Staycation

This year I found it impossible to find anyone to share a cottage or go on holiday with as money is so tight.  It is just me and the kids every summer as the OH is very busy during the tourist season and cannot take any time off so having friends or family to go away with really helps.  Instead my friend Amanda came to stay with me and as we hadn't seen each other for a year we had much to catch up on.  We decided that we must go out every day and do something holiday-like and I stopped working for a week.

So, what did we do?  Here are a few postcards for you from my 'holiday'.

I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country. Who needs to go away?

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London Finds

Whilst in London I did a bit of treasure hunting.  We only had tickets to Vintage 2011 for the Friday and Sunday so on Saturday we popped down to Brick Lane.  I say popped down because we stayed in the lovely Hoxton and were within easy walking distance.  Our first stop is the wonderful Albion Caff

 

The Albion sells delicious British food, cooked beautifully and has very attentive and friendly staff. We had a lovely breakfast, poached eggs for me, full English for my man.

Fuelled up, we then looked around the vintage shops and stalls in Brick Lane and the surrounding streets

 

Lunch was in the wonderful old Truman Building, sat in glorious sunshine, bliss!

These were some of the fabrics I found

I also found a lot of vintage clothing, pretty dresses, aprons and a fair isle waistcoat.

Just goes to show that many a bargain can still be had in our capital city!!

and my favourite purchase from the weekend was from the Market Place at Vintage.  This wonderful frothy number.  A gorgeous petticoat to go under my 50's dresses, or even to wear on its own with a cross over ballet top.  I just need more excuses to wear it!!

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Vintage at The Southbank

Do you remember this?  Well as we had such a good time last year we thought we must go again.  I was apprehensive as it was not a camping festival but more a series of events.  It wasn't the same it has to be said but we still had a fab time.  Some of my highlights include:

Dancing on the balcony in the Style Studio until 1am

(click on photos to enlarge)

 

Just look at those views!!!!

The Soul Casino, dancing and watching

Dressing up - 1950's by day, 1960's at night!

  

The marketplace.  Such a huge selection of vintage goodies!

 The Review, where we watched Claudia Brucken, Linda Lewis, David McAlmont and many others

Playing and lounging

Enjoying the spectacular views from the Royal Festival Hall

and my particular highlight was the stunning fashion show curated by Pearl and Daisy Lowe.  Simply stunning and quite moving.  They dedicated it to Amy Winehouse.  All the models were ballerinas and the whole thing was just beautiful.

Just before the show started and we were waiting (as the show was delayed), 2 little girls were sashaying and dancing on the catwalk much to the delight of all the waiting audience.  They were so sweet. The one on the left is Ronnie Wood's granddaughter and they were both natural models and entertainers!!!

We had such a great time.  I preferred the camping style of last year's festival but the Hemingway team did a great job yet again and there were some stunningly dressed people.  My photos don't do it justice as I only took my iPhone and was too engrossed in being there. For a better idea look at these stunning images.

Can't wait until next year! Pin It

Blogaversary!

6 years ago today I started blogging!!!  Thank you for reading my blog.  I am genuinely flattered by each and every comment I receive and the fact that anyone wants to hear about what  I get up to. 

The draw has now been done for the giveaway on my previous post.

Assisted by my lovely helper, who is also 6,  all the names were printed out and put into a little basket.  The name drawn out was .........

 

....... Memmens!

Congratulations Mary,  a bag of celebratory goodies will be winging their way to you.

Thank you to everyone who commented and told me about the changes you have experienced in the last 6 years.  I enjoyed reading them.  6 years is a long time, here's to the next 6, cheers x Pin It

Vintage Weekend

This weekend, 16th and 17th July, I will be having a stall at the Vintage Weekend to be held at RHS Rosemoor here in North Devon. Read more about it in my new blog that I have created on my website.

Don't forget that you have 6 days left to comment on the post below to be entered into our 6 year draw for a fabulous fabric giveaway. Pin It

Now We Are Six!

When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three
I was hardly me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five,
I was just alive.
But now I am Six,
I'm as clever as clever,
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

A A Milne





In 12 days time this blog will be 6 years old!  On the 18th July 2005 I started a little blog to keep in touch with my sister who had moved to the USA and my best friend who had moved to the South of France as well as a few friends in London. I was writing for a handful of people to keep them up-to-date with my life.  I never imagined at that time that 6 years later I would still be writing and that my blog would be read by people all over the world, many of whom I have never met, and many I have met because of it.

In the 6 years that I have been writing this much has changed.  I had a little baby who is now an independent, funny and sweet six year old, I had a little boy who had just started school, he is now just about to start Secondary School.  My 15 year old daughter has grown into a beautiful woman and now lives in her own home.  I started my own business, in a small way, to fit in around the children.  That too is growing (still slowly) and continues to give me great pleasure.  I am no longer blonde!

I have met so many wonderful people through my blog. This was very important to me at a time when I was at home, in rural Devon, with a small baby. The crafting and vintage community has grown and flourished and I have been so grateful to have been part of it through my website and this blog.  I have enjoyed reading each and every one of your comments and am blown away by the amount of people who come up to me and tell me that they read my blog.

So, to celebrate, I am having a giveaway.  A goodie bag of vintage fabric loveliness will be given to one lucky person. All you have to do is comment on this blog, those of you who never normally comment, now is your chance. Tell me one thing that has changed for you in the last 6 years.  I will draw a name out of the hat on my blogoversary on 18th July.  Good luck!

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