[vintagemodeandabode]

Weekend Road Trip: Pittsburgh, PA

Looking to do an easy road trip and catch a game, we decided to drive up to Pittsburgh with our best friend for the Labor Day weekend. I was pleasantly surprised by the options for attractions to visit, so we had no problem finding activities for after the baseball game. If you are looking to take a trip to Pittsburgh yourself, here are my recommendations based on what we experienced…

Accommodations: 

 Honestly, we didn’t even look at accommodations beyond Airbnb, because it is our go to for cheap and pleasant lodging. The Airbnb we chose was in the Perry North area, which is slightly north of downtown Pittsburgh. It was the perfect location, since it was in a quiet suburban neighborhood with easy parking, but was still minutes away from downtown. The Airbnb itself was ADORABLE and well thought out, with its coffee/tea bar, wifi info framed throughout the house, and complimentary toiletries. Jennifer is a great host, so I highly recommend staying with her if you are in Pittsburgh. 

Attractions: 

 We started our weekend with a visit to Randyland, a kaleidoscope of color, found objects and architectural elements assembled together into a quirky outdoor space. Your eye is drawn every which way, and the artist itself in a very enthusiastic tour guide if need be. Photo-ops abound at Randyland! 

 We then ventured over to the PNC Park to catch the Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates game. Though it was rainy and chilly when we went, it is an enjoyable baseball park with stunning views of downtown and the river. The baseball and football stadiums are situated closely together, so it’s an entertaining area for sports fans, with lots of close options for food/drinks if need be. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny for parking, street parking is non-existent in this area. 

 On our second day in Pittsburgh, we drove over to University of Pittsburgh/Cathedral of Learning area, found easy (and FREE) parking, and enjoyed a pleasant walk through the campus area towards the museums. Take a peek inside the Heinz Memorial Chapel if you walk through the campus lawns. This beautiful gothic church has stunning stain glass and architectural details, and at the time we were visiting had an instrumental concert playing. (St Paul Cathedral is another place to visit for stunning gothic architecture) 

 Though there are a plethora of museums to choose from in Pittsburgh, we chose to visit the Carnegie Art & History Museum. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap to visit each museum, so we wanted the most bang for our buck. With our student IDs, we got admission to the museum for $10 ($20 for adults) and were able to enjoy two museums for the price of one! The exhibits we enjoyed the most were the ancient architecture, dinosaurs, and modern art. 

 After the museum, we drove up the hill to the Mt Washington neighborhood, which has observation decks with gorgeous views of the city. You can also take a ride on the historic Duquesne Incline, which are cute trolleys that slowly scale the hill ($5-7 for a round trip ticket). We popped into the local ice cream shop for twisted cones to enjoy before our trek to the bottom on the incline. The line wasn’t bad waiting for the trolley at the top, but once off, we saw the long line waiting for us from the bottom (so be prepared to wait in line for this adventure). Before getting back in line to return to the top, we explored the shops and restaurants at the Station Square. 

 Restaurants/Bars: 

 We enjoyed some local beers at the baseball game, I recommend trying I.C. Iced Mango, but didn’t venture to any other bars besides the Tiki Lounge. Being a retro enthusiast, one challenge on my bucket list is visiting tiki bars in each city we visit. The Tiki Lounge is in an area of town with plenty of bars to choose from (if tiki isn’t your thing) but I enjoyed it’s fun Polynesian decor and my Blue Hawaiian drink. We enjoyed all the restaurants we visited, which we chose based on local to our attractions and reviews on Yelp (our go-to restaurant rater). Central Ave Slice was a local pizza shop we ate at in the Perry North area. It’s in a town with great small town vibes and has delicious New York style pizza. Stack’d Burgers near the University of Pittsburgh offers a dizzying array of customizable burger choices, and Little Tokyo Bistro has delicious sushi and hibachi grilled food. We also enjoyed some ball park food at PNC Park along with a Pittsburgh staple, a Primanti Brothers Pittsburgher Cheese Steak. 

 All in all, Pittsburgh was a great city to visit and it would be nice to visit again to see some things we missed, like the Andy Warhol Museum. Hope these recommendations help you on your own trip to Pittsburgh!

[vintagemodeandabode]

Design On A Dime: Vintage Kitchen

Owning my own historic house is a dream come true, I was the type of little girl who watched HGTV over cartoons.  However, owning a house comes with many bills and maintenance, so the budget for decor and renovations can be TIGHT.  I don’t let this stop me from expressing my vintage style though, especially in the kitchen.  Limited on what I could change on our budget, I focused mostly on accessories to make the kitchen become more vintage.  With some patience, creativity and some discount shopping, you can too!  In this post, I’ll share the ways I made my kitchen more vintage on a budget.  

PLATE COLLAGES

In the picture above, you’ll notice the plate collage. I hung this on the wall above the island to better blend the dining room and kitchen together.  It is also a great vintage focal point before entering the kitchen.  Plate collages are a classic way to decorate a vintage-style kitchen.  To put this collection together, I used a mixture of hand-made and thrifted.  I searched several antique stores and goodwill for plates, and kept each purchase at $2 or under.  I even bought a couple blank plates and decorated them with sharpie.  For the other plates, I enlisted my husband, which included one he made himself and two purchased from another ceramic artist.  These were more of a splurge, but really added to the overall theme.  To keep the plate collage cohesive but still mismatched, I stayed within a color scheme (red, black, white, aqua and a touch of gold).  

OPEN SHELF DISPLAYS/ABOVE CABINET DISPLAYS

If you are lucky enough to already have open shelving, this is a great way to add color and vintage style to a plain kitchen.  If that is not an option in your kitchen, displaying decor above your cabinets is an equally great way to add personality.  With the little display shelves to the left of my sink, I arranged various tea cups, bowls and vases in our kitchen’s color scheme (the before mentioned red, black, white, aqua and a touch of gold).  Some pieces, like the delicate tea cups, were from a previous personal collection, while others were purchased on sale fro TJ Maxx and Anthropologie.  

Since my shelves were quite small, I kept my pieces to a smaller scale.  However, if you are decorating on larger shelves (that aren’t needed for functional kitchenware) colorful trays, pottery, vintage tins and antique kitchenware like scales, are great items to display.  For decorating above cabinets, vintage wooden crates, large pottery, or antique kitchen paraphernalia.  With some diligent hunting at thrift stores, antique malls, and the sales at decor stores, you can come away with some great deals on items to decorate your shelves.

WALL ART

When you have some wall to spare in a kitchen, vintage-style art is a great way to decorate your kitchen on a budget.  One way I displayed wall art in my kitchen is by dissecting a Rifle Paper Co. coffee & tea calendar.  Picking my favorite prints from the calendar that fit my color scheme, I trimmed away the calendar, left the art print and added some scalloped paper to properly fit the prints in my IKEA frames.  (FYI: IKEA is a great place to find cheap frames).  

Other great vintage-style wall art could be old kitchen adverts, vintage seed packets, botanical prints, and diner signs.  

A LITTLE PAINT AND FABRIC

If you are looking to add some color that screams ‘retro or ‘vintage’ without breaking the bank, paint your kitchen door and/or window trim.   Cherry red, aqua, mint green, and sunny yellow are a few colors that come to mind when thinking ‘retro kitchen colors.’  It adds that pop or color without being overbearing.  

Window valences are another way to add vintage color or pattern.  Ginghams, polka dots, toile, and fruit prints are indicative of bygone eras.  Hanging a series of vintage handkerchiefs or towels as window valences are also a great idea.  

FUNCTIONAL VINTAGE-STYLE KITCHEN ACCESSORIES 

My last tip on adding vintage style to a kitchen is making everyday kitchen objects also display pieces.  Instead of storing our bread in the cabinet, I re-decorated a vintage bread box with spray paint and striped paper.  I have various pretty jars to store nicknacks on the counter, like the victorian house cookie jar.  A retro diner canister holds pretty paper straws, and a little ceramic scottie dog to hold my pen for grocery lists.  Instead of storing oven mitts in the drawer, I hang them on cabinet knobs and hooks above the stove.  Our olive oil and kitchen utensils are displayed in gorgeous handmade pottery from fellow ceramic artists.  

I hope you enjoyed my tips on decorating a vintage kitchen on a budget.  Let me know how yours comes along!

[vintagemodeandabode]

Bringing Back the Brooch

Brooches and lapel pins have been making a huge comeback, especially among the retro community.  They are a great way to add personality to an outfit with minimal effort.  Though I own many necklaces, I prefer wearing brooches because of my habit of wearing cardigans.  I love adding a bit of sparkle to outfits, but lately I’ve been drawn to resin brooches as well.  Quirky and unique, there are a plethora of artists making resin brooches that are a must have for your wardrobe.  Here are a few artists I recommend if you are looking to purchase one for yourself!

TangerineMenagerie

ErstwilderOfficial

DeerArrow

Although all these handmade beauties are fabulous, sometimes you want to add some pizazz without breaking the bank.  For under $5, I made this super cute rotary telephone brooch!  Here is the super simple DIY below.

Supplies:

- Pendant (something with a semi-flat back)

- Brooch Pin Back Catch

- Needle Nose Pliers 

- Hot Glue or Super Glue

- Nail File (if needed)

After a little browsing in the jewelry section of Michaels, I discovered many cute pendants that could easily be turned into brooches.  I chose this rotary phone for its sparkle and vintage flair.  

Directions:

1.  Remove the pendant hook with needle nose pliers.

2.  Since the metal of the pendant was a bit fragile, the little loop snapped off as well.  This left some slightly sharp edges, so after taking a nail file to the top of the pendant, it was good to go!  Depending on which pendant you choose, and how easily the pendant hook, you can skip this step.

3.  Apply hot glue or super glue (I chose super glue) to the back of the Brooch Pin Back Catch, and stick onto the back of the pendant.  

4.  Let it dry and voila!  Super quick DIY brooch!

[vintagemodeandabode]

DIY: Fly Girl Tote Bag

Just like many others in my profession, we are OBSESSED with our jobs!  Sure, there are some pretty difficult days, but every trying day is worth it to be a flight attendant.  We eat, breathe and sleep Travel!  That’s why I was super excited to make this tote.  Fly Girl forever!  If you are as obsessed with flying and traveling as I am, read on for this DIY on your own tote bag.

Supplies:

- Canvas tote bag, color of your choosing (I chose this canvas bag)

- Heat transfer vinyl, color of your choosing (I went with this metallic gold)

- Laptop, Silhouette Cutting Machine & Silhouette cutting mat

- Scissors

- Ironing Board

- Iron

- Large cotton cloth (I just used a cotton shirt)

***Sorry for the crappy photos***

Directions:

1.  After opening the silhouette program, I resized the page to the dimensions of the tote bag.  My tote was 20″W x 15″H.

2.  Using the text tool, I typed “Fly Girl,” chose my font, and enlarged the text size to fit comfortably within the dimensions of the bag.  I chose the scripted font ‘Moonlights on the Beach,’ which I downloaded for free.  

3. To add the airplane, I downloaded a free vector of various airplanes and chose my favorite to screen shot.  

4.  In the silhouette program, go to File>Open>Desktop and select the airplane screen shot.

5. Once the airplane is on a new silhouette page, select the trace tool.  Select the area and then select the ‘trace outer edge’ button.  Delete the screenshot.

6.  Copy and paste the airplane outline to the ‘Fly Girl’ tab and arrange so that it seems as if it is flying out of the end of the “L” on “girl.”  

7. You’ll notice the text intersects each other, which would not bode well for cutting.  To fix this problem, use the trace tool again and select the area.  Select the ‘trace outer edge’ button.  

8.  Once you have the outline of the text/airplane, you’ll need to inner pieces of the “y” and “g.”  Again trace the text, but select the ‘trace’ button this time instead.  

9. With the ‘trace’ copy selected, go to Object>Release Compound Path.  This will allow you to separate the inner pieces of the “y” and “g” and add them to the ‘trace outer edge’ copy.

10.  Once you have added the inner pieces, select the entirety of the ‘trace outer edge’ text and go to Object>Make Compound Path. Delete the other text.

11.  Once the text and airplane is the right size, select the area and go to Object>Mirror>Flip Horizontally.  This step is important with heat transfer vinyl. 

12. Before you are ready to cut the vinyl, adjust the page dimensions to the size of the vinyl.  My vinyl was 12″W x 9.8″ H.  This meant all my text was not able to fit on the page, so I separated the “G” onto another page.  

13.. Place the heat transfer vinyl shiny side down on the cutting mat and feed into the silhouette machine.  

14. Go to ‘Cut Settings,’ select ‘cut edge,’ ‘vinyl’ and ‘Send to Silhouette.’

15. Once both pages of vinyl are cut, weed the excess vinyl from the text. 

16.  Separate the “fly” text from the “irl” text (regular scissors work fine), to make it easier for placement on the tote bag. Cut out the “g” as well.

17. Heat up your iron to 300-320 degrees Fahrenheit (or just the highest setting, which was ‘cotton’ on my iron).

18. Adjust the text right side up on the tote until it is placed how you would like on the bag.  Carefully remove the “G” and “Fly” and keep in place the “irl,” which you will iron on first.

19.  Place a cotton cloth (I used a shirt) over the text and apply pressure with the iron.  I applied pressure with a circular motion so I didn’t burn the shirt.  I didn’t find that there was a certain amount of time that was effective.  I would just test the edges of the plastic, and lift up, and if the vinyl wasn’t sticking to the bag, I continued to apply heat.  

20. Carefully lift the plastic off the vinyl (make sure all edges have adhered to the canvas tote) and completely remove.  

21.  Move on to the next letter (adjust as needed) and repeat the process of ironing until all letters are attached to the canvas. Voila!

[vintagemodeandabode]

DIY: Triple Tassel Earrings

I’ve been seeing tassel earrings everywhere (and own a few different pairs already), and I’ve been especially in love with the triple tassel earrings.  Instead of buying another pair, I decided to make some!  With only a little trial and error, I made this cute red ombre pair for under $5.  

Here are the supplies you need if you want to make some yourself:

- Ruler

- Needle

- Scissors

- 3 different colors of cross-stitching thread

- Earring fish hooks

- Spare thread in a similar color to your cross-stitching thread (or you can use the remnants once you cut your tassels)

Instructions:

1. Once you remove the packaging, cut off a couple long strands of thread, which will be used later to secure the thread strands into tassels.  

2. Keeping the thread looped, measure it to 1.5″ (or whichever tassel length you desire), and cut across the strands.  They will be a bit uneven, but you will trim them later.  

3. Take the extra thread you cut and set aside, and loop around the top of the gathered strands.  Leave some room at the top to create that rounded tip you see on tassels. 

4.  Continue to loop and knot until you feel it’s secure, and then tie it off with a double knot.  

5. Cut off the ends from the double knot if they are sticking out.  

6. Repeat steps 1-5 until you have completed 3 pairs of tassels.  

7. String the needle with spare thread.  Make the thread long enough to knot multiple times and tie off.  

8.  Thread the needle through the top of the tassel, loop the thread ,and secure your first knot to ensure the thread stays within the tassel.

9.  Thread the needle to the top of the tassel and thread on the fish hook earring.  

10.  Loop the needle multiple times through the top of the tassel until you feel the fish hook is secure.  

11. Secure with a knot and cut off the end.  

12. String the needle with some new thread.

13. Thread the needle through the bottom of the middle tassel (which in this case is the hot pink).  The thread should come up through the top.

14.  The needle will then be threaded through the bottom of the top tassel (light pink), and pull until the two tassels are pushed together.  

15. Secure the thread with a double knot and cut off the end. 

16. Repeat steps 12-15 to secure the last tassel (red) to the middle and top tassels.  

17. Once you do all these steps for the pair, fluff them as needed.  Voila, cute tassel earrings!

[vintagemodeandabode]

Travel Mementos

When I traveled as a child/teenager, I wanted to buy anything and everything that was touristy.  Flip flop key chain from Florida?  Had that on my collection of keychains...for one actual key.  ‘I HEART NYC’ t-shirt?  Wore that ill-fitting tee.  Purse with Spain written all over it? I bought that and stuffed all my other souvenirs in it as well.  It’s not that these are necessarily bad things for travelers to buy (to each his own, you do you!) but I personally found that as I got older, these were not the mementos I continued to cherish.  The colorful sequined skirt I bought in Madrid while shopping in a shop off the beaten path, I wore until the elastic wore out.  The poster of my favorite art piece in the Louvre hung above my bed for years.  They were more unique and personal to me, and I discovered that was what mattered to me.  

As I got older and my suitcases smaller (no one traveling extensively wants to lug around a gigantic suitcase), I started focusing on only buying a few select pieces to remember my travels by.  My husband and I always choose an ornament together when we travel to a new place.  Our main tree in the living room (yes, I have more than one tree...) has been deemed the ‘travel’ tree and it is my favorite part of Christmas decorating.  Bringing the ornament boxes back out, and reminiscing on where each ornament came from, is a great way to relive your favorite travel memories.

My husband and I also collect art pieces for our travel collage.  The collage, a series of mismatched black frames of all sizes, hold memories of my time studying abroad (a life changing experience) and the trips we have taken since we started dating.  Sometimes we enjoy a photo we have taken ourselves, like of the sailboats on the beach on our honeymoon in Jamaica.  Other times it’s a professional photograph or an artist’s drawing that we feel represents our favorite memory of a city, like the photograph of the Victorian houses in Savannah or the watercolor of Diamond Head in Hawaii.  Some of the pieces we choose are a very obvious representation of a place, like the Rifle Paper Co. drawing of the Cubs stadium that has “Chicago” written in bold at the bottom.  Others are more ambiguous, like the photograph of yellow blooms I took at the Dublin Botanical Garden.  

There is no right or wrong on what to buy for travel mementos, the only advice I would give is get something you could cherish for years to come (or something you can enjoy in the moment, like divine chocolates from Switzerland you can share with family back home).  I have friends who collect patches for their faded jean jacket, some who enjoy funky jewelry, and others who collect dollars from each new country they visit.  Even postcards are having a resurgence in popularity for their nostalgic vibe.  Write down your favorite memories of your trip on the back and keep them in a photobook.  You can do the same with tickets, whether they are plane tickets, subway passes or entry tickets to your favorite attractions.  

Have fun, explore the world, and bring me back a flip flop keychain...mine has gone missing.

[vintagemodeandabode]

Weekend Trip: Savannah, Georgia

This past weekend, I brought my family on a 3 day trip down to Savannah.  I had been to Savannah before and fell in love with its architecture, food and easy way of life.  Wanting to share this experience with my parents,  I put together a short tour of the city.  If you are looking to do the same, here are my recommendations on what to see, eat and where to stay in beautiful Savannah!

Accommodations: 

My husband and I have been using Airbnb quite frequently for our trips.  Depending on which you choose, they can be very economical and in great locations.  The one we chose in Savannah was a sunny yellow Victorian house with an upstairs apartment in the historic district.  Located right next to Forsyth Park, it was within walking distance of beautiful historic mansions and some delicious restaurants.  We wanted something downtown so we wouldn’t have to rent a car, and we took advantage of the free trolley service (DOT) when our sites were not within walking distance.  

Though the Bed & Breakfasts are very charming and the hotels chic in the area we stayed in, they were quite pricey.  Airbnb was the best choice for us, especially with five of us staying together, and each couple had their own room.  

Dining:

There are many, MANY excellent restaurants in Savannah, so you really can’t go wrong.  However, if you are looking for specific recommendations, here are mine. 

Sandfly BBQ at the Streamliner not only has fantastic BBQ, but it is also housed in a retro diner (always a winner in my book!)  Delicious food, cheap prices, fast and friendly service is what you can expect.  I had the pulled pork with their traditional sauce, mac and cheese, and green beans, soooo good!

The Cotton Exchange Tavern is a good choice for decently priced seafood while exploring the Riverwalk, and Leopold’s Ice Cream is a delicious retro treat on hot summer days.  Our favorite brunch spot (which we also had 4 years before) is J. Christopher’s, and I highly recommend trying the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. 

Attractions:

There are a number of good house museums to explore: Isaiah Davenport House, Owens-Thomas House, Mercer Williams House, Harper Fowlkes House, etc.  On this particular trip however, we visited the Andrew Low House, home to the incredibly wealthy Low family (including the founder of the Girl Scouts of America).  The house was beautifully furnished in period pieces and the docent was lively and knowledgable.  

As mentioned before, a walk around Forsyth Park and the historic district is a great way to explore Savannah’s charming architecture and historic roots.  Though Savannah is scorching hot in the summer, the tree-laden squares dotted through the neighborhood provide much needed shade while you explore.  

There are a number of museums to see, including the Telfair Art Museum, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, SCAD Museum of Art, and Massie Heritage Center.  We decided to explore the Georgia State Railroad Museum, and it was a highlight of the trip!  Being very fond of trains, it was interesting to see the railcars of years past, and hear about the hey-dey of train travel and its booming industry.

Shopping:

I recommend exploring the Riverwalk, which is filled with shops and restaurants.  Though very touristy, the walk is still enjoyable with its cobblestone path, riverboats sailing the water, and delicious treats.  I couldn’t resist buying some taffy at the vintage candy shop or buying a lace fan to beat the sweltering heat.  

Some other good shopping areas are Broughton Street (where you can find the Paris Market, a mixture of antiques and new pieces) or City Market.  

If you are looking for antiques, Alex Raskin Antiques is filled to the brim.  It can be quite pricey, but fun to explore.  There are a number of other antique stores in Savannah, but I have not ventured to them.  If looking for the best in the area, I recommend this list on yelp.  There is also a quirky little vintage clothing store in the historic district that I enjoyed perusing.  The Future on Forsyth has a cultivated collection of colorful vintage clothing and accessories that is both enjoyable to shop and fun to explore.  I myself bought a pair of nautical aqua earrings.  

I hope this list helps whoever is going to explore Savannah, it’s one of my favorite cities and I loved sharing!

[vintagemodeandabode]

Building Your Barware

Once my husband and I bought our first home, I knew I wanted to feature a fabulous bar in our entertaining space.  I had been slowly collecting barware, and I finally had the space to display it and put it to good use!  Though there are so many different types of barware out there, I knew I needed to keep mine within a certain theme so it would not get too busy.  This meant part of my previous collection from my college years was set aside and displayed elsewhere (this is the vintage pink collection show below).  

I chose to keep my theme to be gold accents, tropical, travel, and turquoise.  Most of the barware is gold and turquoise, but a few pieces (such as the stir sticks and a few vintage travel glasses) stray from those colors but are still within the tropical/travel theme.  I bought a mixture of vintage and modern glassware, which I feel adds a unique and sentimental touch to my collection.  

Though I’m no expert on barware, merely someone who has an interest in it,  these are the pieces I have included in my collection:

- Cocktail shaker(s)

- Wine glasses

- Highball glasses

- Champagne flutes

- Bourbon tumblers

- Drink pitcher

- Ice bucket

- Decanter(s)

- Glass markers

- Stir sticks

- Fruit picks

-Shot glasses

If you are looking to purchase some barware similar to mine, I have added some links below.  

Mikasa wine glasses 

Kate Spade drink pitcher 

Ban.do pineapple tumblr

Ban.do pineapple shot glasses 

Kate Spade ice bucket

Kate Spade highball glasses

Kate Spade cocktail shaker 

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DIY Project: Nail & String Wall Hanging

I was excited to finally try out this project, it had been an idea in my head for months!  String and nail art has been popping up everywhere, and I wanted to try my hand at it, on a much BIGGER scale.  The phrase I chose was just a fun combination of my love of French culture (and my time living there) and my southern roots.  This wall hanging was made for our dining room, which is a mix of rustic, industrial and vintage details.  The rustic wood (scrap fencing from my in-laws) and red string is a great pop against our teal walls.  If you want instructions on how to create your own, read on!

Supplies:

- Silhouette or Cricut machine (optional)

- Laptop to use with cutting machine (optional)

- Cutting mat 

- Scrap paper, 8.5x11″ or 12x12″ depending on what you have available

- Wood fencing slats (I used 8 slats, which equalled 30″ H and 38″ W)

- 2 extra slats or scrap wood (for use in attaching all slats together)

- Scrap piece of wood to practice on, if need be

- 3 packs of Wire Brad nails (I used 17 gauge x 7/8″)

- 2 screws (sizing depends on thickness of extra slats

- 6 nails (sizing depends on thickness of extra slats)

- Hammer

- Twine (color of your choice)

Directions:

*** Before I get into directions using my silhouette machine, I wanted to note that if you don’t have a cutting machine to cut the letters, hand drawing them or printing/cutting them would do just fine.  

After opening the Silhouette program, I went to the DESIGN PAGE SETTINGS icon at the top, right side of the page.  I change the height to 30″ and width to 38″ to match the measurements or my wood slats.  This step helps with sizing the text appropriately.  

I then moved on to the text icon on the left side of the page.  After typing, “Bonjour Y’all,”  I perused the fonts until I chose the scripted font Grand Hotel (a font I downloaded for free).  I then resized the font to fit within the 30″x 38″ page.  

I had originally planned on drawing the letters on sheets of paper with the Silhouette pen setting, but that proved too complicated.  I instead separated the letters and placed them on resized 12″x 12″ pages to be cut.  I then went to cut settings (icon found at the top, right bar) and chose “Cut Edge” for Cut Style and “Cardstock” for Material Type.  Once the letters were cut on each sheet, I taped them together to make them a script font again.  

After lining up the 8 pieces of fencing, I nailed/screwed each slat to two pieces of scrap wood to secure them all together.  

After positioning the letters on the wooden slats (I did so at an angle), I secured them with a few pieces of tape and got to work!  Luckily, I had my handy husband to help, because nailing these tiny nails takes TIME!  I tried positioning the nail an equal distance apart, but depending on the curve of each letter, some were closer together to maintain the shape of the letter.  Make sure to keep them as straight as possible and nail them at the same depth.  However, as you can see from my progress, they wont be perfect and that’s okay.  

Once all the nails were completed, I tied an end of the red twine to the first letter and started weaving the twine on the edge of the letter.  This helps maintain the shape of the letter, once you fill it in.  Once I had gone around the letter a couple times with twine, I started zig-zagging the twine, first in one direction, then another.  I did this for several layers until I got the desired thickness, and then tied off the end.  And voila!

[vintagemodeandabode]

Mainstrasse Village

After hearing so many good things about the restaurant Frida 602, we decided to spend our evening in Mainstrasse Village.  Mainstrasse is a lively neighborhood in Covington, Kentucky filled with colorful historic buildings containing trendy bars and restaurants.  Frida 602 is one of those colorful restaurants, with its Mexican oil cloth benches and cobalt stools.  It’s whimsy and creativity is also shown through its spectacular food.  

My table enjoyed some Frida Margaritas and queso to share, and I had the chalupitas (nachos) as my main entree.  I highly recommend the dish, which has 6 large individual chips topped with refrito, chicken, crema, cheese, chiles and cilantro.   

Since it was a beautifully sunny day in Covington, I wore my Lindybop orange gingham dress.  With its full skirt and daisy trim, it was the perfect summer outfit (and it has pockets!)  It is no longer available on their website, but they have several other patterns that are equally enticing.  I paired my dress with a cropped white cardigan, brown belt, vintage wicker purse and white wedges (all of which I’ve owned for years, no links provided).  

Left to right:

Baby Blue Floral Gingham Print Swing Dress

Green Polka Dot Swing Dress

Red Travel Print Swing Dress

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Tea Time

I finally got some time to enjoy the tea I bought in England, from one of my favorite stores, Fortnum & Mason.  If you get a chance to visit London, pop on over to this beautiful store!  The store alone is gorgeous with its gilded decor and crystal chandeliers, but its the product that is truly drool worthy.  They sell a myriad of teas, coffees, picnic goodies, sweets, and even home decor!  If you don’t have the opportunity to visit, their website is equally enticing, take a look!  Also, if you are wondering where my whimsical tea cup is from, it is from the talented ceramic artist Amelia Stamps.  My husband and I own a number of her pieces and they are some of our favorites in our collection.  I love her style, with its light colors, polka dots, and curved edges. 

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Rainy Days

Rainy days call for cute rain jackets and bright umbrellas! I love my rain coat for its deep pockets, removable hood, and belted waist. The checkered black pattern is bold but classic, and pops against my red umbrella. Speaking of umbrellas, this one is lined with black houndstooth, so fun!

Checkered rain coats from left to right: 1, 2 & 3

Red umbrellas from left to right: 1, 2 & 3

Polka dot sneakers from left to right: 1, 2 & 3

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Travel Style: UK Edition

Though I have the amazing opportunity to travel frequently (thank youuuuu flight attendant benefits!), I usually have to limit my trip wardrobe to a small carry-on.  Flying stand-by with a checked bag is an unnecessary stress, so I’ve learned to pack light but efficient.  If you have to do the same, it doesn’t mean you have to travel without style!  I’ve found that when you limit your wardrobe to a select amount of colors, you can mix and match easily and create a variety of outfits.  My secret retro style weapons though??  Neck scarves and a classic black fit and flare dress.  Neck scarves are an easy and fun way to change up your outfits and add a bit of color.  My black dress (shown above), is my go-to when traveling with a limited wardrobe.  Its universally flattering, doesn’t wrinkle and is super comfy.  Add a colorful belt and accessories...voila!  

Here are some styles similar to the outfits I wore above during my United Kingdom Trip:

Black dress here

Similar gingham dresses here and here

Neck scarves here, here, and here

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Wedding Style

Weddings are always a fun outing for dressing up, and I always take advantage! This fun fit and flare silk dress is from Julian Taylor, a brand that is super flattering for all body types and perfect for whichever wedding you might be attending. Most dresses of this brand are fit and flare or pencil, with a higher neckline, which works well if you are attending a more conservative wedding. I paired mine with a cropped cardigan, vintage rhinestone brooch, and DIY glittered t-strap heels for that added retro flare! Check out the links below for more Julian Taylor dresses!

Similar striped fit & flare to my dress above here

Cobalt blue polka dot dress here

Black cold shoulder sheath dress here

Red grid dress here

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Butchertown

My husband, mother-in-law and I did a little exploring in the trendy neighborhood, Butchertown, which is growing fast with new breweries, artsy shops, and hip offices.  It is also home to the The Pointe, a historic warehouse renovated into office spaces and a wedding venue (which I got married at two years ago).  Today it was hosting the very Pinterest-perfect art show, Made Market.  I found some great pieces for our home, including a dotted ceramic oil dispenser, rustic Cincinnati plaque, and apple kitchen print.  

We then went further into the neighborhood and discovered the Butchertown Market, a colorful shop filled to the brim with jewelry, home decor, crafty goods, and unique gift options.  I found some adorable woven cherry earrings (pictured below), which will be perfect for the cherry printed dress I just ordered!  Go check it out, this shop is a must see if you are in Louisville.

Today’s OOTD is my go-to outfit when I need something simple, but put-together.  This gingham shirt dress is something I found for a steal on Amazon a year ago, but I have listed some similar options below.  

Black gingham dress here and here

Cat eye sunglasses here and here