Juicy Bits

210: backyard movie night

Nope.  I don't do anything small.  Can't help it.

I got in my head to do an outdoor movie night to celebrate the start of summer.  First I thought I'd rent the equipment, but then decided I was going to do it more than once (we've already used it 3 times) so it was best to invest in our own.  

Then I had to go for a specific look for the night.  I blame Pinterest.  Truth be told, that's the part I love and I always do details anyway. But I was inspired to do the whole thing by some pictures I found on Pinterest.

Anyway, the look was supposed to be a sort of chic retro on the farm.  Or vineyard.  Or something like that.  I got a bunch of vintage sheets from thrift stores.

This is one of my favs.

And I tried to use a lot of antique looking wood, like the crates and board we used as little tables for drinks etc.  I also put out some flowers and candles.  There were some twinkle lights up on the deck by the food for dim lighting and more ambiance.

My mom has a bunch of nap mats from her preschool days that I sewed pockets in the sheets for, so it was more comfortable.  And I borrowed chairs because in my mind the adults weren't going to be thrilled to lay on the ground.  And there were many, MANY pillows.  Also, my parents have 2 papasan chairs so basically it was like a living room outside.

As for the actual equipment, I bought a projector on Ebay and a receiver/speakers at a yard sale.  The screen I built out of PVC.  Not too difficult.  To give you an idea of scale, the screen is about 14' wide.  The actual material is blackout material meant to line curtains (because it doesn't let light through).  It has a seam down the middle but you can't tell when the movie is playing.  It's attached to the frame by velcro.  

It's somewhat weather proof. It can stay out in the rain but the wind did knock it down.  I can leave up the frame but take down the material, but I am a bit worried the homeowner's association will have a conniption.  If you want more info on how to built your own movie screen, check out backyardtheater.com.  These people are crazy hardcore and it was an awesome resource to help pull it all together.

And of course I had to do snacks.  3 types of popcorn and some classic sweets.  There were bags for the popcorn (regular brown paper bags I printed "fresh popcorn" on myself) and separate one for the GOODIES (so cute!).

Drinks were soda (in glass bottles), beer, water, and orange juice/lemonade served in mason jars.  And boy did we need ice cold drinks that night.  It was HOT!  It was the first night of summer (also the first night after school got out) and I thought we would all melt.  The kids didn't care one bit and ran around before it started.  

Thankfully, it cooled enough after the sun was down that we were reasonably comfortable.  We had a lot of people (mostly families of the kids' friends) and had a blast. Here's how we looked enjoying the show.  We watched Over the Hedge because I thought it particularly appropriate in suburbia. :)  We've also watched How to Train Your Dragon, and one of my all time favorites, Princess Bride.

I used to love going to the Drive-In as a kid so this was great throw-back.  And even though it's not HD or surround sound or anything, there's something that just feels so "real" about the big screen and being outdoors.  It gives me the warm fuzzies.

So what else should I show?  It mostly has to be family movies but maybe we'll do an adult only r-rated night.  I'm thinking classics like Goonies, ET, and of course, Harry Potter.

JT

 

148: roller coaster in my mind

Let's take a little trip in the mind of Jessica, shall we? Often it's a whirlwind ride, so you may want to hold on.

I guess I should preface this by telling you my mind races from subject to subject a lot of the time.  When I bring up a seemingly unrelated subject to my husband he'll sometimes ask "how did you get there?"  So I tell him.  It's usually about a dozen steps that I hopped through in about 10 seconds. 

Am I the only one like this?  I do wish I could shut it off sometimes...it makes falling asleep at night much more difficult.

Anyway, back to our little trip.  This one wasn't so fast, but rather a bit obsessive.

It all started with this photo:

I saw this lovely gypsy caravan inspiration over at an adorable blog, li'l magoolie. And I'm in love.  Seriously.  Madly.  Deeply.

I feel I NEED one of these in my backyard.  So I promptly started designing a playhouse for Aurora and Theo (OK, fine, for me really) based on these gorgeous bright colors.  I started figuring out how I was going to get my dad to help me build it.  I couldn't wait to have the fun of painting it all those colors and sewing curtains and cushions etc.

You'll see that Miko Design had the same inspiration for a great recycled version for her daughter's playhouse.

The plan was definitely to have one with a full size bed in the back so we could have sleepovers in it.  Sure, Aurora could do that with her friends into her teen years, but I also just dream of sleeping in such a place.  I guess camping out in your own back yard seems strange, but...cool, no?

Anyway, I obsessed over all these pictures and the idea.  Then I moved on to playhouse plans.  None are really quite right but I was thinking of what I could adapt.  Then I started looking at shed plans because maybe those would be more flexible.

Then I spoke with my dad about it and we thought maybe it really would be cool to have it on wheels so we could bring it camping.  This led to the idea of refurbishing an RV of some kind.  I start looking around, and who doesn't want one of these cool vintage Airstreams?

But I don't actually need a bathroom in it.  And, yes, they're WAY too expensive.  But what about a regular RV?  Let's check out craig's list shall we?  I see some real options for older ones people want to get rid of.  That would be kinda fun to redo.

Right about now I realized that I can't actually build such a structure in my yard or park an RV without out approval from the stupid, f***ing, homeowners association board.  I can't even put out a statue without their say so.  I hate it!  So I pull out the by-laws to see what I can and can't do.  Definitely a no go.  Grrr...

So now what?  How about moving?  I start looking at what's for sale in our immediate area.  In the end I like the idea of piece of property still in range of the same elementary school, that is plenty big enough to build our dream house with pool etc.  And of course a gypsy caravan.  That was the whole point right?

So, tommorrow I'm going out with the real estate agent to look at a few places.  Will anything actually come of it?  I don't know, but I'm so mad at being limited right now, that it actually makes me want to move.

And my husband is sort of in a dazed shock, like "um, what just happened?  You see one picture you like and suddenly we're building a new house?"  Poor guy.

JT

P.S. I know I owe you giveaway details, but that should be coming soon.  It might be over at a different site, but I'll let you know...

112: more bloomin' crafts

I can't seem to get enough of flowers lately.  I guess summer will do that to you...

(photo from marthastewart.com)

So I happened upon a link to these cute raffia flowers somewhere in blogland.  Cathy Callahan did a spot on Martha's show which you can see here.  She has a wonderful blog of vintage crafts and you can even buy kits of the flower looms needed to make these beauties in her etsy shop.

I can't tell you how easy these are.  A total no-brainer.  Although they're not super-fast or anything.

My plan for these is to make a bunch and use them in centerpieces at Aurora's birthday.  We'll see how many I get done...

JT

110: breezy summer afternoons

I know there's been a lot of rumbling about all the rain, rain, RAIN much of the country has had this summer (me, included), but I say "shhhhhh!  Your're gonna spoil it!"  Really this summer has been just the nicest!  Usually at this point it's so stifling hot out here, you don't want to stay there for more than a few minutes before you escape to your very expensive air conditioning.  And whatever mild temperatures we have are usually when I'm totally incapacitated by allergies.  So right now I'm living the dream...cool breezes at night with warm sunny days.

Ok, now I'm feeling a little lame for writing a post on the weather.  It's like I'm making small talk at a dinner party or something.  But really, that's just what these photos of Aurora reminded me of.

She's wearing her new pillowcase dress.  It's a big hit because the butterflies are pink and yellow, her favorite colors.

I used Anna Maria Horner's instructions for the general how-to, but there are plenty of different ways to make one.  I used a vintage embroidered pillowcase that I bought specifically for this purpose. 

I actually feel it's a bit big (and I think I made the arm holes too big) but then I'm hoping she'll get to wear it next summer too.  It has kind of a nightgown feel to it...but I'm diggin' the simple, innocent look.

As for the photos....don't try this at home.  She did end up with a little tick, which was no surprise since the field is like the ultra hang-out location for the deer.  

I hope you all are feeling happy and energized from the sun.  I myself will be heading to the beach soon without much internet access, so not only won't I be replying to many emails, but I'll be so far behind on blogs, I'm sure I'll have to hibernate when I get back just to catch up.

JT 

101: Quilt Market part 5: shopping, quilts, and big news

This is the last installment in my Quilt Market adventures.  Just some little loose ends to cover.

I'll start with the "big" news.  I've signed with Windham Fabrics to produce my first line of fabric, Timber.  To me this news is just HUGE!  It was a long process to get it all together for Quilt Market and I'm so happy to be moving forward.  I had  tough time deciding which company to work with because really every single person I met with at market was super nice and I could imagine working with them.  But I went with Windham, and I couldn't be happier.  I wish I had more to show you on the topic, but it will be a while longer.  Bear with me...soon I promise...

Anway, the rest of the loose ends are about Quilt Market itself.  Like how I went vintage fabric shopping with Heather Bailey.  OK, OK, maybe not some much "with" as "near".  We just both happened to browsing on of the few booths actually selling fabric at the same time.  Some seriously cool vintage feed sacks and the like.  She was, of course, lovely as we rummaged through the piles together.

These 4 pieces/sacks are what I landed on.  I have plans to make a pillowcase dress for Aurora out of the bottom one.

Anyway, there were several quilt shows (and even a costume/fashion one) on display.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

Spring in Japan - by Akiko Kawata

Grandmother's Quilt - A Cathedral Window - by Manon B. Gagliardi

The Kiss: An Homage to Kilmt - Mary Barry

Cinda's Circles - Karen Pharr

When Sun Departs - Laura Stauffer

Winter to Spring - Kathy York

Blue Ridge Springtime - Sandra Werlich

Sedona Dream - Janet Lasher

English Garden Romance - Tracy Anna Bader

Guys, thanx so much for all the well wishes about my Market endeavors and such.  I mean it!

JT

83: welcome spring

 

Today I'm sending out lots of good weather vibes.  This week we finally had our first spring-like day where a jacket wasn't needed.  And then yesterday, for the first day of spring, I woke up to........ you guessed it, snow.  Ugh.  But it didn't last long and it's looking like it's gonna stay relatively nice for a bit.

One thing I've found out about NJ is often we don't have much of a spring.  It goes from snow to summer very quickly.  And sadly, what we do have I can't even enjoy too much because of allergies.  I'm hoping I can medicate enough this year that it's bearable.  Last year nursing prevented me from doing so.  But if I sound a little loopy on here, you'll have to tell me to take it easy on the zyrtec, k?

Anyway, this cute little box is one I picked up in my antique shopping this winter.  I couldn't resist.  I probably paid way too much and when I got home I noticed a little chip, but I don't care.  I love it.

JT

81: let me eat cake

I love cake.  LOVE it.  I mean, love, love, LOVE it.  A lot.  Oh wait have I told you this before?

Anyway, I have been pretty good about my eating habits lately.  (Well, we'll ignore the movie theater snacks last night.)  I've officially shed all of my baby weight.  Yay me!  Of course, I've since gained a couple back, but still...

But I'm really just itching to let go.  Basically even though I plan it out so I have "bad" days where I go a bit crazy, I can never just let go and eat everything I really desire (read: lots of cake).  I know all too well how easily 10lbs can pile back on.

I'm not particularly looking for diet tips here.  I've learned what works for me, and while I wish my metabolism was fast enough to allow for more junk food, most of the time I can handle it.  

But tonight I was just looking a these cake stands I got at a yard sale, and thinking, man, I could totally eat a whole cake myself right now.  :)

JT

75: may all happiness dwell in your heart

What a wonderful sentiment.  Makes me smile just to read it so I guess it kinda works, huh?

Recently I was antique store shopping and I got sidetracked by all the gorgeous cards.  But what could I buy for myself?  Surely not happy birthday or happy valentines day.  Then I stumbled on the general good wishes category.  Perfect.  

No, I'm not beneath buying warming fuzzies for myself.   Somebody's got to do it.

I have envisioned a beautiful, colorful inspiration board as really the only decorating I've done in my studio.  So I thought some lovely vintage words of encouragement would be a nice touch.

Please don't be surprised when I post about the wonderful board I just finished...like a year from now.  You know how I am about these things.

I have only the best wishes for you all...

JT

66: santa mouse and his merry wife

OK folks, I'm dying of the cuteness here.  

Generally I think I'm unsuccessful at the yard sale/thrift store thing because I'm SO picky about the aesthetic value of every little thing.  I can rarely see something and appreciate it for it's funky retro vibe alone.  It must be "pretty" to look at.  Does that make sense?  So, a cool vase that helps make someone else's home look overall amazing, I wouldn't buy cause I don't LOVE it by itself.  Which means if I want to fill my house with fun stuff that I love, it's going to take me forever to do it!

But I digress, because I do indeed think these little guys are amazing!  I went to an antique shop with a rare hour to look around and I mostly wanted vintage Christmas decorations.  These were the only two I came up with, but I know they'll make me smile every year.

Also for christmas I got these darling little elves.  If you remember, I mentioned I was wanting to start a collection.  Now I have.

Oh, and thanx so much for the help on the glitter houses.  There were some good suggestions.  I particularly liked littleglitterhouses.com for useful information.  If you're interested in more, I'll leave you to look back at the comments, since just about everyone left their info there.

And after the kids holiday portraits, I promise to stop posting about Christmas.  I know it's enough already.  :)

JT

43: collections

I've decided to collect vintage juice glasses like these I recently bought.

I have mixed feelings about collecting stuff. Really I love collections, especially of cool, vintage, or funky stuff. Like a restaurant with a ton of eclectic salt and pepper shakers- that makes me smile. And finding that one perfect thing that fits into your collection is such a coup.

But generally I think the idea of collecting is a bad one. You just wind up with a bunch of STUFF. And I think we all have too much stuff, don't we? Who has the space to properly display or use a good collection? I guess I just have to be very choosey about what to collect...so it's given it's proper love and attention and not relegated to a box in the basement.

Over the years I've collected various things:
Matchboxes (no, I never smoked...)
Broadway musical posters
concert t-shirts
that I've since given up on. They're just not as important to me anymore.

Two things I have collected and still do are FABRIC (never would have guessed, would you?) and fairies.

Fairies truly delight me, but I have so many now that I'm VERY picky about which ones I get. Some day I'll go around and photograph all the little wee people that inhabit my house. I've gotten so many as gifts that I've put a ban on them. Occasionally they would be perfect and I was happy to have them, but more often than not, they just weren't my taste. I only want pretty fairies, with pretty faces, that are not overly gaudy or girly. You'd be surprised how hard that is to come by.

So, I'm thinking the glasses are a good thing to collect since I'll actually use them. I generally like things to match and be more modern and simple looking than vintage mis-matched stuff, but I figure juice glasses used in the kitchen are casual enough. And I smile when I take them out. So now I have something specific to look for when going to a thrift store. :)

Another thing I like to collect is holiday decorations. I try to buy xmas tree ornaments as souveniers when we go on vacation. And there's something about halloween that makes me like folk art style decorations. I want to collect some of these adorable little statues by Lori Mitchell. They put out different ones each year. They kill me with their cuteness...

What do you collect?

JT