Is it in the air, or in the cloth?

Okay, I apologize to any of you who are still deep in winter's grip but I must proclaim it because I can feel it, this palpable lightness in the air. The birds have ceased their huddling and are now singing in the rain. The rain itself is softer, less hostile and stinging than in December. And just yesterday I saw and heard this little hummingbird singing his heart out at the top of this tree. "it's spring, it's spring, come fly it's spring!"

I don't know why but somehow it's sent me back in time, I'm in full nostalgic mode circa 1970. Perhaps it's the youthful air of spring or perhaps the hummingbird that made me think of tropical climes.
This week I ventured to Hawaii with the purchase of this fab tie by Prince Kahio and this surfing shirt by Surfline. The bright oranges and yellows just make me happy. The fabrics polyester and bark cloth are so retro 70's they could have been my mom's curtains. Lol.

Vintage Christmas Classics

 

 No christmas is complete without a Christmas Movie. So today I thought i'd make a list (and check it twice) of my all time favourite Christmas Movies and Shows. 

Numero Uno hands down is The Christmas Story, directed by Anne Wheeler. Who doesn't love the leg lamp! Here's a clip...

Next of course is the unforgettable Grinch that evil, so evil green piece of nastiness whose heart was two sizes too small.

And the inspiration for the green meanie Good Old Ebineezer Scrooge.

Thankfully they both bounced back from their Miserly Ways. I like the 1938 classic version best.

And last but not least, the classic Charlie Brown Christmas in which Charlie Brown discovers that the true meaning of Christmas lies in in the oldest story of all, the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

and so I bid you all A Very Merry Christmas!  May you spend it in the loving arms of family and friends, and if you can't may you be the family or friend of someone who has none.

I'll be taking a break over the next couple of weeks, See you in early January, HO, HO, HO!

A Very Merry Vintage Christmas To You

A Very Merry Vintage Christmas to all Who Celebrate. I'm in a very Christmas mood today as it's snowing for the first time this year (and most likely the last) here in Lotus Land. We rarely get snow at or on Christmas so when it does snow I like to be out in it. So while I'm out I'll leave you with some Vintage Christmas images to use for gift wrapping. (If these don't print properly just google "free printable vintage Christmas images" and you'll be amazed what comes up) Don't forget to think re-use for your gift giving this year, protect the future, preserve the past.

Thanks and a SALE

Today I'd like to take the opportunity to thank my valued customers. To all who share my love of all things old, I thank you for your continued support, whether it be purchases, comments, or just encouragement in general, I do appreciate it immensely.

And to show my appreciation I'm having a winter sale.

Beat The Winter Blues Sale! 

Until December 9th, purchase any item/s over $25 in my Etsy shop and receive a 15% discount. 

 Just enter the coupon code "auntbetty25" at checkout. 

Thanks for making this a memorable year.

All the best this holiday season.

Antiques in the Garden

This morning, after a restless, tossy turny, sleepless night,  I awoke in a thick fog, eyes swollen and puffy, head pounding. That's a sure sign to me that I need some time in the garden. The Garden is my refuge, my solace, my cure for all ails. It is the place I run to when the world seems to be falling apart around me or when (like today) I just can't seem to get started. It is especially appealing to me in winter when decay has set in and little pockets of colour and texture seem to stand out so much more. Today whilst I was meandering I noticed something else in the garden that gave me the idea for this post, Antiques in the Garden.

  Just a block away from my home is a fabulous guerilla garden (a garden started on derelict property without permission). It has become a beautiful hub of summer activity and community. A place where people who have no outdoor space to call their own can stretch out and awaken their creativity. What I noticed today is how many objects, usually old and often collectable, there were in the garden. I know it's not a new idea, but today I want look at the the garden as an extended room in which to display ones collectables. NO, not the precious thousands of dollars collectables, just the ones sitting around taking up valuable space and collecting dust.

Like this old Trike

And this old stove plate

Together they create a nice little vignette.

Old Pots, vintage furniture, pepsi crates and like items seem to fit right in especially in the winter months. They provide a sculptural element as well as adding texture and form.

 In this garden even the existing railroad tracks are part of the design.

Add a few broken old pots, a plinth or two and, voila! Gorgeous garden rooms ready for quiet evening strolls, daily dog walks or just old fashioned family gatherings.

Ode to the Polaroid Land Sx70

 It's high time for a post about vintage cameras. Long before I started selling vintage goods I was fully ensconced in photography. As often happens to photographers, I became fascinated with vintage cameras but for me it was specifically polaroid vintage cameras. I had seen these beautiful soft focussed images, heavy with grain and bits of  undeveloped edges and I needed to know how those were achieved.

It was the lovely hippy urban girl (who just happens to be my sister in law) who turned me on to The Sx70 alpha1. I had tried the 80's plastic polaroids which are fun for parties, but I wanted an SLR camera and the Alpha1 is exactly that. It was love at first sight......

For a while when the film was still easily obtained I preferred to shoot with polaroid. Even though the film was almost always expired it didn't matter as sometimes that resulted in beautifully decayed looking images.

As the film grew scarce my friends an I began to discuss whether shots were "polaroid" worthy or not.

In the fall of '99 Polaroid folded instant film production entirely. We began to buy expired film in lots of 25 and 50 packs. Those eventually became too expensive and so I reluctantly turned to 35mm film and rediscovered the joy of shooting with the camera I first learned photography on, my Yashica FR.

As friends and family learned of my interest in old film cameras I began to receive 35 mm cameras and gear until soon one whole corner of my bedroom was taken up with camera storage.

And on it goes.... My home is now filled with Vintage cameras some usable others just for show, but my true love is and always will be Polaroid Sx70 cameras.

                                       

Post script: I haven't completely left polaroid photography behind, I just (at this moment in time) don't have the kind of cash it takes to fill my need for film.  the-impossible-project.com is still producing film and it is absolutely beautiful and every bit as nostalgic as the original TZArtistic. If you have the means, do get some, you won't regret it and it just may lead you on to ever more creative discoveries.

Fashion forward from the past

As fashion often does, today we are looking to the past for ideas for men's fashion and some of the hottest accessories right now are cufflinks and pocket squares.

 I think cufflinks of the past are most interesting and unique. Top names in vintage cufflinks are Krementz, Anson, Foster and Hickok, with Krementz being the highest quality. You can go as plain or fancy as you like, base metal or 14kt or sterling. Popular styles are brushed metal, diamond cut and rhinestone, not to forget novelty styles like fly fishing flies cast in resin. Natural stones and other materials like these beautiful black coral cufflinks are de rigueur.

For pocket squares I'm of the opinion there is only one kind and that's silk. Plain or paisley, subdued or flashy, those are personal choices but if you want to impress it must be silk. Look for hand rolled, hand sewn edges and designer brands like Dior and de La Renta and you can't go wrong.
 So weather it's a formal dinner or a night on the town there's a link or square for every occasion. Just remember a few simple rules and you'll look fabulous.

Number one, match your metals. If your buttons and belt buckle are silver then silver links it is. Same goes for the square, pick one colour from your suit or tie and complement it. How you fold or scrunch it depends on the occasion but it shouldn't overpower your whole ensemble. Having said that, breaking the rules is sometimes what fashion is all about.