VICTORY! ...rolls

I am currently quite pleased with myself after managing my first sucessful victory rolls!

I have often tried in vain with much frustration. They could be a LOT neater but nevermind practise makes perfect!

Cringey photo so just focus on the hair.


If I was actually going somewhere I would probably curl the ends of my hair as well.

I have a lot of whispy 'baby hair' around my fringe area any ideas how to grow? tame? style? it?

If you are interested in vintage hairstyles here was my last attempt I posted

http://domesticblogess.blogspot.com/2011/03/1940s-hairstyle.html

(I don't know whats worse on that post the different cringey face I'm pulling or the fact I have the same cardi on, you may have noticed, I'm not cool)

and if you would like me to try some more hairstyles and post them let me know!

House love

I love having a space of my own (with the bf of course).

We go a bit mental with buying things to fill it with, but personalising a space is what makes a rented flat a home right?

Ikea purchases:

VILMIE RUTA I love the geometric retro pattern and the colours go so well in our flat.


Cheeky thrift finds:

amazing french glass and jug set with cute sailboats which I found in a charity shop in Grove they cost me like £3.50 there are 5 glasses in total but they were in the sink ha.


Le Crueset pans absolute bargain at £4 from a second hand yard in Wantage.(they are my fave colour as well!!)

Ive tried to match the table cloth with the kitchen tiles, its not perfect but good enough for now!

Posters:
I put these posters in the living room because the colours in each matched the room the yellows match the walls and the blues in the star wars poster matched the sofa, it ties the room together.


Continuing that seventies theme with Star Wars the frames are from Ikea.

Vinatge Postcards

I love vintage postcards especially 1920/30s travel ones that they used to encourage the use of the trains and underground.

I have framed some for my living room :)



my next post will be all about packing and planning for my Amsterdam holiday on Sunday!!

Lavinias tea parties!

my friend put on thi wonderful event the other week, I couldnt make it this time but the next one is set for 18th September!

tea, cake, music, burlesque and vintage makeup and fashion :)

millionaire shortbread yum!

testing out the oven in my new pad.

the shortbread turned out great, doesnt half give you a sugar rush though, had to invite friends over to help us eat it!


I did find a celery and onion pot on ebay, and here they are in my new kitchen!



I also got this amazing coffeepot in a local charity shop, its made by sadler and cost me a resonable £5.

Visit to Hay on Wye

Last month me and Ben went to Hay on Wye. It is right on the England Wales border and a tourist haven.

Known as the town of books it has lots of bookshops, even the castle of Hay on Wye almost in ruins bis home to a large collection of books and of old photographs.



The weather was over cast but we still had a nice wander round the little streets. I noticed a few vintage clothing shops but they were all closed so I will have to revisit another day.

One of the bookstores 'Rose's Books' was lovely, specialising in out of print childrens books. They had a big locked cabinet with some leather bound copies, a bit out of my price range! I searched for Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. Again the books they had of these titles were either out of my price range or not very special.

Except one!


An edition from the 1950s, I fell in love with the cover. Inside the book is all black and white images no colour with the illustrations by John Tenniel

So I have now got 2 lovely copies of Alice in Wonderland (not quite a collection yet!)

On the way back we stopped off at Arthur's stone, a prehistoric tomb (i think) owned by English Heritage.

Shilton clutch

At Judy's Affordable vintage fair I got a lovely yellow polka dot dress from Maggies Dress (where I got my jumper at Blind Lemon) and a white clutch bag from a stall selling Nylon Sky jewellery.

I already own a similar clutch I got from a charity shop a few years ago and have almost destroyed through use! oops!

The labels in both bags say 'Shilton International' Im sure they are from the 80s. A quick search threw up a lot of Jane Shilton bags which is a UK brand that still exists today so I think it may be of this brand.

The white one I bought yesterday and is in much better condition and looks to be newer than the one I already owned (looking at the inside of the bag the lining and label seem to be more modern)






I want to show you the vintage clothes I havent yet photographed so I am going to get my boyfriend to take some for me soon. I havent even photographed my fur coat for you yet and Ive had that since November!!

Vintage Finds!

So I found my camera charger (fairly soon after I started looking properly).

I promised a post about my vintage finds from the Blind Lemon Vintage fair:



Ive wanted a pair of sheer black gloves for ages but normally the vintage ones are super tiny and I havent found any to fit! I was lucky this time and saw these pair for a wonderful £3.50! I was sure Id got inspiration for them from Bette Davis in the film in All about Eve (1950) but now I'm not so sure where I saw them. Its a cracking film by the way if you get chance to see it! Bette is wonderful at her role as the diva Margo. I also loved the supporting role played by Celeste Holme as Margos kind and levelheaded friend Karen, she was beautiful! Marilyn Monroe has a bit part also.



This next one was also a bit of luck. There were a lot of vintage leather suitcases on sale this time but on in particular caught my eye. It had my initials painted on it! I couldnt let that pass me by! It is in fairly good condition just a couple of bashes to the corners which you would expect on a old used case. I want to know who it belonged to now! £25 it cost me.

I also got a cute knitted short sleeve jumper top very 1940s in style but I doubt its that old. Its currently hanging out to dry so I will get a photo of it for you soon.

byeee

Tapestry Bags

I went to The Blind Lemon Vintage Fair at the weekend and one thing that stood out a lot was the selection of tapestry bags.

They have come back in fashion recently with quite a few versions on the high street and I love them!

Here are a selection from the high street and some vintage numbers I have found online:

My favourite from the high street and most similar to the original vintage styles, lovely framed bag with pretty floral image, bargain at £12.99 from New Look, perfect for a night out!



Great size for everyday use, work or university. Pretty tan and light coloured tapestry. £36.99 River Island.



cute dinky frame purse, for all your coins. £10.00 Topshop


Beautiful framed bag with chain (a common handle for vintage tapestry bags) Pretty embroidery pattern. £54 My Vintage
www.myvintage.co.uk



Fantastic 1950s handbag from www.steptoesantiques.co.uk £53.00 but worth every penny!


Another 1950s bag this time from www.myvintage.co.uk . £45 unusual shape and mix of colours in this one.

Last but not least from www.devoted2vintage.co.uk £42 lovely rigid form handbag again 1950s.



If these examples are out of your price range at this time of the month (they are to me!)I would recommend trying a local vintage fair. With the popularity of tapestry bags right now, there are a lot about for reasonable prices and if you are there with the seller face to face you can bargain the price also!

Expect a post soon on my vintage fair purchases, I have lost my camera battery charger so no photos at the moment.

1940s Bash

I am so glad that the Blind Lemon Vintage fair is coming to Cardiff again on 6th of this month.




Because in April, I have this to go too!



We are going for my friends Birthday, she lives nearby so me and my friends will drive down and stay the weekend and go to this event.

I really want a genuine 1940s dress, nothing elaborate just an everyday dress will be lovely. So hopefully I can pick one up at the fair.

I cannot wait to do my hair either, I dont know which style yet but Ive been gathering inspiration and where better than from:

http://bobbypinblog.blogspot.com/

Bobbypin blog is one of my favourite blogs to follow, a recent post got me looking at these

http://www.ultimatelooks.com/jonrenauwigs/turbangjr.htm

for a Betty Grable look, it is a possibility!
I could do a good Veronica Lake, but thats super glamorous.
Katharine Hepburn is probably more a style I will try.

I have a lot of hair to work with as you can see! my fringe has grown out since that picture as well.All advantages for 1940s dress, unlike the 1920s theme I picked! I used about 50 hair pins that night!

Flapper Photography

Digital photography of a bygone era,

Me with my disney cake




chunk eaten out the cake already! My mum made me a cake like this for my brithday years ago, I will have to find a photo and scan it, had a doll in the top and milky button skirt :)


I was impressed with the effort my friends went to with costumes, they all looked fabulous!

1920s birthday!

Had my birthday night out last night, the 1920s theme was a hit!

I havent been through all the photos yet but this is a picture of my hair from the back.


pincurl style, took me ages to get all my hair up, its very long at the moment!

i have a better picture of my disney princess cake for my next post as well.

22nd Birthday

Its my birthday on the 24th of this month and if youve read my blog for a while you might know I always have a themed party.

Well tis year due to the size of my flat we will be forced to go out dancing and drinking rather than have a party at home. There will be a theme though and its my favourite one yet!

Roaring Twenties!

Due to lack of money until after the date, Im wearing a flapper dress I already own, however I have been browsing the web for inspiration still.
Here are some of my favourite picture finds:

The Crinoline Lady

My auntie, like me has always been a bit of a collector. She has a beautiful set of framed cigarette cards and ceramic mushrooms. But my favourite is her collection of crinoline lady china. She started with a few pieces from a set that was split up and given to her and my other aunts by one of our older family members.

It was a lovely set and my mum always thought it was a shame the set had been shared out just because it would be so lovely together. It became a sort of mission to complete it.
Whenever we went on holidays and saw an antique shop or a charity shop we popped in and hunted for china pieces of the set. If we saw a piece we bought it.

We often bought pieces which didnt match simply because they were beautiful or because we werent sure if they were an exact match. Now my Aunt has a massive collection of pieces all in a lovely wooden display cabinet, it even lights up!

I think I might start my own collection because it was so much fun!

Here are some examples of pieces, (neither of which are from the set my aunt had to begin) However I know we bought some cups saucers and plates which match the yellow crinoline teapot below.
(images from google)

Old china is so beautiful. My friend has started creating lovely cake stands out of it here is her website. enjoy!

http://www.laviniasteaparty.com