Thrifted Finds & Sentimental Gifts

Part I: Thrifted Finds

Hello Lovelies! This weekend we had grand plans, but they didn't turn out the way they were supposed to, but never-the-less, it was fun. My parents and I were supposed to head out to Round Top, Texas for the 2nd Round Top Round Up antiques fair of the year, (I blogged about the 1st one here). When they picked me up on Friday night we were all geared up and ready for the next day, but on Saturday morning my mom woke up feeling poorly and there was no way we were going to force her into a 2 hour drive and hours of antique shopping in 104° heat, (we've been jokingly referring to it as "Extreme Antiquing"). So, instead we spent from 7am to 1pm watching a 5 hour marathon of 'The Rifleman'. When we all finally decided to get dressed and leave the house, we drove about 30 miles out to our favorite little restaurant for some good Southern cooking. It was like a feast, chips and salsa, fried pickles, salad, and the most AMAZING sweet potatoes. It was sooo good. I didn't take any photos, because we went after it like animals and frankly I don't want to expose you to that kind of grotesque behavior. After we ate, we decided to head out to our local antique mall to get our fix. My dad decided to sit this one out and rest his full belly in the car. I'm really glad we decided to stop because we ended up with a couple of great things. As a side note, the antique mall is so much fun. It's in an old grocery store in a strip center and is just stall after stall of odd and interesting things.

Here are a few photos I took and what I bought...

This stall had the most wonderful hats

My mom, who is about a foot shorter than me, took this photo of me wearing the most fantastic Bavarian hat. Unfortunately because of my crouching and the height difference, you really can't see how great it is.

I got this wonderful little frame and promptly put a photo of my great grandmother in it. I think it's just perfect! If you've read some of my previous posts, you'll know I'm just crazy for these little brass frames. I'm always trying to find them.

I'm very excited about my new under $18 typewriter! I know I already have a beautiful little teal Olivetti, but it currently is with a friend in London, and I've so missed having one to use here. Plus the ribbon in this one still works and it's a bit more modern than my other one.

Part II: Sentimental Gifts

A few weeks back I was over at my grandparent's house and we were talking about family history and going through old photos. Well, I asked my grandmother if I could take a photo of one of the little figures in her house that has always been my favorite so I could show my husband. She told me there was no point in taking a picture of it and if I wanted it I could have it. I went round and round with her about how it belonged to her and I didn't want to take it, that I just wanted a photo. But, you know how persistent grandmothers can be, so now it's at my house. She also gave me 2 other little figures as well. She said she'd rather have me loving them everyday than her forgetting she even owned them. My grandfather also gave me loads of photos which I just can't wait to frame. One of which is in the frame in one of the previous photos.

These are my favorite little things ever. Fat little quails. There's a whole long story about why I love them so much, but I'll spare you of it. I will say, I've grown to adore them even more after finding out that my grandmother and mother made them.

She also gave me these two antique brass cranes. I need to find a place for them, as they are really lovely and graceful in person.

So that's it. All of my new old things and favorite sentimental ones...

R.I.P Parlor...I Miss You Already

I'm going off topic to do a personal post today. On Tuesday, my favorite place in Austin became a casualty to the "new hip Austin" that everyone keeps talking about. It sucks. The Parlor was a tiny, dark, dingy, punk rock pizza parlor and bar that has/had been open for 11 years, 10 of which I have been a super loyal patron. It was our neighborhood hang out for years, and really the only place I ever go to meet with friends. When my friends from London came to visit 3 years ago, it was the first place I took them. The pizza was amazing, the staff friendly, and you just couldn't beat those $7 pitchers of Lone Star. Now it's gone.

I know Austin has been changing for a while now. I mean, this isn't the first time I've lost a place that has been so dear to me. The first was a 24 hour coffee shop called Mojos that was my hang out all through high school and part of college. It closed about 5 years ago, but recently long running shops have been closing left and right due to neighborhood gentrification and substantial rent increases. The Parlor was one of these places. Austin has been topping all of the "Best Places to Live" lists in newspapers, magazines, and all over the internet. The "cool" Austin that people are moving here to be a part of, is ruining what made Austin great. North Loop, the part of town that was home to the Parlor, was the last bastion of freedom for locals, but now it's been deemed 'hip' and the places that gave it that reputation are being forced out. Pretty soon it's going to all be upscale boutiques like the rest of this city. I've lived here almost all of my life and I'm beginning to no longer feel welcome. With the closing of my favorite place in town, I literally don't know where else to go. I hate it. I'm growing to despise the city that was once so important to me and beginning to resent the people that keep moving here in droves that are causing all of this so called positive change.

The city is becoming phony. SXSW and ACL festivals have had a large part in ruining this town. I remember participating in SXSW when I was in high school, but all of the sudden the price of tickets sky rocketed and now it no longer feels like an event where locals are welcome. Everything is marketed to visitors or to get even more people to move here, which just drives up the price of living and keeps the pay low. On average, people in Austin make $3 less an hour than people in other cities, because there are an abundance of people willing to work for less just to live here. Meanwhile the cost of living continues to rise, while the jobs pay the same or less. Ugh. I hate it. I want out, but family health issues and lack of funds for moving keep us here. I'm not an idiot, I know towns evolve and change, but it just feels so alienating when the places disappearing are time after time the ones that hold a special spot in your heart. I'm hoping that one day things will go back to normal, but I know those are just pipe dreams. In the meantime, I'm just going to keep bitching and hopefully find a place where I feel as at home as I did at The Parlor.

My husband knew how much this whole thing has upset me, so he went out the other day and bought me the above (R.I.P. Parlor) shirt they put out, as a tangible way to remember my favorite place. I've been wearing it for days. So, so sad...

 

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YeeHaw!!!

Hello folks. My job at a summer day camp has officially started and the kids are wearing me out! They make me feel so old! It's a lot of fun though, and it's nice to know that I'm actually getting paid to spend all day teaching kids how to make arts and crafts. We had a theme day today, it was Western Day. Now, I'm not the best Texan, as I have no 'Western' clothes. I was able to steal a bandana from the husband and luckily I have, what was deemed as my 'Lumberjack' shirt. Unfortunately, it's been 100°+ outside, so flannel wasn't really the most practical fabric. It was fun to dress up and the kids got really into it, so all and all it was a pretty good day.

Check out those pig tails!

OOTD Details:

Lumberjack Shirt: Target
T-Shirt: Free from Art Store Opening
Skirt: Torrid
Leggings: LB
Bandana: Husband

Guinea Pigs and Fire Wood

Hello folks. Yesterday was a wonderful, wonderful day. I finally got to set up my art room for summer camp classes and I got some BIG news. As of yesterday, my Pretty Penny Mae Jewelry is officially being carried at Green House, a real brick and mortar shop where people can actually go and physically buy my pieces!!! I am so so excited about it! Getting my jewelry in an actual shop was one of my big goals for the summer and I am so pleased that I did. It actually kind of fell into my lap. A few days ago, I received an email via Etsy from a shop owner inquiring about my designs. She said she owned a shop and that she thought my pieces would work well and wanted to know if I was interested in putting my work in her shop. So, yesterday, I met with her and dropped off my jewelry and business cards. I can't wait to see how it goes and to find out what people like. Ah, so happy. I'm also really glad that it's in the shop that it is. All they sell are locally made items from local artists.

Here's what I wore for my great day...

OOTD Details:

Skirt as Top: Target
Cardigan: Old Navy
Skirt: Torrid
Belt: Torrid
Vintage/DIY Necklace: (Vintage Silver Locket and Chain) Battersea Car Boot Sale/(Page of Book in resin on front of locket) DIY
Elvis Fans: Chuy's

I also got a wonderful antique sketch book with sketches from all around Austin. I just love it. I bought it from one of the little shops we went to during last weeks little road trip. It was such a fantastic find, as here I was about 100 miles away from Austin with a small little 1920s sketch book holding lovely drawings of the town where I live. I'm going to cherish it.

Long Time No Blog

Apologies for my lack of blogging lately. I've been sooooo busy as of late. I started training for my new summer job as an Arts & Crafts Specialist at a summer day camp, so I haven't had time to write any posts. My brother-in-law got married this week and had his reception yesterday. It was very pretty. They held the reception on a family friend's ranch, so the atmosphere was lovely. I didn't really know anyone there other than my husband's family, so I pretty much just clung to my husband for the majority of the night. I took practically no photos and the ones my husband took were blurry or he caught me totally off guard. He's clearly not as concerned about my blog post as he should be, hahaha!

Here are the photos that turned out okay...

I thought the "Y'all Take One Honey" was very cute. We didn't get a pot, but I liked the idea.

Oh, and I forgot to show y'all what I bought for 10¢ the other day on our little road trip. I'd been looking for little bowls to put jewelry in and when I saw these it was love at first sight. Plus they were just 10¢! How was I supposed to pass that up? I know you can't really tell by the photos, but they're each about 4 inches wide and an inch deep.

Road Trip!

Hello my lovelies! I have had such a lovely week and I find myself wanting to share my great time with my fellow bloggers and readers! My father has had this past week off of work and I won't be starting my summer job until Sunday, so we decided to use our time wisely. My mom was able to get a day off as well, so we took advantage of some family time and went on a great little trip through the Texas back roads to explore our area in some more depth. It took us to fantastic places and we got to see wonderful things, like the world's largest Dr. Pepper can in one of my previous posts and the World's smallest active Catholic church. We also got to see the famous "Dime in a Box" in Dime Box, TX. I just love taking trips like this and spending time with my parents. They're not just my folks, they're also great friends and I feel like I'm getting to make up for the years I was away in London. Anyhoo, this is going to once again be a photo heavy post, so buckle up...

Elisabet Ney Museum

Beautiful Baby Death Cast

World's Smallest Catholic Church

The Dime Box in Dime Box, TX

Quick Little Post

I just wanted to leave a quick little post about one of my old London flatmates. My wonder friend Emily has just directed a great video for Marques Toliver and I am so proud that I just had to post it for y'all.

You can check out the video here.

My former flatmate has a little singing cameo at the beginning.

I hope y'all enjoy!!!

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