A Blondie Day

A Week in Review

This past week held for me...

 

...new goods in the shop...

 

 

 

 

 

...some old pretty drapes from the Thrift Shop...

 

 

 

...a sunny, warm Mother's Day over the weekend which included flowers and a handmade card from My Girl...

 

 

 

 

...some fabulous Craft Books from a very thoughtful JW...

 

 

...and a trip to the aquarium to pet the stingrays...

 

 

...and visit with a Caiman that needed dental work...

 

 

 

...a lovely Day of Sewing with Ollie as my sewing buddy...

 

 

 

 

...and a trip today to the Thrift Shop, where it was apparent that vintage sheets and pillowcases were in the cards for me.

 

 

Hope your week was filled with goodness

with more to come this week.

 

Much Love,

Helena

 

 

A Little Help

Meet Stella.

 

 

She is the biggest of my "girls".  As my dear friend Antoinette puts it - she is the size of a cow.  She means that in the most affectionate way.

 

Her eggs are huge, and practically a meal in and of themselves.

She was determined to help me in the taking of the pictures of the new Market Totes for the shop.

And I'm thinking she did a smashing job.

I think she is also very proud to show you a glimpse of her little Home.

 

 

The new Market Totes will be going in the shop this afternoon.

 

 

I made a few new changes to the design, which I'm hoping everyone will like.

 

 

The straps are extra long and adjustable.

 

And there's a pocket on the outside, as well as the inside for a little extra storage.

 

There's a few other little added touches too.

 

 

I am off now to take my Lily chicken for a follow up at the vet's.

I still need to tell you Lily's Tale, which I will soon.

 

Happy day to you!

 

 

Much Love,

 

Helena

 

The Walrus Said

Easter is almost here and the time for a break has come!

My little shop is on vacation and so am I.

"The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things...

 

 

 

...of birds and ships and sealing wax

of cabbages and kings.

And if the seal is boiling hot

and whether pigs have wings!"

 

That is one of my favorite poems by Lewis Carroll

and I always say that first line to myself.

 

Yes, I talk to myself quite often.

 

 

I will be checking in to my Facebook Page from time to time for the next couple of weeks and when I re-open the shop I will have some new Market Tote Bags with a little bit of an updated design.

 

I will also have some very exciting news to share!!  

Oh, this is life changing stuff, yes it is.  

 

Can't wait to tell you.

 

Hope you have a happy few weeks My Friends...

see you soon.

 

Much Love,

 

Helena

 

 

 

New Goods

 

I won't grow up,

I don't wanna wear a tie.

Or a serious expression

in the middle of July.

If growing up means

it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree,

I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up

Not me!

                                                                         - Peter Pan

 

Every spring I begin to hear that song in my head.  No doubt, spring brings out the child in most of us - in delicious anticipation of the coming summer.

No matter that by August the roasting heat and humidity will have me wilted and begging for a cool, crisp autumn day.  Spring will still have me looking forward to summer with child-like excitement.

With spring comes time for fun, color and nothing too serious...

 

Some new pillows in the shop today!

 

 

They are all about brightening, lightening not taking anything too seriously -

in a pretty vintage way.

 

 

 

 

I also have new bag designs...

 

 

 

Vintage Nights Flap Bags.

Made to go from daytime to a lovely evening.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for taking a peek My Friends!

 

Much love,

Helena

 

 

Doggin' Around

Hi My Friends...

I have been busier than a dog burying a bone trying to get some new things ready for the shop for early next week. The plan is to close the shop at the end of next week for a spring break, so I want to at least have some new goods in for a few days before I do so. 

I have new designs!  Keeping my fingers crossed you will like them.

In between working, I have also continued prettying up the house a bit for spring.

 

 

One of my newest treasures is this vintage needlepoint of roses.  It was an Etsy find.

 

Things like this just melt my heart because you can see the love and hard work that was put into it. 

I always feel privileged when a treasure like this comes to live with me.

 

 

 

Off to work I go, but I could not let the end of the week go by without wishing my friends a happy and blessed weekend.

 

Much love,

Helena

Springish

Spring has sprung.

Everywhere.

And I am behind in bringing Spring into our house.

It is a balmy 70 degrees outside today.  The sun is shining.  The sky is blue.  The breeze is heavenly warm.  And the chickens and cats are sunning themselves in various parts of the yard.  Time to get cracking!

I played around with a few springish vignettes composed of mostly thrifted goods.

 

 

And old enamel pie tin found for $3, dressed up for spring with a pretty yellow rose decal.  The statue was a thrift store find, lightened up with glossy white paint and trimmed with a bit of fabric scrap and a vintage rose and rhinestone clip earring.  The little chicken is another thrift store find, as is the petite black metal tray and the glass bottle.

 

 

 

The Mary in Prayer vase was my Mom's.  The pretty rose plate with the wire frame was a garage sale item, as was the colorful chicken figurine.  The blue glass bottle was also my Mom's and has been dressed up with a decal.

 

 

 

This gorgeous vintage beaded Asian wall hanging was found at a junque shop.  I gasped when I saw it - it is so lovely.  It was mine for $5.  The Kokeshi was found at a garage sale.  The pretty porcelain bird was from the Salvation Army and the glass bottle from an estate sale.

 

A little bit of a closer look...

 

 

 

 

I also just received the loveliest vintage rosey-pink curtains which I picked up on eBay.  Can't wait to get them up, as I am loving Pink this spring!

 Some new little goodes for the shop...

 

 

Tissue box jackets.  They button closed with assorted vintage buttons and dress up a ho-hum box of tissues with a little touch of vintage.

 

 

And they are also very polite..

 

 

These will be going in the shop today.

 

 

Hope a little Spring Fever is finding you in some way.

 

Much love,

 

Helena

 

Ultra Cool from the 60's

A few days ago I mentioned on my Facebook Page that we had watched a movie the night before called "How to Murder Your Wife". I wrote that it was made in the 60's (1965 to be exact) and that it was very cute.

And it was.

However, what I did not mention, and should have, was that it was FILLED with gorgeous 60's coolness, and if you are in love with that era, you will want to feast your eyes on this movie.

But first, a little music to listen to while you read this... it's from 1965, the year this movie was made.

OK - all set?

So, let's begin...

 

 

First, Jack Lemmon is adorable.  He is cute, witty and loveable, even though he is a confirmed bachelor in the story and maybe even a bit chauvinistic.  I won't tell you too much of the plot.  If you're interested in that, you can watch the trailer here.

 

But what I really LOVED and what kept my eyes glued to the screen was the gorgeous setting - Stanley's townhouse in New York City, with it's scrumptious, very tasteful 60's decor and furniture.  I, unfortunately could not find very many photos of the townhouse, but here are few...

 

 

The entry to the townhouse is one room on the first floor, with a fabulous staircase leading up the rest of the house.

 

I wish I could find photos of the townhouse living room, but alas none were to be found.

 

 

This is Stanley's studio in his townhouse... he is a cartoonist...

 

 

...and has a comic strip about his alter ego, Bash Brannigan, Secret Agent...

 

 

Virna Lisi, an Italian actress, is stunning as Stanley's wife, and you will love her clothing and hairstyles.  So very retro yummy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right now the movie is on instant play on Netflix, so if you feel so inclined, go ahead and enjoy!  It's perfect for a rainy day.  Just snuggle in with your vintage afghan and a cup of tea.

 

Go ahead.

You have my permission.

 

And let me know what you think of the townhouse!!

 

Much love,

Helena

 

Oh, and P.S. - I have a few new vintage fabric wall pockets in the shop.  I've had a few requests for them.

 

 

 

Remember Not to Forget!

 

XO

 

 

An Update and a Winner

Some quick little updates... I can hear my chickie-girls complaining outside that they have not yet had their morning treat of warmed corn kernels sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese and raisins. Yes, that is the breakfast of choice right now in our little chicken world.

A few new goods in the shop...

 

 

Dangly vintage button garlands.  Me and my buttons... we are a perfect combination.  Believe me, you have not seen the last of them, as I continue to dream up new ways of using them.

 

Vintage...Thrifty...Home....

 

 

I just love the way the dangles look.

 

 

 

I had also listed some new pillow covers...

 

 

These are special to me, as the vintage pattern graphics were taken from patterns that belonged to my Mom.  Aren't they pretty?

These pillow covers did all sell, but I just wanted to share them with you.

 

 

And finally, we have a winner of my Vintage-y Giveaway!  This giveaway was in honor of Blondie Blu reaching 100 "likes" on my Facebook Page.  I was so thrilled, I wanted to share the love.

 

And I think when I reach 200 "likes" I will have another giveaway!  It is so much fun.

 

OK, no more stalling.  The winner is...

 

 

MeMeRose

 

 

My Dear MeMeRose, please email me with your shipping info (just look for the green typewriter at the top right of my blog for the email address) and I will send you your treasures.  I'm so happy for you!

 

And many, many thanks to all of you who took the time to leave a comment here and on my Facebook Page.  They were all appreciated and all made me happy, happy, happy.

 

Much love,

 

Helena

 

 

Box of Fun

It's no mystery that one of my favorite things in the world is vintage fabric - lots of it.  And I could never, ever have enough.  For some girls it's jewelry or designer clothing or Manolo Blahniks or even chocolate - and while all these things certainly have merit, for me - just give me some gorgeous vintage fabric, baby.

So imagine my unabashed happiness when, a few weeks ago, I discovered a package simply FULL of my favorite thing!

A very lovely friend and customer of mine, Rachel, had sent me a box brimming with beautiful goods.  When I opened it and started going through it, it was like a really smashing Christmas morning.  

I savored it...

 

 

Some of it is to be a new bag for her.

The rest is all mine, mine, MINE!

 

 

 

She even made me 2 beautiful, funky, vintage-y bracelets..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the things I love best about my teeny tiny business is the lovely people I seem to be fortunate enough to meet.

 

I am truly privileged.

 

 

Her kindness and thoughtfulness truly lifted my spirits.

 

Much love,

Today

A list for the day:

1.  take a hot bath;

2.  edit photos for shop;

3.  stock items in shop;

4.  try new yoga dvd which promises that "long, lean yoga look". Ah, yes - I'd like that please.

 

Ok, so I've gotten up to no. 3.  New stuff is in the shop!

 

Including, new Merry Market totes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some really sweet vintage sewing collections...

 

 

 

 

 

and finally, the first three members of the Vintage Laundry Gang are "in the house" too..

 

 

And, um, I'll let you know how the "long and lean" thing goes.

 

Much love,