Vintage Tips, Tutorials and Links Round-Up

Men photographed in traditional pin-up poses. Hilarious, but it also makes you realise how concerning it is that this kind of cutesy pose became so identified with womens’ sexuality.

I hope you have all had great weeks and are looking forward to the weekend. Mr D’s folks are down visiting from Scotland so we’ll be eating and drinking and catching up, but I am also hoping to get any last minute changes made to the new website since IT IS GOING LIVE ON MONDAY! I am really excited and can’t wait for you all to see it.

We have another bumper crop of articles and photographs for you all here. I have started following a few wedding blogs since I have several friends getting married next year and am really excited for them – so you’ll probably see a few wedding dresses creeping in to the round-ups from now on. Have a have wonderful weekend all!

Attention knitters! There has been an oil spill in New Zealand and the little blue penguins which have been caught in it need woollen jumpers. You can find the penguin sweater pattern and where to send them at Skeinz.

There is a new TV program being made here in the UK about shopaholics who can’t help hoarding their purchases. If you fit the bill and want to see your mug on telly, email hoarders@betty.co.uk

Tutorial for a 40s style double hair roll.

Ideas for halloween costumes and homemade halloween decorations.

Tutorial for Frankenstein nails, complete with stitches.

32 witty comebacks from history.

How to declutter by letting go of your fantasy self.

New research busts myths about the gender gap in the workplace.

Tutorial for everyday 40s style make-up.

Retro Renovation’s top stories about renovating a vintage home.

Mini travel guide to South Africa.

Who reads more books, e-readers or paper-based readers?

Photographs of the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Photo line-ups of fans at music concerts (The Rod Stewart line-up in particular made me laugh).

Tips on creating a 1940s bustline.

New medical research demonstrates risks in taking vitaman supplements in pill form. Better stick to fruit and veg.

Where to find rockabilly fashions in the UK.

Book review of Maus by Art Speigelman.

Which foods are in season in October (northern and southern hemispheres).

Traditional breakfasts from around the world.

An amazing tree house home.

How to refashion an 80s curled brim felt hat into a 20s style cloche.

Interview with Anne Taintor about her new retro cocktail book.

Make a tealight holder and succulent planter… from an old brick.

How to host a 1920s party.

A history of blue jeans.

How to make pretty twiggy drawing pins and coat hooks.

Along the same lines, you can also make thumb tacks from acorn tops.

A short history of board games.

How to transfer photos onto fabric.

Profile of 30s and 40s designer Valentina.

How to rotate your closet for a new season.

The use of radium in beauty products of the 30s.

A DIY on preserving autumn leaves in melted wax. Wonderful for halloween decorations.

Do we have double standards in romance?

Recipe for toffee vodka. Om nom nom.

Make your own origami bats.

Taking in a too-large vintage dress.

How to reupholster a bergere chair.

DIY floral elbow patches.

Top idea – make a lace tunic top out of an old tablecloth.

Do you wear big knickers?

DIY an old suitcase with a fabric panel.

A wonderful bedroom storage make-over. I particularly love the boxes marked with famous women’s names for the type of clothing inside (ie ‘Rosie’ holds old clothes for dirty work).

Wendy B comments on Kanye West being Kanye West. (ie, a moron).

Lady Gaga duets with Tony Bennett. Amazing!

Hand stamped cat tights. I love these, but am still too lazy to make them myself. Maybe.

Top idea – chart your kids growing up by a once a month photo in the same spot.

Pictures of John Lennon’s Surrey house.

Recipe for black beans, corn chips, and loadsa other lovely stuff.

Why the sudden use of the word ‘fempreneur’. Aren’t we just entrepeneurs?

An amazing re-fashion of a 60s velvet maxi dress into a 30s style.

Tutorial for a 1940s Veronica Lake waved hairstyle.

Book review of The West End Front: Wartime Secrets of London’s Grand Hotels. I really want to read this.

Three women activists win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tutorial for an 18th century curled up-do hairstyle.