Sweet Love Vintage

Valentine Greetings

2012-02-08T07:57:00.000-06:00

Using my trusty camera along with some shop items and props, I had a bit of fun and threw together a handful of extremely romantic Sweet Love Vintage Valentine greetings for your Honey, Sweetie, Babe, Smooshypants, Boopsie-noonies, Babykins, Muffin Man, Punkinpoopoo, Shish Kabob, Butthead, or whatever term of endearment you call your love.

You've been naughty and you need a good lashin', Valentine.

I'll get the Latisse. Rawr!

An X and an O for my very special Ho. Be mine, yo!

I sorta love you like I sorta love my bed head.

You're funny but kinda gross and I'm always unsure about you.

I'm stiff for you. Can we play in the coffin now?

And my lips and my knee pits

and my neck and my toes

and my cheek with the mole

where that one black hair grows.

Baby,

I need you're luv as much as I need spell chek.

Happy Velantine's Day!

I'm tired of you, Boo. It's time to put the brakes on this relationship.

Honk! Honk!

I can sum up my love for you with 5 sounds:

ER-ER-ER-ER-ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

You may be dingy, but you are so tweet. Let's get squirrel-y. Stat!

Big exes and ohs from Sweet Love Vintage!

Introducing 2012 and Misfits In The Studio

2012-01-05T20:12:00.005-06:00

Happy salutations, Two-Thousand-Twelve!

It's really quite nice to meet you and your nice, clean slate of possibilities. I would like to dirty up your spotless surface with my mish mash of goals for the next 3 to the 6 to the 5. On this list I shall include the important but predictable resolutions such as being a better wife and mother, continue leading a healthy lifestyle, self discovery, getting organized, more balance, more flossing, more patience and more random acts of kindness.

I have recently acquired a few used and abused goodies to assist me in some of my more challenging New Year's Rezzers:

Rez #1) Becoming a better decision maker with help from Magic 8 Ball.

I've been a lady-in-waiting to find Mr. Right Magic 8 Ball. I refused to buy a new one because I knew I'd run into him at some point and I burst into a joy explosion when I find something that is on my wish list while on the vintage hunt. Going to Mass Production Plastic Landfill Mart and grabbing it from the toy shelf is so not the same. I was at a favorite thrift recently and saw some creepy ceramic pixies for the shop. As the evil elves and I were having our stare-down, the corner of my eye saw him:

My two blue pupils locked with his single black and white pupil and I cradled his round husky body gently. So what if he's got a bit of a belly. The holidays just happened, haven't we all gotten a little rounder? With a magic wink, he told me it was love at first sight. After all, he loves a girl who is choice challenged, a great belcher, AND loves scuffed up goods at pennywise prices. He proceeded to tell me his divine purpose in this lifetime was to help me with decision making. I asked him if we'd be together forever, and he replied, "It is certain."

I am a horrid decision maker. I bolded that because it's not just horrid, it's horrid. Case in point: I will agonize over the decision between 2 cans of tomatoes on the grocery store shelf. But this one has more sodium! This one has a better volume-to-price ratio! Is the inside of this can lined with PVCs? We don't even want to discuss how annoying it is ordering with me at a restaurant. Now I can consult with Ocho when I need to make critical decisions. Should I wear the black yoga pants with the hole or the black yoga pants without the hole? Should I paint the dining room teal blue? I do need a change in there, it's been a week since I've done something different. I don't do well with the staleness of a house that never changes. Ocho's also a good guy to have around when Hubby and I argue. We can ask for his opinion on whatever matter is in disagreement. Hubby doesn't know this, but Ocho usually sides with me because he likes my shake style, which is more rock-a-bye-baby than I'm-gonna-strangle-you, and he thrives on the music I play for him during the day. He's sort of like a plant that way.

Pretend Rez #2) Use every little ounce of time to my advantage without distraction.

Real Rez #2) Work on improving productivity and don't be so hard on myself when I waste 2 hours pinning on Pinterest.

I'm looking forward to improving productivity with my new friend in the Sweet Love Studio. Let me introduce you to Notorious Biggy Hourglass:

When I have a yucky-like-barf task at hand (anything business-ey, calling the cable company, photo editing, housework), I will flip Notorious Biggy Hourglass and I cannot do anything else during that hour. Not even an email check, because that leads to some link or another, which leads to youtube, then comes the drooling over Pinterest food porn. The next thing you know I'm flinging open the kitchen cupboards, there are crumbs everywhere and condiment slop on my black yoga pants with the hole. A regular old clock just wouldn't be the same. I enjoy seeing the sands getting sucked down through the glass and watching the time disappear in front of my eyes. Plus I totally dig having sand in my studio in the dead of Wiscosota winter.

Rez #3) Make more time to focus on creative projects.

Notorious Biggy will help with this one too. I want to find more days to flip him and give myself 1 hour of some form of non-job related creativity. The "Be Fly" inspiration board is the place where I started tacking up some of my creative ideas and drawings. I have some projects that have been lurking around in my mind which I'd like to work on this year and hoping by tacking up ideas where I can see them, it will help keep me on track, and maybe even finish something! I'm super awesome at not finishing things except for the leftover food on my kid's plates. I've always got all these great ideas but it's super hard for me to focus on one idea and follow through. (With the exception of Sweet Love Vintage, which was started on a whim and to my surprise is still here almost 3 years later!) I've learned that with every creative thing I've ever started, it has lead me to something new and different, and I grow right along with it. This used to scare me and I hated that I could never stick to one thing and go with it, but I have realized that living a creative life for me means learning, evolving, making mistakes, growing, expressing, and the desire to inspire others through humor and visual storytelling. My stories can come in the form of painting, decorating, photography, writing or drawing.

I've got some decorating projects I want to finish and I plan to keep plugging away on my little drawing art blog. I look forward to the creative path it leads me on. Instead of being fearful, I'm embracing the nervous excitement of the unknown and fully living my creative life by making more time for it, even if it's just one hour of sand through the hourglass at a time. You should consider getting your dirty paws on your very own Notorious Biggy and make some time to live creatively. Tell the story of who you are through a new hobby, cooking, making music, decorating your spaces, writing or simply get out the Crayolas and play. It's pure goodness for the soul, I promise.

Rez #4) Be more in the present reminded daily by Gramps Om.

I have a slight obsesh with 1960s Japanese posable dolls. Their huge eyeballs and long snake-like limbs excite me more than this nutcase. When I found Gramps the first thing I did was play with his freak-show-flexible bod and settled on a nice meditative om pose. A little reminder for me to slow down and breathe, let go of past events that don't serve me and not project worries of the future. Be grateful. Be present. Remember that this is right where I'm supposed to be. He will also remind me to meditate daily, something I want to do so badly. I try most days, as in today and yesterday. This article on 7 Ways Meditation Increases Creativity makes me want to prioritize it even more.

This fella has nothing to do with meditation, but you should know he makes me want to talk in "french accent voice". I am over the Parisienne moonlight giddy for mid century Dakin Dream Pets:

Le peu-peu skunk avec beret and moostaash is tres ador-a-bluh! J'adore big time! Moi wasted much time one soleil day on le ebay and la etsy searching for more ah-nee-mals to add to le collek-shee-own. Bonjour, majhor dee-strak-shee-own.

My quirky misfits will all gather on my newly installed shelf to the left of the inspiration board. Did I ever mention I live in an "I Spy" book? Let's play! I spy, with my little eye: A sunny bunny, conjoined elves, 39 alphabet letters, a real preserved baby duckling, one creepy doll head, a red fire hydrant, a ratty bed head, a rainbow colored army, 2 xylophones, Snow White and 6 dwarfs, a cross dressing bull, 2 wind-up chatter teeth, {this is fun!} a jovial alligator, 3 elephants, a bride and groom, a baby with no arms, 12 clown heads, 1 zebra, an albino deer, a boy named Butch, and 3 monster finger puppets. That is only a handful of what you can see in the pictures and I'm so grateful to have such a fun space to work in filled with things that are totally representational of who I am and what I love. If you aren't smitten with your workspace, please resolve to fill it with things that make you smile and inspire you daily.

As if I can fit any more characters in my studio, I had absolutely no choice but to make room for this furball:

A giant vintage Wile E. Coyote complete with furrowed brow and sinister grin. No way in the ACME factory was I going to let him get away. Now I will remain on the lookout for a jet pack and his nemesis. Meep meep!

I can't leave you without a peek at this living, breathing furball:

I thought I better clarify living and breathing, so you didn't think it was a disturbing piece of 19th century Victorian taxidermy. He goes by the name of Bogie and he is chillin' like a villain on the new-old 1970-something chair that sits in the corner waiting for a human or furry visitor. This book nook also doubles as a spot for me to sit and peruse my growing library of favorite books.

That about sums up my 2012 plan. I am going to do my best to make that clean slate of possibilities filthy with goodness this year.

My wish for you is to dirt-ify your clean slate with gratitude, lots of belly laughs, healthy living, happy thoughts, a creative life, and most importantly, {insert your big dreams here}.

Hey Ocho, can we make it happen?

I'm Over It.

2011-10-06T14:45:00.006-05:00

I take it back.

The Pissy Patty attitude I had in my previous post of not feeling fly.

I needed to vent to get myself through the hump of burnout that happens to me from time to time. Now I am back and as CEO of SLV I have made an executive decision to change my attitude by counting my Be Your Own Boss Blessings:

BE YOUR OWN BOSS BLESSINGS

By Sweet Love Vintage

I work with Me, Myself and I. I get along with Me the best and sometimes Myself gets on Me's nerves but for the most part we are all friends and work well together. And we all have the option of online social networking when we get sick of each other and need a break.
I can play super loud music that launches f-bombs everywhere if I need to blow off some steam without annoyed co-workers telling me to "turn that sh*t down".
I can dance and sing loud shaking my booty without annoyed co-workers telling me to "sit that sh*t down".
I can make my lunch at 10:37, noon or 3:12. I can stink it up with as much garlic, onions and canned fish as I want.
I can take expressive breaks to draw or write for my art blog or other creative thing around the house such as making something out of deer antlers or turning water into wine. It's really just Kombucha, but wine sounds better.
I can wear the same outfit to work 5 days in a row without strange looks.
I can drop food and eat it off the floor only getting strange looks from the dog.
Oh yeah, I have a furry friend that is doggone lucky not to be kenneled all day. He's my non-judgmental, quiet, nerdy confidante that occasionally takes walk breaks with me when I need fresh air and to clear my thoughts.
If I forget to brush my teeth I can walk upstairs or just skip it all together. Options!
I have the luxury to get outside for exercise when it's gorgeous out. Major perk.
I get to take pictures of things I love on my travels. Like funny vintage taxidermy:
And old Fords. I've been obsessed foreva and eva.
The flexibility rocks. I work on and off constantly. It does include nights and weekends but there's time off here and there and everywhere. Workin' 9-5 Dolly Parton style just isn't me.
Vacation time never runs out. I recently hit New York with Hubby to visit my sister, and we had so much fun! It was glorious soaking in the stimulating inspiration everywhere through my eyes, ears, nose and taste buds. I also played with my food in public cuz I'm classy like that. That would never go over at a "real" client lunch meeting in the conference room.
I get to be on the fly. Every day is a new adventure! Sometimes the adventure is nothing more than a trip to the post office, lunch at school with a kid, and a spur of the moment decision to drive somewhere. Not sure where, maybe Jack's Junkyard. Shucks. Forgot to brush. Jack won't notice, he's missing molars.
This brings me to the eccentric people I run into. I've run across many-a missing teeth, eye-patches, big beards, strange hats, the creative and colorful, unusual speakers, the creepy but harmless, the creepy and I'm-getting-out-of-here, and your normal run-of-the-mill ordinary. I love this diversity and hearing and wondering about their stories.
I learn important information every day from either Google or a fellow picker/antique dealer. Just yesterday at an antique shop when I was examining some old fishing stuff, I met a lady who told me the story of her cousin's friend who knew this guy who died from Tetanus from an old rusty fishing hook that got stuck in his finger and apparently your jaw doesn't lock up until the very end, which I did not know! I thought it locked up right away! See? Important information.
I love love love having business lunches with my fellow Etsy friends The Mina Bucket, Mill Street Vintage and Pretty Girl Shop. Here we are at our recent*cough* business *cough* lunch that went from 2 until 8 and involved wine, beer, food and gallons of laughs. You must check out their shops as they are crazy talented!
The BEST thing about my job is that I have the privilege of being at home for these two little buggers that have a tight grip on my heart:

I'm over it. The burnout.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going for a hike with those two little buggers and the furry nerdy confidante.

While I count more blessings like these gorgeous fall colors.

Be Fly

2011-09-08T11:36:00.002-05:00

fly (fli) , adj. cool; awesome; stylish; fun

The owner and curator of Sweet Love Vintage is so fly.

Truth be told, I haven't been feeling fly.

I'm suffering from a bad case of online-vintage-store burnout.

How do I know this?

Because I came home with a freakin' pitchfork the other day.

That's right. A pitchfork. What in the Hell-man's Mayo am I going to do with an old rusty pitchfork? Use it to bail the imaginary hay on my imaginary farm after I gather the eggs from my imaginary chickens while stepping in imaginary horse poo on my way to the kitchen to fry up said eggs laid by Mavis McMuffin, my favorite imaginary chicken with one leg? (Her hop is adorable by the way.)

I'm certain I could think of something cool to do with the pitchfork, but that's not the point.

The point is, I'm tired. I'm tired of hauling home the 1960s and it taking over my garage and my house. My active mind is exhausting me with it's I'm-gonna-do-something-with-that-so-don't-get-rid-of-it mentality. Like those 5 rusty handsaws leaning against the wall going down to the basement just waiting to give somebody Lockjaw. They've been lurking there, eyeing up my klutzy limbs for months.

Though I do need to use creativity to run my shop, I'm getting bored with the repetition. My item descriptions stink like the horse poo on my imaginary farm. How many more times can I say awesome, fantastic, fabulous, swell, terrific, amazing and any other overused descriptive? The same ol' same ol' is killing me and my lack of effort in adjective-ville is obvious. Since my energy has not been into it, it's very hard to motivate myself to get back in the game, but Curious and Sweet Love are back in school, which means our summer playtime is over and I need to up the ante.

To distract myself from the burnout, and to satiate my craving for a creative project, I started a new blog. A space to post my art, random thoughts, things that inspire me, music I love - a place to catalog my daydreams and express myself. This Sweet Love Vintage blog has taught me that I totally dig this writing thing, but I am the most comfortable and feel my truest self when I do it visually or in my brief, sometimes nonsensical, poetic run-on style. Which is the style you'll find on The Art Blog of Sarah Leu. That's me!

Check it out and if you decide to follow me I'll be happier than Mavis McMuffin when she had two legs. I have no idea of where it will go, or how often I'll post, but Doc Burnout* told me to quit stressing about starting another shop to sell my art, and just have some fun making it for awhile. So that's what I'm going to do, and since I don't have the attention span to spend hours on a single piece, I'm retreating to my 6-year old self again with a single marker and simple drawings. For now anyway.

I think having this new blog will help me to feel fly. Like Superman when he's in the sky.

Maybe my superpower will be to make you smile or inspire you along the way.

After all, that's one of my favorite things to do.

And in case you were wondering, I am going to do something with these old rusty handsaws.

Someday.

Something fly.

*My therapist, whose name has been changed for privacy to something obviously fake, but totally fitting.

Snoozefest Turned Love Shack

2011-02-23T20:16:00.004-06:00

This is a before shot of my and Hubby's lame bedroom. Can you say snoozefest? Yawn.

We've been in our house over 3 years and our bedroom was more stale than the popcorn I occasionally find in my bra. The color we chose for the paint when we moved in was not a horrible color but it matched the ugly bedding we had, so we just lived with it. I finally decided I couldn't take it anymore.

This color was too dark and dreary for a hit-the-snooze-button-8-times kinda girl so it was the first to go. I wanted to wake up to something bright and happy. Something that would make me open my peepers with a smile while singing "tra-lalalalalalalalalala!" and put a morning skip in my step so I figured key lime paint would do the trick.

Once again, like Curious' bedroom I had to press my thrifty button into overdrive. I don't make millions with Sweet Love Vintage or my random art endeavors, but even if I did, It's not my style to buy new, trendy, high-end decorating pieces. I need a room to be decorated with fun personality, things I love, pieces that have a story and character, a mix of styles, and always a sense of humor or a surprise tucked in there somewhere.

I found this vintage arm chair at a yard sale for 5 bucks. (giddy-up!) This is my future meditation chair. Neither I, nor my overactive mind have zenned out in it yet, but I'm super awesome at shoving clothes behind it and tripping over it in the dark.

I traveled through my portal to Awesometown where I scored a pair of 1960s sunshine yellow glass lamps for $12. They are perched on an art deco black dresser and on an old table that I layered with a suitcase to match the height of the dresser. I have old suitcases all over my house as side tables and such, and they are great for layering and storing things. I store lots of air in mine. I threw a large thrifted flokati rug on the floor so I can feel soft shaggy fuzziness on my feet when I wake up, but more importantly so I can lay on it and make fur angels.

I invested in new bedding because I'm not a big fan of sharing bed bugs or dust mites with strangers so I picked up a cheap dark brown quilt and new light yellow sheets. The three jewel toned embroidered pillows along with the black and white damask curtains are from Pier 1, and were the only other new purchases (and my biggest splurge) in the whole room. At the edge of the bed sits a vintage lime green and white chenille bedspread.

Old sheet music is right up my eye candy alley when it comes to vintage graphics. The titles and pictures tickle my funny bone and I like to wake up to something smile worthy besides my bed head. I admit I haven't been springing out of bed singing "tra-lalalalalalala!" like I was hoping, but I do sing whatever the latest song stuck in my head is.

The other morning it was "Jimmy Crack Corn".

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care, Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care, Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care... and how in Jimmy's name did I get this song stuck in my head? Aretha Baby, where are you when I need you?

Then I started thinking about Jimmy and maybe I should care. There's obviously a reason he cracks corn. Maybe I should write my own story about Jimmy and the perils of cracking corn. Maybe I'm just cracked corn. Or just cracked. Cracked and corny.

Yes, these are things I think about. Things I think about while lying in bed waiting for the next time I must sling my arm out and hit snooze again.

Even waking up in this bright and cheerful happy place, I still hit snooze.

The good news is it's only 4 and a half times now instead of 8.

Sarah Rebecca Leu. Age 6

2011-02-07T20:39:00.004-06:00

This is "My Book About Me", circa 1979.

Written by a 6-year old kindergarten girl named Sarah Rebecca Leu. (That's me.)

The book is full of facts about me including where I lived, my favorite things, how many forks I had in my house, etc. I filled it in with my big fat adorable kindergarten writing. It sits on my studio bookshelf and I get a kick out of perusing it from time to time.

One of the most important things in a little girl's life is her favorite color. Though I still enjoy pingk and all colors, greegn is my preference today. Tomorrow it might be glurple and the next day something different.

Art is still my favorite subject just as "Hurt 101: Introduction to Emotional and Physical Pain" is my least favorite subject. I'm a very good student if it's something that interests me. I am interested in gobs of different subjects at any given moment and it changes constantly, as I get bored quickly and thrive on finding new brain stimulation. A handful of current obsessions include learning yoga, finding inner peace, clean eating, old R&B music, "Friday Night Lights", the victorian era, drawing with a black Sharpie, how to make my bulging arm veins look smaller, raccoons, this blog and this blog. I am an awful student if I have to figure out board game instructions, read a chick lit novel, follow driving directions, talk politics, or organize my junk drawer.

I still have several of my 6-year old girl qualities. This can be good, and not so good.

GOOD (the short, but very important list):

My imagination

NOT SO GOOD

Attention span
Impulsiveness
Not wanting to shower
Paint/marker stained hands
Spilling my almond milk, water, or whatever is in my cup.
Finding dried food on my face several hours after consumption
Finding dried food on my face the day after consumption
Talking in robot voice to my family which used to generate smiles but now annoys them because once I start I can't stop.
Talking in an English accent so I can feel sophisticated. This too, annoys everyone but me and goes something like this:

"Mom, stop it!"

"Why no dahlings, I'm bloody mahd and I musn't stope untel you clean up yoah bahthroom".

"Pleeeeeeeeease Mom! AAAARRRRRRG!"

"My. superiors. told. me. i. can. stop. if. the. little. human. with. blue. eyeballs. will. push. my. reset. button."

"Not the robot! Stop all the voices!"

Sometimes I am a 6-year old in a body 31 years my senior. Only my family and a select few of my close friends see 6-year old Sarah. If you met me, you would think I was friendly and outgoing and I pull off 30-something very well.

As I said before, drawing has been on my study list so I've been goofing around with a single black Sharpie and learning how to digitally color said drawings, along with writing and letting my imagination wander into the 6-year old world of Sarah Leu.

Because zebras enjoy straws even more than I do.

We would also shoot trap wearing our matching ripped-at-the-shoulder plaid flannels and trim the split ends on each other's mullets. If I can keep my 6-year old attention span focused, I'd like to create a series of "If I Had a..."

Only this blind, wise owl knows when the world is really going to end. And when my PMS is going to start.

Sushi had a difficult time keeping friends because she was such a square. I enjoy making up nonsense like ridiculous names and combining things that just don't go together like Beatles songs and geometry.

Many of the items I sell in my vintage shop come with a story. Some of these become drawings like the one above, inspired by these slippers.

I try hard to see my cup half full as much as possible, but I absolutely have those moments when it is half empty or evaporated. Whether it's full or empty, it's almost always upside-down.

I moonlight as a professional dreamer.

When I wake up with a zit the size of a unicorn horn, I feel like Hattie. Have I mentioned that I love dark humor? Except when it's on my face.

I find the strange quirks, qualities and habits of people so charming. I did this drawing for a friend of mine who is not bipolar, nor a polar bear. She does, however, hate goat cheese and tissue boxes.

For a friend who cannot start her morning without a Mountain Dew.

Purple rain was pouring down all over him in his previous dream. Prince was holding the umbrella.

Old Blue Eyes on the ipod makes me want to croon in front of my mirror wearing my fedora. (Hey mirror, wanna hang out Friday?)

I'm a sucker for dots and plaid. And fuzzy caterpillars.

Totally crushing on Bill Withers lately. "Lovely Day" has been playing on repeat an awful lot. When Bill Withers is singing to me that he is going to have a lovely day just by looking at me, it makes my knees quiver. Drawing people has always been something that scares me.

Now when I get scared to draw people or share my art, I will tell my shadow to back the hell off and go annoy a peacock. And then I will draw people. Take that, scared self.

It would be even more fun if Yes came with.

My name is Sarah.

I think life can be much more inspiring and joyful if you look at the world through the eyes of your 6-year old silly and curious self.

I say put on your best pingk glow and give it a go.

Germ Freak

2010-10-13T22:53:00.002-05:00

Sweet Love has pinkeye. Gross, green gunk oozing out of his nearly 6-year old eyes.

Today I had to drag him to one of my most feared places on earth.

The clinic.

I have no problem dumpster diving, digging through a barn scattered with mouse crap or bug infested basements looking for treasures. Hell no. I love that. I just know I'm more likely to catch acute nasopharyngitus from the pen that I used at the check-in counter of the clinic versus the filthy turn-of-the-century pharmacy bottles that I found laying in a dusty basement.

You see, I am a bit neurotic about germs.

I am the girl who quickly analyzes which door handle will have the least amount of sick germs on it before I grab it. {The furthest door on the left because more people enter on the right using the left hand door because more people are right handed} and then wrap my sleeve to grab it or use just my pinky finger. If I had better balance I'd probably open doors with my feet. It's always a good day if I can time it when someone else is going in and I can breeze through 3 inches behind them.

I am the girl who, if you have a snotty nose and phlegmy cough and enter my house, will disinfect the door handle and/or anything else you have touched after you leave.

I am the girl who only touches an elevator button with her knuckle.

I am the girl who would never, ever come close to anything in public that is constantly touched by people. I balance on escalators and cringe when my kids and husband grab hold of the rail. Then I see them touch their nose and I want to die.

I am the girl who goes into cardiac arrest when the kids come home from school and tell me someone threw up in their class. Followed by the question, "Honey, did you play with Suzie Throwup today? How far away do you sit from her?"

I am the girl who will do as much self diagnosing online as possible, so I can remedy the sickness without going into the clinic. Unfortunately, my PhD is in Family Guy episodes and not medicine so I cannot prescribe the drugs necessary to cure what ails me and my family. Since some cases of conjunctivitis call for eye drops, I had to plummet to the depths of germ hell for over an hour with Sweet Love and his green goop.

I scan the waiting room for the safest place to sit.

Not anywhere near the nose blowers.

We will sit in a galaxy far, far away from the lady hunched over with sunglasses on. Something tells me this is not just a hangover.

Sweet Love and I settle down across from an elderly lady with a walker and oxygen tank. Other than her breathing machine, she looks healthy as a horse, so I probably won't get some airborne virus by sitting across from her. She looks adorable dressed in a white nightgown with the predictable curly-white-old-lady-hair complemented by her white pasty skin. As I listen to the rhythmic hissing of her breathing machine, my gaze goes down to her feet.

Right below her age spotted cankles I see the shoes. A pair of killer old school moccasins with a beaded eagle motif. She has no idea the shoes she is wearing are super duper cool. She doesn't give a crap because at this stage in life, she's going for comfort.

I love her. This adorable little old lady with breathing machine and sweet kicks.

I wonder what her life story is.

Then I smile.

And I forget about germs for awhile.

My Play Room

2010-09-06T20:09:00.006-05:00

A peek from the entrance to my newly redecorated work and play room.

A 1970 talking Cat in the Hat puppet was the last touch on my studio makeover.

I recently impulsively bought this well used and loved talking puppet and I am completely smitten. His perfectly sly smirk, crazy yellow eyes and non working pull string compliment his ratty tatty dirtballness. He sits on top of my desk lamp.

I am so in love with my new studio.

I did an overhaul and made my messy, unorganized, work space into something more inspiring.

Something that reflects my store aesthetic and my creative side.

A place where I can work and be productive.

But also, where I can play.

My studio (which now resembles Pee Wee's Playhouse on crack) is not only where Sweet Love Vintage happens, but it's where my imagination, inner artist, closet geek side, and quirky sense of humor hang out.

My window valance is made up of old game boards and school flash cards.

My wall of books containing mainly art books, reference books, and includes books by some of my favorite artists/authors: Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Edward Gorey, Brian Andreas, Andy Warhol and Marc Johns.

Vintage toys and tiny things used for my photography props line the blue metal shelves. I wallpapered the wall behind them in vintage piano music.

Sweet Love piano music cover sheet is my welcome sign at the door and an old Cricket chalkboard is hung for little reminders.

Near the ceiling I hung white lights and a teal feather boa. I spray painted cheap paper stencils from a local home improvement store and hung them with mini wood clothespins. Sweet Love and Curious are code for my two sons. The huge bulletin board will have an ever changing display of inspiration.

The flash card with the word neat on my bulletin board is rather ironic. I am a complete mess when I work. I usually have several projects going on at once on my desk. I take stuff out and don't put it away, then I take more stuff out. Repeat. It starts to look like a landfill of art supplies, dust, post-its, and vintage paraphernalia. The state my studio is in right now is heavenly. It's so clean and organized I don't even know where to start. And unfortunately, I can't find anything because it's all put away. This is out of my element. When I wander through the door I turn catatonic. I just sit at my desk and look around as I am mesmerized and instantly inspired by all the colors and silliness. I immediately think of things I want to work on, but I'm scared to take stuff out.

I know as soon as I start one thing, just one little creative endeavor, I'm going to fuck it all up with my messy shenanigans. I am, indeed, like the mischievous Cat in the Hat, and will trash this room in an instant.

My desk will never, ever look like this again. Now matter how hard I try, I know myself better than that. I just want it to look this way a tiny bit longer. I might sit in my catatonic state while drooling and blowing spit bubbles a few more times before I start tearing it up.

If only my Cat in the Hat puppet would have come with a couple of blue haired Things and a big, red, noisy cleaning machine.

His Dynamic Industrial Renovating Tractormajigger.

To clean up after my messy shenanigans.

Much Needed

2010-07-22T20:26:00.011-05:00

I needed today. A day with my curious kid.

Curious, myself, and my 4 wheels.

On a spontaneous antique hunting road trip.

No plan, random stops, several treats

and very intellectual conversation

like much we love Pop Rocks

and why they crackle.

Which I couldn't answer.

Here he is drooling over antique coins:

I was busy drooling over a $1500 Victorian mourning shadow box filled with an artistic preservation of human hair. It was so fascinating I couldn't get away from it.

I also couldn't get away from my strange obsession with trying to find vintage marionette puppets. Something I've been looking for since I saw some "dancing" in a perfectly decorated restaurant.

I need them for my studio.

Like I needed that weird looking plush cat with weird looking plush eyeballs. Like something from a plush circus freak show. A force took over and I purchased this lonely weird plush doll.

Maybe it's because sometimes I feel lonely and weird.

"Mom! Come! On! I gotta show you this coin!"

This snaps me out of my looking-for-marionette-puppet-hyperfocus.

Even though I'm not passionate about coins, I appreciate and understand his excitement. I enjoy sharing this with him.

He came home treasuring his new (old) coins.

I came home treasuring the time we spent together.

That kid rocks.

Rocks more than a colossal mountain of Pop Rocks.

Letters To Edith

2010-06-13T19:41:00.002-05:00

April 2nd, 1925.

A letter, addressed to Edith, is postmarked with that date.

There were many, many, many letters addressed to her. Boxes of them. Years of them.

Edith was a major-league saver.

She kept every single note, letter, card, and newspaper clipping that she ever received.

Including sweet ephemera like this innocent love note from her classmate Keith.

She bound them in pretty ribbons,

taped them in scrapbooks,

and put them in boxes.

This is Edith.

Or at least, I think it's Edith.

I never knew her. But it was neat to get a sense of who she was (packrat) at her estate sale.

All these written words clearly meant a lot to her, so in no way was I going to let those beautiful handwritten letters make it to a dumpster.

Edith would not have been happy about that.

I divided them into 4 collections and placed them in the shop.

A unique montage of letters, cards and notes to peruse, display, or use in some creative way.

I could waste an entire day reading them.

Screw the novels on the NY Times best seller list.

I'm reading letters to Edith.

Me Loves

2010-04-25T09:53:00.001-05:00

Loves me.

Loves me not.

Loves me.

Me loves the Hipstamatic iphone camera app.

Hipstamatic iphone app loves me,

loves me not,

loves me. back.

Hipsta brings out my ridiculous playful side.

He doesn't judge my dork side. He embraces it.

I am so charmed by Hipsta's old school qualities.

and I don't mind when he over-exposes himself.

Here I am holding my Academy Award

for Best Supporting Goofball in a Self Photographer Series.

Which I dedicated to Hipsta, my biggest supporter.

He sat proudly in the front row.

Beaming though his lens and clapping loudly.

First Born Curious. The End.

2010-03-30T22:10:00.001-05:00

I excel in procrastinating.

I also excel in obsessively working on a task until complete.

Once I decide to get 'er done.

(Larry the Cable Guy is way overrated. As is his overdone phrase I used annoyingly above.)

Here is the final product of my almost-10-year-old-curious-boy's-bedroom:

Probably the only time it will be a nicely made bed.

Curious and I both stinkaroo at bed making. Workin on it.

Well, he is. Me? Not so much.

I've never really understood the art of daily bed making.

Someday I'd like to learn it. But I've got better things to do for now.

Painted a section of black wall behind the bed to ground it in the room.

Added an old barnwood frame with a display of curiosities.

Wrote some random words around the perimeter of the paint with white chalk.

Next to the bed he has lots of places to store his gatherings:

A view directly across from the bed. His coin collecting desk area.

His favorite coins went into plain frames that he can easily access.

Fake wood clipboards are the el-cheapo version to display stuff.

No need for an expensive built-in window seat.

A set of wood and metal schoolhouse chairs does the job. Scored the whole set for $10:

His collections and curiosities are displayed on the black shelves in front of the black window wall. I wanted it dark so the objects would pop.

The 6 foot antique snakeskin mount became an unusual window dressing.

Not my original plan, but not planning is typical for me.

So is spilling food on myself daily.

I adhered vintage game cards around the window trim and Mr. Puffer hangs from Mr. Snake.

Last, but not least...

This is for the peeps who thought there's no way an old elk leg could look cool:

I know you're out there. And you still may not think dat's cool.

It's okay because I like it. Plus Curious is the only one I need to please.

And Curious loves it.

His room.

All of it.

Never Too Old

2010-03-25T21:41:00.005-05:00

Caved on new kicks the other day.

Same as the pair I wore in 7th grade.

Only those were high tops.

And I stitched some palm tree beach scene on the sides with colored embroidery floss.

Was told I was too old to wear these.

No way. Nada. Never. Nope. Not.

When I'm 92 I'll be hobbling around in my walker.

The spray painted baby blue walker with the ribbons on the handle-bars.

It'll be easy to pick out among the sea of walkers with the tennis ball bottoms at the nursing home.

Horn on the front.

Outta my way dirty old geezers, I'm late for Bingo.

Beep beep.

Or perhaps a blaring loud air horn so their big ol' ears can pick up on it.

Hobbling.

Faster than the average old lady.

Andele! Andele! Arriba! Arriba!

I will name my walker Speedy Gonzales.

Hobbling.

In my Converse-All-Star sneaks.

Intermission

2010-03-24T10:57:00.008-05:00

Curious?

Been feverishly working on his bedroom.

Curious. That kid. His room.

Still have some details to add.

But here is a wee peek. Pillow's eye view:

And a teeny peek next to his bed:

I always wanted to do something with that vintage red television I lugged home eons ago.

Didn't let Curious see the room for a couple days. Wanted to surprise him.

He couldn't hold out any longer so I caved.

I couldn't take the whining anymore.

He said, "Oh my gosh! It's nothing like I imagined it would be!"

I said, "Is it better or worse than you thought?"

Internally freaking out. What if he hates this???

"Way better!"

Whew.

First Born Curious

2010-03-18T21:54:00.000-05:00

I have another Sweet Love in my life.

(If you want to know who Sweet Love is, and the story behind my shop name, read this)

My other Sweet Love is my first-born son who I love just as sweetly.

He doesn't have a nick name so I'll call him Curious. Because he is. So is his mother.

Curious is 9 with a birthday coming the end of May. Double digits.

Woah! (said in the voice of Joey from the 90s sitcom, Blossom)

Where did the time go?

Curious has always been a collector. Always into gathering rocks, specimens, shells. Anything small and sortable. Even as a toddler, he would walk along the sidewalk and study any little speck. Pick up a leaf in wonderment. He was a happy but serious toddler. And curious.

My latest creative project is to finally decorate his bedroom. After 2 years of living here.

I excel at procrastinating. Obviously.

Here is the starting inspiration of some of the things that Curious loves:

An old diamondback rattlesnake skin mount
Antique elk leg (it's twin is in the shop!)
Gigantic steer horn mount
Wolf or coyote skull
Preserved puffer fish I brought back from Mexico
Gator head he picked out on a family vacay to Florida.

Curious also has jars full of rocks, shells, shark teeth and fossilized miscellany. Along with:

A kangaroo foot his auntie brought back from down under.

Blue Morpho butterfly mounts from Brazil. Done by my dad, who is also quite curious and always has a hobby/obsession of some sort. Grandpa has recently gotten his grandson into major coin collecting. Fits the bill. Small and sortable.

1938 schoolhouse map I found thrifting. Curious begged me not to sell.

A vintage preserved snake head I also bought to sell in the shop. Again, I got the, "Mom, please-please-please don't sell this!"

I must admit, I love this. I love that I'm not doing a stereo-typical boys sports room. Not that it wouldn't be fun, but this road is much closer to my house in Unusualville.

Next steps: Paint. Bedding. Incorporate textures. Assemble. Repurpose. Re-arrange. Think outside box. Research. Donate old stuff. Bring in old stuff.

And do it all in my creative, thrifty way.

It definitely won't look like a page out of the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. Thank God.

(No offense Pottery Barn. You are just too mainstream. I want it to look more unique than you and not scream POTTERY BARN!)

So stay tuned...

For his Museum of Natural History living space.

And quite a curious one it will be.

Hey Feb roo ary. Where'd you go?

2010-02-28T23:01:00.000-06:00

Here it's the last day of February and I haven't posted a single entry.

On the 14th I had a whole entry written about Valentine's Day.

How I love romance.

Just not the expected predictable kind. I crave think-out-of-the-box kind.

I'll even settle for the empty-the-dishwasher-without-me-asking kind.

When I read my entry it was so boring.

I was forcing it. The writing.

Delete.

I am so not a writer.

When I try to write an actual paragraph, it's like a chaotic mess of letters.

Like Campbell's Alphabet Soup was dumped in my brain.

Then overcooked.

It's hard for me to get my thoughts out into paragraph form.

This is how my creative brain works.

My right brain. I'm super right brained.

In fact, this test says I'm 72% right brained.

Lost.

How I feel when I have so many ideas in right brain.

When I can't concentrate because of them.

Pulling me.

Lost.

Sometimes I love to feel lost.

I love getting lost in the arts.

This artist's work makes me feel like I'm lost in a world of organic, amoeba-like, science fiction.

Allusion print by Yellena.

I love to get lost perusing the aisles in an antique shop.

To be lost in imagination. Making up stories in my head about the old stuff.

I bet this vintage monkey creep has a great story on how he lost his eye. By Plundered.

I love to get lost in music. As long as it's not country or Meatloaf.

Music is my little ear vacay to paradise.

Sometimes my soul goes along for the ride.

Gonna go to bed now.

Gonna go to bed and hopefully get lost in sweet dreams.

Meatloaf and his mullet are not invited.

Twitter. And A Shout Out To The Nerds.

2010-01-26T23:32:00.002-06:00

I joined the world of Twitter.

Under the Twitter name SweetLoveTweets.

I know, I know. It should be my business name.

BUT IT IS ONE LETTER TOO LONG!!!

Imagine my angst.

I was furious after I happily typed away my new user name and got this:

SweetLoveVintag

(Insert slow motion monster vocals here)

AAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Next try. SweetLove. Taken.

No way was I going to do SweetLuvVintage or SweetLoveVintaj.

So, SweetLoveTweets it is.

Follow me, won't you?

So I don't feel like such a nerd.

I love nerds. I find them so endearing.

Bookish smarts.

Wonka.

Glasses and braces.

Lewis, Gilbert and the Lambdas.

Strange quirks.

Obscure interests.

Napoleon Dynamite.

I don't know a thing about computer programming or Star Trek.

But I most definitely have an inner nerd in me.

Plus, haven't you heard?

Nerd is the new black.

Baby In Blue Gets Picked Up By Impulsive Girl

2010-01-15T22:30:00.001-06:00

Almost embarrassed to admit my most recent impulse buy:

Look at that face.

How does someone leave their baby at Valu-Thrift?

Luckily, he wasn't lying in a woven basket at the front door, crying hysterically.

He was behind glass in a large and dirty wood frame.

I laughed out loud when I saw him.

Laughing at item = tossing in cart.

First thought after bringing him home: Shitballs. What am I going to do with him?

Second thought: A peanut butter banana honey sandwich sounds really good right now.

Third thought: I'll just take a picture and maybe he'll come in useful sometime.

Sweet Love mascot?

Or..........

And lastly, my personal favorite:

Two Thousand Ten

2010-01-03T22:15:00.001-06:00

Isn't she oozing with sweetness?

Not realizing how stinkin' cute she really is.

Just pedaling along, ringin' the bell, in sassy sandals with lace trim socks.

Lipstick red shades.

Not a care in the world.

Not thinking about trying to balance life. Or what to make for supper.

Not thinking about flossing and Crest White Strips.

Not psychoanalyzing her issues.

I sometimes wish I could be that girl for one day.

Again. That was me almost 3 decades ago.

I still wear pigtails. (Not as cute)

And big sunglasses. (Still as cute)

I still like to dress up. On the days that I'm not in sweats and my red plaid flannel.

Pretty sure that outfit is going to start walking around on it's own.

I'm still sweet. Most of the time.

When it's not most of the time, I can be a big turd.

A grown-up tantrum of sorts.

Except I call it, Mom's. Gonna. Snap.

Or, momsgonnasnap.

Or, MOM IS GOING TO SNAP!!!!!!!!!!!

I've changed in other ways too.

My wheels have evolved from 3 to 4. Plus an engine.

I have smile lines and crow's feet. Just means I smile a lot. Not that I'm getting older.

I'm not terrified of helicopters anymore.

They don't send me screaming, sobbing and running hysterically in circles yelling, "HELLEEEEECOPTEEEUUUURRR!!!! HELLLLEEEEEECOPTEEEEUUUUUURRRR!!!

My mom says I sounded like I had a french accent when I did this. Tres chic.

I don't drag around a white blanket that resembles swiss cheese from the holes.

Instead of white lace trim socks, occasionally I'll have one sock inside out and one sock right side in. By the time I notice that one is inside-out, the inside, which is now the outside, is dirty, so I leave it that way. A quirk that I keep telling myself is cute.

I don't constantly sniff Strawberry Shortcake's hair.

But I would if I had her. She was so sweet.

So am I. Most of the time. Except when I'm a turd.

And still a little sassy.

And a tiny. bit. bad-assy.

Sweet Love Writes Santa. Better Late Than Never.

2009-12-18T10:34:00.024-06:00

Christmas is almost here and I haven't even sent my letter to Santa yet.

Dear Jolly-Red-Dude-With-White-Crumb-Catcher-And-Candy-Cane-Breath:

I've been a pretty good girl this year.

But not perfect.

It's just that I really struggle with replacing the empty toilet paper roll.

(Only in the bathroom with the holder that has the annoying plastic springy cylinder.)

Before you know it, the new toilet paper roll resting on top of the empty one is half gone.

I think about changing it next time.

Next time happens several more times and now there is 1/4 of a roll left.

Might as well wait for the new roll.

I'm just sayin'.

A few things I like from Etsy and beyond in case you have time to swing by my stocking:

Because I subscribe to the word of the day and love reference books. By Urban Dictionary.

Look out Peeps, there's a new mallow in the house. By thefoodsnob:

Vintage A & W stools to go around my counter:

By johnnyvintage.

Pretty sure I'll trip. But I'll do it with style:

Vintage Cinderella peeptoe pumps by mariesvintage.

Because I love love love this foursome to the moon and back:

Book from Amazon.

Because Theodore Geisel's art is right up my alley and a cloud factory is so seuss-like:

By pearsonmaron.

Speaking of art, etsy artist elloh is on the top of my list.

Her pop culture prints make me smile and feel nostalgic.

A couple favorites:

But Daddy, I want an Oompa Loompa NOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

Bob Ross has forever been able to stop me in my channel surfing tracks and hypnotize me with his soft, gentle voice.

And fro-head.

Last, but not least, I love this letterpress art print by YeeHaw:

Because it's choc full of goofiness and I'm obsessed with typography.

And if there's any room in my stocking, can you please throw in a spring-free toilet paper holder stand?

With Sweet Love,

Sarah

My Vintage Addiction Interview

2009-12-04T11:04:00.001-06:00

I had the honor of being featured in a kick-a$$ blog:

My Vintage Addiction

Check out this awesome blog featuring vintage everything, like the amazing room above.

And my interview!

A special shout out to Robin at The Fancy Lamb,

for being a contributor and interviewing me for this drool worthy blog.

Check out her shop for fun vintage finds. Such as:

Love these colorful wood blocks!

To Charlie Brown. With Mean Love, Lucy.

Robin also recycles old vintage books into journals:

Rusty Pete journal, you make my heart go pitter pat!

I want to lick your candy blue surface.

And doodle all over your insides.

A fantastic old First Aid book.

Simple, colorful, bold graphics.

Robin is a girl after my own heart.

An Ugly. Vintage. Creep.

2009-12-03T09:58:00.001-06:00

Dear Creepy-Clown-On-Thrift-Store-Shelf,

You scare me.

You are not coming home with me.

Maybe this guy will find you:

And eat you for dessert.

Wishes From Papa

2009-11-19T20:44:00.007-06:00

A birthday letter to me from my Papa. (a.k.a. Grandpa)

Circa. 1975.

Sarah darling,

Papa's little girl, oh, how I love you.

And Papa would love to be with you on your birthday.

My little Sarah, Papa's dreaming of you.

Though you're many, many miles away.

Papa's little Sarah knows my heart beats true.

So my darling Happy Birthday.

And Papa is coming to be with your for Christmas.

Happy Birthday,

Papa

I love this letter.

I love his handwriting.

I love how he called me darling.

And as I typed it,

I noticed a similarity to my own staccato writing style.

Starting sentences with "and" and "so".

Today is my birthday.

I'm now 34 years older than when he wrote the letter.

Papa's heart still beats true for me.

Only now it's in spirit.

Mustache Madness

2009-11-07T13:44:00.001-06:00

I'm mad for mustaches.

And coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs.

Who knew mustaches could be so

adorable?

Exception: Three whiskers on my own lip.

Ok, maybe five or six.

Here are some super nose beard finds on Etsy:

I think my cheap cabernet-in-a-box will taste that much better when I drink out of these glasses by breadandbadger:

Love this dude's handlebar from artist pamwishbow:

Hairy print of several styles by olerattlesnake:

Adorable crumb catcher ring by Isette:

Be cute and creative down south without a painful wax job. From undies:

I don't think I can resist not buying this t-shirt from theboldbanana:

Silly 'staches. Make me smile.

Creepy Creation

2009-10-26T16:30:00.001-05:00

Up for grabs in my pretend store,

Ugly Love Vintage.

You can find it in Aisle 10,

Creepy Creations.

Next to the row of ceramic nipple mugs.

Three's Company in my mind:

Jack.

Janet.

Chrissy.

Not:

Disturbing naked family.

Grody.

Happy Sweetest Day!

2009-10-17T14:16:00.010-05:00

I'm easily entertained.

Passed by this in a dinky town on Friday:

Sweet sign made me stop.

Door was locked. Not sweet.

Got a little snoopy.

Peeked in the windows.

Sweet mess:

Sweet skull. Lamp style:

Sweet duct taped sign:

I'm glad he's reasonable. Or will at least consider being reasonable.

Sweet familiarity to my home art spot:

Happy Sweetest Day from Sweet Love Vintage!

Sweet Love Giveaway!

2009-10-13T21:35:00.008-05:00

One of the items in my shop is up for grabs for free!

Win this adorable little doe planter.

Go to Cheri Root Photography Blog and make a comment. That's it! Then you'll be entered into a drawing to win one of 5 items after the end of 5 days.

Cheri is an amazing photographer that I met after she purchased a vintage letter R from my shop (3rd from the top left). She collects them and made this gorgeous photo montage:

So go! Scram! Go and comment on her kissable blog!

Weakness. The Happy Kind.

2009-10-10T15:20:00.001-05:00

I have a strong dislike for "The Price Is Right" game show.

Come on down! So I can trip you and make you bleed, Price Is Right.

Who watches that show?

Game shows are not a happy weakness of mine.

Exception: Old Match Game reruns from the 60s.

Minus the host with creepy grin, Gene Rayburn.

Board games? Another story.

Other things that make me swoon:

Tiny little things

Art, art and more art

Funny bedheads

Licking the cake/muffin/brownie batter and frosting beaters. (Yes, I share with the kids)

Dogs in Halloween costumes

Old games

Family Guy

Vintage boots

Black and white cowhide

Elderly guys with suspenders

Old pick-up trucks

Quotes and song lyrics

A Cheerio dipped in butter and stuck to a bunch more Cheerios

Endearingly tacky restaurant decor

When the clock says 3:33 or 5:55 and making a wish

Starbuck's Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte

The smell of puppy breath

Lightning bugs

Marshmallow peeps

Thinking outside the box

Milkweed pods

Toads

People watching

Giving and receiving winks

Leftovers for breakfast

Blowing big bubbles with a wad of Hubba Bubba or Big League Chew

Itunes and Pandora

Old tin ceilings

A brand new pack of 64 crayons

Original vintage paintings

Oh, original paintings, why must I always want to rescue you?

I think this large, framed 1964 original painting is fantastic cool.

and it's pretty amazing when you look close up at the details and texture:

Although I appreciate it and think it cool, it's just not my style.

Is it yours?

For sale in the shop!

Boo!

2009-10-02T16:45:00.000-05:00

Ironic.

I can't watch horror movies.

I don't watch the news. That's a horror movie in itself.

I am a total scaredy-cat.

I won't even get into my fear of germs.

If I'm watching anything remotely scary I curl up in a ball and watch through my fingers with my eyes barely open. Sometimes I also plug my ears and say "ohmygodidonwannahearitsomethinsgonnapopoutanysecond" in a really annoying high pitched voice.

I could never go into a haunted house. Fake or real.

Yes, I believe in ghosts or spirits, whatever you want to call them. But mostly friendly ones.

Like Casper.

If I met a friendly ghost, it would still scare me.

The ironic part? I love Halloween.

I also love walking through graveyards to read the tombstones.

And I have a love/hate relationship with the movie "Silence of The Lambs".

But I really love decorating for Halloween.

With scary stuff. The dead bloody rat-in-a-trap next to my toilet makes me smile.

I love dressing up scary for Halloween too. Any excuse to make myself look completely different is so much fun.

My Halloween decorating on a budget: Old family black and white photos, old pharmacy bottles (in the shop!), vintage items, spray paint this and that, and purchase cheap novelty skulls, mice and spiders. Throw them in some jars and you're good to go. And the spider web stuff for a dollar is so much fun.

Happy October!!! Ooh ooh ooh, aah, aah, aah.

Top Three Tuesday

2009-09-30T10:07:00.001-05:00

Sweet Love Vintage is happy.

So is this stogie lovin' old lady.

Thanks to a fun and inspiring blog, Our Designed Life.

Sweet Love was featured as as one of their Top Three Tuesday features.

Mwah!

Junk Bonanza

2009-09-23T18:05:00.008-05:00

Went to this thing.

This Junk Bonanza in big buildings. Times 3.

I was with 2 girlfriends who are so much fun and appreciate old stuff like me.

Oodles and oodles of rust, chipped paint, vivid colors.

Fueling more ideas than I can fit in my creative brain.

One of the vendors there could have been Sweet Love's twin.

This vendor obviously shared the same love of colorful vintage and graphics as I do:

There was one big problem.

There was no thrill.

All the stuff was very cool, but there was no score moment.

No searching through miscellany and finding that special thing you would never expect.

No element of surprise.

No heart beat skips.

I found a couple cool things that I will use in my art endeavors.

And a couple things for the shop.

So it was more of fun girls getaway day that I really needed.

Fast forward to next day:

I find several cool things garage saling.

My favorite?

This rusty metal lunchbox filled with old jars at a local garage sale:

And it has a story. I love the story.

This sweet elderly lady and I get to talkin' and talkin'.

This lunchbox takes her back in time.

Her husband worked for 3M from 1950s-1970s.

He worked in the graphics department so he would stick the newest 3M decals on his lunchbox.

He took his lunch in that lunchbox every single day.

He even had to re-do the handle as it broke. So now it's white plastic.

She packed his lunch for him like a decent 50s housewife would.

One day she packed 2 hard boiled eggs in one of the glass jars.

Later that day she had to go to the hospital.

Eggs gave him botulism.

She laughs as she tells the story, so he was fine.

I love the story.

And hard boiled eggs too.

Blog Love

2009-09-21T09:25:00.006-05:00

Thanks to the blog Paper Cakes Finds for featuring Sweet Love on their most recent post on Asian chic finds.

Some more Asian inspired eye candy from Etsy:

Amazing platform bed by AttilaDesign.

Delicious clutch by JuliaSherryDesigns:

Fun place card settings from DivineLionesss:

Happy Monday!

Boot Love

2009-09-18T22:00:00.005-05:00

I'm having a love affair with these vintage turquoise suede boots.

They are not going in the shop.

Yet.

Not until I wear 'em a few times.

There is something about them that I just love.

The unexpected pop of turquoise blue with a neutral outfit.

I don't have much for options in the color boot department.

Other than the red cowboy boots I got for 50 cents at a garage sale.

I have been dying for a pair of Frye boots for about 2 years now.

Frye rocks. Best American made boots ever.

But even vintage ones on ebay sell for hundreds.

And the new ones I want are 300-$350 bucks.

So it's not happening.

But if I hold out long enough,

and think about it hard enough,

maybe,

just maybe,

I'll find some thrifting or garagin'.

Some more boot kickin' eye candy from Etsy:

from Selvage Boutique. It's a good thing they are too small or it may have been an impulse buy. If you are a tiny fairy and have 6.5 feet, these sassy vintage boots can be yours for $138. Would be so cool with skinny jeans and a plain 'ol tank.

Another amazing pair from DearGolden:

And these are by Frye. But again, for fairy feet. Size 6.5. $135.

So,

I keep thinking,

and thinking,

about Frye boots.

And today I found a pair at a garage sale!

For a dollar.

But they were mens and way to big for me.

On the plus side it just shows my law of attraction is starting to work!

In a half-ass sort of way.

Lovin' The Cock

2009-09-10T23:00:00.001-05:00

Most definitely the cutest cock I've ever come across.

And this cock has no expectations.

He just wants to please you by sitting and looking handsome. Pure eye candy.

No sassy talk, whining, or begging.

You will not hear, "But Honey, I haven't pecked at your corn for a whole week! I need corn! Need it now! Please can I peck at your corn? Even just a quickie peck? I don't wanna peck it myself."

And he's definitely got wood all the time.

Typical.

Some funky, painted, folk art style wood.

I have fallen in love with this adorable cock.

And he will, eventually, groove his way into the shop soon.

But he does come with some baggage.

You can read it in his booklet titled, "The Legend Of The Cock".

Cock. A Doodle. Doo.

Shout Out

2009-09-04T15:45:00.011-05:00

A special shout out to Amy at Aqua Velvet for featuring me on her blog with this perfectly retro photo composition of items for sale at my shop:

Be sure to check out the Aqua Velvet blog for fantastic graphic design, illustration and artful inspiration!

The blog is designed by Amy Henderson, a very talented designer/illustrator who shares my obsession for vintage typography and doodling.

Here are some of her amazing works of art for sale at her shop:

Paradise Best

The Elephant Men, NYC Coney Island

Grants Cafe

Ugly Love Tuesday

2009-09-01T20:46:00.002-05:00

It's time for some Ugly Love.

Vintage, that is:

A very nauseating lamp.

With a what I think is a roadrunner.

Meep. Meep.

Wile E. Coyote should have this lamp.

It would look fantastic on his anvil nightstand.

Next to his Acme harpoon gun.

Maybe every Tuesday should be Ugly Love Tuesday.

But that would stress me out.

I'd have a deadline.

Every Tuesday.

And what if I didn't find something?

Plus it would be so predictable.

Wouldn't it be more fun to be surprised by the occasional dose of Ugly Love?

Meep. Meep.

Tacky-dermy

2009-08-25T19:09:00.018-05:00

Bucks on walls.

Uncool. In my opinion, of course.

Hubby loves to hunt and we have a preserved antelope head mount in our basement.

I should mention that the above is not Hubby in picture. Nor is it our basement.

I'm generally not attracted to the black-rectangular-mask-over-face-with-XL-overalls-that-takes-pics-of -self-with-favorite-deer-mounts type.

But I bet this guy would have an entertaining garage sale.

I see Hubby's antelope head as a decorating challenge that I will make look cool.

Somehow. Someday.

Maybe I'll mix up the antelope head with these ghost mounts from Pedlar's Webstore:

Totally cool.

And fish mounts? Gag.

Unless they are these:

I would love a Mahi dolphin bull fish or Sailfish mount.

I think they would look amazing in a well decorated room.

Plus they are nostalgic for me.

My Papa (grandpa) caught one of each in his young years in Florida and they were mounted up at his cabin in Forest Lake.

Which has long been sold. And the memory is so faint, but it is there.

And Papa has been gone for a long time.

He lived to be like, 96 or something.

He just died of plain 'ol age.

With plain 'ol good taste in design.

New Prop Addition

2009-08-17T10:50:00.010-05:00

Meet Salvador.

He's my new shop prop.

Look for him to appear in photos of items coming up.

He'll add some unexpected interest of the tacky but cool variety.

And a bit o' warm fuzzies.

Or, furries.

Now, meet Salvador's carcass:

He was my new shop prop.

And the culprit?

Bad dog.

Very. Bad. Dog.

At least I got a couple photos shot before Salvador plummeted into the jaws of death.

Damn Stinkin' Chairs

2009-08-14T00:00:00.003-05:00

This damn stinkin' chair.

I love this chair.

I have a thing for chairs in general. Vintage ones.

I lugged this one home a while ago and can't find room for it.

I've been walking around it, stubbing my toes on it, and moving it from room to room.

Apparently stubbing my toes on one chair that I didn't need wasn't enough.

So I brought home this chair 2 days ago:

So awesome. So Anthropologie.

Except Anthropologie would have a price tag of $899.

Of course I can't find a spot for it.

And I've been walking around it.

And stubbing my toes on it.

Damn stinkin' chairs.

Adventures In Garage Saling

2009-08-06T21:06:00.012-05:00

This is me:

With the "Yay!" face. Due to a garage sale high.

In the front seat of the car, sits the reason for the yay face:

I wasn't driving my normal old-beat-up-gas-hog SUV, so I had Hubby's small car.

This leaves me with not many options on where to put the things I buy.

Hubby's golf stuff takes up the entire trunk.

And the back seat had these two lovable critters:

Who, by the way, learned their usual lesson of the value of two dollars.

Critter #1 blew his dough on typical 9-year old junk. And then did the usual, "Please mom can I borrow money?" routine.

Critter #2 had a small meltdown when he couldn't afford the gun and the truck.

Dudes, when the money's gone, it's gone. And stubborn German mama doesn't cave.

There is a plus side of driving a small vehicle with clubs in the trunk and critters in the back.

I can't lug home any furniture.

I'm pretty sure I need a life size version of this to run around in:

I can totally see me in a vintage, rusty pick-up.

In girly pink. Or red. Or robin's egg blue. Now that I think about it, any color would do.

Now rewind to when front seat was empty. Here's how it went down.

The first sale I went to was choc full of antiques. Life is good. Yay face!

And then I drove by this house and stopped because of the clues:

Tacky yard ornaments, especially large plastic deer, almost always mean I will find something.

It's usually a good indicator that the inhabitants have stuff from the 60's laying around the house.

Or still on the walls.

And I was correct, as usual. Yay face! You'll see stuff in the shop very soon.

I also love seeing what people try to give away. And I'm not knockin' the free box by any means. In fact, I got an awesome pair of mittens and some cute bud vases in some free boxes today. Always look in the free box. Always.

But I have a li'l hunch it's gonna be tough to give this avocado green, energy hogging, dusty, dirty dryer away:

Sign should say, KICK ME.

And then there was the drunk guy house.

You can't see, but the guy in the garage at the "checkout" was loaded off his a$$.

It was 10:30 a.m.

He tried to talk me into buying some granite slabs.

Or should I say slur.

But I was really eyeing up the old rusty motorcycle he had for sale.

Kidding. I'm not the motorcycle type.

More of an old pink pick-up kind of girl.

Stalker

2009-08-02T21:09:00.012-05:00

Sweet Love Vintage has it's first stalker!

Hold your excitement.

It's only me.

I stalk myself.

Yep. Every day.

Pathetic.

I type SweetLoveVintage in a google search and see what people are sayin'. If anything.

On a recent stalk I found this from blogger Selling Vintage,

"And then there's the quirky blog of Sweet Love Vintage. This girl is just adorable with her writing, really you can't help but love Sweet Love Vintage."

Really?

Someone thinks my writing is quirky and adorable?

I feel like my choppy writing style is like my mind.

A bit neurotic.

I suppose one could view that as quirky.

But adorable? Not so sure.

Now, this is adorable:

I so want to sandwich myself between these pb & j pillows from Etsy shop diffractionfiber.

Some more things I want from the talented world of Etsy:

This rockin' t-shirt featuring my favorite band of all time. From hellhoundvintage.

I also want to put this Command Z necklace around my neck. From Plastique:

I hit the Command Z button on my Mac on a regular basis.

I also wish I could hit the button and undo things not computer related.

Like when I eat several cupcakes in one sitting.

Command Z.

Speaking of cupcakes......

This Etsy miniature artist PetitPlat is crazy amazing.

So realistic, I still may try to eat those lemony cupcakes.

And look at the teeny weeny details of this sushi necklace:

I love this artist's work from geministudio. Especially this piece:

A little vintage, a little music, and a little greyhound.

We used to have a greyhound.

A retired racer that we adopted.

She was beautiful.

Her big brown eyes and fawn colored fur made her look like a doe.

Poor thing would hide in the bathroom all day.

Because she was afraid of shadows on the wall.

She was more neurotic than me.

The Colorful And The Impractical

2009-08-01T16:52:00.009-05:00

Sweet Love weekend finds:

A vintage original paint by number painting.

The colors rock and fit well in my house. I so want to keep it.

Also found this:

A super silly, and very impractical dentist office purse from the 60s.

This solid wood purse doesn't really fit into my wardrobe style.

But I totally appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity.

In the shop soon!

Bus Love

2009-07-29T22:03:00.006-05:00

My favorite find of the week:

A ginormous old school bus sign.

Reminds me of riding the bus in Kindergarten.

I loved riding the bus. Even though it was a long ride and I was the very last one off.

I couldn't wait to get home every day to watch "Little House On The Prairie"

I had such a crush on Albert.

And then there was Mrs. Fry, my bus driver.

The sweetest little lady ever.

She never let anyone sit in the last two rows.

Because she thought we'd fall out of the emergency exit.

Mrs. Fry called me Dolly.

Every day.

When it was my stop, she would say,

"Bye, Dolly!"

And she only said it to me.

It was fun being Mrs. Fry's favorite.

Ugly Love Vintage

2009-07-22T13:48:00.014-05:00

A special thanks to The Estate Of Things blog for featuring Sweet Love as Etsy Seller of The Week!!!

On an ugly note, I have to confess my love for horrendous vintage paraphernalia.

I'm not talking so ugly that it's cool.

I'm talking so ugly that it's ugly.

So ugly it would make the offspring of Steve Buscemi and Liza Minnelli look adorable.

So ugly it makes me stop in my tracks in aisle ten of Value Thrift and say,

"Oh. My. God. What. Is. That?"

Things that make me internally giggle and wonder what kind of person actually had that in their house.

Like this perfectly romantic 25th anniversary gift......

To truly appreciate it's ugliness, here are a few close ups:

Ahhhhhh, realistic plastic animals in a forest of fake flowers and moss.

Mr. Owl, how fierce you look with your wings spread like that. Are you about to go after the mouse and squirrel that are the same size as you?

Then the soft side of me comes in. The side of me that will carry a spider found inside the house to the backyard because I don't want to kill it.

"Awwwwww, someone took the time to make this! How did they get everything inside? They must have cut the glass on bottom. Or maybe they have very very tiny hands. It's fascinating when you really think about it. The most meaningful gifts are the handmade ones and this needs a home which is not a dumpster. Someone out there has to appreciate the hilarity of something like this. Or at least want it for a gag gift."

Which leads me to wonder.....

Is there a market for ugly things?

This can't go in the Sweet Love Vintage shop. I have a certain look going on there. The ugly that occasionally shows up there is the "it's so ugly it's cool" stuff. And this does not qualify.

Maybe SLV needs a sister shop on Etsy. Sweet Love Vintage's ugly step-sister.

Ugly Love Vintage.

But then it would need it's own blog.

And I can't even keep up with my art blog. Of course making time to finish another piece of art would help.

Ugly Love Vintage. Could be fun. And funny. And ugly.

Favorite Finds of the Week

2009-07-17T13:27:00.004-05:00

A beautiful 1950's series of art books from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They all have gorgeous prints tucked inside too! To keep, or to sell.......

From beautiful books to the hilarious and tacky........

I love this. So much.

Teeny tiny vintage glass tray with very sound advice.

Words Of Wisdom

2009-07-13T23:02:00.008-05:00

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk?”

A quote by Albert Einstein.

Thank you for your words of wisdom, Mr. Einstein.

I feel a little bit better about my ongoing clutter mess.

Of vintage stuff, art projects, empty popcorn bags and half full coffee cups.

I guess I'd rather have a cluttered mind.

Than an empty one.

Feel The Love

2009-07-12T08:13:00.004-05:00

Sweet Love Vintage feels so loved today!

Featured here.

And here.

Up Northsville

2009-07-06T16:02:00.002-05:00

Went up north last weekend over the 4th to go camping with family.

It was a great family vacation.

Except for one thing.

There were at least 80 garage sale signs on the way up.

And Hubby wouldn't stop.

It was killing me. I find the best stuff in the middle of Nowheresville.

3 hours later, we arrived in Up Northsville, Wisconsin.

This town has an annual 4th of July Parade.

So much candy. The kids were so happy.

And only in a very small town do you actually witness a couple getting married in the parade:

As part of the parade.

So cheesy romantic.

Made me smile.

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

2009-07-02T11:19:00.003-05:00

Check out the shop for a Red White and Blue Sale through Sunday the 5th!

25% off select red, white and blue items in the sale category!

Damn I'm Good

2009-06-26T22:59:00.005-05:00

I didn't do much treasure hunting this week.

Been so busy shuffling kids to activities and taking them to the pool.

I hit a couple hot spots and found some cool things for the shop.

A sampling of Sweet Love finds:

Damn I'm good.

Blogs And Baby Blue

2009-06-23T23:57:00.006-05:00

I have to admit I get so freakin' happy when someone blogs about my shop.

Crocodile Tears blog had such a nice write up about Sweet Love Vintage this week.

I love getting feedback and knowing people enjoy perusing my shop.

The link love is so appreciated!

On another note, I got a little too spray paint crazy recently......

This old camera looks delicious in baby blue.

Yum.

Terrarium Central

2009-06-23T13:58:00.009-05:00

This little vintage rooster cake pick needed a home.

So I made a little live moss terrarium last weekend to house him:

I gave it to a friend for letting me steal moss from her backyard.

And pebbles from underneath her swingset.

I also made a terrarium for my dad for Father's Day.

And one for myself with a vintage clown head cake pick.

(What can I say, I like the unexpected.)

I know my sister in NYC is going to be begging me for it.

She has a thing for circus paraphernalia.

After all, she attended Coney Island Sideshow School.

It would look perfect in her NY apartment.

So it's all hers if she wants it.

A Fantastic Blog To Share

2009-06-22T12:07:00.004-05:00

Check out The Fab Miss B Blog featuring these horse bookends in my shop. A blog worth following for creative inspiration.

Thanks Miss Becky!

Garden Art

2009-06-17T15:07:00.004-05:00

I was having fun with some new spraypaint colors and painted the ends of these old brass skewers or pokers of some sort.

They make great garden art and they might end up in the shop.

I originally acquired them for Sweet Love Vintage but my bored plant is fighting me for them.

A Fellow Packrat

2009-06-15T19:17:00.010-05:00

I found this killer antique Van Gogh book at an unbelievable estate sale last weekend.

It was so amazing, I went twice.

It turns out that it was the estate of my 9th grade English teacher, Ms. Mac.

Ms. Mac was.........different. I can't quite remember her as a teacher, as English was not my favorite subject, but I do remember many students thought she was a bit odd.

I could tell by her estate that she was an incredible and extremely interesting person.

I was taken aback by her appreciation for the arts, and her own creativity displayed through her quaint, eclectic, and artful home in the middle of the woods.

She was also clearly a packrat. She appeared to have saved everything.

Like little cracker jack toys and valentines from when she was a little girl.

She had a small library in the house that I spent over an hour perusing and picked out about 5 books to put in the shop.

Or keep.

Like Ms. Mac, I am also a packrat.

I do make several trips to Goodwill to donate things of typical household nature, like clothing, housewares and toys.

But, I tend to acquire and hang on to the things that I might be able to use creatively or decoratively.

Like the old rusty door parts I found and made into jewelry.

Hubby was going to throw out the other parts.

"NO!!!" I said. Or yelled. "I can use these. I want to learn how to weld."

And I am going to do something with those bowling balls someday.

And I really want to turn that antique red television into a side table.

And I know I can use those board games and pieces in my art.

He doesn't like that I want to save everything. I understand. It's totally annoying to see all the stuff I hoard that I might "make into something" someday.

But, it's who I am.

I get you Ms. Mac.

Apartment 528 Link Love

2009-06-10T08:17:00.005-05:00

Apartment 528 blog said the sweetest things about SLV!!!!

Check out the link love and all of Design Girl's other great blog posts.

She is one cool chick.

Nostalgic Music

2009-06-09T19:50:00.019-05:00

Tom Waits.

A musician I am becoming obsessed with.

I can't believe his first record was released the year I was born.

And I only recently discovered him.

I think he is a brilliant artist.

I love how nostalgic his music feels.

How his smokey, grovely voice sounds.

How bizarre and creative his lyrics are.

How he doesn't really fit into any specific music genre.

He is truly his own.

Listening to him inspired me to dig through my studio for old junk.

I took apart a bunch of vintage junky costume jewelry and combined it with some rusty stuff.

Like an old skeleton key and parts from old doors:

And a keyhole:

And my favorite flower.

The daisy.

Sweet. Simple. And they come in every color.

I took this old enamel daisy brooch and made it over into a choker necklace.

It will look sweet with my Hanes wife beater tank!

I bet Tom Waits wears Hanes too.

Smile!

2009-06-08T19:00:00.005-05:00

Sweet Love find from last weekend.......

I think these vintage cameras would look amazing as a group on floating shelves.

Of course I'm tempted to keep them.

And I know exactly where they would go.

Watch for them in the shop........

Planters On The Cheap

2009-06-05T17:23:00.004-05:00

2 vintage and rusted milk containers. $4

+ 2 four packs of sale flowers $3.20

+ a tad bit of elbow grease nailing holes in tops of containers for drainage.

= 2 cute planters for under 8 bucks.

Joy!

Hungry?

2009-05-30T14:09:00.006-05:00

Check out this yummy treasury on Etsy featuring Sweet Love Vintage's funky retro lunch sign along with many other one-of-a-kind items!

For Grabs Or Keeps?

2009-05-29T14:34:00.003-05:00

This amazing light up vintage globe is my latest favorite find.

I really want to keep it.

So does my 9 year old son.

But I say that about a lot of stuff.

There is a 92.8764% chance you'll see it in the shop soon.

Turn The Table

2009-05-23T10:13:00.015-05:00

I want a vintage turntable.

I want to hear the faint crackle with the music.

I want a reason to buy the gobs of old (and cheap!) records I find on my outings.

Problem....

I know nothing about electronics, and I really don't care to know anything about them.

I found a great article about finding and restoring old turntables and what to look for when buying them. And why vintage can be better than new.

How cute is this retro player for sale at vintage store Thrush:

Unfortunately, I can't afford the one below, but I'm dying for this silver turntable/sideboard/bar. This amazing sideboard is for sale by alananewhouse.

This is more like it.

Small, modern and ultra cool.

Candy.

2009-05-23T09:21:00.007-05:00

I love candy.

And pretty much any dessert on the planet.

As long as there is no coconut in it.

Coconut has this way of never leaving once it gets into your mouth.

It just hangs around, annoyingly.

Like that horrible song you get stuck in your head.

Yummy, colorful, coconut free, candy colored toys.

Watch for them in my shop!

Old School Radio Featured

2009-05-20T18:00:00.003-05:00

This old school cassette player is featured in this Etsy Spotlight article, Play Hooky And Hit The Beach.

Check out all the other fun beach finds!

The Latest

2009-05-15T17:33:00.002-05:00

The latest finds from the weekend:

I love the illustrations in old children's books. These books from the 60s are in near perfect condition. They look like they were never read.

I love the miniature and the oversized. Like the little chair above and the enormous spoon/fork below.

Loveable retro graphics on this party quiz book.

Look for these items soon in my shop!

The Babs Blog

2009-05-11T19:33:00.004-05:00

A special thank you to a The Babs Blog for featuring The Dorothy Shoes from my shop!

Check it out and all the other fabulous things these 2 sisters feature for the inspired hostess!

Weekend Finds

2009-05-09T13:24:00.008-05:00

Just a few of the many super cool things I found on the hunt this weekend:

I had to add a little Sweet Love color:

Speaking of color, another find:

Positively sure this 1950's creepy-clown-in-the-box would've given me night terrors as a child. Clowns really aren't my cup of tea, but this old toy still made me smile.

One of my fav finds was this large 1904 Edison light bulb. Simple things like this fascinate me. Even more so that something so fragile can last through the years, and still work.

That is, until I tried to take a photo of it and it blew.

Someone Please Help Me!

2009-05-01T22:50:00.004-05:00

Seriously???

I am a disaster.

I am missing the part in my brain that tells me to put stuff away in an organized manner.

I am also missing the part in my brain that tells me to stop eating dessert.

I have tripped over my postage scale several times. Have I moved it? No.

This is my art/jewelry studio/photography studio/Sweet Love Vintage office/storage area.

And I keep bringing more stuff in.

Like these things that I found today:

Hot damn I love color.

Can you tell?

I am peeing my pants with excitement over these:

In my shop soon........

A Very Eclectic Girl

2009-04-23T14:30:00.010-05:00

I am not a matchy girl.

I've never been one to purchase the 7 piece set from Slumberland including matching lamps. Way too predictable for me. And I definitely don't want my house to look exactly like a page out of The Pottery Barn catalog. Don't get me wrong, Pottery Barn is great and I own a couple things from there. Key word: couple.

Combining styles along with vintage/new pieces has always been my thing. Interior design & decorating have long been a passion of mine. (I am also an artist and crafty girl, so this fits right in with what my brain craves.)

I also consider myself lucky that Hubby lets me make the decisions in the decorating department. (Thank God, or we would have a rugged-dead-animals-and-stuffed-fish-on-the-wall-with-the-Slumberland-matching-7-piece-set-and-deer-antler-chandelier living room). However, he usually freaks out when I lug home a "new" piece of furniture that in his mind is ugly. He has a hard time looking outside the box, but once I put it all together he is usually happy with the result.

Except that one time I turned an antique chicken coop into a coffee table.

There has never been gobs of disposable income in our house so I have to get creative. I'm not complaining - it's fun to challenge myself to make a room look good on a major budget.

Take our dining room for instance:

The only things purchased new were the rug (West Elm), the throw pillows and the centerpiece.

Black vintage 1969 modern line sofa: Thrifted

Mid century modern chrome base table with wood top: Craigslist

Vintage chairs: Craigslist - paid for the table to go with them but didn't take it. Too matchy. The chairs were boring brown wood with horrid covers but they had awesome lines. I painted them with a few cans of white spray paint and recovered the pads with black easy-to-wipe vinyl from Wal-Mart.

Vintage geranium placemats: Thrifted and for sale in my shop!

Sailboat Sundress

2009-04-22T08:38:00.004-05:00

Major props to the Vintage Bulletin blog for featuring my 80's sailboat sundress in their favorite picks of the week along with these delish digs.

Fab Finds From Farm

2009-04-19T23:05:00.006-05:00

Just a few things I found on my latest adventure.

At my favorite type of garage sale.

The kind located in Middle Of Nowhere, Midwest, WI.

On an old farm.

With lots of rusty junk.

Where you have to dig. And dig. And dig.

And there were lots of chickens.

And annoying birds that I couldn't identify.

That made horrible sounds. Seriously. I wish I could post the noise they made just so you could get a feel.

Then I found the old bingo cage, ice crusher and 1958 Ford tail light.

The internal squealing with delight droned out the birds.

Watch for these fabulous finds in my Etsy shop soon!