My darling Clementine

My alter ego, Mme le Derriere, is rather a monster. 

She's rude, egocentric, a hypocrite, a snob, and a bully.

Is it bad that I rather like being her, now and again?

My Clementine photo shoot for this month's amazing edition of Vogoff  (thank you, Melanie, you did a brilliant job putting it all together) was done on location at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, seat of the Duke of Devonshire. 

I cavorted about in the grounds of the estate, much to the incomprehension of the resident sheep, passing dog walkers and ramblers, and the coach parties arriving for their visit to one of the finest stately homes in England. 

I blame these two...

 

... Joanne and Sue, chauffeur and PA respectively.

Sue brought a bag of props...

... made me do this face repeatedly...

 

...see?..

 

...and played her role as the hapless Jacinta, downtrodden and put-upon PA, to absolute perfection.

 

 

That's right, dear - once you've kissed my arse, you'd better dust it.

Clementine is a strict and demanding employer.

 

Ahh, what it is to have a country retreat where one can escape the rigours of city life and enjoy the rural idyll.

 

 

 

I posed on the folly...

 

...pulled faces while using multiple props...

...with many feathers...

...and made Art, darling.

Clementine does like to toot her own horn.

We had such a good laugh, despite the freezing cold and windswept conditions.

See? 

No one really knows how hard it is being Clementine.

The Dream Team in the Tunnel of Love.

Thanks, ladies, I couldn't have done it without you.

1950s brocade jacket - Second to None

1980s taffeta maxi skirt - gift from fabulous Cover Girl Shelley 

Shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Mini hat - gift 

Feather boa, parasol, telephone receiver, frame, horn and peacock feathers - loaned by Sue

Feather duster - Clementine's own

 

The End.

  xxxx

You may not be an old-fashioned girl, but you're gonna get dated

 

After all the excitement and treats of last week, things are a little quieter around here.

Which is OK. I need to get my breath back.

 

Of course, there is the new edition of Vogoff to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

So many wonderful contributions. 

Melanie, hard working assistant to the tyrannical Editor-in-Chief Miz Bagg, has done an amazing job; check out the awesomeness, marvel at the beauty, style and great foolishness!

 

I did enjoy doing my photo shoot as Clementine, I laughed so much that half the photos were unusable.

 

I might even show you some of the outtakes, wouldn't that be a treat?

 

 

 

 

1950s Hawaiian dress - flea market

Sequin top - jumble sale 

(Total cost of these 2 items - under £2!)

Pendant and bangles - charity shopped

Sandals - retail

 

 

There's my garden goddess statue. My blogger pal Secret Squirrel asked me if she has a name, but she doesn't. 

 

I googled goddess of the garden and came across a Roman goddess called Horta; I could go with that, but it sounds redolent of other, less horticultural connotations... 

 

 

I went to nine charity shops this morning with my mate Jo - count them, NINE - and only found one little thing, which is intended as a gift for someone. 

How did that happen?

 

 

 

Yesterday was slightly better.

I found a third 1960s vanity case - in the same charity shop as the other two - so now I have a red, white and blue set. They were all different prices, which made me laugh (£3, £3.50 and £4, if you're interested).

The pressed glass jar with a silver plate lid (1930-40s, maybe?) just appealed and has a little collection of hat pins in it. (£2.)

The patchwork print fabric is a 1970s homemade dress which has lost its elastic and looks rather odd, but I have hopes of being able to fashion something out of it. Don't know what yet, but the fabric was too good to leave behind. (£3.)

Our lawn is scattered with dandelions and daisies, I like them.

 

And that's all I've got.

See, told you I was feeling quiet this week. 

Linking up with Max's Op-shop Show-off.

xxx

She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake

 

Yellow is a happy sort of colour, isn't it? 

Perfectly suited to a sunny, fun-filled weekend.

This is the first wear of the yellow dress I bought with the gals last week at Chesterfield flea market.

Colour inspiration from the garden.

 

 

 

It's difficult to find a spot in the garden where the bright sunlight doesn't bleach out the colour.

And sitting on the edge of the raised flower bed led to an unfortunate green splodge appearing on the back of the dress... 

 

Oh the hazards of style blogging, it's a tough gig.

 

 

 

An outfit bursting with Blogger Love; dress bought on a wonderful blogger day out, and both rings are gifts from lovely blog friends, as is the red floral bangle.

 

 

 

1970s dress - flea market

Leopard print leggings, ballerina flats and vintage sunglasses - Ebay

Belt, necklace and bangles - charity shopped

Heart ring - gift from darling Vix

Mosaic ring and floral bangle - gift from delicious Tania

 

 

My sis and her man came down to Sheffield for the weekend; she and I both have birthdays at the end of the month, and I had arranged an early birthday treat.

 

 

 

We went to see Elvis Costello, hurray!

He was brilliant, played for 2 and a half hours, got audience members up on stage to spin the wheel and select songs, and sang as he wandered among the enthusiastic crowd.

We went to our favourite Chinese restaurant for lunch today, then strolled around a sunny Sheffield city centre, including the Winter Gardens.

 

 

 

 

Aah, me and my sis! She's one of the nicest people I know.

 

My kids just adore their auntie and uncle.

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow, red and leopard print seem like a pretty visible combination to me, so I'll be joining the other lovelies at Patti's Visible Monday as usual. 

 

Hope you had a great weekend!

 

   xxxx

That's the beauty of blogging

So here I am today, feeling very smug, and pondering my good fortune.

 

 

 

 

I'm lucky to have this gorgeous 1960s frock, which I love dearly (read the tale of its provenance here - funnily enough, I'm wearing it with exactly the same top, pendant and hair flower, must be a good combination!)

And we've been very fortunate to have beautiful sunny weather.

But I am mostly contemplating the amazing fact that through blogging, I have been lucky enough to meet these wonderful women;

 

 

 

 

they must be bloggers - all that camera action, but far too stylish to be mere tourists!

Chesterfield was rocked by the glamour and gorgeousness of Vix, Tania and Annie, who came to Derbyshire to spend the day with me yesterday - and what a fabulous day it was too!

 

Do read Tania's very funny account of the Vix Effect in her blog post about our day. She describes it so perfectly, there's nothing I can add.

Vix also tells all about how she found love in Chesterfield.

The flea market was as eclectic and busy and friendly and interesting as ever.

 

 

 

Look at the chap in the background, he's mesmerised.

 

 

 

 

The Portland Hotel - a posh Wetherspoons!

 

Even the loos were posh - we couldn't quite believe it!

The clientele were reassuringly Wetherspoonian though.

 

Vix pulled. Of course she did.

 

 I'm surprised Dave needed telling to just press it hard.

 

 

 A boozy Wetherspoons lunch is a UK blogger tradition.

 

 

 

 

We laughed and talked all day.

I wonder what Vix had just said? I bet it was something saucy.

 

 

We waved Tania off, then I said goodbye to Vix and Annie, and walked back up through the churchyard to catch my bus home.

What a blissful day. 

I know it's a blogger cliche, but seriously - these women are brilliant. 

Funny, cheeky, chatty, friendly, knowledgeable, easy-going, beautiful.

Everything you'd wish for in a friend.

And I would never have met them if it wasn't for blogging.

Forget self-promotion, sponsorship, freebies, profile - that's the real joy of blogging right there.

 

Oh, and they don't half give you good presents!

 

Vix had promised me that the next 1960s vinyl and tapestry bag she found would be mine (to replace the one I had which got stolen) and she was as good as her word!

She also gave me a pretty vintage maxi slip, and a wonderful 1930s children's book which her mum had rescued from a skip at a school. It has the most adorable illustrations.

Lovely gardening bookmarks from Annie.

OBD (Obligatory Blogger Deer), funky pendant, bangle and rings, DVD, and pretty floral vase from Tania.

And I made a few purchases too - well, it would have been rude not to...

 

1970s yellow CPD;

lidded dish/tureen (the pattern looks 1950s but there is no mark)

1960-70s David Scott-Walker stainless steel ring (Vix spotted it on the 50p table, just as I was explaining that I was hoping to find more Sheffield steel jewellery!)

 

 

 

 

1960s Sherman of London dress - Ebay

Kimono top, bangles and hair flower - charity shopped

Pendant - car boot

Sandals - retail

 

So I am a very happy woman today, for many reasons.

 

But mostly because of the joy that comes from wonderful company, laughter, and friendship.

 

 

 

Have a glorious weekend!

xxxx