Sarah

I had the unfortunate duty to attend an acquaintance's memorial service yesterday afternoon. Sarah was a truly wonderful person who lit up the room and brought a smile to everyone's face she encountered. After a long night at work I was always happy to hear her infectious laugh from across the restaurant. It meant that whatever was troubling you didn't matter, it would all get better in the end. Today I was going through my photos and found this one from last week when it was one of those weird moments where it's raining but the sun is also shining. I knew immediately there had to be a rainbow somewhere. I looked out the window of my studio and there it was; bright and shining its many colors. This beautiful natural creation of color would not be possible without the gray clouds and falling rain.

Let Sarah's remarkable, yet short, life remind us to be grateful for everything that you have every moment of every day. Appreciate everyone that you love and that loves you, never take them for granted. Refuse to let little things bother you because in the end it's really not worth it. Be happy for every warn sunny day, but be thankful for the rain as well.

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Treasures from Throwaways

On Saturday I went to my first yard sales of the season! I. Love. Yard. Sales. You never know what treasures you might find. As the season is just beginning, I didn't find much but I did walk away with a spectacular book " Treasures from Throwaways" which is a collection of crafts "you can make from things in your attic or discards" put out by Better Homes and Gardens in 1976. I knew I was in love when the first craft was "Tin Can Owls." What a trip! This book has some useful ideas but most are ridiculous such as the "Typewriter Note Holder" which is basically a psychedelically painted typewriter that you put notes in and the "Utensil Safari Wall Mount." This is bunch of old kitchen utensils glues together, spray painted white, and hung on the wall. Then there's my favorite, the "Chicken Bucket Lamps." Enough said. Now here for your viewing enjoyment are some of my favorite photos from the book:


Tin Can Owls and Recycled Container Organizer


Remodeled Dining Set and Hospital Bed Sofa


Victrola Teen Bar and Ice Cream Carton Lamps


TV Tub Chess Set and Feed Sack Pillows

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Busy Saturday, Lazy Sunday

I was blessed again with another spectacular weekend. Saturday was absolutely splendid! Iced coffees from Costal Roasters in hand (first one of 2010!) Brian and I joined Caitlin and Jeff in Warren, RI for a relaxing stroll around town. We stopped at Cutler Mills for their open studios event where I got to check out other local artists in their workspaces, saw some amazing hand sculpted sea life tiles, and had a nice chat with Heather of Heather Jeany. She makes beautiful and whimsical screen printed stationary and tees. I absolutely love her work and she's such a warm and kind person to boot. After that we breezed over a few bridges to have delicious sandwiches from the Provender in Tiverton for lunch. Perfect. Day. On Sunday we were a bit relieved to see gray skies so we wouldn't feel guilty about not really accomplishing much all day. As much as I love being busy, there's something to be said about not doing anything at all.



Sweater: Borrowed from Caitlin cause I forgot mine
Top: UO from a few years ago
Skirt: Thrifted
Shoes: Aldo
Necklace: vintage from Haberdash Vintage
Location: Caitlin and Jeff's lovely and serene bedroom in Warren, RI

Just Another Day At The Office

Testing out a new spot in my studio to take decently lit photos...




Dress: Vintage from Circa in New Bedford, I've had it for many years
Belt: Vintage Thrifted
Shoes: Vintage Thrifted
Earrings: Vintage from an Antique Store
Ring: a gift from Daisy when she went to Costa Rica

Roving Eye Film Festival (Free!!)

I'm sure you can all tell by now that I am a huge fan of free cultural events. You don't have to spend a lot of money, if any, to keep busy, have fun, and learn new things. Which leads me to the 2010 Roving Eye Film Festival. From their website: "Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) and Roger Williams University (RWU) are presenting the fifth annual Roving Eye Film Festival from April 22 to April 25. The event aims to celebrate cinematic art and artists from around the world and to evoke discussions on topics of global and local importance." You can click here for times, dates, and descriptions of the films. Most are being held at the RWU campus in Bristol, RI. I'm hoping to make it to at least a few films, I'm just not sure which ones yet.

Better Late Than Never: Preppy With A Twist

One of the things that I miss most about having an actual brick and mortar shop are all the wonderful and amazing people that I was blessed with meeting every day. Mariel was one of them. She was visiting Newport from NYC and happened upon my shop with some friends. She purchased an amazing vintage dress from me that fit her absolutely perfectly. I could tell that it was going to become one of her favorites. A bit later she emailed me a post from her blog that said dress was featured in. I was super psyched but seeing as I wasn't blogging regularly, I didn't really do much about it. So here she is better late than never: Mariel from Preppy With A Twist sporting an awesome Fidget Find.



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The Lady Next Door

I had such a fun weekend! I got to sleep in a little on Saturday morning, which is even more precious since Brian started having to leave the house at 7:30 for his new job, then I spent the afternoon shopping with the gals. Before we headed up to Thayer Street in Providence for East Side Pockets falafels, Carrie, Caitlin, and I went to my favorite little junk antique store, The Lady Next Door. This title is especially appropriate because it happens to be right around the corner from Caitlin's apartment on Water Street in Warren, RI. If you want to talk about a chock full antique store, this is the place. Every bit of space is completely covered, with most items precariously balanced on top of each other. I can't imagine perusing the shop with more than three people occupying the space and even then I knocked a few things over. However, this woman has some amazing items. She has beautiful fabric, great kitchenware, retro posters, and some to die for vintage dresses. Caitlin bought a beautiful art deco silver bracelet and a painted glass pitcher. I left with a tarnished silver necklace to be polished up nice and a lonely gold napkin ring that when reworked will make a stunning cocktail ring. Better get out the glue and pliers!

Saturday night we got a little silly on my new favorite drink, Absolut Boston (black tea and elderflower) with gingerale and went out to see a local blues band play. Then there were many late night laughs as we gasped at photos from our youth from the pile that Caitlin is collecting for some project for her upcoming wedding. (Not quite sure exactly what that is.) Sunday was a perfectly lazy day. Grocery shopping was the most strenuous event attempted. We had eggplant parm at my parents' for dinner and ended the night with Treme, a new show on HBO that is definitely worth checking out. I fell asleep that night totally relaxed and ready for the week and its new adventures to begin.

Cheery Blossoms

It was just simply beautiful out yesterday; the sun was shining, trees are beginning to sprout leaves, and daffodils and cherry blossoms are in full swing. I love this time of year. I broke out a box of summer clothes and to my delight found a dress that I made last summer out of this delicious barkcloth. The fabric is nice and thick and has an amazing pattern of big flowers in greens, pinks, and yellows. This is actually the first time I've had a chance to wear it. I paired it with a chocolate cardigan, a tan belt to hold everything together, and nude pumps. It might be a bit trite but I couldn't resist posing outside on the green, green grass underneath the perfect baby cherry blossom tree.

You're true blue, Ethel. You really are. How's your love life?

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