Thrift Thursday: Storybookland

Well... Here we are in October. That means the Birthday Season has officially Begun. I am going to the city Today with Julia from Mariquita Farms to deliver fresh organic veggies to hungry foodies and then out to eat. Hurray. I am very excited. I like food and people and good physical labor. A fun adventure to be sure.

I decided there will be an over arching yet lax theme for the BBI for the month of October. That is Storybookland. My little light yellow red ridinghood ceramic bell is my thrifty storybook example for day one. I love storybooks. I love all books. Right now I am reading 4.

Here is a quick craft I did a few weeks ago. I dried my late summer hydrangeas and then stuck them to a straw wreath form with T pins. The wreath and the tpins? Thrift Store. Thrifty Homegrown Fast Craft...You gotta love it. Total spent 1.50.

I also need to clean out those closets and get ready for the rain. I'm even uploading a picture of every single vintage pattern I own to flickr to make myself a reference and get ready to send some away.
But now I gotta run.. The veggies need me.

That's how we roll here at Chez Betty: We bite off more than we can chew.

Let's Hear it For October!
Betty

Made It Myself Monday: 13 means Sushi

Well, the accidentally big blog break at the beginning of the month had a bit to do with the fact that the first half of October is fraught with Birthday's around here.

Saturday, the wunderkind had his 13th. The theme was Sushi featuring Rock Band Karaoke and it was our first official Boy-Girl Party. It was great, the kids came and all the neighbors crashed the party as well. There isn't a scrap of food left in the house.

My main contribution was the cake.

oh yeah, and the birthday boy, but at 13, I guess I still consider him a WIP.

Happy Birthday Kid, I love you more than I could ever say... now, go do your homework.

I really want to say a big thanks to all the folks who stopped by from Today's Creative Blog too.
And to the delightful Kim for her really great article. So Very Kind!!



That was such a wonderful birthday present to get all the lovely feedback on the western shirt.
I just started a Wild Western Shirt Flickr group for all you folks looking to make your own!

I think it will be so fun to see all the variations!

I hope I get my next western shirt cut out today. So many things to sew, so little time.

Oh, and I did make a special 40th Birthday New Vintage Party Dress... Stay tuned. It will be posted as soon as I get that photo shoot done. Which will be after my photographer finishes his homework.

What Turning 40 Looks Like

my sisters

self portrait on public transport

cupcake

cupcake

cupcake

Beautiful Ladies who came out to play

and gifted me with vintage fabric

and dark chocolate espresso caramels.
Thanks so Much !!

And dinner just for grown ups

I had the best time.

I'll get to Portland someday soon.
But this day was fun and sweet, even staying close to home.

New Vintage Wardrobe Project #20: Down Home at The Double B Ranch

okay.. I was really a little depressed last week.

In a week and 2 days, I turn 40 and become the mother of a teen-ager, almost all at once. These are fine benchmarks in my far fetched quest for actual maturity, but milestones this large tend to give a girl pause for thought. I had originally thought that it would be ideal to make this transition in Paris, but what with the weak dollar and everything, it seemed like it might not be the world's best timing. Besides, I went to Paris broke once already... and next time I would like to have some folding money for the brocante.

So, I picked Portland Oregon as my second choice. I mean, Obviously! I had killer reservations and imagined bloggy meet ups and everything. But the Just About To Be Teen-ager has an F in social studies. This kid loves NPR. He was excited to listen to the candidates debate. He loves travel, and is totally interested in government and policy, (in an 8th grade kind of way).

He Has An F.

We are going No Where. Because pulling him out of school for 3 days would put the capital IP on Irresponsible Parenting. But, may I just say, I truly loathe being responsible, when it Cuts Into My Birthday Season Like This.

So I dropped everything and made myself a western shirt. And it really helped.

It is my new favorite shirt.

Can I get a Yee-Haw?

Simplicity 7051- circa 1975
in Kokka's Trefle and (I think) a sweet contrasting Michael Miller green graphic.

Nothing says 'Western' like a Japanese imported fabric, printed with Russian Folk dolls.

yup, it's wrinkled, because I am wearing it all the time.

Great for doing chores here at the Double B Ranch!

can you believe this is just where the button ended up? sewing serendipity.

And I just wanted you all to know that as part of Her contest, I am linking you up to Martha Stewart's Blog. Seriously, I know she's going to want to talk to me about the New Vintage Wardrobe stuff, or maybe she'll call me when she's in town, and we will go thrifting. Or you know... whatever. Because I bet Martha and Betty could be tight. Can't you just see us, up late, eating brownies and decoupaging stuff. Another BFF, for my posse.

Martha, you have my email.

You Say it's Your Birthday! It's my birthday too, yeah!

Well the real day has come and gone, the actual birthday.. that is. It was the 9th. Same as John Lennon's. Imagine. Sister Sarah ( one down the line from me..) shares Sir Paul McCartney's birthday. This coincidence so amuses me that I have likely mentioned it on the pages of this blog previously. The personalities fit us well too. She is cute and less controversial than I am.

So on the big day:

• Jake got his new "grill" going.. red and green.. He will switch to orange and black for the December fitting. Very amusing.
  
• I made myself a fantastic chocolate cake from scratch, recipe off the back of the Hershey's can is highly recommended.
  
• and my lovin' husband got me the coolest camera.. Yup.. My first big girl camera. Lots to learn. Canon Rebel ( good name, eh?) EOS XTI.
  

Let's check this thing out:
Picture of the bead light pull (5 shots to get this one, checking the settings and all):


And one Jake got of the light pull's new part time job as cat toy. (Yes, I let him play with my new goodie. I am trying desperately to be a better sharer. It is not easy. But truly he is a great photographer... better than me.)



Grill documentation:

I am sorry.. how cute is that face? Good ol' tinsel teeth. Poor critter.

Photography is fun! i am going to do lots of practice. I have taken 400 pictures in the last 3 days. I love digital. Love It.

And I have been crafting. Really. I am actually working through the Guilt List and have started on an all Handmade Holiday for this year. I had hoped to finish my guilt list before my birthday (old business over, new year=new business ... but I still have 4 people on there.) I will post wip pics if I can't force myself to actually complete anything..

And speaking of old business:

Robiewakenobie.. you get the ring!! But, as usual, Blogger will only let me know you live in Lexington. So, email me, lady!

And Clair in England: You get a birthday goodie too. So you email me too and I will send a surprise... That hopefull will chase your postal blues away.

More Cool stuff coming soon. But for now, I need to run!

The Champagne Bucket Challenge

My Mother in Law had two champagne buckets!Lovely silver, very classically ornate, totally too huge to store in a normal sized house.

She asked me what she should do with them. And this is what I suggested. She said "Will you take one of them?" and I did.
Basically I think what makes this work is the juxtaposition of the modern looking succulent container garden with the classic bucket. It works best in our cabin-y house. I love the tarnish. But if you are a more straightforwardly "feminine" decorator, a bushy flowering plant would be great too.

It is always interesting to come up with ways to use "heirlooms" or even cool thrifted items in ways they were not intended. It is my favorite reason for scouring the home mags. If you have some cool reuse ideas ... please do share!

Here is what I did with the bucket:

Just:

• fill the bottom of the bucket with wadded paper to support the pot.
• line the bucket with a plastic bag to protect the bucket
• insert a plant in a pot just barely smaller than the bucket and tuck in the plastic bag.

tah-dah!

Now the birthday season ring giveaway:
This is not for the twiggy of finger. It is a size 8 or maybe a teeny bit bigger.
It is a handblown glass cocktail ring made by artist Karen Carston.. currently residing in Seattle. It is really one of my favorite things ( I have a couple of these that I wear all the time.)
This one is a bit too big for me and has languished in the jewelry box. It needs a home where it will be worn!
Leave me a comment and I will draw a name on Monday.
I love this ring .. it looks like an ocean wave.


Gratuitous Kitten photo...Because I am obsessed with the guy.

And Up Came her Head and it was Tuesday Already.

Tuesday! (email me, Tuesday! .. Blogger is providing me zero info on you, mystery lady.)
You are the shoe winner! (Just to clarify: I bought them (the only pair, on sale) hoping my feet would suddenly be smaller and it sadly never happened.. And they were never ever worn.. But hurrah for a second chance!)

Kirsten Schueler will also get a present because she has the same birthday as my son..
She was the first to comment ... And I like that about her.

Well, I spent the weekend with a bit of a migraine on Saturday (indulged much? hmmm..) and the last crafty thing I did was make some "slightly bigger than change purses" from the photo tutorial on Practically Necessary by Kerry.






Not only is Kerry just a real fashionable member of the New Vintage Wardrobe crew.. in her bike riding apron ensembles.. She makes the cutest hats anywhere too. Another birthday treat for me? Stay tuned on that one for sure!

The pouches are a really great way for me to make something cool and practical with some of my Handprinted Fabric Swap fabric that I got from Micha over at Baking with Medusa. I am making cool pouches to hold a little bit of embroidery gear or a tiny felt animal that needs hand-stitching.( I like to have a porta-craft or two at the ready, as I am spending a great deal of time in the offices of expensive dental professionals these days. My darling son gets his braces on in 7 days...... duh da duh! Just 3 days before HIS birthday.. wah wah wah.)

But back to Micha. She has a new blog project that I just LOVE. Handmade Family. Check it out. I am tearing through the old photos to find something to send her. I must have a zillion things, back from mom and grandma's crafty days of yore.

And speaking of love.. Meet Milo.





We got him from the "pound" on Sunday. Critters aren't "presents" so I won't call him that.. but I have to say this wild little guy makes every morning a party... so hence, another celebratory event in our Birthday Season.
He flung himself at the bars of his little cage and begged us to please pick him. He was very convincing. And we are all head over heels with Captain Charisma.

OOH.. More give aways coming up:
A fantastic handblown glass cocktail ring by artist Karen Carston.. runs really big. size 8, I think.
Photos coming soon.

So Dawns The Birthday Season..

And I begin to give myself everything I fancy..
My birthday is a couple weeks away but I started celebrating already.

What do I give to my self, that has everything?

First some jewels from Susan of Sulu Designs. How Gorgeous these are! Her Original Intent posts are some of my favorites...
She spoiled me a bit and I just couldn't be more thrilled. (One pair of these is for my sister...But the rest are Mine! All Mine!!!!) And thanks Susan!
(I might add that her new Portland digs are "sponge-worthy"... Design Sponge, that is!)

Also I downloaded a new CD from Lily Allen, because I saw this video
and I was smitten with the ska and the sass. The lyrics on the album are "parental advisory worthy" but boy, can the pretty girl sing.

Off I go to stitch up some goodies, hopefully cross off a few clingers to the Craft Guilt List and get ready to milk this celebration for all it's worth.

Starting on Monday, I am handing out Party Favors.

The first one will go to some one who wears a size 8 shoe...
Cinderella, Are You Out There?