The Mad Men Influence

In case you don't know this, I love Mad Men! I mean LOVE IT! There are a couple of reasons that I started watching it - 1. Jon Hamm (Don Draper) is a Mizzou alum (and easy on the eyes, too), 2. I love advertising, 3. I am a child of the 60's and really sometimes wish I could have been an adult during that decade.  Once I began viewing it, it was an obsession. I can't get enough of it. And I really need more than 13 episodes a season - fortunately I have all 3 previous seasons on DVD so I can be with Don Draper anytime I want. The 4th season is in full swing and my obsession is growing. No matter how flawed Don Draper may be, as a viewer you are drawn to him. And the cast, story lines, and set are just magnificent - a true look into 1960's Madison Avenue and American culture. Thank you Mathew Weiner!

So, as I mentioned previously, my house is a hodge podge of different styles. I have noticed lately that it does sport some Mad Men influence. Here are a few of my Mad Men finds:

The lamp I found at an estate/garage sale a couple of weeks ago for $1. It is marked "1962 Florence Art" - I found out they are a company out of San Francisco. I looked on eBay for other Florence Art lamps and there was only one listed for $495. I love the mixture of bent wood and ceramic on this piece and it has the original shade in great condition.  I could see this in Don Draper's office but I think it will be sitting mod, eventually, in our sun porch/media room.  I picked up the seltzer bottle or cocktail shaker at Hatfield's Antique Store in St. Joseph a couple of years ago. I don't remember what I paid (not much) but I loved the black and gold color. I'm sure Don and the boys would mix up some mean drinks with this. It is sitting on our bar, of course.

This radio is awesome. It still works, has a fabulous color, and is in nice condition. It wasn't one of my cheapest finds but I think it is worth the $20 I paid for it. You might find one of these in Don's bachelor pad apartment. Can't you just hear the advertising for Lucky Strikes or maybe Samsonite luggage? They don't make them like they used to... radios or advertising!

So, how has television influenced your style? Have you picked up a treasure because you were inspired by your favorite character? Maybe magazines, music or the movies are more your passion. Whatever it is, don't let the era stifle your creativity.

Friday Freebie

One of the cool things about Tim Holtz's blog (well, really everything is cool) is that he randomly gives things away just for leaving a comment. Following in that same vein, I am giving away some treasures I picked up the last couple of times I have been junking to Mom of Many (Heidi) who was the first person to comment and is also my first follower. Here's a picture of your prize picked especially for you. I'll put it in the mail this weekend! Have a super holiday weekend everyone!

Hummingbirds don't fly away, fly away...

hmmmmm. It is a beautiful "fall" morning here in central Missouri. Indian Summer is setting in, Tiger football kicks off tomorrow, the last of the onslaught of lake traffic is about to commence, and there are several garage sales scheduled. Life is good. As this time of year rolls around, Simon & Garfunkel's song always pops in my mind.

We have hummingbirds, lots of hummingbirds... and it is about time for them to start taking their flight south. Amazing little creatures, so busy and full of energy. I am sort of sad to see them go. Sort of, because according to the estimates on the bottles of hummingbird liquid sweetness I place out each summer, I am serving 600-800 hummingbirds each day. I make a lot of sugar water. Still, they are wondrous creatures, so intricate in their flight and amazing to watch.

 Wow, just a little aside - as I was typing this, a hummingbird just flew into the house. I have the back door open as the weather is so nice and in she flew. I had a hard time getting her out - she was drawn to the lights. Was she coming to say goodbye?

So, as summer closes and autumn begins, what is inspiring you? Are you starting a new journey? Or renewing old friendships? Whatever it is, this is the best time of the year - make the most of it.

Welcome to my blog world

Okay, so I have never blogged. I always thought of myself as fairly up to date on the technology of communicating but ever since we moved to the "boonies", my technological prowess has slipped - dramatically! I have the same cell phone as I did 5 years ago, no laptop, no wireless anything (although I do have a router), no blogging. But I had a friend tell me that they thought maybe I should share some of my vintage finds with others so here I am. It took me a day to get the look just right and I still don't know if I am happy with it. The marketing in me says it needs to be more focussed but the artist in me says to let my creative spirit run free. Here we go...

I hope to share with you some of the things that inspire me. I love to junk, love to collect, love to create, love to travel, love the Tigers, and love to take care of my animals and the wildlife surrounding me. I am blessed with the best husband (for me, anyway) and a pretty cool family of 2-legged and 4-legged peeps. I am on a journey of constant discovery - about me and this amazing life. I hope you will join me. This blog will be a mixed bag. I will show you some of my finds, some of my travels, some of my animals, or whatever is in my jumbled mind. It will evolve as it goes along.

So here's my first piece of inspiration... Emily Henderson's Secrets From a Stylist. I have been struggling with what the whole look of my house should be. It was built in the mid-70's, ranch style, near a lake but not on it, in the country. Our old house was a 1926 Arts & Crafts bungalow style in a mid-size city so it was difficult to decide what should stay and what should go because we had stuff we really liked. Should I go mod or lodge? Cottage style or retro? I like elements of them all. Then I watched Emily's new show on Sunday night and guess what, she said it was okay to mix styles. Amen, sista - I am all over that! Now, I feel so much better and that's where I came up with the name for this blog - I'm a little mod, a lot lodge, and oh so vintage. As this blog plugs along, I think you will get glimpses of all of these. For now, it's a big thank you to Emily Henderson!