"Are you gonna clean this rug behind me?"
"Because it looks like Marie has been rolling around on it."
"That wasn't me!"
"Stop watching TV and pet me for hours!"
"Please."
- Rachele
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
CLOSED // Giveaway: "Happy Bike Girl" Original Drawing from Art House Mum
Grace is a very talented artist and sweet lady and I am excited to be sharing this giveaway with you guys! But I will let her tell you more about herself and what's up for grabs.
With a background in Visual Arts and Picture Framing, I am striving to channel my creative juices into not only my art practice, but also raising my three small children, and blogging. There is just so much to learn in so many areas of life, and at Art House Mum I am enjoying learning new skills, encouraging others to try new things, and introducing my readers to a range of handmade treasures from all over the world. If you like seeing a little art each week, the occasional simple How-To, a few stories of our home life, the odd recipe and giveaway, then drop on over to Art House Mum!
What you win
This original brush and ink drawing comes from a series inspired by the quote, "When I see an adult on a bicycle I don't despair for the human race" HG Wells. It measures 190 x 270 mm, or 7.5" x 10.5". It will come to you flat in the post, ready for you to either slot into a pre-made frame, or have framed by a quality custom framer.
How to win
Follow The Nearsighted Owl via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment here telling me what your favorite item is from Art House Mum's shop!
Earn extra entries:
- Tweet about the giveaway: Win an original drawing from @ArtHouseMum on @nearsightedowl blog! http://tinyurl.com/83vaerd
- Share the giveaway by posting it on your blog, Tumblr or Facebook.
- Like Art House Mum on Facebook.
Leave separate comments for each entry and please include your email address.
Giveaway ends April 6, 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be drawn randomly and notified. Must respond within 2 weeks or a new winner will be drawn. Good luck!
P.S. There is still one more day to enter to win awesome owl jewelry!
- Rachele
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The In-Laws and Their 4 Cats
Every week we go over to the in-laws for dinner and I thought it would be fun to share some peeks of our evening. They always cook us a delicious meal and their 4 cats get plenty of attention from us.
My father in-law loves vintage lamps and reproductions.
Tommy, the neighbor cat. He talks a lot!
Stella and Zephyr patrolling the sidewalk.
Kitchen witch.
Yummy tostados and nachos.
My mother in-law and her hot tea.
Mama Cookie Face checking out the birdcage.
Ting Tang recently had surgery to remove her eye due to glaucoma. She has completely adapted and you can tell she is much happier not being in pain and doesn't miss the eye at all.
She likes checking out the finches too.
My father in-law, the drummer and chef.
And pretty Stella. She reminds me a lot of Sandy. All four of their cats were adopted from neighbors that could no longer keep them. My in-laws just started taking care of them and eventually took them completely in. They figured that if we can take care of 3 in our teeny tiny house, they could handle 4 in their big house. Those are some happy kitties!
- Rachele
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
David and Mari
I love drawing cute couples in love! Mari is like my kindred spirit and David looks a lot like my mister. They both have a lot of character and style, which made my job of drawing them even easier!
Aren't they cute?
- Rachele
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Thrifting Tips for Plus Size Clothing
This is revised from an earlier post with new tips added!
If you wear size 12 or higher you may find thrifting for clothing intimidating or near impossible. I used to feel the same way! I used to go to the big plus size clothing stores each season and drop upwards of $300. I didn't think that I had any other choice. Since the change in economy and our tighter budget, I stopped doing this. But I still want to be fashionable and enjoy shopping for clothing. The clearance racks can be helpful but there is something much more satisfying about thrifting for clothing. Here are some tips that might help you.
Our local thrift stores usually have 2-4 aisles of clothing labelled as plus. I look there first but I also check the sweater section for cardigans, and the dress section for tunics. I almost always find plus size clothing in the sections not labelled as plus. They were most likely put there by an employee by mistake, mislabeled in the first place or dropped off by an indecisive customer.
Check for "new" items
Most of the clothing I find at thrift stores are from Target. They donate returns and old items that I may have seen at Target just a few weeks before. The tags are still on and sometimes I can compare the clearance price to the thrift store price to make sure I am getting a good deal. Most of the unpopular items end up in the aisles of Goodwill and this can be to my advantage because I am not usually looking for anything super trendy. If there is a shirt with stripes or orange and purple geometric shapes, I will want it and not a lot of other people will.
Try it on...or don't
99% of the time, I don't try anything on. Get to know your body and the size that you are. I know that I will fit for sure in a size 3 (plus) but a size 2 may or may not fit. If I don't feel like going to the fitting rooms, I only pick out things I know for sure will fit me. I don't waste time trying to squeeze into size 12 jeans. This will only discourage you and keep you from buying clothes. And you certainly can't wander around naked!
Build your wardrobe
I don't go to the thrift store to find the perfect pair of jeggings or a warm winter coat. Those things still probably need to be purchased at a new store or plus size vintage store, like Fat Fancy. There may be the rare luck of finding a wool cape coat in size 26 but chances are pretty low. I go thrifting to look for clothing that I can build up my wardrobe with. I am looking for items that I can layer or similar clothing that I might already own but would like in different colors and patterns. I am on the look-out for long shirts, tunics, short dresses, cardigans and accessories. These are things I can wear with the leggings and jeans that I already have at home.
Dress to thrift
Go shopping in your favorite pair of skinny jeans so you can see how tops will look. I do best trying things on when I am wearing leggings because I can try on dresses and if I try on a top, I still have an idea of how it will look with pants. Plus, I am comfortable and don't have to take on and off a complicated dress that zips from the back or tights that require 15 minutes of pulling to get back on. This is important when you may need to take multiple trips into the dressing room. I also pile on clothing so that I don't have to keep dressing and undressing.
Experiment
Wish you could try a new look but don't want to invest your next paycheck into it? Thrifting is a great way to switch up your look a little bit without going broke. You can go home with a bag of clothing and new possibilities for only $30. Or you can add a zero to that number and get limited options.
Choose wisely
But wait! You just told me to experiment! You will quickly be overwhelmed with clothes if you don't discriminate a little bit when thrifting for clothing. I don't go crazy every time or my closet would burst at the seams more than it really is. If a sweater isn't exactly what you are looking for because it is a little baggy and not your favorite style, then pass it up.
I also take a glance at the purses and scarves to see if I might find a style that I have been eyeing. The thrift store offers great prices on bags. Check for wear and tear first though. Make sure the straps are strong and not going to break when you pack it with 10 pounds of makeup, notepads and cameras. We are LARGE, people has some great tips for cleaning a smelly used bag.
Keep your eye on the prize
Get to know your style and favorite pieces and look for clothes that are similar. I know that I like long shirts, tunics, empire waists, vintage patterns, sparkly accents and earthy colors and am not too keen on frills, modern prints and short shirts. I won't spend time looking at clothes in that style and cut, trying them on or taking them home only to never wear them. This strategy also makes my shopping faster because I can scan through a rack quickly. Can we please send a memo out to the plus size clothing designers about their awful choices they make? I really don't want a sheer peasant shirt with a ruffly bottom and huge purple butterflies all over. It isn't in style and I don't think it ever was. But for some reason there are loads of similar tops that have been cast away by some unsatisfied fatty to the thrift store. I can spot one a mile away and it is quickly eliminated as an option.
Keep in mind that you can repair and alter some things, even if you don't have sewing skills. I am known to cut off collars and sleeves. I cut off sleeves when they are too bulky and I know I am just going to wear it with a cardigan. Another tip to the plus size clothing industry: we don't need big ole' baggy sleeves to cover up our plump arms. A lot of us want things that fit and are tailored! Anyway, you can also see where I modified my Red Velvet dress in the bust. This can also be done with items you have thrifted.
Check the fitting rooms for close times
Our local thrift stores shut down their fitting rooms half an hour before they close. This could be alarming if you gathered all your beautiful finds to only discover that you can't try them on. They also usually let you take in a certain amount of items. Unlike Torrid, where I can go in with half the store and spend all night trying everything on, the thrift store only allows 6 items. I start to organize and separate what I want to take in.
Go often
You aren't going to discover all your thrifting dreams in one trip. You have to go often. Some trips will yield absolutely nothing and then other times you will strike gold. Give the thrifting Gods a chance to shine on you and for the store to restock. Plus, you will have new energy and ideas to attack those racks!
Wearing plus sizes doesn't mean you are limited to the mall or online shopping. You can become a thrifting pro instead! Be careful, you may get so addicted that the smell of musty clothing gets your heart racing. Check out your local thrift store and you will be surprised at the options! I hope my experience and tips will help you make the jump.
- Rachele
Monday, March 26, 2012
OOTD: Purple and Green
dress : thrifted
cardigan : torrid
leggings : torrid
flats : payless
belt : fat fancy
Cat hair leggings! It is unavoidable. The cats are always sitting besides me and the washer machine produces cat hair, I swear. I need to get one of those magic pet hair removers! The informercials have me convinced that I must have it.
We had snow one day this week and then sunshine the other day. Very strange start to Spring to have to sweep snow off my car in the morning. I am ready for flip-flops and light outfits like this.
Last night, I spent all evening cleaning our bedroom and organizing my clothes. They looked like they exploded in there before. It was bad. I would never share a photo of it before due to my immense amount of shame. We share a closet, although the mister has the most of his side filled with classic videogames! Anyways, I hang up my sweaters and jackets and then I put dresses in the baskets. The drawers hold my underwear, pants, skirts and tops. I have hanging organizers for my shoes, scarves, hats, etc. And then I have another rubbermaid tub to hold even more tops that don't fit in the drawers. I got a lot more to fit than before though because I filled up 5 bags to be donated and threw out some things that were just worn out. I even had room to make a little bed for Wednesday by my nightstand. Anyways, here is my side of the closet now!
- Rachele
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Meet the March Sponsors
Oh SweetHenry is the brain child of Nicole and Lisette, two fat chicks that share a love of vintage, kitsch, crafting and baked goods. As divas with ample portions, we know that finding clothes can be a pain and that our options are sometimes limited, but the one thing we can always count on to make a boring outfit not so boring are the accessories! It is that reason that we at Oh SweetHenry specialize in making every person, big or small...but especially those Bottecellian babes, feel like they are just as hot as any pin-up or sultry siren!
With a background in Visual Arts and Picture Framing, I am striving to channel my creative juices into not only my art practice, but also raising my three small children, and blogging. There is just so much to learn in so many areas of life, and at Art House Mum I am enjoying learning new skills, encouraging others to try new things, and introducing my readers to a range of handmade treasures from all over the world.
If you like seeing a little art each week, the occasional simple How-To, a few stories of our home life, the odd recipe and giveaway, then drop on over to Art House Mum.
Hey there! My name is Jenna and I am the mad scientist behind my blog SewSavoirFaire and my shop GeorgiaPeachVintage.
You'll find odd outfits, cats, and the ever changing "day in the life" antics on my blog and at my shop you'll find a wide array of kitschy, cute, and fabulous vintage finds! Come by and say hello because I truly love meeting new bloggy friends and new blogs to read!
10% off coupon code: NEARSIGHTEDOWLLOVE
Hi! My name is Marilyn and my blog is Pulp Sushi. I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley region just north of NYC with my boyfriend. My blog is a mix of me sharing shop news and learning crafty goodness. I am unapologetically addicted to desserts, coffee & dresses. I have pretty crazy taste in music, just warning you. :)
15% off coupon code: OWLSEE15
My name is Hannah and I'm a cook, waitress, student, crafter and adventurer living in Oregon. On my blog, you'll find fun outfits, thrifting finds, crafts, and general awesomeness. Come check it out and say hello!
15% off coupon code: HELLOTHERE
- Rachele
