I love the similarities between these two photos, the vintage snapshot is one that I bought last year at an antique mall (larger scan here) and the other is from Ginny and Jude Designs. Maybe a reincarnation?

Happy 4th of July to you Americans out there! As a Canadian living in America I get to celebrate twice at the start of July, since Canada Day is the 1st. Of course, the extent of my celebration this year mostly involved laughing at this photo, but it’s good enough. I hope to spend some time in the sun this weekend, near water, with friends. Maybe there will be some fireworks involved, cause I love to get a chance to use my fireworks glasses! If you haven’t tried them, pick up a pair wherever fireworks are sold. They are just little paper glasses (like old 3D ones), but they act as a kaleidoscopic filter that turns every pinpoint of light into a burst of rainbows. Y’all, you will never want to watch fireworks the regular way again. Trust me!

(these photos are from the LIFE image archives)

I think it’s safe to say that I will automatically love any psychedelic re-imagining of old photographs, so naturally I’m quite happy to share these beautiful paintings by Janna Coker, which are part of a collection called Neon Vintage. Janna is my good buddy Jillian’s sister, and I finally got to meet her this weekend for the bbq (spot her in the gingham!). Jillian has the above painting in her possession already, and Janna brought along the blue painting below as well, they are so gorgeous in person! You should definitely look at her site and peek at her sketchbook pages and other vintage paintings as well. Please don’t repost these without giving credit and a link back to Janna!

This collection of old family photos from wildflower rose is amazing! Every photo has such character and they really spoke to me. Do yourself a favor and check out all the other photos see has posted on her flickr! Found via Miss Moss, a really great blog that I would recommend to any vintage photo lovers.

((images from the Life photo archives))

I saw the sun today!! It was kind of a big deal. We returned to spirit quest site, Wind Mountain for an almost-perfect hike during which we examined moss, tried to listen for the ancestors, looked out, heard/saw hawks/eagles, saw a snake, ate some cherry licorice, ate/drank at Walking Man Brewery & filled up our growler (a sweet take-home giant bottle filled with the beer of our choice), crossed the Bridge of the Gods… it was pretty nice (except for the part where I twisted my ankle again- I am cursed?).

I still wouldn’t mind being somewhere hot for a couple days… maybe back in the South like the ladies above?

The sun is finally out!!! Here’s how I feel today, represented by old European photos from my collection.

Larger versions & individual scans can be seen in my vintage photos set on flickr.

I really liked it when plants sneak their way into fashion photography, like in these images from Orla Kiely‘s SS10 collection, where the girls are all moving around houseplants.

I bought this 1940′s fashion illustration from the antique mall a year or so ago, I love it! The best part is the lady’s golden eyes. The person who drew it wasn’t a designer or anything, I think they just made it for fun along with other drawings of ballerinas and things. I would love to have a collection of drawings like this, things like this are always expensive on ebay, so I’ll just have to wait for more to come my way over the years.

More plants and luxurious/casual looking clothing from LOVECARPET, and a gorgeous pair of See by Chloe sandals and 40′s inspired Anna Sui sundress from The Outnet. A lot of stuff on that site is still mega expensive, but sometimes there are really cool deals. That’s where I bought my cat print tunic dress (half price!) after Cat Party (recently featured on Urban Weeds in the aforementioned cat print!) posted about it.

I thought I made a note of where the image on the left came from, but I guess not… it was a French label, I can tell you that much! I still love stripes, and the Miu Miu cat print shoes. I was seriously trying to psych myself up to buy the flats, because I would absolutely wear them to death, but before I got the nerve and the $450, they sold out in my size. Probably a good thing.

Images from the Italian Marie Claire (March issue)… spring still isn’t really here, but I’d go for a non-rainy, kinda dismal beach day anyway.

Two trench-like jackets from Opening Ceremony. The toggles & red wavy line detailing on the Peter Jensen one is killing me! As if I need another jacket though, I have way too many already. But they’re all good for different times…

My only souvenir purchase from New Orleans, an old photo that Rachel found in an antique store on Magazine St. They look like they have their own little secret society!

I scanned fifty or so antique photos from my collection for some spring inspiration. These are just some of the approx 1800 photos I received in a huge lot from Berlin last year.

Put on your white dress. Cut flowers for the house, bring the outside inside and open up the windows.

Individial/larger scans will be posted in my vintage photos set on flickr soon.

This amazing old photo (view larger versions here) was sent to me in a surprise package from one of my customers, a lovely lady named Joanna! I already have approx one million old photos in my house (in boxes, on the wall, in giant ziplock bags waiting to be scanned) but somehow Joanna managed to send one so good that it instantly became a favorite. I think the Cutest Person Award goes to the lass in the plaid with the banjo, it was as if she couldn’t look surly even if she tried her hardest. I’m attending a birthday potluck dinner for a friend this weekend, he’s in my Valentine’s Brunch video and as you can see is a great musician! Somehow I can’t seem to find the time to haul out my cello more than once every couple of months… I’ll make it happen eventually.

Also included in this package: fox loves berries ribbon, and a lil’ valentine (there’s a gal on the other side- if they can find each other, it’ll be tru luv). Getting mail is almost always awesome, and if it’s a surprise it’s even better! I actually got my first jury summons in the mail before our trip, but SUCK IT Y’ALL!- I ain’t a citizen. Dodged it!

Oh, one other unrelated thing, if you feel like wasting a couple minutes on Friday while you’re at work (no one really works on Friday anyway, right?), I finished up a video using clips from the vimeo staff retreat to Maine last September (here’s an outfit post and photo/recap post from the trip). It’s late, but in a way the timing is perfect- what better time to revisit some memories than when your brain is probably starting to forget them?

The Maine Event from anja verdugo on Vimeo.