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Friday 21 September 2012

On Your (Vintage) Bike

So after many failed attempts at posting a vaguely pre prepared post about the awesomeness which is my new-to-me toy, I have given up and started again. Bear with me! Pretty please :-)

So, my new-to-me toy. Her name is Bee, she's from the 1940s at some point. I could apparently look her up and find her exact birthday but I wouldn't know where to start!!

Bee is my birthday present from my other (better?) half, she's a beautiful loop framed, Dutch style bicycle. And very elegant she is too! Complete with three gears, rod brakes, and a wicker basket she is my new best friend.

When I collected her she was a little the worse for wear, but having replaced her tyres with cream walled ones (there was a choice of white or cream, but cream matched the mud guards!!) and changing the front brake pads, she rides beautifully.

Now all I need is for my friend to bring her Pashley home and we can go for lovely elegant bike rides. To the pub. Obviously!

So yes, just the ticket for getting my behind in gear and into all those wiggle dresses I long to buy!

There should be a couple of pics floating round this post somewhere. It's taking a bit of getting used to, blogging on the iPhone. Any tips?

Ciao!

Jo

Thursday 20 September 2012

Gold Buttons!

Just a quick note to say that I'm on Etsy!

Now that really is exciting for me! Only got one listing up at the moment, and thats for my bright gold buttons that have been languishing in my button box for quite a while now. I was intending to make a tailored black jacket with them on, to be a bit bling! However, my sewing machine isn't up and running yet (sad times) so I thought they'd be just the ticket to start my shop off.

Gold Buttons on Etsy!

I've got a few more bits to put up in the near future, and when my sewing machine is up and running again, hopefully that will include some handmade bits from the gorgeous fabric my boyfriend got me when he was in India earlier this year. There is some seriously beautiful fabric!

Anyways, back to the day job....

Ciao folks!

Jo


The Gloves are On!

Hello All :-)

So, first post. At least there's no expectations yet! I haven't got a fabulous outfit post to do yet, but I'm going to The Shuttleworth Collection's evening airshow on Saturday, then a wedding party in a hangar in the evening, so hopefully then. I'm thinking pencil skirt and my gorgeous fifties swing coat.


Photo Taken by me at a Shuttleworth Collection display last year.

What I do have to share with you is a couple of beautiful finds from Chelmsford market last week. I've been after a pair of white evening gloves for a while, keeping my eyes peeled and debating what to get. Having wandered around Chelmsford for a while I was in Debenhams trying on lots and lots of hats having a look at hats in the formal section when I spotted a nice silky pair of short, white evening gloves. 'Lovely!' says I and I even had a birthday voucher for them. The only thing was they didn't quite have that spark....we didn't quite click. Sadly there was no love at first sight, so they were replaced and my search amble continued.

I wandered over to the market and sat outside having my new healthy rabbit food lunch. This friendly pigeon came and fluttered around by me feet. Apparently the person before me on the bench was a messy eater....

Photo Taken by me. Fag ends, not dropped by me. Grr.
Pigeon paid with corner of cereal bar!


And then I made an awesome discovery :-) there was a lovely, lovely stall in the market selling some really beautiful old things. Seriously, I could have spent all day there. Amongst these was a pair of original fifties white evening gloves, still stitched together, still with their original tag. These were half the price of the Debenhams pair!!! Bar-jin as my friend Tash would say. They fitted wonderfully. Although I'm now a bit loath to take the tag off them, but I suppose I could always sew them back together....maybe.

But the best discovery of all was a pair of white kid leather, elbow length evening gloves with a three pearl button closure. This time there were sparks, lightning bolts and immediate falling in love. Alright so they're a tad on the tight side, but I'm losing weight, maybe my hands will slim down a tad....maybe!! But they are stunning. The softest thing ever. I'm so pleased I didn't buy the gloves from Debenhams, yes they were nice, but these are just perfect!!

 Photo taken by me. Pearl buttons.

 Photo taken by me. Tad tight, but still lovely.

Photo taken by me. Beautiful gloves, plus a pair of leather gloves I got from New Look for driving my other half's convertible, my hands get cold! And a sparkly, feathery (can you get a better combination?!) hair clip also from New Look. Both New Look items were on sale as well. Bar-jin!

So anyhoo, they're my goodies for the moment. Think my next update will either be on my bike, or my outfit on Saturday. Depends if I do any riding before then, and the way I'm feeling today it's doubtful!!

Ciao then!

Jo :-)