Pack Rat says, “King me!”

All right, so I don’t know how to play chess. But you know what? It is probably better this way, because if I actually knew how I’d have to confront the fact that I am a terrible tactician, ruled ultimately by my whims and a my hair-trigger sense of impatience. And frankly, I’m already peripharally aware of those short comings, I don’t need any high-falutin’ game pushing them in my face. That being said, I do like a good chess board and pieces, just for the asethetic quality most possess. Whether they are hand crafted, or plastic Star Wars figures there is something pleasing about seeing the two opposing families staring at each other across the board. So that is why, even though I don’t play the game I can still enjoy Claude Rieth’s tutorial on how to DIY chess pieces from common nuts and bolts. Not only is putting a personal touch on a common game cool, but the industrial quality of the pieces are a nice melding of new and old (although, since we’ve left the industrial revolution behind in favor of the technological one, maybe somebody should go about looking for a way to make pieces out of computer parts? I’ll leave that to you, Pack Ratters).

To quickly jump subjects, I want to remind everyone that our Birthday Scavanger Hunt is still on going. It’s free to participate and if you win, you’ll get a free copy of the book,  Handmade Nation. So start the hunt now! Entries due in by Dec. 1st.

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When Pack Rat thinks about you, we just can’t get enough!

Today’s pick comes from Breconstructed, a delightful play on words as shop owner Bree reconstructs outdated second-hand clothes into modern vintage. Although that might sound like an oxymoron, the pieces at Breconstructed retain their vintage appeal, but with some contemporary tailoring and detailing that make them less costume-y and more easily integrated into a modern wardrobe. We are especially drawn to this Blue Polyster Sundress ($25). The romance of the ruffled collar combined with the geometry of the stripes makes a combination that is the cat’s pajamas. And Breconstructed just opened on Monday, so expect more great design in the days to come.

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photo copyright by Breconstructed

Pack Rat takes a look at cake in a cup, and reminds you that the deadline for our Birthday Scavanger Hunt contest is December 1st!

Oh man. Here we go people. I just came across what could potentially be a life changing blog post. Dizzy Dee has posted a blog detailing how to make chocolate cake in five minutes. In a microwave. In a mug. CHOCOLATE CAKE. I am so screwed. Can you imagine, in the time it normally takes to nuke two mugs of tea you can instead have one of nature’s best desserts? The only thing that’s stopping me from leaping over to the kitchen and trying it immediately is my lack of cake flour in the house. And don’t sweat the eggs and milk in the recipe, vegan friends. Dizzy Dee has some helpful readers indeed; one reader named João Taborda modified the recipe for vegans, so that everyone can benefit/suffer from the world’s most easily assembled guilty pleasure. It’s a weird to be excited about, and dreading something at the same time. All I can hope for is that it doesn’t taste as good as the real thing. Fingers crossed.

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photo copyright Dizzy Dee

Read the new issue of Pack Rat, and join in our birthday contest!

Today’s frugal find comes from a fellow nut megger (if you can’t tell, I love my home state of Connecticut. Don’t underrate the Constitution State!). Carissa Black’s checkbook cover ($10) is just perfect. The design is neat, no frills with plenty of storage space, but the fabric is bold, bright, graphic and makes me smile. Black’s Etsy shop can be found under the title gardencris27 and she has more than a few bags, wristlets, and such that I covet. She is helped along by the modern, eye-catching patterns of Amy Butler’s fabrics, but Black has a great eye of her own for matching patterns and textures. Add one of her pieces to your outfit and you’re sure to get stopped several times by people dying to know where you got your awesome wears.

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photo copyright by Carissa Black

Pack Rat says only fools rush in, but we can’t help falling in love with you. And to prove our love, check out the Birthday Scavanger Hunt contest from Issue 6!

It’s official: the financial situation in this country sucks hard. Like Werther’s Originals hard. It’s time for us all to tighten our purse strings and cut back on the many extravagances we’ve indulged in over the past few years. And even though I am the head Pack Ratter, I am far from guilt free when it comes to unnecessary spending. Sushi, for example, is my Achilles heel and as difficult as it is to admit, I need to start making it a “once in a while” treat, instead of an every month kind of thing. Another soft spot for me is decorating. As many of you know, we recently moved and opened up shop in Queens, NY and I am just itching to hit IKEA and Target and get this decorating show on the road. But even IKEA and Target are looking like extravagances these days. So what’s a girl to do when she wants her home to make a big impact, but only put a small dent in her wallet? Well, maybe I’ll take a page from the playbook of Charlie Kratzer. Cheryl Truman of The Lexington Herald-Leader recently wrote an article about Kratzer’s basement. Or to be more specific, his walls, which he has covered top to bottom, left to right, in drawings, thanks to the help of $10 worth of Sharpie markers. A catch-all for a few of his favorite things, Kratzer adorned his walls with images of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Picasso and Monet, and Rocky and Bullwinkle to name a few. With a little imagination and a lot of commitment, Kratzer turned his basement retreat into a one of a kind getaway for less than the cost of, well, a sushi dinner. (This no sushi thing is gonna drive me nuts.) Read the full article and view a video of Kratzer’s creation in its entirety and start planning your own 360 degree mural.

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photo from thebachelorguy.com