Sometimes it's good to be a little koi

Outfit details

1940s black straw hat with yellow flowers: A Vintage Affair in Calgary, Alberta
Faux pearl stud earrings: Claire's
Black cropped cardigan: Fairweather
Vintage rotary telephone brooch: 25th annual Vernon Antiques & Collectibles Show
Black and white gingham 1940s reproduction wrap dress: Lolly Doll Clothing
Black plastic rose stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
1940s yellow gloves: Jardin Antiques in Okanagan Falls (blogged about here)
Black patent faux leather vintage handbag: etsy seller A Vintage Revival
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Black pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

Or a big one, whatever the case may be. :) This wordplay title comes from the fact that these photos were shot at a charming raised koi pond in front of a local nursery. As koi and goldfish are my two favourite fishies in the whole wide world, it only seems fitting that I finally got to pose with a handful of these darling multi-coloured aquatic beauties.

Before proceeding even a moment further with today's post, I want to sincerely thank everyone who commented on Saturday's post about our yard sale. Between that exciting happening and a jam packed Sunday and Monday, I haven't been online for the past three days and am just now reading and delighting in each of your awesome, supportive comments. I'm pleased as punch to report that Tony both adored his first garage sale (as a seller) and that the two of us made a tidy profit of $160.50. We had sunny (warm!) skies, a fairly good turnout, and got rid of plenty of items. After all was said and done, we donated nearly all those that didn't sell to two local thrift stores that both work directly with important charities, such as Women in Need.

Though not entirely over yet, this month has been nothing short of a true whirlwind for me. I fully realize that I haven't been online, or more accurately, in the blogging realm, quite as much as usual, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices in one area of how we spend time to devote those minutes, hours and days to others. I know that as time goes on and I get more Etsy shop running experience under my belt, I'll get better at juggling the two very, equally, important halves of my online vintage world.

I've already used the analogy (here) of my shop being like a newborn baby and my blog like a five year old child (as it's been online for half a decade), and much like with a brand new baby, it's only natural for a mother to need to devote more of her time, energy and attention to the newest member of the family. That doesn't mean, of course, that she forgets her older child, not in the slightest, just that at times the baby will her focus a bit more.

This isn't a veiled way of saying that I don't plan to continue to blog often, I very much do, nor that in the long run you won't see and hear from me around the blog realm and on social media. Goodness, no! Nothing like that in the slightest. I guess what I'm saying, or doing, is publically acknowledging that I've quickly come to better realize firsthand both how much time and energy running my blog the way I have for the past few years, especially the last 2.5 years, takes, as well now as how much of both of those things running an Etsy shop that I hope to turn into a very successful business in due time consumes as well.

There are only so many hours in the day, and even with both of those important areas of my life, I - like all of us - must and want to leave space for other things, too. Be it cleaning my house, cooking, reading, crafting, spending time with Tony and our pets, visiting friends and family, sourcing items for the shop, and every now and then traveling, amongst plenty of others (and speaking of traveling - knock wood - ten before we're set to departs, things are still looking positive in terms of me being able to accompany Tony to Vancouver in June).

May has not left me with a lot of spare time for vintage outfit photo shoots, but before the month wrapped up, I wanted to share another one with you that I've been bursting with exciting about for months now (the prospect of it I mean, these snaps themselves were taken just a few days ago). If you have a better memory than me :) (mine is a bit fried at the moment from burning the candle at both ends so much lately), you may recall that last August I mentioned in this post about an exciting interview that I'd had with UK vintage reproduction Lolly Doll.

I mentioned then that you'd be hearing more about Lolly Doll on my blog in down the road and today I have the great pleasure of making that happen. I've remained in touch with the wonderful woman (Lolly) behind Lolly Doll ever since our interview. At the moment, Lolly is going through a super busy period in her life and needs to focus her attention on areas other than her reproduction clothing site, which is currently offline.

However, Lolly Doll fans can still connect with the company on Facebook, where Lolly has some styles of gingham dresses (including black gingham with black rickrack, green gingham with white rickrack, and plain navy with white rickrack) available for sale in UK sizes 8 to 18 and my understanding is that she will ship worldwide. If you're interested in discussing purchasing a Lolly Doll vintage reproduction dress with Lolly, you can Facebook private message her anytime.

Lolly very kindly sent me this charmingly sweet 1940s reproduction black and white gingham wrap dress to review recently and I can say with absolute sincerity that it instantly became one of my favourite items in closet (thank you so much, Lolly, I adore and appreciate it immensely!). It is so comfortable I practically forget I have it on while I'm wearing it, which makes me think it would be an ideal frock to travel in (be it by car, boat, plane, train, you name it!). Well made, accurately sized, and cute as a button, this dress sings with the spirit of 1940s, but it is not beyond the ability to be styled in a more modern direction, too, if so desired. Lightweight, cool (a must in for sizzling summers we get here in the Okanagan), and just flat out pretty, it was the ideal piece to sport recently for a quickly errand running trip around town that including posing at the local Art Knapps nursery in front of their beautiful koi pond.

As you, my dear readers, may know, I'm huge on finding places, urban and wilderness based alike that transmit serenity the moment you visit them and, this koi pond, mere feet away from multiple busy roads and whirl of traffic, when visited after the nursery has closed for the day (as we did for our shoot) is one of those "in town" tranquil oases for me.

The fact that it houses several (they were darting to and fro all over the place, but I counted at least seven koi of varying sizes) of my favourite type of fish certainly doesn't hurt either when it comes to putting me in a relaxed, extra happy mood - something that I need more than ever now that the dynamics of my life has shifted and I've got an exciting Etsy shop to run alongside my beloved blog.

Simple joys like visiting that greenery bedecked pond full of sunset hued fish never ceases to lift my spirits and brighten my day, which, coincidentally, is exactly how I feel when I slip on my Lolly Doll dress as well. Another point in its favour and reason why I've been wearing it more days than not as of late! :)