I need a nap just writing this.

We've been home from our epic journey since last Thursday night, but I've had a hard time getting myself to shake the dust off this place yet again. Luckily, I am overwhelmed with pictures and stories, it's just hard to find a place to begin.

Our journey went something like this-
Wednesday: Wake up at 4 am, drive for 16 to Chicago, where we stayed with an old friend of the Chainsaw.

Thursday: Chicago!

Friday: Drive across Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and finally, New York at midnight.

Saturday: Do some morning exploring and go to the wedding that inspired the whole trip.

Sunday: Brunch, Niagara Falls, nap, help take care of the wedding alcohol surplus problem.

Monday: Drive to Madison, WI. Pay almost $30 in tolls to save time.

Tuesday: Hang out in Madison with one of my favorite ladies and her scientist gentleman.

Wednesday: Drive 13 hours to the Black Hills of SD with a stop in Mitchell to see the corn palace and my second fambly (my breast friend Laura's parents!). Smootch sleeping Felix.

Thursday: Drive home to Colorado, pet kitty.

Then I had a craft fair to get ready for on Saturday. Add in the mysterious bites I got at the wedding that were causing me a ferocious itching anxiety and a trip to urgent care (before I amputated my own legs below the knee), and I've been busy, tired, and already missing new and old friends from our trip. I wish all my favorite people would move into our neighborhood!



I'll be working on more fun posts from our trip later today! Today is Felix's first day of preschool. :D

preserve wildlife. throw a party.

I think these guys would completely approve of that idea.



I had the best time every the other night at Red Rocks. I've always had to sit in the top general admission, but this time we were lucky enough to get a seat in the second row. Of course, it was pretty far off center, but we had a sweet view nonetheless. In fact, I totally got to watch Eugene dancing backstage before going out to join the fun!



I only took a few pictures, and they suck. Those guys dance too hard for good point and shoot pictures. Gogol Bordello put on a fantastic show, and I highly recommend them to anyone who likes to feel the good energy and get down. :D

Other highlights include:

Seeing a guy laying on the ground puking on himself, then watching the security guards send each other flashlight signals (and also point them in drunk guy's face!) and the EMT's carrying the guy out. I'd like to know who leaves their drunk friend puking on himself by the garbage with no supervision. Oh well!

I had a feeling I was going to have an awesome new hair flair to wear to the show, but inspiration didn't strike until 4 pm (and we were leaving at 6). I knew that I needed feathers, vintage metal buttons, and hot glue- STAT! I whipped this pretty thing up in 20 minutes.



I'll take a couple pictures in which you might actually see the details this afternoon when I photograph the new things I created this weekend. I can't believe I didn't get a full body shot of my show costume. I finally got around to wearing my red sequined sash and of course my favorite new boots!

I got the title of this post from this awesome vintage fabric:







My aunt Janna gave me a box of vintage fabric to sort through that she had gotten many moons ago from a family friend. A lot of the fabric was actually reclaimed from other clothes. So this is vintage fabric reclaimed from vintage clothes in vintage times! So cool!





I think this guy's name is Bruno, and wouldn't you know it- Bruno hates seagulls! Oh my, see how he frowns!



The stack. There are a few other larger pieces not in the stack, but I can't believe how pretty it all is and that it took me so long (since our trip to Wyoming) to get this stuff washed.

Also, all my dreams came true this weekend. I'll tell you about that soon. cough cough barnfullofvintageclothes cough cough

Featured Vendor

I'm a featured vendor for the Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market, which is going to be awesome. Check it out here. I swear the pictures I sent weren't that blurry, but oh well.

I'm super excited for this market. The booth spaces are 10x10, which is more space than I could fill with crafts (unless I got super creation crazy!). I asked if I could also sell some of my vintage things in my space, and they said YES! So I think getting ready for this one is going to be so much fun!

I'll be back later to tell you all my fun stories from last night, which was awesome.

I found this guy on my porch a couple weeks ago. He sure is uh, handsome?

That one thing I've been most excited about all summer

Is finally happening tomorrow night! I can't wait to see these guys at Red Rocks.



I'm going to go work on my costume.

The Fair

Let us do some calculations:



Baby animals



plus pony rides



plus friends



times pretty carnival lights



plus Monster Bag of cotton candy



plus fun rides

minus riding the pirate ship with two kids screaming "I don't like it" and "make it stop" (no photo available as people with cameras were laughing at my misfortune instead of documenting evidence)

EQUALS ONE AWESOME TIME. That's a lot of my favorite things right there.

Cowboy Boots

I had been in the market for a cute pair of cowboy boots since the beginning of spring, when I decided that they are epically cute with a skirt or dress. Of course I expected the thrift or garage sale universe to hook me up, and I didn't have to wait long.

I found these turquoise boots at Whitewood Rummage Sale day for 50 cents. My size. Broken in. Legit cowgirl debris (think hay and maybe poop!) caked up next to the heel.



Unfortunately I had evil pieces of my foot/heel flesh missing from that snowy Memorial Day hike and was unable to wear them for a month and a half.



Pug-truder!



Anyway, praise the universe for being such a good pal to me. I'm in the market for a cute hat these days. :D

Pocket Clutch

When I bought the owl pouch from Keyka Lou last week, I also bought the pattern for the Pocket Clutch, which is super adorable. I made a few, one being a birthday present for a dear OLD friend. So avert your eyes if you want a surprise, Katie! :D



I got another yard of this sweet, sweet mushroom fabric that everyone seems to love, and it is adorable.

It looks like this inside:



It has a little pocket on the front and closes with a magnetic snap. It feels very, very nice in my hand. I have to give this pattern two huge thumbs up as it was fairly easy and super brilliant.

This one is the present, for my friend who loves Wizard of OZ.



I saved this little piece of Oz fabric just for the occasion. I love it and hope she does too!

I made another out of a vintage sheet, which is so pretty.



They are really small but would be perfect if you're packing light or to keep things organized in your purse. I'm still trying to decide what fabrics to make mine out of. I'm considering enlarging the pattern a bit and making a big one!

I'll be putting a few new things in my shop if you're interested. And a little bonus handsome:

My future grandchild

The other night Felix was talking about how he's going to have his own kids when he grows up. He was describing one kid in particular who had a mustache for hair, inspired by a picture of a dude was saw on he internet with his head shaved except for a mustache of hair on the front of his head. So of course I asked Felix to draw this kid for me.



Oh my.





I can kind of see the resemblance- mostly in the giant head area. This unborn child has no name so far as I told Felix it is not cool to name your kid Poopy Pants. Felix argued that he will poop his pants because he'll be a baby, which I countered with the fact that he, Felix, also pooped his pants and would not have liked it if I named him Poopy Pants.

I'll be back tomorrow with some cute cute stuff.

The Flock (I'm giving one away!)

My little flock of Owl Change Purses turned out ever so lovely, if I do say so myself. Photographing owls on a string is kind of like photographing a herd of children- they don't hold still. And two of them kept trying to make out. I busted them in several photos, unable to keep their flaps off each other. It was kind of romantic.

I'm giving on of these away on my Facebook fan page (link on the right). All you have to do is share the Hot Butter fan page with your friends and let me know. For bonus chances, have your friends tell me you sent them. It's really a shameless ploy to get my fan count up so I can reach more people. Expect to see me working hard to make Hot Butter a success in the future. :D



If you can't wait to get your hams on one of these babies, fret not. I'll be adding them to my shop later this afternoon.

Owl Pouch

I have nearly given in to the temptation of purchasing a Keyka Lou pattern several times, but she got my heart last night with the pattern for this adorable little pouch.


Photo from Keyka Lou.

So of course I had to buy it and a few of its adorable pattern friends. Here is my first finished owl pouch:





Beetus the owl approves.



And so does Spiderman. I have several more of these in varying shades of doneness. I'm going to give one away soon on facebook, so if you're not already a fan, use the link on the right to become one!

Green light!

I officially opened Hot Butter Vintage yesterday. It is still light on the inventory, but I plan on adding a few things as often as I can. Mama needs to sell some stuff so she can buy more stuff. :D



Also, tips on good thrift stores in Chicago and/or around Buffalo or Akron, New York?

I'm researching woodland creatures for a fun new line I'm working on. I have some big HOT ideas flying around my head.