Giveaway - 'Don't Make a Scene'

Here's another book giveaway! I was asked to do a giveaway to help promote the release of this book. Fresh from the printer, just released July 31st, the book is 'Don't Make a Scene' by Valerie Block who also wrote None of Your Business and Was it Something I Said?

The description of the book from Valerie's website -
As the director of a Greenwich Village revival cinema, and a single woman about to turn 40 who has watched everyone else move on, Diane Kurasik is reminded daily of how her life diverges from those of the stars of the silver screen. Vladimir Hurtado Padrón has troubles of his own: although he fled Cuba a decade earlier, he still can’t convince his estranged wife in Havana to grant him a divorce. When Diane meets and falls for Vladimir, she becomes acutely aware of how far things are veering from the script. Would Ingrid Bergman put up with this?
An eviction notice jolts Diane out of her home and her routine – aren’t all New York stories ultimately about real estate? As Diane shuttles between the couches of friends and family, dodging advice and criticism in equal measure, and touring many over-priced Manhattan apartment with tragic flaws, she asks herself: What would it take to be at home? Meanwhile, Vladimir refuses to succumb to nostalgia as he deals with the exile’s dilemma: What happens when you can’t go home? When an unexpected visitor from Vladimir’s past arrives on the scene and becomes captivated by Diane just as her ardor for Vladimir is cooling, Diane considers returning his affections, and wonders if her life has turned into the kind of absurd French movie she shows at her cinema.

If you'd like a chance to win this book, please post a comment below, or send me an email at carol@dandelionvintage.com - A winner will be chosen on 8/21. All are welcome to sign up, no mailing list to join, no purchase required, free shipping on the book including international!



****Updated 8/22 - We have a winner! Congratulations go to blog visitor Tara, for winning a copy of the book 'Don't Make a Scene' - Thanks to all who signed up here and by email. Keep a watch out for the next giveaway.

Altered Art Book #2 - Skeletons in the Closet

This is book #2 in the Altered Art Book round robin that I am currently part of. The book this month was 'Skeletons in the Closet' and the idea was to use vintage photos. So I used some of the photos that came with the clothing that I bought from the estate of Jessie Laurent Harper in May 2005. Jessie was a milliner in Harlem for many years and her clothing and hats was one of my favorite stock purchases (most items are sold by now) On the first page that folds out, I wrote what info I had about Jessie. Then there is a fold-out 3-page spread of photos of Jessie and friends, including a large group photo from one of the fashion shows that she worked in, and test shots for the advertising fan that she had made for her millinery business. I decorated the pages with some millinery tulle and flowers and ribbon. I actually used copies of the photos, because I couldn't part with the originals.
Click images for larger views

A little vintage stock purchase and a bit of a social commentary

This Wednesday I made a small stock purchase of about 120 pieces. More lingerie from the same source as before, some blouses and sweaters, purses, a few hats and some other little odds-n-ends.
There were some pretty 1960s printed blouses including an alphabet print Vera and a few silks. Also a few cottony Summer tops that I need to get washed right away and ready for the website before Summer passes us by. Click images for larger views.


The slips were fantastic as before, in some really great colors and pretty laces -


Plus there were a bunch of unworn bras and panties, many wrapped in it's own bag by the previous owner. Here's a peek at some of the panties including a closer view of the sheer black panties with fringe, because I know you want a closer look at them! The bras are also pretty colors and prints (no photo) all sz34A



This Monday's update is already done (Day dresses, tops, sweaters, slips) so you won't start to see anything from this fresh lot until the following website update. All that I kept for myself was a cute white sweater with embroidered bows. Good girl.


Nicole Richie gives Diane Sawyer an exclusive interview - what kind of a wacko world do we live in where this is important news? How has this girl achieved a level of fame where she gives an 'exclusive' interview to talk about being pregnant and irresponsible (and I don't mean getting pregnant is irresponsible, I mean her DUI and other various problems) She is a celebu-child, party girl disaster and yet she is being treated like someone who is important or interesting. She's not a world leader, or a living legend or on the level of intrigue that Jackie O or Princess Diana were to some people. She's not even someone who has anything vaguely interesting or entertaining to talk about.
Her exclusive story belongs on the Jerry Springer or Maury Povich shows. P.S., Diane Sawyer, your 'credibility' and 'integrity' as a 'serious journalist' has just dropped another several pegs with this story (but don't worry, you're still above Barbara Walters) Sure, the story of these girls and the stupid things that they do can be very entertaining. But entertaining in a 'Stupid Things That People Do' kind of story that you would see at the END of the news, not as the lead-in story on major networks news or on all the serious news channels.
I cannot believe that young girls/women actually admire this crowd of walking disasters. They have to be smarter than that, they cannot aspire to live lives like that. Forget about the partying, fame and riches. I'm talking about the celebu-tards' attitude towards other people and their seemingly overblown idea of their own importance in the world. Great hair and designer clothing does not mean you can be irresponsible and inconsiderate of other people. They really seem to believe that any publicity is good publicity - no matter how stupid it makes them look.
I think the problem with all of them is that no one has ever told them 'NO' They've been allowed to do whatever they want all their lives with apparently not much guidance or limitations. Plus some of these girls have been the cash cows, the golden ticket, for their parents to better their owns lives with. So no one is going to say no in that situation and risk cutting off their own cash flow.
It is kind of a shame. But we shouldn't have to suffer by being hit constantly with stories of their antics. It used to be that you only saw those stories on the entertainment shows - easy to change the channel. But when you tune in to the 'serious' news channels to maybe hear stories about what's going on in the rest of the world, and instead you get hit with this crap, it's just too much.

Gosh, I sound like an old fuddy-duddy. I think I'm worked up over it because it seems like you just cannot escape from these girls and I can't understand why the media thinks that people are so interested in hearing about them.