Cheetah Velour

the Halloween dress

If you've been reading this, you probably think I am obsessed with a certain dress. Maybe I am! At least until my skills improve and I move on to the next thing. I might just get over my dread of zippers one day.

I can't believe that Halloween is almost here. It's pretty much my favorite holiday. I've been encouraged to dress up for work, so that lead me to make this- the Halloween dress! I shed blood, sweat and tears over the first dress (well, not really but you get the idea) and this one was so much easier. Really quick.

I fell for this gorgeous Alexander Henry fabric the moment I saw it. It's called Pumpkin Party. Being the cheapskate that I am, I snapped it up when it got to 50% off. I had to go to two fabric stores, but it was worth it.

Of course the cats and pumpkins are upside down on the back (it's a circle skirt made out of only two pieces) but I won't tell if you won't tell. Halloween waits for no woman so I didn't obsess like I usually do. There are pumpkins to carve and Halloween goodies to eat!

So what are you wearing for Halloween?

Mr. Grant!

This one is especially for eniksleestack over at Thrift Store Adventures. This blog after my own heart recently featured some cringe-worthy (and by cringe-worthy I mean totally covetable) thrift store kitchenware.

I always make sure to hit the kitchenware section at a thrift store. Sure, there are always way too many single wine glasses from some art 'n' wine festival you didn't actually attend & way too many oversized plastic soda cups from mini-marts. You have to look closer to find the really good stuff.

I can't recall where or when I acquired him (yes, it's a him) but I've had this little ceramic garlic container for years. He has such a sourpuss face that I immediately dubbed him ED ASNER and refuse to call him anything else.

I dunno, what do you think?

Owls! Owls! Owls!

I recently participated in the 2007 Owl Swap over at Crafty Carnival & I just had to show off what I got.

This was all sent to me by the fabulous Jenn of rosebud designs and indie*galore!. A cute handmade owl figurine, framed owl drawing and these super groovy printed note cards. Jenn, if you're reading this, THANK YOU so much! I loved it all.

Here's what I sent to Jenn:

An owl tote made out of recycled pillow cases. Who doesn't love the avacado green and harvest gold color combo of the 70's? Ha ha! ;)

So thanks for swapping with me, Jenn  & thanks to Missy of Crafty Carnival for hosting the swap! Folks out there reading this, get yourself over to their sites right now!

Elvis IS everywhere!

If you should ever find yourself near Sparks, Nevada you simply MUST stop in at Sierra Sid's Casino. It is also a truck stop so if you happen to be a gamblin', Elvis lovin' trucker in need of a tasty snack or a shower then this is the place for you.

Drum roll, please! I present to you THE GUNS AND JEWELS OF ELVIS!

I know, it sounds too fabulous to be true but I assure you it is not. I have seen it with my own eyes. Here's a picture of the display case right near the entrance to the Trucker's Grill and yes, those are booze bottles shaped like Elvis. Do you see the white bust of Elvis near the center of the picture? I am darned proud to tell you that I own one just like it. It used to hold bourbon but when I bought mine at the flea market for five bucks it was empty. Darn.

By the way, the cheeseburger and fries plate at the Trucker's Grill is especially tasty. We at Cheetah Velour highly recommend it. Elvis would have wanted it that way.

Now I told you there would be guns and jewels and I wasn't lying. Here is one of the guns. I heard a rumor that Sierra Sid's has one of the guns that Elvis used to shoot a TV, as he so often did when he didn't like what was on. I couldn't find anyone to confirm or deny this rumor so let's assume that it's true.

Here are the jewels. I've heard that money can't buy taste. Oh, I don't know about that. Nothing says 'good taste' like bling big enough to choke a horse.

I know it's not a great picture, but hopefully you get the idea. This is the result of a cheap disposable camera being used by an amateur (me). In case you aren't able to read the signs, most of this stuff looks like it was owned by Daddy Vernon. Among the jewels of Elvis we see 14K GOLD PEN VERNON USED 'TILL HIS DEATH, TIGER EYE ELVIS RING AFTER HIS DEATH VERNON HAD THE RING SIZED SMALLER, and my very favorite ELVIS HAD PET NAMES FOR HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS HIS PET NAME FOR DADDY WAS SLOT MACHINE. Yes, a gold ID bracelet engraved SLOT MACHINE.

(Sierra Sid's also has some of the guns of John Wayne if seeing the guns of Elvis isn't enough for you.)