Zee wrap up

"Z" the last letter of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Z is my pet post with Zipper Von Zalez.  She is a German wire-haired pointer and quite the character.

Thanks for joining me in the month-long blog challenge.  I also want to thank the bloggers that allowed me to mention them.

One of my favorite past-times is reading blogs, those new-to-me in 2014:

Back 40 Gardening by Margareta Spain

Restlesschipotle.com A month of bread and looks to be some mouth-watering recipes in the future

Rumerhaven or Rumer has it Images and Twenties Terminology (words and phrases from the 1920s)

Smidgensbitsandsnippets Epic tale of a caregiver to a partner with advanced Parkinson's disease

The Rural Hood Remembering the past - with a rural flavor




I leave you with three random images -

Beefed up buck painting on velvet

offered through shopgoodwill.com

My Little Pony in yellow 

My latest thrift shop find $2.50

(Retail $25)

I'll let you know if any of the seeds germinate.  The packets were dated 2013, so they have a fighting chance.

Yarnbombed - the panther at SCC

"Y" letter for the day at the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  When I saw this panther at Sacramento City College had been yarnbombed, I knew I had my "Y" post image.  He looks oh so stylish!

And the 1952 Speigel catalog model of the Day

Xena, warrior princess

"X" being the prompt for the A to Z Challenge, leaves me with no choice but to resort to one of my pet posts.  Xena is a delightful Maine Coon.  I had never had a cat of that type before and would definitely recommend the breed.  She has a sweet personality, is talkative and has exceptionally soft fur.  She's a keeper.

Wide sweep circle skirts

"W" is the letter for the day at the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Waltzing right into wide sweep circle skirts.  I so wish those were popular now in everyday fashion.

1950s teenaged girls photographed by Burt Glinn (image via The Nifty Fifties)

1950s sewing pattern image via The Nifty Fifties

My goal was to do a thrifted fashion ensemble but my creative vision and the reality of what is available, well, didn't happen.

Vogueing in Vintage

"V" letter day prompt for the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  What can I say?  It is a "V" letter day.  I had a vlog concept of vogueing in vintage.  That idea is being sent back to the vault for now ...

Upcoming event Me-Made-May'14

"U" is the letter used for the day's post at the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  I search for blog hops with unique themes and challenges.  That is originally how I found A to Z.  I wanted to take part in what seemed to be a fun community.

Sooo, an upcoming and unique event I found is:


at http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/


What is MMM'14?

Me-Made-May'14 (MMM'14 for short) is a challenge designed to encourage people who sew/knit/crochet/refashion/upcycle garments for themselves to actually wear and love them. The me-made and self-stitched challenges have been taking place for over four years now and they work on both a personal and community level. The participants decide the specifics of their own challenge pledge, so that the month is appropriate and challenging for them (more on this below). A very common pledge is for a participant to aim to wear one self-stitched or refashioned garment each day for the duration of May 2014. The participants can also choose to document their challenge with daily photos (though this is in no way compulsory for taking part) and share them with other participants.

What isn't MMM'14? 

• The Me-Made-May challenges are NOT all about taking daily outfit photographs. However, many participants do choose to document their challenge with daily/weekly/as-often-as-you-like photos and share them on their blog if they have one or on Flickr if they are a member. The challenge is about wearing your handmade clothing more often than you usually do, if you choose to take documentation photos, then that is fabulous and we'd love to see 'em, but taking photos isn't necessary or compulsory and really isn't the point of the challenge. 
• MMM'14 also isn't reason to panic-sew/knit/crochet/refashion etc. This challenge is about wearing the items that you have already created, not about stock-piling more makes. However, if you want to use taking part in MMM'14 as the kick in the butt you need to finally hem that half-finished skirt, or rework an ill-fitting garment, then great. Remember, this challenge is meant to be fun, and panic-anything isn't fun! 
• A competition. It doesn't matter how many self-stitched items you already have or haven't. You can take part even if you just have one solitary self-made item! You just need to set your pledge to make it challenging for YOU, no matter what criteria other participants have set themselves. 

Excerpts via sozowhatdoyouknow

Link to sign up prior for May 1 for her event me-made-may14-sign-up-here

While I do refashion/upcycle thrifted items on occasion, I would be hard pressed to finish a creation on a daily basis.  I still might join in though.  Having a goal of refashioning one item might be doable.

Don't be coy - do share any upcoming blog hops you have on your calendar!

Tig and the Time Warp

"T" the letter of the day at the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Leading off with Tig, our 20 year old ranch cat.  She has endured trials and tribulations.  She looks like she is ready to do the Time Warp (YouTube link below).

It seems only fair that Tig get equal time on my "pet" posts of now "T," "X," and "Z."

I have tried to find a balance between my blogger mentions and Tami thrifted ensembles.  I don't want you to go into TAMI OVERLOAD.

There is such as thing as "atozfatigue."  Those who have or are participating the A to Z Blogging Challenge know what I am taking about.  So, let's do the TIME WARP again!

1952 taupe and lace dress

Spy Girl and a spring bouquet

"S" being the letter of the A to Z Challenge prompt.  I discovered Anne of Spy Girl, and have been having a lark with her 52 pick-me-up fashion prompts.  Those who link up with her blog challenges are sometimes treated to a sketch of their ensemble (see Sketch by Anne of Spy Girl in my sidebar).  She is a multi-talented wonder!

Photo editing credited to Bella @ The Citizen Rosebud

My first bouquet of spring ~

Roses are sometimes red

"R" letter of the day for the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  A rose is a rose is a rose.

Roses in full bloom at the State Capitol rose garden in Sacramento, California.  Wearing my newest favorite thrifted skirt, a red bandana print maxi from Coldwater Creek paired with a black sleeveless shirt and black cotton sweater.

I have always loved roses, specifically hybrid tea roses.  The hybrid teas form long single stemmed buds.  I moved all of my roses into two cutting gardens next to each other.  My newest bare root roses planted this season was a purple tiger floribunda. 

1950s rose print dress

Linking up with Patti at Notdeadyetstyle.  

Queen for a Day

"Q" letter for the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  There is a holiday or celebration nearly every month of the year. Everyone should have one day of their own.  My choice is Queen for A Day.  It is shame that formal wear is worn for, well, only formal events.  Ball gown and Birkis - such fun!

The inspiration for this Queen for a Day post was this Dave & Johnny gown.  I snapped it up at a 50% off clothing day at Thrift Town for $4.  It is luscious.  It is swooshy.  It is like eating cotton candy.  You have so much fun wearing it - you don't want it to end.  Maybe I could lounge around in the gown and drop Mae West-isms like "I've been things and seen places," or "Too much of a good thing is wonderful!"

Queen pink cowgirl hat

Pink Barbie nostalgic collection

Rhinestone necklace

Dave & Johnny gown
(all thrifted)

Pink and white striped Birkis (retail)

Posing in Pendleton

"P" letter day at the A to Z Blogging Challenge and the day's theme - Pendleton Plaid.  A recent thrift shop find is this Pendleton skirt - Authentic Black Watch Tartan!  I was with two other thrifters and one suggested that I pair the skirt with a white shirt.  I added a black Briggs New York black basketweave jacket.  The skirt is well made and fits perfect.

I decided not to crop any of the graffiti out of this image.  It is one of many amazing works of public art that I have discovered in midtown Sacramento.

Bugs photobombed my selfie!

Fifties plaid

Radiant Orchid - color of the year

"O" the A to Z Challenge Blogging letter of the day.  I searched specifically for a garment that incorporated that Pantone color of the year.

I also wanted to show off flowers in the bloom at the State Capitol nearest the rose garden.  

Highlighting this Nie Zoe silk and cotton blend handpainted sweater I purchased at Goodwill

(NWT - new with tag for $29.99) 

Fabric Art!

And some flocked organdy ~