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!

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