UPDATED: Farewell

I have decided to close my blog. I’ve blogged for over seven years, and it started as my creative outlet, because I love writing. But I think it has become too much a routine, and feels more like a duty. I have been thinking about it for long, but maybe I start up again some day in a another format. So you can keep (or add) me on Bloglovin, so you get an update if/when I blog again.

If you miss me you can find me at:

Instagram – where I upload photos of my daily life, nails, dresses, my car, and much more. I've created some unique tags you can search for if you would like to see my:
Vintage Opel GT: #sannesgt, dresses: sanneskjoler, shoes: #sannessko, nails: #sannesnegle, son: #sannesson, music: #sannesvinyl
Pinterest – where I pin everything that inspires me and also will upload photos of my own nails
Etsy – where I will maintain my shop with vintage jewellery and handmade things
SaMaTi.dk – my good old website that needs an update, and I have lots of ideas

So a warm farewell and thanks to all my readers, perhaps we’ll meet again.

PS: Feel free to read backwards. You might use the subject tags on the right.

Gosling vs Renner

I am sure you all know the Ryan Goslings Hey Girl memes, which have flooded the internet for long. Here are some examples:

Gosling's memes are sweet and cute, where Jeremy Renner's are sexy and dirty:

This is of course my favourite in my Gosling versus Renner theme:

I know who I choose - I really don't need more nail polishes! ;)

If you have a naughty humour and think Renner is a hottie, then there is much more like this here: This is Jeremy Fucking Renner Talking. But don't be offended by the F-word.

I am sure they are both sitting laughing out loud thinking "relax chicks".

Super Heroes

I have always loved action movies and super heroes. I think I am in good contact with my male side at this point. ;)  As a child we lived near a printing works, where they had a container full of cartoons for destruction. My brother and I often bicycled to it, climbed over the hence, and filled as many cartoons as we could in our rucksacks before we got caught and had to flee. So I've read them all, from the Hulk to the Phantom. I know all their special talents, weaknesses and real names. I think I scored a good deal of points for this when son was little.

The latest super hero I am crazy about is The Green Arrow, very exciting action:

Stephen Amell plays the leading part - and it is only an extra plus that he looks so appetizing.

The Green Arrow is a DC series, but in fact I am more into Marvel. I love the Avenger guys (sorry Black Widow):

Iron Man has long been my favourite:

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Junior) is also a well-hung piece of man-meat, super intelligent and lovely arrogant. He is also son's absolute favourite, so we have often seen the movies together.

As I child I loved seeing the old Hulk TV series with my brother. We sat there waiting for him to become big and green:

It was quite scary, but also very cool.

And since it was long before the animation technic was invented, the leading part was played by huge Lou Ferrigno:

But now my favourite is Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner:

Uhm ... yummi.

Look at that masculine smile:

I melt ...

Let's take a moment to thank the Avengers costume department for this:

So I am looking very much forward to seeing the new Avengers movie, Mission Impossible 5 and Bourne 5. It is going to be a good Renner year. Sigh!

ALT for Damerne, no. 5, 1954

I have for years scanned from ALT for Damerne (Everything for the Ladies) from 1955, but this year I have decided to scan from 1954. No particular reason other than for a change, although I don't think it will be that big. Yep, I am a rebel! :)

Let's start with number 5, which was the first magazine in February. All scans can be clicked into larger formats. Although it is a Danish magazine, I hope my foreign readers will have fun reading my small recaps and get inspiration from the photos.

Very nice cover, where you can get the pattern for the lovely sporty blouse:

In the binular you can read about this and that:

This time there is a tip on serving hearts in a different way, good advice on fabric and knits, a clear purse for you purse, so that it doesn't get ruined in bad weather (not a bad idea at all), and advice on how to know the difference from fireproof glass (if it has a matte bottom it is meant for electrical hotplates).

Travel with housewives' league to Rome and the Riviera:

It must have been every housewife's dream.

Glimpse of spring from Berlin:

The geometrical dress at the right is fabulous.

And at the right there is a guidance on sewing a nice bed blouse without pattern:

It is so nice that it can easily be used during the day, depending on the fabric you choose.

Patterns of the week are for those who are busy and chic:

This is an illustration for a novel called The Unrestful Heart:

Fabulous dress. No wonder the main character is nervous about how beautiful the woman is.

Nice, homemade bast lamps are flattering in the living room:

So if you are looking for an old-fashioned lamp, you can make it yourself:

Just look how nice it looks on the little drawing.

Dinner is server:

I love how dinner was served back then. It takes so little effort to make it look nice.

On to the ads. Let's start with an ad for Sanderson cretonner:

Lovely patterns in colours that says "NO" to fading.

Elegant suits in Hartz jersey all year long:

And Cutex Spillpruf, whic we have seen before, but not this one. It contains enamelon, whatever that is.

Here I had a muddy complexion - it is of course past with Tokalon cream:

At the orphanage the children's clothes are sewn and repaired on an Elna sewing machine.

An ouverture to future happiness:

Back then it was high-class to say one came from a home with a piano.

Handmade on Etsy

I have for long thought about opening a ”handmade” section in my Etsy shop, but I didn't know what to sell and I didn't know if it would be funny to make, when somebody ordered it. But now I’ve done so, and at the moment I offer bookmarks, small crocheted things, and bead jewelry, which I customize from my customer’s wish.

I have taken photos of all my beads, so my customers can decide which colours they want:

  

I offer this lovely Russian flower bracelet:

And I also offer making a set with a matching necklace:

I make this nice twisted necklace:

And I make this almost royal necklace with crystals:

You can choose from these crystal beads:

I also crochet, and have made the pattern for this snowflake myself. You can use it as a coaster or under your tea mug:

I make them snow white (!) and white with silver thread, but I don’t have much left of the silver thread, so buy them while you can. I sell them in sets of four, either four white or two white and two with silver thread.

I also sell my nice crocheted acorns:

You can buy one of your choice or buy a set of all three. I make them in beige, green and gold.
I love acorns and think they are perfect for autumn or Christmas decoration, but you can use them all year round if you like. They will also look nice as a decoration on a present.

And I make customized bookmarks:

Where my customers can choose background colour and what they want me to write with my over hundred years old typewriter:

I hope you will take a look at my new shop section, and if you have any wishes, do let me know, then perhaps I might be able to make it.

Sorting, Part 2: The Makeup

This is part two of my clearance project, see part one about my wardrobe last Thursday.

I love red lipsticks, or should I just say lipsticks, and glosses in general, and my collection is very big. It became even bigger when Santa gave me this fabulous Estee Lauder beauty box:

So I want to test and sort out, because I can hardly find space for it all in my vanity drawers. But there is also another good reason to clear some of my collection. I have become older, sigh, and then it is good to change your makeup. A few months ago I attended a birthday party and met a woman I have known for long. She is in her late forties and a good example of how it does not become you when you use the same makeup you have used since you were young. You should fade your makeup when you get older. Softer colours look better when you are not in your teens anymore. Metallic eye shadows enhance wrinkles, and who wants that? I love red lipstick and use it very often, especially during winter, but I also have a lot of other nice colours, which I want to use for a change.

Here is an example of a purple lipstick, which I have changed to a dusty plum colour (number two from left), which becomes purple clothes perfectly without being eighties purple. And a red lipstick I loved in the late eighties and the nineties (number three from left), where the last colour is my favourite now, a much softer colour:

I don’t think any of these colours are still for sale. And I also want to add that I still might use the bright red now and then, but then the rest of my makeup is very toned down?

If you don’t want to part with your favourite lipsticks, then you can use a lighter shade in the same shade on top of it. Marilyn was known for using up to six different lipstick colours, then we can too. But I think I will sort out the shades I never use. If you know a teenage or little girl, they will love to play with them. But do ask their mother first, so neither you nor the girl gets into trouble.

During winter I love using a grey/black eye shadow, but I mix them with a pale eye shadow. This is easiest to do with an eye shadow brush, but you can do it with the foam-thingy too. Buy a matte pale beige eye shadow, most brands have mono-eye shadows, and use it for mixing. This way you still have your favourite shadows, but in a softer more age-friendly shade. My black eye shadow is only used as a long, slim, triangle, like winged eyeliner. During summer I always use a very pale eye shadow that matches my clothes, and a thin fifties style eyeliner. I am lucky not to have many wrinkles, so I will continue doing so.

Do change your blusher to a softer natural colour. I was young and smart in the early eighties, so I have had bright indian war paint on my checks and used up several neon pink lipsticks. Back then I also had mascara in all colours, and I really mean all, also neon green and pink. Now I only have black, which I only apply in a thin layer.

I hope you can use some of my advice and want to change and clear some of your makeup too, if you, like me, not are in your teens anymore.

It is good to look at your style with new eyes.

Sorting, Part 1: The Wardrobe

I have started a new project this year. I will sort my wardrobe, my makeup and my nail polish collection, to find out what becomes me and what doesn’t. I do sort out things from my wardrobe regularly, but now I want to try on all items that are not used very often (and ditto for makeup and polishes), to find out why I rarely use it. Perhaps it is the fit, the colour, the length, the neckline? This way I will either find new favourites or sort out to charity. Everything vintage will be put for sale in my Etsy shop.

It all started New Year’s day, where I had to figure out what to wear on New Year’s eve. I went to the basement, where my party dresses are (I don’t want to go through sequin dresses daily), and found a lot of dresses try. I quickly sorted out a dress that was too short. When I was finished and would hang it all back in the closet, I started going through what was left and quickly sorted out 6-7 things. It was quite fun so I ended in another closet and suddenly I had a huge Ikea bag full of clothes:

It felt really good. I also found this pastel yellow fifties style summer dress, which I had missed, but was sure I had donated to charity long time ago:

So I will plan what to wear in the evening, and not just reach for the usual choices. This way I will make new “sets” that can renew my daily wardrobe.

Next week I will write about makeup, so I hope to see you back next Thursday.

Buy of the Year 2014

I use to nominate Buy of the Year, just for fun.

The opevious winners are:
In 2009 a vintage immersion heater
In 2010 a vintage Pyrex measuring cup
In 2011 a lovely notebook from Etsy
In 2012, I forgot, oops
And last year it was my iPad on which I read my blogs daily.

I have never defined the nomination precisely, but in general it has to be something I have been especially happy for and which have made a difference in my life. So which buy fulfills the criteria this year? Well, it has been extremely expensive, but also incredibly fantastic. On 1 March I started working part-time, having Wednesday off, so it became my creative day. On Wednesday I relax, I am creative and my stressed brain calms down. So although it cost me about 20% of my salary (fortunately son moved just a months before, and believe me, teenagers do not come cheap), it is worth every penny, and I hope it will never end. Last spring I got my own creative room (son's old room), so now I have all my things and stuff at one place and can work on my projects while I listen to old records.

What I make? Well, many different things, a.o. this copy of a Kate Spade clutch, which I also made a tutorial for:

I play a lot with my old seed beads, which my beloved grandma gave to me as a child. I am so happy I have kept them. Here is a gift for a dear colleague:

Necklace and bracelet after a Russian pattern found on Pinterest. You can find many free patterns and tutorials there.

I paint and draw:

And I have made lots of Christmas card and to-and-from cards:

Decorated with glitter, rhinestones, and pearls.

And I've started sewing again:

On my old sewing machine, which my dad thrifted in a container about 30 years ago and repaired for me. It is so good.

Here I have sewed a top from a fifties pattern. PDF-patterns are brilliant, because it is instant-download, so you can buy a pattern and sew it right away. The fabric cost me about 3 dollars:

Yep, it is me! Finally, a photo of me on my blog. I hate photos of myself, so normally it is on Instagram you can see photos of me, because the photos are so small so you cannot see how old and unphotogenic I am. ;)

And here is a skirt sewn of fabric I bought about 25 years ago:

I really like it and would love to use the same pattern for another skirt in some wintery fabric.

My latest project:

A houndtooth skirt with big pleets:

Really nice and it doesn't need a petticoat since the fabric is very thick. It became a little too large at the waist, but I can change that next Wednesday. :)