Number only the sunny hours

I'm not usually in the city centre first thing in the morning, by which I mean about 9.15am; hardly the crack of dawn but early enough for it to be pleasantly quiet.

I was on my way to the charity shop to do the window display, and on a beautifully sunny morning, that wasn't a hardship at all. 

The Peace Gardens were heaving with people later in the day, but at this time, they were empty.

It felt positively tropical in  the Winter Gardens...

and there were elves in the trees and steel mobiles to boot.

The Congregational Chapel's gates were open, so I nipped in to look at the Fullard sculptures.

I think I have been all three of these figures...

but not today. I was child-free, not at all pissed off, and didn't need to run. Which was altogether A Very Good Thing.

And what did I wear during these sunny hours in Sheffield's city centre?

A new-to-me vintage frock, of course.

Don't you just love Ebay sellers who don't know very much about vintage? I frequently chuckle and shake my head at the 1980s dresses described as '50s, the bog-standard labels claimed as designer, the clothes listed as rare and unique that you've seen before, the repro styles being passed off as the real thing.

Yes, Ebay sellers - you've made me do this face. Which is usually reserved for the kids.

Still, this is a genuine vintage dress, although the seller had neglected to point out that it is practically transparent. A quick look at the label explains all; it's actually a 1960s beach cover-up by Slix, a British swimwear company who used to have a big factory in Derby.

Despite living about as far inland as it's possible to be in the UK, why let a small thing like that stop me from wearing a beach dress? With one of my many vintage slips underneath, I was good to go.

1960s Slix maxi beach dress - Ebay

Cardigan, shoes and bangles - charity shopped

1970s pendant - vintage fair

I match my garden.

I'm hoping the sunny hours continue, although I think I heard a forecast of rain on the way... Oh well. That's British summer time for you. Wear your beach dresses while you can, you can't be sure when you'll get another chance!

xxx

Jump to the beat

I do like a relaxing weekend, with not much on the agenda apart from going out for tea on Friday, and the winter ritual of trashy Saturday night TV.

And this was an easy-going sort of outfit to match the lazy weekend vibe.

I've almost given up on ever finding a vintage jumpsuit that fits me. 

I have tried on several, but they are always too short in the body (I am long-waisted), tight on the thighs (which doesn't flatter), and of insufficient length in the leg.

So for the time being, I am contenting myself with modern versions; this one was just £1.49. Yes, the local Barnardo's came up trumps again.

(I say almost given up, because I tend to the view that if you are patient and keep looking, you will eventually stumble across pretty much anything you are after in a charity shop.)

Got my Burton boots on - they are so comfortable, I suspect they will get a lot of wear. 

Jumpsuit, sequin beret, boots, vintage necklace and bangles - charity shopped

Wrap cardigan - gift from Tania

A very cheap outfit, this one; it comes in at under a tenner.

So far, I have been quite restrained in my purchases from the charity shop where I volunteer, and it seems the things I choose to buy cause some amusement among my fellow workers.

A feather boa is a wardrobe staple, don't you think? That's what I told my colleagues anyway.

The huge brightly coloured 1950s blanket and 1970s duvet cover were both heading for the rag bag, accompanied by the sentiment well, no one's going to want those! before I swooped in to rescue them.

 £1 each (well, 90p actually, I get a 10% discount).

 I was immediately drawn to this young lady, isn't she pretty?

A bit of research (the internet is a wonderful thing) reveals that it is a lithograph (c.1920) of Herta Zuckermann, who was a pupil attending art classes for children and young people run by artist and progressive educator Franz Cizek at the School of Applied Arts in Vienna in the early 20th Century.

There seems to be some debate as to whether this work is by Cizek, or a self-portrait by Zuckermann herself.

Not that it matters, but I'm hoping the latter is true.

On the Way to Church
The Three Kings
A Christmas Feast

These works are definitely Zuckermann's, included in Christmas: Pictures by Children (1922).

 I wasn't even sure how a lithograph is produced, but there is a good description here.

Charity shopping isn't just thrifty, it's educational.

And lest you worry that I will overspend, here is a selection of the items I have sold over the last few weeks on Ebay to fund my shopping.

The alternative to flogging my guts out for Debenhams is going well. 

 I wonder what we were all looking at?

Hope you all had a great weekend!

xxxx

On books, business, and a broken heart

An unplugged weekend was good, although I subsequently had a lot of catching up to do; all your blog posts, plus Strictly, X Factor and Downton, phew! 

But I'm up to date now, and it was great to spend lots of time with my nose in a book instead of being in front of a screen (although truthfully I find pleasure in both activities.)

Books are wonderful things, I am steadfastly a paper-based reader, and our house is overflowing with them. I understand the appeal (and space-saving virtues) of a Kindle, but nothing beats the tactile experience of a book. 

You can't write an inscription on a Kindle, can you? 

 I rarely buy my books new or full price; this little selection were either bought from charity shops (St Vincent's sell paperbacks for 50p each, Barnardo's have an offer of four for £1.49), and a couple were picked up for free from a box left outside a house on the way to school. 

In the light of my ongoing wardrobe review, this dress has presented me with a dilemma.

Angela Holmes' designs for her Droopy and Browns label, launched in 1971, are increasingly sought after and command high prices on Ebay. I found this dress in a charity shop (of course); although it represents something of a departure from Holmes' typically flamboyant and feminine styles in colourful printed cotton or velvet, I don't doubt it would sell well if I put it on Ebay.

I don't wear it often, yet whenever I do, I fall in love with it all over again; with its sheer, floaty, angel sleeve-y disco-tastic goodness. With its pockets. With its matching tie belt, still in place.

So just this once, I'll let my heart rule my business head. 

I'm keeping it!

 

1970s Droopy and Browns dress, velvet jacket, bangles and ankle boots - charity shopped

Necklace - vintage market

Brooch - car boot

Tights - retail (sale)

This 1970s lurex knit dress didn't make the cut; it's nice enough on me, but not fantastic, so off to Ebay she goes. 

The tan leather bucket bag, however, is staying. For now, at least.

We're in a bit of a state of anxiety here at the moment; our Minnie is missing, we haven't seen her for over 48 hours. The neighbours haven't spotted her either.

We're all hoping like mad that she reappears safe and sound, and I'll do a leaflet drop along the road tomorrow asking everyone to check their outbuildings, but I have a very bad feeling... She's never, ever strayed far before. 

We miss her very much.

xxxx

Make mine a double

My dearest friend Vix posted a while back about two dresses she bought from Ebay, same style but different colours.

Go see her gorgeous pair (of frocks, I mean) here.

And the ever-delicious Tania mentioned a similar experience, though she chose the red and left the turquoise version of her frock for someone else.

Now it's my turn!

Why have one superb 1960s maxi when you can have two?

These are Sherman of London dresses, both bought from Ebay.

I loved the story of the navy/pink version, which the seller described in her listing (bought in 1969, then family came along, and the dress was unworn and relegated to a suitcase).

While browsing Ebay some time afterwards, I spotted the black/yellow version, with no such story attached, and not in such good condition, but obviously too good to miss.

 

The prints and colours make me happy just looking at them.

(Please ignore the creases...)

 

I haven't worn this one as much; the elastic of the shirred bodice is loose, and there was a hole in the skirt.

I've patched the hole now, I intend to take in the sides of the bodice for a snugger fit, and let down the hem where it has been taken up.

1960s Sherman maxi dresses - Ebay

Kimono jacket, black cardigan, hair flowers, necklace and bangles - charity shopped

Sandals and sunglasses - retail

Pendant - car boot

I suppose maxis are my signature style (though I sound a right pompous arse using that phrase).

 

I enjoy wearing dresses and skirts of other lengths, but I often feel my best in a maxi.

My best self.

So I'm linking these beauties to Jane's Shiny T Tuesday, the theme this week being Undeniably Me.

 

 

 

 

Is anyone else finding it hard to know what time of day to take their photos? 

 

The bright sun around midday is impossible, but even later in the afternoon/early evening, the conditions are tricky, at least for my modest little point-and-press camera.

Maybe I should forget any attempts at realism and just go mad with PicMonkey's effects...

 

 

Sometimes, amid a sea of black, grey, cream and denim, I think I must look like this to other people.

 

 

 

.

Oh well. 

My pair of Shermans and I can live with it.

Hope you are feeling colourful and beautiful and undeniably your best selves this week.

 

PS. 

Thanks so much for all the encouragement to continue having a big mouth!

    xxxx

I got cat class and I got cat style

I decided to frock up this Friday and give my new leopard print dress a whirl.

 

 

I spent a bit more than 99p on this one, but it was still only around £7. And I did so want it!

 

It's got a rockabilly-ish feel, I think.

I tied the matching fabric belt round my neck as a pussy bow, it seemed appropriate.

 

 

Now you know I love my cats (to distraction actually) and they often get their gorgeous little faces (or arse, in Charlie's case) in on the blogging action.

 

 

 

Two tabbies (Jessie and Willow), two black'n'whites (Charlie and Minnie).

All different.

All fabulous.

 

Friends obviously know I am a cat person so have tended to give me cat-themed gifts at times.

 

 

 

The little tabby painted pebble was a gift from a young woman I worked with back in my mental health professional days.

 

 It was a struggle, for her and for me, but we both learned something and progressed, I think, and she gave me the pebble when she was left the service. We were always discouraged from accepting personal gifts, but in her case I made an exception. I felt it would have been an awful rejection of her kind gesture to refuse, and that solemn-faced tabby waving goodbye has been with me for many years now.

 

I hope that troubled but lovely young woman is Ok, I do think about her from time to time and wonder.

I bought the cat's head on the left in Egypt.

The solitary soapstone bookend is on his own now, following an unfortunate accident involving his twin and Seldom Seen's light sabre...

Oh I did shout! And I cried a little...

 

I have to confess this is not my only leopard print frock.

I still love this one, and feel vaguely disloyal...

 

 But you can't have too many leopard print frocks, right?

 

And this one has pockets!

While I was taking these photos on the decking right at the bottom of our garden, my next door neighbour shouted down to me "Can I have your autograph?"

I was a bit mortified to be caught. I guess it looked rather bizarre to him.

 

I will choose to assume he meant I look like a Rock Star!

 

 

 

1980s leopard print dress - Ebay

Red shoes, belt, sunglasses and assorted bangles - charity shops

Jessie - Sheffield Cat Shelter

Minnie and Willow - Sheffield RSPCA

Charlie - kitten of a friend's adopted stray

Aren't you impressed that I got through this whole post without using the word pussy once?

Well, just the once.

Imagine my traffic source stats if I'd gone with Pussy Galore as a post title?

Whoops, done it again now...

Have a fabulous weekend, darlings!

   xxx