Vintage Me

Vintage me with my new Rita Hayworth red hair.

Vintage me with my blond hair (that I miss from time to time)

I have always loved vintage ladies, vintage decor, vintage clothes, vintage music and movies and pretty much vintage everything. I used to flip through my families' old black and whites and just stare at every detail.  The curl of the hair, the cut of the dress, the red lips. Oh so classy and timeless.  Around the beginning of this year a few blogs caught my eye. There are ladies living vintage lives in this modern day world.  I mean completely vintage.  The clothes in their closet are either thrifted vintage or vintage inspired.  One vintage lady in particular is Fleur from London. Her blog, Diary of a Vintage Girl, is full of stories about her vintage modeling, vintage gatherings, and tea parties.  She is one of the most authentic looking forties enthusiast I have come across.

Fleur writes for The Chap

Not all of the vintage blogs I follow are just 40's fashion and lifestyle but also the 20's and 30's.  I prefer authentic vintage to the rockabilly style that is popular.

Casey Brown of Casey's Elegant Musings sews most of her wardrobe from vintage sewing patterns.

Wearing History
also makes a lot of their own clothing

The Call of The Jitterbug

Tea With The Vintage Baroness

Gatsby and Me

These are only a few of the many vintage blogs out there.  I'm not sure that I can become completely vintage like these girls but I sure do love incorporating vintage style into my life. I like to think more on the lines of Antropologie.  Mixing vintage and modern with a little hippie or bohemian thrown in.  Keeps things interesting.

Next I will blog about vintage hair and makeup.

Decorative Plates

A dramatic display

One of my favorite things to decorate with are hand painted plates. I hang them with a wire plate hanger which comes in different sizes. They are so fun and easy to change out with the seasons.  I have several different plates that I use for different times of the year.  It's an inexpensive way to experiment with color and styles in my home's interior so I don't get bored. 

I bought 3 beautiful painted plates from Anthropologie last night.  They have so many styles to choose from. I have also bought several of my decorative plates from TJ Maxx Home Goods store which were very inexpensive.  Like $4-$6.  You can't beat that.

I snatched up this adorable bee plate.

These hummingbirds will look great on my wall.

And I couldn't pass up this beautiful strawberry and butterfly plate 

.

Of course there were a few plates that I would like to add to my collection at some point.  I can only talk my husband into buying me but so much at Anthro in one day.

Butter1fly plate on my wish list.

Mushroom on my wish list.

Painted Lady on my wish list.

invisible plate hanger

Wire plate hanger.

A conservative display

Love these contrasting colors

Mix and match for an eclectic look.

Fun seasonal display

Crochet edging

I have had this lamp shade for about 5 years now and I'm the type that gets bored with decor fast. That's why I was in college to become an Interior Designer before deciding to become a stay at home mommy. I love all types of styles, time periods, colors, etc. Even though I did not follow through with a design degree I still love interior design so I just can't settle on one look for my home. I am constantly changing things. Lord help me when I get the chance to build and decorate my own home. I better start a binder with inspirations now!

Last night I decided to add a little something to this lamp shade. It needed more color and texture.




I crocheted a scalloped edging in a navy blue and teal and then hot glued it to the bottom of the lamp shade. The edging makes the lamp shade look more complete. At least to me it does. :) Plus it brings together extra colors which I like. Mixing contrasting colors is one of my favorite things to do. Olive green with a pink and a mustard yellow. Very Anthropologie.



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Granny Square Slippers

Granny Square Slippers

 

Granny Square Slippers I crocheted

I was browsing through one of my favorite crafting websites, The Purl Bee and found a tutorial for Granny Square Slippers and just had to make them.  It definitely took some trial and error to put them all together but I made it happen and the next pair should be much easier.  The pattern says it will fit woman's shoe size 7- 9 1/2.  I am a size 8 and feel that they are a little big.  I may need to go down a hook size or just omit the single crochet that is added to each granny square before they are crocheted together.  I haven't figured it out yet but for some reason the slippers in the tutorial have more rounded corners than mine do.  Not that big of a deal but my pointy slippers look more elvish than they are supposed to I'm sure.

Granny Square Slippers from The Purl Bee

 

Granny Squares are so simple to make.  I learned how to crochet a traditional granny square by watching crochet videos by Teresa tjw1963. I love all of her videos.  She makes it so easy to learn crochet.  

Each slipper consist of six granny squares.  I could easily crochet several dozen granny squares in one day and then attach them all in a few hours. I think I may add some to my etsy shop.  We will see.

Tutorial from The Purl Bee

Granny Square Slippers

Bring out the hippie in you and make a pair of Granny Square Slippers!

Tea Making Tips (1941)

 

Tea Time!

I love making a cuppa tea (as the British call it) in the middle of the day and my 2 year old daughter loves joining me!  I usually choose Raspberry leaf, Peppermint, Ginger, Chamomile, or decafe Irish Breakfast tea.  Recently I had to give up my daily cup of java (except for the occasional decaf coffee) because of digestive sensitivities and anxiety issue.  Since I love coffee for it's full body and flavor I knew I had to find a tea alternative that wouldn't make my tummy hurt and didn't taste "watery" or "thin".  I found Irish Breakfast tea to fit the bill pretty closely.  The flavor is full and heavy.  I add coconut creamer by SO Delicious and a little raw sugar.  It's my perfect coffee alternative.

Above is a sweet and touching video of British tea making tips filmed during WWII.  Check out the size of the tea pots they use for the soldiers!  Huge!  Making tea is an art form and this video will show you how to make the perfect cuppa tea.  In Britain they drink tea like we drink coffee.  I think I will make 4 O'clock tea time a regular happening in my home.  Now to find some gluten-free "biscuit" recipes.  

Gorgeous Tea Set from Anthropologie!

This Tea Set from Anthropologie is beautiful!  It's called Shipwrecked which makes it even more charming.  Can you imagine finding this on an island somewhere?!?!  I WANT this ridiculously priced item.

Tea Infuser

Tea Strainer

Don't forget a tea infuser or a tea strainer because to make a proper cuppa tea you need to use loose tea leaves.  I don't get any money or discounts for constantly suggesting them BUT Mountain Rose Herbs has some of the best loose leaf teas and prices to boot.  They give discounts for buying bulk!  I buy most of my herbs from them and have been very pleased with everything.

Hopeful the vintage video will help you make a better cuppa tea.  I know it has helped me!

Tea Biscuits by Whipped Bake Shop I want to try and make these!

 

Favorite Finds- Charm Bracelets

{Marilyn Charm by Tamar}

I LOVE charm bracelets and charm necklaces for that matter. I especially like this new take on a charm bracelet. It seems more grown up and elegant compared to the dangling ones we had as children. These gorgeous charm bracelets are made by one of my favorite jewelry makers, Tamar from Nest Pretty Things. Her work, as well as her new kids line can also be found on Etsy, !

{Rose Charm by Tamar}

Handmade Coconut Oil Lotion

I finally made handmade lotion.  It turned out great! I was so excited. This lotion is great for really dry skin which is what my husband and daughter have. Most homemade lotions follow the same ingredient ratio which allows room for creativity.  An ounce of natural bee wax for every cup of oil/butter plus a few tablespoons of a "water" to change the consistency from thick, like a cream or thinner like a lotion.  I developed my own recipe using these ratios.

All of my ingredients, except my essential oils, came from Mountain Rose Herbs.  I love MRH.  They have tons of bulk herbs and tools. They can also be found on facebook which is awesome because they always answer your questions when you post. 

1

Handmade Coconut oil Lotion

(Make sure all tools and containers are clean and dry)

2 ounces Natural Bees Wax

1/4 cup Calendula Oil

1 1/4 cup Organic (unrefined  cold pressed) Coconut Oil

1/2 cup cold pressed Olive Oil

8 tablespoons Chamomile Infusion

61 tablespoons Aloe Vera Juice

(less "waters" will make more of a cream)

2 Tablespoons Vitamin E Oil

1/4 teaspoon Tea Tree Oil

15 drops essential oil Fragrance (add more if you prefer)

I made my own chamomile infusion by putting 1/2 ounce chamomile flowers in a clean pint jar and then adding boiled distilled water to the top.  You will need to use a knife or chopstick to stir out the air bubbles.  You may need to keep adding water until it reaches the top of the jar with 1/4 inch space left from the rim.  Let it 11steep for at least 2 hours. Strain into a strainer lined with a coffee filter or layered paper towels.  You can make all types of healing herbal infusions for lotion and salve making.  Lavender, Calendula, Plantain, St. John's Wort, Rose, etc. have healing and calming properties.  You could also use Flower Waters (Hydrosols).  

"Hydrosols, also known as floral waters, hydroflorates, flower waters or distillates are produced from steam-distilling plant materials. Hydrosols have similar properties to essential oils but are much less concentrated. Unlike their "essential oil added to water" counterparts, true steam-distilled hydrosols contain all the beneficial components that whole plant materials have to offer.
Hydrosols are usually a by-product of essential oil production, but the highest quality comes from devoted distillers who, with artist-like precision, steam small batches of fresh floral and plant material strictly to produce hydrosol (the hydrosols offered by Mountain Rose Herbs are produced in this fashion)." -- Mountain Rose Herbs

Chamomile Flowers

You don't have to make an herbal infusion if you don't want to.  You can just add more aloe vera gel/juice instead. Also Rose water which can be found at most grocery stores can be used.

After the herbal infusion is ready then the next step is to melt the bees wax in a double boiler.  

1oz Beeswax bars

Melting beeswax in a double boiler

While the bees wax is melting, measure out your oils/butter.  No matter how much of each oil/butter you use, it has to equal 2 cups total.  So next time I may try one cup coconut oil, 1/2 cup shea butter, and 1/2 cup of an herbal infused almond oil. See? So versatile and fun!

Calendula Flower Oil

Cold Pressed Olive Oil

Virgin Coconut Oil

Once all oils/butters have been measured, pour into bowl with melted wax.  The wax will seize up at first but it will melt back down again as you stir. 

Melting oils and beeswax

Once everything has melted pour directly into the blender so that it can cool.  You just want it to thicken like a pudding but not harden.  Next you will add your "waters" through the top of the lid while you are blending.  You will notice the sound of the blender change as the water is being added.  Add any essential oils or natural preservatives at this time as well.  

Cooling oil mixture

 Blend well and then pour your finished lotion into your desired container of choice.  Something opaque and air tight is recommended.  I re-used a plastic pump lotion bottle that I cleaned well. I am storing the extra in a glass jar and placing it in the fridge.   

Oil mixture blended up with the waters

I recommend storing extra lotion in the fridge unless you use a natural preservative which I am going to get for my next batch.  I am told that unrefrigerated lotions containing NO preservatives will last a few weeks at room temperature. I did add a little tea tree oil to my lotion which will help cut back on bacterial growth but there are definitely stronger natural preservatives available.  

Both T-50 Vitamin E Oil and Grapefruit Seed Extract are used as natural preservatives because they are anti-microbial and will extend a product's shelf life. Both can be found on From Nature With Love.  (Stay away from the parabens!)

Well I hope you all try this recipe and maybe even experiment and develop your own special handmade lotion or creme.  I know I am hooked!!!  Next I will make a face cream. Yay!