I’m a little obsessed with photography. I can’t really talk tech with you, but I learned on film and while I love my digital camera, I’m too used to the squeaky clean digital look and instant results. When I see posts & pictures with lots of texture or a pretty vintage frame I go weak in the knees.

I got my Diana a little while ago and I still have to post my first pictures here, but I’ve recently become fixated with the idea of getting an instant photo back for it. And I want to an old fashioned SLR to play with when I’m in the mood!

I tell you, when I become independently wealthy, it’s on. For now I’ll just treat myself to Starbucks and dream… :)

Diana F+ – $99 CAD*

Lomo Smena Symbol – $99 CAD

Lomo Lubitel 166+ – $365 CAD

Fuji Instax Mini 7S – $104 CAD

*I got locked in the Canadian side of the shop & it wouldn’t let me out! These will probably be cheaper for  you :)

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I’ve been prepping for a mini-sangria feature next week, and with  friends in from out of town I’ve had the perfect excuse to get elaborate in the drink department – but while I’ve been perfecting my recipes I came to a surprising realization… I don’t own a real old fashioned pitcher!

So when Mister suggested we pick up the sangria ingredients for more test recipes, I may have diverted us to browse an antique mall on the way to the buy wine & fruit. I haven’t found my perfect pitcher yet, but all I can say is that I don’t want to live in a world where a perfect pitcher isn’t part of a good drink recipe, I can tell you that much. :)

My ideal pitcher is a heavy glass affair that shows off your mixing abilities – and I would be happy to have any of these in my kitchen.

blue swirl depression glass pitcher from KP Dreams – $22.50

1950’s pink blendo pitcher from Zelle’s Attic – $55

beaded glass pitcher from vintage interiors – $20

turquoise faux bamboo pitcher set from Red Lips Vintage- $36

What’s a must when you have friends over?

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This week the Queen is visiting Canada, and I’m not sure if it was watching too much Babar as a child or reading too much about the royal tour after the blitz, but I have a soft spot for the Royal Family. I’m fascinated by our ties to England and the rest of the commonwealth, and by how such an old fashioned and wildly elitest system meshes with our modern world in the form of this grandmotherly figure who visits us once and a while.

Any time the Royal Family visits there’s much talk in the media about how the monarchy is irrelevant, and lots of interviews with people on the street rolling their eyes about it, and my response is always the same:

“… why aren’t we talking about her fabulous hats??”

So in honour of HRH, here are some hats that are fit for a queen ;)

purple felt hat from Retro Repro Handmade – $69

1950’s cream fascinator from Adrian Company Vintage – $34

vintage 1950’s velvet cap from Thrush – $54

royal blue pillbox hat from Red Lips Vintage- $16

If I could go on a picnic today I would put on pretty vintage hat and pack bring a wicker case of crackers, cheeses, and some compote for good measure. I would put some lemonade in a thermos and bring my favourite vintage teacups (from my friend Bridget, who sent me a set for my birthday! /swoon) just to be a little fancy.

I’d grab a good book in case I didn’t bump into anyone to befriend, and I would decidedly not do any paperwork at all.

Sometimes I wish I could moonlight in the 1930’s & 1940’s, if only for an afternoon.

(It’s the no paperwork thing)

Vintage 1930’s hat from Dear Golden – $44

Vintage Nancy Drew Novel from Joy Elizabeth – $18

Vintage Wicker Case from Hindsvik – $29

Vintage Pyrex cups from Vintage by Alex Keller – $2.99 ea.

While I’ll never be a truly prolific scrapbooker, I really love making journals with pieces of my life tucked into their pages. My only road block is that where I live there isn’t a lot of competition between supply stores, so the prices on buying embellishments and paper and supplies are kind of high. It’s ended up being great because it’s pushed me to stop using fancy paper, and to start using what I have around the house and what I can re-purpose. And (lets be real) it gives me an excuse to go crazy at Archivers when I’m in the US.

But sometimes I want pretty things. Things that just start out pretty. In my life, that’s where JBS Mercantile comes in. They offer beautiful supplies, honest to goodness vintage products, and mail order clubs where a paper craft, display, or jewelery project kit comes to your door every month!

Had I signed up earlier in the winter than I did, I might have never gone stir crazy and threatened to sell the house! Imagine! ;)

{ Visit JBS Mercantile here }

I love the idea of journaling, I just don’t like the obligation of it. When truly big, giant things are going on writing about it is exhausting, and when little day to day things are the norm, they usually don’t feel big enough to record. Never mind the whole “buying a really nice notebook and then being too intimidated by how pretty it is to actually write in it” thing that I sometimes do. (I’m not the only one who has done that, am I?). Keel’s Simple Diary is the perfect solution – short, sweet, inquisitive, and doesn’t demand endless prose or flowery handwriting to look and feel good.

My work schedule has been beyond crazy the past few weeks and as a result I’ve been trying to build more little rituals into our days that set aside time for Mister and I to connect. I would love to come home, grab some snacks and use this as a post-work touchstone. It seems like it would start some great unexpected conversations, or like flopping down after work with this would be a really fun way of changing gears for the night.

{ flip through a Keel’s Simple Diary here }

ps – Just a reminder that my reviews and my content are all my own. You know me, I’m stubborn. I’d kind of rather be a Walmart greeter than do paid posts =)

]]> http://www.kylaroma.com/2010/04/fridays-finds-keels/feed/ 44 http://www.kylaroma.com/2010/04/friday-finds-hedgehog-friends/ http://www.kylaroma.com/2010/04/friday-finds-hedgehog-friends/#comments Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:00:02 +0000 Kyla Roma http://www.kylaroma.com/?p=3359

1. Hedgehog Friend Print by ABlackApple – $16
2. Hedgehog Magnets by isabellesumbrella– $4.50
3. Letterpress Coaster set by luckybeepress – $12
4. Hugo The Hedgehog stamp by corabelle – $6

I’m not sure if it’s the spring or being raised on Beatrice Potter and The Wind In The Willows but right now it’s all I can do to keep myself from going out and finding a hedgehog to call my own.

If I had a hedgehog, he would be British and his name would be Colin. He would look quite handsome in a sweater vest and he would speak very well about art and life.  I’m sure he would impress my grandparents at Easter dinner, and I would learn to crochet just so he could have a really outstanding collar and leash.

Mister doesn’t think it’s a good idea, but I think he’s jealous he didn’t think of it first.

1. Old Book Masking Tape by PrettyTape – $15.50
2. Dark Colours A by studiokoizumi – $16
3. Weekdays three roll set by downtownfabrics – $10
4. Teal Grid Set by happytape – $22
5. Light Set of Five by washimatta- $16.25

Over the past year I’ve been swapping a lot of mail with and one of the things that has bothered me is feeling like everything I send out just isn’t that pretty. I’d heard murmurs about Japanese masking tape on twitter, and being a scrapbooker I was intrigued but had a hard time tracking down any that wasn’t on english language websites…and then I tried etsy.

I know this is a little discovery but I got an order in from happy tape this week, and it makes me ridiculously happy. I had to share! I’m slowly working on my getting my craft skillz up to where I want them and this is the perfect motivation. I can’t wait to send out another round of cards…

I’m sure we’re all nearly Valentined out, so this weekend I have a project for you that’s about love but that doesn’t involve roses or expensive food. It’s even free.

If you own animals, show them you love them by getting an “In Case Of Emergency” sticker for your house or apartment. In case something goes wrong these allow your hunky neighbourhood firemen to know a little more about the situation they are walking into, including how many animals will be inside your home, and what their names are so they can call for them.

They’re available at your local humane society or in the US and Canada you can click below to have the ASPCA send one to you at no cost.

{ Click here to order }

1. Mustard girl illustration by laurageorge – $20

2. Typewriter broach by crafty folk – $16

3. Tweed Fox by sleepyking – $22

4. Felt Illinois by lovecaliforna – $38

5. Messenger bag by bayanhippo- $35