A New Era

It's time for more vintage enthusiasm, dancing, sewing, thrifting, surface pattern designing (pictured: Bubblegum Calico), European adventures, and *wait for it* my first home, built new to my design specifications! Keep an eye on my Instagram @creativelygraceful for all the exciting, inspiring things! As always...Make Everything Beautiful!

Great Joy

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" Luke 2:9-11

Shiny & Bright

My favourite part of Christmas decorating is the pure cheer of retro Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments!

Scheme

Tiddlyboken and I are up to some décor scheming these days! Christmas decorating, surface pattern design sketching, and that other big decorating project coming soon...no peeking! 

Surface pattern design: Retro Chalet

December Bulletin 2019

The dawn of a new era

Looker

I was recently talking with a dance friend, swooning about how another dance friend just gave her a dress, and then the following weekend I had the same blissfully benevolent fashion experience. Check out this new-to-me Stop Staring dress. It fits perfectly, is a very flattering cut, the fabric has a nice stretch to it, and its circle skirt is light and twirly. It could pass for 1940s or '50s. I am so excited to wear it!

Deco Pendant

I found this stunning Art Deco light fixture at a Tin Barn Market Flea for a mere $20. Swoon! I'm going to have it to rewire it, but oh even in the meantime using it with a battery tea light would be just fine. Look at those glam '20s details! I tell ya, this is going to be a dangerously Deco decade of thrifting finds for me!

Josephine the Spy

Wow, I am intrigued to learn that Josephine Baker, that iconic '20s Charleston queen, worked as an Allied spy in France during WWII. Fascinating! Here's a bit of info on how she strategically used her fame.

November Bulletin 2019

Design vision, snapshots, wood

On the Fringe

Here on the exhilarating brink of the '20s I am in full flapper outfit planning mode. I am browsing these stunning inspirational images on Pinterest and collecting any bits of fringe and glam textiles I can find. Charleston-friendly couture coming soon!

Pumpkin Satin

I have finally come across some pumpkin-hued satin in my second-hand perusing! The texture and colour are dreamy. My plan is to turn this scrap into a spaghetti strap shirt with a ruffle neckline. 

Mint Condition

I'm working on some interior selections for an exciting project that is near and dear to my heart! Hint...there is a lot of black and white. Keep your eyes peeled for the details as they unfold!

Thoreau-ly Pumpkin

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion."
--Henry David Thoreau

Ah, yes, Thoreau--I agree, but what about a pumpkin velvet chair all to yourself?
(I highly recommend Walden to hunker down and read in this cozy season and feel all kinds of waldeinsamkeit.)

October Bulletin 2019

Rustic discoveries, harvesting curiosities, earthy tones

Kindred

Who else is thrilled to be watching Anne with an E Season 3?! The visual beauty of the production makes my dreamer heart sing, and I appreciate their contemporary twist on the Anne series. There is clever story telling, excellent acting, and a very thoughtful eye behind the camera. In the words of Anne, "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world."

Silky

I am so in love with this silver-backed iridescent rust and violet patterned silk shawl. It looks like it could belong to her. Vibes of layered oriental rugs, leather ottomans, precious treasures, and starry nights...

Pumpkin Spice Blazer

Latest find! Rust velvet blazer for mere cents at the local thrift! To make this even sweeter, it's Marjorie Hamilton, vintage Canadian made. I'm drooling over the fact that I get to wear this!

Textile-tastic

I'll be wandering through Almonte's Fibrefest this weekend, enjoying all the inspiring textile goodies. Feel free to swing by the MVTM gift shop to peruse or purchase some of my fat quarters and tea towels, and/or join me on Monday September 9th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm as I speak at the Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild. It will be a look into my creative process and a sneak peak of what I'm working on next!

September Bulletin 2019

Textiles and teachers

Bronze and Brass

I carried this purse at the wedding I recently attended. Finally, after a long childhood of it lurking in the dress up box, I put it to real use! It was my grandmother's, circa the '70s, though it could pass for the 1940s. I love its metallic beading and bronze satin interior.

Grey Goddess

Here's a detail shot of my latest sewing success! I'm wearing it to a wedding this weekend. This is one of those projects where I really wish I had remembered to take a before photo. This dress started as a voluminously large skirt from the local thrift (less than $1) that I chopped up and concocted, using every last scrap. As per my impulsively creative norm, I busted straight in to trial-and-error sewing, though that error was seemingly non-existent as this project was the most delightfully smooth, seam ripper-less sewing endeavour I have ever experienced. I just kept stitching along, chunk by chunk, and everything worked. The fabric was a dream to sew--it is the softest, flowiest, rayon-like cotton. I love the subtle sheen of the pattern over it. Creating that quilted bust panel, the puff sleeves, and the satin-meets-silk convertible sash were the highlights. In my mind I was imagining '30s/'40s glam meets Classical statue, and voilà, that's how it's sewn up.

Marble Rolling Pin

Marble rolling pin acquired from the local thrift for $1!

Vogue 1922

Sneak peak! I found this dress and plan to alter it into flapper frock inspired by this June 1922 Vogue cover.  

August Bulletin 2019

 Frocks, finishes, and fruit

Now is the Time

"The item you see today and will dream about tonight will be bought by someone today who saw it yesterday and dreamed about it last night."
That is what the chalkboard said outside of Prince Edward County's Frugal & Company as I rushed in for a whirlwind 5 minute browse last summer. Darting my eyes around, I didn't have much time to think, and I am not one for an impulse buy--oh look a spectacular sunburst Syroco clock frame, $18, no clock, good condition otherwise, gold with brown tips, would prefer all gold, but how neat, time to go...oh no why did I leave it there?! When I got home I ruefully went on an Etsy and Ebay rampage to learn more about the funky mid-century Canadian made-item I passed up. I resigned myself to keep my eyes peeled and knew it would come back in to my life some day, some time, eventually. Well, surprise surprise, exactly a year later, it made its return. It was patiently waiting for me in my local antique mall. I wasn't looking. It is in pristine original condition. It actually has a clock. The clock works. The time came for it to come in to my life, and better than I had originally hoped. Oh how circular life is. It makes me laugh with thankfulness how God works like that--even in a whim of a thrift hunt! 

Thriftmaster

Ok people...I have found my dream truck model while strolling through a recent vintage car show. How perfect would it be for me to drive a '40s/'50s "Thriftmaster" around to haul chairs on antiquing jaunts?! The name is too good. I love their iconic chunky shape. Plus, mine, of course, would be some sort of cheery aqua hue. 

Peacock Feathers

I recently visited a game meat farm where they were also raising peacocks...because why not? Those are some mighty glamorous birds. As I was staring, mesmerized, I was thinking about how I have always longed for a vase of their feathers. Thankfully I didn't need to think too hard about how I was going to bust into their pen to snag a few because they happened to be selling said shed feathers for $1 each in their farm shop. So voilà I bought a handful. And now I have a source should I ever need more! Look at that eye-catching iridescence. 

Liberty Scarf

Loving the pattern and flowy hand of this Liberty scarf! Also the blue and orange contrast is so cheery. I dug it out of a scarf pile at the local thrift store and was not surprised to see the name. That iconic illustrative style!

July Bulletin 2019

Chill vibes, sunny shores, and picnics 

Strawberry Pin

A freshly picked pin straight from the ripe fields of the local thrift store...on William Morris' Strawberry Thief, naturally. 

Strawberry Mug

I recently found this cheery mug at the local thrift store for $2. More strawberry kitchen goodness!

Strawberry Shirts Forever

As per June tradition, the strawberries outside are flowering and I'm working on various strawberry themed creative projects. Here's a dress from Joe Fresh I found at a thrift store, shown partially deconstructed. I already own it in blue, so I decided to turn this pink version into a shirt. It will likely be a peplum crop top with puffy sleeves. I wish I knew the name of the surface pattern designer, as it is the fabric I love. It's like a fusion of my Strawberry Blonde and Splashy in Watermelon! Thank you, anonymous creative!

Historic German House

Dancing in a lofty, inspiring historic building with a great floor and clean bathrooms (featuring an abundant paper product supply) always makes a dance weekend better. I recently spent Stompology weekend at The Historic German House in Rochester, NY, and it measured up. 

Shortly after arriving I heard a few ladies joyously squealing about the bathroom stalls actually having functional locks. If that ruckus combined the smell of newly varnished floor wasn't enough, I looked up and saw this multilayered textural hint that renovations were recently (beautifully) done.

Yes please to this tin tile ceiling and curly chandelier

Balcony seats and arch windows

Marble and hexagon

Complete with a sky blue tufted velvet bathroom settee!

Victorian Mansion

Last weekend I had the delight of staying in this Airbnb in Rochester, NY. I highly recommend! It is charming, clean, convenient, inspiring, and the hosts are superb communicators. Take a peek inside these historic walls.

 The décor was an eclectic vintage enthusiast's dream.

The black and white checkerboard bathroom and claw foot tub are stunning!

The kitchen was my favourite part--it was actually below the rest of the unit, via a winding servant staircase. I enjoyed that it was part of the unit but separate enough to be a space to retreat to when a couple of us were upstairs sleeping and the rest of us didn't want to disturb.

 Minty counter and more checkerboard tile!

I'm a fan of the fan light, and these tiny antique details.

A resident kitty made an appearance on the back deck.

 The kitchen windows were open a crack all weekend so the whole room smelled like lilacs and magnolias.

Such a grand porch so charmingly nestled in greenery!

A few of the architectural sites from a stroll around...

Staying in this lovely home made the weekend even more enjoyable!