Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sew Retro
Dressing vintage is lots of fun, but it's not always easy to find the perfect outfit in a size that fits. If you need a new retro-style party dress it may be time to dust off your sewing machine.
Vintage inspired fabrics are easy to find at most specialty shops thanks to designers like Amy Butler and Kathy & Michael Miller. You might even get lucky and find some treasures hiding in gramdma's attic. Local thrift shops, Etsy, ebay, and Amazon are also great places to find vintage sewing patterns, buttons and notions.
If you're short on stitching supplies you can always make due with what you have on hand like they did during hard times in the 1930's and 40's. Surely you must have an old feedsack
lying around that you can fashion into an apron, smock or skirt. :)
Vintage inspired fabrics are easy to find at most specialty shops thanks to designers like Amy Butler and Kathy & Michael Miller. You might even get lucky and find some treasures hiding in gramdma's attic. Local thrift shops, Etsy, ebay, and Amazon are also great places to find vintage sewing patterns, buttons and notions.
If you're short on stitching supplies you can always make due with what you have on hand like they did during hard times in the 1930's and 40's. Surely you must have an old feedsack
lying around that you can fashion into an apron, smock or skirt. :)We found a swell book, Sew Retro
, that is chock full of vintage inspired sewing projects, photographs and vintage illustrations from the 1920's, 40's and 50's. It also includes 10 full size patterns!
, that is chock full of vintage inspired sewing projects, photographs and vintage illustrations from the 1920's, 40's and 50's. It also includes 10 full size patterns! Serious seamstresses will also love The Party Dress Book
as an excellent step-by-step reference guide for dressmaking basics like ruffles and pintucks. DIY glamour girls will find inspiration within the spiral-bound pages to create a truly unique dress that compliments their own individual style.
as an excellent step-by-step reference guide for dressmaking basics like ruffles and pintucks. DIY glamour girls will find inspiration within the spiral-bound pages to create a truly unique dress that compliments their own individual style. If your home economics skills are a bit rusty you may just benefit from watching the vintage sewing machine commercial that we've featured below for your enjoyment. Happy dressmaking!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Boozy Baking
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit of a klutz in the kitchen, so spilling a little wine in the sauce isn't totally out of the question, but aside from jello shooters I'd never really given booze in food much thought until I was researching cake in a jar recipes and stumbled across this whisky cake. From the moment I laid eyes on that tempting creation I knew that this was in idea that required further investigation.
It all makes perfect sense, really. A key ingredient in most baked goods is pure vanilla extract, which is nothing more than deliciously flavored alcohol. Although it smells like heaven, it doesn't taste great on it's own, but the flavor is oh so wonderful when baked in a batter of gooey goodness.
Now, I knew that my sister would be all over this idea too, (because she's great cook and caters most of our family gatherings, -not because she's a lush), so I was kind of giddy when I found The Boozy Baker
cookbook just in time for Mother's Day. I wrapped it up pretty with a bow and paired it with a fancy bottle of vodka. She LOVED it! The book is loaded with mouthwatering recipes for spirited sweets, some of which even include recipe for drinks that compliment the dessert recipes perfectly. Brilliant! (I am a sucker for recipe ideas that make me look awesome.) As we thumbed through the pages together, the full-color photos and flavor combinations were enough to make our heads spin, but the Dirty Girl Scout recipe near the back of the book inspired an emergency shopping list and a quick trip to the liquor store. YUM!
Desserts made with alcohol are best served a day or two after baking, so they make lovely make-ahead additions to the menu at any grown-up get together such as a bachelor/bachelorette party or wedding, but you don't really need a special ocassion to bake with booze! A romantic dinner for two or a movie night at home with the girls is reason enough to celebrate with a cocktail cake.
Cheers. :)
It all makes perfect sense, really. A key ingredient in most baked goods is pure vanilla extract, which is nothing more than deliciously flavored alcohol. Although it smells like heaven, it doesn't taste great on it's own, but the flavor is oh so wonderful when baked in a batter of gooey goodness.
Now, I knew that my sister would be all over this idea too, (because she's great cook and caters most of our family gatherings, -not because she's a lush), so I was kind of giddy when I found The Boozy Baker
cookbook just in time for Mother's Day. I wrapped it up pretty with a bow and paired it with a fancy bottle of vodka. She LOVED it! The book is loaded with mouthwatering recipes for spirited sweets, some of which even include recipe for drinks that compliment the dessert recipes perfectly. Brilliant! (I am a sucker for recipe ideas that make me look awesome.) As we thumbed through the pages together, the full-color photos and flavor combinations were enough to make our heads spin, but the Dirty Girl Scout recipe near the back of the book inspired an emergency shopping list and a quick trip to the liquor store. YUM! Desserts made with alcohol are best served a day or two after baking, so they make lovely make-ahead additions to the menu at any grown-up get together such as a bachelor/bachelorette party or wedding, but you don't really need a special ocassion to bake with booze! A romantic dinner for two or a movie night at home with the girls is reason enough to celebrate with a cocktail cake.
Cheers. :)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Swell Style Tips For Retro Chicks
You don't have to spend hours at the beauty shop primping for your retro themed party, but good grooming is always in style, so you my want to consider learning some vintage hairstyle techniques before the big day. Afterall, victory rolls and pin curls may take a bit of practice for modern glamour girls!
Vintage fashion books
are a great place to find step-by-step instructions for retro styles and they make wonderful gifts too!
We even found some awesome vintage hairstyle tips and tutes on YouTube. Check out a few of our favorites below and visit superkawaiimama's channel for more where these came from!
Vintage fashion books
are a great place to find step-by-step instructions for retro styles and they make wonderful gifts too! We even found some awesome vintage hairstyle tips and tutes on YouTube. Check out a few of our favorites below and visit superkawaiimama's channel for more where these came from!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Mustachioed Beverage Bottle Favors
It's no secret that mustaches rank pretty high on our list of party favor favorites and these little gems got rave reviews and tons of laughs at our Valentine's Day dinner party.
POP'S 'Stache drink markers
are the bomb! The set of 8 assorted plastic mustaches easily clip onto most beer, soda and water bottles making it a snap to keep track of your beverage during a party, but the fun really begins when your raise your drink to your lips and you are instantly mustachioed. Genius!
These pseudo 'staches make an impressive table display and photo prop for a kid's birthday party when paired up with retro bottles of fizzy soda. Offbeat brides searching for quirky wedding favor ideas love 'em and so do their hipster BFF's who are secretly planning a surprise 'stache bash bachelorette party!
Mustaches = fun & smiles are contagious, so what are you waiting for? POP'S 'Staches by FlatLab are completely reusable, so the hilarity never ends!
Love the 'stache? Find lots more moustache novelties and gifts here and in our party shop!
Cheers. :)
POP'S 'Stache drink markers
are the bomb! The set of 8 assorted plastic mustaches easily clip onto most beer, soda and water bottles making it a snap to keep track of your beverage during a party, but the fun really begins when your raise your drink to your lips and you are instantly mustachioed. Genius! 
These pseudo 'staches make an impressive table display and photo prop for a kid's birthday party when paired up with retro bottles of fizzy soda. Offbeat brides searching for quirky wedding favor ideas love 'em and so do their hipster BFF's who are secretly planning a surprise 'stache bash bachelorette party!
Mustaches = fun & smiles are contagious, so what are you waiting for? POP'S 'Staches by FlatLab are completely reusable, so the hilarity never ends!
Love the 'stache? Find lots more moustache novelties and gifts here and in our party shop!
Cheers. :)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Sticky 'Staches
Stick-on mustaches are a simple way to brighten up ANY day! Whether you're planning a moustache bash or just want to break up the boredom, we found some awesome sticky back 'staches to share with our whisker deficient friends. They are just the right amount of fuzzy and, best of all, the party pack includes enough lip ticklin' fun for everyone!
Keep 'em on hand for rainy day dress up fun, lunch box love notes, party favors or fun photo props for your next family reunion. You can also use them as stickers to accessorize mirrors, notebooks or any otherwise dull object. We don't recommend humiliating your pets, but we've never met a cactus that didn't look happier wearing one! Tagging every jack o' lantern in the neighborhood on Halloween is also harmless fun!
This party pack includes 36 sweet 'staches in 3 assorted styles
for a steal of a price! The fake mustaches range in size from about 3 - 3 1/2 inches wide and will fit kids and adults alike. These are definitely included in our list of favorites when it comes to hip party favor ideas! You can order them now at our online party shop.Where will you stick your 'staches?
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