Summer of Vintage

Today Alex and I went to Uttoxeter for a 1940s weekend at the racecourse. This was my first experience of an event rather than just an antique centre, so you can imagine that I was pretty excited. Getting there was very straight forward thanks to the never ending skills of my partner in crime (AkA Alex), and we arrived just as it was opening its doors. 

It was lovely to be surrounded by people dressed in period clothes, although most of the ladies had opted for 50s dresses. Several men were also dressed in dapper suits and trilbys, but none were as dapper as Alex.

There were a couple of vintage cars on display as well as some old double decker busses. Also a beautiful airstream caravan converted inside to sell hot food and drinks.

Here you could sit and watch several retro acts perform and take jive lessons from a very enthusiastic teacher. The music and the passion from fellow enthusiasts meant it was a great atmosphere.

There were also lots of stalls from vintage traders selling clothes, accessories, homeware and knick knacks. Most of the traders had very reasonable prices, even compared to the bargains I usually source out in antique centres.

This one was by far the prettiest stand. I wanted everything, including the caravan but the owner seemed quite attached to it.

I bought several things, but I shall save them for my next post.

You could also have your hair done professionally by stylists who were a dab hand at the old victory roll, and everyone seemed to be having a great time including us.

Me and Alex were a bit pooped after trawling round the stalls, ( I made her go round twice in case I'd missed something ), so we had a sit with a piece of homemade plum cake and lemonade and listened to the bands playing and soaked up the atmosphere.

This is me doing my "prim and proper" pose (yes I am a lady!) while we enjoyed our drinks.

We will definitely do another event, it would be nice to go to one that was at a railway station or small village, just so that you could really imagine your were walking back in time, but for a first experience it didn't disappoint. Also one day, I would love to sing at these events too but we shall see about that goal.

                      Till next time dears xx

Overcast Skies

The weather recently has not been what it should be for this time of year, and my plans for wearing bright 30s outfits while sipping lemonade in my garden have been put on hold. I'm hoping that we will get some kind of summer at some point but, until we do, there is no need to let the weather dampen our spirits. 

I have been enjoying the wonderful moody colours of the clouds and the humidity and smell of the air and grass after rain. It was also an excuse to wear some knits in cosy colours and make some wholesome comfort food. You will know from my last post that I am trying to eat like they did in the 40s and 50s and so far it's going well. I have a decent breakfast of usually eggs and a simple lunch, then I make a good hearty dinner of pasta or stew or meat and veg. 

Last night however, I used my new cookbook and made a beef and vegetable pie. 

This pie is very hearty, filled with beef, potato, carrots, mushrooms and onion, and it is just what a person needs when the weather means you are cooped up inside watching "Poirot", no bad thing of course. 

This is me enjoying the excuse to go full on 40s.

This brooch is a reproduction of a novelty brooch, the kind that were popular in the late 40s-50s and was a very thoughtful gift to me. 

What you can't see here, is that my tights are the same colour as my sweater and looked very effective.

Once again I rolled my hair at the front and added a flower, it really is a simple but pretty hairstyle.

On Saturday, Alex and I are going to Staffordshirre to 1940s weekend, we are only going for the day but I hope to have lots of photos to show you. I can't wait!

                         Till next time dears xx

Book Review

Recently I recieved a package of books in the post. They were sent by my lovely parents and I thought it would make a good post by doing a review of them. 

I grew up in house with lots of brothers and sisters and now I am a mother myself, I realise just how difficult it must have been for my parents. My childhood wasn't without its problems but whose was? I have my parents to thank for an awful lot of things that shape who I am today. With loads of kids, money was tight but my mum and dad still planned days out that were fun but gave us some culture too. They would also drag us out in all weathers for picnics, walks in the country and blackberry picking. Some of my favourite memories are on damp drizzly days, holding a margarine tub for my blackberries and wetting myself at some member of the family who had just fallen in a ditch and got stung by nettles because they were determined to reach the big blackberries at the top of the bush.

The best thing my parents gave me, however, was a love of books. The tv wasn't allowed on before tea, so weekends were spent listening to the local radio and reading. This left me with a vivid imagination, an extensive knowledge of songs from the fifties onwards and a deep love of books. Books that ranged from crime fiction, to factual books and biographies, to the gentle humour of Thelwelll and the Scottish "Broons".

The books they gave me this time are factual and all about the fifties, perfect! So here is my review;

First however, I have noticed on other blogs that reviews of products come with disclaimers. Just another sad reminder of the "Sue everyone and everything" culture we live in, so here is mine: all views expressed in this blog are entirely my own and are not influenced by anyone living or dead, especially the authors of the books, their families, dogs, cats and goldfish. There, that should cover it.

As you can see I have quite a stash. Firstly a word on the cover design. They are well thought out and have the charm and feel of the decade they are specialising on, and I ask you, what vintage nut would not want to read and display these beauties?

This book is just lovely, it's cover reminds me of the fabric designs that were so popular at the time. The book itself covers all aspects of the home, from the buildings themselves to smallest details inside. I especially loved the section on space, that showed the fantastic space saving ways of arranging the home. As with all the books, there are photographs and illustrations galore. They even cover prefabs, because a lot of people were still living in them, but this didn't mean you couldn't be up to date on your fabrics and soft furnishings and some beautiful original advertisements are reprinted to show just how much emphasis was put on dragging your home out of the war years and filling it with bright bold colours and design.

These two books focus on the interior of the home. The modern design one is very interesting, it talks about the new cutting edge designs that were more streamlined and less fussy than the previous decade. Again there are lovely pictures of the bold novelty print fabrics along with ideas of paint colours to give your home a more modern look even if the furniture is out of your budget. G plan features a lot and its influence even creeps into the bedroom. These pieces of furniture were meant to be more affordable as well as adaptable to any home. The bit I found most interesting though was reading about how us Brits didn't take to the new modern designs quite as quickly as the Americans. The uncertainty of the war years meant were slightly more suspicious of the new looks and clung on to our clutter and knick knacks for just a bit longer. 

The kitchen book is a gem and focuses on the new labour saving devices that were springing up, with adverts making us wonder how on earth we managed without them for so long. Each advert comes with its own immaculately groomed, white toothed housewife gazing adoringly at the new gadget her adoring and gallant husband has just purchased for her. How times have changed, if a wife was presented with a new blender today, her husband will most probably find divorce papers stapled to his head rather than a kiss planted there! I, however want every item advertised in these books, the design is gorgeous, even the food mixer is truly beautiful to look at and I would be grinning from ear to ear too while I made a cake mix in one.

Which brings me on to this gem. I have been determined for a while to eat more like people did in the forties and fifties, I figure that not as many people were overweight back then and I'm curious to see if I can lose weight by eating more basic and wholesome foods. As a child I was ridiculously fussy ( I can imagine my parents nodding vigorously) but have made up for it in later life by being a bit of a dustbin. This book is crammed with every sort of food you could imagine. There are sauces, side dishes, desserts, soups and main meals. It covers fine dining and has recipes for the best basics such as steak pie to the ridiculously showy shrimp and eggs in aspic, ( not to sure I will be trying that one) there are so many that I will easily be able to have a varied diet based on this one book alone. I will let you know how I get on with it. 

All in all, these books are wonderful and as well as giving me knowledge, they will also give me ideas as I recreate a home and lifestyle from the past. So an enormous thank you to my rather wonderful parents, I can bore you even more now on all things vintage!

                Till next time dears xx

Goodies Galore

I know I said last time that I would show you my finds from Chesterfield, but I have got a few more bits since then so I'm going to lump them altogether now. 

Let's start with my fabulous Hoover;

After much searching we discovered this model was manufactured in the 1920s, it has a cast metal base and wooden handle. It was advertised as a vacuum cleaner that needed no electricity, it works on a dynamo that powers the motor when you push the machine. It claimed to have great suction with no need for the cable, (sound familiar?) and would make cleaning a doddle. I would say it is in between a carpet sweeper and a modern cleaner and I find it very useful for clearing up my kids crumbs each time they eat, without having to drag out my modern vacuum cleaner.

This a beauty, it's a full unopened box of powder complete with pristine puff, it's smells gorgeous and you are immediately taken back to the 50s when you smell it. 

These are a job lot of vintage packaging, they are so lovely and really add to the authenticity of a vintage home. I got lovely matchboxes too.

I also got yet more vintage earrings, and buttons that will be used on sewing projects. These things are so cheap and it can really make an outfit in my opinion. We found a beautiful dress from the 80s that had shape and styling from the 30s as its influence, so Alex is going to alter and add to it slightly to make it totally 30s. Il make sure i document this so you can see its transformation. She has also altered a top for me in a 30s style and I shall post that too, it's stunning and I got no end of complements while wearing it.

Lovely vintage handkerchiefs.

Yes, another vintage handbag, ( I am a girl you know!).

I like to have vintage books and magazines around my home, they give it a lived in feel and stop it looking like a museum, plus they are a fab source of information.

Just a little look at a vintage outfit, I know mother, I must stop pouting but it's either that or my natural sulky look or a smile that makes me resemble Plug from the bash street kids!

Just a quick word about prices, we go hunting for tat so often that we come across the same things quite often. The prices can vary spectacularly, so keep hunting, as I know it's possible to get things much cheaper if you scout long enough and it's great fun if you love your vintage collectables.

                        Till next time dears xx

Hemswell Happiness part 2

Well here we are, I promised you another post about our second trip to Hemswell and this is it. We went on another gloriously warm day, this makes the trip, which is mainly on country roads, very pleasant. This time we went straight to the warehouses we hadn't done or only had a quick look round last time. On our last visit it looked like there was a lot of lovely stuff to look at and we weren't disappointed. There were rooms full of stuff on two floors including a room full of vintage clothes and shoes and hats that Alex had to drag me out of,here are a few of my finds;

I have a bit of a thing for dress gloves and have quite a collection. These are a lovely turquoise colour and they flare ever so slightly at the wrist, giving them a semi gauntlet look, just right for a more 1930s outfit.

Yes this is a picture of my kitchen window but focus on the curtains, I've been after a pair of golden vintage curtains to add the finishing touch to my kitchen for months now, and these were found by Alex. Goodness knows how old they are but it was one curtain that Alex split in two and hemmed for me, the fabric is very delicate so she did a great job on them, I love them.

This is a lovely old example of photo frames that were very popular from the 20s to the 40s, this is also something I have desired for some time, but they can be quite expensive for what they are, but as this one was £2.50, I nabbed it pretty sharpish!

I also got two pairs of 40s clip on earrings, one in China blue and one in deep red, they are gorgeous and I shall do an earring post in the future, they were £1 for both pairs, marvellous!

As I said it was pretty hot, here is what I wore;

I love this outfit, it's so so comfortable.

Now today Alex and I had a quick look in an antiques centre in Chesterfield, it was only a quick visit as we were there running errands but boy, am I glad we went in. My next post will feature the treasures found there but, I will give you a sneak peek at a true treasure that I have desired for a heck of a long time.   TA DA!!!

 

O yes my lovelies, (that means you mum), you are looking at a vintage vacuum cleaner! I can't wait to tell you about it but make no mistake, this is MINE, ALL MINE! 

                         Till next time dears xx

Practical Miss

Some days my need to be practical and comfortable is equal to my need to be vintage and while vintage style clothes tend to be more structured than modern ones, it doesn't mean you can't have both. I am busy most days as every mother is, I clean my home from top to bottom four times a week and there is always something needing to be done somewhere, but Mondays are especially busy. As well as cleaning, the bedding is also changed and I do my weekly shop, so I do like to be dressed in clothes that look the part but also don't get in the way and allow freedom of movement. 

I usually wear trousers but skirts aren't completely ruled out, I just like them to be made of a more heavy weight fabric and a decent length that means I'm not flashing my smalls at all and sundry when I bend down to inspect the apples in my local store. On my top half I usually find a simple top the best, especially when teamed with a cardigan. That way I can shed a layer if necessary then add it back on five minutes later when the weather has changed again! ( this is Britain after all ). Below is the outfit chosen for today's usual roundup of chores.

I think the outfit has a lovely forties feel to it with the darker more muted colours, note the sensible comfortable brogues, essential when you live in a place that wherever you go you seem to be climbing a hill. The outfit deserves some close ups to show the details, it's all in the details!

The simple top has been slightly customised by adding some vintage buttons along the neckline and the vintage Coalport brooch is one of several yellow accesories, yellow and blue are just heavenly, I think.

My bag is just too too cute! It's vintage straw but the flower has been added later I think but it certainly doesn't spoil it.

I like to keep my hair out of my face when I'm busy and this style is just perfect. I put the front into a quick victory roll, then I put the rest in a hairnet secured by a couple of Bobby Pins and add a flower that matches my earrings. Very simple but very effective and there we have it, one vintage yet practical outfit. I apologise for the picture below, I was giving an instruction to my photographer (AKA Alex), and the result is my cake hole looks like the yawning chasm it is, o well.

Next time I shall be showing some treasures from my second trip to Hemswell (which is in Lincolnshire, not Leicestershire as I said last time!) and I have some great stuff to show off. 

                                   Till next time dears xx

Vintage Specs

Since a teenager I have suffered with severe migraines, and I do mean severe. They would render me useless as all I could do was lie in a darkened room and wait for it to pass and I would be washed out for two days straight once it had gone. The reason for this is my rather pathetic eyes, they hate everything about the world and have a nervous breakdown when confronted with any chane in temperature or light. Not great when they need to be used all the time I am conscious. 

Since I now have a magic pill that stops a migraine dead as long as I take it quick enough, I do not fear an attack as much as I used to but my eyes still insist on behaving badly. They will stream in an alarming fashion at any time they like. I have tried not wearing eye makeup but still they open the floodgates the second a mere breath of wind even threatens to come near them. It is for this reason that I wear sunglasses no matter what the weather, come rainy rain, come shines shine, come snowy snow, come cloudy cloud, come........(I could go on but I'm sure you get the point). While this ensures I look like a total moron in any season except summer, it does mean I get to sport my rather lovely vintage sunnies. 

I have three pairs at the mo; 

A rather lovely 40s pair in blue,

A totally gorgeous 40s pair that were gifted to me and are a darling pale green,

And a late 30s pair in a dashing deep tortoiseshell. 

I find that most outfits will suit at least one pair, so I always look as put together as I can.

All lovely then, I hear you say, well yes it was until recently.

Screens have always played a part in modern society but now especially, there appears to be a screen for every occasion, no matter what you are doing. As a newbie to technology of any kind (my tv remote still baffles me) I wasn't sure what to expect when I looked at anything smaller than my tv. I was pretty sure, however, that I wasn't supposed to be seeing two of everything. So off I popped to my opticians where I was told that I needed glasses to help me see close up. 

This is not normally a problem as you pick some frames get them made and hey presto the world has sharp edges again, but it can be a problem for a mega fussy vintage nut such as yours truly.

I scanned the racks in search of a pair of frames that would enhance my vintage attire rather than ruin it. I didn't have a wide range to choose from, in fact out of goodness knows how many frames, most of which were roughly the same as each other, there was a grand total of two that harked back to bygone times. 

I selected my pair and informed the optician of my choice in eyewear. The lady looked at my selection, and informed me in a manner usually used to address muppets, that I had picked a "very old lady" style and wouldn't I prefer a more modern pair. I smiled my best smile and directed her to my " very old lady" style of dress, which had clearly escaped her notice before now (so much for working in an opticians). This seemed to satisfy her, and arrangements were made for me to collect my specs, presumably I would be returning with a Zimmer frame to do this. So here is the offending pair;

As you can see I have gone the whole hog and added a pearl lariat just to ram home how my choice of frame clearly means I am one step away from the nursing home. (Rant over!) anyhoo I am very pleased with them and it means I can blog without seeing double. But seriously, opticians of the world, have more frames for those of us who don't follow modern trends, we want to look stylish in our own way too.

              Till next time dears xx