Bake Do and Mend

Hello to the person in the coffee shop who's reading my blog

2011-11-04T16:04:00.000Z

I have just had a text from a friend, who's just seen someone reading my blog. Now, I know that people do read, as I have followers and comments.

But to hear that someone has been seen reading this pile of words has really made my day!

So, to the person in a coffee shop who's currently reading and in fact anyone who's reading... Hello! And thanks for stopping by!

Have a great weekend / bonfire night / break! :)

It may be raining this weekend, but here's proof you can always look glam, even when it patters down!

Gem x

My house on the tellybox - Nick Knowle's Original Features

2011-10-24T07:38:00.003+01:00

Hello again!

A wee while ago I mentioned that I had a secret... and I can now tell you what that secret is...

Back in March I signed up to take part in a home DIY show called "Nick Knowle's Original Features". It's a programme that tracks the DNA of a home by researching it's social and architectural history. The last series, about a year ago, was fascinating. With each programme charting the timeline of various period properties from the 16th century to the 1960s. Residents found out about their home from conception to the current day, including ex owners, decor and other bits of juicy gossip!

For me, in my Art Deco pad, I was very interested to take part...

A) As I really wanted to learn more about the property (especially about Theodora, the flat's first tenant)

B) Because I've not had much experience with DIY, so to have a bit of moral support and the pressure of a deadline to complete a project was a benefit!

Initially I said we were renovating our bathroom. However, bit by bit the whole flat began to be worked upon... so that now, all I need to redecorate is the hallway! If you'd like to see how the flat used to look, check out here!

Tonight, on the Home Channel at 10pm you will be able to see the final results of a rather stressful, yet utterly fascinating and satisfying renovation project. We had a lot of help from family members and TV crew alike and I met some lovely folk during the process, I can genuinely say I'm glad to have taken part... despite occasional wobbles and tantrums where I threw down my hammer! I really wouldn't have been able to have done it without all the help, love and support from many people. So, if you're reading, here's my warmest heartfelt thanks :)

I also hasten to add, I have no idea what to expect from the programme, having not seen it... so I'm very nervous! EEK!

There's a brief article about our episode here. we were also in the Sunday Mirror yesterday in the Homes and Holidays supplement, I must get round to scanning a copy to post. In the mean time here are some publicity shots we had taken (the photographer was ace, he looked like Austin Powers... I shouted "yeah baby" at one point, which apparently wasn't the first time he's heard that... I'm so unoriginal!)

Him and me with Mr. Knowles

In my boudoir, with my mega value dressing table!

If you'd like to see the final results, I shall post snaps up of each room this week... I can't do it now, as, well, one must leave one's public wanting more ;) !

G x

Goodwood Revival a brief look at wartime meteorology and a new suit!

2011-10-23T09:55:00.006+01:00

This is a late post if ever there was one! I can barely believe the Revival was a month and a half ago! Time speeds away indeed.

I didn't get to see much of the Revival itself as I was very lucky to have been asked along, and lent/made a uniform, in order to work as a WAAF in one of the hospitality tents. This was great as it meant that I had the chance to explore another area of history that I haven't looked into much... It also ment that i got to dress up!

I was posted on the met desk, which meant I had to give frequent weather reports... y'know cloud base, wind velocity and direction, visibility, first light... etc, etc! Eek! I cried. I only know how to tune into the telly and listen to John Kettley talk about isobars!

Fortunately I found a wonderful book called "One WAAF's War" by a lady called Joan Beech. If you ever find a copy I highly recommend it. Joan worked in the RAF Met office from about 1942. The book's full of anecdotes and wonderful descriptions about what her job involved. I also read "Debs at War" by Anne De Courcy, which looks at a selection of services women could sign up to, from the perspective of the higher class Debutants of the era. Again, this book is a fabulous read. The pictures are wonderful and to discover about the social history of such a class of woman and how the war shook such class structures was a real eye opener.

So with my very small amount of research under my belt I headed off to Goodwood, terrified that I may encounter a real life meteorologist who'd ask me questions that I wouldn't be able to answer... as one cannot discover the art of mapping the weather after reading two books!

At the Met desk, recieving a call from Bracknell HQ

In real life a Met WAAF would have made a weather observation every hour, reading the temperature, pressure, wind direction and speed. Cloud types, height and quantity, the visibility and weather conditions. this would then be coded and sent by teleprinter to Met HQ at Bracknell.

The charts like you see on TV were produced every three hours and in the afternoon a visit to the aircrew briefing room would be made. here the chart would be displayed so that details of the weather conditions at take-off, over the target and on return back to base could be given.

It was an unglamerous job, all shift work, either working from 6am-1pm, 1pm-8pm or 10 hours overnight 8pm-6am and invariably the girls would have to venture outside in stormy weather and take readings whilst getting drenched! the plus side was that due to working shifts, the routine "square bashing" could be avoided... so many Met girls didn't have to do drill too often!

Also, because the job required breifing airmen about weather conditions, many WAAFs encountered pilots in the briefing room who they would never seen return from an operation... which, to me, is a very sad and very daunting prospect.

Me at the plotting table

The plotting table

The plotting table was a very important bit of kit, upon which service women plotted the movements of allied and enemy aircraft. This was done every 5 minutes and updated according to a "sector clock". Each new plot would be labelled in a new colour, red, blue or yellow... depending upon what time a plot is made.

A sector clock

I watched with awe as the other girls undertook this task... it was explained to me, but continued to confuse me! The chaps at the top of the table are important Officer types giving out orders and so on!

It wasn't only the RAF who were working in the ops room. In fact we were working alongside the Royal Artillery, Navy and ATS, with a group called The Garrison... a wonderful re enactment group who explore role of the Royal Artillery and Auxiliary Territorial Service gunners in war and in peace. Check out thier website, and if you can head to one of thier events, it's all extremly accurate and they are a smashing bunch of folk.

The spitfire formation

On the Sunday I was lucky to see an ariel display of ten spitfires grace the sky... which was utterly breathtaking. and particularly poingnat as the aircraft was conceived 26 miles from Goodwood at the Supermarine Aviation factory at Woolston... Such beautiful pieces of machinery!

And now for something completely different...

I had bought a ticket for the saturday, so rolled up in my "civvies" and what civvies they were. thios gorgeous creation is from those lovely folk at Puttin' on the Ritz. It's a sneak preview to a 1930s style suit in thier up and coming range called "The Parisienne". I felt splendid in it... and it's such a versatile little number. the skirt and bolero can be worn separately, and together they are the height of sophistication in monochrome!

Trackside posing!

Ok, Ok... it's a 1955 Aston Martin DB3S and the suit is 1930s influenced... photo date accuracy fail! But the car was black and white, I was wearing black and white, so it was aesthetically pleasing!

So, that was my Goodwood experience this year! I wonder what next year will bring?

TTFN

G x

The Love Shake Sale and Social... THIS SUNDAY

2011-10-19T17:32:00.002+01:00

You heard me right folks!

We'll be selling our own repro and vintage clothes This Sunday 23rd Oct

4pm-7pm at the Love Shake, Kingsland Road, Shoreditch

It'll be the last sale of the year so you're sure to find some great stuff. We also have Minna of Red Legs and Harriet as guest sellers, along with Kelly Honey Bare Humphries who'll be providing hair styling and make up

Perfect Sunday? I'd jolly well say so!

It'd be lovely to see you there

G x

Southern Retro

2011-10-07T15:59:00.002+01:00

Allo there!

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mat from Southern Retro. He's a jolly clever Graphic Designer and rather good photographer... also a lovely chap.

Anyway, he came to take my snaps to pop on his blog about people who live vintage/retro lives... and he's just posted the results which can be seen here.

My mug, captured on film by Mat Keller

Whilst you're there you could take a peek at the other lovely folk who he's captured. I've really enjoyed reading about how each person featured became interested in the scene, plus the photos are rather smashing to look at too!

Mat's personal blog is also rather grand, and it can be followed here

TTFN

G xx

A thing about me you may not know and some shameless self promotion!

2011-09-30T06:48:00.001+01:00

Hello world,

The past few weekends post Goodwood have swept along in a blur, Ive had work, auditions, hen dos and a bit of drama, which has left me somewhat discombobulated!

Anyway... I imagine you're all chomping at the bit for Revival shots... the pics shall follow shortly, in the meantime may I bring your attention to the other side of me? (Ooooer!)

Many of you may know I work in broadcasting, but I'm not sure how many know that I also am a voice over artist... yep, I sell my voice in various forms for adverts, talking books, tour guides and all sorts. Having just had a brand spanking new demo recorded I thought I'd pop up the link to it here... not to show off (despite being ever so pleased with it) but to see if any one who listens has any feedback. Also, well, you never know who reads these bloggy things....

"Hello perfume advert casting director I'm your girl!"

http://www.voicespro.com/uk/cv/gemma_king

That be the link above. Please do have a listen. It'd be great to hear your thoughts :)

Also may I take this opportunity to mention the rather swanky mug shots of...well... my mug, are taken by the rather splendid Mat Keller of Southern Retro. He came over the other day for tea and crumpets and to take photos of my face and my house. His site's rather a good read, lots of lovely snaps of folk who live the vintage/retro life and a little biopic about each of them.

Courtesy of the talented Mat Keller. Thank you Mat!

Dahhhhling... look at me looking all broody and theatrical!

G x

Goodwood... See you there?

2011-09-15T16:34:00.001+01:00

Well folks it's finally here! GOODWOOD! And I'm chomping at the bit to head down to West Sussex.

This year's extremely special as I'll be working there on Friday and Sunday as a WAAF in the Officer's Mess ... I'm really excited, and maybe a little apprehensive, as I cannot remember who to call Sir, how to salute and how precisely to work the plotting table... eek! I fear I may be permanently on jankers over the weekend!

This'll be me!

Saturday I have day release and shall be wandering about in my civvies, but very special civvies... I'll be steppin' out in a new Puttin' on the Ritz suit design for Autumn that hasn't yet been seen... it's a gorgeous suit I tell you... and I'll have plenty of piccies to post next week :D

Maybe see some of you down there, it'd be great to say hello :)

TTFN

G x

Messing about in Metro-Land

2011-09-12T11:47:00.005+01:00

Phew, what a weekend... The Ric Rack Club and my good friend Claire's 30th on Saturday... and a Sunday full of 1938 tube trains, RM1 buses and The Sarah Siddons (an early electric loco).

I haven't get gathered all the photos of Saturday, so I shall do a separate Birthday and Ric Rack post. In the mean time, here is a postcard from...

Metro-Land

Miss G in Metro-Land

The Metropolitan Railway opened in 1863 and was the world's first underground line. The name "Metro-Land" was the brainchild of James Garland, who worked for the Metropolitan Line's publicity department. Used to promote what the company first called its extension line, and later its main line, the term was featured in advertisements and promotions from 1915 to 1934.

Metro-land lies in north west London, with it's tracks sprawling into Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Middlesex. This expansion into the "suburbs" began early in the 20th century and the Metropolitan Railway provided local transportation. This was an independent company until the London Passenger Transport Board, or LPTB, took over in 1933 (in 1934 the name Underground was taken on... see this post for more).

Initially, in 1868, the line ran from Baker Street to Swiss Cottage. It ventured into Harrow by 1880, onto Rickmansworth in 1887, Chesham in 1889 and furrowed even deeper into the Chiltern Hills by arriving in Aylesbury by 1892... that's a lot of track!

A map of Metro-Land's lengthy tracks

"Live in Metro-land" was an idea developed in 1903 by the Metropolitan Co. who developed a housing estate at Cecil Park in Pinner... the first of many enterprises over the next 30 years (other estates cropped up in places such as Rickmansworth, Amersham, Croxley Green, Wembley Park, Hillingdon and Ruislip. Many were conceived during the 1930s housing boom, as briefly looked at here.) By 1919 the company was thriving with it's own Country Estates Company, with the "Live in Metro-land" slogan... such a popular catchphrase it was even etched on the door handles of Met train carriages!

It even reared it's head in literature... before the end of WWI George R. Sims had incorporated the term in verse...

"I know a land where the wild flowers grow,

Near, near at hand if by train you go,

Metroland, Metroland".

By the 1920s, the word was so ingrained within the public consciousness that Evelyn Waugh mentions the locale... in "Decline and Fall" (1928) the Hon Margot Beste-Chetwynd marries a certain Viscount Metroland.... Lady Metroland then reappears in his 1930's book "Vile Bodies".

Most notoriously the poet, writer and broadcaster, Sir John Betjeman penned many a verse with Metropolitan turf as his muse...

"When melancholy autumn comes to Wembley,

And electric trains are lighted after tea"

(except from the poem "Harrow on the Hill" by John Betjeman)

It isn't just literature into which Metro-Land has crept. Because the film production studios of Borehamwood and Pinewood were in easy reach, the area was often used as a setting for TV programmes... especially in the '60s. To the extent that it is also known as "Avengerland". Programmes such as The Avengers, The Saint and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) were all shot in the locale, so if you watch one of them you'll often see archetypal Metro-Land railway stations and quiet suburban streets home to conspiracy, action and espionage!

Rather amazing to think really, that what began as a small suburban railway area, grew to such an extent that it inspired a Poet Laureate and was home to Honor Blackman's cat suit!

But enough of the waffle... here are some snaps from our day out...


In the 1938 tube stock at Amersham

Chris inside the '38 stock

Me inside the '38 stock... those seats are comfy!


Even the lighting was stylish in art deco glass!

Vogueing on the Metro!

Up to no good inside the drivers cab on the Sarah Siddons. This was great! What a feat of engineering

At the wheel of RM1. The cab is at least 4 ft off the ground so getting in was tricky... getting out even more so! It must have been quite a sight!

If you get a chance to go on one of The London Transport Museum's Heritage days it's well worth a visit, such a wonderful way to spend a day out, and a great way to get up close to some marvellous machinery... also, one can wear a hat and gloves in stylish surroundings!

G xx

P.S

You can view more marvellous snaps of the day on London tansport Museum's Flickr...

here

Nothing to do on Saturday night? Problem solved here!

2011-09-06T08:43:00.000+01:00

The Ric Rack club is on this Saturday...

Doors open at 8pm

Where Fleur will be mixing it up a little with some dance band classics, along to which you can wet your whistle with a free glass of Ginger Haze (a punch made from King's Ginger liqueur, apple and fresh lime juice with a secret ingredient), or a refreshing bottle of Jeremiah Weed alcoholic root beer! You'll also be handed a free ticket to the Ric rack Raffle! I like Free!

Just before 9pm

I'll get my uke out and play some bits and bobs... hopefully it'll all pan out ok, if it doesn't you can always enjoy your free drink and ignore me!

About 9.30pm

Upstairs will get into full swing with a set from 1940s harmony group The Marjorie Belles, a lovely trio who are sure to get you "In the Mood!"

About 10pm

The lovely Yesterday Girl will play a jive set upstairs where there will also be a demo and mini class on the Stroll - it's a very easy 1950s dance even my foxtrotting feet can do!

Then...

All Fringe, No Knickers will crack out the Northern Soul

what will be included in the raffle??

Let me tell ya...

A bottle of No 3 London Dry Gin (worth £30)

A pair of Jeni's (vintage) Jugs (I say!)

A Daisy chain on Black Fleur dress (in your choice of size) - perfect for autumn (worth £80)

A facsimile of Fleur's Fanny... Hill - it's a salacious story

A giant pork pie (believe me, it's massive!)

A pair of Bethan's finest Buns (everyone needs some)

A set of Shirt Companions from gentleman's emporium Sharp and Dapper (worth £14.99)

A pair of Naomi's Knickers (new frilly pants, fresh from What Katie Did and usually £15)

A bottle of Glenrothes Special Reserve Whisky (worth £32)

A set of Lisa's very own Legwear (In reality it's an unopened pair of seamed What Katie Did stockings)

A pot of Gemma's Gentleman's Relish (ain't I spoiling you?!)

A fabulous, custom-made and special edition hat from Strumpet, (Thank you so much to the lovely ladies at Strumpet!)

This'll be drawn at midnight before you turn into pumpkins!

To come along you need to must book your tickets now. £8 plus a small booking fee. The £8 door reserve list is no longer available as we fear we may sell out in advance and want to be sure everyone gets it! (anyone who has pre-reserved already is guaranteed entry though, so fear not!)

G x

The 1930s... Glam v Grim

2011-08-26T08:09:00.008+01:00

As promised, here is my follow up Inter War feature... continuing from my 1930s fashion item, I look at the drastic differnces between the good and bad times of the 1930s.

Glamour

"The word, originally Scottish, was brought into general literary use by Walter Scott around 1830.

An alteration of the word 'gramarye' meaning 'occult learning, magic, necromancy', it passed into standard English and meant 'a delusive or alluring charm'; nearly a century later, in the 1930s, it acquired its current meaning, relating to the charm or physical allure of a person."
(Quote: Fowler's Modern English)

With our current day concept of the 1930s, Glamour well and truely casts a spell over the truth of this harsh decade, the glitter shrouds a bleaker picture... The Great Depression of 1929, a severe worldwide economic depression that lasted well into the mid to late '30s.

The problems began in the U.S in 1929 as stock prices fell on September 4th, eventually crashing on Tuesday October 29th. The day was labelled as "Black Tuesday" and effects rapidly spread throughout the world.

Rich and poor alike were hit, with personal income, tax revenue, profits and prices dropping, international trade plummeted by 50% and unemployment rose to 25% in the US, whilst in other countries it rocketed as high as 33%. Areas that relied upon heavy industry and farming severely felt the blow; with crop prices falling and construction halted, a bleak picture was painted for all.

The USA

We tend to link the Great Depression mainly with the States and during this time many quirks synonymous with 'vintage' and the '30s were born; such as cocktails. There had been a strong Temperance movement in the US throughout the 19th century, ever keen to banish the evils of liquor, fuel was added to their fire during The First World War as belief spread that the brewing and distilling industries were wasting precious grain, molasses and labor... beer was the biggest victim due to anti-German sentiment (with names such as Pabst, Schlitz and Blatz the beverage struggled to make sales). What made matters worse was the spread of saloons across the States (there was, on average, a bar for every 150 people). Most were disrespectful establishments, with owners luring in patrons by offering free lunches, gambling, cockfighting and prostitution. In 1920 the Prohibition act came into effect and continued for 14 years. In order to get around the bans, gangsters distilled bootleg liquor, concealed in petrol cans and other peculiar receptacles, 'cocktails' became a cunning way to hide the foul taste of the alcohol (they had been about since 1803 but became heavily relied upon during the US's dry spell).

The Prohibition may have ended in 1933, but it's my belief that during the depression, temperancy didn't help with morale so, in order to drown their sorrows, people frequented speakeasies in order to sup upon cocktails, this in turn became fashionable; to the extent there is a mass of Art Deco cocktail shakers on the market and we frequently see Hollywood stars sipping a cocktail or two in the most glamorous surroundings... a far cry from the slightly seedier image the tipple once had.

In the Thin Man Nick and Nora Charles invariably indulge in "Cocktails for two"...knocking back martinis in the most decadent of surroundings!

Another economic reaction in the USA was the feedsack dress. Those wonderfully patterned, pretty, airy frocks we all covet were conceived in rural communities during the '20s and '30s, as living on a farm meant living frugally. Anything that could be recycled or reused was, thus the feedsack dress was born. Women turned thriftiness into creativity by transforming old feed and flour bags into dresses, underwear, towels, curtains and quilts.

By the 1940s, bag manufacturers cashed in on this habit by producing bags in various designs, believing this would boost sales as woman would opt for a brand with an attractive fabric. By WWII there was a shortage of cotton fabric so recycling of bags became a necessity and was encouraged by the government. So much so that the habit of reusing these little bags of wonder led to national sewing contests so women could show off their skills and manufacturers their designs.

"Mummy, this flour sack is copying our style!"

The UK

Over in Blighty things were pretty tough too. It is said that the UK suffered a twenty-year great depression beginning after WWI in 1918. The largest material loss during the war was in the British Merchant Navy, which lost 40% of its merchant fleet to the U-boat. As well as this, the war had destroyed Britain's trading position in the world market through losses of shipping. As overseas customers looked elsewhere for formerly British produce (such as textiles, steel and coal) The UK was left stretched.

The depression in Britain was a geographical affair. Totally rocking particular areas of the nation, whilst gently shaking others. This was to do with how the various industries were dispersed about the country... Heavy industries such as coal mining, ship building and steel were mainly concentrated in Northern England, South Wales and central Scotland, and these places felt the hardest blow with the effects largely visible during the '30s where mass unemployment and poverty hit an all time high. One of the worst hit areas during this time was the north east, a major centre for shipbuilding. With no demand, ship production declined and in turn affected all the supply industries such as steel and coal. Unemployment reached as high as 70%. Among the worst affected towns was Jarrow, where instability led to the famous Jarrow March, in which protesters marched 300 miles to London to protest against unemployment.

In comparison 1930s life in southern England thrived due to the new and growing electrical industry and a suburban house building boom. As the geography of London spread into the Home Counties residents in the south could invest in some of the new mass produced items on the market such as cookers, washing machines and radios. This added to the south's strength as nearly half of all new factories producing such items were based in the Greater London area.

"Hearts are lighter, eyes are Brighter, in Metro Land, Metro Land!"
As southern England enjoyed economic prosperity the suburb was born.
Railway lines were built and homes were built at the end of them. All for the London worker who wished for a healthier life in the "country" (in the 1930s the country included places such as Kingston, Merton, Golders Green and Ruislip)

The Hoover Building, just off the A40 in Perivale.
Designed by Wallis Gilbert and Partners and built in 1932. In my opinion the prime example a '30s factory that was built that excelled during London's industrial boom.

The Coty Factory. Another Wallis Gilbert masterpiece built in 1932.
It is situated on the A4 in Brentwood/Chiswick. the stretch of road is known as "The Golden Mile" due to the high concentration of '20s and '30s industry that excelled along the road. You can still see many of the factories there today

Another industry that prospered during the 1930s was the British motor industry and the Midlands experienced a boom time too, with motor plants in Birmingham, Coventry and Oxford manufacturing Austin, Morris and Ford the number of cars on British roads doubled within the decade, and more roads were built to house them .

Made in Oxfordshire!
The Morris plant excelled in Cowley during the 1930s.

However, where there's riches there's rags; there were still vast pockets of poverty scattered in the southern regions (For instance in London there was Lambeth and the East End) and slums were still a feature within towns and cities across the UK. Although an act was passed in the '30s, where architects and housing reformers began a campaign to encourage large-scale building by local aauthorities, in order to alleviate these dreadful conditions, many areas were not completely addressed until the 1950s. An eye opening fact when you consider how short a time ago that is.

Before:
A slum in Nisbet Street, Homerton, London, in the 1930s

After:
The slums were demolished to provide better housing. This is Nisbet steet in 1939

It is no wonder that, in this time of instability, people looked to Hollywood in order for a moment's escapism. And this is probably why the "Golden Age" is now viewed in retrospect with a rosy tint.

With mass produced clothing, cosmetics and household goods, all at reasonable prices and easily to hand, those who could afford a small luxury from time to time could indulge, and those who had very little still visited their local Odeon or Capitol. Even when times were at their hardest and Hollywood waited for the effects of the economy to affect them, cinema goers remained true, paying their weekly penny, for their own private dose of...

Glamour.

Thats all for the '30s folks... hope you enjoyed it! I'll be working on a '40s and '50s feature soon. I've been blogging for a year today, and I really appreciate all of your comments and visits... I have lots lined up for you in the coming months (it's all swimming about in my head waiting to expell through my digits!) So please do swing by again, it'd be lovely to see you :)

G xx

Sweet tooth sour mood

2011-08-24T18:46:00.001+01:00

Today I've been in the foulest of moods. I got out of the wrong side of bed and (although I'm ashamed to admit it) anyone who's gotten on my nerves today has experienced "brusque Gemma".

When I have the moody blues I tend to crave sweet stuff, so I ditched my diet in order to try and alleviate my temper. A massive bag of Jelly Babies was purchased... and eaten within 20 minutes. I feel thoroughly sick, but slightly happier as the sugar rushes through my blood.

Whilst enjoying my rush I suddenly recalled a few interesting Vintage facts about these multicoloured sculptures of jelly goodness, so I shall tell you about them, 'casue I think they're rather good!

1) Bassett's launched "Peace Babies" in 1918 to mark the end of World War I. Production ceased during World War II due to shortages, but the little blighters returned in 1953 as "Jelly Babies".

2) Beatles fans began pelting the band with the sweets after Harrison made the mistake of mentioning in an interview that he loved Jelly Babies. The habit even spread to the United States where harder jelly beans were hurled instead. He allegedly wrote to a fan asking her to appeal to her friends and other fans to stop...

“Couldn’t you eat them yourself, besides it is dangerous. I was hit in the eye once with a boiled sweet, and it’s not funny!”

3)In Dr. Who, Jelly Babies were often mentioned in the early series and became an ongoing joke with the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) who would randomly offer the sweeties to unsuspecting people he encountered.

4) Different shapes and names to colours was introduced about 1989. Before this all colours of jelly baby were a uniform shape

5) In 1998 a line of sweets called Jellyatrics were launched to commemorate the Jelly Baby's 80th birthday

That is all... not the best post, but a nice little filler

G x

Snapped at Southbank

2011-08-18T08:16:00.010+01:00

Allo,

Cor it's been a while since my last post, there is a reason, a secret reason that, very soon, can be revealed, but at present I have to remain schtum!

Anyway, a few weeks ago I went to Vintage at Southbank to help Lena, Style High and Margaret, Penny Dreadful with the Festival of Britain tours.

I'm sure you've read reviews elsewhere about the event, so I shan't hark on here. I shall say is that it was disappointing that our tours weren't advertised as I'd spent many long hours researching.... and Lena and Margaret spent even more hours working towards the event. I thought we'd attract a crowd but attendance was low- and it seems that was because no one knew we existed (either that or people heard I was there and ran away!) It's a shame that (from what I've heard) the volunteers who assisted in the running of events were not utilised and communicated with more. What I think would make an event such as this grow is the passion people bring to it... and if that passion is nurtured and promoted it only helps to create a better event. But that's just my opinion, I'm not an events planner so cannot, for one moment, contemplate what it's like to organise an event on that scale... and it was a BIG event with a lot of people involved.

In spite of this glitch I did have a ball during my Sunday at Southbank, it was great mooching about the stalls, watching fashion shows, having a dance in The Royal Festival Hall, eating tonnes of ice cream and meeting up with all my lovely friends, also making new ones by meeting fellow bloggers such as the lovely Tuppence Ha'penny (she makes smashing bags from records!)

.... So all in all it was a good day and I look forward to next year :)

Something that I found rather strange was being stopped to have my photo taken... a lot! (what's more odd is that, having searched the net for snaps, I can't seem to find nearly as many as were taken!) The ones I have found I'm rather pleased with, and, although it sounds a bit boasty, sod it... this is a boasty posty... I rather enjoyed being snapped and am thinking of trying out some more modelling. One fellow named Neil Buchan Grant snapped me and I was stunned by the results...

I want to look like this every day! He's a clever chappy is Mr. Buchan Grant! Check out his blog to see more Vintage at Southbank shots, all of which are smashing. (I also suggest perusing his other work, the travel photos are phenominal!)

Shameless ad alert:
If you're a budding photographer and fancy risking your lens on my mug for portfolio work etc please do get in touch. I'm not super-model material being only 5ft 4" and I own a curve or two, but look at those snaps and you'll see I scrub up alright guv'!

G x

Vintage Guide to London Southbank Tours-with Vintage at Southbank

2011-07-30T18:38:00.001+01:00

Hello one and all,

Are you near London? Are you at a loose end tomorrow? Fancy having a jaunt by the Thames and learning a bit about the Festival of Britain?

Then come and meet Lena (Style High Club), Margaret (Penny Dreadful) and me at 11am and 2pm, outside the Southbank Foyles, where we'll transport you back to 1951 with our Festival of Britain tours.

The added bonus is, after we've nattered at you for about half an hour, I've heard there's reems of vintage stalls and other entertainment to browse too!

It'd be lovely to meet you

G xx

Inter war fashion feature - the 1930s and fashion

2011-07-25T08:55:00.005+01:00

The '30s drew inspiration from the rise of Hollywood where glamour oozed from the screen. Everything became less jagged and jazzy and more smooth and sultry. Clothes became more fluid creating sleek curves and celebrating the image of a woman's shape. Many of the experimental changes of the '20s were corrected; on a 1930's woman's outfit The waistline returned (as opposed to the drop waist of the '20s). Similarly, the skirt length became longer, in reverse to the '20s approach to fashion where shockingly short hemlines were popular.

The lovely Norma Shearer shows us how it's done in bias cut satin. The bias cut emphasises curves and satin shimmers to create an opulence... it also clings to every line, making it rather unforgiving on a fat day!

I love that the 1930s saw the woman's body as beautiful and feminine. The bust line was returned and was emphasised after years of being suppressed (due to the androgynous 20's style). Because of the renewed emphasis on healthy living, sports wear became popular, and this focus on exercise combined with the slender movie stars and Busby Berkeley beauties made it fashionable to be healthy and for a woman to show off her long lean form.

"Does my bum look big in this?" Busby Berkeley would be sure to say so... measuring each dancer to ensure the overall effect on screen was one of symmetry and perfection.

If your figure didn't quite cut Berkeley girl perfection, all was not lost... because slim was 'in' the corset returned in order to recreate that fashionable streamlined look. As a 1933 Harper's Bazaar article on the season's new line of corsets cautions...

"You cannot have a roll of flesh about the midriff. An uncontrolled derriere is vulgar in a slinky dress."

... I have recently acquired a '30s girdle and by golly it works, you just can't eat much whilst wearing it!

Two fashion designers synonymous with the era are Madeleine Vionnet and Elsa Schiaparelli. Both women created memorable fashions that were in step with 1930s concepts. An iconic look of the era was Elsa Schiaparelli's knitted white bow jumper. The decade also saw designers create fashions that were helpful to women in the workplace such as a woman's suit that even had pockets that looked like drawers!

Top left and main image: The Schiaparelli Lobster dress, created in collaboration with Salvador Dali in 1937, infamously worn by Wallis Simpson and photographed by Cecil Beaton. Bottom left inset Schiaparelli's iconic famous sweater.

I love this Madeleine Vionnet evening dress from Spring/Summer 1938. The fringing calls attention to the lines of the body beneath... I'd have to be feeling super svelte before shimmying into this creation! Vionnet drew inspiration for her designs from statues of the ancient Greeks and the use of these neoclassical, flowing lines went hand in hand with the mood of the era.

This was the decade that created trends and consumerism. With the rise of off the peg fashions and mass produced cosmetics , cinema goers could watch a film at the local Odeon and emulate their favourite film star's clothes, hairstyle, make up or even eyebrows... all in order to stay in vogue and add a touch of luxury in their day to day routine!

Possibly the most copied eyebrows in the world. Greta had to darken her fair brows so they'd be seen on the camera, and female cinema goers followed suit

The ritual of application make became the norm in the '30s, once a taboo it now was de rigueur to apply lipstick and powder paint in public, as Winifred Watson observes out, in her 1938 novel "Miss Pettigrew lives for a day" (which is a jolly good read)

“Come now, Guinevere,” said Miss LaFosse. “You must powder your nose again. It isn’t done not to. Last gesture before entering a room. It gives a sense of confidence...With trembling fingers, nervous, clumsy, contented, for the first time in her life, Miss Pettigrew powdered her own nose. “Do you know,” she said happily. “I think you’re right. It does add a certain assurance to one’s demeanor. I feel it already.”

-Winifred Watson, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (1938)

Powder, surprisingly, was more popular than lipstick in the '30s, which saw the rise of ornate powder compacts and even publications giving advice on how to apply the perfect powder base.

Just in case you didn't know already girls ;)

A typical 1930s compact, containing a powder compartment, lipstick applicator and cigarette case

The next installment will look at architecture, the US depression and UK's Jarrow marches. So watch this space :)

G x

Interwar fashion feature - the 1920s

2011-07-22T18:40:00.009+01:00

I love the interwar years... from 1920-1939 the social history is fascinating, architecture amazing, music sublime... and the clothes a feast for the eyes!

You can really see the mood of an age through all these factors, so I've decided to do a couple of posts about these two decades sandwiched between two, massive world changing events. (And if you enjoy it, I may even do a follow up on wartime and post war fashions!)

So, without further ado, I bring you a brief delve into the 1920s...

The '20s saw a sudden release from what was before WW1. Women had won the vote, worked through the war and experienced an emancipation never known to them. For all, after the experiences of war, there was a general need to let ones hair down... the 1920s was like a huge sigh of relief and a general abandon away from war. Thus the jazz age was born.

In fashion the highly coiffed hair, tight laced corsets creating S shaped curves, hobble skirts and high necked blouses were abandoned in favour of shingled hair, short skirts and boyish figures.

I always find it hard to believe that there's only ten years between these two women. Not only has the body shape changed but the general attitude has shifted from prim and proper to laid back and louche. Ankles on show, smoking and make up... all unheard of in Edwardian society... unless you were an actress or a lady of loose morals!

It wasn't only fashion that moved away from the old ways, evolving from ragtime hot jazz became mainstream... echoing in peoples ears and offering a suitable soundtrack of momentum to this fast paced decade.

The main picture is an early Edwardian Ragtime music sheet cover, the smaller insert is a 1920s jazz sheet music cover, to me the differences in the art work help to sum up the mood of the music and era.

And architecture looked upwards and onwards, breaking away from convention and creating a feeling of movement and modernism, thus the first skyscrapers were born. In the UK 55 Broadway is a prime example, . You can also see new discoveries of the age inspiring design, when King Tutankhamen’s tomb was excavated in 1922, Egyptomania exploded into popular culture.

55 Broadway, modern, brutal and so much bigger than everything else around it!

Even Palmolive embraced the '20s fascination for Egypt, how else does one appeal to a flapper?!

Are you tingling with emancipation? Fancy liberating you inner flapper? You should be able to with ease this Autumn and Winter with 1920s and '30s fashions set to appear on the high street. I've had a little hunt to find some '20s fashions for you to Charleston in...

On the High Street...

Oooo this makes me drool, find it at Miss Selfridge for £70!

Double drool, twinkly heels... I want! £65 from Schuh

Pretty hair? Done at Treasure Box for £24.95

On Etsy...

Oh I wish I'd won the Euro millions or had £566.25. From Gold Mine Trash

GOLD! ... always believe in your... shoes! Oh how I wish I had detachable toes to squeeze myself into these pretties. £62.92 from Bad Girl Vintage

Need something to twirl whilst you Charleston? This tassel necklace should help. £33.98 from Gypsy Road Studio

Next up... the 1930s

G x

A request for some good luck

2011-07-01T08:04:00.000+01:00

Tonight I have my first grown up gig, at a restaurant in Portsmouth called The Kitsch 'n d'or (I love that name!)

This time the band doesn't only consist of close friends and family members, there will be no rehearsal, the audience won't be familiar pub locals rooting for me and I don't just sing a song per set, but three or four ... so I'm beginning to feel a touch of terror.

So, from about 7pm until 11pm GMT, if you wouldn't mind rooting for me and sending as much luck as you can muster, I will be eternally grateful... and shall be able to post clips of the gig up here after :)

If you are in the Portsmouth vicinity and are free, it would be lovely to see you... I hear the venue is lovely and does smashing food... so if my warbling's below par you'll be able to distract yourself with splendid nosh!

G xx

Synchronised sinking or swimming?

2011-06-24T15:33:00.001+01:00

"WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING?!" I hear you cry... well

On arrival at the pool I was introduced to Yvonne, the poor soul whose task it was to turn me into a water ballerina. Handing me a fetching frilly swimming cap, she asked me to get into the water and show her my 'strokes'. "Great", I think, this'll be easy peasy... "I have a bronze lifesaver badge!" ... Foolish. After the first excruciating half hour watching me splash about like a beached whale Yvonne whispered to Ben (BBC Essex's sport journalist who was recording my ritual humiliation) "I don't think she'll manage a routine".

But I proved her wrong when she asked me to do the 'eggbeater'. A bizarre stroke where the top half of your body remains still whilst you whisk your legs about like crazy (like an egg beater) in order to stay afloat... It turns out that I'm expert 'eggbeater'. Things continued to go well when I picked up 'skulling' like a pro. I then let myself down when taught how to perform a move called 'the tub'... The only 'tub' I plan to have in my life from now on contains ice cream.

Me - mid 'tub'

However, all was not lost, as I redeemed myself on the the next move, which involved my doing the front crawl and saluting... so cheesy it came second nature.

Front crawling and saluting at the same time

My 'back layout' was also pretty nifty (mainly as all it involves is floating about on your back like a plank of wood!)

Back layout-ing like a pro... except, from my experssion, it looks like I'm about to expire!

The end result wasn't to Olympic standard and did involve a little too much splashing, accompanied by the odd spluttered expletive. But I managed it! I've also walked away with...

A) A lot of respect for anyone who can do synchro, as it 'aint as easy as it looks
B) A dodgy knee
C) A frilly swimming cap

I'm still trying to get my hands on the item to post up here permanently, but if you can't wait to listen to my adventure go here... Click on Ray Clark's Breakfast Show for Friday 24th June, my swimming adventure appears twice in the show, the first time is about 20 minutes in from the start

G x

I'll be swimming... but will it be synchronised?

2011-06-21T08:08:00.002+01:00

I'm hoping to look this graceful

Work are doing an Olympics Challenge, where each member of the team has a shot at one of the 2012 Olympic sports in the hope to get them all done by the opening ceremony.

Don't ask what came over me, or why I did it, but I did... I stupidly agreed to have a splash at synchronised swimming. There are a few problems with this...

A) Bathing suit

B) I hate getting water in my ears, eyes and nose

C) I'm not a strong swimmer

D) I am not flexible and cannot do a handstand

E) ... BATHING SUIT!

To try and take my mind off the technicalities (and water up nose scenario) I thought I'd do a bit of research into the sport, and have found it's origins are rather interesting, with a very vintage link. Here are some interesting facts, swimming in a figure of 8...

1) Initially, synchronized swimming was known as water ballet, with the first competition held in 1891 in Berlin. From here the sport became increasingly popular and continued to develop, competitions in those days were undertaken in lakes and rivers, so you'd be keeping time with the fishes as well!

2) It didn't only have a sport format... During the 1900s larger Music Halls featured synchronised swimming in their programmes, using specially equipped on-stage tanks!

3) Originally a Gentleman's sport, Ladies soon adopted the pastime as the nature of the physical movements are more suited to the female physique (it's something to do with the centre of gravity.)

4) By 1907, the sport was growing in popularity, helped by Annette Kellerman, an Australian water ballerina who performed in a glass tank at the New York Hippodrome.

5) Another pivotal water Goddess was Katherine Curtis who experimented various diving actions and stunts and started one of the first water ballet clubs at the University of Chicago, where the team soon began executing strokes, tricks and floating formations.

6) Between 1933-1934, Kathrine Curtis then organised a show called "The Modern Mermaids", for the World Exhibition in Chicago. The announcer introduced as "Synchronised Swimming". This was the first mention of the term, although Curtis still used the term rhythmic swimming in her book, 'Rhythmic Swimming: A Source Book of Synchronized Swimming and Water Pageantry' (quite a mouthful!)

7) It was Hollywood, and the champion swimmer Esther Williams, who popularised the sport through elaborately staged scenes in Hollywood films such as 'Bathing Beauty' (1944), 'Million Dollar Mermaid' (1952), and 'Jupiter's Darling' (1955). Even Miss Piggy had a go in the film 'The Great Muppet Caper' (1981).

8) It took sometime for the sport to officially enter the Olympics, despite the first demonstration being in the 1952 Olympic Games, it did not become an official Olympic sport until the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.

Today I take the plunge and have my lesson, all of which shall be recorded for general public scrutiny/mockery. If you don't hear from me after today, you know that I have...

A) Died of shame

B) Drowned

But I hope neither will happen... wish me luck!

G x

Holidays

2011-06-06T12:01:00.000+01:00

Ello, I'm back, albeit briefly, to share some snaps of my very swift holiday. Him and me drove up to York on Friday, the weather was glorious so we had a mooch around York, had afternoon tea at Betty's Tea Rooms and spent some time in the National Rail Museum. I really do wish that I could up sticks and move to York, it's such a beautiful city.


Upstairs at Betty's Tea Rooms York... swoon!

Chris amidst the maple deco panel work

my favourite, the Yorkshire Fat Rascal...

I presume it's called the Fat Rascal as it's almost bigger than your face!

Me and a rather swish art deco train called "The Duchess of Hamilton"

Note to self... nightly Bile Beans keep you healthy bright eyed and slim!

Saturday saw us drive to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we idled away a few hours on some lovely steam trains, I have never seen such gorgeous carriages as the ones here and the journey is very long, I cannot recommend a day out here highly enough. We took the train from Pickering to Goathland (where the TV series Heartbeat was filmed) but you can choose to carry on as far as Whitby, I imagine that's a rather spectacular trip.

Inside the train carriage, I love all the little deco details

wooden train carriages

Goathland, also known as Aidensfield, home of Heartbeat

Aidensfield (Goathland) high street

We the drove up to Alnwick as Chris was playing a gig, here he is mid solo...

Chris with Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra

On Sunday we went to one of the UK's largest second hand bookshops... Barter Books. Housed in Alnwick's old railway station, this place is something else! I could have spent all day in there.

Getting ready for some book lust

Books... old and new!

They have red velvet chaises to lounge upon whilst reading... plus! Why does Alnwick have to be so far away?!

Now I'm back home, sulking as the weather's naff and I have to do grown up things!

In other news... service on this blog will be sporadic until mid August I'm afraid, and I cannot completely divulge why at present, except that it's rather exciting and as soon as I can tell you I shall. A little clue is that it involves approximately 20 lites of paint, most of it, green!

I'll be back soon

G xx

New Etsy store - Gemima's Gems

2011-05-10T08:32:00.000+01:00

I have an Etsy store on which I'll be listing some of my treasured, but under worn items.

Having just made my first listing this morning I thought I'd share... plus there's a celebratory shop opening 10% discount!

The "Day at the Races" hats set is up for grabs

Watch that space for more listings... and this space for my paper doll dress up, coming later today, where you'll help me pare down my wardrobe!

G x

P.S... A Footnote to my embroidered dress post

2011-05-09T10:34:00.002+01:00

I was trawling through Etsy this morning and came across a picture on a sellers profile... of the pattern to my dress!

Many thanks to Anna of A Few Loose Threads for sending me the link to her blog with the snap!

A grand day out and bit of bedtime frock porn

2011-05-08T23:19:00.004+01:00

Hullo there,

This weekend's gone by in a blur... Saturday I spent 15 hours at work and emerged feeling utterly disorientated and today I headed to the homeland to see Mother dearest. We went to Farnham Maltings. Farnham's a place very dear to my heart as I spent many a happy evening in my youth at drama classes at the Redgrave Theatre, I also remember going to the Maltings as a kid with my folks, who enjoyed the odd antique fair (when I say odd I mean odd hundred!) So it was lovely to return to the place.

I thoroughly recommend a visit if you're that way. Farnham itself is a pretty town, and the Maltings runs a wide range of events, classes and fairs. Today was the first Vintage Fair the venue has hosted, and I was rather impressed by what I saw (pictures of goodies bought will be posted soon.) Hopefully another event will be organised... If you're reading Farnham Maltings... pretty pleeesae do another soon?!

Anyway, I decided to don my beloved 1930s dress, it's a flattering style from about 1934 (at least I think it is... any other guesses?) It falls to low calf and has the most amazing embroidery on it... From looking inside my wardrobe, I've realised that I have a thing for florals and embroidery, this dress involves both which makes me super happy! here is the little beauty...

A close up of my special frock

I love the length and the cut

A pattern I've found which looks simular. C.1934

Whoever made this was a clever seamstress, the embroidery is so precise, and the cut is super flattering, it makes me look long and lean, when in reality I'm only 5ft 4" and rather curvy!

I've yet to decipher what fabric it is. It was sold to me as cotton. But it doesn't feel like it. A clever lady who's in the know on such things says it's silk, and I have a feeling it could be a silk blend as the fabric has a slub grain to it and feels fairly thick.

Alas, due to my uncertainty on fabric and along with the embroidery I can't find a dry cleaner willing to touch it, which is annoying as it has some water marks and lipstick marks on it. Fortunately I've managed to soak the worst out... but I still want to brighten it up. Any ideas my lovely readers?

Anyway, I really must get to bed. Sweet dreams one and all

G x

Psst... Mr. Churchill has just forwarded a very exclusive invite... just for you!

2011-05-04T07:35:00.001+01:00

Next Friday, on the 13th May, The Churchill War Rooms will be holing a Museums at Night celebration. It kicks off at 6pm and will run till 10pm.

"What will be happening inside?!" I hear you cry Well, just to tempt you...

You'll be able to get in the mood with authentic music of the era, visit the Vintage Boudoir where a team of forties fashion experts (including Jeni, Lisa, Fleur and Naomi.) will be on hand to transform you. Why not sample a 1940s up do, or try a touch of rouge? There will even be a dressing up box complete with period clothes and accessories to try on. When you’re transformed, make sure you have your picture taken by the original No.10 Downing Street door in the Churchill Museum.

You can even have a natter with the Museum Director and pick his brain about the great wartime leader and those who want to find out more about the historically significant site can join one of the informal guided tours taking place throughout the evening, these I highly recommend, I only visited for the first time a couple of weeks ago and couldn't quite believe I've never been before, it's a truly magical Museum, and this event promises to be a special evening. I'll be there with the girls helping out, so if you can make it, it would be wonderful to meet you :)

G x

Admission:
Adults £15.95, Seniors and Students £12.80,
Visitors with disabilities £9.60 (Carer admitted free of charge)
Book your ticket by calling 020 7416 543

Adults only

Farewell to a 1930s dress... but hello to a blouse and skirt set!

2011-05-02T11:53:00.003+01:00

Well, the day has come to finally face facts and do something about this little beauty...

A wonderful 1930s voile print dress. My favourite frock. Alas the fabric is so brittle at the skirt that it has many tears in, all of which are irreparable. I have been contemplating many things to restore it, from removing the skirt and using it as a pattern to make a new skirt in a plain voile that matches one of the colours in the print. Unfortunately, all the voile I found in red, green or yellow were too vibrant, white is too bright and black is too heavy.

Then, one day, I showed the dress to the lovely (and very clever) Shona of Heyday. She suggested making the dress into a blouse then running up a skirt and bolero to wear with it. We decided green would look the best, and that I could use the skirt fabric to trim the bolero and the belt could attach to the skirt.

So I began hunting for a suitable pattern and the correct shade of green fabric. I thought a lovely floppy linen would look good. the problem was getting that vintagey looking colour. Modern dyes are too vibrant (either that or the vintage stuff was just as bright and has faded with age).

Then, whilst naughtily peering at Ebay this popped up...

An early '40s skirt and bolero, in the right green, in my size... and a snip at £40 including P&P! Well, it would have been daft not to snap it up. I got the set through on Thursday and it's in amazing condition, the bolero is spot on, the skirt is a little full for my liking, so I'm working out a way I can make it a bit more of a 30s trumpet shape (I think it'll be easy enough as there's a lot of fabric).

So, today, I must be brave and make my beloved, ragged bottomed, 30s dress into a snazzy new blouse. It's a sad, yet happy day all at once. Now I must concentrate so as not to mess up!

Results will be posted soon :)

Happy Bank Holiday Monday one and all

G x

Please wish for fair weather

2011-04-29T21:10:00.002+01:00

Well, today was gig day number one and it went rather well despite having no rehearsals! The only problem was that I couldn't make out what the weather would be like. I'd heard forecasts of rain, so I played safe and went for a sleeved floral 30s tea dress, which worked, but every time the sun popped through the overcast cloud I wished I'd thrown caution to the wind and worn this...

It's in the most amazing condition. a lovely heavy printed taffeta, with buttons down the back and blue velvet trim, the bottom trim is weighted so the skirt doesn't blow about! I've had it since Christmas and have been desperate to give it an outing. Somehow wearing a big, glam, floral frock in a big, luscious garden seemed appropriate. I have a pair of enamel butterfly earrings to go with it too, that way, I can jump into the herbaceous border and camouflage to my surroundings!

... I think I may be daring tomorrow and wear it anyway. Please keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

G x

What's that? Someone's getting married tomorrow?

2011-04-28T07:15:00.006+01:00

So, the gossip goes that tomorrow, that Kate Middleton girl will marry some chap who's a Prince and called Wills, or William... or something...

Nailing the bridal look...

At the announcement of their engagement I cried. Not because it was so romantic and I was being sentimental. Far from it. I cried because it seemed so cold and ritualistic. Imagine being proposed to, feeling light as air, and then having a sudden lead balloon added to the mix as you have to go to a press conference and be papped near to epilepsy. I found the whole process rather sterile and couldn't help thinking how the happy couple really feel about it all? Engagement must be overwhelming as it is, engagement and then having your retinas burnt by flash bulbs and ear canals blown by interviews takes it to another level.

I know that they are high profile, as a future Monarch you are expected to have this attention, it's part of the gig. But in the past, before the mass media and invention of high def TV, Royal Weddings could be broadcast to the masses yet still keep a sense of intimacy and magic for those involved. Now the whole wedding countdown seems to be treated like a circus.

To me it appears the media haven't really spared a thought for the two folks whose day it actually is. I know it's natural for us all to be excited/intrigued as it's a piece of history we're living through. But surely it can be dealt, and anticipated, with a touch of diplomacy and class? Everyone, it seems, wants to have a piece of the action; cashing in by selling memorabilia or bantering inanely about the guest list and cost of security... yes it is a lot, but Wills and Kate are damned if they spend a lot and dammed if they spend a little. It'll be either...

"Have you seen that astronomical bill... what's that about austerity?"

"Tut tut tut, married in a church, not an Abbey? No guilt plated chandeliers, ice sculptures and matching turtle doves to release?!... skinflints"

I keep thinking how nerve wracking the event must be for the two people it's actually all about. I'm not married, but I imagine if I got married I would be a quivering wreck pre-ceremony. When I mentally add a guest list of royalty, diplomats and celebrities, billions of people watching me on the tellybox... oh and the Queen as my soon to be Granny... sod the cold feet I have frost bite!

So please, whilst you're enjoying your day off and revelling in the festivities, take a moment to remember that this day isn't really about you or the nation, but one couple's devotion and love. A love that has remained robust, not only through 8 years of run of the mill private dramas we all experience in relationships, but 8 years under public speculation. And that, in my opinion, is a rather big love that should be toasted to... not with regal nail decals, but with grace and class.

Face to face with original Art Deco decor

2011-04-25T07:30:00.003+01:00

Yes, it's another post about renovations and "inspiration". Please bear with me though, as I think this is a bit special and you may like it :)

Whilst waffling on about my walls, a dialogue that usually consists of my complaining about the wood chip paper (it's a rather dull monologue) I found myself abandoned by the audience. Charming, I thought, you brought the subject up... I know it's dull but I didn't think it that bad! So I briefly sat alone, sulking over my tea, soon to be rejoined by said audience and this little treasure....

Oooo, this looks promising!

I was told this little gem was discovered beneath the stairs in a house clearance, thank heavens for hoarders I say! The wallpaper sample book features a range of colours of "distemper" to be used upon your walls, original samples of paper, and rather special sketches of interiors, showing what each wallpaper scheme will look like.

I'm loving the second green down on the left

Graphic floral corner frieze

I never knew that as well as borders you could buy a frieze to paste upon walls, the frieze could be used at the end of a border as a feature to punctuate when the lines changed direction, or they were used as stand alone features. I love this idea so much and would really like to emulate it when I finally get around to the bedroom and living room walls.

Another little feature I loved in the catalogue was that the whole suggested wallpaper scheme was be placed together on each page, so you could see the base paper, border and frieze alltogether, alongside this there was a sketch showing how they'd look on the wall. I'd love prints of these sketches to frame and display... especially this one with boats...

An original sketch showing how the wallpaper could be used.

Close up of a sample of the boat frieze (as featured in sketch above. You can see the base paper and border samples beneath aswell. I love this look!

A daffodil motif, co-ordinating papers and room sketch

Some more sketches... I like the look of that sideboard!

An unusual way to feature two wallpapers.

A Japanese themed wallpaper and border

I love the colours in the scheme, the border's so pretty!

I'd really like to find one of these brochures for myself, it felt magical to flick through the pages, feel all the textures and get a good idea about the colours used at the time. So I'm on a search!

In other news my search for an art deco bathroom mirror ended happily this weekend when I won this...

... for £25!

I can't wait to collect it and get it on the wall!

Hope you all had Happy Easters and that if you're having a day off today that it's a good one :)

G x

P.S...

I'm really sorry but I've had to turn my comment verification back on. I removed it as I felt that it was a bit of a faff to go through when leaving comments and I do love to hear from you. But the problem was that I was getting a lot of pretty dodgy looking spam on a daily basis, so word verification is back. I wish I could choose the words for you to type, that would be fun!

Paper Doll

2011-04-20T05:16:00.006+01:00

I have a problem... I own far too many vintage frocks and desperately need to sell some on. You may well be yelling at your computer screen now exclaiming "THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM!" but bear with me... it really is as:

A) I'm running out of room.

B) Some of it I've never worn as it's either...

B.1) The wrong size

B.2) Massively impractical

B.3) Simply doesn't suit

= This, in my opinion, is a sin to vintage lovers as I'm allowing things to languish in my wardrobe when someone else may enjoy them more.

C) As I'm running out of room I really cannot warrant buying new stuff (I passed up an amazing knitted suit the other day due to "space and finance" I'm still regretting it)

D) With looming home renovation bills I know that I really need to sell the unused things.

The problem is, I know I need to be brutal in my wardrobe cull... what to sell? The other night I got the ball rolling by having a little fashion show, unfortunately, my inner monologue went along these lines...

"Oooo, I forgot I had this, it fits ok... ish, ah... there's a hole there but I can fix that... but you haven't worn it for a year Gemma time to pass it on! Oh, but it's so unusual, I may regret it!"

And so it continued until I eventually gave up, as nothing was leaving my grasp with ease. The problem isn't just a case of aesthetics, it's that each vintage item I own holds a story and it's this history I hold dear. I remember where I found each piece, the name of who I bought the item from, a few things I even know who the original owner was... and if I don't I like to imagine who would have worn it, making up names, professions, looks, the whole shebang.

Anyway, this mini fashion show left me feeling like a paper doll... you know the ones you played with as a kid? Painstakingly cutting out each piece and then dressing your paper model up in every single variation possible. So I decided, to help me part with some of my wardrobe (and give some of it an airing), that I, dear readers, will be your paper doll.

I will post a selection of outfits over the next few weeks for you to choose from, the one with the highest votes at the end of each week will be modelled by yours truly.

To start off I thought I'd post a little bit about the history of paper dolls...

As long as paper has been about the paper doll has existed. Some records date back to A.D. 900 where a doll was used in an ancient Japanese ceremony (a paper figure and a folded paper kimono was put to sea in a boat). The Balinese have also made shadow puppets of leather and paper since before Christ.

Speed forward to 1810 the first manufactured paper doll appeared. Pproduced in London by S&J Fuller she was called, Little Fanny. Then, two years later the first American paper doll came into existence... The History and Adventures of Little Henry. Celebrities followed suit in 1830, when an effigy of the ballerina Marie Taglioni was reproduced on paper, not wanting to be left out Queen Victoria also had her own parchment doll created.

Something that surprised me was that the early printed clothes didn't include tabs for ease of dressing the dolls. Instead, children painstakingly attached the clothes with tiny drops of sealing wax, it must have been a labour of love with such a process, I'm sure I'd burn my fingers and tear the paper!

By 1859, magazines began to feature cut out dolls. Godey's Lady's Book is the first known magazine to print a doll in black and white, along with a page of costumes for children to colour in. At this time department stores also discovered that this was an ideal fashion advertisement and esspecially designed dolls promoting gowns and new patterns. These appeared in ladies magazines such as "Good Housekeeping", "Delineator","Ladie's Home Journal", "McCalls", "Pictorial Review" and Woman's Home Companion".
Popularity reached its highest between 1930 to 1950; probably as during times of financial instability paper toys could be afforded by all... even through product shortages during World War II, paper dolls were still manufactured on lesser-quality paper.

Over the years many effigies have been reproduced in the form of a parchment doll, from Ava Gardner to Barbie... many of which are now extremely rare and valuable. Nowadays I'm not sure if a child would sit down and play with such a thing? I can't say I've seen a paper doll in a toy shop... the only ones I've noticed have been in museum gift shops, depicting period fashions. I'd like to think that young and old alike still get enjoyment from such a simple form on entertainment, I know that I did, and probably still would... in fact, where can I buy one?!

Now cut on the dotted line, and make sure you are accompanied by an adult!

G x

Radio Times

2011-04-18T11:46:00.006+01:00

A scale model of the Crystal palace Aerial and the HMV dog "Nipper"

I have always loved the medium of radio. As an awkward teenager I whiled away the hours exploring the frequency dial... Giggling away to radio comedies on BBC4, tuning into French stations on long wave (I recall French accordion music accompanied by a high hissing interference), stumbling across pirate stations sneakily pumping out heavy drum and base, and my personal favourite discovery; Virgin Radio's ten minute loops of test broadcasts prior to turning onto FM... the excitement I felt having found a station yet to be born and the anticipation knowing that soon, this frequency would be filled with live radio broadcasts, created a feeling I find hard to put into words. (Although, I admit, it's exceedingly nerdy!)

I did all I could to immerse myself in the medium, from making my own home radio programmes on a dual deck cassette player, to volunteering at my local hospital station... I still find it incredible that I have managed to achieve my goal and hold down a career on the airwaves. Yes the hours are long and unglamorous, yes it doesn't compare with a city banker's salary and yes, I complain, frequently, about this. But at the same time I realise how lucky I am... how many people as an adult can say they are doing what they dreamed of doing at 14?

Something that worries me though is the looming DAB switch over. Radio is being pared down and the more I look the more it seems that people take the medium for granted. To me, nothing else holds the immediacy and intimacy of radio. Television is hardly portable, and extremely hard to multi task along to (unless you're ironing!) Where-as radio is a movable feast of information!

But enough of my swan song... onto something positive. There's a Chap in South East London who's preserving the past, salvaging pieces of media history so that the I-generation will be able to see how far things have come and can appreciate just how wonderful past technology is... His name is Gerald Wells and he runs The British Wireless and Television Museum.

Stood in the shadow of the Crystal palace aerial, the museum contains approximately 1300 wireless receivers, copious display cabinets of components and wireless associated artifacts, a "mock up" of a period shop, a valve laboratory and fully functional wireless construction workshops.

Gerry behind the counter of the mock up shop

Just a few radios

And just a few more!


A PYE Blackbox record player, with Japanese laquerwork casing... swoon!

Even the museum premises has a long, rich history encompassing radio. Alfred Rickard-Taylor (an early wireless enthusiast) lived there from 1908 to 1914 and broadcast early radio transmissions from the property. Then, in 1914 Mr. Frank Wells (Gerald's father) purchased the house and Gerald was born there in 1929. From an early age he expressed an interest and fascination for anything electrical, resulting in a love for the wireless. By the time he was 7, Gerald had taken ownership of the bottom of the garden to undertake his experiments with sound and electricity, to the extent his Mother commented...

"If you don't buck your ideas up and conform, you will still be mucking about at the bottom of the garden in fifty years time!"

All I can say is thank heavens Gerald paid no attention. This museum is a living tribute to not only the innovation of radio, but to one man's life long passion.

If you're planning a trip to South East London you really should swing by. Visits are appointment only, so check the museum website for booking information. I also highly recommend purchasing Gerald's book "Obsession"... a narrative of his fascinating life and "wireless adventures". I bought a copy yesterday and I'm half way through already!

G x

Falling poorly and Eltham Palace

2011-04-11T19:14:00.000+01:00

Ello all,

Well I came back, splurted out three posts and then vanished... I do have a good excuse, I've got tonsillitis and a cold so have been rather wiped out and snotty. I know I still have a few promised posts but they require brain power and deserve a lot of loving planning so I shall leave those till another day and leave this little featurette I wrote a while back but never got round to posting to keep things ticking along until I feel a bit brighter!

Eltham palace

A wee while ago I went on a trip to Eltham Palace, a deco dream of a place ad well worth a visit. It's extremely deceptive, outside the original Medieval building stands proud, but as you enter you're faced with deco splendour. I have since been swooning over the memory of two of the rooms (and an ex-resident)...

The entrance hall. It's been used in lots of films. And is responsible for haunting my interior decor dreams. Alas my "entrance hall" is roughly 6ft x 5ft so I fear this look is rather inappropriate!

Lady Virginia Courtauld's bathroom... If only I could fit that into my poky little bathing room... Sigh!

The Courtauld's pet Ring Tailed Lemur "Mah-Jongg". I would feel too cruel owning one as a pet (and surely it's illegal now-a-days?), but would love to see one in the wild... what beautiful animals they are! Fly me to Madagascar!

G x

I've made it to the gig list!

2011-04-01T18:25:00.003+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You are cordially invited to RHS Wisley's Spring Contemporary Craft Fair on Friday 29th and Sat 30th April 2011 (yes, the Royal wedding weekend).

Sample the delights of Wisley gardens in bloom, enjoy a spot of shopping and listen to songs from the '20s and '30s played by "The Panama Cafe Orchestra".

I hear their singer is no other than Ms. Gemma King, who will be donning her finest frock... well, if Ms. Middleton can, why can't she?!

The Panama Cafe Orchestra

It would be great if anyone could come along, I'd love to meet you all. I'm a little nervous as it's my first big public gig, plus I have a smashing 1930s frock to show off and some rather fab tunes on my music stand!

G x

When in London...

2011-03-30T06:54:00.000+01:00

Do as the Londoners do... I forgot another surprise...

A little article I've written as part of a series for "The Vintage Guide to London". Entitled... "How to do London the War-Time Way". No need to go into too much detail on here as you can check it out here

Men (and Women) at work

2011-03-29T14:10:00.004+01:00

Phew, stripping tiles with non toxic paint stripper is a labour of love (and stripping them with toxic paint stripper makes you giddy!)

We're getting along slowly but surely, and I thought I'd show you how we're doing, plus some little features I'd love to revamp. the plan is to paint the blue bits of wall an off white and have a yellow, black and off white scheme.

Strip (tease!)

80 years worth of paint. First cream, then green which I think may have been clarted on in the '50s, then another cream layer, and two layers of white... chip, chip!

Some of the stripped tiles... they still need to be cleaned up

Some more stripped tiles, looking rather grubby, I swear they're clean, we just need to re grout them

Layers yet to be peeled

a big old wall and beneath the sink... not looking forward to that one!

Another wall Pass me my paint chisel... I'm going in!

I look at this and weep... we still have to strip all the fiddly nooks and crannies!

Some Original Features (Or so I believe)

MMMM art deco towel rail

Armitage ware bathroom ceramics. A predecessor to Armitage Shanks maybe?

This is a lovely little beading feature which runs along the bath edge... just need to clean it up now

A rather grubby 1930s ceramic soap dish begging to be scrubbed

We don't have one of these, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled... wouldn't it be wonderful

But we do have this... the Pièce de résistance...

Art Deco loo roll dispenser? Done!

... On that note, I feel it's best to leave.

Pip pip

G x

I'm back... with some juicy gossip!

2011-03-28T18:53:00.002+01:00

I'm so sorry I've been such a bad blogger but I've been so down in the mouth recently it's been hard to write with any gusto.

However, I'm starting to perk up, partly because I've been harbouring a few secrets which can now, slowly, begin to come out into the open... but only slowly mind you!

Secret number 1:

Puttin' On the Ritz have just posted a sneak peek of their "Weekend in the Country" suit, "Lllian" blouse and "Lady Swinburn" stole... all modelled by... me! I went to Lurgashall in West Sussex for the piccies, it's a really pretty village with a smashing pub! No I was not drunk when modelling as I needed to look as snooty and prim and proper as possible (I did enjoy a good G & T afterwards though! Yes, I was the brunt of a few stares and the barman called me Mam... I felt rather special!)

The "Lady Swinburn" stole is available from the store now. Other items, well, you'll have to watch Ritz Towers' blog to stay in the loop!

Secret number 2:

Watch this space. but I'll give you a clue...

Secret number 3:

A happy and super surprise prize from a very talented scribbler.

Also, holiday posts... one dating back to last November! (I wrote it and forgot to publish it... but it shall appear soon!)

Thanks you so much for your kind word after my last post, and for bearing with me.
Hope you're all grand!

G xx

Bit of a maudlin post this one

2011-03-16T07:45:00.010Z

Michael Thomas King

1937-2001

10 years ago my Dad left this mortal coil. I imagine he wasn't best pleased about it as he was only 1 year off from claiming his pension ("sods law" he'd have exclaimed!)

I agree, it is sods law... not because of the pension, but because now I'm a little more grown up I'd have appreciated him as a person, rather than just as a Dad. As a 19 year old tearaway I didn't stop to see his side of things, I imagine as a chap in his sixties he didn't see the need to step back and see things my way... both of us were Capricorn, hot headed, stubborn, digging our heels in and refusing to budge.

What makes me sad is that we have so much in common now, I have no doubt we'd get along splendidly... if only he could have stuck around. There are so many stories I wish I could hear from the horses mouth;

Collecting shrapnel and chaff (slivers of silver foil dropped to confuse enemy radar.)
Exclaiming "any gum chum" to the GIs based around Hampton Court.
His Teddy Boy days when he beat the streets of Kingston proudly clad in a pea green zoot suit with purple crushed velvet lapels. (He was 6ft 2"... I imagine he looked like a lanky, fuzzy runner bean... but stylish never the less!)
The years he played washboard in a skiffle group called "Ironbark Junction". (Mike, The Washboard, King was his "rock" name... I found the washboard a couple of weeks ago, it's some contraption!)
Just to be able to sit with him and look at all the photos of film and TV sets he built as a production artist. (Whilst watching the new "Upstairs Downstairs" at Christmas Mum revealed, in a rather blaze manner, that he built some of the original set... how did I not know this before? How could I not care?!)

I'm not sure what this post is meant to project... maybe to acknowledge and boast how great my Dad actually was? Maybe an appeal to try to understand loved ones who may drive you potty? Maybe a request to make the most of your friends and loved ones... life's too short, live and love every minute of it, I learnt the hard way and it still stings.

Dad, if you're listening "I am most definitely my Father's daughter... and proud of it" ... bet you never thought you'd hear me say that, did you?!

Love Little Weeble
(my nickname as a kid... yes, I did wobble, but I never fell down!)

Two outfit posts for the price of one

2011-03-09T21:54:00.004Z

Ello one and all.

I'm going to do an ickle postet as I'm mid packing for a trip to French France. Trekking off to Nice for a few days and am most eager to find out if Nice biscuits come from Nice?

Anyway, I promised to tell you about my Saturday Night, so here goes... I went to the Candlelight Club with some of the girls and much fun was had. I'd been saving this dress for a special night out and I felt this occasion suited, so out of the closet came...

An early 30s velvet dress with a small geometric print. It has a rather ostentatious jabot detail with burgundy satin accents and a flower at the collar, fishtail hem and big turn up cuffs. There's also a belt...

My favourite bit is the wonderful enamel buckle

I had my hair in a set all day, but it wouldn't stay in tight curls, but Jen Jen came to the rescue and brushed it into a wave with kiss curls. it was certainly different from my usual big fluffy hair!

I'd never been to the Candlelight Club before so was very excited and wasn't disappointed, the music was good, the sandwiches yummy and the ambiance wonderful. The ladies and I had a lovely time dancing and nattering. unfortunately I danced with a rather over enthusiastic Chap who span me round with such vigour that the arm of my dress tore (it's fixable but still a shame). Here is a snap of all the girls...

Photo by Elisabeth Blanchet

More pics can be viewed on Flickr by clicking here. I'm not sure if I have permission to publish them up here as they've been taken by the lovely Elisabeth Blanchet, who don't half take a good snap! My fave in the link snaps is a pic of my shoes and bare feet manically dancing in the background!

I also took my Miss Lemon cardi out for a spin today. teamed with a black skirt, black 30s pumps, red beret and a 30s Egyptian tourist tooled leather clutch bag...

Pardon the bad pose, I'm not quite with it today on the posing lark!

I love the bag I'm holding. Found it last week in an antique shop. It has all sorts of types of transport on it... a bus (with three wheels each side... which I thought was odd, but I've just been told that was quite common in the 30s, it's known as a "double rear axil" and one is in Saboteur by Alfred Hitchcock... my chap's a fountain of knowledge!) A horse and cart, a bike, a car and a tram. All controlled by a little Policeman at the crossroads! The lady in the shop said she thinks it's Egyptian.

And now I must go and pack... haven't been abroad in 6 years... eeks!

G x

Making my own Miss Lemon

2011-03-07T11:46:00.001Z

Ello there, sorry for the radio silence of late, I've been spinning about like a whirling dervish and not managed to land for long enough to type!

Anyway...Miss Felicity Lemon is certainly most popular in Blog land of late... especially her wardrobe and one item in particular... the bow jumper-cardigan (which I've blogged/lusted over before).

Whilst in my local red cross shop I had an inspired moment upon spotting a rather marvellous red cardigan similar in shape and shade of red to Miss L's. (The only difference is that it's not rib stitch).

I snaffled up the woollen item for two quid and then hurried to the wool shop to buy some skeins of wool in off-white, navy and red. From which a bow resembling the cardi was knitted. I just made two rectangles, one slightly larger than the other, then popped the smaller one on top and bound them together with some wool. The cardi had a belt, which I used to make the red centre of the bow.

I did notice that on Miss Lemon's bow she has a little tail that hangs down, onto which buttons are sewn. So I left an end hanging. All I need now are some lovely round headed buttons to finish off. I'm also contemplating stitching two bands of white around the cuffs (but I may leave that so the cardi can be multi-use without the bow)

It's not perfect, especially as the fine stitching of the cardigan doesn't match my bulky knitting, but overall I'm rather pleased. I'm still on the look out for a pattern to have a proper one made, but in the mean time at least I have something to satisfy my woolly lust! :D

I need to get some more white buttons!

The bow tail detail... unfortunately stitching is dramatically different, but I don't think I could knit as fine as the cardi itself

I have some rather lovely snaps of a great night out I had on Saturday, but I shall update you with that a wee bit later.

I hope you're enjoying the sunshine (I'm ignoring the brisk chill in the air!) If you haven't got any sunshine... I hope you have some soon :D

G x

South Riding inspires a sewing project

2011-02-24T09:53:00.003Z

Did anyone else have a ganders at this on Sunday? The Beeb's new period drama, set in 1934 and based on novel by Winifred Holtby (who died shortly after finishing the novel, so it was published posthumously).

I have to say I rather liked it... a good main story line and lots of sub plots to get my teeth into, plus some fabulous "real" costumes... I love a good costume drama that portrays real life. Don't get me wrong... a good swoon over a glitzy frock and perfectly coiffed tresses is enjoyable too. But watching South Riding made vintage dressing suddenly seem far more accessible and made me feel like I was doing it right in an every day way... For instance, my hair... It does not stay pristine and curled like Lady Percy's in Upstairs Downstairs (but oh how I wish it did)

Hair crush

But, when curled and post a dose of blustery wind it does end up looking somewhat like this...

Headmistress Sarah Burton, played by Anna Maxwell Martin

OOO and look at that coat! the collar the colour (and a rather smashing little two piece beneath too!)! I loved all of Anna's wardrobe and am now hunting out replicas.. especially a little green blouse she wore with a pointed hem so it looked a bit like a waistcoat.... she teamed it with a fitted and flared navy blue skirt... oh my it looked the biz, and perfect for everyday wear. I've been having a hunt to no avail... but am thinking as a first sewing project if making such a blouse would be fairly simple? How about a calf length 30s skirt too? Seamstresses... please give me your thoughts!

Another drool worthy outfit was her suit she wore in the opening scene...

The same waistcoat hem feature on the top, and a lovely length skirt. So chic but rather real and normal. I loved the use of colour too. Throughout the programme muted hues were mainly used for costume... so this dramatic red and white splash when you first see Miss Burton really created an impact.

Can't wait till Sunday now!

Gem x

Outfit post and a warble about people being mean

2011-02-14T11:15:00.025Z

Ello all,

Just a quick outfit post. I know it's that day today, if you like celebrating it I wish you a good one, if you hate it we shall sweep the whole thing to one side and I bid you a happy Monday instead :)

Anyway... I wore this ensemble on Sunday. Set my hair all by myself and it came out alright for a change.... huzzahs ! I'm wearing my new Bluebird dress from Adelines Attic. I was supposed to be being a good girl this year when it comes to clothing purchases, but this little beauty was too good to miss! I also have a stunning Puttin' on the Ritz number to show off, which was a birthday purchase. But that deserves a seperate post too :)


Dress: Adelines Attic - Shoes: Remix - Belt and bangle charity shop

I added the belt as I finally managed to lose a few inches so things are a little baggy atm,which is great ,but also means I have a lot of alterations to do (and what if those inches creep back on again?!) I think a lovely thin belt in kelly green would look great with the dress... along with a green hat and some green suede 1940s sling backs... need to keep an eye out for a pair (which is tricky with my size 6 feet). Ooo yeah I forgot to show you the sleeves... the sleeves...

Oooo, I stared at these so hard the first wear I got a crick in the neck!

In the evening I went to see Chris play with harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra who were accompanying "The Jiving Lindy Hoppers" It was awesome. 1920s/30s jazz with some mean dancers performing to the songs. If you get the chance to see the show (normally called The Cotton Club Revue) I'd highly recommend it. Or just look out for the Lindy Hoppers who do shows across the UK, they are really fab.

The Theatre audotorium was named after Bruce Forsyth and there was a big plaque on the wall to let the audience know this, so I had to do a Brucey pose!

Good game good game!

Also, I know I promised to record "You Rascal You" but I'm not happy with the version I recorded so another will be posted soon, so to tide you over I've popped this little ditty up wot I did the other day. I also found a movie making kit on the computer so I'm all crackly and sepia toned now too! (BTW I sniff towards the end of the song... it's supposed to be me being sad, not holding back a runny nose as the chap thought!)

TTFN

G xx

Northampton... land of shoes... and some wonderful architecture

2011-02-11T22:22:00.005Z

Last weekend I went to Northampton with the wonderful Jeni and Bethan. A proper girls weekend was had which was really lovely (and went far too quickly).

On Saturday we went to an amazing Rennie Mackintosh house called 78 Derngate, home to Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke, a model maker and his bride Florence Jones.

Jeni and I outside 78 Derngate... even the porch light oozes style!

The house began life as a typical early-nineteenth century brick terrace, built some time between 1815-1820. However this was to change in late 1916 when the Lowkes hired Alexander Ellis Anderson and Charles Rennie Mackintosh to transform the building from a rather poky and old-fashioned house into a modern and convenient home. The results can be seen today following the houses painstaking restoration, which began in 2002.

If you ever find yourself in Northampton you must go here. I have never seen decor like this, it is truly jaw dropping and, when you think about it, really ahead of its time, such interior design wouldn't look amiss in a current copy of "House Beautiful"!


The hall lounge. The lattice work to the right is the staircase wall which really opens up the space

Jeni aint alf a good photographer, don't this look professional? Me posing my backside off behind the stair lattice screen. I was flukily wearing my late Edwardian blouse which picked up some of the colours in the wallpaper.


The guest bedroom. look at that wonderful furniture and amazing striped walls

I can't find a picture of the Master bedroom which was decorated in a beautiful eau de nil textured wallpaper, with dusky pink Macintosh rose pattern border and matching carpet. It also had a sweet little wash stand in the corner, the room was so pretty without being over feminine, it gave me lots of ideas for my boudoir!

In 1926 the Bassett_Lowkes moved into their new home "New Ways" which is a breathtaking example of very early modernist architecture designed by Peter Behrens. The house still stands in Northampton, and can be seen by peering through the front grilled gate. how I'd love to sneek a peek inside this beauty. Bethan kindly drove us to the building and parked up so we could take a quick snap!

What's hiding behind here then?

OOOOOO...It has deco style turrets... DECO TURRETS!!

After visiting Derngate we also popped into Northampton museum, which is a splendid place. Full of amazing shoes from all periods (as Northampton used to be the main manufacturing town of shoes I expected to see some, but not this many!) There were some real beauties on display that any vintage lover would covet. Upstairs there was a history of Northamptonshire, which included a marvellous dress up section. So we dabbled in some extreme vintage couture, whattaya think?

Yesterday Girl goes Iron Age

Anglo Saxon Gem and Bethan

In the evening we were terribly cultured and visited the theatre to see Daphne Du Maurier's "The Years Between" at the Royal and Derngate Theatre (which is an amazing venue... really, amazing!)

It's one of only two plays Du Maurier wrote in her career, portraying the story of a marriage torn apart by the Second World War, which I've heard is semi-autobiographical. Overall the production was rather good and very sleek (no between scene change black outs... hooray!).The protagonist, Diana (played by Marianne Oldham) stole the show for me, she had such charisma and a real command of the stage. I did feel that her polish and power blew some other cast members into insignificance, for instance, the man she's supposed to love came across rather one dimensional and watery, hardly the type of chap a woman like her would set her cap to. Then again, that may may be the fault of the script, and I was having trouble picking up all the lines as my ears were misbehaving that evening!

The set was a work of art, a wonderful large library with panels that opened and closed depending on the scenario and some of the costumes were wonderful... such as a pair of the leading lady's trews! However, some of the cossies were dire... 30 denier black tights in 1945? Mint green 1980s court shoes and black kitten heel mules? LONG tanktops? OK I can understand the shoe issue, as vintage shoes in larger sizes are a nightmare to source and bloomin pricey... but a replica could have surely been found, especially with a museum half dedicated to shoes in close proximity!? The tights and looooong tanktop I do take umbrage to... but then maybe no one else apart from vintage aficionados and ex "luvvies" would notice?!

Anyway, I've nattered away too long. In short, if you find yourself in Northampton with two lovely ladies and you all visit some museums and the theatre, the you'll be sure to enjoy yourself....

Thank you Jeni and Bethan for such a lovely weekend.

Gxx

P.S
I leave you with something to ponder... Not just a talented designer and architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a bit of a dish. At least I think so!

Smoulder!

Dream woollies

2011-02-11T11:45:00.002Z

I think many of you will agree with this piece of clothes porn and have possibly blogged about it too.
How many times have I watched Poirot and dreamt that I could own this cardi that Miss Lemon is wearing. The same top is worn by Ann Shapland in "Cat Amongst the Pigeons". Do any of you know of a place that may well stock a pattern for this little gem I wonder? Oh how I want it!

G x

If you like a Ukulele Lady... Ukulele Lady like a yoooooo!

2011-02-09T20:41:00.003Z

Hellooo...

I finally plucked up the courage to post a bit of uke strumming on here (it also helped working out how to record on my camera with sound... clever girl aint I?! However, I'm afraid the sound levels are a bit off and the picture quality is a bit fuzzy)

So, for your delectation I present "I Wanna be Loved by You" composed by Herbert Stothart and Burt Kalmar and sung by Marylin Monroe in the film "Some Like it Hot" also sung by the most heavenly Ms. Annette Hanshaw in her Betty Boop style voice... which I decided to give a miss for this recording!

N.B: This is not perfection... just a bit of fun. the dress however is perfection. Courtesy of the delicious Baroness V.V of Adelines Attic

Coming soon... "You Rascal You" composed by Sam Theard, covered by many artists/bands including Louis Armstrong and Ambrose and His Orchestra

G x

P.S
I'll be posting the draw results tomorrow :)

Am I blue?

2011-01-29T16:29:00.010Z

Well... no, I'm more of a pinkish colour. But today I awoke feeling rather green under the gills and subsequently a trifle blue. To make matters worse my skin is being at it's most annoying and sensitive so I couldn't even give myself a lick of warpaint to lift the spirits and fool people I have a rosy glow.

All I wanted to do was curl up in my nightie and watch old films, but I had to go to work. So I had a small tantrum... I slammed doors, stomped about and made small whining noises. This accumulated with my dramatically throwing myself upon the bed, where his Lorship removed the risk of a repeat performance by thrusting a cup of tea into my hands... thank you, your Lordship!

Instead or a flash of rougue, I daubed my face in E45 and had a wardrobe experiment, which was fun!

I also took some snaps of some things I saw in my house that lifted my mood as I hurriedly prepared myself for the commute, which was not great today due to student demonstrations causing long queues.

The Outfit

I've been unsure what to team with this delicious skirt since I bought it, as I felt pattern with checks may be overkill. I had a great yellow cardi but it shrunk in the wash... boo! I also feared that a brown top may make me look like an rather big Brownie? I gave this a shot, what do you think?

Ms. King is modelling:

Early '20s hand embroidered blouse

30's skirt: Addelines Attic

Shoes: Clarks

Pallor and poorly coiffed hair: Models own

Things that make me smile....

Ranunculus flowers, they're common name is Persian Buttercups... to me they look like blousy roses.
Galle vase (fake). It looks so lovely against the light... coloured glass when the light shines through it is so pretty.
Mabel Lucie Attwell. I love her drawings and use of colour. This postcard has a cute picture of a girl with a big old powder puff in her face, the tag line says "Taking After Mother!"
Liberty Print knot watch. This was Christmas present to myself . The print is called Wiltshire Rose... it makes me smile when I look at it.

Japanese lacquer jewelry box. It smells a bit funny (think it's the glue) I've had it donkeys years... it feels like a treasure chest.
Chrissie White postcards. Chrissie was a British silent movie star who acted in silent films made by Cecil Hepworth. The studios were in Walton on Thames, a stones throw away from where I grew up. She did her own stunts, had impeccable comic timing and got into films at 12 years old by cheekily offering her acting services whilst she was delivering a message to Hepwoth to say her actress sister couldn't make filming that day! In the 20's Chrissie married her long standing leading man and director Henry Edwards (known as Tedwards) who was responsible for the expansion of Teddington studios (he was also quite a dish!) Here's a great link to a little Pathe film about the two of them in the '40s: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=48323

TRIOS! I don't know what it is about tea cups, but I really love them. especially trios. Here is a picture of a few of my favourites and my beloved teapot too!

Old dolls. I'm not a doll fanatic, but having found these at home last week I'm very fond of them and want to find out more about when they were made. The one in mauve is called Eliza I think she's made of celluloid and is a Rexard Costume doll. The middle one in green is called Greta has a fabric face and is in one of the Swiss national dresses (from Vaud). The little one sitting down is called Heidi and I presume she's in Germanic costume?!

I hope you're not suffering from a touch of the January blues and are having lovely weekends :)

G x

'Appy Birthday (to me)

2011-01-26T21:32:00.001Z

It was my birthday last Wednesday and I had a few days off (I don't see why I should wake up at 4am on my day of birth... or the few days after it!)

Wednesday was a quiet day which I spent mooching about the house, listening to records, sewing, baking and curling my hair. In the evening Chris took me to a gig which was fun... lots of early jazz and dancing :) Before we went I was given my pressies....


Chas bought me a vintage railway poster book. the prints are splendid. I feel a seperate post is needed for this book alone


Posing using my new vintage compact, I love the deco design. Thank you Chas!

And it fits Rimmel powder refills!

Then I curled my hair

And it actually set! I wore my early 1930s dress in black silk crepe with white square pattern and detachable jabot.

The next few days were spent relaxing and I went to see my Ma which was lovely and she treated me to a wonderful lunch. Then on Sunday I had a tea party to celebrate. I've not had a birthday party for a long time as I've invariably been living far away from loved ones when the dreaded day falls. So this Sunday was filled with excitement and a bit of apprehension... what if I burnt my sponge cake and my sandwiches were curly?! Well... The sponge cakes came out alright (mini Victoria sandwiches with clotted cream and strawberry jam.) The sandwiches were less of a success as they were a bit floppy! (Can't have it all!)

I wore the same dress again and to brighten it up I clipped on a felt cherry brooch and slid into a pair of magenta tights (which was a bit daring for me... but I rather liked the look!) I didn't wear the jabot on Sunday for fear I'd dip it in the jam! Lena, Claire, Bethan, Jeni and Naomi all headed over for tea. Then a few of us headed over to a ceramic painting cafe, where we met Fleur. Here are some piccies of the day...

The Tea Party

I made mini Victoria sponges with clotted cream, strawberry jam and raspberries. Hazelnut noisette shortcakes and lemon almond biscuits. with crumpets and (wilting) cucumber sandwiches

The lovely Jeni, Claire, Lena and Bethan

... and the equally lovely Naomi. Check out Bethan's dress and Jeni's Rocky Road cakes too!

Painting Plates

Bethan at work

Jeni creating her Mafia Mug

Naomi having an Art Attack

Fleur pottering with paint

Me mid bowl movement

I was utterly spoilt with not only great company but some wonderful cards and gifts (including a mammoth bottle of setting lotion! See Jeni's blog (via last link) for a good read, good news and more photos, including a tour of the inside of my lift!

I thoroughly enjoyed my day... thank you so much for coming girls, you made it truly special :)

Q&A

2011-01-23T20:41:00.004Z

Hello readers, including the new ones who have joined since my last post (104... how exciting!) Welcome one and all!

Part of the rules and regs for receiving the Stylish Blogger award is that I have to tell you 7 things about myself which you may not know. So, without further ado...

1) I'm a trained actress and specialised in Living History. This involved me researching, dressing up and running guided tours (oh the wig, petticoats and crinolines I got to wear!) I was lucky to work in some fantastic places, my favourite was doing Children's guided tours at Castle Howard which is a little north of York. To cycle up the long driveway of a morning and be confronted with this splendid place as your office was something else! I sorely miss this job, but found getting permanent stable work doing this sort of thing was very tricky and, alas, I'm a coward who likes to have a regular wage each month. If ever I could get back into this again Id be there like a shot as I think that Living history makes the subject so much more tangible and vivid.

Castle Howard, York

2) Whilst "resting" as an actress I found myself temping a lot, which I hated. so I decided to gain a new skill,and trained as a florist. It was a great way to do something creative, flexible and still earn pennies. I also could use the historical knowledge I'd picked up and specialised in historical floristry which is a fun way to create floral displays, as you have to do a bit of detective work by researching paintings, photos and botanical books. The most exciting project was when I assisted with displays for a function in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, the sight was breathtaking! (I hasten to add I didn't do all of the displays!)

A little bit of my floristry work

3) I found myself working on the radio by doing voice over work. I've always loved radio and volunteered at my local hospital station when I was about 15, but never fancied being a DJ,as I feared I'd run out of things to talk about! So now I use my vocal skills as a travel reporter... yes I'm one of those annoying voices that click in on the car radio when you're happily listening to a CD... just to tell you that all's well on the A34... I'm sorry! The most interesting couple of reports I've had to broadcast have been when an unexploded WWII bomb was dug up on a major arterial road and when a wallaby was found hopping about on a road somewhere in Hampshire... I had some callers insisting it was a kangaroo, others that it was a wallaby, it certainly made my morning go faster!

4) I used to live in Valencia and toured all around Spain. The basque country was my favourite area, especially San Sebastian and Segovia, the old town looks like it's been frozen in time or has come out of a fairytale, it also has a whopping great Roman aqueduct!

It must have transported a lotta water

The Alcazar... there was a ladies lav in here that boasted breathtaking views!

5) My favourite animal is the Ring Tailed Lemur. The Coulthard family who lived in Eltham Palace in the 30s owned one called Mah-Jonng. He, unbelievably, was purchased from Harrods in 1923 and had his own heated cage complete with painted tropical forest scenes and a series of ladders around the house for him to have free range of the building. I've seen them in wildlife parks and they seem like such gentle, curious and personable creatures. I'd love to go to Madagascar and see them in the wild.

Mah Jonng

6) I have a grade 7 in both ballet and tap and continued training in both until I was 17. I really wanted to train professionally as a ballerina but I've never been delicately built so that dream was stamped out.

7) My first word was pretty, pronounced "pitty" whilst pointing at the Christmas tree. I also didn't have hair till I was about one, twas not a "pitty" child!

I'm now supposed to forward the award above onto some blogs, I'm a bit apprehensive about doing this as there are so many lovely blogs out there, but here are a few I've found recently that are well worth taking a looksie at...

The Deco Devotee (Andrea is the gorgeous owner of Puttin' On the Ritz. makes great frocks, has great style)

Seeds and Stitches (lovely crafty bloggette. Hannah makes some smashing things)

Ray Makes Do (this lady had a gorgeous wedding... check out her wedding dress! Ray loves florals ... sensible girl!)

Tea and Crumpets (Lauren makes clothes... pretty pretty clothes. Her blog also has the words tea and crumpets in = winner!)

Please do take a look at the lovely people who are following me aswell... So many lovely Blogs out there... and plenty of time to check :)

G xx

100!

2011-01-22T12:34:00.000Z

I have awoken to 100 followers and an award from the spiffing Bruce Partington Plans of Eclectic Ephemera.

Many thanks to Bruce, I will shortly type up my blog post to comply with the award rules and regs.

Also many thanks to all of You who are following me. I never dreamed I'd even reach 10 followers, let alone 100. I think a little prize drawer will have to be run as a thank you, I'm off to Greenwich market today so maybe I'll find something there :)

Oooo! I also have a post to do about some vintage celluloid dolls clad in national costume. ( I think they're tourist dolls) I discovered back at home, having completely forgotten I'd ever owned them . They're in jolly good condition and are now sat proudly on display, but more on that later...

Thanks again and TTFN

G xx

The Queen of Crime

2011-01-17T17:52:00.003Z

I love Agatha Christie. Her crime novels keep me hooked from beginning to end, constantly guessing and subsequently gawping at the conclusion.

There are only a handful of murders I've guessed... "Five Little Pigs", "Mrs McGinty's Dead" and "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" and despite guessing the murderers I remained glued to the books, as the interweaving sub plots hammer away at my detective fathoming!

I think my all time favourites would be...

Stand alone mystery

"And Then There Were None"

Published in 1939 under the name "Ten Little Niggers" and re-named in the US in 1940 for obvious reasons. It was still published in Britain well into the 1980's under its original name, I own a Fontana edition published in 1981 with a rather bizarre and possibly offensive front cover. It is the best selling mystery novel of all time.

Poirot

"Five Little Pigs"

Published in 1943 (in the US as "Murder in Retrospect"). It tells the same story, five times over. However, each account varies as they are told by one of the five witnesses to a murder that happened 16 years beforehand.

Miss Marple

"The Body in the Library"

Published in 1942. One morning Colonel and Dolly Bantry wake up to the discovery of a strange, flamboyantly dressed platinum blond lying dead in their library. Simultaneously a local Girl guide, Pamela Reeves, is reported missing and discovered dead a few days later in a burnt out car at the bottom of a quarry a few miles away. Are the incidents linked?
This book is seeping with some marvellous characters including Dolly Bantry and her husband, the Colonel. Their opening conversation once the corpse has been discovered lightens the mood of what is a pretty sinister novel.

My Collection...

I avidly collect her novels. My Granny got me started, and I now have all but four of her titles.

the top shelf is all Agatha. Most are Fontana paperbacks published in the 60s and 70s.

I am also collecting her green Penguin editions. these were the brain-child of Allen Lane, who, whilst travelling back from a weekend stay with Agatha Christie, was stuck at Exeter station. Unable to find anything worthwhile to read he had the idea to reprint popular hardbacks in a small, light and affordable format. (The cover price was 6d – the price of a packet of 10 cigarettes in the mid-thirties.)
The first ten Penguin paperbacks were published in July 1935, including the"The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Christie. Each Penguin title was given a stylish but uniform cover look which was colour coded: orange for fiction, blue for biography, and green for ‘mystery and crime'

I'm doing well, but many are extremely rare, expensive and hard to find

Sleuthing...

Having had heard that many of her books draw inspiration from her life and places she frequented crop up in disguise as locations in many of her novels (for instance, the grand house Chimneys in "The Secret of Chimneys" is allegedly based on her Sister and Brother-in Law's house, Abney Hall, in Cheshire). It made me want to find out more, so I've recently started reading about Agatha as an individual. My initial problem was that I've always been a bit apprehensive about reading about authors, as I feel sometimes you can search too hard for comparisons between private lives and fiction and some statements can simply be hearsay.

However, I decided to bite the bullet and read her autobiography, which includes a great CD with her dictating book notes. The strange thing I found was that she completely misses out any reference to do with her famous missing days which I had heard were shrouded in mystery.

Like a real life mystery I found myself wanting to know what happened, so I begrudgingly purchased "Agatha Christie ad the Eleven Missing Days" by Jared Cade, telling myself that it'll all be speculation and fallacy! I ate my words and cannot recommend this book highly enough. Cade objectively looks into the disappearance and collates statements from those personally connected with Christie, as well as witnesses to the occurrence. What made the "mystery" more gripping to me was the fact that her car was discovered not too far away from where I grew up, Newlands Corner in Surrey. I have always loved this area and have spent many a lazy Sunday driving around the Surrey Hills, so all of the descriptions of searches around the area are wonderfully vivid to me. I shat ruin what Cade's theory is over her disappearance, but it does make a lot of sense and hold a lot of substantial evidence. He also talks about her second marriage to Max Mallowman which, if true, is a scenario that makes me very angry with the male species! However, if statements about Agatha throwing teapots are in fact correct, then maybe she was not the easiest person to live with... in spite of the possible broken crockery I'm still on Ms. Christie's side though and exclaim "naughty men!" BOO!"

It is speculated in Cade's book that she based many of her Mary Westmacott novels (a pseudonym under which she penned more romantic works) upon the emotions she experienced in her personal life. The first Westmacott novel "Giant's Bread" was published in 1930 and she continued to pen 6 titles under this name, only being discovered in 1949 (after her fourth publication). Henceforth she was required to state that she was using an alternative Nome de plume. In the 15 years, before her "outing" only one person guessed it was Agatha writing these novels. I think I'll have a read of these at some point, just to see if I like the style and can see any similarity in tone to her mysteries.

My aim in 2011...

Anyway, I've waffled enough. The main point of this post is that, now that my Christie collection is almost complete, this year I plan to read her mysteries chronologically (I make it 78). She wrote from 1920 to 1973 and had two posthumous novels "Sleeping Murder" (pub. 1976 but written approx. 1940) and "Miss Marples Final Cases" (pub. 1979, believed to have been written during the war along with Poirot "Curtain").

I intend to read each novel and discover which era of her writing I prefer and if any outside influences can, in fact, be seen through her pen.... my findings will be posted up here. I can't wait!

Cont... Colouring in my humble abode

2011-01-16T10:20:00.001Z

As I was talking about decorating in my last post I thought I should pop up some pics of the canvas I plan to embellish.
A) As it'll help you envisage what the colours may look like.
B) As I thought some Bloggers may like to see my house (I love house snooping!)

So, here goes...

Bedroom: View from door. I'd really like an art deco mirror for my dressing table, one of those big 3 piece ones. Just off to the left of this picture is a wall of cupboards. where, strangely, the kitchenette would have been had this flat been used as guest accommodation when the place was a Tennis Retreat

Bedroom: View from window... I'm not a fan of the pink walls! But a green scheme with black and white furnishings should look Art Deco-ish?

Bedroom: View from bed. I am a fan of my kimono, Roberts radio and vintage suitcases!

Hall/Study: This is my favourite room in the house as it's transformed from a hallway to a small study, just by adding some shelves and a drop leaf table (which sturdily holds my sewing machine, when I've the inclination to get it out of the cupboard!)

Hall/Study: View from living room... Could such a small space pull off a vibrant Yellow?

Living room: View from kitchen. Again, I'm thinking a lovely sunny yellow and keeping the woodwork and white bits white

Living room: Another view from kitchen

Kitchen: View from living room. could I paint the kitchen units and breakfast bar white too? Or would that be a nightmare to maintain? I just dislike the brown backing to the breakfast bar.

Kitchen: Pink splash back tiles... pink? Hmmm, really not that keen. Check out my well Art Deco Microwave and classily chipped crckery!!

Who lives in a house like this.. Bloggers, it's over to you! ;)

G x

We're painting the woodchip red... well, maybe eau de nil?

2011-01-15T18:25:00.004Z

October just gone I stripped the carpet and sanded my bedroom floor...

It was a dirty, tiring and lengthy process... I'm still finding wood dust in places! The task was empowering though and it's lovely walking over my handy work, but it has made me a little DIY shy... as what appears to be a simple task can end up being a lot more complicated!

This year I would really like to paint my walls, the problem is that I have that dreadful woodchip wall paper. Simple! I hear you cry, just strip the walls... but this would mean a lot more cost, and the possibility of discovering hidden problems as invariably woodchip is used to disguise uneven surfaces and I really don't want to cause any damage. So I'm strongly considering biting the bullet and just painting. My pink bedroom and grey living room are not at all inspiring. As for the pink tiles as the sink splash back... I'm really not keen.

Now just what colour to paint it all. I really would like an eau de nil or soft green for my bedroom, with maybe a mural on one wall (which would have to be painted on a large piece of plywood as I doubt a mural would work on woodchip, alternatively a screen would work). Have you seen "Bright Young Things"? I love Nina's house in it...

The only pic I could find, but that tree mural would be amazing as a mural or dressing screen!

This bedroom looks fab too...

The thing is I've tried the green on the main walls out out that is said is used in this room and it came out a little dirty looking, I like these sorts of green but am unsure if they'd be a little cold...

I found the mood chart it on the web but no clue as to what colour to look for in paint... does anyone know of a paint that can look like this?

Have just found this pic from "Upstairs Downstairs"... this green is great too. What is it? Pistachio? Mint? Seafoam?!

Twas thinking of yellow for the hall and living room.. I love this colour...

But think it's a bit too bright for my little place. Would it work if I had it (professionally) watered it down with white? I just love how sunny it looks.

Does anyone have any ideas? I would really love to stick with a 30s look as my flat was built in 1935. just want to give it some oomph and glamour. Overall I'd like a gorgeous and sophisticated boudoir and a sunny
hall, living room and kitchen. The colours used in "Upstairs Downstairs" this Christmas were amazing, but I fear too OTT for such a small space.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

G xx

Pinching an inch

2011-01-12T08:55:00.005Z

WARNING! this is a post about having a fat day. If such topics make you feel a bit uncomfortable please navigate away... now.

The catalyst to this waffle is that I've put on an inch around my hips but lost one from my bust. Mother nature can be cruel.

I've always been a bit apprehensive talking about my weight for fear onlookers will believe I am fishing for compliments. Many girls, myself included, have fallen into 'that' mechanical ladies powder room-esque conversation...

"Oh I have such fat thighs, I wish I looked like you in that dress" ...

a brief silence ensues till the reply echos out...

"Oh no, I love how you look in that top, I wish my boobs were a good as yours"

I know the sisterhood should stick together and nurture one another, but sometimes we're allowed to feel genuinely... well, porky. And, today, that is how I feel, this post is certainly not seeking for any ego inflating comments to the contrary. I'm just a bit fed up that my crepe 30's dresses are a bit snug.

I also fear I could offend by speaking about it. I was once taken into the confidence of a gorgeous, leggy, size 8 siren. Whilst she complained that she had back fat I looked on trying to work out precisely where this elusive glutinous deposit was concealing itself? Each of her gripes made me feel increasingly hefty, my inner logic fathoming that if this nubile beauty thinks she's stocky then surely I'm beyond Rubenesque?
I most certainly do not want to alienate anyone reading about my love handle wallowings, in case they look at me and not be able to locate the extra inch I'm griping about but, as a result, suddenly become increasingly aware of their wobbly bits!

I think most women have body issues and I'm no exception. As a child I was always bigger than the other kids, my Scapegoat? ... Ostermilk; a powdered milk feed that "builds up" small babies... basically infant steroids... and as a teeny mewling ball of one month jaundiced prematurity I was doomed to be force fed the stuff. At 12 I developed into a rather rotund red cheeked teenager boasting a stone for each tender year and by my early twenties I had withered to a size eight through a mixture of stress and ridiculous eating habits, rice cakes alone were my friend... I was a miserable bitch!

Back on track at 29 I know I will never be a "skinny lizzy" (to coin a phrase from my Mother.) But I do like to feel svelte and the older I'm getting the more I notice sudden differences in my body shape, for instance that bump between the top of my thigh and hip... where's that come from?! And why precisely are my boobs shrinking and migrating south to my mysteriously expanding derriere?

And before you blame diet and exercise I can vouch that I'm active and careful, just not fanatical about my food intake, having lived on all those silly rice cakes and for a time only steak (oh I smelt... bad) I refuse to fall into "fad" diets and just stick to a healthy balance. I want cake I'll darn well have a piece! Life's too short!

What this post is getting at, albeit a little incoherently, is that if you're out there feeling a bit of the post Christmas wobbles and are a bit fed up about it then you're not alone. It may help to do as I'm trying to do and embrace those rogue lumps and bumps as a bonus extra feature... for a limited time only... 'till the Christmas pudd effects have worn off! ;)

G x
.

Sunday: Tidying sewing up and dressing up

2011-01-09T17:20:00.002Z

Today I had set some time aside to organise my wardrobe and repair some dresses which getting a bit threadbare... a stitch in time...

However, I overslept, rousing at one, as I opened my wardrobe a hat fell out and suddenly thought how much fun it would be to dress up just because I can. I purchased this particular hat a while back (I believe it's '30s or '40s) but haven't had the occasion to wear it, so why not today? In the house whilst tidying my cupboard and sewing my dresses!

Felt I needed to look a bit prim in this ensemble

Dress late '30s peach rayon with M.O.P buttons and buckle... one of those splendid Ebay bargains at £10 P&P. It does have a tear in the bottom which I've sewn up, so I use it for everyday wear. I do like how a hat can really lift it and make it look smarter though. Never thought of trying with this frock.
Black hat 30s or 40s? Can anyone have a look and let me know please? It was sold to me as '30s but I reckon it has a 40s look to it
Gloves charity shop. Think they're 50s
Shoes 30s/40s leather Neutralisers. Wee bit tight so I'm stretching them by foot and a shoe stretcher

Close up of the hat. I love its cut out details, velvet appliques and massive bow. Tis a bit snug though, as you'll see in next pic

The tidying went well. I put all my shoes into clear shoe boxes, which are cheap as chips and fab as you can see what's inside and it keeps the most precious slippers dust free. I organised all my skirts, trews and tops to be folded in a hanging fabric shelf. The lower drawers contain my hats. I also put my most delicate dresses in suit bags, to save them from little fabric munching beasties. This included my early 30s velvet dress which I'm working on atm, blog post coming soon!

Ahhh a tidy wardrobe make me happy!

Wearing at hat to do this work was a short lived fad. Within 5 minutes I looked like this...

Note the red line across my forehead, that's how tight my hat is! the shoes stayed on as I'm stretching them. This means my feet now also have red marks on them! the things we go through for fashion!

I also had a rummage and found these beauties which I'd forgotten all about. George Barbier Art Deco fashion prints. I love his use of colour and the frocks in them are pretty smashing too!

On this one my curtains match her wallpaper! All I need now is that dress!

Next thing on list... must buy some frames and get these up in the bedroom!

Hope you all had lovely Sundays

G x

A quick outfit post and some sale shopping

2011-01-08T15:38:00.002Z

I've decided I should really do a few more outfit posts as I own a fair few frocks and don't get to show them off much (working on radio no one sees what I'm wearing).

I bought this a wee while ago but haven't been sure about it... I thought the pattern was fun and it was a multi servicable item (to wear as a dress or just a skirt or top). But I'm not certain if the colour or style is right on me, I can't find a slip that doesn't shine through and I fear it may make me look like a sack of tatties tied in the middle as the ruching makes my wasit look a little wider. Therefore it's been hung in my wardrobe waiting. So for your delectation and opinion (even if negative)...

Pardon the silly expression and dreadful pose

Ms. King is modelling...

1940s skirt suit in salmon pink, featuring a novelty hat motif pattern in green and cream. Ebay
Tights: Brown Opaque value pack. Sainsburys
Shoes: Ashill Bombay. Clarks (currently in sale)
Hat: People Tree (from 2008)
1930s feather brooch on hat: From Etsy

I also have my hair styled differently today as last night I met up with Jeni and Bethan. During our evening of fish and chips and post Christmas catch ups, Jeni kindly hot sticked and set my barnet, which looked fabulously tight curled and '30s last night. Here are the results the next morning when brushed out...

Looking snooty

I love it! Everyone needs a Jeni to do their hair! I've never used hot sticks or setting lotion so this is truly a revelation... hot sticks have been bought and I cannot wait for them to arrive! Just need to find a good setting lotion now... any ideas?

On a different note, these sales beauties arrived yesterday...

Le Creuset whistling kettle in Almond

It was a necessity, as over Christmas I accidentally broke our plug in kettle. How did I manage that I hear you ask? Well, I'll tell you. On Christmas Day I was bustling about making lunch when the doorbell rang, so I placed the kettle on the hob as I went to answer the door. On my return I was greeted by the smell of burning plastic... Somehow the hob had mysteriously turned itself on, and the mess was incredible. I swear we have a ghost as things have recently been moving about or going missing... well, it's that or I'm becoming forgetful!

Anyway, this disaster gave me the idea that a hob kettle would be a good move and this little beauty was found in the sale. It makes a cracking cuppa and a lovely comforting whistle!

Bodrum Marina shoes from Clarks

I've been swooning over these lovlies since they came into Clarks, but was not willing to pay almost £60 on them... they're now reduced to £29.99. Super comfy, super stylish... super duper!

Have a great weekend :D

G xx

Twelfth Night and Resolutions

2011-01-06T07:53:00.003Z

Last night the Christmas decorations came down and it made me a tad maudlin, the house looks so bare now I miss the smell of pine, paper chains, cards hung from shelves and ivy garlands. Have you had the same feeling since taking your decs down?

On a happier note... I have made myself feel better by saving paper chains for my birthday in a couple of weeks, so at least I have something to look forward to, also the tree was dropping needles so it's nice not to have to deal with that!

Over Christmas I have sung in public a couple of times but don't seem to be improving in confidence, to the extent my knees go to jelly and I once mixed up the words which is ridiculous as I was singing Button Up Your Overcoat at the time, a song I know backwards! I carried on regardless, so think only fans of the song would have noticed, but I knew, so have subsequently beaten myself up about it.

So... I have made it my New Years Resolution to become more confident in myself and try to sing in public more. Thought it would help by posting songs up on here so am trying to find a way to record my uke playing and warbling for the blog, fingers crossed and watch this space! What would be great is if I could find live places to sing that would want to listen to '20s/30s jazz, a band would be nice too... Anyone reading this need a singer? I'm cheap and make a cracking cup of tea!

Happy Thursdays to you all... ooo.... and hello to my new followers, thank you so much for stopping by. I feel another giveaway will have to ensue, maybe when I hit the 100 mark :D

G x

Winchester New Years Bus Rally

2011-01-03T16:50:00.005Z

Yesterday Chris and I toddled along to the Winchester Bus Rally. It's held around New Years day in Winchester every year. Loads of old buses trundling about Winchester and the surrounding area, all of which are free to ride on! Such a good day out, as you get to ride on some marvellous pieces of machinery and take in the scenery... all for free!

To get there we drove to Alton and hopped on the Watercress Line Steam Railway. alighting at Alresford where a vintage bus picked us up.

It was a lovely day, we had goats cheese and pickle sandwiches on the steam train (those who are lactose intolerant I highly recommend Sainsbury's Parlick Fell goats cheese... it's delish!) and I munched on a Tunnocks caramel wafer for pudding... haven't had one of them for years!

Here are some pics for the day...

On the Watercress Line

Alton-Alresford

Locos used on our trip, a BR Standard Class 5MT and an ex LMS Black Five 4-6-0
I believe the carriages were from the 1960s

Chuffa chuffa chuffa chuffa... WOO WOO! The BR Standard Class pulls into the station

View from our carriage window... I love the smell of the steam

Flukey arty shot by Chas, I look a trifle maudlin, but I like it!

Chas going all Film Noir!

Moi et Film Noir!

A Christmas pressie. I've been told it's an original 1940s hand knit. Certainly feels and looks that way. I've seen the pattern on Ebay in these colours. It's wonderfully warm and very sturdy

Wonderful Topiary at Ropley station

I love this poster, it was in circulation between 1923-1947, cannot find out who the artist was though :(

Isn't the little fella sweet!

Some of my favourite Buses in Winchester...

The best French Bus... ever. It was in service in Paris from 1933. The fleet were also used during WW2. The bus has a tram like feel to it, with an open platform at the back... by far the best place to travel... and wave over excitedly at passers by. The chap who owns this has a few others, all of which are resident in his back garden on the Isle of Wight.

Posing on the rear platform

It's such a shame all the passengers weren't in period dress, but I love this pic anyway

Inside the French bus... looking all bustling and busy

A Leyland Tiger Cub from 1959. The inside of this bus is very high up from the road!

Chas' and my all time favourite... a Bedford OB. This one's been featured in a Miss Marple or ten! We queued to have a ride but didn't make it on... utterly gutted. Am hoping that we'll get to ride on one of these beauties sometime during 2011. They are not only aesthetically pleasing outside... the interior is beautifully upholstered and looks so comfy. The engine also makes the best warm whirring sound. OK now I'm sounding a tad nerdy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hope you've all had a lovely start to 2011. I'm back at work today, and it's a horrible bump back to reality... ach, nay mind!

G x

Christmas Time (Brandy) Snaps!

2010-12-29T19:10:00.000Z

Ello there!

Hope you've all been having a wonderful time on your holidays. as promised here's some piccies I've taken over the past week or so, from the run up to Christmas to the day itself.

Here's some lovely Christmas shop displays I spotted ...

One of Liberty's inside displays

Selfridges window

Selfridges window... Sylvanian families display

Here's some piccies of our humble abode all decked up yuletide stylee...

Paper chains and tea cups with tea lights in

The tea lights glow through and look so pretty

Our little tree decorated with paper chains, dolls house toys and a Russian doll as an angel

My 12 days of Christmas Russian Dolls

And for the day itself...

Stockings and pressies on Christmas morning

Penguin book wrapping paper

Recycling the Financial times as wrapping paper

a fab pressie. This is a great DVD... featuring the lovely Ms. Loy

What a lucky girl I am, Myrna Loy's biography

AND a rather spiffing peridot and diamond art deco ring

His Lordship's new '40s dressing gown

And watch chain with silver sixpence

My new '30s repro dress (thanks to Mum and Dad-inlaw!)

CHRISTMAS DINNER!

And the smallest Christmas pudding in the world!

That's all for now folks :D

What are you up to NYE? I'm working, but would love to hear about your plans (or your Christmases!)

G xx

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-24T22:20:00.002Z

Hope you have a wonderous time over the next few days.

I've got some brill Christmassy piccies taken of some shop displays and other seasonal thingumys to pop up post-festivities, but thought I'd save them for a blog spot during the few days I refer to as "limbo" ... not Christmas, not New Year!

Much Love

G xx

Chivalry is Dead?

2010-12-17T08:02:00.002Z

I'm afraid it's critical

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin... One cold, dark December morning a girl is waiting, alone, at a bus stop, a good ten minutes before it's due. Slowly the bus stop becomes busier as the bus is set to arrive. Appearing in the distance, the girl flags it down, it pulls into the stop... and the other 5 passengers barge past her to pluck the last few remaining seats. She really can't face standing for the whole the 45 minute journey so looks around the upper deck... BINGO! One passenger has positioned himself on the outside seat, but when the girls asks if she can sit down (being sure to include a polite smile and a please) she is scowled and sighed at as the chap begrudgingly swivels his behind in the seat so she has to trip over his knees to squeeze by...

And that was my journey to work today. I quite often encounter rudeness on public transport in London and it is one of my biggest bugbears. I have watched a pregnant woman stand in a crowded tube train, whilst many able bodied, nimble folk hog the seats (I hasten to add I was also standing, else my buttocks would swiftly have been peeled from the plush moquette seat). I've seen an old man slip over in a train station ticket hall and be stepped over by bustling commuters (Luckily the ticket hall staff and I were quickly on hand to help, fortunately he was OK) .... and if I had a pound for the number of times I have opened doors for folk, watched the world and its son walk through and not heard one "thank you" I would be a millionaire! On the flip side, whilst struggling with shopping bags a number of doors have been left to slam shut in my face as the person in front toddles away... so much for karma?

Gentlemen, please do not think I am attacking you, I do understand why you Blokes may no longer flamboyantly open doors. Woman have harped on for so long about equality and I fear Men are afraid a Lady will turn on them if they pull out a chair... "How dare you presume I am too weak to recline on my own?!" I am happy to open doors for Men and Women alike... as that's good manners... and good manners is what I have noticed is in short supply...

The general ignorance and rudeness of some folk disgruntles me. And it's not just the young (who I feel get an unfair telling off sometimes) Rudeness spreads across all ages.

We all need a chivalry makeover, Men and Women, Young and Old alike. Just a little human compassion, manners and awareness of those around us would make the world, and public transport, a happier place... Or am I becoming a Grumpy Old Woman?

Please, do tell

G xx

BANG! The lemsip made me do it!

2010-12-15T12:42:00.002Z

Having been off from work with a streaming cold and no voice I've been banging my head against a brick wall from boredom.

So, high on Lemsip (other cold relief powders are available) I took my floristry scissors and hacked a fringe into my bob... here are the results (all in black and white, as my complexion currently includes a red nose, watery eyes and very dry patchy skin... who invented colds and flu?)

I quite like it, but fear that it'll be a devil to style!

I'm going back to bed now... Scotty dog Pyjamas beckon

Pip pip

G x

Getting to know you... a 1960s me, who would you be?

2010-12-11T20:40:00.003Z

Two posts for the price of one tonight!

Firstly, I'd like to say "hello" to all followers, old and new...

"HELLO!"

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. thank you so much for following my blog. It's lovely to know that my random wafflings are of interest, and I do hope my typescript blatherings will continue to entertain :)

I do find Blog land a bit odd sometimes, as I have folk "following" but don't know who you are, which I think is downright rude of me, as if you take the time to read then I should know about you :D So... I have cooked up a little "getting to know you" thingumy bob inspired by a window shopping trip today, when I tried on a 1960s frock... and really liked it....

GROOVY BABY!

If I had the nerve to wear such short skirts day to day that little beauty would have been mine. Alas, having worn below the knee things for so long this was a bit of a culture shock. So it stayed in the shop. I did enjoy dressing up differently though... albeit briefly.

I tend to stick to a '30s and 40's look as think it suits my shape best, and I find it fun hunting about for bargain finds and high street looks that mirror the styling I like.

So... What era's fashion do you love best? Does your wardrobe emulate a particular era's style, or is it an eclectic mix? And what would your dream daily dress-up be? (I'd love to don a huge Georgian wig, tightly laced corset, and big brocade frock dress, but I fear it wouldn't be easy to deal with on the underground! could also be tricky to find on the high street or Ebay.)

Please do tell. It'll be a great way to meet you all, so your posts would be fab!

Gem x

Using 1930s roads in 2010 from London... to Devon

2010-12-11T19:27:00.006Z

I'm so sorry about the length of time this blog post has taken in posting. I've just been given a promotion of sorts, and my nose has been firmly glued to the grindstone! But it's all good!

Anyway as you probably already gathered from the Tyneham post, Chas had a gig in Devon the other Sunday, so we decided to make a micro holiday of it by traveling down on the Saturday and staying two nights. Rather than travel on all those horrible motorways we used a road map from the 1930s, and tried our best to follow the roads as much as possible.

It was all going swimmingly as we trekked along the A3, jaunting south into our old homeland of Surrey. NERD ALERT.... The Kingston bypass stretch of the A3 is one of the first arterial roads in Britain, after initial improvement plans in 1912 being shelved, work finally started in 1924 and it was opened by the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, on 28 October 1927. Running for 8.5 miles from the Robin Hood Gate of Richmond Park to the outskirts of Esher. As a Surrey bird and travel nerd I think the A3 is my favourite road, especially as the construction of the Kingston and Guildford bypasses in the '20s and '30s made use of temporary narrow gauge railways to move the construction materials (I love driving down those stretches and imagining little choo choos trundling along!)

Kingston Bypass in the '30s... I love the fact there are people nonchulantly walking on the carriageway!

The Kingston bypass now

Just outside Guildford the A3 smoothly merges onto the A31 at the Hogs back, thus named as... apparently... it resembles the back of a hog?! This area is featured in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" where he describes the Surrey Hills in detail (he was a fellow Surreyite!)

The Surrey Hills at The Hogs Back

We continued south through Surrey, past Farnham and the wonderful Shepherd and Flock roundabout, where I had my first alcoholic tipple (underage I may add!) This place has always fascinated me as it's a pub in the centre of a road, thus forming a roundabout. But there are also a few houses on the roundabout too... so it's like a little village!

The Shepherd and Flock from above

From Farnham we trekked into Hampshire through Alton and past Chawton where Jane Austen lived...

And further south to Winchester and then... BANG! The A31 vanished, and all that was available was the M3. So... shh, we drove along that and the M27, re-linking onto the A31 not too far from Southampton. The A31 winds through the New Forest, and merges onto the A35 a little north of Dorchester which then winds it's way into Devon, through Lyme Regis. Finally we linked onto the A30 near Exeter (a little bit of the M5... but we'll ignore that!) then finally linked onto the southbound A380 to Teignmouth.

If ever you need to go on a trip and have the option of using A roads I'd strongly suggest it. You get to see so much more countryside, historic places and generally trundle along at a more leisurely pace. I wouldn't suggest referring to a '30s road map though... as it's a tad disconcerting discovering your route has vanished beneath 6 carriages of tarmac and fast cars!

View Larger Map

Blog -life - crisis!

2010-12-03T21:43:00.000Z

I am thinking of re-naming my blog. It started out to be focussed on baking diary free stuff with some vintage bits and I've just noticed only 2 baking posts and the rest are other witterings. So, really, I am blogging under false pretences!
here are some ideas...

Dora Davies' Diary (the name of the 1930s tennant from my flat)
The lady vanishes (my all time favourite Hitchcock movie, but then i'm not a film critic)

Ok I'm out of ideas now... do you have any? Or should I just leave it be?
I have a good post in the pipeline, but it's taking an age to write up, watch this space :D

G xx

Tyneham... a village lost in time

2010-11-28T19:41:00.001Z

Last weekend chas had a gig in Devon, so we made a holiday of it and went away for the weekend.
En-route we decided to stop off at Tyneham in Dorset, a small abandoned village nestled amongst the Purbeck Hills, only a few miles from the sea, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
It was rather tricky to find... our sat nav couldn't locate it, all maps are a bit vague to is precise location and it cannot be seen from the main road. The only clue to its exsitance is the sign on the road proclaimng "village open"!
Tyneham's history dates back to the Iron Age, when fishing communities once resided there. It also has connections with William the Conqueror who gave the local land to his brother, the Earl of Mortain.

However, the most memorable time in Tyneham's history began towards just before Christmas 1943, when the village and 7,500 acres of surrounding heath and downland were commandeered by the War Office to be used as firing ranges for training troops. Altogether, 252 people were displaced.

This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement during WWII, but in 1948 the army placed a compulsory purchase order on the land and it has remained in use for military training ever since. The villagers were not allowed to return to their homes, but were given new accomodation. After the war, many of the villagers launched campaigns and demonstrations, but to no avail. Since that time Tyenham has remained uninhabbited and frozen in time. Many of the buildings still stand in various states of disrepair, some have been restored like the church and school, however some, such as the 'Great House' have been lost forever.
For me the most poingnant feature in the village was the perfectly preserved K1 phone box, which was only installed a short while before the village's evacuation. Original war posters can be seen in place inside along with the original phone, complete with "A" and "B" buttons. It must have been such a thrill for this rural and removed village to finally have direct and immediate contact with the outside world, all be it briefly.

I found my visit to the village very moving, espacially when I read the note that the villagers left the Military upon evactuation...

'Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.'

Upon reading this, knowing that they were never allowed to return and to see the village as it is now really hit me and I had a bit of a sob... Chas called me daft, so I ate his spare sandwich... ha!

Here are some more piccies...

Before

After

Chas inside one of the derelict homes... it was so sad, and really touching as each house had a plaque with pictures of the familes who once lived there

The church

The old post office

Bang Bang?

2010-11-26T07:18:00.000Z

I have been toying with the idea of getting bangs cut into my jaw length bob, a la Louise Brooks. but really can't decide. It sounds a bit silly worrying about just doing it, but the thing is my hair takes forever to grow (I had it cropped super pixie short back in 2005... it's taken 5 years and lots of tufty hair-dos, to get to the length it is now.
Other factors are...

The majority of my wardrobe is 30s so would the bob match? (Not that it matters, as I guess being a bit eclectic is OK, but when I had cropped hair none of my clothes looked the same anymore)
I've heard bangs are a pain to keep in check
Is my face too wide?
Is my hair to fine? (it's very fine and can look a bit limp at times)
Does the bob need to be all the same length? I have different lengths in my hair as it's still growing out from the crop of doom.
Am I the wrong body shape? Brooksie was so sylph like and elegant, I'm hardly that, having hips n boobs n'all, I'm also not very tall... I love Hayley Atwell's bob in Brideshead Revistited, and she's got curves (oh she is bloomin' gorgeous, and a good actress, am loving her in "Any Human Heart" on TV atm.) However, she's taller than me, and has a mass of gorgeous dark hair. (But then I guess it could be a wig, but in real life her hair looks luciously thick and glossy, as opposed to my reddish brown flyways.)

Anyway, any opinions would be greatly appreciated.the other half just said "whatever you want sweetie" ... oh he is useful!

I want her hair and dress and job

Ms. Holmes looked fab with this do

Thank you sweeties

G x

The Vintage Guide to London

2010-11-15T12:24:00.002Z

I recently started to write for the Vintage Guide to London, and am most proud today as I discovered that I've been published! I did a little Q&A and it's been popped onto the site. As it tells you a little bit about bits of vintagey Londinium I like and I thought you may like have a ganders in case you'd like it too. Check out the site for the Q&A and more goodies at:

http://www.thevintageguidetolondon.com/

WHY CAN'T MY FEET BE SMALLER!!

2010-11-10T16:30:00.000Z

SHOE SWOON! Just browsing Etsy and I saw these beauties... far too small and outta my price range anyway. But my oh my...

If they fit you and you have the funds check out kickshaw's Etsy shop.

G x