Five for Friday {November 20, 2009}

...A week buzzing with excitement both on the blog front (highlights included the announcement of a terrific giveaway for a beautiful set of Jessie Willcox Smith vintage art prints, and the creation of Chronically Vintage’s first ever homemade blog award) and in my everyday life filled these past few days. As Saturday and Sunday approach I’m eager to run a few errands (chiefly grocery shopping) and also slip into “tranquility mode”, play catch-up with my inbox, watch a few favourite television shows, finalize my Christmas card list, and wonder if the pea soup thick blanket of fog outside at the moment is going to lead to snow before the weekend is out...

♥ ♥ ♥

{To help keep you on time, right down the precise minute, in charming vintage style, all through the holiday season}

{Sleek, beautiful retro styling pulsates through this sea form, almost winter mint, green hued wall clock (which runs on one single AA battery). Whether for your own pad, or to give as a gift, this time piece is sure to garner scores of compliments. “Atomic Age” clock, $37.99 (US), from ModCloth.}


{To add a elegant, yet playfully whimsical, splash of colour and beauty to your vintage hat collection}



{Wrap your head up as prettily as a Christmas present in this pale green pill box hat adorned with a luscious, delightfully red organza rose. This ladylike chapeau would work as wonderfully through the winter holiday season as it would at any spring garden party, summer picnic, or autumn fête. “Original Chartreuse 1950s pillbox topper”, measuring 21 inches around, $28.00 (US) from etsy seller Rage of the Age.}


{To bestow the most gorgeous dose of antique French elegance to the powder room – or any spot in your home}


{One look at this sublimely pretty set of enamel bowls, pale pink roses and a dove gracing their exteriors, and it’s all you can do not suddenly wish that you were back in nineteenth century France. Set of two bowls (a ten inch “Fine Lotions” and a six inch “Fines Soaps”), $18.00 (US) for the pair from Painted White.}


{To make for inner child smile from one of life’s simple, and entirely fun, pleasures – doodling with chalk}


{Whether you hurry outside before the sidewalk becomes plastered in snow or opt to work on an indoor chalkboard, for a mere £0.95 (UK cents) this adorably illustrated box of twelve sticks of chalk, available from DotComGiftShop, is sure brighten any day.}


{To savour the heady, sensual, soothing flavours of Christmas all year long}


{Warm spirits and bodies alike with this enchantingly beautiful, decidedly art deco inspired, tin of Damman Christmas tea. Available in two blends: White (an elegant and lively grouping of white tea with blueberry petals, almonds, cherries, and a dash of spices and ginger), and Green (green tea paired with orange peel, apple, vanilla-orange, spices, and almond). Each tin of Damman tea (which has been produced in France since 1925) is $16.99 (US) from Touch of Europe.}


As a special sixth entry of sorts for this edition of Five for Friday, I wanted to bring another stellar giveaway to your attention that’s going right this very moment over at marvelous blog Lagelle, the Art of accessorizing.

A fellow vintage fashion enthusiast as well as a skilled artisan, Lagelle creates adorable hats and scarves for ladies and girls, in a wide variety of delicious hues and endearingly sweet, often very old fashioned feeling, designs. If you’d like to have a go at your chance to win one of Lagelle’s beautiful hats, be sure to swing by this post, and follow the instructions there to be entered in this lovely giveaway.

Wishing you each a resplendent weekend (and for my American friends, a great countdown to Thanksgiving) that’s ripe with happiness, serenity, and oodles of fun!

Five for Friday {October 16, 2009}

...Half a month exactly until All Hallows Eve arrives and with each day that ticks by I feel my excitement mounting. We are short on holidays in this country if you ask me, and even thought Halloween isn’t a stat (much as it should be, what child – let alone your own inner youngster – wouldn’t love having the day off?), it still counts as a holiday in my books, which is all the more reason I jump at the chance to celebrate it. This weekend is for decorating and giving thought to your costume (if you haven’t done so already), for raking massive, mountainous piles of tissue thin leaves – and should you fancy, jumping to them them. Two days to unwind in an easy chair with a good book and the fading, but still lemon curd hued, sunlight caressing your face. A time to mingle activity with serenity, and perhaps for an outing to the nearest pumpkin patch, too...

♥ ♥ ♥


{To house all manner of treasures, be they spooky or sweet}


{Glass cloches have been enjoying a moment for the past few years in the areas of home decor and holiday decoration, but the truth is these curvaceous, clear beauties have existed and been put to both practical and decorative use for centuries. If, like myself, you’re a cloche fan, Halloween is a particularly excellent time to place your favourite or most eerie of items under glass. Large glass cloche (also available in medium and small sizes), £19.95 (UK pounds), from Pale and Interesting.}


{To inspire the accessories portion of your wardrobe this season}


{Right around the start of September I spied this delightful, autumn hued vintage fashion shot on the pages of Tales of a Retro-Modern Housewife’s blog and instantly found myself enamoured with it. I love how amazingly the accessories this pretty blonde woman clutches look when set against a sleek and simple black sweater, and also that we get to see paisley during the 50s, for it is a pattern that is often associated much more with the following two decades. While fall is still in full swing, I wanted to share this inspiring and understatedly glamorous photo with you all. Image from Tale of a Retro-Modern Housewife.}


{To help ensure you’ve carved out room on your menu for festively shaped desserts}


{There is something undeniably old fashion looking about this beautiful, intricately carved baking pan that makes it lovely enough to display – though I bet it would hard not to keep it in constant use, just look at the immensely cute pumpkin shaped mini loaves/cupcakes/muffins it churns out! Non-stick cast iron aluminum pumpkin baking tray, $32.95 (US) from Crate and Barrel.}


{To shine a light on the beauty of a time-honoured, traditional way to see in the dark}


{There is no denying that in conjunction with my adoration for all manner of vintage related things, I have an intense passion for antiques as well. Fortunately the two are often able to cohabitate and mingle together marvelously, in both the worlds of home decor and fashion. Recently this rather wonderful antique looking silver candle holder with built-in match box, popped up in my online travels and I’ve been smitten with it ever since. As the days draw shorter and chillier, the desire to put candles to good use – especially once the sun has set – is ever-present for me and this candle holder would go a long way towards ensuring a flickering flame of light is never far away. Pewter “Go-To-Bed” candle holder, $29.95 from Victorian Trading Co..}


{To pair with accents of orange on Halloween and then wear, joyfully, any other day of the year you desire}


{A modern day seamstress created the sweeping design of this chicly elegant black dress, which reminded me instantly of something Audrey Hepburn might have worn or of the type of dresses seen in numerous fashion spreads from the mid to late fifties. A deeply timeless piece, this gently fitted, breathable knit frock features a silk screened deep turquoise band around the neckline and a femininely lovely fuller skirt. “Renaissance Dress in Black”, available in sizes XS to XL, $149.00 (US), from etsy seller a Resurrection of Romance.}


My deepest of heartfelt of thanks goes out to everyone who commented on my post this morning about my sister’s birthday. Your fantastically kind wishes mean so very much to us both!

May you all have a sublimely lovely, fun-filled autumn weekend!