A Retro Remedy has new items on Etsy!

That's right folks, I've been a busy little crafter lately and (as a result) have new items on Etsy!

The new items are hair clips.  Fun floral pops of color. 

And - being made by me - they are all hand made, hand sewn, and one of a kind!  

(I also want to add many many thank yous to my beautiful friend Tiffanie -and her fantastic hair -  for modeling the flowers for me! )

So go ahead - check them out!  Maybe there's one perfect for you?

Anchors and Gingham, Oh my!

'Afternoon Readers!  Just a quick post today, then back to finishing off some projects.   I just wanted to share my newly listed (and newly finished) set of Blue Gingham Embroidered Anchor Dinner Napkins.

Made out of some fantastic (and perfectly sized) fabric remnants I found and grabbed up a few months back, they're hand embroidered with anchors.

  Maybe it's growing up on the ocean, maybe it's having sailors in the family,  maybe it's my love for classic anchor tattoos?  But I love these so much I almost hate to put them up for sale.  (almost).  They don't quite match my kitchen though. 

 Will they match yours?

Enjoy you afternoon!

A Picnic in Portland

       So as I mentioned previously, last Saturday was the PICNIC Art and Music Festival here in Portland.  This is Picnic's third summer festival (and this winter will be their second holiday sale).  I took part in last years sale, but took this year off due to focus on my blogging, promoting, and mastering this whole internet thing.  

I made sure to get up on time on Saturday and dragged my fantastic Megs out of the house with a promise of good coffee and a breakfast sandwich so that I could be one of the fist 25 shoppers there.  Why? To receive on of the free goodie bags full of coupon and some free gifts! 

 While I waited in line for a bag Megs got quickly distracted by the bikes for sale.

Organized by the fantstic women that run Ferdinand and PineCone and Chickadee, there was row after row of great artists and their booths.  The amazing weather this year definitely helped - I was there early and it was already getting packed! 

There were so many great handmade goodies - I left with a lot of inspiration and one splurge.  What did I get?

A new bike!  Just a cute old beater 3-speed to tool around one.  There's a few more months of bike riding weather left, right? 

Enjoy your week! 

A Retro Remedy Is Now on Etsy!!

It's finally up and running!  A Retro Remedy on Etsy!  I've spent the day taking photos and uploading items. 

  So far I've started loading into my Wearable Accessories category - including beaded broaches and Button Broaches made from up-cycled vintage buttons. 

 

They'll be much more to come! I'll keep you all updated - but for now 

check out the Shop!

what happened to August?

Holy cow!  It's August 30th already!  Where did the entire month go?

I guess it passed by while I was at a couple of weddings...

(my adorable friends at their ceremony on the beach)

(My darlin' Megs looking awfully nice in a kilt)

...the ongoing battle with Kinsey's (our other dog) seasonal allergies...

(tube socks = a fantastic anti-itching device)

...a couple of art festivals, and finally a relaxing (and much needed) weekend away at a camp on Peabody Pond.  

Even the pups relaxed and enjoyed the sun. 

Of course it wasn't all sunbathing, swimming, and friends - I handed out new business cards, did some self-promoting, and brought projects to work on at camp.  There are many more pics waiting to be edited, so for now - sneak peeks:

I also got a chance to not only buy a book I'd been wanting, The Handmade Marketplace, but also got to meet the author, Kari Chapin,  and chat a bit  at Picnic - a local arts, crafts, and music festival. 

 It was a quick read and incredibly helpful for starting up your own handmade business.  Her information on legalities and forms and her advice on marketing and promoting included things I would have never thought of myself.  Not only does Kari offer up her own advice and experiences in selling your handmade goods, but also advice from fellow artisans, bloggers and even a accountant.  It's definitely a resource I'll be going back to again and again.  

Well I've got plenty more to get done on this really beautiful (and really distracting) sunny day.  Until next time - enjoy the weather!

A Retro Remedy Got Hitched!

Well... technically M and I got hitched back in December - we ran off and eloped at a BEAUTIFUL B&B in Wallingford, VT called the White Rock Inn.  But yesterday we made it official with family and friends by having a Mustache Garden Party at the historic garden at Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's House here in Portland.

  

We couldn't have asked for better weather, all the planning and hard work that had me runnin ragged for the last few weeks paid off - everything went as planned.  

Megs (under my close supervision) and I made all the food, the sangria and the iced tea.  And my craftiness was everywhere.  

Mustaches 

Some were on sticks (like opera glasses), while others were self-adhesive for a more "genuine" effect.

(my Dad and I - )

I also made all the table cloths out of this fantastic yellow and white checked vintage fabric that I had been given by a friend. 

M also helped me make our Rice Krispie "cake" and I decorated it with blue gingham ribbon, green polka dot  ribbon, and fake flowers (good thing too - real flowers would have melted in minutes in the heat!)

And the toppers were our little handmade love birds - complete with mustaches of their own :)

After a couple hours of food and mingling my favorite part arrived - Over A Cardboard Sea - a local Portland band played for the last couple hours.  They're kitchy, cute, talented, and vintage - complete with ukuleles, singing saws, banjos, and melodic hand farts.  

It was an amazing day filled with family, friends, fun, and fancy outfits!   Too bad we can't get hitched every year!