Dream big in 2011.

  

"What I fear most, I think, is the death of the imagination...If I sit still and don't do anything, the world goes on beating like a slack drum, without meaning.  We must be moving, working, making dreams to run toward; the poverty of life without dreams is too horrible to imagine."  -Sylvia Plath

Brooch Bouquets.

By now these pretty babies have invaded blog land, but I can't help but to post about them!

This wonderful woman makes bouquets out of vintage jewelry, mainly, brooches.  I'm in awe.

Do you see the tiny little fan brooch?  How about the clock?  I could stare forever.  Check out her Etsy store here.

And if you're feeling confident enough to try and make your own, don't forget that Abode is practically brooch heaven.

My only question is, if the brooches are vintage does this bouquet count as your something old or your something new?

A ballerina's bedroom.

I recently sat down and watched a documentary on the famous ballerina Margot Fonteyn and was completely inspired by her life.  I could not stop dreaming about her as a child growing up in Shanghai as little Margaret Hookham determined to be a Prima Ballerina. It all seems so fancy. 

So, today's post is in honor of the beautiful Margot, and any other little girl with big dreams.  I composed a short list of things found at Abode that would go just perfectly in the bedroom of such a little one.  Enjoy. 

At $99 this beautiful bust is one of our pricier items but worth every penny!  Look at all the details!

Vintage floral hat boxes are a simple storage solution in a child's bedroom.

Oh hi lamp.  I love you.  (This shade is made by a local artist.  Double oo-la-la points.)

This set of candle holders with matching mirror is only $49!

 

And here is a clip from the documentary, just because:



"One just loved her from the moment she came on stage to the moment of her last curtain call."

2011, here we come!



This table would be perfect to play cards on!
Art Deco Table on SUPER SALE - only $60!! First come, first serve!



Are you hosting a New Year's bash? I think one that was casino-themed, with poker & roulette tables would be so fun!! Or maybe 60's suits and cocktail dresses? Either way, we've got you covered - tables, cards, dresses, you name it!

Decks of Cards from Peppermill Casino $3/deck

I remember learning how to play rummy in Spain, this old lady taught us at a train station really late one night when we were waiting for a bus to Portugal. I have forgotten to play since then, but that was such a neat experience!

We want to know why you haven't come down to visit us at Abode yet!!

tea cup flower pots.

so lovely.

ps katie just did a markdown on a bunch of cups and saucers at the store.  now you're in the know.

DIY doily table runner

from heaven.

  

Get the full DIY from Ashley Ann's lovely blog (remember the pallet day bed from this post?  It was her work too!)  and then come on into Abode to pick up some doilies!  Heaven knows we have a million.

PS We also just happen to have a dining room table that looks A LOT like this one.  Butcher block top and white legs?  Yes please.  

Oh hi.

Oh hi cutest little Christmas tree ever.

(We have little squirrels and birds at the store right now that would be PERFECT for this look!)

Oh hi cutest wedding video ever.


Max, Margaux, & The Marvelows from Shark Pig on Vimeo.

(Have you seen the 1950's baby clothes we have @ Abode?  Your little one would be the fanciest wedding guest ever in these get ups. Come check 'em out.)

Oh hi prettiest window frame art ever.

(Made out of a window frame and vintage bird/flower prints bought at Abode.)

Okay bye.

Christmas done right

When I issued the challenge to myself to buy only local, hand made or secondhand for Christmas this year I had no idea what I was taking on!  What an adventure this has been, searching for ways to support our local economy while coming up with gifts that would be welcome and appreciated (no, I didn't even consider whipping up fruitcakes for all.)

As you know Mr. Abode's robe has been a concern from the beginning and I found a fun flannel fabric at Pine Needles fabric shop in Gardener Village, also these frilly fabric pens for stockings.  Fabulous candy creations from Sweet Aftons and stocking stuff for my sister from Anastasia's Attic.  The cherry on top being a vintage Huckleberry Hound lamp in hot and handsome orange for my just started college nephew - found at Aunt Elsie's - it is truly funk-a-liscious and I even managed to find a small local family shop (Fox's) to ship it for me.  They were kind and sweet and gave me and Huck the kind of TLC you will never encounter at Fed Ex, they are now my new shipping boyfriends and we all know how valuable that can be!

Finding gift cards locally was as simple as a trip to Harmons and Zions Bank has those o so nice Visa cards.

Overall I rate my experience inimitable - a 10 - yes, it took a lot of creativity and a bit of sheen on the upper lip (sweat, for those playing at home) but I met fun people, shopped funky places and found fabulous functional gifts, all while never standing in line, having a shopping cart roll over my toes or giving the one-gun-salute to that kid who stole my parking place!

Now, I fall on the sword . . . I had to cheat and buy a robe pattern for Mr Abode from JoAnn's Fabrics, o, how I tried to find that perfect thing on etsy and in the quilty shops, alas, no cigar. . . can you ever forgive me?

Loving this girl's style

  

and thinking to myself:  hey, we have a red vintage cardigan at the store that looks A LOT like this one.

If you're wondering who this adorable girl is, she is the owner of a vintage store called Bluebird Vintage.  Check out her blog here.

Christmas circa '61

Handmade Christmas!

Check out these handmade Christmas ornaments using old black and white photos, sheet music and more.

Totally adorable, completely handmade, and Abode has everything you would need to make them.

christmas shopping shmishmas shopping

I managed to get all my Christmas shopping done early this year, but hey - I work here, so I kinda sorta have no excuse.

But if YOU need to finish crossing off those lists, come on down to abode where you will get 10% off ANYTHING and EVERYTHING in your purchase! And for you big-money spenders, get 20% off your entire purchase over $100!! Sale ends Saturday, Dec. 18th @6pm.

Buying local and second-hand can make you feel good about Christmas, even if you want to die every time the radio plays Santa Baby. (We promise, that's not on any playlist here!) But we do have all sorts of fun, one-of-a-kind gifts, so stop in and say hello!

Abode asks:

what is your favorite purchase you've ever made at Abode and WHY?

Aaaah thanks Becky.  Your daughter has impeccable taste, we can tell.

Craft Sabbath

Abode had the pleasure of furnishing a Santa photo shoot for City Weekly and Craft Sabbath. 

Were you there?

Merm and Ven Kat were. ( Looking quite sharp I might add.) 

Hope you had fun if you were! Happy Holidays!

Glass act.

What is it about the holidays that makes that one-upping family member so much more aggravating? 

You know who I'm talking about, right?  The cousin or the sister-in-law or the fill-in-the-blank who magically never burns a pie crust and who's children never discuss their bodily functions at the dinner table.  You'd dislike her if it was physically possible to dislike someone so sweet. 

Last year you went out of your way to bring creme brulee to the meal, just to really stick it to her, and she smiled with all the grace of Audrey Hepburn and said:  oh this is perfect!  I wanted to make something fancier for dessert but I just didn't have time, what with the planning of the Christmas pageant for the Children's Hospital and all.  

Suddenly your "fancy dessert" began emanating some sort of "eat me and you don't care about sick children" vibe and no one would touch it.  Great.  Did I scorch my hair with a mini blow torch for this? 

So if it's your turn to host your family's Christmas dinner and you're shaking in your boots thinking about how you're going to match her elaborate meal from last year I may have a small tip for you.

Abode is chalk full of fabulous glassware that will make your dining room look like something out of, well, your one-upping cousin's house.

Gorgeous shabby-chic salt and pepper shakers will distract from the fact that your stuffing is bland, and who could care anyway if you serve it out of this amazing lead glass bowl?  And there's plenty more where that came from.

So sleep easy, and if you're at all like me, dream about catching her buying those perfect pies at the grocery store. 

Stay glassy Salt Lake.

Did you know

that Abode is a crafter's HEAVEN?

 If you're going the handmade route for Christmas be sure to follow our blog to receive 10% off all your buttons, fabric scraps, hoo-dads, and doodly doos.

All photos via this fab blogger who just had the nicest things to say about Abode.  

Sneak peek.

Bird cages, beads, and boas.  Disco balls and deer.  You'll just have to come into the store to see the rest of Abode's Christmas decor!