*Vintage & Handmade Clothes* Jewelry & Home Decor*
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Friday, May 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Spring of my Content...
Once the rains slowed down in the middle of April, Mark & I built a big 12 ft x 12 ft garden of cedar boards to hold some sweet garden dirt. Well, I directed while Mark built, since I was all banged-up with my epic sprained ankle.
He filled the box with dirt, and finally I hopped hopped hopped outside and helped spread dirt over the grass that we first covered with plain old newspaper we've been hoarding for a while.
Why? It smothers the grass. No way Jose was I gonna turn over all that damn dirt. It would have been smart to smother the garden area starting last fall with large pieces of heavy plastic held down by big rocks...but, last fall I didn't know if I was gonna wake up in the Spring still here in Tacoma, in this house.
The first things I planted were onions, radishes, carrots, turnips and peas. I'm really happy to see the odd colors of vegetable seeds finally available at the Fred Meyer and local nurseries. Only a few years ago, one had to mail order these European and heirloom seeds from specialty nurseries here in the states and from Europe.
I'm not a snob about the seed company. I only want a reliable product. I'll buy local, distant, or from self-saved local gardeners too.
Ed Hume...gotta love that guy!
My mom was a fan of the Burpee catalog, and she would circle her faves...and mail away a money order in January...but we were in California, where Spring starts in February, and the tomato plants can go in the ground in March....I kid you not!
So, if the gods are kind, and the slugs slow, purple, cream, salmon, yellow, and hot orange carrots will grow...pretty cream and pink turnips, and Early Perfection, a good old Northwest standby shell pea will sprout.
The radishes are a mix of Champion, d'Avignon, Pink Beauty, Purple Plum, and Snowball....all in shades of purple, plum, red, pink, white and bi-colors. I've grown these before and the flavors are the typical radish-peppery and slightly sweeter, I think.. They sprouted in cold soil in only 6 days from planting, and I expect a first harvest about mid-May!
Radish seeds, along with big bean seeds are the best for getting kids excited about gardening since they sprout fast and that is very exciting for a child that's impatient to see fruits....and vegetables of their labors....and still very exciting for grown-ups too.
Here's the garden bed almost full of dirt....look at the sunshine! What a glorious day that was...I couldn't stay inside and ice my ankle... I had to get outside.
So, here's the first radish sprout....this was only 6 days after planting....
All planted on the south end....more will go in....Oh so much more! Tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumber, squash, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, lots of herbs....and marigolds and nasturtiums for color and fun.
If I'd had more energy, and it's not too late, I should have covered the soil, both planted and unplanted with sheets of plastic...either clear or black, to warm the soil. That would have encouraged the seeds to sprout faster, and that is exactly what I'm gonna do this week on the other end of the garden before I set out more of the warm weather varieties....Only Spring vegetables can sprout in the cool soil....The summer vegetables must have warmer soil to sprout than what early May can give, here in the frozen Puget Sound...(not exactly that frozen...)
Inside the house I planted red lettuce, green lettuce, broccoli,spinach vegetable seeds....and cherry tomatoes, stocks (one of my faves for scent!), and asters, basil, peppers, and another old-fashioned garden favorite...cornflowers! Also known as bachelor buttons, these are so beautiful in shades of blue...which is the rarest color in the garden.....and shades of pink and white also...I love them all!
2 days! after planting, and I have sprouts ...That, my friends is the difference of warm soil.
I used corn plastic spoons to make little garden signs...I have used wood popsicle sticks, or if I have them, wood tongue depressors ! But, I kinda like the spoons idea.
I always soak my nasturtium seeds before I plant them. That speeds up the sprouting....and if there's one thing I gotta have in the Northwest spring...It's speed in sprouting. Our growing season is so short...that I want to get going.
I don't have a greenhouse this year, so I'm starting things in the house and just getting out and in the dirt on every sunny day.
I've waited months and months for Spring, and I don't want to waste a day!
He filled the box with dirt, and finally I hopped hopped hopped outside and helped spread dirt over the grass that we first covered with plain old newspaper we've been hoarding for a while.
Why? It smothers the grass. No way Jose was I gonna turn over all that damn dirt. It would have been smart to smother the garden area starting last fall with large pieces of heavy plastic held down by big rocks...but, last fall I didn't know if I was gonna wake up in the Spring still here in Tacoma, in this house.
I'm not a snob about the seed company. I only want a reliable product. I'll buy local, distant, or from self-saved local gardeners too.
Ed Hume...gotta love that guy!
My mom was a fan of the Burpee catalog, and she would circle her faves...and mail away a money order in January...but we were in California, where Spring starts in February, and the tomato plants can go in the ground in March....I kid you not!
So, if the gods are kind, and the slugs slow, purple, cream, salmon, yellow, and hot orange carrots will grow...pretty cream and pink turnips, and Early Perfection, a good old Northwest standby shell pea will sprout.
The radishes are a mix of Champion, d'Avignon, Pink Beauty, Purple Plum, and Snowball....all in shades of purple, plum, red, pink, white and bi-colors. I've grown these before and the flavors are the typical radish-peppery and slightly sweeter, I think.. They sprouted in cold soil in only 6 days from planting, and I expect a first harvest about mid-May!
Radish seeds, along with big bean seeds are the best for getting kids excited about gardening since they sprout fast and that is very exciting for a child that's impatient to see fruits....and vegetables of their labors....and still very exciting for grown-ups too.
Here's the garden bed almost full of dirt....look at the sunshine! What a glorious day that was...I couldn't stay inside and ice my ankle... I had to get outside.
So, here's the first radish sprout....this was only 6 days after planting....
All planted on the south end....more will go in....Oh so much more! Tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumber, squash, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, lots of herbs....and marigolds and nasturtiums for color and fun.
If I'd had more energy, and it's not too late, I should have covered the soil, both planted and unplanted with sheets of plastic...either clear or black, to warm the soil. That would have encouraged the seeds to sprout faster, and that is exactly what I'm gonna do this week on the other end of the garden before I set out more of the warm weather varieties....Only Spring vegetables can sprout in the cool soil....The summer vegetables must have warmer soil to sprout than what early May can give, here in the frozen Puget Sound...(not exactly that frozen...)
Inside the house I planted red lettuce, green lettuce, broccoli,spinach vegetable seeds....and cherry tomatoes, stocks (one of my faves for scent!), and asters, basil, peppers, and another old-fashioned garden favorite...cornflowers! Also known as bachelor buttons, these are so beautiful in shades of blue...which is the rarest color in the garden.....and shades of pink and white also...I love them all!
2 days! after planting, and I have sprouts ...That, my friends is the difference of warm soil.
I used corn plastic spoons to make little garden signs...I have used wood popsicle sticks, or if I have them, wood tongue depressors ! But, I kinda like the spoons idea.
I always soak my nasturtium seeds before I plant them. That speeds up the sprouting....and if there's one thing I gotta have in the Northwest spring...It's speed in sprouting. Our growing season is so short...that I want to get going.
I don't have a greenhouse this year, so I'm starting things in the house and just getting out and in the dirt on every sunny day.
I've waited months and months for Spring, and I don't want to waste a day!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
the West Coast is Cowboys...
Hippies and Mexicans....
allow me to demonstrate....
In the beginning there were Mexicans...
because the West Coast and therefore, California was uh, North Mexico...
then...cowboys arrived to poke some cows...as in ....cowpokes...
Then, finally...the hippies arrived when the cows had done been all poked...
And that explains the freshest from funkomavintage this week....
a beautiful burgundy and teal 30s - 40s wool and silk serape.
Just biding their time since the 1846 - 1848 US war with Mexico, and now, they are moving back in...tho Arizona is a bit pissed about that....and that's why we have Cinco de Mayo! (not really, May 5 commemorates the Mexican's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862)
Its design of stripes in gorgeous colors and a center geometric pattern, is a blend of indigenous and Spanish designs. The rectangular pieces, woven of wool, and later, silk and linen, were used by people in Mexico and the Southwest in the nineteenth century. It was worn as coat, and used as a blanket. They're still used today, but mostly as decoration in the home and as the preferred seat covers for rockabilly hot rod cars....
This one has silk woven in the center Eye of God...and makes the lovely tied fringe...
Cowboys. You know 'em, you love 'em....and you mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be 'em. However, everyone looks sexy in cowboy clothes, and cowboy boots.
It's true!
Here's a pair of 1950s Acme inlay boots. Cutouts in the shaft leather show other colors to peek thru in the design. The 2 rows of stitching further accent the trippy design. The little square toe and the cut away boot heel. Leather sole and pegged with wood. Top Quality!
and here's a pair of 1970s boots, based on the good ol' cowboy boot. It's a fancy fancy take on the good ol' cowboy boot with the pull up straps and general feeling. It adds a higher heel, a small platform, and has the 70s color and type of Frye campus boots feeling with it's stitching and lacing. Square toes and fantastic authentic rustic wear.
So, hippies. They were invented in San Francisco in the 60s. They loved the crazy beauty and the good pot, and sweet vibes, man.
Handcrafts flourished in the 70s because we wanted to be more natural....like...make your own food, make your own clothes, make your own belt to hold up your handmade pants since you need to make more food, Skinny.
Beautiful belt of tawny 70s leather, this is quite thick, and the stems are hand cut, the flowers and leaves are stamped with a tool, by hand, and not a machine, then they were painted with orange and blue leather paint.
......Man, I worked my way thru high school, all 2 years, by making stuff instead of the dreaded babysitting and house-cleaning jobs teenagers usually have to do.
So let this be a lesson to you young kids....Learn a craft!!
allow me to demonstrate....
In the beginning there were Mexicans...
because the West Coast and therefore, California was uh, North Mexico...
then...cowboys arrived to poke some cows...as in ....cowpokes...
Then, finally...the hippies arrived when the cows had done been all poked...
And that explains the freshest from funkomavintage this week....
a beautiful burgundy and teal 30s - 40s wool and silk serape.
Just biding their time since the 1846 - 1848 US war with Mexico, and now, they are moving back in...tho Arizona is a bit pissed about that....and that's why we have Cinco de Mayo! (not really, May 5 commemorates the Mexican's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862)
Its design of stripes in gorgeous colors and a center geometric pattern, is a blend of indigenous and Spanish designs. The rectangular pieces, woven of wool, and later, silk and linen, were used by people in Mexico and the Southwest in the nineteenth century. It was worn as coat, and used as a blanket. They're still used today, but mostly as decoration in the home and as the preferred seat covers for rockabilly hot rod cars....
This one has silk woven in the center Eye of God...and makes the lovely tied fringe...
Cowboys. You know 'em, you love 'em....and you mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be 'em. However, everyone looks sexy in cowboy clothes, and cowboy boots.
It's true!
Here's a pair of 1950s Acme inlay boots. Cutouts in the shaft leather show other colors to peek thru in the design. The 2 rows of stitching further accent the trippy design. The little square toe and the cut away boot heel. Leather sole and pegged with wood. Top Quality!
and here's a pair of 1970s boots, based on the good ol' cowboy boot. It's a fancy fancy take on the good ol' cowboy boot with the pull up straps and general feeling. It adds a higher heel, a small platform, and has the 70s color and type of Frye campus boots feeling with it's stitching and lacing. Square toes and fantastic authentic rustic wear.
So, hippies. They were invented in San Francisco in the 60s. They loved the crazy beauty and the good pot, and sweet vibes, man.
Handcrafts flourished in the 70s because we wanted to be more natural....like...make your own food, make your own clothes, make your own belt to hold up your handmade pants since you need to make more food, Skinny.
Beautiful belt of tawny 70s leather, this is quite thick, and the stems are hand cut, the flowers and leaves are stamped with a tool, by hand, and not a machine, then they were painted with orange and blue leather paint.
......Man, I worked my way thru high school, all 2 years, by making stuff instead of the dreaded babysitting and house-cleaning jobs teenagers usually have to do.
So let this be a lesson to you young kids....Learn a craft!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I ride my bike....
Long ago my bike's name was Elvis. She, (I know, but my bike was a girl) was repainted a frosty green, had a big metal wire basket, fat tires and wide fenders....and Elvis handpainted in man-handwriting on the front fender.
This 1930s model was my bike for awhile, but it sold. ugh. I have the pictures tho! So like a heartsick soldier pining for his girl back home, I carry this picture around, and made it my funkomavintage logo.
I also figured out how to print it myself...For this project, a tiny print of my bike, a miniature Schwinn with a big metal basket, fat tires, wide fenders, cruiser handlebars, and a kickstand on the back tire became my first project with the old girl....
The first pins I made....are appliqued on some vintage cabin design outdoorsy cotton...and as a cameo on some sweeter girly calico and chintz.
Pinned to a Betsey Johnson Spring floral jacket.....
But always toggling back and forth from fancy to rustic, I combined coffee bag burlap, vintage ultrasuede, wool tweed, and a coffee-dyed picture made into 1.5" x 3" pins for the lapel, the fedora or summer straw hat,or, in the case of Mark's sartorial choices....pinned to the lapel of his WWll pea coat.
We went to a real fun party in Seattle a couple of weeks ago, and 4 people ordered a Coffee burlap and Bike pin...I just finished a small batch, and they're ready to ride on your location of choice.
This 1930s model was my bike for awhile, but it sold. ugh. I have the pictures tho! So like a heartsick soldier pining for his girl back home, I carry this picture around, and made it my funkomavintage logo.
I also figured out how to print it myself...For this project, a tiny print of my bike, a miniature Schwinn with a big metal basket, fat tires, wide fenders, cruiser handlebars, and a kickstand on the back tire became my first project with the old girl....
The first pins I made....are appliqued on some vintage cabin design outdoorsy cotton...and as a cameo on some sweeter girly calico and chintz.
Pinned to a Betsey Johnson Spring floral jacket.....
But always toggling back and forth from fancy to rustic, I combined coffee bag burlap, vintage ultrasuede, wool tweed, and a coffee-dyed picture made into 1.5" x 3" pins for the lapel, the fedora or summer straw hat,or, in the case of Mark's sartorial choices....pinned to the lapel of his WWll pea coat.
We went to a real fun party in Seattle a couple of weeks ago, and 4 people ordered a Coffee burlap and Bike pin...I just finished a small batch, and they're ready to ride on your location of choice.
Monday, April 25, 2011
I Like Black....
A Little Black dress....add a red rose, add a red scarf....wear it with white, wear it with green....add some yellow or gold, saffron, or mustard, and be a Bee!
Now that's Springy!
Bee pin...handmade from vintage thingies....
Oooo Betsey Johnson Punk Tag....Vintage 80s Batwing Avant Garde Jacket
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Now that's Springy!
Bee pin...handmade from vintage thingies....
Oooo Betsey Johnson Punk Tag....Vintage 80s Batwing Avant Garde Jacket
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Black dresses....Polka Dots, sailor dress, ethnic prints, black lace, black rayon, black chiffon, black satin, black velvet....from the 40s thru the 80s.......
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sun House
The sun has arrived here in the upper edge of America....for a short while it will appear from behind the ice cream castles in the air (aka...clouds).
I don't forget that 10 months of the year it's a cold and freezing wasteland...so this summer, while I'm in a good mood, and have some energy, I'm constructing a Sun House in the garage.
I'm gonna hang full spectrum Blue Max lights, and set out my rickety wicker 20s rocking chair, and buy many palms and ferns. Like this....
Then when the days start getting dark and suicidal (aka...October 31), I'll have a Happy Place to go to....It will be a real darling...bright....and full of plants....it'll be a great place to start seeds early in next January...not quite as sweeeet as a greenhouse, but, pretty neat. I have a great stereo out there already, and I think it will make an nice place for gatherings with the fam, come the holidays.
2 kids....3 of the 5 grands.....
I'm gonna use these lights...compact florescent with full spectrum light....cheery and energy efficient.
Blue Max
I don't forget that 10 months of the year it's a cold and freezing wasteland...so this summer, while I'm in a good mood, and have some energy, I'm constructing a Sun House in the garage.
I'm gonna hang full spectrum Blue Max lights, and set out my rickety wicker 20s rocking chair, and buy many palms and ferns. Like this....
Then when the days start getting dark and suicidal (aka...October 31), I'll have a Happy Place to go to....It will be a real darling...bright....and full of plants....it'll be a great place to start seeds early in next January...not quite as sweeeet as a greenhouse, but, pretty neat. I have a great stereo out there already, and I think it will make an nice place for gatherings with the fam, come the holidays.
I'm gonna use these lights...compact florescent with full spectrum light....cheery and energy efficient.
Blue Max
| High CRI up to 93+ for unmatched color rendering |
| • Flicker-free Electronic ballast |
| • Balanced full spectrum color and sunset models available oooh Kew Gardens....  Yes, something Old Worldly....like this...  hanging plants and lots of big indoor ferns and palms.....  |
Thursday, April 21, 2011
kitty cat....
Watercolor cat
Metal junkyard cat
Snarky cat magnet
Tasha Tudor cat 1st edition
Stray Cats vintage Tshirt
Bobcat sweater handknit in glorious gold
Japanese cat
Metal junkyard cat
Snarky cat magnet
Tasha Tudor cat 1st edition
Stray Cats vintage Tshirt
Bobcat sweater handknit in glorious gold
Japanese cat
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