Here’s what’s up in the shop:
Tag Archives: Shop
1/25/12
25 Jan
What I’m up to:
– I am finally getting over a cold that’s left me barely functioning for the entire month of January. I know some of you were a little disappointed about the lack of a Follow Friday post last week, but I had been running on empty for days and halfway through editing I knew it was a lost cause. It will be back with a vengeance next week, though, so don’t worry. It’s not going anywhere! In the meantime, check out my new 50 Thrifty Fun Things To Do series. I’m drawing on all my experience of taking care of Isobel while working with a budget that dips into the negative numbers on a regular basis.
– Speaking of vengeance, last week I asked you to send in your questions about me so I could complete the versatile blogger award. I received a bunch of emails, DMs and tweets after I threatened people to post Beck lyrics if no one responded. Well call me a dead hobo on the patio! After that threat I was inundated with responses so I will answer a couple per week until I make it through all of them. If you still have a question for me it’s not too late–email, tweet, comment, or DM me and I’ll answer it in a following Snapshot post.
– Isobel occasionally refers to Anthony as “Swiper.”
– Next month I’m going away with some friends to visit my dear friend Stephanie in Reno. I’m excited to cross this item off my life list, even though I’ll be going without Anthony and Isobel. Since we started a family Anthony’s gone away for work and fun a couple times, so now it’s my turn. I’m going to be going four hours away over Donner Pass with my besties. What could go wrong? P.S. Can you be kicked out of a state for being inappropriate? Asking for my friends. Specifically.
-Also, this is the first time I can remember going overnight somewhere without Anthony since 1998. Holy shit.
– Since I’ve been sick I’ve watched a lot of Star Trek, and, consequently, Isobel has watched a lot of Star Trek. Fortunately, she loves it and dances and shrieks with joy when she hears the theme song. I shit you not. It’s hilarious to hear her take on what she sees, too. To her, Klingons are lions, the Borg are robots, and Worf’s son Alexander is a girl.
– I have been getting more photography work, which is good because I feel really guilty about quitting my job to stay home with Isobel in such rough economic times. I’m not going to lie, we’re personally dealing with some rough finances and so are most of my friends. A friend recently sent me a link about the Ten Worst Cities for Finding a Job. If you look on that list, the first five cities are within about an hour from where I live. The other day a girl came to our door and asked if I had any scrap metal for her family to sell. It’s so bad nearly grabbed my bindle, flung Isobel into a sack of potatoes, and rode the rails to Canada.
– Yesterday we were in line for checkout at the grocery store when I noticed Isobel was chewing on a head of broccoli. I let her. Because it was broccoli.
– One of my recent shoots has been for my bestie’s Etsy shop. She is selling some awesome Valentine’s cards, including robots, Alice in Wonderland, and my favorite, the Anti-Valentine. I really love the Eat Me/Drink Me tags. How perfect would those be attached to a plate of homemade cookies for a housewarming gift? Too perfect.
– If you’re into vintage clothes, check out my friend Valerie’s shop. She has been uploading like mad and I’m personally drooling over several dresses, particularly this 1960s rainbow dress. I probably shouldn’t show you this adorable children’s owl sweater or orange townhouse dress.
Little Big Links:
– Thank the Sweet Baby Picard Jesus those Princess Bride movie remake rumors are false. Via Amanda Stretch
– Goats in a tree. This is called “making my day.” Via Ian Boudreau
– Reading Rainbow meets Star Trek. This derailed my whole afternoon. Via Veronique Rickets
– Good as backup NFMBFTKS, but not as primairy NFMBFTKS . Read the first review. For Samurai Ninja Rockstars, only. Via Chris.
– Downton Abbey Drinking Game. To my utter delight, Anthony enjoys watching this with me–without drinking, even!
– Feminism does not predict poor romantic relationships, in fact quite the opposite. A fascinating study. Via Justin
Weekly Photos:
- She asked me to read this book to her. And after that, this book.
- Isobel has discovered play dough, which she calls “hot potato.“
- There’s been some redecorating around here.
- Bath time.
- Our heat’s been out for days.
- These will be up in the shop soon.
- Ready to shop till you drop.
- Possibly the best photo ever.
- Does this kid love the drums or what.
- Going out.
Reader Question:
This post is running waaaay long, so I’ll answer just a few.
1. Why the Viking liking?
My family is Swedish-American on both sides, and we still have a pretty strong Swedish culture three generations out. I grew up with lots of stories about Sweden, about my pioneer relatives (it was all very Kirsten), and Scandinavian culture in general. I live in an area settled by many Scandinavian families and my parents used to be very involved in the local Scandinavian heritage festival. So it’s just something I grew up around. That and vikings are badass.
2. Do you still go in your child’s room at night to see if she’s breathing?
Oh hell yes. Though my main paranoia is in regards to her choking. I still want to slice grapes into miniscule pieces for her. I got too far. It’s totally irrational. She has learned she can fake cough to get my attention because she knows I’ll come running.
3. Are you a loser, baby?
In the time of chimpanzees, I was a monkey. Butane in my brain and I became the junky with the plastic eyeball. Spray paint the vegetables dog food skull with the beefcake pantyhose. Kill the headlights and put it in neutral. Stock car flaming with a loser in the cruise control. Baby’s in Reno with the vitamin D, got a couple of couches, sleep on the love seat. Someone keeps saying I’m insane to complain about a shotgun wedding and a stain on my shirt. Don’t believe everything that you breath you got a parking violation and a maggot on your sleeve. So shave your face with some mace in the dark. Saving all your food stamps we’re burning down the trailer park.
Yo.
Cut it.
Little Big Shop Sale!
17 DecHere’s what’s up in the shop!
Recent Additions to the Little Big Shop:
Embroidered Vintage Clutch, granny chic.
Daisy Wall Plaque, your bathroom needs this.
Thrift Store Gore – White Elephant Gift Exchange Gifts:
(Confused about this section of the store? This should clear it up.)
Speaking of the Grandchildren Photo Album.
Burned Down Schoolhouse Commemorative Plate.
Remember! Lucky buyers of Thrift Store Gore will get a photo of drunk Santa for your troubles. Someone’s been naughty this year! SPOILER ALERT: It’s Santa.
Little Big Shop Sale Items:
Designer Chrysanthemum Mug, price lowered by $6.00!
Vintage Baby Book, price lowered by $10.00!
Copper Parthenon Ashtray, price lowered by $6.00!
Vintage Glass Storage Jars, price lowered by $10.00!
Keep checking back as I’m adding more items all the time! Sale ends in a week or so or when I remember to change it back.
Little Big Shop Update
10 SepHere’s what’s up in the shop:
Plaid Picnic Cups, because even your glassware is burly.
Crystal Clear Glass Bowl, I use bowls like this for holding chopped chives for baked potatoes.
Green Japanese Mug Set, the perfect shade of nostalgic green.
1970s Houseplant Needlepoint, I can’t get enough vintage needlepoint right now. I have it up all over the house.
Wall Flower, pay no attention to the toddler trying to swipe it.
Shop work was derailed this week by illness, but I’ll add to the shop again in the next couple days.
Little Big Shop
27 AugHere’s what I added to the shop last week:
Set of Five Blue Flower Mugs, I am in love with these. Flat out.
Petite Poppy Mug, I love the graphic nature of the bold black stalks.
Japanese Vintage Strip Mug, the palette and style of this mug give it both an authentic vintage, but also very modern, look.
Love Brings Rainbows Mug, it also brings syphilis, but that doesn’t look as good on a mug.
My computer is acting up, but hopefully Anthony can fix it by this weekend. Cross your fingers for me!
Little Big Vintage
14 AugHere’s what happened this week over at the Little Big Vintage Shop:
Wooden Owl, perfect for a nursery.
Vintage Tray with Starburst Pattern, I bought this for myself but it won’t fit in my bathroom.
Set of Four Green Cloth Napkins, I don’t often find sets.
Fine China Pop Plate, I have a weakness for thrifted items I cannot explain. This is one of those items.
White and Gold Calendar Plates, be still my heart.
Mod Flower Vase Mugs, It’s a vase! It’s a mug! It’s adorable!
Turquoise Milk Glass Mug, it’s Tiffany Blue–what’s not to like?
I’m trying to post an item to my shop at least once every week day. I have hundreds of items in storage that I need to get online and in the hands of people who love and appreciate vintage as much as I do. Every Saturday I’m going to be posting the week’s finds here, plus information about sales and specials I am running.
The Haps
9 Dec
Here’s the haps:
* First and foremost, I’m participating in my Etsy Team’s sale, which means everything in the Little Big Shop is 15% off for shoppers who use the coupon code “librarylove.” Today is the last day of the sale. As my friend Librarianearp says, tell all your friends about the sale, or the terrorists win.
* The lovely and talented Windsor Grace allowed me to interview her. Check out her blog and an Etsy shop.
* I guest blogged for world-traveler and good friend Marie on her food blog Five Flavors. She asked me to post a recipe that I make often and so I’m sharing with you my version of Rebaked Potatoes. I attribute the success of my marriage to this recipe. It’s hard to fight when you’re eating enormous amounts of cheese. You’re just too damn happy.
* It’s worth mentioning that Marie is in New Zealand, which means I’m reaching a whole new audience: Middle Earth.
* Anthony went to his first Christmas party with his new company. And he didn’t get drunk and Xerox his butt! I’m counting that as a win.
* Last night we did some shopping at Target and Isobel ran through the aisles shouting, “WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT!” She also does this new thing where she says, “No biting! No biting!” before she tries to bite you. She’s also obsessed with the concept of sleeping. If the TV’s not on, it’s sleeping. If the bathtub isn’t full, it’s sleeping, if the neighbor dog isn’t currently barking, he’s sleeping. It’s adorable. Everything she does is adorable, though.
* Isobel quit using binkies when she was just a few months old. I really think that was tipping point in between her being a newborn infant and her being just a baby. Sometimes Isobel rummages through her old baskets and comes across her old binkes. She generally starts shouting, “Baby! Baby! A BABY!” The other day while I was doing laundry she left the room and came back a minute later with two binkies. One she put in her mouth and one she insisted go in mine. So we finished the laundry with binkies in our mouths.
When you have a toddler, you just have to roll with it.
* My daughter SINGS. She sings “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “Ring Around the Roses,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and pretty much everything on Yo Gabba Gabba. Grandma taught her how to sing, “La Cucaracha”, and the other night she learned “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in about three minutes. I’ve been trying to get a video of her singing. She’ll sing sponantously: at dinner, in the car, while playing with her toys. She’s a big (little) girl now.
The Little Big Shop: Autumn Collection
13 Oct
Even though the weather only occasionally agrees with me, fall is indeed here and I am excited to announce the first collection from the Little Big shop on Etsy: The Autumn Collection. I’ve been selling vintage items online through my show for awhile but what I have been looking forward to is featuring collections based on a specific theme. Fall is one of my favorite times of year and this collection features my love autumnal brass, rich leather, and owls.
Three brass leaves have an earthy patina and come ready to hang on the wall.
This brass lotus plate would make a stunning centerpiece on your Thanksgiving table. It has a natural patina from age but could be easily polished to a golden shine.
This adjustable brass necklace is the perfect accessory for going out or just going to the store, and would make a great addition to a Cleopatra or Egyptian-themed Halloween costume. A little polish and it would also shine brightly.
I love this avocado green set of Japanese ceramic mugs. They are perfect for cider or hot chocolate.
The design is really lovely and they are in great shape.
Perfect for a fall picnic.
This supple steer-hide camera case is also a perfect purse. I use a vintage camera case for my purse except it has a zipper. I took this case for a test drive and the snap closure on this case was much more convenient than the zip-top of my case. The leather is thick and lovely.
This adorable owl statue is actually an unopened Avon perfume bottle. I have the box it came in and it’s lovely, too.
It would look great on a desk or bookshelf.
This brass leaf plate is thick and solid and heavy. It would be great as a dish to serve nuts or candy or to hold your necklaces and bracelet.
I love the way it looks with the lotus plate.
The details on it are lovely.
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This jewelry box was made in Japan but it looks like it comes straight from a fairytale.
Instead of a lid that lifts up it has two drawers that slide out. It would make a charming gift for someone expecting a girl.
These plaid glasses are already up in the shop, but I had to include them in the fall set.
I haven’t seen suncatchers like this in awhile.
Two perfect owl trivets or wall decor.
Owl napkin holder could also hold letters, cards, or papers on a desk.
This handpainted owl plaque is so cute.
My friend Stefanie gave me this vintage suede and faux-fur rust colored coat for the shop. It’s completely gorgeous and perfect for fall.
It’s a little large for me so I’ll need to get sizing information. But it’s really stunning.
It’s lined with a silky burnt-orange material.
Finally I found this vintage owl wall hanging and candle sconce. I believe they were originally gold or another color and their previous owner painted them a shiny, lacquered black. Perfect for Halloween.
The candle sconce is a nice large size and would look good as a seasonal decoration or out all year round.
I have a whole closet of thrifted items awaiting their turn in the shop. Stop by the shop to check it out. Thanks for looking!
Thrift Store Score: Enamel Clock
18 Sep
This vintage clock was made in Japan and it looks like it was set into a enamel-coated metal plate. It’s from the 60s or 70s.
Before I list it in the shop I’m going to put a battery in it to be sure it works. I wouldn’t want to sell anyone a broken clock.
I’m really hoping it does work, though because this would be the perfect accessory for someone’s kitchen or office. Look for it in the shop soon.
Little Big 