Happy first Stellaversary!

What on earth, you may very rightfully ask, is “Stellaversary”? Well, it just so happens that the word Stellaversary is a completely homemade term I created as a way of marking the date when we first brought our darling cat, Stella home. As today, the 23rd of November, is the one year anniversary of when she came into our lives, I am hereby proclaiming this date to the first annual Stellaversary!

Though both my husband and I had the pleasure of growing up in homes with pets, as a couple, Stella is the first animal that we can jointly call our own. We’re both massive animal lovers and had known from day one that we wanted a pet (or two...), but for the first few years of our relationship our lives were in too much of a state of flux (several moves – including overseas, waiting for life altering decisions from Immigration Canada, etc) for us to have responsibly taken on a pet.

Last year, for the first time ever in our life together, things began to settle down, (positive) outcomes were finally reached, and we knew that at long last it was OK for us to consider bringing home a pet. We didn’t set out on this exact date one year ago with the intention of bringing home a cat, we’d actually gone out to buy a dining room table, of all things! Well, we succeeded in finding a beautiful one of those (on sale!), and afterwards continued bopping around to various places in that part of town.

As the evening wore on we found ourselves at a PetSmart which just happened to be one of the locations that includes an in-house animal rescue adoption centre. All of the cats at PetSmart are ones that have found their way their from animal shelters (such as the SPCA) and who are looking for loving “forever” families of their own. Both my husband and I are huge supporters of adopting shelter animals, so when we saw two adorable, 11 week old kittens staring up at us through the viewing glass of the cat corner (of the store), we instantly asked if we could look at and hold them.

Though we would have loved dearly to be able to have brought them both home with us, we knew that it would be much more economically responsible for just get one cat. The pair that batted their sweet golden eyes at us were brother and sister, of whom we decided to adopt the girl, Stella (at the time she was the calmer of the two, a trait that we thought would make her a good house cat – as we live in a high rise apartment and she wouldn’t, and isn’t, allowed outside...little did we know then that she had a secret rambunctious side that would put the Energizer bunny to shame!).

After speaking with the person in charge of the cats (who told us that the kittens were feral strays, but had no further information about their background other than their age), we loading up a shopping cart (at PetSmart) with everything (and then some) that a young kitten might ever want or need, paid for our kitty supplies, and with hearts bursting to the breaking point with love and excitement, brought our new kitten home.

For the first few days she was very, very shy (she camped out under the sofa for the most part), yet after a little while our new baby cat warmed up to us. We named her Stella (the Italian word for star, as her grey fur and sparkling yellow eyes both reminded me of stars in the night sky) and suddenly we came to realize how very much our lives had been missing without this wonderful animal in it.

Jump ahead a year and Stella is every bit as adorable today as she was back then. Full of spunk and energy, she’s a bright, inquisitive, massively energetic cat who loves to run around the apartment, exploring ever nook and cranny, play with her (plethora of) toys, sleep in her kitty condo (a gift from my parents to their “grandkitty”), and curl up with my us from time to time for a good snuggle.

Stella is not the most “lap cat” of felines, but for all her playfulness, she is exceedingly sweet and often seems to know when I’m feeling extra rough health wise. On such days she’ll curl up with me in bed or on the sofa as I watch TV, purring loudly and nestling her little grey face into against me. Whether she knows it or not, Stella is a therapy pet. Though it was us that saved her, in so many ways she has also rescued us.

She is also a joy, a blessing, and a truly wonderful animal. It’s nearly impossible to fathom how life would be today if we’d not brought Stella home. Though we may very have adopted a different cat at some point, they would not have been our darling Stella. Just as with children, no two pets ever exactly alike, and when it comes to wonderful kitties we could not have found a more darling pet than our sweet Stella.


{1. Even the best of us must rest sometime, 2. A vision of cuteness, 3. "Mommy, mommy", purred Stella, "I saw another one, it's up there, look!", 4. I'm not vicious! You just caught me mid-yawn :), 5. Contemplating everything that flutters, flaps or flies, 6. Pink is the love you discover, 7. Stella wishes everyone a sunny Sunday, 8. Stella ponders whether or not she should steal yet another strawberry from the "human's" curious display of temptation, 9. Sunshine makes me sleepy, 10. What is this strange, warm, wonderful light?, 11. Reach for your dreams, 12. Such a very serious look, for one so young, 13. I'm so precious. Twelve images, to represent each delightful month that we’ve had her, plus one more to symbolize my love for Stella, make up this mosaic that shows the many expressions and moods of our precious grey tabby. All photos were taken by me and are from my Flickr stream.}

My dear friends, please join me in celebrating one year of a life filled with the pitter-patter of four tiny paws, and in the merriment of my endless love for my cat, as we mark the first ever Stellaversary!

Dog Days of Summer

Caniculares dies, said the ancient Romans of the hottest and seemingly longest, most drawn out days of the year, in their Latin tongue. The term for these scorching days hailing from the presence of Sirus, the “dog star”, which is most visible in the night sky during the summer. Clearly humanity has been labelling the high noon phase of summer for ages; we now know such times of the year as dog days. They are those days that become drowsy weeks of perpetual warmth, the longing for autumn, winter – anything but the present heat consuming one’s mind.

There is a beauty to such sweltering days, as I’ve touched on before on the pages of this blog, singing the praises of the wondrous elements of summer that really cannot be replicated anytime else (for those who live in four season climate). Something else besides beauty and nostalgia lives in such languid, boiling hot days, too, or more aptly perhaps, in their name: inspiration.

In this case, the inspiration behind this post is a merging of the last few immensely sizzling days (or weeks, depending on where you live) or summer mixed with vintage images and items featuring the term's namesake, dogs!

Yes, puppies of all sorts are on the agenda for this post, so prepare yourself for an onslaught of cuteness, an overload of adorableness and more doggies than you can shake a stick at (which of course said pups would want to go fetch, anyways!).

Flickr yielded up a pack of both fashionable (such as magazine spreads and the perpetually lovely Audrey Hepburn) and cuddly dog themed images from the 40s and 50s, some of which I compiled into the following inspiration mosaic.



{1. Audrey Hepburn, 2. Vintage Coloring Book Puppy Dogs, 3. 1950's fashion, 4. dog apron, 5. A Girl and her dog, 6. Ken-L-Ration ad, 1950's, 7. Puppies! Book cover, 8. lots of dogs " Mister Dog ", 9. two dogs and a lead, 1930s, 10. Junior Bazaar Cover 1954, 11. Dog on the swing about 1959, 12. pooch, 13. Rummaging through the American Fantasy.}


While the poodle may reign supreme when it comes to the most popular pup of the 50s, the truth is that, then as in now, a bounty of dogs adorned all manner of things during the mid-twentieth century. Below is a selection of such items ( please note, all prices are in US dollars) which are sure to have you sitting at attention, ready to go retrieve any one of them for your own collection :D





{As if spun from fine sugar, this delicate looking gold toned poodle brooch would look so fantastic on array of sweaters, cardigans, blouses and coats. $22.00 from etsy seller Paleorama.}



{A snugly pair of spaniel pups poking out of hat boxes grace this beautiful red vintage apron. Each of the dogs has a bead and a sequin on its eyes for an extra dose of whimsical charm and sparkle. $34.00 from etsy seller Maiden Rapture Vintage.}



{“What happened, Lassie? Did Timmy fall in a well again?” Where would the 50s and 60s – not to mention poor Timmy - be without the world’s most famous collie? Add a dose of Lassie’s timeless heroism and gentle nature to your bookshelf with this classic Little Golden children’s book from 1956. $7.00 from etsy seller The Bakers Daughter Too.}



{Take one look into those immensely soulful eyes and tell me this isn’t just about the cutest piece of cocker spaniel pottery you’ve ever seen in your life! Made in Japan and hailing from the 50s, this pair of pups is actually a plant holder, but you could certainly use it on its own as a decoration or fill it with anything you fancy. $25.00 from etsy seller Anne’s Accumulations.}



{A spunky trio of red terriers top this vintage celluloid pin, reminding me ever-so-adorably of the famous children’s storybook character, Clifford the Big Red Dog. $16.00 from etsy seller Carmen and Ginger.}



{Scottie dogs were another extremely popular breed of pup during the 40s and 50s, both as pets and on all manner of fashion and decor items, such as this folksy pair of wonderfully cute wooden bookends. $28.00 (for the pair) from etsy seller Dovely Sells.}



{Sitting atop a backdrop of wheat hued gingham, oodles of adorable golden cocker spaniels call this vintage “semi-circle” skirt home. $46.00 from etsy seller Maiden Rapture Vintage.}



{Cocker spaniels also seem to abound on items from the middle of the twentieth century, the apron above and this charmingly sweet pin-up print from a vintage calendar (entitled “triple threat”), both feature these playful, friendly pups. $15.00 for etsy seller Paprchas}



{The focus is on Lady in this colourfully and prettily illustrated 1954 Disney children’s book featuring on the most beloved cartoon dogs of all time. $4.25 from etsy seller Vintage Vice’s Paper Emporium.}



{This sweet little pup looks as though she could be anything from a golden retriever to a cocker spaniel, something about the shape of the ears even reminds me of an Irish setter. Whatever breed she’s supposed to be, she is cute as can be would make such a nice little decorative figurine anywhere around your home. $5.99 from etsy seller Vintage Delights for U.}



{Where would a roundup of vintage doggy themed pieces be without an authentic, straight from the 1950s poodle skirt? This beauty features a white poodle on a gold leash set atop a solid navy blue background of lightweight denim, and would be absolutely perfect for any lover of full, circle or poodle skirts! $45.00 from etsy seller Sally Marie.}



{While at first glance this wonderfully illustrated vintage tin looks like a can of dog food, it is in fact a coin bank! So novel and fun – and in pretty good condition, considering its age, from the look of things. $18.00 from etsy seller Souvenir.}



{Puppy themed pins were clearly quite in vogue during the 40s and 50s, in putting together this post I came across at least 10 on etsy alone, and am sure that eBay and other vintage jewely sellers would yield plenty more. Up for grabs here is a trio of silver and red hued poodle brooches that would take best in fashion show any day! :D $28.00 from Planet Claire Vintage.}



{The cuteness factor that's present in this delightful pair of vintage salt and pepper shakers is through the roof! Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen cuter puppy themed S&P containers in all my days. $19.99 (for the pair) from etsy seller The Toad House.}



{Cheerful silver-grey poodles sporting adorable red bows adorn this vintage linen tea towel, which the seller describes as being in very good shape. I don’t think I could bring myself to use this as an actual towel (it’s survived this long, why tatter it up now?), but I would be happy to hang it in my kitchen as a decoration. $22.00 from etsy seller Call Me Jasper.}



{A second puppy themed, tie-waist apron – this one sporting beautifully hand cross stitched poodles – rounds out our trove of vintage dog themed items. $10.00 from etsy seller Vintage Paper Girl.}


Dogs have always been a perennial favourite theme, they appear in scads of classic (and modern) paintings, play lead or supporting roles in movies, books, and TV shows; and have truly been one of man's - and woman's – best friends for countless years. The star Sirus inspired the ancients to call the toastiest days of summer “dog days”, but there’s no reason why an adorable vintage pup can’t find its way into your wardrobe or decor all year round.

Whether you have a lifetime of treasured pups to recall fondly, are a first time dog owner, or simply adore animals of all sorts, it’s handy to know that vintage pieces bedecked with pups (often at very reasonable prices) are easy to chase down and even easier to fall in love with – just like a real dog!

Seven Interesting Things (about me) Kreativ Blogger Award

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the honour of getting to know one of the sweetest souls you could ever hope to encounter, a creative and kind blogger by the name of GypsyFox. Since our first online encounter, Gypsy and I have shared many wonderful conversations and discovered that we have numerous things in common. She has also graced my blog with an incredibly stunning graphic (visible on the lower right hand side bar of this site) and created a stunning birthday graphic for me last week as well.

As if those kind acts weren’t enough, on Wednesday she bestowed a delightful award upon my blog called the “Kreativ Blogger” award. The premise of this accolade is that bloggers who receive it must list seven little known facts about themselves and then pass along the award to some of their fellow “Kreativ Bloggers”.

Before I push my perpetual shyness aside to muster up a few snippets of info you may not already know about me, I must extend my very heartfelt thanks to Gyspy not only for this awesome award, but for being such a dear friend!

♥ Seven little facts about moi ♥


{Illustration from a 1944 children's book, via Paula Writh's lovely Flickr stream.}


1.) I am really, really eclectic! I have such a never-ending stream of diverse interests and I am quite convinced that even if I had all the energy, money and time in the world, I would only begin to scratch the surface of spending time enjoying everything that I find fascinating and/or that brings me bliss.

2.) I met my husband, the light of my life, joy of my world, online in the spring of 2004 and we’ve been together for over five years now. I like to say that it was “love at first email”.

3.) There are number of different things that I collect (which naturally ties into point #1) – from Japanese miniatures to Girl Guide related items, yet I despise clutter with a passion and am the polar opposite of a pack rat.

4.) Paraphrasing my sweet husband, to call me a girly-girl would be a gross understatement. For as long as my memories stretch back, I have been consumed by all things feminine, beautiful and elegant. Whether my outfit on a given day reflects my love of vintage fashion or not, if I’ve stepping even so much as one pinkie toe out the door, I will be dressed femininely. To doing anything less would be akin to being sacrilegious (to my own personal aesthetic) in my mind.

5.) I am a dyed-in-the-wool homebody with the slightest underlying spark of wanderlust. It seems like a strange contradiction and yet it works perfectly well, as it often means I’m up for moving across the country (or world) and setting up home someplace new and exciting.

6.) My favourite parts of my own body are my small hands, green eyes, and slender wrists. (Don’t generally mind my ever-so-slightly pear-ish hour glass figure either, it makes 50s styles a dream to wear but on the other hand does rule out ever looking like a convincing Flapper girl ;D)

7.) I absolutely adore animals of all types, but have always found myself inexplicably drawn to the slightly “offbeat” ones in particular (for example manatees, platypuses, ferrets, hedgehogs, and anything that’s an albino, are all favourites).



There are so, so many astounding blogs I follow that I never feel as though I can just select a mere handful to extend a blog award to. Should your name not appear on this list, please know that you are a Kreativ Blogger through and through, and that by absolute all means you are more than welcome to give yourself this award, from me, as well!



{If you’d like to share this award, please save the image below to your own computer or online image hosting site and distribute to whomever you desire.}


According to Gypsy’s post, the following rules are suggested for the Kreativ Blogger award:

• Thank the person who nominated you for the award
• Copy the logo and place it on your blog
• Link to the person who nominated you for this award
• List seven things about yourself that people might find interesting
• Nominate and post links to the seven Kreativ Bloggers you nominate
• Leave a comment on each of the blogs (or otherwise notify the recipients), letting them know they have been nominated


Should you the fancy doing so, following seven people are welcome to pass along the Kreativ Blogger award. I thank each of you deeply for the inspiration and beauty your blogs continually bring into my life, you are definitely all very Kreativ Bloggers!


1.) Andi B. Goode

2.) ~*Just Add Glitter and Stir*~

3.) Casey’s Elegant Musings

4.) Tattered Saints

5.) Fashion After Forty

6.) Cpaphil Vintage Postcards

7.) The Vintage Kitten





{Adorable vintage thank you card from Look Homeward, Harlot’s Flickr stream.}

Warmest of thanks again to you, Gypsy dear, you are such a wonderful, talented and inspirational person! Despite being reclusive to dish about myself (in general), I had a blast putting together this post and am really touched that you see me as a kreativ blogger!

Hello Vintage Kitty

It's no secret that I'm a huge animal lover, and when you pair a cute critter with vintage illustrations, I fall even further in love. As my kitty, Stella, will no doubt attest to, cats are one of my favourite animals.

For centuries cats have been a popular subject in art and advertisement, and in the mid-twentieth century they really took a hip spin. The word "cat" became common slang for a person, particularly a man, often paired with the word "cool". And in the art world cats were becoming very cool animals indeed. Stylized and streamlined, these adorable creatures were sometimes depicted as looking almost futuristic, with wide almond eyes, large heads and lengthy tails. I adore mid-century cats and couldn't help but smile happily when I spotted a 1950s Zwicky yarn advertisement on one of the best vintage advertisement blogs around, Found in Mom's Basement.


{Sweet, sassy and stylish vintage kitty ad discovered via Found In Mom’s Basemen.}

Too awesome to merely admire, I had to repost the ad here for all my readers who also dig vintage kitties to see. Which in turn got set me on the prowl for other wonderful retro inspired cat themed items, below is a selection of the neatest ones I encountered today.


{I have a lovely beige, green and pink floral print shower curtain in my bathroom at the moment, but if I ever feel like a big change in decor, I’d be very tempted to shell out $19.99US for this wonderful vinyl shower curtain with its big black kitty.}


{Sip some milk or any other beverage you fancy from this lovely kitty shaped mug from ModCloth for $23.99US.}


{While it’s admittedly a little after the Christmas season, I think this mint tin is adorable and certainly vintage themed enough to use all year round. If you want to keep the scent of cat nip off your breath :D, pick up a tin of these mints for $3.25US}.


{Reusable totes are always an eco-friendly move that keeps the thrifty spirit alive. This precious one sports a truly great message that I fully support, having gotten my cat from a shelter. If you’re in favour of promoting kitty adoption too, grab one of these fabric totes for $14.99 to haul home kitty food in.}


{Who wouldn’t want to powder their nose with one of these darling kitty bedecked compacts? At $7.99US a piece, they are priced low enough that you might be tempted to pick up all three colour options.}.


{How incredibly cool is this set of four 6x6 inch prints from artist Kerry Beary on Etsy? Super cool! If you want to add a wallop of retro chic cat style to your pad, nab this set of prints for $65.00US. Kerry Beary's shop is teaming with other wonderful retro kitty prints too.}


{Carry around all of your favourite (kitty or otherwise) toys and necessities in this charming black, white and pink bowling bag style purse. With a hint of rockabilly style and plenty of coolness, this bag is really a steal at $24.99 – and if a bowling bag isn’t your favourite style of purse, a longer “baguette” version is also available.}


{This wonderfully cute 18 by 18 inch black cat cushion almost caused me to bust out the plastic, but I’m trying to be good and not buy anything unnecessary at the moment. Though at $20.99US it probably wouldn’t be too hard to justify the need for a throw pillow this amazing!}

All these marvelous pieces have got me purring with happiness! Have you ever encountered any vintage or retro kitty items that you really thought were the cat's meow?