vintage valentine's day greetings

A favorite holiday hobby of mine is looking at vintage cards, and Valentine's Day does not disappoint. You can find all sorts of greetings - from the cutesy to the strange - in Valentine's Day cards. But they're mostly just cutesy. And awesome.

(All vintage greetings for sale via Etsy - here, here, here, and here.)

I found this little guy at an antique mall last weekend.

If you're looking for a card that's a little less old, Urban Outfitters offers some great wooden sweethearts. And you can always opt for something a bit more anatomically correct.

Shop update tomorrow!

edwardian hair and gunne sax red velvet

Photos by Neil!

Red Velvet and Lace Gunne Sax Dress - Thrifted

Black Lace Up Zodiac Boots -Tennessee Antique Mall

A Tennessee snow today!

Recently, I was looking at my sister Rhi's blog and came across this great old post of hers about the Edwardian actress Gabrielle Ray.. Ray's hair bewitched me a bit, so I wanted to try something similar with my own. It was surprisingly easy - I just twisted chunks of my hair and pinned them loosely to the top of my head.

The dress I'm wearing is a Jessica McClintock Gunne Sax dress that is ridiculously petite - I couldn't get it on until I trimmed the sleeves - but I absolutely love the red and white velvet and lace mix (especially with Valentine's Day coming up!). I thought it would be a perfect dress in the snow, so Neil and I did a mini photo shoot with it this afternoon.

When it snows in Nashville, everything - literally EVERYTHING - shuts down. Moms go to the grocery store the day before to stock up on food items, schools close sometimes 24 hours in advance just in case. I did some shopping for my store update on Monday this morning, and it only took about three blocks before we saw a car turned painfully on its side in the ditch. Two miles later and we had seen a total of five cars beaten by the roads.

But man alive, was it beautiful! It was one of those light, slushy snows that makes everything it touches seem weightless. And I love what snow does to the nighttime.. it's almost as bright as day out there. The sky's a reddish peach color and the ground is a stark white.

So besides a bit of shopping and some picture taking, Neil and I had a lazy day. Neil made a homemade chicken pot pie and we bought some light red wine to go with it, and I baked more muffins for dessert. Today was definitely a chicken pot pie and baked goods kind of day.

Do you have any fun weekend plans? (and random last note.. have you guys heard about Alexa Chung designing for Madewell? Velvet dresses, high waisted pants, peter pan collars, vintage children coats as inspiration.. does it get any better than that?)

interview and giveaway with christine of dailee dose jewelry and handmade!

An interview and giveaway for today!

Lovely Christine of Dailee Dose has an eye for vintage inspired jewelry. She puts the greatest creative philosophy - create something new from something old - to use with her own individualized spin.. Making vintage pieces new again, she also manages to retain their soft, vintage aesthetic in the process.

Whether she's reconstructing a lace dress from an old negligee, wedding antique storybook illustrations to wood cutouts, or creating feminine, ruffly undies from vintage fabrics, Christine has a real penchant for creating and upcycling - and all with a bit of an edge.

Tell us a bit about yourself!

Hello! My name is Christine, I’m 21, and I live in Marlton, New Jersey with my boyfriend Derek and our two cats, Eve and Rogue. We both grew up here and were high school sweethearts. It is our dream to move off together someday and have a charming little house of our own in a place much more satisfying. I love to create all sorts of things, and I am obsessed with vintage, fashion, sewing, art and jewelry. I collect vintage dresses, fashion magazines, vintage fairy tale books, kitschy house wares and knick knacks, and any other cute things I can get my hands on.

What led you to start making jewelry (and clothing, too)?

Ever since I can remember, I was always making something. I used to sketch a lot growing up, and I even used to paint one of a kind dolls. I studied art during my middle school years and in high school I took four years of fashion design classes. Sewing was always a strong passion of mine, but I didn’t actually start creating jewelry seriously until this past year. I stumbled across Etsy in 2008 and instantly fell in love. I always knew that I wanted to work for myself, and this was the place that would allow me to do that. I just wish I would have started Dailee Dose sooner!

Do you have a favorite creation that you've made?

I really love the pieces from my Alice in Wonderland collection, since I am secretly obsessed with the story (I think I have seen every Alice in Wonderland movie there is..). The red reconstructed slip dress I made for Valentine’s Day is another one of my favorites.

You find such great pieces to put together! What are your shopping strategies?

Thank you! But I don’t think I really have a strategy, I usually just sort of stumble upon things! I spend a lot of time supply shopping on Etsy and in thrift shops, and I look for anything vintage or unique that I can turn into jewelry. For example, I just recently found the cutest vintage wooden Easter ornaments that I want to turn in to necklaces. Lucite cabochons, cameos, and Cracker Jack toys are the best.

What inspires you the most?

I like to work with several different components at once, and the beads and fabric themselves inspire me the most. When I am shopping for supplies, I usually know right away how I want to use an item in a design. I love to use vintage fabrics, like old curtains or linens, and upcycle them in to something pretty and new. I read a lot of fashion blogs and browse online boutiques all the time. And anything frilly and girly, with lots of lace and ruffles, always catches my eye.

Any future plans for your shops that we should be aware of?

I have only just begun with Dailee Dose, and I am super excited! I am currently focusing more of my attention on my clothing designs, and I am working on a Spring/Summer line that will consist of rompers, shorts and skirts, lingerie, and cotton dresses in pastels and floral prints. And of course there will be even more jewelry, as well as a fuller inventory at my vintage shop, Officer Sweetheart. I plan on launching a website for Dailee Dose later this year as well.

Thanks, Christine!

As for the giveaway.. you have your choice between these two lovelies!

These feminine floral cameo earrings..

Or this kitschy cool deer hair bow!

All you have to do to enter is comment on this blog post and let us know which is your favorite find of the two! And if you feel like sharing, we'd love to hear how you plan on styling your giveaway choice.

The giveaway is open for one week and ends on Wednesday, February 3rd. I'll announce a winner then!

In the meantime, don't forget to check out Dailee Dose, as well as Christine's two other shops - her vintage store Officer Sweetheart and her supply shop, Colinette Supplies.

etsy shop update! military dresses and 1940's lace.

Vintage Navy CORDUROY High Waist Trousers

1940's Ivory LACE Button Up Blouse

Vintage MILITARY Blue and Gold Plaid Dress

1970's POLLY FLINDER Sailor Drop Waist Dress

Shop update! These and more, including a 1940's sheer navy day dress, a tan and cream polka dot blouse, and an emerald velvet and lace dress.

Also, for those of you who have made a purchase at my Etsy shop (or are about to!), I'm offering a deal to all who send me a customer appreciation photo through feedback - if you send me a photo of how you styled your recent Blooming Leopold purchase, I will send you a coupon code for 50% OFF your next Blooming Leopold order! If you've already left feedback, don't fret - just send me a photo (or, if you've posted it on your blog or Flickr, the link) through an Etsy message. I would really love to see how you guys fashion the vintage and handmade items I sell!

Expect a special Etsy interview and giveaway in the next few days! Happy Monday!

a military dress and thrifting finds

Photos by Neil!

Blue and Gold Cuffed Military Dress - Thrifted

Suede Over the Knee Boots - Urban Outfitters

Gold Heart Locket - Forever21

Well, here is the dress I've been holding onto for the past week.. My favorite part about it has got to be the double breasted gold buttons. They are purely for decoration only, as the dress buttons in the back with some plain navy ones, but also at the waist with matching gold.. this thing is ridiculously cute.

I have to thank you all a million times over for your comments to my last post! It's such a rush to get constructive feedback from intelligent and respectful people like you - and to know that not always agreeing with one another is what makes life so interesting and full. Individuality really is a blessing.

Also, your feedback on recognizing the flaws in ourselves by finding fault in others was a huge boost. So, I'm not alone on that? :) When you find something that's wrong with you, it's an alienating sort of sensation - as though no one else in the world has ever had the flaws that you do. What a great way to find out I'm wrong, and that many of you have been through the same experience.

Yesterday was my friend Lauren and my weekly Saturday shopping trip! It's becoming a tradition, and I'm so thankful for it.. she's my friend with all of the sewing expertise (hit up Local Honey Vintage in Nashville if you're around.. her handmade items are for sale there!) so when I find a garment and it's missing a tag, she can tell me a bit about the era that it's from due to its construction. I already knew every vintage piece had a story but the information that Lauren has (who knew that serger machines weren't commercially used very widely in the 40's or 50's? so.. just because a seam edge isn't finished well on the inside doesn't necessarily mean a 50's dress was handmade) adds to the depth of the clothes and fuels my imagination. When you find a coat or a dress that rocks, don't you want to know how the women who owned them before fashioned them? Or what those women were like? Whether she made her clothing herself or bought it at some high end place? I'd kill to be able to see into the past.

Oh, and another thing. Lauren told me about a friend of hers (who may be flea market shopping with us this upcoming weekend!) reconstructs vintage nightgowns and lingerie. I can't imagine how fun something like that would be. You can't really go overboard with femininity when it's something like a neglige. I've bought a few cute vintage nightgowns that I have no idea what to do with (and lace and buttons and things that have yet to be put to use!), so I can't wait to ask her a million questions this weekend.

And don't you guys love Urban Outfitter's Urban Renewal lingerie items? Recreating those pieces has got to be one of the best jobs out there.. let's face it, subtly seductive vintage lingerie beats the crap out of neon pink bras and sweatpants with writing on the butt.

Back to yesterday. Lauren and I found some great stuff at an antique mall and thrift store around the area! While I also grabbed a cute velvet dress and drop waist plaid dress with gold buttons, my favorite finds from yesterday were these three.. A Rothschild coat with velvet bows (exactly like the one my sister got me for Christmas, except in a smaller size!), an ivory lace cardigan (we're thinking it's from the 40's), and a 1950's sheer navy dress with glass buttons.

The Rothschild coat is missing a couple buttons, but thankfully there were extras sewed to the inside so it's an easy problem to fix. I'll be working on that tonight as well as cutting the sleeves off a petite Gunne Sax (red velvet and white lace collar and shoulders!) I bought a week or so ago. It's seriously small, so I'm praying it will fit me once I fix the sleeves.

I've been in a bit of a purging mood when it comes to my closet lately, almost as if spring cleaning has struck before spring itself has. With that said, I'm tempted to list the military dress in my shop update tomorrow as well as the navy pleated coat I wore last post. I might regret it later, but the thought of someone else getting more use out of these pieces than I would is motivating. I don't know.. with yesterday's finds, I have some decisions to make - what to keep and what to sell. It's not a bad dilemma to have, really.

I'm looking to make chocolate chip muffins with sunflower seeds today. Any good recipes for these? I searched Epicurious and found variations, but no simple, easy chocolate chip muffins.

navy and ivory.. or, if I were liesl from the sound of music, I might wear something like this.

Photos by Neil!

Vintage Navy and Lace Pleated Coat - Tennessee Antique Mall

Ivory Lace Dress, Gold Heart Locket - Forever21

Brown Suede Wedges - Kimchi Blue, Urban Outfitters

Another find from last weekend's Tennessee Antique Mall excursion was this navy and cream coat. It's fully lined and pleated with great covered buttons and pretty lace cuffs and collar.. and it reminds me a bit of the Sound of Music.

Lately, I've been thinking about my New Years Resolutions. I am 100% a procrastinator, so the idea of a whole year to meet my goals is a bit daunting because I WILL put them off until December. I feel much more comfortable when I keep my goals on my mind with the intention to tackle them quickly.

So when it's been a matter of a few weeks and I'm already telling you guys about my New Years progress, don't be mistaken and consider me a timely or organized person. Just ask my mom. I am merely trying to avoid the inevitable, which is STARTING PROJECTS I NEVER FINISH.

That said, here's my progress. I've been seeking out fabric with my friend Lauren (who knows about 100 times more than I do about sewing) for my dress, although it's rather difficult when I have no set pattern yet. Consider the Built by Wendy Guide to Dresses already on pre order (okay, and Bioshock 2.. I've got to have that in my life). I've chosen a nonfiction book to dive into - a Rasputin biography Meaghan's boyfriend Mike lent me. Neil has given me a lovely harmonica in the key of C. AND.. I've found a dress form, which I believe will really add to the more professional aesthetic of my shop. It's in southern Illinois (thanks to Craigslist for puppies and dress forms!), so we're going to pick the guy up on our way to St Louis for our Valentine's Day excursion. She will probably need a name, as she is going to become a member of our family. Any ideas? Can't wait to introduce you all.

On a negative, but still related, note, there was a bit of a Facebook blowout due to my last shop update. A girl I went to college with happens to work in an animal shelter and was really offended by my rabbit's fur coat I just listed in my shop. While her intentions may have been good, her way of approaching it was a bit childish (thankfully my sisters and brother-in-law came to my rescue!). My policy is if I find something unique in a thrift store or an antique store, I put it to use. If I can't, I find someone else who will. I won't necessarily go out and buy a new fur coat (although I've definitely bought my fair share of faux fur lately), but I have no moral issues with the pretty 40's fur cape my mother-in-law bought me at the flea market. Where do you stand? Do you guys find vintage fur to be appealing or inhumane?

But more than making me examine whether or not to wear a vintage fur coat (my feelings on fur don't change just because someone gets angry), this small debacle has helped me with the 'love more' resolution. I have a hard time balancing my opinionated feelings with my love for others. The smallest argument can lead to the biggest roadblock in respecting someone. Can we love others without agreeing with others? It seems simple, but most of the time, it's a really hard thing to do. Since graduating college, I've become more and more set in my ways, taking pride in being different. I can't tell you how many fights I've gotten into with friends over different tastes in music or film or politics.. and most of the time, they are fights I will more than happily join. But when arguments (especially ones that, at the core, don't matter - like why Amadeus is a better movie than Avatar) get in the way of loving or accepting someone, you know something is up. The point of this is I can see myself in my opinionated college acquaintance. I think the flaws in others that bother us the most are the ones we ultimately can see in ourselves, and that's why this chick annoyed me with her pretensions. This teaches me that maybe I should accept my friends more as they are than as I am or as I want them to be, even if one of them does happen to have an obsession with Taylor Swift's music and, in turn, can't understand my obsession with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

I'm pleased to report that an interview and giveaway are currently in the works! A great girl that runs one of the cutest Etsy shops (and that's saying a lot.. how many wonderful Etsy stores are there, anyway?) and I have been plotting and scheming. More info coming soon!

shop update! fur coats and italian oxfords.

Vintage Black Rabbit's Fur Coat

1960's Italian Oxford Heels

Vintage Giorgio Sant'Angelo Wool Trousers

Vintage Hearts and Bows Crop Cardigan

Shop update! The ones above as well as a 1970's tomato red fringe cape, a peter pan collar bow blouse in plaid, and a 1940's suede and fur swing coat.

As you may have guessed, I've decided to hold onto the military dress I found.. at least long enough to post about it. It was hard enough letting go of the hearts and bows cardigan above, which is by far my favorite listed item this week (the second being either the rabbit fur or the red fringe cape). When I saw it in the thrift store, I immediately thought of Anthropologie sweaters I fell in love with this winter.. the kelly green and navy hues go so perfectly together, and it's whimsical and sweet - just like Anthropologie itself.

I'm shipping out my first Etsy trade tomorrow! Meaghan and I are doing a trade - I'm sending her a couple of items for her beautiful Christmas in Killarney coat. It's got velvet bows and green puffy sleeves and I can't wait to put it on! What a blessing it is to have great blogging friends.

girl wears pants outfit no. 3.. dance hall shorts and zodiac boots.

Photos by Mom!

Vintage White Lace Square Dancing Top - Local Honey

Black High Waist Shorts - Urban Outfitters

Vintage Lace Up Zodiac Boots - Tennessee Antique Mall

Now, I don't know if this is considered cheating.. shorts aren't pants. But I figured if I could sit Indian style in them, I could post about them.

Last of the week! Everything I'm wearing is a recent purchase, including the new black tights (run-free.. for now), which were a Christmas gift. I found the lovely lace square dancing top at Local Honey and the great Zodiac boots at an antique mall on Wedgewood. Neil and I hit up Urban Outfitters on Friday and while I didn't find the macrame belt I was wanting, I did find these Kimchi Blue high waisted shorts. What I love about them is the volume.. they are made from a lightweight fabric that flares out when worn. It makes my hips feel twice as big and my waist twice as small.

I've got to say thank you to you guys for reading and for commenting.. your comments have been very encouraging, and they've made me decide to seek out (pleated!) pants on a more regular basis now.. instead of skipping the pants section altogether (your comments have also made me think a bit more about Chuck Palahniuk.. for those of you who like him, which is your favorite of his?).

This weekend has been a blur of good company and good times. While it all rocked, I'm very thankful for some down time this week. Nothing sounds better to me than going to the library with Neil and picking up a Kurt Vonnegut book my friend suggested. Or heading to Borders and drinking coffee and reading. Or watching a Fellini movie. I always thought I was a person who enjoyed craziness and crowds, but honestly, my favorite city moments are when everything has died down and the streets are bare. We're getting some warm weather this week.. maybe I can talk Neil Winter into walking around the city with me.

I received a white rabbit fur coat from my wonderful friend Lauren yesterday and Bloom is taking a nap on it right now. There is something odd about that.

REALLY excited about my shop update tomorrow.. after a couple fruitless visits to thrift stores and expensive antique malls, I finally found some unique items while shopping with my mom today! There is a military style dress with double breasted gold buttons and white cuffs and collar that I fell in love with (does it belong in the shop or in my closet?), and a 70's knit cape/poncho that is ridiculously red and cool. And wool trousers. And a 40's swing coat with a fur collar.

In other words, tomorrow's listing process will be a fun sort of busy-ness. But then, lots and lots of laziness and reading and down time.

girl wears pants outfit no. 2.. pleated pants and strong shoulders.

Strong Shoulder Striped Top, Brown Skinny Belt - Forever21

Gray High Waisted Pleated Pants - Thrifted

Brown Suede Wedges - Urban Outfitters

Ivory Polka Dot Knee Highs - American Apparel

Outfit number two! The copper bow I'm wearing in my hair is from the adorable supply shop Fancy Feast. The striped top really makes me think of an outfit with a nautical theme. I bought gold buttons to use on a navy skirt or shorts (can't decide which yet) and once I finish that up, I might pair them together.

Sunday will be the last of the pants series.. I've had a fun time with the change of pace, and I might continue it for awhile, to be honest. It's a good feeling to try something new and receive such positive encouragement, so thanks a lot for your lovely comments last post!

We've had friends over the past night and today. Coffee and shopping and talking til 2am.. I'm pretty sure God intended life to be filled with 2am conversations. Now, we're watching Fight Club, which has basically distracted me for the past two hours from writing anything intelligent. Eventually I will write something with substance - I promise.

I really love Helena Bonham Carter. I haven't made up my mind on how I feel about Chuck Palahniuk, but Fight Club makes me happy inside. And Meat Loaf.

Which Meat Loaf role is better - Bob from Fight Club or Eddie from Rocky Horror Picture Show?