Christmas Stockings

This year, I chose both traditonal and non-traditional vintage fabrics for my stocking collection...

I also abandoned the typical personalization and decor for a contrasting Peace sign on the front of each,

A durable lining and vintage trim to finish.

The result is a fine batch of christmas stockings - radiating holiday spirit, and displaying proudly the true essence of the season.  And in the name of being peaceful to the planet, every bit of these stockings was found, given, traded, bartered for, or purchased second-hand on my local economy.

These stockings, and all kinds of other holiday goodness can be purchased through Teri Cox's Re-New Design Gallery in Las Vegas, Nevada.  This awesome place features plenty of local talent and really emphasizes the use of recycled elements.

Harvest Kitchen

This fall has brought us a bounty beyond expectations in the form of pomegranates, pears, and pinecones, all against odds.  The fact that anything grows here consistantly amazes me, still.  And yet I am lucky enough to have inherited a yard with fruiting trees already established, and a giant pine in the front that is apparently extremely eager to reproduce.  From these things, which I am extremely grateful to have, I am busily preparing everything to be a used in the most efficient manner.

Unfortuantely for me and my efforts, Pomegrantes seem to be the least efficient fruit ever.  For a few hours one evening I had the help of beautiful Brenda, and we used the "big bowl of water" method of separating fruit/seed from pith, to make a recipe of Pomegranate Salsa, which we ate with our unintentionally Mexican-theme vegan meal that night.  It was such a delicious addition, that I plan to make the simple recipe and jar some up to distribute for the holidays.  The recipe for that came from the pom wonderful website, I believe.

Some pomegranate has also been used in the following recipe, to make a super tasty chutney topping for sweet of savory meals.

2-3 Tbsp jelly or jam (whatever kind you have will work)
4 Medium pears
2 Cups pomegranate arils (seeds) (fresh or frozen)
1 Tsp cinnimon
1/2 Tsp ground clove
3-4 Tbsp apple juice or water

Simply melt the jelly and spices over low heat with enough hot water to make a consistant syrup.  Dice the pears and add to the syrup and let the mixture warm.  I skinned half of the pears so there would be a nice yellow color in there with the red.  Remove from heat and add pomegranate seeds and mix thouroghly, add water or juice a tbsp at a time unitl the arils are coated and mixture holds to a chunky apple-sauce type consistancy.

We ate ours with some dollar pancakes, and later as a dip with pita bread.  Fresh, easy, healthful.  Yum.

The husband and I have since devoted several evenings to seasons of Arrested Develoment and shuckin' poms.  The result so far is a nice stash of arils in the freezer, awaiting their bretheren for a holiday recipe en mass, and an ever-aging pile of poms yet to be husked.  I finally went through the pile and removed those that looked unfit for consumption, those with splits in their skins, and those that were too small to be worth the effort of shelling.  The majority of these had a rot spot of other deficiency that came with them from the tree, and were too icky to do anything to but throw out.  Those with splits in their skins, but which otherwise looked fine were saved along with the petit poms for the following Wreath project.  This pic shows the poms after I broke some open, along side the smallest of the bunch.

I started with a frame of 1" x 1" scrap wood, making this the first rectangular wreath that has ever graced my door, but whatever.  I then wrapped the frame in what is proabably my second-most abundant crop: fabric scraps.  I used strip shape bits and wrapped the frame, tying the ends of each piece to the next until it was covered.

The next thing I did was tie-on two twiggy branches that had fallen from my front tree with cones attatched, and then decorate by using sparkley vintage trim from my stash to tie on some little poms.  That formed a perfect base for a slew of little pom chunks with the red seeds showing, and vintage buttons, beads, and baubles that complete the homey harvest look.  I used wood glue to hold mine together, but only because I am out of hot glue sticks, and it really is much more my style to just press on with the materials I have.  Hence the rectangular wreath.

The finished result is not bad, and it makes me feel like I live somewhere much forestier than I actually do.  Oh harvest.

And hey, there must also be a benefit in 80 degree weather for the first of November.  What beautiful orange leaves there are really do look pretty against that flawless blue sky....

Recycled Art in Las Vegas

The most fabulous store in Las Vegas! The Re-New Design Gallery at the corner of Serene and Tamarus (Just south of 215, between Eastern and Maryland) has an amazing collection of art from various artists, assembled by proprietor and Interior Designer Teri Cox. The emphasis throughout is the use of recycled and reclaimed elements in new, functional, design-conscious items.

They have generous opening hours and each Friday, beginning this week November 6, there will be extended shopping hours until 9 pm. The party starts at 5 and will boast a street-fair atmoshere with additional artwork, music, muncies, and a lil something for everyone.

Mmmmm. Art, fun Friday.

Luft mit Essen

Looking at crazy vintage wallpaper while eating grilled cheese or eggs over easy. Or maybe stopping for a real ice-cream shake and a box of hairdye. If either of these things appeal to you, I recommend breakfasting at the Huntridge Diner, inside of the square-ish and mostly plain Huntridge Pharmacy. It is a relic from the glory days of the falling-down Huntridge Theatre - and being right across the road, one can imagine flocks of movie-goers through the decades stopping in for a malt between double-features... or even grungie Pearl Jam fams during the theatre's days as a music venue. Of course those guys were more likely stopping in for, like, smokes and a SoBe. Either way, the food is fairly priced, and they are open for breakfast and lunch 6 days a week... and a major bonus is the Savers thrift store in the same parking lot!

Yes, actual original wallpaper and sign ubove the pharmacy window... same sign font and coloring as a lot found further up Charleston, and at Decatur Drug.

Everything behind the counter - the fountains and fixtures - are original, as is the robin's egg blue speckled laminate on the kick-panels.

The new owner, Joel, replaced only the elements of the soda shop that needed to be. Here the original blue formica and chrome pedistals look pretty sharp betwixt the red reupholstery and New checkerboard tile floor.

Serving up those real ice-cream shakes.... sounds like breakfast to me.

From the parking lot: the Huntridge theatre across the street, and the Pharmacy on the right. Just past that cow.

If a vegan donut and a black coffee is more your speed, or even a frosting-y cake with sprinkles - then I should say Ronald's Donuts is more the place for you - though with plenty of its own orginal decor to soak about in. This place is no secret, apparently - as we sat both Saturday morning (with visiting vegan friendies), and again today, there was a steady stream of customers rolling in. But oh my gosh. This isn't a Dunkin Donuts - a fact that I revel in, but that somehow made Genesee cry... in fact their donuts are actually damn good. Really very darn good and tasty. Really. I couldn't say it enough... BEST DONUTS EVER. And two thirds of their generous selection is vegan... so take that.
And for one measly dollar, you can get one dozen donut holes. If that isn't old fashioned value, I don't know what is. And, there just so happens to be a Savers thrift store directly next to this place too. So if you ever want to have a vintage dining establishment and mini thrift tour - !

Call me.

Pomegranate Time!

I will post pics of this madness once I get a wrangle on it - but let me tell you, two trees full of pomegranates equals several laundry baskets full, and that is so much effort in peeling!

http://www.pomegranates.org/home.shtml

But look at the delicious food I will be making all winter long! Is that an enchilada?!

More Architecture...

Last week I joined friend E Joy again in the East Charleston neighborhoods to ogle architecture and re-visit the Huntridge neighborhood home that she is thinking of occupying. Because the house is still "under renovation" I put my dibs on these external sconces - just in case some yay-hoo decides to replace them. There are two, and we agreed that they should stay with the house they have adorned for the past 50 or so years.... but if we ever return to find them removed....! (A dumpster-diving we go.)

After that little visit she showed me to another nearby neighborhood, around 15th and Oakey -

That being the corner where this beautiful... and vacant house sits. I came home and googled it, and came to read someone refer to this as the ridgeview neighborhood, but I am unsure. Regardless, driving past this house, unaware of its existence, well, it was exciting. So exciting that I busted out my camera and started staking out the place.

These are my best drive-by angles... I came home and searched for this house on the MLS, after I noticed the lockbox, and dead lawn, but I did not see it listed. Too new, or too late. Either way, there are about to be some new souls in this old home.

There were other house that I noted on a more thorough drive-through with Hubby that night. All with their low slung roof lines, bold architectural details, and trees! I love the old neighborhoods here for their landscaping... even palm trees give shade when they're old and big and bushy enough. This house, and this neighborhood bears the distinction of being the best house stumbled-upon. Someday I will take the time to share some photos of the best houses that I went out of my way to see.

And here are a few views from the same block:

Smokestack? Awesome shingely roof-decor? Both...fantastic.
And this last house, so olivey, under the massive olive trees out front. I love the tiny bungalow styling, and the way that it looks like it fell right from that tree and planted there, then flourished.

Home Improvements!

As with most of my projects, this one has no pictures of the true "before" state, but that is because on the day that our impromptu renovation began, I had no camera. Well, after holes were torn in walls, pipes moved, drywall replaced, and reconstruction of the shower was complete, this is what my master bath looked like. Now, due to my own personal effort, there is a fresh coat of paint in the inspired scheme below, which is over new custom texture. There are touch-ups and finishes to be made for sure, but it is the most positive step we've seen - almost feels like we really WILL have a bathroom again someday.

This fixture is going to get a coat of green before the original shade is replaced... And this window sill and other brown trim-color elements will be given a special "surprise" treatment. Surprise because it is an experiment for me, and I will be surprised if it works good! Just Kidding. Ish.

Now the thing to do is get these tiles in. We just received our 10 cases, and we are almost ready to install. Now the biggest obstacle facing us is the lack of time... oh yeah, and lack of knowledge and experience. So we will be taking this step SLOOOOOOOW.

And one more slight improvement (unless you ask Super Soul) is the presence of these guys: two baby cats that we have the pleasure of watching destroy our stuff for the next 3 weeks or so.

Awwwwww!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Not the first thing this summer, but at some point, I re-upholstered my kitchen chairs with the fabric that I will be covering the valances in and making curtains of - it is a cute orange and green based floral, that basically matches everything I own.

As you can see (a little) from this picture, there is a glossy sheen to the fabric - that is because I used a commercial fabric laminating product over the top. I bought the stuff while living in Germany and never did use it, despite the thousands of things I was convinced I would do... thereby necessitating the entire bolt that I purchased via the Internets. So yes, this was the first time I used it. Also the first time I ever even examined the product or opened the box... so I guess I was lucky that it did actually fit this application, because there was no way I could use a white-field fabric with a 3 and a half year old regularly abusing these chairs. This is what it looked like before:I know, yikes. I swear that big yucky stain is just spilled beverage, but its making was the absolute final last straw. I used to put pretty cloth napkins over the chairs when guests came over :( But now there is no need! The chairs are looking snazzy, the spills just wipe right off... worth the minimal effort for sure.

Also, during my work and during my free time - okay, so always - I have been thinking about Miffy, and how I love that little bun. I began my collection in Korea, where I spent 2004, and where Nijntje (in Dutch) Miffy (in English) *something untypable* (in Hangul) was finding popularity. I remembered the simple drawings and characters from books in my youngin-days, and I was drawn again to the simple, modern ascthetic of this little bunny, with a little x mouth. Anyway, I amassed umbrellas, watches, art supplies, jewelry, and a special plush that I bought for myself on my 22nd birthday, in the E market in Kunsan City... A toy which now resides with the rest of my collection in the lovingly torturous hands of my daughter. But now there is a Miffy I want to add to my collection - two - in the form of beautimous foot- tattoos. Think think think, and obsess, and obsess. And finally, the other day, I find this this girl while I was googling Miffy tattoos (which I saw none even remotely to my vision). It's not a tattoo of miffy...

http://catrionarennie.deviantart.com/art/miffy-and-tattoo-131994912

(I just typed out that link... how the heck do you paste in?) Like I said, it's not a tattoo of miffy... but it is a tattoo of an SP heart (kinda) and there is an empty plate of chocolate cake, and a glass of milk in a Miffy cup. Is it me, or is this me? I don't know... check out her bangs, it might be Kari.

Somewhere in the midst of daydreaming, I managed to create some beautiful pillows for a friend who custom-requested them. Actually the work was a breeze, and it felt good to do one of those fun and minimally challenging projects that gives you a thorough boost of self satisfaction.

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=18858007

This project also gave me a chance to read about the history of quilt designs, as they relate to the swastka, and to do a broad research of the organizations and religions world wide that proudly utilize the swastika or one of its variants - both before it was adopted by the Nazi party and since. I also became aware of a movement in the EU to make displays of the symbol illegal - which I find an appallingly close minded idea. Instead, with these pillows (it's a small protest, I know) I support a movement that seeks to educate and decriminalize the symbol.

Yay, so I protested, but I also went shopping. Lots of times, for lots of things, and almost always at a thrift store. Sometimes at the antique mall - one time at Heddy's Fabrics on Charleston (holla!) - but only for needles... and one time, due to lapse, and boredom, and heat - hey there is no AC in my car... and it's regularly 100 degrees here - I shopped at the mall. It sounds dramatic, but I really only bought shoes... on sale shoes. And I browsed a hip little joint that didn't look like it belonged in a mall at all - and apparently it had only just materialized as a second location to an already popular local store. They sell handmade and specialized brands, and I bought a neat vintage sticker of Nevada (for hubby's truck). And the beautiful girls that work there were more than nice to me and even let me take their pictures:

That is the girl whose name I can't remember, ringing up my sticker, and that is NOT Amanda. Hi guys! Thanks for being so nice to me!

Below are some nice clothes they had for sale... Cash 4 Chaos.

So that was fun. Proving to myself that the mall in not a complete waste of time. Believe me, It was tough after hitting up the pita place in the food court only to discover that their ultimate falafel was anything but.

Finally, lastly, before I let you stop reading (if anyone has gotten this far) I have to tell you about the fantastic house I was privy to touring as good friend E Joy searched for her new abode. This modest and dilapidated number is in a fascinating neighborhood, behind the historical (and also quite dilapidated) Huntridge Theatre, by architect S. Charles Lee.

I first discovered this neighborhood only weeks ago while I was checking out some thrift store in the area with hubby. We noticed that although small and ratty (haha, not all of them though), the houses here has a distinctive charm... but that was one street over. These homes are much nicer, "lived-in", blue collar, but kept up, as evidenced by this photo of the illustrious Bean on the curbside.
The house that I toured was undergoing a complete and necessary renovation after some tenants left, and took most of this home's pride with them. It's not much at this point, but oh my, those windows... that blank stucco wall, waiting for a wrought iron art piece or some architectural framework. The disappearing corner is one of my favorite looks, and though this house doesn't quite have it, the effect is the same.... or could be.

The Stratosphere hotel and casino is barely visible over the tops of the houses. About that much of the needle is visible from Genny's bedroom window, as well - and probably from all over town.
The bathrooms, as with the rest of the house, were amazing, and horribly maintained - though I was relieved to hear that these original butternut and seafoam tiles will not be replaced, but will be brought back to life through repairs, and by updating the broken fixtures and cabinetry around them.

After I went home and eagerly googled the theatre (again) and it's surrounds, I came across a couple interesting links -

www.lasvegasnevada.gov/TextOnly/FactsStatistics/4705.htm

Which has the application for placing the theatre on the national registry of historic places, and also a couple tiny pictures... for some reason, there is not pic available, not that I can find, of this grand palace in its heyday.

Hmm, and one other link that I can't seem to find now! Well, then. Anyway, is was referring to the Huntridge Diner, which is apparently directly across from the theatre on Charleston and Maryland Pkwy. It is a squarish drugstore on the outside, but inside there is an honest to god 60s diner. So, now I have to check out his place... and revisit another, at Decatur Drug, where I have been told there is another Diner-inside-drugstore. I have been in that building and never knew there was a lunch counter, so hopefully it is still there! But according to my friend and former resident of the (Decatur) neighborhood, it has been alive and struggling for decades. I even photographed (poorly) the signs inside of Decatur drug for the cashier and service desks because of their true to the time period look and feel... So guess there will be pics of that next week, after I treat myself to breakfast Monday morning when I drop off Genny at her Montessori pre-school :)