What Louisa bought.......

These were my little treasures from the Fair......a very successful day of truffle hunting!

 

 

This butterfly necklace was £3.  It's not the norm for me as I dont tend to go for big pendants like this but I loved the jewel tone colours.

 

 

This was my favourite buy.  A cotton mac in a lovely bright teal colour.  The 70's big collars are brilliant. I tried it on, put it back, tried it on, put it back.  Then I walked away and went straight back a minute later scared at the thought of it going home with someone else.  It was £20 so not a cheap, cheap bargain but still a great price for what it is.  There wasn't a mark on it and even the stall owner thought it was brand new. Old, but brand new.

 

A staple element in my wardrobe - an accordian pleat skirt.  I have so many in different colours.  I got so excited when I saw it, I snapped it up straight away.  The colour match the necklace perfectly.

 

So for a £2 entry fee - it was definitely worth it.

A Vintage Affair....

 

 

Yesterday I went to the Bristol Vintage Fair at the Passenger Shed in Temple Meads Station and I absolutely loved it.  Me and my friend Gemma have been wanting to go for ages and we were even joined by my stepdaughter - Keely (I am secretly chuffed that she has started asking to come to these events!!). We got there for the start at 12 noon and I am glad we did as it was absolutely packed and by the time we left two hours later, the queue outside was around the block.

 

This is what I wore, not very vintage but I was going for a "quirky" look. I haven't worn my Ali Baba trousers for ages and I really wanted to put them  on.  They are also really loose and comfortable, great for those feeling fat moments. The top is from Dotty P's (it was by one get one free on sale items so I got two things for £7!) and the suede shoes were from John for Christmas.  They are too big but that won't stop me.  I have shares in heel grips and innersoles.

 

 

I'm glad we took some shots early....the amount of people that came through the doors later would not have made it easy.

 

This is the lovely Miss Gemma Carey. Have a look at her blog - Beau Fashion by Gemma

 

I thought this lady looked great so  I asked for a snap. There were a lot of people that were really dressed up, it was so nice to see.

 

 

Victory rolls a plenty!

 

I was on the (truffle) hunt for a red maggie bag. I saw one at the last event and wish I had snapped it up as there wasn't one in sight yesterday.  Hundreds in black and brown and even blue but not red.

 

And as for what I bought.......................that is only one post away.

When the going gets tough....

The tough by shoes.

Believe it or not, my own obsession was not at the heart of this particular purchase.  The lovely Miss Rachael Fletcher joked that I could buy a pair of shoes to bump-up her sales at work and low and behold - the distant memory of an unused gift card came to me so I decided why the hell not. Dedicated to the cause and all that. 

 They have a certain "Chicago" feel to them, just add a cane and a top hat.  Not sure their inaugural outing will be the vintage fair tomorrow as they are very high (especially with the added platforms) and I need to know that my legs are totally happy all afternoon.   I do not need any achey feet emergencies while I am negotiating a £200 discount on a hidden Louis Vuitton. A girl can dream.

Flirting with the Forties....

Last night was spent at my friend Laura's house. I had offered to be a hair "dummy" for her as she is starting her own hair styling business.  She wants to focus ideally on vintage style hair as she too loves that era and so I more than happily lent her my head.  And I was so pleased with the result!

It was lovely to see me with such a different style to my normal look (which to be honest is nothing to shout about).  I know that I am lucky to have long hair and I should, by rights do a lot more with it but I never seem to have the time. So being pampered and styled for an hour was a real treat.  We wanted to try the "victory roll" look and I loved it. I am just sorry that we won't be able to recreate it for the fair tomorrow. But there are still a few more ideas I would love to try. I am booking her to do my hair for my scary up and coming birthday. It's important to look good while drowning one's sorrows.

So if you fancy treating yourself to a new look or if you know of anyone that has a wedding or special occasion coming up - drop her an email - lauraefitt@hotmail.com. She is really lovely and very passionate about what she does.

This little piggy went to market (a vintage market)

I have been clinging onto the anticipation of this for months now and this weekend it will be here.

The Bristol Vintage Fair.  This is a travelling fair that visited my fair city last October for the first time but I wasn't really prepared. This time I shall be dressed up, purse in hand, heart a-thumping with childhood-style excitement. The mere promise of this event has kept me out of the charity shops these past few weeks. That and an empty bank account. 

I shall be doing a proper reportage of the whole affair with lots of pics so tune in at the end of the weekend, that or I may see you there! 

A little Tu-much?

It's done. Something that I have been working on for my mums 60th birthday this weekend. I seem to start all these arty, crafty things with no end date in sight but this I had to finish. Tomorrow me and my "piece" are off to the framers to add the finishing touch and then just a question of wrapping. Beautiful wrapping always seems to elude me though. I am no Kirtsy Allsopp that's for sure. Photos will be posted this weekend....

So here I am, job done and celebratory cuppa in hand. And what better way to say goodbye to the evening than with a "browse" on Etsy in search of life enhancing treasures.

And what do I find? A nod to my childhood (and teenage years........and 20's..............and 30's, and who am I kidding......almost 40's).

"Tutu adorablis"

I am and shamefully always will be, a sucker for a tutu. Alas, however, I fear that I am approaching a tutu watershed in terms of a respectable tutu-wearing age. I got away with one on my second date with John but she has since been placed into early retirement (only coming out at family party's for silly drunken photo opportunities, not mine I hasten to add). 

This beauty can be found at Tutus chic boutique on Etsy but she is not cheap. They make bespoke pieces aimed at weddings, proms and opera opening nights so the price tag is befitting of the usage.  Not for the pub in Chipping Sodbury or the Tapas restaurant in Clifton, both who have been graced by my tutu's presence.  

On that note, I shall leave you  as I climb the wooden hill to dream of glass slippers, handsome Prince's and kissing frogs. Nighty night.

Re-claim and Re-love

It has been a sad week this week as our shop approaches closure and one by one my Wallis family are coming to terms with the fact that we may no longer have jobs. The job issue is of course scary but the underlying upset of our family being forcibly split up is much harder. So I have neglected my blog somewhat as I try to concentrate on sad friends and the even sadder concept of unemployment.

That said, I ignored the job search on my day off (nothing like denial to lend some perspective) and spent the morning with my friend Ewa, scouring around an old reclamation yard in Bristol. I haven't been to one for years (usually down to my huge fear of spiders) but she fancied a trip there and I was apply to go along.  And I am so glad I did, I had forgotten what wonderful Aladdin's caves they can be.

Straight away, I spied a red and gold velvet chaise longue which was not in my price bracket....not even in the neighbourhood of my price bracket unfortunately. But.....I did hunt out some other tiny treasures on a more manageable budget of £10.

This lovely window pane caught my eye. I am unsure as yet as to what it's purpose will be other than just sitting pretty but I am thinking of making a stand for it to sit in and putting a candle behind it. 

It needs light behind it in some fashion and I don't fancy the riskiness of hanging it on a window or door. Not with three kids and a wolf in the house. 

These two ceramic door plates also called out to me. I have threaded them with ribbon so that I can hang them somewhere but I plan to decorate them in some way. I am considering painting some French wording on them but I want it to be perfect so I shall ponder some more on the exact lettering. Watch this space......