Barbie

Ive not posted in so long now I cant remember what I've been doing!
So i will just mention the Barbie Exhibition I saw on holiday.

So I went to Majorca for a week in August and I was delighted to stumble across a Barbie exhibition! (in truth I have never grown up and still get excited by Barbie dolls and other wonderful girly stuff).
The exhibition was on the top floor of Palma's El Court des Ingles (a big department store). Barbie it seems is 50 this year! Congrats Barbie! So she got her own celebratory show. (this is me all over excited)
Here are some of the many photographs i took showing my favourite Barbies from the exhibition.
Here is a 1920s Barbie with a wonderful costume, I would love to own a coat like that haha.

A copy of the fist ever Barbie made (or so I think, all the writing was in Spanish!)
Queen Elizabeth I, one of my most favourite historical characters.


Remember one of my older posts where I mentioned Cristian Dior and the 'New Look'? well look what they had a Barbie of!!




and Chanel...
an amazing Aztec Princess, i love the costume on this as well very carnival-esque and lots of pretty gold!


Some great Legends now:


Ive seen the Audrey Hepburn, Holly Golighty Doll in the pink dress on eBay before.

I like how in this box they used the young dolls to make Jane and Micheal that was such a good idea!



AND LOOK! THE WIZARD OF OZ!!
I lve this film, wish they had had a dorothy for sale :(


- uploading all those photos took ages so i'm going to leave this post here and continue giving you a catch up later.

hope you liked the Barbies, and especially all their wonderful costumes.

bye for now x

Collectable Cards

Hey I'm back! Did you miss me?
I honestly must say I don't have a lot to show for my absence! I do not know where the time goes.
I am back at home in Coventry now after a week of travelling and working around Gloucester/Cheltenham and Oxfordshire with my boyfriend.

Anyway I got home on Wednesday and whilst I was searching for some important documents to do with my university loan I came across some cute collectables that belong to my parents!

I'm sure you have all seen the collectable cigarette cards in some form or other, my aunt for example has a lovely collection of wild flowers framed in her dining room.

I found one book of cigarette cards also full of wild flower cards which after some googling I found out they are from around 1937!! The book is actually in the best condition out of all the ones my parents have. I know they must have bought it somewhere because neither of them have ever smoked and they are not that old haha.
anyway, here are some photos


I think these are so pretty! The artists are wonderful, I would like a collection framed if I had my own home :)

The rest of the books and cards are all Brooke Bond so they were colelcted from tea, some of these were definitley my Dads as he has put his name on the books. Not all the cards are collected either, it would be nice if I could find the ones he was missing.
Sadly these are not in such nice condition





cute VW Beetle :)


I love hot air balloons I would love to have a ride in one some day.

This next one is my favourite because it shows different fashions through the ages. It is also a full collection.


the 1920s ones are beautiful



Lastly,


:)
cute aren't they! I'm going to have a little search on ebay see if I can get some more.
byeeee xx

Lobsters

I was looking at the Lulu Guiness website the other day as she has just celebrated 20years of her handbag business. I really want one of her lip clutch bags they are wonderful :P

I noticed whilst browsing that she had made some bags with lobster patterns on them. This instantly reminded me of Dahli's lobster telephone and his collaborations with Elsa Schiaparelli.


(bags by Lulu Guiness)


Dali's Lobster Telephone

One of schiaparelli and Dali's collaborations.

I then read the interview with Lulu on her website http://www.luluguinness.com/lulu_guinness_interview.php

and found that Elsa Schiaparelli was one of Lulu's influences. It all made sense now.

Elsa Shiaparelli (1890 - 1973)

Schiaparelli was at the height of her career during the inter war years, unfortunately her style was not as popular after WW2 which left room for designerslike Dior to take over with new styles Dior's style was very fitted with cinched waists and took full advantage of the end of the war by using more fabrics which had been on shortage previously.(note the longer skirt)


Shiaparelli's work was greatly influenced by the surrealist movement having met Man Ray and Duchamp and then collaborated with Salvador Dali and Alberto Giacometti.
Shiaparelli's outfits were worn by the likes of Mae West, Joan Crawford and Daisy Fellowes (heiress to the Singer sewing machine company). Elsa used crazy prints of banal objects and introduced visible colourful zips to clothing. One of her dresses even had visible rib cage and spine applique.
Marlene Dietrich (German Actress)

I love the tailored suit jackets with the padded shoulders and intricate embroidery.
By 1932 Shiaparelli was employing 400 people including some of the best tailors around which made her wacky designs a reality.
and the detailing of the red jackets sleeve


I really love the shape of the pockets on the front as well.



Another designer working at the same time was Coco Chanel. The boigraphical (is that a word) of her life is coming out soon starring Audrey Tautou as Coco. I would really like to see the film as the trailer looks wonderful! Chanel managed to survive the changes after the war and as you know the brand is still around today.
here is the trailor:



I think they should make a film about Elsa as well.
that is all for now :)
bye x

English Garden Party

So I was browsing the internet today and I've found some pretty wonderful items that would be great for an Alice in Wonderland style tea party.

I will get this confession out the way now.....I do not like tea. My housemates(in fact most people)think I am crazy because of this, but I can't help it I have never EVER like tea. However I do love the scones and crumpets and other delicious cakes that come with a tea party so I will happily just sit with an ice cold lemonade :)

Anyway: first up is this beautiful kitschy tray from Urban Outfitters

I really want this tray! I can imagine a cute madhatter teapot and cups on it :)

Cupcakes are very 'in' at the moment and ive seen so many kitchen bits all with the fairy cake theme you wouldnt believe!
These are the kind of objects I mean:
cookie jar - urban outfitters
- tea towels debenhams.

Ive seen cheaper versions (but just as cute) in Dunhelm Mill and Matalan. So dont worry about the prices of these items!

I was looking through Katy Perry's blog http://katyperryblog.tumblr.com/
and she mentions http://www.fredflare.com I instantly fell in love with all the cute nicnacs and novelty items especially these cups and saucers


You cant have a tea party without checking out the queen of the English country home Cath Kidson.

http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/

there is a rather nice teapot along with tea cosey etc and also table cloths in the lovely prints.
It is a bit pricey but I love all the prints and patterns she uses on products its very kitsch and that appeals to me :)




If you would like some older pieces of crockery then i suggest antiques fairs and shops, they are best.
I also typed 'cake stands' into ebay and got some lovely results so have fun hunting :)

As for cakes hot cross buns and scones are my favourite with butter or jam and clotted cream yum yum!
It may be nice to serve up small sandwiches as well.