It must be Spring as everyone is talking about denim!

Its all about denim!

Every magazine I open at the moment has a feature about denim as apparently it is the the latest HUE!
John Lewis Edition magazine has dedicated the whole book to denim and blue theme, covering adults and children and home styling.
http://www.johnlewis.com/edition-magazine/c6000190261

Not that I am complaining, I am just wondering if they have been spying on me!

Well over a year ago I started scouring the internet looking for a denim shirt dress, finally finding one at Next.

Mine is lighter than this in the flesh.

This now links with the 70s theme and shirt dresses are popping up everywhere.

My denim shirt dress was my 'go to' dress last summer.
Above is one as featured in 15/02/2015 Style magazine.
This is the link, but you have to subscibe, unfortunately!
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/fashion/Shopping/article1517208.ece


Two years ago, I bought a late 60s shirt dress pattern from ebay, as I found some gorgeous material at a vintage fair, although I must admit, I haven't finished it as it was too big and I'm not clever enough with adjusting patterns to alter it!

Shirt dresses are already in the shops.

I managed to find some denim material in my local fabric shop last year, although darker and stretchier than I wanted, I am still in the process of making a pair of knee length wrap around shorts.

Although pattern cutting is not my strong point, other projects became a priority!

The same shop later had some heavier, lighter coloured denim, which I snapped up as it, like tweed , denim is a rarity in fabric shops, so doesn't hang around for long!

I made a shift dress, which is perfect fit, I am really pleased, as I can never find anything in the shops that is ;
a. natural fibres
b. knee length
c. flattering, not frumpy,or suits someone of my advancing years!

Also the advantage of this, is that no one else had it.

 

This is the version in John Lewis Edition magazine.
http://www.johnlewis.com/edition-magazine/blue-day/c8000530285

The only problem now, is that as with wedges that I was wearing my Fly wedge sandals, ankle boots and suede calf boots, for ages before they became fashionable, it that I will still be wearing them when they are not fashionable again!

The article on the seventies revival/re-edit as featured in Edition magazine, full article here;
http://www.johnlewis.com/inspiration-and-advice/women/spirit-of-the-seventies

I picked up a lovely grey wool blazer from a vintage market similar to the one second from left, which works really well with my denim shift and worn with my Fly wedge sandals or my latest ebay purchase, Clarks low wedge suede espadrills.
 I have been searching for a replacement for a long time, since my last two beige pairs fell apart!

These were last  produced about 8 or so years ago, that are rare in a shoe, super comfortable, stylish and great to dance to, to that 70s music that is also having a 'revival', despite me being into it since the 70's - NORTHERN SOUL!!!!

See, its all linked.

Now where did I put my denim flares??!!

Vintage material projects

I have been collecting vintage fabric, old curtains etc for about 20 years.
They are just wrapped in plastic bags, stacked on a shelf, waiting for a project.
Every now and then, I go through them all when I am looking for something specific.

The other day, it was just something basic, as I had done some reflexology on my friend and used the couch my Mum gave me.
The sausage head cushion from Ikea needed a cover.

Nothing seems appropriate, it couldn't been too feminine as it needed to be acceptable for both sexes.

In the end , I found a ready made sausage shape, that had been rejected as a plastic bag holder!
its not perfect, but will work until something better comes along!

These fabrics are ones I bought at the recent Frome Artisan and Flea market.

I thinking of making a dress out of this, but now think it will make me look like I am wearing curtains!

Just about enough for a sunny skirt out of this.

This one I have had for years, couldn't bear to cut it up, usually wear it as a wrap around skirt.
Apparently its quite rare and very collectable,
It is Swedish by Mona Bjork called Little Flowers.
It also comes in pink and orange.

Ingenue

Some gorgeous prints on this website.

http://ingenuelondon.com/

I have an orange zig zag dress bought for a special occasion, although quite expensive, they have a sale on at the moment, so much choice of prints and patterns, so something for every taste!

Timsbury Fun Day

I heard about this fair at the last minute and conveniently my friend had invited me and some other girls out to her local pub for a meal on the Saturday, so I decided I would see if it wasn't too late to have a small stall there.

It wasn't, so I packed up my trusty, (got a new lease of life, revitalised with a new radiator!) Astra, with some handmade items, props, some vintage bikinis and cossies, and some vintage crockery.

It was going to be a gorgeous day, though overcast at first.

First obsticle, was putting up the gazebo, which is difficult on your own anyway, even more difficult without the instructions!

Fortunately, some lovely people, Pete, Mo and Dave (I think) came to help, but I could feel the tension as I was pretty useless we couldn't get the cover to fit, so realised the poles weren't put together properly, then I didn't have any pegs!

However, these people were not the kind to give up so persevered and eventually the stall started to take shape!

It was pretty basic, but people seemed to find it interesting, if not inclined to buy anything!

The fun day, had a comedian/ entertainment show, a band area with 3 great bands performing, some dancers, although I wan't close enough to see.

Dressage, a shetland pony, lots of other stalls, some inside and out.

Lots of families sat around having a great day with their picnics.

There were also classic cars to mooch around!

A fun day for all the family, I look forward to next year!

 Some of the performers getting into character.

Music provided throughout the day from local bands, last band of the day, Plucky Purcell, great funky music, giving out free moustaches to anyone who danced! Unfortunately, Timsbury residents seemed a little shy, but still a  great band to watch!

A gorgeous flower posy I bought as a present for one of the girls I was meeting later for her birthday.

Cornwall

After a wet windy November week in a cottage in St Issey, Cornwall, we decided to spent our last weekend in Falmouth staying at the splendid Falmouth Hotel, the first hotel built there in the 1800s on the sea front.
I was was pleasantly surprised at how lovely it is. (dogs allowed)

We also popped over to St Mawes on the ferry, which has a great restaurant called the Watch House, where we had a delicious lunch they allow dogs downstairs ,
(Some pictures are of Padstow and Rock)

 Huge calimari lunch at Rock

Elderflower Cordial

Tis the time to be picking fragrant and beautiful elderflower, although perhaps a little earlier than normal, tis usually late June/July.
Have managed to pick some sunny afternoons to collect, although the best is apparently sunny mornings!