Vintage on the Web – February 2015

I’ve decided to start a new series of posts as my Wednesday Wish List series has quietly died a death. It was hard to keep up with and, quite frankly, there were weeks where I had nothing new to say. I may do one again every now and again but for the moment it is taking a back seat.

So, the new series is going to be a monthly post about interesting vintage related things I have found on the web. These could be new online shops I have come across, blog posts that have caught my eye, someone I have started following on a social site or even something I want to buy, just whatever I think you guys might be interested in too. So here’s my vintage on the web finds for February.

Finished: Navy Blue 1940’s Jumper – Renée and the Cat’s Meow

I first came across Renée and The Cat’s Meow on Pinterest and was always so enthralled by her vintage fashion boards, particularly the knitting and crochet ones. When I found out she also had her own blog, and was actually an amazing knitter, I knew I just had to follow her latest creations.

This beautiful 1942 diamond weave jumper she made really caught my eye at the beginning of February and I was so incredibly amazed by her talent. I would so love to be able to do something like this but knitting and me have never really seen eye to eye. I am attempting to try it again, with a theory that I’m a bit older now and maybe a little more patient (yeah right!) but am probably years away from making something as beautiful as this.

Make Do Monday – Honey Cakes

I’m always very intrigued by original wartime recipes. At a time when food was restricted, so the average adult’s weekly allowance included only 4oz of bacon or ham, 2oz of cheese, one egg, 3 pints of milk, 2oz of tea, 8oz of sugar, 4oz of margarine, housewives throughout Britain still managed to create food that was both healthy and filling.

The Dig For Victory Show Blog has a series called Make Do Monday and often feature food in one way or another, after all, it was something people talked a lot about during WWII. I really liked their Honey Cakes recipe, a very simple recipe that includes my absolute favourite spice cinnamon and have vowed to try it soon (once the new kitchen is in!).

Follow Melissa Guedes – vintage + little’s board vintage on Pinterest

Melissa Guedes Vintage Board on Pinterest

I’m a massive fan of Pinterest and use it all the time, not only to pin all the lovely vintage inspiration images I can find but also to have somewhere to keep all of my novel writing ideas (there’s just too many of them to keep in my head!). I came across this board by Melissa Guedes – vintage + little just the other day and had to follow it straight away.

This board is different from a lot of vintage boards on Pinterest (mine included) that are full of fashion photos from the time because it features a lot of images of ordinary people who actually lived during the first half of the 20th Century. It’s a great source of inspiration about how people really dressed, did their hair and make-up and the things they did day to day.

Lovebirds Vintage – Bullet Bra

This bullet bra sewing pattern is something I have been considering attempting for a while now. It was originally posted for free by Va-Voom Vintage, a blog I have been following for quit some time, but was intrigued to see how other people got on making it first. Then I came across Lovebirds Vintage blog and found that she had done just that.

The bra was made from just a scrap piece of fabric, of which I have many lying around, and I think it looks really great. Bras always terrify me as they always look so complicated but when you break it down they’re not actually as bad as you’d think. I have so many ideas of designs I want to make with this pattern, I just need to get my butt in gear and get on with it!

Pretty Nostalgic

Pretty Nostalgic have been around for a while and I’ve often seen their gorgeous magazine (it looks more like a book) at a lot of vintage and craft fairs over the last few years but have never purchased one. Then, at the end of last year, I entered a competition on Twitter to win a copy of their special Goodwood edition. I fell in love with it immediately.

If you’ve never flicked through their beautiful pages then you’re in for a treat. This isn’t the sort of magazine that has hundreds of adverts advertising repro brands but rather well-written and informative articles about vintage, history, crafting and generally creating a simple, value driven life. I signed up for my first edition just after Christmas and cannot wait to have it fall on my doormat.

Evelyn Wood Vintage

Like many other vintage types I tend to spend a lot of time trawling through page after page of gorgeous vintage clothes on Etsy dreaming of the day when I can afford to buy the all. During one of my many Etsy sessions I came across a lady called Evelyn Wood who designs and makes 1930s, 40s and 50s inspired dresses and was bowled over by her stunning Darla dress in navy crepe.

When I delved a little bit deeper I found that she also has her own online shop where she also sells beautiful 1930s style capes. Her pieces are quite expensive, around £175 for a dress, but you have to remember these are handmade and will have specific finishes that you find on original vintage garments such as rayon hem tapes and seam coverings, metal side zips, generous open seams, covered buttons and matching belts. Not the sort of thing you’ll find mass-produced on the high street!

Elegantly Pastied – A brief history of striptease and the emergence of the nipple pastie

This fabulous blog post by Playful Promises popped up on my Twitter timeline on Friday and I was just fascinated to read it. Nipple Pasties have made a huge come back over the last few years and now you can find them on just about every lingerie online shop but it’s the burlesque side of things that always interests me.

This very thorough post explains their humble beginnings through to their modern day trends and, of course, points you at Playful Promises latest range. If you’ve never come across Playful Promises before they’re an independent British lingerie brand who have a slight vintage edge to them but focus on a very fun and mischievous side that their fans truly love.

1920s Style Clara Silk Pajamas and Robe Set by Sarafina Dreams

Sarafina Dreams on Etsy produce the most beautiful nightgowns and robes that have a real 1930s dreamlike quality about them. The gowns are often low-backed, bias cut and drape elegantly down to pool on the floor. You can just image Jean Harlow lounging about in these!

However, she has just released these stunning 1920s style Clara pyjamas and robe, both in soft rose silk with a wide black lace trim. They are the epitome of The Great Gatsby glamour. I can only dream though as they are a whopping £232, not something you’d buy on a whim!

Have you come across any interesting blog posts or online shops in February? Let me know below because I’m always fascinated by what you read.