The morning after

I don't subscribe to the view that you should wear every item of clothing in your wardrobe x times a year (insert randomly prescribed frequency here) or get rid of it.

 

 

If I did, this skirt would be long gone; it was hidden on a hanger behind another skirt and I'd forgotten all about it. 

 

 

 I'm pleased to be reunited with those bathing beauties.

1980s skirt - Ebay

T-shirt, cardigan, tights, shoes, belt and bangles - charity shopped

 

Enough preamble; I guess you want to know about the result of my interview last week?

 

Alas, my feeling that all was not quite as it should be proved correct, and I didn't get the job. The feedback was positive, so that's something. Still, I'm disappointed, rejection is never a pleasant experience. It's been made a little easier to bear by the outrage expressed on my behalf by so many of my friends; fists have been shaken, feet stamped, and the swearing has been both epic and inventive.

 

I really do appreciate my friends!

 

 

 How about a little flamenco action to cheer myself up? Senor Sexy with the crazed glint in his eyes was another rescued item from the charity shop skip...

along with Nell Gwyn...

and Henry VIII with just three of his wives.

 

 

Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Katherine Parr, if you're wondering. 

Maybe Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard will show up next week.

 

 

And I couldn't turn down a vintage Thermos, floral tin or a 1960s Spirograph...

or this 1962 novel with the fabulous cover illustration.

 

 

That's Charlie's tail getting in the way. He's killed his first squirrel of the year. I have a feeling there will be many more deaths in our garden before the summer's out...

On patrol.

Minnie's strictly a Lidl cat food kinda gal.

I'm going on a school trip tomorrow as part of the team taking 90 children, aged 5-6, for a day of activities in Ecclesall Woods.

 

And that, my friends, is as much of a challenge as any interview, so wish me luck!

 

xxxx

 

Objects of my affection

I usually go straight for the clothing rails in charity shops, but I also like a browse among the accessories, bric-a-brac, books and linens.

My latest favourite purchase is not an item of clothing. Would you like to meet her?

                                                    She doesn't have a name yet - maybe you can help?

                                                   She look 1950s to me, and she's gorgeous!

I think she's off for a weekend away with some unsuitable man, hence the cheeky twinkle in her eye. They will be driving to the coast in a convertible, so the headscarf will keep her hair in place. She obviously likes her make up and accessories so she needs that vanity case, and she's keen to show off her mean backhand on the tennis court. And naturally she selects her suitcase, handbag and coat to matchy-match!

I've looked on Ebay and had a little trawl round the many vintage doll sites which exist on the internet, but can't find anything which resembles her. Any ideas about her history?

                                                                  Does she remind you of Doris Day?

                                                                               
                                                                                 Or Grace Kelly?

 

                                                                           Maybe June Allyson?

                            
                                                                              Or Deborah Kerr?
                                                                               

                                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                Or me? Hahaha!  

                                                                       

 
No, I didn't really go out in this, I was playing dressing up. I look like my mother did when I was little. And not in a good way. Note to self; head scarves should really only be worn by the Queen.



                                         So what other non-clothing items have I found recently?

           A very cute 1960s kids' height chart. It's a cotton wall hanging made in Austria and it cost £1.

More EPNS. I know they aren't worth anything but I love the shapes and they are usually so cheap in charity shops. The teapot and bowl were £2 apiece, the spoon and forks 20p each.

I like researching the maker's marks on the bottom, especially if I discover they were made in Sheffield. The bowl and spoon were. Everything needs a good clean!

                              Knitted nanna coat hangers! 50p each. I always need more vintage coat hangers.

Style advice from the Daily Mail Annual for Girls. There's no date anywhere in this book, but I'm guessing late 1950s/early 1960s. Possibly contemporary with Doris/Grace/June/Deborah?

                                   
                                   

     
           I love this quirky edition of Pinocchio from 1931 with both colour and black and white illustrations.

           


And an amazing Das Rheingold score and libretto, with beautiful frontispieces in gold and an inscription dated 1919. 

I have a dilemma over these pictures. Other Half loves Wagner's Ring Cycle with a passion (can't be doing with it myself...) so I had thought of removing these pages from the book and getting them framed for his birthday.

 Is that a heinous crime against books? Probably. But these fabulous illustrations will never be seen if they are in the score, just sitting on a shelf. What would you do?


That's the joy of charity/op/thrift shopping. You never know what you might find, and what you might do with it. Keep treasure hunting, my treasures!
xxxxxx