Blog Name Change

Hi everyone. Just quick post. I wanted to let you all know that I've decided to make a slight name change to my blog. The title of my blog going forward will be "Emily's Vintage Visions."

There are a couple reasons for making this change. First, I've been blogging for a little over a year now and in that time I've given a lot of thought to expanding my sewing and vintage collecting. There are still some details to work out but I'm in the process of opening a shop on Etsy were I hope to offer some of my vintage creations as well as original vintage treasures. Sadly, in exploring the how tos of setting up a shop on Etsy, I found the name "My Vintage Visions" was already taken. :(

Second, I've found that there are a number sites on the web using one variation or another of "my vintage vision(s)" or "my vintage this or that." A few bloggers have even linked back to me simply using the name "Vintage Visions." It was only after I started blogging as My Vintage Visions that I realized the confusion.

By changing the name of my blog, as well as the name I use for my Facebook and Pinterest pages, I'm hoping to get set up for future plans, make my online experience a little more personal. and avoid future name confusions. Thanks!

Great Hair Fridays - May 1943

For today's Great Hair Fridays post, a May 1943 issue of the Modern Beauty Shop.

This issue features some lovely styles for short hair, leg make-up, and some unusual hairpiece hats. Enjoy!

Modern Beauty Shop - May 1943 Source

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Happy V-E Day!

Happy Victory in Europe Day! Today marks the end of the fighting in Europe during the Second World War. V-E Day marks the Allies' formal accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. After Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945 during the Battle of Berlin, the surrender of Germany was authorized by his successor, President of Germany Karl Dönitz.

The fighting continued for another three months in the Pacific. On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo Bay, Japan, aboard the battleship USS Missouri, finally bringing the war to an end.

VE Day memories 65 years on: 'Electricity in the air' - Source

8th May 1945: Crowds celebrating VE day on the streets of London. The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, officially announced the end of the war with Germany in a message broadcast to the nation from the Cabinet room at Number 10, he said the ceasefire had been signed at 0241 the previous day at the American advance headquarters in Rheims.
Original Publication: Picture Post - 1991 - This Was VE Day In London - pub. 1945
Photo by Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images - Source

Smiling for the camera: VE Day is remembered for the celebrations – not grumbles about the lack of church bells  

Photo: GETTY

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US MP's reading about German surrender in Stars and Stripes - Source

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At Piccadilly Circus in London, an American soldier gives a hug to a motherly looking English woman celebrating Germany's unconditional surrender - Source

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New Patterns! - Which One to Sew First?

Hello everyone! I have some new vintage sewing patterns to add to my stash. I'm so excited about these but I can't decide which one to make up first. I need some help. My birthday is at the end of the month and I really want to make something special to celebrate. Which pattern does everyone like best? Suggestions for color, trim, etc. would be great! I will try and take some photos tonight of the fabrics in my stash and post those too.

Cori and I are thinking about having a set of engagement photos done with us in 1940s fashions so I will most likely use which ever dress I make for the photo shoot as well. There is a family friend with a collection of classic cars. We're hoping we can twist his arm into letting us for one for the photos. Fingers crossed!

Advance 4199 - I can see made out of a fun colored print.

Vogue pattern 5403- Yeah, finally a pattern with a side drape! I've been looking for one of these for a while now.

Vogue Special Design pattern 4503- Great waist detail on this pattern. I can see this made in a solid color with some kind of trim or maybe a large rhinestone pin on the bodice.

Hollywood pattern 1413- I have a black fabric with a little red and green floral print that would work great for the dress Hollywood pattern. I really like the detail on the bodice as well as the side drape.

Great Hair Fridays - Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione

Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione, also know as La Castiglione, was an Italian aristocrat who for a short time was a mistress of Emperor Napoleon III of France. The Countess was also a significant figure in the early history of photography and today, a perfect candidate for Great Hair Fridays.

From a fascinating article at the MET -

Fascinated by her own beauty, the countess would attempt to capture all its facets and re-create for the camera the defining moments of her life. Far from being merely a passive subject, it was she who decided the expressive content of the images and assumed the art director's role, even to the point of choosing the camera angle. She also gave precise directions on the enlargement and repainting of her images in order to transform the simple photographic documents into imaginary visions—taking up the paintbrush herself at times. Her painted photographs are among the most beautiful examples of the genre.

 There is a lot going on in this photo! Her hair, her gown with all that trim, the fan ... wow!

 

Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione posing as “Elvira,” circa 1861-1867

 This one almost looks modern. With her wild looking hair she would fit right in with some of today's runway models.

Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione

The Countess posed for a series of pictures in her elaborate costumes. You can view some of those pictures here.