Mile marker 90.

Please indulge me while I type up this tribute to a favorite vintage person who also happens to be very modern…

She is someone who defines optimism as “…an 80+ year old woman who renews her passport.” (And uses it!)

She’s on Facebook. She’s an email pro and has been for years. 

She knows what in the world airbnb* is and finds it pretty interesting. 

She takes selfies!

Selfie taken while dining on roasted duck & fig crepes from "Planet of the Crepes" food cart

She has a resume that contains the following titles: Award-winning Author, Gourmet Chef, Restaurant Review Writer, Business Owner, and Hotel Social Director.  (There are more. This is just the highlight reel. )

Former Social Director at the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel

She found her great love at age 80 and married him.

She is a tireless cheerleader for reconnecting far-flung family members.

She induces anxiety by asking this visiting short order cook to prepare dinner for her. (See previous reference to “Gourmet Chef” and “Restaurant Review Writer.”  Sheer terror, I tell you.)

Celebrating something or another 

She reduces anxiety by introducing visiting short order cooks to Prosecco, Limoncello, and Bellinis.

She shares a rare genetic disorder with yours truly that involves the acquisition of pretty vintage dishes. So many dishes. We can’t be stopped but probably should be.

She appreciates beauty all around her, especially in her home and her garden. 

She dresses so stylishly that someone needs to put her on the pages of Vogue.

She reads my blog, refers to me as a writer and encourages and supports all of my endeavors.

All of this (and much, much more) describes my Auntie Phyllis, who turns 90 today.

I would love and appreciate it so much if you would please wish her a “Happy Birthday” in the comments below.  Thank you.  ♥

Photo borrowed from her Facebook page 

Ninety!  Love you, Auntie!  xo

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*airbnb.com

Because it’s my week (end).

For my birthday this year, I gave myself the gift of junking.

An entire weekend spent puttering around thrift shops, antique malls and junk shops on the Oregon coast (and a little on the Washington coast as well).

(I think she accidentally left the price tag on it – 50? Fifty? Must be her lucky number ... or something.)

It all began at Monticello Antique Marketplace with some foofing of my space there and coffee with Laurie who brought me this lovely bit of Springtime-in-January, a la Magpie Ethel (her alter ego).

Friended, fortified and foofed, off I went!

A vendor at an antique mall had hundreds of these for sale!

I made it through 4 huge antique malls, 7 8 thrift stores, 3 charming vintage shops and one *awesome* junk stop and saw lots of inspiration along the way.

in the basement at Phog Bounders Antique Mall, Astoria OR

Inspiring antique mall displays 

(I think I need to pack in more in my mall space – I really like this full-to-the-brim look. What do you think? Too much?)

Astoria Vintage Hardware, Astoria OR

Inspiring painted furniture. (Love the black)

Sewing inspiration. 

Bright ideas. (sorry)

Hobo Junction, 105 SW 13th St., Long Beach WA (click photo to enlarge and go nuts!)

And some good old-fashioned junking. This was my last stop and the most fun.

The owner was more than happy to climb over his mountains of treasures and pull out rusty, chippy things he thought I might be interested in while I pretty much wandered around in a daze and tried to take it all in.

The inside of his shop is as fascinating as the outside.

And his prices were more than fair.

You can see more photos of his shop here.

Happy Tuesday to you!

The Vintage Crafter Strikes Again.

Despite what’s happening outside today, I see signs of Spring inside.

 

The thimble flowers are blooming.

And I’m surrounded by my favorite kind of roses, the Barkcloth Rose.

 

Just wanted to share these sweet gifts from my talented friend, The Vintage Crafter Magpie Ethel.

Hope you’re having a cozy & creative weekend.

And now we will resume our regularly scheduled programming

Since I last chatted with you…

My very old computer suddenly decided it was All Done.

Even if I was not.

While waiting and waiting and waiting for its replacement to arrive (“… blah blah important computer-ish part on back order blah blah blah …”), the following is some of what was accomplished:

Re-wired four lamps.

 

Made that sofa slipcover at last! (from Ikea curtain panels) The ottoman is next in line which will be a breeze compared to the sofa.

Completely rearranged the Doily Factory and its roommate, the Etsy Inventory Storage Facility, the contents of which were co-mingling in a dangerous way with the summer Vintage Market things-to-sell-stash.

Sent many boxes of miscellaneous to the local Senior Center thrift shop.  While unsettling to come across my former stuff on their store shelves, so far I have successfully avoided the horror of accidentally re-purchasing something I donated.

Yard-saled with mixed results. A few small victories here and there but no Big Scores lately.

Hosted a birthday celebration.  (Did not paint the white sideboard. Yet.)

{ this flag pillow is a mini version of last year's jumbo size flag pillow }

Some sewing.

Computer situation is resolved at last. So glad to be back!

A Tale of Two Birthdays

A little something made by Laurie (aka Magpie Ethel)

Disclaimer: I am another year older today. I disclose this information as it's the only plausible explanation available for what you're about to read.

Act One.

Late one night, Detective Magpie was prowling around the internet with one thing, and one thing only, on her mind.

She had some vintage crafting to do.

She came across this pincushion and realized what was ahead of her: A long night surrounded by spun heads and a hot glue gun. She made some coffee and got to work.

The next morning she emerged from her studio, satisfied. She had done it.

She had created a tiny yet perfectly formed vintage birthday gift, bearing an uncanny resemblance to its recipient (with the exception of the fabulous ensemble worn by this little figure who is clearly a much snappier dresser), right down to the giant needle in her hand.

{  Thank you Laurie, for making this incredible, one-of-a-kind birthday gift for me. I **love** this happy little gal! }

Act Two.

This year I was ahead of the game. The gift for her was made and wrapped. All I had left to do was wait for the birthday luncheon to roll around.

And then I saw her blog post about collecting vintage Oregon state souvenirs. Everything changed after that.

I headed to the Doily Factory.

I had never felt so alive.

I cut and chopped, avoided holes, skipped around stains and was left with just enough 'good parts.'

 

Then a little sewing and before you could say "All done," I dropped my camera. On concrete.

Because I don't do things halfheartedly.

The camera is no longer with us.

But you can see the finished birthday pillow over here. 

The End.

 Last week I had lunch in Portland OR with these two ladies -- do you recognize them? One of them you've probably seen shopping at estate sales, maybe holding a flashlight or magnifying glass, definitely some vintage treasures in hand. The other can be spotted touring Paris or thrifting around town, possibly in a cute pair of cowboy boots and some rhinestones. And I'm reasonably sure they're both always busy making something.

 

Magpie Ethel / Laurie

 

A Thing For Roses / Lisa

 Lunch quickly turned into an impromptu birthday celebration since Laurie's birthday had been earlier in the month and mine would be in the week to come. Which is now this week. Actually, the 'big day' is today. Thought I'd see if I could sneak that by you.

I tell you that so I can show you this.

 A happy vintage birthday birdie on a swing, made by Laurie/Ethel.

And this.

 

Absolutely beautiful birthday necklace, reversible too, made by Lisa.

Two wonderful birthday gifts, handmade and vintage.

I love them!

Thank you Lisa and Laurie/Ethel for your thoughtfulness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I should mention that I made a little birthday gift for Ethel (not her real name but seriously, we all call her that, don't we?), inspired by one of her charming spun head gals.

The muse.

The plan. (A shining example of my art school education)

The result.

Thanks for sharing this day with me.