Sew What?! wacky tacky Gets Ric-ky Rac-ky

We've made no secret of it around here that our two very-favorite trims in all of fabric land are ric rac and pom poms.  If there is ever a way to include them both in a wacky tacky "Sew What?!" project, Mr. Tiny will find it!

Mary is only pretending that she doesn't know what to wear to the wedding of ric rac and pom pom.
Don't be fooled; she's wearing the answer.

I don't know that I'll ever understand my thought process but for some reason this ensemble reminded me of something a mid-century fashion maven would have worn on safari.  Since we're a long way from the Serengeti, we were going to have to settle for a suburban safari.

Like any good (style) hunter, Mary wears a mix of camouflage green for cover and bright orange for safety.
The outfit began with a blouse that I made several months ago; the coordinating sun hat came next, with just enough remaining ric rac to replicate the blouse's stripes and just enough material left over from the blouse to make a matching scarf tie.  

The ric rac on the sleeves of the peasant blouse was applied by machine but the bow was tacked on by hand.
Nearly all of the vintage ric rac came from the sewing basket of my great-grandmother. 

When I found the tangerine twill (a grandma hand-me-down) in my fabric stash,
I couldn't quite convince myself that capri pants could complete a cohesive ensemble.

Mary, a huge fan of quirky color stories, was convinced immediately!

Although she'll probably be extremely chagrinned that I chose this particular musical accompaniment, I couldn't help but think of Henry Mancini's classic to underscore our suburban safari!  HATARI!!!

What do you wear on safari - urban, suburban, or otherwise?  Do you think you think neon tangerine, olive green, and shades of pink are a Sub-Saharan sensation or a victim of the veld?

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

p.s. PLEASE STAY TUNED!!!!  Mr. Tiny will soon be able to "Put a lid on it" for you!  Sun hats, like the one Mary is sporting here, will soon be for sale on Mr. Tiny's South Side Market on Etsy!!!!

Jimmy's House: It's a Jungle in There!

Quietly lurking behind this unassuming doorway in Eagle Rock, CA lies a menagerie of animals so wild that they are practically tearing down the walls!  Our friend Jimmy keeps a collection* of wildlife so varied and so large that his home is really a jungle of sorts and you'll find nods to the strange and exotic in every nook and around each corner.  It is wacky tacky on safari!

Can't you just picture this guy in his former life?

I wish I could have been there to see him driving his mini car in the 4th of July parade.

HATARI!!!

I call this one Motel 6 - he'll keep the light on for you.

I so wanted to add a Dali moustache this guy.
Too surreal?

With this kind of zoo, one never has to worry about feeding time...

...or does one?

The very-rare, highly-desirable two-nicorn.

My own history is so colored by Disneyland that I kept expecting these guys to start singing.

Surprisingly, one doesn't suffer from sensory overload.
Simplicity is the key in achieving harmony and balance in this design.

The thing that really sets our wacky tacky hearts afire is the 

combination of disparate themes and cultural references.

This photo was actually taken in the darkest part of the home.
I believe the glow is from the spirits of those dearly-departed
 shriners who were tragically killed in a hippopotamus stampede.

I'm not entirely sure what Jimmy does for a living but I'm pretty sure he is a dentist.

I love to find curated vignettes in homes.
They tell a story about the owner - this one is a scary story.

Who do you think would win this staring contest?
My money's on Johnny Four-Eyes.

A black panther TV lamp creates moody dimension in a bookcase.

The zoo keeper at work in front of his vintage barkcloth curtains.
Undoubtedly he is looking for his next capture.

Thanks Jimmy for letting us into the enclosure!  As directed, we did not feed the animals.

Hatari! (1962)

wacky tacky would love to feature your home, garden or business!  If you have a wacky tacky interior, exterior, garden or workspace (or know someone who does), please contact us and you could be a wacky tacky design star!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

*If you are offended by taxidermy, please note that Jimmy is an avid collector of vintage pieces.  He is a lover not a hunter.  Also, you might be asking yourself, "Does Jimmy even speak rhinoceros?"  He'd say, "Of 'course-eros,' can't you?"