Vintage Links, Life, Love: July 29, 2016

Can you guys believe that we're just two days away from the end of the month? As touched on recently in this post, I wouldn't say that July has felt like the speediest of months in the slightest.

In a way this is a good thing - after all, who doesn't want summer to feel like it stretches on! - but in another, it's not so fabulous, because I know the personal life + health (+ earlier on in the month, the Canada Post strike situation) reasons why such has been the case and do really wish that such weren't the reason for July's leisurely pace.

Oh well, that's life. There are smooth months (and years) and rocky ones, and certainly July housed some really lovely points, too, please don't get me wrong.

From Canada Day to my birthday to those rare moments of sunshine (we're had 3.5 months of the wettest weather I've ever experienced in the Okanagan – or anywhere in Canada, for that matter!), plus some more positive highlights, that I'll touch on later on in today's brand new edition of Vintage Links, Life, Love, there were positives and I’m very grateful for each of them.



Links:

How to make (tie) a glamorous 1940s turban: When the sun is out in full force, and conversely, if you live south of the equator and want an extra layer of warmth on your head, the last thing most of us want is to have our hair on our necks. Enter the endlessly chic turban, which this great post from Glamour Daze takes you through the genuine 1940s steps of mastering.


Why I Love Mechanical and Early Electric Televisions: Though most of us think of television as having entered the scene in the 1950s, in reality, earlier versions had already existed for more than two decades and this detailed, informative post from Carrie Anne does a wonderful job of highlighting some of the ground breaking sets that would lay the foundation for the future of TVs everywhere.


DIY Victory Brooch: Bianca’s tutorials are always fantastic and so well laid out, and this recent entry on how to make a dead simple - yet incredibly impactful - hand painted Victory brooch from basic craft store supplies is no exception. Trust me, once you've read it, you'll be making a beeline for Michael's pronto!


Tips on dressing for a 1920s Lawn Party: The epitome of summertime chic, lawn (and garden) parties are a wonderful tradition that deserves dressing to the nines for. You'll be well on your way to doing just that with this lovely, imaged filled post from Blue Velvet Vintage's blog.


How to make vintage style shoulder pads: Though they gained, fairly justifiably, a fairly harsh reputation following the 1980s, the fact of the matter is shoulder pads have been around for quite some time now and were an integral part of many mid-century (especially early to mid-1940s) fashions. They can help a garment fall/drape in the style it was intended and are not all to be shunned entirely. If you've ever wanted to know how to make a modest sized pair of your own, this great how-to from Carla is just the ticket!


Confessions of a Small Time Blogger: From the always engaging blog Happy, Pretty, Sweet, comes a hugely easy to relate to post about what it's really like to be an established, well known, but still (compared to some of the household name fashion bloggers) small fish in a large pond. Honest and insightful, I highly recommend reading this post no matter the size of your blog and its audience.


DIY Floral Crowns: What would summer be without the sweetly charming classic that is the floral crown. If you're ever wanted to whip up your own handmade version using real blooms, Madison's beautiful tutorial will have your noggin' looking festival (and/or photo shoot) ready in no time.


WW2 Yearbooks Directory: If, like myself, you're an avid fan of collecting or simply looking at vintage yearbooks, than this awesome site from The National World War II Museum in New Orleans - is sure to find favour with you and likely be where you spend numerous hours in the next little while.


Harem Pants: A Most Interesting and Scandalous History: Nicole has put together one of the most detailed, fantastic looks at the rich history or harem pants that I've ever seen. Chocked full of informative facts and splendid images, after reading her excellently presented entry, chances are you'll never look at this voluminous style of bottoms quite the same way again. (And speaking of the always lovely Nicole, I also really enjoyed her recent tutorial on The Unconventional Way to Make a Hat.)


Things bloggers wish they could tell brands: I could nod until the end of time and I still don't know if it would convey just how much I strongly agree with the majority of what Amber said in this poignantly spot entry regarding some of her thoughts about the blogger + brand relationship (the main point that we differ on is that I personally experience some great benefits from hosting giveaways and am always sincerely touched when a company wants to team up with my blog in that capacity).

I really commend her for speaking so openly and truthfully about this topic and suspect that many of you who collaborate with companies on your respective sites will also be nodding up a storm as you read this post.


‘Brawny and Buoyant’: A Portrait of West Coast Youth of the 1950s: Starring snaps taken in 1951, this eye-catching entry from Life Magazine highlights youth being, well, youth during the summer months and captures the spirit of what life was like, for some people at least, who grew up during that vibrant era.





Life:

As touched on above, July has been a mixed bag sort of month, complete with soooo much more rain (to the point where such is honestly impacting my ability to post outfit photos here as frequently as I usually during the summer months).

Thankfully things have calmed down, for the time being, on the Canada Post strike front, and as such, last Friday, I launched the first ever Christmas in July Sale over at my Etsy shop, which is still going underway (pop on over and save 25% off everything in my shop until July 31st).

Looking ahead to the second half of the summer, fingers crossed, things may be all the more enjoyable. The first week of upcoming month launches the off the August long weekend civic holiday, which falls on the 1st this year.

This is swiftly followed by Tony's (36th) birthday on the 6th, and then either on the very last day of August or the 1st of September, we'll be heading off for a much needed getaway, which I'll be blogging about here in much greater detail very soon.

Beyond that, summer will start to wrap up and we'll ease into my absolute favourite season, autumn (and in turn, Halloween), which always brings me an inordinate amount of joy. In fact, for those who you who eat/breath/sleep/live for it as much as I do, you'll be thrilled to know that there only 94 days to go until All Hallows' Eve returns.

I'm already giving major consideration to my costume, my party menu, my decor, and my blog posts for the spooktastically fun season, and so much more surrounding my all-time favourite holiday. It's going to be awesome!!!





Love:

All of the kind, touching birthday wishes you guys showered me with online (and in a few cases, off, too), earlier this month. I just have to say, with all my heart, thank you again for your lovely words and positive wishes for my 32nd year of life. I really like to think that they'll help such to be even better and more upbeat.

Binge watching the British TV series Mr. Selfridge. In less than a month, I plowed through the first three seasons (on Netflix Canada) and am very eagerly awaiting the fourth, which is set to be released later this year. For those who aren't familiar with the show, it's a period series that starts off in the early Edwardian years and focused on the life of the Selfridge family, who opened the world renowned Selfridge's department store in London.

Much as with Downton Abbey, the show progresses quite quickly from the turn of the century to the years of WWI to the roaring twenties and provides a treasure trove of vintage fashion inspiration for anyone with an interest in that time frame (or, really, vintage fashion in general). A good blend of drama, fun and suspense, this is one of my favourite historical series in a long time and definitely a must watch for vintage fans everywhere.

Getting a morning (or, anytime!) dose of "awww" care of the Daily Puppy. This site has been around for quite a while now and never fails to make one gush and feel better, no matter what's transpiring in your life. Looking at puppies = happiness, after all. :)

Finally carving out a speck of time to craft again. I know, honestly, this one just about bowls me completely over, too. After, for all intents, not having crafted for more than three years, and in any sort of regularly occurring capacity for the better part of five, I have given myself the gift of a little bit of time to craft (chiefly scrapbooking so far), when my health permits each week, and honestly can't put in towards how amazing it feels again.

I'm happier, (much to my surprise and delight) I'm sleeping a touch better, I feel more at peace, and my creative mojo is running at mock one speed in just about all areas of my life (blogging very much included) thanks to this fact.

Though I know full well all the reasons why so little crafting has happened in recent years, I've made a promise to myself to try and craft at least 2 - 4 times a month from now on and suspect that doing so will continue to have a profound and deeply important impact on my life.

Thunderstorms aplenty. While I do so wish that the rain would hightail it out of town and we could finally experience full-on summertime weather here, one of the perks (to my mind at least, as I greatly enjoy them) of all the damp weather has been the period thunder and lightning storms that have been transpiring over our heads lately. On one occasion, while we were driving along side Okanagan Lake in the vicinity of Peachland, we even saw lightning and a rainbow at the same time, which was a first for both Tony and I.

This incredibly touching story about a woman and her husband (with three children of their own already) who adopted her dear friend's six children when the mother (her friend) passed away at the age of just 39 years old. If that doesn't personify love, compassion, goodness and grace, I don't know what.

Blueberries! Last week Tony and I received two large sized containers of fresh blueberries as a free gift with purchase for spending above a certain order total at Superstore and noshed on them all week long, freezing those that we couldn't get to while they were still in peak shape. They were a fantastic - and very healthy - way to liven up our meals and will stand as one of the culinary highlights of this season for me.



{While we did find ourselves with a slew of plump, sweet little blueberries recently, they weren't quite enough to take a bath in, like this lovely Blueberry Beauty Queen did back in 1955.}



{To learn more about a specific image used in today's post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.} 

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And so here we are, at the last Friday of July. Even if this month didn't feel as quick as all that lightning we've been having lately, the season as a whole is bouncing along a speedy clip, as it usually does.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that August will be a drier month, but objectively, wouldn't place any wagers on such, given how bizarrely rainy things have been here lately. No matter what Mother Nature has up her sleeve, I'm sure we'll make the best of it - especially while celebrating the August long weekend (which coincides with our town's annual Peach Festival) - and my sweet husband's birthday.

What's on the agenda for you as we get ready to welcome August back into our lives, my dears? Have you been getting treated to a fabulously sunny summer or slogging it out with raindrops a plenty, too?

I hope that you're all doing great and want to take a moment to wrap up this post by wholeheartedly thanking everyone who left a blog (and/or social media) comment for me on any of my posts this month. The summer blogging slump is a very real phenomenon and I truly appreciate those who take the time to comment even in the midst of the busy, exciting summer season.

Things like that never go unnoticed or unappreciated by me and are a big part of the reason why I can safely say that I have one of the best group of blog readers in the world.

Meet Emily from Emily's Vintage Visions - one of the most talented vintage historical sewers around!

Tomorrow Tony and I will be making our way back home from our lovely time spent over the past few days in Vancouver, but first, I wanted to share this month's exciting new "Meet a Fellow Vintage Blogger" interview post with you.

For November's one-on-one chat, I had the immense pleasure of discussing vintage, historical reenactments, sewing, her wedding, when she'd go back in time to, and oodles more with a woman that, really, needs to no introduction to many of us in the vintage and/or sewing spheres, but whom I am beyond honoured to introduce to all of you here today: Emily from the site Emily's Vintage Visions.




Emily is not only an incredibly talented seamstress, great blogger, and sweet-as-all-get-out lady, but she also shares my passion for launching innovative ways to bringing the online vintage community together, such as the two fabulous vintage fashion contests that she held on her blog this year (you may recall my post from October about the fall one).

As a relatively small (in the grander scope of the blogging universe) group of people, most of whom live in different corners of the world, I think its of the utmost importance that some of our members take the initiative and start/organize events that see some of the community's members come together like this and absolutely doff my hat to Emily for doing just that.

A creative, smart, terrific person, you never know what Emily is going to show us or come up with next, and that is a big part of the appeal of her beautiful blog, as well as why I was all but hopping up and down with excitement over the fact that I got the chance to interview her her this month.

Join me, won't you as we get to know this stellar lady and her immeasurable passion for sewing and historical costuming even better!




In your blog's sidebar "About" write up, you mention that you're always game for any excuse to dress up (same here!). How would you say that your desire to dress in vintage and/or historical costumes has shaped the kind of topics that you share on Emily's Vintage Visions?

Hello, Jessica! Thank you for this interview, it's something I have really been looking forward to! I have always had a keen interest in history and beautiful old clothing so starting a vintage/sewing blog made a lot of sense. When I first started blogging, I looked at it as a way to share and keep track of my various sewing projects. Sort of an online sewing diary if you will. Many of my posts are inspired by the vintage/historical or special events I go to.

As you've said, I love dressing up in both historical and vintage fashions and as my blog as grown I have found different ways to share my outfits and related topics of interest. My spring and fall vintage photo contests are good examples of how my love of research and dressing up turned into blog posts! It was so much fun planning not only my own outfits but the blog posts to go with them.




You began your blog in 2012 and it has flourished into one of the most beloved in the vintage and historical sewing world. Did you set out with any specific goals in mind when you launched your site?

It's been really exciting to see my blog change and grow over the last three years. It took some time to get into a blogging groove. As I said, when I first started blogging it was just a way to keep track of projects.

I had, and still have, the goal of sharing what I have learned by studying and recreating historic/vintage clothing and to show a few items in my own collection. But I've found my blog has become so much more! When I started I didn't really expect to have many followers. But now I have close to 200 followers on my blog and nearly 1,000 on Facebook! I have "met" so many great people in the vintage and historical sewing world from all over the globe! It's amazing!




You're an incredible and very talented sewer. When did your passion for sewing first take root?

Thank you! My mom taught me how to sew when I was younger, she's an avid quilter and made a lot of different things for my siblings and I when we were growing up. I've always had an interest in history. It was in high school (that seems like ages ago!) when I really got interested in historical sewing and joined my first reenacting group.

I had a student internship with my local historical society where I had my first opportunity to examine antique clothing up close. I was hooked and started collecting antique garments of my own. I think it was around that same time that I really started sewing for myself.




Does your day job involve your love of sewing as part of it?

I wish it did! My day job involves ZERO sewing. But I can't complain because my day job is pretty cool and allows me to actually use my history degree! I work as a writer and content specialist (oooh, fancy title! haha!) for a company that digitizes historical documents and newspapers and markets them in a fully text searchable data base for libraries, schools and universities around the globe. (I'm sure many people are familiar with America's Historic Newspapers and the Archives of Americana.) My day is split between researching and writing about historical topics and posting current news stories on a special website.


What's your favourite (or top three, if it's hard to narrow it down to just one) thing that you've ever sewn to date?

Oooh, that is hard to narrow down. I think my favorite historical projects so far are my 1750s green silk sacque back gown and my 1770s stays. Both projects are entirely hand sew and although they required a lot of work, were not as difficult as I feared they would be. I don't get to wear the silk gown very often but my stays get a lot of use!

My favorite vintage sewing project? That's much harder! It's a toss up between my 1940s brown linen slacks and my 1940s plaid hoodie. Although I would have to say my Red Birds Dress is hot in the running too. It was my first project using all new to me vintage materials, including the pattern. (You can find these projects and more through my Portfolio page.)




And do you have a favourite type of garment (i.e., dresses or blouses) to sew?

Although not always the most practical, I enjoy sewing dresses the most. I like seeing a length of fabric morph into something beautiful and fun the wear.


Do you tend to have a lot of WIPs on the go at once, or do you prefer to try and work on a project from start to finish before moving on to the next one?

I tend to have more then one project in the works. Sometimes I get into a groove and cut several projects out in one evening that way I always have something to work on. It also depends on what events (historical and vintage) I know will be coming up and how much I "need" something new to wear. I like to have a couple hand sewing projects going because they tend to travel well and can easily be worked on while watching a good movie. Plus, I find hand sewing weirdly relaxing.




Would you say that you sew more historical costume/reenactment outfits or vintage garments, or is it a fairly even mix of the two?

At one point the easy answer was mostly historical clothing. But in the last few years I've been making more vintage inspired and vintage reproduction garments. The line between what I make for living history and everyday use has been blurred as I try and work more vintage into my everyday wardrobe. While I don't dress in vintage every day it's not uncommon to see me wearing my 40s slacks and a vintage sweater or me made 30s/40s blouse to work.




What is some advice that you give to a sewer (of any skill level) who is looking to get into historical costuming and/or vintage sewing?

Don't be afraid! Historical and vintage sewing is not as scary as it may seem, I promise! I learned soooo much in my first few years of historical/vintage sewing and I fully admit I made lots of mistakes.

Many vintage patterns are easy to follow once you learn a few basic skills. My advice is to ask LOTS of questions! There are tons of great blogs, website, and Facebook pages with people willing to share their knowledge and sewing experiences. Oh, and you don't need to spend a ton of money on costume books either if you have a library card! Inter-library loan rocks!




Who and/or what are some of your key sources of sewing inspiration?

Original garments for sure, nothing beats the real thing! And let's not forget old Hollywood movies! (I love anything with Deanna Durbin!) But old photos, newspapers and sources like vintage patterns are key for me too.

When I make an item of clothing that I plan to use for living history I don't think of it as a costume. Because it's purpose is in part educational, historical accuracy is important to me so I go the extra step with my research and source appropriate materials and if needed (depending on the time period) hand sew the entire thing. Another huge source of inspiration for me are other bloggers. :) I love seeing other peoples' outfits and sewing project come to life!




What are some of your favourite online sources for historical and/or vintage sewing related items (fabric, notions, patterns, etc)?

My favorite places for historical fabrics and notions are Burnely and Trowbridge, Wm. Booth Draper, and Sign of the Golden Scissors. I know the owners of these shops personally. They are friendly, very knowledgeable and offer some of the best products. Etsy are Ebay are great sources too for vintage sewing patterns and extras like buttons and buckles. I highly recommend Duchess Trading and Vintage4me2.


Is there much in the way of a vintage community and/or vintage/antique shops where you live?

Here in New England we have lots of antique shops! Like covered bridges and fall foliage, it's one of the things we are known for! There are a few places that carry antique and vintage clothing but it's hit or miss. You never know what you are going to find which is part of the fun in visiting them. There is a HUGH week-long antique/flea market in Brimfield, Mass each year that is always worth the drive. As far as a vintage community there isn't a whole lot in my immediate area.

I don't know of anyone who wears vintage in my town. Boston has a pretty active vintage scene. The Great Boston Vintage Society was formed about three years ago and hosts fantastic events, such as the 1920s beach and lawn parties I have blogged about. Sadly, Boston is still over 2 hours away so it's not always possible to attend their events. Sometimes Cori and I will make our own "events." Dressing in vintage attire to go out for lunch and visit our favorite antique shop has been come a birthday tradition. :)




In addition to blogging, you also have a lovely Etsy shop - also called Emily's Vintage Visions - where you stock a delightful assortment of vintage items. I understand that you're looking to expand into carrying vintage reproduction pieces that you make yourself, too. Could you please share more with us about your exciting plans on that front?

Of course! My long term sewing goal is to offer a variety of ready made vintage reproduction and vintage style garments. I only have a few items in the Made by Me section of my shop right now but I will be updating that soon.

It's been a much slower process then I had hoped getting everything in order. In preparation I created two online surveys (which can be found in the upper right hand corner of my blog), and a couple blog posts, to help determine what people want to see offered for sale. Feedback so far has been great but more is always welcome! I wanted to have a section of blouses and dresses ready to list this fall but it looks like that listing will be pushed back until late winter or early spring. Be sure to check my blog and FB page for updates.

Jessica's note: Emily has very kindly offered all Chronically Vintage readers 15% off on everything in her Etsy shop between today and December 10, 2015, when you use the coupon code EMILYSVINTAGE15 at checkout.




You set the vintage blogging world on fire last year when you debuted photos of the stunning mid-century style wedding dress that you made for yourself. Did you know from the get-go that you wanted to make your own dress or did that come about as the search progressed and you weren't finding your ideal gown?

I was really surprised by the amount of feedback I received on my dress and vintage themed wedding! It's still among my most viewed posts. I think in the back of my mind I always knew I would end up making my wedding dress. I did go to a couple shops to try on dresses and get an idea of the styles available. It was a fun experience shopping for such a special dress with friends but also very frustrating.

I found that most of the dresses I really liked were way more then I was comfortable spending on something I knew I would only wear once. My husband and I planned to pay for most of the wedding ourselves so staying within our comfortable budget was key. (Believe it or not, the lady at a high end shop where I tried a few dresses actually told my mom if we cut back on food I could buy a more expensive dress!! Seriously?!?!!) Once we settled on having a 1930s/40s themed wedding, making my dress just made the most sense. I did look for a vintage dress but again price, condition and size never worked in my favor.


Any tips for others who might be thinking about sewing their own wedding dress?

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time! Take lots of breaks and don't forget to breath! Oh, and buy more material then you think you will need. ;) It never hurts to have a little extra. (We used some of my leftover lace for bunting!) Also if you have someone who can help you with fitting your life will be much easier.




Did you sew/make many other elements of your wedding day as well?

A big part of our vintage themed wedding was DIY. Along with my wedding dress, I made a shorter dress to wear for the reception. All the bouquets for the girls and myself I made out of wool felt and vintage notions. The boutonnieres for the guys were special ordered from a vintage blogger and etsy shop owner in England. The bunting we used was made with the help of some friends and all our center pieces were put together using various items that Cori and I have collected over the years.


You and your husband, Cori, are both avid fans of historical reenactments. Do you have a specific favourite type of reenactment (e.g., Civil War, WW2, etc)?

Although we don't get to go to as many events as we would like, 18th century reenactments will always be very special for us because that was how we first met. Cori and I were friends for about 2 years before we started dating. It only took us 9 years to finally tie the note! Lol! Lately our favorite reenactments have centered around WWII, especially those were we have the chance to meet and interact with veterans.




What have been some of your favourite aspects of being involved with historical reenactments?

The history for sure! It's really an amazing and unique experience to travel to some of these historic sites. One of the highlights of my reenacting "career" was attending the 250th anniversary of the Siege of Louisburgh in Nova Scotia and standing in the spot where General Wolf's army came ashore under heavy French fire.

The other aspect that I truly enjoy are the people! I have many friends that I only see a few times a year but they have become like a second family. It's similar to the vintage community in many ways, its very close knit and we all look out for one another. And it's tons of fun to geek out with people who share such similar interests. ;)




When not busy sewing, blogging, running your Etsy shop, or taking part in reenactments, what are some of your favourite ways to spend your time?

I like to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and/or a cat (I have two, Miss Rita and Miss Ava) and watch a good movie or read a book. If the weather is nice I much prefer to be outside working in the garden or just soaking up the sunshine! I also enjoy hiking and running, I ran track and cross-country all through high school and college.




If you could back in time and spend a year living in any point in history, what year would you pick and why?

Goodness, that's a tough question! I would love to travel back to a time right before the American Revolution because I think it's such a fascinating period of history. Plus when I came back I would, hopefully, be able to answer some of the tough historical costuming questions! Though I'm not sure about spending a whole year, things like modern medicine and plumbing have their perks after all! If I could spend a whole year in a past time I pick a year during WWII. I think it would be great to witness a time when the our country really pulled together to fight for a common cause.


Do you collect any types of vintage items aside from clothing/jewelry/accessories?

I love antique books and have a small collection of them including a set of British theater books from the 1770s. I like to look for vintage magazines, patterns and sewing notions of course but also enjoy useful and colorful household items like Pyrex dishes and tea cups.




And last, but not least, as we look towards 2016, do you have any specific vintage and/or historical costuming related goals or plans that you can share with us?

This year I started a series of Behind the Seams posts showing some of my vintage and antique garments so I want to continue with those. I want to work in a few book reviews and tutorials too. Updating my Etsy shop with ready made clothing will be a big focus. As for personal sewing, I have two new 18th century gowns and a few vintage separates planned out. Thanks to you and Lauren of Wearing History, my fall vintage photo contest was a smashing success. I will be hosting another one some time next year for sure!

You can connect with Emily on the following sites:

Her blog: Emily's Vintage Visions

Her Etsy shop: Emily's Vintage Visions 

Facebook 

Pinterest

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What an enjoyable, thoroughly lovely interview, Emily. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with all of us here today and for sharing some of historical, vintage, and creative related things that bring your heart the most happiness.

If you're not already doing so, I can't urge you highly enough to follow Emily's blog, as well as her social media accounts. Whether you love sewing, history, vintage, or all three, this fabulous lady will be sure to deliver plenty of fun and inspiration your way through her sites!

After two back-to-back months of visiting fabulous women in the States, come December, for the final Vintage Blogger Interview of the year (but certainly not of all time!), we'll be popping our winter boot clad selves back across the freezing cold Atlantic Ocean.

Once there, we'll be talking with a vintage fashion, travel, and literary loving lady who, much like Emily herself, is a new bride (who shared all about her big day and ensuing honeymoon on her dynamic blog). It's going to be great!

Seven rapid fire questions with blogger + sewer Aimee Cook from Inside Aimee's Victorian Armoire

This month I had the great pleasure of welcoming blogger, vintage loving lady, sewer, and all around wonderfully nice person, Aimee Cook and her incredibly charming blog Inside Aimee's Victorian Armoire, as one of Chronically Vintage's newest sponsors.

Aimee's blog - a truly lovely blend of old and modern, creativity and inspiration - was new to me, so I wanted to get to know both it and Aimee herself better, while also sharing more about both with all of you here as well.




{The thoroughly beautiful Aimee herself}

Hence today's fun post, in which I pose seven questions to Aimee that are designed specifically to quickly learn more about her and her beautiful blog.


This isn't a full length interview, just a quick, delightful way to get acquainted with one of my new favourite bloggers. I hope that you'll all enjoy learning more about Aimee, too!

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1. Your blog is a beautifully woven tapestry of many of your diverse interests, quite a few of which we both share in common. Can you please tell us more about the topics you cover and what they mean to you?


I focus on lifestyle topics: fashion, crafting, sewing, beauty, relationships, etc... just with a historical twist. An overview of an 1830's weekly cleaning schedule, how to plant a flower box from the 1920's, or learning the proper 1850's way to fold a gown for traveling, are just a sampling of the topics I focus on in my blog.

I have always loved reading books and articles written by women from the past and the way they viewed their life and interacted with the world around them. This connection, in its various forms, is what I love to share most with all my readers.








2. What are five things that you'd like first time visitors to know about you and/or your blog right off the bat?


That I'm passionate about life, both modern and historical, that I wish to share something beautiful each time I post, that womanhood is timeless and universal, that I have an odd sense of humor which may occasionally show up in my writing, and that I wish to inspire my readers to live creative and wonderful lives.

3. You're an avid sewer and historical fashion fan. How do you marry these two loves?

They truly go hand in hand. I have always loved historical clothing and in high school I decided that I wanted to make some of my own for fun. So I just started sewing and through a lot of time, effort, patience (which usually meant chucking the project across the room in frustration), and mistakes (again, I did a lot of throwing), I was able to develop a skill that allows me to create anything I find that may inspire me.

While I do not wear the clothing I make a lot, or attend events, I thoroughly enjoy the process and find such satisfaction in completing a gown in the same method that women would have done during that particular time period.






4. What would be your dream historical outfit from any era?

This is such a hard choice, as my tastes change all the time! Right now I am obsessed with anything 1920's or 1930's....including my recent project of an 1920's kimono. But my ultimate love would probably have to be the Regency era...I mean who doesn't love a little Jane Austen fashion!!








5. There is a deeply rooted sense of beauty and soul in your blog, which is definitely reflected in the fact that you enjoy sharing poetry there. Could you tell us more about why you involve poetry on a historical lifestyle blog?
I have always loved poetry ever since I was a little girl. The verbal imagery and emotion that poets can convey is a skill I have longed envied. Poetry used to be included in many women's magazines from the 18th and 19th century, which I just love, and therefore wish to share that same experience with my readers. Whether about the weather, love, relationships, or personal discovery, poetry is a beautiful way of expressing one's thoughts.




6. What are some of your favourite sources of inspiration when it comes to sewing and blogging alike?
For sewing it would have to be past gowns either through photographs, paintings, or descriptions in period books or magazines. I could spend hours just drooling over online exhibits or Pinterest boards getting ideas and drafting patterns. For blogging, anything and everything is inspiration. But the best place I have found to be inspired is in a public place, like a coffee shop, park, or my front porch. I find that by people watching and allowing the buzz of daily life to exist around me, I get a flood of ideas.

{Please click on the image to be taken to this lovely tutorial}

7. Can you share a bit about what you led to you start blogging, when you blog launched, and the direction you'd like to see it go in, in the future?

I am a completely self-taught sewer, so I started blogging three years ago to meet other sewers and historical fashion enthusiasts. It was simply an online diary of my sewing adventures. However, after a few years, I began to realize that parts of my life seemed empty and void. I began to explore my passions and allowed myself to go through a mini self-discovery/ mid-life crisis to see how it is I really wanted live my life. I began to voluntarily take myself out of the rat race I was running and began to climb a different direction. My blog then became my collection of topics and things that inspired me on this new journey. Sewing, crafting, and writing has taken me to a beautiful place in my life that brought with it a connection to the past: something that had always been there, but I kept close to my heart.




Now, I have discovered the gift of sharing. And my goal is to continue on this journey wherever it takes me....including a book that I hope to be completing before the end of year. But as for my blog specifically, I wish it to become a positive part of the internet where women can be inspired to live in a modern world with a touch of the past here and there.

{All images via Aimee and her blog, Inside Aimee's Victorian Armoire.}

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That is a fantastic approach to blogging and what one hopes to achieve, and I think Aimee is already off to a flying start there.

I'm delighted to have Aimee as a blog sponsor, and also to get to know her better. I'm a firm fan of her site and plan to follow it from her on out. I really admire her talents, her drive, and fantastic sewing skills - plus she's as super sweet person and pleasure to know, so how could one not eagerly look forward to her posts in their feed reader or inbox?

Thank you very much for everything, Aimee. I wish you and your delightful blog (and forthcoming book) nothing but the best and brightest and can't wait to see what you'll share there with us next!

Meet a Fellow Vintage Blogger: Esther Wagner, vintage sewer extraordinaire

This month, with spring out in full force, I'm pleased as punch to bring you the third post in my recently launched vintage interview series. Today I have the great joy of sharing about Miss Esther Wagner with all of you.




If you don't know about Esther, if you're in for a wonderfully lovely treat, and if you do, you're sure to find even more to adore about this accomplished, kindhearted, incredibly talented young woman from the blog Dolly Creates.

Esther excels on the vintage sewing front, creating amazing, timelessly beautiful garment after garment using old school patterns and a gifted seamstress' eye for knowing what fabrics and embellishments to pair with what silhouettes.

I've had the pleasure of knowing Esther online for a while now and am sincerely honoured that she wanted to take part in this series. Join me, won't you, while I ask her about her blog, sewing, vintage fashion, music, cooking, her hobbies, and so much more!



For those who are new to your wonderful blog, could you please share a bit more about it with us?

Sure! I'm a Christian young lady with a passion for home skills. I love sewing, especially when I'm making a vintage or historical garment. I blog about mine (and my lovely mother's) vintage sewing creations, vintage magazines, and an occasional knit or crocheted project.




What inspired your site's charming name?

I'm so glad you asked! When I was little, I loved dolls, and had so many of them that I gained the nickname "Dolly" from my family! The name just seemed to stick all of these years, so when I started my blog a few years ago, that seemed like an appropriate title.



Whenever I visit your blog (which is often! :)), I am struck by a sense of two things first and foremost: serenity and old-fashionedness, and I say that as a wholly positive thing. What are some of the ways that you most enjoy currently bringing the past into your daily life?

Enjoying the simple things in life! Things like a walk in the garden (we call it the tour de fleur) ;), having tea-time, and playing a game together. Family has always been very important to us. Being homeschooled and having a dad who worked from the home, we have always been a very close family. We also enjoy old movies (pre-1950) and movies set in those eras.




What are some things (that you're 100% comfortable sharing) about yourself that your readers might not know yet?

I am 6' tall, the youngest of 4 siblings, and I really really don't like eggs. ;)



What is/are your favourite decades of all time from a fashion stand point?

I would have to say the 1940s are my absolute favorite. The styles are so very interesting and detailed that they have gained first place with me! I just can't get over the fact that although fabric supplies were very limited, ladies still managed to make the most gorgeous, ornate dresses! The 1930s and 1950s are both very close runners-up, however with their equally-as-gorgeous styles.




How often do you wear vintage styles?

Every day, actually! I used to love the modern fashions (chevron, infinity scarves, maxi skirts, etc), but once I discovered vintage fashions, they became my one-and-only favorite.


You are an accomplished and very creative sewer, what are some of your favourite projects that you've shared on your blog to date?

• 1950s "Redo" Dress


• Pleated 1950s Dress


• Little Black 1940s Dress


• Calico Regency Gown

(Jessica's note: a photo from each of these marvelous projects appears throughout this interview post.)


When did your love of sewing take root? Did you have sewing mentors or are you self-taught?

Last March is when my love of sewing started. I discovered a couple of ladies' blogs (Lily's and Tara's) that featured vintage-style garments that they had made, and I was just in love with the styles! I made my first vintage dress that same month, which got me "hooked" on sewing for good. As for how I was taught, my mother (very patiently) taught me how to sew! She has been sewing since grade school, so she is a very amazing seamstress. I am so thankful for her, and that she was able to teach me everything I know about it!!



What advice would you give to a novice sewer who is just starting out?

Don't let the seeming difficulty of pattern-reading, zipper-installing and buttonholing overwhelm you! They're all very easy once you have had a little bit of practice! Find an easy pattern such as Vogue V9000 (you could easily put a simple gathered skirt on it for a more '40s-inspired look) or Simplicity 1692, or an easy modern pattern of your liking.

Take it one step at a time, Google the pattern you are making to find a tutorial or sew-along on someone's blog, and have fun! You will be impressed by your own skills when you're done!




You make a lot of your own clothing. What percentage (roughly) of your closet at this point in time would you say you created with your own hands?

Approximately 96%, with the other 4% being store-bought sweaters and a couple of t-shirts and old skirts for exceedingly dirty jobs (tree-felling, painting...you get the drift.). My goal when I first started sewing garments was to have a completely handmade wardrobe, and I have finally reached that point!



What are some of the benefits that you find sewing enriches your life with?

•The ability to make my garments exactly as I want them. Being 6' tall, it wasn't an easy thing to find clothing that fit the way I wanted it to! Sewing allows me to personalize every little detail, making the whole experience quite enjoyable!

•That same aspect runs into many different areas as well; I can make clothing for my future children, linens and household items all in a specific way!




Your top five favourite sewing notions, tools and/or types of fabric would be?

•My very favorite sewing tool is the Pilot Frixion Erasable Marking Pen. I used to use the water-soluble markers, but then I would always have to either spritz or wash each garment after completion before I could wear it. With these pens, the marks iron out instantly!

•I also find the Nancy Zieman Sliding Gauge to be very helpful! It is a very useful tool for measuring with that long, straight edge.

•Cotton fabric! Probably 95% of my garments are made from cotton, and I just love it! Yes, it does mean a lot of ironing, but it is the most widely available, quality fabric in my area, and it usually works quite well for most patterns.

•A serger. We are fortunate enough as to have a serger, and it is just wonderful. It's so nice to have all of your raw edges taken care of - no worries!!


•Other ladies' sewing blogs. It is immensely helpful to be able to look at what other ladies have sewn for inspiration, directions, and encouragement!




Any exciting WIP's on the go right now that you can share with us?

I am in the middle of a late 1840s-early 1850s summer day dress right now. I took a short break from it in the last week or two, but I am looking forward to finishing it! Another 1950s blouse (Simplicity 1278) out of excess fabric from a previous project. I just love that pattern!

We just got an original '30s pattern last week which I am about to start making out of a gorgeous fabric inspired by that era. I'm very excited about it!



Please tell us more about the area where you live. It always looks so tranquil and beautiful in your photos.

We live in the Midwest, in a rural area surrounded by fields, woods, and a lovely little creek. It's a very lovely area; we're away from the hustle and bustle of town, but near enough to it to shop, eat, and all that good stuff! I've lived here all my life, and I definitely love it.




Do you currently live in a vintage/heritage home? (And if not, would you like to one day?)

No, our home was built in the '70s. I would love to live in a "vintage" home, although the idea of the upkeep that comes with such a house is a little daunting! Even so, I would like to one day!



When not sewing or blogging, what are some of your favourite things to do?

Playing the piano, gardening, baking, cooking, and fishing! The county we live in is just full of lakes, so we have plenty of opportunities to fish. There's just nothing like sight-fishing some panfish on a bright, warm spring day!




Like myself, you're a big fan of cooking. Do you enjoy making vintage recipes?



Surprisingly enough, I've never made any particular vintage recipe! (Shocking!) Some of the recipes I make are from my grandmas, so they may actually qualify as "vintage," but I have yet to delve into the realm of vintage cooking. Now I'm eager to try it!



What are some of your favourite dishes (vintage or contemporary) to whip up?

Oooh, hard question! It's hard to limit it to "some." ;) Anything chocolate, whether it be cookies, cakes, pies, candies or anything! Bread. There's something about making it that is quite satisfying! Spaghetti, plus steak and onions (with mushrooms).


Music is another big passion of yours, can you tell us more about which types and/or artists speak most deeply to your soul these days?

My favorite types of music are old-fashioned hymns, classical music, and Deanna Durbin songs. Chopin is definitely my favorite classical composer; nocturnes and waltzes are my favorite pieces. They are packed with so much emotion and feeling!!



I certainly see you as such, but I'm curious, do you consider yourself to be a highly creative person?

Well, to a certain extent, yes! I am not creative in the area of art (drawing, painting); I never have been. I have absolutely no talent in that realm! It's rather amazing, especially since all of my siblings are wonderful artists! Apparently I missed inheriting that trait! But I do consider myself to be quite creative in the area of sewing and handwork.




What's one crafty/creative thing you'd like to try that you've never delved into before?

Bobbin lace. It looks immensely difficult, but I like a challenge once in a while! And the lace that you can make is stunningly gorgeous.


And last, but certainly not least, what are some of your dreams/goals - sewing, blogging or otherwise related - for the future?

•Working on my Etsy shop (also called Dolly Creates), which I just launched this month. It is devoted to handmade vintage and historical fashions for women and children.

•After I get more of an "established" wardrobe built up, I would like to focus on some sewing for my hope chest. I would love to make table linens, curtains, pillowcases, aprons, and other things for my (Lord-willing) future home. I also want to sew many more children's clothes in order that I can someday clothe my children almost entirely in handmade clothing.

•I look forward also to (Lord-willing) getting married one day, having children, and serving the Lord in whatever way He directs!

Jessica's note ~ You can also connect with Esther on Pinterest.

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I have nothing but the deepest respect for Esther and her passion for sewing, the past, domestic arts, music, and blogging. On top of being a gifted lady, she is also a truly sweet, caring, giving, smart, lovely individual and someone for whom all of our feed readers will be/are bettered by following, no matter if you're a sewer or not.

As you can see from this bevy of photos, Esther has a great knack for putting together period appropriate looks that are sure to inspire one and all, on top of sharing many helpful how-tos, ideas, resources and other can't-miss features on her fantastic blog.

Thank you so much for the beautiful interview, Esther. I truly adored getting to know you and Dolly Creates better, as I'm sure my readers did as well.

Next month, for June's vintage blogger interview, we'll be jetting back across the Atlantic to talk to one of the most stylish old school loving gals in Germany. I can hardly wait! :)

Vintage Link Love for January 2015

Excitingly, today's post marks the one year anniversary since this end-of-the-month roundup of some of the most interesting and enjoyable links to have crossed my path lately came into existence. It has proven to be a big hit with many readers, so I've decided to continue it for the foreseeable future in 2015 (and possibly beyond – time will tell!).

This month, eh? Hmm, what can I say about it...for starters, it didn't unfold as I'd imagined, though objectively, relatively few ever do (for me at least). I began January in poor health, then things perked up and I was able to be incredibly productive for a few days, got hit with a really bad flare-up of one of my GI conditions and was largely out of commission again near the end again (and still am).

{That is the promise and hope of each new year, though as any realist will tell you, things don't always go as planned! Image source.}

Really, this is quite the average roller coaster of being chronically ill for me though, so nothing was particularly out of the ordinary there. My focus for the most part during my highly productive days was my Etsy shop, where I'm delighted to report that for the first time ever, I currently have over 300 listings in stock at at the moment (in fact, I presently have over 325 items in stock).

I've been striving to reach this milestone number for a while now and am thrilled to have finally done so. Lofty goal though it may be, as I have the stock already, I'm now aiming to have 400 listings up by the end of March.

Snow and black ice, rain as chilly as icicles melting overhead, and skies as grey as tarmac called this month home. Spring is a long ways off still, but not so far it feels unreachable. Just get through two more months, a wee voice inside whispers, and April will reward you with natural beauty so vivid and moving you'll feel as though you're experiencing it for the very first time.

Now however, right here in the present moment, winter remains and so to help inject some excitement into another damp, windy winter morn, allow me to present a dozen of the vintage related links that have caught my eye in recent weeks and which I hope you'll enjoy spending some quality time with as much as I did.

♥ 15 things you didn't know about fashion in the First World War: Okay, objectively as vintage fashion lovers, some of us may know a few or even all of these, but this History Extra post makes for a fun, informative read all the same and will more than likely have you yearning to slip into some late Edwardian threads by the time you reach the 15th point.


♥ How to tie a vintage style turban: This is a question I get asked, especially by non-vintage wearing strangers that I encounter while out and about, quite frequently. Now, I'm happy to say, I can point one and all towards this wonderful how-to post from Carla at Tiny Angry Crafter, who shared her favourite way to stylishly sport a vintage style headscarf turban.


♥ 50 more awesome (vintage) outfit photo shoot locations: Earlier this month one of my first posts for this brand new year focused on 52 awesome (vintage) outfit photo shoot locations. Inspired by it, Helen Mae (pictured below) from the blog Lovebirds Vintage penned her own fabulous list and includes scores of places that I'll be tucking away for future use now myself. If anyone else tries their hand at a similar list, be sure to let me/us know - I'd love to read it!





♥ A Secret Ballroom Built In The 1800s Lies Under A Lake, Guarded By Neptune: Wow. Just wow!!!


♥ 75 Creative ways to organize your jewelry: By way of Lucky magazine - one of my favourite contemporary fashion magazines ever - comes this inspiring list of 75 ways to store, display and get the most out of your jewelry. Given how many of us in the vintage world are massive jewelry fans, there was no way I could refrain from sharing this fun slideshow of ideas.


♥ 1940s Winter Fashion Inspiration: A great entry from Swiss blogger Doris of Mrs. Button's Vintage Corner, this post that is jammed backed with marvelous forties cold weather fashion ideas that are bound to turn your knees to jelly and make you yearn for a time machine!




♥ Caring for your woolens: Wool generally comes out to play more often during winter than any other season, but no matter the time of the year, the tips in this handy post from A Fashionable Stitch are sure to help you keep yours in tip-top shape.


♥ 21 old-fashioned fruit punch recipes (from 1969): It struck me a while ago, during the holiday season actually, that fruit punches are classic drink that don't get as much mainstream love as they once did by any stretch of the imagination - which is a shame, because their possibilities are endless and they're usually very tasty ways to quench your thirst and liven up a party or everyday meal alike. This list from Click Americana rounds up 21 great classics that will be sure to have you reaching for the feather duster and your punch bowl set pronto!


♥ Amazing vintage photographs provide a vivid snapshot of working life for British women during World War Two: 1940s history buffs and fashion fans will both be be in awe and admiration of the incredibly hard working ladies depicted in these WW2 photos from the UK that help to remind us (not that us vintage folks needed it - but in general, I mean) of how truly valuable women were to the war effort.




♥ 19 Huge Hollywood Stars Who Never Won an Oscar: From Rita Hayworth to Errol Flynn, you'll be surprised big time by the selection of actors and actresses on this list and find yourself repeating "that just doesn't seem right!" over and over again as you read though this Time Magazine list of truly talented entertainers.


♥ Make Your Own Seamed Stockings: Whether your interests in historical fashions tends to those from a few hundred years ago, the more recent decades of the 20th century, or anywhere in between, this excellent how-to post from the blog The Dreamstress is a must read and bookmark for any seamed stocking fan.


♥ Free vintage themed cross stitch patterns: Cross stitching has been one of my favourite crafts and hobbies since I was about five years old and made my first wee x shaped stitches ever. Though I haven't had a lot of time for it in more recent years, I'm hoping to start (and finish) one or two big patterns this year, working primarily on my day off each week (wish me luck! :)). If you're a fellow fan of this classic art, then you're going to flip for the delightful selection of free cross stitch charts in this great post from Portuguese vintage lifestyle blog Casa Cherry (I hope to make some of them over the years for sure!).

(Please note: this cross stitch chart is credited to Fliiz Turkocagi, T.C. Ministry of Culture Artist, Cross Stitch Designer, Turkey)



{All images throughout the list of links above come by way of the post that they are displayed directly beneath the write up of here. Please follow the links provided to learn more about these images.}

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Roller coaster-esque though this month might have been, it had its positive points (which on top of the aforementioned listing milestone, also including hitting a grand total of 300+ items sold to date in my shop - I can't help but think how cool it is that both big 300 marks happened within not just days, but hours, of each other - what are the odds?) and I leave January with a similar optimism to that which I entered into it with.

I have scores (!) of post ideas and plans in the works for this year and am eager to share several of them with you in February - yes, very much including at least one or two Valentine's Day related entries. You know me, I just can't let a holiday go by un-blogged! :)

Here, my sweet friends, is to the prospect of an awesome second month of the year and all the love, goodness, (possibly) milder weather, and exciting things that it holds in store of each of us!