vinta9e

vintage enamelware

2011-01-27T12:43:00.002-05:00

So envious of Lisa Congdon's enamelware collection!

I actually have a tiny orange coffee pot, similar to the one in the picture above, that I bought at a garage sale for ten cents. It's really too small to use for anything other than warming up some milk for your coffee, or melting some butter, but it's too cute to let go!

new (to me) shops

2011-01-12T14:13:00.000-05:00

I feel like I'm always coming across the same online vintage shops. And while I never tire of them (how can I? They're constantly thrifting and listing amazing finds!), I enjoy finding other lovely stores out there.

Navy IKAT Print Harem Pants & Ethnic Print Mohair Coat from metrode

Vintage Mod Handbag & Primitive Leather Sandals from Vim and Vigor Vintage

Vintage Navy and White Patterned Dress & Sea Blue and Ivory Dress from GirlLeastLikely

thrifting in the new year

2011-01-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't gone thrifting in so long! I wonder if my local thrift stores will have lots of goodies this week. After all, don't we all clean up our places a bit before/after the holidays and get rid of a lot of things to make way for our overambitious new year's resolutions? I know I did!

A couple of things I'm going to be on the lookout for this year:
- A nice, wooden, dining table. I'd love one with lots of character.
- A folksy rug. Maybe one with a Navajo pattern? Or a Kilim rug?
- Interesting artwork. I realized that I had a couple of things to hang up, but not enough to make a nice-looking cluster in the living room.

Okay, I just realized that my list above is a new year's-resolutions-shopping-list!

new year, new start

2011-01-03T16:07:00.000-05:00

Whoops, I totally broke my promise! What can I say? I overestimated the time I'd have to post the past week. My hubby was off for the week and we had so much to do between running errands and family gatherings.

I hope everyone had a great start to the new year, may it be filled with lots of joy, happiness, and success for all!

will be back before the new year

2010-12-22T14:59:00.000-05:00

This week has been getting crazier and crazier! Is it just me, or is there people-traffic wherever you go?! I'm hoping I can take some time away from my computer for just a couple of days, but I will be back on Monday!

In the meantime, I'm going to dream of cozying up to an electric fireplace in our apartment (like the one John and Juli have, below).

Happy Holidays!

kelly reemtsen

2010-12-21T14:45:00.000-05:00

Vintage dresses + tools. Need I say more?

Paintings by Kelly Reemtsen

Via Huzzah! Vintage.

mexican embroidery

2010-12-20T14:53:00.001-05:00

I know this is kind of out of season (for me anyway), but I couldn't not share this lovely shop I came across the other day.

Honeywood Vintage specializes in vintage Mexican embroidered clothing. They've got a great selection of maxi dresses, shirts, and ponchos. I want each and every one of them!

freebie friday: fuzzimo

2010-12-17T15:01:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of Fuzzimo? It's a great site that offers free digital resources for personal and commercial use. The have tons of stuff on there available for download, but below are a couple of my favourites:

1. Old Sticky Tape Textures
2. Blank Polaroid Frames
3. Old Book Textures
4. LP Vinyl Records Textures

Enjoy and have a great weekend everyone!

vintage wrapping paper

2010-12-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

I rarely use wrapping paper to wrap gifts. I find that gift bags are much easier to assemble, and they're reusable (which is a big plus in my books). But once in a while I find myself indulging in some really nice wrapping paper and I find the act of wrapping presents kind of therapeutic (don't mind me, sometimes I think washing dishes can be therapeutic!).

I'm loving the kitschy-ness of these vintage holiday wrapping papers.

winter landscapes

2010-12-15T15:39:00.001-05:00

Been thinking warm and dry thoughts this week as it's been snowing (finally, yeay!), but I've yet to find a pair of winter boots to keep my feet nice and warm (boo!).

I love these photos by Elias Carlson, there's something so beautifully haunting (hauntingly beautiful?) about them. I wish I had that kind of scenery nearby!

for the vintage lovin' fella

2010-12-14T12:47:00.001-05:00

This gift guide was a bit harder to put together than the ladies' one, and it's because I'm really not that great at shopping for the men in my life. But I hope you can find one or two items here that may inspire a gift for the vintage loving guy on your list.

Clockwise, from top left:
Scotch Plaid Vintage Skinny Tie from FullFeather
Instant Carpentry Collection from SweetLoveVintage
70s Brown Leather Wingtip Shoes from SkinnyandBernie
Metal Lunch Box from handandtable
Vintage Oldsmobile Playing Cards from msmichiganroux
Miami Herald Milkglass Mug from aquarius247

Funny sidenote: While searching for "mug", this popped up in the results. A stocking stuffer perhaps?

how to describe your used furniture on craigslist

2010-12-13T14:27:00.008-05:00

If you follow my twitter account (and if you don't, you should! I'm a hoot!), you'd know that I am an avid Craigslist browser. I'm (still) on the search for the perfect dining table and chairs and I love sharing great deals on vintage pieces. Oh yeah, and I also share sometimes funny/sometimes-not postings that totally misuse mid-century modern keywords.

And it looks like this doesn't just happen in the GTA-Craigslist postings...

By Lunchbreath, found via Dee.

freebie friday: voices of christmas past

2010-12-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

I know that many of you have already started playing Christmas music as you bake holiday cookies or decorate.

So, how about adding this to your playlist: Voice of Christmas Past 1898 to 1922. It's a great compilation of Christmas classics by a variety of artists, restored and remastered from old 78s and cylinder recordings. I love that the songs still sound like they're being played on a phonograph! And (one of) the best part? Absolutely free for download here.

Have a great weekend everyone! I think I'm going to bake some sugar cookies using Casey's recipe!

twig + bone

2010-12-09T13:10:00.002-05:00

Janae, over at Twig + Bone, did a little interview with me on her blog!

Janae and Nate also have a little handmade and vintage shop. The two lovely pieces of art above are currently available for sale!

supadupa vintage

2010-12-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

I came across Supadupa Vintage the other day and I absolutely love the styling of their items.

It almost looks like a "real" clothing collection!

See more items from Supadupa Vintage here.

for the vintage lovin' gal

2010-12-07T13:52:00.003-05:00

I find that gift shopping is often a very tedious task. Gift giving is always fun, but shopping around for the "right" item by a certain deadline can be super stressful. So I often end up buying things year-round and gifting them during the holidays, way less stressful!

I pulled together a couple of items that would make great gifts for the vintage loving gal (ahm, like me) on your list.

1960s Silk Chiffon Vera Scarfs from khendrix
Needlepoint Locket from CapriciousTraveler
Vintage Mechanical Alarm Clock from ClockworkUniverse
Vintage Lotus Bowls from Swoonshop
Brown Leather Briefcase Bag from bledherveins

vintage christmas decor

2010-12-06T15:25:00.000-05:00

This was the perfect post to write up while the snow was falling outside! If you haven't already decorated your home for the holidays, here are some ideas for making your place cozy and festive.

P.S. I love those knee-hugging elves!

Row by row, from left to right:
Knee Hugger Pixie Elves Ornaments from CatchingKiteTails
1960s Brass Horn Candlesticks from melanieperalto28
4 Vintage Glass Ornaments from RobertaGrove
Space Age Ornament Trio from tippleandsnack
Vintage Gingerbread House Lamp from VintageZen
PomPom Aluminum Christmas Tree from JuJuToo
Vintage Holiday Kermit the Frog Doll from VintageZen
Vintage Tree Figure from Hindsvik
Joy Peace Noel Vintage Angels and Blocks from theclassicfarmhouse

freebie friday: german playing cards

2010-12-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

As soon as I saw these German playing cards, I thought they would make perfect gift tags for the holidays! They look so festive.

Just print them out on heavy beige or brown cardstock, cut a hole for ribbon and you're good to go! You can download them here.

Have a great weekend everyone!

holiday sequin dress

2010-12-02T14:30:00.000-05:00

It's December, and the holiday parties are about to start! I feel like sequins are definitely more of a winter "thing" than any other season. They just go so well with all the sparkly lights and decor, don't you think?

Clockwise, from top left:
70s Beaded Floral Sequin Caftan Dress from swagragvintage
Fiesta Holiday Mosaic Dress from CloverenRouge
60s Blue Sequined Cocktail Dress from allencompanyinc
Black and White Sequined Fringe Sleeve Dress from evamaniadesign

red cross letter

2010-12-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

On our way back from the trip to the U.S., hubby and I stopped by a small town near Erie, Pennsylvania called North East. It was a pretty run-down town, with hints of it being a once busy and lively place. We parked by a parking meter along a street in what seemed like the downtown area. Many of the shops were out of business, and a couple were just closing for the day at 6 pm. Parking was (and I kid you not) 5 cents for every half-hour, and a dime for every hour.

We walked around for a bit and stumbled upon a goldmine, Ye Olde Vineyard, a books, games, and antiques store. Every inch of this place was covered in merchandise (I would've loved to take a photo of the place, but I was shy to do so!). I could've spent hours looking through the books and vintage ephemera (all at super reasonable prices). In the end, I came away with this little piece of history:

I am so intrigued by this Mrs. Phyllis Jay who volunteered in Guam in the 60s. Also, I love the cursive typewriter font.

If you're ever near Erie, PA, you should definitely visit Ye Olde Vineyard at 6 South Lake Street in North East, PA.

wooden clogs

2010-11-30T14:21:00.000-05:00

I could compile an entire catalogue of clothes and accessories that I love and wish I could wear, but could never, ever, pull off. Or things that I buy thinking I might pull them off, but then I am faced with the harsh reality that is my mirror.

Exhibit A:

What is it that these lovely clogs require? Toned calves? Skinny ankles? Mile-long legs? Somebody TELL ME.

Clockwise, from top left:
70s Cognac Leather and Wood Clogs from vintageurbanrenewal
Vintage Leather Clogs from HuckleberryVintage
Boho Tan Leather Platform Clogs from FashionHouseVintage
Hippie Brown Leather Studded Platform Clogs from trashyvintage

original movie posters

2010-11-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I wish these original movie posters were more affordable (to me, at least!).

film/art has an amazing collection of movie posters for sale, in great condition. Check them out!

freebie friday: vintage kitchen icons

2010-11-26T15:08:00.002-05:00

Spotted these on the interwebs this past week and I thought they were just adorable!

Vintage Kitchen Icons, by Greg Barnes
I've already downloaded them and used the lovely blue mixer icon for my recipe folder! Don't be alarmed if you think they're too big, once you assign them to a folder or application, they will resize according to your computer's screen resolution!

Have a great weekend everyone!

found slides

2010-11-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

Although my family's slides provide me with an endless source of wonder and entertainment (there are at least two photos where my sister looks like a war child: torn clothes, messy hair, dirty face...), I love looking at slides and photos of families in different parts of the world, and in different times.

Check out this Vintage Slides collection on Flickr.

shoes

2010-11-24T11:51:00.000-05:00

I'm currently on a shoe-shopping binge. I don't know what's come over me, but I've been buying them left and right! (And, umm, hiding them from the hubby.)

I've been looking for an oxford-like pair of flats and I'm currently eyeing these babies.

Latson, on sale at Aldo.

Knutt, also on sale at Aldo.

They're both so cute, I just might have to get a pair of each!

georgetown

2010-11-23T10:37:00.000-05:00

Hubby and I fell absolutely in love with Georgetown. It's a real cross between small-town-charm and urban-street-scene.

You can sense how much history the town has, just look at those beautiful row buildings!

We did some light shopping there and I even got to visit a couple of vintage and consignment stores. Annie Creamcheese was like heaven! I also stopped by another store that was literally two doors down from Annie Creamcheese, but I forgot its name. It too had some amazing clothes.

We also went the famous Georgetown Cupcakes, where we waited in line for about 10 minutes just to get inside the place. But it was well worth it! The cupcakes were delicious (especially the red velvet ones)!

We walked around for quite a bit and ventured into the side streets. I wonder who lives in these pretty houses...

Some street art that caught my eye. This was actually along a side wall of a restaurant, forgot its name. (I really should take notes for my photos!)

Although we spent the better part of the day in Georgetown, I'm sure I missed out on a lot of things to see and do. Oh well, I guess we might have to make another trip down there soon!

vacation over

2010-11-22T11:01:00.000-05:00

Annd, we're back!

I hope everyone had a great week and weekend, 'cause I did! Hubby hadn't taken a "real" vacation in a while, so this was a great break for both of us. We made the 9-hour trip down to the Washington, DC area and met up with some family. We spent a day in beautiful Georgetown (definitely a highlight of our trip!), and a day at the monuments and museums in Washington. I did a tiny, teeny, wee-bit of thrifting, but no "amazing" finds.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous down there. I couldn't believe how much warmer it was than here. Leaves were still on the trees and the sun was shining bright, it felt like it was still September!

Stay tuned tomorrow for some photos from Georgetown!

freebie friday: classic cartoons

2010-11-19T09:11:00.001-05:00

Nostalgic for old Betty Boop, Popeye, or Superman cartoons? Internet Archive has a great collection of classic cartoons from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. You can stream them off the website, or even download them for free!

Superman: Electric Earthquake, 1942

Betty Boop for President, 1932

Private Eye Popeye, 1954

Click here for more classic cartoons.

Have a great weekend everyone!

updating a 50s formica table

2010-11-18T13:37:00.000-05:00

Love the look and shape of 50s Formica and chrome tables, but hate the Formica top? Brad has come up with a genius way of updating his table.

Before...

...and after.

The tabletop is made out of plywood. Plywood!

He also makes these amazing upcycled suitcase pet beds from vintage suitcases! Be sure to check out his shop.

1960s jewelry ads

2010-11-17T09:56:00.001-05:00

I find it intriguing how companies change their ad campaigns and strategies over the years. Oddly enough, it seems that jewelry is one of those fields that doesn't need to change much in terms of its advertising. These ads from the 60s look very similar to ones you might see in a magazine today.

All ads found through Vintage Ad Browser.

toy cars

2010-11-16T10:16:00.003-05:00

How adorable are these vintage toy cars? I think they're perfect for a little boy's room.

Available at The Bucket Tree.

throw blankets

2010-11-15T09:46:00.002-05:00

It's getting chilly up in our apartment, but I kind of refuse to turn on the heat. There's just something about forced air that I really dislike (I refuse to turn on the air conditioning during the summer as well!). My solution? Sweaters and blankets!

I love crochet blankets. They're usually light-weight, not too heavy, colourful, and come in really great patterns such as zig-zags or granny squares. And they look great on beds and couches.

Clockwise, from top left:
Crocheted Blanket No. 1 from tivolivintage
Crazy Granny Vintage Crochet Striped Blanket from annaandroy
Multi-coloured Zig Zag Throw from nowvintage
Avocado Coral Mustard Crocheted Afghan from TheVintageHorde

roadtrip

2010-11-12T12:03:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's Friday already. This week has gone so fast, I haven't had time to catch my breath! There's no freebie friday again this week (sorry guys!). I've been so swamped, I haven't had gotten a chance to find a good freebie to share with you.

Hubby and I are leaving for a roadtrip to Washington DC/Northern Virginia to visit some family this weekend, and I won't be back until late next week! I'll have some scheduled posts up, so don't forget to stop by.

Here's a quick round up of things around the web you should check out:

An awesome pair of milk glass mugs, perfect for the typography lover.
Such a clever post, vintage fashion + art, over at Miss Moss.
A great DIY project, repurposing old TV trays. (I love what she did with the leftover bits!)
The White Elephant is looking for an intern! Wouldn't it be amazing to work at a B&M vintage shop?

Have a great weekend everyone!

saturate

2010-11-11T12:01:00.000-05:00

Inspired by yesterday's saturated interiors, I rounded up a couple of things to bring some punchy*, bright colour into your home.

(* - Not sure if "punchy" is even a word, but it should be!)

Row by row, from left to right:
Vintage Orange Porcelain Lotus Bowl from jwhite2
Blue Metal File Box from deepoca
Vivid 60s Mugs from johnnyvintage
70s Zigzag Afghan from JungleMama
Four Sunshine Yellow Corning Mugs from judstrashntreasure
Walt Disney Parade Book Set from OopseeDaisies
Vintage Acid Green Crate from havenvintage
Bull Piggy Bank from FoundVintageStyle
Hot Pink Madonna and Child from amye123

modern furniture and decoration 1971

2010-11-10T12:38:00.003-05:00

Saturated colours make me happy. They're something so fresh and cheerful about them. And saturated, vintage interiors? *swoon*.

Images are from House and Garden's Modern Furniture and Decoration, 1971, found on Flickr.

(Click on the image to be directed to the source)

secondhand rose

2010-11-09T14:19:00.003-05:00

I came across this photo today.

Grandma's Vintage Room

I love how it captures so much in so little. This room appears to be untouched, unchanging.

And then I found Secondhand Rose, a vintage wallpaper store that has an ah-mazing collection of wallpaper.

A bit out of my price range, but a girl can dream and drool, no?

national women's show

2010-11-08T11:40:00.001-05:00

So I didn't get around to hanging up things in my living room this past weekend. But I did get to go somewhere awesome, the National Women's Show! A friend of mine had gone a couple of years ago and invited me to come along this year. It was so much fun! Lots of freebies, yummy food samples and great shopping deals.

I spotted something in one of the show's kitchen areas, a mortar and pestle by Tahir Mahmood. And yes, it looks as amazing in real life as it does in photos!

I think the most creative and fun booth at the show was the Nintendo DS - Professor Layton Tea House. They had this really cute cafe set up where you can take a seat and order a free tea and a "game" off the menu. Then they bring you your tea and a Nintendo DS and you can play for as long as you like. My friend and I made a stop here towards the end of the day when we were all shopped out and needed to rest our poor feet.

This was one of the prettiest booths at the show. Such eye-candy! So perfectly granny-chic styled. Unfortunately, nobody was around and I wasn't able to speak to anyone. But I did visit their lovely website, and blog.

I'd definitely attend the show in the future, it's the perfect ladies' day out!

living room wall inspiration

2010-11-05T13:48:00.002-04:00

No freebie friday this week, sorry guys!

I'm hoping to hang up a couple of things I've been setting aside for the living room wall. I had thought it would be a quick job, but as it turns out, our single living room wall is drywall on concrete. We'll have to get the proper drill bit and anchors, but I'm so scared we'll somehow ruin the concrete and cause some structural issues! I know that's kind of over-the-top, but still....

Hopefully, if we get it done this weekend, I'll share some photos with you next week! But for now, I'm getting some ideas from a couple of these lovely homes.

Amanda's wall of frames.

Danielle's living room wall.

Kristena's wall of vintage emrboidery.

Have a great weekend everyone!

the spellbound/sunday look

2010-11-04T09:21:00.002-04:00

Looking back at the fashion editorial I posted yesterday, I realized there was some amazing fall fashion inspiration and I went on a search to recreate some of the looks.

For the ladies...

Black and White Secretary Blouse from cricketcapers
Vintage Airguide Field Binoculars from meadowmark
1960s Pumpkin Spice Jacket from Thursh
Psychedelic 60s Silk Scarf from mountaingirlvintage

And although much of the focus was on the women in the spread, I picked out some of the men's fall trends.

Vintage 70s Plaid Blazer from HepCatClothes
Grey Plaid Fedora from AnyOldTime
Vintage Mens' Sweater Vest from bottleblondevintage
1950s Aviators from ifoundgallery11

I'm loving all the fall plaids and patterns!

spellbound and sunday

2010-11-03T12:23:00.003-04:00

I keep looking at these photos from W's November 2010 fashion editorial, Spellbound. Such great styling!

See more photos here. They also made an amazing video to go along with the editorial.

Via Vintage Is The New Black.

winning streak

2010-11-02T13:21:00.000-04:00

I've been on a giveaway-winning streak lately! I won store credit at Mother Midnight on the Huzzah! Vintage blog back in September.

And yesterday I found out that I won Caren's Tea & Chickadees blogiversary giveaway with store credit to her vintage shop, The Vintage Apartment! I haven't decided what to get from either shop yet (I've been so busy, no time for online shopping!), but I'm hoping to do a bunch of holiday shopping soon!

P.S. I've already got a special spot picked out for that embroidered art piece!

slovenia 1989

2010-11-01T13:15:00.001-04:00

My dad's slide scanner has been resigned to the basement. I recently bought a new scanner with a film/slide insert and it totally kicks my dad's scanner in the behind! I scanned some more family photos over the weekend, and these ones are from a family vacation in former Yugoslavia, in what is now Slovenia.

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

I think this was a cheese market of some sort. I remember there were lots of smelly cheeses.

Taking a scenic boat ride around one of the region's many lakes.

freebie friday: halloween art

2010-10-29T12:19:00.001-04:00

I'm sure most of you have had your Halloween decor up for a while now, but for those who are still adding the final touches, you might want to check out some of this amazing vintage clip art. Bats, skeletons, and eyeballs, oh my!

And I love this easy Halloween decor DIY, putting eyeballs up over hanging portraits.

All images are from The Graphics Fairy. Click on the image to be redirected to the original post.

Happy Halloween!

fall scenery

2010-10-28T13:28:00.002-04:00

Just a few lovely photos of gorgeous fall scenery.

Click on each photo to go to the source.

brown leather bags

2010-10-27T12:50:00.003-04:00

Leather bags are the season's perfect accessory! They're great transition pieces that can be worn through the summer and into the fall, and should be a staple in every lady's wardrobe! I'm on the hunt for one right now, and already a couple of them have caught my eye...

Clockwise, from top left:

Spiced Chai Purse from HihloStudio

1970s Caramel Brown Leather Clutch from AdrianCompanyVintage

Vintage Brown Leather Shoulder Bag from myteapartyshop

Vintage Coach Briefcase Purse from 77serendipity1234

halloween pin-ups

2010-10-26T10:45:00.001-04:00

I have never dressed up as anything scary or spooky for Halloween. I was always either a princess, or a gypsy, or Disney Princess Jasmine, or a butterfly. Always a frilly costume and never a creature of the night. I think that dressing up as a witch or ghost would've made trick-or-treating that much creepier at night. I also don't watch horror movies or thrillers. Okay, so I guess that says a lot about what I think of Halloween, haha!

What I do like are these cute and playful Halloween pin-ups!

What are you doing this Halloween? Any cool costumes?

(I couldn't find the original sources for these photos, but if anyone knows, please drop me a note so that I can give credit where it's due!)

october is breast cancer awareness month

2010-10-25T10:06:00.001-04:00

I know I'm a little behind on this, but October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is so important for women to take care of their health and get regular mammograms. It's sad that we still don't know very much about what exactly causes cancer, but I'm hopeful that we'll become better at preventing it and finding a cure.

Row by row, from left to right:
Soft Pink Vintage Cotton Thread from VintageMarquise
Powder Pink Kitten Heels from lisazain
70s Coral Pink Fannybag from L'EnfantTerrible
Crazy Daisy Pyrex from handmadevintage
Vintage Mid Century Embroidered Botanical Wall Art from thelittlemarket
Tiny Fit Vest from leasvintage
Vintage Dusty Rose Lace Dress from PurpleDeerVintage
Bubble Gum Pink Typewriter from meedily
Vintage Kutz Cello Straw Hat from TwirlVintageCo

For more information on breast cancer, please visit the Canadian Cancer Society, or the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month site.

freebie friday: 40s and 50s jazz music

2010-10-22T09:27:00.001-04:00

I came across this huge library of 40s and 50s jazz 78 rpm records, in mp3 format. I love it when people share their hobbies and interests. You can tell this guy is takes his oldies music seriously!

You can access all kinds of records from the main site, including some French music, and San Francisco style jazz.

Have you found any great freebies online lately?

Have a great weekend!

handcrafted modern

2010-10-21T12:11:00.000-04:00

Leslie Williamson is a San Francisco-based photographer and has just published a book, Handcrafted Modern, that offers an intimate glimpse inside the homes of some of America’s most beloved mid-century designers.

She was able to photograph the homes of Russel Wright, George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eva Zeisel, among others.

The following are some outtakes that didn't make it into the book. They are amazing, and you just know that there are even more gorgeous interiors in the book!

See more outtakes on Leslie's blog.

Via 13Bees.

zooey deschanel style

2010-10-20T09:37:00.016-04:00

This Zooey Deschanel Style post is inspired by sunny, crisp, autumn weather. The perfect mix of blue skies and the slightest cool breeze.

90s Flower Print Baby Doll Dress from LittleCorralVintage
Ivory Flower Headband from Mandizzle
Vintage Brown Leather Boots from KMalinka
Ball and Chain Sphere Locket from FreshyFig

Check out my previous ZD Style posts here.

out of print

2010-10-19T09:28:00.000-04:00

Out of Print t-shirts feature iconic and out of print book covers. Below are a couple of my favourites (but I especially love the Lolita one!).

For each shirt sold, a book is donated to a community in need through their partner Books For Africa. Visit the Out of Print shop to view their other t-shirt designs.

Found via Lost and Fawned.

recreating: a warm midcentury living room

2010-10-18T15:59:00.001-04:00

I really enjoyed putting together my first "recreating..." post and I'm hoping this will be a permanent series here!

Today, I chose another image from the Better Homes and Gardens: New Decorating Book. This time of a living room that I think does a great job of combing some minimal, modern furniture with warm, traditional elements.

Lighting:
Nelson Ball Bubble Floor Lamp
IKEA REGOLIT Pendant Lamp Shade
Chrome and Black Metal Tensor Light

Seating:
Thonet Bentwood Rocking Chair
Jens Risom Three-Seat Sofa
Jalal Poehlman Walnut Plywood Colyton Sofa

Tables:
Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Coffee Table
Mid Century Modern Chrome Glass Coffee Table

Decor:
Vintage Red Rotary Phone
Hand Crafted Wooden Decoy Duck
Pottery Barn Plaited Wool Rug

freebie friday: miss moss' music mixes

2010-10-15T10:35:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for new music, you might want to check out Miss Moss' Music Mixes. Diana is a graphic designer from South Africa and she has great taste in music! Every month, she releases a new mix of her favourite tunes. I've downloaded all of them! (But my favourite, so far, has been Second Hand Songs.)

Check out the rest of her blog here.

Happy listening and bon week-end!

thrift find: metal tin

2010-10-14T11:11:00.000-04:00

This tin is magical.

Something about it just makes me want to hold it in my arms and never let it go. A little beaten up around the edges, but it's perfect. The only problem: what to store in it?

I have no idea what it used to hold, but there's some fine print on the side that says "Container Made in Gt. Britain". I'm not really sure where to start researching it, anyone?

in my bag

2010-10-14T07:43:00.001-04:00

In case you missed it yesterday, I was over at Libby's blog, pinkshirtsandcarwrecks, showing off my bag as part of her in the bag series.

Thanks for having me Libby! Read the full post here.

everything here is wonderful

2010-10-13T09:37:00.002-04:00

Loving these hand-stamped vintage maps by Best Made Company. Too bad the Ontario one is sold already, but the Quebec one is still available!

Found via Love It A Lot.

the perfect fall dresses

2010-10-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

These vintage dresses at LittleOceanAnnie are the perfect fall dresses! I think they'd look adorable paired with some tights and oxford flats or heels.

See more gorgeous items in Annie's shop, or visit her blog.

freebie friday: polaroid generator

2010-10-08T10:15:00.002-04:00

I love this introduction to the Polaroid Generator:

"You like it virtual, you like it fake, you like it cheap, you can't afford real film, you don't accept those incredibly high prices for expired film, you just bought a Polaroid camera at ebay and realised afterwards, there's actually no more film available, you are about 17 years old and on that 80's retro trip, you have a copy of Adobe Photoshop CS or higher on your fancy laptop and want to max it out? Then you really should try this out!"

This is an amazing Photoshop action that allows you to turn any photo into a "Polaroid". It doesn't just add a frame, but also mimics the colour and "look" of Polaroid photos. Some examples below:

Have a great long, Thanksgiving weekend!

the colour wheel

2010-10-07T14:03:00.001-04:00

Whenever I see a bunch of colours beside each other, my heart skips a beat and I get all giddy. There's just something about rainbows and colour charts and arrangements that make my world go round.

These colour charts are from an article on the history of the colour wheel on Imprint. Cataloging and classifying colour is something that I cannot wrap my head around. Can we really capture every single colour in the world?

Read the whole article here.

Found via Design*Sponge.

teacup bracelets

2010-10-06T09:33:00.000-04:00

These vintage teacup bracelets are not only gorgeous, but also mind-blowing! And not just aesthetically speaking, but practically too. Imagine wearing fragile, bone china around your wrists...

Found via Good Measure.

recreating: a minimal and rustic dining room

2010-10-05T14:55:00.004-04:00

I recently came across the 1981 first edition of Better Homes and Gardens: New Decorating Book, and I was so excited to find it had some great decorating tips and how-to instructions for quick furniture fixes. Using my awesome new scanner, I scanned some images from the book that I hope to share with you all!

This dining room set-up caught my eye since I'm looking for a dining table very similar to the one in the photo. And it's a look that I think is still very much in style.

Those cane chairs look amazingly comfortable, sort of a cross between a dining chair and an easy chair. I found a couple of items to recreate the look, but for the life of me, I couldn't track down those chairs.

Lamps:
Authentics Cylinder Pendant Lamp
White Three-Light Island
Rondelle Chrome Cylinder Pendant Light

Tables:
CB2 Tribe Dining Table
IKEA STORNAS Dining Table

Chairs:
Mies Van der Rohe Cantilever Cane Chair
IKEA SOLVAR Chair
Alicia Cane Dining Chair

freebie friday: old-time radio

2010-10-01T15:54:00.000-04:00

If you're a fan of old-time radio, you might want to check out RadioLovers, where you can listen to and download tons of classic radio shows (such as The Aldrich Family and Amos & Andy) in mp3 format. I'd especially be interested in listening to the music and variety shows!

Red 1950s Radio from thevintagewife

hannah and carrie

2010-09-30T15:41:00.000-04:00

Hannah and Carrie are both undergrad students in the UK. Both are bloggers and have an amazing laid-back, sense of style.

Hannah at Hello Mr Fox.

Carrie at WishWishWish.

And they're both in their early 20s! I can't get over how mature they are for their age.

vintage vs. brand new 20th century furniture

2010-09-29T14:54:00.000-04:00

There's a great article (and discussion) on Apartment Therapy on the value of vintage and brand new mid-century design classics. Ironically, it seems that some older, vintage pieces may actually be worth less than pieces of the same design that have been in continuous production or have been reissued. A great eye opener for anyone who's looking into buying a classic design piece.

Read the article here.
Photo found here.

for the organized cook

2010-09-28T15:09:00.000-04:00

I currently have no system for keeping and storing recipes. Some of them are written on scrap pieces of paper and hung onto the fridge with magnets, some are bookmarked online, and some are in dog-eared books. I'd love to eventually own one of these to hold all my favourite recipes.

Clockwise from top left:
Vintage Mod 50s-60s Metal Recipe Tin from ZebrasAndBubblegum
Vintage Metal Faux Bois Recipe Box from CinfulOldies
Retro Metal Tin Recipe Box from worldclasskennelclub
Wood Oak Recipe Box from pinkmayflowers

say cheese

2010-09-27T13:48:00.001-04:00

How fabulous are these photobooth photos? My favourites are the first and last one (doesn't that lady look like a movie star?).

See more vintage photobooth photos here.

Found via Rust Belt Threads.

freebie friday: bighugelabs

2010-09-24T16:30:00.000-04:00

Today's "freebie friday" is probably a site most of you have already heard of. So, why am I posting it? Because it's awesome. And if I haven't heard about it, chances are there's other poor, innocent souls out there who haven't either!

BigHugeLabs has lots of really cool tools you can use to customize your digital photos. One of my favourite tools is Framer. It lets you add frames, such as stamp or Polaroid borders, to your photos. These are two frames that I especially love:

Film frame

Holga 35mm frame

And, you should also check out their Color Palette Generator, which automatically creates a colour palette from any photo, and then you can download the swatches for use in Photoshop. Genius.

marine life

2010-09-23T14:45:00.007-04:00

I spotted this Marine Animals Poster the other day and it reminded me of the pair of vintage mugs below.

Profit from the sale of the mugs will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation's Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund.

Marine Animals Poster from Banquet
Gulf Coast Wildlife Mug Set from jessjamesjake

everything ages fast

2010-09-22T10:26:00.003-04:00

Moma, a Brazilian ad agency, created these 60s, Mad Men-style ads for social media services such as Facebook and Twitter as part of the “Everything Ages Fast” campaign for Maximidia Seminars.

I love the illustrations and I think the ads are so well done! Check out the other ads for Skype and Youtube.

Found via TechCrunch.

zooey deschanel style

2010-09-21T15:11:00.002-04:00

Continuing my love for Zooey Deschanel's style, I put together another outfit inspired by her...

...spending an afternoon at the beach, having a water gun fight with friends.

Straw Boater Hat from asiagonewild
1970s Mini Squirt Gun from therpsajik
Vintage Shift Dress from MeltBrianna
Woven Leather Sandals from OmniaWears
Fire Engine Red Hoop Earrings from RyanNicoleVintage

photo display diy

2010-09-20T14:16:00.000-04:00

I love this idea of displaying photos in vintage bottles. Just be sure to use copies and not the originals!

Found via Apartment Therapy.

freebie friday: vintage printable

2010-09-17T10:33:00.002-04:00

Of course, nothing beats a vintage map or book plate framed on your wall, but if you're tight on resources or can't seem to track down a certain print, you can always turn to Vintage Printable.

This site is an amazing resource for free, public domain, pre-1923 images. Below are some images that caught my eye.

Visit Vintage Printable for more amazing images.

midcentury modern cut out sets by max dalton

2010-09-16T14:47:00.003-04:00

I have a confession to make: I don't really like Mad Men (please don't shoot!). Okay, I love the wardrobes, the set design, the whole "look" of the show, but the show has one too many pricks in it. And I'm so glad we've progressed as a society away from the 50s and 60s mentality. I'm a firm believer that I could watch that show on mute and enjoy it just by looking at all the pretty dresses and fabulous furniture.

And another way to enjoy the Mad Men era? Mid-century modern cut out sets by Max Dalton.

The Sunday Barbecue and Cocktail Party cut out sets are both available for purchase on Imagekind.

kodak 1922 kodachrome film test

2010-09-15T14:01:00.001-04:00

I found this amazing video via Behind the Curtain. It's a compilation of several Kodachrome film tests from 1922, a real piece of history! I love the way the models interact with the camera.

thrift find: wooden folding chair

2010-09-14T14:47:00.000-04:00

Remember my living room wishlist where I had picked out a couple of things to decorate the room with?

Well, I've crossed an item off the list!

I found this beauty at the thrift store last week for five bucks! This is actually the second wooden folding chair I've come across this whole summer. The first one I spotted was at a garage sale and it was overpriced and the owner wouldn't budge!

I can't wait to clean it up a bit. It's in really great condition, but could use a little loving.

sick in bed

2010-09-13T12:11:00.001-04:00

During this past super busy and fun weekend, I somehow managed to catch a cold. I've been lying in bed for most of the day, taking lots of short naps and drinking cups of hot chamomile tea. I just wish I had a kitty to snuggle up to and keep my feet warm!

And just for fun, I looked up "Things to Do When You're Sick in Bed". I'm not sure what's funnier, the article or the comments!

Photo by clumsy bird.

freebie friday: printable vintage hankies

2010-09-10T09:49:00.001-04:00

Vintage handkerchiefs are super hot right now in decor and design, and especially in weddings.

Handkerchief "Save the Date" cards over at borrowed turquoise.

Handkerchief bunting by Little Birdie Secrets.

Amy over at Eat Drink Chic has designed some letter-writing paper sheets in the style of vintage hankies. I love her idea of using them as "Love Letters for the Newlyweds", an alternative to a wedding guestbook. They are beautifully designed and can be used for tons of other projects.

You can download Amy's hanky templates here at Eat Drink Chic.

wpa posters

2010-09-09T10:13:00.001-04:00

Some friendly advice from the WPA.

See more WPA posters from the 1930s and 1940s here.

midcentury and danish modern furniture

2010-09-08T13:33:00.000-04:00

I wish we had some wall space in our apartment for a nice piece of mid century or Danish modern furniture, but our apartment is very much an "open concept" one.

Modern Findings' sleek Danish Wall unit.

Gorgeous 60s teak sideboard with rosewood handles.

And I just love this advertisement.

See more amazing mid century and Danish modern pieces here.

60s mod cocktail dresses

2010-09-06T12:39:00.003-04:00

60s mini dresses can be so glamorous! I would love to wear one of these numbers to a cocktail party with a killer pair of heels. If only I had the legs to pull it off!

Vintage Beaded 60s Dress and 60s Mint Green Floral Dress

Mod Jeweled Cocktail Dress and Tangerine Mimosa Rhinestone Dress

freebie friday: digital vintage bird stamps

2010-09-03T15:37:00.004-04:00

I came across these gorgeous garlands, by d.Sharp, made out of used vintage stamps. They're styled and sold as cake garlands, but I don't see why they can't be used to decorate anything else!

They also look like they'd be a fun DIY project. There are tons of vintage postage stamps for sale on eBay and Etsy.

And for this week's Freebie Friday, here are some vintage bird stamps from around the world, perfect for digital collages.

Have a great long weekend everyone!

zooey deschanel style

2010-09-02T12:15:00.002-04:00

I've recently added 500 Days of Summer to my list of all-time favourite movies (and its soundtrack to my all-time favourite music). Everything about it was just perfect, the actors, the styling, the storyline. And who doesn't love Zooey?

She has a great sense of style (or a great stylist) and is able to pull off lots of vintage and modern pieces in one outfit! And if she was going on a date in the fall, in the city, one a rainy day, she'd wear...

1970s Cream Lace Neck Blouse from Adore Vintage
Sequin Hem Skirt from Free People
1980s Black Leather Hobo Bag from cookiekvintage
Vintage Ecru Suede Pumps from rustlethepetals

P.S. Adore Vintage has a Zooey section, which I think is both genius and hilarious!

stovetop corning ware

2010-09-01T13:50:00.000-04:00

For the last couple of months, my mom has been asking me to look out for some vintage stovetop Corning Ware dishes for her. She used to have not one, but two, complete sets and over the years they've become damaged from heavy use or have gotten lost at some potluck dinner or other event.

I've come across some pieces at thrift stores, but they were never in good enough shape to get for my mom. I came across one vintage "Buffet Server" piece last week, but I had no idea if it was stovetop safe. I contacted World Kitchen (which now owns Corning Ware), and they confirmed that most Corning Ware pieces with smooth, flat bottoms are stovetop safe (then they referred me to a collector's guide for further assistance...wha?).

And unfortunately, my online hunt for these dishes wasn't very fruitful. Shipping to Canada was always just as much, if not double, the cost of the items and for some reason, a lot of eBay sellers were being sneaky and selling dishes and lids separately! In the end, I got this non-vintage Corning Ware set from World Kitchen which is made the same way as the vintage pieces. But I'm still on the lookout, now I want to get a couple of pieces for myself!

Clockwise from top left:
Yellow Corning Ware Casserole Dish from vintageinteriors
1960's White Corning Ware Buffet Server from westbournegrove
Vintage Corning Ware 1 QT. from busyshopper269
Country Festival Casserole Dishes from khriselaine

the end of summer

2010-08-31T10:31:00.001-04:00

No matter what the weather is like, the end of August (not September 21st!) is always the end of summer for me.

The end of outings in the park.

The end of sunny, lazy afternoons in the backyard.

The end of long strolls along the lake shore.

It's a little sad, but I know that with the end of summer comes the start of another lovely season.

a wilderness for you

2010-08-30T10:26:00.002-04:00

Fabulous tags made from vintage children's books and magazines by Nyssa Skogi.

Check out her shop for other handmade and vintage goodies.

freebie friday: numbered tags

2010-08-27T14:27:00.001-04:00

Cute vintage-inspired numbered tags. I can think of a gazillion ways to use them! Table settings, party favors, gifts, store merchandise, office organization...

Download them over at Poppytalk or click here for the PDF file.

chalkboard totes

2010-08-26T09:45:00.002-04:00

Chantilly (aka Thursday) has created some amazing chalkboard totes from vintage fabrics.

The totes are reversible and feature a chalk cloth appliqué which you can use just like a chalkboard to record grocery lists and daily to-do’s. Genius!

Thursday is also having a special birthday sale in her shop. Hurry, it ends today!

hillside homes for portland, oregon

2010-08-24T13:57:00.000-04:00

"In 1972 Home Building Plan Services of Portland Oregon released a book of 100 home plans targeted at the vast numbers of Portlanders who face the challenge of building on a "sloping lot"."

Lovely 70s designs, reminds me a lot of the houses in my in-laws' neighbourhood. See more homes here.

1960s fabric

2010-08-23T13:01:00.000-04:00

I can't help but drool over Teri's collection of 60s fabric. I love the simple, yet colourful patterns!

Found via Eat Drink Chic.

freebie friday: photoshop actions

2010-08-20T14:14:00.000-04:00

Photo editing can be a really tedious task, especially if you're working with so-so photos or trying to achieve a certain "look", there's just too many options to fiddle with! I found two sets of Photoshop actions that I'll be sure to use often!

Dark and Light Photoshop Actions by love4art

Vintage Actions by WingsOfAHero

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

turkey 1990

2010-08-19T13:28:00.000-04:00

My dad is a big family-photo-documenter, and when we were younger, he would mail off rolls of film to some place in Seattle to be turned into slides as soon as he had a couple of them to mail. We used to dread the nights he pulled out the projector to view them. But as we got older, we came to appreciate the love and care my dad took to preserve and cherish our family's memories.

My dad recently bought a slide scanner so that we can have digital copies of all our slides (there are hundreds!), and I was recently able to scan some from a family vacation to Turkey in 1990. I picked out a couple of them to share with you. And no, I won't divulge my age then!

emma pillsbury style

2010-08-18T15:41:00.000-04:00

I'm really looking forward to Glee this fall! I love its cheesiness, I love Sue Sylvester, and I love Rachel Berry (she reminds me a teeny-tiny bit of myself!).

And also, I love Emma Pillsbury, she's just so freakin' adorable! So in honour of the most (relatively) insane-but-cute characters on the show, I decided to put together some Emma-inspired outfits, vintage style.

Red Triple Bow Pumps from persephonevintage

1950s Navy Blue Pencil Skirt from VintConditionStyle

Short Cardigan Sweater from esphee

Lipstick Red Ruffled Blouse from cherrybloomvintage

1960s Creme Caramel Heels from DearGoldenVintage

Emanuel Ungaro Silk Floral Skirt from allencompanyinc

ikea ps bruse coffee table - diy potential

2010-08-17T15:24:00.000-04:00

My parents already received their IKEA 2010 catalog in the mail last week, and when I went over for dinner last weekend, I made a beeline for it and snuggled up for some afternoon reading/drooling. I know there's this controversy surrounding IKEA furniture and design, but I would like to say just one thing, okay two things. Their items are pretty and affordable. And having outfitted most of our home with their furniture (newlywed budget here!), it's been very durable so far. My only concern is my apartment turning into an IKEA showroom!

Anyways, so there are a couple of new items in the catalog that are nice, but one coffee table (that I tweeted about yesterday) really caught my eye.

After much searching, I found the IKEA PS Bruse table online. And I was sad to find that it wasn't a butcher-block-metal-legs combo I had initially imagined, but particleboard-veneer. To be honest, I think a DIY version (made from butcher-block or reclaimed wood) would be so much nicer, and cheaper! It seems like it would be an easy one to do!

royal blue

2010-08-16T13:35:00.000-04:00

Has anyone else noticed that royal blue has been the colour of the summer? It's everywhere and I love it! It's bright, fresh, fiery and totally 80s.

Clockwise from top left:
Vintage Mike Bennet Halter Gown from mysouthernspice
Vintage Pumps from CapriciousTraveler
70s Mini Dress from special-needz
Blue Nile Clutch from Adore Vintage

freebie friday: time-telling screen savers

2010-08-13T13:31:00.000-04:00

This week, I thought I'd share with you a couple of screensavers that will have your computer monitor double as a (very cool) clock!

Clockr is a screensaver that uses random digit images from Flickr to display the current time. You can download it here.

Fliqilo is a flip-style clock screensaver. I just love watching the numbers flip over!

Have a great weekend everybody!

the pyrex collective

2010-08-12T14:54:00.000-04:00

I just came across this new blog devoted to the love of Pyrex!
I currently own only one vintage Pyrex bowl, a yellow Cinderella bowl, and I love serving salad in it. It's so cheery!

Also, check out another favourite Pyrex blog of mine, Pyrex Love.

pencil sculptures

2010-08-11T19:14:00.000-04:00

These pencil sculptures by Dalton Ghetti are unbelievable.

See more photos here.

eames hack

2010-08-10T17:19:00.003-04:00

A group of designers transformed an Eames molded plywood chair into a high chair, and an Eames shell chair into a toilet seat. I'm not sure about the high chair, but the toilet seat looks comfy!

'The Eames High Chair and Eames Toilet Seat "are about breaking the status surrounding high design objects. Through physically invasive alterations, these once iconic, elite, forms are liberated from their old, restrained image. The project is not a critique of the Eames, but rather a fulfillment of their original ideals.”' - Eames Hack Project

Found via A Cup of Jo.

the motor maids in fair japan

2010-08-09T13:43:00.000-04:00

I came across this book, The Motor Maids in Fair Japan by Katherine Stokes, at a thrift store over the weekend. I initially picked it up because of its pretty cover and spine.

But then when I opened it up...

...I thought, "Nineteen-twenty-eight!". That totally blew my mind.

Lesson learned: never judge a book by its cover!

freebie friday: printable paper dolls

2010-08-06T15:32:00.002-04:00

I came across a couple of really sweet paper doll sheets that are available for printing! I think they would look adorable cut-out and framed in a kid's room.

Found here, at Altered Artifacts.

Betsy McCall paper dolls. You can download the PDF file here, or browse through the rest of the collection.