5.26.2009

I should live in a castle in the 30s.


Today I was thinking about one of my favorite books I Capture the Castle. I haven't read it in years, but remember one carefree, sunny, school day when I used study time to lay on the library floor and read it a second time. I really wish I made more time to read, there are so may books I want to get lost in.
What brought the book to my mind was my dress and the kind of breezy afternoon it was today, just like years ago. The story is about a 17 year old girl in 1930s England, who lives in an old castle, even though the family is poor. Ever since reading it I thought it would be just about the most romantic thing to live in an old castle and wear pretty 30s feedsack dresses all the time.

I've gotten some interest in how I've been decorating my blog lately, so let me explain:

Sam's mother, Lisa, is a professional photographer and will often give me photography tips etc. She also let me borrow a tripod, so taking pictures with that is way easier than setting up my camera on a stack of hatboxes. But the biggest difference since I've started Vixen Vintage has been using Photoshop. This month Lisa gave me a bunch of digital scrapbooking images, which is why I've gotten more creative with collages, it's so much fun! I'm still getting the hang of it, but she has been showing me some pretty cool stuff. So she is why my blog looks like a scrapbook found in an old attic ;)

Thanks Lisa!

I should start doing this again:

Dress: Handmade by me from a 1930s pattern.
Shoes: Etsy. The store is no longer in business :(
Bow: Monticello Antique Mall.

14 comments:

Rhiannon said...

Aww, this one is too good to be true! I need to read that book again . . . I read it years ago before I really got obsessed with the '30s so I bet I didn't appreciate it enough. Your outfit is so perfectly sweet, and your collages are too!

Josephine Frances said...

That is one of my favourite books! I really didn't like the movie very much though, I thought it kind of spoiled it. That outfit is so perfectly 'I capture the castle' though, its awesome!

Ms Vitriol said...

I LOVE 'I Capture the Castle'. I wonder if you have read Shirley Jackson's 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle'? Perhaps a more hermetic world than Dodie Smith's but it's thoroughly enjoyable. They remind me of one another and curiously enough they both have castle as the final word in their titles.

AlicePleasance said...

I've read - and loved - the book just last year after The Clothes Horse left a comment about it in my blog. I grew up in an ancient house (it was built around 1700) and with its more than 40 rooms and gardens it actually looked like a decadent castle...

Casey said...

I have never read that book, I am rather ashamed to say! (Having been quite a bookworm at one point in my life... *sigh* Ah, for the days when I could spend an entire afternoon wrapped up in a novel!) :p Must see about getting it out of the library... ;)

Your dress is so lovely--I'm coveting it so!

Lauren said...

Yea I really like the collages!!

Unknown said...

I have never read that book, though I've always wanted to - a trip to the library may be in order!

I love the collages - I never knew there were such things are digital scrapbooking images! I need to find myself some of those, badly!

You look gorgeous as ever :)

The Church of Vintage said...

Have you seen the movie version? It's actually one of my favorite movies, the costumes and sets are great and Bill Nighy is always awesome.

Darla: Retro Ways said...

Gorgeous photos and I love the scrapbooking look just darling. Gorgeous dress and I love that bow.

Solanah said...

I have yet to see the film, I actually keep meaning to order it on netflix.

kimvee said...

I love your style & your blog :) I have an etsy store too: omvintage.etsy.com

reilly said...

Ah me too! I'm sure the right pattern will come along. :] How did you learn to sew?

They are! I don't feel too guilty wearing them for normal, just-running-errands days.

Ha I'm not sure! And we live on opposite sides of the country!

Emily Clarke said...

I love your blog, and read it everyday! I just happen to be reading "I Capture the Castle" for the first time right now. Thanks for giving me a great visual for the book!

Meghan said...

Awww! I've never read the book or watched the film because I heard that it doesn't end on a happy note but hearing about how much you enjoy it, I think I will give it a chance!
I adore your shoes! Too bad the shop is closed -aaaa shucks. :0)