekends, I've been bit by the bad luck thrifting bug. It seemed that every estate sale was either picked over by the time I got there, or the prices were outrageous, and the thrift stores were the same. I don't know if any of you other vintage shoppers have noticed this trend, but I definitely think the demand for secondhand has grown a lot, and now these stores and estate sale companies are picking up on that and, as a result, raising their prices (not bad for someone who scored low marks in economics...).

And, I'm not gonna lie, it's been really frustrating for me, so much so that I almost didn't want to go out this weekend. But I knew I would've stewed about what I might have missed if I didn't, so I planned my route and headed for the door. I went to four sales...and came out empty-handed and (obviously) still fairly frustrated. Prices were still high, or the aesthetic of what was being offered just didn't jive with mine. On my way to the last sale, I prepared myself for another letdown, and at first I thought it was. The kitchen had some beautiful Pyrex pieces, but the prices were ridiculous, and the bedrooms had barely anything.

But then I went downstairs...and it was like a breakthrough! The whole place was packed with clothing, accessories, cookbooks, craft supplies and tons of miscellaneous. But a lot of things didn't have prices, which made me nervous. So I brought some things to the register and hesitantly asked how much they were. The lady running the sale was one of those very easygoing hagglers, willing to meet you more than halfway on most things, and, as a result, I left with a little load of things and a big smile. It felt SO good to finally get out of that dry spell!

Here is what I brought home...

Two wooden printer/letter block drawers.

A beautiful black-and-white women's coat for the shop.

A brass stork (or is it an egret?).

A Better Homes and Gardens cookbook from the 1960s.

Some more crewel art. I think I finally have enough to hang a collage!

A handmade wooden box with handmade wooden blocks.

Something I've been searching for for a very, very long time: a vintage school map to hang in the dining room.
This is one of South America which is, ironically, one of few continents we've never been to.

Two vintage wallets for the store.

A vintage white ceramic cow's head, which will join the other ceramic animal heads I've collected.


And another women's coat, this one with a faux fur collar.

Your turn! Find any goodies this weekend?

Linking up with:

Thrift Share Monday
Flea Market Finds
Magpie Monday
The Penny Worthy Project

Fav Freebie

2012-02-13T09:38:00.000-06:00

Okay, y'all. It's the day before Valentine's Day, and I know some of you have some last-minute DIY-ing to do! Perhaps you're making a gift for your special someone, or throwing a party for all your friends. Either way, this free treat bag printable from new e-magazine Funkytime will surely make the receiver feel special! And while you're there, check out all the other beautiful Valentine DIY ideas tucked into those pages...they're so cute!

Sunday Meditation

2012-02-12T10:11:00.000-06:00

"To unpathed waters, undreamed shores."

— William Shakespeare

{Illustration by Penelope and Pip}

Whimsical Weekend {Love Bird}

2012-02-11T08:32:00.000-06:00

{The Bird of Valentine by Ein Der Guten}

DIY {Papernstitch} Friday

2012-02-10T16:25:00.000-06:00

{DIY Liquor and Hearts Valentines by Mr. Kate}

Hey all! A belated happy Friday to you! Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I'm still making mine, and if you're in the same boat, maybe a get-together to craft some Valentines for those you love could be penciled in? I've rounded some up super cute ideas over on Papernstitch today to get those creative wheels turning, so be sure and click through to check 'em out! See you on Monday!

Valentine's Day Recipe Roundup

2012-02-07T09:31:00.000-06:00

Hello my lovelies! Unfortunately, this is turning into quite a busy week for me (lots of editing, writing and scouting spots for my store!), and rather than throw some half-hearted posts at you, I thought I'd do a little roundup of my Valentine's Day recipes thus far, just in case you missed some of them! I'll be back on Friday with another DIY roundup, so until then, happy week! :)

These pull-apart heart-shaped coffee cakes are a great way to start your Valentine's Day!

Tell your sweetheart how you feel with candy letters and sprinkles.

Pretty pink coconut will give your Valentine that fuzzy feeling. :)

Only one way to find out if these cupcakes hold true to their name!

Don't forget to invite one of cinema's most passionate couples to your Valentine's Day soiree!

Whimsical Weekend {Seascape}

2012-02-04T09:52:00.000-06:00

Pinned here. Found here via here.

DIY Friday

2012-02-03T08:52:00.000-06:00

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, there have been loads of cute DIYs popping up all over the blogosphere, but these six were my favorites from the past week, full of color and sweetness. I hope they inspire you toward a crafty weekend!

1. Valentine Stamped Clay Hearts // The Sweetest Occasion // Photo by Lovely Indeed
2. Valentine's Day Sugar Giftable // Somewhere Splendid
3. Make a Rubber Stamp // Yi Farn of Cotton Candy // for Mollie Makes
4. Heart and Arrow Pin Cushion // The Purl Bee // via Poppytalk
5. Spectrum Mobile // Hrrrthrrr // via Row House Nest
6. Giant Paper Flower // Nata for Green Wedding Shoes // via Say Yes! to Hoboken // Photos by Studio Castillero

The Thrifted Kitchen {Better-Than-Sex Cupcakes}

2012-02-02T15:32:00.000-06:00

Imagine my surprise when, a couple weeks ago, I was leafing through a thrifted recipe box full of cards written by an elderly lady and came across a recipe for "Better-Than-Sex Cake." After a fit of giggles (because that's how mature I am), I knew I had to include this recipe in my Valentine's Day Thrifted Kitchen series (see previous recipes here, here, here and here).

It's suppose to bake in a 9x13 pan, but I'm a little tired of big cakes at this point, so I decided to make cupcakes instead. Doing it this way does require a little more finesse as you add on layer after layer, but I think the tediousness was definitely worth it, especially if you have some cute Valentine's Day liners to serve them in. It also means you don't need as much of the pineapple mixture or the pudding, so I would half both of those if you're not making the big cake version.

Other than that, I didn't change the recipe one lick.

Better-Than-Sex Cupcakes
Courtesy of the Elderly Lady Who Lived on Potomac
Makes 24 cupcakes

1 box two-layer yellow cake mix (and whatever the box says you need to make the cake)
1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple in juice
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large package regular vanilla pudding mix (and whatever package says you need to make it)
1 8-ounce tub of whipped topping
Coconut flakes

Bake cake according to package directions in a 9x13 pan (or in lined cupcake pans).

In saucepan, combine pineapple (with juice) and sugar. Bring to a boil, heating and stirring until sugar dissolves.

Poke holes in cake (a wooden skewer or toothpick works great), then spread pineapple mixture onto cake.

Prepare vanilla pudding according to package directions.

(Once it's set) top cake with pudding, spreading it to the edges.

Cover with foil and let set overnight in refrigerator.

At serving time, spread whipped topping over cake. Sprinkle with coconut.

So...are these cupcakes really better than sex? Well...I've never been a girl to kiss and tell. ;-)

Sew What? {Zippered Pillow Covers}

2012-02-02T09:31:00.000-06:00

When we were in New York late last year, one of my favorites areas we visited was Soho. The architecture was breathtaking, and the shopping was fabulous. We spent most of our time in Purl Soho, which, if you don't know about it, is an amazing resources for knitters, sewers and other kinds of crafty folk. I've been following their blog for some time now, so it was a huge treat to actually step inside their doors.

The hubs had promised I could get some fabric to make pillows for the living, so I spent a good chunk of time carefully selecting two patterns. Then we got home...and the fabric has been sitting there...and sitting there...until this past weekend! I finally made four throw pillows (two from each fabric) for our couch and chairs, and it was a virtual team effort.

When I started cutting the pieces, I noticed that both patterns were designed by Jessica Jones of How About Orange (another inspiring blog you should add to your reader!). They're from her Out of Oslo collection. The mustard one is a pattern called Skiff in the color Dusk. The teal one is a pattern called Picket in the color Dawn (I don't know why my photo turned it so blue...it really is the teal shown on the left).

When it was time to start sewing, I followed this very helpful tutorial written by Brett Bara for Design Sponge. And after they were done, I stuffed them with pillow inserts from Crate and Barrel (which I learned you have to ask for because they keep them in the store room).

I'm SO glad they're finally finished. Now I'm energized to tackle other sewing projects...

Vintage Animated GIFs With Stereogranimator

2012-02-01T15:07:00.000-06:00

Okay...so I've officially gotten off track with work today because I've been busy making these fun little animated GIFs with archives from the New York Public Library (Warning: Don't do the fast ones! Might make you a little seasick...).

GIF made with the NYPL Labs Stereogranimator

Aren't they fun? And a great way to get through those last few hours of the workday? :)

Too read more about the Stereogranimator project, click here.

Tomorrow Is...

2012-02-01T08:30:00.000-06:00

1. Bill Murray as Phil Connors watercolor print // Andyrama
2. Groundhog original watercolor painting // Dimdi
3. Groundhog sculpture // Bewilder and Pine
4. One dozen groundhog gingerbread cookies // Sugar Lane Bake Shop
5. Punxsutawney Phil psychic groundhog print // Full Frog Moon

Sustainable Style: 'Tetris' Shelves by Brave Space Design

2012-01-31T11:01:00.000-06:00

Made from natural bamboo, I wouldn't mind a houseful of
these Tetrad shelves by Brave Space Design.

Learn more about their process and commitment to
sustainable, non-wasteful practices here.

Fav Freebie

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

Loving this vintage-modern-whimsical Valentine printable from Love vs. Design.

Style Spots: Thrift Stores Save the Day

2012-01-30T14:10:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday, all! How was your weekend? Mine was a perfect combination of thrifting, cooking, sewing and relaxing, and I'm feeling ready to tackle this busy week!

On Saturday I woke up early and headed to three estate sales. The first one I got there an hour after it opened, and people were still lined up outside, waiting to get in. This usually means the house is small and the stuff is plentiful, so they only let in a certain amount of people at a time. And as I waited, I saw three girls my age come out with stuff I would have loved to take home: a beautiful aqua kitchen cart, an old globe and a kelly green coat with a beautiful trim. This made me more anxious to get in there, but by the time I did, all the stuff I liked was way too expensive. So I left empty-handed. The next two had barely anything to sell, and I was in and out in a couple minutes, again leaving empty-handed.

Feeling discouraged, I stopped for lunch, then went to a Goodwill and a St. Vincent de Paul store, hoping to salvage the morning, which I did. Here's what I scooped up:

A brand-new set of biscuit cutters

A set of stainless steel sieves

A floral fiberglass serving platter

A camel Samsonite travel bag

The cutest little girl's wool coat I've ever seen

A Fire King jadeite divided plate

Some sweet mustard pumps

A roll of vintage fabric

And one more roll...

And a yellow lace tablecloth

How about you? Any good finds this weekend?

Linking up with:

Thrift Share Monday :: Flea Market Finds :: The Penny Worthy Project :: Magpie Monday

Sunday Meditation

2012-01-29T16:15:00.000-06:00

"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure,
but I don't know many of them."

—Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Photo by Kate Shaw

Whimsical Weekend {Fan Art}

2012-01-28T08:00:00.001-06:00

Unfolding Series by Erika Lawlor Schmidt

The Thrifted Kitchen {Gone With the Wind Cocktails}

2012-01-27T15:12:00.001-06:00

Bet you thought I'd checked out for the weekend, right? Well, after tasting these cocktails last night, it was certainly tempting to call it a day earlier this afternoon, but I had way too much fun putting these photos together to wait until next week to share them!

Inspired by one of cinema's most famous couples, I came across these vintage recipes in Cocktails and Snacks (published in 1953), and thought it would make a super cute serving idea for your (adult) Valentine's Day bash. I mean, we all know Scarlett and Rhett had their troubles, but theirs was a love for the ages! :)

Rhett Butler Cocktail
Makes 1 serving

1.5 ounces Southern Comfort
1 teaspoon orange curacao
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar (original recipe calls for fine-grain sugar, but nectar dissolves much better!)
Juice of 1/4 lime
Juice of 1/4 lemon

Combine all ingredients in a shaker (stainless steel works best) and shake vigorously with cracked ice. Strain into cocktail glass.

Scarlett O'Hara Cocktail
Makes 1 serving

2 ounces Southern Comfort
3/4 ounce cranberry juice (the regular, sweetened kind is fine)
Juice of 1/4 lime (I know there's a lemon in the photo, but I forgot to take it out...oops!)

Pour into a shaker and stir with cracked ice (no shaking!). Strain into cocktail glass.

These are so delish...I do declare! ;-)

DIY {Papernstitch} Friday

2012-01-27T12:25:00.000-06:00

{Photo courtesy of A Beautiful Mess}

Yay! It's Friday! (Party! Party!)

Just wanted to pop in and let you know I'm over at papernstitch today with a DIY roundup of winter-weather accessories that you can make all by your creative self! Think warm thoughts, and then head over to the post to check 'em out.

Happy weekend!

Tuning in With

2012-01-26T14:13:00.001-06:00

Isn't Shelby the cutest?? We were introduced to each other via Oh Hello Friend's Lovely Package Exchange this past Christmas, and I was so excited to get paired with someone who loves vintage like I do. Shelby put together a super-thoughtful box of goodies for me, including a gorgeous cake cutter that I've been using a ton since baking up all these Valentine's Day cakes.

Her blog, Honeysuckle Blog, is a great resource for inspiration, and I've loved catching up on all the post I've missed since before I knew about her. She's also on her way to becoming a mommy (congrats!), so be sure and stop by and wish her and her growing family well! Also be sure to check out her Etsy store, which is stocked with all kinds of vintage loveliness.

Here's what Shelby had to say about putting together her thrift mix:

"These songs are surely an eclectic mix, but so is my style. So many of my projects are done on a small budget, which often requires thrifting, but sometimes I just don't feel like it. Getting a glimpse of one of my favorite thrifted items (each one snagged for less than $1!) or hearing the right song can boost my mood and remind me that each day is a gift that I should use to get up and get things accomplished."

Um...aren't those white owls awesome? Thanks, Shelby, for stopping by and sharing with us!

Fav Freebie

2012-01-26T09:57:00.000-06:00

For those of us who love mid-century modern style, the name Eames is as well-known to us as sliced bread. So I was super excited to read a tweet last week that mentioned a film about the dynamic design duo of Charles and Ray that you can watch for free online at the ever-generous PBS, as part of its American Masters series (I'm already indebted to it for putting Downton Abbey online for free!).

I know what I'll be taking a break to watch this weekend...how about you?

Once You Pop...

2012-01-25T14:30:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I got an email from iStock with some very exciting news: They now carry 114 pages of CSA Images, all available for purchase royalty free. This means businesses big and small can now use images from this classic collection of pop culture, and I for one can't wait to spend a couple hours poring through them all. You can also purchase them through the CSA site, where I grabbed a screen shot of the home decor items pictured above. It's a smorgasbord of vintage goodness! :)

Sustainable Style: GoodGuide

2012-01-25T11:46:00.000-06:00

Smart phone apps are becoming a way of life for a lot of us, myself included. I use apps for cooking, keeping up with sports, getting discounts at my favorite craft stores, tweeting, Facebook-ing, and on and on. But recently, I've been discovering (or having other more tech-savvy friends showing me) apps for when you're shopping. The ability of the newer phones to scan bar codes can be extremely helpful for price comparisons, and this week I stumbled upon an app that rates a product's health, environmental and social impacts.

It's called GoodGuide, and apparently it's been around for a couple years already, but I am part of the slow technology movement (as in it take me forever to learn about the latest happenings). Anyway, the company has rated products for more than 145,000 companies on a scale of 1 to 10, with 8 and above being pretty awesome, and 4 and below deserving a kick in the shins (my technical description, not theirs). :) You can learn how they decide on a rating here.

The hubs and I have definitely been trying to support companies that leave lighter footprints and give to social causes, so I'm excited to give this app a try next time I'm at the store. Have any of you tried it yet? What did you think?

Vintage 101: What I Learned This Weekend

2012-01-24T08:49:00.000-06:00

I mentioned yesterday that my mom is staying with me, which brought to mind a debate we had last month about whether these beautiful aqua/teal goblets I picked up at a Goodwill were in fact Depression Glass. Let me refresh your memory...

My mom insisted that they were in fact frauds. And me, insulted by her lack of faith in my ability to recognize such well-known glassware, scoffed at the idea and insisted she was wrong (gee, can you tell we're mother and daughter?). But it left a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, and every time I opened the cupboard and spotted them, they seemed to be taunting me. So, this weekend I finally caved and delved into the Internet in search of the answer.

I was surprised to learn that the reproduction of this iconic glass from the 1930s is fairly widespread, but you can read more about all that here. Most of the sites are organized by the pattern, so I knew that's where I had to start. I looked through hundreds of photos and never came across a pattern like the one etched in the above goblets.

Undeterred, I went from a different angle. I remembered someone commenting on this Style Spots post that the color of these glasses is known as Capri Blue. So I started researching that, finding out this colored was manufactured one by Hazel Atlas. This helped me narrow me search, and after lots and lots more photos, I still never came across anything that looked like these goblets.

I started waving a very small white flag by then beginning research on reproduction Depression Glass. All the sources said one of the ways to tell is how heavy the piece is. You would think the heavier it is, the more likely it's real, but that's not the case. The real stuff is much more delicate than the repro, and the real stuff often has little flaws as well (air bubbles, or indentations and marks from when it was being set in a mold, etc.). So I closely scanned the goblets (noticing their heaviness as I picked them up) and looked for such imperfections, but these babies are pretty seamless.

I think it's safe to say my mom was right, unless one of you can save my pride and tell me you know for a fact these are real. Either way, they're still pretty. :)
If you'd like to learn more about Depression Glass, this website gives a lot of good book references. I think I might check my local library to see if I can find some. That way I'm more prepared if I come across some in the thrifts.

Another lesson lived and learned.

Style Spots: Linens and Things

2012-01-23T14:39:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday afternoon my dears! I hope you had a wonderful, restful weekend! I spent mine with family, most notably my mom, who is spending the night at my house while the hubs is off in La La Land (you might otherwise know it as L.A.). Saturday afternoon started with a trip to the airport to drop off the Tower Sound and Vision bros, after which I consulted my trusty estate sale app to see if there were any nearby, which there was! It was a cute little house with a lot of vintage goodies, but most were a little high for my liking. I did, however, walk out with two aprons, one of which I had to put on Esmeralda (my mannequin) to show you how cute it is...

On the way to that sale, I passed Unique Thrift Store, which has been on my list for some time, but I've never gone because it's way north. So I headed there afterward and was really impressed by the size and the organization of it. It had loads of clothing and shoes, and all the home decor was neatly showcased on the shelves and in plastic bags that hung above them. After wandering up and down the aisles, here's what a snatched from there...

A super cute vintage suitcase...

And a Vera Neumann tablecloth with mums.

I started to head back home after that, stopping at Value Village in Kenrick along the way. I found some books I've been wanting to read (including a Jodi Piccoult book...anyone else an avid reader of her work?) and this awesome Samsonite travel bag in a gorgeous shade of gray...

Then Sunday, mom and I hit up four other estate sales, in which I found these gems...

Some cute vintage belts...

Some vintage black-and-white fabric.

More vintage fabric.

Another vintage flannel shirt for moi.

Oh, and more vintage fabric. :) This one is 100% cotton, with white and gray stripes.
Reminds me a lot of the towels they're selling at West Elm right now.

One more bit of fabric...

Hundreds of handwritten recipes, providing lots of fodder for The Thrifted Kitchen.

And a vintage mustard leather purse.

Last night we went over to my grandma's for dinner, and on the way out passed by her retirement community's "free table." On it I spotted this guy...

I'm going to give him a nice glossy coat of white (or perhaps a fun color...which one do you think would look cute?) to update him a bit, then add a cylinder shade. Welcome to your new home, Owlie! :)

And that's that for this week. How about you? Any fun scores this weekend?

Linking up with:

Thrift Share Monday :: Flea Market Finds :: Magpie Monday :: The Penny Worthy Project

Sunday Meditation

2012-01-22T08:15:00.000-06:00

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp,
but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”

— Nathaniel Hawthorne

{Source unknown. Pinned here.}

Whimsical Weekend {Summer Gazing}

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000-06:00

Illustration by Katie Daisy.

Pinned here.

The Thrifted Kitchen {Valentine's Day Pink Coconut Heart Cake}

2012-01-20T14:32:00.000-06:00

The weekend is upon us, and I'm getting ready to head out, brave the cold and run some errands. But before I jet off for the day, I wanted to share a sweet Thrifted Kitchen recipe with you that's perfect for your Valentine's Day celebration! Hopefully you didn't get enough of the heart cake from yesterday, because today takes that shape and give it a feathery, feminine touch.

The original recipe comes from Betty Crocker's Party Book, published in 1960, and calls for plain white coconut. But I wanted to amp it up a bit, so I dyed one bag of coconut flakes pink. You can do this by emptying the bag of coconut into a large bowl and adding two to three drops of red food coloring (I know it doesn't seem like enough, but after you work it for a while, it is plenty!). I had the gel kind on hand, which worked well. I also cut out some pink hearts from paint swatches and hot glued them onto skewers to give the top some whimsy.

The actual cake is made from a white cake box mix, but obviously you can use whatever recipe you want, just as long as it makes two layers. The filling that was suggested in the book was Betty Crocker's lemon filling, which I found online. And the icing was a whipped butter cream I bought at the store. For once I didn't experience any hiccups (knock on wood); just have some patience when putting the coconut on the cake. Make sure there is plenty of icing and really press down on it so it sticks. I would suggest doing it over the bowl so the excess that falls off doesn't get wasted...also because it's a messy job!

Heart-Shaped White Coconut Cake
Courtesy of Betty Crocker's Party Book (1960)

Two 8-inch heart-shaped cake pans
White cake mix
Can of white frosting
1 bag shredded coconut
Lemon filling (recipe below)

Bake white cake mix batter in heart-shaped pans. When cool, put together with a lemon filling. Frost with white frosting. Sprinkle top and sides of cake thickly with shredded coconut.

Lemon Filling
Courtesy of Betty Crocker
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 cup lemon juice

In a 1 1/2-quart saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir one minute longer; remove from heat.

Stir in butter and lemon peel until butter is melted. Gradually stir in lemon juice. Press plastic wrap on filling to prevent a tough layer from forming on top. Refrigerate about two hours or until set.

Leftover filling can be tightly covered and refrigerated up to five days; do not freeze. Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature to soften; stir before using. Store cakes or pastries filled with lemon filling covered in refrigerator.

Hope this leaves you inspired to bake up your own Valentine's treats this weekend!

This Week Is...

2012-01-19T15:57:00.000-06:00

{Choose Happiness photograph by sweetblue}

I've been reading a lot of Tweets and posts lately about people feeling a little down in the dumps during these early winter months. Lucky for us, it's Hunt for Happiness week! I encourage you to take some time, think about what makes you happy, and get to it! I've also rounded up some amazing prints to help you on your way...

{H Is for Happiness print by evajuliet}

{Happiness Is Still Homemade print by This Paper Ship}

{Oscar Wilde Happiness Quote print by Splendid and Sound}

{Choose Happiness print by Wicked Paper}

{Notice Happiness print by blimpcat}

Bites {Valentine's Day Heart Cake}

2012-01-19T08:30:00.006-06:00

Last week I shared my version of a heart-shaped coffee cake as an idea for your Valentine's day breakfast. This week, we're moving to the other end of the day and concentrating on desserts. That's right...as in plural. I was a busy baking bee this week and was really inspired by a recipe from Betty Crocker's Party Book (again). It's a two-layer heart-shaped white cake with lemon filling and coconut (It's definitely as good as it sounds.)

BUT, before I share that Thrifted Kitchen recipe with you, I wanted to show you one of my own creations, inspired by a trip to Karen Ann's baking supply store here in St. Louis.

It started with some pink and white melting chocolate and plastic letter molds. Just melt the chocolate in a double boiler and pour it into the molds. Tamp it down so the letters set up smooth, then pop them in the refrigerator until they're solid. Turn the mold face-up (with the opening on the bottom) and gently push on the mold cavities until the letters pop out.

Then I made some red velvet cake from the box (gasp!) and frosted it with some vanilla butter cream frosting. Then I positioned my heart-shape cookie cutter in the middle of the frosted cake and pour some sprinkles in the middle (make sure you press them in a little before removing the cutter) and this is how it all turned out!

A little message to the hubs... :)

You can use whatever kind of cake you want, box or homemade. It'd also be cute to use pink frosting with white sprinkles, or red frosting with white and pink sprinkles...the combinations are as big as your imagination! Hope this leaves you inspired for the upcoming holiday! :)

Stay tuned this afternoon for that two-layer cake! I know you'll love it!

Linking up with Whipperberry's Friday Flair and Tidy Mom's I'm Lovin' It link parties!

Mad Men Promo Posters

2012-01-18T11:13:00.000-06:00

While "Pan Am" has been feeding my 1960s fix, and I've been drooling over the girls' outfits (and vintage luggage, of course!) each episode, I have to say that my heart for this era in TV land lies with "Mad Men." I've been counting down the days until the premiere of Season 5 (March 25), and am even more anxious for its arrival after seeing the new-to-me promo posters (and reading excerpts from an interview with Matt Weiner).

Aren't they beautiful? :)

{Images courtesy of Eleven Productions}

Sustainable Style: Güd

2012-01-18T09:00:00.002-06:00

Last week I was rushing through the aisles of Target, getting some toiletries and cleaning supplies for the home, when I spotted an end cap with some seriously eye-catching products. I literally stopped in my tracks (to the annoyance of the person behind me, who almost slammed me with her cart) to check them out, and was pleasantly surprised when a sign told me this was the latest line of goodies from Burt's Bees, called Güd.

I have been using Burt's lip balm for years, and tried their body washes and shampoos in the past, but wasn't really a fan. So I made a note to look these new ones up when I got home, and here's what I learned: The line contains no parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals; it's not tested on animals (yes!); and it comes in three scents (floral cherrynova™, orange petalooza™ and vanilla flame™). Each scent comes in shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, body butter, body wash, body mist, foaming hand wash and hand cream (i.e., they've got you covered, head to toe).

(Update: Jim from Güd was kind enough to contact me and inform that I missed a fourth scent, carried only at Target. It's called Pearanormal Activity™ and is made with a pear and acai berry fragrance. Sounds splendid!)

I'm excited to give some of these products a try once I run out of what I'm currently using (the Yes To line, which I'm really liking...). I'll be sure and let you know what I think once that happens. In the meantime, have any of you tried this new line? What do you think of it?

{Images courtesy of Burt's Bees}

Fav Freebie

2012-01-17T10:14:00.000-06:00

Every good vintage-lover loves Mason jars, right? Old or new, they're a very versatile item to have in your home, whether you use them for canning, or for more decorative purposes like vases. They also make great vessels for gifts...and wouldn't these labels just send them over the top of Cute Mountain? Lucky for us, they're free to download, thanks to the team at Limeshot Design. Head on over to their site to scoop 'em up!

Style Spots: Around Town

2012-01-16T15:32:00.001-06:00

This weekend I hit up four estate sales in various parts of town, then one thrift store later that afternoon. The first sale was on The Hill, not far from our house. It had a lot of Victorian-style furnishings, which can be a bit disconcerting for me; it usually means I'm not going to find anything. But once I pushed past the living room and formal dining room, I started spotting things. Here's what I got!

A really old metal grocery/shopping cart (nicely camouflaged by the wall...I know).

A nice bright red, white and blue pillow, headed for the store.

And a beautifully bright spring floral Vera Neumann square tablecloth, headed for the store.

After that I went to a sale on the border of South City and Shrewsbury, but left with nothing. Then came a sale in Kirkwood, which had some beautiful pieces, but the prices were way too high for me. I also encountered a dirty old man who, when he turned the corner and saw me, asked if I was for sale (yuck). After that, I pretty much ran for the car...from both the prices and the old man. I still had one more sale on the list at this point, so I headed that way.

When I got there, one of the women who runs the estate sale company was getting reamed by these two guys who, from what I could hear, own local vintage shops. Apparently, the lady broke one of her rules and let someone in for a pre-sale to buy some furniture. So when the two guys, who got there earlier that morning and got the number one spot in line, went in to get them and saw they weren't for sale, they were pissed. So much so they came back that afternoon (when I got there) to give her a piece of their mind. I thought they were being babies, really. And they certainly didn't need to be that harsh with the woman. So I made sure I was extra nice when I went to the checkout. Here's what I went home with!

Two rolls of amazing 1960s wallpaper that was up in one of the bedrooms.
It's got that Hollywood Regency gold shimmer to it. :)

A gorgeous cake carrier that has a spot for a pie in the upper chamber.

Some vintage fabric and fabric napkins.

Three gorgeous clip-on birds made in Japan that you put on a Christmas tree. But the color are so seasonally neutral
I think I'm going to clip them onto a wire lampshade and maybe hang them from a hook or something.

Additional shot of the long tails! :)

Last stop of the day was to Value Village in Fenton with my mom, where I found probably my most favorite piece I've ever thrifted...

A stunning, pristine camel hair wool belted poncho by Juli de Roma. It fits me, but I think I'm going to
give it up to the store, if anyone is interested!

I also found...

A brown leather wallet with a cream stripe, headed for the store.

A pale purple mod dress, headed for the store.

A pristine vintage travel bag in a neon-ish orange-red color.

A white lamp with gold specks I've had my eye on for a couple weeks.

And this drum lamp shade my parents got last weekend but ended up not using, so they gave it to me.
The hubs think it goes with this lamp, but I think it's a bit too big. Kind of makes me giggle. :)
What do you think?

And that's it! How about you? Find any goodies this weekend?

Linking up with:

Flea Market Finds :: Thrift Share Monday :: The Penny Worthy Project :: Magpie Monday

Sunday Meditation

2012-01-15T12:31:00.000-06:00

"There is no easy way to create a world where men and women can live together, where each
has his own job and house and where all children receive as much education as their minds can
absorb. But if such a world is created in our lifetime... It will be accomplished by persons who have
the courage to put an end to suffering by willingly suffering themselves rather than inflict suffering
upon others. It will be done by rejecting the racism, materialism and violence that has characterized Western civilization and especially by working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation and peace."

— Martin Luther King, Jr., Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom

{Image source}

Whimsical Weekend {Make a Wish}

2012-01-14T10:31:00.000-06:00

Photo by Karen Johnson.

Pinned here.

Style Spots: St. Charles Scores

2012-01-13T16:06:00.000-06:00

We made it! Yes, to the end of the workweek, but also to the end of Style Spots for this week! I'm exhausted after taking all these photos, but I hope you've enjoyed a peek into what I've been doing during those weeks I was on a blog hiatus. This last group comes from last weekend, when my parents and I headed to St. Charles for an estate sale and then an epic day of thrifting...and I mean epic. We're talking like 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and I think my dad would have kept going if we hadn't run out of places to go!

I always enjoy spending Saturdays with them going on treasure hunts. We all get equally excited when someone finds something they've been looking for, or just something really awesome. And after this journey I can say I'm pretty familiar with St. Charles and a lot of Chesterfield now. I even have a few favorites places to check back with on days when I feel up for the drive.

Anywho...let's get to the goods!

A couple pair of very '80s/'90s earrings for my jewelry box.

Three vintage aprons headed to my next show in March.

I always see these in white and navy and pass them up; so excited I found them in black and white!

A bag of lace trim.

A super mid-century sewing chair made by Singer. The seat lifts off to store notions, etc. Headed for my craft room!

A patchwork quilt with lots of pretty vintage fabric.


Some amazing vintage sheets. They don't fit our beds, but I got them anyway. I'll probably use them for the fabric.

An ah-mazing women's "carpet bag" coat. The fabric is divine, and has black faux fur trim and a matching belt.
Headed to the store if you're interested! :)

A cute little pillow that only needs a button to be good as new.

I picked this ink pad up just for the design on the top. Isn't is fabulous? Love the typography. I'm going to try and turn it into a pencil case or something of the sort. Any ideas?

I got the lamp base a Goodwill in Chesterfield. It's one that was sent there from Target because it has a small crack in it,
but it's perfectly functional. So I brought it home to go with a lampshade I thrifted eons ago, and I think they complement
the bedding quite nicely! (Ignore the temporary nightstand, lol.)

And, lastly, I wanted to show you my new workspace! I've had my eye on this retro red-and-white enamel tap at the local antique mall. For the past 6 months it's been sitting there and I contemplated taking it home loads of time, but the price was too high for me. Then, right before Christmas, I went in there looking for a present and saw it had been marked down more than 50%. So I went back on New Year's weekend and it was still there, so I bought it...and I love it!

It helps break up the kitchen a bit and now the hubs and I have a cute little place to eat breakfast in the morning. Then I'll stay on and work there during the day because it's right next to a heating vent. :)

Well...(deep breath) that's it for this show! May your thrifting be bountiful this weekend!

DIY Friday

2012-01-13T11:18:00.000-06:00

Friday is here! And thanks to this cold weather, I know what I'm going to do over the next two days: hole up at home and hopefully finish a couple projects I started earlier this week...perhaps while finishing Season 1 of Downtown Abbey? (Is anyone else totally hooked?) I love, love, love Maggie Smith, and she certainly does not disappoint in this series!

But back to the task at hand...I came across several DIYs this week that have my mind turning in inspiration. If you're feeling in a creative rut, I know some of these will help pull you out! Have a great weekend!

{Doorknob Wall Hooks by Imm Living via Poppytalk}

{Magazine Display by Ohhh... Mhhh... via Creature Comforts}

{Drum Lampshade Pendant Light by Smile and Wave}

{DIY Houses by Night by Fellow Fellow}

{Boxed Cushion via Design Sponge}

{Globe Centerpiece by Better Homes and Gardens}

Style Spots: New Finds for a New Year

2012-01-12T16:40:00.000-06:00

The weekend of New Year's Eve found me without any estate sales to go to...zero...zilch...nada. Disappointed though I was, I decided it would be a good day to hit my favorite thrifts. I went all over the place, from the city to Webster, to Fenton, up to University City and back, coming home with a nice selection of vintage goodies. Want to see? :)

My new "complete guide to home entertaining" from the 1960s. Some of the text in here is hilarious!

This purse just called to me...from the '90s. But I picked it up. I love the shape and how roomy it is inside.

This little clutch purse is adorable...and headed for the store!

Another purse...love the shade of gray it is and the "shoulders" it has. It'll be going in the store. :)

This dress is really interesting: handmade, definitely '60s, and has a great button and pleating detail in the back.

Stripey dress (size 18 in case you're interested!).

This little guy is a sugar holder! Has a opening on the side of his head for a spoon handle to rest. Really heavy, too.

A vintage red Rolfs wallet, brand spanking new (still has all the placeholder cards inside).

And how about a nice red poncho to go with that wallet (and the gray purse...they're all cute together!).

I know I said I'd only be doing three posts, but I still have a lot of stuff to show you, so I'm going to do one more tomorrow to show you what I picked up this past weekend. One of the things I brought home has quickly made the kitchen my new favorite place to work, and some I've had my eye on for months! Can't wait to share! :)

The Thrifted Kitchen {Heart-Shaped "Coffee Cake"}

2012-01-12T13:11:00.000-06:00

Happy afternoon, all! Today starts my first-ever themed series of Thrifted Kitchen posts. I've dug up tons of great recipes from vintage cookbooks that go along with Valentine's Day, and I'll be posting one here each Thursday from now through Feb. 9.

First up is a sweet idea for breakfast, which comes from Betty Crocker's Party Book, published in 1960. You might notice I put the words coffee cake in quotes, and that's because I'm not sure I agree that this is indeed coffee cake. When I read through the recipe, it's for what I know as monkey bread, which maybe is coffee cake and I just didn't know it. What do you think?

Anyway, the recipe calls for it to be baked in an 8-inch heart-shaped pan, which I tried (although not very hard) to find. Instead I picked up these mini heart-shaped spring form pans, which worked just as well, and created individual portions to boot. You just have to cut up the biscuits into small pieces before dipping them in the butter so they'll fit in the pans (otherwise, if you do have a cake pan, you can just place the biscuits in there whole).

I think the only thing I would add is maybe some frosting to either dip the pieces in or spread on top since they didn't have as much moisture as I would have like. Or perhaps just add more melted butter on top before you put them in oven. I leave it to you.

But what a fun thing to make for your loved ones on Valentine's Day morning, don't you think?

Heart Coffee Cake
Courtesy of Betty Crocker's Party Book, 1960
Yields one 8-inch heart-shaped cake (or 5 mini-heart-shaped spring form cakes), or 10 servings

2 cans Betty Crocker Bisquick Refrigerated Biscuits (or just any refrigerated bisquits)
1/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8-inch heart-shaped cake pan.

Separate the biscuits and dip in melted butter; coat entirely with mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Place 15 to 16 biscuits around outer edge of pan, overlapping to fill. Overlap remaining four to five biscuits in center to fill pan. Pour remaining butter over top. (There will be a very small amount left.) Sprinkle with nuts.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to stand five minutes before serving. Turn out coffee cake on rack, then over again on serving plate, with the nut side up.

Style Spots: The Long Way Home

2012-01-11T15:28:00.000-06:00

A couple days after Christmas we started our trip back to St. Louis from Texas, and the hubs, being the great hubs he is, gave me an extra two hours for us to stop and thrift (which I somehow turned into about four hours...oops!). We had passed some roadside antique malls on the way down, and with the handy Google Maps app on my iPhone, I was able to look up thrift stores off the beaten path.

Our first stop was McAlester, which had three thrift stores, but only two were open. They were small and staffed with super friendly people, and I saw several things I wanted to take home (especially a complete set of Sheffield dishes in the pattern I'm collecting), but ended up buying only the following:

Two cute measuring cups with retro flowers.

A pair of women's Entienne Aigner boots, size 10 (in case you're interested!).

After that, I honestly don't remember which towns we stopped in...they all kind of blur together in between new developments and miles of crop fields. :) But I will show you what I found!

A nice 1970s knit poncho from JCPenny, going in the store.

A sweet aqua and gray California pottery mid-century chip 'n dip set, going on my coffee table. :)

A set of handmade vintage fabric napkins that perfectly match the color scheme in our dining room.

A vintage men's flannel shirt for me. I've always wanted one. Don't know why. :)

Three vintage wooden spools I'm going to hang on the wall and hang my necklaces on.

I feel like there was more from the trip, but I can't remember! I think I got it all, though. Have any of you ever done some roadside stops during a road trip? Which places were your favorites? I know there are at least four antique malls we passed and didn't stop, so I definitely have another date scheduled with Oklahoma! :)

Fav Freebie

2012-01-11T08:30:00.000-06:00

Good morning my dears! I thought I'd greet you mid-week with the introduction of another new series on the blog: Fav Freebie. I'm always coming across fabulous downloads that creatives in the blogopshere generously share with their readers, so each week I'm going to highlight a favorite and link to the source so you can get your own, if you so desire.

This week was an easy decision. Pictured above is a January calendar created by Ez over at Creature Comforts. She is one of my top favorite bloggers and is always coming up with inspiring DIYs and printables, so be sure and add this blog to your Google Reader (or whatever you use to peruse).

Click on the link in the above paragraph, and it'll bring you over to Ez's site, where you can download a copy. She made it so that when the month is up, you can trim off the bottom part and keep that cuddly bear for some wall art.

Enjoy!

Style Spots: Winning in McKinney

2012-01-10T13:36:00.001-06:00

Alright, y'all. Time for some eye candy! Part one of the three-part Style Spots begins deep in the heart of Texas...well, not really the heart...more like the shoulder. :) We spent Christmas down there with the hubs's family, and on the day after Christmas I had made a date with Elissa of Dress With Courage — who conveniently lives in the same town (McKinney) — to go to a couple thrift stores.

I was so excited to finally get to meet Elissa and have her show me some of her favorite spots, and let me tell you: This lady knows her schizz-nit. I wish I could take her knowledge of brands/labels and import it into my brain. She helped me identify several vintage items, and I walked out of two thrift stores that day with an armload of blazers, a sweater and a scallop-neck dress, all of which are are gorgeous! And lucky for you, they'll be making their way into the store...

Hyde Point Petite Blazer

La Vanti blazer

Pendleton blazer

Russ striped sweater

Scaarsi dress

There's one other blazer I brought home and absolutely fell in love with, so it's staying with me! I even wore it the next day and the manager at Anthropologie asked if I got it at Urban, to which I happily told her it was vintage and I had just thrifted it.

It's showing up a lot more royal purple than it is...it's more plum (see below).

The shoulders are my fav part!

She was super sweet and asked which thrift store it was. After that we got to talking and it turns out she's a new transplant to Texas from California, so we commiserated for a little bit about what we miss from the West Coast. I told her she'll learn to love the Midwest, just give it some time to let the culture shock subside. :)

Well that's it for part one. Tomorrow I'll share with you what I found on our journey back to St. Louis from Texas. The hubs, great man that he is, let me add a good five hours to our trip just to let me stop and thrift...whatta man! :)

Linking up with:

Thrift Share Monday
Flea Market Finds
The Penny Worthy Project
Magpie Monday

Vintage 101: What I Learned This Weekend

2012-01-10T10:18:00.000-06:00

Okay ladies and lads...this is going to be a really fun week. The time I took off from the blog to recharge my creative juices helped immensely, and gave me extra time to devote to thrifting...and I mean hard-core thrifting. As a result, I have a ton of amazing items to share with you all, which I'm going to do over the next three days. For now, though, I wanted to introduce a new series that I'm really excited about: Vintage 101.

Each weekend I learn something new as I research items for the store, whether it's about brands, cleaning up vintage items or just something random. So I thought it would be fun to share those tidbits with you, and maybe we can glean some knowledge from each other (i.e. Maybe you know something more than what I've been able to find out, which I would love for you to share. Or perhaps you'll learn something new!) Either way, I'd love for this series to be an outlet in which we can share our mutual enthusiasm for all things vintage. :)

This weekend I was dying to do some research on these gold metallic pheasants I picked up at two different places off the main highway in Oklahoma. One was from a tiny little roadside antique mall, and the other from a thrift store in one of the small towns.

Both still had the original stickers on the bottom, which always make research a ton easier. :)

They're made by a company called Syroco, which, according to this source, stands for Syracuse Ornamental Company. It was started in the 1890s by a man named Adolph Holstein, who emigrated from Warsaw, Poland. He was a wood carver by trade and his company started out by making decorative wood pieces known for their ornamentation and details. Eventually, they figured out they could make stunning replicas by making a mold of the original wood piece, and this technique resulted in items made from what they called SyrocoWood. They looked like wood and had the same details, but were in fact made from wood pulp mixed with flour and other materials.

According to this source, when the popularity of Danish Modern hit in the 1940s, the company added things like housewares, barware and items for smokers. In the '50s, it started pumping highly stylized decorative items again, and developed a process called "metalgold," which, like the pheasants above, gave the item a gilded look.

It's interesting to know all this, because these birds definitely have some weight to them, and at first hold I would think they were wood underneath that gold. But a steady knock on the side of the bird gives off a ring that definitely says it's made from some kind of resin.

I searched "Syroco" on Etsy and Ebay as well, just to see what other items are resurfacing in today's marketplace, and I saw a couple of the pheasants I'd thrifted, but noticed they were missing something: another pheasant. It looks like these probably came with one that sits more vertical on a tree stump or something like that, so I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for their mates.

I also saw a different set of gold birds that looked just like ones I had thrifted about a month ago.

And when I looked on the back, sure enough, they had Syroco printed on it.

Looks like this company had a thing for flights of fancy. Ha. :)

Be sure and check out those links above to read more about the company, and if you have an Syroco pieces in your home, I'd love to hear about them! Maybe you also have some tidbits about them you'd like to share? If so, please do!

Sunday Meditation

2012-01-08T18:44:00.000-06:00

"Fun is good."

— Dr. Seuss

{Image courtesy of Kate Spade via Styleist}

Whimsical Weekend {Star Jar}

2012-01-07T08:22:00.000-06:00

{Image via We Heart It. Also pinned here.}

DIY {Papernstitch} Friday

2012-01-06T12:54:00.001-06:00

Happy, happy Friday all! It feels good to hit the "new post" button on my dashboard again! I've really enjoyed taking some time off to get refreshed and exercise my creative muscles, and I'm so looking forward to some new ideas I have for the blog. But for now, I wanted to encourage you to pop over to Papernstitch to check out some bright + shiny DIYs I've rounded up to inspire you in this new year!

Have a great weekend!

{Photo by Lovely Little Details}

Takin' a Break

2011-12-26T21:28:00.001-06:00

Image pinned here.

Hey all! I hope you had a very merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year!). I'm headed back to St. Louis after a great time with the hubs's family in Texas, and I've been thinking: I need a period of refreshment. Some time to relax, some time to catch up on plans for the online store, and some time to plan future posts for the blog.

So, I'm going to be like Audrey up above (sans that fabulous striped couch): don my comfy robe, break open my brainstorming notebook and just enjoy some time spent in creative thought. I'm already inspired just thinking about it!

I hope you find some time to recharge as well. In fact, I challenge you to do so. We've been working hard since October, really, and I imagine several of you could use a break after the holy trinity of holidays. So take some time, relax and we'll meet again in the new year! :)

Whimsical Weekend {Branches of White}

2011-12-24T08:51:00.000-06:00

{Photo by Dottie Angel. Pinned here.}

Tuning in With...

2011-12-23T10:12:00.000-06:00

Happy, happy Friday all! I made it safe and sound to Texas yesterday. We drove through some beautiful country, and it was so relaxing to have a leisurely journey instead of the hustle and bustle of the airport. I also have a couple small towns in Oklahoma earmarked for thrifting on the way home. :)

I thought it would be nice to go into the holiday weekend with some music, brought to you this week by cute couple Alison and Kevin of Bit of Butter. I saw their company pop up on a #thriftbreak Twitter post, and once I stepped through its virtual doors I thought I'd stumbled into mid-century heaven! Based in Seattle, this duo has an amazing eye for MCM, which they sometimes travel great distances to find. And that's what this mix is inspired by: the thrill of the hunt, no matter the outcome. But enough from me! Let's hear what they have to say about the tunes they've curated for us.

From Alison & Kevin...

"We travel a lot while we thrift. Often, we'll pore over Google maps the night before and head out for uncharted waters the next morning! It's a great way for us to get to know our state and to spend time with each other. When we head out on our big adventures, we'll usually leave early in the morning, so we definitely need some upbeat music to help us wake up and get us hopeful that we'll have a successful day. This mix also works well when we've gone to a few thrifts and found absolutely nothing. We can sing along with the radio on our way to the next stop and (hopefully) get motivated to find something awesome!"

I'm sure they'll be an easy (and addicting) add to your daily reading and shopping needs! Thanks Alison and Kevin for stopping by and sharing a bit of your lives with us! :)

Shabby Apple Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-21T13:30:00.000-06:00

Okay all.

The random number generator has spoken...

and the winner of the Shabby Apple Spanish Steps dress is...

Jamie of Owl Really!

(Yay! Woo-hoo!)

Jamie, my dear, please email me the following information, so I can get that dress on its way to you:

Name

Phone number

Shipping address

Email address

Dress size

And I know we'd all love to see your sweet self in it when it arrives! :)

As for the rest of you, don't forget about that 10% off coupon code that's good for another three weeks! Just enter "secondhandstyle10off" in the code box at checkout.

Christmas Cake Pop Par-tay!

2011-12-21T10:49:00.000-06:00

Pretty sprinkles all in a row...

This past Sunday, my cousin had us over to her amazing loft (she actually lives above the City Museum!) for a cake pop extravaganza. She and my mom cleaned out Karen Ann's, a baking supply store that I've been dying to go to, but I guess it'll have to wait until after the holidays. They bought loads of sprinkles and melting chocolates, allowing us to have lots of fun with our decorations.

All the decorating goods.

You gotta get your hands dirty!

I made confetti cake pops with vanilla icing; Jen and Grandma had chocolate; and mom had one vanilla and one lemon. I was going to make a red velvet, but didn't have time to bake the cake. Perhaps you'll see it pop up around Valentine's Day! :)

Pretty melted chocolate.

Staying organized...

Oops! Party foul...

It was the first time I'd ever made cake pops and, for me, they're a lot more difficult to make than it seems! My downfall was not getting enough of the melting chocolate off the pop before decorating it, so the first batch had lots of dripping. Then, by the end (and about five hours later), we were just throwing all kinds of stuff on them to get them done, which resulted in some being almost too big to fit into the cellophane bags (oops!).

My proudest moment.

The one I was most proud of came from another plan gone awry. I wanted to dunk it in white chocolate and then drizzle some green on top, but the green poured too fast and left a big glob on top. Knowing I had about 30 seconds before it hardened, I grabbed one of the sticks and started to swirl them together to create a marbled effect, then topped it with a Red Hot.

Helper #1.

Helper #2. I want to steal him!

I was pretty tired by the time I got home that night, but all the effort was totally worth it! So much fun. Thanks again, Jen, for hosting! And thanks for having cute dogs! :)

Sustainable Style: Hello Violeta

2011-12-20T12:22:00.000-06:00

As much as I love tons of color, and funky, eclectic design, sometimes it's a nice break to have something that's simple and clean. Linen is one of my favorite fabrics because it brings a bit of rustic sophistication wherever it's used, and I am absolutely in love with these linen pouches made by Hello Violeta.

Based in Bulgaria, the shop owner is a mom of two who loves to create, and she uses natural linen and cotton to make the base of her bags, then adds scraps of fabric recycled from clothing or vintage linens for the embellishments.

Here are some of my favorites!

Be sure and check out the Hello Violeta shop to see more of her fabulous creations!

Snapshots From Holidays in Old North

2011-12-19T15:16:00.000-06:00

As promised, here are some shots from my setup at the Holidays in Old North show this past Saturday. I posted most of them to my Instagram account, but just in case you're not a follower there...

Made a new pennant banner for the new clothing rack setup.

We were encouraged to decorate for the holidays!

Found this (and another) vintage Thermos the day before the show and remembered a DIY from DesignSponge
that put pine branches in them, so I did it, too! :)

Sold two of these, even though they were only decorations! Never know what buyers are going to want! :)

The red and gray ones sold at the same time. Hopefully it didn't give the blue Samsonite an inferiority complex. :)

I loved, loved, loved the venue, and hope they have more shows in the future! Such a great space and a great vibe.

Style Spots: Another Day

2011-12-19T09:45:00.000-06:00

Okay, y'all...we're less than a week away from Christmas! Are you ready? I know this work week is going to drag, because it always does when vacation is around the corner, but my reward will be a nice little road trip with the hubs (SO excited about driving instead of flying...which I never thought I'd say again after making the drive from California to Missouri three times in three months). We're headed to Dallas to spend Christmas with his family, and I need that forced down time that a car ride offers.

This past weekend was the Holidays in Old North show, and I had such a good time! That area is slowly coming back to life, and there have been so many inspiring projects and renovations happening in that part of the city. It was great to meet people who lived in the area and see how passionate they are about rejuvenating it. I took some photos of my setup, which I'll share later today, but I also sold several things I had thrifted on Friday, so this week's Style Spots is going to be short!

I had found a beautiful gray American Tourister travel bag, which is now gone. I also picked up a silk-embroidered pillow with orange and green flowers...but it also has a new home. So I'm left with three things to share:

A bunch of knitting needles that were ridiculously cheap! My cousin and I want to take
a knitting class, so hopefully these will be put to good use!

Another wire basket. These are so great for storage and displays!

And a cute little heart-handled mug. Already has me thinking about Valentine's Day!

And that's it! I have to confess that two weeks in a row of no solid thrifting time is making me a bit twitchy...but hopefully I'll get my fix soon! :) How about you? Were you able to find any treasures this week?

Linking up with:

Flea Market Finds
Thrift Share Monday
The Penny Worthy Project