Papa’s Got a Brand New….

Posted by James on January 25, 2015
Posted in: New Home, Projects. Tagged: , , , . 41 Comments

About a year ago, one of my followers, Kim, sent me a vintage European grain sack that she had acquired, didn’t need, and knew that I would find a use for.

(I love the word “Follower”, it has a slight Jim Jones sound to it)

I’m sure she thought I’d make a few more pillows. But I have another plan.

Here’s our victim….

European Grain Sack

If you aren’t familiar with European grain sacks, they are usually a heavy woven flax linen. The stripes, different on every bag, are a way to quickly identify what was in each bag and the farm from which it came.

This one is pretty thick – the thicker, the better BTW – so I use sharp scissors to cut the bag down to from 44 inches deep to about 24 inches.

I want a deep bag.

Use Sharp Scissors to Cut the Sack

I turn the bag inside out, and fold down about an inch from the newly cut top, and use a hot iron to press the flap flat.

Fold the edge Over About an Inch and Iron Flat

I’ve had this scrap yardage of khaki/blue linen lying around the garage. No real purpose for it, I can just never throw anything away.

Pile of Scrap Linen

No worries, because now it has an actual purpose. I thought it would make a great lining for my bag.

I fold a piece in half and run a stitch up each side.

IMG_7974

I turn this one inside out, so the raw edges are inside, and I now have 2 sacks about the same size. (18 inches X 21 inches)

The 2 Sacks, One A Grain Sack and the Other Made of Linen

Now, I slip the blue linen sack over the grain sack, like a pillow case, and tuck the edge under the flap.

Slip the Linen Sack Ovee the Gran Sack and Tuck Under the Folded Down Edge

I pin it down and give it a quick stitch around the entire edge.

Sew the Edge

Then I fold the edge down once more, but about 2 inches this time.

Sew Down the New 2 Inch Edge

Once more, using a really hot iron I press the edge down.

Fold the Edge Over 2 Inches This Time and Iron Flat

I stitch this edge down to. It’s thick. Broke 2 needles on my sewing machine doing this.

Flip the whole thing right-side out and I’m left with a linen-lined grain sack with a thick top edge.

Turn the Sack Back Inside Right

For the bag strap…..we went to Wally World.

I know, I know….they are the Evil Empire of stores, and their customers seem to dress like every day is Halloween in New Orleans, but I knew we’d find cheap leather belts there.

And in (Ahem, as I clear my throat) VERY large sizes.

Wal-Mart Belt from my Grain Sack Bag Strap

Like, size 48,

In a beautiful Cuoio leather color. I even like the brushed stainless buckle.

16 bucks each.

Because I need 2 … and up until this point I haven’t spent a penny … 32 bucks is pretty good deal.

I use tin snips to cut the buckle off one of the belts, that leaves me with a 52 inch strap with a row of holes. The other belt I cut down to 12 inches with the buckle still attached.

Use Tin Snips to Cut through the Leather Belt

I buckle the 2 together to make one long, 63 inch, belt.

I draw out 4 holes in each end of my belt strap and use a hammer and nail to poke holes.

Use a Nail to Poke Holes in the Leather Belt

I line the holes up with the edge of my bag and mark their locations with a pen.

Line the Belt Up on the Side of the Bag and Use a Pen to Mark the 4 Holes

See? All my holes will be centered on the double thick edge of the sack.

The 4 Holes in the Side of my Bag

I use the same big nail and a hammer to make holes on each mark through the layers of fabric.

Use the nail to Poke Through the Grain Sack Edge

To attach the strap, we asked ourselves, “What would Ron Swanson do?” Ron would be a man, and think that there was already way too much sewing involved in this project. Pretty sure he would use nuts and bolts.

1/4 inch bolts, 3/4 inch long.

I want a pretty tight connection, so I screwed these into the leather….

Screw a Screw Throught the belt

….and pushed each through the holes I made in the sack….I won’t lie, this took some work.

When they finally did poke through, I attached each with a washer and bolt.

Us ea Nut to Hold the Screw in Place on the Inside of the BAg

Did this 4 times for each strap

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Ron Swanson would be proud.

Don’t know about where you live, but in Dallas our city council passed a new proposal encouraging retailers to charge for one-time-use to bags.

Way to go.

Feels like we live in a REAL city now. Where everybody rides a bike and recycles.

We have decided to make a conscious effort to bring our own bags to the grocery store.

This one is plenty big and deep. Perfect size for Jamie to run to the grocery store for ice cream and beer…….I mean, baguettes and bottled water.

Jamie on the Scooter with the Grain Sack Grocery Bag

Jamie and the Grain Sack Grocery Bag in Action Collage

Long Shot of the Grain Sack Grocery Bag in Action

Wanna make your own? And we certainly hope that we’ve inspired you to.

Ebay and Etsy both offer European grain sacks for sale. Expect to pay anywhere from 15 – 30 bones.  The rest is up to you.

Grain Sack Grocery Bag from the Cavender Diary Boys

I’m willing to bet that about right now Kim wants hers back……

(well she ain’t gettin’ it)

Thanks again Kim. Told ya I’d do something cool with it.

Tomato Soup Cupcakes

Posted by James on January 22, 2015
Posted in: New Home, Recipes. Tagged: , , , , . 3 Comments

I first heard of these cupcakes a few years ago.

Tomato Soup Cupcakes from the Cavender Diary Boys

They sound straight out of a 1960’s Junior League Cookbook. Where every recipe called for a can of soup.

Tomato Soup Cupcake on Top of Soup Can

But they aren’t. I borrowed this recipe from the Food Network, but tweaked it just slightly to make it a little easier.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick – Room Temperature)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 Can of Tomato Soup (10 Ounces)
  • 2 Cups of Flour
  • 1/2 TSP Salt
  • 1 TSP Baking Soda
  • 2 TSP Baking Powder
  • 1/2 TSP Cinnamon
  • 1/2 TSP Nutmeg
  • 1/2 TSP Cloves

You probably have all that on hand already. I did.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a standard cupcake pan with liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the sugar, eggs, and butter.

Mix Together the Butter, Sugars, and Eggs.

Shift together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) in a bowl.

Shift Together the Dry Ingredients in a Seperate Bowl

With the mixer on low, alternate between adding the tomato soup and the flour mixture to the sugar/eggs/butter.

Alternate Between Adding the Dry Ingredients and the Tomato Soup

Don’t over mix it, just make sure the dry ingredients are throughly combined.

The batter is a beautiful spicy-color when it’s throughly mixed.

Beautiful Spice-Colored Batter

Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full and bake until the cupcake springs back when touched, about 22 minutes.

Fill the Cupcake Liners about 2 Thirds Full

Now for the frosting.

You’ll need.

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 2 1/2 Cups of Confectioner’s Sugar

Blend the 3 together and pipe onto the tops of the completely cooled cupcakes.

Pipe the Frosting onto the Cupcakes

These couldn’t be easier………

Tomato Soup Cupcake from the Cavender Diary - Copy

Tomato Soup Cupcakes from the Cavender Diary Boys

As comforting as a bowl of tomato soup on a cold, dreary winter day….

Only in sweet, sweet (But, not too sweet) cupcake form.

You’re Welcome.

Where Does it All Go?

Posted by James on January 18, 2015
Posted in: New Home. Tagged: , . 29 Comments

January is by far the saddest month of the year.

All the holiday decorating that we feverishly do the weekend after Thanksgiving, has to come down, get boxed up and stored……

Saddest month of the year, (Hugh Sigh)

So where does it go in a small house?

The big vintage ornament wreath has been a tradition of mine for the past 15 years.

The Big Vintage Ornament Wreath for 2014

The ornaments are individually hooked onto a chicken wire wreath form every year…one at a time.

Building te Ornaments Higher on the Wreath

They come down the same way. One at a time.

We box them up in the boxes they came in, or between layers of bubble wrap, then fill tubs. 6 tubs to be exact.

Vintage Ornaments are Stored in Tubs with a Layer of Bubble Wrap Between

The tubs stack in the attic. Now this is a little controversial because glass ornaments need to be kept somewhere where the temperature is constant…..or they will age faster. I actually kind of like the age spots they get. Makes them look “loved”.

So the attic is fine.

Vintage Ornaments in Tubs are Stacked in the Attic

But not for the glass Radko ornaments on the tree……

Radko Covered Christmas Tree in the Den Christmas of 2014

I don’t want them to age at all.

I fill mixing bowls with them as we take them off the tree.

Bowls of Ornaments for the Christmas Tree

Then these guys are individually bubble wrapped and stashed inside the banquet in the kitchen.

Radko Ornaments Stored in Tubs in the Banquet

Once the cushion and pillows are in place….no one would ever know that they were sitting on top of a few hundred ornaments.

IMG_7785

Everything that isn’t a glass ornament; bubble lights, reflectors, plastic clip-on birds, spinners, and glittery balls, are bagged and boxed.

Tub full of Zip-Locked Ornaments for the Christmas Tree

The tree itself is wrapped in white sheets and stashed in this perfect, but odd, little space on the side of the chimney in the garage.

Christmas Tree Bundled and Stored in Nitch Next to Chimney

Jamie has the outside lights down to an exact science.

Side View of the Cavender House Lights December 2014

He removes all the bulbs from the light strands – this keeps them from breaking – and every strand goes in a labled ziploc.

Tub full of Bulbs, Cords and Clips in Labled Bags

Same with the garland around the front door….

The Cavender Front Door Garland with Antlers December 2014

The lights and berries are bagged and labeled….

Garland and Lights for the Door Garland

…and these tubs fit perfectly on the shelves we built over the garage door.

Tubs full of Christmas on Shelf Over the Garage Door

Yes sir,

Organized Hoarding at it’s finest.

Meet Jason Lenox

Posted by James on January 14, 2015
Posted in: Did Ya Know?, New Home. Tagged: , , , . 3 Comments

This is Jason.

Jason Lenox of Anteks

His Dallas shop, Anteks, has been a leading source for South-Western style furniture, rugs, lighting, art and decor since it first opened in 1985.

Inspired by his personal collection of vintage copper boxes,

Copper Boxes in Jason Lenox's Oak Cliff Living Room

Jason began designing silver boxes, picture frames, and even concho belts.

His silver pieces are each hand-crafted by skilled craftsmiths. Using solid German silver (a combination of copper and nickel, much less expensive than silver) his craftsmen create unique pieces with the look and feel of turn-of-the-century Navajo work.

Because they are hand-made, some even set with genuine turquoise or coral, each piece is slightly unique.

Here’s a few for y’all to gander at.

Navajo Style Stamped Rectangular Box with Turquoise

WJA-037square

WJA-015-1-T

Navajo Style Stamped Silver Round Box

I’m a fanatic for match strikes….

Navajo Style Stamped Silver Matchbox Cover

The last time I was in his shop, they were using this wine coaster as a pen holder. Clever

Stamper German Silver Coaster with Turquoise

8 X 10 Stamped Navajo Style Silver Picture Frame

Open Range Concho Belt Designed by Jason Lenox

Told ya they were impressive, and very reasonably priced. VERY

Can’t make it to Jason’s Dallas showroom anytime soon, No worries.

You can buy them online here.

Cavender Holiday Candles

Posted by James on December 29, 2014
Posted in: New Home, Projects. Tagged: , , , . 15 Comments

My friend Stephen makes the most amazing candles.

He upcycles bits of leftover candles, that his family and friends give him, and melts them into layers of color.

For years we’ve begged him to sell them. But he says that he only makes them for himself and gifts. If it became a career, there wouldn’t be any fun left in it.

I understand what he means.

Check out these beauties that we made for gifts this year.

 IMG_7750

Wanna make your own? It’s much easier than you may think.

Here’s what ya need……

Ingredients for the Cavender Diary Holiday Candles

Melting the wax chips is really pretty easy.

I melt them in a tin can with a spout that I formed with pliers. With the flame on high heat, and an old pot filled with a couple of inches of water, I use a chopstick to stir until everything is completely melted.

Melt Your Wax Chips in a Water Bath on High Heat

The wax chips melt down pretty fast, so I keep adding them and stirring until my melted wax is about and inch from the top of the can.

When it’s completely melted, it’s time for the wax color. The lines on the color bar denote where to slice for about a pound of wax. I chopped it a little finer to speed up the melting process.

Adding the Wax Color Collage

Just that small amount makes the white wax a deep, deep burgundy red.

The Red Dye Makes the Wax a Deep, Plumb Red Color

I remove the melted wax from the heat and stir in the fragrance oils. Never mix in the oils while the wax is still on the stove or all the scent will dissolve.

We did a mix of flavors this year (Yes, you can mix them)…and added equal amounts of Red Currant, Christmas Tree, and Pomegranate Punch. (Maybe about a 1/8 ounce of each flavor)

I found our fragrances online at CandleScience.com. About 2 bucks a bottle.

Fragrance Oils for Candles

I had ordered some 8oz amber jars online, that just never arrived, (Huge Sigh)

So for a quick fix……we used 8oz drinking glasses. Found a dozen at a thrift store for 25 cents each……and wouldn’t ya know it, Target sells the same thing for a buck.

Glasses at Target

Before I pour in the wax, I positioned a medium wick in the center of each glass held in place with a chopstick, laid across the glass, and a clothes pin clipping the 2 together.

Like so……..

Use a Chopstick and Clothes Pin to Hold the Wick in Place

Looks like a half of a glass of red wine with a wick.

Wax will settle as it cools, so I only fill them about half way at first. After about an hour I add a second layer of wax.

As the wax cools, the color lightened from a deep wine to a deep pink. Live and learn. This is the first time I’ve ever used the colors…next time I’ll add more.

Here's How the Color Lightens as the Wax Cools

For labels, I went to Vistaprint.com. just like last year when we made flavored vodka.

Cavender Holiday Candle Labels from Vista Print

Really simple.

  • Upload a background image
  • Add text.
  • 50 cents each
  • They arrive in about 4 days
  • Wrap them around the glass.

We made a dozen candles in an afternoon,

Easy Holiday Candles from the Cavender Diary Boys

They smell like a sweet, fruity holiday punch.

Told y’all they were easy to make.

Just Like the Ones I Used to Know…….

Posted by James on December 18, 2014
Posted in: New Home. Tagged: , , , , , , . 11 Comments

Watching a movie with me is like an episode of “Pop Up Video”.

You’re guaranteed to hear trivia throughout the next 2 plus hours.

Add my 2 brothers into the mix and it’s 3 times the trivia. Very few people can handle it.

Here are some fun facts about White Christmas, that we would spew out while you’re trying to watch the movie.

White Christmas Movie Poster

White Christmas was released in 1954 and premiered at Radio City Music Hall.

It was the highest grossing film of that year, earning more than 30 million in the U.S. Alone, over 300 million in modern dollars.

This was the first film released in VistaVision, a process developed by Paramount studios that enhanced the picture more than standard 35mm prints.

The film was intended to reunite Crosby with Fred Astaire, who had started together in Holiday Inn, but Astaire declined after reading the script. Donald O’Connor replaced him, but left due to an illness. Danny Kaye was the third and final

Vera Allen was 33 at the time, Rosemary Clooney was 26, Danny Kaye was 43, and Bing was 52.

The photo Vera-Ellen shows of her brother Benny is actually a photo of Carl Switzer, who played Alfalfa in The Little Rascals.

Bong, Danny nad Rosemary in White Christmas

Costume legend Edith Head died Danny Kaye’s shoes to match his socks.

Dancer Barrie Chase appears un-billed, as the character Doris Lenz (“Mutual, I’m sure!”).

The “Sisters” comedy act that Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye perform was not originally in the script. They were clowning around on the set and the director, Michael Kurtiz, thought it was so funny that it was written in. Crosby’s laughs are genuine (and unscripted). Many takes were attempted, but Crosby was unable to hold a straight face due to Kaye’s comedic dancing. The scene shown in the film was the best take they could get (which includes some laughter from Kaye as well).

The Vermont Inn is the remodeled Connecticut Inn set from the movie Holiday Inn.

A myth persists that all of Vera-Ellen’s costumes, down to her robe and sleepwear, were designed to cover her neck, which had been damaged by anorexia. But she made sure to show every square inch of her legs.

Bing and Kaye Doing the Sisters Number in White Christmas

All the songs were written by Irving Berlin.

The centerpiece of the film is the title song, first used in Holiday Inn, which won that film an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1942. The song Count Your Blessings earned this picture its own Oscar nomination in the same category.

This is the third film to feature Bing Crosby singing White Christmas. The other two are Holiday Inn and Blue Skies.

Trudy Stevens provided the singing voice for Vera-Ellen, except for “Sisters”, where Rosemary Clooney sang both parts.

Speaking of Rosemary Clooney singing, her contract at Columbia Records forbade her from being included on the soundtrack…..Peggy Lee recorded her part for her.

White Christmas Finale

After the final shot, the cast was informed that they would be redoing the finale because the King and Queen of Greece would be visiting the set and the producer wanted to “give them something to remember”. They “reshot” the sequence with no film in the camera and without Bing Crosby……

….. who had skipped out to play golf.

 

Hi Fi Holiday

Posted by James on December 16, 2014
Posted in: New Home. Tagged: , , , . 22 Comments

This one’s inspired by my dear friend Bronson.

We’ve been emailing and texting each other for over 10 years. But in all that time we’ve never met in person; until about 2 months ago.

We’re the same age and both have pretty fond memories of the 1980’s. Bronson was showing me pictures of his office, and the walls are covered in framed 80’s electronica albums.

In my bachelor pad, just a few short years ago, I had a wall of framed records too. And I still have all those records in a box. Not sure if they play anymore……but all my favorites are here; Abby Road, Glass Houses, Rumors, and Thriller…..

Still Have an Assortment of Old Records

…..and wouldn’t you know it……there are about 20 Christmas records in the mix.

How about if I do a wall of records for the holidays?

This is the wall next to the front door in our house. A scrapbook of our lives.

The Wall of Pictures in the Front Living Room

Perfect place to put my records for the next month.

I still have frames….but if y’all wanna copy this look, record frames are pretty easy to find.

These frames are 7 bucks at Ikea, and we found 3 packs at Michael’s for 10.

Record frames at Ikea for 7 Bucks

In about 20 minutes I’d framed 15 classic, and slightly juvenile, Christmas records.

The Grinch,

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I love a cowboy, and who’s a better Cowboy than Gene Autry?

Geme Autry - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

How great is the graphic on this Reggae Christmas album?

Reggae Christmas

Nothing says festive like Kenny and Dolly with a severed Reindeer head? And check out those red talons on Dolly…..

Kenny and Dolly - Once Upon a Christmas

I think I wore this album out when I was a kid….can you believe that I still have it?

John Denver and the Muppets

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without Bing and his holly bow tie.

Bing Crosby Merry Christmas

Kinda diggin’ on the graphic, clean (yet still slightly junky) look of this…….

Wall of Framed Holiday Records in the Cavender Diary Living Room

Gift suggestion: I could use a turntable….

Red, Yellow & Green

Posted by James on December 13, 2014
Posted in: New Home. Tagged: , , , , . 23 Comments

I hoard….

Lots of things…like pages from old magazines. Usually the whole magazine, but occasionally just a few pages.

Like this spread from the December 1996 issue of Country Living. (ignore the tears, sometimes I’m in a rush)

Anthony Baratta Cabin Living Room

Collection of Light Houses on Anthony Baratta's Cabin Dining Table

Fireplace with Tramp Art Mirror and Painted Red Floor

Green Victorian Sofa with Shelves of National Geographic

Red and Green Checkered Sofa in Front of Tramp Art Cabinet

Close-up of Buffet in Anthony Baratta's Cabin

Dining Table

48 Star American Flagin the Porch of Anthony Baratta's Cabin

Welcome Sign Hanging Over the Guest Bed

Garland Detail on Bed in Anthony Baratta's Cabin

Anthony Baratta Cabin Bathroom

Pretty cool, am I right?

That’s why I’ve kept these magazine pages in a box for a few decades.

Not really diggin’ on the Victorian furniture, tulips, or quilts……but the red-painted floor, 48 star American flag, light-houses, collection of National Geographics, tramp art frames, that cowboy lamp with the red shade on the side of the bed, tin lunch-pails, school maps as window treatments, cowboy bed, and oodles of vintage Americana just make me dizzy. In a good way.

What a collection.

The cabin used to belong to designer Anthony Baratta. Google tells me that he’s still busy designing, but I couldn’t find any evidence that he still owns this Long Island cottage.

In fact, I couldn’t find any pictures of it online at all.

But luckily for all of us….I hoard.