Showing posts with label Vintage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vintage. Show all posts

Wherein I Over-Edit Just for Fun

The results of experimenting with the new photo-editing tool, PicMonkey.

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Book Review ~ The Eagle's Mate

The Eagle's Mate by Anna Alice Chapin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Eagle's Mate tells the story of young Anemone who lives with her caretaker, Aunt Sally, who was born and bred a Morne of Eagle Mountain. When the leader of the Morne clan is arrested and then rescued by his son and followers, Anemone discovers a side of life that was previously unknown to her gentle, girlish ways.

At first she sympathizes with the Mornes, preferring their seeming courage and manliness over the comfortable and safe males of her acquaintance, but when she is kidnapped and taken to Eagle Mountain herself, she realizes that it had all just been a girl's romantic fancy.

Through the rest of the book you find Anemone struggling with herself to discover how she really feels about Lancer Morne, who seems better than the rest of his kin, but also desperately wishing that she could get away and back to the familiar and friendly life that she had been stolen from in the valley. When a sudden accident completely changes how she feels, she steps up to and beyond what the Mornes have always expected from one of their women and takes charge when no one else can. Through her actions the Morne clan remains almost wholly intact, and she has secured a respected place for herself on Eagle Mountain forever.

"Where shall you find the eagle's mate?
Up in the air so high;
Up in the hills where the thunderbolts wait, -
There you shall find the eagle's mate,
Up by the windy sky!"

This story was actually the very first time I have ever made a foray into the world of the lower-class romance novel, if you will. I hesitate to say just plain old romance, because I have read several romances that would be classified in that category. This book however, was a far lesser work. It was a gripping story as far as the sweet, old-fashioned language and the exciting tale, but there was no redeeming quality to this book, other than a (according to the times, 1914) sensational novel. (Sensational not meaning great, but desiring to produce a sensation, or sense of excitement)

I did enjoy the fact, however, that for a "sensational" romance, it seemed extremely clean, with only a few bad words, and absolutely no scenes that I felt uncomfortable reading.

On the whole, it is not a book that I would recommend to anyone else, although I don't plan to get rid of it, because it does have some nifty photographs from the old, silent film. I mean, it's hard to say no to a nifty book from 1914, isn't it? Unfortunately there are really no pictures to show you, although I hope to upload one soon!

View all my reviews

Capture - Desserts

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Once again I was late getting this up, I believe. I'm getting quite good at that. In fact, so good that I was thinking it might be easier to move the challenge from every week to every two weeks. What do you think?

Anyhoo, onto the pictures!

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Celebrating Girlhood


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Design Girl

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Precious Moments Photography


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Eyebright ~ Yes, I know that this picture has already been seen on the blog, but I DID take it this week!

The Next Theme

Desserts! Those yummy, gooey, delicious wonders that we all adore! Since desserts are so wonderful, let's link up!


Country Cottage Inspiration

I've been rearranging my room lately, trying to finally get it the way I want, but I've been having a hard time deciding what I really want. I'm definitely leaning toward some kind of cottage-like feel, so to inspire myself, I created this Etsy Treasury, full of cottage style goodness! Enjoy!

'Country Cottage Inspiration' by ClassicKniterature

I've been in a country cottage kind of mood lately. I'm lovin' these inspiring objects!


Portrait of a SAW WHET ...
$25.00

blue bird teatowels - s...
$14.00

Cottage style Green Can...
$13.49

French Blue & Cream Bir...
$6.75

Vintage Linen Nest Pill...
$38.00

Magnets, Refrigerator D...
$14.00

Country Decor Cottage S...
$62.00

Hand Embroidered Hoop A...
$52.00

Large Antique White Dis...
$35.99

you pick the color Dist...
$19.99

Coastal Blue Shabby Cor...
$67.50

Glass Cloche and Pedest...
$20.00

7 Piece Frame grouping ...
$56.00

Embroidered footstool Y...
$53.00

Romantic Bird Nest Silv...
$8.50

Tea Time Cottage Style
$175.00


Plus, here's some great DIY links that will show you how to make your own cottage style!  I'm going to have to try some of these...

  1. Burlap and Lace Pillow
  2. "Vintage" Sheet Music Bunting Banner
  3. "Vintage" Bunting
  4. "Old" Signs
  5. Bird Nest Necklace - I know this isn't necessarily home decor (depending on how you look at it!), but it was too cute to pass up. Just to prove it to you, here's a picture of the one that I made!

Bird's Nest Necklace


If you know of any good vintage-y or cottage style tutorials, let me know! I've got my eyes open to find some good ones!

Capture - Vintage

We had three submissions in this last category, and I'm sorry about how late I am in getting it up! I thought that I had said it was to be open until the middle of June, but it was actually to the 10th. Oops! Anyway, here are the great submissions for Musical Instruments!

Emily Grace Photography


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Design Girl




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Celebrating Girlhood
Great job girls! You did a fabulous job, and I love seeing every single one of your pictures!

PapaFather's Harmonica
Eyebright




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Since I've been on a vintage kick lately, I thought that it would provide the perfect theme for this week's challenge! Vintage it is. Don't forget, that sometimes adding a texture, or gradient to your picture will give it just the right feel.

I can't wait to see your submissions, so link up!



I Begin to See Summer

Dandelion


What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ~ John Steinbeck

Sun Flare


Summer afternoon... to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~ Henry James

Purple Flower Bush


A soft Sea washed around the House
A Sea of Summer Air
And rose and fell the magic Planks
That sailed without a care —
For Captain was the Butterfly
For Helmsman was the Bee
And an entire universe
For the delighted crew.

~Emily Dickinson

Dandelion Puff

I Was Lovin' the Sun (And my shirt!)

The other day was just gorgeous.  The sun was bright and warm, and as I sat on the couch trying to fix my laptop, I suddenly realized something.

"What am I doing? I'm wasting the precious sunlight!" With what felt like little time to spare until the sun slipped to the other side of the earth, I dashed to throw my skirt in the dryer (I didn't feel that lint would be an admirable addition to a photo shoot), and spruced myself up.

My darling sister, is currently laid up with the traumatic conditions that inevitably follow the removal of one's wisdom teeth, so I decided I would have to go at it alone.


Gone With The Wind


My first attempts were less than successful, although I did get the cool shot above. I couldn't help but save it. The stripes rock.


Stripes


I was super excited about this shirt I had just gotten the day before at Goodwill. I've been wanting a striped shirt for a while now, so I was glad to have this one turn up! Plus, it was a half-off item. Double-score. Pair it with jeans, or a cute skirt, or anything really!


Shall We Dance?


Add some sweet, black flats, and I had it made.  Oh, one more thing that I nearly forgot to tell you. See those three photos above, and the awesome photo-editing job? Well, technically I didn't do it. Pioneer Woman did.  No, don't faint from envy or anything, I've never met the woman, but I did download her Photoshop Elements actions, and let me tell you a not-so-secret...they absolutely rock. No kidding.  If you have Elements, then what are you doing here? Go download those actions right now!

Needlecraft from the 20's

My aunt gave me a box a few months ago and when I opened it I was delighted to find an entire stack of Needlecraft Magazines from the 20's!  I was completely and utterly happy as I started to delve through the stack.  I made the mistake of setting them aside though, and now my Aunt wants them back, and I have to hurry to look through them all!

Old Needlecraft Magazines



There are pretty patterns for all kinds of needlecrafting, and ads for the most hilarious products, cures, and ideas!  I have really enjoyed looking through them as I copy down the patterns, and even some recipes, that I would like to keep.


On the inside flap of each magazine is a full page ad or illustration for Cream of Wheat.  Honestly, if these were mine, I would consider copying them and hanging them on the wall.


Early Cream of Wheat Ad
Children of the world love Cream of Wheat!

Another ad that keeps popping up is one so similar to the ones that we often see today, that I couldn't help but laugh. There's nothing new under the sun, right?



Ad from the 20's


Once again, have you found any treasures lately? If so, what were they and what make you so excited about them?