happy { vintage } new year

A very happy new year's eve to you all; thank you for joining me on the first year of this blogging experiment--I've had a lovely time thus far and I hope you have too! 2011 is going to be full of so many fun and exciting adventures, but for now I'll be...

• sipping on these festive cocktails...
• humming along to some jazz...
• doing some thinking, rethinking, and reconsidering, courtesy of apartment therapy...
• perusing this site for ideas and inspiration...

A low-key evening with J. awaits--we haven't had a date night in a while, so we're taking advantage of the holiday to spend some festive quality time with each other. Wishing you all a very happy and safe new year's eve.

Image from food network.

{ vintage } juice box camera

 An awesome new product from photojojo: a 35mm camera disguised as a juice box (the straw is the shutter!). Takes gorgeous photographs and is pretty cute to boot.

Image from photojojo via swissmiss.

baby it's cold outside

Made my way back home this morning after a delightful night of revelry with dear friends. It's a gray day here in New Hampshire, and rather than go back to bed all I want to do is snuggle up on the couch and read magazines until I fall asleep...here are a few things to make the day a little cozier...

  

Wishing that I could drink all of my tea and coffee from this mason jar mug...

...and curl up in this recycled menswear top...

...and pull on some camp socks to stave off the chilly winter morning.


Images from ma chemise d'homme, 10th avenue east, j. crew

the wintry north

Thought I'd share a few photos of our setting, courtesy of J. (thank you!)...it is snowy up here, with plenty of gusting winds to infuse even the most mundane car ride with a serious adrenaline rush. But it is beautiful, if you don't have to go anywhere, and makes the holiday lights around us glitter all the more.

From the car on the road to Maine--gorgeous views on all sides.

The view from the cottage where we stayed, just up the hill from my grandparents' house. This is our Merry Christmas morning view!

  

What you see from my grandparents' house on an average winter day...on Christmas morning there were Santa's sleigh tracks on the frozen lake...

Back in New Hampshire, the storm that we left Maine a day early to avoid...and good thing we did; it was fierce out there! As I write this my back and arms are sore from all the shoveling, but we have a fun day lined up: Indian food and relaxing with dear, dear friends. Happy Tuesday!

Photos by J.

some odds and ends

If you haven't given Etsy's Taste Test feature a spin yet, I highly recommend you do so...it's remarkably dead-on and spells trouble for my pocketbook, but it's such a great way to find some new shops and rediscover old favorites. Some highlights from my first run...

silk camisole by larimeloom

2011 calendar pillow by le papier studio

linen accent pillow by shannspishak

2011 wall calendar by amy marcella

vintage maxi dress from aida coronado

 

 

winter rains print by kecky

 There are plenty more where those came from...loads of fun things to look at while curled up on the couch in this snowglobe city!

what are you wearing for new year's eve?

Yikes! Time certainly has gotten away from me on this holiday trip so far...Merry Christmas, to all of you who celebrate it!! We had a truly lovely few days in wintry Maine, and have made it safely back to New Hampshire to finish off our extended vacation with family and friends. Photos to follow, once my head has stopped spinning from all the travel...

I never manage to ring in the new year in a place that is above 10 degrees, and I always trade fun flirty little black dresses for a pair of sensible pants and (most likely) a cozy sweater. This year though I've been eying this gorgeous piece by elika designs. I mean, who doesn't need a new little black dress every few years?

Image from elikadesigns.

it's nearly time...

...to jet out of here and retreat to the New England woods for the holiday! I find that I always lose my head a little bit right before a big trip like this; procrastination kicks in like crazy and watching episode after episode of Parks and Recreation suddenly becomes a top priority. Luckily I've got time while J. finishes a final to do some laundry and get things squared away before our taxi arrives in the wee small hours of tomorrow morning!

How I wish I had found these flats sooner so that I could tuck them in to my suitcase...

Image from fossil.

burlap packages

What a weekend! We had a really lovely time hosting a holiday get-together with some friends from college and had a just-as lovely time Sunday recovering from it all!

 
In preparation for our shindig, I made these gift sacks; they're really easy and the initials add a nice personalized touch to plain fabric gift bags--or burlap Christmas stockings! I did these with some vintage stencils and textile paint, but fabric stamps would work just as well. I really like the natural look of the burlap and I think the candy-cane-inspired ribbon adds just the right amount of holiday cheer.

Only one more day until our half-cross-country trip! Fingers crossed that all the packages will arrive on time...

Image by J.

perfect paper snowflakes

 
Getting ready for some holiday festivities this weekend! I was unusually productive with my shopping/gift-wrapping yesterday so it's looking like I'd have time to make a swath of perfect paper snowflakes to add the finishing touch to the apartment...

I was so happy to find this tutorial for 3D snowflakes online! I made these a couple of years ago for a work party; they take a little time and preparation but they are so worth the effort. They look lovely framed in windows or trimming an entryway.

Images from re-found objects, real simple

coffee, cafe style

I love my mug collection, I really do. But there is a part of me that wants to throw them all away (or donate them to Goodwill) and replace them with clear glass cafe-style mugs. I love being able to see the layers and watch the contents swirl when stirred...

So simple and pretty!

Images from: crate and barrel, sur la table, williams-sonoma

just a little holiday something

It's undeniable...even when it's frigid outside (20 degrees today sounds positively balmy!) a simple string of sparkling white lights can still make me feel warm and cheerful. Luckily our neighborhood is full of glittering garlands!

Some fun links that have been accumulating in my happy folder for a while now...

• Charming office supplies and more from Happy Home
• A coffee cup designed with constructivist theory in mind? God yes.
• Still-life portraits inspired by literature (Dubliners is my favorite)
• Christmas tree in a can!
• Another wooden Christmas tree!
• Check out the gorgeous works by Irene Suchoki (the photographer behind the lovely twinkle lights)

Image from Irene Suchocki via house doctor.

designers + merchants: the quality mending co.

With a half-cross-country trip not long off, I've got luggage and bags on the brain. I find the pieces by The Quality Mending Co. particularly appealing in a chic army surplus (oxymoronic? I think not) kind of way.

This NYC-based vintage shop crafts tote bags and duffel bags that are an excellent blend of classic style and utilitarian design. I love the contrasting seams and the zipper pulls!

Images from the quality mending co.

the font-as-design trend

Yep, I know...typeface or font is the new stripe/polka dot/damask/what-have-you...and I have to say that I'm loving it. And I think this chair might be my favorite example of this trend to date.

It has all my favorite modern + vintage elements: high contrast, snazzy graphic, lively without being overpowering. Wish I could find this fabric...anyone know where this came from?

Image via Leah Dent on Pinterest.

sculpture cards

I've never seen anything quite like the sculpture cards by Sonja Buhrke.

Via Inge Falappino on Pinterest.

oh the weather outside is...

...frightful! There's been a bit of nasty weather this weekend, with a sleet/rain mix turning to a snowstorm last night.

One thing is for sure: when your bedroom is 80% windows, it's going to get a little brisk during a Midwestern blizzard. I think that's why I have cozy on the brain this morning. That said, I'm enamored of these recycled legwarmers by nicole carey--crafted from a vintage sweater with a result that is both chic and warm.

 

A happy Sunday to you all!

Image from nicole carey and by J.

designers + merchants: goose grease undone

Yikes! Loads to do today: shopping, baking, visiting, out-on-the-town-ing...don't get me wrong; I'm looking forward to it--just wish that I didn't have a blasted term paper due Tuesday hanging over my head...got to love graduate school!

In any case, all I wish is that I could stay home all day in my slippers and make gifts with supplies from goose grease undone...I love their "undone" wooden craft sets like the nesting dolls and the little Christmas trees.

But reality calls, and I'll have to put off my craft-ing until after Tuesday (last day of classes! woo-hoo!). Have a terrific Saturday!

Images from goose grease undone.

cool white kitchen accessories

These kitchen accessories exemplify one of my modern + vintage standbys: that a coat of white paint does wonders for a tired item. And how cute are those nesting doll measuring cups?!

 

Related post: vintage owl bookends, improved!

Images from: anthropologie, urban outfitters, crate & barrel 

yummy wassail recipe

Wassail! Wassail! All over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee!

One of my favorite childhood memories is of my mother preparing a big pot of wassail for my parents' annual holiday party; this traditional hot drink has delicious apple and citrusy flavors. This recipe is from my great-uncle via my darling mumma.

Alden's Wassail

Core and then cut 3 large cooking (Macintosh or Jonathan) apples in half crosswise and then bake for 25 mins. in 1 " water in 350 degree oven.

While baking the apples, combine in 6 qt. pan:

2 c. cider
6 whole cloves
6 allspice
2 tsp. nutmeg
16 oz. frozen lemonade
16 oz. orange juice
1 c. packed brown sugar

Simmer for 10 mins. Add rest of cider and heat until hot (don't let it boil). Note: for a spiked version, add some brandy or whiskey. Float baked apples on top. Serve with cinnamon sticks. Makes 36 cups.

The temperature has been dropping into the single digits recently and it's making me crave hot beverages; might be making wassail this weekend!

Image from blisstree.

designers + merchants: horne

Horne, an online boutique by Ryan Walker and Alissa Parker, offers a collection of unique, hand-crafted pieces from international and home-grown designers. I am loving this Indian-inspired accent pillow, the modern aluminum clock, and best of all, the porcelain-and-gold-glaze bowls.

Love, love, love. Give them a look; they have some terrific things that would be perfect for housewarming, wedding, or shower gifts.

Images from Horne.

happy { vintage } holidays

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...a la AMradio.

I want to curl up in the blanket with a good book and a hot beverage...decorate all my Christmas greetings with red vintage carnival tickets...and adorn the tree with these cheerful baubles.

Images from AMradio.

innovative dressing room idea

 I had never heard the term "dress boys" before reading this post on ikea hacker (by way of S.B.--thank you very much) but they make so much sense! I always need a "transition" spot after wearing a sweater that can't be washed but needs to air out a bit. It's a great idea to have a designated spot for this, rather than just draping things over my clothing rack as tends to happen.

These repurposed IKEA chairs achieve this without looking bulky or boring--love it! Hit up ikea hacker for the full how-to--it's remarkably simple.

Images from ikea hacker.

brilliant yellow headboard

 
Everything about this bed is working for me: the charming vintage detailing, the crisp white paint, plus that rich yellow headboard really pops against the calm neutrals in the rest of the room. It would have been perfectly lovely left alone, but that shot of color kicks everything up a notch in the best way.

Image from LivingEtc via Christine Martinez on Pinterest.

winter neutrals

 
It's a chilly weekend in Wisconsin, and the very first snow is falling (and sticking!) outside...a perfect opportunity to get some schoolwork done. Luckily there is a holiday concert to look forward to at the end of the day and plenty of glamorous, elegant, vintage-inspired coats and accessories to dream about.

Images from de novo designs, j. crew, madewell, deadly peonies via needsupply.

{ holiday } sweater totes by melangerie, inc.

 
Love festive (vintage) sweaters but have no place to wear them? Carry one of these charming tote bags by melangerie, inc. to get your holiday fix! I love them as bags for market shopping, but they'd also work well as a new take on the classic Christmas stocking. Check out the melangerie, inc. website for more goodies...I love their wedding items too!

Image from melangerie, inc. on flickr.

winter white candlestick

 
Victorian passageway meets crisp modern in the form of this elegant porcelain candlestick, by KleinReid at Horne...

Image from Horne.

simple wooden christmas tree

Finally got the tree up last night and I'm in a decidedly festive mood! There's nothing like stumbling out of bed in the early morning dark and clicking on the tree lights to make getting up a bit more appealing!

I saw this tree posted on remodelista and couldn't resist passing it along...a delightfully minimalist take on the traditional Christmas tree. If you're going artificial, why not go all the way? I love the dangling miniature gifts in this photo, but how cool would this tree look draped in a gorgeous paper garland?!?

Image from design public via remodelista.