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 {September 25, 2009}

...The nights begin to stretch on longer, the days beckon you to slip a cardigan over your shoulder. After the week in which the seasons change hands from summer to autumn, it’s time put away the beach towels and dig out the extra blankets. Moments of simple comforts and cozy happinesses are just begging to be enjoyed, and after months of trying to escape the heat we suddenly find ourselves turning to those familiar things which warm our soul once more...


♥ ♥ ♥

{To wash away every last trace of summer’s sweltering heat}

{The packaging on this Italian bar of all natural, almond and olive oil based pumpkin soap is a work of art in and of itself. I don’t know if I could bring myself to tear into its antique inspired wrapping, and would no doubt, need to purchase at least two bars - one to use and another to keep on display in my powder room all autumn long. 250g bar of Horto Botanico pumpkin soap, $9.00 (US) from Emporio Italiano.}


{To usher in autumn (beautifully dressed) head on}


{Equal parts classic style and whimsy collide in this charming acorn bedecked vintage hat from the 1950s. $15.99 (US) from etsy seller Art Deco Dame.}


{To adorn all manner of festive gifts this season}


{Simple paper cutting skills are all that’s really needed to transform cardstock into elegantly serene gift tag featuring the familiar bare branched trees of fall. To learn how to create these tags – which seem to channel an art deco vibe, to me – click here for a handy video tutorial from (crafting blog) A Little Hut.}


{Would it be too obvious to say...“To ensure you keep calm and sew stuff”?}


{Inspired by a commonplace British WW2 poster that instructed civilians to “Keep calm and carry on” in the face of the brutal war that was taking place all around them, modern iterations of the “Keep calm” message have sprung up on a multitude of items over the past couple of years. This particular version, which I’m sure will appeal to sewing and crafting fans everywhere, comes in the form of an embroidered patch that could easily be added to anything you fancy, from a tote bag to a throw pillows. 3.26"w x 6.48"h embroidered patch, $5.00 (US) from Urban Threads.}


{To help you "practise" for all the Halloween candy you’ll "need" to consume in a few weeks ;D}


{Darling little squares of wonderfully autumnal hued cheesecake, laced with dulce de leche (a South American type of caramel), beg to be popped in the mouth and savoured with a huge smile on your lips. Image from, and recipe on, Annie’s Eats.}


Wishing you each a gloriously beautiful, perfectly relaxing first weekend of fall!

Vixen Vintage is giving away a gorgeous hat!

By now I know that many of you have already read about the fantastic giveaway contest that’s going on at this very moment over at Vixen Vintage, but in case you hadn’t yet, I simply had to tell you about it.

Known the web over for her impeccable vintage style (and her adoration of headwear), Solanah herself has handcrafted a charming chapeau that is sure sway even the most steadfast of “I’m not a hat person” fans into entering, whilst making those of us who love vintage hats jump for joy over the chance to win this fantastic creation.


{Solanah modeling her lovely handmade hat. Can't you just imagine how much fun it would be to wear?}

If you’d like to enter for your chance to call this hat your own, pop by Vixen Vintage before August 18th and leave a comment on the post about the contest. If you create a post on your own site/blog about the giveaway and then return to let Solanah know you’ve done so, your name will be entitled to a second entry in the draw.

Best of luck to everyone who enters, and thank you so much to Solanah for creating this lovely cherry bedecked hat, it’s timelessly beautiful!