January 31 • Happy Backwards Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Backwards Day!  Sorry...I couldn't resist hahaha!

I can't believe January is over already.  It's been an eventful month and I couldn't be happier with this new daily drawing project.  I hope you're liking it, too!  Be sure to check out Andy's holiday picks and drawings for January.  He's doing the whole year with me and I think it's so cool to see which holidays he goes for and how our interpretations can be different.

February has lots more silly holidays in store, so I hope you'll stick around for more kittens! ^_^

Thrifty Thursday • Hampden Junque

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Hampden Junque

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address : 1006 W. 36th St., Baltimore, MD 21211

hours :  Thursday - Sunday: 11am - 4pm 

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Hampden Junque is one of my favorite spots in the Hampden area of Baltimore.  Before moving back to Texas, Andy and I went exploring for vintage in Baltimore and found a treasure trove on W. 36th St.  I've shared photos from Avenue Antiques / Ideal, Denova, Dreamland, and David's on the Avenue, before.  These are all amazing spots for vintage/thrift and I can't even believe that they're all within walking distance!  Seriously, if you like old stuff please go to Hampden!

Each of those shops has something a little different that sets them apart, but Hampden Junque is truly unique.  It's tchotchske heaven!  They've got tons of old toys and all the knick knacks you could possibly want.  Check it out!

It's a small space, packed to the gills with curios for every type of collector.  I'm a sucker for vintage toys and cat figurines so it's no surprise that I spent an inordinate amount of time in this shop.

Hampden Junque has limited hours, so be sure to stop by on the weekend.  And they only accept cash, so keep that in mind.  The woman at the counter was very nice and hung on to our purchases while we went to get cash to pay.  I'm so bad at never having any!

Every angle of this shop is filled with bits and bobs and things from your childhood that you totally forgot you loved SO MUCH.

If you visit Hampden, let your inner collector go nuts and visit Hampden Junque!  There's literally something for every single person ever.  We even picked up a couple of things in these photos!  They had shelves full of cats...there was no restraint.

January 30 • Happy Croissant Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Croissant Day!  Let's all talk about how much we love croissants!  I love them a lot ^_^

Austin Crafternoon • Recap

Crafternoon was last weekend and it was a blast!  This is the first event I've ever really planned and hosted and I was beyond nervous at how things were going to turn out.  I worried that no one would show up or that folks would think it was lame and that I was totally boring.  Which made it that much more amazing when people actually showed up and enjoyed themselves!  The venue I chose was an airbnb that I'd been just waiting for a reason to visit.  Mid-century styling with dino posters everywhere?  Yes.  

Jamie and I spent a couple of hours rearranging the space and setting up all the little stations for our different activities.  The counter space in the house was absolutely perfect for displaying all her Umba wares and the dining and living spaces were so cozy, it seemed like they were just made for a small get together like ours.  There was even a perfect spot for the photo booth right by a window!

All my apprehensions started to melt away when folks started trickling in and we all sat down and just started talking.  The thing about Texans is that we love to just hang out and visit.  The group at Crafternoon loved all things DIY and we got to geek out about yarn and talk about the difficulties of navigating pricing for handmade goods.  It was so nice to meet a group of people that were really into making stuff.  And one of my good friends from Blogcademy came by to play!  It was so wonderful to catch up and hear all about her bakery business and talk to the others about blogging.

Everyone took a moment to take photos in the photo booth ^_^  I'm really happy with how it came out and will be doing a tutorial on how to make a comically large embroidered backdrop or art piece like this one, soon.  Working on a large scale is one of my favorite things when I'm planning any art project.  Blowing up the scale can make an ordinary piece really command the space.  For this particular backdrop, I wanted to showcase embroidery because that was the focus of the make-and-takes for the event.  Each line going down the fabric is a different type of stitch.  But more on that later!

I'll also be sharing the treats I served (and some yummy, unexpected treats that showed up during!) in future posts.  I take a different approach to party food than some other folks and I'm interested to know what kinds of things you like to prepare for get togethers.

The Umba set up was absolutely gorgeous on the custom penny counter that was in the space.  I might have picked up a little something for our place ^_^ More photos of their products and lots more gushing about their company to come!

This first Austin Crafternoon made me step out of my comfort zone and try something totally foreign to me.  2014 is all about going out on a limb and really creating my own opportunities and I think this event embodies those goals. It set an incredibly fun tone for the year!  Needless to say, I'd love to do another one!  Maybe something in the spring ^_^  What do you think?

January 29 • Happy Puzzle Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Puzzle Day!  Today is a great day for me to finish that puzzle that's been on our living room floor since Christmas!  But it's this one, so probably not.  There's giant swaths of white that are maddening!!!  It's a beautiful and treacherous puzzle.

January 28 • Happy Kazoo Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Kazoo Day!  Go annoy your neighbors with your melodic tunes!

January 27 • Chocolate Cake Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Chocolate Cake Day!  Being one of the most perfect foods ever created, I expect everyone to celebrate accordingly ^_^

Crafternoon is Today!

Today is the day!!!

Come swing by the most fabulous airbnb I could find in Austin and join us for an afternoon of crafting and fun!

Check out this post for all the info you could possibly need, this post to get a sneak peek at the make-and-take embroidery projects and this post for details on the trunk show we'll be having.

I hope to see you there!  And if you can't make it, be sure to check out the tag #austincrafternoon on instagram to see the action ^_^  Eep!!!

January 26 • Happy Spouses Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Spouses Day!  If you've got someone special, do a little something extra for them today ^_^  This guy is a kitten version of my own husband, Andy, who's my most favorite person on the planet!

January 25 • Happy Macintosh Computer Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Mac Day!  The very first Macintosh was released 30 years ago today.  Happy Birthday, Mac.  I'm a total Apple fangirl and will only use your products forever and ever ^_^

January 24 • Happy Peanut Butter Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Peanut Butter Day!  Have a spoonful, or a sandwich or pair it with cheese like a weirdo like me.  I promise it's really yummy!  Maybe it's just me and Granddaddy that like the two together ^_^

Also...remember how Claire from Lost really loved peanut butter?

Thrifty Thursday • Treasure City Thrift

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Treasure City Thrift

website | facebook | twitter

address : 2142 E. 7th St., Austin, TX 78702

hours :  Mon - Fri: 11am - 7pm | Sat: 11am - 6pm | Sun: 12pm-6pm

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Treasure City Thrift had been on my radar since we moved to town.  It's a bright pink building and their website made them look like they loved a good time, so of course I was drawn to it.  When I walked in, I was immediately greeted by happy faces and piles of stuff.  This is a true thrift shop that boasts the lowest prices in the city and even participates in the Really Really Free Market once a month to give away merchandise that hasn't sold.  Treasure City promotes a great sense of community and strive to be a zero-waste shop.  

They've got a little bit of everything, so take a look at what was there when I popped in!

When you walk in, all the clothing and accessories will be to your right and home decor, housewares and electronics are to the left.  I always like to dive into the tchotchkes first, so I headed left.

Heck yes for thrifted craft supplies!  You never know what you'll find and I always get way too excited to dig through.  I mean, there's a bucket labeled, "crafty doo-dads" for .50 each.  So good.

The clothing seemed to be hit-or-miss, but I came in when the staff was organizing and taking in a lot of new inventory, so that could be why things looked a little sparse.  All the clothes were arranged by kind and most of the shirts were arranged by color, too.

I was thisclose to buying this ridiculous mug!  I love a tacky and out-of-context mug.  It's a real weakness.  Who else do you know who has a mug with a picture of a water buffalo on it that says, "Water Buffalo" underneath?  

$1 records are always a good bet.  I'm so sad that there seems to be less and less records in thrift stores lately.  Lucky for us in Austin, there are a few used record stores around.

I really enjoyed Treasure City Thrift.  The stock was all over the place, so it's a good place to swing by if you're in the mood to dig for treasures and pay close to nothing for them.

January 23 • Happy Handwriting Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Handwriting Day!  Take a minute to write a note, or your to-do list, or a quick note to a friend.  Writing something down instead of typing it is so much more satisfying to me ^_^

January 22 • Happy Answer Your Cat's Question Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Answer Your Cat's Question Day!  Please don't ask the origin of this day...or why it's even a thing.  Just accept it.  I'm guessing the only three questions your cat will ever ask are: Where's my food? Why aren't you skritching me?  And, No.

The last one isn't really a question.  But they're cats and that's generally what's going on in their minds :P

January 21 • Happy Hugging Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Hugging Day!  Give someone a good squeeze today ^_^

DIY • Valentines Day Advent Chain

I love Valentines Day.  It's a day full of love, pink, hearts and glitter!  So it's pretty much myself in holiday form.

This is a super easy, super quick DIY for you to celebrate the Valentines Day season.  Using the supplies and directions from the Memory Chain we made over Christmas, you can customize your own chain for any celebration.

For this Valentines Day Advent Chain, I cut 7 white strips and 8 red strips.  On the first red strip, I wrote, "I love...".  For all the other strips, I wrote one thing I love about my husband.  Each day from February 1 - 14, we'll take one chain off and celebrate that little thing we love about each other.

Some of mine include: Pizza dates, our collections, our travels, our quiet nights at home and making our home.  I'm really excited to celebrate another loving year with my man!

January 20 • Happy Cheese Lovers Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Cheese Lovers Day!  You can bet I'll be celebrating like the cheese-hound I am ^_^

I love picking out the silliest holidays each day, but on a more serious note, it's also Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Whether your working, or have the day off, please take a moment to remember who he was and what he did for all of us.  My mom actually got to meet him when she was little and wrote a short article about the experience.  He was a brilliant and man who's ideas and teachings are still relevant today.

Crafternoon Countdown and Update

The Austin Crafternoon is just a week away!  I shared the make-and-takes last week and I have fun new addition to the day to announce!  Jaime, from Umba will be there to host a handmade trunk show with us.  She's what they call an Umbassador (you know I love a good pun!) and she'll be bringing some of Umba's curated handmade goods from indie artist all over the country.  

I've know Umba's founder and CEO, Lauren Thorp,  since we met at Crafty Bastards a couple of years ago and she's been such an inspiration and great source of advice for me and I'm so glad to work with her company for this fun event!

Don't forget to sign up on eventbrite, it's not a requirement for coming to the event but it gives me a good idea of how many folks to plan for.

I hope to see you there!!!

January 19 • Happy Popcorn Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Popcorn Day!  Today, I will celebrate by eating some spicy popcorn.  Seriously...it's just this generic brand stuff at HEB and it is heaven!

Also, every time I say popcorn I think about this clip from The Office.

January 18 • Happy Winnie the Pooh Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Winnie the Pooh Day!  It's A. A. Milne's birthday and it's time to celebrate one of our favorite bears ^_^ Tigger was always my favorite.  And you know the cartoons are on Netflix now, right?!

January 17 • Happy Judgement Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Judgement Day!  I'm not sure why...but someone decided that today was supposed to be the apocalypse.  It looks like we're all going to survive the day, so I choose to celebrate by watching Terminator 2 ^_^

January 16 • Happy Appreciate A Dragon Day

• This is part of my Happy Day, daily drawing project!  Check out the first post for more info. •

Happy Appreciate A Dragon Day!  Today is the day to watch Reign of Fire and marvel that Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey made it.  And then realize how much you secretly love that movie.  Just me?

Thrifty Thursday • Gypsies Antiques

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Gypsies Antiques

website | facebook | etsy

address : 5202 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78756

hours :  Sunday - Saturday: 11am - 5:30pm 

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Gypsies Antiques is one of the only true antique shops in the area.  There are a lot of antique malls with different vendors, but Debbie, the owner of Gypsies curates everything in the shop.  With a concentration in European furnishings and decor, she takes annual trips to to Europe to find the best, authentic inventory.  This year, she's planning a trip to England, France and Belgium.  Along with these beautiful antique furnishings, she's also got a room full of the most amazing vintage clothes I've seen in town.  50's gowns and gorgeous bags...they're just break-taking.  

Take a look!

The shop is dense with inventory.  There are small vignettes that are very purposefully designed all throughout.

If you make your way to the very back of the store, you'll find a hidden treasure trove of vintage dresses.  I mean really?!

*Cue heart eyeballs popping out of my head*  The details on each of the pieces was so delicate and intricate.  It was the kind of care and precision that's hard to find nowadays.  I could've just stayed and stared at every dress for hours.

Scattered throughout the store are jewelry cases filled with vintage goodness.  I kept getting distracted as I was walking through...so many sparkles!

Be sure to take your time and soak up everything in the store.  You never know what gems you'll find.  Like this gorgeous packaging illustration.

Debbie was such a wonderful host as I snapped away.  There were quite a few customers looking around and she was buzzing through the store answering questions and taking in brand new inventory.  One of the new pieces was already getting some attention by a local interior designer.  I had a great time visiting Gypsies and will definitely pop back in to check out that vintage section in particular!

Also, a fun bonus for y'all.  Debbie is offering a 10% discount to anyone who mentions The Pink Samurai blog at checkout!  How great is that?!  So be sure to stop by Gypsies, take a peek and take advantage of the discount just for you ^_^