Foxy Lady

After a very busy and profitable day in the shop on Saturday, I was ready for a relaxed Sunday. With some local vintage shopping thrown in? Oh, go on then. 

One of my favourite buildings in Sheffield, which has featured on the blog many times - Abbeydale Picture House. 

I haven't been to the vintage market there for a while, so it seemed appropriate to take advantage of a sunny Sunday and have a browse. 

 

 

There was an Eighties fashion show featuring Material and Uptown Girls...

and some very stylishly dressed folk who agreed to have their photos taken.

 

 

The couple on the left were lovely, friendly and funny and extremely well-dressed; the ladies on the right stood out in their colour and print.

 

 

The vintage market has grown over the years, and I am delighted to see the Picture House being used for events like this. I bumped into lots of people I knew, had a good rummage, chatted to stall holders, and a couple of hours passed very happily.

Colourful ceramics...

and both musical and alcoholic accompaniments.

 

 

Oh, don't try and tell me you aren't sniggering, I won't believe you.

This one's for Fi - that's you, that is!

So what did I buy?

 

This; it's creased because I put it on as soon as I got home, straight out of the bag. A fiver? How could I leave it behind? 

 

1970s handmade evening dress - vintage market

Sandals - retail (sale)

1970s necklace - belonged to a friend's mum

Bangles - charity shopped 

You're never less than visible in vintage black satin with metallic thread detail, so I'd better get myself over to Patti's for Visible Monday.

 

 

I bought another dress and a skirt from the same seller's £5 rail, which I'll show you in future posts. 

This poor creature looked decidedly sad, unlike the perky painted foxes which have started appearing in my local area of late.

They make me smile.

So onward with another week - hope you're all doing OK, I'll be visiting soon, I promise!

xxxxx

The wonderful world of Chesterfield flea market

It's been some time since I visited Chesterfield flea market. A combination of bad weather and other commitments has meant that Joanne and I have spent our Thursdays elsewhere lately, so it was good to be back yesterday.

Don't worry, I did wear a coat, but I wanted to show off this new-to-me 1970s frock from my charity shop. I found it as I rummaged among the summer stock in the attic, looking for some colour and print to brighten up the dress rail, which was looking hopelessly tired, dull and drab.

I know this dress is sleeveless, but that doesn't make it an exclusively summer piece, does it? I brought all manner of pretty dresses down to put out in the shop, to the consternation of the other volunteers; but that's summer stock!  

 

Well, the proof of the strategy is in the sales; I put a sleeveless dress with a great digital print and a brightly coloured little jacket on a mannequin in the window, and a lady bought the entire outfit about 10 minutes later. So there! 

 

I can't tell you how much I love doing the window display, and how much I preen with self-satisfaction when a customer says it looks good.

1970s St Michael faux fur jacket, 1970s Christian Marcus dress, brooch, bangles and tights - charity shopped

Boots - retail

1970s necklace - vintage market

Now what was I saying? I've distracted myself. 

 

 

Oh yes - Chesterfield. 

Joseph greeted us like long-lost friends; I bought a 1950s Alfred Meakin Montmartre jug from his stall. We don't do Mothers Day in this house, but I don't need an excuse to buy myself something pretty for a quid.

I wonder what she gets for Mothers Day?

 

Booze, bunnies and buckets.

Only the strongest and best cocoa for Her Most Gracious Majesty.

No wonder Action Man looks grumpy - he's lost his pants.

Your own Personal Jesus.

 

 

Wonderful vintage packaging.

.

The juxtaposition of lard and champagne made me laugh.

Objects of the day, both from the early years of the Twentieth century;

a Cabinetta oak and canvas fold-up officer's campaign bed, possibly dating from the First World War or earlier (they were used in the Boer War too);

 

and a rather grotesque fur evening bag made out of ermine, I think. All its little teeth are intact, and if you lift up its head, you can see its paws. I'm used to seeing fox stoles, but I've never seen a bag with an animal's head on it before. 

 

I don't know what the poor thing's got to smile about... Possibly the fact that the seller informed me it was a bat.

 

 

Apart from my Meakin jug,  I pushed the boat out and spent a whole tenner on Jo and Amanda's stall. They were having one of their 3-items-for-a-fiver sales, so here are my six pieces;

an Edina Ronay Victoriana-style jacket (doesn't suit me at all, so it's destined for Ebay)

a very weighty beaded Twenties-style dress

a Monsoon silk and net skirt

 John Smedley cotton knit hoodie (for Claudia)

a blue/black wiggle dress by Taylor (not a brand I know)

and a 1970s Indian block-printed wraparound maxi skirt. 

£1.70 each - not bad.

And that's why I love a visit to Chesterfield market!

I'm out for dinner with my old friends Sally and Claire tonight, so I'd better go and put my face on; have a great weekend, everyone!

xxxx

 

The heat that sails across the love ocean

Thank you thank you thank you!

For all your happy birthday wishes, and Facebook messages, and cards and gifts.

Truthfully, I was - am - a bit overwhelmed. 

But very grateful and appreciative too!

 

 

 

 

My birthday on Tuesday was a lovely day.

I'm not going to do a look at my gifts post, for fear of sounding like a acquisitive contestant on The Generation Game reciting items from the conveyor belt. And anyway, I didn't get a cuddly toy or a fondue set.

But I can happily show you this beautiful 1960-70s maxi dress, which was a gift from my dear friend Lucy, and which demanded to be worn immediately.

 

 

 

The prairie styling and pretty floral cotton look a lot like late 1960s or early 1970s Laura Ashley, but the dress is in fact by Just Jane, a label about which I can find no information.

 

 

 

No matter. I love it, and wafted about in my garden feeling like a Timotei or Cadbury's Flake girl.

 

See?

 

 

The kids had all made cards for me, but Littlest added an extra note;

 

Spelling... hmm, not so impressive, but you can't fault the sentiment and the poetic sensibility!

So while I was out with Jo for a birthday cappuccino on Tuesday morning, we saw a poster advertising a charity vintage sale the following day. Needless to say, we returned to see what was on offer, more in hope than expectation.

 

I found;

 

 

 

a beautiful 1960s Jinty's metallic mini dress (too small for me so destined for Ebay);

 

two lovely Victorian micromosaic brooches (dated thanks to the Youtube video which Clare shared a while back);

 

 

and a mahogany butler's tray with brass corners (don't know the date but I would hazard a guess at 1920-30s maybe?) and a hand-embroidered tray cloth (because it fitted perfectly.) 

Now the other items are today's Chesterfield flea market haul.

It looks like that parlour game where you are shown a tray of items to memorise, then one is secretly removed and you have to recall what's missing.

1960s patterns

1960s pressed glass vase (it looks like a Dalek when it's upside down)

1950s New Hall tea bowl

four 1960-70s stainless steel rings (I keep finding them!)

1930s hexagonal Woods Ivory Ware lidded tureen

The vase, tureen and bowl were from Joseph's 3-for-a-quid box.

The rings were £3 for all four (from Joe's Mrs, Wendy).

Patterns - a quid.

I love the fact that I can spend a fiver, and have a little collection of pretty, useful, interesting vintage items. Beats shopping in Primark any day of the week.

 

I seem destined never to have any decent photos of the Ladies Purse in action.

 

We performed woefully at the pub quiz last night, but had a huge laugh.

 

But goodness knows what happened to the pics...

We've gone all blurry and weird; it was a work/school night so honestly, no one was over-indulging. If only - then we could blame our shambolic performance on the booze.

 

 

1970s kaftan-style dress (I think it might be a nightie actually) - Ebay

Bangles and necklace - charity shopped and gifts

Hair flowers - retail and gift

Sandals - retail

Mexican woven tie belt - jumble sale ( I know it's Mexican cos my mate Ruth spotted me wearing it and said she had donated it to our last school jumble, and that she bought it while travelling!)

I hope your week has been excellent so far.

What are your plans for the weekend?

    xxxx

Thursday flea market

First, let me say how much I enjoyed all your tales of first gigs. Many of you saw some cool artists as youngsters - boy bands and New Romantics, metal and country, prog rock and folk, rockabilly and indie.

My most envied? 

Bonsaimum saw Abba, Joni saw the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt in 1976 (and earned a smack from her mum for her trouble!) and Joan saw the Smiths. 

I wish I'd been there!

I have had my usual jaunt with Joanne to Chesterfield flea market today.

We are such regulars now that it takes us ages to get round the stalls, we keep stopping to chat with our favourite stall holders.

Today's finds;

Wicker basket (possibly used for racing pigeons? Now full of kids' bedding and clothes overspill) - £6;

Engine-turned metal and needlepoint tape measure - 50p;

Framed print called A World of Happiness by Zula Kenyon - £2;

1960s fabric - £2;

1950s painted glass jug - 50p;

1960s dressmaking pattern - 50p.

I love the flea market.

I keep meaning to take photos to show you, I'll try and stop talking and browsing long enough to do that next time...

There are 10 charity shops in Chesterfield town centre too.

Anyone with a spare Thursday is very welcome to join me!

1970s Lerose dress - Ebay

Long-sleeve top, waistcoat and bangles - charity shopped

1970s felt hat - flea market

1980s boots - Second to None, Walsall

Spoon ring - vintage and craft fair

Necklace and steel/abalone shell ring - charity shopped

Marcasite bow brooch - had it forever, a survivor from my childhood dressing up box

Gratuitous pussy pics.

Yeah yeah, I know the Google searches will bring some unseemly traffic to my blog now I've said that, but they seem to come anyway!  

Top l-r;

Stalking Charlie (and my shadow)

Perfectly poised Wills

Mean and moody Minnie

Jess and her sunlit halo

Some days are just lovely.

No housework.

No hassle.

Friends.

Browsing.

Chatting. 

Laughing.

Sunshine.

Cats.

Coffee.

Fish and chips for tea.

I don't know about perfect, but it's good enough for me.

 

   xxx

  

                               

Making good use

Do you ever feel The Universe is trying to tell you something?

No, I don't really think that actually happens.

 But it is interesting to observe that as I have settled down to the task of downsizing my wardrobe by selling, donating or otherwise moving on my excess, not-worn-enough clothes, I have apparently become incapable of finding any secondhand/vintage treasures which make my heart sing sufficiently to buy them.

No bad thing, I suppose.

So I am making good use of what I already have, while I wait for the Secondhand Gods to provide.

And no, I don't believe in them either.

1970s grey faux fur jacket, 1970s dress and boots - Ebay

Cardigan, hat, and that peek of pink lace petticoat- charity shopped

Scarf - flea market

Knitted flower on hat - school fair

Purple leather gloves - gift from my bestie Joanne

Everything here is well-established in my wardrobe and well-used.

Here too.

I am working the polyester frock and boots look at the moment!

1970s dress, tie cardigan and bangles - charity shopped

Boots - Ebay

Necklace (just about visible) - found in the street

Brooch - gift from Aunty of the Year Sarah 

I went to a vintage fair and a jumble sale on Saturday, and found nothing for myself.

Stuff for the kids, a couple of dresses to sell, but that was all.

Oh well.

I will be patient, the tide will eventually turn, and in the meantime...

Well, I'm not likely to run out of things to wear, am I?

 

The green shoots of recovery aren't too far away, and this brave little grape hyacinth has made an impressive stand against the snow...

...as did the Ladies Purse on Friday night, out for Tracey's birthday.

Yes, drink may have been taken at this point, can you tell?

I'm over at Patti's being Visible, come and see!

    xxxx