Del Mar Fair

I LOVE THE FAIR.  I went this weekend with Mr. Amerine and my mom.  I didn't get to eat everything I wanted (no funnel cake), but that's probably for the best.  Here are some pictures from our day.

We have had a very busy weekend all around.  It was another successful day at the swap meet, then at the thrift store.  I'm collecting vintage fabrics right now for a special project (I'm just not sure what exactly that project is.)  It's fun anyway.  I am obsessed with the vintage hunt.

A Busy + Fun Weekend

Let me just start out by saying:  Happy Father's Day to the best grandpa in the whole entire world!  I love, love love my grandpa so much!!!

It was a fun and busy weekend.  Saturday morning a friend and I went to the swap meet to treasure hunt.  It never ceases to amaze me how I can go every week and there is always new stuff.  Where does all this stuff come from- it's so crazy.  But keep it coming, I'm not complaining.  I found three more enamel brooches, but my more exciting treasures on this trip were the three vintage paint by number paintings I found.  I love the style so much and I'm really excited about expanding my collection.  The landscape painting is the oldest as far as I can tell - it's dated 1958.  The one of Venice is dated 1979 and the horse one isn't dated.  The horse one was only $1 and the woman was amazed that I even wanted it.

Then Saturday evening we went to a wedding, Sunday morning Father's Day brunch for Grandpa and then a bike ride to burn off some calories and work up another appetite for an afternoon Father's Day lunch for my father-in-law.  Not a lot of time left over time for crafts and such, but I squeezed a little in; I gave my art journal some love and crocheted some more granny squares for a blanket (that is going to take me forever to make at two squares a night!)  I made these last week and forgot to post them - I think they are so cool looking and  I want to make a ton of them when I have time!  There is SO much fun stuff to look forward to right now.  Hooray for Summer!

You Buy Stuff &Then You Die

This weekend Aaron and I went to an estate sale.  This was the first time I've been to one and it was a little weird walking through someone's house and picking up whatever I wanted to buy.  There was some cool furniture, but we aren't really in the market for anything big at the moment, so instead I snagged this old school two-drawer metal filing cabinet.  It's like card catalog style (love card catalogs!).  I rounded out my purchase with a couple more metal boxes.  One is like Dexter-style, so I can keep all my blood slides in there and hide it in the air vent.  I guess I will keep ribbons and such in the other one.  It made me a little sad to walk through this man's house and pick up all the stuff his family doesn't want.  There were pictures of him in one of the boxes.  An old man with hundreds of model cars that he meticulously cataloged.  These things meant something to him.

Now, back to the "buy stuff" part.  I found these vintage Pyrex loaf pans at the swap meet for only $3 a pop.  It was nice to see them at the antique mall later that day for oh, around $20 each.

Some more enamel.  I'm enamored with it.

Some cute little mini figurines for $1.

And a vintage owl.  Quite possibly the cheapest thing at the antique mall.  In the productivity department, I made good on my promise to my mom last week that I would make her this bag if she bought all the materials.  I just have a couple loose ends to tie up and then it's hers.  All in all it was a very good weekend.

Vintage Treasures + Home Organization

I'm happy.  I had a super fun day yesterday shopping with my mom.  She wanted me to go with her to pick out two new pet rats and, while we were in the area, I wanted to go wander around the swap meet.  Unlike me, my mom likes the new booths and when I pointed out a large area with vintage items, my mom expressed her dislike for such things.  However, to my surprise, she dove right in there in pursuit of old books, enamel brooches, and other knickknacks.  She even said she had fun!  And she still spoils me, just like when I was little.  We found a 1950's version of Alice in Wonderland, three vintage brooches, and a pair of clip-on earrings.  I've liked thrifting since high school, and Sir and I go regularly, but I think I want to go a lot of more.  It's so exciting finding that diamond in the rough.  The enamel brooches really make me happy for some reason.  I think I see a collection in the works...

 

The rest of the weekend was spent organizing my craft room.  I feel like I'm always organizing and reorganizing, and never crafting - maybe organizing is my craft... I also worked on organizing our downstairs office since it was a mess (it's where Mr. Man spends his creative time).  Well, here are some random pictures of my home organization progress.

Caramel Corn + More

I am SO sad this weekend has to end.  It was nice, calm, and relaxing -  I spent a lot of time baking, making, and creating - going at my own pace, doing whatever I wanted.  Saturday night I went to a friend's house to watch the UFC fight, which was pretty uneventful, not like I care one way or the other- but I got to spend time with her and her super cute baby.  I also made this caramel corn.  I've made it once before and it's super yummy and easy to make.  Check it:

{Caramel Corn}

2 bags (regular sized) popped popcorn

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1/4 cup dark corn syrup

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp backing soda

Place popcorn in a large bowl (remove any unpopped kernels) and set aside.  In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a rolling boil.  Cook and stir until the temperature on a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage).  Remove from heat and stir in baking soda.  The mixture will foam.  Quickly pour over popcorn and mix until all popcorn is coated.

Spread popcorn evenly over two large greased baking sheets.  Bake at 200º for 45 minutes, stirring once.  Transfer to waxed paper to cool.

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I also spent countless hours making pom poms.  I didn't know what I was going to do with all of them, but then I found this pom pom wreath on another blog and decided to make it.  It's kind of retro looking.  I like it.  I ran out of yarn (5 skeins) so I need to get more to finish it.

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I also wanted to share my swap meet find from last weekend.  This stool was only $5.  It was a little rusted, but with a little elbow grease, Sir and I got it looking decent.  I had to do some spring cleaning this weekend.  I have five chairs in my pink room now!  I love buying:  chairs (Sir loves them too!), side tables, plastic cups from Target, milk glass, knickknacks, and little dessert plates.