Le Petit Garage

Christmas Greetings!

And the boys here at the shop dressed up in their very best and made a special card for you.  Earl, Brutus and Booda worked really hard on this card and they hope you like it!

The boys asked if maybe you could help out some of their friends who aren't so fortunate...it only takes a second and all you have to do is click here:   

The Animal Rescue Site

Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary.  The boys definitely thank you for woofing it forward and helping their friends.  It's fun to give!  yay!

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve and a very Merry Christmas tomorrow!

xo,

Cara, Earl, Brutus & Booda

Oh Etsy, You Coy Little Devil

As if Etsy isn't addictive enough, now those little handmade loving devils have gone ahead and added another fun perk to their lair of handmade fun that totally sucks you in.   Allow me to present to you .....Pounce.  A saucy little invention that lets you see what has recently sold and what else those sellers have in their shops.  Every time you press pounce it brings up more sold goodies...how fun?  Oh, it is addictive my friends.  I sat there today making empty promises with myself such as,  "Okay, just one more time"  or "Okay, this is really the last time" which of course were complete lies because I couldn't stop.  Jeezy Creezy, I had lots of stuff to do today people; I can't be looking at Etsy all day!  Even though, it technically is my job to look for new designers and creative goodness for my shop.  Yet, I still feel guilty looking for too long.  But there is just so much to see.  So go ahead check it out...at your own risk of course. 

Here are some of the interesting finds that I thought were cute.....

Scottie Key Fob

Quirky Kitten Applique Top

To the Moon and Back Sign

Dandy Dog Collar Accessory

Chocolate Recycled Leather Cuff with Skeleton Key

xo,
Cara

Joyeux Noel!

Yes, I admit it, procastination is one of my worst traits if not my worst-as you can see by my non regular posting...yikes!  Well, my lovely friend Joy  has awoken me from my non posting slumber and has inspired me to write more, more, more!   Thank you Joy!

So, I am still decorating for Christmas.  When I say still, I mean that I started decorating the day after Thanksgiving but I am still decorating up until this very day.  So maybe I am not so much of a procrastinator as a slow finisher!  Anyway, I thought I would share some photos of my still in progress decor and also a few shots of one of my most favorite presents that I have ever gotten!  It was given to me by my wonderful momma.  It is an old and quite large piece of salvage from a building that was put in to a shadow frame and now is one of the most fab things ever!  It is hanging above our fireplace here.......

Now for the Christmas Decor..............

Half finished tree!

My little helper.

Ode to Dog

As you may well know, we do love dogs around here and that is why we were so happy to find Amelia Makes Art!   It is a fabulous little wonderland where you can have the exact likeness of your dog made into a minature felted version but with an artsy twist because it is all handmade.  Each one of these cute little stinkers is sculpted out of Icelandic and Merino wool. The technique is needle felting and uses a special barbed needle tool to create the form. Each dog is one of a kind and sculpted in fiber like one would sculpt clay. There is no sewing, stuffing or pattern of any kind.  It is a work of art! 

I Love You Makool

Bonjour mon amours!  Sorry not to write for so long...I have made a pact to try and write everyday but I do have a proper excuse for my tardiness this time.  I was away at a show in NYC and away from all my technical necessities.  I have yet to learn how to blog from my phone-but it is on my list. 

Anyway, I am in love with something that was emailed to me the other day.  Are you familiar with Makool Loves You?  Well, you should be because they are fancy, fabulous and supercreative and have the cutest goodies EVER on their site.  Clothing, bags, jewelry, all of which are made locally in Portland, Oregon.  I do have quite an affinity for just about everything on their site but these little creatures have really stolen my heart.....................

Plastique Fantastique

Ok, I am going to say it-never thought these words would come out of my mouth but, "look how cool this rubber furniture is!"  I know you are thinking not possible.  No sentence with cool and rubber furniture could be.  But alas, it's true.  Found on Etsy, DesignFront which is located in good ol' New Jersey brings rubber furniture to a whole new level.  Fabulously old world, baroque pieces in eye popping colors and they can be used indoors or out!  Imagine, if you will, a garden, some champagne, a fabulous chandelier hanging above candles a twinkle all while surrounded by such gorgeousness.   Or used inside as that one piece of bold craziness that keeps things interesting.  Maybe for a desk chair so you may reign over all in a Marie Antoinette-the Sophia Coppola version of course-sort of way.  So over the top.  Just the way we like it.  Yummy. 

 

Naysayers...keep your thoughts to yourself.

I think there is definitely a big divide between those who love and aprreciate junk and those who do not.  I appreciate junk.  I love the little dents, scratches and chips that an old piece or junk has because it shows that it has character, a life, a story behind it.   I do not like it when people say...and how many times have you---you, being junklovers---heard, "Where did you find that?   What are you going to do with that?" and always in a Nancy Negative Naysayer tone.   It drives me bonkers!  Now, I am very grateful that I am able to forsee how something will look after it is fixed up a bit but geez louise must I always be berated for my junk finds by naysayers!  I say long live junk.  But I guess thank goodness for those junk naysayers because then if everyone liked junk no one would be selling or throwing anything out and that, my friends, would not be good.  Here is a picture of one of my latest junk finds-old beautiful, yes it's busted up but just wait until this little number has had a spot of TLC.  Here are some pictures so you can see the before. 

Vintage Indie Love!

Our wonderful friend Gabreial over at Vintage Indie did the most amazing feature on our shop.  Her blog is so fun!  You will not be able to leave it, so many nooks and crannies filled with all kinds of cool creations and interesting people.  You have to go see. I mean it.  Go there.  Now.

Best Friends

Best friends out for a drive on a nice sunny day.  Mr Handsome takes the boys, a.k.a Brutus, Booda and Earl,  for a ride and a swim-that is why me Mini looks so dirty-I swear!  They can not get enough of the water and everytime they are with me at my office they stare at me until I can't take it anymore and I finally breakdown and take them to the bay.  But today they are off on a boys day.  Speaking of dogs ever know that if you click here:
The Animal Rescue Site
once a day it helps animals in need...well now you know.  So get busy clicking.

Vintage Organization

I hate the necessary things in life that you need to work and live exposed such as magazines, wires, mail, etc.  Magazines are definitely a must-totally addicted can't stop reading especially home design...yummy!  Wires for the computer of course but so yucky to look at and I will do everything under the sun to hide them-I know I am not the only one with a phobia of exposed wires because my good friend does the same exact thing-she is maybe a tad worse than me.  And mail, my nemesis because it just never stops arriving in that little box!  Now don't get me wrong, I love to get wonderful letters and cards in the mail but technical stuff, no thank you.  And my fiankay--fiance to the laymen--hate to say it the real way because it just gets so annoying after a while.  Ever see the episode of Seinfeld?  "Where has my fiance gone?  Has anyone seen my fiance?  My poor little baby must be lost."  To which Elaine replies, "maybe the dingo ate your baby."

Well, it annoys me just as much so we have come to refer to each other as my fiankay or my future ex husband/exwife.  Anyhoot, my fiankay to which I will refer to as Mr. Handsome from this point on is in real estate so he gets sooooo much mail-technical stuff-that I do not know what to do with.  It is way too much but alas I have found a beautiful letter holder that is quite a good size and will hold a hefty amount of mail but in a fancy, vintagey, gorgeous way.  I found the little beauty on  www.sadieolive.com    It is a delectable site with so much good stuff on it I can't take it.  Take a peek at all the goodies like magazine organizers, cute signs and special little trinkets that are a definite must.  I just found the shop tonight, which is run by one Miss Sara Duckett, from her very inspiring blog that I happened upon while poking around zee internet.  Here are some pics to peek your interest.....