Thinking pink

I've been impatient to wear my purchases from last Saturday's blogger meet-up in Sheffield, so today I did just that.

 

I hadn't really imagined them together, but why not?

 

I will always think of this cotton velvet jacket as my Krista jacket; and the vintage tapestry bag, a gift from Gisela, has rapidly become one of my favourites. 

 

 

 I'm a little in love with this dress too, it couldn't fit me any better if it tried.

 

And while we are on the subject of vintage maxi dresses and pink, look what I found in a charity shop this week;

the sweetest late 1960s-early 1970s Dollyrockers maxi.

Look at that gorgeous smocking.

Nope, doesn't fit.

One day, I will find a Dollyrockers dress which I can actually wear; this one must away to Ebay.

 

 

 

This beautiful silk scarf cost just £1 from the flea market. 

I've no idea what age it is (I'm guessing it is 1950-60s) but it is really lovely, with different Chinese or Japanese figures and scenes all over it.

And it's also pink!

 

Velvet jacket - vintage shop

1970s chiffon maxi dress - vintage fair

1970s tapestry bag - gift from Gisela

Bangles - charity shopped

Ankle boots -Ebay

Linking to Sacramento's Share-in-Style; the theme is Pink.

 

 

 

In fact, it has been a week of finding all sorts of random bits and bobs in charity shops and at the flea market, things which caught my eye, but cost next to nothing.

 

1970s pig-shaped pomander, and unused 1970s tea towels.

 

 

 

The Infants' Magazine annual from 1903.

 

Lots of wonderful illustrations, including some by Louis Wain.

 

I love Louis Wain cats.

Who remembers Fab 208? It was the official magazine of Radio Luxembourg.

 

And this might be my favourite;

 

Herbidacious!

Was there ever a kids' TV show quite as sweetly psychedelic as The Herbs?

 

It was first broadcast in 1968, and I did indeed watch it with my mother before I started school that year.

 

All those memories, for a mere 50p!

The annuals, this dress, and the Dollyrockers pink beauty, could all be around the same age. 

A neat coincidence, I like that. 

 

 

 I'm off to a jumble sale and a friend's birthday barbeque tomorrow, I'm hoping for treasure and no rain, but will of course enjoy the rummaging and chat whatever the weather!

Have a great weekend.

xxx

Stop dragging my heart around

No one is dragging my heart around, don't worry! 

But I am rather dragging myself through this week, with a noticeable lack of oomph or energy.

I have observed over the years that I often hit a slump after having a full-on, busy period of time, even if I have enjoyed myself.

And I have long since realised that it is best for me to challenge my vaguely cyclothymic tendencies, and keep going through the murk.

I thought some splashes of orange and a short-ish dress might cheer me up today.

 
I've been up at school as usual.

I do all sorts of stuff, whatever the teachers ask me, but I always love to hear the kids read.

Some of them find it so easy and just fly, while others have to try really, really hard to get to grips with it. I find I am far more patient with other people's children than I am with my own - why is that?

I adore the embroidery on the back of this top, and it works well with the Asian-inspired print on the dress.

The heavy rainfall has battered the last few remaining blooms in the garden.

Poor things. But the raindrops look beautiful on the flowers and leaves and spiders' webs.

The water droplets look like diamante embellishments on 1970s greetings cards.

 
The cats and I took advantage of the rain slowing up to a drizzle, we all had a potter in the garden this afternoon.


 

1980-90s Max Mara jacket, dress, tights, belt, bangles and necklace - charity shopped
1960s brooch - from my friend's mum's collection
Top - street market
1950-60s tapestry bag - vintage shop
Boots - retail, old

 
And look what lovely Gisela sent me!

A pretty skirt, fishnets and a gorgeous necklace (scruffily displayed here, sorry...)

Kind friends do a great job of lifting one's spirits!

As does Stevie.
xxxx

This much I know

You would imagine that by my age, I might know a thing or two.

And so I do, I suppose.

But it seems that what I do not know is that it is not sensible to go to a friend's birthday gathering (with good intentions of not drinking much, nor staying late, since I wasn't feeling that great, and had to be up early in the morning) and merrily proceed to get very drunk, and roll into bed at 2 o'clock in the morning.

 

It also appears that five delightful ladies, pillocks pillars of the community all, think it is wise to wear leotards with flowers for boobs, and to try on kids' clothes rifled from a bag of hand-me-downs.

Rolling Stones t-shirt (age 12-14) for me, boy's pants (age 10) for Trace.

 

I know. Shameful.

 

What else do I know?

 

I know that I leapt out of bed on Saturday morning, horribly late, because it appears I can't set my alarm properly when I am pissed.

I know that after a mini-meltdown, I was encouraged by Eldest at least to attempt to get to the train station in time, which I duly did, in half an hour. I had a blogger meet-up to get to in Birmingham, I couldn't miss it.

 

I know that I was the strange woman on the bus muttering shit shit shit come on come on hurry up under my breath. No one came to sit next to me...

I know that I am too old and too unfit to run through the train station to catch a train, by the skin of my barely-brushed teeth. And that is it not dignified to doze for half the journey, slumped against the window, before rousing myself to put my make-up on and dry shampoo my ratty hair.

And that when I meet my glamorous, beautifully turned-out blog friends at my destination, it probably isn't polite or ladylike to announce myself with I'm hungover as fuck!

 

 

 

 

Birmingham's Rag Market was bursting at the seams with all manner of stuff - big pants and cheap tights, fancy dress masks (don't they make a lovely couple?) and an Obligatory Blogger Deer.

Vix was the perfect tour guide. And looked a treat posing in the porn star chair.

 

Yes, she walked all day in those heels, arthritic hip and all. She's bloody amazing.

 

 

 

 

Everyone but me managed to find glorious bargains at the wonderful 91 Allison Street shop, presided over by lovely Sue. 

 

I did try, but the delicious green 1970s maxi dress I tried on was a boob squisher.

 

 

Vix, Fiona and Gisela.

 

 

Thanks goodness for lunch!

 

I know that chips have a therapeutic magic; Vix swore they would stop me from feeling so faint and wobbly, and she was quite right.

 

And gifts too, they always help; beautiful handmade cards from Fiona and a fabulous metal cuff from Vix.

We rummaged the rails in Cow, where 80s clothes go to be reborn for the cool young things of today...

...and strolled along the fascinating streets of Digbeth, checking out the vintage shops. 

 

That beautiful Spanish maxi coat fitted Liz perfectly, and Fiona has a petite enough head for vintage hats, unlike myself.

Pippi, Fiona, Gisela and Liz.

 

 

 

 

When Frankie, the proud owner of this beast, heard me say to Vix she was posing like a pro, he said he didn't want one of them sitting on his bike...

Fiona wanted a go too.

We stopped off for a drink in a proper old-fashioned boozer, where Figaro by the Brotherhood of Man was playing in the background, and we talked 1970s pop music and TV stars, who's had work done, vintage buying and selling, cameras, pubs, blogging and blog friends, and consulted Vix as to who was most "on-trend" with their day's purchases (that would be Fiona - a chunky Scandi jumper, and a dress and skirt, both wool, both tartan. She's such a hipster!)

 

 

This man asked Vix if his wife could take her photo. She was recognised by another lady who follows her blog too. I'm friends with a real celeb!

And that was the end of our fabulous day.

I also know that when I got home, I was exhausted, slept for over 12 hours, and spent most of Sunday snuggled up under a crochet blanket on the sofa drinking tea, accompanied by a variety of cats and children, catching up on X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, while aching from the very roots of my hair to the tips of my fingers and toes.

So I think I am actually ill, as opposed to merely hungover (though obviously that won't have helped...)

 

 

 

 

I know I am a bit better today, although I still feel as though I have a lead weight on my chest.

I know I adore my only purchase from Saturday, a beautiful 1950-60s tapestry bag from Urban Village.

I know I will be linking my headscarf to Judith's Hat Attack tomorrow.

 

1980s cotton dress and tapestry flats - Ebay

Belt, bangles, necklace and sunglasses - charity shopped

Scarf - birthday present from lovely Fiona

This much I know:

Blogging is A Good Thing.

 

I have met some wonderful women whose company is a real joy, and of whom I am genuinely fond. 

They are kind, funny, charming, friendly, generous and beautiful.

I would never have stumbled across them if not for doing this.

If you ever have doubts about the worth of blogging as a pastime, arrange a blogger meet-up; it will restore your faith.

And cure your hangover.

xxxxxx

Never change, and don't you ever stop

It's been a bit of a trying week.

Seldom Seen Kid managed to need a day off sick, just 2 days after returning to school, which was frustrating; Littlest and I had another lengthy afternoon of waiting waiting waiting at the hospital; and we have been burgled. 

Not much taken, we dodged a bullet really, but my gorgeous much-longed-and-searched-for 1960s vinyl/tapestry bag has gone.

Whatever bin or hedge you ended up tossed into, RIP lovely bag. I will miss you.

Still, the universe may take away, but it also gives.

It gives brown paper packages, tied up with string...

 

...containing a few of my favourite things - perfectly chosen items of vintage gorgeousness and their delightful labels...

...and a cartoon of hilarity!

All from my darling stalker-trouncing, photo-rescuing, heatwave-surviving friend, Sarah.

Thank you, Honey Pie!

And she has also inadvertently provided us with a name for when we form our band.

Idiot and Labia.

Or does that sound more like a kickass female private detective agency, set up to put the fear of God into creepy stalkers and burglars?

I love this 1970s dress, it fits perfectly, and I don't think I actually own anything in this soft cornflower blue. It's so pretty.

Blurry photo but excellent frontage!

See how I am positively reframing?

1970s knit/Crimplene dress and brooch - gifts from bandmate Sarah

Necklace - gift from gorgeous Krista

Cardigan, bangles, tights and necklace - charity shopped

Boots - Ebay

Funnily enough, despite experiencing the usual feelings of anger and vulnerability and frustration and anxiety and regret as a result of the break in, I can credit Sarah and many other of my blogging friends with helping me to keep it in perspective.

Our home may have been broken into and some of our possessions taken, but we are all safe, our door can be repaired, nothing irreplaceable has been lost, we are fine and of course it could all have been so much worse.

It wasn't, and that's good.

 A quiet kind of look for a contemplative mood.

Stay safe, stay positive, and if you need Idiot and Labia to sing you the power ballad of your choice, and/or scare the crap out of some annoying arsehole, just give us a call. 

xxxxx