little red fox

what a pretty weekend

I've had a nice, slow, quiet weekend. The weather has been absolutely beautiful which makes me so happy and optimistic about pretty much everything. Today I'm snuggled in cozy on the couch waiting on Mr. Wood's homecoming. He's only been gone a couple of days but it always seems so much longer. As much as I enjoy being alone (a little too much, probably) there is a sense of something missing that gets me excited for his return.

Though I have been doodling and drawing...

And painting on some little wood boxes...

And lining the little wooden boxes with pretty velvet paper...

Just the usual.

 

No one's terribly uptight today.

I need to come up with something for dinner and I'm leaning towards a fall/pumpkin pasta, maybe this one? I mean, I couldn't possibly make another soup or stew could I...?

say yes to the turkey chili

So I'm aware that this looks like regular chili (and not very well-lit chili, at that), but this didn't taste like regular chili. And I am totally aware that I am drunk on the season as well as all meals served in a bowl, but my husband frankensteined this recipe from two different recipes and we decided it is a keeper and it gets better after it sits in the fridge overnight and--you know I love this--he made a TON and there is now some in the freezer. Yay. So if you're not as into freezer-stocking as I am (and, really, who is?), you cold easily halve it.

So I asked him to write out a post (you know I kinda wanted him to make his 'debut' here on ye olde blogge because in addition to being eyeball easy, he's also a personality-cutie) but this is all he sent, so--to some of you at least--Mr. Wood remains somewhat a mystery...

TURKEY CHILI OF YOUR DREAMS; a la Mr. Wood

(serves--we're guessing--10-12)

saute one medium yellow onion and 6 cloves of garlic in two TBSP of olive oil until soft.
add two packages of turkey burger, 6 lbs maybe, and start to brown.
while browning add:
1/2 cup of liquid aminos
1 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP Cumin
1 TSP of Cayenne
1 TSP of Garlic powder
2 TBSP of tomatoe paste
1 packet of HOT mccormicks chili seasoning
stir all together until turkey is browned
add in: 1 28 oz can of tomatoes
2 cups of Chicken broth
1 large can of pinto beans
1 regular can of kidney beans
bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer
taste and season accordingly...

Some items he left out:

• We serve chili with sliced apple, cheddar cheese, and crackers. Can't be beat. Maybe it's a southern thing? Not sure, but it works.
• I think one of the best parts of this which surprised me, was the cumin. I didn't think I would appreciate that particular spice in chili but I did. Big time.
• If you're a die-hard beef chili fan, just know that neither one of us missed the beef aspect one bit. 
• Don't forget about the apple/cheddar/cracker part! 
• If you either don't have liquid aminos or aren't interested, be sure to salt to taste. Liquid Aminos are just a natural source of sodium (among other things).
• Apples! Cheddar! Crackers!

Everything is in here

I so love Moleskine journals. They clearly have a perfectly practical and artsy person who reads the minds of anyone who likes to draw, doodle, sketch, make lists (hello!), or just loves office supply-type-things because these journals are just perfect. And since lately I have been constantly wishing for a little purse-size journal to get these things down as they happen (as opposed to hoping to remember once I got home or doodling on the back of a script or something)--I made these.

Kraft moleskine lined journals measuring 3 1/2 x 5 1/2", with that little back pocket. And with my illustration made into a permanent adhesive on the cover. It says "Everything is in Here." I love that title. I have a catch-all folder on my computer with that title which I did without thinking one day but I use it so much and I really like what it has come to mean for me: everything can be anything and in here can be me or this location or this heart or this life or this universe...watch out I get deep. But I thought it was a nice reminder of what we're all capable of and a nice place to get my mind back to in the course of a day.

I drew this young lady with (one of) my ideal outfit(s).

La-la-la pretty little lines :)

And I also made a little matching bookmark from that magnificent black and ivory ribbon and a vintage button. These will be included with the journals but the buttons and coordinating embroidery thread will vary, of course. Though I guarantee they'll be cute :)

I think they make the nicest little set....

And of course they're here.

In other news (that is very exciting to me): my husband is making turkey chili that already smells so good, I'm having a hard time typing. If it turns out (and it will!) I'll try to persuade him to share his recipe...

The rest of tonight and tomorrow I'm busily working on other little painted goodies which I hope to have ready to show in the next few days. Plus other journals and prints and a couple of custom orders...so please be well wherever you are :)

vintage; both in finds and birthdays

I think I found my very favorite new purse :)

We just got back from a wonderful birthday celebration for my mom's 60th in Mississippi. We made and ate delicious foods including Ina's Lobster Mac and Cheese...we made a couple of tweaks that I think helped it.

I have come to the conclusion that anything served in individual ramekins makes it that much more special.

We also had (among many other delicious things as my mom and all her friends are into gorgeous, fun food) some beautiful roasted tomatoes with basil, perfectly grilled cornish hens, an improv-ed and perfectly delicious butternut squash soup (which I will try and recreate this week)... And for dessert, since Betty isn't really a cake person, I made her a beautiful lemon mousse...

(See the 'B' in the middle? My first attempt with a pastry bag went swimmingly!) The multi-stepped recipe is here. It was complicated, but so good I think I'll make this for Thanksgiving, as well. It's a gorgeous alternative to a cake and such bright lemon flavor!

We all went to the thrift store and I found the purse above, a new winter coat ($9!!) and both of these pairs of shoes which I just can't believe...

When I tried on the sequined flats my mom said "It looks like you could join the circus in those" which were, of course, the magic words :)

And this strange little plastic frame. The 70s pictures are horrifying, but I think if I paint this red or black and add some strange little drawings behind the window...it could be the neatest little Edward Gorey tribute or something similar, couldn't it? It's hard to believe the things some people want to throw away but thank goodness they do since we all have different tastes!

My mom also gave me these little milk glass candy dishes that belonged to my great-grandmother Mamere (she was from France). They're so pretty and I love that they were hers.

I also found this:

An old beautiful plate from 1923. Complete with the calender year laid out...

Looks like November 2nd was a Friday in 1923 :)

And I've been meaning to show these for a few weeks. I didn't thrift them, my friend Larry (or 'Eagle-Eyed Larry' as he shall henceforward be known) found these for me at a garage sale in Michigan...

Might they remind you of a similar something seen in a certain line of clothing you might have seen from a certain post? So delightful! What good fortune!

Oh, Eagle-Eyed Larry, I owe you one :)

And Happy Birthday, Mom! I owe you quite a few more than one :)

a painted skirt tutorial/how-to

A while back I posted about a few items from Lucky magazine that I was taken with, and I haven't gotten over it. I have not moved on. It's still up on my bulletin board by my sewing machine. I see it 87 times a day. No matter that summer has long since past and it's now cold, rainy and gray (which I love, but still). The skirt (bottom center) especially kept popping back up in my head and wouldn't leave me alone. I knew I wouldn't find the exact skirt (for what I could afford anyway), so I thought I could try what I usually do: find something similar and make it myself.

So here's what I did:

A few weeks ago I found this skirt at a thrift store (hello $3.50!). My only requirements were that it be off-white, fit in the waist and have pleats--bingo! So last night I hemmed it to the right length and ironed out the pleats about 4 inches from the hem. I decided to make it a 2-inch stripe 2 inches up from the bottom.

Using my trusty 2-inch ruler (which I use about 16 times a day) and the tailor's crayon-thingy (what is that thing called again?), I marked the top and bottom of the stripe all the way around. Easy.

I happened to have this particular fabric paint around, which I think you can get pretty much anywhere:

When I tested how the paint behaved on a swatch (the left-over hem), it was a bit thicker and more difficult to paint on smoothly than I had anticipated. So, using regular old masking tape, I taped along the lines I had marked--on the top and bottom, all the way around--and painted inside the tape to get an even, straight line. Made it so much easier than just trying to free-hand-follow my drawn-on lines. (How the paint behaves will depend on the fabric you're painting, but you're guaranteed an even edge line when you tape off your design.)

I used a hair-dryer to dry each section I painted, dried it completely, then moved on to paint the next bit, then dried that, and so on all the way around, until it was complete. (The paint did bleed through so you will most likely need a piece of cardboard between the layers of fabric you're working on.) Then, just like when you paint the walls in a room, ripped off the tape to reveal a perfect black stripe with an even edge! So satisfying.

I had hemmed a pleated skirt once before and found the perfect tutorial right here, so I used it again to re-pleat the pleats-- and then wore it immediately feeling very self-proud and thrifty-smart :)

Also--Operation Italian Marie Claire (thank you, Jeffrey) was not completed. I went to buy it yesterday (wearing my lucky painted skirt, no less!) and I found it--but it was $30. I just don't think I can pay that much for a magazine. I'll have to settle for seeing the pictures here, I guess...ugh. They're so beautiful... But that's ok because I have the Circus book which was spun from baby angel hair and dipped in chocolate and gold flecks to keep me company until the end of time.

And so me and the skirt are going to be away for a few days--back to Mississippi for my mom's birthday. We're cooking some exciting new dishes so if they turn out (and they will! Let's be positive!), expect some pictures when I get back...have a wonderful weekend wherever you may be!

etsy love

Being a part of the etsy community is a really proud thing for me. It's such a wonderful idea and I feel so lucky it's there and I get to be one of the artists/people who are a part of it. And there are so many amazing etsy artists--I have to constantly restrain myself from buying a million things when I visit some of my favorite sellers, but every now and then--I'm not strong enough. Here are a couple of things I just couldn't resist...

The print set above is from the artist Sarah Blank who also has a blog I really enjoy. I was so taken with these prints. I especially loved that they both seem to be taking place on some mythical magical "stage." (Secret reminder: I'm an actress...) I've actually been working on a couple of drawings (more sketches at this point) that are framed out by stage curtains but these are so beautiful, I don't know if I'll even need to finish them since these are so beautiful.

I now need to find two mis-matched vintagey-looking frames...

And then this perfect little badge. It's by Julianna Swaney--who was one of the very first etsy shops and blogs I ever happened across and one of the ones that inspired me to try and do one myself. I just think this is remarkable. It's one of her lovely drawings (of which there are so, so many) turned into a gorgeous little piece of jewelry. Brilliant.

And goes so well with my outfit, don't you think?

(p.s.: That skirt is one I just thrifted and painted. The 'how-to' is coming tomorrow!)

OK I'm going to watch a BBC miniseries period drama and draw--which is the only acceptable activity on cold, rainy, gray days like this. Au revoir!

dreams sometimes do come true

I think I just scored the find of my lifetime.

Today--a gorgeous, lazy fall Sunday--we wandered up to Barnes & Noble because I wanted to get the November Italian Marie Claire after seeing these photos on Liebmarlene Vintage. They're just so amazing I have to own them--it's not enough to just bookmark them and look at them whenever I want. This particular B&N, however, didn't have it. I huffed and stamped my foot and accidentally wandered into the 'bargain books' section--where I never go! Because I don't remember ever finding anything worthwhile in that section ever. So it was completely random--and there it was.

I just can't believe it. I know I've talked a lot about my fascination for all things old-timey-circus related-blahblahblahI'mabrokenrecordetc. But get this: I have had the above book on my Amazon wish list for well over a year--never hoping to get it since it cost around $100. But there it was--and it was $20. Twenty dollars. I gasped out loud. And almost dropped my coffee. I picked up the book and held it to my chest, flooded with 14 emotions like guilt, joy, maybe a tear or two--and distinctly feeling like I was getting away with something and the feeling was delightful.

How could this beautiful beautiful book be only twenty dollars?? This book is huge! It's over a foot tall and almost 400 glorious color pages of the history of the circus. It is jaw-dropping.

 

 

Look at these drawings! My heart is beating so fast right now...

Oh my goodness the colors...

And these are just random pages I'm turning to. I can literally turn to any page and there's another thing to blow me away:

 

I will get the Italian Marie Claire because the photos are just too amazing, but this. This is my prize.

In the same section I also got the Vargas book for $15! I have to say--I do think I had some good luck coming to me and I think I just cashed in all my chips today. Look how beautiful:

(Yeah I didn't quite get the silly cheapy sticker off the front...)

 

 

Look at these women. I could look at them all day. I probably will...

And then outside we see this!:

It really was a day filled top to bottom with all kinds of beauty! It was so wonderful--we slept in, had a big breakfast, walked out into a gorgeous fall day (I liked my outfit even!)--sipped cappuccinos surrounding ourselves in piles of books and magazines and these amazing picture books...I really needed a day like this too. It's inspired a little project for the shop, too, which I hope to have ready to share in the next week or so...until then--I so hope you're having a nice day or night wherever you may be :)

for the gents and ladies who shine

This is something I've been working on and thinking about for a few months now and finally--it's here. It's a set of 6 note cards for the gentlemen who still enjoy sending them--I know you're out there! And you are very appreciated :)

I'm  so happy with how these have turned out. My computer skills have taken a big leap forward thanks in part to the little book peeking out of the bottom left corner of that picture: Photoshop for Dummies. Seriously. I am devoted to it. It's set up beautifully (I think)--easy to use and the language is for people like me who are self-taught and don't necessarily get computerese. I recommend it!

So. Back to the cards...

 

I'm so proud of that packaging! It looks like it did in my head, which is so exciting. It's 6 flat notecards, two of each design, 6 matching envelopes, and 6 little bow tie envelope sealers:

 

Little cuties :)

I also finished another little project I've been thinking about and it's these little postcards:

If you recognize the characters, they're a gocco set I have in the shop which is almost sold out. And since I get really frustrated when I use the gocco, I didn't want to do another run of them necessarily, but I love the images so this is a way to keep them around when the prints are long gone :) The backs are hand-written and drawn which I think turned out sweet:

There are four different versions of the back, and of course they have the all-important rounded corners.

I originally made these as enclosures--or thank yous--to stick inside customers' packages they order from the shop. And if you've ordered recently--you probably got one! But they turned out so cute I think I'm going to offer them in the shop as a little set. Not sure how just yet since...

...I also made them into magnets:

Aren't they all sweet together?

 

Maybe that should be the set? I'm not sure...what do you think? Any suggestions? Would a set of 4 postcards--2 of each design--make sense? I've been staring at them so long I've lost all rationale at this point, I'm afraid...

The other thing I finished was the sticker version of the gift tags I already had in the shop:

 

They're printed onto that beautiful flecked antique-looking paper I'm so in love with right now.

And the cards and the sticker tags and the individual magnets are in the shop! Yay!

sally scott

I need to write a heart-felt thank-you letter to fellow blogger Sally Jane Vintage*. I have just figured out that I wouldn't know thing one about any new fashion labels or anything new fashion-related if not for her posting about it. I almost always love the ones she falls in love with, and this Sally Scott which she posted about recently--has me distracted, jittery, seeing the world with new eyes--I think I'm in love. With every single item. With their concept. With the whole entire feel of the clothes as a cohesive idea. As far as I can tell, it's an Asian label and there aren't any shops carrying it. But it feels distinctly like a 'thrifted-and-cobbled-together-accidental' wardrobe which is top-of-my-list of favorite stuff.

Feast:

 

 

(There's so much more here.)

Usually at a loss come winter, I know exactly what I want to be wearing. I have really come to appreciate modestly pretty, feminine and quirky. A reaction to exposed navels and cleavage? It's a little on the nose, but sure. I just think getting older, being sexy has become a much more interestingly mental and emotional event for me, as opposed to anything physical. I get completely captivated by people's brains anymore and maybe that's reflected in what I appreciate fashion-wise?...

ANYWAY. I think most of the "Sally-Scott-ing" of my wardrobe will be taking place both in thrift stores and my sewing room; breaking out and reworking the patterns, seam-ripping and reconstructing. I'm so excited at the prospect!

Please tell me other people get this excited about things like this too... :)

the day goes where, exactly?

(A Life in the Circus, 8x10, print of acrylic painting)

I woke up early and everything but here it is, almost 5 and I can't really account for my day...I had a loooong list of things to do today and looking at it, only about half are scratched off.

Two things I did get done were to get these two new prints into the store--the one you see above, and this one (it was getting later so the light did me no favors):

(Lady Isabella Bird the Fox-Huntress, mixed-media, 8 1/2 by 11")

This one was inspired by a character from Top Girls last year (not one that I played, however). I was going to do different portraits of all the other actresses in their period characters (the big famous dinner-party scene) but you know how those things go...they usually don't. It was a good idea, though!

We also got to the grocery store and if you follow me on Twitter you saw that we won't need to go back for another 3 months. If one went by the way I grocery shop and make food in giant batches to freeze and save for 'down-the-road' because you never know!, one would see clearly that the end of the universe is near. Or that I am secretly 83 years old. I also clean and re-use plastic baggies like my grandmother did, so that might be it.

And then what did I do when I got home? I  made a giant batch of tomato soup for the freezer and the fridge, of course.

(Tomato soup recipe I originally found here.)

You laugh now but you'll see--the next nuclear holocaust who's door will you be knocking on??

What else today? I sipped green tea (took a ton of time)... I worked on new label and post card designs...I started a custom order...and now it's 5. Just like that. I did not get to make the turkey meatballs like I had planned, nor did I bake bread like I had planned so the universe has to hang around for at least two more days.

I think the only way to salvage this is to medicate with a glass of wine and some hand-sewing on the couch and TV my mother would not approve of. 

(P.S.: The white bean soup from last night was completely delightful--yes it was a huge batch frozen in the fridge and yes I am beginning to recognize that I may have an issue or two--and I want to share the recipe and will do that tomorrow because--guess what--time got away from me today. xo.)