scrapbooks - an american history

I have had this book Scrapbooks - An American History by Jessica Helfand from the library for a criminally long time. Well, not really criminal - I do have it legally. The thing is the book can continue to be checked out because no one else has a hold on it. That's the criminal part - the fact that no one else has put it on hold for so very long.

This is a really amazing book. Anyone who is into vintage stuff, ephemera, true scrapbooking, design, journaling or zines would be interested. The images are beautiful and so intriguing and the story of scrapbooking and how it has changed over the years was fascinating.









The book has a website, The Daily Scrapbook, with a blog where they post many more scrapbook pages not shown in the book and lots more. Take a visit.

Also, I wrote a bit more about the book and the Victorian scrapbook last year on The Cedar Chest.

So, now I have written the blog post I have been meaning to for quite a while. I will now be returning Scrapbooks to the library. Go ahead and put it on hold for yourself. Or buy a copy. It's a great gift!

Happy Birthday Etsy, my old pal

birthday printable party pack by 1frogprincecreative

Etsy started 5 years ago today! What did we do without it? Etsy has made selling and buying handmade good so much easier! Probably 80 percent of the gifts I get are bought on Etsy. I love being able to find handcrafted items and being able to talk directly to the crafter. I have had a number of custom items made on Etsy, well.

I have never been a huge seller. I am strictly a hobbyist, a part-timer. But, I am a committed hobbyist! I joined Etsy on June 22 2005! Only 3 days after they opened! I didn't even realize how early on I became a seller until right now. I thought it had been around for at least a few weeks when I joined. Internet time is so much faster than real time.

When I say I am committed, it's for real. I continuously praise Etsy, and tell everyone to shop there if they are searching for something. I have told many crafters and vintage sellers about it, too. And of course. I also have three Etsy shops. That's love.

Here is a horrible 2005 photo of the first item I sold on Etsy. A pocket mirror. I sold it on June 23rd.

So, Happy 5th Birthday Etsy! Thanks for being an awesome website with reasonable fees and a great interface. Here's to many many more!

thoughts for your day

seen many places. Orignal is here.

a trip back to the the cuckoo's nest

Last week I was reading some of my blogs, truthfully, skimming them, and I got pulled into one of the best things I have read on a blog in a long time. It was a new blog to me, suggested by another blog, but the suggestion had nothing to do with the post.

The blog Violet Folklore told a story about a boutique that started in Portland in 1969 and lasted through the mid Seventies. They made and reconstructed clothes from recycled fabrics and only used natural fibers. The story was also about the connection formed between the owner of the Old Portland store called The Cuckoo's Nest and the vintage clothes seller Violet Folklore. Their aesthetic and intent is similar. Through conversations and images Julie from The Cuckoo's Nest told her story of the unique store and Portland in the 70's and so much about vintage diy boutique fashion.

It was such a fascinating read. I loved all the images in the post and I am looking to more of the inside of the store that will be posted. The images that are shot for the Violet Folklore store are very similar and the connection between these two women seems strong.

Here are some images from the very image heavy blog post. I encourage you to read the post.

This is an original dress from The Cuckoo's Nest that the owners daughter is modeling. So beautiful!

You know, I was just a kid, but I miss the 70's. These pictures make me nostalgic for a place I never even went to. But, I went to places kind of like that in Ventura and Ojai when I was a kid and I remember the feeling they left in me - the dreamy longing to be a long haired prairie girl, making candles and living in a log cabin. I was sure adulthood would be like that.

what are you doing for national iced tea month?

An email from a tea merchant tipped me off that June is National Iced Tea month. So, this gave me the excuse to right about Iced Tea again. Isn't that the point of these National Whatever Months? No prob, I am happy to oblige.

I like tea. Like most people, in the summer I like it iced. last year I wrote about my "iced tea plan" and making concentrated batches. Although I like to mix and make my own versions of iced tea, I usually use bags. The purists out there might have a problem with that, but it makes it easier. My favorite is still the Midsummers Peach from Harney and Sons. I also like to mix different teas all the time, some combos are great. A little peppermint tea is always nice to add in a mix.

Apparently Iced Tea has only been around in America a little over 100 years. It was introduced in St Louis in 1904 at the Worlds Fair. 80% of the tea consumed in the states is consumed cold. That is pretty surprising to me.

Since it hasn't been that hot yet this summer in Portland I have only made a couple batches of iced tea. I made some today and enjoyed it with some cupcakes I made yesterday. They have roses on them in honor of The Portland Rose Festival (I got them from Bake it Pretty, of course). Last night was the Starlight Parade and we watched it from the comfortable and uncrowded living room (it is televised locally) and had some cupcakes. Yeah, I have a rather low key way of celebrating things.

So, go make some iced tea. And let me know what your favorite kinds are.

june is a great month for....

Not sure what this is? Here is the lowdown and the last 10 months of the series.

sweet magazine

I spent a good amount of time this weekend weeding out some magazines. It was hard. I love magazines. Especially lifestyle ones. You know the ones that have articles on better ways to eat and decorate and live. Reading them makes me feel like I am already doing these things they are recommending. I am already living better just because I am flipping the pages. Oh, and I get inspired to do so much: travel, clean, cook, craft - but later, right now I am looking at this beautiful magazine. And beauty is another thing that I love about a good magazine. The beauty of the objects, the layout, the design, even good advertising thrills me. Reading a beautiful magazine is truly edifying for me.

And there is a new magazine out now that is the ultimate. Sweet Paul is a food and prop stylist and crafter. He has a very successful blog that I have been reading for some time. This month he launched the first issue of his online magazine, Sweet Paul.

This magazine is beautiful, totally. It is filled with recipes and craft ideas that look wonderful and are also not overwhelming. I felt like I could do the crafts and recipes in his magazine pretty easily and I really liked that. The only thing I didn't like about Sweet Paul was that I couldn't hold it in my hand. But, after seeing a portion of how many magazines I can't get rid of this weekend, I think that might be for the best. I printed out some pages today and they looked great.

Take a look at Sweet Paul. I think you will really love it. I am excited for the next issue.

	look inside
Spring 2010

may is a great month for.....

Well, I am pretty late on this one. Still, there are some good ideas on here. I really like the German traditions they included. June should be up soon.

Not sure what this is? Click here.

Show and Tell

I keep taking images for the blog and yet have not had the time to make the kind of post I have wanted to, so today I am sharing them all with you with little text. Here are some of the things I have been up to.

Strawberries! I am addicted to them. Look at this beautiful basket I got at Zupans for only 2.99. It is perfection. The Oregon strawberries are not quite here yet, although there is one guy selling them at the farmers market. Oregon strawberries are small and so so sweet. These here are the big California strawberries. I welcome them all.


I have been eating the strawberries every day for lunch and then at night I put them on my salad. This is heaven. Last year I got really into putting nectarines on my salads and that is good, too. The ultimate for me is smoked salmon, spring salad mix and strawberries. Sometimes I add dried cranberries, pecans or goat cheese. Mostly I just eat salad and strawberries. The best dressing I have found for the pairing of fruit and salad is Annie's Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette. So good!

This meal above was made after I got back from the Thursday night farmers market. I can't get there until late and it isn't quite full of vendors yet, but it is nice to have it back.


The other day we went for a Saturday afternoon drive. Oregon is so beautiful.



I love the bright green of the trees these days.



And the small details and shadows from the house across from me.


I am having a hard time getting motivated to clean up my garden and actually plant stuff, as this embarrassing picture proves.


I keep taking pictures of beautiful flowers in the park when I only have my phone, so they are not as impressive as they should be.

A few weeks ago I sold some stuff at the Twilight Rummage sale. Also a phone pic.


Today I had an iced tea party for two. I forgot to take a picture until it was over.


I hope you are all having a nice May. Go eat some strawberries.

make your own planner cover

Just a little pop in here to point you in the direction of this really neat project from Just Something I Made blog. It was from last week, so I am a bit late. Maybe you saw it?

She took a vintage book and a day planner and a pretty decorated file folder and made this. So nice!

Detailed directions here.