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Friday, January 29, 2010

Polls are closed!!!

 

The Favourite Vintage Shop poll for The Poppies is now closed and I think The Vintage Laundry won by 11 votes at 289 votes!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for everyone who helped and voted - I am blessed with wonderful friends, family, readers and customers!!!!!!!!! Thank you God!!!!!

Girl Friday: Hello! My Name is Preoccupied


Dear readers, customers, friends and family,

It has come to my attention that I have become a little overly excited and well . . . .  Obsessed is the word I'm gonna use here, by my nomination to the "Favourite Vintage Shop!" category in the poll hosted by the marvelous Canadian blog Poppytalk - but, to be honest, "obsessed" doesn't fully cover my preoccupation!

I'm so grateful to the people that nominated and voted for me of their own free will.  And of course by “nominated and voted” and “of their own free will”, I mean, they were “intimidated and coerced by "some unknown force”.  And, okay, by “some unknown force,"  I mean “me”.

But still! . . . . I really can’t understand why I'm falling behind in the poll. I’m a perfect fit for the “Favourite Vintage Shop” award.

And here is the proof:

I can do FAVOURITE!

•  I sometimes spell "FAVOURITE" with the "u" (so what if we spell favourite without the "u" here in Texas.  That, in itself, shows a casual attitude towards my native language which might also be construed as a strong sense of  really having Canadian DNA.)
•  Lots of people tell me I’m their "favourite" – granted, this is after I ask them directly in a somewhat forceful, overbearing manner.
•  Why, just last week, I was the winner of the coveted "Nicest Person to Cuss Out a Telemarketer Award." And that’s practically like an Oscar for heaven sake!
•  If I ever got the chance to say "aboot" for "about", and  "prho-gress" instead of "pr-aw-gress" I’d , like, totally do it

I am VINTAGE!

•  I once posted my actual age on the internet.
•  I have publicly revealed that I was a teenager in the 1980s and wore big ol "shoulder-ma-pads" in my boyfriend jacket with the sleeves pushed up, as the John Hughes/Pretty In Pink/Sixteen Candles Review Board insisted upon.
•  My birth certificate and driver’s license prove it.

I have a SHOP or have been known to SHOP!

•  I have a website, an Etsy page, a Facebook Fan page, and I tweet (therefore, I am.)
•  I can pee without sitting down on the public toilet or port-o-potty, which everyone knows is proof that I'm a seasoned shopper/junker.
•  I think about the shop and shopping for the shop to the point of neurosis.

So, where have I gone wrong? Is it because the current leader in the poll has brushed hair and lacks a ginormous pimple on their cheek that can be seen on satellite images? Or that the current leader in the poll is not pictorially represented by a "heavily-photoshopped-taken-above-my-head-so-you-can-only-see-one-chin" profile photo taken at a distinctly jaunty angle, courtesy of "The Elect The Vintage Laundry 'Favourite Vintage Shop'" Marketing Team? Or, is it because the target audience for the poll is not dominated by southern, happy pill poppin', slightly irreverent,  junk gypsies in their mid 40s?

Whatever your reasons (and I’m sure you have them), I just wanted you to know that your "Favourite Vintage Shop" listing would be a much more colourful category with me and my "Vintage Laundry" in attendance – as anyone at the "Seriously, You've got to Get Over This Poll Fundraiser" can attest.

Yours, ever-so-slightly anxious,
The Vintage Laundress

P.S.  If you haven't voted yet - I would love you support.  The poll is open until 11:59 p.m. tonight, Friday, January 29, 2010 (Canadian time) and you can cast your vote here.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Want It Wednesdays: Teal-I-Wanna (get it Tijuana?!)



Photos courtesy 1stdibs, Pagoda Red, La Murrina, and Anthony Todd Home

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Favor of Your Presence is Requested



It has been awhile since I acknowledged my friends, family, readers and customers with words of appreciation.

So, here goes . . . .

I'm so grateful every hour of every day for each and every one of you.  You all are the reason I get up in the morning.  Well, that and the fact that I really have to pee.

Your dear time has been spent sending me e-mails with words of support and encouragement, and your purchases from my online shop or from markets that I participate in have strengthened my conviction to follow my passion of hoarding, re-working, re-purposing and restoring vintage finds.  I'm honestly humbled by your kindness and generosity and somehow the words "thank you" just don't begin to cover my feelings. 

Okay, are you sufficiently lubed up?  Cuz, I need a favor.   

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Jan and Earl, the husband and wife team of Poppytalk, a marvelous Canadian design blog that collects inspiration and is dedicated to promoting emerging design talent.  They informed me that my store, The Vintage Laundry, had been nominated for a "Poppy" by my peers, customers, and readers at their Handmade Awards event, called The Poppies!  My nomination is under the category of "Favourite Vintage Shop".  They told me that they were posting the voting poll for my category yesterday at Poppytalk.  The poll will remain open for voting for one week, effective yesterday through January 29th, 2010 at 11:59 pm.   There will only be one vote allowed per computer and one vote per category.  There will be two awards given for each category, The Peoples Choice Award and the Jury's Choice Award.  Jan and Earl stressed that it's not intended to be a competition as much as a vehicle to bring more awareness to the vintage and handmade community.

It's an amazing gathering of artists and shops, and I am flattered to be amongst the bunch!  You can find the poll at this link, and the results will be announced by February 5th. Thanks so much for your vote and your support, and have a great week!

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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Cloudy With a Chance of Scattered DIY Hissy Fits



Hands up if you've ever worked yourself up into a big ol' DIY hissy fit trying to finish a project, doing, as my friend Deb says, your best impersonation of the dog from the movie Up? (Do you still say impersonation if it's a dog impression?) Oh, look. Everyone's hand is up. What's that? You, up in the back? Two hands up, huh? Oh, I know, my dear, just calm yourself and get those narcotics like I suggested in my last stair post and life will be grand!

Da Hubbs has begun offering little impromptu DIY intervention speeches throughout this past week showing concern as to whether or not I can complete this project.

"I'm honestly worried about your chances of your finishing the stairs before the kids start collecting their social security checks," he said, all "smarty-pants" like this morning.

"I'm honestly worried about your chances of living to eat your next breakfast," I responded in an "its-possible-I-might-have-to-smother-you-in-your-sleep" like manner.

The next fifteen minutes were filled with da Hubbs practically falling all over himself trying to back-pedal on his previous statement by saying things like, "You are doing a great job, don't get me wrong - I just thought maybe you would want to make an 'in progress' post on your blog or somethin' - that's all I'm sayin'!"

Okay, so maybe he had a point and I'll delay cutting off his oxygen supply for the moment . . . . so, without any further stalling here goes:



 
 






Hopefully, I'll have photos of the finished project posted on Monday.  So, stay tuned!  I know I said that last time but what can I tell ya' - I'm tease!

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Want It Wednesdays: Kimono My House



Photos courtesy Hetty Rose, Nappa Studio and The Vintage Laundry

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Monday, January 18, 2010

How to Avoid Do-it-yourself Deficit Disorder



Because I didn't just fall off the DIY turnip truck, I'm now ready and willing to share with those of you who may be new to this do-it-your-own-self deal, the single most valuable piece of advice that anyone could ever give you.

And no, I'm not talkin' about all that junk about always prime first or make sure you have the right tool for the job, etc.

I'm talkin' real life-altering wisdom here, the really useful junk. And here it is. Commit it to memory, write down somewhere, do what you have to, but always remember these words:

•••••••••••
When starting any home improvement project you must make sure to have a constant supply of Schedule 2 narcotics.
•••••••••••

That's it. I know it sounds severe but you can plan what looks like a perfectly simple project, and then life and Diet Dr. Pepper consumption, and an addiction to surfing design blogs get in the way and, before you know it, you have 14 other projects swirling in your mind.

This is what I call Do-it-yourself Deficit Disorder - and this is where the narcotics become handy.

A person with DDD may have some or all of the following symptoms:

• easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and frequently interrupts ongoing tasks to attend to, like taking the opportunity to pee without anyone else in the room, or sit on the sofa with an unblinking stare accompanied by a small saliva thread dangling from the corner of your mouth like a cellophane noodle while the kids are at school and the Hubbs is at the office.

• frequent shifts from one uncompleted project to another - like testing out how the sofa looks against the opposite wall or tending to your last unfinished painting escapade that won't stop heckling you from the kitchen.

• procrastination - well, I'll talk about that later.

• getting up frequently to stand back and admire the 3 inch by 3 inch square that took you 45 minutes to perfectly paint.

• often dancing excessively trying to perfect your "All The Single Ladies" dance moves all Beyonce-like.

• forgetfulness in DIY activities (for example, sitting down for a break on the wet stair step that you just painted 2 minutes before and ruining your best pair of "I-got-a-ka-donkey-donk-butt-from-eating-too-many-Christmas-cookies" sweat pants).

• frequent shifts in conversation, trying to change the subject when the Hubbs asks, "How are the stairs are coming?", not keeping one's mind on task, and painting your knee caps, your elbows, and hair instead of the stairs.

Just thought I'd share my insight, cuz, knowledge is power, y'all - Am I right?

So, hopefully, the next post that I do about the stairs will be accompanied by jaw-dropping photos of the finished project. But its time for my meds and a little drool time, so, I really must go.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Want It Wednesdays: Petal Pushers



Photos courtesy 1stdibs, Lumiere Inc., Ruby Lane, Old Beginnings Antiques, Luxury Divas

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Friday, January 8, 2010

Girl Friday: Get-over-your-freakin'-self



I have an aversion to change - it scares me, I question it. Even if the "same old, same old" is bad and stressful, at least it's predictable - I know it, so, its comfortable. This mentality reeks of stupid, and as a matter of fact, it might give a stupid thought the will to live - so, its time for change, and lots of it!

In thinking about my new year resolutions, it occurred to me that my life, more often than not, seems constantly embattled, waiting for the next crisis. This tends to be corrosive (this constant stress). Life needs peace. Peace needs balance. And, balance begs a certain amount of "get-over-your-freakin'-self." Recently, I was reminded of an old Swedish proverb; "Fear less, hope more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more; And all good things are yours." After a year of suffering through my mood swings, it was the Hubbs who reminded me of this mantra. So, for Christmas he bought me a mood ring figuring it would be helpful in monitoring my disposition. We've discovered that when I'm in a good mood, it turns green and when I'm in a bad mood, it leaves a big red mark on his little forehead!! Seems I've become a bit of a wench-lotta!

I've decided to resurface in 2010 a new LeAnn, after a year of being plagued with what the Hubbs claims, are peri-menopausal symptoms. (“Peri-menopausal” being the much less sexy version of “Menopause”) But, to be frank and honest here, there is no new LeAnn - its just the old LeAnn with less caffeine, a taller stack of self-help books, a mani/pedi appointment, and lots of ideas.



My most recent idea involves my stairs, some paint, bloody fingers, and mild streams of profanity. I'll have photos of the finished project in a few days - stay tuned!

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

"Sex and the City" Brunch



I'm back and feeling like a lighter version of me only with a higher dosage of happy pills. I give credit not to my psycho-pharmacologist, but to my recent trip to New York. The alarmingly hectic, albeit wonderful, year of 2009 left me feeling a little spaz-tastic and weary, but my new year has begun with a renewed sense of excitement and lots of plans for the coming months.

In the next several posts I will be sharing photos and experiences from our trip as well as presenting plans I have for The Vintage Laundry, the blog, and other endeavors. But first, I'd like to share this:


2009 brought many opportunities, one of the most valuable being the chance to not only meet Stan Williams, but be given the gift of his friendship. The second day of 2010 was spent with Stan and Veli at their home in the NoHo neighborhood in Manhattan. Stan whipped up a very "Sex and the City" brunch - armed with relentless joie de vivre, his favorite vintage printed tablecloth, his 1970s mushroom tray from J.C. Penney, cheese, crackers, scones, muffins, coconut macaroons, and lots of tasty Prosecco champagne. Truly a master thesis on "effortless hospitality" - A "vintage glam" time was had by all!! Stan, you are one of the most clever, wickedly talented, dearest creatures on this planet - I'm so grateful that you are in my life and I hope 2010 has even more marvelous things headed your way!!



Photos courtesy Olivia Stephenson.
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