March 1, 2010 of 365 : andrew’s vintage jean beliveau hockey game.
This photo seemed quite appropriate the day after Canada won gold in hockey (again) at the Olympics.
Archive for the 'vintage' Category
Doing the 365 project has got me thinking a lot more about photography. I’ve also been reminiscing about my days at Ryerson in the Media Arts program. My major was photography, so I spent a lot of time taking photos and even more time working in the darkroom developing prints. The red light bulbs, the vinegary smell, and making test strips to determine proper exposure… things have changed so much since then.
One of my courses in school was a computer graphics class, where we spent the entire semester writing code to create a program that would literally do what a Photoshop filter can do in 3 seconds. Seriously! I’ll confess, I never wrote that program but ‘borrowed’ a friend’s. I must have known at the time what a ridiculous exercise that was.
I don’t often spend much time doing post production on my photographs, mostly just adjusting the colour balance and exposure. Surfing around in the last few weeks I’ve been hearing more and more about Photoshop Action Sets that you can download and use to create fun effects on your images. My favourite find so far is Pioneer Woman. I downloaded her free action sets and used the ‘Seventies’ action to create these vintage photos of the workroom. Another blog with great free actions is Coffee Shop. It’s very easy to get carried away with these, but it’s pretty fun in moderation.
While I’ve discovered lots of random tidbits here and there, I haven’t found any solid photography blogs to subscribe to. Do you have any that you read?
I’ve been following Adele’s 365 and am excited by her new interview series based on photography.
I just might be close to catching up on all my posts from the last few weeks. Last week was our first ever trunk show that was rummage only. We weren’t too sure what would happen, but it was such a fun event!
It was a gorgeous, sunny fall day and so many people dropped by to check out all the rummage and snap up great deals. I had one piece of rummage that day, a pair of vintage boots that didn’t fit me properly. Sweet Anabela kindly hosted my boots in her trunk and they sold!
Claire gifted me a super cool vintage tin as a birthday present (Thanks Claire!) and I picked out several black & white photos from Grant’s suitcase. A crazy bargain at $.10 each!
Thanks so much to everyone who brought out their awesome rummage and all the shoppers who came and took it away!
I love collage. Moving bits of paper and imagery around on a page until the magical moment when they make sense. I used to daydream that one day someone would hire me to make collages in my visual diary all day long. I still think that would be a pretty awesome job.
Local artist, Aprile Elcich, moves bits of paper and imagery to create dreamy pieces of art. Many of them are small and affordable, especially considering the joy they are bound to bring every time you look at them. I have yet to see Aprile’s work in person, so I can’t wait for Sunday’s Kids Trunk Show. I predict one of her pieces will be going home with me.
Why collage? What is it about paper that gets you so excited?
Aprile : Well, I have always loved books and been completely surrounded by them, and I was—wait, still am!—a packrat with them. But I think where actual technique is concerned, I’m a bit impatient. I used to love drawing and painting but they take so long! Collage is something I can enjoy in my spare time (what little I have of it) and I don’t have to worry about anything but glue to dry…
What are your favourite places to scout for materials for your work?
Aprile : I used to use magazines, but now I use all vintage materials. I love shopping for things at old bookstores (particularly Ten Editions on Spadina, which has a 50 cent ephemera section hiding at the back), antique markets, and libraries for their discards.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Aprile : An entrepreneur (really!) or a teacher. I used to always pretend I was in charge of things, haha. I was an only child so I spent a lot of time day dreaming about restaurants, cafes, bookstores, and art galleries I would open.
What is the best art-related advice anyone ever gave you?
Aprile : Umm, is “never give up” a cliché answer? Haha. Of course I’m drawing a blank now, even though there have been many supportive people in my life regarding my artwork, with plenty of helpful things to say. I can give a piece of advice that I certainly learned, which is to always feel good about what you’re doing. Art is so subjective that there is always going to be someone who doesn’t like what you do. The only important thing is that YOU like what you do. Then you will be happy forever : )
What is your earliest crafting memory as a child?
Aprile : My Nana and Papa (grandmother and grandfather) were hugely impactful on my creativity. My Papa did carpentry and fancy woodwork as a hobby, and my Nana was into all kinds of crafts. I spent a lot of time there learning all there was to learn (and making all there was to make!)
Aprile Elcich : blog / etsy / another blog
There’s nothing more fun than looking through patterns and picking out possible ‘future projects’. I spent a couple hours today looking through hundreds of vintage sewing patterns. I set a few aside for myself and have already started picking out fabrics in my mind. Even though I have so many projects on the go right now, I can’t help but dream of some new clothes for fall. These are all possible contenders that might be making a second appearance here in fabric form.
the workroom has acquired a large collection of vintage sewing patterns very similar to these from 1940s to 1980s. We’ll be putting out a few boxes full of them at the Kids Trunk Show this coming Sunday. They are worth a look, if only for the lovely illustrations/hilarious photos.
p.s. I marked down over sixty bolts of fabric on our shelves to help make room for the new fall collections, so it’s a good time for you to dream up some fall projects, too!
Liberty of London Summer Challenge : Project 3
Leather Clutch with ‘Mirabelle’ Tana Lawn Cotton Lining
I’m not exactly sure how many snap coin purses have been made at the workroom, but besides the ‘Sewing Machine Essentials‘ class, it’s definitely been our most popular one. The next logical version was to do a clutch purse. To make it even more exciting, Reva thought to make it out of re-purposed leather. It’s a great use for all those thrift store leather jackets out there. One jacket can go a very long way.
I haven’t done a lot of sewing with leather, but I did make myself a simple leather wallet a couple years ago. There are a few tricks to learn to do it right. I used a simple black leather taken from a jacket that has really nice texture. For the lining, you need less than a fat quarter, so this is the perfect place to splurge on a really nice fabric. I chose the Liberty of London Mirabelle print, which we have finally received a replacement bolt of (the first bolt arrived damaged). This print is so pretty! I’ll definitely be making a dress or blouse from it as well. Just as soon as I can find the right pattern for it.
I’m also going to use this pattern to make some non-leather clutches, as well. This is the perfect size for an evening out and we’ve got a wedding to go to in August, that I’m contemplating creating a fancy dress for. (Liberty of London with matching clutch?)
I discovered a place in San Fransisco called ReMade USA that makes all their bags out of old jackets and leather scraps. This gives me great inspiration for some other re-purposed leather projects.
This is the last time I’m going to mention pickpocketing, I promise. Since Les Puces flea market was the scene of my pickpocketing experience many years ago, I have to talk about it one last time. I had just emerged from the Metro with my friend, Elise, into the crowded street when a guy brushed past us and ashed his cigarette onto my coat. He proceeded to apologize in french (Je suis désolé) over and over while brushing the ‘ash’ away. Needless to say when I turned around, my bag was open and my wallet was gone. I did not get to see the flea market that day, instead I visited a Paris police station.
I was nervous to visit again, but definitely felt very prepared with my impenetrable Paris tote and a ‘don’t mess with me’ face. Once we got through the crowded section of discount running shoes and knock off handbags and into the antique section, the atmosphere was instantly less tense and very charming. The market is almost like a shanty town in some parts with eccentric vendors selling all sorts of bric-a-brack and collectibles. Interestingly, we didn’t buy anything but just enjoyed all the eye candy. Besides, our favourite things seemed to be anything large, metal and over 100 pounds.
Les Puces de Saint-Ouen – Porte de Clignancourt Metro station
My wishing powers have come through in spades once again! I’ve really been wanting some vintage embroidery hoops to hang on my wall at home. I was also kicking myself for not picking up the hoops Anabela had at the trunk show, but Celine was quicker than me.
Every once in a while someone will stop by the workroom and give me sewing related things – patterns, fabric, tools that they no longer want. Yesterday a lady dropped off a huge bundle of embroidery hoops, including some awesome metal ones! Happy day. I love it when the universe delivers to my door!
First. Thank you for the super positive response on my cross stitch pendants! I’m so happy you like them. Seriously. Yeah!! I definitely want to make sure you can get your hands on some blanks, so that I can see what amazing things you’ll do with them. Stay tuned for the refined versions that will be for sale, very soon.
Next. Okay, these are not the completed arcs, they are just the arc segments. I still have a wee bit of homework to do before my next Double Wedding Ring Quilt class on Thursday. So far, I’m on track and amazed (again) at how smart our teacher, Miss Johanna is. Look at how cute those 216 little pairs are!
I found some wonderful vintage quilt inspiration here. {via Inspiration Resource}
And I spent way to long browsing through all the lovely colour-arranged photos here. Gorgeousness.
I’ve had shoes on my mind recently. Now that it is almost time to put away my winter footwear, I’d like to find some lovely spring-y flats. In my ideal world, they are a) comfortable b) hardy (i walk to work & home each day with a dog) c) cute as heck d) go with everything. This might be impossible, but I’ve been scouting around.
Last week I enlisted the help of Jane and she put together a drool-worthy selection that seriously threatens my bank account. Those Maloles are so so lovely! Thank you, Jane. It is now my mission to add a pair of Maloles to my shoe collection one day very soon.
Then EZ posted about Marais USA. Colourful, sweet and affordable. As soon as this collection is released, I’m going to order a pair.
Yesterday, Ellie posted this selection of grey & mustard flats. I’m pretty much about to buy #3. I’m just debating the right colour – black (practical) vs. grey (my all time fav) or both?
On Thursday night, I went out to dinner with Dominic and we stopped into Franny Vintage, just a couple blocks west of the workroom on Queen. What a cute shop! They sell a mix of vintage clothing, shoes and Cheap Monday jeans. I couldn’t resist buying these Bandolino navy pumps. I have an awesome pair of navy pumps already, but these fit and have that amazing cut-out detail and I do love navy.
It never fails, even when Dom & I don’t mean to shop, we end up finding awesome little treasures that we can’t help buying. Our shopping karma is perfect together. Do you have friends like this? It was always rather dangerous when he came to visit me in NYC and we would hit the shops. The weekend would end with such an enviable stockpile of goodies that I couldn’t even feel guilty about all the money I had spent. Now, that’s a good shopping partner.
I just looked in my closet, I’m getting those #3 flats in black!
{This photo below is Franny Vintage, not my closet.)
