Lunch Lady Land

I was inspired to compile this list by my School Lunch Menu Magic book that I finally brought myself to sell on Etsy. There are some fun things out there! I suddenly have the urge to eat fruit cocktail and sloppy joes...

1st Row (l-r):
Tater Tot Stitch Markers by Scary Merry
Light Pink Short Sleeve 60s Dress by Ruby Gayle Vintage Chicken Nugget & Tater Tot Play Food by MomsPeace

2nd Row (l-r):
Hair Net by Dayclean Design
School Lunch Menu Magic by Girl Land
Business Card Holder/Wallet by Sweetheartsinner Creations

3rd Row (l-r):
Cafeteria Tray Notebook by Mrs Loaf
Vintage Trays by Vintage Tea
Mama’s Feedsack Smock Apron by Sewing Geek

Happy weekending all! We have swim lessons, painting, 1st year photos and movie-watching planned for the lovely weekend. xo

The Dionne Quints

I had been hemming and hawing about buying this picture for my craftroom. But when Michelle added the background of the pic to her Etsy listing, I knew I had to have it (photo courtesy of MyWagonette).



The Dionne quintuplets were born in Canada in 1934 and were the first known quintuplets in the world. They were taken away from their parents and raised in a hospital and became Canada's second largest tourist attraction (next to Niagra Falls). Apparently, two of the sisters are still alive today. Apparently, the Canadian government made over $500 million at their expense. Unsure as to how much the ladies actually saw of that (probably none).


The dolls in the picture were produced by Madam Alexander in 1938 and are now worth a pretty penny (even the reproduction dolls are expensive). I would love to own the whole set, but I will settle for the picture. Sigh...what a tragic story.


On another note, don't forget to become a Girl Land fan on Facebook AND/OR leave a comment to my post from last week! You have until Friday. Tell your friends. Whoot.

I Like to Amuse Myself

I need a change. I'm currently in the process of replacing this line o' vintage hankies...

...with some new art/photography in vintage frames. Still accumulating both the art and the frames. This pretty picture just came in the mail today. It looks super delish in my existing kitschy cute frame up on the wall! It came in a series by James Spicer who is my new hero.

I also hit an estate sale today. I Facebooked that I was rifling through dead people's things on my lunch hour. Several high school classmates were like WTF? I ended up explaining, however, I did enjoy imagining their take on it-- me pillaging the pockets of a corpse that I happened upon, perhaps. Great insight on what they must think of me!!!

I picked up this adorable HG Toys puzzle-- all 50 pieces intact and included! Methinks it's going into the shop. Also snatched up a box o' plastic deer. How could I resist? My co-workers think I'm a nut.

Happy Hump Day! xo

Viv's Nursery

Deanna from The Baby Gardner has perfect timing. I was literally *just* going through V's baby book making a mental note of all the pictures I had to add (including pics of her room). Then I read Deanna's call for pics of vintage spaces for her Eye Candy Giveaway. I emailed her off some pics, and V's nursery was featured today. And for participating, look at what I received in the mail Saturday! What a lovely surprise.

If you haven't seen The Baby Gardner blog or shop, click around. Such adorable stuff!!! Thanks, Deanna! We're honored. Mwah.

C'Mon Spring!

Even though we're currently getting snow dumped on us here in Michigan, I still feel hopeful that Spring is on her way.

Some indications:

Apps for Handmade Detroit's Craft Revival (to which I will be applying) are now up. I love the Springy artwork:

This beautiful clementine kitchen from Apartment Therapy:

This sweet birdie clock on eBay. Someone PLEASE buy this. If it doesn't have any bids on it, I may be forced ot buy it, and I have nowhere to put it. Plus, my husband would kill me.

This lovely resin pendant from A Resin Revival on Etsy:

These lovely Springy items are making me try to forget that I have an eye infection (lovely), that Q just scratched the SCREEN of our new flatscreen TV in the basement, and that we had to reschedule dinner plans with my cousin due to snow and the fact that Baby Ronin is not feeling well. Win some, lose some!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! xo

Vintage Xmas Finds

Sorry so late. Here are the items I found on my latest excursion to my hometown:

First the super cool yule log (works great!) with its original box:

Creepy angel topper. We bought a white tree from KMart for Quinn's room, and it was on top. Q yelled down to Ryan after he put her to bed that her bed was shaking. Ryan freaked out (picturing The Exorcist) and thought it was attributed to the angel. The next day Q told me she was faking Daddy out (of course).

Kitschy cool tree. My grandma used to have a multi-colored one of these. Are you supposed to put a light underneath? I tried it, but it didn't light up too well.

Retro plastic Santa for $5!

And my Goodwill Santas! I also got a super cool tiny paint-by-number winter scene painted on black velvet!!!!! I gave it to my friend, Dave, as a belated bday gift (his bday is the same as Ryan's). Wish I would have taken a pic of it.

That's all for now. Hope you all who are in Michigan are doing ok-- Death Storm 2008!!! :)

I have some WIP pics I hope to share with you in the next day or so. I downloaded Danielle's Kitschy Woodlands ornament/stuffie kit. Kinda cool!

It's Christmastime in the City

The Girl Land household is finally getting into the holiday spirit. We went to my parent's house for a very short visit, but the girls did get to see the Big Guy in the Red Coat. Q said it wasn't really him because he didn't say HO HO HO. Hmmmm.

I also got to do a little tiny bit of antiquing/thrifting, and Ryan was a good sport and went with whilst my parents watched the girls. He's a good one to go with. He finds a lot of good junk. I will have to post pics of all my super kitschy cool finds tomorrow, but for now, here was my favorite scene from the excursion. Don't you want to just crawl inside one of those tiny glitter houses!?

And here's another shelf that I love as of late-- Barbara of Oodles and Oodles! I love the jadite and red action here.

This morning, we got to see my friend and her daughter. I got a crafty urge at about 11:00 pm on Friday night, and I whipped these squirrelly notecards up.

Dig my new woodgrain stamp (Michael's)!!! I love it so much! Kinda reminded me of one of Kat's cool projects.

More pics soon, but in the meantime, dig this uber gaudy house in Royal Oak. I'm sure you locals know exactly where it is. Q thinks it's Santa's house. I'd hate to be their neighbors. Plus, they leave most of the lights up all year round. Ryan says it looks like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house during the year-- with unlit creepy Santa faces hanging on trees and such. Yeesh.

Growing a Deer Family

So I've picked up some of these guys lately. Some are for sale in my shop!

Nothing like this collection of lovelies that belong to Something's Hiding in Here. UGH! I just love their loft. It kills me.

You can see some of the other treasures I've picked up lately on my Flickr page. I'll be listing them throughout the week. Wanna be updated when Girl Land lists a new item? Subscribe to my shop feed!

Happy Columbus Day. I had the day off (government holiday), so I tried to make some headway with making stuff for DUCF. Instead of keeping my nose to the grindstone for DUCF, I've been reading Breaking Dawn, signing up for Apron Thrift Girl's Red and Aqua Swap (my first swap!), and trying to come up with ideas as gifts for Quinn's daycare buddies for her birthday next month.

I can't believe my little girl is almost 3. Today she said, "Mama, look at Mary's ghoulish ghost!" (her daycare provider has a ghost decoration in her front yard). Where did she learn "ghoulish"? Love the things that fly out of her mouth on a daily basis.

She loves looking at birthday cakes with her dad while they grocery shop on Saturday mornings. They have ornately decorated Dora and Diego cakes. I've been non-committal. She doesn't even LIKE Dora or Diego. Well, today she asked me for a "Res-lick Eric" cake (you know, the singer of her favorite song). So it may end up looking something like this (ha!):

Come Sale Away

I've tried Craigslist to find estate sales, but this by far is the best tool. Here are the types of estate sales I've experienced so far:

1. Those which are *called* estate sales but are really yard sales (to me, an estate sale is when someone has died. Period.); sorry, but I don’t want your fitness equipment, beer ad tees, or used and dirty baby toys.

2. The professionally organized estate sale in which all the good stuff is taken by the company and what’s left is scarce and of no interest to me.

3. The professionally organized estate sale that has some good stuff, is neatly organized, but is overpriced. Like three times what I would feel comfortable with selling in my own shop.

4. The family organized estate sale in a chi-chi section of metro Detroit (today’s sale) with super cool stuff that is like super duper whooper overpriced. Like I’d have to sell a simple pipe cleaner-armed elf for $16 to make it worth my while. I did get this cutie off a cheaper table (amongst the Fred Flinstone figurines, small country baskets, and bad silk flower arrangements). Many times I don't buy anything here simply out of principal.



4. Finally, my favorite, the family organized estate sale in a less affluent area of metro Detroit on a main drag where you park on the grass in front of the house and they just want the stuff OUT. And the teenage grandson sells you a ginormous box of pretties for $10 that the mere sight of makes you want to cry.

I’m going to another tonight. I’ll let you know which category it falls into. I'm hoping #4.

It was alright. Will post more pics tomorrow (it was too dark in my house to get any decent shots)-- here are my two fave things! The girl/kitty picture is creepy cute at its finest.

Decal Crazy

You know how I love vinyl decals. I also love waterslide decals! But mostly just kid ones.

I found a project to use some of them. I wanted them to look more weathered. A little nursery stepstool. Damn that good paint I used! I wish I had rubbed the edges of the stools with beeswax so the paint would come off easier when sanded. Do you know that trick? I think I have a chunk somewhere. Oh well. I still like it. I have two more to make for DUCF.

Here are some other decals I sooooo love!

I ruined one of them-- the BEST one. It was a turquoise bear knitting a pink and white striped something. I failed to take a picture or scan it before it bit the dust. It was really brittle. The other three may hold the same fate. We shall see...

Yay, DUCF & More Vintage Finds

Whoo hoo! I got in! I will be a vendor at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. So excited. I totally didn’t think I’d get in because I think there were more apps than last year, AND I was lucky enough to get in last year. I’m so happy because there were ideas swimming around in my head that I thought would be perfect for DUCF. Sigh. Very happy. Feel free to check out some pics from previous year’s show! Seriously, if you’ve never been, this is THE place for nifty stuff you can’t find anywhere else. This year will be even better as it’s near Christmas.

So we went to my parent's this past weekend to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary (go Jan and Jim!). Saw my bro, SIL, and niece. Q loves her cousin and was a complete spaz. We got to go antiquing a bit Saturday. Here are some pics from one of my fave stores downtown (excuse the quality-- they were taken with Ryan's phone).

And here were my finds! This dress is in perfect condition. No stains, rips, holes, etc. Viv may wear it for her first bday.

These S&P shakers which will make their way into my shop. Frankly, I don't make much of anything on antique store resale. I just love the aesthetic of the stuff, and it always makes its way into the hands of someone who really loves it. That's so worth it to me.

And these two are my ABSOLUTE FAVES! Not sure what I'm going to do with the clown nursery lamp, but the pic is going up in my craft room.

Also, my mom found me a house shaped shadow box FOR A DOLLAR that is currently a dark stained wood. Would love to finish it off a la Ismoyo (scroll down to her July 15th post) and put some little treasures in the openings.

Hope everyone had a fabu weekend!

OSB Update: Only lost .8 lb last Friday. Too many Hostess 100 cal packs, methinks, and no exercise. Boooooooo! Also, was bad over the weekend, but I'm back on track today. All I can do is keep on keepin' on! Sigh.

Totally 80s

Like many Etsy sellers, I like to stick a couple little freebies in my Etsy orders. I usually add old school candy, 1 or 2 small vintage playing cards, teeny kawaii stamps, or erasers. I had the *brilliant* idea that I wanted to add scratch n sniff stickers. I remembered this was my fave scent (natch) as a kid so I thought there HAD to be a source:

I about DIED when I found the Trunk of Prettys Etsy Shop. I immediately emailed the link to the shop to my oldest friend. Every single thing in her shop evoked nostalgia for me. Unfortunately, the cake sticker is like $1-2 here and anywhere else you look.

I really loved looking at everything, but really, what would you do with the stuff? I actually found these notecards at that GREAT estate sale a few weeks back, but I ended up selling them. It made me happy because the girl who bought them really loved them.

Anyway, back to ToP's Etsy shop, I had to email my mother a link to the Purple Pieman mint in box. Reason being is that in the height of my Strawberry Shortcake obsession, I asked for a villain, preferably PP. She refused because she thought he was gross and ugly. Uh, isn't that the point?

For some reason, I had 2 Strawberry Shortcakes. Maybe I got a duplicate gift or something. Due to the lack of protagonist, I was forced to make SS #2 into an Evil Twin Strawberry Shortcake!!! It just wasn't the same. I kept confusing her for the good twin, and it all went to pot. I like to remind my mom regularly about how scarred I am that I never had a Purple Pieman...or a Big Wheel...

More Estate Sale Stuff, More SYTYCD...

Vivi's my good luck charm! Well, it wasn't the score of the century like last time, but still some cute stuff including this:

The other few things are up in my shop. Wow, this little treasure already sold!

Didn't I say that I was supposed to be getting back to making stuff that I used to make? I'm now spending my time thrifting, estate saling, flea marketing, etc. I think it's because I realize I only have 3.5 more weeks left of maternity leave, and I will have no time to do it then. I guess I'm trying to get it out of my system. I have applied to DUCF though, and I'm so glad it's a holiday show this year. If I make it in, it will definitely get me off my arse. I have sooooo many supplies. Now I just have to make the dang stuff!!!!

So down to SYTYCD business. I think my new favorite couple is Courtney and Gev!!! I have a pretty massive crush on Gev all of a sudden. I think it was after his rhumba last week and his great solo last week. Whoooooo! I found this awesome rhumba remix on youtube with a Portishead song. Loves me some Portishead!!!!!!!!!

Am I talking to myself with this stuff? Is there anyone else out there that watches??? I still can't stand Jessica, and I'm still not a big Will fan even after their good Adam and Eve dance. But I'm thinking Comfort will be going home from the girls. And probably Thayne which is unfortunate.

Mia Michaels told Courtney and Gev they weren't the best dancers on the show, which may be true. But isn't the title "America's Favorite Dancer"? Not "America's BEST Dancer"? That's why Travis didn't win in Season 2. His personality was bleh. Anywho, I still love Joshua, but Gevney is a close second. :)

More boob tube talk-- I actually have to Tivo SYTYCD because Ryan makes me watch Ghost Hunters which conflicts. We are obsessed. It's like comforting or something-- our little routine. I love Jay, Grant, Steve, and DAVE TANGO! Especially when he did magic to make the ghosts come out. Classic. Apparently, he used to peform magic. How can you not like someone who performs magic???

Ebay Crazy

I've been spending some dough on Ebay lately, but I've found the cutest stuff! Actually, the most I've spent by far has been the Irmi lamp below for $20 which still isn't bad. Haven't received any of it yet, but I'm excited.

First off, this quirky pair of unused salt & pepper shakers with lenticular eyes ($5.00 which includes shipping). They wink! Quinn's been all into salt & pepper with her kitchen, so she can use them.

A doll high chair for Q ($15.00 which includes shipping):

Some flocked deer miniatures for dioramas. Aren't they so cute? They look like Kunstlerschutz knockoffs, but still way cute.

And now some cute Jack and Jill stuff for V's nursery. The lamp!

And a cute vintage hankie ($3.00 which includes s&h).


Ooh! I think my highchair is being delivered as we speak. Over and out!

The Mother of All Estate Sales

Vivi and I hit it today. I stuck her in the sling and off we went. It was sooooo great!!!! Now the hard part is deciding what I shall keep, WHERE I'm going to put the stuff, and what to sell. You can see all of my finds on my flickr page, but here are my fave items:

My absolute fave. You know how I love my dioramas! I shall not part with this, of course.

These linen-paged books are great. The insides are all cut up though, so I'll be keeping these too.

They had FOUR of these babies. I will keep one for Quinn, and the others are going in my shop!

The woman was a teacher, so she had a HUGE box of these decorative cut-outs. These were some of the best.

This was in a bag chock full of half finished embroidery projects and floss. Cree-heepy cool! Going in my shop for sure.

This one was in amongst the tools and such. I couldn't just leave it there! Pretty good condition except for a couple spots on the front cover. Probably gravy stains (ewgh).

And what school lunch would be complete without liver & onions!!! Happy weekend, lovies. xo