Vintage Inspired: Wrapping Paper

While wrapping presents this year, I chose to use brown paper and white string, as it is natural, classic, and reminds me of the Sound of Music ("brown paper packages, tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things"). I also found a bag full of vintage "to and from" tags at the local thrift that were oh so cute. Some even had velvet! I have some vintage wrapping paper saved up as well, mostly in children's birthday themes, but I thought I would share some beautiful images of vintage holiday wrapping paper to get everyone in the mood for a last minute wrapping frenzy.
-Twill

Tree Hats

Jolly Boys and Girls

Oh St, Nick, You're So Dreamy (I love the non-traditional colors)

Peace on Earth

This Old House: O Thrifted Christmas Tree

"O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour."

 Since I just moved to Portland this fall and I left my Christmas decoration tote in my parents' shed, I decided to go another route. A thrifted Christmas tree! I was amazed by how many handmade and vintage ornaments made it to the thrift store shelves this year. I even found a never-opened vintage set of white twinkle lights that still work. I purchased a little potted fir tree, then went to town decorating it with my thrifted collection of birds, balls, crocheted snowflakes, pinecones with ribbon, and lights. I found three gift boxes made out of vintage wrapping paper as well, I think I am going to try to whip out my origami skills and figure out how to make some of these. Such a cute gift wrapping option! I think it turned out quite lovely and adds a touch of holiday spirit to this old house.
-Twill

Colors That Compliment

I am really loving robin egg blue and gold this year for holiday colors. It is so perfectly classic without being traditional. I found all these antique bulbs at an estate sale, and fell in love. I didn't realize how much of these colors I already had in my apartment until I started taking pictures of them. What colors are creeping up in your place?
- Ladybird

Recipe + Vintage Apron: Pumpkin Pie French Toast

This recipe was a creation sparked by holiday leftovers and was seriously some of the best french toast I have had in my life. Even better, when a man cooks you breakfast.

 You will need:
1/2 cup uncooked pumpkin pie filling (ours was homemade with fresh roasted pumpkin, but I bet this would still be good with store-bought, you may just have to add more milk)
3 eggs
1 loaf cinnamon challah bread (This bread is SO GOOD and pretty easy to find if you look)
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
Butter for the pan and topping (if desired)
Cinnamon sugar
Maple syrup

1. Place the ingredients through vanilla in a pie tin or shallow dish and whip with a fork until smooth.
2. Slice bread thickly and dredge both sides in pie/egg mixture
3. Heat pan or skillet, melt butter on surface, place bread on pan
4. Flip when golden and toasty, cooking both sides evenly
5. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar while hot and serve with extra butter and maple syrup

-Twill

Aprons from Etsy

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am going to bed early tonight and getting up in the wee hours of the morning to hop the train to the airport. Alex and I are spending Thanksgiving with his family in San Francisco this year. It is a new experience for me, being away from Minnesota or at least my Minnesota family for the holidays, but I love San Francisco and his family really treats me like one of their own. I hope to help cook, eat, drink wine and pumpkin beer, give so many hugs, and get caught up on what everyone has been up to. We are also going on one of Mr. Toad's vintage touring cars. It should be a blast and I will return on Monday with some great Bay Area photos and stories. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Also, I love this 1962 children's travel book, This is San Francisco by Czech author-illustrator Miroslav Sasek. I came across the reissue on a recent trip to Anthropologie and the illustrations are outstanding. The author has written these children's travel guides for places all over the world, they would make a good gift for the traveler in your life.

 -Twill