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…are where it’s at! It all started last August when our lovely friend Kristen got my daughter Mycelia and her BFF Esme the fabulous Mermaid dress up dolls. The girls loved them, as did us mamas. In fact, I knew right away that I would be buying Mycelia more and more of these over the years. And when I went online to Mudpuppy’s website and saw all the fashion and vintage inspired dolls, I realized that I was buying them just as much for myself as for her. She/I received the Retro Chic set on Christmas morning, and I’m thinking we’ll go with Victorian Couture next, then Garden Fairies, then City Girls, then…

They are easier than paper dolls and can be stuck to fridges or washing machines if the mood strikes you, putting them away is like playing with a puzzle, and they make versions of it for less girly people too (monsters, robots, pirates). The perfect gift for children and the adults who buy for them!

Vintage Kmart Folk Sweater

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When one thinks of vintage brand names, I believe one tends to picture the uppity designers or boutiques who are either still in existence or else live on in legend. I know that I was thrilled to recently find a Valentino slip gown, a number of I Magnin pieces, and a fabulous Bullocks Wilshire dress.

But what about the big box chain stores that have been in existence for just as long? Well, there’s plenty of that sort of vintage floating around too.

Take this adorable folksy Kmart sweater for example. My friend Sasha found it on Etsy and suggested I buy it. And I did! And I cracked up when I received it and read the label. And I can tell you that I have definitely had more compliments on this piece than any designer garment I own.

And the wonderful little coat was recently found at a thrift store by Graham. The tag says “R.E.I. Co-op” dating the piece to the 1970s when R.E.I. identified itself that way. As with all of their garments since their founding in the 1930s, it is totally practical, warm, and wearable. I love it and it is going to get a lot of use this winter!

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I thrifted the children’s book “The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Carol” (illustrated by Sheilah Beckett and published by Little Golden Books in 1992) when my daughter was just a baby. Now that she is three years old and understands that Christmas is a special time with special books and music, she absolutely loves reading (singing) the book.

And I am more than happy to read/sing this one to her over and over for one reason: I love the clothes! The lucky lady who receives the gifts has a new luscious outfit on every day, I adore the peasant dresses of the eight maids a’milking, and the nine ladies in waiting are all decked out in some truly fantastical flowy gowns of gorgeousness. (Please forgive the fuzzy pictures, we are working on getting a better camera soon.)

Merry Christmas to you & yours!

(Alternatively titled “A Week In The Life Of My Family”)

Yay!! I’ve been so looking forward to sharing the images of our new cottage with the world! My partner Graham built it himself this autumn, and it is on the property of a friend of ours. It is less that 300 square feet- one larger room that serves as living, dining, and bedroom, and one smaller bathroom containing a clawfoot bathtub, laundry baskets and clothing, and a composting toilet. Aside from the toilet and the lack of an internet connection or cell phone reception we have all the luxuries of modern living- hot water, electricity, etc.

It is a few minutes outside of Nevada City, California. We have been living in it for about a month now and are just thrilled with it. As this article points out, living in a small space, even with a young child, is very do-able and has many benefits!

First off, let me introduce you to Speckles. Speckles spends most of her time on a manzanita branch perch a few feet from the window by our bed. The rest of her time she spends flying directly into said window. She probably is just confused by the reflection, but sometimes I feel as if she has an urgent message for us, or that she is an omen of some sort.  Continue Reading... (515 words + 12 images, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)