We’ve been experiencing major technical difficulties!

My sweetest dears, I must extend an absolutely gigantic apology to you all for quite literally falling off the face of the earth for the last few days. As I mentioned in my post on Friday night, we’d been having some internet connection trouble that day. At the time I was inclined to chalk it up to poor weather affecting our line, but by the time the issue hadn’t resolved itself the next morning, we knew that something was up and gave our internet provider a couple of phone calls. However, nothing showed up amiss on their end of things, squarely indicating the problem was on our side. Knowing that, my husband quickly tracked down and diagnosed the issue: our wireless router had given up the ghost completely out of the blue, leaving us without the ability to connect to the internet!

Though The Mister has his work computer, our home set-up is my only lifeline to the internet, and with it gone I had no way to explain to you guys what was going on (aka, why I’d suddenly gone MIA). Fortunately the replacement router (it's a different brand than the old one) that we ordered arrived by express courier this afternoon and my husband hooked it up immediately after work. Everything appears to be working splendidly with the new wireless router, and I’m hopeful that it will remain fully operational for a long time to come!


{Had we not gotten a new router by the end of this week, I ready to give serious consideration to posting blog updates via carrier pigeon! :-D Jokes aside, I’m both thrilled and greatly relieved to have our internet back up and working again! Vintage photo via Arcane du Fresne.}


I really wasn’t expecting to take another break anytime soon from blogging (let alone from the entire web!), and this impromptu hiatus really caught me off guard. Still, no sense in fretting over what’s said and done now! As things stand tonight, I have every intention of writing and posting the first edition of “Vintage Fashionista Friday” tomorrow, and blogging as per usual in the coming weeks.

I realize this post is a bit short, but as soon as we were connected to the internet again, I knew that I had to make my very first act (seriously, I haven’t even started to sift through the 500+ new emails that my inbox says have accumulated since last Friday) had to be to write and touch base with all of you.

Again, I’m very sorry for suddenly vanishing, it goes against my nature so much and I really hope that it doesn’t happen again anytime soon (or better yet, ever!). I’ve missed each and every one of your immensely, and truly hope that life has been beautiful on your side over the past few days as we've kicked off the month of March.

Five for Friday {November 27, 2009}

...Less than a month before the magical jingle of sleigh bells once again fills the air, still plenty of time to get everything done – or so at least it seems on paper! One strategy I find works well is to try and check off as many of your big tasks three or four weeks ahead of time as you can. Shop and wrap gifts, bake and freeze goodies, decorate your home, trim the tree, and send out your cards in the coming days, thus helping to relieve the amount of things to do long before the 25th rolls into clear sight. Some of those very activities are filling my upcoming weekend, coupled with catching up on this week’s wonderful blog comments, and devoting plenty of time to just relaxing and savouring the last few inklings of autumn that remain....


♥ ♥ ♥


{To jazz up any wall in your house with a hefty dose of
gorgeous vintage art}


{Sporting a classic burlesque poster entitled “Casiono de Paris”, this 24 inch wide by 32 inch long canvas stretches across a wooden frame, ready to be hung anyplace you please – from the bedroom to the powder room. Its sultry image of a pretty redheaded dancer and serene pallet of night time hues is sure to look breath-taking in any corner of the house. Vintage print on canvas, $90.35 (Cnd) from Overstock.com.}


{To add sizzle and grace to your holiday party wardrobe}


{In cool blue tones that channel pure serenity and elegance, this chic 1950s floral brocade evening dress is as charming as it is timeless. Perfect for everything from office Christmas parities to New Year’s Eve celebrations, this dress would become a perpetual favourite in your closet year after year. 1950s blue brocade dress, fits up to a 39” bust/33” waist, £40.00 (UK pounds) from online vintage seller, Martha’s Closet.}


{To keep thoughts of spring, with birds melodically chirping from the blossom clad branches, close to your heart all year long}


{A sweet little bluebird perches atop a gold tone branch in this lovely and playfully enjoyable necklace that is sure to make all who come in contact with it burst into a smile (after all, how can you not love a cute vintage looking birdie?) “Necklace of Happiness” metal bird charm and chain, $14.99 (US), from ModCloth.}


{To ensure you have plenty of extra seating whenever company drops by}


{Looking as though it could have traveled through time straight from the counter of a 1950s malt shop, this sleek chrome and turquoise bar stool would make a welcome addition to many a vintage lover’s home decor. “Blue Retro Bar Stool”, £85.00 (pounds), from Dotcomgiftshop.}


{To carry the necessary “must haves” and assorted sundries of everyday life in charming vintage style}


{This beautiful little woven wicker handbag in a deeply classic navy blue hue would look just as amazing during the summer with a sundress as it would nestled against your favourite wool skirt all winter long – and at the bargain price of just $15.00 (US), how can you not find yourself drawn to this vintage purse? “Le Amiche” 1950s or early 60s handbag available from etsy seller Thirteen Bees Vintage.}


How are you each on this lovely last Friday in November, sweet dears? I’m busy as a bee, whipping up a chocolate coconut custard cake (say that five times fast! :D), doing a good once over of the apartment before the weekend (I try to tidy every day, but especially like things to be neat on the weekend, when my husband and I are both home, so that we can just relax and not think about what chores might need to be done), and addressing my holiday cards to go out in the mail (hopefully no later than the start of this coming week).

The snow has held off here so far, despite the fact that it’s looked as though a blizzard could burst forth from the heavens at any moment all week. With the anticipation of snow in the air, the approaching holiday season seems all the more festive, and has me in a jolly mood!

I really hope that you’re also in happy spirits, and that this weekend will be a gorgeous and very fun filled one for everybody!

Vintage fashion is going to the birds :)

Undoubtedly one of the most common search terms I plug into etsy each week is “1950s dresses” (1940s dresses and 1950s skirts follow close behind). By and large I do this both out of personal interest and in the hopes of discovering finds that I think my readers will enjoy.

One such recent search brought up not one, not two, but three frocks all sporting a bird theme, which somehow seemed rather fitting for this time of the year (I’ve noticed “momentary trends” like this before within the scope of broad search terms and am always intrigued when such things occur). Further digging unearthed even more delightful vintage items of clothing and jewelry with avian themes to them, all of which are worth chirping about! :)

As a society we often associate birds with autumn in general (think of inky hued ravens, crackling crows, sagely owls, migrating geese, and Thanksgiving turkeys), so I thought that on this first day of October I would share my recent ornithological themed finds with you all. (Please not all items are from etsy and all prices are in US dollars.)






{While at first glance this prettily cut dress looks as though its covered in a white and orange geometric pattern, it is in fact splashed with a roaster motif! The colours in this cute farm animal themed frock would make for the perfect dress to wear all through the Halloween season, don’t you think? Vintage 1950s cotton dress, fits a 26/28” waist/36” bust, $145.00 from Land of 1000 Dresses.}



{A preciously sweet little pair of blue birds stair lovingly into one another’s eyes in this metal, enamel and rhinestone brooch, which measures an inch long by an inch and a quarter wide. $6.50 from Chimeriwish.}



{Long revered for its regal beauty (and much sought after for its plumage), peacocks have been a popular bird for centuries. Here they appear on a lovely cardigan in shades of blue, green and red, creating a colour pallet that would work well with other pieces in numerous hues. 1950s wool/wool blend cardigan, fits a 31” waist/36” bust, $58.00 from Dusty Rose Vintage.}



{A muted pallet of earth tones cover this full skirt; a closer look reveals an ethnic inspired pattern of birds, bugs, suns, shapes, and wavy squiggles. Vintage late 50s or early 60s skirt with original black woven belt, fits a 28” waist/free hips, $36.00 from The Church of Vintage.}



{A quaint little pair of red cardinal grace these resin, kidney wire back earrings from the 1950s. I think these earrings would look wonderful with everything from shirtwaist dresses to winter sweaters, their timeless motif almost appearing to sing into your ear. Vintage metal costume jewelry earrings, $12.00 from Glamaroni.}



{While at first glance you might just think this pretty candy apple red dress – with its utterly adorable off-centre row of buttons down the front – is covered in flowers, however woven between those tiny blooms are darling pairs of kissing hummingbirds. Vintage 1950s sleeveless dress, fits a 26” waist/32.5” bust, $75.00 from Freestyle Vintage Co..}



{There is something so country chic about this navy blue and white 1950s day dress done up in a large gingham-esque pattern with images of birds and horns adorning some of its squares. Rick-rack accented vintage dress, fits 44” waist/40” bust, $30.50 from Green Dragon Lady.}



{Zoom in close on this short sleeved, light weight button down blouse and you’ll discover a wonderfully pretty pattern of dusty blue birds jetting every which way. 1950s cotton blouse, fits a 42” bust/waist not specified, $22.00 from Cats and Crickets.}



{Whimsy and beauty swirl across this generously full skirt, which features an adorable pattern of clocks, flowers, fruit, and birds in birdcages all in shades of pink, green and white set atop a solid black background. Vintage 1950s novelty print skirt, fits a 25 to 30” waist/free hips, $74.99 from Jumblelaya.}



{Graceful miniature swans in hues of yellow, green, turquoise, purple and white seem to almost float atop a sea of black in this lovely short-sleeved 1950s dress, complete with nehru collar and full skirt. Vintage novelty print dress, fits a 25” waist/34” bust, $85.00 from Land of 1000 Dresses.}


I that know that not everyone is a fan of “real world” birds (perhaps we have Messieurs Poe and Hitchcock to thank/blame in part for that), but when adorning such delightful vintage pieces as the ones above, it’s hard not to carve out a soft spot in your heart (and closest) for items sporting images of our feathered friends.

Do you own any pieces that feature birds, or would you wear a bird bedecked outfit? Aside from a beloved pair of earrings with swallows on them, I don’t have much in the way of bird themed items in my wardrobe, but I think, much to my cat’s delight, that I wouldn’t hesitate to swoop down on more if the situation to do presented itself. (Must resist making a joke about how “a bird themed dress in the hand is worth two online” ;D)

Welcome back, dearest autumn!

In my souls bells are ringing, proclaiming the return of my perpetually favourite season. Today soft precipitation continues to fall, milky grey skies etching out a gentle backdrop for the increasingly golden leaves that line the busy neighbourhood streets. As the hours of the first day of autumn tick merrily by, I find myself reflecting on the great many elements of this time of the year that I treasure, from chilly – but not quite freezing – nights to the desire to add cinnamon and nutmeg to nearly everything I bake.

With fall’s arrival I feel suddenly more at peace with the word, which isn’t to say I was at odds with it, but rather that with each leaf that flutters off into the wind, the world is – if only for a moment – taking one of my worries or burdens with is. As I glance out the large living room window, water droplets bouncing like exploding popcorn kernels on railing of the balcony, the words of a Longfellow poem that is perfectly fit for autumn’s rebirth spring to mind...


Autumn
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Thou comest, Autumn, heralded by the rain,

With banners, by great gales incessant fanned,

Brighter than brightest silks of Samarcand,

And stately oxen harnessed to thy wain!

Thou standest, like imperial Charlemagne,

Upon thy bridge of gold; thy royal hand

Outstretched with benedictions o'er the land,

Blessing the farms through all thy vast domain!

Thy shield is the red harvest moon, suspended

So long beneath the heaven's o'er-hanging eaves;

Thy steps are by the farmer's prayers attended;

Like flames upon an altar shine the sheaves;

And, following thee, in thy ovation splendid,

Thine almoner, the wind, scatters the golden leaves!


Such eloquent words to capture how I feel on this tranquil Tuesday, my mind filled with thoughts about the upcoming season and the myriad of elements that I adore about it.

The following Flickr mosaic is comprised of some of my very favourite fall experiences, flavours, sites and memories. What, my dear readers, are some of the things that you adore most about fall?



{1. The edge at sunset, 2. Caramel Apple Pie Recipe, 3. sparkly pumpkins, 4. vintage look: 'keeping butterfly in a hand', 5. Yesterday I found 2 Kittens near home, 6. Roast Turkey, 7. Anybody want a game of Conkers???, 8. McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice Tin, 9. autumn falls in Atlantic France..., 10. {little.visitor}, 11. Is It Halloween Time??, 12. About the hands, 13. Indian corn. Please click on a link to see a larger version of a particular image and/or for photographer information.}


Autumn, you have been missed and pined for dearly, I hope that you will grace us with your presence for quite some time. Do your best to keep Old Man Winter at bay, but know that I fully understand you cannot exist forever. While you’re with us, I vow to appreciate your subtle intricacies, resplendent beauty and ingrained joys every single day!