Friday, August 30, 2013

Look what just came in the mail!

We interrupt the last of the Michigan reports (lots and lots of food pics...it was an eatingful summer, fer shure) to bring you this:


These are the latest Threads Selects booklets from The Taunton Press. This pair features patterns previously published in I Heart Felt. Felted Scarves, Hats & Mittens is up and listed on Taunton's site now, though Amazon says it won't be out until September 24. Favorite Felted Gifts to Knit is also listed on Taunton's site.

I'm very excited about both of these booklets!

Here's a closer look at the covers.






As always, Taunton did a great job putting this together! Thanks guys!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Michigan- Gilmore Car Museum Part 2

It wasn't all cars at the Gilmore Car Museum.

 There were also displays of period clothing. Check out the beading on this beautiful flapper dress.

 Ladies had very small feet in the 20's.

 From a catalog


Good advice...

Turn your Model A into a tractor with this kit

 I didn't get a picture of the cases and cases of hood ornaments, but they were amazing.





This was a toy car, a functioning toy car. For a child. In 1909.


Check out the price!


There was a whole building of pedal cars.


There's no perspective in this shot, but the Pepsi bottle and burger are miniatures. The set came with the pedal car.


This is an actual, functioning, full-size diner. The chocolate malt was delicious.


I'm sure we'll go back next time we're in Michigan- the displays rotate, and they were working on another whole building for the collection.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Michigan- Gilmore Car Museum Part 1

I had an extra day off from teaching (not enough students signed up for the class that day, so it was canceled) (I knew that well in advance- it wasn't a surprise move, MFF is too classy for that). Brother in law Rick suggested we visit the Gilmore Car Museum, which was about a half hour from Hastings.

I'm not a big car enthusiast (I didn't get my drivers licence until I was 34), but The Hub is, and I'm always up for visiting a museum, so we went. And man, am I glad we did. This place is amazing- building after building after building of amazing (and incredibly expensive) restored and unrestored vintage cars. We wandered for 3 hours, and could have spent more time. The displays were beautifully staged, the cars sparkled and shone, and each car had an info plaque with the sort of stats that made The Hub's heart go pitty-pat.

I'm not going to try to explain anything (I don't know a Rolls from a Bently anyway), I'll just post pics (half today, half tomorrow)- let yourself bask in the glory of chrome.















 Okay- one comment: I want fingernail polish in that pumpkin color