Walking on sunshine

It's been a very busy weekend, but a good one.

The vexed (but not really) question of what to wear for our jumble sale was easily solved; I always wear red, for the brightness, the joy, and the luck.

Previous jumble outfits...

Now obviously, I am not daft enough to believe that what I wear has any impact on the outcome of a fundraising community event.

But I will take the credit for some hard work, good planning and preparation, and I am delighted to report that our jumble sale was well attended, cheerful, and successful, raising a whopping £1100.

Eldest is a chip off the old block and always helps out.

 I made cakes, lots of cakes.

And as usual, I loaned my vintage tablecloths, aprons, headscarves and crockery.

A sunny but very blustery day today has provided ideal drying conditions for all the vintage linens.

Look at my fabulous friends Trace and Joanne, wearing colourful vintage and pulling ridiculous faces. How I love those girls!

That bonkers wig looks worryingly like my hair in the 1980s...

1970s cotton dress - Vintedge (local vintage shop)

Cardigan, belt, sunglasses, bangles and tights - charity shopped

Boots - retail (sale)

Another jumble sale tradition is that once the clearing up is done, a group of us head back to Karen's (who lives the closest to school) for a count-up of the proceeds, accompanied by the odd glass or two of something fizzy.

This practice might make for some dodgy accountancy, but Eldest was there to keep us on track. She's more responsible than the rest of us put together.

Apologies for the scaffolding; my neighbour is having work done on his house, and while there is no problem with that, it makes the background of my usual photo location a little too busy. Doesn't he realise my tree is my posing spot?

  So it's been a great weekend, I'm really proud that our little group manages to organise events that make money and are fun to attend.

I bought bits and bobs for the kids, not much for myself, but I was taken with this;

an old supermarket basket that someone had brought their jumble donations in, and left behind. It took me back immediately to my childhood, so I nabbed it, and used it to cart my washing outside.

Next-door-Caspar took a shine to it too.

Reservoir Cats.

Whatever you've been up to, I hope you had a fabulous weekend.

xxxx

So what's the point of robbery when nothing is worth taking?

There is a lot to do this week as we head towards Saturday's jumble sale. 

I always have some anxieties about whether enough jumble will come in, but so far, the mountain of donations looks good, and there are two more days to go. Can't vouch for the quality, but there sure is quantity.

It seems to work for Primark...

Look at me, all Little House on the Prairie.

After chilly starts, the last few days have been beautifully sunny. I've had washing on the line, the garden is blooming in a modest sort of way, the cats are racing and chasing, and a heron came to visit, to check out my neighbour's pond and the eight fish therein. 

I wonder if there are still eight now?

Already, there are butterflies, the occasional bee, and ladybirds.

1960-70s Just Jane maxi dress - gift from Lucy

Suede waistcoat, bangles and necklace - charity shopped

Boots - Ebay

Joanne and I popped to Doncaster on Monday. She'd bought a coal scuttle on Ebay, and invited me along as navigator. This was an ill-advised move, since I am the world's worst map reader, and am usually far too busy talking to take any notice of where we are or where we are going...

Thankfully, she had had the foresight to write out directions. 

Those, I can read. 

There is an impressive indoor market...

 ...and a whole host of charity shops, although I didn't buy anything.

Adam Ant, Henry Winkler, Eddie Waring, and Bruce Forsyth, all reduced to the chazzas.

 How the mighty are fallen.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that every charity shop will have vintage and modern glassware galore.

Plus copies of The Da Vinci Code, several items of Per Una clothing, a box with knitting patterns in it, and at least one record which you catch sight of and say I used to have that!

Stand and Deliver is a case in point.

We might hit Chesterfield tomorrow, and Friday is earmarked for baking and setting up the jumble; then all systems are go on Saturday morning!

The really important question is - what shall I wear?!

xxx

Springing into action

What a glorious day it has been, warm and sunny with bright blue skies.

I have been caught out, unprepared for sandal-wearing, with unpainted toenails and legs which remain in their winter state. Unlike Sandra, I haven't yet attempted the Great Spring Deforestation, but that's the beauty of a maxi, isn't it?

No one need ever know!

Does any combination say 1970s more than brown, orange and yellow? 

I love this dress, and to be able to wear it without a jacket in March is a delight.

1970s Kati at Laura Phillips maxi dress - gift from Patsy 

Bangles, necklace and sunglasses - charity shopped 

Sandals - retail (sale)

 

On Thursday, in considerably cooler temperatures, Joanne, Sue and I headed to Chesterfield flea market.

Sue and I adored the vintage Soviet posters...

we admired the usual eclectic mix of items for sale...

 

...and chuckled at the man who was diligently looking at every single porn mag in the box under this table. I wonder if he bought any, or just enjoyed perusing them for free?

Oh good grief, I do not need any more vintage china.

 

But the 1950s sandwich plates were so pretty (50p each) and the set of 1960-70s Meakin serving plate, 4 dinner and 4 side plates was too fabulous to leave behind (£3).

Another 1960-70s Sheffield steel pendant caught my eye too (50p).

 

The seeds were free, a gift from Sue.

Yesterday, after a visit to a local jumble sale (nothing remarkable to show you, just some clothes for the kids, and a handful of books), Littlest and I went out for a wander, which inevitably included cake. 

She demolished that white chocolate and raspberry cake in seconds flat, and pronounced it excellent.

Then she posed winsomely for the camera. The enormous bandage on her finger is totally out of proportion to the injury, she did it herself and has a taste for A Big Statement.

Our cherry tree is springing into life.

Life is good!

I'll be linking up with Patti as always for Visible Monday; see you there!

xxxxxx

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

Never look back, walk tall, act fine

For over a year now, a Yellow Skirt has been roaming the globe. 

 

Flying between Australia and New Zealand, America and Canada, with a stop-over in Italy and a holiday in Cuba, she has travelled widely, and enjoyed many adventures.

And now she's landed in the middle of the UK - with me! 

 

Don't let me hear you say life's taking you nowhere.

 

TYS - on loan

1980s silk blouse - vintage shop

Shoe boots, fishnets and bangles - charity shopped

Hat fascinator - gift from Patsy

Cancer zodiac pendant - gift from Vix

Orange flower - gift from Melanie

Smug look of infinite disdain and superiority - made by me

 

 

The Yellow Skirt brings sunshine with it.

 

 

 

 

She demands confidence.

No point being afraid of bold colour or high visibility.

 

Embrace the freakery...

the saucery...

 

 and the sisterhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I'll stick with you, baby, for a thousand years...

 

Nothing's gonna touch you...

in these golden years.

 

 

 

Linking to Judith's Hat Attack, while awaiting directions for the Travelling Yellow Skirt's next destination.

Thanks, of course, go to Melanie and Sarah, who set the Travelling Yellow Skirt Freak Show in motion, and to all the other bloggers who have worn her so wonderfully well.

 

These are our golden years; why waste them?

   xxxxx