A vintage week…

I have had a pretty vintage week all in all, two opportunities to go all out with the vintage dressing, and both occasions focused on music.

I have fallen head over heels with the Andrews sisters I am suprised to say, thanks to these chicks below…. “The Beat Girls”.

Rach and i went along to the Anzac night tribute – “we’ll meet again”. It was jolly good fun.

The Wellington town hall came alive – as it would have in the forties, with a big band – the RNZAF band and The Beat Girls doing all the old songs – how come i have never heard of “Dont sit under the Apple tree with anyone else but me” before, I have been humming it all week.

We were the youngest there and the only ones dressed up and it took all the discipline we could muster not to get up and dance, but we didnt want to wreck it for the oldies.

Then last night we went to a caberet night at my mates husband’s bar.

Steve Carlin puts on a show every month or so and the event just begs for a fur and some pearls.

So I obliged.

The songs were from a later era than I had anticipated, not so much swing as croon, but it was all good fun and I had a dance to “The Lady is a Tramp”.

I have to keep my reputation you know.

The night was stormy and I had spent an hour on my hair so I had to walk there looking – as my best friend oh so kindly put it – “like a strange green witch”.

Now… please please visit this blog…

http://malepatternboldness.blogspot.com

It is truly the very best blog i have ever read.

I have spent the day laughing so hard i nearly fell off my chair.

Why he doesnt have his own TV show I have no idea.

Please comment me and tell me what you think – I just know you will love him

Anzac Day

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. LEST WE FORGET…

Anzac Day is an opportunity to remember the men and women who gave their lives in all wars – but particularly World War One.

I have never been to a dawn service before but decided to this year, as a mark of respect for my grandparents. My Grandad served in both World Wars, indeed he lied about his age so he could go to war.

Rachel and I dressed up and wore our poppies with pride.

Lets hear it for the humble PJ’s

I have not only had my time taken up by moving house recently, I have also begun a new hobby.

And like all of my hobbies it has turned into an obssesion!

After being burned badly by high school sewing classes i have always assumed I am not the kind of girl who would be any good at making my own clothes.

But neccessity has driven me to reviewing this self talk.

It is near on impossible to find 40’s clothes and vintage in general is getting expensive.

Vintage patterns arent.

So I took a night class and low and behold..

I CAN SEW!!

I have been doing little else for the past few weeks.

Although not my first finished project I thought i would brag a little by showing off my new old PJ’s.

Here is the pattern….

And here is my version…

Made from vintage wynciette and some new contrasting purple flanelette and using cool vintage buttons.

They are sooooo cosy – HUGE but comfy.

There is no stopping me now I know I can sew from the very scant instructions in vintage patterns. Next project is a skirt for the dawn service on ANZAC day next weekend.

And i have started my furniture buying in style with this baby from the Sally Army.

Doesnt it look fab with my formica table?

My kitchen is slowly taking shape.

And I plan to use my sewing skills to knock me up some gingham curtains.

New House, old Junk

I hope you will all forgive me for a whole month of not blogging.

I have been very busy moving house.

As some of you were aware myself and my son lived in a Buddhist Centre for a couple of years, and at the end there I was living in the garage!

So time came for me to re embrace the wonders of Sky HDI Tv, teen sleepovers and bathrooms under the same roof.
I vascillated between buying a place or renting but renting won the day after i spied a cute little 1940’s house

So voila..

I dont have any pics of the outside today but here are some “before” pics of us moving in…

This is my favourite room of the house, partly because it is still a novelty to not have to walk down a driveway in the middle of the night to visit it! But mostly because it is going to become the Art Deco bathroom of my dreams!

This is the lounge – much potential

And of course, the fab period kitchen…. I am itching to turn it into a 50’s kitchen.

So i have lots of work to do, lots of furniture to buy and lots of junk to re-house!

I am loving the little things like being able to have friends over for proper cups of tea!

I will post lots of pics in the future as my vintage house takes shape