Antique shopping again...

After class today I jumped on a bus to go to the antique market. I love the antique market but by bus it takes a long time to get there so I only go once every few weeks. Which is just as well because I can't leave there without spending money. Once I spent my grocery money for the week on a Victorian hat I just couldn't leave behind... Who needs food? Luckily this week I was much more restrained in my purchases. I am trying to adopt a "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" attitude, but after a looong week at school I deserved a few little goodies right?

But first here's what I wore: 

(The only place in my room with enough lighting and room for outfit photos is on my bed. Just thought I should add that in case any of you are wondering why I am standing on my bed haha)

Outfit Details:

1920's-style Dress: Made using this tutorial (same fabric as my pink dress. I found a few meters in a clearance bin so I scooped it up!) I used seam binding instead of facings. 

Sweater: I'm going to say vintage. Technically I stole it from my dad, but it's old enough to call vintage. 

Stockings: I just chopped the legs of a pair of tights.

Earrings and Hair Bow: Made by me

Want to know what you can buy with $15? Turns out a heck of a lot!! I bought a large bundle of what appeared to be embroidery and knitting booklets. Only when I got home and opened it did I realize how large it really was! Most of the booklets are from the 1940s, but there are a few later ones as well. The majority of the pile is embroidery designs and crochet booklets, but there is also knitting and some general needlework booklets. I'm thinking a few of these might end up in a giveaway when I hit 300 followers ;)

The pile of brown papers in the other picture is actually a pile of embroidery designs! Here is one just to show you how adorable they are!

I also bought this rather sad looking sieve. It was $5 which seemed a bit high, but I think it is from the 1940's and still in working condition. I plan on putting this to good use in my kitchen. This was a practical purchase since I needed a sieve.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I have to spend most of it studying but hopefully I can find time for some baking as well. 

That's All.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone!! I was actually hoping on posting this in the afternoon but I took waaaaaayyy too many photos and it is taking me forever to edit them! I hope everyone had a great holiday. Yesterday we spend Christmas with my mom's side of the family, and we don't see my dad's side for another few days, so Christmas itself was a rather quiet day spent around home. It was rather lovely just lounging about, in my new pajamas, looking at all my presents, drinking some fancy new tea and eating violet creams (these were a Christmas gift. I'd never had any before but I am officially in love!).

Warning, this post is a little picture heavy...

Christmas Eve:

These are soooo yummy. Recipe found here. I used white chocolate instead of icing
so they were easier to transport.  These snowflakes are giants!
We had to split one cookie between about 3 people!

Chocolate candy cane hearts.  I found the idea somewhere on Pinterest...
They look really good but were a little difficult to eat. 

Not what I was originally planning on wearing, but it was very comfy and warm.
The red peaking out is actually a Victorian style petticoat that I have hiked up to wear as sort of a slip.
The belt is part of the dress, which I have threaded through the space between two buttons. 

 Christmas Day:

My new nightgown set! I actually finished sewing it about a month ago but I was saving
it to wear on Christmas morning.  The pattern I used is actually the Vintage Vogue
 reprint of a 1930's evening gown and jacket, but I thought it made a lovely loungewear set. 

And now the presents! I didn't take pictures of everything but here are some of the more "vintagey" items. I used the handmade quilt I got as a backdrop for these photos. 

This is a stunning Edwardian brooch my parents bought me (which I picked out)

Signed copy of Maureen Jennings new book (she wrote the Murdoch Mysteries series).
 My mom bought this for me  when we went to her book signing a month ago. 

The only two seasons of I Dream of Jeannie I was missing! I now have every episode :)

Some cute pendants (that will soon be earrings) from Michael's new "Deco Chic" line of
jewellery making supplies. 

Stunning book of Art Deco illustrations

Four sewing books and one hairdressing book. All are reprints of original 1920's and 1930's books.
They are just fabulous!!

Gramophone sticky notes!

 The next few gifts were a complete surprise. They are all from my grandmother and are all family heirlooms or things she has bought over the years. I am definitely going to cherish these forever!

Not sure how old this one is, but my grandma bought it on a trip to Scotland. 

Also a piece bought by my grandma.

Also bought by my grandmother on a trip to Scotland. 

My grandfather wedding ring from 1947. The inside is engraved with the date and my grandparents names.

Beautiful ring that belonged to my great-grandmother. 

A pair of earrings from the 1800's (in their original box!)

I hope everyone has as good as Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) as I did. 

Happy Holidays!!

That's All

The Artist and a day in Toronto

I've finally got out of the house and done something blog-worthy!! I was supposed to be having a big gettogether with my friends from highschool but that fell apart at the last moment. I was rather upset and my mom took pity on me and offered to pay for Britt and I to go see The Artist in Toronto. Obviously I jumped at the chance! I will get to the movie in a minute but first, outfit photos!

It has finally gotten cold enough to pull my winter coat out of the closet! It is so warm and I love the bright red colour. My original outfit plans included a 1920's style dress but it was just too cold (we had to walk for about 45 minutes to get to the theater, since I'm too cheap to pay for the subway). Instead I went for a more subtle early 1930's influence.

I bowed my lips, using my Ruby Woo lipstick (and cherry liner) which perfectly matches my coat!

Outfit Details:

Coat: Novelti (purchased at an independent store, which has since closed down)

Hat: Made by me using the Sweet Bea pattern (available in my Etsy Shop)

Shoes: Ariat (these are actually riding boots, and by far the best boots I have ever owned)  

Pants: Max Studio (purchased at the same place as the coat)

Sweater: Costa Blanca

Necklace: Made by me. I simply wrapped a long strand of faux pearls around my neck three times and added a brooch (from Michaels)

Gloves: They are from an independent coffee store in Warkworth whose name I have totally forgotten...

The movie itself was amazing! I was worried I would be disappointed but it was great. Even Britt liked it, and she isn't a big fan of old (silent) movies. I realize it wasn't technically an old movie, but it certainly felt like one. The costumes were lovely and the cinematography was very well done. There was also a lot of subtle references to old movies, which were fun to pick out but not essential to the plot. If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it. It's a shame more theaters aren't showing it!

Capes, Cats, and Halloween

I've finally finished my cape/skirt set! I decided about 2 months ago I wanted a cape for fall. My first attempt, using a pattern I found online, was a complete failure. I decided to draft my own pattern instead and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. I bought this lovely thick cotton plaid material on sale (it took me ages to get all the plaid lined up properly!) and I used a super soft faux fur for the lining.

The skirt is an adaptation of this skirt (free from BurdaStyle). I also made a matching collar but I didn't wear it today since the blouse I wore already had a collar.

I wore it to a Christmas craft sale at my moms church today. My mother bought me several Christmas gifts including a lovely handmade quilt. We also bought plenty of baked goods and jam, and attended the high tea they were hosting. I have never had such good scones in all my life!! I really should have taken some pictures but I was too busy stuffing my face.

And as promised, here is my final Halloween costume. The only change I made was instead of wearing a hat I wore a white "maid's cap". Britt dressed up as a cat, using the ears I made her. We had a great evening handing out candy, knitting, and watching Arsenic and Old Lace (aren't we cool? haha).

Please ignore my cat's giant bed in the background...

Kitty cats LOVE chocolate mochas with extra chocolate ;)

Speaking of cats, my own kitty wanted to be in my outfit photos today. Isn't she a cutie? She has gotten rather whiny in her old age and needs frequent cuddles.

That's All.

I'm back!

I'm back after a week at my grandmother's cottage. It was a lot of fun, but we had to leave a few days earlier then expected (since my parents decided to go off to PEI for a last minute holiday).

I wore this 1920's inspired outfit for the car ride to the cottage:

Dress: Made by me using this method

Sweater: Thrifted

Shoes: The Bay

Necklace: Gift 

On the way there, I made everyone stop in Bobcaygeon since there was an antique fair going on. The fair was alright but very overpriced. I did however managed to pick up two new "friends". Aren't they lovely? Normally I tend to buy only women, but I thought I needed to add a guy to my cabinet card collection to balance the genders a bit more.

Despite rather chilly weather I did go swimming quite a lot (I'm nuts though. I've been known to go swimming about 2 weeks after the ice melts of the lake, which is not a smart idea by the way...). I was excited to wear my "new" bathing suit. I actually bought this suit in elementary school. I wore it to a pool party and everyone made fun of my "grandma" bathing suit, so it was buried at the back of my closet for years! I am so glad I never got rid of it, because I simply adore it now (and no longer care about being considered "grandmotherly" haha).  

One thing we always do a lot of when we go to the cottage is shopping. We have gotten in the habit of driving to Bracebridge for an afternoon (despite it is about 2 hours away!). It gave me a chance to get dressed up and wear my latest sewing project. The top of the dress is from a 1960's pattern and the bottom is from a 1950's pattern. I love the vintage lace I hand-stitched along the bottom, although it took nearly 4 hours to sew it on.

Dress and Necklace: Made by me

Shoes: The Bay

Belt: Vintage

I bought a few little things, but my major purchase of the week are the shoes in the below picture. I have never spent so much money on shoes in my life, but I just fell completely in love with them. They are very comfortable and fit perfectly <3

I'm now home and working on reorganizing my entire room, as well as sewing some new clothes for fall. I will however miss the few lazy days I managed to have at the cottage. I will never get tired of looking at this view:

That's All.