PussycatMagazine

Vintage French beret knitting pattern

Isn't it time you added a little bit of style from
across the pond to your winter wardrobe?
This vintage 1960s pattern for a French beret, avec pompom, is super easy for those with basic knitting skills and can be whipped up in a weekend.

Download a PDF of the Beret pattern here.

Friday night movie: Streets of Fire

Nothing killed it-girl Diane Lane's career faster than Streets of Fire. But oh, how I loved that movie. It had kind of a Xanadu effect. When you are 5 years old, it's the best movie ever, but only when you are older does it become clear why your mom wouldn't take you to see it again: It's an abysmal, nigh unwatchable film. Don't get me wrong, I love a roller-skating Olivia Newton John. But hey, let's be real here.

I was walking through the library last night and was almost floored to see that they owned a brand spanking new copy of "Streets of Fire." My city has been paralyzed under a blanket of 12 inches of snow for two days, with more to come, so I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to be snowed in for the weekend with a bowl of popcorn and a copy of this movie. I haven't seen it since it appeared on HBO in the early 1980s. Tonight is the night. Hubby doesn't know that yet, but while spoil the surprise? All I need to say is that Willem Dafoe is in it, and amazingly, he is, as the motor-cycle riding baddy who runs off with Diane Lane.

Diane Lane plays Ellen Aim, a foxy rock star. Michael Pare, is her ex-boyfriend Tom Cody, who returns to town only to watch her be kidnapped by Raven Shaddock, a pre-OScar nominated Willem Dafoe.Another Oscar nominee, Amy Madigan, plays butchie ex-soldier and Cody sidekick McCoy. All this and the hit song "I can dream about you." You didn't forget that one, did you?

If hubby protests, I will remind him that viewing such cinematic classics will give him something to talk about with our pal Brian, who is the author of "Wild Beyond Belief: Interviews with exploitation filmmakers of the 1960s and 1970s."

After all, it is good to have something new to talk about with your friends, isn't it?

Retro rooms: 1960s Lavender Lady Living Room

Thursday is retro decorating day here at Pussycat Magazine. check back next Thursday for another fabulous room from a less-beige era.

The retro room of the day is this lush lavender number from the mid-1960s. The caption reads

"A palette of pinky lilac casts a romantic spell over this living room planned by Shelley Mowell. Every hue and nuance are gathered together in the exotic print that covers the Chippendale sofa. Here is the purple that gives such character to the vinyl tile floor, the rosy lavenders, the chalk white of the Art Nouveau lunette above the window and painted table and dining chairs. Note the importance of the space-stretching mirrored wall, the very contemporary light on a curving stem."

How can we not note the mirrored wall? Isn't it time mirrors made a comeback?

This room really puts a thumb in the eye of those who insist on beige beige beige!

Going green can save you green

by Dashboard Mary

If you are like me, you worry about the environment but don’t quite know what you can do about it. Global warming, smog, the plight of the manatees — we want to help but feel powerless to do anything really meaningful. Well, don’t feel powerless anymore.

You don’t have to stand outside of the White House with a poster board to make a difference (although that doesn’t hurt…). You can help the environment and your wallet with some minor adjustments to the way you live your daily life.

Yes, what you don’t hear on the news is that many environmentally friendly actions are also incredibly budget friendly. In our consume consume society, it seems almost unpatriotic to ask Americans to consume less. The good news is, however, if you want to be rich and save the world, you can do both at the same time.

I’ve compiled a listing of things you can personally do to save money and help the earth. Some of these are easy. Others are drastic, but incorporating just a few of these into your everyday life is certainly better than doing nothing at all.

Around the House
The Department of Energy estimates that powering one single-family house for a year produces more pollution than driving a car. They also report that most of that energy is wasted. Here are a few tips to bump your bill a bit lower and reduce your impact on the environment.

1. Reuse food containers. No need to buy Tupperware or gladware. Just reuse the plastic tubs and bottles the food you buy already comes in. They’re especially handy for storing bulk foods. I use an old cranberry juice bottle to store jasmine rice I bought at Whole Foods. I use sour cream containers to tote leftovers to work for lunch. Reusing food containers saves you money and reduces your oil consumption. Yes, plastics are made from petrochemicals, which come from oil.

2. Open the window. 44% of a home’s energy bill goes to heating and air conditioning. Save yourself some dough and opt for fresh air instead of the thermostat. You can shave serious dollars off of your electric bill and reduce your impact on the environment by turning the thermostat off and going au natural. If you can’t stomach the heat, set you’re A/C thermostat a few degrees higher, to at least 78. In the winter, suck it up and put on a sweater. The EPA estimates you save 6 percent more energy for each degree you raise the temperature in the summer, and each degree you lower it during the winter.

3. Wash your clothes with cold water. Turning the washer setting to cold instead of hot can save you $160 a year in energy costs. Setting the water to warm instead of hot reduces your annual energy bill by $60.

4.Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. The next time a light bulb burns out, replace it with a compact fluorescent bulb. They use 66 percent less energy than regular bulbs and last about 10 times longer. They are more expensive upfront — a 4 pack costs about $10 or $12 at Home Depot — but you won’t have to replace those bulbs for about 7 years. Over the long haul, they are cheaper than regular bulbs plus they can lower your electric bill by up to $20 a month.

The EPA estimates if every household in America replaced just one regular lightbulb with a compact fluorescent, it would be the equivalent of removing the pollution of 1 million cars on the road. Also, turn your lights off when you are not home or are not in the room. Your mom was right to bug you about that as a child.

5. Dry your clothes on the line. Clothes dryers are the largest home energy users behind refrigerators. Hang your clothes to dry on the line every once in a while, and you will save yourself money. You may also make your clothes last longer — over-drying shortens the lifespan of your favorite duds.

6. Buy used first. When it comes to clothes,home decor, cars, anything. Try to buy used first. It's the simplest form of recycling. When you guys used, new resources aren't being used to make something. The energy, water, and materials have already been spent to make something that's used, so you may as well max it out and put it to use. This is as easy as swapping clothes with your friends, freecycling, bartering or trading on Craigslist, or thrift shopping.

At the office

1. Avoid being a scourge on the earth by investing in a sturdy coffee mug and using that instead of the office Styrofoam cup every time you want to hit the coffeepot. If you are a big water drinker, buy an inexpensive plastic drinking glass at Target and use that instead of disposable plastic cups.

2. Pack your lunch. Eating out — even if it’s a $5 a day Subway sandwich— really adds up over time. The packaging also produces a lot of waste. Pack your lunch in a reusable container. It’ll save you money, it’s usually better for you and you won’t generate as much garbage.

Around town

1. Walk or ride your bike. I once shared an office with a girl who would get in her car to drive three blocks to the deli. Don’t let this be you. Take the time to walk or ride your bike instead of driving. Start slowly by cutting out one car trip a week, whether it’s to work or to the corner store to pick up some eggs. All those little trips add up. Even an occasional bike ride or walk will get you into shape, cut your gasoline and parking bills, and reduce smog and exhaust fumes in your city.

If you are feeling adventurous and live within reasonable distance of your job, bike to work. If that doesn’t appeal to you, consider public transit.

4. Evaluate your car. If you already have a gas-sipping ride, pat yourself on the back. No matter what you drive, even a modest increase in fuel efficiency helps the environment and will save you a lot of money over the car’s life. Keep your car tuned up and get regular oil changes; this will increase your fuel efficiency and save you maintenance money in the long run.

To save more gas, roll the window down instead of using the air conditioner; run all of your errands in one trip instead of on many short trips; avoid peak traffic times whenever possible; and clean the junk out of your car — the lighter the car, the less gas needed to run it.

5. Trade in the SUV. There’s no excuse to drive a gas–guzzler when W is trying to drill for oil in the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge. Trade it in for a stylish, yet gas-sipping model like a Civic, a Mini Cooper or a Prius. Plus, gals on a budget should always be on the lookout for the best fuel economy. Those trips to the pump really add up. My 1997 Honda Civic, according to the EPA, gets between 37 and 44 miles per gallon and costs about $773 a year in gasoline. My friend’s 2004 Jeep Liberty gets 19 to 24 miles per gallon and costs her $1471 each year in gas. Can you think of better things to do with $698 a year? I can.

Don’t fret if you can’t afford to trade in your guzzler for a sipper car just yet. Just buy a more economical one when the time comes. And, even if you are driving a gas sipper, you can always do better on your next car. I’ve got my sights set on a Prius hybrid.

The subtle beauty of the cheap Valentine's Day date

By Ms. Denise T.

I really look forward to Valentine's Day. Yet, I would be horrified if hubby marked the day with roses or diamonds. This year, he knows he'll be in trouble if the day ends with any kind of chocolate other than that in the mushy pudding cake at the Ponderosa Steakhouse buffet.

By now, you must think I am crazy, and I am when it comes to this holiday. Seven years ago, on our first Valentine's Day, we decided we would always mark the occasion at a cheap restaurant. Something not dressy, not fancy, and where the average entree (nee, buffet) cost no more than $10.

So far, we've eaten at Shoney's (twice), Golden Corral,the Chinese buffet, the sushi buffet, and White Castle.

This year, we are going to Ponderosa. And not just any Ponderosa. THE Ponderosa, where I had my first job as a food bar attendant and waitress at age 16. This job was a doozie.

You haven't lived until you've watched hungry churchgoers during Sunday rush fight over the last chicken drummy. You really haven't.

At this point you are probably scratching your head and wondering why we insist on cheap Valentine's dates.

Simple. There is real joy in cheaping out on Valentine's Day. Real joy in spending $20 for dinner for two, sans flowers, on a made-up greeting card holiday that has so much pull that millions of teenagers, wives, and girlfriends are devastated if they don't get at least a dozen roses.

I say yes, mark the day. But like Christmas, remember the true meaning of Valentine's Day: To spend time with the one you love.

My theory is that all those people who yearn for flowers, for fancy dinners and diamonds aren't really after those things at all. All anyone really wants is to know the person they spend every day with, good times and bad, through honeymoons and arguments about dirty dishes and dirty diapers, still cares about them, still wants to spend time with them, and still notices them. If you choose to celebrate, it's a good excuse to spend one whole day recommitting to your honey. It's important for you to know and for your significant other to know that you would choose them all over again, if you had the chance. (If you wouldn't that might be a wake up call..)

You can have all of that at a cheap restaurant. It doesn't have to be at a cheap restaurant, of course, but that's the way we like to do it.

"It's always laid back and funny. There's never risk of unfulfilled expectations because you always know what you are going to get," hubby said of our yearly cheap date.

True. Because we laid the groundwork early in our relationship, we have never had one disappointing Valentine's Day. Okay, except one, and that was the first time we tried to go to the Ponderosa to celebrate. They were closed due to a water main break. That was the year we ate at White Castle, and we weren't the only ones on dates there either.

Instead of secret hopes being dashed, or a day of spendy trinkets, Valentine's has turned into a game for us.

We choose the location of our cheap date months in advance. Sometimes a year in advance, and since it's someplace we never go, there is anticipation and excitement surrounding it. It's a new experience for us, even if it's cheap.We talk about our date for months, giggling excitedly and anticipating what it will be like.

And when the day arrives, we are never disappointed. Maybe it's time you, too, made the cheap Valentine's Date a family tradition.

Why artists and crafters need a business plan

Why You Need a Business Plan: A wake-up call for artists and crafters

by the lovely Ms. Ella

No whining. Every single one of you needs a business plan. Whether you’re an artist planning to sell paintings or a crafty gal making original toothbrush holders, if you want to make a living working for yourself — you need a business plan.

It sounds scary, but it isn’t. A business plan is simply a map. It shows you the way from where you are today to where you want to be six months, a year or even 10 years from now. It is a tool to help you to focus on your short and long term goals; a business plan will get you thinking about what it takes to actually accomplish them. The plan will also force you to take a hard look at how you plan to make money with your skills.

If the idea of money makes you think you are "selling out" or "my art is fabulous and noncommercial, to hell with money," get used to either being poor or working full-time for the man and doing your art as a hobby. That sounds harsh, but everyone needs to make a living, and if you want to do it on your own terms, you need to figure out how to make your talents pay. A business plan will help you get your hands around that.

Now that you are hopefully convinced you need a business plan, here is what you’ll need to do. Open a word processing document and get to work. Your plan doesn’t need to be book size. It can be three pages long and still be an effective plan.

But every plan consists of three basic parts: an outline of your business, financial information and a marketing plan.

The outline is just that — a few brief paragraphs outlining your business identity and what art, product or service you want to sell. Also include several paragraphs explaining how you plan to start your business. For instance, are you just going to sell your paintings to dealers or are you planning to sew stuffed animals and sell them through your own online store? You can be basic here. This is just to get you thinking. Write a second page outlining where you would like to be in six months to one year. If you have a grand vision of what you want your company to be, write it down here. Make a list your short and long term goals. This will serve as your guide should you ever feel stuck in a rut.

Financial information is simply sitting down and coming up with a plan to make your art profitable. For instance, if you have a zine, this is the time to figure out if you want to make money by selling advertisements or through reader subscriptions, or both. You can use this section to brainstorm as well, and come up with some creative ways to generate extra money from your art.

If you like to get detailed, you could analyze your overhead: i.e. how much it costs you to live and produce your product, and then how much you need to sell and need to charge for each one to actually make a living. This can be quite the reality check, so it’s worth doing.

The last part is the marketing section. It’s pretty simple. Do a little soul-searching and ask, "Who am I making this for?" If you think your art appeals to 25-40 year old women who live in Albuquerque , then that is your market. Why do this? Because it helps you focus your promotional energy on getting your goods in front of the right people — people who may actually buy it.

Once you have a good idea of who you are selling to, the marketing plan needs to address how you plan to reach them. No, you don’t need a lot of money to promote; it can be as simple as "I know these people go to a particular Web site, so I will write an article for that site." Or maybe your customers visit an online chat room or forum. Join up and use it. This could also mean putting up posters in the right coffee shop. Promotion is important, and having at least a basic plan in place will coax you into getting off your butt to actually do some promoting.

Voila. You now have a business plan. Wasn’t that painless? Doesn’t it feel good to have a little bit of direction in your creative endeavor?

This plan is not set in stone, however, it’s a living, breathing document that can be updated and changed as circumstances change. And it’s a good idea to change it every 6 months or so, just to reflect where you have been and what you have learned.

If you’d like more guidance, visit the Small Business Administration Web site for step-by-step instructions or take on of the many fine books on the topic out of your local library. Your career will thank you for it.

Miller High Life beer bread

I am in cooking overload mode here at Pussycat headquarters. A rush of domesticity has taken over, and it has driven me to attempt what few modern women have ever done: make bread from scratch.

Since it was about 8 p.m. when the desire to make bread hit me, I didn't have the luxury of making something fancy.

So, I made beer bread. The only problem was that the only beer we have in the house is a case of Miller High Life. What can I say, we're classy. Although Miller High Life is the hipster beer of choice at the old Rock n Roll clubs we frequented in New Orleans.

Here is the recipe I used to make quick, easy whole wheat Miller High Life bread.

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 12-fl. oz can of Miller High Life

Lightly grease a 9 x 5 bread pan. Preheat the over to 350 degrees.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Pour in beer, stir until batter is stiff. Scrape dough into loaf pan.
   
2. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

And you know, the bread isn't half bad. I wonder what it would taste like if I made it with Schlitz...

Naughty Secretary Club, the book

Very few craft books make me want to own them. I hate to say that, given that I am a tried and true crafter, but after a decade or more of book collecting, my shelves have grown heavy. As my tastes become more refined, (or I get pickier with age, your choice) fewer craft books become must haves. Mostly because I might have to give one up to make room for the new one. This new book by Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club is of the must-have variety.

Every project is fun. Every project teaches you a new technique that will build your arsenal of craft skills, which makes it a valuable book indeed.

Some of the many projects in this book:

• a bracelet made of telephone cords.
• bracelets and earrings made from junk mail
• a bracelet made from a toy typewriter
• a headband made from an old tie
• zebra print shoe clips
• flower brooches made from plastic folders
• the resin necklace that made NSC famous
• my fav, the lipstick sweater clips 
• plastic transfer bracelets and earrings
• a 3-d plush badge holder
• a fat bangle bracelet made from the odds and ends in your craft bin

In all, there are 29 projects, and something for crafters of all skill levels.As promised, Perkins will teach you to use "office supplies in a whole new way."

This speaks to the repressed office worker in all of us. What better way to utilize those paper clips you nipped from the supply closet than to turn them into a fancy necklace? And what better way to keep a pencil handy than to turn it into a charm on your necklace? The boss can't complain if you are always ready to jot down a message.

I wish I had this book years ago, when I worked in some pretty droll offices. Nothing can shield you from the frightening conservative nature of your coworkers or the sheer terror of a  well-meaning actions of an incompetent boss quite like some one of a kind, creative accessories.

This and other books the editors of Pussycat love are available in our Amazon store.Also, check out Ms Perkins' blog at Naughty Secretary Club the blog...

Vegan curried butternut squash soup

There's a foot of snow on the ground here at Pussycat headquarters. The mercury is dropping and the logs have just been popped onto the fire. It's the perfect weather for winter squash. I made this delicious soup tonight for dinner.

A few hints before you get started. Butternut squash is best peeled using a carrot peeler, or other type of vegetable peeler. And, you can use 3 pounds of squash (two small or 1 medium) for this recipe.

Vegan curry butternut squash soup

• 3 lbs butternut squash, peeled and chopped into chunks
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 cups veggie broth
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp curry
• salt and pepper

1. Cut squash into chunks.
2. Boil squash and onion in water for about 20 minutes, until tender.
3. Drain, and puree squash and onions in the blender.
4. Put puree back onto the stove on low heat.
5. Add spices, veggie broth, olive oil, and simmer until heated.

Retro rooms: Awesome living rooms from the 60s and 70s

I was perusing some of my vintage decorating books and thought I would share some photos of awesome living rooms. Maybe these will inspire you to get out the pain brush or reupholster that chair.