spring fling ♡

Some dresses I'm excited to wear this April ♥

With Easter around the corner, I've been reaping inspiration for Springtime fashions!!

This Spring I am particularly inspired by the early 1960s, when Dior's romantic New Look silhouettes still prevailed, only brighter and more playful, with wonderfully exuberant hair and makeup to match. I especially adore the contrast between ethereal, innocent frocks and the harsh haughty make-up of 1950s fashion models; the sugary wardrobe of a princess, but the regal bearing of a queen!

Free 1950s Dress (needs work)

Would any sewers out there like this dress? It's a 1950s day dress in a cool gold-and-brown folksy print, but unfortunately the bodice is ripped in several places and I think it's beyond repair. You could make a lovely skirt out of it, repurpose the fabric, use it for photoshoots, display, pattern study... whatever!! It looks great from the front, but it's just in rough shape at the back :( The bust is 36" and the waist is 26".

If any of you lovely folks out there would like it, I'll mail to to you for free; just leave a comment with contact info, and the first commenter gets it. (NOTE: Due to shipping costs, I'm only offering this to U.S. readers.)

 

the need of being versed in country things

The birds that came to it through the air At broken windows flew out and in, Their murmur more like the sigh we sigh         15 From too much dwelling on what has been. Yet for them the lilac renewed its leaf, And the aged elm, though touched with fire; And the dry pump flung up an awkward arm; And the fence post carried a strand of wire.         20 For them there was really nothing sad. But though they rejoiced in the nest they kept, One had to be versed in country things Not to believe the phoebes wept. --Robert Frost's "The Need of Being Versed In Country Things. "

Often in my visits to farmhouse ruins, I find myself meditating on these words by Robert Frost. It's too easy for me to fall prey to romanticism, to look at decaying homes and feel a melancholy ache for them. Frost's words remind me what a narrow and human-centric view that is, however; for as these old houses decay and sink back into the earth, Nature is simply reclaiming what's rightfully hers. In the Springtime especially, they burst with vitality... the songbirds rebuild their nests in rotting rafters, chipmunks emerge from slumber behind walls and mouldering sofas, while the new vines and wildflowers venture up against this makeshift arbor. I felt so rejuvenated and fresh myself as I listened to the drip-drip-drip of melting ice upon buckling floorboards in this hillside Italianate manor. This house must've been lovely to us once, but now it's lovelier to the wild things :)

 And if you'd like to get a better look at the house,  I have many more pictures here!
It's a fascinating place, very far gone in decay but rife with period charm.

I'll leave you with a snapshot from my car.
No snow here... looks like Spring has found us in the Green Mountains!! :)

VINTAGE SALE!

Howdy! Just a quick announcement: I am doing some Spring Cleaning and getting rid of some wonderful vintage pieces, if you haven't heard! You can check 'em out right here at my li'l Etsy shop. And do stay tuned, as I'm in in the process of clearing out a good 50% of my collection and much more will be added in the next few months! Prices are very low ;)

♠ ♦ TO THE SHOP!! ♣ ♥

outfit: country sunshine

 

{ 1970s frock of yeller; Stetson boots & hat }

Have a spectacular weekend. ♥

me, my thoughts are flower-strewn

Happy March, friends! I bet I'm not the only one breathing a sigh of relief... hallelujah, at long last Winter is on its way out!! Spring has always been my lucky month, when I'm at my most creative and good things seem to be just on the horizon. The merry springtime winds have been awfully nice to me already!

I was so thrilled to win this dazzling hand-sewn lavender-filled kitty from the loveliest lass Zoe Winters!  Miss Kitty Lavender's a charmer with her sweet face, and of course that heavenly scent (as you can see from my Yardley's and withered posie, I'm a lavender junkie!). Zoe even whipped up this little country singer-esque ensemble just for her, so she fits in swell with the wardrobe she'll be watching over! {Go and have a look at Circus Girl Vintage for sweet-smelling kittens, vintage treasures and more.}

Speaking of country-singer wardrobes, here is a li'l jewel I snapped up last week. 
I don't typically go in for pale colors, but this puppy snared my heart with its silvery threads!