Sew Excited!

I spent last Saturday at a local sewing shop, Sew Memphis, and they were patient and kind enough to help me go from reading a pattern to actually making something. I must say, once you start it can easily become an addiction. I just feel it! 

Here is my sweet little bib for my little man. 

If you have a local sew shop please don't hesitate to use their expertise! Below is the one I used in Memphis along with some other shops around the U.S. 

Sew Memphis

Memphis, TN

The Sewing Room

Birmingham, AL

Marguerite's Sewing School

Nashville, TN

The Stickin Post

Little Rock, AR

Portland Sewing

Portland, OR

Seems Sew Easy

St. Louis, MO

There are many more! Just Google "sewing classes" and your city. 

Along the lines of sewing, one of the most fun aspects is picking the fabric. 

I have found some good ones lately! 

 Tree Shopping

Hawthorne Threads

Manifold Mugs

Hawthorne Threads

Retro Roadsigns

Hatwthorne Threads

Busy Cook

Hawthorne Threads

Breakfast at Tiffany's

SpoonFlower

Vintage Bird Cages

Spoonflower

Mixer

Spoonflower

Mid-Century Modern Dandelions

Spoonflower

Glamping

Fashionable Fabrics

Food Trucks

Fashionable Fabrics

Pass it on - Little Free Library

In the past year I started noticing little bird house-like things popping up in my part of the city. Once I stopped to take a good look at one I realized it was a box of books. After about 30 seconds of research I learned that these are a worldwide phenomenon called Little Free Library. Little Free Library, Ltd. began in 2009 as a program of the non-profit organization Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility. The main  idea is that you can build a  Little Free Library (LFL) at your home, place of business, etc. Anyone can place books in and anyone can take books out. LFL has plans on their site you can use or you can get creative and do your own. This project is great in so many ways! I think it is a community builder, a great way to recycle books, a great way to find new books and an overall a great way to pay it forward. Anyone can build a little free library! In my neighborhood a boy scout troop built one in the local park and many families have build them in front of their homes. Check out some little free libraries from around the globe and consider either building one, supporting the cause financially or just donating a book or two to your local LFLs. 

 

LFL on Facebook

 LFL on Pinterest

 

Need to find a LFL in your area? Click the map below.

 

Retro Family Fun

While flipping through the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living, I came across a little blurb about Migis Lodge in Maine. Migi's (originally named National Camps) in 1916 is in beautiful Maine. I found their web site and combed through all the beautiful pictures and details about this mecca for retro family fun. After checking out Migi's I thought I would see what similar camps are available. I jumped in eager to find more of these gems but came across very few. I then expanded my search to lodges with family activities (e.g. Kellerman's in Dirty Dancing). Many of these camps/lodges have closed over the years but here are some remaining camps or summer lodge facilities that you can enjoy with the whole family.

 Migi's Lodge

South Casco, ME

Mountain Lake Lodge

aka Kellerman's from Dirty Dancing

Pembroke, VA

Camp Wandawega

Elkhorn, WI

Not quite sure if this is for families or just adults. Either way, it looks like lots of Amiercana fun!

Camp Westminster

Roscommon, MI

Big Cedar Lodge

Branson, MO

Two words - Lazy River

Berkeley Tuolumne Camp

Groveland, CA

Looks way cooler than this screenshot of their site.

Montecito Sequoia Lodge/Camp

King's Canyon National Park, CA

Medomak Family Camp

Washington, ME

The Hedges

 Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Circa 1880

Of course, your family fun must end with a campy anthem.

Small Kitchen BIG Punch of fabulous

From the tiny NYC apartment kitchen to the glorious galley, smaller is bigger! I have found some over the top tiny kitchens and some downright beautiful galley kitchens. Here are a few I have pinned over the years. Great for your idea boards! I have major kitchen envy as I write this. 

Aprons & Pearls - Vintage Cookbooks

Vintage cookbooks are such a fun way to take a step back in time. You can find great recipes and also come across some interesting dishes such as Jellied Turkey Salad and Deviled-Ham Rollwiches. I hit the thrift shops in search of these gems every once in a while had have collected some great Better Homes & Gardens cookbooks. The pictures are great, the recipes are (for the most part) good and the books themselves are always inexpensive. I have found a few good ones on ebay and Amazon that are worth a look. So, get your apron, pearls and pumps, June Cleaver, and get to cooking! 

 

Circa 1960

Circa 1955

Circa 1963

Circa 1941

 Circa 1961

 Circa 1956

Circa 1963

Circa 1971

Circa 1975

Circa 1963

Circa 1943

Circa 1961