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

As graceful as a swan

I've been giving my homemade dresses a whirl this week.

 

Formerly a 1960s sheet and a 1950s curtain respectively, I am happy to have been the agent of transformation. You can tell by my smug face.

 

 I'm also feeling pleased (and smug) about finding these unworn Clarks wedges in a charity shop, they cost just £1.49. 

 

 

 

I am trying to be judicious about buying things to sell, since I already have a lot of items waiting to be listed on Ebay, but I couldn't resist this dress when I saw it in the local hospice charity shop;

 

 

a beautiful 1950s Peggy French Couture velvet dress, sadly too small for me. All the beading and embroidery is intact, and the dress is in great condition. There are just some small spots where the nap of the velvet looked a little flat, but a brush has sorted that out.

 

Not just any old brush, of course - a 1960s Swanbrush, which can usefully double as a table decoration. 

 

It was a gift from Vix, and I love it; removing lint and fluffing up velvet has never been so much fun.

 

 

 

Dress - made it myself

Cardigan, tights, shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Carpet bag - gift

 

 

Dress - made it myself

Cardigan, belt, bangles and necklace - charity shopped

Vinyl bag - flea market

Boots - retail (sale)

 

 

 

 I took advantage of the beautifully sunny weather yesterday, and strolled through Endcliffe Park to meet an old friend. The sun and shadow play was lovely, as was the company. How good to be able to sit outside, catching up, drinking coffee, watching the world and its dog go by.

 

Tonight I am at our PTA's AGM (sorry about all those initials...) We have a new headteacher at school, so it will be interesting to see if that changes the dynamics of our group at all. How groups/teams operate is endlessly fascinating to me, I think it's the ex-mental health professional in me.

And on Saturday, I'll be heading down to London with my mate Claire to see Before The Dawn, Kate Bush's stage show. To say I am looking forward to it is an understatement. Kate Bush falls in the category of musical genius for me, and having been a fan since her 1978 debut, I am delighted to have the opportunity to see her perform live. 

 

 

 

Hope everyone has a brillaint weekend!

xxxx

The long and the short of it

As always, you are a very encouraging bunch, and I feel cheered on by your enthusiasm for my selling plans. So far, it's going well, and I have met my target for September already.

What's more, I am finding I can let go of clothes with little fuss or regret.

So that's good to know.

Autumn was definitely in the air over the weekend, and these two outfits seem to have something of the season about them. Mel says it's the time of year when people wear clothes the colour of detritus, decay, mould and fungus.

Oops, am I guilty as charged? Oh well.

 

1970s dress, denim jacket, belt, shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Bag - gift

Pendant - gift from Joni

This dress has a fragile, floaty appeal which makes it a keeper, despite the fact that soft painterly prints in delicate pastels are not usually my thing. I think as long as I ground it with darker shades of blue, green or brown (ie. decay, mould and fungus), I won't feel too washed out.

The pendant is a piece of Limoges.

1970s maxi dress - Ebay
Hat, belt and bangles - charity shopped
Cardi/shrug - free from clothes swap
Necklace - gift
1960s wicker/vinyl bag - vintage fair
Sandals - retail (sale)

This maxi managed to sneak through my current buying ban as the print caught my eye, and it was dirt cheap.

Actually, I'm not really thinking of this phase as a buying ban. That would be the kiss of death, I'm too contrary to do as I'm told (even when it's me doing the telling). No, it's just a period of clarifying, of thoughtful and cautious spending.

I'm still allowed the odd indulgence - like a wonderful old Church Gresley Gripstand mixing bowl (£4), vintage fabric (£5 - and there's loads of it), and 1960s emerald green gloves (99p). 

Who could refuse?

(Sorry about the crappy photo; the PC is being sticky and awkward, and I would go to the trouble of taking a better photo, if it were not for the fact that it has taken me forever to get the images uploaded in this post, and I am losing the will to live, never mind blog.)

Claudia and I went to have a look around St Mary's vintage and craft market on Saturday.

Homewares and kitschy bric-a-brac galore, dolls, beautiful hats, and a saggy old chest.

And then we all went out for Chinese.

I am The Walrus. 

 Hurray, the sun put in an appearance.
 

I'll be taking my autumn leaf, Stilton, and mushroom colour palette over to Patti's for Visible Monday; and in case I don't remember to wear a hat before October 1st, I'd better link in advance to Judith's Hat Attack. I'll also be at Sacramento's Share in Style, since the theme is Autumn.

So organised. Ha!
xxxxx

Fruit and flowers

I very much enjoyed and appreciated your comments on the issue of names - mine, yours, and that of your cats. It's one of those subjects about which everyone has experience and opinions. We all have names, right? Although whether we like them or not is another matter.

I think I value blogging most of all when a post happens to strike a chord and gets people talking; so thank you for that.

And now you are all pronouncing my name correctly, even if it's only in your head!

We're having sharply chilly autumnal mornings followed by last gasps of warm summer weather, so I am finding that my customary mix of a short-sleeved maxi with a cardigan or denim jacket is just right.

 

That's lucky, since it's what I love to wear anyway. 

 

1970s maxi dress - vintage market
Necklace, bangles, shoes and denim jacket - charity shopped

There are little splashes of colour left in the garden.

I have no idea how I got this photo (my photography skills extend no further than point and press) but I really like it.

And I like this too;

a Mexican vinyl shopping bag, spotted and snapped up for a fiver on Chesterfield flea market.

I'm not sure of its age, I just liked the quirky fruit folk, and its useful size and sturdiness.

Other finds;

Fabric - £2 a piece
1960s English-made Lythos steel and abalone shell pendant - £1

And a 1980-90s Sport Missoni sweater, a crazy bargain at £1.49.

Too small for me, and round neck sweaters are not my thing, but I couldn't leave Missoni behind, could I? I'll find it a home.

I have noticed this beautiful woman at the flea market before, it's impossible to miss her incredible style.

We found ourselves browsing at the same stall this week, and got chatting. She agreed to a photo, told me she is 80, has a large hat collection, and has been collecting and wearing 1940s clothes nearly all her adult life.

Clearly she has no intention of sacrificing her style and her visibility with age.
 Good for her.

(Incidentally, that long purple dress hanging up on the left is Biba. Lovely, but too plain and too pricey for me.)

Oops, hem coming down...
It's fixed now.

Charlie likes to join me for a photo shoot.

Sir Bubble, with what the kids call his lucky freckle on his nose.

A quiet weekend here, but none the worse for that.

How about you? What are you up to?

xxxx

But we've something they'll never have

After all that dazzling colour last week, things have calmed down a bit. 

Ahh, restful shades of green and blue, lovely.

Look, there's that same silhouette thing going on again. 

Not only do I get in a colour groove, I do the same with styles.

Knee-length 1970s frock with a print?

Jacket? Boots? Vintage bag?

Don't mind if I do.

1970s dress - vintage kilo sale

Cardigan, beret, tights and bangles - charity shopped

1960s vinyl shopper - Ebay

Boots - retail (sale)

1950s tweed jacket, 1970s dress, belt, bangles and tights - charity shopped

1950-60s tapestry bag - vintage shop

Ankle boots - Ebay

I had my first experience of a vintage kilo sale at the weekend. I've seen them advertised in other cities, so when I saw that Sheffield was hosting one, I thought I would check it out, more in hope than expectation. 

It wasn't huge, but it was pretty busy with plenty of young hipsters checking out the knitwear, shirts and coats. That left me with a reasonably clear run at the dresses, though there weren't that many, and the vast array of skirts.

Since there was only one changing cubicle and a long queue, I found a quiet-ish corner, dumped my finds on the floor, took off my coat to try on a jacket, and stepped a couple of feet to one side to look in a mirror. A young woman immediately swooped on my pile, including my coat and bag, and when I mildly pointed out that they belonged to me, she shrugged, didn't apologise, and said I thought you'd gone.

Oddly rude, I thought.

My selections?

The 1970s green/blue print dress I'm wearing above,

a 1970s chiffon maxi dress,

a suede waistcoat,

and oh my goodness, a 1970s Lanvin maxi skirt!

I'm no label whore, but I was a bit excited about that last one. Actually, on closer inspection, I'm not convinced it's genuine. Or at least I wonder if the skirt might have been altered, cut down from a dress, and the label reattached. Anyway, it doesn't much matter; look at the fabulous print!

The cost worked out at just over £4 per item. 

Not quite as bargainacious as Baklash's fill-a bag for £10 sale, but not bad.

So the kids are back at school, and I am back in the term-time groove. 

I laughed uproariously while I was volunteering this morning, when a little girl asked me if I was another child's granny. No point being offended; I'm of an age when I certainly could be a grandmother, had I not left my child-bearing till later in life. Typical of me, always leaving things till the last minute.

Thanks for all your comments on my Travelling Yellow Skirt post. 

I'm glad some of you have correctly identified that the sun does indeed shine out of my arse.

The skirt will be continuing her adventures, with a fitting embellishment added to the rear.

If she ends up with you, then the sun can shine out of your behind too.

And if the people stare, then the people stare.

I really don't know and I really don't care.

Doesn't that seem a fitting motto for the Yellow Skirt, and indeed for life?

xxxx

Taking a short cut

I have cracked on with some sewing this week.

Nothing major - nothing made entirely from scratch, all by me - not yet.

That will come.

No, this week has been about mending and altering.

I bought this fabulously jazzy 1970s skirt from Ebay ages ago. It was a maxi, and I loved the look of it,  but unfortunately discovered, on the first and only time I wore it, that the bottom was so narrow I couldn't walk in it.

Well, I couldn't stride - I could walk, but only if I took tiny, dainty steps like a Geisha, which is no good to me when we are late for school and there are hills to be stomped up at great speed, children carried along in my slipstream

So I chopped off the bottom (having failed to take a photo of it at its original length, sorry) and then it languished in my mending pile for months.

You can probably see that I was a lazy sew-and-sew and having hemmed the pale grey lining, I didn't bother changing the thread on the machine to whizz round the skirt hem.

And it shows.

Oh well. I am treating it as a design feature.

 

Despite my rather slapdash approach, the skirt is now wearable (and walkable-in) so I wore it 2 days running.

Today:

1970s skirt and boots - Ebay

Black long sleeved top - retail, very very old

Belt, cardigan, tights, brooch and bangles - charity shopped

Pendant - car boot

 

 

 

Yesterday:

1980s pussy bow blouse - gift from dearest Tamera

Belt and bangles - charity shopped

Boots - community fair

Tights - retail

1960s Weymouth vinyl bag - Ebay

 

My charity shop luck may still be in the doldrums, but I am doing better on Ebay - this beauty of a 1960s vinyl shopper cost 99p!

 

I have taken this 1960s floral dress in and up (above left, looking odd with the orange tights and ankle boots, but I couldn't be bothered changing for the purposes of the photo! It was a gift last year from lovely Liz); I removed the turtle neck from the groovy print maxi (above right); as well establishing my soon-to-be-patented Highly Visible Hemming (HVH) technique on the skirt, and mending various rips and fallen hems.

I've been busy!

 

 

Next project - making a skirt. 

I am a bit scared I will cock it up and waste my fabric, but I have to start somewhere, right?

I'm about to catch up on your fabulous blogs, and I think a self-congratulatory glass or two of wine may be in order later this evening.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

xxx