Vintage Link Love: August 2014

A few days ago, I posted a little something to this extent on Chronically Vintage's Facebook page, but I'll say it here as well - I've been burning the candle far too much at both ends lately and I absolutely know, and feel, it.

There has been so many exciting changes and launches in my life this year, from my Etsy shop to YouTube to selling vintage in person for the first time (at fairs, etc), all on top of blogging at the same kind of full time pace I have been in recent years, plus of course helping Tony with his/our company (Netrich Media), taking care of and running our household, and all of life's usual going ons.

{I've been burning through proverbial candles - and a few real ones - faster than the speed of light this year! Vintage candle ad image source}

My health and energy levels are feeling this intense surge of activity and physical demands big time, with flare-ups of some of my conditions frequently resulting from it (and various members of my medical care team telling me to take things a heck of a lot more easy). I do think that in the short term, pushing myself so hard, for so long is worth it and I don't mind that this summer has been one of far more work than relaxation for me. Looking ahead to the future though, I definitely will need to pace myself in new and better ways, rework how I balance/spend my time on certain commitments, and quite literally schedule true days off, if I have to, as I don't want to risk potentially extremely serious consequences with my health if I don't.

There is so much that is new in my world that wasn't there in previous years and I think anyone would take a while to adjust to this exciting, extra busy schedule. I wanted this 2014 to be a year of immense change and growth, both personally and especially professionally, and that it truly has been. I've sowed a lot of very exciting new seeds, now the time has come to tend them (instead of doing further planting, so to speak) - and to tend to myself in the process, too.

On that note, let's take a few tranquil moments to relax and have a gander at several engaging, delightful, and flat out interesting vintage and history related posts and stories that have really been capturing my attention lately. It's hard to believe, genuinely hard, that we're sitting here on the cusp of September already, 2015 just four short months away, and that we're rounding up another set of vintage links again (this summer felt so incredibly fast, didn't it?), but that we are, so let's get right to it! :)

♥ 8 tips on creating your own vintage style: Individuality is hugely important to me when it comes to style and that very much includes having your own unique, fabulous vintage style, something that the fabulous Daffny from the blog A Vintage Nerd delved into recently in this handy and helpful post on the subject, which is sure to resonate with vintage fashion newcomers and veterans alike.


♥ Top ten tips for your first pin-up photo shoot session: By way of marvelous vintage and reproduction clothing seller Blue Velvet Vintage's great blog comes a terrific post all about tips for helping you with your first pin-up photo shoot (many of which apply to other types of shoots, too, if doing pinup type photos isn't your cup of tee).


♥ Vintage wear for yard work: Brittany of Va-Voom Vintage has done a wonderful job of rounding up some seriously charming vintage yard work tips and photos (such as the fab 40s look below) that are sure really appeal to many folks as we transition into autumn, a season that often abounds with raking leaves, harvesting produce, pruning summer growth, and hanging festive decorations on the outside of our homes.




♥ My costumer's library: getting started: Though not every one who sports vintage fashions and/or accessories would classify themselves as being a historical costumer (nor do they have to be to enjoy and wear lovely old school styles), many of us - myself included - do have a deeply rooted passion for the costuming arts and frequently read a good deal on topics pertaining to this awesome area of study. To that end, the Witness 2 Fashion recently put out a seriously splendid list of books that be of help to new (and long time) historical costumes fans alike, while also discussing some very insightful points on the topic (such as the importance of often using more than one source when putting together a historically accurate look).


♥ A fascinating look at the not so ordinary beginnings of modern luggage: This fast paced image filled slide show takes a peak at the history of luggage as we know it today, tracing the roots of wheeled luggage, for example all the back to the 12th century. For major travel (and/or vintage luggage) fans such as myself, this post is sure to provide plenty of fun facts that you'll be rearing to share with your neighbour the next time you're on an train, plane or ferry boat.


♥ The top Paris designers of 1954: Ahh, the gloriously stylish mid-1950s! An era I hold near and dear to my own heart - and wardrobe! - and never tire of looking at images of, such as the enchantingly pretty array in this great post from Glamour Daze (including the Dior stunner below), which shines the spotlight on some of the most iconic Parisian designers (and their work) of the day.





♥ Traffic jam stuck in a Belgian forest for 70 years: This story made the rounds on Facebook earlier this summer, but in case you didn't happen to catch it there (or elsewhere), I wanted to share it here today as it is truly a unique, amazing, mysteriously haunting sight to behold.


♥ 1900s Life Hacks: Useful skills and information don't generally lose their merit simply because times change and/or other ways of achieving the same task come along. This delightful, you'll-want-to-bookmark-it-for-sure post takes a peak at some particularly handy life hacks from the 1900s that still pass muster today more than a century after they were printed on (now highly collectible) cigarette cards.


♥ Bombshells and Bomb Girls: By way of author and historian (and fellow British Columbian) Elinor Florence comes this excellent, informative piece, complete with oodles of photos and illustrations, on the history of female WW2 war workers that sure to appeal every bit as much to history buffs as it to early 1940s fashion fans (and of course, plenty of us fall into both camps!).






♥ The Way We Eat: This link is to a Tumblr account, not a specific story, but it is too sublimely lovely and well executed not to share the whole thing with all of you. Teeming with vintage images primarily sourced from culinary magazines that have partnering with a selection of beautiful modern photos of vintage dishes (from said types of magazines, such as Gourmet) that have been recreated nowadays, this elegant, tantalizing Tumblr food history blog is a must visit for all those who love gastronomy.


♥ Free download of Hollywood Patterns – March 1941: The immensely talented, sweet-as-can-be Rochelle of the vintage sewing and lifestyle blog Lucky Lucile (who I interviewed here last year), periodically creates and shares free downloadable vintage sewing/fashion related offerings, and her latest is eight pages of seriously swoon worthy early 1940s spring styles that would work splendidly for the coming autumn months as well.


♥ Boola boola and rah rah rah: College in the movies:: This post, which rounds up some of the most iconic collegiate themed Hollywood films over the decades, harkens back to 2011, but it's fairly new to me and as the world is gearing up to head back to school in just a couple of days, it seemed like an ideal not to wrap up today's lovely list on.

{All images throughout the list of links above come by way of the post that they are displayed

directly beneath the write up of here. Please follow the links provided to learn more about these images.}

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As summer's days grow shorter and a bracing, beautiful nippiness slips into the breeze, I will be devoting myself  wholeheartedly to my career and passions, but (again) working on pacing and remembering not to burn the candle to the point that the wick runs out entirely. I'll also be, as many of us will, gearing up for a seriously lovely, exciting autumn, both on the online and personal fronts.

From travel plans (more about that here very soon!) to Canadian Thanksgiving, our 10th wedding anniversary to Halloween, picking juicy red Okanagan apples to busting out the seasonal decor (tomorrow - I almost always do so on September 1st), I'm delighted to be welcoming my favourite season back once more and equally look forward to sharing it with all of you.

I sincerely hope that this summer has been a terrific one for each of you and that its last few days fill your life with sunshine, joy, and tons of delicious end of the season eats. It won't be long now until we're up to our eyeballs in pumpkin spice everything, candy corn, roast turkey with all the trimmings, and pillow cases full of Halloween sweets, and while I am a touch sad to see summer wrap up, with each passing day, I'm looking more and more forward to my beloved autumn and hopefully settling into a work/productivity routine that is more conducive to my health and lifestyle.

Here's to a gorgeous, fun filled September and fall ahead for us all of! Remember to always try to hold onto a few your candles, my fellow hard working ladies and gents - after all, you're going to need at least one of them for your jack-o-lantern this year! :)

Liven up your Labour Day menu with this fun vintage pasta salad recipe

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Labour Day falls early this year - the earliest date it can in fact, September 1st, and as such that means that this weekend is the last before the unofficial end of summer. Soon life will become a joyful hustle and bustle of school books, raking crunchy leaves, baking pumpkin pies, nights that get dark nearly as soon as work as wrapped up, and the switching over of our warm weather wardrobes to our winter ones (or vice versa if you live south of the equator and gearing up to say hello to spring once more). And you know what, a good part of me really and truly looks forward to that, but for now I'm very keen to continue celebrating summer (as I talked in greater detail about in this month's edition of Flickr Favourites) and soak up every last precious, golden sun-kissed moment of it while I still can.



{Instead of viewing Labour Day long weekend as the beginning of the end of summer, I prefer to see it as one last big celebration of all that is great, food very much included, about this fun filled, vibrant, awesome season.Image source.}


This sentiment definitely extends to my menu choices, especially since the Labour Day long weekend has always been one of the most revered on the barbeque and al fresco meal front of the whole season. There's hefty ears of sweet corn, plump ruby red tomatoes, scores of crisp garden greens, early season apples and pears, freshly caught fish, homemade ice cream, and gallons of lemonade still to consume before we don our Thanksgiving finery and tuck into a squarely autumn harvest centered feast once more.

Undoubtedly one of my favourite warm weather eats of all time is pasta salad! I have a dozen or more favourite recipes that I enjoy whipping up as the mood and menu call for, and am certainly not opposed to trying new ones or simply tossing something together on the fly based on what I have in the fridge and pantry at any given moment. It's precisely that kind of spirit which I feel today's vintage pasta salad recipe that originally appeared in a Good Housekeeping magazine ad for Somerset Luncheon Meats channels. It has a little of this, a little of that, and a whole lot of mid-century mealtime fun.




{A tasty hodgepodge of mid-century ingredients comes together in this cheerful, filling 1950s pasta salad recipe, that is sure to find favour with kids and adults alike at your long weekend dinner table. Image source.}


Now, by all means, feel free to forgo or swap out anything that not to your liking. If you're a gluten-free eater like myself and are keen to still use rainbow pasta here, I highly recommend Rizopia's Vegetable Brown Rice Fusilli (which I've found here in Canada at Bulk Barn and online on Well.ca), which I'm rarely without a bag of in my cupboard for pasta salads just like this. For the mayonnaise, needing to avoid eggs all the time, too, due to the fact that I'm allergic to them, I reach for Reduced Fat Vegenaise (which also happens to be vegan).

Pasta salads are one of the most versatile, crowd pleasing foods around. You can serve them cold, at room temperature or even warm, just depending on what your star ingredients are. They often taste even better the second day after their flavours have been mingling and snuggling up together for a while, and they can be either the main attraction of the meal or simply a lovely, filling side dish.

If you have leftovers, why not stir in some cooked chicken breast, salmon, strips of steak, further vegetables, or cubes of cheese and extend it for a second meal the next day? They can also be stuffed into pitas, wraps, or buns, as well as scooped up onto corn chips, potato chips, melba toast, or wedges of cornbread - all of which children in particular are fond of.

Let your imagination run wild when it comes not only to creating pasta salads, but also with your Labour Day meal choices in general. Take advantage of summer's incredible eats while they're still here, have a second (or third) helping of sweet, juicy watermelon, toss some more burgers on the grill, and relish (food pun intended) the tail end of awesome quarter of the year while it's still going strong.

An awesome blogger meetup with fellow BC gal Rachael McDonald

Earlier this summer, a couple weeks apart from each other, I was contacted by two different fellow vintage loving gals from the Lower Mainland (the term for the cities and towns surrounding and including Vancouver). Both were headed up this way for short holidays and were curious if they and I could get together.

Unfortunately my health wasn't up to snuff for a meetup with the first lovely lady, but a bit later in the month, when the second - Rachael McDonald from the wonderful sewing blog Seven Buttons Designs - visited Penticton, were able to get together late in the afternoon one day out at Three Mile beach near Naramata and we had a fabulous time together!

This is only the second opportunity I've ever met a fellow vintage blogger in person (and the first time with one from my own province; last year's meetup with my dear friend Laurie from Edmonton, as you may recall from this post), so I was extremely excited to say the least!

It's was nearly 40C/104F in the glistening, glaring Okanagan sun when we got together, so at first we took things nice and easy by relaxing in the shade on a blanket Rachael had brought and getting to know one another better. We hit it off instantly and before we knew it, the light had mellowed enough for Rachael and I to step in front of Tony's lens for a joint photo shoot (that was also only the second time I'd done so for the blog with another person) and we had a blast – scorchingly hot as it was that day - smiling and posing in different spots on and near the beach.

The images that follow are some of my favourite from that day. You gals and gents see my mug all the time, so most of the photos here focus on the thoroughly beautiful Rachael and her darling (handmade) lobster print skirt instead of yours truly.

















































My outfit details

Yellow snood: eBay seller tina.g-2008
Red plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
Vintage red plastic necklace: Gift with purchase years ago
C. 1980s does 1940s/50s floral print dress: eBay
Purple skinny belt: eBay
1930s/40s mint green gloves: Unknown (possibly eBay)
Yellow plastic rose stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
Nude seamed nude stockings: eBay
Red faux patent leather pumps: Payless
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: MK Retro
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

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Before the daylight disappeared entirely, Rachael and I decided to shot a 100% impromptu "interview" video. This was, at the time, only the third video I'd made so far and is the first in which I'd ever interviewed another person, so I certainly won't claim to have given Barbara Walters a run for her money! :D


If you're following me on YouTube (and you totally should be!), you may have seen this fun, short little video already, but in case you're not and/or haven't, here it is.





I sincerely appreciate that Rachael got in touch when she was headed up my way and that she was totally game for both a photo shoot and an on-the-fly video interview. Talk about an awesome lady! We really clicked in person (we'd previously known each other primarily from Instagram) and both agreed that we'd definitely let the other person know if we were in their neck of the woods again.

Being the only (that I know) vintage blogger and/or full-time mid-century wearer in the Okanagan, I certainly find myself longing for some fellow old school adoring folks to hang out with sometimes. That might not be possible, but at least I now have a new friend in the Lower Mainland to connect with when I'm down that way and that alone sincerely makes B.C. feel like less of a vintage (community) ghost town.

Thank you very, very much, sweet Rachael for the wonderful get-together invitation, fabulous conversation, and absolutely beautiful memories of that sizzling mid-summer day. I can hardly wait until the next time we connect in person, wherever in the province it may be!

The Very Inspiring Blogger Award: Round 2

It's interesting how certain blog awards come and go like the quick, fun flashes in the pan that they are, and yet how others stick around for years, continuing to make their way around the blogosphere, sometimes returning to visit friends they've already said hello to for a second time. That is precisely the case with The Very Inspiring Blogger Award.




I've been seeing this particular accolade pop up on various blogs for a few years now and have already received it before myself (as you may recall from this post last September), however it has very kindly been bestowed on me again (at least) twice in recent months, once Janey of Atomic Redhead and once by Inky from On Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax.

I am sincerely touched that both of these lovely-as-all-get-out ladies wanted to pass this award along to me and am delighted to take this opportunity, as the soon-to-be-autumn-again sunrise begins to break across the taupe and sagebrush hued hills of Penticton, to share another handful of interesting little tidbits of information about myself that you might not know already.

♥ Seven more totally random facts about me ♥

1. Though neither myself nor anyone in my family was aware of the term or that such a classification existed at the time, I now know as an adult that I was unequivocally an Orchid Child (a term borrowed and anglicized from the Swedish term Swedish "orkidebarn: to describe a highly sensitive child).

As an adult, I have continued, as most Orchids do, to be a highly sensitive person (both emotionally and to various stimuli, including sounds, scents, touches, and a great many other elements in my environment). At times, possessing the trait of being so immensely sensitive can have its shortcomings and be a cross of sorts to bear, but I also greatly adore how perceptive, intuitive, creative, conscientious, attuned to other peoples' (and animals') emotions, loving, compassionate, and perpetually caring it helps make me and can scarcely imagine being any other (less sensitive) way than how the universe saw fit to make me.





2. Even though a ridiculously large number of foods are (and have been for many years now) completely off limits for me due to various chronic medical conditions (I would conservatively estimate that I'm unable to eat at least 95% of all foods in your average mainstream supermarket), I absolutely, flat out adore going grocery shopping (and cooking), and always have. When I enter a new grocery store that I've never been to be, even if it's just a branch of a chain I'm already very well acquainted with, I love to leisurely wander each aisle and observe everything that particular shop does, and doesn't, stock to tuck away for future reference. And by the same token, I love having the peace of mind that comes from knowing my fridge, freezer and pantry is well stocked after a big shopping trip.





3. Part of me will always feel like I was meant to be born into a well-to-do British family with old money, an aging Land Rover, and more tweed in their closets than in all of the Harris factory. I've been a devoted anglophile my whole life and genuinely sense that this was a path that I would have walked with aplomb, had I been reared in a rambling country manor home environment (alas, my humble Canadian upbringing with a million miles away from such an aristocratic lifestyle, but that doesn't mean I can't daydream about it from time-to-time all the same).





4. I was a natural, very pale blonde as a child to the extent that you'd think my parents were from one of those gorgeous Nordic countries such as Finland or Norway. While they're not, I do have quite a bit of Germany ancestry in my DNA, which likely helps account for my Goldilocks worthy hair colour as a youngster.

Earlier this year (in this post), I shared a childhood photo of myself and received a few comments and emails from folks were surprised to learn that I wasn't born with red hair. Nope, as much as I truly wish I was, I've been a bottle, and in recent years, wig, redhead on and off ever since I was 16 years old.

By the time I hit puberty, my softly flaxen hued hair had morphed into the dullest, most washed out "dishwater" blonde-brown you'd ever seen and as soon my folks would let me, I began dying it. I've always felt most strongly pulled towards being a redhead, so that's typically the colour you'll find atop my head and the one I've long come to feel most like myself while sporting.





5. I don't idolize famous people. I may look up to, revere, and admire them, as well as consider myself a fan of their work, but I've never been, and will never be, the type who goes "Beatlemania" for any celebrity or person, point blank. At the end of the day, fame or no fame, we're all the same in so many ways and it doesn't seem right to be to put anyone on a pedestal or view them as being akin to a god on earth.






6. In recent years, bar none, the most frequent type of jewelry that I've purchased has been brooches. I love them something fierce and delight in having just the right one to partner with any outfit I may dream up. My collection has really grown in leaps in bounds since 2012 onward in particular and now, between genuine vintage and vintage appropriate pieces, totals more than 100 brooches and counting! I can only guess what that number will be in another five or ten years from now (I'll have to report back as much in 2024).





7. One of of mine and Tony's biggest long term goals is be in a financial position to purchase an RV and use it to travel extensively across North America. Beyond the sheer appeal of this unto itself (we're both massive travel lovers), this mode of transportation (we theorize, I haven't tried traveling in one yet as an adult) will be easier on my health than many others and potentially allow us to get in longer trips to more places then a car alone currently can. I really like to believe this will happen for us down the road (figuratively and literally speaking!), so who knows, one day you might just see us pop up in your town! :)

{To learn more a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

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As its name implies this particular blog award is intended to be passed along to individuals and their blogs who inspire you in some capacity time and time again. As this describes every last one of the blogs I follow (I likely wouldn't be following them in the first place if they didn't!), it's no easy task to whittle my selection of recipients down to just ten.

That is typically one of the instructions/rules for this particular blog award however, so after much deliberation, I'm pleased as much to share The Very Inspiring Blogger Award with the ten following bloggers and their awesome sites.

If your own name isn't listed here, please, by all means, feel free to deem yourself "awarded", too, and play along, as I'm sure your site is delightfully inspiring as well.


1. Abigail from Sweeter Gets the Journey

2. Ashesela from Art Evolve

3. Beate from Bahnwaerterhaeuschen

4. Bex from Submissive Fem

5. Corilynn from Poodles and Pin Curls

6. Heather from Dancing In My PJs

7. Helen Mae from Lovebirds Vintage

8. Kate from Retro Rover

9. Marija from Purple Pinky Honey

10. Philippa from Gloria & Me

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Should blog awards not exactly be your favourite cup of tea (or if you've already received this one before and have no desire to post a "round two" of your own), fear not, you're under zero obligation to play along. These kinds of posts are intended to be nothing but lighthearted fun, and should they not feel that way to you, by all means bow out of taking part in this one. I adore blog awards, but fully understand that not everyone (by any means) does.

If though, you would like to take part, then all you have to is whip up a post of your own about receiving The Very Inspiring Blogger Award in which you link back to this post, share seven random facts about yourself, and bestow the award on ten folks whose sites you find to be a continual source of inspiration.

It was a blast to put together a second edition post for this particular award, and I want to wholeheartedly thank both Janey and Inky for thinking of, and sharing this award with me.

As I suspect The Very Inspiring Blogger Award will be one that, thanks in no small part to its name and the concept behind it, remains in play for many years more to come still, who knows, there might even be a third edition of here one day!


*PS* Want to know even more random facts about moi? On top my previous Very Inspiring Blogger award post, here are four other similar entries that I've shared here over the years:

-A scrap of honesty

-How many of these 99 things have you done?

-Receiving and passing along the Versatile Blog Award

-Seven Interesting Things About me

Back to school edition of 25 vintage deals under $100

Though I went to school in an era of Trapper Keepers, Lisa Frank stickers, Mr. Sketchy Markers (I still madly love the smell of those!), and Lunchables, when I think back on my school days, I can't help but almost view them through vintage tinted glasses and picture and era of pleated plaid skirts, books lashed with one of pop's old brown leather belts, a shiny apple on teacher's desk, and elegant, stately red brick buildings.




{Image via Corbis}

Though I was fortunate to attend a high school that fit the description of the former, by and large, those other elements existed, by the time of my youth, only in TV shoes, movies, and story books. It's a picturesque version of school life, but certainly one that many in earlier generations knew intimately and it's the way that the return of a new school year will always look in my mind's eye.

Thus, as countless families the world over gear up once more for homework, brown bag lunches, and a year chalked full of learning, I thought it would be especially fun to put back to school related/themed items at the heart of this month's 25 vintage deals under $100 post.

It's been a good long time now since I last saddled up to a desk, fresh box of #2 pencils and a stack of crisp notebooks in hand, but as August dwindles down, I still love stocking up on school supplies and items that remind me of my days as a student and all 25 of today's entries definitely make the grade (pun intended :)) on that front.

1. Cute as the day is long and perfect for the class room, home school room, nursery, or play room, amongst other spots, these fantastic, good sized 1950s Mother Goose school day paper cutouts are too darling for words! $30 for the trio from Kris Vintage Clothing.



2. Schooldays and plaid go hand-in-hand like blackboards and chalk, so why not use this time of the year as the perfect excuse to introduce a gorgeous new vintage plaid frock like this circa 1940s stunner into your wardrobe? Fits up to a 42" bust/32" waist. On sale at the time of writing for $57.80 from Rockabilly Raven Vintage.



3. There is something so timelessly cheerful and back-to-school season perfect about this jaunty, beautiful red and white cotton 1950s hat to me. Currently on sale at the time of writing (along with everything else in their fantastic shop) for $31.50 from Dalena Vintage.



4. Quite possibly the most iconic school supply product ever (rivaled only by the fountain pen and ink well, to my mind), the humble, and simultaneously mighty, pencil is a still a must even in this digital age. Stock up on a dozen lovely circa 1939-1940 Venus brand pencils for just $12.00 per box from Peppermint Pigs.}



5. And to go with them… a terrifically cute vintage metal novelty pencil sharpener in the shape of a hen! This would look right at home in any country chic, farm, vintage or contemporary decor setting alike. $4.99 from Quite Right, Slick.



6. Super perfect for all my vintage loving friends in Portland (or those who, like me, don't live there, but adore the city all the same), this vintage Portland High School charm bracelet is all kinds of mid-century jewelry fun! $20.00 from My Yiayia Had That.



7. Great teachers really are like angels for society and this immensely cute 1950s Napco angel of the month figurine pays homage to that in its own deeply sweet way. $10.00 from Molly Finds.



8. Score of some serious collegiate style creed in this vibrant, comfortable (believe me, it was hard not to keep it for myself!) 1960s Chaus cotton plaid blazer. Fits up to a 35" bust/30" waist. $42.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



9. And the award for what must be the cutest cardboard vintage pencil case goes to – drum roll, please - this massively sweet pink 1950s School Daze one! $12.00 from I Want Vintage.



10. You'll be scoring straight A's in style when you wear this timelessly fun c. 1950s black and yellow letter sweater boasting the first letter of the alphabet smack, dab in the middle of it. Fits up to a 36 bust/34 waist. $55.00 from Zoom Vintage.



11. Maybe it's the toque wearing canuck in me, but I am madly smitten with this splendidly cute hand crocheted acrylic wool apple hat - and its super reasonable price. Fits an adult sized head. $20.00 from Uniquely Ann Made.



12. How chic and beautiful are these elegant, unused 1930s French notebooks? They're far too pretty (and old/rare) to actually write in, if you ask me, but I think they'd make for sublime office or library decor pieces. $20.00 for all four from A Farm House in France.



13. Gear up for art class or any creative endeavor you fancy with this incredibly darling 1950s dog print artist's smock blouse. One size fits most. $45.00 from Carmen and Ginger.



14. Bring the classroom into the dining room or kitchen with this lovely pair of vintage school supplies salt and pepper shakers featuring a pencil and a fountain pen. $8.00 from Vintage Bakelite 4 U.



15. Instead of tucking a pencil behind your ear, slide this seriously charming vintage "School Days" barrette into your hair before heading off to class or anywhere you fancy. $10.00 from Rosebud Cottage.



16. Perfect for any room in the house, and of course a classroom, too, this lovely, classic vintage map print pencil pen and pencil cup (which could probably hold skinny handled makeup brushes as well, I'd imagine) combines mid-century function and style together splendidly. $12.00 from Hendricks and Daughter.



17. Keep those art class basics, the primary colours, close to your heart - and your head - with this fabulously fun red, blue and yellow polka dot fabric hair flower corsage pin that would look as great on a five year as a ninety-five year old! $7.99 from Blue Velvet Vintage.



18. Ensure you pass your Spanish exam with flying colours care of this lovely trio of 1930s language books. $8.57 for all three from Winter Moon Vintage.



19. Still one of my favourite types of art supplies - not to mention scents - few things compare to the fun and possibilities housed inside of a box of wax crayons like this delightful box of eight different coloured c. 1940s Bri-Ton ones. $12.00 from Red Dress Hanger.



20. Without a doubt one of the most iconic types of shoes worn by students in the mid-twentieth century (along with saddle shoes and white bucks), the elegant and practical penny loafer will always prove to be a great choice for campus, no matter the decade. Red-brown leather ladies size 9.5-10 vintage penny loafers, $24.99 from Manor Born.



21. If cardigans are more your style when it comes to vintage letter sweaters, than this terrific red and white example with a patch indicating the original owner was a member of their school's concert band, is highly likely to tickle your fancy. Fits up to a 38" bust/36" waist. $40.00 from Cricket Capers.



22. Perfect for teaching kids, home decor or craft projects, these classic 1950s multiplication flashcards are sure to bring a wave of nostalgia to grownups everywhere. $12.00 from Boutique.



23. Look back with fondness to schooldays past care of this beautiful 1930s class autograph book which includes writing in the original owner's hand and 18 photos of her friends. $19.00 from Appropriately Frayed.



24. Tote your recess snack and lunch in this endearingly charming 1950s metal kid's lunchbox or use it as a purse, small book bag, decor piece, whatever your heart desires! $30.00 from Retro Rick's.



25. Store everything from paperclips to your favourite autumn candies in this pair of timelessly pretty vintage glass apple containers, or alternatively, give them as a thoughtful present to your favourite teacher. $16.00 for the pair from Little Red Chair Shop.

{Please click on a specific item, or the link in the description below it, to be taken to its respective listing.}

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One certainly doesn't have to be a student, teacher, or parent to enjoy and/or load up on back to school related goodies like these lovely vintage and handmade bargains! In fact, now is often the best time of the year to find great deals all kinds of stationary and office supplies, as well as fall/winter fashions.

When I was growing up, by and large, we usually only got multiple items of new clothing once a year and that was right before school started, so the end of August/start of September will forever be tied to refreshing my wardrobe and my desk drawers alike. Do you find that you're drawn to a lovely spot of shopping yourself as the seasons begin to swap over, the nights grow chillier, and school buses become a frequent sight again on the roads each morning and afternoon?

What sorts of things - school supplies/fashion related or otherwise are you looking forward to kicking off September with this year? I'm going to load up on markers, notebooks, perhaps a new sweater or two (I need medium and heavy weight ones something fierce), and - if I can find a good deal - maybe even a new plaid skirt to go with my saddle shoes for that perfect mid-century school girl/collegiate look! :)