Look to the Past

I told you a while ago that Alex was working on a 1930s dress for me. Well it's finished and I must say, I love it! It's based on a true 1930s dress that we found a picture of on the Internet. Here is the process in full.

This is the start of the project, it was completed in Alex's home as she has more room there. First off we took a basic Jersey dress from the 80s that we found in a vintage shop. It was the perfect length and shape for my dream 30s dress. First, Alex took off the trims that adorned the neckline and sleeves, then she took the dress in by a good inch and a half, from underneath the arms down to the bottom. This gave the dress more shape and a lovely drape on the top half.

Next, she made a pattern for the new sleeve embellishments and the new neckline. These would alter the look of the dress even more.

We decided to use the curves and points that reflected the Art Deco influences of the period, with the sleeves echoing the neckline but not copying it exactly.

We had lots of red jersey left from my circle skirt and thought that it would contrast beautifully with the blue, we discussed white but decided this would look too sailor like. The red and the blue are classic colours of the era and work a treat. We kept the White for the extra touches we would add to the dress later.

Next, Alex added a pocket based on a 30s design.

Finally, she constructed a belt for me and threaded it through my gorgeous Bakelite buckle. A hook and eye were sewn on to keep the belt slipping through whilst being worn.

 

And here is the finished article, it all marries together so well I think but I know you want to see it on, so here we go...

These were taken today, I love the way the dress looks, it's exactly what I wanted and I'm so grateful to have someone who can make me these lovely things to wear. I think it looks very 1930s, so much so, I'm off to demand I'm an extra in Poirot.

                         Till next time dears xx

Variations on a Jumper

As it's now very much getting into autumn full swing, it's time to get out the sweaters and cardigans. Not that they were ever really put away this year, I certainly always felt it best to keep a cardi at hand most of the time, just in case. 

 It can be very nice to be able to feel all snuggled, but, I think that as the weather doesn't seem able to make its mind up, it's best to stick to layers and fine knits. I have several ( and by several, read tons ) of lovely soft jumpers and cardigans, and I thought it would be nice to show how they can be very versatile. 

 Now, like most people, my days vary, from being leisurely and pottering about to running around like a demented moron trying to cram far too much into far too little time. 

 The first look is very much geared to the latter. Those days when you just have to be practical and can't wear anything too fussy. 

I have taken inspiration from the late 40s, when women were wearing tailored trousers. These are are a good heavy cloth and have a great crease down the front. They are practical, comfortable and flattering. I put them with sensible brogues and my featured sweater. The sweater is a fine, soft knit. Warm enough without being too hot and bulky. I added a bakalite brooch from the 40s and pearl earrings. It gives a very classic look that is actually timeless. 

The second look is more dressy, for those days when you may be out and about but not necessarily running a billion errands. Note the one sleeve up one sleeve down look, I'm trying to start a trend and I didn't just forget to pull it down at all! Honestly! 

The brooch I chose this time is a pretty 40s number with pressed petals and is very autumn appropriate. I placed it at the top of the neckline in the centre, where I think it works very well.

The sweater was teamed with my blue 40s skirt and a gorgeous full petticoat underneath to give it shape and add some warmth. I also chose some lovely knitted tights and my cute 40s inspired dress shoes. 

Both looks were extremely comfortable to wear, especially now as I have lost a good inch or two from my waistline. 

 I have some great looks to show you all over the coming weeks, including a great full dress coat that is the perfect length for a true vintage winter look. I will also be showing off ( well, what else can I call it? ) some bargain jewellery finds and a couple of home knick knacks that I am lucky enough to now own. I spoil you all don't i?

                             Till next time dears xx

10 Facts About Me

As this blog may be read by more than my family, I thought I would share a few facts about myself so that others can know me a little better. O yes, and you thought that I would only bore you with vintage tat. Well this sort of post has served other bloggers well, so it can't hurt, can it? Here we go then;

I Love Anything to do with Fantasy.

When I was kid, I was forever daydreaming. I am proud to say I have a good imagination that I have spent many hours fuelling with books and films and poems and art. Things that draw my attention are things that have a lot of soul in them. They stir you and make you a part of them. This was never more so, when one day whilst poorly from school, I watched The Labyrith by chance. I was gripped from the word go, it was literally like seeing inside my own head. Such a beautiful visual film with great music. O, and the rather fabulous David Bowie may have something to do with it.

The Doctor is my Hero

Another thing very much loved from childhood. He would do anything to save you, has a time machine and can change his face every now and then... What's not to like! 

Favourite Song

O Children, by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It's just full of feeling and utterly beautiful. Be warned, it's not a happy song though, but very inspiring.

Pet Hate

One thing guaranteed to make me want to punch someone in the face, is when they pronounce "th's" as "v's". I mean, come on, how flipping hard can it be. It's not "vem" it's "them". Don't do it people, I will snap! 

Favourite Book

500 Mile Walkies. My mum and dad suggested I read this book one Saturday morning when I was whinging on at them about being bored. I am so so glad they did, it's so funny. I read it every year without fail around spring and summer, when I'm dying to be out in the country. I read their copy to death, then they bought me my own, which fell apart after several years of reading. Then Alex bought me a beautiful hard back copy that will hopefully take longer to fall to bits. A cracking read! 

Favourite Weather

Now I know I've been banging on about the sunshine and warmth recently, but that's just because I'm getting old. My actual favourite weather happens to be the sort we get the most of; warm damp and overcast. This is purely down to memories. My parents would ( for reasons unbeknown to me ) suggest going for walks in the country and down canal tow paths in this sort of weather, so when I'm presented with a day like that, I'm immediately transported back to those times. Togged up in bizarre jumble sale clothes, usually with a margarine tub in hand, traipsing down paths that lamas would think twice about going down, in search of blackberries or minnows if there was a pond or stream. They truly surpassed themselves though, when one day, after torrential rain, they turned up at my school gates with shopping bags full of a picnic tea. Now I forgive them as it was in the days before weather apps, but, we ended up in a park's cricket pavilion veranda, eating soggy sandwiches and watching the rain sheet down, while I cried my eyes out about being flooded ( I told you, vivid imagination ), and my dad gave me a duster that was in his pocket to wipe up my tears! 

I Adore My Parents

Now I know, everyone does, but it has to be said because I am so my parent's daughter. I would just not be who I am today were it not for them. They are bonkers, unique and would do anything for me. I know that I appreciate the world and life the way I do because of them, and that's not just sentimental talk, it's because I was always allowed to be me. They never stopped me singing away in my bedroom each night to Kate Bush songs, they would spend so much time with us kids each holiday, they didn't farm us out to other people, and that gave me a real sense of family. You can't put a price on things like that.

I Can Sing, Paint and Draw

I'm not being big headed here, there are many things I would like to do well but fail miserably at. I can, however, do the things mentioned above. I'm not a singer in the sense of a pop singer, thankfully, but rather in big band, musical sort of way. Basically, I can belt it out, I have a big vocal range and can, oddly enough, do very good impressions of quite a few singers ( men included ). My painting style is very much influenced by the Pre- Raphealites. Several people now have my paintings on their wall.

I Wish I Had Curly Hair 

I always have and always will, it would be so much easier, but no, I am lumbered with poker straight hair that just hangs there. Typical!

I Once Got My Head Stuck in a Chair....

This is one of a few embarrassing incidents I got myself into. They happened largely because I was being me. Now being me is great but, I don't seem to get on very well in the real world, I am more suited to the rose tinted world that occupies my head and sometimes the two clash. One such occasion was at primary school, when at the end of the day we had to put our chairs on the tables and stand behind them and say a quaint little prayer. Now, this particular day, I wasn't saying the prayer, I was wondering what it would be like to peer through the gap between the chair seat and the back rest.  Of course this had to be tried out, so I shoved my head through, only to discover that not only could I see exactly the same things as I could when I was just stood, but also, my head was not going to go back through. To cut a long story short, my friends went home holding their sides with laughter, while it took two teachers to take the chair apart so I could be freed. I have also pretended that two lines of freshly laid Tarmac were train tracks, that I promptly fell on and got tar stuck all over me, particularly my face. That resulted in the school nurse trying to get the rapidly hardening tar off my face using butter! Heaven knows why she thought that would be a good idea as the warm tar only melted the butter and ran all over me. What my mother thought that day when I came out of school I'll never know!

So there you have it, a little bit of an insight into me. I hope it allayed any notion that I might be normal, and has shown you that I'm happily a bit odd. Back to vintage tat next time.

                    Till next time dears xx

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Well, the title is actually completely untrue! It should be the most wonderful time but in actual fact it is "the most germ ridden time of the year". Yep Autumn, season of mist, mellow fruitfulness and the sound of sniffing and coughing. Every year without fail my whole household plays host to the blossoming germs as they use us as guinea pigs to see how much snot they can expect to produce in the average human. This is not a new thing, when I was growing up, I would have to endure an annual bout of tonsillitis and a delightful stomach bug that pounced each Christmas.

 This week, myself and my youngest son have been struck down with some disgusting minute critter that decided it's lodgings would last a full week and then some! So I haven't felt up to much in the way of antiquing and blogging. I have been stuck in pyjamas all week too and have been staring at beautiful clothes on the Internet and my period dramas with some longing. In fact, my period dramas have been the closest thing to vintage I've had all week. I have even (shock horror) gone off food! So all in all I've been pretty sorry for myself. Now, I'm not the best patient ( Alex is nodding madly here), I'm grumpy, I get bored and I want to feel well two minutes after getting ill, so you can imagine my joy when I started to return to the land of the living today. Alex suggested a small trip to get some material to finish my 1930s dress and I jumped at the chance to be outside for a little while. 

 Also, I purchased a food processor, this is because I'm a lazy sod and want home cooked food but at the mo, I haven't the energy to stand chopping and peeling stuff. I will use it to make soups and smoothies too. A friend of mine, a big beefy chap called Trev, had obviously thought I needed some feeding up too and gave me a lovely bag of veg he had grown himself.

Look at that lovely goodness, and this was just a selection! So armed with my new gadget, I will be making crispy potato slices, green beans and salad with homemade dressing and lamb for my tea. I'm not sure it gets much better than that. This next week will definitely be used to get some strength back and return to normal eating habits. Tomorrow, Alex and I will be doing a smidgen of antiquing, ( I will shrivel and die of withdrawal if I dont ) and then coming up with food ideas that will be simple to make.

Here is a photo of a very poorly Miss Pond. I'm the blob in the middle. 

Do not fret, I have not been overcome by some ghastly force (what do you mean you can't tell the difference! ) and just to prove it, here are a couple of photos of only a slightly germy moi.

No that's my stupid cat Bertie, not a germ, although......

I will keep you posted on my endeavours with my food processor, but can assure you all that no matter how much weight I lose, I will always resemble a page three girl in a certain department ( my ankles of course! ).

                             Till next time dears xx

Food, Figures and Forgotten Tat

I thought I would give u all a quick update on how eating like it was the 50s is working out for me, (I know you have all been on the edge of your seat). Well it's going pretty well actually, I am totally loving having a great start to the day with a hearty breakfast. Usually I was getting peckish around 10:30am, but now after eggs on toast or porridge, I don't even notice that time of day anymore. I am certainly not cutting back on food so it's not like I'm on a diet at all, diets do not work for me as I get very grumpy at feeling like I'm being denied food. However I am noticing a change in my body shape. 

 I'm naturally quite curvy and have always had an hourglass figure of sorts, just a large one, but now I'm noticing that my waist is getting smaller. This is not necessarily because of weight loss, but I think more because the foods I'm eating are sitting in different places on my body. I am getting a bigger waist to hip ratio and I love it. I will have to be brave and have some photos done wearing something a bit more clingy so you can see the hourglass shape I'm rocking, but for the mo, you will have to make do with seeing if you can notice a change from the photo below.

Also, I have a few items that I have neglected to bore you with, and we can't have that now can we?

This lovely picture has been bought for the wall space above my new kitchen display cabinet. I used to have shelves there but they were taken down and I have a bit of a thing about a blank wall, it sets my teeth on edge, so a picture was needed. This one is charming. There is something quite naive about it, it's very sweet.

Now just look at this fabulous vintage hairdryer, I've wanted one for a while but you know me and prices, I wasn't going to buy one unless it was practically free. This one was £4 shy of being free and that was good enough for me, (no dearest parents I am not going to use it, so you need not worry about getting a call from the hospital). 

This is something I bought months ago, it's a very pretty 50s bathing cap. I have a lovely 50s inspired bathing costume that I have worn lots when swimming (obviously!) but I was lacking a flower adorned cap to complete the Esther Williams look. Well not anymore, the only thing is, I haven't been swimming since, so that will have to be rectified.

I will keep you all posted on the changing shape of Miss Pond, as I eat my way to a better figure. These 1950s housewives were definitely on to something you know! 

                    Till next time dears xx

Autumn Lull

As the season changes and we move from summer (such as it was) into autumn, I find that life has suddenly got a bit more hectic. There seems to be some strange thing that happens where I feel the need to kick myself up a gear. The kids go back to school and that means early mornings, and I find that I feel compelled to get on with the day as soon as they are dropped off. No more leisurely summer days that seem to stretch out, instead, as the nights draw in, I'm in bed by nine. This means that I cram as much as I can into the school hours, so it's a never ending round of grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking and also little jobs that were put on hold while I gave the boys some time and attention. 

 Alex and I have also been keen to get on with sewing up my vintage wardrobe, so this week she kindly began my 1930s dress. It's going to be a corker! I am dedicating a whole blog post on the dress once it's finished, but I may give you a sneaky look beforehand.

 I'm not too enamoured about the impending gloom of the seasons ahead, I certainly did not get my quota of sunshine and I'm not looking forward to battling the elements, I swear this is because I'm getting old, I used to love autumn and the dark nights, but now, in the words of Morcombe and Wise, bring me sunshine! However, I shall endeavour to get pleasure out of whatever the good old british winter will bring us. 

 We have managed to do a small amount of antiquing in lovely Matlock today, I didn't get much but what I did get was just darling. I am one lucky duck!

What you are looking at is a mini collection of goodies, a sweet unused compact, (I'm aiming for one in each of my handbags, so I don't have to remember to change them when I switch bags), a lovely nautical inspired collar, soon to be added to an appropriate top and the star of the show, a Bakelite buckle. This buckle is exactly what I wanted for my aforementioned dress and leapt into my hands of its own accord. It was a whole 50p and at that price I could have squealed with delight, but I didn't, I've already been told off for that! 

 The dress is an exact reproduction of one found on the Internet and I can't wait to show it off to you, but for now, here is a quick peak at the sleeve area.

Oh, it's going to be so lovely, with correct colours and buttons, it will belong on a lavishly produced period drama and I shall wear it with pride.

 We also found a retro shop in Matlock that was selling lovely dead stock hair accessories from the 50s but I have too much hair stuff as it is, but it was amazing to find all the things still beautifully packaged and sitting there just like it was still the 50s. What a lovely day, il leave you with a moody shot of me taken by my youngest son.

I blame my mother for my naturally sulky look, it's not because I am sulky, honestly! 

                        Till next time dears xx

A Right Royal Show

As I may have mentioned before, I am very proud of my vintage home. I have put a lot of time and effort into making it just so. There are odd little areas, though, where there is room for improvement, and a corner of my kitchen was a good example of this. I have a space near my fridge that needs something in it, but it's difficult to decide what. Previously I had a kitchen trolley, with baskets full of baking ingredients and some vintage kitchen bits and bobs on top. I was never too enamoured with this though. The trolley always looked a bit untidy and it never really looked vintage enough, no matter how much vintage stuff I piled on top, so when Alex and I were browsing a second hand furniture store and saw a lovely cabinet for sale, well, what could I do but buy it?

This gorgeous little specimen was a whole £10, it is quite wonderful and I knew I had to have it, even if it meant having to rearrange my kitchen cupboards just so I could fit my baking stuff and pots and pans in them (my pans were previously on a shelf above the trolley).

We had no means of transporting it home that day, so we came back a week later with Alex's van to pick it up. This turned out to be quite eventful as the van got a puncture and we had to wait for a nice RAC man to come and help us. Anyway, we got home and got to work. 

I knew I wanted to keep my Royal Albert China in the cabinet, as it had been in a cupboard before and definitely needed a showcase, so Alex and I spent an afternoon tidying, organising and general rearranging of my cupboards until we had room to fit everything in. This was a good thing as it meant I could get to things much easier and as things were arranged better, I had way more room than I did before.

This is my Royal Albert tea set, it was left to me by a friend of mine's mother, who knew I loved things like this. Isn't it gorgeous? It has 6 cups and saucers, 6 side plates, a sandwich plate, jug, sugar bowl and Bon Bon dish. It was just missing it's tea pot, but I found one at the right price in Alfreton, so it's all there now. My Royal plates behind were a charity shop find and are made of tin that has been lithographed. They are quite rare, apparently.

I have quite a lot of china, I see this pattern a lot in antique stores, it's very pretty. 

This is Pareek china, it is rare too and very delicate. I only have these pieces as whenever I have found any others, they are at extortionate prices.

The top of the cabinet has this great retro clock in it. It's wind up but unfortunately it's been overwound at some stage, so no longer works. It makes no difference to me though, I love everything about this cabinet.

It makes a huge diffence to that corner of my kitchen, in two ways really; 1, it highlights just how modern my fridge looks and 2, it looks way way better that my trolley did. I do realise that I am a very lucky girl to have these beautiful pieces of furniture, especially as they will just become more rare as the older generation disappears and is replaced by a younger one that generally wants all the modern streamlined and high tech stuff that's on offer (you know, a sideboard that can play music and has a pop up flat screen and stuff). I do a lot of leg work when it comes to sourcing things, a bit of time and effort always pays off in the end and I'm then the proud owner of a house full of things that make me happy. Now about that modern fridge.........

                                Till next time dears xx