Buying beads in the oddest places.

 At the War & Peace Revival Show earlier this year tucked away in a corner was a stall selling jewellery, baskets, beads and bags of mixed old beads (from broken necklaces) & broken oddments of jewellery. 


This was a long way away from the vintage village and the other stalls of clothing, accessories, and jewellery.
  http://www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk/

I brought several bags of the beads and a bag of the jewellery oddments.  Some of it was a bit nasty (but not very much), some of it not quite my taste and there were lots of real treasures.

It took quite a while to sort the beads into usable categories but it was great fun.  There were quite a few vintage beads in the mix.

 Lots of different sizes, shapes and styles - perfect for creating unique bags and purses.  
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/194691445/handcrafted-one-of-a-kind-floral-purse?

This is the first time I have seen glass beads as small as grains of fine sand, I hope I can get a needle through them.

There were lot of unusual larger  were in one of the bags, there were several crystals and pretty old glass beads in various sizes, shells, wood and pearls - beads of all shapes.  

The oddments of jewellery included a lot of earrings, clip-ons as well as ones for pierced ears, rings and brooches. 

I am really looking forward to designing and creating my new projects.  Adding oodles of beads amongst the ribbons and lace. 


https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/183566328/tattoo-skull-purseooak-gothpsychobilly?ref=listing-shop-header-3 

I love this little brooch

A summers day at the War and Peace Revival

It is the time of year when tanks, trucks, guns etc roll across the Kentish countryside to a massive event.  Static displays of living history, arena shows, army surplus stands have now (at the second year at the new venue) been joined by classic cars, a 'home front' village, vintage fashion shows and stalls with clothes - some vintage some replicas. http://www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk/
As this years show finishes at the end of sunday 20th July plans are already being made for the next show.

I love classic car shows like this with a lot of variety there are so many beautiful cars.

A friend of mine was taking part in a fashion show - but not the one I watched .... this one in the home front village was very interesting.  Finding out about the reduction of the number of buttons (to free up valuable time), how many coupons were needed for clothes and details about styling.

A walk around the camps and vehicle display takes a long time but worth it.

The Home Front village with tape across the glass, a pub, shelter in the dig for victory garden (with chickens), war memorial to those lost in the Great War gives a good idea of what things were like even on a hot summers day. 

DRINK BING a soft drink still available today in Kent.

 Just right for smoothing the showground ready for the next day.






I would recommend more than one day because there is so much to see and do, this really is the tip of the ice berg, there are dances and variety shows throughout the day and evening.  And in the true spirit of the Blitz even the rain and storms of the last two nights can't stop.

ACCIDENTLY VINTAGE

While getting the plates out for dinner last weekend - similar crockery can be seen in the Good's kitchen (The Good Life, a seventies sitcom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyZ--z8RpOI) - I realised that many of the things in every day use are distinctly old.  This has been an accidental occurrence, for the most part.  Apart from the odd item such as the glass jelly moulds I found last year most of my old/vintage treasures have family history. 

The plates we have been using for over twenty years, every so often I suggest getting a new dinner service but to be honest I do have a soft spot for our old plates.

A bit battered but it is 61 years old and still in everyday use

I am now the proud owner of the tea caddy from my childhood - this was one of the wedding presents my parents received  Once it was mine I read the Royal appointment for the first time, To his late majesty George VI.  

There is the cardboard box that contains cake cases, price one shilling.  Three tins originally sold for keeping cream crackers in which are full of cake cases - some of which date back to the 1970's and were my mothers.

There is also what I refer to as my 'mock crystal' which is genuine Woolworth's and I believe the same age as me.

 

 

One of my most cherished possessions is not accidental MY GRANDMOTHER'S tea set -this was one of her wedding presents in 1929 and although I would hesitate to use it I love to look at it and when planning my kitchen I made sure there was somewhere to display it.

WANT TO MAKE - shadowbox bag

Eversince I started making bags/purses from cigar boxes I have been fascinated with the idea of making one with a shadowbox front, especially as I have one box with a clear front.  

This morning on PINTEREST I saw this vintage one 
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/219902394279733281/  which is rather lovely.  Clicking on the link showed me that it is (at the time of writting on sale on EBAY).   http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Shadowbox-Wooden-Purse-3D-Butterflies-Daisies-Diorama-Lucite-Handle-Handmade-/351045290895

I love the look of the bag - the 3D flowers & butterflys, the raised corners and the twisted handle.  Not sure if I like the white background that much. 

Now I have another project stored in the backroom of my mind just waiting for the time to give it a go.  

VINTAGE KITTEN - HILLARYS BLINDS COUNTRY CRAFTS COMPETITION

I have been wanting to make a cat dressed in fifties styled clothes for some time but had not found the fabric to inspire me enough to put starting at the top of my to do list.  Then I saw the choice of fabrics in the Hillarys Blinds country craft competition and I knew this was exactly what I had been looking for. 

 I know that this fabric may not be everybody first choice for dressing a soft toy but it has worked perfectly. It is a very forgiving fabric and was easy to use even making the bodice of the dress, which was a little fiddly. The 'give' in the fabric meant turning the hem was a doddle. 

 First I had to make the cat so I could dress her.  She started life as a teddy bear from an old book, altered to make her taller so I could make her skirt as long as possible. 

To make sure the legs were the correct length I pinned and sewed the pattern pieces together before cutting them out.

 I cut a meter length of a similar type of fabric to do a trial run.  I wanted an eight gore double circular skirt to get the "NEW LOOK" style.  While doing the trial fitting I saw that a double row of buttons would look pretty on the bodice.

  I found a ruler that was a perfect length for the skirt and made a quarter circle pattern which I cut out eight times. To make the bodice pattern  I adapted the bear that I had used for my cat.

Double circle laid out so the fabric pattern can be matched (as well as possible).  I lined the bodice, I find that with full heavy skirts this gives strength to the garment and stops any fraying.

I sewed flat seams on all but on of the seams of the skirt, the last one I made a narrow hem so there was room for the tail.

waiting for a new dress

 I used five layers of tightly gathered net for the petticoat to give maximum lift to the skirt.  This was to show off the lovely fabric as well as to be in keeping with the style I was creating. This was all nice and straight forward, simple hand sewing and fabric that was a joy to handle. I loved making this project and am pleased with the result, thank you HILLARYS BLINDS for giving me the opportunity to see how good your fabric is. http://www.hillarys.co.uk/inspiration/the-hub/2014/country-craft-competition/
The hardest part was choosing which fabric to send for.

Petticoat on and dress ready to go, just a few finishing touches.  A bow to go in front of the ear, a bead necklace and some fish ( fish shown were made as a bag charm).  A few shakes to fluff out the petticoat, a few tweaks to the skirt and she's ready to go.

a summer dress for a spring day

A ;LITTLE SLICE OF VINTAGE COOKERY

I have just borrowed a cookery book from my Mother.  It is a copy of a book her Mother was given as a wedding present in 1929.  My Mothers childhood  memories of the book are that it was well loved and well used - used so often that parts were missing.

The title of this book is THE OLIO COOKERY BOOK and by 1928 it was already on its fifteenth impression (and in this year it was also revised).

Every page of the book has an uplifting quote:- BREAD AT PLEASURE, DRINK BY MEASURE;  ONE CAKE EATEN IN PEACE IS WORTH TWO IN TROUBLE.  The recipes range from simple soups and meals to how to make self raising flour (patent flour).  In edition there are Medical recipes, Toilet recipes (bath salts, hair restorer  and the like,  helpful hints for cooks and the home.  

At the back of the book are very useful tables for measuring ingredients - including how to use coins as weights.  6 penny pieces or 10 shillings in silver is equal to 2 ounces.

I love old books - there is often a wealth of social history to be found in them.  So many of the recipes in this book list ingredients by price.

Although some recipes do not appeal there are others I cannot wait to try.  

COCOANUT ROCKS
2OZS COCOANNUT
2OZS SUGAR
WHITE OF 1 EGG
PINK OR GREEN COLOURING
WHIP WHITE VERY STIFF.  PUT IN TEASPOONFULS IN ROCKY HEAPS ON TO RICE PAPER.  BAKE IN MODERATE OVEN 10 MINUTES.

There is even a recipe for TURTLE SOUP!! And ROOK PIE!!
A remedy for Diphtheria reccomends raw pineapple juice - 'as it cuts the membrane from the throat when nothing else will'.  

Advice is given for preventing kid gloves from cracking and how to restore colour to carpets, used tea leaves keep the dust down when sweeping carpets and stairs.  A wealth of knowledge.

BUTTONS, BUTTONS AND MORE BUTTONS

I recently found a bag of fancy yarn that had been 'put away safe' until it was wanted and as I was having a knitting phase, thanks to to wonderful OWL mug warmer and fingerless gloves in MOLLIE MAKES, I started knitting.

I made several pairs of mitts and then made a pair with a matching collar.   The asymmetric design needed a button to complete it.  http://www.creativestores.co.uk/new/clothing/women/handknittedcollarandmitts.html 

  Finding the right button was hard and the search triggered a slight button obsession and the buying of a couple of bulk bags of assorted buttons at Hobbycraft.

Sorting through the buttons took me back to childhood and the pure joy of 'playing' with Mum's button box.   A treat usually saved for when we were unwell.

tiny tiny buttons

I found buttons that had come as cover gifts.

The packs sold for scrapbooking and cardmaking.

 Some needle felt brooches that I decorated with buttons and beads.

http://www.creativestores.co.uk/new/accessories/pins-and-brooches/dreamsofmidnightblossom.html

from when I was making most of my clothes

The beautiful Fimo buttons that my Dad brought me over twenty five years ago.  Still unused because I love them so much.

Buttons are big - there are even card buttons.  Not quite sure why.

 I re-discovered these belt buckles in my button box.  I have no idea how old they are.  I brought them in a little shop in King Street, Ramsgate in the early to mid-eighties.  I used to buy mother-of-pearl buttons and cut work collars from there as well.