Tiffin Set!

Now that I don't have a meal plan included in my job benefits anymore (hello, real world!) I am trying to get in the habit of packing a sandwich or substantial snack to get me through the day at work. This is easier said than done since I work about ten feet away from the bottom of State Street, where some of Madison's best restaurants set up food carts for easy takeaway meals. At $5 - $8 a pop, though, these tasty little treats are better left as a special-occasion meal.

Since the start of school is rapidly approaching, I'm in the mood to look at lunchboxes--grownup versions (although I'll always cherish the memory of my purple "Beauty and the Beast" lunchbox from elementary school). I've come across "tiffin sets," or multi-tiered, round lunch pails usually made from stainless steel. These sets actually have their roots in Indian mythology, as described in the History of Design blog. They're also supremely functional, infinitely reusable, and quite attractive. I haven't taken the plunge yet, but a tiffin set seems right up the modern vintage alley.

Image is from The Natural Abode.

Collages: Red and White

The tuffet (straight out of Miss Muffet's favorite rhyme) from Pottery Barn was the inspiration for this collage...I love red and white, even if my tastes tend more toward the greens and blues. I really love the chandelier print by Jaime Derringer, by way of roadside scholar...the high-contrast graphic toughens up this sweet color scheme and makes it effortlessly chic and fresh.

Images from: Pottery Barn, Polyvore, Dwell

In the Good Old Summertime

One of best parts of living in Madison, WI are all the free outdoor music events. In the past few weeks (and granted, I'm definitely in the honeymoon phase of living here, so J. and I are going to everything) I've seen a hip-hop/Afrobeat group; the Madison Opera; the Madison Concert Band (we were the only people there under 50); and the Madison Chamber Orchestra.

This is one of those events that haven't really changed that much since the Victorian era, except no more ladies' giant hats (a pity, really): families spreading out movable feasts on blankets and tapping toes in time with the music. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has a delightful website chronicling the history of outdoor concerts in that city. This summer, find a venue, pack a picnic, and enjoy the weather and the music.

Images from the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Zane Williams Photography

Inspiration: Secret Agents

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard about the Russian spy ring...if you haven't, read this cleverly-titled NPR story. And then look at these awesome spy-related things I found.





The book with flask storage is ridiculously cool. I have been coveting this trench coat for months. Audrey from Charade...not a secret agent per se, but she wears those shades so darn well...

Images from indyprops, Etsy, J Crew, Audrey Hepburn Library

Pretty Packaging

Packaging works on me...and these little beauties are a delightful demonstration of how appealing even the most basic cleaning or bath products can be. They're like little works of art--wouldn't they be lovely all lined up on a bathroom shelf?

Images from: L'Occitane, Caldrea, La Compagnie de Provence

Collages: Apple Green

Apple, celery, lime, celadon, chartreuse...whatever you call it, this color is fabulous. It's fun, lively, and provides terrific contrast for the neutrals: white, black, chocolate brown, khaki. This color is a great example of modern vintage design...all of these shapes are traditional, but the color keeps them impeccably fresh and new.

Images from: Habitat, Ikea, Target

Vintage Style, Modern Design

Playing around on Polyvore today...came up with this little set. It has nice vintage touches, with the hint-of-cloche hat and the weathered doctor's bag...but the stripes keep it fresh and the peep-toe shoes keep it sassy.

Vintage Plant Hangers

I love houseplants, and I have a lot of them: seven in regular pots, four in hanging pots, and there are more on the way once we're out of the temporary summer place and into our more permanent rental. I use the term "permanent" loosely--but for a couple of years at least. Anyway, I like the look of plants, they keep the air fresh, and they give me something to nurture when the chinchilla is feeling self-sufficient.

In our most recent apartment, I was able to hook the plants to these little metal things that snapped around the ceiling tile dividers in the dropped ceiling. Not so in the building we're moving into, which was built in the 1920's. No drop ceilings there. So what's a hanging-plant-loving girl to do?

Solution: these super basic, lightweight (but sturdy, holds up to fifty pounds!) ceiling hooks that suit the vintage feel of the apartment, but in a crisp nice white that looks fresh and modern. They're going to match the white owl bookends perfectly. Found them here.

The Victorian Calling Card

As promised, here is my note (heh--no pun intended) on calling cards. I am SO tempted to commission a huge stack of these, invest in a giant hat (with a bird somewhere on it, please believe) and call on all of my nearest and dearest only when I KNOW they'll be at work so that I have an excuse to leave a card on their hallway table (which they'd better get if they don't have already, because this trend is going to pick up, I can feel it) in what can only be described as a vintage voicemail system.

But seriously, where did these little cards come from? Like many good modern vintage things, calling cards were conceived in France in the early 1800s and gestated their way across Europe before being truly born into the elegant Victorian period, reaching their peak in the northeastern United States in the 1890s. This is that time when walking down the block or taking a carriage ride across town to visit with friends was a BIG DEAL. There were all those corsets and petticoats and bustles to layer, not to mention the pompadours to fluff and the hats to pin. Calling on friends and neighbors was a genteel business, and calling cards were a gracious gesture (much like the visit itself) for visitors to bestow upon their hostesses.

Days of Elegance has a lovely page detailing the history of the calling card, and best of all, a boatload of photos of the various calling card styles. You can't even imagine the detailing on some of these. Items of note: the "acquaintance cards" handed out by young men hoping to escort a young lady home from a fete or picnic, the gorgeous foil card envelopes, and the "amazingly accurate" depictions of...Civil War generals. That's right. You could be carrying around a tidy little stack of hand-painted General Shermans. Try handing THAT out at your next professional conference. I love it.

Image is from Days of Elegance

Classic Movie Theatre Web Database

For anyone who loves the classic movie theatre or drive-in theatre experience, check out Cinema Treasures, a huge online database of theatre listings. The site is browse-able by everything from building architect to theatre location. Whether the theatre is open or closed is noted, and each theatre has a profile, some with photos. Perfect for the film buff looking for nearby vintage movie theatres. You can practically hear the popcorn popping!

photo by user hbrinkman on stock.xchng.com