Monday Monday, so good to me

I am so happy with my new-to-me 1960s dress from Second to None; I wore at the weekend, and again today. 

Same dress, different tights.

Lovely fit, colourful, great print.

All for a tenner. 

 

And the added bonus of very happy memories of a day in Walsall with my darlings Vix, Clare and Tania!

The blue tight-ed version.

What do you mean, tight-ed isn't a word? 

It is now.

 

 

Matchy-matching the colours in my garden.

 

Saturday's version saw raspberry tights and a new necklace.

 

I was buying knickers for the girls in Matalan, and while browsing the heavily reduced accessories for my birthday present stash, I spotted this necklace. Well, why not?

1960s shift dress - Second to None

Shoes - jumble sale

Tights, sunglasses and necklace - retail

Bangles - gift from sweetheart Tania

 

 

The kids went back to school today, so Joanne and I were straight out of the blocks for a little chazzing, a lot of chat, and a coffee.

The spoils;

1960-70s wood/brass lamp base; Ultimo bra; 1970s tin and a crochet blanket.

Not bad.

Dress , sunglasses and bangles - as before

Boots - Ebay

Tights and pendant - charity shopped

I felt very good and very visible in my bright frock, so I'm joining the other visibly beautiful ladies at lovely Patti's as usual. Check us out!

xxxx

Balance is the key

On Friday, while the older two kids were out with friends, Littlest and I had an afternoon of pottering about in our local area.

Yes, I do have an existence outside of my garden, really I do.

First stop - lunch in our lovely local French-Turkish cafe, Des Amies.

Beautiful lights.

And Littlest blowing you all a big kiss. At least I think that's what she's doing.

We walked past the Abbeydale Picture House, a wonderful Art Deco building, once a thriving palace of entertainment.

My next-door-neighbour remembers folk queuing round the block to get in in the 1950s and 60s. It housed not only a cinema, but a tea room, billiard hall and ballroom with a sprung dance floor, and was the place to be seen.

Now it is sadly in a state of disrepair. It was sold last year, and apparently there are plans to turn the Grade II listed building into an indoor climbing venue.

Abbeydale Road is part of Sheffield's Antiques Quarter, with a fair few shops selling secondhand goods, antiques and collectables.

There is an eclectic mix of fancy cafes and delis, a variety of restaurants and takeaways, continental grocers, charity shops, florists, shops catering for those with money for upmarket interior decor, an artisan bakery, and a salvage/reclamation yard.

After a while, Littlest needed another pit stop (and a wee), so we called in at Bragazzi's cafe and deli for a drink and a chat.

Shades of a million Instagram pics!


It did occur to me as I was editing these photos and making collages that it is easy to skew reality. I could make our area look rather gentrified and bohemian, when actually there are boarded up premises and plenty of down-at-heel traders and pawn brokers in the mix too.

There is the obligatory graffiti and dog shit. The River Sheaf, although healthy enough to have resident ducks, brown trout and a visiting heron, is hardly the most picturesque of waterways.


But that's life, isn't it? A mixture of the interesting, dirty, useful and useless, ridiculous, disappointing and beautiful.

On our way home, we stopped to admire these metal fence panels.

They aren't gates, though they look as though they should be. They are set in the wall which fences off the scrubby, litter-strewn bank leading up to the railway line. It's not a road many people walk along, and I have no idea why these ornamental pieces are there or who made them.

But they are an unexpectedly lovely surprise.

I guess balance is the key.

It's not always something I find easy to achieve.

1960-70s suede jerkin - Second to None
1970s Dereta cotton velvet maxi skirt - Ebay
Top, wool hat, necklace and bracelet - charity shopped
Bundle of bangles - gift from dearest Tania



Finding beauty and satisfaction in small things is also good.

The basket of My Little Ponies stayed in the charity shop; the plate, handkerchief vase and blouse came home with me.

 

Hope your weekend has been a delightful blend of many good things! 

  xxxx

Fashionably late

It all started so well.

At the train station in good time, taking photos, looking forward to a fabulous day.

Best laid plans, and all that...

A long delay, followed by an unscheduled change of trains, and I became a seething mass of resentment and disappointment.

I should be there by now!

Oh well, railing against events you can't do anything about is pretty pointless. Though I really don't like to be late. Especially not a whopping 2 hours late.

Not when there are gorgeous blog buddies waiting for me!

Thankfully, a restorative pint (ta, Vix, I owe you a drink!) and lunch was waiting for me in Wetherspoons, along with three of the most delightful, funny, chatty and friendly people ever!

Here are Vix, Clare and Tania hard at work investigating the vintage loveliness on offer in the legendary Second to None.

Going for a cup of tea at Vix and Jon's house felt like visiting the set of a favourite TV show or film - everything seemed so familiar, even though I hadn't been there before. It's not a set though, there's nothing fake about it; it's a real home full of all Vix's trademark style, skill and warmth.

I had the most delightful day. I love you gals!

Gifts were exchanged, and purchases were made, of course.

From Tania - Freckleface cards and mug, featuring her beautiful illustrations; a book I started reading and enjoying on the train home; bling a-plenty (brooch, earrings and bangles), and a fabulous diamond knit beret.

From Vix - wonderful 1970s dressmaking patterns; lurex fishnet tights (is there a better combination than lurex and fishnet?), bastard massive Cancerian pendant and a heart ring; and a 1970s Kati at Laura Phillips bolero top.

And from Clare - officially the Best Mix CD Ever (it includes The Stripper, how excellent is that?); and a handmade groovy girl brooch.

I spent more than I meant to at Second to None, but seriously - could you have resisted?

A green theme...

a beautiful 1950s brocade jacket and groovy 1960-70s suede jerkin. Yes, another one...

Amazing 1960s graphic print dress, 1970s denim wedge sandals (I had a very similar pair back in the day), and a floaty dream of a 1970s Sylvan maxi dress.

It needs taking in a little on the bust, but I couldn't wait to prance around the garden in it!

 

Can I encourage all of you to take any opportunity that comes your way to meet up with blog friends?


They don't disappoint, and they offer genuine friendship.

And after seeing Vix, Clare and Tania in their scanties in Second to None, we really are Panty Hos!

  xxxx

 

                                       

All dressed up with somewhere to go

Any of you who have followed my blog for a while will know that I am far from a domestic goddess.

I cook pretty well, feed the family perfectly respectable meals, and deal with the 

mountain of washing and ironing generated by a household of five in reasonably efficient form.

But cleaning... No, I am not good at cleaning. 

Housework is a pointless, thankless chore which I avoid as much as possible, until the cat hair and crumb levels threaten to overwhelm us, and the appearance of unscheduled visitors has me hanging my head in shame and refusing to answer the front door.

 

And I don't remember where I put things. I am not good at that kind of efficient household organisation either, we constantly seem to swim along at the outer edges of a chaotic whirlpool of randomness.

 

Unnecessary vintage glamour - that is something I am good at. 

 

I had a mini tidy up today (yes, visitors were scheduled) and this seemed as good an outfit as any.

 

 

 

 

1970s angel sleeve maxi dress - Ebay (£1)

Sequin top - jumble sale (25p)

Sunglasses, gold leather belt and shoes - charity shopped (50p, £1 and £5 respectively)

1950s carpet bag - flea market (£15 - blew the budget...)

Frida pendant - handmade gift from darling Tamera (we are all sending love to Miss KaeKae)

 

 

A pretty cheap outfit then (apart from the bag). 

 

Ridiculously inappropriate for shopping at Lidl and then hoovering, but never mind.

 

During my mammoth clothes-putting-away session, I found myself left with these;

22, yes, 22 odd socks. All kids'. A range of sizes. All in want of a partner.

How does this happen? Where are the other 22 socks? I know I am untidy and inefficient and domestically challenged, but seriously - where could they be? 

Anyone know? If you do, you must be a genius, it's a total mystery to me.

 

I had to go into the garden and take some photos to soothe my puzzled and irritated mood. 

 

 

 

 

 

Something else which will improve my mood immensely is another blogger meet up.

 

I know, two in five days - hurray!

Anyone in Walsall tomorrow - look out for this posse of poncho honchos!

 

 

 

 

I am looking forward to it so much, I fear I may explode with excitement.

What will you be doing tomorrow? Whatever it is, we will raise a glass to you in Wetherspoons, I'm sure!

xxxx

Good Day Sunshine

 

Got a bit of a 60s thing going on today.

 

 

I've Warholed myself.

 

 

The inspiration was this fabulous 1960s dress...

 

 

 

...which was a gift from my lovely blogger friend Sara (Mrs D of Hello the Mushroom).

She came to Sheffield yesterday for several hours of vintage and charity shopping, chatting, strolling round the city centre in the sunshine, and a glass or two of wine!

If you don't already know Sara's blog, check it out. She's a fabulous photographer, and she has put some photos from our day together on Flickr.

Isn't she lovely? A delightful combination of sassy style, intelligence, humour and friendliness.

Portugal's loss is the UK's gain.

And a demon shopper - Sara scored some great finds.

 

She'll show you her's- I'll show you mine.

 

A 1960s Sid Greene lurex dress, in the same fabric as my favourite mermaid skirt, but this time in shades of gold and bronze;

and a (probably) 1980s German dirndl skirt - the label says made in West Germany so it must be pre-1989. The little metal tag at the top says Kuhnen Dirndl.

Sara said buy it buy it buy it about 20 times when I picked it up in the charity shop - so I did!

 

1960s dress - gift from sweetheart Sara

Denim jacket, bangles, tights and shoes - charity shopped

Huge white sunglasses - gift from darling Helga

 

 

 

 

When I looked through today's photos, I had to laugh - I think I look very similar to my eldest sister in this photo from 1969;

We were by Regent's Park canal at London Zoo, my eldest sister was 14, and clearly none to pleased to be picnicking with the small fry. We have matching pouts - I don't know what my problem was.

Middle sister (age 9) and I (age 5) were wearing matching mini dresses, they were an orange floral print with a high neck and puffy sleeves. I loved that dress.

 

 

 

 

Are you seeing it?

 

Having a face like a slapped arse seems to run in the family.

 

 

But I am very happy with my new frock - thank you Sara!

 

 

 

I am also happy to find myself here, along with all you other Odd Ones Out, freaks and misfits.  

 

And I am very happy to recommend blogger meet-ups - in real life, like Sara's visit, or a virtual get-together, like the weekly gathering over at Patti's on Visible Mondays!

      xxxxx