Sunday, October 27, 2013

Victorian Fancy Dress ~ Costume Inspiration


While I already have my costume picked out and ready to go, I couldn't help but look at a book of Victorian "fancy dress" costume ideas for next year. Here were a few of my favorites:






No illustration for this one but it sounds wonderful!
It's slightly similar to the pansy costume below:


I think the Magpie is my favourite, but I love the idea of a forget-me-not costume (as it is my favourite flower). I love that you could take a lot of these ideas and easily make them work with a different decade (such as the Pansy costume with a 1950's dress). 

That's All.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Blue, Red, and a Nurses Cape

Outfit details: 1950's dress- Etsy
Red necklace- made by me
Sweater- thrifted
Hair flower- made by me
Shoes- gift

My parents are lucky enough to be away on holiday this week. I'm stuck here but I thought that was no reason I couldn't go out and have at least a little fun too. So I called up Britt and we went to Port Perry for lunch and a bit of shopping. We of course stopped at the yarn store on the way home as well. It was a lovely day, except for a bit of rain/hail at one point.

This late in the season, the air is very chilly and to keep warm I decided to pull out my nurses cape. I bought it last winter but this was my first time actually wearing it out. It is pure wool and very, very warm. If I end up dressing up for Halloween I may be a nurse this year, mainly because I want an excuse to wear the matching nurses cap. I love that the original nurse's name is on the cap and her initials are embroidered inside the cape. I believe it's from either the 1950s or 1960s.


That's All.

PS: It took me ages to come up with a title for this post. I greatly envy bloggers who come up with good blog post titles.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Saving the 1970's


Can you believe my dad wanted to get rid of this sweater?! It's original 1970's tie-dye! I rescued it from a pile of clothes he was donating. He was rather baffled that I would want to keep it, but I think it is such a cute sweater. The browns make the sweater more tame than the bright colours normally associated with tie-dye. I paired it with a wide black belt, my favourite black beret, the same trousers I wear pretty much every day (I really need some new trousers....), and a string of cream pearls. 



And may I just adding photographing indoors is darn tricky! It took my ages of experimenting to find a place to take photos today. It was pouring rain outside and really dark inside. Even with my camera light I was having problems. Ok, my camera light is actually older than this sweater but I still think it should have been a bit easier. If anyone has any tricks for indoor fashion photography I would love to hear them!

That's All.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Upon My Shelves

This was going to be an outfit post. It really was. I had the outfit all picked out and ready to go. An adorable outfit might I add, involving a 1930s dress. But then my friend called with the bad news that she had a cold and couldn't make our knitting night. So no outfit post. I just really hate to "waste" clothes when I'm not going out.

Instead I tidied up my room and closet a bit. And by "a bit" I mean I did a total overhaul of my closet and reorganized everything. It's not quite done yet but I will try to get pictures when finished. As I was puttering about my room I realized I had never shared any pictures of "the cube". The cube is a bookshelf in my room that holds many of my favourite treasures. Although truth be told, I like to place little "treasures" everywhere (hence the reason my other bookshelves are cluttered with old photos, dried leaves, knick-knacks, and the occasional pinecone).

So without further ado, upon my shelves there is:
A bunch of antique books, a candle snuffer, a doily that belonged to my great grandmother,  a plate that also belonged to her, and a teacup that my grandmother was given as a wedding present in the 1940s. 

More antique books (including "The Sheik" whose story line I absolutely hate but I bought for it's cultural significance), a vintage curling iron, my favourite antique photo (there is just something in her eyes I find haunting), and a pair of bookends that were also given to my grandmother as a wedding gift

This is the "pink shelf". There's a few newer books, a glass hand-painted egg (given to me as a child as a souvenir from one of my grandmothers many trips), an antique teacup, and an antique tea pot I rescued from the cottage. 

Most of the tea-wear on this shelf is modern except for the vintage cow creamer. If you are familiar with the Jeeves and Wooster stories you will know why I desperately wanted a cow creamer. Alas he is not silver, but he matches my teapot.

More books (a mix of old and new), two vintage teacups I received as gifts, and one modern one in a 1930s pattern (that's the one with the pinecone in it. See? Random pinecones).

I actually have no idea what is in the jewelry boxes. I should probably open them sometime and find out...  I really love the little sailor bird. I wanted him for ages and finally treated myself as a graduation gift to myself.

Isn't he too cute?!

More books (yes, yes I have a wee bit of a book addiction), another antique teacup, a vintage pair of evening gloves, an antique bottle found during renovations (with a dried peony from our garden), and a picture of a women who is somehow related to me. She may be my great-great grandmother but I'm not entirely sure. The photo is still in it's original frame.

Thifted cat, antique teacup (also from my grandmother), a few antique books, another teapot, and some fancy sugar cubes.

The bottom shelves hold little of interest (mainly hat boxes), except this one which stores my vintage galoshes, a teapot (gift from Britt) which sits upon a beautiful purple/grey rock slice, and a book about the Art Deco movement.
So there we have it. An in-depth look at some of my shelves. I hope that wasn't too boring. I know I always enjoy looking into peoples personal spaces. Rooms say a lot about the people that inhabit them. Do you have a spot where you display your treasures?

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.
That's All.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Hair Tutorial and a Phonograph Fashions October Update


I've been a busy beaver adding new items to the shop. Here is a little preview of a few of the new garments:

This darling dress is on sale due to a small flaw in the back neck. This means it is quite a
 bargain at the moment! Of course if you want a "perfect" one I am more than willing to accept custom orders.
This beautiful top would be perfect for the holiday season. It is both elegant and comfortable. 
I think of this style as 1930's does Victorian, as I borrowed elements from both decades. 

Perfect for the vintage girl in winter, this flannel slip has been made from a vintage sheet. I have enough
materials to custom make you one in any size you want. Wait time for a custom order is less than 2 weeks.
I also have some cream material if you would prefer a different colour.

I now offer direct checkout as well, which means you can use Etsy giftcards in my shop or pay without having to use paypal.

I didn't have time for a "proper" youtube video this month so I left the camera on while I did Britt's hair for the photoshoot. Please try to ignore me in the background. I was in "photographer mode" which means no makeup and really old, unflattering clothes that I didn't care about getting mud on (one of the hazards of an outdoor photoshoot). I thought her hair turned out really cute but Britt wasn't a big fan. Oh well, you can't please everyone.



That's All.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Knitted Coats and Skirts (1917)


I love the coats! They look so cosy. I may have to see if I can find a similar knitting pattern...

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

More Autumn Walks

My mother splurged on a parking pass to all the local conservation areas, so we've been making an extra effort to go for more walks. I love stomping through the woods and discovering new trails. 

I never seem to have a chance to do outfit photos anymore, so I made my mom stop and snap a few pictures of me. The lighting was really too dim for outfit shots, but I did get one half-decent photo. I'm wearing my favorite black beret, cat-eye sunglasses, wide-leg wool trousers, and a sweater I made last year based on a 1930's design. I know, I know, cat-eye sunglasses should not be worn with a 1930's style sweater but I was feeling rebellious (Am I the only one who worries if her sunglasses match the decade of her outfit? haha)

I've said it before, but autumn is by far my favourite season. I love the crisp air and the smell of fallen leaves.




This particular conservation area has a seriously intense set of stairs. Normally I climb up it, but this time we went down and I took a picture at each bend (i.e. each photo does not include the previous section, so you get an idea how high up it goes).



Almost there.....
 Whew! I get tired just looking at the photos. But when you reach the bottom you are met with a lovely beaver pond (alternatively, when you reach the top you get a spectacular view from the lookout).
That's All.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Autumn at the Cottage


I just got back from a lovely week at my grandmother's cottage. Autumn is such a beautiful time of 
year up there. This is the first time in years I've been able to go up in the fall.


Old stone wall from when the woods were part of a farm
My mom is terrified of bears. She was really mad when we got to the "creepy woods"
 and I started singing the Teddy Bear picnic song.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower" - Albert Camus

That's All.