Seatbelt mini traveler (messenger) bag now available on alamodestuff.com

mini traveler in red, $68.00
also available in black, dark grey, and light grey

Living vicariously through my son - OM [one moment] meet up, week #16

As I drove my 8yo to camp this morning, we listened to AC/DC's Back in Black.  This is the first song that E has learned to play along with on his drums.  While I'm not a huge AC/DC fan (much to my husband's dismay), I have loved listening to him practice this song over and over (and over and over...) again.

I have always wanted to play drums, not in a marching band or orchestra, but in a rock and roll band.  I've always wanted to thrash my head, hair flying, while twirling my drum sticks between my fingers.

click photos to be taken to source

My moment came when I realized that not only can E do something I've always wanted to do, he can also do something that I don't know how to do.  Living vicariously through him is the next best thing!

What was your 'one moment' this week? What took you out of your present moment and made you grateful, smile, happy?

Share in the blog comments here, on your own blog (and link back below) or on my Facebook fan page. If you are on Twitter, I've started a hash tag - #omMeetup so that we can converse if we'd like. We'd love to hear your moment this week!

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Game Night - posted by Crafted by Lindy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. OUIJA BOARD Vintage brass cuff bracelet - Unique Art Pendants

2. Vintage Yahtzee Board Game - scoutdrygoods

3. Set of 20 1970's Vintage Scrabble Cubes - Liberty Aspen

4. Games People Play - 20x20 GALLERY WRAP CANVAS - Red Letterwords

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Old as the HIlls, Vintage Green Wooden Monopoly Houses - Emmy Lucy

2. vintage bingo book - B-I-N-G-O - Space Dog Studios

3. vintage dart board - Pica Pica Found

4. VINTAGE CRIBBAGE BOARD antique game - Retro 2 Go Go

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and new baby girl. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationary business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here.] 

Hump Day Humor: Jersey Shore 1905 vs. 2010

[Disclaimer:  I've never watched the Jersey Shore and am a bit surprised I'm even noting this on my blog.  I happened upon some great photos from the early 1900's of beach goers and was struck by the vast difference between then and now.]

Jersey Shore 1905

Jersey Shore 2010

The weather has been sweltering here and has reached triple digits (with humidity feeling about the same).  I cannot imagine having to cover up the way women used to in the early 1900's.  Here are some great photos that made me appreciate how far we've come (not including the photo above).

Pool game, 1924

Seven up, 1920

Sand in your socks, 1905

Maud, 1920

Poised, 1920

For more fantastic photos of old, visit Shorpy Historic Photo Archive.

Decorating with industrial elements - an old metal cabinet finds new life

Back in February, I wrote several posts about visiting an old mill here in RI.  It had been shut down and my friend,  Kristin Crane, and I were there to pick up left over thread and yarn.  [It's also where I took some great photographs that I'm selling in my Etsy shop.  You can read more in this post and this post.]

As we were leaving the mill, I saw this old metal cabinet on wheels.  It reminded me of an auto body shop tool cabinet.  Since everything was up for grabs, it became mine.

My plan was to find someone in the auto repair industry to powder coat it like a car.  I could envision it painted in shiny fire engine red with little metallic flecks.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone to do the job (it probably would've cost me too much, anyway).  So, I had a friend's boyfriend, who meticulously fixes cars, spray paint it (with auto paint) and this is how it turned out.

I love it and can't wait to find a proper use for it.  I imagine it sitting in my large loft studio space rolling around with art supplies inside.  Okay, I'm dreaming agian. 

Earlier this week, I found some great industrial pieces of furniture in the Home Decorators catalog.  Consider adding a few unexpected elements like these to your decor. 

industrial adjustable height table, $629

Industrial console table, $399

Captured: From the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica

From the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica | MarcelGermain Some rights reserved

[Captured is a weekly column curated by Diana Brennan of D. S. Brennan Photography. Diana lives with her husband in Rhode Island, where she spends her time immersed in photography, gardening, cooking, and home renovation projects. You can read her own blog here.]

Making the mundane your muse - OM [one moment] meet up - week #15

You know the elegantly staged bedside tables you see in magazines and interior design photos?  The ones that have a stylish lamp and vase with fresh flowers.  Mine is not like one of those.  Mine normally holds a pile of magazines, my current book, lip gloss, hand cream, an old glass of water, the occasional nail file, and yesterday's tissue.  Not a pretty scene.

One night this week, I crawled into bed early for a little 'me' time (book, TV, quiet).  I was playing around with my iPhone and wondered if I could make the aforementioned objects on and around my bedside table  more interesting through the eye of the iPhone camera.  I was really curious to know if I could take random shots and have them turn out more intriguing.  This is the result.  I am happy to know that my mess can be my muse.











What was your 'one moment' this week? What took you out of your present every day life and made you reflect, appreciate, notice?

Share in the blog comments here, on your own blog (and link back below) or on my Facebook fan page. If you are on Twitter, I've started a hash tag - #omMeetup so that we can converse if we'd like. We'd love to hear your moment this week!

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Great Etsy finds in numerical typography - As Easy as 1, 2, 3 - posted by Crafted by Lindy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Centimeter Tape Measure Cotton Trim - This and That From Japan

2 . Wooden trunk boxed - Number and Sign Stamps - Karaku

3. Route 66 Belt Buckle - Recycled License Plates - Vintage in Retrospect

4. URBAN TYPE screenprinted fabric printed red on white - Green Olive Textiles

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Numbered Brass Tag, Hand Finished Rustic Patina (NTUA) - Supply Pusher

2. wooden drawers with vintage numbers - Modish Vintage

3. Pi Math Geek Ladies T-Shirt - American Apparel  - Dark Cycle Clothing

4 . letterpress numbers bundle - AMradio

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and new baby girl. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationary business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here.]

Hump Day Humor: Passive Aggressive Notes

For a good laugh, check out  Passive Aggressive Note's photo stream on Flickr.  A few favorites of mine:  here, here, here, and here.  There is something for everyone!

Sacramento sunrise and other news

Sacramento sunrise, originally uploaded by alamodestuff.

We are back from our quick trip out West sans kids.  It was nice to be in Sacramento during it's "worst."  The temps were in the triple digits but without the humidity I'm used to.  It was lovely.  I even got to spend some time by the pool.

[view of pool, photo by moi]

This was my first time in California's capital.  I was very pleasantly surprised to find a city full of trees and greenery.  We were taken to two incredible restaurants that I'd highly recommend:  Frank Fat's on L Street, Sacramento's oldest eating establishment (fantastic Chinese food) and Ella, an all around beautiful dining experience from food to decor.

 [source] photos by Mathjis Wessing

We got back on Saturday night.  Sunday morning, I was playfully thumped upon by Sophie.  She startled me while I was asleep resulting in a pinched nerve in my neck.  I've been taking it easy ever since.  Not sure what I'll be able to accomplish this week.  Frankly, I'm not too worried about it.  I find it a welcomed excuse to slow down.

 [sculpture by E, photo by moi]

Sunday, I went to the smallest 4H fair in existence.  It was quaint and fun, but not quite what I was expecting having experienced 4H in Indidana.  Everything is relative isn't it.

 [photo by moi]

Hope you are having a great week!

Captured: Underwater Walk

Underwater Walk | Krister462 Some rights reserved

[Captured is a weekly column curated by Diana Brennan of D. S. Brennan Photography. Diana lives with her husband in Rhode Island, where she spends her time immersed in photography, gardening, cooking, and home renovation projects. You can read her own blog here.]

OM [one moment] meet up - week #14 - welcoming a new blog contributor, Diana Brennan

I am very excited to introduce my talented friend, Diana Brennan, as a new contributor to the alamodeStuff blog! I've known Diana for several years through Etsy and the Arts in RI Etsy team. She is a great photographer and nature enthusiast. Combining her background in environmental science with her knowledge and love for photography, Diana's work is beautifully detailed and ethereal.

Diana will be curating a weekly photography post called "Captured." I look forward to seeing what she will share with us each Monday. You can learn more about Diana on her website, http://www.dsbrennan.com/ or blog, http://www.dsbrennan.blogspot.com/.

My moment this week actually came about while I was scheduling Diana's first post for this Monday. I have written aproximately 775 posts on this blog beginning in March, 2008. Having Lindy (Crafted by Lindy) and Diana as contributors allows me an opportunity to view this blog as the readers do, with an element of surprise and anticipation. Thank you, ladies!

What was your 'one moment' this week? What took you out of your present moment and made you grateful, smile, happy?

Share in the blog comments here, on your own blog (and link back below) or on my Facebook fan page. If you are on Twitter, I've started a hash tag - #omMeetup so that we can converse if we'd like. We'd love to hear your moment this week!

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Summer Picnics - posted by Crafted by Lindy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Vintage Pyrex Orange Juice Lemonade Carafe Pitcher  - Richard and Ruthie

2. Oh, Hello ACEO Photography Print - Heather King Designs

3. Ant Picnic Ring Pincushion - The Finicky Frog

4. Mod lunch - Set of 4 - Fine and Dandy Vintage

5. Vintage Pink Therm-A-Jug One Gallon - Monichelles

6. Cloth Picnic Napkins - Orange Gingham - Peppermint Pinwheels

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and new baby girl. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationary business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here.]

Hump Day Humor: If Michelle Obama married someone else

 [photo source]

One night President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn't too luxurious. 

When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the president's secret service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged and Michelle had a conversation with the owner. 

Following this conversation President Obama asked Michelle, why was he so interested in talking to you. She mentioned that in her teenage years, he had been madly in love with her. 

President Obama then said, "so if you had married him, you would now be the owner of this lovely restaurant,"  to which Michelle responded, "No, if I had married him, he would now be President."  

****

Oh, snap!

- thanks, Nisha!  I love this one! 

Today I had a change of plans

Week 15- Gone Barefoot [Explored], originally uploaded by Nate Pabst.

Today as I was working on my lavender sachet tutorial, the whispers of a beautiful summer day slowly began to call me away from the computer.

So...

I'm kicking off my shoes, so to speak, and will go frolicking in a field of dandelions.

Okay, maybe I'll just go barefoot in my yard while picking weeds.

I know you understand. Perhaps you are frolicking as well.

Enjoy...