Craft Swaps & Inspiration

Been a little quiet, but had some inspiration from swaps & visiting crafty places! Take a look!

Vintage swap by Linen&Fred - we had to collect various vintage items and swap - now I have these lovely goodies to add to my vintage craft stash...which I'm using up making little gifts and items to sell

Needle case - lovely red rose

Need to find something suitable to sew this lovely bird onto some vintage fabric I think

Quilt Show at the NEC - not yet up to these standards (unlikely I will EVER be this good!)

At TOFT - Alpacas

Susan Crawford Vintage Knits

Lots of lovely inspirations...what's next??! Better try making something!!

 

 

The real 50's woman

Having always had an interest in history, where we've come from, the changes and development of society, how life use to be and of course the fashions! I was excited to find in the loft some original women's magazines from the 50s, to just peruse and wonder at them, sometimes laughing and sometimes perplexed by their stories, articles, and often their adverts!

So here's a little taster of what I found.

Glamorous women on the cover - they look 'too perfect' was airbrushing used back then??

Back in the day to look good all you needed was plain soap!

Tips on the right swimwear outfit for your body shape

Receipes & advise - I learnt something new, having brought a few mini moulds like this at a vintage fair I found pastry in them just stuck too much - now I have a new recipe to try - Honeycomb Mould and I now know how to give children their 'necessary daily milk ration'

I LOVE THIS: 'Because you're a woman your holiday is vital, says a Harley Street consultant'

Totally agree...what more can you say?!

Fourth paragraph...'As a woman, you are accustomed to expending energy in often harassing circumstance. You need regular rest and exercise...' Don't worry - for exercise it later says 'a good walk'... along the beach I think!

A woman's opinion was a big deal!

Lots of on-going stories to keep you entertained - no 'trashy gossip' (although a little wouldn't hurt!)

Powder Shampoo is nothing new!

I love lavender and I love Yardley Lavender, but this advert is scary!

I always wondered why they had so much to wear in a bedtime outfit, my Sindy doll had something similar - it seems flimsy too, I just love my modern cosy pjs!

And finally - for the woman who couldn't cook much, there was cake mix for those afternoon teas!!

Can't wait to see what the other magazines have in store, also trying to work out why they were kept - I'm hoping there's something significant like an ancestor appearing in one!

Downton In Fabric!

After a visit to the Malvern quilt show I came across some fabric I had been waiting to buy online, but it was there and so I brought a little (I still need to get a few more fabrics from this range...)

Downton Abbey Fabrics are here and the ideas are flowing, it's just getting the time...

So far I have made a clam purse - all for myself (for once), this was the first time I had made a clam shell, following a guide I managed to put it together, although sewing all the final pieces together was tricky once they started to curve.

Clam Shell Purse

 

The finished clam shell

I used the main Downton Abbey themed fabric for the centre

I used Lady Edith themed fabric on the outside, mostly the fabrics styled on her are light colours including peach and greens.

My next project... a Downton Abbey Quilted Cushion Cover

I have gone for shades of blue and green for this one, there's a mixture of fabrics based on Lady Mary, Edith and Sybil

 

 

 

 

 I would have tried a full size quilt cover which I saw a kit for at Malvern, but for a beginner it was too much, plus at £45 would be breaking the bank right now, can't justify that, knowing it will probably sit in the pile of 'to do' crafts. I have ideas for a few items to make & sell too...just got to find time and get on with it!!





The fabrics all have lovely designs and colours, I want to get a few more of The Dowagers fabrics which are much darker, purples and black patterns.

So my decision to 'use what craft items I have already got' is going out the window, I now have new ideas which require purchasing new craft bits...think I must have a clear out!!

Poirots Last Cases

Well, after years of watching David Suchet as the unforgettable Hercule Poirot, the last few cases are approaching.

After watching the last episode- 'Elephants Can Remember', I was caught by the fashions of the time (although the novel is based in the 70s), the 20s/30s feel does suit Poirot.

The very distinctive Hercule Poirot - photo: carnival films

Whilst the novels are great to read, the production of Poirot in tv and film has been very popular - not beating her record as the best selling novelist of all time (quite a feat!), but equally they should be noted for the deadication and attention to detail that specifically the tv series has continued to show.

Die hard Agatha Christie fans may well question its translation from novel to screen (as any books moving to screen suffer critical analysis) whilst some changes can be seen as unnecessary, the changes in the latest episode fitted in keeping with the original novel.

I literally finished the novel on Sunday, just with hours to go before the episode - it was a challenge set to me to read the last few novels before the episodes air, we then heard the first episode was on Sunday so I had a week to read it. I'm not the fastest reader, unless a book grips me! And I'm usually reading several books, but I put them to one side and completed my challenge. I could then compare notes with my sister on its translation to screen (just as my mum would.) Overall - storyline and the characters and of course the setting, worked well together.

The fashions do stand out, I think more so nowadays with the increased interest in 'vintage'.

So looking at some 30s fashions -



Smart wear was the style of the day, no casual hoodies back then!

 

Miss Lemon always looks very smart and elegant

 

 

 The styles had begun to change in the 30s from the shorter flapper style dress to longer fitted dresses and collars were very popular too.

 

 

A fabulous 1930s fashion tale comes from Wallis Simpsons wedding dress which you can find out more about at Madame Guillotine. It's not quite what you might deem a wedding dress to look like...

Wallis' wedding dress 1937 - but don't be deceived - the dress was originally blue! Photo from Madame Guillotine


You might want to try this great blog post I found on Poirot from Diamond Stash

Vintage Tips

Over the years I have developed a great fondness and admiration for vintage items and the 'vintage' way of life, nowadays, whilst the revival of vintage/retro items, especially fashions, is at a high, it is not always possible to 'pull off vintage'. Some things are just not practical for our lives today.

My Vintage Love page has sadly been neglected, but I am reviving it (hopefully) with tips, online findings, my findings, pictures and various other ideas. I hope it will be a collection of useful and quirky information that can help the novice, or those interested in vintage, but unsure of how to 'use' or collect vintage/retro items.

Please take a look at my page.