Five for Friday {November 6, 2009}

...Wild hail like a barrage of BB gun pellets hurled itself, intermixed with a peppering of snowflakes at our building for a few minutes yesterday afternoon, which means that I was entirely spot on when my husband and I placed our "when would it snow first this year bets"! He guessed October 25th, I pondered for a while and settled on November 5th, which, just happened to be yesterday. There’s no prize to be won, other than a huge smile, but that’s still more than enough to jump start my weekend on a cheerful note. With the coming of temps swinging below zero now and the looming prospect of more snow any time, I find myself thinking about mugs of cocoa, like pint sized hot springs for the taste buds, as well as all manner of snugly blankets, sweaters and scarves – anything that serves to warm the heart, mind and soul...


♥ ♥ ♥


{To keep your fingers and imagination busy all winter long}


{Whether you churn out a groundbreaking novel, write correspondence to friends near and far, or just enjoy it for the stunning piece of art it is, this alluring, sleek, gorgeous typewriter is sure to take pride of place in any office. Turquoise “Royal” vintage typewriter in good working order, $390.00 (US), from etsy seller Poetic Home.}


{To add a delightful touch of rustic, vintage charm to even the most modern of kitchens}


{Dyed so as to take on the look of something that could have been unearthed from your great grandmother’s hope chest in the attic, these three piece sets of French linen tea towels are just the ticket instantly increase the vintage vibe in your kitchen, laundry room, utility room, or anywhere else hands – or dishes – may need to be dried. Three towel set available in red or blue, $19.99 (US) each from Touch of Europe.}


{To help you survive that low period of sucrose activity between Halloween candy and holiday cookies}


{A modern melding of ancient flavours comes together in this lusciously rich dessert that is sure to become a classic the moment it reaches the table. Pomegranate chocolate mousse cake recipe on, and beautiful photo from, Dessert First.}


{To help make the ever-increasingly longer nights a little brighter}


{I adore a well lit room, whether the luminosity stems from the sun, candles or bulbs, I find my mind often feels sharper when I have a solid supply of light at hand, and what more gorgeous way to ensure you too are never short of light than with one of these stunningly pretty flower shaped clip on lamps. Available in thee hues (pink, green and ivory white), these darling lights use a 40 watt chandelier bulb and can clipped to a variety of surfaces, from chair backs to headboards. Aside from being practical, they just happen to be immensely gorgeous, too! “Bloom Clip Light”, $29.00 (US) per light, from Urban Materials + Accessories (UMA).}


{To inspire a season’s worth of kitchen remodeling and design projects}


{Did your heart skip a beat when you gazed upon this understatedly incredible kitchen, its pallet of mint-married-with-turquoise, fire engine red, and crisp white, just as mine did? Ripe with vintage styling and original 50s pieces (like the Formica table), this room is a joy to behold and no doubt even more fun to try and duplicate – or pull decor inspiration from – yourself. Image via Country Living.}


Wishing you each a delightfully wonderful, serenely lovely weekend bursting with fun and relaxation!

How to be vintage chic even on days when you call in sick

The truth of the matter is that there rarely anything even remotely glamorous about being ill or injured, but the title for this post sprung into my mind and struck me as sounding like something one might have spotted on the cover of a 1940s or 50s ladies magazine (minus the word "vintage" and assuming the gal held a job outside of the home to call in sick to).

Before I go further though, I sincerely want to thank everyone for your incredibly caring comments regarding my husband’s injured foot and my own health. Darling hubby is doing a little better (the swelling is going down a bit, which tends to be a good sign), and was absolutely touched when I shared your sweet words with him. It means so much to me to have such wonderful online friends, thank you deeply everyone.

I know firsthand that at times when you’re under the weather comfort is key. You want to feel as though you’re swathed in pieces that, even if they can’t actually heal you quicker, won’t make you feel any worse. Soft, gentle fabrics, beautiful fresh cut blooms to bring life and colour to a bedside table, snugly blankets to nestle into on the sofa or a lounge chair in the backyard if the weather permits, and a stack of your favourite vintage films are all great ways to help take your mind off of the situation at hand.

With that thought in mind, I’ve handpicked a selection of lovely, often functional vintage (and handcrafted) items (please note all prices are in US dollars) that I think would each be a wonderful way to inject a dose of uplifting energy, while providing their own special sort of comfort, to any sickroom, be it temporary or long-term, home or hospital based.


♥ ♥ ♥



{Ethereally light as a fairy’s wing, this delicate, pale carnation pink bed jacket would be the perfect thing to slip over chilly shoulders during the warmer months when you don't want the full on weight of a robe. $59.00 from etsy seller Posies for Lulu.}



{For times when you want a little more coverage and warmth than a bed jacket affords, a plush, quilted vintage robe, such as this lovely aqua-mint hued number, is the perfect solution. $22.00 from etsy seller Vintage Eye Fashion.}



{Before electric heating pads and blankets became commonplace, hot water bottles were one of the few ways to help keep the chills at bay. These simple rubber devices are still readily available and are handy to have on hand; after all, you never know when you might encounter a power outage while you’re feeling unwell. This hand knit cover with its pretty star motif, ensures that your hot water bottle looks lovely and feels more comfortable against your skin. $32.00 from etsy seller Strikk. }



{There’s both something a little Hollywood starlet and immensely practical about having a charming little bell on hand to ring when you’re ill and need to beckon someone to your side. Vintage brass bell with handle, $5.00 from etsy seller Spicy Vintage.}



{Help pass the time while you’re feeling icky by reading some old school pulp fiction such as this pocketbook novel entitled Doctor on Approval. $4.00 from etsy seller Vintage Vice’s Paper Emporium.}



{Whether it’s a cold, allergies, hay fever, the flu or another type of ailment, many illnesses bring with them the need for tissues, lots and lots and lots of tissues! A beautiful, floral print vintage tissue box cover is just the thing to make the boring, obligatory box of Kleenex a little more pleasant, no matter how many times you reach for it. $2.95 from etsy seller Girlythings73.}



{Very handy for meals, reading, writing letters, doing your nails, or in this modern era of ours, using the laptop, a tray such as this two part, tilted one is extremely useful to own for anytime you need (or want) to relax in bed yet still stay productive. $48.00 from etsy seller Extra Virgin Home.}



{While there are certainly many lovely modern and vintage bed trays on the market, you may want to spruce up or further adorn your tray with some wonderfully lovely linens such as this set which includes two napkins and an actual bed tray cover. $35.00 from etsy seller Teremok.}



{Enjoy your meals (I’m thinking homemade chicken noodle soup, soda crackers, Jell-o and ginger ale) off of these pastel hued compartmentalized trays in bed, in front of the TV or any place you fancy! $10.00 (for four trays) from etsy seller Willow Street Vintage.}



{Distract yourself from how you’re feeling by playing a few rounds of a really neat looking board game from 1961 called Ben Casey M.D., which was based on a popular TV medical drama of the time. $14.00 from etsy seller Ragtime Design.}



{Who doesn’t need an extra hug or two when they’re in pain? I certainly do, and when darling hubby (who’s a marvelous hugger!) isn’t home, I know I can always rely on a precious teddy bear to give me a snuggle :) This adorable vintage patchwork bear would be an awesome cuddle partner for anyone and would also look lovely on display around your house. $7.50 from etsy seller Saltsman Soap.}



{If someone near and dear to you is feeling sick or is in the hospital, send them a beautiful vintage get well card. Unused cards such as this illustrated one depicting a young lass picking flowers, are still available, often at very reasonable prices, through sources like etsy and eBay, garage sales, second hand shops and estate sales. $4.50 from etsy seller Vintage Vice’s Paper Emporium.}


I hope that these items transmit a sense of comfort and care. Being sick or injured is absolutely no fun, and we all need a little extra TLC when coping with any sort of ailment.

What kinds of things do you want/love/need to around you when you’re feeling ill? Topping my list are good books, mashed potatoes (my mom is the same way, I must get this from her), TV shows and movies that make me laugh, my treasured childhood teddy bear, plenty of squishy pillows, and my online friends and their awesome blogs to keep my thoughts focused on all things vintage.


*PS*


While searching for vintage bed jackets I chanced upon a free pattern for a 1956 Coats and Clark brand crochet version that was too pretty not to share with you all. And for anyone who might be looking for a modern day iteration of this once common nighttime wardrobe staple, the online shop Serene Comfort has a number of cozy looking bed jackets at reasonable prices.

Pink, black and white, a dynamite colour trio {Monday Muses, July 20th}

As you may have gathered from prior Monday Muses posts, colour – in all its many splendid iterations – is a perpetual source of inspiration for me. I couldn't fathom looking at the world and not being continually overjoyed by the never-ending array of hues that exist everywhere. They can mirror moods, create beauty, convey sentiments, act as the background or foreground of a room, change the look of an outfit in a heartbeat, and fill us with powerful memories.

Each season and every month brings with it both obvious colour pallets (rust, gold and burgundy in the fall, for example) and those which may have meaning more to our own personal histories than to the rest of the world.

My Muses this week are pink, black and white, three bold colours that each speak of summer in their own wonderful ways. Pink is playful and energetic, sweet and just a little sassy at times. Black embodies the all-consuming heat of summer and also plays homage to scorching hot tarmac, evening wear, and midnight skies. White (which was last week’s Muse) is chipper and yet tranquil, it can symbolize the seemingly endless search for relief from the heat or a way to capture this season’s airy, bright beauty.

As it so often does, Flickr offered up a treasure trove of vintage inspiration featuring these three marvelous hues, which I compiled into the mosaic below.


1. Vogue 1954, 2. Memories, 3. Vintage 1950's rockabilly dress sewing pattern, 4. IMG_4101.JPG EDIT, 5. Visiting my friend in Stockholm, 6. kitty in pink, 7. Vintage Pink & Black Dishes, 8. Pink Poodle Planter, 9. la vie en rose, 10. Glamour Girl Zipper Pouch , 11. oriental peach fan brooch, 12. 50s glamour girl, 13. new shoes! {Click on a link to see a larger version of a particular image and/or for photographer information.}


From there a sprint around etsy and other corners of the web revealed a score of wonderful, summer worthy items in pink, black and white (sometimes all together, in pairs or as single hues), which I hope will fill you with the upbeat, mid-July spirit I feel they posses.

♥ ♥ ♥


{With its simple, timeless design this all black cloche hat instantly calls to mind the 1920s, but would work with a variety of vintage (and modern) styles (many thanks to Loose Leaf Tigers’ blog where I first spotted this wonderful hat). $49.00 (US) from ModCloth.}



{Though the seller lists these pretty floral drop earrings as being from the 1980s, there is something unmistakably art deco about their design that would make the wonderful companions for 1920s and 30s styles. $4.00 (US) from etsy seller Mole Hill Treasures.}



{You’d want to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar when it’s as fantastically adorable as this vintage kitty cat one is! $58.00 (US) from etsy seller Junkyard Gypsy.}



{What better place to store your favourite old fashioned cookie recipes (or those for any other dish) than in this incredibly cool vintage rotary style recipe filing container. $30.00 US from etsy seller Sunset Vintage.}



{Large roses are splashed across this lovely, almost antique looking “kiss lock” purse, making it a wonderful way to bring the beauty of a summer garden into your wardrobe all year round. $37.99 (US) from Modcloth.}



{There is something so strikingly pretty about this fantastic pair of flower shaped rhinestone brooches! $16.00 (US) for both pins, from etsy seller She’s Fancy.}



{This beautiful hot pink, faux leather (pleather) rose belt would be so much fun paired with a huge range of dresses, skirts, cardigans or tops! $28.00 (US) from Igigi.}



{For another terrific way to adorn your waist with pink, black and white, why not slip on this whimsically adorable vintage apron that features a bevy of old fashioned ladies and gentlemen taking their beloved dogs for a stoll. $28.00 (US) from etsy seller I.W.O by Courtney Jane.}



{If you’re a fan or sweet black licorice, why not add some flare to your candy dish with these charmingly old fashioned looking Black Taffy sweets? $2.19 (US) for 10oz, from Troyer County Market.}



{Whether you serve up pink lemonade, white floating islands, or black jelly beans on this sweet flower bedecked vintage tray, it’s sure to be the star of your table. $17.99 from etsy seller Bella Blue 96.}



{Adorned with wonderful pink and black cross stitch this vintage table cloth is almost too pretty to use. $48.00 (US) from etsy seller Dishy Vintage.}



{Isn’t there something compellingly beautiful at this vintage black and pink glass bead necklace and earring set? I think it would be the perfect jewelry to wear to a cocktail or dinner party. $45.00 (US) from etsy seller The Eclectic Diva.}



{Wouldn’t this elegant black and pink lace vintage jewelry box look incredible on a dresser or vanity? $54.50 (US) from etsy seller 5 Gardenias.}



{Give the classic LBD a cheery shot of colour with this magnificently lovely vintage velvet and silk evening dress. $98.00 (US) from Etsy seller Voodoo Lounge.}



{The soft pink hue of these absolutely lovely 2.5 inch heels makes almost them surprisingly easy to pair with a wide array of different colours. $29.99 (US) from ModCloth.}

In searching for the items above, I discovered there is actually a really good sized number of vintage pieces that feature pink and black together (often with white thrown into the mix as well), which is great to know as I’m a big fan of these colours (one of my about thirty different dream kitchens would encompass these three colours paired with steel or chrome). Are you a fan of this trio of July inspired hues, too?