Vogue Vigilante

Meet Annie

2011-10-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

My little orange kitty happens to love yarn too....
<3 S

Hello Again

2011-02-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time, I know. The VV sisters have had a busy year... work, cats, snow... well, that's my excuse anyway. But I have been knitting in my spare moments. In fact, this winter has been so cruel that I have become a total home body and spend much of my time curled up in front of a movie or British tv program, knitting away. So, here I am, at long last, sharing a few of my projects.

Orchid & Fairylights Hat by Tiny Owl Knits

Terra Shawl by Jared Flood

Autumn Leaves by Pickles

Sorry the pictures are not too amazing. I've been lazy with my picture taking and have been using my iPhone rather than a proper camera. To see more details on these projects, check out my ravelry page (and be my friend if your are also on ravelry). I am also working on a very pretty cardigan right now. I hope it doesn't take me forever to finish. Oh, and I'm also part of a small weekly knitting group... we don't have a name or anything fancy like that, but it's fun to meet & talk & knit & share:) I'll try to get Leiza to post something soon too... she's made a very sassy shawl/cowly thing. Toodles for now, dear readers. -S

Gnome Home

2010-10-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Oh I really love my gnome home! I think these little fellas are going on my needles soon. -S

Crafty Update

2010-09-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Once again, the VV girls have been taking a rather long blogging hiatus. Our apologies! I thought I'd throw up a few pictures of recently completed knitting projects. Here we have a wee hat & booty combo I made for my friend's new baby girl, Sammie.

Also, I made this quick and easy cowl for myself. It was starting to get a bit too chilly out here in Boston and decided to use up some of this left over yarn. It was a fun and simple pattern, can't remember where I heard of the stitch, but this is pretty much all you need to know:

Row 1: k1, p1 (repeat)
Row 2: k3, p3 (repeat)

Then just knit it to desired length (I made it long enough to wrap around my neck twice), sew the two ends together into a loop, and voila! You have yourself a cozy cowl!!! I've also been working on some sewing projects which I hope to share pictures on here soon. Until then, Happy Autumn to you all!!! -S

Jumpology

2010-07-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

I am completely enamored by these series of photographs taken by Phillippe Halsman. After taking formal photos of various celebrities of the time, he asked them to "JUMP!" and these are the results. Here are some of my favorites.

That monkey's for you, tom. Enjoy - S

Red, White, n' Blue

2010-07-05T13:22:00.000-07:00

Happy (late) Independence Day! Just coincidentally I finally finished my red cropped sweater just in time for the holiday. It was much to hot to actually wear it this weekend, but I had to at least take some red/white/blue styled photos. The pattern came from KristenMakes, I very sweet & talented gal. She was a delight to work with! Also, I should say that I am spending my summer in Boston, land of our founding fathers, which made this holiday all the more exciting... yes, I'm a history nerd. Or as they say in I.T. Crowd, a "Standard Nerd!". I'm sorry for our blogging hiatus, I (or my blogging sister) will try not to let that happen again. - S

Mrs. Darcy

2010-05-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that I FINALLY finished my first cardigan (not counting a couple of shrugs). It took way longer than I had anticipated and I came across more than one challenge, but I learned a lot along the way that I think will help me with future knitting projects. The pattern is called Mrs. Darcy (hence the title of this post).

Here are my final thoughts on the finished product: I love the color, the neckline, the twisted rib detail, and my rad little black/white vintage buttons. What I don't like is that it has stretched out soo much already. I think it's my poor choice of yarn. I used Vintage Wool by Berroco which is a synthetic/wool blend. I think if I went for a pure natural fiber, it would have held it's shape better. Anyhoo, ~~those of you who are also interested in knitting this little lovely pattern, here's the lovely girl who designed it along with her FREE pattern~~. I just discovered that her pattern is no longer available, sorry folks. But the good news is that she's reworking it to be published in a book:)

Leiza also finished the sweater she's been working on for as long as I've been working on this. Unfortunately, she directly went out of town for a couple of weeks and hasn't taken photos yet. Hopefully she'll be able to share it will y'all soon!! Cherry-O! - S

A great reader?

2010-04-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

I have always wondered what that quote from Pride and Prejudice is all about:

"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else."
"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Elizabeth; "I am NOT a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things."

Was there such a thing as a "nerd" or a "bookworm" back in the Regency period? For why else would Elizabeth quickly dismiss herself as a "great reader"? I ask this only because I find that I love to read and would take praise in such a comment. I was musing the other day on how many books I've read this past year (yes, I'm referring to a year ago to date) and I was able to count 11, possibly forgetting one or two. And in thinking about the books I read I thought it would be nice to share my top three. So here goes:

This book epitomizes my favorite style of book: historical mystery. It was beautifully written and threw in some fun twists and turns. I've since by trying to find as many books like it, but so far none have measured up. Thumbs up to you on this one, Ms Setterfield. I hope she'll keep on writing!

I'm sure this one is a no-brainer, but just in case some of you book lovers out there have not read this, do so now! It was insane, amazing, inspiring, and at times disturbing. The fact that it was a memoir made it all the more awesome. I was pretty much reading it all the way through with a completely astonished look on my face like "I can't believe this is all TRUE!" nuff said.

Last but certainly not least, I bring you Flipped. Yes, it is a young adult book, but the message it gives will be worth it for anyone to read. I think I read it in 3 days, but I wish it lasted longer. It just makes me smile thinking about how sweet this story is. And an added bonus is that Rob Renier was filming the movie version near by last year. We snooped around hoping to a part of the film but with no luck. I can't wait to see how the film turns out, I have high hopes!

Ok, well, that's my little musing on books. If anyone has any recommendations, I sure would love to know them. I just picked up The Help, which I know is a best seller. So far so good:) Hope y'all have a happy weekend!! -S

Road Trip!

2010-04-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been spent touring the mid-west on a mini road trip. I really needed to get the heck out of the chilly Michigan weather so we headed south to Bloomington, In. It was soo lovely and hot!! 85 degrees, that's what I'm talking about! We did some very fun exploring, I'd never been there before so it was fun to check out a new town. Leiza and Tom were looking out for some very cool historic farm houses. The picture below was a very typical thing to see them do on the trip.

On our way back, we headed towards Ohio by way of the Ohio River where we stumbled upon the town of Aurora. It was founded around 1815 and the architecture just blew my mind! I wish I took more pictures. This large mansion was called the "Steamboat Captain's House". It sit atop of the hill and overlooked the river and the town. Amazing.

These were just a few snapshots of the trip, but I'm very sad I forgot to take more. Another stunning house we explored had original painted linolium floors. Has anyone seen that before? We also stopped in to a couple kick-ass antique stores where I stumbled upon some great finds. Please check out our etsy site to see some of the new treasures. Cheerie-O! -S

Hats for different occasions

2010-03-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

You may remember back to a post a couple of months ago, I shared pictures from a local production of the musical Nine which I was the costumer for. One of the costume "challenges" I came across was to create a very over the top Venetian hat that would be tossed about on stage. Here's a close up of the result of said hat.

I took these photos the morning I was to return the hat to the costume shop (sorry for the messy background). In the end I think the hat turned out very well and I must give most of the credit to my crafters-in -crime/sister, Leiza. We discussed how we wanted the hat to look: big feathers, check, a crazy bird, check, lots of beading, check. I was so overwhelmed with all of the last minute things I had to do for the show that I was so relived when Leiza stepped in and put the whole hat together! And as I said, it was going to be tossed about on stage as well as worn by 2 different characters. I'm happy to say it stayed together through all of the performances and looked great as well!

This was truly a diy project. The bird we found at a craft store in the wedding department. It was all white, so we spray painted it black and just dosed the thing in gold glitter. Sadly, some of the glitter came off, but it still looks pretty gaudy (which was the goal). I was going to post pictures of the process, but in the end I was too lazy and too distracted to document it all on camera. What do y'all think of the result?

My other hat to share is much less crazy. It's my snapdragon tam by Ysolda.

Yup, that cute Scottish knit designer has done it again. This was my first knitting adventure using cables too, which ended up being a lot less scary. What was a problem was when I ran out of yarn!!! It was terrible and I was only about 10 rows away from finishing. I decided instead of buying more yarn (which I couldn't find anyway) I would quickly decrease and then pull it together. This does mean it's not quite as cool as the original pattern, but it worked enough. I am also sad to report that after I blocked the hat, which I was trying very carefully not to overstretch, it did just that. It was simply ginormous on my head! My solution: add some elastic thread through the brim. It seems to have done the trick:)

Those of you on ravelry, you can see more details about this project here. The Vogue Vigilante girls are currently each making their first sweaters! I'm actually making a cardi, but close enough. My goal is to finish mine by Easter. Hopefully we'll get to share our FOs here soon! - S

ETSY UPDATE: Springtime

2010-03-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some lovely new items I'll shortly be uploading to our etsy store. Since it is the first day of spring, it does seem only right to celebrate with some pretty pastels. From top left: 1940's silk evening gown, 1950's yellow party dress, early 60's cotton gingham shirtdress, 1970's yellow floral dress. I will try to add these items this afternoon, just need to finish taking all of the measurements.. sigh, the most tideous part of the process.

Happy weekend and happy first day of Spring!!!!! - S

Scenes from a City

2010-03-11T19:19:00.000-08:00

I recently went on a perfect getaway to San Francisco where I visited friends and enjoyed some sunny days. I took some nice little photos along the way and I thought I'd share them with y'all. So here we go:

Beautiful window display at one of my new favorite places. Why didn't I know about it before??

~Miette~

~Tilden Park~

Valentine's Day

~Lovejoys Tea Room~

Rose tea at Lovejoys

Homemade mint chocolate chip icecream!

Chocolate from ~TCHO~

And finally a silly picture of me... I wasn't feeling terribly photogenic during this trip but I thought I should share this one truly silly picture. This was taken at Lovejoy's counterpart across the street. I feel I should title this hat "Can't see the tea for the pom-poms" or some sort of thing. After the trip I realized how much I miss hanging out in a big city, although I still wonder if I want to live in one. What should I do?

Leiza has been so much better at posting her lastest crafty-crafts on our dear blog. I've been in the midst of some projects but have gotten a bit stumped on some so it's taking me a while to finish. Hopefully I'll be done soon so I can share with y'all. Hope you have a great weekend ahead of you:) -S

Spiral Cowl

2010-03-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun little knit I recently finished. I used vintage wool yarn in a shade called "Jade". It's supposed to have a button and a loop to gather it closed with, but I haven't found the right button yet. Until then, I'm using a little sparkly circle brooch I inherited from my grandmother, Ferne. If you're a member of ravelry, you can see more details and get the free pattern here. Ta-ta for now, and happy knitting! --L

Flapper Style

2010-02-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Tom and Stephanie acquired some lovely vintage items while I was away this past fall. Some friends were cleaning out a beautiful 1930's era home in downtown Detroit and Tom and Stephanie joined in on the spoils. One was this 1920's hand beaded dress. Tom wanted me to try it on, and since it fit so well, he decided we should have a little photo shoot. I bought the shoes at a rummage sale in the village of Vijfhuizen, Holland. They don't exactly match, but it was the closest I could get. The vintage hat was made by Tom's great-grandmother. I added the feather and brooch for some added panache. --L

Victorian Lace

2010-02-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

I have a little bit of catching up to do-- here's a shawl I made called Ishbel. I started knitting it in November whilst in Holland and finished it in late December. It's designed by the ever talented Ysolda, a Scottish lass who creates some of the loveliest, most tasteful knitting patterns I ever did see, and who has become quite popular amongst knitters across the globe. Sorry, I just saw "The Young Victoria" last night and now I can't stop talking in Queen's English! Great movie, by the way I highly recommend it to any other anglophiles out there. --L

Super Mignon!

2010-02-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a post all about babies!!! I finished yet another baby hat and I also have some pretty awesome vintage baby wrapping paper to share. The hat was knit for my friends who are due any moment now. They requested a hat with ear flaps, so their little girl will have warm ears when they bring her back from the hospital. I saw it as an honor to help them out. I've always had my eye on this particular hat, it's called Aviatrix Baby Hat. My friend, Meagan (the future mom), picked out this pretty yarn and I supplied the vintage button. I'm quite pleased with the results, however I wish it was a tighter knit throughout the body... if you're on ravelry, you can see my post about it here.

And here are some super cute wrapping paper prints that I stumbled upon recently. I already used some of them to wrap a previous baby shower present, but I was sure to scan in all of the images first. Which one is your favorite? Mine is undoubtably those cute fairies hanging out in the trees.

Aww... so cute! I also found some great vintage Christmas wrapping paper in this same bundle, but it just doesn't seem right to show those until next Christmas... we'll see.

Hope y'all had a lovely weekend!!! -S

Snow, Snow, Snow!!!

2010-02-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

I am trying my best to embrace winter here in Michigan, although most of the time I just mutter to myself how much I really am miserable when it's anywhere below 30 degrees. So, in an effort to be more positive about my current climate circumstances, I decided to devote a post to the one thing winter is good for... SNOW! So, without further adieu... here are some favorite images of a winter wonderland.

photo by Tommy Niehus (aka my bro-in-law)

graceful lady

This video is so hauntingly beautiful, plus it incorporates my other love of winter... yarn! hee hee

Hope y'all have a cozy weekend! - S

What I would like in my closet, please!

2010-01-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

You must please take a moment to appreciate this beautiful new collection by Lena Hoschek! This is the first time I have heard of her and can't wait to find out more... her Autumn 2010 collection is a gorgeous homage to 1940's fashion which she has perfected to a tee! I love these flowy feminine looks:

As well as these more masculine inspired looks:

I would really love to have all of these, thanks! Even those more masculine styles, which I don't usually get into, are completely amazing! I mean, that sweater vest, wide leg pants, and knickers??? I'm loving it. Ok, enough drooling and time to get dressed for the day. Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday! - S

NiNE!

2010-01-19T04:27:00.000-08:00

So, here is my semi-secretive project I've been involved in for the fast few months: being the costume designer for a local production of the musical Nine! It's my first costuming gig and it was a pretty amazing experience. All in all, not a very complex show to design for, but not without some creative challenges, which all worked out in the end. Here are some shots taken during the show, more detailed shots to come. Also, I must add that I couldn't have completed all of this without the help of my sister, Leiza!!!! Props to you sis! -S

Cute as a Button!

2009-12-27T16:39:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are some of our latest finished projects. This is a Christmas present to my dear friend Monica, doesn't she look simply ripping? My goal was to come up with a versatile hat/mitten set with just a little bit of red (to match her new red coat!). Which is why I incorporated these sweet little vintage buttons (the one on the hat is bakelite). The yarn is a new favorite I've recently become obsessed with. It's a Michigan brand and must be the softest wool I've ever worked with (Stonehedge Fiber Mill - in case you're wondering). As for the knitting patterns, the mittens are a variation on the ruffle mits from Boutique Knits. The hat, however, was a little creation of my own. I'm soo thrilled with how they both came out and soo happy that they are just as cute as their new owner.

I've also completed a nice little hat for myself that I will be posting soon (made of the same yummy yarn). In the meantime, enjoy the holidays and happy knitting!!! -S

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

Hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas this year! Vogue Vigilante sisters are off on their own holiday adventures. Stephanie is in Boston and Leiza is in Florida. We have both been very busy little Christmas elves lately and will have some fun post-Christmas posts to share soon. Until then, Happy Holidays to all of you out in blogland!! - S & L

Blue Tulip Hat

2009-12-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

I finished this in early October and it's been great for meandering the streets of Holland. It's a free pattern via knitty.com called Foliage.

Now it's getting pretty cold here, so I may need to knit up an even warmer, non-lace hat. Perhaps this saucy little cloche will be next:

Christmas Knitting

2009-11-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

These days, my knitting needles have been full of fun new projects. Some for myself, some for friends, and some for new babies. The problem is that I can't seem to focus on one and get it done! Some just need to have buttons added, where others have quite a way to go. But, in the meantime, I thought I'd share some of my works in progress. Some of the other projects (non-kniting) I have on my plate right now, that I'm very excited about: new vintage items to add to etsy shop, costume designs for theatre production of NINE, skirt for myself made of vintage fabric... phew... I'm keeping busy! I can't wait to share some of my finished results. Well, better get busy!!! -S

Latest Dutch Escapades

2009-11-25T15:11:00.000-08:00

Well, we haven't made it to other parts of Europe yet, but here are a few more photos of Tom and my time in Holland. Be prepared, it's a long post!

Tom with his red umbrella walking down a typical brick paved street in Haarlem (this is about as much of Tom as you'll see since it's like pulling teeth trying to take his picture)

Me looking like I can't decide which direction to go in Haarlem.

A Dutch castle called Muiderslot ("mouderslot") originally built in the 1200s, then re-built in the 1300s.

A very colorful nick-nack store in the town of Leiden.

Amsterdam Station-- yes, that's a train station, not Hogwart's. We usually take the bus from Vijfhuizen to Haarlem, and then the train from Haarlem Station to Amsterdam Station, since driving a car around Amsterdam is utter insanity! The streets are teeming with bikes, scooters, people, cars, busses, trams, one way streets, and multiple lane round-abouts!

An inside view of the Concertgebouw where we saw the Royal Dutch Orchestra play an evening of Mozart. Tom made up his mind to move here after that concert, it was so good!

Celebrating with our "Dutch family". Joke was an exchange student who stayed with my mom's family when in high-school. She's remained part of the family ever since. These are her children and their significant others at a restaurant celebrating her son, Kees-Pieter's birthday. From lower left: Kees-Pieter, Eefke, Me, Frouke. Above left: Joke, Tom, Femke, her husband Rob, and Paulien, Kees-Pieter's girlfriend. They're all incredibly sweet people with a great impish sense of humor!

Me in Haarlem overlooking one of the zillions of canals. More Dutch adventures to come! --L

Lord Flynn

2009-11-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

In response to the previous post, sister, here is Lord Flynn looking quite regal, if not a bit peeved, in his knitted bow tie. Hmm.... kittens! - S

Cute Overload

2009-11-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

What is cuter than animals and babies?

Animals and babies in hand-knit accessories, of course!

Hallo from Holland!

2009-11-20T05:48:00.000-08:00

This is where I've been and what I've been up to for over the past month. Here I am at Kinderdijk, a place full of windmills and canals built as early as the 17th century.

Here is a snapshot of an old church edifice in Haarlem, one of my favorite towns in the Netherlands. Of course, no photo of a city in Holland is complete without bikes-- there are loads of them everywhere you look. This pic certainly doesn't do it justice!

And this is part of the town square in Delft, home of the famous Dutch blue and white pottery. I've already snagged myself a few Delft pieces to bring home with me-- vintage ones, of course. Stay tuned for more glimpses of my Dutch adventure... L

Applesauce!

2009-11-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful fall day here in the midwest and it felt like just the right kind of day to make applesauce! I've never made it before, but I had a bag of apples that I needed to use (which I purchased along the roadside in northern Mich), so applesauce it was going to be. It was a pretty fun process, besides the endless chopping of the apples, I like the peeling part. I followed the directions from America's Test Kitchen cookbook. Being the silly girl that I am, I thought I would make a few changes, like add more water than asked and throw in some cinnamon sticks. The cinnamon was fine, but the water just made it too watery. And instead of using a apple mill, I threw it in the blender which made it a bit too pureed. In the end, it was more like soup, but I'm still very proud of my accomplishment. During the process, I also thought it was time to don my newish vintage apron that I found at an estate sale this summer. It's just so pretty, I don't want to get it dirty (which kind of defeats its purpose).

I hope everyone else is enjoying their fall, wherever they may be. Also, if you have a hankering for other yummy apply treats, you must try this recipe for apple cake. It is freaking amazing (and freaking easy). -S

"Hoo" I was for Halloween

2009-11-03T05:27:00.000-08:00

I know we are a few days late on this one, but I wanted to share a quick picture of my costume! I'm rather proud of how it turned out, considering I made it in about 5 hours. I do need to give credit to this blog where I recieved my inspiration and downloaded the mask template. I was originally going to dress as Luna Lovegood but I just couldn't get truly excited about that idea. Anyways, sorry I don't have a picture of me wearing it in all its Halloween glory. I think I'll have to recycle this costume for another year and probably do it up even more. Maybe a feather mask??

Now that November is upon us, I feel I can get truly excited for Christmas! I'm attempting to make all of the presents this year (which will be kept at a minimum). I've gotten started already so hopefully it won't be a mad rush to the end. Also, I am sooo thrillled that I will be spending my holidays with my darling girl, Monica, and her darling family in Boston! So, look forward to many Christmas related posts which will probably include: knitting, elves, cookies, and more! -S

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Halloween

2009-10-31T12:05:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween Everyone!!! Here's a little blast from the past from the punk rock goddess herself, Siouxsie Sioux. Enjoy! -S

Creepy Crawlies!!

2009-10-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

I just finished these creepy spider gauntlets for my dear friend Alyssa in San Francisco. I thought they would be perfect for her since she loves Halloween-y things (all year round) and cuts hair, which she can easily do with these fingerless gloves. Aren't they too adorable?? I'm very pleased with the result, and I sure hope Alyssa likes them too.

Speaking of Halloween, I still have a lot of work to do on my costume. My to-do list include making radish earrings and Spectorspecs. Can you guess who I'll be???????? More to come on that.
P.S. You won't be hearing from one of V.V. sisters for a while since she's off in The Netherlands for a month. I sure am missing her!!!!! -S

Mmm...MUFFINS!

2009-10-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

These muffins are so yummy and not too sweet. I slightly altered a recipe for sugar-free banana muffins by adding blueberries and a little bit of honey. Now, don't get me wrong, I love sweet baked goods, but sometimes it's good to have something a little less sweet (especially if you pair it with hot chocolate). Plus, muffins are the perfect fall treat!

I was so happy with the results, both how they look and how they taste, I thought I'd share the recipe:

4 Bananas, Mashed
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. flour (white or wheat)
1/3 c. melted butter
1/4 c. fresh blueberries
1 tsp. honey (optional)

So easy to make. Just mix the wet and dry ingredients seperately, then mix together. I added the blueberries at the very end so they don't get too mushy.
Makes 12 muffins in medium size muffin tin. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 mins.

Now, just make yourself a cup of tea, sit yourself in front of an old movie, and enjoy!!! - S

Halloween's A-Coming!

2009-10-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to get excited about one of my favorite holidays! I think I'll keep my costume a secret for now, but I wil say that it is Harry Potter themed... can you guess? Well, I thought to get into the spooky spirit, I thought I'd share these fun vintage pictures of some very sassy ladies. Aren't they delightful? I'd love to know what your holiday ideas are. Please do share! - S

Vintage Happiness

2009-10-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

Over the summer I've become quite the garage/estate sale junkie. And during those times, I came upon some real finds! One thing that I always have my eye out for are vintage patterns. I remember the days when I could walk into my local thrift store I easily find some adorable patterns straight out the 1950's, but these days they seem harder to come by. So, I was so pleased to find a whole stack of patterns for sale that I haggled down a bit on the price. These are some of the better ones, at least by their picture on the front. I don't know if I'll ever get around to making any of these (I still need to assess if all of the pattern pieces are there) but the fashion illustrations are so fun to look at. I especially like the hairstyles- what great inspiration!

I have another very special item that I acquired thanks to my friend Marge that I will hopefully blog about soon... here's a hint: HATS!!! -S

Peddling My Wares...

2009-10-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a little glimpse of my booth at an antique mall called Town Peddler. I hope y'all stop in and check it out if you're in the area. It's a little messy right now since I just moved everything from one corner to another, but this gives the general idea. I'd say the majority of items currently featured in my booth are from the 1950's, though it's constantly evolving. Gotta love that Lassie paint-by-numbers! --L

Mad Men and Me

2009-09-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

This was a rather silly diversion, but I couldn't help myself. Although I'm not a completely devoted Mad Men viewer, I do love to tune in and stare in awe at the costumes and set design. Sometimes the storylines get a little too soap opera-y for me. Then I discovered this Mad Men tool on their site that allows you to create your own personalized Mad Men character, and well, I just had to try it. This was is what I came up with. I think she's a bit more Peggy than anyone else. -S

Dr. Seuss aka Dinosaur aka Strawberry Lemonade Cake

2009-09-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

Here's our spontaneous crazy cake that we sisters made a few days ago. It all started with a box of strawberry cake mix that Tom was pressuring us to make one evening. Leiza then went a little wild with her creatively decorated lemon flavored frosting. In the end, it was very sweet and yummy, but we still can't decide what it should be called. It seems to look like a dinosaur egg or something straight out of a Dr. Seuss story but also cute as a glass of pink lemonade. It is quite the conundrum! Well, I guess the most important thing is that it looks sooo darn pretty! As we try to hold on to the last bits of summer, I'm sure we'll continue to make summery confections that we will be mighty obliged to share with y'all. - S & L

Knitting Inspiration: Island at War

2009-09-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

I was recently re-watching one of my all time favorite BBC series called Island at War. I have a little bit of an obsession with WWII related stories. They can be very sad, but also completely inspiring. Besides the stories themselves, I am always in awe of the lovely costuming done for those series. While I was watching this one, I couldn't help noticing all of the amazing knitting going on! This is just a sampling of the beautiful knitted work. I especially love the girl's blue sweater and beret. I wish I was a good enough knitwear designer to recreate them... sigh. I can at least try to make her oh so cute beret! -S

Pretty Pink Soup

2009-09-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

Guess I'd better catch up with my sister and finally add something to this blog of ours! So here's what we had for dinner tonight. I used up the last remaining veggies left in the garden and whipped up a batch of my favorite soup. Yummy! I don't use a recipe, I just try to make it taste like my Russian mamushka's soup. I started by sauteeing onions and garlic in olive oil, added chopped carrots, celery, a little bell pepper, potatoes, cabbage, a little zucchini, beets, tomatoes, and lots of fresh chopped dill. Add water and boullion, salt, pepper, a splash of balsamic vinegar, about a teaspoon of caraway seeds and about a tablespoon of brown sugar. Cook it all up until the veggies are just the right softness. You can't tell from the photos, but the broth is a lovely shade of pinky-magenta, due to the beets. Along with the soup, Stephanie made a pan fried pioneer bread and Tom made a salad, also with veggies from the garden and a tasty vinagrette. Mmm, I'm getting hungry all over again! --L

Something to feast your eyes on...

2009-09-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

I'm finally posting pics of the lovely cupcakes my sister & I made for our little Labor Day shin-dig. I have to say, considering we whipped them together mighty fast, they turned out DELICIOUS! I really wanted to incorporate raspberries into them, but I knew I needed chocoalte too. The solution: Chocolate Raspberry frosting! All I can say is "yum". In fact, I was a little bummed when I realized our guests ate them up so fast that I only ate 2... guess we just need to make more. -S

Pin Curls & Clara Bow

2009-09-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here is my first attempt at vintage style pin curls. It wasn't quite as laborious as I would expect, but I'm not sure if I will attempt it every time I shower. I went by Strawberry Koi's tutorial which was very helpful. The results: CURL MADNESS. I tried to tame it down by brushing it out and adding some bobbypins to pull it back. Although it was rather crazy, I did love the results. I'm one of those straight-haired gals with curly-hair envy. sigh.

When I was messing around with my new curls, I was reminded of some of my favorite 1920's film sirens, in particular, Clara Bow. I don't know if it's our redhair that we have in common or her amazing performance in"It", but she has always been my favorite 1920's stars. Here's a little tribute to her:

By the way, I hope all of you lovely viewers like Vogue Vigilante's new look! I've been messing around with how to make it look a bit more pro. Still kind of working on our header, it's a work in progress. I have many more posts in the works, including some amazing cupcakes made for Labor Day celebrations. See ya! -S

Fashion Inspiration: Bonnie Parker

2009-08-28T12:35:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I'm not looking totally like Bonnie Parker, but I have had her on my mind lately, particularly Faye Dunaway's portrayal. I caught part of Bonnie & Clyde on TCM the other day and was in awe of how totally sheik her clothes were. Really, it was more of a 60's version of Bonnie, but it works all the same. It's hard not to love her pencil skirts, jumper sweaters, berets, and snazzy kerchiefs.

Right now I'm totally excited about my new "shawlette" or kerchief (whichever you prefer). I just finished knitting it and now it just needs a good blocking. I predict it will be my favorite fall accessory. I'm also donning a thrifted skirt that I refashioned a bit. Perhaps a little too many gathers for my taste, but I LOVE the matching belt.

My next knitting project, I think, will be an homage to Kate Beckinsale's hat in Cold Comfort Farm. I'm watching it right now to figure out how I'll make it. Any suggestions?? -S

Cute Post!

2009-08-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

By way of apology for not being terribly active on the blog lately, I thought you might enjoy these incredibly cute pictures. Somehow I feel like this explains my life these days: Knitting & Animals. I look forward to hearing my bro-in-law, Tom, say "CAAA-UTE!" And I promise more crafty posts to come. -S

Happy Feet

2009-08-07T14:38:00.001-07:00

These little cuties were made for my dear friend Janie's b-day. I had fun with the colors and think they suit her very well.... and hope she can find some use for them down there in Texas, where wool on the feet isn't needed most of the year. I've been on a knitting frenzy these days and will hope to post even more finished projects soon. Cherrie-O!!! - S

Coolest Antique Store

2009-07-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a little montage of an antique lighting store Tom and I discovered in Hollowell, Maine on our recent East coast trip. I don't know why I didn't take any photos of the outside-- it's an unusual Gothic style building adorned with stone gargoyles and a large golden Buddha head. The prices are steep, but I doubt you'd find such an amazing collection of lights anywhere else in the US. --L

Florida-Themed Finds

2009-07-18T13:23:00.000-07:00

I have a bit of catching up to do on the blog-- it's been a busy summer of travel so far. Here's a smattering of vintage bits, most of which I just got on a work trip to Maine. There seems to be a Florida theme going on here with all the pastel colors! Perhaps it's my subconscious hungering for real summer weather. It's mid July now and I'm still wearing sweaters!

I really tried not to spend money in New England unless it was on items I could re-sell at the antique store. I spent a whopping one dollar on a bucket full of treasures acquired from this voluminous warehouse of junk in Paris, Maine called "Pic n' Paw", and I must say, there was a heck of a lot of pickin' and pawin' to do at Pic n' Paw! The photos just don't do it justice. --L

Hat for Baby Julian

2009-07-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here's my gift for the new little one in the family. Our cousin Tristana and her husband Mike are the lucky parents. I finished it in the Spring, but I didn't want to post it until the gift was sent off. Tom picked out the colors as well as the pattern and I knit it, so it was kinda a team effort. I hope they like it! --L

Warmin' my toesies

2009-07-09T11:41:00.001-07:00

I'm lovin' my new slippers! They are so darn cute and comfy. I knitted these up thanks to a pattern by Stephanie of tiny owl knits. If you too are a knitter too, I highly recommend you knit these up, if only to read her totally hilarious instructions. hee hee - S

Baby Bear for Lil' Julian

2009-07-07T15:27:00.001-07:00

Finally finished with my hat for my cousin's first baby - Julian Arthur. They're over in England so I thought a little hat will be just the thing to keep his little head warm. Plus I wanted to incorporate Polar Bears. What could be cuter??? - S

Check us out on Etsy!

2009-07-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's about time! I've been wanting to start an etsy shop for so long, but never seem to focus on one idea. So, I have decided to at least get started with a vintage clothing line. I'm selling pieces that I've collected over the years and feel like I could part with. I really hope this goes well, I would appreciate any feedback. Like, how are the pics? Do the prices seem reasonable? Any other suggestions??? Please check it out: VogueVigilante
Thanks,
-S

My Rather Regency Shrug

2009-06-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

After a wee hiatus, I finally have a contribution for the blog! I just finished knitting this little shrug today, my first sweater-y item. Actually, I still have to crochet a contrasting border, but it can be worn as is. I like it, it's very Jane Austenesque! Sabine (aka "Beeners") helped me weed the garden. Thanks to Tom for taking the pics. Here's a link to the free pattern by Stefanie Japel. --L

One Buck Hat

2009-06-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

Look what I found at a local garage sale!!! Not only is it the perfect lil' summer vintage hat, but I also snagged it for only one measly little dollar. That's what I'm talking about!!! -S

Summertime Hosting

2009-06-12T11:09:00.001-07:00

The Rea sisters & Tom hosted a little dinner party the other night and pulled out all of the vintage linens & tableware for the occasion. The dinner was small but elegant and of course 100% vegetarian. The food itself wasn't terribly fancy but very tasty: chili & rice, corn bread, hummus with veggies, and strawberry rhubarb crisp for dessert. I think we need to have some friends for tea soon especially if just to use the beautiful pink teapot (birthday present for last year - sister to sister). -S

Hidden Kittens & Homemade Bread

2009-05-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

I've recently made a return to my hometown in Michigan where my sister & her husband have been living too. While I try to decide what I'm doing next with my life, which is the purpose for my time here, I intend on taking full advantage of the beautiful summer days. We've even formed a little bike gang, which we need help coming up with a name. Any suggestions? I finally got around to baking homemade bread. The recipe was recommend by my friend Kelly, it's all vegan, which I like, but I think I'd like to try something with a bit more "punch" next time. We have also been feasting on the fruits & veggies from my father's garden. Here you can see little Sukie peeking through the Rhubarb leaves. So cute! -S

Druidess Beret

2009-05-19T11:13:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm back in "the mit", as some people ever so fondly call Michigan. I finished this little mohair beret in flight on the way to Bend, OR where I spent a few weeks working and visiting old friends. I like it in spite of the mistakes. I still have to block it to make it look more like a real beret. More posts of new treasures to come... L

Martha Likes My Hoodie

2009-05-06T21:11:00.001-07:00

I HEART MO!!!! And props to the Lil' House theme song. -S

Treaured Books

2009-04-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

These are a couple of my most treasured books, both of which belonged to my dear mom. Although they are not in the best condition, I think you can definitely appreciate the beauty of the vintage-ness. Also, the illustrations (especially in the fairy tale book) are stunning! They offer up some good fashion inspiration. - S

Ain't no stoppin' my 40's craze!

2009-04-27T18:36:00.001-07:00

Without appearing to be too vain, I thought I'd display more photos displaying my new 40's inspired hairdo obsession. I apologize for the poor photography, but it's all I got for now. Let me know what you think. Oh, and of course I've been listening to my favorite 40's crooners all the while (Bing, Billie, and Frank - to name a few). -S

Sweet Deals

2009-04-25T12:29:00.001-07:00

The Vogue Vigilante ladies decided to start a KAL with this sweet sock pattern. I had a tough time finding a solid color yarn that was the right fiber & weight & cost. But thanks to the lovely ladies of Gauge Knits, I found this nice Merino Wool/Nylon yarn at a discounted price.
My other find this weekend were these adorable (100% Vegan) Madden Girl shoes found at TJ Max! I had my eye on this brand when I found them online and realized they weren't actually leather. Then, there they were just waiting for me at their amazing TJ Max price. I know I shouldn't be making any purchases, but how could I resist that cute blue button, please! Besides, I know I'll get some good use out of them. And won't they look smashing with my new lacey knee high socks:) -S

Retro-fantastic hair!

2009-04-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

I was inspired to try out some new 40's style hair. I rarely take the time to make my hair and make-up look super fantastic, but it's so fun to do. The top two pics I took today after checking out some retro styling tips from Casey Brown's blog. The bottom pic was from a few months ago when my good friend, and most amazing hair stylist, Alyssa, came to visit and gave me that tres chic cut. It was so cute, but without a hair straightener, it was hard to keep up with. I think next I'll have to post some classic high school photos when I had (and still do) a 1920's obsession. -S

Eco-Elf shoes with DIY laces!

2009-04-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

I got these comfy Simple brand shoes the other day (which are made with all re-cycled materials) and I loved their eco-animal-elfin friendly style, but I wasn't too crazy about the grey laces. I envisioned ribbony lavender laces. I checked around town, but there were none to be found (thanks, Dr. Seuss!). So I stitched up a pair from leftover yarn (crochet chain stitch). My friend Aaron very politely said they looked a tad like bowling shoes. The pink laces are a bit bulky, I'll admit, but hey, they're homemade! I'm still keeping an eye out for some pretty lavender ribbon. Here's what the shoes looked like before and after the DIY makeover. --L

Hoo's calling?

2009-04-14T14:26:00.001-07:00

Here's the other side-- sleeping owl. I also added a beak that looks more like a nose to the "awake owl" side. I've never embroidered before but I can tell it would be a fun little art/craft to get into. I did this while watching Little Dorrit on Masterpiece which I'm LOVIng right now! --L

Owl Cozy

2009-04-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Here's my first, very simple attempt at knit design-- a cell phone cozy! I also wanted to try out the owl cable. Can you see it? Next time I'll use a solid color yarn so the owl will be more visible. I'll have to make it bigger too, since it's a wee bit too tight for my phone. --L

Elven Treats

2009-04-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

During my browse through the chocolate isle at Whole Foods today, I came upon these adorable chocolates! I'm a total sucker for buying things based on their packaging, but come on, this is too cute for words! It's also pretty tasty. I think it's that Norwegian elf in me that finds these so enduring. -S

Latest knitting project

2009-04-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a little glimpse at the beret I'm working on. It's called the Druidess Beret and was created by Anna Bright of England. Her free pattern is on ravelry.com. (a wonderful website for knitters and crochet-ers around the world). I'm about halfway done and I've already learned several new techniques, including bobbles. I hope I finish it before Spring is over! --L

Ring-a-ding

2009-04-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

I currently have my heart set on a rotary phone costume for next Halloween, and these pictures have certainly provided some amazing inspiration. Could it possibly be too early to think of Halloween, I think not. Especially since I was unable to celebrate this past year (car broke down, etc.). From the top: vintage photograph (source unknown), Inside a Black Apple print, telephone book dress (designer unknown). -S

A Few More Finds...

2009-03-30T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more vintage gems to share. The buttons were given to me by Valentina who is a very talented oil painter and stained glass artist. I'll have to post some of her work on here soon. The cameos and earrings were from a sweet lady I met last fall at the antique fair I attended. I'll re-purpose some of them into finger rings. I bought the retro star bowl yesterday at an antique mall. I don't really don't need it, but I love the design, and black and turquoise are hard for me to turn my back on. The price tag of only $2 didn't help, either. Some of the keys were from an estate sale I helped out at and some were already in my stash. I'm not exactly sure what to do with them, but they might look good in necklace form with some black satin ribbon. --L

50 Cent Treasures

2009-03-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

Here are a few finds from a recent trip to Ohio. The little town square in Sunbury has a slew of antique stores, many of which were old homes turned into stores. I hope to repurpose some of the jewelry pieces, though the sweet bow brooch stands on it's own. The cameo print just needs a new piece of glass to be ready for hanging, it was technically $2, but still quite a bargain. I didn't end up buying the lovely bejeweled handbag, but I'm kinda wishing I had now! --L

Mock Cable Slouch

2009-03-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

My friend Sunny sent me this pretty purple yarn in the mail recently. Being too busy taking care of two energetic little ones, she unfortunately decided to give up knitting. So I knit it up into a hat for her and I chose the "Slouchy Copy Cat Hat" pattern from ravelry.com. I'm happy to say it fit her and she seemed to like it pretty well. Looks like purple hats are in vogue at voguevigilante this season! --L

I take my hat off to you, Etsy Designers

2009-03-15T21:05:00.001-07:00

Every time I come upon a unique and accomplished clothing designer on Etsy I get totally inspired. I just thought I'd feature a few that stood out to me. From top to bottom: Lemon Story, beautiful details; Mr. Racoon's Empire, I have my eye on that adorable yellow jumper; and Sarah Seven, overall gorgeous dresses. Thanks ladies for your beautiful designs! -S

Devendra Banhart - Carmensita

2009-03-15T08:21:00.001-07:00

Oh that Devendra... he leaves me speachless. I absolutely love this video! I swear it's a combo of Bollywood movies and the classic I Want to Love You Tender video. - S

Spring Beret

2009-03-12T10:53:00.001-07:00

Spring came early in Texas... then went away for a bit. Last week it was a humid 80 degrees out, then as soon as I finished my new hat, it got cold again! Which was perfect so I could actually wear a wool hat and not look ridiculous in the hot Texas sun. I used a pretty plum wool for this sweet Spring Beret. I did a little blocking when it was done to give it a better shape. Overall I'm rather pleased. -S

Frittering Away

2009-03-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

My attempt at some savory corn fritters. They actually turned out pretty darn tasty! The recipe (which came out of an old Linda McCartney's international vegetarian cookbook) recommended to pair with a garlic dipping sauce, but I opted for my favorite Mother's Cashew Tamari dressing from Austin's own Mother's Cafe! I know I don't usually take photos of my meals, but I thought for all the work I put into this, I may as well share it with the world. -S

A Few of My Little Friends...

2009-03-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

Spring Cleaning has begun early at the Vogue Vigilante headquarters this year. As I sorted through boxes this morning, putting away a few lingering Christmas elves, I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots of their little smiling faces first. The lovely pink teapot was a gift from sister Stephanie. I'd been eyeing it for months at a local antique shop, and now it's mine, yay! I love it! --L

what to do, what to do...

2009-02-28T11:17:00.001-08:00

Just like the rest of the crafty community, I'm a little obsessed with silhouettes. What is it about them that are so freaking adorable? Here are a couple of projects I've been working on. The bat is a felt pin I made, that was recently handed over to my pal Heather as a sort of Austin memento. The cat I started months ago as a Christmas present for a friend (who shall remain nameless in case she happens to check out the blog). My plan is to sew the cat on the felted yellow bag, add a zipper, cute lining, and vwala! It's done! But, I haven't been totally motivated to finish it and now my friend has had to wait months to get her Christmas present. Bah! I guess I'm just in a much needed kick in the pants to finish this project, but in the meantime, I thought I'd show what I've been up to.

You may also notice that the header for th blog has changed... thoughts, comments? Thanks - S

"Pancakes Without Syrup is Ridiculous!"

2009-02-26T21:44:00.001-08:00

By far the wackiest Bewitched episode ever! Wise-cracking space dogs eating pancakes and packing "N-guns" (N for nice). If they ever remade this, Amy Sedaris would without a doubt have to play the gossipy next-door neighbor. Oh, by the way, my husband has figured out his next Halloween costume thanks to this-- Orvis-- the poodle-faced space dog! --L

Book Review: Art Deco Fashion (pt 1)

2009-02-20T19:47:00.000-08:00

For year at Christmas, I recieved a new book to add to my fashion/costume reference library. It's called Art Deco Fashion from Pepin Press. It's a beautiful collection of Art Deco fashion drawings and textiles reproduced from the era. It also comes with a CD-rom featuring all of the textile patterns, here is a sampling of some of my favorites. I'll try to get some of the fashion illustrations on the blog soon. They are truly inspiring! - S

Hello, What's This?

2009-02-12T10:15:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to finally see a live armadillo! This little guy/gal was rooting around in the grass outside a hotel we stopped at in Oklahoma. It was dark out, but my flash managed to work well enough combined with our car headlights. Two rough and rural looking Oklahoman men were staring at Tom and I, shaking their heads like we were crazy for taking pictures of a pesky ol' armadillo. I thought it was a magical night, because right after the armadillo encounter, a bright orange shooting star streaked across the sky in front of us! --L

Austin-tatious Places

2009-02-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Here's just the tiniest hint of the raging originality expressed throughout the colorful town of Austin. Seriously, this is nothing compared to some of the houses we saw ( I wished I'd brought my camera on those days). And then there are the diners... The Omlettry made the most scrumptious gingerbread pancakes. I'm going through withdrawal! --L

A post for Tommy

2009-02-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

Two worlds collide: knitting & spaghetti. -S

More Austin snapshots

2009-02-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

A cute vignette in "Uncommon Objects" featuring a Schiaparelli hat box!

A pair of green-hatted elves.

It was probably the coldest weekend in Austin when Leiza & Tom came down to visit. Hence, the bundled up look we all have standing in front of Kerbey Lane. But we all sure look adorable! -S

Austin Snapshots

2009-02-09T10:30:00.001-08:00

I didn't take many photos while in Austin. I guess we were just having too much fun! Here's a little glimpse, though. The sad puppies were on display at Uncommon Objects (same store where we found the coveted sad kitty s&p shakers). I guess they have a thing for sad kitschy porcelain animals. The second photo is of downtown with a view of the Austin Capitol Building heading North on S. Congress. Lastly, Stephanie, Janie and I after dining on raspberry pancakes at Kerbey Lane. Good times... --L

A Sweater in Progress

2009-02-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

I can't even remember when I started working on this, but it was at least over a year ago. I was distracted by other knitting projects and was getting a little discouraged by how long this was taking me to knit. But... now I'm on a roll with it! This pattern came from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel (a Christmas present from a certain sister). Right now my biggest obstacle to finishing this cute little cardigan is that I seem to be quickly running out of yarn which was purchased in San Francisco. Just hope I can find enough to finish it! -S

2009-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

My lovely aunt Chris took Tom and I out to lunch a few weeks ago at a favorite Thai restaurant, and what was she wearing, but the "Mustard scarf" cowl I made her for Christmas! Isn't she cute? --L

Finished "Lace Ribbon Scarf"

2009-02-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

I finally finished this scarf a few weeks ago, but since I was in Austin visiting a certain sister (pics from the trip to be posted soon) I didn't get to post the photos until now. I'm pretty happy with the end results. It wasn't too difficult, just time consuming. It's hard to see in these photos, but the yarn has a silver sparkle throughout. --L

Messing around with Photoshop

2009-01-31T23:21:00.000-08:00

Just having a bit of fun with patterns... also wanted to show off my favorite shoes: little red cuties! - S

That is Sooo Cute!

2009-01-24T19:46:00.000-08:00

During Tom & Leiza's surprise visit to Austin, we had to visit the best antique store in town: Uncommon Objects. Here are some of the cutest treasures ever seen... oh, how I wanted to bring home the sad-faced kitty salt & pepper shakers... cute! - S

New Obsession

2009-01-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already heard, one of the best television programs out right now is a little show called Mad Men. I promise you, it is some good entertainment. Plus, being set in the early 1960's, there is some amazing fashion going on! It's truly inspired me and it's got me scouring vintage stores for similar styles (full skirts, tweed suits, etc.) They've even made men's fashions cool...suits complete with skinny ties. I just love it. -S

Finally Finished Buttercup Beret

2009-01-15T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here is my version of the Buttercup Beret, a pattern found online designed by Sweet Sassafras. This top photo was taken before I blocked it. It looked nice, but the shape wasn't quite right...

So I blocked it (soaked it in water and then re-shaped it). The second photo is the hat drying on a dinner plate...

And finally, I'm wearing the end result. Now it looks more like a beret and less like a pointy elf-hat. Not that I have a problem with elf hats, mind you!

I'm liking hats right now. I think I'll be knitting up a few more before winter's over. --L

This Years Christmas Cards

2009-01-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

... were only mostly homemade. I bought cards with a simple design on them (blank inside) and embellished with sequins, ric-rac, felt, ink stamps, and paper. And I still didn't get them all done! --L

Aunt Chris' Christmas Cowl

2009-01-05T15:09:00.001-08:00

My Aunt Chris wanted a pink and purple scarf to match her hat, so I ended up making one from a cute pattern I found on ravelry.com called, "Mustard Scarf" by Jane Richmond. I added a wooden button after I took the pics. I love how versatile it is. Here are a few possibilities demonstrated by Jane (sorry she's so small!). --L

Knitting in bed

2009-01-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day here in Austin -sunny and warm- but I've been feeling rather out of sorts. I've spent the better part of the day under my covers watching British Mysteries and knitting my new scarf. You might recognize the pattern, it's the same that Leiza's making in sparkly blue yarn. Hopefully I'll get the energy soon so I can go out and enjoy the day, but in the meantime, I'm happy to make some progress on mr. scarfy. -S

Resins, lights, and elves.. oh my!

2009-01-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from another delightful Christmas with my family in Michigan (land of Homes). For some reason I took very few pictures, and even fewer turned out nice. Oh how I wish I could get a fancy new camera!!! Anyways, here are a few of the highlights of the visit.

Overexposed Christmas lights... these pictures really make me want a new camera!

Trying to stay warm while showing off some of Leiza's super sparkly rings. Hope everyone has a magical New Year!!! My New Year's resolution is to be even more crafty and to post more often on this blog. Cheers! - S

The Triplettes of Bear-ville

2008-12-15T08:36:00.000-08:00

Recently completed bears... phew! Now it's time for making something else. - S

Big Bear & Little Bear

2008-12-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

My very first Otto bear was recently featured on Tiffany's blog (to whom I gave the first Otto to). Thought it was a cute picture with Otto's mini-Otto. -S

Kitsch-mas is coming!

2008-12-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

Some colorful Chrismas kitsch to feast your eyes on... --L

On the Second Day of Christmas.... a few days late

2008-12-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

(2 Turtle Doves) - S

Kitty Cameos

2008-12-01T12:50:00.001-08:00

Just thought I'd share a few recent photos of some the gang. From the top: Lord Flynn, Amber and Tyndall. Amber and Tyndall are brother and sister cats who we're trying to find homes for. If anyone out there is looking for two nice, but semi-feral kitties, please let me know. We found them in downtown Orlando, Florida as kittens couple of years ago. We thought we'd be able to tame them and then find homes for them pretty quickly, but it turned out that they were older than they looked since they were so underfed (as you can see, the days of scrounging through garbage cans are long behind them now). It's hard to tell by the photos, but both have beautiful, Peridot-green eyes. --L

Latest Knitting Projects

2008-11-14T12:35:00.001-08:00

The scarf is a work in progress called the Lacy Ribbon Scarf from the Spring issue of Knitty.com. The beret pattern is from knittingpatterncentral.com. For some reason the beret came out way too big-- seems to fit Brigadoon, but I'm going to have to felt it if I want to wear it myself. Tom tried it on, but it's even a wee bit too big for him. Who'd 've thought? I have to mention too, that for some strange reason, Stephanie and I seem to always pick out the same knitting patterns. I recently found out that she's also working on the same scarf and has already made the beret. Great sisters think alike! --L

Kitchy Confections

2008-11-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

So, these lovely images come from a 1950's magazine I inherited from our dear Grandma. I'm totally inspired by the layers of fluffy pink confections. I think I need to make that doll cake immediately! Enjoy - S