Snoozefest Turned Love Shack

This is a before shot of my and Hubby's lame bedroom. Can you say snoozefest? Yawn.

We've been in our house over 3 years and our bedroom was more stale than the popcorn I occasionally find in my bra. The color we chose for the paint when we moved in was not a horrible color but it matched the ugly bedding we had, so we just lived with it. I finally decided I couldn't take it anymore.

This color was too dark and dreary for a hit-the-snooze-button-8-times kinda girl so it was the first to go. I wanted to wake up to something bright and happy. Something that would make me open my peepers with a smile while singing "tra-lalalalalalalalalala!" and put a morning skip in my step so I figured key lime paint would do the trick.

Once again, like Curious' bedroom I had to press my thrifty button into overdrive. I don't make millions with Sweet Love Vintage or my random art endeavors, but even if I did, It's not my style to buy new, trendy, high-end decorating pieces. I need a room to be decorated with fun personality, things I love, pieces that have a story and character, a mix of styles, and always a sense of humor or a surprise tucked in there somewhere.

I found this vintage arm chair at a yard sale for 5 bucks. (giddy-up!) This is my future meditation chair. Neither I, nor my overactive mind have zenned out in it yet, but I'm super awesome at shoving clothes behind it and tripping over it in the dark.

I traveled through my portal to Awesometown where I scored a pair of 1960s sunshine yellow glass lamps for $12. They are perched on an art deco black dresser and on an old table that I layered with a suitcase to match the height of the dresser. I have old suitcases all over my house as side tables and such, and they are great for layering and storing things. I store lots of air in mine. I threw a large thrifted flokati rug on the floor so I can feel soft shaggy fuzziness on my feet when I wake up, but more importantly so I can lay on it and make fur angels.

I invested in new bedding because I'm not a big fan of sharing bed bugs or dust mites with strangers so I picked up a cheap dark brown quilt and new light yellow sheets. The three jewel toned embroidered pillows along with the black and white damask curtains are from Pier 1, and were the only other new purchases (and my biggest splurge) in the whole room. At the edge of the bed sits a vintage lime green and white chenille bedspread.

Old sheet music is right up my eye candy alley when it comes to vintage graphics. The titles and pictures tickle my funny bone and I like to wake up to something smile worthy besides my bed head. I admit I haven't been springing out of bed singing "tra-lalalalalalala!" like I was hoping, but I do sing whatever the latest song stuck in my head is.

The other morning it was "Jimmy Crack Corn".

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care, Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care, Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care... and how in Jimmy's name did I get this song stuck in my head? Aretha Baby, where are you when I need you?

Then I started thinking about Jimmy and maybe I should care. There's obviously a reason he cracks corn. Maybe I should write my own story about Jimmy and the perils of cracking corn. Maybe I'm just cracked corn. Or just cracked. Cracked and corny.

Yes, these are things I think about. Things I think about while lying in bed waiting for the next time I must sling my arm out and hit snooze again.

Even waking up in this bright and cheerful happy place, I still hit snooze.

The good news is it's only 4 and a half times now instead of 8.

First Born Curious. The End.

I excel in procrastinating.

I also excel in obsessively working on a task until complete.

Once I decide to get 'er done.

(Larry the Cable Guy is way overrated. As is his overdone phrase I used annoyingly above.)

Here is the final product of my almost-10-year-old-curious-boy's-bedroom:

Probably the only time it will be a nicely made bed.

Curious and I both stinkaroo at bed making. Workin on it.

Well, he is. Me? Not so much.

I've never really understood the art of daily bed making.

Someday I'd like to learn it. But I've got better things to do for now.

Painted a section of black wall behind the bed to ground it in the room.

Added an old barnwood frame with a display of curiosities.

Wrote some random words around the perimeter of the paint with white chalk.

Next to the bed he has lots of places to store his gatherings:

A view directly across from the bed. His coin collecting desk area.

His favorite coins went into plain frames that he can easily access.

Fake wood clipboards are the el-cheapo version to display stuff.

No need for an expensive built-in window seat.

A set of wood and metal schoolhouse chairs does the job. Scored the whole set for $10:

His collections and curiosities are displayed on the black shelves in front of the black window wall. I wanted it dark so the objects would pop.

The 6 foot antique snakeskin mount became an unusual window dressing.

Not my original plan, but not planning is typical for me.

So is spilling food on myself daily.

I adhered vintage game cards around the window trim and Mr. Puffer hangs from Mr. Snake.

Last, but not least...

This is for the peeps who thought there's no way an old elk leg could look cool:

I know you're out there. And you still may not think dat's cool.

It's okay because I like it. Plus Curious is the only one I need to please.

And Curious loves it.

His room.

All of it.

Weakness. The Happy Kind.

I have a strong dislike for "The Price Is Right" game show.

Come on down! So I can trip you and make you bleed, Price Is Right.

Who watches that show?

Game shows are not a happy weakness of mine.

Exception: Old Match Game reruns from the 60s.

Minus the host with creepy grin, Gene Rayburn.

Board games? Another story.

Other things that make me swoon:

Tiny little things

Art, art and more art

Funny bedheads

Licking the cake/muffin/brownie batter and frosting beaters. (Yes, I share with the kids)

Dogs in Halloween costumes

Old games

Family Guy

Vintage boots

Black and white cowhide

Elderly guys with suspenders

Old pick-up trucks

Quotes and song lyrics

A Cheerio dipped in butter and stuck to a bunch more Cheerios

Endearingly tacky restaurant decor

When the clock says 3:33 or 5:55 and making a wish

Starbuck's Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte

The smell of puppy breath

Lightning bugs

Marshmallow peeps

Thinking outside the box

Milkweed pods

Toads

People watching

Giving and receiving winks

Leftovers for breakfast

Blowing big bubbles with a wad of Hubba Bubba or Big League Chew

Itunes and Pandora

Old tin ceilings

A brand new pack of 64 crayons

Original vintage paintings

Oh, original paintings, why must I always want to rescue you?

I think this large, framed 1964 original painting is fantastic cool.

and it's pretty amazing when you look close up at the details and texture:

Although I appreciate it and think it cool, it's just not my style.

Is it yours?

For sale in the shop!

Boot Love

I'm having a love affair with these vintage turquoise suede boots.

They are not going in the shop.

Yet.

Not until I wear 'em a few times.

There is something about them that I just love.

The unexpected pop of turquoise blue with a neutral outfit.

I don't have much for options in the color boot department.

Other than the red cowboy boots I got for 50 cents at a garage sale.

I have been dying for a pair of Frye boots for about 2 years now.

Frye rocks. Best American made boots ever.

But even vintage ones on ebay sell for hundreds.

And the new ones I want are 300-$350 bucks.

So it's not happening.

But if I hold out long enough,

and think about it hard enough,

maybe,

just maybe,

I'll find some thrifting or garagin'.

Some more boot kickin' eye candy from Etsy:

from Selvage Boutique. It's a good thing they are too small or it may have been an impulse buy. If you are a tiny fairy and have 6.5 feet, these sassy vintage boots can be yours for $138. Would be so cool with skinny jeans and a plain 'ol tank.

Another amazing pair from DearGolden:

And these are by Frye. But again, for fairy feet. Size 6.5. $135.

So,

I keep thinking,

and thinking,

about Frye boots.

And today I found a pair at a garage sale!

For a dollar.

But they were mens and way to big for me.

On the plus side it just shows my law of attraction is starting to work!

In a half-ass sort of way.

Lovin' The Cock

Most definitely the cutest cock I've ever come across.

And this cock has no expectations.

He just wants to please you by sitting and looking handsome. Pure eye candy.

No sassy talk, whining, or begging.

You will not hear, "But Honey, I haven't pecked at your corn for a whole week! I need corn! Need it now! Please can I peck at your corn? Even just a quickie peck? I don't wanna peck it myself."

And he's definitely got wood all the time.

Typical.

Some funky, painted, folk art style wood.

I have fallen in love with this adorable cock.

And he will, eventually, groove his way into the shop soon.

But he does come with some baggage.

You can read it in his booklet titled, "The Legend Of The Cock".

Cock. A Doodle. Doo.

Ugly Love Tuesday

It's time for some Ugly Love.

Vintage, that is:

A very nauseating lamp.

With a what I think is a roadrunner.

Meep. Meep.

Wile E. Coyote should have this lamp.

It would look fantastic on his anvil nightstand.

Next to his Acme harpoon gun.

Maybe every Tuesday should be Ugly Love Tuesday.

But that would stress me out.

I'd have a deadline.

Every Tuesday.

And what if I didn't find something?

Plus it would be so predictable.

Wouldn't it be more fun to be surprised by the occasional dose of Ugly Love?

Meep. Meep.

Ugly Love Vintage

A special thanks to The Estate Of Things blog for featuring Sweet Love as Etsy Seller of The Week!!!

On an ugly note, I have to confess my love for horrendous vintage paraphernalia.

I'm not talking so ugly that it's cool.

I'm talking so ugly that it's ugly.

So ugly it would make the offspring of Steve Buscemi and Liza Minnelli look adorable.

So ugly it makes me stop in my tracks in aisle ten of Value Thrift and say,

"Oh. My. God. What. Is. That?"

Things that make me internally giggle and wonder what kind of person actually had that in their house.

Like this perfectly romantic 25th anniversary gift......

To truly appreciate it's ugliness, here are a few close ups:

Ahhhhhh, realistic plastic animals in a forest of fake flowers and moss.

Mr. Owl, how fierce you look with your wings spread like that. Are you about to go after the mouse and squirrel that are the same size as you?

Then the soft side of me comes in. The side of me that will carry a spider found inside the house to the backyard because I don't want to kill it.

"Awwwwww, someone took the time to make this! How did they get everything inside? They must have cut the glass on bottom. Or maybe they have very very tiny hands. It's fascinating when you really think about it. The most meaningful gifts are the handmade ones and this needs a home which is not a dumpster. Someone out there has to appreciate the hilarity of something like this. Or at least want it for a gag gift."

Which leads me to wonder.....

Is there a market for ugly things?

This can't go in the Sweet Love Vintage shop. I have a certain look going on there. The ugly that occasionally shows up there is the "it's so ugly it's cool" stuff. And this does not qualify.

Maybe SLV needs a sister shop on Etsy. Sweet Love Vintage's ugly step-sister.

Ugly Love Vintage.

But then it would need it's own blog.

And I can't even keep up with my art blog. Of course making time to finish another piece of art would help.

Ugly Love Vintage. Could be fun. And funny. And ugly.

Nostalgic Music

Tom Waits.

A musician I am becoming obsessed with.

I can't believe his first record was released the year I was born.

And I only recently discovered him.

I think he is a brilliant artist.

I love how nostalgic his music feels.

How his smokey, grovely voice sounds.

How bizarre and creative his lyrics are.

How he doesn't really fit into any specific music genre.

He is truly his own.

Listening to him inspired me to dig through my studio for old junk.

I took apart a bunch of vintage junky costume jewelry and combined it with some rusty stuff.

Like an old skeleton key and parts from old doors:

And a keyhole:

And my favorite flower.

The daisy.

Sweet. Simple. And they come in every color.

I took this old enamel daisy brooch and made it over into a choker necklace.

It will look sweet with my Hanes wife beater tank!

I bet Tom Waits wears Hanes too.

Smile!

Sweet Love find from last weekend.......

I think these vintage cameras would look amazing as a group on floating shelves.

Of course I'm tempted to keep them.

And I know exactly where they would go.

Watch for them in the shop........

Hungry?

Check out this yummy treasury on Etsy featuring Sweet Love Vintage's funky retro lunch sign along with many other one-of-a-kind items!

Fab Finds From Farm

Just a few things I found on my latest adventure.

At my favorite type of garage sale.

The kind located in Middle Of Nowhere, Midwest, WI.

On an old farm.

With lots of rusty junk.

Where you have to dig. And dig. And dig.

And there were lots of chickens.

And annoying birds that I couldn't identify.

That made horrible sounds. Seriously. I wish I could post the noise they made just so you could get a feel.

Then I found the old bingo cage, ice crusher and 1958 Ford tail light.

The internal squealing with delight droned out the birds.

Watch for these fabulous finds in my Etsy shop soon!