Monday 12 October 2015

What a way to spend an afternoon

Just over a week ago my DD Heidi and I manned our stall at another of Bea's Vintage Extravaganza fairs and what a great day we had.




Yes we managed to sell a little which is always good, but far more than this we met some lovely people and were thoroughly entertained by the 40's Home Front.


We even got to join in the Charleston stroll, though all the lovely dancers put us to shame with their energy and stamina. They barely stopped all day. It was like having our own cabaret show right in front of us, and I'm sure they won't mind me saying their wasn't a teenager among them.
Debbie who organises the event puts loads of work into making it a success for sellers and buyers alike, but it is hard and getting support is a slow process.
I do hope though that anyone who visited and enjoyed the day will let her know on her Facebook page as with her daughter now at school, she may have to stop doing them and I think it would be Grantham's and our loss. We have so little of this sort of event here in the town and it would be great to see more people get behind it. ( And what better excuse could you have to get dressed up!)
There was a good selection of stalls with some beautiful vintage items, vintage clothing, hand knitted toys and decorations as well as vintage cars and caravans and even vintage fair games. We could have  spent all our takings quite easily
Thanks Debbie for a brilliant day. I know our customers seemed to enjoy the whole atmosphere and Heidi and I certainly did.
If a bit of extra help with the organisation is what's needed to keep going you know where to come.

I've been inspired now to run up some vintage style skirts and dresses, so am off to my sewing room.
Have a great week.

TTFN
Jenny (and Heidi) xxx

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Vintage Snobbery......

I've always loved old things, be it houses, furniture, films,books or clothes. As a teenager I read countless historical novels and even when buying our first home, new builds did not do it for me. Apart from the fact that on our budget we got three times more space for our money, I just loved that the properties we viewed had character, a story to tell.
Our first home was decorated with a nod to the Victorian era of its construction, with dark wallpaper and the compulsory aspidistra. A piano in the dining room was decorated with pictures of our ancestors and, well, I have to admit it was all a bit gloomy!
In fact it wasn't until about 10 years ago that my tastes started to change and the beautiful distressed greys and creams of French interiors took my fancy. Much of my home today still reflects that style, comfy distressed but lighter and fresher looking.


Only my kitchen and sewing room show that in my heart I'm really a vintage girl. Fascinated by the social history of the 1940s and 1950s. I love to watch films and series based on the era and Housewife 49, Goodnight Mr Tom and the more recent Home Fires are among my favourites.
We've started to attend one or two festivals over the last few years and have been amazed at the enthusiasm and good nature of those who attend. Complete strangers have come up to us to comment on our 'costumes' and taken pictures, so I have felt that we must be doing something right!


However that isn't always the case. A couple of years ago before we really got into researching our look, we attended a local War Weekend. We went to the dance on the Saturday night, which was well attended and great fun and then we went on the Sunday to visit all the stalls and displays.
The morning started with a service, which was very moving, immediately followed by a fashion show. Something I was really looking forward to.
There were about 20 people in the line up the first of which was an elderly gentleman who had obviously based his look on one of the principle characters in WW11.
The compère smiled sweetly and asked this 'gentleman' to tell the audience how he had got into dressing up!
Well if looks could have killed, that compère would be no more. Pulling himself up, the man in question returned...
'We don't dress up, we are re-enactors! Every piece of our clothing and accessories is original and authentic. People who come to these events and dress up, in what they think is the style of the period let these events down. We have been used as extras in films and television and producers know that if they employ us we are the genuine article'
To be frank my reaction was to be dumbfounded! Surely without we common folk who just 'dress up' most of the vintage events in the country would not survive. Ok if sticking religiously to authentic clothes etc. is what you want to do, then great, and of course you are saving these things for another generation to enjoy.
For the rest of us, dressing up helps us be part of the whole scene. We do our research and where possible buy one or two original pieces, but what about the make do and mend ethos of the era. Surely we are being authentic by researching styles and altering more modern garments to the styles of the day. Clothes that may otherwise end up in landfill.













So I'm glad that I took no notice of said gentleman, and continued to 'do it my way', 'cos we have had some amazing outings and met some lovely people through the whole vintage scene.
As you can see from these pictures of our recent trip to Goodwood, we even enjoyed the racing and a bit of celeb spotting!
So I'm off now to prepare things for our next Vintage Fair as part of Bea's Vintage Extravaganza at Grantham College on Saturday 3rd October. If you are local it would be lovely to see you there, whether you dress up or not!

TTFN
Jenny xx


Monday 31 August 2015

Down came the rain!........

Twinwood 2015

Well it soon came round again and we set off eagerly on Saturday morning to our Hotel. (Not as brave nowadays as some who camp for the whole weekend, though if I had an Airstream I could probably 'rough' it lol!)

The weather was quite warm and we had high hopes for Sunday when we had tickets for the Festival, and though it was a little drizzly  it didn't look as though it would be much.






We managed to get around most of the vintage stalls and I was thrilled to find a fake fur stole to wear with my suit for Goodwood in a couple of weeks. That will be our first experience there so looking forward to it, though I know it will be much bigger and far more crowded. I think the men will enjoy the motoring aspect there though.

But back to Twinwood and that initial drizzle soon turned to steady rain, such a shame as the dance floors usually crowded were quite empty. My hat goes off to those stalwarts though who continued in raincoats and with umbrellas! It was quite a sight. The band even called for a brolly Mexican Wave. It was brilliant to see so many folk making a real effort to continue enjoying themselves despite our unpredictable (or should that be predictable) Bank Holiday weather. We Brits do sometimes get a reputation for doom and gloom, well there was no evidence of that at Twinwood, I have never seen so many smiles in the rain.





We stuck it out until we were really beginning to get rather wet and finally returned to our hotel, where we managed to book in for an evening meal. So we rounded off the day nicely and despite it all it hasn't dampened our spirits and we will most certainly be back.

The weather today returning home wasn't any better and I don't envy those packing up damp tents, but I have no doubt that like us many of them will be returning next year full of hopes for a dry weekend, but not really caring if it isn't. They'll still don their vintage and go determined to have a good time.

I know we did!

Have a good Week
TTFN
Jenny xx

Tuesday 25 August 2015

A bit of a do!!!

Hello lovely bloggers.
Yet again I have sadly neglected my blog, although I do keep up with a few of yours each morning and evening. My few minutes of relaxation in what has been a hectic few months.........

And on Saturday 22 August 2015 all our planning and making and collecting all came together at Heidi and Steve's

Great British Seaside Wedding Fete




Heidi looked stunning in her dress, so all the panic over making it was worth it in the end and I know her dad was completely overwhelmed when he saw her walk down the stairs.





Their two gorgeous little boys were daddy's best men and  Alfie the oldest at 8 even made a speech. he was brilliant.


All the guests wowed us by sticking to the 1950s theme, and there were some stunning outfits.


Food came in the shape of a Fish and Chip Van and an Ice cream van......although a slight delay in proceedings meant many of the younger guests made a start on something else first.....






The guests were entertained with vintage songs by singer, Elaine Bishop,


 and played outside on the various games we had all designed and made over the past few months.


The amazing naked cake was made by Steve's lovely sister Jules...




 and the evening finished off with plenty of cheesy dancing!

I think a good time was had by all and we all breathed a sigh of relief that the Bride's vision had I think been accomplished.

So now its back to reality, washing and ironing, not only all those tablecloths but clothes ready for our visits to two vintage festivals over the next few weeks. So I hope I will be able to share things a bit more regularly now.

Hope you all have a fabulous week, 
TTFN
Jenny xx

Saturday 30 May 2015

Oh what a lovely Fair

Has it really been 3 months since I last posted on my poor blog?
It certainly doesn't seem like it!
My only excuse is that I have been happily engaged in other pursuits. A brief holiday in gorgeous Whitby, a busy half term week with the grandsons and a bit of time preparing for the lovely vintage fair which we attended today.

Organised by the equally lovely Debbie, Bea's Vintage Extravaganza held at Grantham College was an absolute delight!
Vintage stalls, Vintage clothing, Scrumptious Tea Room provided by Claire of Liberty Rose, Classic cars, vintage caravan, Ice cream van plus live music including a spot by the fabulous Elaine Bishop and dancers too, what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.











We met some super people, really friendly and just an absolute delight, and we can't wait to meet up again hopefully in October in the same venue.
So come on Grantham, so many people complain that nothing happens here, and this was a day of real entertainment and great shopping as well! What more could you ask for. 
Well organised, well advertised and well if you weren't there you missed a gem!

So its back now to the wedding planning and the final push to get everything done in time. Only 3 months now...Eeeeeeeek! Yes it's scary, but exciting too. As each piece of the jigsaw puzzle drops into place, we can begin to see the overall picture and it's not looking bad! Of course I will breathe a little more easily when the bride (and her mother) has a dress, but of course you will have to wait until August to see how that turns out!

Have a great week, and I hope I can get back here again before the big event,
TTFN
Jenny xx


PS   I may not post regularly at the moment but I do keep up with lots of your blogs so I don't feel totally out of touch : )