Really Cute Packaging Idea

I read about is packaging idea by Mandi posted at A Beautiful Mess, basically sewing an envelope out of paper grocery bags. So simple and easy and cheap, and when it comes to packaging my items I've sold, I'm all about recycling, reusing, and cheap. And now it can also be super cute! Here are my results, where I didn't exactly follow Mandi's more intelligent method, because reading instructions after a project is how I usually work things.

Sold: Singer Featherweight 221K in White

It kills to have to part with this find, especially after testing it out post-tune up. Gorgeous, dreamy, mod sewing. I shouldn't complain too hard though, getting to use my grandmother's black featherweight with loads of attachments. I may prefer the white, but having two machines seems silly, and parting with a family heirloom would be sacrilege. Besides, Grandma Margene was a supreme crafter of the highest rank, and I am humbled to be working on her machine, despite the allure of the white.

Down to the gritty gritty here though: the case is in very good vintage condition, clean throughout and free of any major dings or scrapes. I am out of fabreeze right now, but there is a whiff of basement to the case. The machine, like I said, works beautifully, and is very clean save some small bits of aged dust in the hardest to reach corners. The cord is supple and free of cracks or fraying; the bakelite pedal is original and in very good condition. The light works, the motor hums satisfyingly. Reverse works great. Tension is right on. Also has the original white belt--rare! Featherweight aficionados recommend taking off the white belts and storing separately since they are a bit sought after.

Gizmo, who was recommended by the lovely girls at Purl, gave this machine a thorough going over, tune up, and clean bill of health (a $70 visit itself). Even he kept repeating over and over, "I love these machines, I love these machines." He even kindly unscrewed some of the paneling and showed me the "guts". Industrial chic indeed.

The well known indestructibility and ease of use of these machines is legendary. Also, if kept in good condition, it will only become a more valuable collectible. This particular machine was made in 1964, the last year of production. I also have the original instruction booklet, working keys for the case, and the receipt for the tune up. She's also got a brand new needle.

One last thing though is that the bobbin case is not original, I bought a modern replacement. Gizmo said the quality is not as good as the original, but what the eff is these days? It does work nicely though, and also set me back a pretty penny so I can offer this beauty as absolutely ready to sew up a storm.

DIY Bead Chandlier

Can't say enough how in love I am with this DIY project on Design*Sponge. IN. LOVE.


Click here for directions.

THE Anthropolgie Buyer

Someone is brilliant for creating this show: following the special buyer Keith Johnson for Anthropologie stores around the globe as he finds inspired objects.



Since I've started the store, I virtually never buy anything at any Anthro/UO stores anymore, but I do go and swoon and steal display ideas, and I'm sure once this store starts I'll be stealing more refurbish/refinishing ideas as well. In all I always knew that there was some kind of mastermind world traveler behind all those great finds (not to mention an unmatched visual display team, BAR NONE). The teaser bits of Keith are a great intro to what the show might be about--my favorite is the one in India where he walks through the process of remaking a huge birdcage with a painted canvas to go on the backboard among other modifications. Premiers October 7th--I'm marking my calendar! (And hoping it will be streaming online...haven't had a television in eight years...)

I Love This Idea

Over at Benign Objects, a cute stationery company in Minnesota, they shared an adorable idea for Save the Dates, but really you could use it for any sweet event. Using a Yudu (I want!), they cleverly screened on the info for their Save the Date onto vintage hankies. Check out the results below, and stash this one in an inspiration folder for sure. Read the full post here.

DIY Herman Miller Shell Chair Rehab Part 2

Part 2! Okay, the exclamation point might be misused there, because this very large and very laborious step two to the process of rehabbing this chair is...sanding. And paint stripping. Over and over. For like hours. For like hours, like a few sessions of hours. Over days. And I'm still not sure I'm done. Something about the world of sanding seems to be the rule that when you think you are getting close, you might be 60% done. Might.

Do I look like I'm done being wet sanded? Note, I'm also still drying in this pic...

I don't know if anyone has had fiberglass fingers, but its not that fun either. Its like crunchy sandpaper stuck in your fingers. For like days. And it gets all out, just in time for another round of sanding. The BF says "Wear gloves," to which I intelligently reply with, "Bah."

Mmm...raw fiberglass.

I'm getting excited about the Penetrol coming up though. As Melissa at the Brick House might say, the Penetrol will make this baby the sexy chair it was born to be.

No ten layers of ugly black paint here!

I also got shock mounts on Ebay a few days ago. Still looking out for feet. A generic set I found in a drawer here didn't fit, and there is a set of glides for $20 on eBay, but I'm still holding out.

Even the underside is done!

Read DIY Herman Miller Shell Chair Rehab Part 1 here, and the original DIY instructions here on Chairfag, and another great set of instructions on The Brick House.

Resurrection Fern Crochet Stones

I am overwhelmed with lust to make one of these or buy one of these or somehow, anyhow, by hook or crook to have a crocheted river stone in my possession now.

From the super cool nature inspired blog Resurrection Fern.

Vintage Postcard Jewelry Backings and New Book Display

Spent most of the day today cutting up postcards and grometting holes for new jewelry display backings. I'm pretty pleased with the results:




Also, there are so few of deluxa's famous boat letters left that the picture rails have been replaced with some light and not-so-light reading:




That's Will Rodgers biography on the left, a limited illustrated edition of Candide, and a pretty interesting book on Wall Street from 1955.

DIY Projects

Today I finished rewiring my first lamp after a revamp. Found on the street, the lamp was originally in the category of Haute Tacky. Sadly no photo exists to document this, but take my word that some ugly 70's faux baroque flowers had pretty much attached themselves on the surface like leeches.



About 5 coats of white paint and $7 bucks in rewiring tools and two trips to the hardware store and three attempts at putting the lamp back together correctly and wired in the right order, a handfull of cuss words, and voila! An improvement, but not stellar. Something about the white being too white and the weather worn base contrasting a bit much. I did buy some gold spray paint as well (one of my favorite crafting tools of all time) and am considering the switch a la $1950 1st dibs recast Stiffels.

$3900 for the pair at Dual on 1st Dibs

I'm considering it a learning piece, and am looking forward to more DIYs in lighting--and I owe a major major thanks to John of ilampe for putting me out on the right foot with this one, and putting up with my constant lamp troubles.

My second project that I started today is another street find. This sweet shaped bentwood chair with a broke cane seat. I got about half of it sanded down, and spent some serious hours wrestling with the old spline and webbing, and have a feeling this one is going to be a beauty. Already with the layer of grime and old varnish coming off, she's being coaxed into grace...

Two Blogs/Stores to Share

Here's the lowdown on two great blogs/stores I've found recently:

She Can't Decide

I love the diversity and perfectly lovely photography of this blog--everything done with great taste, curiosity, and inspiration. They're also running a few Etsy stores: funkeyfinds with vintage goods, itsbella with vintage lingere, and olivesomeday with handcrafted goods. All beautiful.

funkeyfinds dinner plate set


itsbella vintage slip



olivesomeday painted syrocco wallhanging

Just a sample of topics she covers includes the way she delightfully packages items, vintage linen calendars (why didn't I think to post an entry about that!), and her weekend thrift/tag sale finds.

tags

linen calendars

planters from weekend spoils.

1918

Run by super talented photographer and stylish person extraordinaire, Meg Lewis out of Kansas City, 1918 is a great online vintage store for clothing (including men's!) and accesories with a blog to boot. Not only is the blog kind of totally supurb with great fashion shots, interviews with their "spotlight customers", and some serious music taste, you can network away with 1918 in about every social platform out there (ok, they aren't on jdate--you got me). Here's a sample of some items from their store, lots of which get featured on their blog/twitter/myspace/facebook/flicker pages.

Wrapping Paper

Amazing prints on these wrapping papers in store. $.25 for scraps, $3 for full sheets. Lots lots more in store.

Boat Letters

I just got in the store these amazing letters salvaged from retiring boats. So many beautiful typefaces and great layers of paint and wear and character. I also have a bowl full of plastic letters, which are almost as beautiful, but still completely charming. Don't you love them? I was geekily into checking out each one as I was alphabetizing on my picture rails.

$3 each, plastic letters are $2 each.

Some Saturday Etsy-in'

Some fun things I found today...

I love all things bunny. Because of these guys. Silver leather ZAI toy made by a fabulous couple living in one of the most beautiful and unique apartments I've ever seen.

Got a chuckle. Visit Able and Game's Etsy store here. Tons of (self deprecating?) hilarious cards. Also, make sure to catch the asterisk footnote to this card.

Gorgeous vintage plastic beads ($6.75 for 40 assorted! steal!) on Peppermint Soda. They have a huge selection too.

Fantasy Wall Hanging

That's sandpaper...

I've got this in the store hanging behind my desk, and though its not really for sale, I love sharing it and am completely in awe of the creativity of whoever made it.