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!

Cool customer hall of fame.

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? — it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-by. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies." -Jack Kerouac, On the Road

This adorable couple rented a U-Haul in Indiana and drove across the country picking out furniture for their new home in San Fransisco.  Judging from their Abode picks (a green record cabinet, a bookshelf, and a typewriter table) their home is going to be just as cool as they are.  So basically I'm saying...I want to be like them when I grow up. 

Not so mellow yellow

chrome and formica retro diner table. 

I know what you're thinking, you're in love right?  I just think the two of you should get to know each other a little better before you start making any proposals, okay?  So come on into Abode and give her a look in person.  You won't be disappointed.  (Just wait till you see her legs.)

SOLD!

Dear Dottie Angel,

Why must you be so stinkin cute?  You're making the rest of us look bad!

I am in awe of her Christmas tree from last year.  The epitome of home made!  Not to mention the fact that we are all about deer these days and look at her, she was a year ahead of the trend.

Love it. See more photos and more adorable Dottie-ness here.

Are all of your trees decorated?  If so, leave a comment with a link to your blog and share your pictures! 

If you've still got decorating to do and you like this look come on by the store for some vintage doilies, spools, trim, and ornaments!

We've got all the fixins children!

Ya'll may think I'm a Scrouge but I have got to say that I just don't like most Christmas music!  However, I was stoked when I found the "Maybe This Christmas" albums featuring some funky versions of Christmas tunes by some amazing artists.

My fav of the three albums is "Maybe This Christmas Tree"  featuring Death Cab for Cutie.  Have a listen here at the blog (it should be playing right this moment so turn up your speakers!) and stop by the store to hear more!

WARNING:  some of the songs on these albums have curse words so purchase with caution!

Hey guess what...

(so shop at Abode.)

Oh well hello there.

Now this is our kinda Christmas!  Found over at this rad girl's blog.

PS If you like this look you should think about heading over to Abode to check out all our fun, funky, and fluorescent Christmas bulbs.  Do it. We know you wanna.  

it takes a village

to buy only local, hand made or secondhand for Christmas this year.  the plan for mr abode's robe is more entertaining than i could have hoped with people far and wide volunteering fabrics (i guess the thought of my manly man prancing about in girly prints is too much to bear).  i can't wait to start cutting and sewing . . . 

I bought the most adorable curly knit scarf for one of my nieces at a craft show here at work - I'll post a pic for you to drool over - it is an extra bonus to know the knitter

abode gift guide: vintage kid

so if you're like merm and i and you've accepted the "shop local" challenge you may feel like running for the hills (and by hills we mean target) now that you've started your holiday shopping. 

well we're here to help.  over the next couple of weeks we're going to compile a few little lists of shopping ideas for even the most difficult person on your list featuring, you guessed it, items found at ABODE!

today we're focusing on little gifts that are perfect for the fun and funky kids in your life.  and guess what, they're all just $10 or less! 

1) vintage monkey toy $3  2) giant pez toys $8each  3) sunny suzie tin oven $10  4) vintage curious george tin $3  5) vintage carebear lunch box $8

and don't forget about our vintage candy, PERFECT for stocking stuffers! 

xo amanda lynn

LOL

mr abode is Indian, y'know and he says some pretty funny things and here is one of them - he mentioned that someone has a hobby of "fish flying" - actually, that sounds funner than fly fishing!

uNdEniAbLy aDorAbLe

Dressing a wee one this season?  Vintage baby clothing makes me swoon . . . and this is a fraction of what we have in store!  Makes me want to have a baby . . . almost . . .

you

we are thankful for you, all of the interesting conversations, diverse opinions, shared interests and love of the fun, funky functional.  have a wonderful Thanksgiving and eat til you weep!

LoCaL LiZaRd

day 2

the challenge:  buy only local, hand made or secondhand for Christmas this year

ever had that experience when you are fasting or prepping for a "procedure" (aka colonoscopy) and suddenly food is all around you?  TV, magazines, kid's breath?  Yeah, now I am inundated with ads to buy this online, wake up at the crack and stand in line, we make it E A S Y.

Biting my knuckle as I press on

dress your husband in organza and velvet

day 1

I threw down the gauntlet and issued the challenge to buy only local, hand made or secondhand for Christmas this year and immediately I started obsessing about what to get mr. abode for Christmas this year.  He likes "perfumes", ties and shirts from The Magic of . . . stores - nope, can't do that.  I think I'll make him a robe!  i have a basement full of fabric all of it perfect for little girls and quilts, I wonder how he'll look?  Good first challenge to put my money where my mouth is!

stay tuned

ShOp LoCaL cHalLeNGe

can I do it?  resist the urge to park my butt and shop online or run to the BIG BOX stores, can i resist the red bulls-eye, the blue light, the x-mart this year and have a local lizard shopping experience?

dottie angel  issued a challenge of the utmost kind - to buy only handcrafted or secondhand goods for the home and closet for 365 days!

WOW, I said, can I do it for one season, buy only local, hand made or secondhand for Christmas this year . . . I'm ready to try

are you?