Starting Small

I have been looking at the size of rooms and realise I have too much stuff and a keeping the wardrobe may be a problem. At least I have nearly 4 weeks so I can see if the local charity shop can take the wardrobe and table for free.
Typically I know no one who has a car at the moment so I have to pay for a removal van as well, more costs.


look at all the pretty vintage brooches! The fabric I wanted has been bought, so now I am itching to buy something else. I have the Pepin Press book, I got it for under £14 on Amazon through other sellers. Its a good book to look at, even better if you want to try and date your 50s fabrics or look for similair, the CD has lots of images of fabric.

Been a slow month

I haven't posted as I have been lazy and been ill. I'm still completing the vogue dress, actually I spent four days sewing it to near completion, however I have yet to complete the buttons holes (problems with even spacing) and the hem (waiting to buy an attachment as hand sewing a curved hem to laborious. Trying to complete my assignment for my NCFSE LEVEL 2 in Diversity which I should have already submitted to receive corrections.
I didn't have the opportunity to visit the exhibit as it was happening during the lean months. I have to say this is probably one of the weakest exhibit books I have seen which has been in association with V & A, their are alot of stock, pictures inside, very view of the outfits on display.


I picked up Half the Sky because of the book cover, it is a very inspirational book and gave me some much needed perspective.

all images credited to www.amazon.co.uk
I haven't posted as I have been lazy and been ill. I'm still completing the vogue dress, actually I spent four days sewing it to near completion, however I have yet to complete the buttons holes (problems with even spacing) and the hem (waiting to buy an attachment as hand sewing a curved hem to laborious.

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GIVEAWAY!!!!

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SILHOUETTE MACHINE GIVEAWAY!!!!


How amazing is this, think of the many that could be customised and given as presents. Grosgrainfabulous blog is giving this beauty as a price so to find out more and to entry click the link above.

Hot Days

I love the idea of wearing vintage 50s Hawaiian or Tiki inspired clothes in the summer, but I not too keen on the price so here are some more purse friendly examples. What about turning a mens shirt into a top? And I even managed to find a purse friendly 50s Hawaiian dress for the small bust. I love the Tiki bamboo 2 piece, unfortunately the skirt waist is too small.

New Blog to Follow

If you havn't all ready visit this blog for amazingly stylish older ladies and gents and they have great pearls of wisdom to give out. http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/.

Thanks Dita!

Dazzle this Summer

image credit studio1950 on Etsy.
I have wanted a sequin cardigan ever since I saw my two Aunt get one at the tender age of 16. I purchased a beaded and sequin cardigan in okay condition for £45 in Covent Garden that same year. I was horrible chuffed until I realised I could of bought it of eBay in better condition. It may be sunny out there but there is one hell of a cold breeze, I need to wrap up.

Shopping Spree

New Trench Coat at clearance from TKMaxx. image credit www.tkmaxx.com
I also bought a mellow yellow cropped tie shirt with red bean print from the same brand with buttons inscribed happy on them.
I really wanted a cotton dress after trying on 1,2 & 5 I bought dress 1.
I adore dress 2 its ultra flattering for ladies with junk in there trunk, it flares out from the waist, and has netting trim underneath to make the full skirt stand out, unfortunately its man made. If you have a bust then its advisable to try on the smaller size, this brings down the neckline and makes the dress fitted at the waist.
Dress 4 wasn't in the shop but looks like it could be a hit with the bottom heavy.image credit for dresses 1-5 www.newlook.co.uk.

Royal Weddding

I watched to see the costumes, and did you see Harry's gansta walk down the aisle?
As for Kate dress it was nice, but I can believe it is Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, if McQueen was still alive he wouldn't of made this dress. The reason he wouldnt of made it as it doesnt look individual, Kate should have her own style it shouldnt be about recreating other royals dresses. It looks like a Grace Kelly simplified knock off, the bust bit is weird as it looks like they had to give her a bust and whats with that bow on the back. Surely she didn't need to have a train that long, if the dress doesn't have an impact, how is the train going to improve that. Now im searching the internet to find a jacket, you wouldn't beleive how hard it is to buy an intermidate jacket to wear with skirts, all the trench coats are too long, you also wouldn't beleive what they asking for second hand denim jackets on ebay.

Wear Suncream

More Bakelite testing

Yesterday, I tested my Bakelite Mississippi bangles, one smelt very strongly of diesel and the other had a faint smell. I was told that two marble bangles were French Bakelite which from Internet reading means they are fake Bakelite and smell wrong during the hot water test, however these two smelled when rubbed by thumb and the Mississippi bangles didn't'?

The Hot Water Test extract from http://hubpages.com/hub/Collectibles-Testing-Bakelite accessed 22/04/11
Place the piece beneath hot running tap water for about 10 seconds or until heated thoroughly and then smell. If the scent of formaldehyde is present, it is Bakelite. If the scent of Camphor (similar to Vicks Vapor rub) then it is Celluloid. If the scent of burnt milk is detected, then your piece is Galalith, a milk based French type of Bakelite that will also not react to the 409 or Semichrome test.

It didn't give all this detail in the book! Apparently if it smells, it should require further testing as old Bakelite smells different to 50s. What most articles seem to agree if you do the thumb test and its a sharp smell it should be bakelite and if you do the hot water test and their is a strong smell it should be bakelite. But since fakelite is believed to pass all the tests, chemical testing is required.

Save the mommy gives a receipe for making a 409 cleaner, wonder if this is any good http://www.saveathomemommy.com/2010/01/make-your-own-409-household-cleaner/ accessed 22/04/11

Seller a_hill_thrill has kindly written a detailed reporting on testing for a Bakelite and recommends using Simichrome Metal Polish to get a true result. On eBay you are looking to spend at least £12 to get it from America. I am going to visit my local hardware shop to see if I can get lucky http://reviews.ebay.com/A-HILL-THRILL-GUIDE-HOW-TO-TEST-FOR-BAKELITE-PLASTIC_W0QQugidZ10000000000099629


And Happy Easter, I plan to finish of the vogue dress, hopefully I can reduce the fullness in the skirt and eat M&S Hot cross buns and Easter eggs.

Oh My Goodness - Peacocks By Design

I really want to put it on the card, but I am afraid it wont suit my shape. Its a cotton dress and it doesn't cost £50 plus, it seems that alot of the summer dresses are made from viscose, or are cotton with polyester lining (includes the Primark Dress). I tried on the Monsoon dress and in reality it looked washed out, the fit was okay but it was nothing special for the money, and I found in my local store which means it must be in every store.
I tried the Fit and Flare skirt from Matalan, very flattering for wide hips and placed in the basket (I have an aptitude test and its getting hot). They also had a black circular skirt, unfortunately there was too much fabric. I tried on the Grey cropped sleeve jacket, nice design, horrible cheap fabric choice.