feeling is mutual-- the blog!

6/22/2008

Over the last few weeks, you may have noticed the Etsy box to the right. See it? Yup, right there, just above the flickr one.

Visit my shop for all manner of lovely items. Need some custom buttons? Order them here! Want to celebrate your Tulsa pride? Gotcha covered! Handmade bags? Yes! Vintage goodies? All sorts!

I have A LOT of items to add so, and over the next few weeks I'll be listing some of my new artwork too. Very exciting!

Shop away and help me pay my mortgage!

Labels: buttons, craft, etsy, indie shop, vintage

posted at 2:17 PM

1 comments

--------------------

6/19/2008

One of the many fabulous things about living in Brady Heights is our community garden. Thanks to the monsoon which is currently ruining my basement, our garden is out of control with leafy greeness. We've been picking the strawberries all summer, but this is our first harvest from the vegetable side of things.

Last night, Chris and I started craving curry but didn't want to leave the house. So we trekked across the street to our little garden plot at 10:30pm with flashlights and scissors like garden bandits. I'm sure the neighbors think we're crazy. We totally are, guys. It's true.

Added in some coconut milk, rice, dates and prik khing curry and we had dinner for two plus enough for todays' lunch! Today calls for zucchini bread and the completion of the pea harvest. It's much easier in daylight.

Labels: cookin', garden, life, Tulsa

posted at 9:26 AM

3 comments

--------------------

6/18/2008

Dear Marissa (circa 2000),
Yesterday I tossed your Juliana Theory t-shirt into a big cardboard box marked "Goodwill". Now, don't cry. Its been years since I've been able to wear it and even longer since I realized that the Theory really weren't all that great to begin with. A little campy even. With the screaming and all? Sorry.

Just think of the little emo kid who will wet themselves in excitement over finding a "vintage" Juliana Theory shirt for 3 bucks amongst all the shirts commemorating team building and 5k runs. I know you go crazy for that kind of thing. Shoot, I still do.

I know, I know. If you had known that we would "grow up" to enjoy banjo music and James McMurtry, you would've slit your wrists... but then, you were a little emotionally unstable and really now, it's your fault that we moved to Oklahoma in the first place. You have to admit that you were kind of asking for it.

Thanks for your understanding,
Marissa

Labels: letters, life

posted at 11:52 AM

0 comments

--------------------

6/16/2008

Here's a little cross publishing action from the Brady Heights Neighborhood Association blog:

The latest issue of Cottages & Bungalows (June/July 2008) might be of some interest to those of us who live in fabulous, and much forgotten, American foursquare homes.

I've had a hard time finding information on this often overlooked architectural style, so it was great to discover 5 pages of the issue devoted to the foursquare with so many full color illustrations, floor plans and historical information.
The following is a list of links given at the end of the article for further information:
American Foursquare Architectural Style
American Foursquare
Foursquare Homes

There is also an article within the issue which discusses historically accurate paint colors and color schemes. According to the article, bright white is never allowed on the exterior or interior of a craftsman home. While I'm sure that is accurate historically, it does seem a little nit-picky to me. But maybe I just say that as a home owner who's every door, ceiling and piece of trim is painted white... not to mention the aluminum siding on the exterior of our home. We'll take care of that... someday.

It's always fun to find old floor plans that reflect the layout of your home. See If one of these foursquare plans match your own.
The 1916 Aladdin Cumberland
The 1921 Fenner Nebraska
The 1916 Sterling Windemere
The 1916 Sterling Manor
The 1916 Sears Kit Chelsea
The 1925 Wardway Marley
The 1921 Fenner Kentucky

If you have a home built before 1965 Antique Home is a fantastic resource for vintage reference material. Find old house plans, millwork illustrations, interior design articles and more– all taken from original source material!

Labels: architecture, foursquare, house, restoration

posted at 9:35 AM

0 comments

--------------------

6/08/2008

All the recent storms have really caused havoc with our basement. The dehumidifier is working overtime but there's no stopping the water that seeps up from the cracks in the floor. As soon as I wipe it away, a fresh line of water oozes through. Whatever. You win nature. We cannot tame you.
Our dehumidifier is fantastic though. I don't know how we managed without it (probably by not having a leaky dank basement). Having the magical power to glean water from the air is quite the power to possess when you have to turn off the water for a few days. But then that is a story that I've taken oaths never to retell.

The storms have also done a real number on our exterior paint. Just one more reason to make repainting a priority. BUT if it hadn't been for terrible paint jobs and high winds, then we may never have realized our front porch's full potential. Under the layers and layers of various shades of green latex paint we had a red porch and didn't even know it! Break out the pressure washers!

So far we've gone through two pressure washers. We started out with a 1200 PSI unit which kind of tickled a little. We then upgraded to 1500 PSI, which worked considerably better.. but still, I don't want to be standing out there for a month cleaning one square at a time. This next weekend we'll be breakin' out the big guns with the most powerful pressure washer Home Depot's rental department has to offer! The kind that can take off a finger!

Labels: diy, house, restoration

posted at 12:49 PM

1 comments

--------------------

6/04/2008

I love primary season. No matter who wins, everyone still gets a little sumthin' sumthin'. Now the real competition begins! Now the bumper sticker gets slapped on the car and the yard sign goes up! Now I start getting really nervous! Sigh.

I understand that tomorrow is the anniversary of the Robert Kennedy assassination, but I do wish NPR would quit playing tapes of the shooting. I've never worried about Sen. Obama's safety before and hopefully never will. However, I have to admit that the juxtaposition of these too historic events becomes a little chilling when it is replayed over and over and over again.

Speaking of terrible events of 1968 that should never be repeated. Have you heard of the group Recreate '68 who is planning a major protest for the DNC?
What's wrong with you people? Recreating 1968 is a terrible idea! I'm all for a little "Smash the State" to keep things lively, but seriously! Maybe you should think things through a little bit first. I'm sure Denver is SUPER pumped.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., wipes her eye as
she watches her campaign crash and burn.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Hillary Clinton is the new Ron Paul. I never would have guessed it a year ago but... Lord Almighty woman! Her self-sabotage is so painful to watch. I just feel sad for her....like, "Crying in Connecticut" sad. Does that make me a sexist? I promise I'm not, I still would've voted for you Hill... I'd pick a sneaky sneaky president with decent policy over Grampa Lumpy McCrankypants any day. Maybe.

And, Bill? I'm talking to you now, Bill. I love you, man, but... Look at me! You are NOT doing yourself any favors!

---
In COMPLETELY unrelated news. There is new merchandise celebrating the wonderful comic Pictures for Sad Children. John Campbell is a genius and in no way at all a failure at living.