DIY Shoe Clips

Shoe clips are great for dressing up a pair of shoes. They allow you to inexpensively change the look of shoes you already own (which is very "make do and mend"). You could also customize a pair of shoe clips to exactly match a special outfit. You can buy blank shoe clips to decorate (Etsy has sellers that carry them), but here is another alternative. This has to be one of the easiest tutorials I have ever done...

You will need:
A large pair of clip-on earrings
Some ribbon
A glue gun

Step 1) Glue a small loop of ribbon to the inside centre back of your clips.

And you're done. See? I told you it was easy.

Before: Cute but a little plain

After: The clips really jazz up the shoes. They also allow them to be worn with both
cool and warm brown tones (rather than just cool brown tones).

Vintage Adventures

Last weekend was the most fun I've had in ages! It started with my best friend, Britt, and I having a sleepover. We filmed a video for my youtube channel but I haven't finished editting it yet.

The next day we awoke nice and early to hop on the train to Toronto. After reading about the Bata Shoe Musuem's exhibit of 1920's shoes on Tea with the Vintage Baroness  I knew I had to find a way to see it. Britt and I had an amazing time (although I'm too cheap to pay for the subway so we had to walk for about an hour to get there). The exhibit was filled with lots of beautiful shoes. I wish I had of been able to get better pictures but my battery was low (as was the lighting). 

Britt and I at the train station

These were one of my favourite pairs!

These were the most stunning shoes I have ever seen in my life.

Same shoes as above. Just as stunning from the back.

The next day I went for a stunning country drive with my parents. We headed up to Warkworth to look at a couple of properties for sale. On our way there we decided to take a different route and stumbled across The Roseneath Carousel. If you are ever in the area go! It has to be the coolest thing I've seen in ages. It is enclosed in a building and in stunning condition. It was built in 1906 and features a (very, very loud) 1934 Wurlitzer 125 Military Band organ. It was about $3 for a ride, and boy what a ride! The music pulses as the carousel spins around (a lot faster than you would expect!!). It is now closed for the season, which makes me sad because I want to go back! 

I also recently finished knitting myself a new scarf (before I hurt my wrist). I've named him Renard (which is french for fox). I love the fact he has four little legs which makes him feel much more like a stole. I found the pattern for free here. 

That's All.

It's been a rough couple of weeks....

Thank goodness for retail therapy! Pretty things may not solve life's problems but they sure help ;)

(I should add this shopping trip was my first time out of the house, other than to campus, in almost 3 weeks! How is it that I can do so much work and still not get enough done?!)

Anyone know anything about "topper" dresses? I couldn't find any info about this lovely "new" dress I bought.   My best guess would be it's late 40s/ early 50s. 

That's All.

Practical Winter Shoes

I'm feeling a little under the weather this weekend so my DIY steamed stocking tutorial is going to have to wait. In the mean time, I thought I would share these fabulous vintage boots with you. The ad dates from 1951. I have searched and searched trying to find a modern equivalent in stores but so far no luck. If anyone sees a pair (only faux fur please!) let me know!

There always seems to be such an emphasis on high heels, so it's nice to know there were also practical shoes around in the 1950's.

Hopefully I will be feeling better in the next day or two and can gather pictures for a couple posts I have planned. I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend and a great Family Day (for those of us in Canada)!

Oh by the way, I have finally gotten around to joining Ravelry. My user name is PurlsofthePast (I am not good at coming up with creative names so I just re-used my Etsy shop name). If anyone else is on Ravelry feel free to add me as a friend! :)

That's All.