This Week in History - The Kid Gets Busted

September 23rd, 1875

Fantastic 1950's Wild West Outlaws printed fabric from ErikawithaK Vintage on etsy.

On September 23rd, 1875 the Kid got busted for the first time, Billy The Kid that is, aka William Henry McCarty. What did this infamous outlaw get busted for? Let's just say the crime wasn't quite as intriguing as one might imagine from such a notorious scallywag . The crime that landed the Kid in the clink was stealing...not money...not guns...not horses, but a basket of laundry. Now, any criminal with aspirations of being an unforgettable bad ass knows that you can't let a basket of laundry take you down. The Kid later busted out of jail and headed out to the Wild West where he would earn his stripes as an outlaw and murderer. Yeah, it may have been embarrassing to get busted for stealing a basket of laundry but trying to out do himself on his rap sheet by allegedly murdering twenty-one people...come on Billy, don't ya think you were over compensating just a bit?

For more information on Billy The Kid or this date in history check out this article on The History Channel website.

Thursday's Unique Picks - Quilt Impressive

"Woke up this mornin' feelin' fine..."

stepped outside and woah! (I know that isn't the way the song goes, but I am invoking artistic license)

 There was bit of a chill in the breeze today.

Where did the Summer go? I cannot believe that the official start of Fall is only about a week away. On September 23rd at 5:05 a.m., Autumn officially arrives (in case you want to set your alarm to celebrate). Guess that means it is time to put away the swim suits and bust out the long johns and dive under the blankets. I am all about keeping cozy.

One of my summer flea market scores, that has been added to my personal collection of vintage goodness! I can't believe I almost walked away from this pretty. My mom went back to the seller and wheeled and dealed to get this feedsack fabric quilt down to a price that I was happy with. I am not cheap, I am thrifty.

 I am quilt possibly one of the biggest fans of getting cozy under a quilt.

Sew in a very round about way, this lead me to this week's picks from etsy sellers. I decided to explore the wild world of quilts on etsy...but not necessarily the types that you can crawl under... 

It is quilt possible to get the cozy homespun charm of a quilt in all different types of materials besides fabrics. 

Paper

This beautiful handmade paper collage has been appliqued to hand quilted calico fabric from Kathryn Oaten on etsy. 

Pottery

Charming vintage mixing bowl with a fantastic quilt like texture from Bird In Hand's etsy shop

Glass

Handmade quilt inspired stained glass mosaic lamp from  Michelle Lisa Stained Glass Mosaics on etsy

Metal

Here is a twist on a decorative quilted throw. This sharp looking copper and brass handmade design is from Jay Lee Creations on etsy.

Wood

Handcrafted wooden bowl with an exquisite quilt like decoration created from various exotic wood by  tonyswoods on etsy.

I was quilt impressed by all of these unique finds on etsy. Just because dictionary.com  

defines the word:

Quilt: a coverlet for a bed, made of two layers of fabric with some soft substance, as wool or down, between them and stitched in patterns or tufted through all thickness in order to prevent the filling from shifting.

Doesn't mean that you can't redefine this traditional cozy homespun blanket in other fantastic materials!

This Week In History - Meat Uncle Sam

September 7th, 1813

Fantastic Patriotic Uncle Sam Graphic on the cover of this 1913 sheet music from Second Life Collectibles etsy shop. 

Have you ever wondered where the United Sates got the nickname "Uncle Sam"? Well, I am about to tell you. 

On September 7th 1813 the United Sates got its nickname, "Uncle Sam". The name is linked to a meat packer from Troy, New York, named Samuel Wilson. He provided barrels of beef to the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Mr. Wilson stamped his big barrels of beef "U.S." for United Sates, but the soldiers referred to their beefy chow as "Uncle Sam". Just like today, the media was keen to pick up on a new catch phrase. Local newspapers picked up on this story and eventually "Uncle Sam" caught on and gained acceptance as a nickname for the U.S. Federal Government. 

Since I am an inquiring mind, I have to ponder, why is it that the U.S. Federal Government picked up the nickname "Uncle Sam"? The media could have spun it in another direction though...we could have been calling our meat "Uncle Sam". What if that old lady in the 1984 Wendy's commercials said, "Where's the Uncle Sam?"?  

For more information on this date in history check out this article on History Channel website.

Thursday's Unique Picks - You Say Tomato

Hello September! Welcome to my favorite month. 

Next week, I will be celebrating one of the things that makes this month so special to me...

Next Thursday, September 8th, the hubby and I will be celebrating our wedding anniversary.

Vintage 10 year anniversary cake topper from Antiques Galore Gal's etsy shop.

It isn't just any old anniversary, we are entering into the double digit phase. 

Ten years. Pretty sweet.

Then...

September 8th 2001.

Now...

Summer lovin' 2011.

What makes it work. Our love is like a song...

Ya know, the classic tune written in 1937, By George and Ira Gershwin.

I say fantastic. Screen printed and hand sewn tea towel from Bravura's etsy shop.

Upcycled cross stitch tote with a Karen Walker quote, "You say Potato, I say Vodka", by Stitch Please..Ikid609 on etsy.

"Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto, Let's call the whole thing off"

Wait...that sounds really bad. I don't mean, "let's call the whole thing off"...there are more words.

"But oh, if we call the whole thing off Then we must part
And oh, if we ever part, then that might break my heart..."

Told you. 

SO, all I am trying to say...is that the hubby and I could have our very own version of that tune. 

This week's unique picks highlight an eclectic mix of etsy finds to help me illustrate.

Adorable vintage mustard and relish jars from Whimsical Vintage on etsy.

On hot dogs (one of our favorite foods), I say mustard, You say ketchup.

Ha ha ha! Happy Guy Wine bottle rack designed and handmade by Knob Creek Metal Arts on etsy.

Adult beverages... I say wine, You say champagne...of beers (living the high life).

Salty 'n sweet is all the rage these days! Be on trend with this charm necklace from  pollyannacowgirl's etsy shop.

On Snacks...I say salty, You say sweet ( the same could be said for our personalities. He is the nice one).

Robot love. This wedding cake topper is handmade by Builder's Studio on etsy.

Movies...You say Sci Fi, I say Romantic Comedy.

1950's-1970's collection of Football and Baseball books from Sarahendipity on etsy.

On Sports...You say baseball AND football, I say,"OK I will watch sci fi, if you don't make me watch stupid football".

High quality organic catnip cassettes for your bad ass metal cat from too bad mice's etsy shop 

On Music...You say Metal, I say Please make it stop.

When you care enough to send the very best...choose this great greeting card from  Junkmail Greetings from CarolLeeDesigns on etsy.

We don't quite see eye to eye on every little thing...(even though my hubby is only about three and a half inches taller than me) but we seem to have made it work.

Sweet pint of an original pencil illustration by Le Petit Elephant on etsy.

Happy Anniversary (in no particular order) to my: CFO, copy editor, best pal, and my favorite person.
 Husband, I am talking about you.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks eclectic mix of unique finds from etsy sellers and my little love story! Please stop by next week for our new blog post feature, "This week in history". I promise the historic event will not be about my wedding.