It is always such a treat to be featured on Style Me Pretty and even more exciting to be on the brand new SMP CANADA page!   

Congratulations to Tracy & Stephen!  Thanks to Erin, from A Simple Photograph, for including me in this surprise.  And Ida's work, from Sweet Sweets, is outstanding as ever when it comes to cakes!

I am getting closer to my goal of offering assorted vintage seating for 100 people. I can't wait to have it all in stock and take photos of it arranged in different ways!
 I just received a call yesterday from one my favourite junk shops about a new delivery.  I might venture out in this crazy heat to buy some more chairs today.  
Here are some recent finds.

It is a lovely summer morning AND it was a beautiful weekend for parties!

In response to Natalie's request on the HVR Facebook page, I am sending you some vintage wedding favour ideas.  Some are actual favours and others are ways of displaying favours with a vintage touch.  

First up is something for the gardener.  California weddings are overflowing with succulents and they are starting to hit our area too.  Of course these lovelies flourish in southern Cal climates but they do quite well in our backyards too.  


I like them wrapped in kraft paper or little clay pots would be nice.  Display in a weathered crate or they look great displayed in luggage too.

For the tea cup, I would add a real vintage silver spoon with a thank you tag.

Spring bulbs are happier in our climate and I really like the thought of taking the time to plant them into vintage tins.  Your guests will appreciate your effort too.

Every wedding I attended when I was a child had matchbooks with the bride & groom's names on them.  Well, they are making a comeback!  I like to see matchbooks with sparklers attached or perhaps with a cigar.   And why not pull another goodie from the '70s?  Buttons are sweet, inexpensive and fun!

Who doesn't love a good read?  This is my favourite, inexpensive guest favour.  Old paperbacks are a dime a dozen (almost literally).  Wrap with some twine or wrap in newsprint or kraft paper.  I would love to receive a book!

No one would ever deny food for a wedding favour.  Homemade jams, honey, olive oil in vintage jars are nice.   You can buy large quantities of oils and honey to put into vintage jars that you have collected.  

I took a break for Canada Day.  I spent 4 nights with my family at our friend's fishing lodge in northern Ontario.  I can't say I am much of angler, but I like to tag along on any outdoor adventure.

I don't think we could have been in a more meaningful place to celebrate Canada Day.  The Old Post & Village has quite the history.  It was one of the original Hudson Bay posts for fur trading.  Definitely one of Canada's defining moments in history. After all, the Hudson Bay Blanket is a classic for a reason.

While my mate & our son were off fishing, I grabbed my camera and went for a walk.  I was in heaven at the General Store.  Talk about a prop shop!  This place was a dream.  Consider this my inspiration board for a true Canadiana shoot.

HVR is feelin' the love this week.  It started with The Wedding Co featuring our Bayfield River Inspiration Shoot.  Next up was a real party feature at Brilliant Bash.  And today, Style Me Pretty featured a lovely e-session shot by Erin Samuell with a few props from yours truly.  I think this must be my lucky three for the week!  

And now I am giddy with excitement to let you know that I have finally taken the plunge to add VINTAGE STYLING SERVICES for my clients.  I am taking bookings for 2012 and have some availability for late fall 2011.  

So many of you have told me that you adore the vintage look but sometimes you feel unsure of how to pull it together.  Colours?  Textures?  How does it all fit together?  Will it work with your venue?  What parts are DIY and what takes too much time?

If you are one of these people, take a look at the services and my gallery of work.  I will be adding new projects as often as possible.

Looking forward to hearing from all my inspired vintage friends who want the look but don't want the stress of pulling it together themselves.

Thanks to Catherine at The Wedding Co. for the lovely post of an inspiration shoot I worked on in early June.   We had so much fun in pretty little Bayfield.

I will be posting more pics from the shoot soon.  Here are a couple of my favourites.