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Under a Blue Moon

Decor, cooking, organization, all the pretty things

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12.6.11

Crinoline

Hello!  Finally a post that isn't a Friday's favorites…  

On Saturday my friend Kath came down the hill for a little R&R.  We dragged her son to an antique mall in Sacramento called Midway Antiques.  If you are in the area it is worth a visit.  It is in the old Ethan Allen building on Madison and the building, with all its "rooms" for showcasing furniture makes it perfect for an antique store.  It is a collection of vendors and in addition to each vendor have booths of their own they also set up vignettes by pulling furniture and other pieces from assorted vendors.

This way they can do a completely cohesive look.  And let me tell you – it is like stepping into a Mad Men episode.  If mid-century antiques are your thing then you will LOVE this place.  They even have an entire kitchen set up with the old refrigerator, stove, counters.  Really fabulous.

I bought a tree skirt.  Some of you may think it looks like a vintage crinoline but I just see a perfect, frothy, white confection that will go with my holiday decorating scheme.  I've been looking since Summer for just the right crinoline for the look I want and I literally had to climb behind racks and racks of vintage coats and frocks to find it.  

Lately my antique shopping mojo has been really good.  You know how you get a picture of something in your mind – and then you can never find that exact thing?  Lately I am finding exactly what I want.  

Except for milk glass plates.  Why are they so hard to find?  I want them with an interesting pierced edge and no design in the center.  If I do find one they almost always have some floral or commemorative design on the plate.  

I did pick up this pretty dish – cake plate?  Not sure what it is exactly.  I'm thinking I'll plop a nice big candle on it for the holidays. 

Can't wait to show you pictures of the tree with its new finery.  Maybe this weekend…

Milk glass

December 6, 2011 12:55 pm Andrea Filed Under: Musings

Friday’s Favorites

Cobalt

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

Ff

  • These DIY sugar cubes would be cute in a coffee themed gift basket, doncha think?
  • Love this use of vintage rhinestone brooches  
  • I'm always on the look out for good guy-type stocking stuffers.  Love the simple packaging on these matches
  • Inspired by Brooklyn Limestone's stylish Christmas decor I found this sparkly pillow on line.  Not a bad price (I would probably leave it out all year round….)
  • What a fun way to liven up your holiday travel

I am going to start bringing out the sparkle this weekend.  I think I've settled on my theme this year.  Crystal, pale gold and silver.  And lots of greenery.  I'm finding all kinds of inspiration on Pinterest.  I have new batteries for my camera so hopefully you'll be seeing some posts next week.  

Have sparkly weekend yourselves my friends!

December 2, 2011 12:01 am Andrea Filed Under: Musings

Friday’s Favorites

Pretty Packages

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

Ff

  • Sweet little sparrow necklace
  • Okay I did hold off (sort of) on the Christmas themed links but now that Thanksgiving is over all bets are off.  Here is a website where you can upload a picture and insert Santa into it.  Proof that he really was at your house.
  • Pretty DIY wax luminaries.  Wouldn't these be pretty in the snow, lighting the way?
  • Look at this adorable blog with the prettiest cookies.  I want to make the ones in her blog banner: Rosey's Sugar Palace 
  • This rollercoaster is nuts!  I would so totally go on it though.  

Sorry for the late edition of Friday's Favorites today.  We were travelling back from my father's house.  How are you going to spend the weekend?  I think I'm going to start doing a little decorating around here.

I hope today's Flickr Favorites gives you some pretty wrapping inspiration.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

November 25, 2011 2:00 pm Andrea Filed Under: Favorites

11.24.11

Pies

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was up until 1:00am last night making pies.  I only got one decent picture before my camera died.  I have only made my own pie crust once before and it was not a success.  This time I used the King Arthur pie crust recipe.  It certainly looks better but since I haven't had a slice yet I can't tell you how it tastes.

Unless you think I should go ahead and have a slice now?  For blogging purposes only, of course.

I still can't get the edges to look pretty.  You know, by fluting or pinching them or whatever.  So on the pumpkin pie I just cut out teeny hearts and overlapped them.  Little leaves would have been more appropriate but I didn't have a little leaf cutter.  

I hope everyone in the US has a wonderful Thanksgiving day, surrounded by those you love.

(And tomorrow we can start talking about Christmas!)

November 24, 2011 10:23 am Andrea Filed Under: Musings

11.19.11

022

Table runner has been made.  Why oh why do I insist on sewing ruffles and pleats?  I love the look of them but man, what a pain to sew. 

I did come up with a trick for sewing pleats today.  After I had sewn, unsewn, resewn my first attempt.  

The actual runner itself was easy.  I bought three yards of flax colored linen (a cotton/linen blend actually) that was super cheap. $3.99 a yard at Hobby Lobby.  

005

I trimmed the ends and selvedges using a straight edge I've appropriated from Rick's garage.  It looks totally greeby but I prefer it so much over the plastic Omnigrid ones.  Since I rarely quilt, and therefore rarely have to cut small pieces, the heavier metal straight edge works better for me.  Mainly in that is stays put when I am cutting.  I can't tell you how many times the plastic one has scooched while I was cutting.

Plus I think I can square things up better with it.  

010

I cut two 3" wide strips from the end for the pleats.  Then I just sewed the long edges together to make a tube and then turned the tube inside out.  I pressed it so the seam was centered down the back of my runner. 

Then I started fiddling with the pleats.  And fiddled some more.  First I pinned the pleats in place and sewed them in but they wouldn't stay straight and I didn't catch the back layer when I was sewing.  So I unsewed.  Twice.   I repleated my strip and then – here is where my brilliance kicked in – I used scotch tape to hold down the pleats so I could stay stitch them before sewing them to the ends of the runner. 

011

After I stay stitched them I positioned them between the layers and, once again, taped them in place.  On both the front and the back. Then I just stitched through the tape.  It was easy enough to remove after I was done sewing.

Maybe this is a well-known pleating trick but it was new to me.  I suppose if you have a super duper fancy Bernina you may not want to risk gumming it up with tape.  But then again if you have a super duper fancy Bernina you probably aren't coming to my blog for sewing tips.  

017

This fabric was a dream to sew with.  Washed and dried with minimal wrinkles and irons beautifully.  

I had to do a trial run of my Thanksgiving tablescape (forgive the cellphone picture).  I wanted to find a white pumpkin or maybe even a ceramic turkey but didn't have any luck.  So I just used my little quail pot.  I'm still going to look for something a little more Thanksgiving-ish.  I think the floral arrangement with the greenery and candles looks too Christmasy.

Photo1

 

November 19, 2011 2:49 pm Andrea Filed Under: Crafts, House

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