Sunday 29 April 2012

Etsy Love

I have recently made a very exciting Etsy purchase which I can't wait to share with you.

Mr N being the most generous, sweet and frankly all round damn gorgeous bloke that he is gave me a generous budget to buy some dresses for some upcoming weddings n stuff I was moaning I had nothing to wear for.  While scouring the net for to see what lovelies were out there, I came across some absolute corkers on Etsy.  I thought I would share some here as I cannot get them out of my head!

Found here
This Edwardian mourning gown made my heart skip a beat

Found here

I adore vintage lace.  I would wear this dress to go shopping, to drop my daughter off at school, I'd even wear it in bed.  I'd never take it off.  I'd swirl around in it all day and pretend to be a faerie.

It reminds me a bit of something Marla Singer would wear


Found here

I thought this 1940's dress would look good embellished with a giant corsage brooch.  Shame I can't do victory rolls.

Found here
More vintage lace.  See above

Found here



 Yeh, bit of a pattern emerging here 

 

Isn't this a lovely shade?  This reminds me of something Courtney Love would have worn in the early 90's.  She'd probably have torn strips off of it first though I think.

As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a thing for vintage lace.

I'm very happy with my eventual choices but oh, I could have bought everything here!  My dress collection would be the envy of the world.

Please can someone give these beautiful gowns a good home and make them come to life again.  Make sure you send me photos!




Pretty & Thrifted

I've been on something of a thrifting roll lately.  In fact I've been on a bit of a spending role full stop.  I've been asked really kindly and tactfully by Mr N if I could try and reign back my spending as, you know, there are a few big expenditures coming up etc etc.  "Of course baby".   And I reeeeally did try!  Anyhoo, after 'stay and play' on Thursday I had to pop to the local shops to pick up a single item from a single shop, you know how it is.  Obviously, I'd barely stepped out of the school gates before I had reasoned to myself that I might as well pop into a few charity shops on my way back, seeing as they are en route.   Hey, why risk breaking a good run?

I'm sure Mr N will understand why I had to do what I did when he sees what beauties I found:-


Pretty candy coloured bead necklaces



More plates.  I know, I know, but aren't they just the cutest?


Magic Roundabout Annual 1993.  Even though it is quite modern, the illustrations are so colourful and retro.



Vintage Enid Blytons.

Lady at charity shop to me   "Oh aren't these in lovely condition, are they for your little girl?

Me  "Um, yeh" (I suppose she can read them if she's very very good!)

Off to share with Sophie Isobel 

Happy Sunday 

Lucy x

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Pasta, Cobblestones & Old Friends

On Monday I had a lovely lunch with a friend that I hadn't seen for ages.  Our families are super close and have known each other for eons.  We lived around the corner from each other while we were growing up and went to the same school.   Although life takes you down different paths as you get older and life events sometimes mean that you lose touch, she is one of those friends that I will always love dearly and would do anything for.


Anyway, after so many "must catch up sometime" text conversations we finally got our act together and made a date.  She introduced me to The Quarter, a lovely little restaurant/deli type place in the heart of Liverpool's magnificent Georgian Quarter.

Unfortunately it was a piddling horrible day and it pediddled down for most of the afternoon which meant that I couldn't get many photographs of our beautiful location.



Georgian splendour as far as the eye can see.  Take away the cars and road markings and it would be like stepping back in time. Sigh.

Needless to say the weather didn't spoil our appetites.



Nom nom!  We got starters too but I'd gobbled mine without coming up for air before I realised I really should have been a proper blogger and photographed it first. 

We had sparkling conversation and lots of laughs.  We would have stayed for dessert too if we'd had time.  Unfortunately the combination of non stop gabbing and very very (very) laid back, albeit friendly, service meant that I had to rush off to pick up Little Miss 4 from school.

A lovely afternoon was had by all and a promise not to leave it so long again next time.

I didn't get any outfit pics from the day because of the horrible weather and bad light so have some from Sunday instead






Do you like the dress?  It was originally £45 (for flimsy 100% polyester - don't think so!) but I snaffled the last one in my size for a mere £12 in the Dotty P's sale.  Bargain

Dress:  Dorothy Perkins
Necklace: Primark
Shoes: Next
 
Til next time 

Lucy x

Monday 23 April 2012

Finders Keypers

Look what arrived in the post today!

  Fancy & Footloose!

OK, so if you're over the age of 35 or below the age of around 25-26 you probably won't have a clue what I'm talking about.  Keypers were one of those big toy fads in the 1980's, around the same time as Rainbow Brite and Jem.  They were plastic animals with a lockable compartment that came with a key, hairbrush, ring, bracelet and a Finder (a little thing with big eyes that glowed in the dark).   

 
They originally released 3 varieties


Fancy & Footloose, Tango & Twist and Shelldon & Nitelite

My friend had Shelldon (the purple tortoise) and I always really liked him cos he seemed bigger, but I opted for Fancy in the end, probably because she was pink.   Made by Tonka between 1985 and 1990, they went on to release more variations and blinged up versions of the originals, I however, only had eyes for Fancy.  The other day I just had an urge to do an Ebay search for my old friend, and lo and behold, I found this near complete set.  I just wanted to own it, so I bid, and here it is.  So there!  Cue eye rolls from Mr N.  Well loved and played with but just as I remember it.  It brought a smile to my face.

Any other 80's kids out there have one of these?  Remember the advert?



Next, I need to track down a Big Yellow Teapot

What are your toy memories?

Lucy x

Sunday 22 April 2012

Barry Mero You Rock My World


I may have mentioned this before - I love Barry M cosmetics.  I luuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrve them! Particularly the nail paint range.  In fact I adore it so much I felt a tribute post was necessary.

My candy coloured collection of loveliness

Colour and glitter and colourful glitter

I thought I better do a quick Google search to find out a bit more about the history of the company and the man himself.  Founded in 1982 by Barry Mero.  A cosmetics retailer who started out trading at his mother's market stall in London.  A savvy gent with an eye for colour, he had soon realised that the big cosmetics brand were offering nothing for the goths, punks, drag queens, artists, rebellious teenagers and all round lovers of colour out there... Er...  then he conquered the world!



And look he's so cute.  Like somebody's granddad

When searching I found this interview from The Guardian.  I'm an even bigger fan after reading it.  What a cool guy!


 Of course other brands are available

But Barry M you will always have my heart!




Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by or on commission from this company but I'm always open to offers :)

This Week's Adventures in Thrifting


It's felt like an age since I last hit the charity shops.  The daily grind really can wear you down to the point where you don't have the time or the energy to do the things you really want to do.  I made a determined effort to put that right this week with some thrifting therapy.  Here are my rewards:-


1970's single duvet cover.  Might end up in my pile of unused vintage fabrics forevermore, or I could feasibly use it for Little Miss Nearly-5's room


I have a real weakness for plates.  I got these two sets of six.  The set on the left is Arcopal (like a French version of Pyrex) which I just love.  I was taken by the cutesy ditsy flower print.  I can't place the era to the set on the right.  The colour scheme of grey and pink might suggest 1980's but they were just so pretty I couldn't resist.  


I think they'd be fab to serve marshmallow themed desserts on!

Set of 3 kitschy fruit glasses 


 Eightiestastic leather bag
 
 Red cardi wih heart buttons


Last but not least and again not strictly thrifted, a new Barry M nail varnish in 'Berry Ice Cream'.  I can never resist a bit of Barry M.  They have such a rainbow range of pretty colours, and at £3 a pop, it's such a harmless little treat to yourself.  I'm gonna have the whole collection pretty soon, I'm sure.



So that's my lot, and very happy I am with it too!  Off to link up with Sophie Isobel to share the wealth.  Do take the time to go and check out everyone's else's finds.  It's a real fun interactive thrifters-of-the-world-unite thang! :)

Lucy x

Thursday 19 April 2012

Hole, Reunited

Quick interruption to normal services.  I was innocently browsing the web earlier on and thought I would google 'Courtney Love' and see what she's been up to.  Just lately all we seem to hear from Courtney is non stop torrent of drivel on Twitter and some rather tawdry tales about her unhappy family life.  But, oh me-o oh my-o, I was not expecting to see this news article from the NME accompanied by the following pee-your-pants exciting You Tube clip


The mid 90's Hole line up we all know and love reunited for a 2 song set!  They even played my favourite ever Hole cover version Over The Edge by the Wipers.  I must admit watching this made me feel quite emotional.  I saw Hole live in Brixton Academy in 1999.  Never before or since have I experienced the same excitement and exhilaration at any musical event that I experienced at that one.  I was 18 years old and OBSESSED with Courtney Love.  I still remember it so clearly; the prop of a guitar that Courtney played about 3 notes on before abandoning to get up to her usual antics, her pink fairy outfit, the crowd of adoring fangirls who, encouraged by Courtney Love, managed to fight their way to the stage and sit rapt at her feet, the guitar she gave away to the "fat" girl because she used to be one.  It's a night I will never forget.  

Sadly, in time, it all seemed to fall apart and the axe fell on that chapter of the band in 2002.  I won't mention America's Sweetheart!

Come on guys, get the old band back together.  Do it for the (now grown up) kids!  I promise I will start buying all your albums again!

Watch and bask in nostalgia! Thank me later :)

Lucy x

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Oh My Stars

Well what a piddling miserable day its been.  It has been up North anyway.  You know the type, relentlessly overcast and raining non stop.  April is certainly living up to its reputation, a cliche though it may be.

Haven't much to say really.  I went to work I got wet.  I came home from work, I got wet, despite using this lovely item to keep me dry 


I thought I would defy the grey weather and combat it with colour, frills and polka dots


Yes I have covered my face with a flower.  Seriously, I cannot pose when someone is taking my picture.  I get all self conscious and giggly, and in this case, end up looking like the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  But I still wanted to show off my umbrella!


I should just stick to my tried and tested moody, looking away stance



You may recall this cardigan from a few posts ago.  I decided to go with the glittery star buttons in the end, they just make me smile.


Cardigan - Matalan, customised by me
Blouse - Charity shop
Skirt - Primark
Tights - New Look
T-bars - Dorothy Perkins via Ebay
Brooch and necklace - Primark
Umbrella - gift from my mum

Thanks for the lovely comments and Stephen Mackey love on yesterday's post.  We must find out more about this man!

Lucy x

Monday 16 April 2012

Stephen Mackey

I have recently stumbled across the art of Stephen Mackey.  I don't know how I have never seen any of this before.



How beautiful is this?



So many elements of the Tenniel Alice in Wonderland illustrations



I really like the sketch-esque (artistic term) pieces too.  They seem almost whimsical at first glance but then the more you examine, the more sinister they appear.  Obviously, once you've seen the title of the above piece, it takes on a whole new meaning.



All images courtesy of www.stephenmackey.com

I don't claim to know anything about art except what I like.  I'm intruigued by these images.  I'm not actually sure I would have them around my home as they seem so insidiously dark.  There's not an awful lot of information about this artist around the internet.   Does anyone know anything about him?

Lucy x

Sunday 15 April 2012

Mint, Red & All The Colours of the Paintbox

What a lovely sunny Sunday it's been.  I hope the sun has been shining on your part of the world like it has here.


Today is the last day of the school holidays.  I promised Little Miss 4 that during the school holidays we could get the paints out and go to town.  She'd been pestering me for ages so I relented.  I was kind of hoping she would forget, for obvious reasons, but of course it wasn't to be.


This is me in my Sunday best.  I love the colour combination of mint and red together, its one of summer's redeeming features.  You might remember the cardi from this post.   I bought it from a charity shop and added the felt heart patch and buttons myself.  The red wedges are another bargain from Office.  This time from the Office outlet on Ebay.  My Spring/Summer wardrobe is never complete without a pair of red wedges.  Also, its yet another outing for my trusty typewriter tote.



Cardi - charity shop, customised by me
Top - charity shop
Skirt & necklace - Primark
Wedges - Office Outlet

Anyhoo, then it was time for a quick change and to prepare the way for the artist


We painted a sunny beach scene while listening to her favourite, Florence & The Machine, on the Ipod.


The artist at work

A sunny day and a happy child.  It's the simple things.

Hope you've had a good weekend.  I'm off to iron school uniforms :)

Lucy x
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