Five for Friday: January 15, 2010

...Yesterday afternoon, following a week ravished by arctic winds and murky grey skies, the temperatures actually rose a tad, climbing ever so slightly above zero (Celsius). With this sudden “warm snap” came early daydreams of spring. I know it’s far too soon for the gentlest season to arrive, but there’s no reason why I can’t let my thoughts stray to beautiful things like blossoming trees, first harvest vegetables and the scent of sunshine once again toasting the air. Granted there’s still snow and ice on the horizon, but in the meantime I’ll be busy starting to plan all the lovely ways I’ll celebrate when April does eventually whirl into town...

♥ ♥ ♥


{To fill your bath with the delicate scent of orchard fruits}


{Hued like a bowl of just churned orange sherbet, this generously sized (12.5 oz) bar of Luxo Banho soap comes packaged in an immensely lovely Art Deco inspired box, and smells delightfully of fresh apricots and peaches. Available for $12.00 (US) per bar of soap from All-Pop.com.}


{The kind of timelessly pretty, wear-it-anyplace sweater that will remain a staple in your closet for years}


{If like me, you’re a giant fan of light weight, classically styled sweaters, this darling number is just the ticket! Made of soft organic cotton and featuring a charming knit bow, this wonderful turquoise top would look equally stunning in the winter with a long wool skirt or paired with sailor inspired shorts come the dog days of summer. Turquoise bow knit sweater in assorted modern ladies sizes, £52.50 (UK) from Lunacy Boutique.}


{To invigorate your mood on even the bleakest of mid-winter mornings}


{From Japan-cool brand Tokyo Milk comes “Paper and Cotton”, a crisp, airy scent embedded with notes of white sage, birch, moss and coriander, all housed in a bottle bedecked with vintage fashion images. Each 1 oz bottle of perfume in a clear glass bottle (with spritzer) is $29.00 (US) from Plasticland.}


{An endearing reminder of days both past and more recently spent at local fun fairs and carnivals}


Available in six alluring designs, these laser cut wooden brooches boast playful vintage images and are shaped to look just like ticket stubs. Pin one (or more) to your favourite coat, purse, hat, scarf or anywhere else you please and pretend you’re on your way to a carnival. Vintage style wooden fun fair ticket brooches, £6.00 (UK) per pin from The Oriental Magpie.}


{A woman can never have too many bags, especially when they’re handmade, vintage inspired ones!}


{On those days when it’s far to grim to venture outside one moment more than is strictly necessary, spend some time indoors delving into a DIY book such as Making Vintage Bags by Emma Brennan ($12.21 [US] from amazon.com). This helpful (176 page) title provides detailed instructions on how to make twenty original designs (five each from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s), amongst which nearly any handbag enthusiast is sure to find a purse they’d love to make for themselves.}


I want to take a moment and extend massive thanks to all those who provided me with their impute earlier in the week regarding my hunt for a good source of crinolines (some of your leads look really promising!). I will be certain to do a follow up post later in the year to report how the status of my budding crinoline collection is coming along.

Many thanks as well to all those who have left comments on other Chronically Vintage posts lately, too. Over the course of the weekend, amidst such pleasant activities as writing snail mail letters and hand washing a gorgeous vintage skirt that arrived in Thursday post, I will do my best to catch up on at least a portion of your wonderful comments and visit each of your gorgeous blogs.

Recently a dear visitor commented that she found the smaller font size that I often use directly under images to be a bit hard to read. I’d wondered before if that font was too tiny and upon knowing that some find it to be, I’m happy to report that from here on out instead of reducing the front size (below photos, graphics, etc) to differentiate it from the rest of the text in my posts, I’ll italicize it. I always welcome your feedback on any element of this blog and appreciate the person who mentioned this doing so (I hope you find the font easier to read now, sweetie).

Wishing one and all a sublime weekend filled with warmth (be it derived from hot cocoa or the weather itself), serenity and many lovely memories.

Vintage Deal of the Day: October 28, 2009

{You’re bound to serve up tons of terrific vintage style points in this wonderfully fun, long sleeved, zipper front sweater. Made of wool and in great condition (save for a tiny stain on one cuff), this charming cardigan, which fits up to a 38 inch bust/37 inch waist, instantly made me think of my beloved granny, who has adored and actively played tennis for nearly her entire life. Even to this day, at nearly 80 years old, she still enjoys getting out on the court! If you’d “love” to add this cute sweater to your wardrobe, swing on over to Bombshell Bettie’s Vintage's etsy store, where you can score it for just $20.00 (US).}


Thank you very much, everyone, for your wonderful comments on my Charlie Brown post earlier today, it's lovely to know that many of you adore that timeless classic, too.

Wishing you each a splendid evening!

Summer lightning storms, a flash of inspiration {Monday Muses, August 24th}

In the midst of summer the heavens sometimes decide that they’ve had more than enough and spill forth with wrath and fury. One such occurrence took place in the evening on the 8th of August here, when the most intense lightening storm I’ve ever seen in my entire life struck Toronto. For nearly two hours straight rapid forked and flashing sheet lightening ripped apart the carbon grey sky, bolts snapping every few seconds (sometimes two, three, four or more at a time), thunder cracking like a whip with vigour against songs of pelting rain.



{A resplendent capture of the lightning that snapped crazily in the skies above Toronto earlier this month. Stunning photo by wvs on Flickr.}


While the ever-present and rather relentless warmth of summer is still bearing down on us here, I can't stop thinking about the (wonderful) fact that autumn cannot be that terribly far off, and with the change of seasons can come a switch in wardrobe colour pallets. In place of the perky pinks, bright blues, tranquil turquoises, buttercup yellows, punchy peaches, zippy greens and light-hearted lilacs comes a return to deeper, more sombre (but no less stunning) hues.

The colours that danced wildly across the dusk sky on the day of that mammoth lightening storm conjured up thoughts of an autumn wardrobe, of all things. Replete with sultry greys, onyx black, smokey amethyst purple, searing hot white, and dusty navy blue, it was almost as if Mother Nature was showing off her fall look book.

I couldn’t shake thoughts of the majestic and inspiring beauty of that storm from my head for days after it occurred and as such quickly realized that it had become one of my Muses this month. Thus the hues that fill a storm-kissed sky are my Monday Muses this week. I hope that their cool tones, classically beautiful shades and timeless appeal will inspire you and your upcoming autumn wardrobe, too!


♥ ♥ ♥



{With a subtle sheen and a hue that instantly calls to mind the shifting of the sky from calm to wild, this dusty blue vintage skirt is made of taffeta and delicately embroidered with a subtle floral pattern. $30.00 (US) from etsy seller Cheesecake Vintage.}



{This crisp, timelessly elegant navy and white stripped blazer reminds one of rain tumbling down from against a mysterious and foreboding sky. 1950s dark blue jacket, $23.50 (US) from etsy seller Green Dragon Lady Vintage.}



{A little flashy, a little eccentric, entirely adorable! These vintage cat eye sunglasses would be the perfect pair to wear during a storm to shield your peepers from blinding flashes of lightning. Plastic sunglasses with a fantastic vintage glasses case included in the price, $30.00 (US) from etsy seller Jack’s Jill Vintage Miscellanea.}



{Twinkling and shimmering like bolts of lightning against an afternoon sky that still managed to stay blue during a gale, this wonderful 1950s crystal necklace would work just as well for the office as a night on the town. $24.95 (US) from etsy seller Metro Retro Vintage.}



{Soft as a cloud and hued like concrete, these peep-toe heels would work in nearly as versatile manner as a black pair in your wardrobe, the matching bow on the front sophisticated and in no way Minnie Mouse-ish. Grey Suede and leather three inch heels, $48.69 (CND) from Overstock.}



{Sleek, wonderfully easy to pair with a myriad of outfits and bedecked with beautiful clear rhinestones, this thermoplastic vintage bracelet is pretty enough to set off a storm of compliments! $110.00 (US) from Eclectic Vintage.}



{From the cut to the textured wool to the graphite gray hue, everything about this modern button front cardigan sweater has a wonderful vintage feel to is. "The Nina Cardigan", $39.99 from ModCloth.}



{While grey, black, platinum and inky blue instantly spring to mind when you think of the hues in a stormy sky, I also equate muted shades of dark purples into the mix. This wonderful vintage Mexican dirndl skirt invokes thoughts of a violet sky bursting with a swell, zig-zagging bolts of lightning crashing across its eggplant hued front. $58.00 (US) from etsy seller Vintage Starr Beads.}



{This classic bucket shaped cloche hat is made of wool felt (with a grosgrain ribbon) in three elegant colours that all smack of a stormy sky’s majestic hues. "The Changeling" hat, $49.99 (US) from ModCloth.}



{Catching the light and dancing with brilliance, these silver and rhinestone vintage earrings from the fifties are clip on, meaning that they could also do double duty as brooches, if you so fancied. $15.00 (US) for the pair, from etsy seller HossyBoy’S Grammy’s Vintage.}



{Little creamy white and navy hued beads are peppered across this lovely dark blue vintage purse, reminding me of hail stones pounding the ground during an intense storm. $14.99 (US) from etsy seller Vintage Starr Beads.}



{Shades of turquoise and indigo blue swirl like clouds racing against a violent sky on this elegant, alluring, abd artsy vintage rayon dress with matching belt. $69.95 from etsy seller Metro Retro Vintage.}



The pieces above, from a soft knit cardigan to the sparkling bangles are each redolent of a storm, the beauty and power - not to mention the sense of adventure - it posses. They are strong, but in no way overpowering colours that will add a jolt of ageless intensity to your vintage wardrobe.

I’ve always felt a kinship to lightning storms and can often sense them coming by an inexplicable surge of energy (and an increase in heart rate) that suddenly washes over me in advance of their arrival. Provided one is as safe as possible during a storm, I find their intensity and phenomenal natural strength and gorgeousness mesmerizing.

What do you love (or dislike, as the case may be) about a summer storm? What was the wildest storm you’ve ever seen – and did it inspire you in any way?




*PS*

For some utterly odd reason whenever I try and post a comment in the comment section of this post I get an error message! I've tried to post my reply to all your guys' wonderful comments several times over the past three days and am always met with the same Blogger error, so I thought I'd post my comments here, as part of the initial blog entry, instead.

@ Karyn, thank you very much! I'm beyond ready for the seasons to change! I keep thinking they're on the verge because we'll have one somewhat cooler day or morning, but then the sizzling temps will rear their head once again.

I'm very sorry to hear you've been under the weather, sweet dear. Don't worry about not being around for a split second, it's totally ok. Take care of yourself and know that I'm sending you tons of healing get well hugs!

@ Chrisy, thank you very much for the prettily said comment, my fellow storm lover.

@ Lorla, thank you, sweetie! It was a joy to compose this electrifying post! :D

@ aramblingfancy, I hear you there, my dear. Their prices really are quite reasonable in this day and age, but still my poor wallet hasn't been able to do anything but window shop so far. Hopefully I'll be able to change that sooner than later, as I really do adore

Thank you very much for sharing that story about your mom with us, sweetie. Thank goodness the neighbour was home and able to warn your mom before a tornado hit!

@ Amy, they really are fab, I agree!

@ Amanda, thank you so much, sweetie pie! You should definitely treat yourself to that cloche, it's such a deeply beautiful, timeless piece.

@ Gina, it really was intense! We had another one last week that actually turned into a hurricane that touched down just a couple of towns over from where I live. I saw the funnel cloud, but only for a few seconds as there was
intense fog going on at the same time. Very frightening in a way, but I am always so engrossed by the sheer beauty of a storm that it's hard to truly feel afraid.

@ Dustjacket Attic, thank you, honey. I adore that first photo, too. The use of a solid colour backdrop gives it a really professional touch.

You're not alone at all, I worry about that, too! My darling kitty (Stella) gets freaked out my thunder and takes refuge under our bed until it's over. But once the storm has passed, she's as happy as ever. I think it's so sweet of you to worry about animals, honey.

@ Cait, how wonderful that your uncle gave you some cat eye glasses, are they vintage or reproduction? Don't worry for a moment about if they embarrass your sister when you wear them out, I bet you look absolutely beautiful!

@ Nora & Lola, thank you deeply, darlings!

@ Maggi, thank you, honey! No worries, storms are not everyone's cup of tea, and that's a-ok. One great thing about storms though, is that once they've passed you're often left with a gorgeous rainbow! :)

@ Aire, you are so very welcome! Thank you deeply for stopping by to leave a comment. I am counting down the seconds until fall right along side you, my dear!

@ Annie, thank you sweetie, so glad you loved the clothing in this post.

@ Sher, thank you, hon! That hat made me think of you because of the teal band (teal being so close to your beloved turquoise).

@ Metro Retro (Laura), thank you very much for the lovely words, sweetie.

Your etsy shop is a joy and continual source of online inspiration, I'm delighted to feature items from it.

@ Sashindoubutsu, thank you so very much for the beautiful comment!

@ Natasha Minsk, you're very welcome, my dear. Thank you for your comment and for selling such fantastic vintage pieces!

@ Trains and Sewing Machines, I just adore those earrings, too! Sparkles up near the face - especially vintage ones - a perpetual fave of mine.

@ AlicePleasance, I just saw my first hurricane ever last week. I only saw the funnel cloud for a few seconds, but it was incredibly intense - almost surreal. Turns out it touched down in a nearby down, causing a lot of property damage and actually claiming one life, which is truly sad. It just goes to show you that you never know which storms are going to be wild and which are going to be vicious! (Summer storms make me think of my childhood too, sweetie - another cool thing we have in common.)

Thank you each deeply for your wonderful comments!

Oodles of hugs - and joyful Friday wishes, everyone!
♥ Jessica