H-Ween Dress and the Last of the H-Ween Decor!

Can you believe I am creating again? I can't.

I am into tee-shirt dresses for the little petal. She loves all things skullie....but has such a distinct old-fashioned little lady side.


Thrifted skullie with rainbow tee + a vintage embroidered table runner (for the sleeves) + the hem of a vintage slip = Wee Petal style!!!!


Another tee-shirt dress. This tee was gifted long ago from Mary Ann. It also has Wee Petal Style written all over it ....well actually it has "Whisky -A-Go-Go written on it (tee hee).Just add lots-o-lace and voila...a simple creation fit for 1st grade princess!



Look at these pumpkin flowers!I 1st saw these over at Brandy's place...and after a fruitless search for Gladiolas found these at "The Thumb". I love them paired with floating skellies!




....and last on the skellie front...3 dollar store skellies ...seeing no,hearing no,or speaking no evil!!!!
I think the holidays are helping me find my groove again with this new space I live in. Its finally feeling like home.

Gettin' My Spooky Ookie On!

Tis' the time of year to be playful and ookie!
Tis' the time of year to create a Halloweenie Tree !
This one is much bigger than last years(still pushing myself to think on a grander scale!).


Note to self:Next year make an extra Halloweenie Tree to balance out the expanse of white fireplace real-estate!


In the dining room I experimented with different sized candy jars and a skelly mirror,bought from Target for half off the day after halloween last year.

This "spells" sign was also a day after Halloween target purchase.I have my eye on a few goodies to grab this year too on Nov. 1st.

Look! The Mummy and Wolfman are hitching a ride with Elsa Lanchester!


In the Wee Petals room the dollies are having a grand time with the monsters!


Even Lilly Munster came to play!


Didn't you always wish for a bat neclace like Lily's?You can get one here.



.....and it just wouldn't be Halloween without insanely talented Amanda's Halloween mix C.D. !!!!!!
This years "Welcome To My Nightmare" came in the mail yesterday. I am happily driving the girls to and from kid-tivities whilst listening to such tuneful horrific-ness as:Glen Millers:"Swingin' at the Seance,Siouxsie Sues:"Rawhead and Bloody Bones,Tom Waits:"We're All Mad Here,and my FAV-O-RITE...the late great Eartha Kitts "I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch". Did you know Amanda is a distant relative of hers? Is that the cooliest lineage EVER???
Thank you sweet Amanda!

Planning a Beautifully Creepy Halloween

Honestly ,how much in the mood for the Samhain Season does this doll image put you in? I cannot recall where I came across this odd little shot ,but something about it caused me to right click and save the picture.I think its the tattered dress and how she is turned to the wall....it just conjures up such a creepy back-story for me.

My own creepy but beautiful thrifted dollie.Evidently she is a crying doll Tiny Tears or something like that...even weirder!



Imagine her contained in a terrarium,like this dollie who had the unfortunate experience of sitting for a painting by Amy Kollar Anderson.



Perhaps my vintage hoodoo witchie doll might provide a bit of inspiration.


If you need a beautiful but creepy something to watch. This spooky but gorgeous anime piece Hell Girl will certainly put a snap in your drawers. Poor doomed Ai ,just be very sure vengeance is what you wish for before you pull the red string.




And finally this amazingly adorable short film starring the creepily beautiful Sisters Kane will mesmerize you.
Here it is "Callalily" by Christy Kane .

Dining Rooms ,Donkeys and Lamps(oh my)!

I wanted to share my dining room progress(you may click on any image to enlarge)! The walls are still fairly artless,and one day in the future I am thinking of replacing my washtub chairs with something bigger,taller and more unusual and statement making. I realize galvanized steel washtub chairs are definitely not something you see every day...but I am trying to implant the thought "think on a bigger scale with larger pieces"! Ofcourse I have no idea what these fantasy chairs look like,any thoughts ,anyone? The table and chair in the corners are probably not going to make the cut. I am considering replacing them with these modern book shelves.


This is how the entrance to the dining room is framed.The small rectangles you see are actually little cut out "windows".

The lighting plot in the house is quite wonderful,and instead of a chandelier in the dining room,there is a recessed "coffin-like" cut out with a rectangle wired for light "echo" of the beautiful bamboo floor .

Directly behind the table is a new(to me) buffet/display case.I am unsure of what period it is from.Unless its from the mid century I am simply not a furniture era spotter! I am guessing its from the late 20's or 30's...but then again perhaps its a 40's piece! Anyone care to speculate.



It has little etched/painted flourishes on the glass and the back of the case has this bizzarro world silver sparkly wallpaper stuff that I adore!!!!!! So much better to show off my donkey planter collection.
Containing my beloved donkeys to this elegant little piece that possesses its own imperfect quirks really elevates the importance of this crazy kitschy bunch in my mind!


I have topped it off with one of my favorite inherited pieces from my Grandma. My husband likes to call this diamond shaped hand painted mirror "Lone buck at purple mountain". My grandparents evidently watched it being painted on a trip to Colorado. Rumor has it there is also a round variation of this treasure at my mothers house that she cannot find!Lighting the way are my adored matador and matador-ess lamps from the 50's.I jettisoned(and carefully stored)the giant fabulous original shades and replaced the bulbs with big round clear ones. To me ,without their shades,they have become giant candelabras. And again,I have achieved my brand of elegance through a witty wink!

Long ago I wrote of my passion for lamps. I simply cannot get enough of them. Figurine lamps are certainly my favorites,like this Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy "Naughty Marietta" chalk lamp shown here and snapped up from a thrift store for 20 bux!


Vintage bedside lamps (one of a pair),I grabbed (both) at a garage sale for 10 bux!


A tiny Shawnee Chinese empress lamp.


My Swordfish lamp with the crazy feather implanted shade!


...and ofcourse my fave little Asian pair that has lived with us for the past decade from the mid-century decade!


Lastly getting back to another part of the house...I decided on this multi-color block rug from Ikea(notice how all my art looks like little poastage stamps? I gotta get some giant art!). With a biegey/taupe love pit sectional I wanted a piece with color to make the sectional really pop!

I think I achieved my goal.

Thriftventure Chock Full of Fall Fabulosities!

It has been a bit of time here at JDP when last I had a posting about my thriftventures.Thrifting is still as much a part of me today as when I was a teen.Absolutely no where else can one happen upon the most unique,intriguing and REJECTED items of our society.A true modern art museum in every cramped and cluttered shop!Knick-knacks,embroidered linens,rhinestone jewels...... that X-mas angel in the spitting image of Rupaul....Its all there just waiting to be rescued.
I am sure we all have our own mental "to be thrifted" list and on mine was an Alfred Shaheen dress.


Well kiss my Eames chair I found one for 3 BUX!!!! WITH A PAGODA on it!!!
Alfred Shaheen was famous for his silk screened print aloha wear in the 50's through the the late 80's. I am guessing this piece is a shift from the late 60's. I have already wore it with skinny jeans and pumps,but it needs a bit of tailoring for a better fit.

Click to enlarge and check out the silk screened signature!


Another piece from 68-71ish time frame. A coat dress from Niemans,isn't it a bit of a thrill to thrift high-end vintage? This was 4 bux...and I am kuh-razy for the print,green flowers has always been a personal favorite concept! I'm thinkin' blk tights and docs...or heck maybe green tights if I can find them.

An ethereal bed jacket for under 2 dollars to go with the rest of my collection .



...and can you totally dig crazy Aunt Matilda's left over couch upholstery dress? This is the frock I am most looking forward to wearing this fall...definitely black Docs and black tights(price tag, 2 bux)!


Also at under 2bux a statement necklace in the guise of a butterfly,this will pair nicely with my newest bedjacket.


and we finally come to what is probably my favorite thrifted item of the summer(just last week). A copper cameo pendant! I also have a pewter cameo necklace thrifted long ago(I think in my single days!).I remember paying 5 bux for it and it is still one of my FAVORITE pieces to wear! This one cost 6 bux(not bad inflation)and that sort of thrift store price always gives me pause...but not when its a COPPER CAMEO NECKLACE!!!!!!!!

Last but not least a pretty little porcelain bauble that has inspired a Halloweenie project...can you guess what it is?

A Peek into My Little Piece of Bloggy Heaven

Come and take a little peek ....just around the corner of my bedroom....



Into a little nook....right across from my Magic Closet .....you can tell its mine ...cuz' any place I park my boots I call home.



Oh,and then there's the dead giveaway of the impracticality that defines JDP. The usage of a vintage embroidered tablecloth thrown over a 50's table rather than a proper desk! That and of course Martin Denny's Exotica album cover screen saver.



A spot for my also exotic tchotchkes from the 50's ,some that have been with me FO-EVAH on my little whimsical life journey....and finally a spot for my horsie TV lamp inherited from my great Aunt Margaret.



'Tis quite possible this is a temporary set-up,but I am feeling creative here...so for the time being I shall delight in my nook of whimsy and fun.

The Back to School Fairy and Yummy Fall Television Addictions!

Well naturally "The Back to School" Fairy visits my house,doesn't she come to yours?
What started when my oldest was still in Preschool and I decided a Scooby Doo or Barbie lunchbox was far too mainstream a choice for my Pretty Preschool Princess...
(the Lisa- Frank designs were still ultra girlie but also gave a nod to an edgier kind of 3 year old!(and yes I am sure I said "lookee she gave you a lunchbox with a picture of herself on it!"))* has continued as an event to look forward too. Every year they become less school oriented and more like stocking stuffer's!



This year I discovered the magical realm of Bella Sara for my horsie loving Wee Petal.This is a sort of "trading card/fun free website" game.
You buy and trade the cards with your friends and you care for a herd of virtual pet horses online. The cards have beautiful artwork and positive little quotes such as"Being happy helps your friends feel happy too."(the 13 year old could certainly benefit from this wisdom!).

Speaking of Crooked Halo.I decided sugar free gum and Simone Legno (the artist behind Tokidoki) book covers from Target were prolly enough.

On to the good stuff...fall TV....!!!!
... Project Runway
is FINALLY back!!!!!!!!!!!
The move to lifetime seems to have not diminished the show at all,infact it seems quite intact except for the shots of that marvelous New York skyline replaced by the hazy L.A. landscape.
The challenge pleased me immensely,because I truly believe a red carpet dress should give you a pretty good idea of what kind of designers these folks are!

For the record Eppersons dress was my fave,and I TOTALLY predict he will be in the final 3!I have no idea why he was not in the top.
Louise is obviously my fave this season...and I loved her dress too. Wish (as she herself said on the show)the fabric colors had contrasted more.

Perhaps not as contrasted as this gorg and unique piece ,but in the ballpark,I cannot wait to see what else she has up her sleeve so to speak!.
I am also curious to see more from Ra Mon,Gordana,Irina,Nicolas,and yes ...cute untrained 1st round winner Chris!
I completely agreed with the auf'ing of Ari,I mean geodesic dome fabric is very clever unfortunately what she did with it was not.Qrystal,had best up her game and her "taste level",'cuz I think had the judges been in a different mood,Ari might still be doing hand stand design meditations!
Joss Whedon's Dollhouse returns Sept 25th..and I anxiously await its return.We downloaded "Epitaph" from itunes ,the unaired episode from season 1...and all I can say is..it was chilling...and Joss Whedon just dares to go there!!!!!!

This summer I got into watching the BBC America channel and found a beautiful and funny little dark jewel of a show,Being Human.
I love a good monster with a heart of gold tale and this show has 3 uniquely "human" monsters. The only thing that would make it perfect was if the season was not so short. The season finale airs this weekend. Oh...and then there's that pesky preview of the main plot points in the middle of the commercials the BBC insists upon.Does this bug anyone else?


Next up my thrift haul from the WHOLE dang nab summer featuring this beautiful vintage butterfly necklace!
* I know such extreme overusage of the parenthesis mark!