Salted Caramel

I LOVE seeing complete outfit ideas from Polyvore on Pinterest (follow my Stylin' board HERE). I love finding ideas on how to put outfits together from the stuff I find in my closet.  Or,  you know, stuff that will SOON be in my closet :)

Every so often I will post outfit combinations I've come up with. And yep, they will probably be featuring a Vintage Dutch Girl scarf!

First outfit- Salted Caramel:

Salted Caramel

Old Navy fitted top
oldnavy.gap.com

H&M low jeans
$16 - hm.com

Short heels
tillys.com

Kangol chocolate bag
$48 - debenhams.com

Kendra Scott earrings
laylagrayce.com

Burnt Umber Blossom and Mustard and Brown by VintageDutchGirl
etsy.com



Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

Aqua, Red and Yellow Dining Room...

Per the usual, I am woefully behind on blogging.

Shocking!

What can I say, we've been busy actually USING our sassy newly redecorated travel trailer, Lumi. And having a Mah-velous time! (Quick, name that movie quote!).

However, I did run across some photos I forgot to show all three of you, so hold on to your socks!

I finally got my act together oh four to six months ago and put my dining room together a bit more.

After a four year wait we were able to rid our home of the ugly baby poo dark gold on all of our walls and all of our CEILINGS. Yep, ceilings. Because some interior designer out there decided that yes, let's paint the ceilings a nice dark cave color. In a house in the Pacific NORTHWEST. Oy.

Now we have a normal nice bright white ceiling and the color match equivalent of Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage (which actually looks like a pale aqua blue). I was ITCHING for some yellow chevron curtains and after trolling my fave fabric site (fabric.com) for-evah waiting for it to be back in stock I finally got my hands on it. LOVE the pop of sunshine it brings to my oft dark and dim dining room:

I looked at the mish-mash of wall decor I had on hand and thought "hey, why not?" and closed my eyes and nailed stuff to the wall. I'm pretty thrilled with how it turned out. Eclectic? Maybe :) But it makes sense to me.

Eat Drink & Be Merry, Tomorrow we shall Diet:

Which really is there to remind me how to set a table. Because yes, I am in my third decade of life and can not for the life of me remember how to set a table.

And there's this lovely new to me black planked counter height table my gal pal Trac let me buy from her. LOVE it. It it well loved which suits my hard-on-furniture family.  Add four cherry red pleather chairs (Because I'm not stupid. REAL leather chairs for my preschoolers to destroy? No thank you.) to add some more pop of color and you have yourself a fun dining room.

Sources:

Yellow Chevron Fabric:

But act fast, as of my last check they only have 3030 yards left!

Wall color: RH Silver Sage. Or color match it like I did :)
Ceilings: BM White Dove
Blueberries sign above slider door? OOAK Ruffles & Rust Show find.
Mish-mash of wall decor: Mostly TjMaxx. Because I AM a Maxxinista.
Red Pleather Dining Chairs: Overstock.com

Cutie toddler eating her lunch? Sorry, not for sale :)

Off to eat my lunch while my kiddos are hopefully non destructive in their rooms during "quiet" time. Yep. That's in quotation marks.

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

Travel Trailer Makeover, Part 3: Bright, Bold and Beautiful Fabric...

I was on another trailer stuff gathering shopping excursion and found my first color inspiration piece.  It was super late at night and I had left the kiddos at home with my Hubby...didn't really want to repeat the poo accident episode.

So, I'm walking through the world of Wally and saw this pillow....and Ka-Chow! another light bulb moment!

This pillow really helped me decide what my final colors would be.  Within a few days later I had ordered a large amount of fabric up for consideration.

My main fabric choice was this Premier Prints funky chevron number:

This premier prints Zoom-Zoom Village Blue was the perfect fit for designing a fresh, YOUNGER, modern style for my trailer sassification project. And the rest of my design board:

Also, for the bunk beds I decided to personalize their curtains and bedding. The fabric design board for their bunks:

Orange and navy chevron zigzag and stripes for Bubbalu on the left, pink elephants and chocolate brown polka dots for Lil Chick on the right.

ALL fabrics are the Premier Prints brand, purchased at Fabric.com. I am in LOVE with Premier Prints fabrics. They have wonderfully modern, fresh, bright prints for home decor. I've been extremely happy with them! Also, they are super inexpensive. We're talking like $7.50 a yard....so I can change my mind often and it's totally OK.  Click HERE to see all that's available, if you dare!

Oh, did I also mention? Spend $35 and you get FREE SHIPPING. Awesomesauce.

Next up in the series: sticky, yucky wallpaper removal - UGH....

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

Check out all the posts from this Travel Trailer Makeover Series!

• Part 1: A sassified Shower Curtain

• Part 2: The "before I tore everything apart" Tour
• Part 3: Bright Bold and Beautiful Fabrics
• Part 4: Wallpaper removal, A Dismantled Trailer and New Side Curtains
• Part 5: Cornici Recoving! 
• Part 6: Dinette Cushions Madeover!
• Part 7: Couch Slipcover
• Part 8: Master Bedroom and Privacy Curtains
• Part 9: Bunk Beds and Windows

Burnt Umber Blossom Giveaway!

One should not celebrate thine birthday alone. Or be selfish with thy gifts.

SO. Let's GIVE SOMETHING AWAY!

OK, this has been a LOoooooong time coming, time for a chance to win a Burnt Umber Blossom Infinity Scarf!

This has been a super popular scarf on my Vintage Dutch Girl ETSY shop, and for good reason, it is a gorgeous blossom print on a trendy mustard colored background:



All the normal giveaway rules apply!

HOW TO ENTER:

1. LEAVE ME A COMMENT just saying hi!

2. Earn another entry by FOLLOWING ME via the Google Friend Connect Follow Me doodad located on the right sidebar and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you signed up or already DO follow Vintage Dutch Girl.

3. Earn another entry by adding the VintageDutchGirl ETSY shop to your favorite shop list (by HEARTING the shop) and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did or already have it on your heart list!

4. Earn another entry by liking the VintageDutchGirl Facebook Page and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did so.

5. STILL need some more entries? Whew...OK. Earn another entry (if you're still counting, that's up to FIVE) by posting or sharing this giveaway (with the link!!!) on your FACEBOOK personal, shop and/or business page and LEAVE ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did so.

6. TWEET this giveaway (with links of course) and LEAVE ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did so.

7. BLOG this giveaway and link to it....then guess what? Yup, LEAVE ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did so and include link please!


(Giveaway only open to residents of USA and Canada)

*Why so many entry possibilities? I want to say THANK YOU to those who read and follow along with my blabberings and projects!*

I will leave the contest open thru SATURDAY, MARCH 31st, 10 PM PST at which time I will select a winner through Random.org and post the results.

Remember!!! You do NOT have to run a blog or have a google/gmail account to enter. Just click in as anonymous and make sure you tack your first name and email on the bottom of your comment so I can contact you if you win.

Enter enter enter and I hope you win!

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

Sbux and Costco KNOW me...

Ya know, is it odd that when walking into a Florida Starbucks I feel the need to stand on one of the cushy chairs and exclaim,

"I'm from WASHINGTON STATE!!!!"

and expect special treatment?

I think not.

It's like I feel I have just a bit of ownership of Starbucks from being a Washingtonian.





Add Costco to that list as well.

Yes, while we are stuck here in Orlando waiting for our flight (8 hours from now) I think I'll find a Costco to run into and exclaim,

"I'm from WASHINGTON STATE!!!"

And when I order my iced mocha I'm going to be watching the food service peeps and reading into their every move:

I think she gave me extra chocolate because I'm from WASHINGTON STATE.

I think she smiled longer at me because I'm from WASHINGTON STATE.

I think he put that clear plastic lid on extra carefully because I'm from WASHINGTON STATE.

Yup. It's gonna happen...

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

Hey, didja know VintageDutchGirl is on Facebook!? I chit chat over there when I'm not doing crafting to avoid my housework. C'mon say hi :)

Shows Over, Let's Have A....FALL Sale!

Whew!

The Ruffles & Rust Show is over! What a blast! Learned SO SO SO much about running a booth, swiping credit cards (the Square is AWESOMESAUCE) learning what sells, what doesn't, which fabric people gravitate towards, etc.

The final booth set-up:

I've never been a saleswoman....and I detest pushy salespeople so I was really trying to be a helpful and informative shop owner not a BUY MY STUFF!!! shop owner. We found that demonstrating how to put on, arrange and wear an infinity scarf allows folks to be informed about my products, but not feel pressured.

HUGEST downside to doing this show? Not being able to shop! I saw SO many awesome booths and just wanted to go and browse through and pick up some trinkets and treasures.

Oh I have so many more thoughts on this subject but it will have to wait for now as my laundry dragon has reared its ugly flaming head again.

Also, I now have 30 hours and 55 minutes in which to complete two handmade costumes for the littles. Superhero and a princess. Predictable? Yes. But they are so excited to dress up :)

However, before I ditch y'all, I'll leave a fall treat:

Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy Fall Sale! I am turning the BUY2GET20 coupon code BACK ON! That's right, purchase two scarves and get 20% off your total! * see details below*

THIS is the time to get your Christmas Stocking stuffers all taken care of. And hint? I've got about TWENTY new fabrics all made up into scarves that just need photos and to be posted. New items posted daily for awhile!

Some shopping suggestions:

The #1 selling Fall Burnt Umber Blossom Scarf:


A classy, longer and brown toned Zebra print scarf:


A classic plaid:


The Woodland Berries Fall Scarf:



A soft and elegant Ivory Fleece:


Happy Shopping!

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

*Deal details: This coupon is to be used with the purchase of two regularly full-priced scarves. Cannot be combined with any other coupon code or use this deal on the sale/clearance section.*

Keep up to date with newest Etsy products on my Facebook page found here.

Fitting Room Chit Chat...

I spent greater part of yesterday afternoon and evening running errands and shopping. Ya know, a list ten miles long and ALWAYS end with Wallyworld because hello, it's open 24 hours!

I was in the mall (in and of itself a rarity for me) and missed the 9 PM big box store close deadline. See? I don't know how to work the mall. Those of you who have the location of every store memorized? I don't understand y'all.

However, ask me where to find a specialty fabric or random crafting item in Jo-Ann's and I can mentally walk the aisles and tell you right where to find it. You know, utilizing my completely accurate photographic memory.

Trying on clothes and trying not to eavesdrop on other customers' conversations is...well...impossible.

Hello echo.

First up was a tween who claimed that in California, life is perfect. Apparently Washington is the place to move to if you want to ruin your life. Good to know.

Next up was the girl who claimed that she needed some serious hootchie mama improvements. OK, lovely.

And the last was, "I look like a prostitute! YAY!"

Uh huh. Right.

Methinks the next time I go solo shopping I'll be wearing headphones...

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

Ruffles & Rust!!!

OK folks, announcement time!
{deep breath}
I am so very honored to be invited to participate for my very first craft show! I am going to be a vendor at the uber-amazing, so-much-to-look-at-it's-dizzyin, handmade-heaven, inspirational Ruffles & Rust show! Eeek! If you've never been, it is HIGH time you go.

This HUGE 90+ vendor show, presented by Come Junk With Us, is a vintage market filled with antiques, clothing, home décor, handmade accessories and more…This show is very similar to the oh-so-sassy and fun Farm Chicks show. Uh huh. Wonderfulness.

The fun is happening October 22, 2011 at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington (click for map and directions). Doors open at 9 AM, with an $8 entrance charge….but I've heard shoppers start lining up before 7 AM! Grab your gal pals and get there early with a Pumpkin Spice Latte in your hand to keep you warm while you wait :
Yesterday, I dragged my sis-in-law in with me to the recently opened Ruffles & Rust Square located in historic Snohomish, WA. We were both drooling over the fun items in there! I was able to pick up something wonderful for you…and to shop a bit, of course. I've got a COUPON for you folks! Ah yes, LOVE me a good coupon.

Present this coupon at the entrance and get $3 off your entrance fee.
$5.00 is much nicer to see than $8.00, right!? (Plus, it means you can spend moreJ). If you see me out n about, I've got one I can hand to you personally, or you can just print your coupon off right here:


I will have a LARGE assortment of my infinity scarves available to try on and purchase, with new styles and patterns I haven't yet listed in my ETSY shop.
Many of the scarves will be pre-folded and tied up with a ribbon and tag, PERFECT for gift giving. All you gotta do is throw em in a gift bag, stuff some crepe paper in and good.to.GO.
Course, I don't just plan on scarves, I've got some SASSY half aprons – Rows and rows of ruffles, each apron is one of a kind! Add in a lovely bunch of handmade earrings (from subdued colors and sizes to jaunty reds, oranges, and blues to STATEMENT earrings), some nifty, witty throw pillows and a few other secrets I've got up my sleeve and that will be one FULL booth.
I've been a busy little sewing bee, running my sewing machine, serger, and iron to their very limit. And having a MAHvelOUS time! Oh to have a maid to cook and clean so I could play all the live long day…ah yes, a lovely dream J
Click on the link for some handy hints and tips for shoppers from ComeJunkWithUs.com. Some really good info, ex. most vendors are CASH ONLY.
HOWEVER, I'll be accepting cash, paypal (if you have a smartphone with you), and Credit Cards through the tiny yet amazing and secure Square accessory for my iPhone. SO nice for shoppers who find stuff they just can't pass up! Christmas shopping 2011? Oh yes. I plan to be DONE with my shopping by the time the show ends.
I do hope to see you there, can't wait to chat with you! Off to sew again…
Amanda – Vintage Dutch Girl
Keep up to date with newest products and show updates on my Facebook page found here!

Lace-Trimmed T-Shirt Tutorial!

The most popular post to date is this lace-trimmed tshirt tutorial, originally Posted Jan 24, 2010. I've have many new followers since then, so thought I'd reshare! Enjoy:

Step 1: Buy an inexpensive, boring plain v-neck from, well, ANYWHERE. Me? I chose an Old Navy dark gray tee:



See? It's boring. It needs some help.

Step 2: Dig through huge bag of vintage lace and notions lovingly thrifted and given to you by your Grandma K and pick out some sassy, funky or complimentary ribbon or lace. ( Hee hee hee, I'm imagining my ribbon saying, "My my Amanda, you are looking mighty FINE today!" Get it? Complimentary ribbon? OK, It's just me then.)

Step 3: (If needed) Serge or zig-zag stitch raw edge of lace or ribbon. (Yep, I'm slowly getting over my serger fear! However, it must still be having an effect on me because I completely forgot to take a photo.)

Step 4: Pin lace around neckline of t-shirt. Remember to not pin the back of the shirt while pinning. I pinned both the inside and outside edges of the lace all the way around the neckline:



I didn't have enough lace, but would have liked to go all the way around to the back of the neckband. Instead I serged the ends and pinned them down at the shoulder seam:



Step 4.2: Carefully miter (translation: fold it until it looks right) and pin lace or ribbon in place at the bottom of the "V" if you chose a v-neck style t-shirt. Of course, with a scoop neck or regular t-shirt this may not be needed...OR, you may need to every so often add a tiny fold to allow the lace to curve around the neckline correctly. Once again, just fold and pin until it looks right.



Step 5: Stitch the lace to the shirt along the inside/unfinished/serged edge first:



Step 6: Stitch the outside edge of the lace to the shirt, following the decorative pattern. I followed the curves as much as possible so it wouldn't flip up after washing:



Step 7: I stitched the folds down at the bottom of the "V" so it would lay flat. My stitch lines are marked in red:



Step 8: Admire your handiwork then jump giddily around your sewing room because you created something cute, individual, inexpensive AND sassy in a short amount of time:



Step 9: Try sassy new shirt on and attempt to take a self portrait without showing the camera or your face or earrings. Whoops, guess I didn't do Step 9 very well:

Pin It

Step 10: Wear it everywhere. It's a washable t-shirt so who cares if your 3 year old smudges it with jelly coated fingers? Just make sure that 3 year old isn't wielding a sharpie. I mean, I'm pretty good at getting stains out but that's pushing it.

This Lace Trimmed T-shirt can dress up jeans, dress down a suit jacket but can also be worn under a simple zip up hoodie paired with faded black yoga pants while feeding the kiddos lunch and doing laundry. Oh wait? Is that just me?

Enjoy your sassy Lace Trimmed T-shirts!

A


*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE. ***

New Infinity Scarf Patterns...

Ready to start your Christmas shopping?! What? Don't you want to be reminded that it's only FOUR months away? Shop early and stop stressing.

Didja know? I am able to ship orders directly to a gift recipient with a small note included. Handy, right? Eliminates the middle man...that'd be YOU.

Brand new fabrics available in the shop right NOW:Pin It
Nautical Navy Narrow Striped Infinity Scarf

Pin It
Classic Black and White Cheetah Flannel


Pin It
Purple and Pink Lightweight Madras Plaid

Pin It
Silky Zebra Print

Pin It
Autumn Flora Print Narrow Infinity Scarf

Amanda

Follow VintageDutchGirl on FACEBOOK :) Cause sometimes I post on there. If I feel like it. If I'm bored...because I'm out of queso or chips.

Broken Mirror to Fake Transom...and a Doubtful TjMaxx Dude...

Awhile back while pursuing the aisles of TjMaxx I came across this:

It was in the clearance aisle....AKA Amanda's Playground.

Don't remember how much. I think $6 ish.

Brought it to the register. Dude looks at me with a "are you some kind of stupid?" look on his face and says, "uh, you DO know it's broken, right?"

I smiled, "yup!"

He raised his eyebrows, sighed and finished ringing up my purchases.

I find it strangely hilarious knowing he will forever wonder about the crazy lady who purchased a broken mirror.

Maybe he will one day come across this post.

While wearing thick work gloves I carefully took the broken mirror out and tossed it.

Spray Prime

Spray Paint

Wipe on glaze mixed with dark brown paint.

Wipe it off

Wipe it on

Wipe it off

....you get the idea....

You end up with a nicely aged finish in the seams and edges. PERFECT.

Check it out, a fake transom above my double sliding glass door:



SO much better than a dingy gold cracked mirror:

Before n After:

Pin It

Dear Doubtful TjMaxx Dude,

Didn't see that one coming, didya?

:) Amanda

LAST DAY TO ENTER! Live in the Pacific NW? Love animals? A great family ticket pack for the Pet Expo going on July 8-10 is up for grabs! Ends TOMORROW!