Peterpan frills!

Greetings mes amies!  It was lovely to share your kind comments on recent posts, thank you!  It's always lovely reflecting back on holiday memories and even just memories of the day just gone!

And wasn't it a beautiful day today!  Alas, I spent most of it inside, but the small sections in the sun were great!

Today is Thursdays are for thrifters at Meagan's!  My outfit photos include 2 thrifted items- 1 Peterpan collar dress (Phase8 I think but not sure via Charity shop) and pink frilled Kew cardigan (charity shop).  Worn with blue mini satchel bag (Won in Hazel's giveaway), Tescos floral tights, Liberty print silk scarf, Primark necklace, Peacocks belt, eYe shoes.

 Shots feature ubiquitous Kezzie mess!

 Blurry photos but there we are!

Can I ask, does anyone else have trouble actually getting themselves to eat fruit on a regular basis.  I love fruit but I just can't seem to make myself eat it.  (That said, I ate blueberries and raspberries during the staff meeting this morning as I'd forgotten my bagel to toast- hmmmm, maybe that's the answer!).
I buy it, take it to school and then it comes home in my bag.  I rarely fancy eating it in the evening.  Then it seems to go off.
I start with good intentions.  I start off a week with a little snackbox of fruit and then the rest of the box moulders in the fridge as I don't quite manage to eat it!  I don't have this issue with vegetables which I eat in abundance with my dinner!  Any suggestions gratefully received!

Never again!!!

 Since I went for a modern-twist on an Edwardian teacher look today, I decided to photograph it! Except that, since I was going to go to the park to feed stale bread to the ducks and geese, I thought, "Oh since it's raining, no one will be there so I could choose an interesting setting for taking a photo!"  Rather like one or two of my favourite bloggers, Lauren and Veronika who always have interesting locations.

I set off with bread, camera, the shoes I had been wearing to church.   All seemed well, the geese were parading across the grass.

I fed the birds then checked no one was around, and quickly threw off my coat, took off the boots and put on my shoes, stuck the camera on the picnic table.  It was absolutely bloomin' perishingly cold, my icicle hands rendered everything stiff and inoperable!  And just as the picture took of course, there was a young 20-something dog-walker standing there staring at me bemused!

I felt a complete idiot!  I just muttered something about "Don't ask!" as she said, "I wondered what on earth you were doing! "
She then proceeded to turn round and watch as she walked along.  In my cold state, I couldn't seem to pick anything up.  This massive goose came and stood right by me with a menacing look in its eye.

My coat zip refused to go to the top, my umbrella blew inside out and refused to come down.
As I walked home, the rain and wind whipped up into a veritable helter-skelter

 I took this when I got back (rain ceased a little).  Was it worth it? Does it look any different?  No way! I will not be venturing outside my own home to take any photos purely for the purpose of photographing an outfit!  What am I doing?  When did I try to become a fashion-blogger which I clearly am not!?  
  I guess I started posting outfit shots because I really enjoy reading and admiring other people's and since I love clothes, dressing up and shopping, (it all stemmed from the hats log I think!) and also because I was in so few photos and the few there were were really unflattering and ugly, so I wanted to have some record to look back on and think that once upon a time I was young and frivolous, but I sometimes wonder if it is me?  Please do tell me if I become ridiculous or being something I'm not!

 On the plus-side, despite the bitter cold, I could see the beauteous signs of Spring.  Delicate blossoms that remind me of this little handbag I was using today!

 Like a chandelier of flowers!

 Here was the last time I wore this skirt in January.  I remember taking this photo when I'd lost the camera lead, so I figured I could do a remix with the two together since I took the photo!

Hope you are well!  I had a lovely time last night at a black-tie dinner-party which was great fun although rendered me exhausted!!!

Sloshing the acrylic paint around!

Ahrgh blogger how annoying you are!  I NEVER know what order it is going to upload pictures in and of course it does it backwards to what I expected!

I decided to make a pair of earrings for my Secret Santa at school as she loves buttons and has the most gorgeous Cath Kidston necklace made of buttons.  So I decided to use some of the cute this lilac buttons I have to make her some (my first experience with jewellery pliers and jump rings.  It wasn't too painful.  I then recycled a small eyemakeup jar to house them in which I covered in buttons (see left).  I was rather pleased with them

I've also made a little red pair of my sister (she doesn't read this so tis ok for me to post!)

 And another lilac pair for my pal M. Again, I've recycled a packaging item to house them in.  I've adapted this mint tin by covering it in buttons- except that I left the 'sugar free' label as it amused me!

 Oh and here are all her gifts!  I was quite pleased with what I managed in this case for the fiver!  Stripy socks, a cute mug with a cable-knit cosy and marshemellows inside and then also a cute grey beaded bracelet (not shown)

 The craft began on SAturday with Christmas card making!  My main 'ingredient' this year was white acrylic paint and recycling tissue boxes and a tofu box!

Firstly, I used a design from Papercraft inspirations as I initial inspiration (and basically copied for the mini-gingerbread cards)

I stuck a piece of paper at an angle and then sponged acrylic paint along (graduating quantity)

Then did the same with some small scalloped squares cut from an old tissue box, an old brochure and an old blue envelope which looked like an interesting night sky.  Not at an angle!

 Then with one or two larger cards, I experimented with roughly sponging a graduated acrylic paint border around the edges of one or two cards.

Did the same with a few more...

Then got a white gel pen and made some snow dots

...On every single bit of acrylic-attacked card... 

 Then, using the outside of an old tofu box, I made some mini gingerbread men (details in white gel pen)

 And then made one or two large gingerbread items...

 Then I punched a large quantity of black card bristly looking trees!

I noticed after this, that I had somehow punched them in a dead straight line from the sheet of black card, all the trees equidistant from each other.  My thrifty mind thought, "Hmmmmm, vot haf vee heeer???"

Putting all those ingredients together, I made the following...

Here's the final set of Christmas landscape cards

And a close up!

Here are the 3 bookmarks which were basically the negative from all the black Christmas trees I punched, (my cunning plan).  I like to think that I was being enviromentally friendly and liked the thought of people being able to USE the card I sent through the post!

 
Here's the final ones of the bigger range.

All in all, rather a success.  Now what else can I make for Christmas?

In which I pretend I am a fashion blogger and pose with my hand on hip!

(But as usual the cheesy grin gives it away!!!!!!  No, I shall never do mean and moody or pouty or I'll look like a salmon! I don't do fashion- I just like clothes!)

Ahgrh, am so tired!  I went to bed at 2am, was woken by CBC arriving at 3.30am, was then woken by CBC's alarm at 6.15am!!!! Sleeeeeeeep!   I had a lovely time out last night though with 2 dear friends who I don't nearly spend enough time with.
For want of something original to write, I decided to take photos of my totally comfy outfit worn for school on Wednesday, to model new/old blouse bought the previous weekend.  First day back after the lurgy, I feel much better so thank you for your kind well wishes and prayers! (as you can tell, I started writing this post 2 days ago, but got distracted!)  My day was fairly easy so I was eased in mercifully.

 Excuse the pale face of post-ill!  Here we have that thrifted Topshop blouse in candycane shades with Boden thrifted Tweed trousers plus Zara green (current) old man cardie.  And these shoes which I must point out make my SPADE-like feet look positively dainty!  I bought them on a 2-day trip to Rekjavik 11 years old and they never fail to make me actually think my feet stand a chance of looking feminine!


And I leave you with a picture of the afternoon sun in Stock, Essex over the green. Ah... fresh air...

How are you my lovelies? And that includes everyone!  Don't be shy!

Remixed patterns

Have you entered my giveaway? 2 days to go!  Enter here. 

If there is one thing I am gaining from taking part in inspiration Mondays, posting outfits and reading Sophie's 30 x 30 remixes, is finding new ways of combining clothes.  I bought this skirt last Saturday and posted it- worn with a demure pussybow blouse and mink coloured heeled boots. So I tried to find a new combo for school on Wednesday and this is what I came up with.  I'm really not sure about these grey polka dot tights- don't know it seems a bit incongruous wearing grey tights but otherwise I was quite pleased- I've never worn this navy polo neck with anything other than under the M&S striped dress it came with, so wearing with with the tank was a pleasing find.  

Oh dear, more shots with miscellaneous items left on the floor!Can anyone recommend a good program (free) for editing your photos on a PC.  In the past I've tried to use paint with is pure evil! 

 I'm not sure these purple boots match- hmmm, that seems a good reason for buying some navy blue boots...

Hope you are well!

Who will buy this wonderful morning?

Good Evening! Hello to friends old and new!  It's lovely that you've popped round for tea!   Wasn't it a gorgeous day! 

  I figured that I always enjoy drooling over other people's thrifted purchases that I would share some that I was pleased with from yesterday!

Here's what I wore to church today.  The blouse and and skirt are Topshop via St Francis Hospice. The velvet jacket Gap via Fara (fortunate I found this since my dear Mum appropriated my Camden velvet jacket for herself!) .    Clarks original desert boots (Schuh)  and fake fur handbag (Kush)

 I adore this silk blouse which is soo soft and comfy, purchased yesterday as was this skirt. I've been looking for a lovely blouse like this in charity shops for a while, so I was so pleased to find one in my size!

 The bow is already tied for you which is a mercy since I can't tie bows properly.  Have I ever shared that?  I cannot tie bows in the proper way- I can only do Bunny-ears bow.  (Like Sophie, I don't pluck my eyebrows.  I don't care if they look horrid! I do however wish I wouldn't squash my chin in that way)

 I quite like the quirky fabric on this skirt

 And I finally wore my mink-coloured Clarks originals desert boots which I bought at the same time as my ICs from Schuh- very pleased- they are so comfy!

 I felt the floaty floral nature of the blouse needed a white flower in my hair.  Purchased for around 20p in a Balinese street market.

 Here are the boots up close.  Oh dear, how is it that there is always so much miscellaneous junk in my photos!  Must tidy, must tidy!

 And here are my other St Francis finds from yesterday- 6 lovely old blue glasses which can be used to drink out of and for lovely desserts!  Rather pleased with them for 50p each. (More miscellaneous junk in the background- eeek!) 

 And another Topshop blouse which will be lovely for layering under dresses! Again, I wanted a lovely natural fabric blouse of this kind!

Have you found any thrifting delights recently?

400th post! A horrid awakening but think of a happy place with lucky finds!

This is my 400th post I just noticed! Due to the joys of scheduled posting, you may not have realised but I have been away for 10 days! I have been completely incommunicado (well apart from a sneaky check of e-mails) so I had no idea about the absolute horror and chaos that has been going on. I returned home late yesterday and resolved to watch no TV, so the first I heard was when my sister phone me to beg me to stay inside and not go anywhere some hours ago.

As she phoned, the imbecilic and egregious idiots that have chosen to wreak chaos in East London, descended on my home town (I live in a suburb nearby) to attack a supermarket and police station. I am staggered to believe that such things can occur. The problem quite simply is they fear no one- not their parents, the police, the government, God. A relative had a brick thrown at his car and we are praying for him as he works that all will be safe. A friend who I phoned to warn of the nearby events was driving home and she saw youths walking towards the town centre carrying sticks with their hoods up and handkerchiefs round their faces. Cowards. If you are going to do such cowardly deeds, at least have the courage to show your face. Where will they be if they need the police, if they need to buy food, if they need help. There will be nothing left. I hope and pray that they will realise what fallacies there are in their actions and gain some compassion and that all those who have to work (police, fire, ambulance, bus drivers etc) will be safe from harm.

In a bid to take my mind off the real world which has so rudely interrupted my seclusion from technology, I decided to post some pictures from my holiday.
I was camping in Buckinghamshire, practising and performing music with a large group of friends. The place I went to holds many dear memories, I have been going there since I was a teenager.

CBC and I arrived late on Friday night and grappled with our large tent (to feature in another post). Saturday morning was a delight, singing a beautiful Mass by a composer called Victoria
(a man, some 400 years ago or so). Then in the afternoon, it was time to go down to the local village for their annual fete which we were providing a windband for. We walked down the steep hill, through cool shady woods, through parched fields and along a winding road lined with beautiful houses to reach the village green.

This is your typical quintessentially English country fayre, so there were plenty of exhibits to view- vegetables, cakes, flower arrangements, crafts and all that!
I arrived early so I went to look in the exhibits.
These sweet peas caught my eye:

as did these proud looking onions.

Of course, it isn't a fayre without bunting and bouncy castles....

... knocking down skittles against bales of hay...

There was an amazing display of vintage vehicles including this funky tanker...

A rather lovely car. Please excuse the mangled individual attempting to break in...

Our favourite was this bus/coach. CBC really suited it, especially after he purchased a rather fetching picnic hamper in the brickabrack...

Imagine riding a bus with this interior!!!! I love this shot of CBC. He looks so cute!

I desperately tried to avoid the double chin...

The walk to the village was charming...

Don't you wish you lived in an ivy covered cottage!

In addition to CBC's hamper, buoyed by intense jealousy at one of our fellow campers who won an amazing hamper last year, we plagued the tombola with our business. At first our fruits were few: 2 cans of Pepsi for me, a bottle of sherrry for CBC and a Chilli notebook. Then AHA, I struck gold and won a small hamper (below) lovely basket stuffed with oriental goods, nice couscous, coconut milk, French duck pate and other things! I was soooooo chuffed!

However, the place I was looking forward to most was the Brickabrack tent. Fuelled by an intense longing to find exciting articles such as Vintage Vixen regularly finds, I was one of the first to enter the tent! I managed to find one or two really pleasing articles.

First, I found this ingenious bracelet which was crafted out of an old silver dessert fork. Not bad for less than a pound! There were also 2 spoon ones but they weren't as groovy!

Several friends went back to the tent after I showed them in hope of buying the spoon ones but they had gone sadly. Am sure it will look lovely after I've attacked with with a silver cloth.

This grey pearl (unlikely to be real) necklace was also pleasing!

My favourite purchase was a pure silk cream ankle length kimono which cost £2
- which was perfect as I'd forgotten to bring a dressing gown (useful for tramping across the field in) Photos are just a closeup of the fabric as it is too creased (stuffed in my suitcase) to show!

Then I found these pretty pearly clip-on earrings which I could imagine with lots of dresses!

Also, I gained this pretty shell bangle...

And SUNGLASSES, perfect since I'd forgotten mine and the sun was beating down intensely!

Finally, I bought the board game TABOO which is great fun- you have to describe words without saying certain Taboo words in order to do this!

Once I had prised myself away from the Brickabrack, I went to go and screech away on the piccolo for the band (great fun except for the usual problem of music flying away!). We played such classics as Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Edwardiana Waltz, The Banner of St George and other tunes that you'd recognise. Everyone was cheerful and the audience seemed to enjoy it. CBC had a delightful wander and we both ate delicious Beechdean ice-cream seperately and together, a South African barbecued sausage. As we delightedly regarded our haul we were suddenly aware that we had accumulated a rather large amount of luggage to lug up a very steep hill in boiling temperatures and that we must also try to stuff it into an already crammed car on the return journey....

More soon...