Rainbows...almost an outfit post

So, Saturday's Ebay post has taught me that most of you are as willing as I am to do very bad things with Lenny Kravitz - but that at least one person was offended by the butt enhancing jeans! I guess you don't see that kind of thing in the Cath K catalogue. Anyway, I shall keep it clean today, and as it's been pouring with rain since I got back, I thought I'd share a rainbow dress I picked up at the Frock Me Vintage Fashion Fair.

Darn it, my head's come off again. 


Strapless Marion Donaldson floral dress £15
orange wedges -  Faith - won voucher in online comp

Another rainbow photo to show you is my bargain flowers I grabbed in Tesco on Friday. Sweet williams, reduced from £3.00 to a yellow stickered 39p! I'm not sure what they thought was wrong with them, most of the buds were closed and they were just in need of some water. [Makes up for all the daffodils I've bought from supermarkets which refuse to open]. I have plenty of proper vases, but rather like them in this cleaned up tin can left over from our dinner that night!

Rainbow glass table mats Joseph Joseph via TK Maxx

Happy Monday all. And if I have an excuse for gratuitous pictures of semi-naked men, I'm always gonna take it! [Probably in the next Ebay post. I saved the best til last -heheh]

Lakota x

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East End, Clobber and a Ruby...

Project wardrobe rejuvenation is going pretty well. No vintage this week, but plenty of second hand schmutter. Despite the fact that I am currently cold, pasty and hungover you'll notice that they're all rather optimistic of warm weather and a tan. Luckily, I'm off to Malta in a couple of weeks.

Silk and sequinned Ted Baker top £5.00

Crochet look crossback top - brand new with tags on £4.00

More sequins on this Topshop vest - £3.00

Heidi Klein beach kaftan with dancing figures print - sample £5.00

I might Ebay this one. I made a tenner on the Boden dress I found a couple of weeks ago

Brand new soft leather hobo style handbag £6.00

I love this, it fits everything you can imagine

I'd love to do more outfit posts, but the camera is rarely my friend, and concurrent project 'eat healthily and look slimmer' was slightly derailed by ending up in an eating establishment here last night:

Oh well, at least I got some exercise before the curry, we were on a treasure hunt for a friend's birthday which took us all round Jack the Ripper's old stomping ground. The East End might not be the prettiest area of London, but it has some great photo opportunities. If you go on Sunday, there's also the Petticoat Lane and Columbia Road markets.

Wall at the corner of Fashion St, East End.

Intriguing doorway...

Stencilled graffiti - Banksy style but without his subversive humour

 This was my favourite. The chair and hooded monks are paper cut outs just a couple of inches high glued to the bottom of the wall down a random street. The shadows are painted on the pavement. Cool huh?

(nb. For international readers not acquainted with Cockney rhyming slang, a Ruby is short for Ruby Murray and means a curry)

Lakota x

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Ethical fashion dilemma!

So, picture the scene. You're in a charity shop on the outskirts of Croydon, not famed for its fashionable or wealthy citizens (Kate Moss doesn't count - she moved out years ago). You're flicking absently through the racks of clothes - Primark, BHS, New Look, Primark again, F&F at Tesco, River Island, Galliano... Hang on a minute! Galliano?

You wonder if it's real - maybe it's some dodgy knock-off? In addition to the rubberized label at the neck, there's a hologram embedded into a label at the seam, always a good sign. There's also a metal tab saying Galliano near the hem, and the front ties are finished with signed metal beads. The dress itself is a sheer fine knit, with a slip to wear underneath, also with label. You look at the price tag - £6.00! That's less than the Oasis dress next to it! You pay and skip to the door.

Galliano! Dior! The flamboyance! The theatre! The anti-semitic ranting...oh. Bugger. Thanks a lot John. Best bargain I've had in ages and I'm really not going to feel comfortable wearing it. Ok, so it's not covered in lacy swastikas and I wouldn't be accessorizing with a Hitler moustache whilst goosestepping down the street, but that's not the point. Whilst it seems John Galliano may have been having some kind of drunken break-down (he has Jewish ancestors himself, and is after all gay - never the favourites of the nazis) it didn't excuse Mel Gibson and it doesn't excuse him. It's just a shame that all I have to do to boycott Mel Gibson is not watch any more of his execrable films.

As worn by Mad Max

Second hand shopping is supposed to be ethical, green, an alternative to adding to the waste textile mountain and rivers of pesticides used to produce clothing. I tend not to buy from certain high street retailers who are known to be lax on issues such as child labour and fair pay. A designer find in a charity shop is generally the holy grail - a reward! Next time - if the charity shop gods are listening - I'd like Westwood or Marc Jacobs instead please.

So, what would you do? Does Ebay beckon? Will anyone buy it? As it's second hand it's not like I'm lining Galliano's pockets by selling it. Or do we wait and see what happens at his trial - he's apparently suing for the couple he insulted for defamation - can't imagine how that's going to play out, but could I have judged too soon?

Your comments, as ever, are much appreciated.
Lakota x

Edit Interesting comments so far, mostly the feeling seems to be that it's ok to wear, as it makes him no money directly. However, consider the problem with vintage fur. Yes the animal is long dead, but by wearing it, you're normalising it and it can become aspirational. That is, a friend admires it, can't be bothered to find a vintage coat which doesn't stink of mothballs, and buys new, perpetuating the modern process. I should perhaps also mention that half my family are Jewish... I probably wouldn't have a problem with Dior from his era at the label, I think the crux of it is that I don't want to wear his name. It's not aspirational to me anymore. Does that make sense?

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Pasg Hapus! (Happy Easter from the valleys)

Pasg Hapus! Shw mae?*

Hope you're all enjoying some time off with your families - did you miss me? I've had a lovely time down here in South Wales which astoundingly is enjoying the same weather as the rest of the UK. Don't worry, I'll get to the bargain hunting, but first here's a picture of the boys on our favourite Gower beach, Caswell Bay. Isn't it amazing?

Boy2 has achieved flight :-)

Anyway, we did make it to a local carboot sale, which had the odd hidden gem in addition to the 'misshapes' meat stall and stand selling plastic guttering (still with dirt from the houses they'd been taken from). The former was pronounced a 'Tidy Buy!' from the signage. I'm all for a bargain, but I do draw the line at non-specific meat squished together and sold at a boot sale! Despite being no longer 'local' they allowed me to pay my 50p, and I found a few bits and pieces.

Vintage Portmeirion egg holder (large size) £2

I'm going to put bread in this on the table for Easter lunch

Another 60s bud vase

Pottery rabbit belonging to my mum

I also bought a School Friend Annual from 1956, some French glass bottles which I'll put bubble bath in, and two bags of shells. I stumbled across a great bit of driftwood at the beach (literally, it bloody hurt) so I have a plan to make some kind of coastal mobile affair out of that and the shells.

The husband and I also got a chance for an outing without the children, and spent the day in Cowbridge, a small market town not far from Cardiff. It's absolutely lovely there, with antiques shops and markets galore, boutiques and gifty type places, a couple of good charity shops and free parking in the cattle market. What more could you ask for? Well, this sign was an immediate order to investigate:



Vintage, Handmade and Tea-room? We'll be going that way then

Outside Happy Days Vintage Emporium was a selection of plants, outdoor bunting made of oilcloth, vintage clay pots and so on, and inside was a treasure trove of furniture, clothes, homeware, books and ephemera. Prices were on the whole pretty reasonable for a dedicated indoor vintage market, where everything has been handpicked for enthusiasts by enthusiasts.



Traditional Welsh blankets

Hand dyed wool

I want one of these - no room in my kitchen, but still...

Love these chests, but reckon one of us could create something similar for less than £130

Mr Charity Shopping sneaked off and ordered a scone and Earl Grey

I think I'd been a while...

In the end I came away with a traditional Welsh blanket from Ruby Redhead's stall. It's a large one, and the colours are still bright and new looking. My camera hasn't quite got the colours captured, but it's a bright spring green and a light salmon pink - typical 50s shades. There are two tiny moth holes which I can repair, but on finding them the lovely proprietor knocked £8 off the price - so it cost me £30. Similar sized blankets which are woven today by companies like Melin Tregwynt cost £225. That said, their spot patterns are gorgeous modern classics and probably well worth the investment.

Blanket. Headed for the freezer just to make sure there are no living moths!

We took a break for lunch, then continued the shopping frenzy. I almost missed this Red Cross shop thinking it was a boutique (for ladies of a certain age, admittedly). It's next to The Linen Closet - which I know a lot of you would love - full of goodies from Cath K, Emma Bridgewater, Dotcomgiftshop et al.

Charity shop window



50s sputnik eggcups - 50p the pair

Charity shop frame

Friendship Globe bauble

Made by glassblowers at the end of the day out of oddments

I bought various other bits and pieces like a Christening gift for our friends' baby - we went for wooden bookends with a Noah's Ark design rather than the traditional but impractical bangles or rattles - and some great greetings cards, although I haven't photographed them as they won't be funny unless you know Wales. (Mocked up book covers with titles like Cwtch 22)

Finally, it wouldn't be Easter without a bit of baking porn. Look away now if you don't want to see a cock and balls...



You looked, didn't you?

(Traditional Simnal cake - the 11 marzipan balls represent the apostles. Judas doesn't get one)

Lakota x

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*Happy Easter. How are you?





Flea Market Finds and Inspiration Required

This week I've been admiring a lot of bloggers' use of thrifty finds for new or unexpected purposes and thought I'd have a look around the house and see if there was anything I could share. Unfortunately, I discovered that  I'm not one of these innovative crafty people who can make a chandelier out of nothing but a pile of wire hangers and some vintage earrings. My babies never slept in a vintage steamer trunk, and my garden doesn't have a single gazebo made from heirloom patchwork and an arts and crafts curtain pole. Bah. 

So, instead, here are one or two pictures of things I've found recently, plus a couple of things I've had for years, holding things they weren't originally intended to. I will try harder, and if I ever make that bird house out of a Queen Anne teaset, you'll be the first to know.

Vintage EPNS toast rack from Brighton flea market - holding books

[Glass candlestick (part of pair) also from flea market]

 

Bit tarnished, but pretty.

Chinese teacups from charity shop

Coffee pot I found last week now living on cooker hood as a vase

Washing up liquid in olive oil bottle

Sponge in Stilton pot

Result: own goal as house guests never wash up due to lack of obvious equipment

Egg candles from Country Living Fair - love these

Jug and eggcups via charity shop

Pair of company stamps for embossing paperwork

Now bookends

These look as if they should belong on a barge, rather than a desk

Cedar wood cigar box from market in Cuba, storing earrings

George VI coronation mug (car boot sale), regally holding toothbrushes

[If you've read 'Kirstie's Homemade Home' you'll know that she (Kirstie Allsopp) also likes to keep her toothbrushes in a coronation mug. Difference is that she is probably distantly related and likes to look at her ancestors whilst performing her ablutions]

I'm off across the Severn Bridge tomorrow (home to Wales for a week) so am hopeful of some cheaper treasure hunting than usual. Will report back as to whether the Swansea valleys offer an untapped goldmine or more over-priced Primark tat. 

Lakota x

http://www.homemakeronadime.com/

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Owls and Extra-terrestrials...

Greetings thrifty earthlings! Hope everyone is benefiting from the same glorious weather we've had here in London for the past few days. A lovely friend of mine looked after smallest boy for a few hours on Friday, and in addition to boring household chores, I was able to have a more leisurely than usual stroll around the charity shops of the area. Naturally, this being the UK, the temperature nudges above 12 degrees centigrade and convertibles are brought out of hibernation for their annual outing, men are shirtless outside the pub, and women start dressing for the set of a MTV video shoot. Obviously I'm not entirely immune to this phenomenon, my first finds being a cross between Copacabana and Kanye.

Loving the tropical fruit on this rattan framed bag £3.95

Vintage yellow aviators £2.95  

Things were slightly more restrained and Spring-like in the next shop, where my eye was caught by this Sadler coffee pot and cute vintage cruet in the shape of owls. I bought these with the intention of selling them on - I'm thinking of starting an Etsy shop and I know owls are perennially popular - but I'm a bit taken with them since I got them home and they're sat on a shelf. How do re-sellers part with things? I have a ton of stuff I've vaguely thought about selling but that mysteriously seems to have taken up residence. (This could explain why I was able to take 5 glass cake stands to the bake sale at my toddler group recently...)

Wise guardians of the coffee pot

Pretty floral teacup and saucer 50p. Joining the ranks for candle-making

The fabric behind the china buys is from a vintage St Michael double flat sheet. There's loads of material so someone with the know-how could easily make a dress. It would certainly be cheap enough to practise on, so maybe I'll hang onto it for a first attempt. Otherwise it will provide several million patchwork squares or a mile or so of bunting. 

I did pick up a sundress from Boden as well, but that's destined for Ebay. It was quite expensive but is absolutely right for the season so I'm hoping to make a little profit from it without feeling like I'm ripping the charity off. Also, it's a bit big so makes me look pregnant. Not a look I need 3 years from my last baby.

Finally, it's possibly my favourite buy of the week. Even if you can find it in 100% cotton, children's character bed linen is generally pretty hideous. I read all the aspirational home magazines and always wonder if Cosmo's Ben10 duvet cover was mysteriously in the wash the day that Country Living came round:

"Sorry darling, mummy accidentally spilt coffee on your bed , but never mind, here's a vintage hand quilted eiderdown instead! Oh, and I've put all your transformers in the attic. Just for today, let's pretend your favourite toy is this artfully distressed wooden dog on wheels!"

Anyway, also on the linen rail was this cotton sheet, starring everyone's favourite alien. No, not Seven of Nine from Star Trek. E.T.! The sheet has these iconic pictures from the film - which is nearly vintage by Etsy standards, as it was released in 1982.

'Home'. Sob, sniff etc.

I don't know if it was originally in such a nice muted palette or if it's faded over the years, but it's super soft and clean and as it was only £1 it came home with me. I don't do hospital corners so it's unlikely to end up on either of my boys' beds, but I might staple it round some canvasses and make art for their bedrooms, or use it to make cushions. Failing that, there's always the fantasy Etsy shop...

[note to self: avoid key words 'Drew Barrymore' and 'bed'. Could attract the wrong sort]

Lakota x

 Linking up to as usual to Flea Market Finds
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