July 3, 2012

Birthday wish list dreams

It struck me the other day that -perhaps because I'm the type of person who tends to (irrationally) feel very self-conscious if I voice what I want - in over three years of blogging here, I've never once made a birthday wish list. Well, with my 28th precisely one week away, I figured it was high time I did just that, and in the process helped myself get over being so silly about doing something so gosh darn fun!

The following ten items (ten because my birthday is on the 10th) aren't quite at the fantasy level of a rambling English manor house or a plump, darling pet pony, but they're still big time treats that fall squarely in realm of my frequent daydreams. As such, they are just the types of things that I would be over-the-moon happy to receive for my birthday - or any other day of the year!

 



{Jitterbuggin pinafore dress}



This timelessly beautiful, endlessly versatile dress has been at the top of my fashion wish list for ages now. I rarely wear sleeveless dresses (or shirts) even during the summer months, and feel that my wardrobe is massively lacking a fundamental piece like this that I can layer overtop of all of my favourite vintage blouses and (thin) sweaters, during the summer and each and every other season. I know that if I owned this wonderful Jitterbuggin pinafore dress, it would instantly become one of the most frequently worn garments in my closet.



{Any Lefton Bluebird item}


Bar none one of the most adorable kitchenware lines to ever be produced, the wide-eyed, ultra sweet Lefton Bluebird products have stolen my heart ever since I first learned of them as a youngster. One day, I hope that I'll get to have a precious teacup, teapot, creamer, or other Lefton Bluebird item of my own to treasure.



{Vintage doctor's bag}


Though getting our first car earlier this year has finally allowed me to stop having to haul around a huge purse (there are certain items I need, for medical reasons, to keep with me whenever I go out, but now I can just put them in a separate bag in the trunk), there are still times when - whether for form or function - I like using a larger bag. Few styles are more classic or practical in this regard than a perfectly time-worn vintage doctor's bag (like the one above), which I've been dreaming of owning for eons now.



{I'm a light sleeper, but a

heavy dreamer print}

 


I am an insanely light sleeper, to the point where it's actually quite problematic and disruptive to my ability to stay asleep, which can me feel like something of a sleep outcast at times. The moment I first spotted this I'm a light sleeper print on etsy though, its message spoke to me and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside because it describes me to an absolute tee.



{Singer limited edition sewing machine}

 


You know those items that steal your breath away and leave you speechless the nanosecond you see them? Oui? Well, my lovelies, this limited edition Singer sewing machine did just that for me. Repeatedly. I love it, want it, and would give it pride-of-place in my craft room forever.



{Red Apple Lipstick's gluten-Free lip gloss}

 


As a gal with celiac disease, I have to be exceptionally careful not ingest even the tiniest particle of wheat or gluten, which means that anything that goes on (or near) my mouth has to be gluten-free (including cosmetics). While I've had some degree of success in finding (mostly department store) lipsticks that do not contain gluten, the hunt for a lip gloss has been much trickier.

In fact, for about two years now, I've used Vaseline as a makeshift gloss, because I just kept getting "glutened" from the store bought glosses that I tried. This works alright on bare lips, but Vaseline tends to make lipstick blend, so I rarely put it on top of my lippy. Recently I discovered a US company called Red Apple who specialize in making gluten-free lipstick and lip gloss, and I've been coveting their products - especially their Firestorm gloss ever since, as I have total confidence that I could use them safely.



{Pink saddles shoes} 

 


When I was a little girl, knowing that I was already obsessed with vintage fashion, my paternal grandma sweetly bought me a pair of pink and white saddle shoes (from the States, I believe), which I wore (no joke) every single day thereafter until the point that I simply could not squeeze my feet into them any longer. Thus began a lifelong love of saddle shoes, and my search as a adult for a similar pink and white pair. A US seller called Muffy's stocks them, and believe me, I've been very tempted to order a pair. The only thing that's held me back is their massively high shipping rates to Canada. One day though, I suspect I'll give in and order, then at long last, I'll have my own pink and white saddle shoes again.



{Cath KidstonCountry

Cottage Sewing Basket}

 


Though I don't own anything from her, I've loved Cath Kidston and her immensely pretty products for years now – during each one of which, I've added more and more of her products to my wish list. At the moment, I'm especially smitten with her whimsically darling, super useful Country Cottage Sewing Basket.



{What Shall I Wear? }

 


Have you ever encountered an item that you wanted, yet after a while the hunt for the piece itself at a decent price started to take precedence over just owning the actual item itself? That's how I feel with the classic book, What Shall I Wear?, by fashion designer Claire McCardell. I first got wind of it several years ago, and hunt as I could all over the web for weeks, I couldn't find a copy for less than $100.00. Nowadays $150.00 and up seems to be the going rate. I'm determined to find a copy somewhere, someday for a fraction of that price though, and hope it will be worth the long wait when I do.



{Vivicore Plaid Bouffant Suit Dress}

 


It's no secret that Canada has a natural affinity for winter, which means that it's mighty cold here for at least half the year. During that time however, one still wants to look gorgeously stylish and vintage appropriate, which means that full skirted, medium or long sleeved dresses are an absolute must. I've been pining for one of Vivicore's enchantingly pretty frocks for ages now, and know that this two piece plaid dress set would be just the ticket to stay fabulously fashionable and cozy in all fall and winter long.



♥ ♥ ♥


Wish lists like this are a good thing, not only because they wrangle some of your most coveted items into one neat little spot (handy for sharing with others), but also because you can use them as a shopping list of sorts (if the financial fates on our your side) in the months to come.

I know that my birthday this year is slatted to be a low key one, and I'm totally ok with that, because there have already been so many beautiful gifts, priceless blessing, and positive surprises this year (thanks to our cross country move and new house in B.C.). So many, if not all, of these things will likely carry over to future wish lists.

That said, though, if the sewing machine is reading this, I know you know where I live! Smile


29 comments:

  1. That bluebird egg cup! oh my word I LOVE it. I'm a sucker for plaid too so I would happily have that last dress on my list tto.

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  2. Let me be the first to wish you an early Happy Birthday. Mine is the 17th but I will be 31 years older than you :-(. Love Cath Kidston also, but cannot afford.

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    1. Thank you very much, Charlotte, joyful preemptive birthday wishes to you, too, dear lady!

      ♥ Jessica

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  3. great list! I looove that sewing machine I will have to bookmark it, mine is 1980's old and doesn't sew all to well hmmm.... you would be jealous my mom has the lefton blue bird cookie jar and salt and pepper shakers, they are hard to find while thrifting but oh soo cute!

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    1. Oooohhh, you're completely right, I can't help but be a little envious of your mom's fabulously cute collection of Lefton pieces. At the same time though, not really being the jealous type at heart, I'm very happy for her that she has some of these stellar blue bird items in her home (and that you both get to enjoy seeing them).

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. I love many of your birthday wish list items, 1} being jitterbuggin...I would love to have her pinafore or one of her play suits. They're just darling.
    2} I actually have saddle shoes like that on my ebay list, really inexpensive too. I'll have to give you the links.
    3}I adore that plaid suit. I have no suits. :-( I really need to thrift one sometime.

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  5. Here's pink saddle shoe one {psst you can get other colors, too}
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/370554443404?var=640017131656&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

    Here's saddle shoe #2
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/350482726821?var=620018115132&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_5460wt_1324

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    1. How fantastically cool, thank you very much for the links, Sean, that was extremely nice of you!!!

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Oh noes, I just checked and they're out of my size in both. I shalln't give up faith yet at all though, and plan to check back on both listing numerous times a week from here on out. The shipping to Canada is rather high on one (nearly $40.00), but the over all price (shoes plus shipping) isn't that bad (if you look it in that light), so I'd still likely order them if they got them in stock in my size again.

      Huge thanks once more for sharing those links - tons of appreciative hugs coming your way!

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. Oh, that plaid dress is amazing! Really, everything is. Here's to hoping you get something from your wishlist! (Hmm, perhaps I should do a list like this near my birthday...)

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  7. I'm completely with you on the Saddle shoes and the sewing machine. I actually squee'd when I saw them, and now people around me office are looking at me strangely... Oh well. Have you tried sewing a dress like the plaid one? Living in Ontario (formerly from BC), I know what you mean about the cold, and I can't wait until the winter fabrics come out so I can make a bunch of warm winter dresses. I hope you manage to get at least one of your birthday wish list tiems!
    Cheers!
    ~Paige

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    1. Hi sweet Paige, thank you very much - I'm hoping that maybe one of them will come true, too - if not they'll get carried over to my Christmas wish list :)

      No, I haven't tried sewing a dress like that plaid one before, have you? I actually have very little sewing experience (pretty much just hand sewing and home ec class eons ago), so it might be awhile before I'm anywhere near a good enough seamstress to try my hand at a dress like that gorgeous plaid one. Hopefully someday though! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. It is on my to-do list! I'm hoping to put together a dress with a warm black top, and a red, hunter plaid skirt. I'll keep you apprised of my progress!

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    3. Please do, darling gal, that sounds fantastic! Hunter plaid has always been a fave of mine, too.

      ♥ Jessica

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  8. Wow these are some great items to add to a wish list. I really like the cottage sewing basket and the saddle shoes. I've been wanting a pair of red and white saddle shoes for the longest time.
    My husband is BIG on wish lists. He says that this way he doesn't get random stuff people pick up last minute. He would get the random-est DVDs ever. Stuff he never even saw.
    Well I hope you have a great birthday. Sometimes low key is best. Spend it with the one you love and it will always be special.

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    1. Hi dear gal, thank you very much for you comment and lovely birthday wishes. You're completely right about time spent with loved ones being all it takes to make a birthday a fantastic one.

      Fingers crossed you're able to get a pair of red and white saddle shoes one day (I'd love a pair in the fun colour combo, too). Be sure to let me know (with pics!) if/when you do.

      ♥ Jessica

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  9. The more you post about saddle shoes, the more I think I need some. The pink and white ones are lovely. I like my heels, but because of my slipped discs I have to limit wearing them (and then suffer afterwards anyway) so I am keen to find flat shoes that also look pretty.

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    1. You definitely need some!!! (Yes, I like to enable people when it comes to buying and wearing vintage :D)

      If you love saddle shoes but need to wear a flatter heal, perhaps these classic cuties (from Modcloth) would be right up your alley: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/shoes-flats/who-could-be-saddle-shoes

      J. Crew (little known fact, I have a secret preppy side) used to stock these amazing Oxford ballet flats (http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/ballets/PRDOVR~36226/36226.jsp) that looked a lot like saddle shoes, but they sold out a while ago (long before I could ever save up enough pennies to buy a pair!). Such a shame, as I think they might have worked well for you. If I ever find another pair like that online again, I'll let you know right away.

      ♥ Jessica

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  10. That's the best wishlist ever! My birthday is in three weeks come to think of it....

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  11. Yah for a birthday list!

    I love the pinafore/blouse and the Vivacore dress!

    I had never heard of the book before. What all is in it? $150.00 is a high price for a book!

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    1. Thank you, hon! I know it's that utterly crazy for one little book from the 1950s?! I've never had the pleasure of flipping through a copy, but my understanding is that its chocked full of fashion and style advice from American designer Claire McCardell, whose looks of the 40s and 50s I've always been a big fan of.

      ♥ Jessica

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  12. I'm so glad you did this! Wasn't it fun!!! Omg the sewing box is soooo you and the machine needs to find its way to your house asap-I agree hehehe You made a great list-loved it all but most importantly I am happy you had fun making the list!!! Hugs!! xox

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    1. Awww, thank you very much, dear Bunny, yes, it was a complete and total blast! Can't believe I waited almost 28 years to make my first official birthday wish list - they'll definitely have to be a new one each year from here on out! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  13. A perfect birthday list. I hope you score at least one thing from it!

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  14. What a wonderful list! In my fantasy world, I'll just order them all and have them delivered to you in time for you birthday.

    Oh, my, that sewing machine!!

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    1. That is so incredibly sweet and thoughtful. Thank you dearly, precious friend, that sentiment means a great deal to me.

      ♥ Jessica

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  15. I love the blouse underneath your pinafore. I love the idea of a birthday wish list. I am toying with the idea of having a Christmas Registry for my family to select my presents by handing out my etsy 💜 list?!? I'm not sure how that would go down but it would save them spending money on things from normal retailers.

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    1. I say go for it! While there is something lovely about the element of surprise that times of gift giving can bring, there's nothing pleasant about receiving a bevy of items that you don't like and/or have zero use for, and for that reason I'm 110% behind the creating and sharing of wish lists.

      ♥ Jessica

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  16. Hello! I just discovered your blog via The Fictionista and I am now OBSESSED with that sewing machine! I just received a new one for my birthday but I'm wishing I'd requested this one instead! Love your blog, following you now! xx

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