Fearing that the forgone conclusion of their town's fate would be unqualified obscurity, the citizens of a tiny town in rural West Virginia decided to give their town an unusual name; they settled on something that was just weird enough to garner the attention of passing motorists - Odd. There is nothing particularly strange about the sweet, albeit backwater, little hamlet of Odd, WV. The houses are well-maintained. The brooks are in a constant babble. The sunlight, dappled by the fluttering leaves, turns the landscape into an ever-changing, impressionist masterpiece. The quaint, brick post office, the most significant building in the city limits, is the centerpiece to what would otherwise be a completely-unremarkable town. The only thing that really sets Odd apart from the surrounding communities is, well, it's odd name. How could we continue to call ourselves denizens of wacky tacky if we failed to make the trek to a town that, outside of its name, would be surely be missed by travelers who had the audacity to blink. Cheers to Odd for putting itself on the map!
Perhaps I should have let the sign speak for itself.
But when in Odd, do as the Odd folks do, right?
As we wound our way through the hairpin turns of the narrow-laned road to Odd, we saw one of our favorite signs, "Estate Sale." We pulled over and, of course, found a few necessities for my sister's home. The best part was meeting the charming family who had recently lost its 92-year-old mother but had reconvened at the family home to disperse the remainder of the estate. While most of the children (now into their sixties and seventies) have left Odd to create lives in other towns and other states, it was wonderful to talk to them about the truly idyllic experience of growing up in Odd. They sat on the porch reminiscing and celebrating their mother's life as well as their own. As we left, one of the daughters handed my nephew an ornament from her mother's Christmas tree. It was one of those delightfully-unexpected experiences that made an oddball excursion to Odd a poignant and meaningful moment.
It became more of a challenge with every church that we
passed to distinguish an odd church from the Odd Church.
Some of the cities in my neck of the woods have names that can be difficult to pronounce but I can't think of a single one that has an "odd" name. Do you have any odd towns near you? Do you think I should be flattered or offended that they asked me to be the "New face of Odd?"
Well folks, the Great Random Number Generator in the Sky has spoken and the winner of our third, and most thrilling, giveaway is the incredibly-stylish Wendi at Haute Rockabilly Fahionista!
Congratulations Wendi! We hope that you'll be able to find something to wear with this crazy "bag-sket!" To claim your prize simply email me at wackytackytiny {at} gmail {dot} com with your shipping information and the size of wacky tacky t-shirt you would like (Child's XL-Adult XXL).
Thank you to all who entered and to all those who read and support wacky tacky! Until our next giveaway, I wish you all good luck.
I'm not going to exhibit any false bravado; this makes me extremely uncomfortable.
The word on wacky tacky is out and people are now giving me ideas/items that they think will work for the blog. Such was the case when I received a bulging file of newspaper and magazine clippings that once belonged to the grandmother of our pal, Nicole, over at Swellegant. Apparently, granny was a fan of DIY home improvement because the file was brimming with ads and articles for tile projects, wallpaper hanging, and clever uses for contact paper and cork board. By far, and I mean faaaaaaarrrrr, the most unusual and disturbing article came from the July 1970 issue of Popular Science.
"Turniture" by Lester Walker, designer of "Living Machines"
This piece, entitled "Turniture II" is a 4-in-1 Rocker Table that "serves
all the patio functions" for which any popular scientist could desire.
I am willing to play along with the idea of two, maybe three, of the functions. Picnic table? Sure. Playhouse? Why not? Bar? Well... When one reviews the design of the picnic table turned playhouse turned bar, it becomes evident that the bartender would have to shimmy under the brace/divider piece, in essence locking himself into the role of bartender until the time came to turn "Turniture II" to its tabletop formation. Giant, four-person rocking chair/boat? As wacky as it may seem, I think I'm going to have to take a pass. The models in the photo do nothing to ease my discomfort; Edgar and Rhonda look like rejects from the Glen Valley Country Club key party - alienated due to a total disregard for proper personal hygiene and a wild refusal to play by the rules.
"The passing of the front porch left a void in neighborly relaxation that has been filled
by the backyard patio. I designed this four-man rocker as a replacement for the old
porch swing, but realized it would have to earn its space with other outdoor functions."
So, Mr. Walker, we are to believe that your intention behind this giant, plywood behemoth is something as homespun as front-porch sitting and neighborly inetraction? I'm not saying - but I'm just saying - drugs obviously played an integral role in the design.
Admittedly, I am no popular scientist (or unpopular scientist for that matter), so this one-
page set of instructions for "One-man, thirty minute" assembly is insufficient for my
meager abilities. I'm much more conditioned to the IKEA brand of furniture assembly.
And what's with the name? "Plywood Rocker Table?" Give me a Spirflunkt any day.
In doing some research on the designer of this plywood behemoth, I learned that just one year prior to the printing of our article, Walker debuted and coined the term "Turniture" in the July 1969 issue of Popular Science.
Bed, cafe table, dining table, and "discreet 'tete-a-tete' couch."
(Source)
Not only was Walker a forerunner of owner-assembled, multi-use furniture, he also pioneered the idea of space conscious dwellings in a series of books about Tiny Houses. Truly, I can appreciate Walker's concept. My counterintuitive practicality, however, makes me wonder if there is something about the execution of his "living machines" that leaves something to be desired; patent leather pillows and adult-sized playground equipment just give me the creeps.
I acknowledge the fact that furniture building is beyond my realm so the 4-in-1 will remain unmade for the time being; Mr. Tiny will not be rockin' that boat. Now that I have the article as part of the wacky tacky library, I think I'll file it under "Bizarre, 70's Fads" (see: life-size pantyhose dolls).
Living in Southern California leaves us fairly immune to "weather" (boasting? why, yes, I am). Here we must rely on the traditional colors of Christmas as the only major indicators that the season is upon us. You know, the classic palette of gold, orange, brown, and yellow...GOLD, ORANGE, BROWN, and YELLOW?!?!?! Okay, question my orthodoxy if you must, but wouldn't you take a second look if whilst browsing the second-hand store you came across 9.5 yards of this crazy, Christmas-themed trim?
Even a tree going up in blaze isn't enough to faze Mary. What a trouper.
p.s. My camera stinks. Any suggestions on a good, moderately priced replacement?
If you have never made a squaw dress, I recommend against it. It takes an unholy amount of ric rac to achieve the desired look which translates to hours spent in front of the trusty, old Bernina (which actually gave out halfway through) applying the dang blasted stuff! And then there are the gathers! $1.91 for the trim may not have been too dear but $100 for a proper gathering foot for the sewing machine was.
I'm still having PTSD-induced nightmares about miles of gathers and ric rac!
And then there is the fully-lined bodice in which one must sew a total of twenty darts - twelve of them at the elbows! The ELBOWS! Never able to leave well enough alone, I also made a matching belt with covered buckle.
It was a good excuse to use this vintage Jiffy Buckle.
Warning: 50+ year-old adhesive from an iron-on
"Magic Pattern" is best left "un-ironed-on."
Again, I leave it to much smarter/more clever people to just go out and buy ready-made clothing - especially when said clothing is for your crummy kid sister!!!
The living room of our pals, Bobby and Amber, was the perfect backdrop for a photo of Mary in the new dress.
It may not be red, green, and white - or even blue and silver - but it was fun to turn the traditional, tri-color, Christmas color story on its elfin ear. I honestly thought that Mary would receive a bit of good-natured ribbing at the unexpected color combination but everyone seemed to really like it! Did you make or assemble a cool holiday outfit?
I only left myself enough time to clip on my vintage "Merry
Xmas" colonel tie. Fortunately, I was in great company with
our pal, Dave, and his "Season's Greetings" neckwear.
Boy, oh boy, I have a lot of holiday themed posts that I wanted to do but I'm running out of time. Christmas is very much just around the corner. Here's wishing you and yours a very joy-filled holiday!
If you recall, I mentioned that it was for a top secret project. Well, the cat is finally out of the bag. If you read The Hollywood Reporteror subscribe to some of the same blogs that I follow, like Ranch Dressing with Eartha Kitsch, you may have already heard about a little reality special called, Wives with Beehives, that will air on December 27 on TLC. Mary and I were asked to be guests at a pool party scene they were filming and you might just catch a brief glimpse of us (no promises) in the show. While the name, Wives with Beehives, doesn't quite accurately describe the women on the show, it is a catchy title and we will surely be watching - mostly because three of the four stars are our friends!
LESLIE
Leslie as Santa's helper
Leslie Buckley, one of the four featured wives, is already like a celebrity in our neck of the woods. Statuesque and gorgeous are really the only two words to describe her and she is instantly recognizable. She is a devoted wife, a mother, and a businesswoman. Stay tuned for more on Leslie as it appears TLC will be running multiple trailers that feature each of the wives.
DOLLIE
Dollie DeVille, The Rockabilly Socialite doing her thing!
(Source)
If you follow any vintage lifestyle blogs, then you are probably more than familiar with Dollie DeVille, The Rockabilly Socialite. Dollie, is a wife, cook, crafter, blogger, and working woman. Her awesome, 50's prom-themed wedding was featured here on wacky tacky and we know that she and her husband, Zack will win everyone over with their commitment to the vintage lifestyle.
I know it's not about me, but you can see my feet dancing at 0:02-0:02:005 Hahahahaha!!!
AMBER
Amber & Mr. Tiny jumping for joy
You might remember Amber Foxx from being featured a million times on our blog. Amber Foxx is the preeminent rockabilly songstress of Southern California and has toured the world (most recently returning from a two-week engagement in Australia) with her band.
Amber & the boys (Chris, Tommy, and Bobby)
(Source)
wacky tacky has featured her pink dressing room, her cowgirl/boy birthday party, and the epic desert adventure day we enjoyed with Amber and her husband, Bobby. We love spending time with these folks and are always welcomed with open arms when we unexpectedly (and frequently) drop by their house. We told them that they had better get their coattails reinforced because we will most definitely be riding them! HA!
Aren't they particularly lovable?
We are lucky to count these gals (and their respective husbands) among our friends; I hope that when they become big television stars, they will remember us! I'm sure that they will give you no reason to do otherwise, but please be kind in your reviews of the show. Remember, while reality shows may be slightly enhanced versions of what is "real," the people on the show are very REAL with REAL friends who will give you a REAL bop in the kisser if you're crummy about 'em. I'm so happy for my friends' success and I truly can't wait to see how it all comes together on December 27! I should mention that there is a fourth wife named Shelby; she can be seen in the first trailer featuring Dollie & Zack. I don't know her, nor have I ever met her, but I do look forward to getting to know her along with the rest of the viewing audience on December 27.
The whole gang (l to r)
Bobby, Dollie, Zack, Leslie, Amber, Melissa, Nicole, Mary, Bud, and Ben
(Mr. Tiny was playing cameraman)
Wives with Beehives will air on TLC on Thursday, December 27 at 10pm - check your local listings (never thought I'd get a chance to say that)
I'm afraid that there is an epidemic of deafness in our neighborhood and it's ALL OUR FAULT! Day after day, we stumble out the front door deafening our neighbors with the loudness of whatever crazy get-up we happen to be wearing. Either that, or they think we're totally insane...
I really don't think of our clothes as "costumes," but I'm almost positive that we have sent at least one neighbor running to the calendar to see if they have missed Halloween. I'll admit, sometimes it can get a bit theatrical. After all, who wears western wear on a regular basis? Who isn't a farmer or a five-year-old child, yet insists on wearing bib overalls? Who goes on a weekend getaway and takes square dance appropriate garb should the occasion arise? Who can leave the house in the morning in a 30's-style frock, come home, and after a flurry of teasing combs and a heavy cloud of hairspray, can dash back out the door in a 60's minidress? (not all of these apply exclusively to Mr. Tiny...hahahaha)
Last weekend our friends held their awesome, annual "It's Roughly The 4th of July" barbecue. It is a huge gathering of folks for some old-fashioned, eating, dancing, and merry making; I thought it would be a good idea for Mary to debut the new, neighbor-confusing, ensemble that I made for her - a 3-piece playsuit.
My newest mania is to purge myself of all the extraneous stuff that I have amassed over the years.
This includes the ungodly fabric pile that, like a creature from a 50's science fiction movie,
continues to grow no matter what I do. Oh, I'm not supposed to be feeding it more fabric? Huh.
The blue floral, of indeterminate vintage, was used to make the shorts and the blouse;
it was something I picked up very inexpensively at a thrift store. The white overskirt was
made of fabric that I had to go out and purchase...so much for stash busting!
In my first attempt at applique (beyond ric rac, trims, etc.), I took portions
of the fabric used for the shorts and top and "traced" them with a machine,
embroidery stitch onto the oversized pockets of the skirt and then trimmed away
the excess fabric...or something.
Sometimes I just jump into this stuff without any kind of instruction
or appropriate terminology; I just cross my fingers and hope it all works out.
Side Note: Don't sew with your fingers crossed unless you want them to stay that way.
I kind of used the same technique to make the patches that I added
to the straps of her top. I had recently seen a similar treatment on a
vintage dress and wanted to give it a go.
I've heard from several people that wearing vintage/vintage inspired clothing results in unwanted attention or worse, derision. Oddly enough, whenever we go anywhere, I would say that 99.736% of the response we receive from people (friends, neighbors, strangers), as it relates to our clothing, is extremely positive. As a matter of fact, our style choices often result in compliments, nostalgic remembrances, freebies/discounts, invitations, etc. Furthermore, while they might still be under the impression that we are insane, most of those neighbors that I'm so worried about believe that we are on one never-ending circuit of dances, photo shoots, elegant soirees, and fancy dress balls. Since it's a myth the absolute truth, I'll just let them go on believing.
The Banshee wailed, "You've got 100 Followers!!!" Who, me???
Zowee!!! 100 followers - I never thought I'd see the day! I have to teach myself that putting too much energy into comparison is never a good thing. It can be a little discouraging seeing other blogs that have hundreds, even thousands, of followers and wondering if anybody out there even knows that this blog exists. Having said that, I am really grateful that even one person would be interested in what I have to say! I hope that wacky tacky makes for some worthwhile reading or at least for a quick diversion from work or school. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to everybody for reading, with a special thanks to Retro Sandie for being our 100th follower!
"Thanks" - Bing Crosby
I don't know about you, but I think the auspiciousness of the occasion calls for our very first GIVEAWAY!!!
I always wondered if there was a place for a blog like wacky tacky. It includes fashion, but it certainly isn't a fashion blog. It covers vintage roadside attractions, but it certainly isn't a roadside blog. It features some crazy arts & crafts, but I certainly wouldn't classify it as a crafting blog. It showcases the amazing interiors of some awesome houses, but it certainly isn't competing with Architectural Digest. We have book, movie, and restaurant reviews. We have thrift store scores and musical interludes. We even highlight killer parks and wacky tacky icons. What in the heck is this blog? Is it even real?
Probably not. Real blogs have real giveaways with real rules about reposting, twittering, double reposting your twitterings in triplicate, and tweeting your repost in the comments section of your best friend's second most popular post about cats riding unicorns. Frankly, that is too much for me to think about. Three rules I will give you, great rules and small, but break just one and get nothing at all!
Rules for entry:
1. Follow this blog (new followers are definitely welcome)
2. Tell at least one friend about our blog (honor system)
3. Tell me one thing (in the comments section) that (a)you truly love about me, this blog, or both,
and (b)one thing that you think could be improved about me, this blog, or both; this will
count as your entry.
To prime the proverbial pump, I will get you started with a few examples:
(a)
"Oh, Mr. Tiny, I love it when you wear a blue shirt because it really brings out your eyes."
- or -
"This blog has changed my life in the following ways: I had never laughed before I found your blog. In fact, I thought I was incapable of human emotion before I read your treatise on date shakes. And don't get me started on your coverage of bowling alleys. I have forsaken my traditional Episcopalian upbringing to worship at the shrine of wacky tacky."
- or -
"This blog is better than being abandoned in the woods...but only by a little."
(b)
"I think your blog is great BUT it could stand a solid dose of something more - Mr. Tiny in a bathing suit."
- or -
"I have been doing some serious thinking about the state of your blog; I would love to see more peanut puppet shows."
- or -
"Don't change a thing, except maybe get braces. Your grill is jacked up!"
Now for the good stuff - up for grabs is this handmade basket purse created by Mr. Tiny and a set of four collectable pinbacks made exclusively for followers of wacky tacky. It was a bit difficult finding just the right thing to giveaway because while my audience is diverse, it is probably 93.7% female. So, in the event that a male entrant wins the giveaway, I figured he can give the purse to his wife, girlfriend, coworker, mail carrier, dental hygienist, or female relative, and then wear the pins proudly on his lapel.
I think it strikes a wacky tacky note.
With the vintage burlap and millinery adornments, cheery gingham ribbon
and lining, and oversized capacity, you'll be all set for some summertime.
I've subsequently realized that this is not the purse's most flattering angle,
but it has gotten too late to take a photo without the flash, so, there you go.
There you have it. It's as easy as one, two, three. Follow wacky tacky, tell a friend about wacky tacky, and leave a comment about wacky tacky. The winner will be chosen at random at an arbitrary time (7:03pm PST) after an arbitrary period of entry (one week) and will be announced in an upcoming blog post. Odds of winning are entirely dependent on the number of entries. The giveaway is open to wacky tacky followers anywhere in the world as long as they have an address recognized by the USPS.
One of my very favorite places in Los Angeles is the original Farmers Market. Founded in 1934, Farmers Market has become a Southern California institution and a major tourist destination. Truly, it deserves an entire post of its own as it is such a beautiful landmark. On any given day, visitors can buy fresh produce, sample foods from all over the world, and visit Shine Gallery!
I guess I am a bit of a junking/treasure hunting/thrifting snob. I don't really feel like I have found a treasure unless I have unearthed it from among a pile dirty clothes, chipped ceramics, and broken electronics. There is something about sleuthing in a thrift store, bargaining at an estate sale, or broiling under the California sun at a swap meet/flea market that makes me feel like I have earned the artifact - a less-handsome, less-rugged, less-adventurous, trash-digging Indian Jones. For that reason, I resent stores where cool things are abundant and out in the open for everyone to see. Shine Gallery is really no exception to my nutty neuroticism, but I can't help but love it. Shine is a wonderland of dead stock novelties and collectibles and every time I go to Farmers Market, I come away with something awesome from Shine. This post is just a bunch a photos that hopefully, will have you making your way to Farmers Market for some food, fun, and treasure hunting!
An interior view of the store.
Don't let the giant $1.50 sign fool you; not everything at Shine
comes at dime store prices. I go there for inspiration but usually
find a few things that fit my miniscule budget.
Vintage Fold-Away shopping baskets
make loading up a heck-of-a-lot easier.
I love the way the store is designed/merchandised. It is very clean and but far from sterile as the goods are so colorful. They even use those Fold-Away shopping baskets to stage items for sale.
They're doing nothing to quell my fixation with pennants!
Pennants and the circus!!!!
For reasons that will be forthcoming shortly, my most recent obsession is vintage circus/carnival memorabilia. I realize I am either very late to jump on the bandwagon or very early for the next
go-round.
The oversized, novelty, name buttons are a hit with me; I have two already. Unfortunately, they don't have any that say "Mr. Tiny." One day I hope to achieve "Picture Patch" status. Sadly, I think I've passed my teen idol years. Dick Clark, Ricky Nelson, and Fabian have nothing to worry about.
3 great reasons to START smoking with you new Finger Cigarette Ring:
"Hold your cigarette while your hand relaxes,
No hazard of dropping cigarette while fatigued,
No more nicotine finger stains"
Shine Gallery carries everything from everyday, vintage postcards to more obscure and
collectible pieces like this ice-skating, beer bottle man, lamp with fiberglass shade.
I love Christmas stuff. I think this feather-bearded, glitter
Santa would be even happier at my house.
Babies in a box and monkeys in a sack.
They even have 1930's Disney merchandise!
They carry some things that are pretty socially unacceptable, but that
offer insight into the mindset of a different time.
Vintage cowboy/girl goods! Fortunately, I have a little self-control.
Mary & Jessie were not above flirting with
the staff to try and get a discount!
Shine Gallery (Inside Farmers Market LA)
6333 3rd St #134
Los Angeles, CA
(323)954-4700
