Happy New Year!

Fresh Vintage from the VFG

Go take a look at the newest vintage from the members of The Vintage Fashion Guild.

and don't forget to sign up for my book giveaway.

Merry Christmas Basement Cat

Vintage Christmas

I think the first picture probably explains my clown issues.

Christmas Cookies and That Made Me Smile

Started cookie and candy making yesterday.
So far there are Jelly Drop cookies, Chocolate Dipped Orange Slices, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars and Fudge.
Today I am adding Jim Dandies and Sugar Cookie Chocolate Bars (I like bar cookies, they are so easy to make) to the mix.
(UPDATE: The Jim Dandies are awesome. I used 2 oz. semi sweet chips in place of the chocolate, added a bit of coco powder and a bit more of the cherry juice. I didn't feel like making icing so used Nutella instead, yummy. Next time I'll just chop up all the cherries in the jar.)

I also need to keep reminding myself of the things that made me smile this week since I am slowly reading The Road.
It is a spare, beautifully written book that also might be the most depressing book I've ever read and is an act of will to keep going back too.
But it also is a compelling read and the love The Man has for The Boy is lovely and redeems the overwhelming sadness that hangs over me when I've finished 20 or so pages.

So McGyver Kitty and Ninja Kitty keep me happy:

Italian Creme Cake

Wish me luck.

I'm making my first cake from scratch.

This recipe.

I'll post a picture later when it is done.

EDIT:

Ok, here it is and it is delish.

I'll change things a bit when I make it next time, but I am really happy with the results.

Vintage Links

The above is one my mid century modern vintage Christmas cards I have collected over the years. This next one is the whole creepy card that I made my Christmas logo out of:

No, really, who thought a deer head on the top
of a spring would not look creepy?

A few threads over on the VFG to check out:

Fresh Vintage

Fashion Parade "All Tied Up"

and a fun "Vintage Christmas Decoration" thread in which your truly shows off....go add your snaps to it.

Vintage Christmas music recommendations from No Pattern Required.

Check out Lizzie's new Christmas Sweater, 40's with Scottie dogs, it is the second post down.

A small collection of Victorian hair combs from Past Perfect Vintage.

That's it for now!

Pearl Harbor Day

Kim over on The Girl Can't Help It reminds us that today is Pearl Harbor Day.

I'll add a few pictures of the gals on the homefront who kept industry

alive to the ones she has posted.

Preparing Your Pets for War

8 Ways to prepare your pets for war.

You never know when your cats you will decide to take over the world.

Holiday Vintage Wear

If you are going to a swanky Christmas party then you NEED THIS DRESS from Elsewhere Vintage.

(I love that picture of the back view.)

Is that not an awesome vintage 50's dress?

Here's a couple more "holiday" dresses:

Fantastic deco design early 40s wine velveteen dress is at Dorothea's Closet.

This next one you can buy at Fast Eddie's Retro Rags.

Kim also has this "Poinsettias Vintage 1950's Holiday Glitter Cocktail Serving Tray"!

How much do I want that...so much....hinthint.



And listed at Damn Good Vintage is this fun 50's R&K dress and 60's reversible cape:

Things That Made Me Smile

My Noel Poodles made me smile.

So did "New Moon" done in LOL.

After getting some new dresses listed I sat in front of the fire, listened to 40's/50's Christmas music and ate a piece of Italian Creme Cake. Then a kitty came and joined me for awhile. It made me smile.

I got to an estate sale too late and missed the patterns and most of the vintage. I got some cute Judy Bond blouses that look like they have never been worn and these:


The address book has a refill so I can add my own information and the memo pad has never been used. They made me smile when I saw them.

Kitteh Jazz Hands!

Leftovers...

So damn good....

Take a good rustic bread, it needs to be a bit crusty like french bread.
Slice off a couple of pieces and load them with turkey, cranberry, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing.
Smash together.
Wrap in foil and cook in the over for 15-20 min at 350.
Eat.

I just had one after I spotted the idea over on Balloon Juice.

Tonight I'll mix the taters, stuffing, corn and turkey.
Shape into patties and fry in oil.
Cranberry stuff on the top and green bean casserole on the side.
I love leftovers.

I'm Thankful For...

Turkey was great, dishes are done and I am beat, but I thought it I'd take a bit of time to go though the things that I am thankful for right now.

I am thankful that my husband is still with me, that my son (for all his teenage faults) is in my life and that my parents are healthy and financially secure.



That it's President Obama and not President McCain.

I'm thankful for my online friends (Kim, Jen, Lisa and Tina), my "phone" friend I have never met (Angie) and my dear friends here in Arkansas (Kim and Tracey).

LOLcats

Paula Dean and her awesome, oh, so bad for you recipies.

The scroll-down fug.

That the Obamas provide political eye candy.



Fang, Rosie, Bell, Nico, Alley Cat and Cheif. They annoy me, but what is a life lived without creatures who give you unconditional love and loyalty.

That Glen Beck and the teabaggers are doing their best making extremism look, well nuts.

That LOST will soon be back (I watched The Constant the other day).

Welbutrin, Ambien and my new thyroid medication.

YouTube...yes, YouTube because it allows me to find so many videos of artists like Elvis Costello, Queen and Dusty Sprinfield. and watch Doctor Who a day after it airs in the UK.







You guys....my 64 minions.

And all of my wonderful customers who allow me to work at home and away from the public.
That's a good thing.

There are many more, but that's all that is coming to me right now.
What are you thankful for this year?

Happy Thanksgiving, LOLs and Creepy

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

I've been out of pocket for a bit, but I'm back.

This has been the week from hell.

My parents came to town.

No really, I love my parents, it is just that we live with 3 dogs and 3 cats and, well...I'm not the most motivated homemaker so the place needed to be CLEANED.

Really, really cleaned.

And the dogs were the worst.

They had baths....it wore me out....there is a reason we do not do that often.

So I did all house cleaning and then I set to shampooing my carpets.

Which is one of those "I bet this is one of the many demonic Basement Cat punishments in Hell" chores I avoid.

Got them done, went to bed and woke up to some heinous dog diarrhea all over the fucking place.

sigh

Since I have the need to do the picture perfect holiday (yes me of all people) I also made the batshit crazy decision to DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS.

I know, nuts.

But all is now pretty.

I've got NOEL poodles (post about them later this week) on my 60's Danish Modern buffet along with the creepy Santa head (that at the moment The Teen has hidden away because he says the eyes follow you) and my most awesome tree is up.

The great aqua Santa tablecloth (paid way less then that) is on the kitchen table with a little silver tree and I baked 2 pies till 2 AM this morning.

Apple and this Paula Dean pumpkin pie.

Delish

Almost time to put the turkey breasts in, I've used this Sandra Lee recipe for a couple of years for both Baked chickens and turkey and it always comes out great.




There will also be rolls, mashed taters, dressing, green bean casserole (double the Durkee onions), corn and raspberry cranberry jello stuff.

Official name is Festive Cranberry-Pineapple Salad, but I normally leave out the nuts.

Yum.

Yes, that is one freakycreepy "boy riding turkey picture" up there.

Dammit, Where did that kid hide my Taser?

True Story.
Mom can't get kid to take a shower.
Mom calls local sheriff Dept.
Local Barney Fife comes out and takes a Taser to the little miscreant....with mom's permission of course.

Jesus tapdancing Christ, Welcome to Arkansas.

Screw Tasers y'all, it is time for this state to make it legal for teachers and parents to carry a nice long cattle prod with them, that way the little smart asses can't get too far away before you can reach out and give the little shit what for.
Man, raising a kid will be so much easier now that we can tell our misbehaving kids "straighten up or I'll get Dep. Fife to Tase you Jimmy Bob....now pick up that plate".

Can one still Taser their younins' after 18 if they are in college or is 18 the cut off date and then it is considered assault?
Just checking since mine is getting pretty close to 18.

The Dead

I'm sure everyone has a favorite movie.
Mine is The Dead which was John Huston's last film.
It is just a lovely, beautiful movie based on James Joyce's novella of the same name.
I read Dubliners years ago and The Dead has always stayed with me.
Joyce is normally hard to read, but that collection is very accessible and well, here, just read this lovely last paragraph:

"A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

How can you not fall in love with that?

So we went to see the movie when it came out and I try to catch it whenever on TV.
Last night I downloaded it from Amazon and I am so happy I did.
Just as lovely as I remember.





As a bonus here is Ewen McGregor (no Frank Patterson, God rest his soul, but still lovely) and Susan Lynch singing The Lass of Aughrim over the closing credits of Nora...another movie I quite like.

Vintage Rhythm Step Shoes

I just listed a great pair of vintage Rhythm Step shoes.
While I was doing a bit of research on the shoes I found this and this and this ad in Life magazine.
Enjoy.

You Belong To Me

One of my favorite songs (no not the damn Taylor Swift song)......














I had no idea* who Jason Wade was, but I loved his version on the Shrek soundtrack.

*I do now.

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veteran's Day y'all.....

Why dogs are better then cats.



(I love my cats, but really if you come home from being away for months and months all they would do is hide under a bed and the pee on your shoes.)

Got the vid via Balloon Juice who posted it from a Mentalfloss
post that has more dog/soldier homecomings.

Vintage Street

The picture above was taken by a woman named Vivian Maier who's street photography was purchased by John Maloof at a Chicago auction. He is slowly posting her photographs at Vivian Maier-Her Discovered Work.

I love vintage photographs that are candids of real people just going about their daily business. There is something honest and striking about her photgraphs.
Via No Pattern Required.

Caledonia

Dougie MacLean

Happy Satan Day!!

Yes we celebrate Satan's birthday around here.
sigh...
Screw you evangelicals, leave Halloween alone and let the rest of us have our fun.

Vintage Halloween pictures maybe some of the creepiest things ever.




Have a fun Halloween!

Vintage Links

Detail of Vera Scarf

*Vintage Fashion Guild's "Fresh Vintage" where "VFG trade members will be posting a few of their newest listings."

* Atomic Tuesday over at The Girl Can't Help It.

* Fashion Bulletin Board over at Kickshaw Productions

* Fuzzy Lizzie has a couple of interesting posts one on Vera Neumann and the other on intarsia knit sweaters.

* Smart interview with Holly of Past Perfect Vintage is up at blog catalog, nice and concise tips on buying vintage clothing.

* Another post on the Vintage Fashion Guild is this week's Fashion Parade; Back-To-Black.

New Arrivals at Sew-Retro Vintage Patterns

Just a few of the new vintage patterns available at Sew-Retro Vintage Patterns.

1960's Pauline Trigère

Pretty 1930's Frock


1930's Dress with Unique Zip Neckline


60's Vogue Empire Waist Dress


1950's Halter Dress with Cape




1951 Swing Coat