site: lab / harris building

One of my favorite things in Grand Rapids is Site: Lab, the group that has been creating interesting art "happenings" in unique locations in the city for a couple years now.  (I've written here in the blog before about their projects at the old Grand Rapids Public Museum and at the Blandford Nature Center.)  Site: Lab's usage of old, currently unoccupied buildings to stage some of their events really speaks to the vintage lover in me. On Friday night, Andy and I went to check out the latest Site: Lab happening, at the old Harris building downtown.  This was a one night only event, and it was great to see so many people turn out--there was a line to get in.

I loved how they lit up the old Harris sign to read "Site Lab" as it changed from purple to green.

I had to take a shot of my cute new flats from Seychelles.

The Harris building used to house the Harris Furniture Company...as well as a lodge for fraternal order the Knights of Pythias on the second floor.  The space was transformed with lights, an exhibit with information on the building's history, and performances in the center of the building.

Knights of Pythias symbol in lights on the floor.

It was the kind of surreal, full sensory experience I needed after a stressful week of dealing with business and computer issues.  And there are many more cool photos from the evening on Site: Lab's Facebook page.

Even Lucy enjoyed a night out.

xo

K

not ok computer

Here's kind of an unplanned shop preview/update.  The cable company came to install a new router for a service upgrade, and whatever the guy loaded onto my laptop knocked it out of service--along with my photos for the last couple updates.  So if you're wondering where all those nifty things I promised you in the last two previews are, they're sitting on my poor little laptop which I can't start up, and which is with a technician now.  I do not relish re-taking these photos--or the thought of buying a new computer--so keep your fingers crossed that it can be fixed.

Instead, I've taken photos of new items in the meantime.  Several of these are already in the shop, and if you click the description link it will take you to the listing; the rest will be going in the shop this week.

1950s black eyelet wiggle dress, by Jack Stern.

1970s spring green space dyed sweater.

1960s ikat paisley print blouse with Peter Pan collar.

Red gingham picnic skirt with flower appliques.

1960s spring garden shirtwaist dress, by Lordleigh.

1970s boatneck deconstructed top.

1950s saffron rose cotton sundress with bolero jacket.

1970s huarache clogs, by Panache.

1960s hieroglyph print dress.

1960s mod op art dots top.

1950s seersucker stripes dress, by Karen Kane.

1950s olive and wine paisley print polished cotton blouse, by Ship 'n Shore.

1960s pierrot dress.

Adorable mouse and mushrooms wrap skirt.

1950s pink pansy print cotton Fruit of the Loom dress.

xo

K

unwitting rebel

When I read Teresa's latest post on her great blog Bess Georgette (which you should be reading), I LOL-ed--for reals!  (I don't know, is it more annoying to say "for reals" or "literally"?  Or maybe saying "I LOL-ed" is the most obnoxious.  Hm.)  The post is the latest in her "Lately I'm loving" series, and it's about the colors blue and green (go check it out--Teresa is wearing a really cute outfit).  It was a case of long distance synchronicity (really long distance, since I'm in the American midwest and T is in Hong Kong), because I had just stepped out on the town wearing this very combination.  Last weekend I did a long overdue spring cleaning of my closet, and in the process came up with some new outfit ideas.  As you do.  I thought the kelly green 1970s sweater and 1980s navy blue polka dot skirt would make a nice couple, and wore them on Saturday.

1962 L'Officiel cover, via Jalou Gallery

Teresa's post also included this great 1962 L'Officiel cover and I've just blatantly stolen it from her (thanks, T!) because the Dior outfit on the cover reminded me of my outfit--only classier, and y'know...Dior.  Hey, the color scheme is pretty similar and there are polka dots.  Anyway, I learned a color/fashion rule I was completely unaware of from Teresa's blog post: "blue and green should never be seen except inside the washing machine."  Did you know this rule?  Well, I'm in agreement with Teresa that in the case of kelly green and dark blue, it is a rule meant to broken.

Do you have any fashion/color rules you will not break?  Or is anything fair game?  I'm not much of a rule-keeper, I admit.  If I like it, and don't think I look hideous in it, I'll probably wear it.  I do avoid wearing white, since I'm so pale and fear it will wash me out (I just learned lime green is a hideous color me, as well).  If you have a color or fashion rule you follow, put it in the comments; I'd love to read it.

(Oh, and be sure to visit Teresa's blog post about this color scheme--it has some more really great vintage examples of it!)

xo

K

strange beauty

The internets were very beautiful--and sometimes a little bit strange--in March.

1. I wish I could find a better source than the Tumblr I reblogged it from, but I had to share this beautiful 1930s photo of a young girl--it looks like she walked straight off the set of of Paper Moon. / ...like a girl

2. Wiener Werkstätten "Waldidyll fabric" by Carl Otto Czeschka, 1910 / Crashingly Beautiful

3. Meditation, William Merritt Chase, 1885 / Wikimedia Commons

4. The Glowmar, a Crafstman era English style home / babyfella2007

5. embroidered cushion cover, Ann Macbeth, 1906 / The Textile Blog

6. Les Amours de l’au-Delà by Jacques Germinal / Regard Intemporal

1. circa 1960 living room from a Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Ideas book--that looks a lot like our own living room / The Red Jet

2. I'm not sure why this tot was photographed next to a big ole sharp saw, but I love the outfit / fuckyeahvictorians

3. Scottish brooch made from the talon of a falcon, 1860s / via

4. 1920s actress Olive Thomas / Bodie Bailey

5. cover of At the Back of the North Wind by George Macdonald / balderdashery

6. Girl in Grey, Louis le Brocquy, 1939 / via

xo

K

spring sale

Psst!  We're having a spring sale in the Etsy shop.  20% off everything in the shop with code spring2012 now through Sunday, April 8, 2012.

xo

K

shop accessories preview

Some accessories coming to the shop this week--shoes, hats, scarves, and an interesting and rugged bag!

1960s rainbow plaid fabric peeptoe pumps, by Air Step.

1970s Hush Puppies primary color wedge sandals.

Brown leather slingback pumps.

1970s mod dots Vera Neumann scarf (already in the shop!).

Mimi di N ladybugs and daisies cotton scarf.

Silk Givenchy scarf.

Calvin Klein cotton scarf.

Silk Sant' Angelo fish scarf.

1950s feathered hat, by Grace.

1930s men's straw boater, by Portis.

Blue floral cocktail hat.

Brass B-52 Stratofortress buckle.

Can Pro Corp heavy duty canvas and leather security bag, for transporting money...or possibly even film cans!

xo

K

the old fashioned

The Old Fashioned cocktail is the perfect drink for a vintage lover--the name alone!--and it's about as classic as a classic cocktail gets.  It's among the oldest of cocktails, dating back to the day when a cocktail was defined as a mixture of spirits, bitters, sugar and water.  (Those, actually, are the ingredients of an Old Fashioned.)  


I'd tried making Old Fashioneds at home and wasn't happy with the results--too sweet or not sweet enough, not well mixed, and always with a grainy white sugar mess at the bottom.  I'd started to give in to the idea that I would need to have simple syrup on hand to get it right, but my favorite local bartender, Steven at the Viceroy convinced me that all I needed was a sprinkle of brown sugar.  With that advice, and the clear instructions on the Old Fashioned 101 website, I have managed to make an at-home Old Fashioned that makes me happy.

What you need:

*Good quality bourbon or rye (I used Bulleit Rye)

*water

*sugar--simple syrup, or just white or brown sugar

*bitters, ideally Angostura, but orange can be used, too

*lemon or orange twist

Cut off a small piece of lemon or orange peel--either a chunky bit like I did, or a fancy twist.

Put a wee bit of simple syrup in the glass.  Or--even better--put a tiny bit of sugar in the glass.  I used light brown sugar.  That's just a tip-of-a-teaspoon's worth.  Put that in your glass, pour a  little bit of water over it, and stir until the sugar dissolves.  It won't take long at all.

Add two dashes of Angostura or orange bitters.  Or a dash of each.  Then 2 ounces of bourbon or rye, and stir.  Taste this mixture.  You can add a little bit more water if you like, but it will likely be just fine as is, depending on the quality of liquor used.  Twist your bit of lemon and orange peel over the drink, peel side down, in order to spray the essential oils of the peel over the drink.  Add a single ice cube if desired.

Cheers!

xo

K