Thursday, April 29, 2010

Thursday's Treasure

I found this luscious aqua lazy susan set at my favorite thrift store this week- it was on sale day, too! Five dollars!! I've decided to keep it for myself... it will give me incentive to reassert myself on the "big dig" this weekend. I am envisioning it on a cleared off craft table, holding all of my bits of inspiration. Silk threads on wooden spools, vintage buttons, old playing cards... mmm!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

New Expression


I found a fun tea towel the other day that is titled "Yorkshire Expressions". Strangely enough, the towel reads "made in England", but the tag says it is "made in Ireland". It has a copyright date of 1985, so it may find itself in sosovintage one day. But before that happens, let's have some fun with it!
~*~
The "eyes are bigger than the belly" one is the ONLY one I have heard out of 31 expressions!
~*~
Here's one for today:
AH WOR FAIR CAPPED
What do you think that means???
Leave a comment with your best guess - no googling :)

Monday, April 26, 2010

Makeover Monday: 4/26

I started with a rug that I made a few weeks ago... It needed a little something.
~*~
This bright, rusty-orange, tie-dyed, jersey knit sheet was just what the rug doctor ordered!
~*~
Now THAT is a finished rug... it kind of reminds me of a tranquil koi pond.
~*~
Happy Monday, friends! What's on your agenda for the week?
So far for me it's just getting ready for Mother's Day, making an eye doctor appointment, and cleaning out the guest room closet. Maybe a trip to Ikea. I know, it's an exciting life that I lead!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Lights, Camera...

(Click Here ^)
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OK, OK- it's only a 30 second video. But, it was super fun to make and free, too. Head on over to ANIMOTO to make your own. Be warned- you might be playing around for a while. If you end up with your own masterpiece, post the link here so I can check it out.
~*~
Have a great day, and don't forget to come on back tomorrow for makeover Monday!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Mug Rugs

I've made upcycled coasters as a custom request before, but have never had a set for sale in my shop. The lemon-lime colors of these make me really happy, and I'm pleased with the way my bow came out on top. The little things in life can make all the difference.
~*~
Happy Saturday! What little thing has made you happy lately?

And the Winner is....

Here is my receipt from Yesterday's Rose thrift store... I paid a grand total of $24.68 for all of those goodies. So, the winner is.....
......
...... Angela from aandboriginals with her estimate of $24.50!!!
You can't get much closer than that; congratulations, Angela!
~*~
Thanks so much to all who played the Price is Right game this week. There were several VERY close guesses, so I believe it's only a matter of time before everyone wins. By the way, I need to call it something different, and I'm at a loss for names. Any ideas?

Friday, April 23, 2010

Friday Fun: Price is Right Game 3

Welcome! Come join the fun- the more, the merrier!

The Game: I show you my thrift shop haul from one recent outing. You leave a comment with your best estimate of the total amount that I paid. For you sticklers out there, this does include sales tax. The person who comes closest without going over wins!
~*~
The Rules: One clear and definitive guess per person- no amending your answer. Please do not choose the same answer as a person who came before you- check the comments before leaving your guess. Game goes for 24 hours- I'll post the receipt and winner here. Please be sure I know how to get in touch with you- either through email or Etsy shop name. Play nice and have fun :)
~*~
The Prize: The satisfaction of winning, AND $5 in "soso bucks"- can be applied to any purchase in either of my shops. Can be saved and spent at a later time, up to one year. Can also be combined with future "soso bucks" wins!
~*~
The Stuff: This week the loot is from a hospital charity thrift shop, non-sale day. Prices here are inconsistent, and I promise I'm not just saying that to throw you off. I am always surprised at how high some things are, and how low others are.
~*~




From left to right, top row we have:

1. sweet aqua and orange teacup and saucer

2. antique wood handled (green paint!) kitchen utensils

3. Yellow enamelware plate with floral detail

4. pinwheel Lansing button card

Bottom row, left to right:

1. Metlox Vernon ware "tickled pink" plate

2. Quilted vinyl carry case

3. vintage full size bath towel

4. Regal aluminum cake and pie carrier

~*~*~*~*~*~

So there you have it... let the computing and commenting commence!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Thursday's Treasure

Today's treasure comes from Michelle at Michelle Mcfadden Photography! She purchased one of my wombEEs a year ago, and added this first photo as an appreciation photo in her feedback.
Don't you love the loungy little leg hanging over?
~*~
Michelle is so super kind and thoughtful- she sent me another photo this week, just because. Baby "slings" are the latest rage in infant photography, and I had NO idea that the wombEE could be so versatile. This is the same prop in both photos!
~*~


Thank you so much, Michelle, for your fabulous talent and generosity!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Happy Housewarming

One of my best Etsy friends (does that make her a betsy instead of a besty?) just realized her dream of owning a home! I wanted to make her something special to celebrate, so I started scurrying around finding fabrics as soon as I found out her "colors".
~*~She is decorating with earth tones in her kitchen and dining area; chocolate, sage, paprika, olive, off-white, and the like.
~*~ Here is the rug that will go in front of her kitchen sink! If you look very closely maybe you'll see all the hugs hidden inside. I hear they help with dishes ;)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Mushroom Madness

Holy fungus, Batman! It looks like a blast from the 70's in here. All of these shroomy goodies will be coming to sosovintage soon... see something you must have? Blog readers get preferential treatment- feel free to send me a message!

Sears and Roebuck 1978 Merry Mushrooms napkin holder and double spoon rest
~*~
Syndicate Mfg. Co. metal recipe box
~*~

Living Quotes 1975 "Friend" plaque
and Japan stacking mug
~*~
Oh, the Brady's would be so proud, wouldn't they?

Monday, April 19, 2010

Makeover Monday: 4/19

Happy Monday! Today's Makeover features the "big girl bed" we've been waiting for. Please excuse the poor quality of these photos- we were on a tight schedule, and unfortunately I couldn't wait for just the right light.
~*~

Here is Sophie's bedroom with all of the furniture moved out- waiting for the bed to be delivered. I'm so happy that I went with a basic shabby chic girl theme for the nursery- it transitions so easily! It's a small bedroom, and I was really nervous about how the bed would look once it was in.
~*~


And here is the other side of the room, where I was hoping to put the dresser and bookshelf. Her bedroom window looks out on the upper deck, and she will soon have a window box full of pink and purple flowers.
~*~

The bed finally arrived (loooooong story), and best of all- it FITS where I wanted it to go! Without too many options, this was a very good thing. The glider had to go, but everything else fit back in.

~*~


These are a few of my favorite things in the room: the fabric covered cork board, the cross stitch animal scene that I made while I was pregnant, the vintage chenille bathrobe hanging by the bedside, dried flowers from a "congratulations" arrangement that we received when Sophie was born.
~*~
Now we can snuggle on the bed to read the nighttime story... and I admit, for those few minutes each day I wish we shared this bedroom. Sophie told me I can sleep there if I'd like- I may just take her up on that one day. For now, I'm enjoying how small my little girl looks in her big girl bed. It reminds me of how teeny she looked in her crib when we first brought her home. Knowing how quickly that changed, I've got to appreciate every moment of this!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

The Big Winner and Voter Update

Thanks so much to all who joined in for The Price is Right game 2.
Here is my receipt from Friday's thrift haul- I paid a grand total of $25.11. That means our winner for this week is......
drum roll......
carapace.etsy.com!!!
She came in with a spectacularly spot-on guess of $25!!!!


In other news, here's what the Eco-Item voter is looking like right now. Can you believe my bowl is in 2nd place???? I am so super excited!!! As you can imagine, I'd love to maintain my spot, or even give #1 a good run for her money- and voting ends Tuesday at 10am.

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Bottom line- I need more votes!! If you haven't weighed in with your choice yet, please do- especially if it is the upcycled lidded bowl, lol. If you have etsy teams or friends who might like to be reminded to vote- please don't hesitate to give them a nudge in the right direction. Every single vote counts, and I need and appreciate all the help I can get.

~*~

The link to go right to the voter is HERE.

Thank you so much from the bottom of my sosorosey heart :)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

The Price is Right: Game 2

Welcome! Come join the fun- the more, the merrier!
The Game: I show you my thrift shop haul from one recent outing. You leave a comment with your best estimate of the total amount that I paid. The person who comes closest without going over wins!
~*~
The Rules: One clear and definitive guess per person- no amending your answer. Please do not choose the same answer as a person who came before you- check the comments before leaving your guess. Game goes for 24 hours- I'll post the real amount in the comments section, and contact the winner. Please be sure I know how to get in touch with you- either through email or Etsy shop name. Play nice and have fun :)
~*~
The Prize: The satisfaction of winning, AND $5 in "soso bucks"- can be applied to any purchase in either of my shops. Can be saved and spent at a later time, up to one year. Can also be combined with future "soso bucks" wins!
~*~
The Stuff: This week the loot is from the same Salvation Army as last week, purchased on a Friday- a non-sale day.
~*~
Owl mug by Golden Crown, E&R, Portugal and small solid brass owl
~*~4 perfect vintage berry bowls (unmarked) with aqua and pink flowers
~*~small unmarked vintage pitcher- more aqua and pink flowers!, and a silver plated ornate spoon
~*~
AMAZING green metal tea kettle by Fiesta accessories!
This needed major cleaning, but boy is she pretty now :)
~*~
Have fun!!! Can't wait to see who comes closest this time!!!

Friday Fun Info

Happy Saturday, folks! I'm so sorry that Friday Fun didn't happen on Friday- I had lots going on and just couldn't get to it. I fully intend to post game 2 of "The Price is Right" sometime today, so please do come on back to play!
~*~

In the meantime, here's a sneak peek of the large coaster or small mat that I will be listing in sosorosey soon. I love that the flowers in the fabric are still visible! This item is about 18" wide, and would serve nicely under pet food/water bowls or under the centerpiece/salt/pepper/etc. on a large farm table.
~*~
Hope you are enjoying your weekend, and don't forget to come back and visit later tonight!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Thursday's Treasure


Oh. My. Gosh. It is so hard to type while I'm skipping around the house!!! My upcycled lidded bowl is in the Etsy Eco Item voter this week!!! That's it right up there with the star beside it. (Yes I DID vote for myself, hehe.) OK...Breathe. Breathe.
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I am so honored to have my item featured with 59 other fabulous creations. Winners of the vote will get the added bonus of appearing on TheDailyGreen.com for their Heart of Green awards. Yay for Earth Day!
~*~
What's that? You'd like to go vote? Well alrighty! Just log into your Etsy account and click right HERE. Then click the dot next to the item you want to vote for, and then scroll down to where it says something like "cast vote". You must click to cast your vote... if you've done it correctly, the special starburst will appear next to the item you voted for. There are 5 days left to vote- tell your friends!
~*~
skip~ click heels~ shake booty~ fist pump~ squeal!
(That's my happy dance- just like Elaine from Seinfeld)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Welcome Back

It seems like it has been eons since I've made a set of rag-topped nested bowls!
~*~
I've had the bases of these three made for quite some time, but I've had a heck of a time finding just the right fabric to tie the colors together. I set the bowls aside for at least a month.
~*~

On Monday I found the soft old cotton kerchief in photo one, remembered my bowl bases, and brought the nest set back to life.

~*~ While I'm always thinking of new items to make for sosorosey, the rag-top nested bowls are one of my earliest *signature* creations. I'm glad to have some new ones back in the shop :)
~*~

How many projects do you currently have sitting around waiting for the perfect finishing touch?
Please share!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

All Abloom

Sophie and I took a little field trip around the back yard yesterday. Daddy worked in the yard all weekend, so we wanted to admire his handiwork and see what plants were coming to life.
~*~
We found loads of little wild violets in the side yard.
~*~

The bleeding heart plant that I bought as a gift for hubby a few years ago comes back stronger each year.
~*~

The berries are bright on the ornamental bamboo.

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The azaleas are just beginning to blossom. Yes, that's a bee. A large bee!

~*~

I love to plant annuals in our windowboxes at this time of year, but it is always so exciting to see the perennials pop up. It makes me feel hopeful and full of appreciation for the nature that abounds in our little corner of the woods. What's blooming in your part of the world?

Monday, April 12, 2010

Makeover Monday: 4/12

Happy Monday! For today's makeover, I chose this bright little bug fabric. I originally thought they were ladybugs, but then I realized they have stripes and not spots! Oh well- they look like friendly sorts, anyway.
~*~Since my first listed wallflower is on its way to Portugal (yay! a new country for my list!), I needed to make a new one to replace it in my shop.
~*~I tried this photo with the flower on the fabric. I *think* I like it...does it look too busy to you for my first listing photo?
~*~I hope your week is off to a splendiferous start! I have loads of photos to take, listings to create, and a rug to start this week. Also have to get an oil change, and get ready for the big girl bed coming on Friday. My baby isn't a baby anymore- wah!!!!
~*~
How about you- what's on your agenda for the week?

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Rustic Clutter Keeper

Just when you thought you'd seen the last of the primitive rag ball creations, you remembered that this is ME that you're dealing with!
~*~
The primitive rag balls for this project came from the same Texas ranch heirloom collection as the ones I made so many stars from over the Christmas holiday season.
~*~

These beautiful fabrics are primarily 100% cotton, with a couple of blends as well. The maker of the balls did such an excellent job of painstakingly cutting, folding, ironing and stitching the lengths- it made my job a true and uniquely joyous experience.

~*~

When you don't cut and wind the fabric yourself (and sometimes even when you do!), it is very hard to know exactly how it is going to work up. How the yardage will translate to becoming a multidimensional object is one of the great mysteries of this craft!
~*~

I was more conservative on the width of this one in order to ensure a substantial depth. It ended up being about 10" wide and 6" deep. AND, I still have a bit of one rag ball left! Maybe it will be used for a small bowl- maybe a few stars. Whatever the customer would like works for me...I'm just happy that I have a little bit more left to play with. *sigh*

Friday, April 9, 2010

Friday Fun!

TGIF!!! Let's have some fun, shall we? I love to see what other people bring home from their thrifting expeditions, so I thought you might like to see what I bought today. All of this loot came from the Salvation Army this morning. Prices there seem to be going up and up, so these are the things I couldn't leave behind.
~*~
After checking it all out- leave your best guess as to the total cost in the comments. I'll come back late tonight and let you know the actual amount spent. Winner gets the satisfaction of winning- and 50% off any one item in sosovintage should you find something you love :)
Here we go!
~*~

Aqua Hull pottery plate, enamelware roses mug, painted milkglass heart, shapely glass stoppered cruet
~*~

6 aqua and yellow linen napkins, 4 linen floral napkins, 3 sturdy cotton pillowcases, one ET pillowcase

~*~

Perfect retired rose fiestaware- large disk pitcher, salt and pepper shakers, gravy boat, and large covered bowl

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Small yellow fiesta disk pitcher, red-lidded nutgrinder, scottie dog cannister

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What a haul! Can't wait to see who comes closest without going over! Let the guessing begin!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Thursday's Treasure: Mother's Day Ready

There isn't much that makes me happier than finding a way to create something unique that is both fun and functional. And if it serves multiple purposes? Well, that's just pure bliss!
~*~
Just in time for spring and Mother's Day, please welcome the upcycled wallflower. Crocheted entirely from freshly laundered, repurposed fabrics, these are a super fun way to really *go green*!
~*~

While it's certainly no thrill to BE a wallflower, having or giving one of these is a sure way to celebrate the pure and simple joy of the growing season.

~*~

At a generous 8" diameter, the wallflower can be a coaster/trivet under your favorite beverage, potted plant, pitcher or casserole. When not in use, it brightens up a hook or wall space with a touch of color and splash of whimsy.

~*~

Fun idea: order a set and decorate an entire sunporch wall or child's room! Happily made to order in any color under the sun :)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

For the Baby Sister

I met a sweet mother recently who is expecting her second daughter in July. She came across my ruffled Easter basket, and was hoping I could make one to match big sister Audrey's basket. She even sent me this photo, which was so helpful to me in picking out fabrics!
~*~These are the fabrics I came up with, and my customer agreed that they would work well. We decided on using the whiter one as the main color, with a swath of the yellow in the middle.

~*~
I made it exactly the way we discussed, but when I finished it last night, I was a little sad by how much the ruffles covered up the yellow. I decided to do a little somethin' somethin', knowing that if my customer didn't like it, I could easily remove it.

~*~
So, in addition to the yellow swath in the mid-section, I gave it a top row of the yellow along with a sweet bow on the side. I love the way it turned out, and so does the mom- yay!