Crazy, crazy weekend! We were supposed to go camping with the Boy Scouts - our first time with the troop--but my son came down with a cold. In a way I was thankful--his cold bought us some time. We had purchased most of our camping gear, all of it piled in our front living area, during the week. You see, we haven't been camping since before we had kids.
Here's why, in the most condensed version: all our camping gear was lost in a flood in 1997, then we had babies, then we were poor, then the boys grew up a little, we were less poor but had very little PTO, then we got older and only liked the
idea of going camping, then we decided we better get our boys into outdoor activities and shelve the tech gadgets as forms of entertainment, and then we were invited to join the Boy Scouts and here we are! Our biggest obstacle was that we didn't have a camping friendly vehicle. We thought about renting a truck but
HELLO they want anywhere from $90-$150 per day. At that rate we'd be poor again! Then my husband found a small SUV type vehicle to rent and we were good to go! I even took Friday off work. Then my son caught a cold and it changed our plans. Instead of going camping we stayed home and had a yard sale. This meant cleaning out closets and hauling out furniture and whatever else has been precariously stacked in our garage into the driveway.
We did use our new shade canopy we bought for camping in our driveway to put our tables under to block the near 100 degree sunshine from melting our treasure hunters. Do you know we had a number of people ask us how much the canopy was going for? Seriously!
Anyway, on Sunday we rolled out of bed like tinmen after a rainstorm and made our way to the living room to enjoy some coffee and our newspaper--yes, we still enjoy holding paper in our hands while we read. On the third or fourth page of our paper was a full-page add for a big blow-out sale on cars and trucks. My husband oiled his joints and headed out the door around 11:30, and by 6pm we were proud owners of a big truck that practically screams
camping! It's even dark green. My PT Cruiser didn't make it back home, it was traded in, and I am now a truck driving mom. Hmmm..........still getting used to that. Our next camp out is in July. We are so ready! Except we're poor again..............
Miley Cyrus carries a Giorgio Armani chevron striped bag.
John William Waterhouse
Alexander McQueen
Wingbeat rug / Anthropologie
Blumarine
Siecile 
Anthropologies' March catalog 
You can dip 'em in bleach or dip 'em in color; either way you'll be right on trend! Erica Domesek gives you the
In case you haven't noticed there are a number of trends that are happening and evolving all at the same time, that are like pieces to a puzzle, coming together. Americana -- taking pride in our American heritage -- is a movement that is being seen on the runways and across all markets. It's not so much about waving the American flag or wearing red, white and blue (although that is a part of it) -- it's about brands returning to what defined them in the beginning; it's about authenticity and value; and its about nostalgia and tradition. The interest in handcrafts like crochet and macrame, canning and even urban gardening have their roots in American tradition. As part of the huge tribal trend, the Native American prints, textures, and colors are having a heavy influence on the fashion and interior decor markets. Brands like Ralph Lauren continue to provide vintage style with a modern Americana feel. Rodarte brings us patchwork patterns on the Fall runway, reminding us of a simpler life where materials were reclaimed and reused to make something new. And of course, denim is always at the heart of American fashion. Denim fabrics in all kinds of finishes, and in combinations with other fabrics like leather and lace rule.
My project is a combination of reclaimed denim and the classic American white tank or tee-shirt. It's perfect for the July 4th holiday, and for celebrating all that America represents.
Tulip One-Step Dye - Red
Following the dye instructions on the Tulip One Step Dye box, mix water with your color and add some of the dye to a small cup.
Dampen the white tank with water and squeeze out the excess--it should be damp, not wet. Lay the tank top on flat covered surface and smooth it out in preparation for the dye application.
The stripes will bleed a bit, creating a handmade irregular stripe. Continue to make as many stripes as you like. 
Be sure to follow the dye instructions for allowing dye to sit before rinsing and washing.
After the tank has been thoroughly rinsed, washed, and dried, use the Aleene's Fabric Fusion to adhere the denim stars. Let dry 2-4 hours before wearing, and 48 hours before washing.
