Uncategorized – Page 7 – Killer Kitsch Designs

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, knit-a-long, knitting, Uncategorized, vintage, vintage knitting, vintage knitting patterns, vintage life, vintage pattern, vintage reproduction, vintage style

New Killer Kitsch Vintage Knit-a-long!

December 1, 2017 Lizzie Violet

AND the winning jumpers are! Ding! Ding! Ding! The #4 the short sleeved blouse and #1 the skater sweater!

I can’t wait to see what colourways everyone comes up with!

Here are the knit-a-long details:

The knit-a-long will run from January 1st to April 30th. During the knit-a-long you are welcome to knit one or both of the patterns. I will provide the patterns to you for free.

To join the knit-a-long is simple. I have listed everything below:

Join our group on Facebook. I will have the patterns in the files area. (if you don’t have Facebook, don’t worry, please private message me and I will send you the pattern)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/killerkitschvintageknitalong/
Post your progress photos and finished jumper photos here on Instagram.
When you post photos tag me and use hashtag #killerkitschknitalong

During the knit-a-long I will be reposting your photos in my Instagram and adding them to the photos in the group.

Why a Facebook group? I learned a lot from running my first vintage knit-a-long and it is important to have a central area for everyone to go to ask help questions and one place to store all the knit-a-long files. I also want to build a vintage knitting community and this is a great way for everyone to discuss with all the other vintage knitters in our community.

You can join anytime between January 1st and March 30th and this knit-a-long will wrap up on April 30th.

I hope everyone is as excited as I am for this next knit-a-long. The last one was incredibly fun and all the jumpers beautiful!

1940s, 1950s, classics, music, rock and roll, rockabilly, Uncategorized, wanda jackson

Rock-a-long To That Rockabilly Sound

October 23, 2017October 23, 2017 Lizzie Violet

A sad thing that has been happening in Toronto over the last few years. The arts/music scene has been taking a hit due to the crazy surge in rental and housing prices. Many bars are closing and it is getting harder and harder to survive in Toronto as an artist of any level due to this. One thing I truly love about this city is or should I say did love about this city was its artistic diversity. Sadly for Toronto, much of that has up and moved to Hamilton (amazing for Hamilton). Not only does Hamilton have a growing artists community, it also has a growing Rockabilly scene, something that used to be a much larger scene here in T.O. Don’t get me wrong, our Rockabilly scene is still here and it’s still amazing, but it needs to receive the love it once did. Let’s start giving it back the attention it deserves.

Anyone who is or was into that scene will recognize the bands and places I have listed below. By no means are the lists below complete, but they are the popular choices and I wanted to give you a saucey taste of what is out there. If we start supporting these artists, stores, and venues again, the way we did in the late 90s and early 2000s, we will help them survive and bring them back to the popularity they had back then! We could start a revival!

I used to head out to the Cadillac Lounge or The Dakota to catch bands such as the Royal Crowns, Ginger St. James and Alistair Christl on the regular. I would be at the Black Dice Cafe on many occasions and I loved spending a steamy night at a burlesque show. Like many, and I’m not sure why I did, I’m just as guilty, as I stepped away from that scene. I’ve been feeling nostalgic for it again. I’m not sure if it’s due to all of the Wanda Jackson albums my fella brings home or that my love for vintage everything has peaked again. Either way, I would love to see this scene thrive again, as it used to. We recently saw Wanda and I was actually surprised that there wasn’t more of a Rockabilly presence in the crowd.

I would love to see the Rockabilly scene in all its glory again! Get your poodle skirt and saddle shoes on. Get that pompadour high and let’s get ourselves out to a night of squealing and dancing to that killer Rockabilly sound!

Well known musicians

Christian DeArmond — https://christiand.ca/

Dodge Fiasco — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVljgXcCsSA

Ginger St. James — http://www.gingerstjames.com/

Hellbent Rockers (Hamilton, but play Toronto) http://hellbentrockers.com/live.html

The Greasemarks — https://www.facebook.com/Greasemarks/?fref=mentions or http://www.greasemarks.com/

The Hellbent Rockers — http://hellbentrockers.com/

The Millwinders — https://millwinders.bandcamp.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/The-Millwinders-333439737373/

The Royal Crowns — http://www.theroyalcrowns.ca/

The Swingin’ Blackjacks — https://www.facebook.com/swinginblackjacks/

Rockabilly Bars (or bars that hold Rockabilly events)

Burdock — http://burdockto.com/

Cadillac Lounge — http://www.cadillaclounge.com/

Castros Lounge — http://castroslounge.com/

Cherry Cola’s Rock n’ Rolla Cabaret Lounge — https://www.facebook.com/cherrycolasrocknrolla/

Disgraceland (Bar and Grill) – https://www.disgraceland.ca/

Grossman’s Tavern — www.grossmanstavern.com/

Gun, Rod and Barbers — rodgunandbarbers.com/

Horseshoe Tavern — http://www.horseshoetavern.com/

Junction City Music Hall — www.junctioncitymusichall.com/

Revival Bar — www.revivalbar.com/

The Black Dice — http://www.blackdicecafe.com

The Dakota — thedakotatavern.com/

The Hole in the Wall — https://www.facebook.com/HoleInTheWallTO/

The Local — www.thelocalpub.ca/

The Monarch Tavern — http://www.themonarchtavern.com/

Tiki Bars

Bill Hicks Bar – 946 Queen Street East

Bovine Sex Club – 542 Queen Street West

Miss Thing – 1279 Queen Street West

Shameful Tiki Room — 1378 Queen Street West

The Shore Leave -1175 Danforth Avenue

Where to buy clothing

Black Daffodil — 3097 Dundas Street West
Doll Factory by Damzels — 394 Roncesvalles Avenue
Rosie the Rebel — 604 Queen Street West

Social Media Pages

Toronto Rockabilly — https://www.facebook.com/torontorockabilly/

Toronto Rockabilly/Surf/Burlesque Community —

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1075214662489029/?fref=ts

RnR Dancing in Toronto and beyond — https://www.facebook.com/groups/120849821417387

Vintage Society — http://www.vintagesociety.ca

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, classics, independent, movies, pre-code, rep theatre, silent films, silent movies, Uncategorized, vintage

Why Rep Theatres Are Important To The Vintage Culture and Community

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017 Lizzie Violet

I am a huge, HUGE classic movie nerd. Especially Silent Movies, Pre-code movies and 1950s Sci-fi. As a child, many Saturday mornings were filled with watching these movies and I have many fond memories of Saturday Night at the Movies with Elwy Yost. I grew up loving black and white classic cinema. Living in Toronto I am beyond fortunate that there are rep theatres that still show these movies on the regular or have themed movie afternoons/evenings. My fella and I have become regulars at the 4 pm Sunday show at the Carlton. $6 gets you a movie, popcorn, and a drink. Each month is themed. We are also a stone throw from The Revue and are found there often, especially during the Toronto Silent Film Festival. Why do I think these types of theatres are important, let me tell you.

History. The history of the theatre and the history that comes along with the movies that are shown. Sadly, with the condo boom, many of Toronto’s beloved architecture, including old movie houses are being torn down. I don’t want to make this piece about that, I do want to raise how important it is to keep some of old Toronto still alive and intact. This includes our original movie theatres. There is so much incredible history in these buildings. Imagine the movies that were shown in these beautiful structures. Everything from The Silents of the early 1900s to the gritty movies of the 1970s. The people that would have walked across the thresholds. Buildings that allowed you to take refuge from the heat, the cold, the depression, the war or the general world outside. A place where you could escape to another world via celluloid. I often dream of being a child, jaw open while being mesmerized by a Silent Film, a sassy teen being inspired by the Flappers gracing the screen or a twenty-something being tantalized by a Pre-code bit of raunch. Witnessing a time in history and film-making when the creators cared about the story and the presentation.

An escape. The world we live in is a harsh place to be in. It’s equally complicated by the all too convenient ability to pull out your phone to see or read the news, check social media, watch hours of youtube or stream whatever content you want and almost never be left to use your imagination if even for a short period of time. It’s why I write in complete silence. Going to a movie theatre, where you have to put your phone away is a wonderful feeling. To spend one to two hours being swept into another world, another time. To see films about a period of history, shot during that actual time. The music, clothes, sets — the story. Is it wrong that I still have crushes on Jimmy Stewart or Clara Bow?

Most importantly, supporting independent businesses. Most of these theatres are independently owned. I would much rather support independent or family-owned businesses. I don’t only go to rep theatres to see the classics, I would much rather see the latest blockbuster in them. Yes, it means waiting a few extra weeks to see it, but if it means the money is going to a small business, I will wait.

Please, check out your local rep theatre. The more we frequent them, the longer they stay alive.

MOVIE THEATRES :

Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (The Annex) – 506 Bloor Street West, Toronto 416-637-3123 — http://www.hotdocscinema.ca/

Carlton Cinema – 20 Carlton Street at Yonge, Toronto, 416 – 494-9371 — https://imaginecinemas.com/cinema/carlton-cinema/

Fox Theatre – 2236 Queen Street East, Toronto, 416-691-7330 — www.foxtheatre.ca

Humber Cinemas – 2442 Bloor Street West — http://www.humbercinemas.com/

Kingsway – 3030 Bloor Street West — http://kingswaymovies.ca/

Regent Theatre – 551 Mount Pleasant Road — http://regenttoronto.com/

Revue Cinema – 400 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M6R 2M9 — http://revuecinema.ca/

Royal Cinema – 608 College Street, Toronto, 416-466-4400 — www.theroyal.to

1930s, 1940s, 1950s, Uncategorized, vintage, vintage dream blog, vintage knitting, vintage knitting patterns, vintage life, vintage pattern, vintage reproduction, vintage sewing, vintage style

Grey Wool Suit Kind Of Day — Vintage Dream Blog

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017 Lizzie Violet

Not only is this lovely lady part of the Killer Kitsch Knit-a-long, she is a brilliant vintage blogger and vintage style icon. Everyone should be following her blog!

Another cool (70’s F) kind of day here in Texas, so not one to miss a fashion opportunity, another day to wear a vintage suit to work! This wardrobe staple is a 1940’s wool two piece I purchased from Etsy store Lawrence of Baltimore. Exactly as described, timely shipping and lucky for me fits like […]

via Grey Wool Suit Kind Of Day — Vintage Dream Blog

1920s, classics, movies, silent cinema, silent films, silent movies, Uncategorized

Silent Cinema

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017 Lizzie Violet

As a child, I would spend hours watching silent movies. I was also that same child who not only wanted to be a flapper but insisted that her mother dress her like one. Fritzi Kramer runs a site called Movies Silently. You will always find incredibly informative posts about Silent Cinema from all over the world and because of Movies Silently, I have discovered silent movies I had never seen. I’m so thankful that so many silents have been preserved.

The queen of Egypt loves her Romans and so she falls for Mark Antony… What? You mean you know this one? Well, anyway, we’re looking over one of the very first feature-length Cleos with Helen Gardner in the title role. Home Media Availability: Released on DVD. Taking command A quick note before getting started. This…

via Cleopatra (1912) A Silent Film Review — Movies Silently

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, edwardian, etsy, hat, hatpin, jewelry, Uncategorized, victorian, vintage

Hatpins: The Ultimate Vintage Accessory

August 4, 2017August 4, 2017 Lizzie Violet

You can flirt with a fan in your hand. You can flirt holding a cigarette, too. But a woman can really flirt with a hat. (Dolores Foster)
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I love hats. I especially love vintage hats. You would never know this by looking at my vintage accessory collection. Scarves, gloves, purses and jewelry oh my — and a sparse few hats and no vintage shoes. In the case of shoes, most are made with leather and I won’t buy items made with leather or any other animal part/product. Recently, I have found a couple companies that don’t use leather and I’m sure that my closet will be filled with many pairs of vintage inspired shoes soon. But hats you ask, why so few. Why? Oh, Why? Oh, my.

A couple years ago, my fella bought me a stunning winter hat and though not vintage, it was fashioned after a 1930s brimmed hat. I had only worn it a few times, sadly, winters are blustery here and I could never keep the hat on my head. In the summer it is also an issue with my big floppy, Miss Fisheresque straw hats. Then, my good friend gave me two stunning 1950s, black velvet hats. The kind you wear to the side of your head. I had a small and growing collection, which I found surprising considering I rarely look at hats when thrifting or at vintages shows. Why? Along with the beautiful hat, my fella bought me, I could never get them to stay put.

The solution is very simple. Very simple indeed. Keep your hat in place with either a hatpin, hat elastic, a comb or bobby pins. (If you want to watch a tutorial on how to use all of these, check out Evelyn Woods tutorial) I tried sewing combs into my hats, but that didn’t feel right for me. I have tried bobby pins for the straw hats but found them too short and the hat elastics bug me and are uncomfortable. This, of course, leaves hatpins.

I love hatpins and have alway found them to be the most beautiful pieces of art one can wear. I may also be a little bit in love with the fact that they can be used as a weapon. Did you know that in 1908, laws were passed in America that limited the length of hatpins? There was a concern they might be used by suffragettes as weapons. In 1910 laws were also passed, requiring hatpin tips to be covered to prevent injuring people accidentally.

20170802_172347
I have been on the search for hatpins for a while now and I will be completely honest, still, couldn’t find ones that I liked or in many cases, could afford. If you have a vintage hat, you want a vintage hat pin. I have completely abandoned my search. I still want to find vintage hatpins, I also want to keep my hat on my head and because of this, decided, why not make your own vintage inspired hatpins. So I am or rather have.

Living in an urban centre I have lots of access to jewelry making supplies such as beads, sequins, a variety of stones, wires, clasps, earring posts, pendant frames, glue… everything except for the shaft needed to make a hatpin. I searched many brick and mortar, eventually giving up and looking on line. I found a few online stores that have the hatpin shaft, but nothing that was within Canada. It was back to pavement pounding for me. Eventually, I found some, however, the store only had a few left and likely won’t be ordering any more. They aren’t a popular item. If this has been 1917 instead of 2017 then I’m sure there would have been an over abundance of them. I’m considering selling them in my Etsy store, stay tuned for that.

I had a lot of fun making the hatpins. Some will be given as gifts and the others are for me. I am already dreaming up many designs for the hatpins and am going to take inspiration from other vintage hatpins as I design my own. The more I am reading about them, the more excited I am getting about making other Victorian inspired jewelry.

Uncategorized

My Beach Pajama Obsession

May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 Lizzie Violet

“This hot, humid August is almost unbearable and we’re still in its early days of the month. The heat this year, much more humid than last summer. 1928 is bound to be the hottest year on the calendar. I’m so thankful, that I can lounge in our summer beach house, on this wicker chaise, with the ocean breeze against the cool linen of my beach pajamas. It was clever of Mother to pack all of my large brimmed straw hats and paper umbrella’s, along with my best linens. The heat would be unbearable otherwise. If I could only catch the attention of our cabana boy, my Sidecar was finished at least ten moments ago.”

Oh, to be alive during the late 1920s. Life was filled with abundance, frivolity and clothing styles that made living a dream, especially summer fashions. The lazy, hazy days of summer indeed.

Introduced in 1922 by fashion designer Coco Chanel, the Beach Pajama very quickly became the wardrobe staple of those fashion forward ladies spending time at seaside resorts or just enjoying the lazy hazy days of August. Long hot days spent lounging on a yacht, by the pool or in a folding lounger alongside the sandy beach. As with most fashion trends, when starlets such as Joan Crawford were seen wearing them as casual wear, they became a Flapper staple in movies such as ‘Our Modern Maidens’, ‘Our Dancing Daughters’ and ‘Our Blushing Brides’ and in every young woman’s wardrobe. Many other stars such as Clara Bow and Louise Brooks seemed to live in Beach Pajamas. Who would blame a dame for wanting to wear them? They were not only fashionable but incredibly comfortable on those days that sizzled.

I became obsessed with Beach Pajamas after seeing Miss Fisher wearing them in a variety of episodes of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and more recently, whilst re-watching Poirot episodes that take place at seaside resorts, such as ‘Triangle at Rhodes’, ‘Peril at End House’ or ‘Lord Edgware Dies’. Obsessed, that would be an understatement. I am currently on the hunt for a pattern(s) and because originals are either hard to come by, delicate and likely missing pieces or darn expensive, I will be more than happy to use a replica pattern in a .pdf format. There are a variety of designers out there that offer exactly this format for patterns. I am including the links below. At some point soon, I am hoping to knock off a few pair and will have a blog post about the finished results.

Mrs. Depews — https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/270866171/vintage-sewing-pattern-reproduction?ref=market

Vintage Sew Bee It — https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/512359296/chic-1930s-vintage-sewing-pattern-beach?ref=market

Vintage Pattern Girl –– https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/204485242/1930s-ladies-lounging-beach-pajamas?ref=market

Eva Dress — https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/285604543/1935-3-piece-beach-ensemble-evadress?ref=market

Old Time Patterns — https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/512643833/fw252-late-1920s-early-1930s-beach?ref=market

Lady Marlow Patterns — https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/469803195/30s-1930s-repro-vintage-womens-sewing?ref=market

Wearing History — https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/223658136/e-pattern-lounging-at-the-lido-1930s?ref=shop_home_active_5

Paired with a loose camisole or a halter top Beach Pajamas, a floppy hat and a pair of espadrilles will be perfect for the days in August when I feel as if I am melting. I won’t be near a seaside resort anytime soon, but a girl can dream. Now place a cool beverage in my hands, in a chilled highball and I’m ready to beat the heat.

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