Busy as a bee!

I have been so insanely busy getting ready for handborn (which is tomorrow, or I guess technically today). I'm so excited, I got a great spot in Concetta, the same place the fashion parade will be! I could not have gotten this much stuff done without my wonderful family. My mama cut scarves and my dad sprayed trays. I was sewing embellishments on to scarves like crazy while they were working on all their assignments lol. Anywhos, I'm off to get some much needed sleep, today was absolutely crazy trying to navigate around town with all the Day After Thanksgiving (aka their first day out of the house apparently) drivers. Here's the flier for handborn... hope to see lots of familiar faces : )

Feature!

So exciting! Bungalow was featured in this super cool blog... check it out!

http://stilldottie.blogspot.com/2008/11/etsy-wednesday_26.html

Featured in another treasury!

Yay! Bungalow was featured in this beautiful treasury today... so flattering!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=22493

I knew the buttercream necklace kept reminding me of a fancy cake... but it wasn't until I was browsing absolutely beautiful things last night (just love that blog!) that I remembered which cake it reminded me of! The lovely pink cake from Martha Stewart!

Twins seperated at birth? I think so. (I'm just dying to make that cake one day!)

New Items!

So I've been quite crafty getting ready for handborn! Here are a few of the latest additions to Bungalow!

The Adaline Veiled Headband... Perfect for a blushing bride!

Violette Dress Gloves... Made from 1940's gloves and embelished with antique doily pansies

Buttercream Necklace... Makes you feel like you're wearing the icing on the cake!

The "Oh My Deer" Frame and vintage deer figurine print!

Back from the windy city!

I had the absolute best weekend in Chicago (and Carol Stream/Bloomingdale/Wheaton)! Saturday we packed up and headed out on our adventure to Illinois, it was a frosty cold morning so me and my mama warmed up inside while my dad braved the freezing temperatures to go hike to the rental RAV 4. Luckily the snow had stopped so we had a lovely drive through Wisconsin before we got to our final destination.

When we finally got all checked in to our hotel we headed over to my friend Boofys family's house for some real Chicago style pizza. After dinner I got to meet some of her friends and her boyfriend Rob. We spent the evening visiting and playing with her friends Ali and Scott's son Aiden (who is just way too cute and obsessed with watching fans!).

The next day we headed out to the city for a day of fun with Boofy and her sweet mom as our tour guides!

We started the morning off with some amazing applecider doughnuts from boofy's bakery that she picked up for us! Once we made it out of the parking garage (we got a little lost) we headed over to my new favorite shop where I bought some postcards, Christmas presents, a surprise for Chris, and some a few treats for myself! I absolutely love Chicago, there was celebratory Obama merchandise everywhere, so boofy and I bought Obama sweatshirts to keep us cozy warm!

After doing some shopping we wandered around looking at all of the cool art Chicago has! We especially loved the gigantic silver bean!

I also loved the ever changing faces... I could have stood there for hours watching them change!

Our last big stop was to Macys, formerly known as Marshall Field to see the Christmas decorations and the famous Walnut Room!

I fell head over heels for the top floor of macys, this is my dream window... ahh if only I could wake up to that every morning!


Boofy and I snuck in to FAO Schwartz even though we were probably the oldest ones in there with out babies of our own! While lusting after the sweet little dresses in the Ralph Lauren section for my future baby girl we felt sorry for the headless mannequins so we started a "Save the headless mannequins foundation!" (donations can be sent to my paypal hehe)

On our walk back to the garage we made a quick stop off at Garret's popcorn, the best place for popcorn in Chicago (or anywhere for that matter). I also picked up the most amazing peanut butter chocolate toffee there which I have been slowly savoring!

Once we got back to Bloomingdale we dropped boofy and her mama off, said our goodbyes and headed over to Barnes and Noble so I could check my lap top before bed (the hotel's wireless wasn't having a good day). As I was sitting there sipping on my herbal mint tea and chatting with my sweetie I turn around to see Boofy! She had been over at Rob's but he was sleepy so she decided to pop in and hang out awhile more, so we headed back to my hotel and stayed up late visiting and laughing in the lobby!

My last morning in IL boofy took me to "my store" (boy was she right on that one!) called it's our earth in Wheaton. I had a field day in there browsing their antiques and unique crafty things! I ended up buying two packs of vintage hair pins (one with birds and the other with forest friends) and a flattened glass bottle, that I think will be perfect to set on my nightstand and toss my rings in before bed!


(Boofy purchasing the cutest ornaments and me with my glass bottle)

After that we said our goodbyes and I made her promise to come visit me in California and I'd show her all the cool places there! We hit the road again with only a few little stops. One including the sweetest antique store where I found a vintage orange juice pitcher and 6 glasses all with tiny pink flowers on them! I also checked out their selection of antique art deco rings : ) Found my dream ring in amongst them! It seemed like it took forever to get home but we finally made it back to my grandparents house for a dinner of delish homemade pizza!

Life in the forest

Nothing feels more like winter than being at my grandparents house in the woods! It's so beautiful no matter what window you look out of it's filled with trees and soft sunlight. Thank goodness for that sunlight today since we kept loosing power due to the tiny storm we had this morning. Me and my grandma stayed inside making headbands and necklaces while the rest of the family was outside splitting wood for the colder months! I did slip outside to snap a few pictures of them working though as proof that the Californians can get ready for a Minnesota winter! When it got too cold to take anymore pictures my grandma and I came back inside and she took a box down filled with antiques to show me that will one day be mine. I wanted to take home this tiny little plate that's about 100 years old to hang on my wall that I've been working on. I'm just too nervous to bring it on the plane, if it got smashed I would be devastated! After all the wood was split us girls headed out to scour the craft shops for material and silk flowers. We had a very successful mission! I ended up with yards of chiffon and veiling plus more ranunculus stems than I can count! I think I'm set with plenty of crafting supplies for the rest of my 10 days here (plus I have all the goodies in my grandma's craft drawers). On the way out of hancock the woman told us it was supposed to snow tonight. I got all giddy!

Anyways I should be off to sleep, I'm going to my grandma's gourmet group luncheon tomorrow at 11:00 and since I'm still on CA time that feels like 9:00 to me! I need to be up nice and early so I don't have to fib about not having eaten breakfast 30 minutes before I got there!

Let it snow!

We've finally been getting lots of rain but I'm so in the mood for snow! Don't mind the fact that it's only snowed here twice in my life! I'm going ice skating tomorrow so that will be close! I think the let it snow headband I put up for sale a few days ago is the ultimate ice skating accessory! It's just so retro and sweet.

I'm off to write a paper for Folk Literature and the Arts while enjoying the drizzly weather I can see through my window!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Goodness

When I was attempting to make an un-sweet birthday cake I ended up finding an amazing recipe for chocolate peanut butter bars. I've already sampled them a bit so I can attest to their wonderfulness. They still were pretty sweet.... but really.... whats up with hating sweets anyways?!

(On my favorite desert plates from William Sonoma with my cute little noritaki tea cup I picked up at the estate sale this morning in the background!)

If you're a fan of Chocolate and Peanut Butter (and who's not?!) you absolutely must try these!

Ingredients:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 cups powdered sugar

2/3 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips, melted (6 oz.)

Directions:

Combine everything but the chocolate chips, and press in a greased 8x8" pan.

Spread melted chocolate chips over top with a spatula, covering entire surface. Chill 2 hours.

I added some crushed peanut butter oreos on top of the chocolate before chilling, I also cut back on the powder sugar a bit (trying to make it less sweet!). I must say this was the simplisest most delicious recipe I've made in a long time.

Bungalow featured in a treasury!

Bungalow's Catherine Dress Gloves were featured in this amazingly beautiful treasury! I feel so flattered to have been picked! Here's the link to the treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=30335

I'm off to bake birthday treats for my boyfriends birthday!!

Girls Day!

Today was very eventful! Ali and I have been talking about wanting to go to the Turlock flea market for awhile now but since it opens at the crack of dawn and I'm a sleepy head so it took a long time to get the oomph to go. So I crawled out of bed at 6:30 AM and drove to turlock. I saw it was on East Ave (right by one of my favorite thrift stores) and that isn't the best area of Turlock, which is so sad because it's a beautiful neighborhood filled with old sweet homes. As soon as we got going and turned the corner we saw two women trying to push an enormous pick up truck so my mom stopped and asked if they needed any help and we got out and helped them push, then the woman across the street from us drives up and gets out too, when in moments we had that truck moved. Us girls in the "hood" are pretty darn strong! So after that little ordeal, I gave Ali a call, woke her up, and told her I'd be a couple minutes late because we'd been rescuing some neighbors! When we finally got to turlock, it was in just as scary a neighborhood as I had guessed. So I call Ali to tell her to wait to get out of her car until we can meet up with her, but instead I get her sister because she accidentally left her cell at home. I go in to a panic because the place is mobbed and I'm not seeing her cute little prius anywhere near. Finally my mom and I park down the street and hike it in when I see a familiar back in front of me...I called out "Ali!?!" and thank the Lord it was here... we were all freaking out! No one likes to be lost without cell phone in scary parts of Turlock.

We were pretty discouraged when we first walked in, I was listening to air musique (the french radio station) on XM on the drive there imaging it would be like the Paris flea market (ok well I knew it would be nothing like it but I was hoping!). Instead I should have been listening to the Spanish channel because at first it looked more like little Mexico, which was fun too! Just different than the antique shop owner I met in monterey told me it would be. She drives 3 hours at 4:00 in the morning just to come to this flea market so she gave me high hopes! Once we got past the stands of veggies, socks, and contact lenses I found the treasures! I found the coolest pendant and cabochons (which I've already made something out of!), and these super retro wall hangings (some of which I'm spraying white and putting up for sale on Bungalow and the rest are going on Appleschloss!). My mom found this amazing Danish (which is our heritage) table cloth, it's been well loved but it'll be beautiful when my parents remodel the kitchen. It's white with blue embroidered seagulls on it, perfect for how the kitchen will be decorated!

After we scoured through the market (which I eventually began to love) we headed over to this amazing retro diner Latif's for breakfast. It was like a trip back in time! So cute! Once we were satiated we wandered around downtown turlock looking for the bakery who's sign we could see out the window. Sadly they had gone out of business but on our hunt we found my new favorite store, Vintage Rose Interiors. I had a field day in there, it reminded me so much of Anthropologie. I bought a sweet little card, and these gorgeous recycled grocery bags for my grandma and aunt, of course I couldn't help but pick up one for myself too. They were just so unique, very feminine and my whole family loves beautiful eco friendly finds! So I think they will make the perfect Christmas present. It's a husband and wife who own the store. The husband and store mascot (a tiny little dog in a basket named Winston) were working there today and they couldn't have been more welcoming! Fresh coffee offered, beautiful free gift wrapping, I'll be back there often! That is just the kind of store I dream of opening. Everything in there is on my Christmas list now!

I want this!

Isn't this ring gorgeous??? I was browsing through etsy today and now I want the "connected" heart ring so bad! Everything in soulyyours's shop is amazing! Go check it out! http://www.soulyyours.etsy.com

Change is in the air!

So I've decided to combine blogs! This will be my one and only spot to write now, no more myspace blogging (unless I'm feeling nostalgic).

Today was just lovely. Baking organic scones for breakfast and then having them with my very favorite peach amaretto jam from stonewall kitchen always insures a good day ahead! I wish we had a whole foods closer by. Every time I'm near one I stock up on scone mix because it makes possibly the best scones on earth.

After breakfast I ventured out to Beverley's to stock up on crafty supplies with my mommy while I had my coupons! I've had my eye on the Amy Butler book of baby patterns for awhile now but after glancing through it more thoroughly today I realized I should start a bit slower on my line of baby clothes! My sewing isn't quite to that level yet. I ended up buying the sweetest pattern and the happiest cream and grass green fabric to create with! I also picked up some more embroidery supplies so I can finish some of my projects I've been working on. I can't wait to make the flower sack towels I bought today, they were on such a great sale... I couldn't resist buying them!

When I finally tore myself away from crafting heaven we headed over to the office to see our new backdrops that my dad bought my mom for her birthday! It changed up the look of the office but I think they'll be a lot of fun! I played with them a little bit today and posed with the chandelier I bought from urban outfitters awhile back (thought it would be cute hung in there... but it ended up finding it's home propped up against a huge frame).

Well I better get to sleep... tomorrow is going to be crammed full of studying for my gender studies class. I absolutely love it, but it sneaks up on me every week! I'm hoping tomorrow night I can cook up something from my new cookbook I picked up at my schools brand new book store (it's so beautiful). Everything in it looks amazing! I especially want to try the Acorn Squash and Black Bean Empanadas!

Goodnight everyone!

Catherine Dress Gloves

These are possibly my favorite thing I've ever made (haha ok so maybe I say that about everything, but really... these are amazing!!!). Made from 1940's vintage gloves and ebelished with a delicate pale pink chiffon flower and two tiny green chiffon leaves on the wrist of the right glove. I'm in love!

Lulubelle Headband!

This headband would look so amazing for a wedding or to wear to a party or even around town when you need a bit of frill for your outfit!

Emma Necklace

So I was feeling creative tonight and came up with the Emma Necklace! I think it's just so sweet and girly... perfect for every day wear or you can dress it up! It's up for sale at Bungalow... check it out!

New at Bungalow

I've been so in to hydrangeas lately so I made these old fashion doily wrapped vases and jars to hold some! There's something so beautiful, simple, and clean about green hydrangeas against a antique silver tray. Right now this trio is sitting atop my very favorite cabinet, however if someone else falls in love with them as much as I have they're for sale at Bungalow!

Bungalow is open for business!

It's offical, I've opened my second shop! All the handmade items are being transfered over from Appleschloss and new items are being added daily! Appleschloss is now exclusively vintage goods. This blog will now feature both of my sites... such as this brand new cake stand for sale at Bungalow!

Come check out the new shop at http://www.bungalow.etsy.com

Chrysanthemum

Tonight I was playing around with a design I came up with awhile ago but got too busy to work on and I ended up making this little number...The Chrysanthemum!

Displayed on one of my favorite prints that I got at Reform School in Silver Lake... once I saw it in Domino I fell in love so I had to get the minature version!

Up for sale at Appleschloss along with the pastel version, The Camellia.

New Discovery

So I found this new site, Polyvore. I pretty much love it. It's like paper dolls for big girls! I made this little collage a few minutes ago.... I love the kitsch koala bear necklace paired with an Yves Saint Laurent forever bag. 

Baby Blues

I am in love with this little sweetheart fawn... her big blue eyes caught my heart as soon as I saw her! She would look so cute in a nursery or a retro woodland room. Behind her are the amazing 1950's/60's firestone bowls my Grandma sent me for my birthday! They are sooo amazing, I just love the shape! I wish bowls were still mad so creatively and in such lovely colors. 

Well I'm off to get dressed before the delivery men bring the new refrigerator. We've been waiting for days and have had nothing but problems with lowes, until finally they agreed to give us $500 off for all of the trouble! yay! Then after that is work and then out for Mexican food and Margaritas with the girls for a late birthday celebration, I can't wait!

Shabby Chic Wrapped Doilie Vase and the great things you find under the sink!

Available at Appleschloss

The last few days have been put in to creating this lovely shabby chic style vase. I've been very in to using doilies lately so I searched all over town for the best doilie to make a vase out of... when I found this great vintage floral one made in a dutch community near me I knew it was perfect! With some dried flowers nestled inside it would make a sweet addition to any living room!

While I was hunting for a vase to go under the doilie I decided to hunt under our kitchen sink where I found these two treasures! 

Available at Appleschloss

This is an amazingly unique vintage Apothecary container... I can just picture it with vintage buttons for a cool decoration or cotton balls in it to add some vintage style to your bathroom. Makes a great gift or gift for yourself!

This little beauty queen planter isn't for sale! I love her far too much! She belonged to my great great grandma and I'm not sure how old she is, but I do know my great great grandma died in the 50's so she has to be from sometime before then. I can't believe she was hiding under the sink... she's too much of a star not to be on display!

First Post!

So I'm excited, Appleschloss now has it's very own blog! A blog which will probably be interspersed with all my cooking photos, room redecorating, and fabulous finds!

Above is our sweet Petite Ribbon Candy Necklace... I made it last night during my veronica mars marathon (such an addicting show by the way... so sad it's canceled!) and I'm so in love with it now! It really goes with everything, wear it to class or out on the town... it's very versatile! I made a few larger pleated ribbon necklaces too out of this beautiful sage and cream ribbon! It's so nice to have my assistant Margaret (my calico kitty, also my 

little sister) to supervise the ribbon folding and investigation of vintage items waiting to be listed! She's a good helper for Appleschloss! Speaking of vintage items...we were featured in Vintage Indie over the weekend in their Vintage + Modern Mingle article! Our fabulously retro coffee and tea mug was the item of choice for the feature and it sold a few hours after it was in Vintage Indie! Be sure to check out the article! Vintage + Modern Mingle= Mother's Day Gifts Coffee or Tea?