Today’s Vintage Treasure: March 16, 2010

{While sunlight as a gentle and soft as a kitten’s paw streams through the burgundy damask curtains in our living, the temperate climbing today to 15°(C) for the first time since early last spring, I feel giddy with excitement over the coming season – and anything the embraces a springtime feeling.

This immensely cute embroidered handbag from the 1950s fits that bill to a tee! Swirling with a flock of vibrantly hued butterflies, this wonderful chain strap purse would look amazing as part of an Easter outfit, garden party ensemble, or as a beautiful everyday bag that would be sure to garner compliments everywhere you went. If you’re a fan of butterflies on your accessories (and vintage ones at that!) – as I definitely am, flutter over to etsy seller Allen Company Inc., where you can net this darling purse for $72.00.}


While I’m anything but superstitious, I’m almost Leary to say that winter appears to be on its way out the door here – lest I jinx things and awake to a ferocious blizzard (this is Canada after all, such radical changes over night in weather are by no means unheard of). Realistically though, I think it’s broach the subject and say that spring really and truly does appear to be on its (long awaited!) way.

Autumn in Toronto this past year was both very short and unseasonably chilly, making many here (myself included) feel as though we’d been gypped out of a proper fall. It also means that it’s been many months since we last experienced weather so pleasant would could safely venture outside without a coat on.

Today, as the mercury hovers well above freezing, my mind turns to thoughts of sending out Easter cards, the first weekends when the local farmer’s market returns, ripe with just-plucked-from-the-field produce, and daydreams of having a house with a yard so that I could string a hammock and take a cat nap with the toasty (almost) spring sun caressing my face.

What are you eager for this lively, gorgeous season to usher back into your life?

Vintage Deal of the Day: November 28, 2009

{If I’m not meandering through the endless pages of etsy, I’m probably checking out the ever-changing selection of items on eBay (sound familiar? ;D). One of my neatest finds this week was a vintage full felt skirt in a chipper bright green hue covered with various Christmas motifs. Though this wonderful skirt, which fits up to a size 33.5 inch waist, does have a few small marks on it (why not cover them with more appliqués?), it’s still entirely wearable and absolutely adorable! This festive piece is being offered by eBay seller madamenllie (who will ship internationally), its auction is on for about three more days, and the current price is $6.95 (US).}


Thank you so much to everyone who has entered (and blogged about) Chronically Vintage’s Jessie Willcox Smith art print giveaway, the response to this contest has been amazing!

If you haven’t posted a comment yet for your chance to win, fear not, this giveaway is open until 11:59 (EST) Monday night (the 30th). If you’d like to possibly win a beautiful set of eight vintage prints strung on elegant ribbons, please be sure you enter the giveaway before it’s too late! One lucky winner will be drawn on Monday and announced in a blog post that very same day.

Wishing all of you the best of luck with the giveaway, and a splendidly fun Saturday!

Vintage Deal of the Day: November 13, 2009

{Everyone needs some new togs to help see them through the holiday party and get-together season, and what better place to turn than to than vintage pieces for your festive winter garb? The moment I saw this beautiful, cheery chiffon turquoise and white frock I thought it would just the thing for one lucky gal to wear to anything from an intimate cocktail party (New Years perhaps?) to a huge company bash. This 1950s turquoise and white dress fits a 29/30” inch waist and a 36/38” waist, and can be found amongst the lovely offerings in etsy seller Vanity’s shop for $45.00 (US).}


With the Friday minutes away from wrapping up, I think I can safely report that nothing else even slightly out of the norm took place this 13th. I’m not superstitious in the least, I just think there’s something kind of fun (and a little suspenseful) about waiting to see if anything bizarre does befall you or not when the thirteenth of the month occurs on the fifth day of the week.

Thank you so much for your visits and beautiful comments this week, sweet dears. Every one of them means a great deal to me. Wishing you each an absolutely marvelous weekend ahead!

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!

Blue Velvet Vintage is holding a blowout sale!

It’s not every day that an email arrives in your inbox informing you that an online vintage fashion site is holding a big sale on some of their merchandise. So when I received such a message from Blue Velvet Vintage, I instantly knew I needed to share it with all of you!

BVV is a treasure trove of both fantastic vintage pieces and modern vintage inspired re-creation items (from such brands as Bettie Page Clothing and Trashy Diva). Their site offers up a wide selection of everything from evening gowns to day dresses, swimwear to coats, all of which usually retails for reasonable prices, making the 20 to 50% off deals on their clearance page all the more enjoyable for your pocketbook. (Do note that not all of BVV’s merchandise is on sale at the moment, just the items in the clearance section.)

When I go for an online vintage window shopping trip, BVV is often amongst my stops. I haven’t actually bought from this shop before, but I wouldn’t hesitate to if I had the means to do so. Their site is charmingly pretty, easy as pie to navigate, and continually stocked with a fantastic roster of very covetable vintage pieces.

If I was going to spoil myself this very moment with some of BVV’s sale items, the following pieces would certainly be the type I’d aim to add to my closet! :)



{1940s pink formal gown with peplum, fits a 26” waist/34”bust; $37.99.}



{Navy blue and white Bettie Page Clothing “Captain Flare” dress with full skirt, currently available on in size XL; $105.00.}



{Black silk 1950s cocktail dress with velvet collar, fits a 29” waist/38” bust; $19.99.}



{Red and white 1960s hibiscus print sarong dress, fits a 26” waist/35” bust; $104.30.}



{Black lace over bronze hued taffeta 1950s party dress, fits a 28” waist/36” bust; $34.99.}



{Light blue 1950s lace party dress with peplum, fits a 27” waist/37” bust; $94.50.}



{Pink and black rose floral print 1950s swing dress with shawl collar, fits a 31” waist/40” bust; $93.00.}

{Please note all prices are in US dollars and reflect the current sale price.}


I believe that BVV ships internationally, which means that vintage fashion loves from around the globe can hope on board for this sale. Plus, as a further bonus, if you subscribe to Blue Velvet Vintage’s mailing list newsletter, you can use the coupon code “Blowout” upon checkout to receive an addition 10% off all sale items until September 19th.

If you happen to pick anything up for yourself from this sale, I’d love to hear about it. Happy shopping to all!

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!