Posted in New In My Shop This Week, Shop Talk, Vintage + Thrift on August 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I’m officially dubbing this week “apron week”. Remember back in this post when I mentioned that I may in fact be obsessed with aprons? Well, there’s no doubt in my mind now. This week I have come to terms with it, and I’m embracing my addiction!
Here’s what’s new!
A vintage floral apron!
Hostess With The Mostest Apron in Red Clouds
Vintage Handmade Apron
Vintage Fire-King Bowls
I had so much fun with my shop this week!
Now I’m hoping for another one just like it 
xx. Julia
Posted in Vintage + Thrift on August 30, 2011 | 6 Comments »
Yesterday we had the best thrifting luck that we’ve ever had!
We visited four different thrift shops, and came away with amazing vintage pieces from each. We’ve been looking for a typewriter for awhile now, and yesterday we saw two! This is the first one we saw (for a mere $5!). Usually when I see typewriters at that particular thriftshop they are asking $30. We purchased this one immediately!
At the next stop we made, we saw a second, even more dreamy, robin’s egg blue typewriter for $10. I wished that we had held out, and I even thought of buying the second as well, but I know, I know, we don’t need two, so I refrained. (If you’re in Maine and would like the other one, I’ll totally reveal its top secret location so you can give it a nice home!)
The nurse’s uniform is so amazing! It’s never been worn, it hasn’t even had buttons sewn on yet. I tried it on, and it would fit like a charm if I wore a girdle + bullet bra typical of the 1950s (when it was made). It may take a little bit of work to get this ready to wear today, but it isn’t every day that you stumble upon something as neat as this, so I really couldn’t pass it up.
Here are some more photos of my finds from yesterday:
So excited!
If you like these pillowcases, a little birdie told me that there may be a sale on similar ones in Rachel Denbow’s stash tonight at 7pm! They’ll most likely go quickly, so don’t wait too long!
xx. Julia
Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, Tuesday How-Tos on August 30, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Today’s DIY is so much fun + also quite practical.
Little Birdie Secrets shares her method of making this fancy dry erase board with the readers of Make And Takes. Click here to find out how you can make one, too!
While we’re on the subject of fancying up display boards, check out what I did to my scheduling chalkboard:
I painted on letters and dividers for each shop day. That way, when I erase the chalk, the days don’t disappear, too!
What do you think?
You’re right, it is missing some days. Those are the days that I’m too busy with my day job to even think about my Etsy shop (Boo to those days!). My goodness, you’re observant!
xx. Julia
(Click image for source!)
Posted in Portland, Travel, tagged 2011, art, congress street, maine, portland, sidewalk sale on August 29, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Last Saturday was a really fun day here in Portland!
♥
I already shared photos of Picnic, but I took some of the sidewalk art sale, too! They blocked off a huge chunk of Congress Street (our main street through the city), and booths full of paintings popped up in the middle of the street and all through Monument Square.
Picnic is more our thing, so we didn’t spend much time checking out these booths, but we did want to make sure to snap a few photos just for the fun of it. Here they are!
I love Portland! First Friday is this week, I’ll try to take some more photos then.
Have a great night!
xx. Julia
Posted in Portland, tagged east coast, hurricane, irene, maine, new england, party, portland on August 29, 2011 | 2 Comments »
- I felt a bit let down! By the time the storm made it to Maine, it had been degraded to a tropical storm (ie. nothing we can’t handle). New Englanders are serious about their storms, and this had nothin’ on a good ol’ Nor’Easter.
- I took my time walking home from work + enjoyed the gorgeous wind.
- I had my friend Marsha over for a “hurricane” party anyway. She only lives a block away, so it wasn’t a dangerous trip for her. Had I known the worst of it wouldn’t make it our way, I would have invited more people!
- I set out candles, matches, a cribbage board, cards, cookies, + the makings for tea.
- Marsha brought cupcakes decorated with blue sprinkles (rain) + an umbrella, + sparkling wine!
- We giggled like girls, and hoped that the power would go out…it never did.
- I learned that my storm center news team includes a cat.
- And that my weather man quotes honey badger (honey badger don’t care!).
- I missed being at home in the Lakes Region where family + friends went skinny dipping + swimming during the hurricane!
Hope you’re safe now if you were in the danger-zone. Just some trees down and some power outages in my area. Nothing too bad!
Enjoy the sun today!
xx. Julia
Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, Knitting, Music, Painting, Portland, Sewing, Vintage + Thrift, tagged 2011, festival, lincoln park, maine, music and arts, picnic, portland, summer on August 27, 2011 | 2 Comments »
One of my all time favourite annual events (right up there with Thanksgiving + the 4th of July!) is the summertime Picnic Music + Arts Festival!
SO. MUCH. FUN.
♥
All handmade and vintage, it’s essentially Etsy in a park. Speaking of Etsy, this seller had a booth, and I can honestly tell you that her work is just as beautiful and perfect in person as it is in her photographs. I was thoroughly impressed.
Here are some of my other favourite displays, booths, and shots from our quick little visit:
I so wish that we could have spent more time! There was so much going on in the city between this and another festival, and the weather was gorgeous, but Ryan had to work and we had no money to spend.
Every year we say we’re going to plan better next year, ha! We’ll see how things are when the Winter Picnic rolls around.
Have a lovely afternoon!
xx. Julia
Posted in Music on August 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I know this song is about night, but the finger picking makes me happy about first-thing-in-the-morning tasks.
As I hear this, I picture waking up early, pulling aside the curtains, looking out at the lake, and taking in a deep breath. You can fill in the rest of the details, but I’m thinking a warm cup of coffee is somehow involved.
It also gets me super amped on Fall. I think this may be the main theme of my NaNoWriMo story this year.
Happy Saturday morning, loves.
xx. Julia
P.s. When any purchase from my shop is made, I send an mp3 of one of Ryan’s songs with it. If you like this, you’ll be happy to know that supporting me will bring these songs your way free of charge!
Posted in Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Our Local Summer 2011, tagged farmers market, local, locally grown, locavore, maine, massachusetts, new england, new hampshire, portland, tempeh, vermont on August 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This meal was made with three ingredients, all purchased from our local Farmer’s Market.
Here’s another yummy local meal that we’ve tried this year. We’re not as strict as we were last year, so this tempeh made with black beans fits the bill.
I stirfried the tempeh with chopped up green peppers, and steamed our green beans until they were nice + bright. We felt full, we felt healthy, we felt happy, and we helped to support the local economy.
Happy Friday night!
xx. Julia
Posted in Home Decor, Photobooth Friday, Vintage + Thrift on August 26, 2011 | 2 Comments »
There are so many lovely little handmade and vintage touches that have survived almost 60 years at my family’s Camp (these curtains included).
♥
My favourite room in the whole cabin is this bedroom. It was my Grandparents’ bedroom, the master bedroom, if you will. I find that it has a great little personality of its own, and I really do feel more happy here than any other place in the world.
There are three other bunk rooms, but this is my fave. I’ve also posted:
xx. Julia
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged breakfast for dinner, cold in august, hurricane irene, maine, new england on August 25, 2011 | 5 Comments »
They say that Hurricane Irene is headed our way…
Sounds like the right time for some warm comfort foods to me! I’ll be enjoying breakfast for dinner tonight, and feeling the wind, and listening to the rain. I’ve got my wool tights on already (go August?), and wore a wool coat out to the store earlier, too.
Strange weather we’ve got here, alright.
Well, I’ll enjoy all the tea drinking and book reading that we’re doing over here at our house. I hope you’ve got the chance to do the same!
xx. Julia
