Vintage Birthday Party

 

 This picture is over 50 years old!! It must've been taken by my dad, late 60s or possibly 1970.

My mum has her hair up in a French pleat, her usual style and is wearing a very fetching silver party hat!

I'm fascinated that the silver tea service is out, and going by the shape, the very, very early Susie Cooper cups and saucers. Oh yes, my parents were into "vintage" before the word "vintage" was even a thing. And yes, it has rubbed off on me!

Zxx 

Spitting Prohibited (hear hear)

Today Google have produced a doodle for the 60th anniversary of the unveiling of the first Routemaster bus.

It was barely a week ago that we had the chance to have a free ride of these in our own town.
It brought back memories of living in London and using these buses as part of my daily commute.
 In those days you could jump on and off the bus whilst it was still moving!
(Or when it was at a standstill in a traffic jam in Oxford Street!)



They used to just have a conductor, but, now, with H&S, we had an extra chap keeping the open end at the rear end of the bus clear!

 

Just in case you've never seen the inside of a bus!!

 

Wooden window frames, leather(ette?) seats, a 'dinging' bell

I'm safe jumping off now...it's stopped!

Zxx

All The Nice Girls Love A

 

 

Rosy, from Sewingadicta has been, in conjunction with other bloggers, hosting "Share in Style" this summer.

I am very behind, I know!

 

But fresh from the joys of "PlaidUrDay" organised by señora Allnut I did rather fancy joining in again with this too.

 

These bloggers are the ladies who I never felt quite brave enough to follow or converse with. Sassy, amazingly dressed and all with that indefinable quality - style.

 

Maybe I'm just getting braver!

 

So, my 'sailor' style comes and goes over many years. I have an original pair of sailor pants from when I was a student and slim enough to fit 'em. I made a slightly bigger pair in London. Bright red cotton seersucker with brass buttons for the fold-up frontage.

But the picture I choose is from when my mum still lived on the South Coast and I'd taken Mr B down for a visit.

 

 

My stripey 'deckchair' dress, already old when gifted to me from a mate when we were at college together, (my, it must've been big on me then!!), and still comes out every summer. Patched with zigzag machine-stitching where it ripped under the arm, but, other than that, still going strong. And worn with the bestest of 'sailor' deck shoes, which, if memory serves me well, (and believe me, that seems to be getting less and less well!), were bought from Red or Dead when still running as a stall at Camden. Those I think have ultimately hit the refuse bin! (But not before I removed the laces!!).

 

So....let's party!

 

A little starter, or 'dish of the day', Crayfish and avocado salad.

A Nottingham special

To take care of the drinks-side of the party, may I offer up this...a rum-based cocktail.

 



Old Cuban1.5 oz. Jamaican rum
1 oz. 1:1 simple syrup
¾ oz. lime juice
6 mint leaves
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 oz. chilled champagne or dry sparkling wine

Shake all ingredients—save for the champagne—with ice in a cocktail shaker.
Double-strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with two ounces of champagne.
Garnish with a small mint sprig.

 

 

Eve: Here ya go, one champagne cocktail.
Adam: Oh, thank you.
Eve: I thought only hookers drank those things?
Adam: Well, I know mom sure likes 'em.

 

The Champagne Cocktail—a drink for hookers and old ladies.

(check out the mannequin legs 'table')

The band, as it is now, a mix of old and new members, (sons of an original member), can be booked for your party or function here.

A Couple Of Old Toms

So pleased I spied this on the way out of one of the areas in Hopkinson21!

 

 

Even more pleased that Mr B bought him! He has a 'thing' for Tom & Jerry. He was tucked away in a dark spot behind an electric guitar in one of the units at this fab vintage shop.

But he looks so at home on the swing seat in our garden.

Sure he's smiling!

"Thomas!!!!!"

 

The other Tom is residing in the fridge.

A present for Mr B from one of his work colleagues from Buxton, when they were working there the other week.

"It's very strong" was all I got on asking him about it. He chose to try it there because the poster featured a tom cat logo!


Robinson's Old Tom



 



Luscious Locks In Notts

I cannot quite believe this is me!
 

 

Beautiful hairstyle crated by the amazing Lucille of https://www.facebook.com/lucilleslocks

 

 

With her adorable little dog, Margot. (Extra surprise)

 

 

A wonderful way to be pampered, (with added cake and coffee too), organised by the lovely Karina of Vintage To A Tea.

 

Thank you girls for a most fabulous treat!

Zxx



Vintage-styled Window Sill

Now that the weather seems to be settled on 'warm', (with occasional  thunder and lightning!), it seemed a good time to put the plants from the loo window sill out in the garden.

 

But what to put there instead?

 

 

Two ironwork covered bottles and a whatever the pinky one in the middle is.

Oh, and not forgetting the vintage French wooden birdcage, with all its' original glass feeding bowls.

I've 'borrowed' this photo from Cherry Anne Merriman.

I got the glassware last summer from Twinset & Pearls, Joan and Jane, I think their names are??? Sorry, forgotten; but always a joy to see these two lovely ladies.

 

Trevor, who organises the Vintage in the Shires Fairs and Briony, May 2012

The birdcage came from Briony at the Fair the other Saturday.



http://www.johnlewis.com/

Couldn't believe this picture that came with an e-mail from Jonny Loulou...one of the very same style bottles!

 Never been aware of seeing them before and now they're 'trending' at JL.

Hark at my trendy interior design!!

Z xx

A Vintage Kinda Gal

 Saturday was the Vintage Fair at St Matthews.

Lots of goodies bought, (that need photographing), friends caught up with and new ones made.

Sadly my 'twinnie' has a chest infection and wasn't able to make it but we've sent each other best wishes via Trevor!

At last, the perfect weather to wear my 'new' vintage Burberry that Mr B brought me from Scout in Sunderland.

as we call it, The Burberry Museum

Cannot believe that one was ever made large enough to fit me! The most brilliant thing for me is that, what some people would hate, the shorter sleeve, is the perfect 'bracelet length' for me and saves me having to roll back my sleeves, which I do with most of my jackets.

The yellow brolly I bought at TK Maxx, for a fiver, ages ago.

 My wonderful vintage poker print scarf was a giveaway win from Char, again, ages ago!

Isn't it fabulous?

My tiny little yellow flower head earrings I bought when I was a student, so that must make them even older than vintage!

http://www.random-makes.co.uk/index.htm

The amazing 'H' the old Citroen van was a newcomer to the Fair and Mr B bought me the most apt gift from them...a cushion made from a vintage Bognor Regis and surrounding views T-towel. BR basically runs through my veins. I will do a post on that as an individual 'thing' as most of the views I have photographs of that I have taken in the past.


A large part of my life on a cushion, you could say.

Obligatory windswept hair shot



Just to remind me to get a trim and some new highlights done!

Zxx



#BEDM rather fell by the wayside; just got totally disillusioned with posting anything last week.



Blue 4 U

 

  Of course, I am never going to wear it, but I made the mistake of saying to Mr B "ooo, a hat in that colour" and lo and behold, it appeared on the table next to me!

 

Sorry Mitzi, I love every aspect about you, but unless I re-model it, it is firmly staying as an

 'object d'art'!

 

To balance the blue a little burst of Daring Dahlia by Barielle.  A bargainous £7 box set of 5 colours from TK Maxx. It seems to have been swapped and changed by 'customers' as the box is called REDdy to Party, and having done a bit of research, the colours I've got are a bit different than those it should be; but the colours work in my favour, so hurrah!

Not a red to be seen!

Zxx

New Vintage On My Doorstep

A new experience for me; Lou Lou's Vintage Fair, held in my hometown in the most amazing building, The Guildhall.

 

 This must be the most exuberant setting that I can think of. Isn't it stunning?

 

Lights and tiles



A tearoom too!

coffee and walnut cake

carrot cake



Mr B chose blueberry and vanilla

 Phew! So much to look at and then cake too! Totes knackered.

Am now the owner of a black velvet 'drape' coat and furry aqua blue beret!

 

 

Below is a list of the various stopping off points of this happy band. Even if you only have to two quid entrance fee, pay it, and enjoy the most amazing collection of vintage clothing and accessories you could imagine! Think of it as an amazing travelling clothing museum and if you spot something you really fall in love with, you have the opportunity to buy it and take it home with you!

 Have a great weekend. I'm off to catch some zzzz's.

Zxx

 



Life Is Sweet

 Braved the damping weather for a stroll up to Abakhans and then had tea at Sugar Junction.

 

 

I first found this pretty tea room a couple of years ago and it hasn't lost its' lustre.

This photo wasn't taken today!

I spent the whole of the weekend tucked up in my hotel room with the most stinky, snotty cold!

S'not fair!

Still keeping the whole place awake at night with my coughing!

 

Hoping to get my hair cut and coloured tomorrow.

Can't wait!

Z xx

 



You Say Tomato, I Say...

 The cutest little squeezy tomato ketchup dispenser.
Ever!

 

He has eyes, a smile and 'feet'.

And here he is with some real cousins from our next door neighbour.

Mr B ate most of them last night when he got home.

 

Along with pasta, I don't like tomatoes either.

(I would, sadly, make a rubbish Italian!)

So

I

would say

“So I have to find a theme that has enough meat to it - pardon the cheesy pun - for me to able to write a solid episode. That being said, one of my favourite episodes this [second] season is ‘Bitchin’ Booty Camp Extreme,’ and from last year it’s ‘The Breakup Bonanza.’ That has one of my favourite lines that I ever wrote - ‘Even if you and your ex don’t agree on the little things - like he says tomato and you say, go f**k yourself - you’ll both agree that this salad rocks.’ I love that line so much that it’s actually on a new limited edition t-shirt right now in our store. If you want to check it out, it’s a really beautiful and hilarious t-shirt.

 So says Nadia G!
 

 

 

Byeeee!

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Emptying The BIG Sideboard

This tea set belonged to my grandma. It's been wrapped up in the sideboard, as has most of what follows, since we moved here, fourteen years ago. A couple of pieces are cracked, but as I looked at it I did think that when it comes back it really should be used. It's marked 'Paragon China England' and also has a 6-sided star on it.

A variety of handed down cutlery. This fish set has bone handles and pretty engraving on the knives. The coffee spoons were my mums' and the top of the spoon is made to look like a coffee bean. I'm thinking the pastry forks will work a treat with the tea set.

I'm also thinking it all needs a bit of elbow grease and a bottle of Silvo!

The blue tin is marked Kandit. Not sure of its' provenance. I think the Japanese bits were from my dads' side of the family. I can think of no reason that they were acquired...no one went to Japan as far as I know. But my dad did work for a Japanese chap, so maybe that's were they are from. My beloved 'Edwardian ladies vases' as I call them; because they remind me of the shape of the necklines of posh Edwardian evening gowns. (Just in case you were wondering!). Never looked to see if they had any markings. The orange 'stuff' is part of my collection of Fire King items. I really must Google this to find out more. I've had it longer than Google's been going, I think. It is American and a bit like Pyrex.

Pretty bowl picked up when I was a student, probably, for pennies. I have a few oddments in this sort of style that I used for everyday. Now, it is a bit more treasured! The marking on the base is 'Grindley England' with a little galleon. Apart from the well-known stuff, I really know nothing about crockery/china. Again, back to Google.

A mish-mash of glassware here. The Christmas stuff is from Jonny-Loulous and is that old that some people would call it vintage I guess. This has had regular use. The pink-stemmed glasses have a tale. For those of you who remember Woolworth's, each store used to hold a yearly Valentines competition and we were lucky enough to win it! There were 2 plates, 2 sets of cutlery. the glasses, caviar, chocs and wine, all in a wicker hamper. There are photos somewhere; when and if I find them, they will be scanned. A couple of sets of those cutie 50s/60s glasses. The boxed set is covered in lucky charms - 4 leaf clovers and the like. The ceramic bird bottle stop was my dads', so that's pretty ancient! More modern are the 2 Coke glasses, the one on the right celebrating the Winter Olympics at Lillehammer in 1994.

One of my favourites and probably the most unusual is this amazing Caravan & Camping Club side plate that Mr B found. The marking is a lion and the name 'Maddock'.
How cute is that print?

It is weird going through all these things and almost cataloguing them. We have been avid collectors of 'stuff' for years and have bought things because we liked them. Now, with the arrival of 'Vintage' adding a spin and inflated prices, it makes me wonder are any of our things now valuable and should they be treated as 'precious' which somehow strikes me as a shame.

Maybe we just need to start a museum??
Z xx