It's not what you know, its who you know.!!!

And boy has that saying been true just lately. 

As you all know I am a Vintage freak, with my choice of dress being the fifties. I find it quite hard to find authentic clothes in my size, so end up wearing a lot of repro or altering originals to fit. Now I can sew, but coats are a problem for me, too hard to alter. I do have my "pretend" furs, as you all know. The infamous Beaver, Mink and Leopard.!!! But what I have been searching for, for an age, is a coat like my Mum used to have. It was typical of the era, a sort of bobbly boucle fabric, with a huge fur collar. I think she had a two piece in it as well. I always thought she looked so glamorous in it. I have looked high and low and every one knows what I mean but nobody knew where to put there hands on one!!

Then one evening, not so long ago, I was on ebay, hunting for outfits for CHA, when I got a text in the middle of the night from the gorgeously barmy Kirsty, threatening my life.!!! Eeeeek what had I done now>??? Apparently it was a bit of a misunderstanding on the QVC face book page. People had got the impression I was leaving QVC, to venture over to the dark side.  So I hopped onto the thread, telling them it was a load of bull and would they kindly stop interrupting my Vintage buying, lol. 

One lovely lady joked I would probably love to see inside her Mother's wardrobes. Yes, wardrobes!!!!!.....all six of them.!!! Her Mother, at 94 indeed, isn't well and it is time for a clear out. One thing led to another and she sent me some photos.

This is the lovely Di, with her Mum in 1949. Such a cutie.! And how stylish was her Mum, look at those brows and the streak. Fabulous.

Well today, the lovely Di paid a visit to my studio. Here we are.

She brought her daughter and adorable grand son. It was so lovely to meet her in person, and guess what..!!!

Oh yes, I am now the proud owner of one bobbly boucle coat. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
Ha ha Di couldn't get over my excitement, as she thinks it is disgusting, but I am in lurve with it, and it will probably never leave my back, lol

And how about this for a touch of glamour.? Might take this with me to wear whilst demoing, lol. If you take a closer look at one of the pictures further up , you will see tons of items hanging from the studio door. Oh yes, fabulous goodies, especially for me. Such a lucky, lucky lady, don't you agree.? Big, big thank you to Di, firstly for thinking of me and secondly for making the journey and making my week.
And a big thank you to her Mum for having such wonderful taste. She has obviously cherished these items and it is now my job to carry that on. How wonderful, and how privileged, to actually know the history behind what I am wearing.

Here she is in 1962, with her husband looking ever such the distinguished couple. Di's Mammy...I salute you xx

DINA, DINA, DINA - EXCITED, EXCITED, EXCITED!!!

Details - HERE

Oh yes...

....I'm still here,

I have just been buried under a mahoosive amount of work and deadlines.!!! No sooner do I get to the bottom of one than another pokes it's grubby little head up. So apologies for my blog posting tardiness, but it looks as though it might be a little sporadic for a bit longer. If you want some cool blog stuff to read then get yourselves over to these beauties.

The gorgeous Ellen

and the lovely Hels

have been having a Dylusions challenge and you can see the results on their blogs.

The lovely Heidi  from Norway who has been doing some really unusual things with my stamps.

Lady in Waiting Kaz, has the usual eclectic mix of Dylusions and Tim Holtz. And you need to go see her birthday card she made for Tim, AND the comment he left for her. She was squealing for hours and had to breathe into a paper bag, to regain composure.!!! She was so excited and I love her for it.!!! One talented lady indeed and it won't be long before people will be squealing about her. I do regularly, lol.

The fabby Kate has always got lovely eye candy for you to peruse. If you are joining in with the Art Calendar challenge again, there are loads of  samples there to see, and if you aren't joining in, it's good to see anyway.

I have a new monthly challenge starting for you soon. It revolves around my love of quotes. The idea is that every month I will give you a quote, and then you will create something around it. Mine will always be art journaling, of course, lol. You can do the same or you can utilise it on a card, a tag or a scrapbook page. Or indeed on anything that takes your fancy.!!! You know I love a sprinkling of altered objects. I will post up the rules as soon as I have run them by Our Ben, who you just know will be overseeing all of this. If he left it to me it would probably not get off the ground with my schedule. But with him behind me bullying (oops sorry, gently cajoling me) it will be fine. I just need to work out how to attach a Mr Linky, so that we can see every ones work and we will be good to go. You will get the quote on the first of the month and you will have until the first of the next month to upload your work. See, a whole four weeks, even I can manage that, lol. !!!

I did manage to squeeze in some relaxation over the Christmas period, taking in an all nighter at Nottingham followed by a dayer at Brighouse. Spending over 12 hours dancing to my beloved R n B certainly blew a few cobwebs away. Here we are looking extremely tired but happy. Not sure when I smuggled in the two melons.!!

I'll leave you with this little beauty



Enjoy xx

Christmas so far...

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. I certainly did.

 As you can imagine, with four beautiful grown up kids, one gorgeously delectable grand daughter, one Mr Babe of deliciousness, one gorgeous girlies birthday, an extremely dangerous gas leak !!! AND tons and tons of deadlines to meet ( some I am meeting on the way back.!!!), mine was eventful to say the least. I am up to my eyes in samples so I will just give you a quick run down of events at Reaveley Towers.

Christmas Eve I did the rounds, calling first at Ben and Katies, and then on to the girls, for a quick sherry.!!

The Goddess seemed to enjoy her pressies, but the resident bit of glamour declined to be photographed, due to just getting out of the bath, lol.

Then on to Our Tom's, where the most gorgeous grand daughter in the whole world, was really excited about her non girly pressies.

Then it was home, where in my absence, Mr Babe of Deliciousness had installed a television in the front room.!!!

Only to find it didn't work very well..!!! He he he , the best laid plans and all that.!!!

I got totally spoilt as usual with pressies.....loads to add to my vintage stash...

Original Babycham glasses, plus Babycham...

Beautiful vintage tree decorations for the naff tree

Her's the photo I forgot to post before of my beloved radio/record player.

A vintage mirror

I have always collected Nativity sets, but this is my fave. It is the one we used to have when I was a child. These are the only bits left, unfortunately.

more vintage glasses

crockery

Yes that is tinsel on that gorgeous cake stand, but it is vintage so I am allowed, lol.

|I think this is a jam pot, not sure, but love it what ever.

I also got a kindle from my boy's. I have always had kindle on the laptop, but this is so much more convenient. I frikkin love it. So all in all, a very happy Mama.

Wednesday was all about The resident bit of Glamours birthday.  26 yrs old and looking frikkin gorgeous.!!

I think she has turned out mighty fine since I told every one I had given birth to my third boy.!!! Gas and air has a lot to answer for, lmao.

I had the pleasure of Maisies company the day before, and when she wasn't bossing Andy around in the garden she was helping me make Jay a birthday cake.

I had left the decorating up to her, and she insisted on using snowmen.!!!

We had a tea party round at Jay's where Maisie entertained us all in her Transformer outfit.

And of course no party is complete without a go on the Sing star, is it.

Ok, must dash, before He who must be Obeyed from Ranger, spots me slacking off.

Have a fabulous New Year.

Enjoy xx

Big apologies.....

....for the long delay in posting....

Here is my excuse...I have been running around like a.....

tee hee hee....

I told you that a while ago I went to a Vintage fair, and so here is some of the pictures.

Look at this fantastic Steampunk outfit...

This lady was an absolute doll and I bought quite a few things of her, including this tapestry sewing box.

You can't beat vintage fabric, can you...ready to be transformed over the Christmas period.

And this was one of my favourite finds of the day. Fabulous oil painting, and the frame is divine...

Here is my sewing box in situ

and one corner of my living room

We finished off the day with traditional Yorkshires and gravy on vintage crockery...bliss

I am so lucky with my lovely students. I never get round to even making cards, and yet they bring me the lovliest of gifts. This gorgeous cup and saucer is from the lovely clog dancing Anne.

And the lovely Gill got me this gorgeous tin ornament

This gorgeous ensemble was from the lovely Pat. She wrapped the large parcel with a map of Whitby, especially, lol. And she handpainted the tag after learning how in one of my workshops.

He he, look what she found for me

How fabulously naff is this.!!! Love it

At Sundays art journaling I dressed for the occasion in one of dresses I made. This is my Cougar dress, lol. Rarrrrr..!!!!

It calls for 7inch stacked heels

Clare brought along her Steampunk Iron Fist shoes. But seen as she can't walk in them, let alone stand up, I had to model them.

And if Father Christmas is listening, this shower curtain is on my list

 And this wallpaper from this frikkin fabulous website Dupenny

At £196 for a 10m roll it's not cheap but in my eyes it's worth every penny.

So Santa....Is it too late to negotiate...??

Enjoy xx