In The Heyday

Springing up with Daisies

2012-03-12T09:15:00.002Z

This last couple of weeks have been chock-a-block with work stuff, and more of the boring side of the work stuff too. So this weekend after running errands and a nice lunch I was desperate to CRAFT. It was just necessary before I could do a single other thing. Do you have that sometimes?

With the sunshine that was out I was inspired to do something about my summer wardrobe.

I decided that these lovely shoes deserved some flashing up

I got busy with some embroidered daises I have, first paying about where to put them with the help of masking tape. Then I stuck them down with a hot melt glue gun.

I was careful to stick down every petal. I tried to convince myself that it was for security but it might more because I love glue guns

How about a daisy chain around the ankle?

I did think that it is possible that the flowers may droop without enough support, but I figure I can always iron them, being careful not to remelt the glue, and if need be, attach a piece of stiff felt behind them.

I decided I didn't want any at the toe, and I was happiest using the power of three* both on the strap and on the wedge.

Got anything stuck on your shoes lately?

Shona x

(*Three items make up an attractive composition for decorating anything - very handy tool that)

And the St. Patrick's day winner is...

2012-03-11T21:18:00.000Z

From our 43 entries our Random Number Generator came up with Ange from Redressing!
Congratulations Ange!! Do send us your address to shop@heydayonline.co.uk so we can get your Green treats out quick smart.
I hadn't been to Ange's blog before now, but I have nosed around her lovely webshop.You can also find her on Twitter: @redressingWe can see from your profile picture that you do like green!

St Patrick's Day Giveaway!!

2012-03-08T16:04:00.000Z

St Patrick's day is nearly here again (17th March) and I have a wee giveaway to share with you all...

It is a never-been-out-of-the-box Irish Linen Handkerchief and a small four leaf clover pin

The pin has fabulous green stones in it. It will be perfect to wear on St.Patrick's day, or indeed, any day that you need a bit of luck!

We are going to finish the competition at Midnight Sat 10th March BST, so that we can get the winners address and get the goodies in the post (hopefully) in time for St.Patrick's day itself. It means you only have a few days to enter so don't delay!

The competition rules are straight forward and offer three chances to get involved...

For one entry, leave me a comment below.
For another entry, you can retweet my give away.
For a third entry, post about the giveaway on your own blog! Three chances! Whooopee!

Please take careful note that each time you enter you must leave a separate comment. Don't leave me one comment saying you've done all three things, as it will only be counted once!

If you commenting to say you've retweeted or blogged, please post the link.

The competition will close THIS Saturday 10th March 2012 at Midnight BST

Overseas readers, please note that if you win, the items may not get to you on time for St.Patrick's day itself, but we hope that you will love a bit of shamrock anyway.

Shona x

In Search of Charm - Stoles

2012-03-07T19:21:00.000Z

I found this at a charity shop. Charity shops have great books, but you knew that already eh!?

Don't you love the front dust cover? It was published in 1962 - which you can just about tell from the fashionable hot pink and orange blots!

Mary Young was the principal of the "Mary Young Model School and Agency in London", so she knew a thing or two about looking stylish.

Here she talks about stoles, and how one could arrive at a party and then run through a "sequence" of positions until one finally leaves "with the stole drifting behind her as though it were being blown back by the breeze" Ohh, so alluring! I would have to practice the transitions beforehand

I get on quite well with stoles, though not normally to sit through a whole party with. They are handy at this time of year as a scarf under your coat and then a wrap against a chill. I always take one to the movies as they seem to have the air conditioning turned to arctic.

I was at a wedding once where the bridesmaids, under the advice of the stylish Mother-of-the-Bride (Italian, of course) used stole position number 6 to wonderful effect throughout the whole ceremony. Theirs were fine, thin silk scarves, and looked just amazing from all angles.

Do you have a favourite stole position?

Shona x

Earring Stash

2012-03-06T14:06:00.000Z

Fiona over at Straight Talking Mama posted about popping all her vintage earrings into zip lock plastic bags. It was funny because I too had just gone through that process and realised it is a darn clever way of keeping them tidy.

You might remember I used to hang my earrings on pin boards, but that ended up being silly when they fell off, and when I am in summer and going to shows, it would take time both putting them into zip lock bags for travelling and then unpacking them when I got home. Enough of that!

So I changed my system and now I have a little set of drawers that fit snuggly in a shelf and house all my earrings by colour group. To maximise space I have another couple that house my make-up and brushes, hair clips and nail polishes etc.

Some favourite earrings. The mustard roses are modern and I changed them from pierced backs to a clip back, because they are too heavy and fall forward when they were pierced.

The pin boards now house multi-coloured earrings that I otherwise couldn't find

And my trusty rusty sheriff's badge (bought in Texas, so it's REAL). I haven't worn it yet, but I like to know I have it if I ever need it, like for a shoot out or something

Shona x

More coat pics and a handy tip

2012-03-02T12:53:00.000Z

Hi gang! This week has run away with me. I'm sure you all know that feeling.

The seasons too are slipping by and in fact London is now feeling wonderfully spring like, in fact it is warm enough to go without a coat if you are just venturing out during the day

So before it gets far too warm, I do have two more snow pics to share.

The first is another photo of the coat that I'm working on. Some of you were interested on seeing it with the collar open, and here it is in all it's glory...

Look! Pockets!

And...
Did you know, there is a clever little way to stop a run in your stockings from spreading?

Simply dab a little clear nail polish at both ends!
Let it dry while holding it like this so that the polish doesn't stick two sides of the stocking together. It works a treat.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Shona x

Beaded Bag and other stuff

2012-02-24T16:48:00.001Z

Hey lovelies!

Wanna see some recent purchases? These are from the Hammersmith Vintage Fair last Sunday?

Oh, Ok then...

First up, I fell head over heels with this stunning beaded bag. I have never fallen in love with one of this type until I saw this one. It has something to do with the large scale roses I think. It will make a perfectly handy evening bag as it is big enough to include phone, purse and patch-up-make-up and it can hang from one's wrist without being bothersome. Others of this type are more petite, but sometimes you just need to take more stuff.

If this has got you inspired, I happen to know that Penny Dreadful is frantically listing a history lesson worth of beaded bags in her shop right now.

And then we have a gorgeous glass belt buckle with daisies on, circa 1930s. I have a feeling this could inspire a complete outfit, plus hat. Ohh! Hang on... No wait... I already have the perfect hat for this!

Surprise Surprise!

We also have MORE buttons on a card (a girl can never have enough buttons) and a 80s orange, gold and white broach. I intend to pretend it is 30s deco and I can just see it on a smart summer jacket lapel.

If that wasn't enough, I also found a reverse carved ring!! It only fits my pinky finger, but I like it there.

Now, sneak preview shop information alert... That leopard print fabric that I have used as a backing is the fabric that I'm using in a new Mary dress. It is looking lush girls...stay tuned for more!

Shona x

Ric Rac Club sillyness

2012-02-23T13:25:00.003Z

Last weekend some of us bounded over to the Ric Rac club held by the Vintage Mafia, and in honour of Naomi's new book. Fiona, Charlotte and I went together, and here are some silly "before" shots.

All of us actually made our outfits. Handy chicks eh? You can see progress of Charlotte's Valentine inspired one on her blog. Why we are all pulling cheesy grins or mildly amused faces I can't remember!

It was so much fun to get ready with a bunch of girls - I haven't done that in years (getting ready with Husband is not the same thing AT ALL). We had some other friends of mine over at the same time, who helped with stocking arranging and photo taking (Thanks Julie and Lynelle!)

The always necessary "Charlie's Angels" shot when there are 3 girls to photograph.

And attention to the fabulous shoes please!

The "after" shots would have been sillier, but it was too dark for my small handy camera that I took along. More will be bandied about I am sure, but in the meantime I just have to share a pic that the fabulous Hanson Leatherby got of Mr Wolf and I dancing...

I love this! I've bought the original and plan to blow it up and find a suitable spot for it. You can see more of his pics, and the fabulous outfits here.

Shona x

The Fitzrovia Radio Hour

2012-02-17T15:33:00.001Z

Hi there everyone
This week has flown by, so I'm just popping in to tell you of some great happenings. For Valentines day Mr Heyday and I took ourselves off to see The Fitzrovia Radio Hour, and we loved it so much I just had to let you know so you have a chance to book in as it is a limited run.

Pic stolen from The Abassadors Theatre site

It is romp through the radio stories of the 1940s when they used all sorts of implements to make the sound effects, except for, of course, this time you get to watch them. It is wonderful to watch and listen to see what makes the sounds of doors shutting, whisky pouring, letter writing, sloppy kisses and a giant mytical sea creature destroying a boat.

The characters play more than one part and you'll be on the edge of your seat trying to keep up with who is doing what. You'll get what I mean if you watch this clip of them performing at the Edinburgh festival:

They are performing in London on the 21 & 28 Feb and the 6th March and I really recommend it if you are up for something remarkably different. You can see availability and book here.

Also happening in London this weekend is the Ric Rac club. Check out Fleur's blog for details, it is bound to be massive, with far too many lovely people to meet and catch up with. I'm yet to finish sorting my outfit, but no doubt there will be pics next week!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend

Shona x

Style me Vintage!

2012-02-13T21:22:00.000Z

My pre-ordered copy of Style-me-Vintage turned up last week

It is a lovely coffee table book, both for regular vintage lovers and for those new to the scene. The styling tips are excellent, the foundation information sound and the book itself is gorgeous - Perfect!

The author, Naomi, of Vintage Secret really does know her stuff and it is evident that she put her all into putting this book together. Here she is looking gorgeous in her introduction.

And Eeeeee! Here's Heyday trousers (this colour sadly sold out by the way) and a Olivia blouse on Fleur in the 40s section. I was thrilled to see this, as actually I didn't realise my business was going to be included. It is one heck of a compliment. Thank you Naomi!!

A teaser of the most stunning evening gown.

Retro chick has also given a lovely review, as has Jeni, so you could go and check them out.

There is a launch party coming up on the 18th Feb at their Ric Rac club too. It is promising to be huge, with lots of the London vintage scene turning up to support Naomi, so do get your tickets before they sell out.

What am I gonna wear?

Shona x

Too late for Christmas

2012-02-09T21:33:00.001Z

I promised you more pictures of that sneaky hose in the back of the shoot, and here they are. I've been wearing this outfit quite a bit recently and while I had a hubby who was bored enough to take photos I thought we would show it to you

This lovely 2 piece knitted number has been a fave since it arrived, like the snow, too late for Christmas. It has a very slight A-line skirt which is just a bit easier on the thigh and tummy than a straight one.

The brooches are both from Acorn and Will and I couldn't resist wearing one of each colour with my outfit - its quite fun that way don't you think? They are so cheap you can afford to let your whims rule you!

The shoes are a fab find from my sister-in-law. She's good to me!

Have a good Friday

Shona x

Snow! Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow!

2012-02-06T21:23:00.000Z

So gang, on Saturday night it snowed.

I like it when it snows, especially if I don't HAVE to go places.

We decided to make good use of it and have a little photoshoot in the back yard, just hubby and me, as you do.

This is the new 40s coat that I am working on. It isn't quite ready to go commercial yet, as the shoulders need some more tweaking. So I am rather nervously showing it to you... eck!

Even though it looks double breasted, there are only two buttons that do up at the waist. You can also wear the collar undone for a open front, wide collar look.

When I get posing I often channel one of the gorgeous girls that model for me. I think today it is Kitten von Mew inspired.

As you can see the back is really full, nipping in snugly at the waist.

Please excuse the pesky hose in the background and the fact my collar is caught up. Those are the things I normally look for when I am on a shoot and NOT being the model. I was clearly too distracted by the snow... and by standing right.

The hose will make some more annoying guest appearances in another post too.

And this pose can only be attributed to me, age 6.

Do tell me what you think of the coat.

Shona x

Hat fixings

2012-02-03T16:51:00.003Z

We seem to be on "Hat week" in the blogging world, which is kinda neat that we are all thinking along the same lines. Here it is too cold to do much else than stay in doors and make hat repairs in the evening. I had never heard the term "brass monkeys" before moving to the UK and now I use it all the time.

Aren't those feathers lush - the hat is part of my Christmas pressie, but I'll show you pics of it when I'm all glammed up. Right now I promised I would fill you in on hat fixings to round off my last post.

Wearing a hat is all about feeling confident in it...and confidence comes best with comfort, which includes not worrying about it becoming askew.

We are back to the inside of the same hat as before - sorry!

So to hold hats on, I use a combination of tools:
Elastic: A length of hat elastic (fine and round) that is secured on both sides of the hat. This goes behind your ears and under the back of your hair, not under your chin. (chin ribbons are reserved for bonnets and chinese style sunhats.)
You want the elastic to be the same colour or darker than your hair for the best hideability. You can buy specially made elastic with prongs at both ends on ebay, or plain hat elastic by the roll does just as well, which you then just knot at both ends to fasten it. Haberdashery shops normally have it in black or white only. I am better off with black as white shows up too much.

Half a comb: for more stability on hats without much brim I often attach a comb at the front of the hat. You only want a little one, so that it doesn't muss your hair up too much, so I snap one in half and hand sew it upside down (so that it is right way up when the hat is also right way up) to the ribbon. You need to go over and over with the needle and cotton a few times to make it secure, as on the green hat above. This makes an amazing difference to the hat stay-on-a-bility when combined with the elastic, as the hat can't fall back because of the comb, and it can't fall forward because of the elastic. Sorted!
(By the way - not all chemists or even all Boots have them in the UK, I had to go to four before I found mine - what's that all about? I thought they were still staple hair tools?)

Hat pin: Hat pins are a lovely way to add a bit more interest to a hat and some security. To find out more I'm going to send you over to Solanah who has a lovely post about how to wear them here, and here about how to decorate them. I've never decorated one before so I might have to try that. I agree with her wholeheartedly about anchoring your hair down first with bobby pins, because besides holding the hat down, it also stops the hat being able to move and drag your hairstyle with it.

Let me know how you get on with your hat fixings, or if you have techniques of your own to share!

Shona x

Orienteering - not the sporty kind

2012-02-01T20:59:00.001Z

As predicted on my post "Hat Hair" I am now fixated on small "New Look" style hats. Soooo predictable me!
The fancy ones are sometimes called a cocktail hat or "Juliet Cap" and these often have wire on the inside so you can manipulate them to clamp onto your head. They are surprisingly easy to wear because they don't get in the way. They look like this:

Now that I am hunting for them on esty and ebay, I see an extraordinary number of them displayed the wrong way around, which makes it hard for shopping! So I thought I might share some basics of hat orienteering.

If any hat has a label on it, then that will go at the back. So for this one, that means that the plainer, flat pleated velvet bit is actually on the front. This makes sense as 50s ladies often had shorter cropped hair dos with lots of lovely height or curls at the front and a Juliet cap would be worn at the crown (towards the back, not the front) of the head to show the hair off. Quite often, but not always, this will mean that the decoration - a bow, feather, or a cluster of flowers, might be at the back of the head or the side, as it would be seen more easily there.

If there is no label, then the grosgrain ribbon that runs around the inside is the best clue. Where it joins or overlaps is the back of the hat. I have only met very few hats with no ribbon at all, in which case, you can experiment and will probably find that it is molded in such away to accomodate the lumpy crown part of your head. When I say lumpy, you know what I mean eh?

There is a bit of chat about hats going on right now so you can also pop over and read about hat pins with Solanah, and more hat hair style ideas with Charlotte. I have a second post (this was getting too long) about keeping them on coming right up too.

Shona x

ZOMG by Rockalily

2012-01-31T18:08:00.006Z

Last night I got to go to the ZOMG Blogger Bash hosted by Rockalily and London Lipgloss. What a great night - thanks ladies! I really enjoyed it and wish I could have got there a bit earlier.
Naturally lots of bloggers were there so this post is quite filled with links. I can assure you that each and every one of them are part of an inspirational force on the UK vintage scene, so it is worth making an acquaintance with their blogs and checking them out. In person, they are the type of women who are genuine and there is a surprising lack of snobberishery involved. Surprising in that we are all associated with clothes and make up, so one might assume the opposite. There were more lovelies ladies of that ilk there and, if I could I would include many more. But you are on your coffee break so let's get rolling...

Just as I arrived, Lena and Margaret were leaving, but there was enough time for hugs, outfit assessments, and a quick pic. Both these ladies have such a different style to me and I love seeing what they wear.

Ree Ree from Rockalily was looking particularly stunning with her new red hair (welcome to the club!). She is a fab business lady with masses of energy and does a lot to support and encourage other women. She also has some exciting stuff happening for her at the moment so she deserves a little "high five" for that. High Five!!

Me with Ree Ree. I'm wearing (at this stage of the night), "Roulette" lippy

I had never met Zozo from London Lipgloss before and I still haven't actually formally meet her..but..., now that I see pictures of her, I embarrassingly realise that it was her that I bounded up to and said

"When I die, I'm gonna ask for YOUR legs before I come back next time."

Hmmm. I can't even blame THAT on the alcohol! But I don't think she minded too much. I guess sometimes my brain just has no "skip" button. Boy-oh-boy though, I just have to say, she has one heck of a pair of pins. (No pics of them sorry, you'll have to scroll her blog and check them out yourself.)

Ree Ree had all of her lippys on display for everyone to test drive. That is Charly's hand making a cameo appearance. We didn't get a photo together, but there might be one coming up on Gemma's blog.

Lucy and Gemma sporting their little graduation hats as they man their Historial Sauces table which included lovely vintage lipsticks and some "how to do vintage" style books to look at.

So, you ask, what colours did I choose? Well, it was very dark in there so I focused on building my paper chart that I could refer to in daylight. The ones on the right are old favourites that I am replacing. They are from other brands and are either discontinuted or they are crack my sensitive lips into crocodile smackers. As I don't have the same reaction to Rockalily lippys I am keen to get more flavours. The one here is my first one - Red Hot Red, which I love.

You can see that ZOMG is not far from my "Marilyn" colour, Mermaid is a bit more orange than my "Frosted Apricot" and Roulette (as recommended by Ree Ree for me) is a deeper, darker tone of my old "Cinnamon" colour, so those are next on my shopping list. Some of these are limited, so I'm going to go and do that NOW.

Shona x

PS: I'm still not sure how to say ZOMG - Zoom-Geh? Zoum-Gee? I dunno!!

Bag Lady

2012-01-24T12:34:00.001Z

Hello and thank you to everyone who has filled in my little blog survey already. If you haven't but would like to you still can here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FQZY799
It being January, and not too much going on (for which I'm thankful for right now) I've been on a bit of a personal tidy up mission. One bit of the house at a time...and last week included the handbag cupboard. I try to limit myself to one shelf of bags so that somewhere in my brain I can register "FULL". While I like vintage bags, I also like easy to use bags, which are not always the same thing. Other people have a thing for bags like I have a thing for buttons, and that is cool too.
I had a good ole tidy up and bought myself an expanding shelf from Lakeland, so that smaller bags could double up and not get mushed

The shelf, and one of my favourite bags, bought from Gal Pal Jenny.

Starting to populate. This white Telephone wire bag I found in Texas. The leather Alligator one is from Bags of Style and I bought it for myself as a birthday present one year. At the back is a little brown 40s corde bag.

A few more dainties at the back, which is sensible because I am more likely to reach for a sizable grandma good-for-wholloping, sturdy purse first. At least now I can see the little ones. Some smaller flat clutches inhabit the bottom bunk.

The stunning rose bag is a modern one purchased in Texas last year. It is the most I have ever spent on a bag and I have no regrets. The brand is American West and the designs are gorgeous.

And here we are fully occupied.

The basket bag in the centre I got in New York, amazingly in a charity shop for $6. SCORE!!

One of the red ones (modern, but looks the part) at the back I have had for 14 years, and it was on sale to start with, so it has paid it's dues. I keep it cos it is so darn handy.

One advantage of wearing a style that is already out of date, is that you never throw anything out just because it is fuddy duddy. The main disadvantage of course is... that you never throw anything out!

(Sorry if the pics are a bit dim, but that is what you get in a London flat in the middle of Winter, on the the inside of a cupboard!)

Pops of colour

2012-01-20T11:40:00.000Z

Last week the Wolf and I headed out to see a show so a bit of glamming up was required. Since it is often hot as Texas at the old London theatres, no matter the weather out-of-doors, a short sleeved, easy-wear dress was essential, covered up with a nice thick coat of course!

I bought these red Honeys and a sister pair in black a few years ago at Heathrow airport on the way out. The Wolf was mortified because we were trying to travel light but I knew I would love them and have them for years. Besides, they were on SALE!

Some ding dong bright bracelets. Only the bright green one is bakelite and therefore "collect-ably" expensive. The dark green one is Greenstone from NZ. The rest are second-hand charity shop bargains. Below my dress clip you can just see a little dressing trick...I have gathered the sides of my dress with a pin which holds more fabric for longer than the dress clip on it's own. Of course, the clip ought to cover it!

And here's the whole outfit, sans coat. The dress is an early sample of the Mary dress.

I am also completely make-up less, as I was still recovering from a bad allergic reaction to either cleansers or make up or both - ouch! With this and the settling lotion allergy, I've had a bit of a bad run!

Anyway before I met The Wolf in town, I had an appointment at the Clinique counter to try their Anti-Allergy make up so a bare face was essential anyway. I was impressed that a make over from scratch was free and I got lots of samples in cute pots. I'm a cute pot kinda girl. The foundation itself is still on trial so I will let you know the verdict once decided.

Thanks for letting me share some POPs of colour to brighten up winter, and, if you haven't already, please POP on over and fill in the little blog survey I have running - I wanna know what you like! Here it is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FQZY799.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and do something nice, even just tea with the cat, for you.

Recent Purchases

2012-01-18T16:15:00.010Z

As promised, I have some goodies (otherwise known as "bits of old junk") to show you.

Firstly though, I would love it if you could help me out with a quick and dirty survey. It is to help me know what you want to see here on this blog - more of this or less of that - let me know your suggestions too!

Here is a link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FQZY799

Thank you!

And now onto the bits of old junk

Here's some finds I got at the Hammersmith vintage fair recently. An enamel and bead brooch - possibly 30s, a wire brooch - likely to be wartime, and a green belt buckle - 30s again.

I love belt buckles, but, as I have mentioned before, if they are on an original card I find it SO hard to separate them and use them. Rather pathetic isn't it? Don't you just love how it states it is the "Latest Novelty"?

Here's a dress that I got that needs some repair work (that'll be a post on it's own). I adore the print and it is a lovely floppy viscose, so it's ok that it needs some love. The buttons I got happen to match and are rather indistinguishable in age since they are quite plain, I suspect 50s or 60s but they could equally be 80s. I have a feeling they might end up on a jacket to match this dress though, so that would be 60p well spent!

Have a good day and thanks again for your help with the survey!

Shona

Hat Hair

2012-01-17T14:13:00.001Z

One of my pressies from The Wolf at Christmas was the book "Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques" by Lauren Rennells. What a great hubby! He's so clever! (ok, ok, I told him it was what I wanted). Anyway, I am so in love with this book!

available on Amazon

Over time I have worked out that I am allergic to most setting lotions and tried to ignore the issue. Diluting it only does half the trick and I still end up taking an antihistamine tablet in order to not be all blood-shot eyed and snuffy-nosed, which really defeats the purpose of getting ones hair all glam!

Realising that I needed to see how my hair went with a wet set, using water only, I was feeling rather dubious about it until I came across the techniques in Lauren's book, and was doubly excited when I saw the technique called "Hat Hair". Up until then I had believed that my hair was really a bit too long and heavy for a small 50s hat.

I decided that the Sunday vintage fair at Hammersmith (a "goodies purchased" post to follow) would be an excellent chance to test it out and I spent all Saturday day in pin curls and rollers. Since I would be sleeping on rollers that I thought I would also try out what Charly has recommended to me in the past - and use perming rods where the recipe called for foam rollers at the back.

This was taken after the fair, after I had been rooting around in button boxes and trying other hats on, so it is now a little mussed up and fluffy. I was very happy with the way it worked out though and the curls and height stayed put.

But ha ha! Look at the frizz I got at the back!! To be fair, that was because I was running too late in the morning to spend long brushing it out and blending in pomade, which would improve it greatly. With today being Tuesday though, the curls have settled down nicely and are still going strong so a wet set certainly has more staying power than a hot roller set. With looser curls you are supposed to arrange them around the base of the hat which would give me both a suitable length of a 50s hair-do and be much prettier.

So all and all, I am very happy that I can work on fine tuning my technique and adorn myself with smaller 50s hats. Etsy/ebay here we come!

Lisa Freemont Street, who is enviably knowledgeable about hair stuff, has done a utube review of the book if you are interested (for those viewing at work, be warned: it has sound!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHHXBW5yAJQ

Have a good day everyone!

Shona x

Resolutions... with cats

2012-01-01T19:24:00.000Z

Welcome to 2012!

I was thinking of doing a 2011 round up, and I also thought about some chrissy pics, but both seem already out of date. So instead I just have a little brainstorm to share, I hope that is ok. I have resorted to the fun cat pics of icanhascheezburger.com to liven this post up - please excuse that, but I do love a kitty pic!

I don't know about you but with the start of a new year everything seems a bit dull. I don't just mean that the Christmas lights, parties and presents have all dried up, but that somehow the continuous every-day-ness of a new year doesn't live up to expectation. A new anything, even a new year, should be bright and shiny and smell of promise shouldn't it?

We do tend to build New Years up so that it feels as if something wonderful and unexpected should happen. The sky could be pink, or the Queen could give out free chocolate, or someone could come and match all your socks, that at least would be a good start. Instead, it is just the same sort of day as yesterday. What's that all about?

Methinks we put a little bit too much store in the calendar to make us feel better, and we put too high an expectation on our ability to make well meaning resolutions come true as if by magic.

The result is, within a week or so we are back at work and feeling more miserable than ever. I have had years when I made a list of resolutions and that didn't really end well. In fact I couldn't even remember them all. I have had other years when I chose just one, and that was not much better. And then I had years when I didn't have any at all, and that was ok, if a little disappointing in itself.

But this year I think I have come up with the best resolution ever. EVER!

That is, to believe in me. Three little words that, despite trying, I still find really hard to do. If I can master that, then I can do ANYTHING I choose - any resolution, goal or new feel-good habit is possible. The very nature of it allows for changing conditions, changing preferences and for real limitations that are out of my control. So it is a lovely, friendly, accommodating kind of a resolution.

If I have a moment when I am wondering if I can do something or feeling at a low ebb, or frustrated with my progress, then simply recognising that it is time to practise believing more should be enough to rectify any desire to beat myself up (something I am surprisingly good at). The lovely rounding off of this resolution is that by practicing believing in me I am fulfilling my resolution! Result!

I hope you don't mind me sharing this with you, this being a vintage clothes blog and all. I might be a little bit enthusiastic, but wouldn't the world be an amazing place if we all believed in ourselves?

I hope you have a good start to the year, please throw some swaggers out there for me and more importantly, for you. Smooch!

And the winner is.....

2011-12-18T15:43:00.000Z

Brittany_Va-VoomVintage!! I stole a picture of you from your blog, I hope you don't mind

Congratulations, whoo hoo!!

Please contact fiona@heydayonline.co.uk for your voucher code and we hope you enjoy spending it.

Thanks so much to everyone taking part in the competition and good luck next time.

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and an amazing New Year, see you all in 2012.....

2011 Christmas gift voucher give away!

2011-12-13T14:41:00.000Z

We are in the countdown to Christmas now - my gosh it rolls around fast doesn't it? Still, not fast enough as I am quite capable of eating all the almond icing before it gets on the cake. Hmmmm...

Stephanie Valentine, Winner of the 2010 WWII re-enactors magazine Pin-Up Competition, photographed by Tony Nylons

As this years Christmas treat I have decided we are going to give away a £25 discount voucher to one lucky reader. £25 because Christmas falls on the 25th of course!
A voucher (which will be in the from of a code for online shopping) seems most fair in that it is international (unlike last year's plank of wood) and also unisex (just LIKE last years plank of wood).
We are going to finish the competition at Midnight Sat 17th December BST. The code itself will be valid for a whole 3 months, so there is no rush.

The competition rules are straight forward and offer three chances to get involved...

For one entry, leave me a comment below.
For another entry, you can retweet my give away.
For a third entry, post about the giveaway on your own blog! Three chances! Whooopee!

Please take careful note that each time you enter you must leave a separate comment. Don't leave me one comment saying you've done all three things, as it will only be counted once!

If you commenting to say you've retweeted or blogged, please post the link.

The competition will close THIS Saturday 17th December 2010 at Midnight BST

This is me

2011-12-09T19:37:00.000Z

Today it was unseasonably warm. As in, too hot to get dressed. I'm wondering if our upstairs neighbours forgot to turn their heating off and we were the happy beneficiaries while they went to work. It was also gloriously sunny.
Because I had my hair in curlers I wasn't planning on leaving the house, so it was the perfect day for a last-unexpected-summer-dress-mostly-inside-anyway day.

(I'm deliberately looking to the side because I am terrible at looking into bright sunlight)

So here is just me, without make-up and my hair in curlers. If I don't expect to meet anyone I let my face breathe, even though it makes me feel quite naked. Typically and ironically, not one but TWO people dropped in on me to see me like this today! Grrrr!

I don't really like to share me un-done, it is a bit uncomfortable to be honest. But I think it is important to let you know that some days are not altogether glamorous at Heyday Headquarters.

This is a one off Fleur dress just made for me. I collect simple "not too poofy" petticoats anywhere I can find them to co-ordinate with my Fleurs. This one was actually an old Monsoon skirt from a charity shop that I took up. It's silk so feels LUSH.

No outfit post from me would be complete without the SHOES now would it? I picked these up from the charity shop for a tenner yesterday. (Anyone else notice that charity shop shoes have really gone up in price over the last couple of years?) They are unworn Clarks and I know I get on well with them so that is ok. The style is "bombay lights" and they currently come in black, navy and burgundy. (They also come in flats, worn here). From the front they look quite authentic enough, and the heel is a good shape, but I wish they would cover the heel in the same leather, because they would then be 89% vintage looking rather than 73% vintage looking, if you get what I mean.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good weekend - be it glamorous or just comfy.

See what happens when I look straight at the sun?

My most beloved vintage possession

2011-12-05T17:25:00.002Z

Today I thought I would tell you about my most beloved vintage possession. My knees. While the rest of me will be turning 40 next year, my knees are going to be 198. I swear my mum picked them up cheap second-hand.

Earlier this year my dodgy knees took a sudden turn for the worst, and I was off to see the surgeon. Both of them (knees, that is, not surgeons) were diagnosed with mild arthritis. Yick. In fact Double Yick. So dancing was been off the agenda for most of the year. Stairs, curbs, hills and wheelchair access slopes were all mountainous. It was depressing. I felt ALL of my 198 knee years.

During the year I've put on a bit of weight. BUT, I don't care...

Because, through lots and lots and lots and lots and still lots more BORING physio exercises aided by hours of Poirot, (thank-you Agatha Christie) I have been cleared of needing any kind of intervention, because my little knee caps are now going where they are supposed to go and not whipping off around the side of my leg-bone. (Ok, so I also don't care about technical terms today). If I look after them they should last me for another 198 years.

Today my elderly knees and I had a little celebration in that I pulled out a pair of heels that haven't seen any use. Yes I KNOW you have seen me in heels in outfit posts, but that was mainly cos I missed them, so would put them on for a wee bit and for the photo.

But today I WORE heels.

Thank you Miss L Fire for designing something worth all those painful lunges and leg lifts.

Hurrah!! I kiss my knees!! Smooch!!

(And please, if you have a bit of you that is feeling a little bit more vintage than the rest of you, go get it looked at, it might take far less work to make it right if you don't leave it like I did)

The last time I saw Paris

2011-11-30T11:08:00.004Z

Hello!

I've had a bit of a horrible cold so please excuse the gap in posts. It is nearly all gone now thank goodness.

I have to update you on my recent trip to Paris! We got a cheap deal on the Eurostar and just went for the weekend, starting out really early on Saturday morning. There is a bonus when you have been to a place already, that you no longer need to do all the tourist things. Here's a quick round up in pictures.

Lego Christmas tree at St.Pancras Station. It was really a bit too early to be enthused with anything, but this made me stop in my tracks! It must have taken hours.

Outside the Rex theatre. Retro Chick has been there recently too.

Buying macaroons from a beautiful bakery

My really really old bag. I don't know HOW old. Definately older than my normal time period of 30s-50s, anyone with any ideas? I bought it in Texas. The seller told me it was French so it was neat to give it a trip home. It's been around the world and back!

Shopping at the markets. Meet Lili who sells buttons and beads, lace, braiding and all things embellished. Her shop sucked me in, filled as it is with such wonders ( her stand is Marché Vernaison, Stand 6 - Allée 1). While really chatty, and keen for me to blog about her, she got all shy and hid behind lace when the camera came out! She has a website that includes a bit of the history of the markets (I use Google translate).

Dribbled over French magazines from the 1930s and large posters just down the way from Lili's shop. Paul also got all bashful when it came to taking a photo. He has a GORGEOUS website so you can dribble yourself now.

Listening to Gypsy Jazz music and drinking mulled wine. This café was practically in the market area so it was like being in heaven (no room for dancing though) for both of us. I did leave hubby there while I went back for a second quick scout.

I'll leave you with the vintage flowers I bought from Lili which will someday to find themselves onto a hat. That vintage postcard is her business card - with the shop details stamped on the back - pretty eh?

Autumn arrives with a thud

2011-11-18T16:49:00.000Z

Hello my lovelies

If you are here in the UK then you know all about Autumn arriving. It seemed to arrive yesterday, without proper ceremony, after teasing us in the lurking-days-of-summer-ish-ness weeks we have had. It has put my normal wardrobe rotation and organisation in a bit of a delay. It has been so mild that I was still swanning about in a long cotton house dress some days, so it didn't make sense to dig out ALL the warmer things. (Solanah, from Vixen Vintage, by the way, is the Queen of Wardrobe Rotation [HRHoWR]. Go here for some inspiration)

So already my day is revolving around when to turn to gas fire on. I find myself doing bargaining with myself, like: "not until after tea", "not until I have a proper jumper on at least", "I can't justify it today" and also regularly... "I wish we had a cat to accessorise the fireplace with". It is clear that it really is time to bring out the woollen heavyweights. This is my favourite sweater dress. It is warm and toasty and green.

I know it looks like I am deliberately holding my stomach in, but in truth I was trying to show you my bracelet

The left collar needs a brooch because, despite many a wet-towel iron it is determined to pop up a bit. This mustard enamel brooch I think is from the 30s. The bracelet is 50s or 60s.

And my leopard print shoes. These were the bargain of the century, a few years ago at the Brighton Jukebox fair. £10! If I had known they would prove to be so comfy I would have brought more, but, you know how it is with cheap shoes, they can be expensive if they are uncomfortable.

I hope you all have a good warm weekend!

Shona

Me Tarzan, you Jane

2011-11-10T10:33:00.002Z

Quite a lot of you know that I'm a Kiwi living in the UK. To try and blend in a little I don't say "mate" so much now and I have learnt to use the alternative, British words for things. "Flip flops" instead of "Jandals", and "Wellington Boots" instead of "Gum Boots". I try not to ever say "pin" or "pen" because it just gets TOO hard.

I still have my accent, and it gets stronger immediately after speaking to a fellow countryman. Anyway, so... the point is...when I told my lovely friend Jenny that I was wearing a Tartan dress she was wondering what on earth I was going to turn up in - hearing "Tarzan" instead.

Ever since every "tartan" item I have is now a "Tarzan" one. Jenny and I know what we mean!

Anyway now I have a new alternative word, albeit more American I believe. This is one of my PLAID skirts. I love it. It's pleated. It is REVERSIBLE!

My all-seeing googley eye dog is coming along for the day

And here is my lippy - It is Red Hot Red from Rockalilly. I love it! lots of red lippys make my lips crack and peel in a horrible fashion, which, really, isn't the look I am going for. But not this one. YEAH! There are some new limited edition shades in store there now so I might include one on my Christmas wish list.

See ya Mate!

Cardigan - Custom Clothes

Skirt - vintage, probably 70s or 80s, ebay

Shoes - Clarks

earrings and brooch - vintage

Whoop-sie Daisy!

2011-11-10T09:57:00.001Z

When announcing the winner of the Daisy Chain Fleur dress it looked like I stuffed up and this upset a few people. I can understand that, especially when such a nice dress is at stake!

On investigation, it seems that the Random Number Generator image does a crazy malfunction when you copy it from the website to the blog. It puts the numbers back to their default setting of 1 and 100. So even if it had landed on 306 it would have looked like it the entered numbers were 1 and 100 (see, told you it was crazy)
Here look at this, when I chose 1-500:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:427Powered by RANDOM.ORG

So the good news is to all of you that had were crossing your fingers and rubbing your rusty trusty horseshoes, you WERE in the draw properly and fairly. It was only that the winning number happened to fall under 100 that it looked like there was a real error.

I am really sorry that it happened that way. I hope we can still continue on together, after all, I'll be planning something for Christmas next (and no, it won't be a plank of wood like last year, as fun as that was!)

Shona

Daisy Chain Fleur dress WINNER!

2011-11-08T09:08:00.001Z

Hello!

What a pleasant thing to do on a wet and grey Tuesday morning! Yes, my first job today is to announce our Daisy Chain Fleur dress winner. You all left such nice comments that it was a shame I couldn't give something to each of you. I do love getting comments - it makes me feel like I am not talking to myself!
And now, on with the main event...Drum roll please

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

59Powered by RANDOM.ORG

So that lands on Lindsay Lane of http://petticoatsandpinup.blogspot.com/

Lindsay - have a look at our sizing charts and send us an email at shop@heydayonline.co.uk with your size and address and we'll get that off in the post to you.

We will of course do another giveaway when we reach 500 so do keep watching this space

Have a happy day

Shona

PS: I have just set up a sale on the Fleur dresses - all of them are now £60 for a limited time. Go get em!

Butterfly dress

2011-11-03T18:48:00.001Z

Hello my lovelies!

I am thrilled so many of you are entering into our competition. It is lovely hearing all your comments. If you haven't entered yet then please do so! It closes on Monday evening. Good luck!

The week is whipping by so fast and this weekend will too as on Sunday we are trading at the Northern Military Expo in Newark. Do pop along and say Hi if you are around there.

Since the weather is really starting to turn, I took the opportunity to wear a dress today because soon it will be to chilly to wear. It hasn't had an outing yet and I had already planned the whole outfit for an event we did about a month ago and it seems a shame not to wear it.

I think it is late 30s to early 40s, as it features full sleeves at the cuff and a hook and eye closure at the side. It could equally be later, especially since it is home-made, so it could be an eclectic mix of what our mystery seamstress had on hand at the time. Pattern + fabric + collar but no zip. Zips were hard to get in the war years. Or maybe a zip was too hard for her (remember they had just come in domestically) and she knew her stuff when it came to a hook and eye placket so stuck to that. That is one of the things I love about vintage, is the sleuthing part of it.

In a moment of MASSIVE accessorising ability, I pinned a Cath Kidston hair clip to the strap of one shoe. Ahhh the stylish-ness off it! In fact it lasted very well and I will use that trick again - I quite like a bit of modern whimsy. (The shoes are from good ole Clarks by the way).

I took fabric from the hem and made a belt, and this buckle from my stash was begging to be married to the dress. Good match eh? The buckle might be older than the dress, but the colour and butterfly-like shape was just too perfect. And since it is home-made, our mystery seamstress could have had a stash of buckles just like mine...or maybe hers was a just a wee bit smaller...(a-hem)...

Two little crocheted butterflies also were at home here worn as scatter pins. They are cooler in the pair rather than just one don't you think?
I best leave you and get myself organised for a big day here tomorrow so toodle pip till Tuesday when I'll announce the winner of the Fleur dress!
Have a good weekend.

Shona

Daisy Chain Fleur dress GIVEAWAY!

2011-10-30T12:15:00.003Z

Hello everyone!
We have just cranked over 400 followers and I am both thrilled that all of you are interested in joining me here, and a bit amazed that you signed up to listen to my ramblings! Thank you!
To celebrate we are going to do a a giveaway of the black Fleur dress with white daisys.

The winner can choose her size, from XS to XL. You can find more info on our website here. The daisys are vintage trims and are simply sewn onto the dress. If you wanted a plain black dress they could be taken off, or you could re-arrange them to your hearts content!
In addition to the dress itself, I have collected a lovely set of vintage earrings and a brooch that will compliment it perfectly. I found the earrings first, and then months later, found the brooch (to much squeals of delight). The earrings are lightweight plastic with clip on backs. The brooch seems to be the same plastic, and is the same colour, but is ever so slightly different because the petals are not quite identical. The difference would not be noticeable once they are attached to your earlobes and cardigan.

The rules for the giveaway are the same as normal:

The competition rules are straight forward and offer three chances to get involved...

For one entry, leave me a comment below.
For another entry, you can retweet my give away.
For a third entry, post about the giveaway on your own blog! Three chances! Whooopee!

Please take careful note that each time you enter you must leave a separate comment. Don't leave me one comment saying you've done all three things, as it will only be counted once!

If you commenting to say you've retweeted or blogged, please post the link.
The competition will close Monday 7th November 2011 at Midnight BST
Good luck everyone!

Jukebox Jive Show 2011

2011-10-28T18:23:00.004+01:00

Happy Friday dear readers, and a big hello to my new followers that have taken me over the 400 mark! I am chuffed that so many of you are interested enough in my ramblings and want to read about my little adventures. Welcome!

As promised on Twitter (I am HeydayVS if you want to follow me there too), I have a give away planned for you to mark this milestone, so keep your eyes peeled as I will announce that over the weekend. YEAH! we haven't done one of those for a bit so I am looking forward to it.

For now I thought I would tell you about some of the neat jukeboxes for sale last weekend at the first ever Jukebox Jive show. I apologise for the poor quality pics, the lighting wasn't the best for my camera.

This one was my FIRST favourite and I might have dribbled a bit when I saw the colours. The colours in real life were a bit deeper and teal and red happen to be a fave combo of mine

It was on sale by these too chaps, Bill and Terry from the Jukebox Company. This crazy sputnik shaped one seemed to be their favourite as I saw quite a bit of ~~fondling~~ polishing and dusting going on. Bill and Terry were lovely chaps and informed me that Jukeboxes started out like this, with everyone having headphones to listen at the same time. Hmmm... not so much dancing then huh?

Then I turned the corner and saw this one tucked away a bit and fell head over heals in love. It is from 1939 so that would be typical, as I tend to fall for designs of all kinds from that year. Note the colours and basic shaping that would lead to the "electric rainbow cathedral" shape that we are more familiar with. This one is the oldest one at the show but at £6250 it is not a bad price really, considering those colour panels are BAKELITE. yum yum! (NB: I turn 40 next year and I think this would be an ideal present)

The owner of the 1939 one also owned this one, which was the most expensive at £12,500 and made in 1956. You can see more at www.jukeboxgallery.com. Corwin, pictured here, came all the way from Holland to share these delights with us. I would have dribbled on a few more, but he was busy and one has to whip around quick when you are also manning a stall.

Lastly, I leave you with a quick pic of Katie the organiser. She undertook a mammoth job in pulling together her first show of this size, and while she was a little worn out by Sunday, I hope she decides to do another next year.

Have a good start to the weekend dear readers and watch this space for that giveaway!

Jukebox Jive Show and outfit post

2011-10-20T22:34:00.004+01:00

Hi Y'all

We are a bit excited here at Heyday towers as we are trading this weekend and for a change we don't need to be away from home! It is the Jukebox Jive weekend near Heathrow. Even though it is the very first one, Katy, the organiser seems to have pulled out all the stops - there are rows and rows of classic cars, bands, food, jukeboxes (well, naturally), music, and lots of shopping to be had. Do come along and visit if you can! Rocket Originals will be there as will Home Sweet Homestyle and Lipstick and Curls. All of them are great friends so there will be a fair amount of catching up going on in the quiet moments.

Even though the word "Jukebox" makes one think of the 50s, all the traders there will have other decades for sale too, so if you are a 40s buff, there will still be plenty for you to dribble over. In fact, Jukeboxes have been around for longer than we tend to think anyway.

And now onto the pictures....!

I am making the most of the mildly warm weather and, wearing skirts and dresses before it becomes unbearable

This is one of our Olivia blouses teamed with a waistcoat knitted by a friend's Mother. The big egg shaped tree behind me always amazes me, since I never actually see the gardener trim it (we have a shared garden, so it is not OUR own gardener btw)

The skirt is again the one from our wartime suit. It is getting good use right now!

And the shoes are old ones from Remix in the states. WARNING: do not to click on the link if you are trying to save money!

I hope to meet some of you at the show, do come and introduce yourself if you pop by.

Bling Bits and Dancing

2011-10-17T10:29:00.000+01:00

Last Thursday Mr Wolf and I went with a bunch of dancing friends to the International Ballroom Dance Championships at the historic Royal Albert Hall. It was the 59th (!) year it was held there.

First up - what does one wear? It is absolutely impossible to arrive overdressed at such an event, unless you happen to have a barrel of swarzkofski crystals and oystrich feathers you can dunk yourself into. A lot of people come straight from work, so the audience is just in "whatever". But me, well, I am, (as you might be aware) never KNOWINGLY under-dressed. To bridge the comfort + dressy gap I decided to glam up one of my Mary dresses with a couple of bling bits (bought in the States, not vintage). They are just brooches, and in a flash of inspiration I picked up two, not just one, to act as dress clips.

The effect was really very good, considering three ladies stopped me to ask where I got my outfit! Now, I know the dress is my design and all, but really, the effect of two cheap modern pins would work the same on any plain dress. Perfect for desk-to-date days and light weight holiday packing too.

The event, which was compared by a friend of mine (name dropper me!) Karen Hardy of Strictly Come Dancing fame was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. And that was just the outfits! Of course, they are not vintage - but "vintage" includes being obsessed with a darn good dress. Which I am.

Of course I took about a gazillion photos, and here are just a few. (sorry, some are a bit fuzzy, they moved a bit fast for my camera at a distance in the dark)

Weee!...Cinderella moment

Stunning colours in the heats

This lady was one of my faves of the latin finals, probably mostly because of her Marilyn-esque hair

This Danish couple won the Professional Ballroom division. And she got my vote for best dressed too.

If you have a young daughter I bet she would LOVE this type of event. Maybe not this particular one as it is long and runs late, although there was one tweeny in our row who was completely transfixed.

The men though, well, as nice as they are, I do prefer mine a bit rougher and hairier. Just as well huh?

Rocket Girl

2011-10-14T15:11:00.003+01:00

Hello all you lovelies out there
Last weekend we were trading at the Hemsby Rock and Roll Weekender and I just gotta say - weekenders tire me out! Oh man, I always start the week like death warmed up! It might be the 3 days standing and talking, it might be the early dash to the Hemsby car boot on the Sunday, or it might just be that this is the last in a long run of events/trips/outings and it has taken a toll.

Fellow stallholders, Rocket Originals were there as always, and I treated myself to a couple of their jumpers for my early autumn wardrobe. This is the first one to show you - The lovely Red with Ivory jumper. Now, being a big busted girl (and "big" is a, ah-hem... polite understatement) you would think that a high neck sweater would make me look even more dumpy/frumpy and made of 95% boobage. But I have discovered that as long as it isn't chocker-high neck, and if the colour on the shoulders is lighter than the rest of the body, it actually does me some favours! I happen to be very narrow in the shoulders, so much so that I have learnt never to buy shoulder bags with two straps as I can never keep the second strap on. So the shoulder widening illusion created by the lighter colour, combined with the darker colour over the boobs balances me out.
The skirt I am wearing is the one from Heyday's Wartime suit. I have found it invaluable in this warm but autumn weather - so easy to wear, doesn't crease, comfy, and, you know.. slims and skims the lumpy bits. I imagine it will be just as useful in springtime with or without the jacket.

So, back to telling you about Rocket Originals...I also picked up a bit of HOT shoe news for you, Rocket are about to bring out their "Nancy" sandal (above) in a lovely dark green. Ohhhh! - can't wait! This shoe has got to be their comfiest yet and as I completely thrashed my white pair this summer, I have also picked up the red pair too as you can see. Already having two colours of the same shoe won't stop me as being a red head I have lots of outfits that will go with green shoes. Indeed, florals always seem to go well with green - Mother Nature being the queen goddess of design and all that!

Back soon with more vintage adventures,
Shona

I'm back, with Shoes

2011-08-19T22:53:00.000+01:00

Ohh I know, I have been away ages! It is one of those things that once you get out of the habit, it is hard to get back into, like exercise, and eating spinach, or doing your accounts. These last few months have been really busy at Heyday Central and I have been super head-down-locked-into-work mode. But, since you know a bit about me already, you will likely know that it will be SHOE NEWS that brings me back!

My birthday has been and gone (getting older is just one of the things I have been doing!) and Mr Wolf took the hint (written in big letters on his notepad) and bought me these for my birthday from Miss L Fire

He really does love me!

Sadly, by the time my birthday came around and I got them onto my feet I found they were a touch too small for me. I might have done it if they were leather, but raffia just wouldn't have given enough. And by then they had sold out of the size 6s. Argghh! Shoe birthday anguish!

So, I ended up with these, which I am just as happy with! They are so comfy to walk in, and I had been lusting after them since I saw Yesterday Girl in them at the Chap Olympics.

Aren't they stunners? I confess I have taken the top flower off, so I am left with a tidy cute bow that is a bit more "me". Being a make do and mend girl I have saved the flower to put onto another pair of shoes when needed. I like doing stuff like that

So, now that I am back, I have to let you know that I have a wee give-away coming up, as well as lots of interesting bits of news. In the meantime, if anyone has a pair of Honolulu Red size 6s to sell then I am buying!

New glasses from Dead Man's Spex

2011-06-23T17:46:00.004+01:00

I know why the weather has been so wet recently here in London - it is because I have new Sunglasses!

These were received in the mail just the other day after been promptly fitted out with my prescription by Darren at Dead Mans Spex.

I meet Darren at Hemsby twice a year and once at Twinwood in August (I LOVE Twinwood).

I think I love the case even more than the glasses. Do I use it or keep it safe so it stays pristine forEVER?

Thanks for my new Glasses Darren
(Hoping for sun now)

Shona xx

PS: I won't leave it so long between posts next time - promise
PPS: I have a give away coming up so stay tuned! It's a good 'un

Daffodils and Dresses

2011-04-21T13:29:00.000+01:00

A couple of weekends ago Wolf and I headed off to our local park for a quick walk. The blossoms were all in full regalia and we were thrilled to see that someone clever had planted a swirling scroll of Daffodils around one corner of it. These ones were out quite late compared to others but the combination of Daffs and Blossoms was a very happy one!

Thank you clever gardener person, you really made my day.

My outfit that day was a dress I had bought dead stock. It didn't have a label on it, but it did have a paper size tag sewn in the collar, so it was evident it had never been washed until it got to me! It fits me so well that people think I made it for myself. (Thank you little old lady who was a mad shopper but didn't wear everything)

Teamed with a hair flower pinned on as decoration for a bit of flippant-ness

and little square earrings that are a change from my usual flowery earlobes.

Cute buttons

Later the same night I struggled to sleep, so was flipping through my Sears catalog books for inspiration in the wee early hours... and what did I find?

Yes, that is MY dress on the bottom right! Whooo hooo!! Now if I ever have unlimited time and money I want to travel the US piecing together the whole catalog. Oh yes!

I hope you are finding some reasons to feel happy today wherever you are.

Shona xx

I fell off the treadmill

2011-04-12T19:03:00.000+01:00

Hello again!!

I am sorry I have neglected you all for so long. I fell off the treadmill! Nothing bad happened, no catastrophe to blame my slackness on. Not even anything exciting to whisk me away from you all.... nope...nothing but I the fact that I have been worn out, feeling poorly, not sleeping well, having appointments about my dodgy knees and completely full up from just keeping up. So without really intending to I fell off from Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and even REAL people for nearly 6 whole weeks! I haven't even done any sewing, or turned out my summer wardrobe, or watched the rest of the Mad Men series one (I am far behind!). I have barely called my mother. In fact, March? What March? I think I missed it.
What I have been doing is looking after myself, which is a very valuable thing to do. I had to get to 38 before I learnt how. Yet even when things feel at a standstill, life does slowly tick over, so this is a wee update:

I have nearly completed a 6 week beginners course at Burlesque Baby.

So THAT is how you walk!? Who knew? And I can tell you, it is a walk that will get you noticed and possibly (hopefully) given free things. I am thinking: Lamborghini, diamonds and champagne, though I will think myself lucky if I get a cuppa tea and a bus ride. Now, I am not planning on becoming a burlesque star, and not even sure I will get my puppies out even in the next block of classes, but my inner Dolly Parton is loving it. As the song goes..."well, hello, Dolly... It's so nice to have you back where you belong". A bit of strutting about goes a long way.
That delectable gymnast above is my teacher, the lovely and gorgeous Ruby Deshabille (pic shamelessly nicked from her facebook page). Ruby, when do we get that stockings off trick in class? (hmmm, on second thoughts, I might not survive the process, having suffocated myself with my own boobs. Maybe not then.)

I've been working away on various projects, one of which started to bear fruit yesterday on a photo shoot with Gordon Ayres. He is REALLY good. Here is a wee taster, including a neighbourhood cat, though it doesn't give nought away yet (heh heh). The model here is the lovely Gemma from Bake do and Mend.
The rest of everything has been varied...knitting a 30s twinset, off to a masked ball, admiring the daffodils, lapping up Boardwalk Empire and trolling the Hammersmith vintage fair. Even just getting down to work with the doors open and the birds a-larking in the tress has been fab. With spring finally here I have got some bounce back.
Yeah HA!

Do you get it wrong sometimes?

2011-02-26T13:26:00.002Z

I have just been inspired by a lovely new blog called Vintage Rose that I came across today. I love what she says in yesterday's post. She talks about how she sees others looking at her and believes they are thinking negatively about her style, but in fact they are intrigued and interested, but their face doesn't show a smile (yet).

It is something I have been wondering about too. Somedays I don't want to be a vintage girl when I am out and about in the normal-people world, just because the day is hard enough to get through without coping with funny stares. I am already a red-head, I am already big busted, I have a New Zealand accent, so even at 5'2" (and the all important 5/8"), I tend to stand out. I like dressing vintage, but I don't like feeling so very different - not all the time anyway. But maybe I, like Vintage Rose, get it wrong sometimes. Maybe they are not funny stares, maybe they are just - "hey-you-look-interesting" stares.

For when you need a good cute giggle, click here

It is only because we think that other humans are THINKING something that we assume it might be bad, especially if we are already a bit worried. We don't worry about what our cat thinks of our outfit do we? No, because we know they are just thinking about the next meal or, maybe, how to murder the next door dog.

When a stranger passes me and gives me a look, sometimes I have had the guts to break into a smile, even only a shy one, and I always get a really big smile back. It is kind of - "hey I see you looking at me" and "yes, I like your outfit" in silence.

Let me know about you. Are you really brave with your style regardless? Do you save the best bits for when your vintage friends are going to see you, so they understand and appreciate it? Do you have a mechanism to cope with extra attention, good or bad?

Just some bows on shoes

2011-02-16T11:34:00.001Z

I thought I would talk about bows on shoes.

Who doesn't love them?

(Sorry, left pesky super stuck label on cos I was in a hurry)

But sometimes the shoemakers get it a bit wrong in trying to be funky. These office shoes originally came with rags as laces:

I can see what they are trying to do, a distressed finish to modern up these lacy lovelies, but skinny cheap cotton rags tend to rip, in fact a bit ripped off when I even tried them on in the shop. So now that they are safe at home with me they have their new grosgrain bows that are just the right amount of floppy to be lush and just the right amount of form to be ladylike. I love grosgrain ribbon.

I also have this pair from Hush Puppies (a year old now) and their original satin ribbons with false leather on the end comes undone all the time, and sits out too stiff and proud - making them look like witchy shoes to me.

So now the navy ones have been grosgrained too, and they no longer come undone.

The 4 year old in me really liked the idea of contrasting ribbons, say melon or red or even cream. Or maybe some with spots on them (this might yet be re-visited). But then I remembered that I am closer to 40 than 4. Damn. They have enough girlish-ness to them already I think.

I am a funny one for finishing off the ends of bows. They either need a diagonal line or a shape "V" cut into the ends. For these bows I made a diagonal cut and then sealed the end by holding it really close to a candle flame. This melts the synthetic fibre and seals the edge so it won't fray. My dad used to do it with bits of nylon rope and things like webbing straps on backpacks, so that must be how I know about it.

I feel the need to do a disclaimer now: it won't work on natural fibres, they will just catch fire. Don't do it if you are not an adult. Be careful of your clothing/hair/cat catching fire. Be sensible about it. A candle is manageable since you need to get close to the flame, bonfires: not so easy. Have a bucket of water, a loaded fire extinguisher or a topless fireman handy. I recommend the fireman; they tend to be more effective, but he MUST be topless. Not advisable to melt ribbon while drinking. Definitely advisable to melt into fireman after drinking. Do not melt and drive. Wear a seatbelt. And finally, have a little practise first on a scrap piece of ribbon

Vintage adventures in the Isle of Wight

2011-02-08T16:35:00.002Z

Hello and welcome to a new week. Mr Wolf worked out that we are 1/7th of our way through the year already. Sometimes you just want to smack him.
But... you can't... because you are away for your anniversary weekend and are supposed to be being nice to each other (which in truth we are really). I had a minor melt down yesterday (not a BAD one, just a TOO MUCH one) so this is Monday's post out on Tuesday - see, we are only 2 days into the week and I am already behind!

Anyhoo... We had a great time on the island and it turned into quite a vintage adventure weekend. I did as many Charity shops as I could muster then I did the knitting shops too. Surprisingly, we found there to be a decent vintage scene out there.
We met Tracy from Suze's Room in Ventnor:

And along the way we found Odds and Sods in Shanklin:

Who sent us on to Oh So...Vintage! in Newport:

(Now this is embarrasing, that style pattern was my ball dress in 1990. Back then it wasn't vintage)

We also walked out to The Needles, leaning into the wind the whole way and checked out the wartime gun battery out there.

(The "after" shot of my hair has been canned for fear that Darren Dead Man will tease me forever about it)

As a fitting end, on Sunday we went to the "Dairyman's Daughter" for lunch and happened across a wonderful swing band. Gosh they were fab!

We worked off the roast by dancing the afternoon away on the cobblestone floor (tricky on my 193 yr old dodgy knees). From left; Rupert, Keith (also known as Arthur!?), Brian and Bob are amazing musicians with not a piece of sheet music between them. From what we can work out they have an impressive background; highly trained, quite famous really and are terribly nice and funny too. We think they make the most amazing live music we have heard for awhile. For reference, they are known as "Menage", being a bit of a play on the words "Men Age" and they play either at the Dairyman's Daughter or at the Glasshouse restaurant regularly.

What we DIDN'T get to is Cameos in East Cowes, and to check out Vintage Vacations (forgot they were based on the IoW until Tracy mentioned them). Oh and I needed another day on the charity shops! Does anyone else have vintage contacts in the IoW to add?

We hope to go again since the Island also reminds us of the NZ countryside. Perhaps in Summer though... and without the windy trip to the Needles.

6 years and counting

2011-02-03T13:25:00.000Z

Hello vintage lovers.

heh heh - "Vintage lovers" takes on an extra today meaning because Mr Wolf and I are taking ourselves off on a wee jolly this weekend to the Isle of Wight, just because we got married 6 years ago! (It seems both longer ago and just last week at the same time)
Actually, last weekend was our real anniversary, but since we were in a cold cow shed at Stoneleigh, romance felt some distance away (ie, buried under thermals, scarves, woolly socks and thick coats!)
Our wedding was vintage themed, of course, and there is a bit of a story about my dress. Wanna hear it? ...Oh, ok then...
Mr Wolf proposed (without a ring I might add, gambling with fire there I think) when we first got to the UK. He was still looking for work and I had just started a contract, so we didn't have much dosh. 2 weeks later I headed to my first ever vintage clothing fair with two friends from NZ. I was warned (complete with a stern look) not to spend much, worried as he was about money. Ok I said, sure, unaware as I was of the temptations that awaited me.
Well, I got through the whole day with the girls without spending a penny...until we were about to leave and THERE WAS THE DRESS! I only had the girls opinion of it, since there was no mirror to hand, and I didn't fit it, quite, but we could see the potential. So I went and drew out £60 and bought it.
Now, Mr Wolf HAPPENED to be mucking about with accounts that afternoon and he SAW me take money out while he was on internet banking. Oh oh
When I got home, I quickly squirrelled the dress away in a cupboard, then got the third degree:
Wolf: "So what did you buy?"
Me: (thinking I had got away with it) "Nothing"
Wolf: "No, I mean, What did you buy?" (with a bit more intensity)
Me: (realising he knew, somehow and a bit spooked) "I can't tell you"
Wolf: "What do you mean?"
Me: "I mean I can't SHOW you". (with a bit of a look of warning thrown in for good measure)
Wolf: (after a moments pause and disbelief) "What a WEDDING dress?"
Me: (Smug as a kitten in a knitting bag) "yip" Then I put the £15 change in the kitchen tin.
Well he was floored and VERY happy. I think he realised he was marrying the right girl at that very moment. Indeed, my shoes cost £6 from Ebay and I made my own frilly knickers. Cheap as chips me! The petticoat was the most expensive item, needing to have enough netting to hold the heavy satin out (I didn't want a hoop). It can actually stand up on its own!
This is the only pic I have on my laptop so that will have to suffice for now, since we are already on the road.

I do hope you have a good weekend, and if you are not spending it with a special someone, that you can do something nice for yourself anyway.

Lovely things found at Stoneleigh

2011-02-01T22:58:00.003Z

Hi lovelies

Last weekend Mr Wolf and I went to the Militaria Event in Stoneleigh - basically a huge swop meet for the re-enactors in the UK. You can get anything military there - Jeeps, boots, uniforms, equipment, guns (not working ones) absolutely anything... so long as it is khaki!
I jest, but in truth, the UK has a thriving military re-enactment scene and the knowledge that is held within is truly phenomenal. Individuals and groups will research regiments and battles and know exactly the patch that is required to complete a uniform and can spot a fake at 50 paces. At other events they stage historically correct battles, but this one is just to search for that elusive missing button/jeep part/size 11 desert boots.

Some gentle souls may find it disturbing, and think this glorifies war and all that goes with it. In actual fact it is the opposite. Many there are ex-military and while they recreate the historical details, a healthy dose of respect for what it was really like is part of the whole experience. The re-enactments do remind us why we don't want to go there again.

So, anyway... me, at the risk of now sounding fickle, and being not really a khaki kind of girl (in that it suits me but not my personality)...well I... staked out the few stalls I was interested in, and I managed to get some very pretty things and here they are!

Gorgeous 30s buttons - I think I have the exact match in a wool fabric

20s/30s Celluloid broach - so lucky to find these in one piece

30s buckle ON A CARD! ohh I love that almost more than the buckle itself! It will take me a year to decide to separate them, if I ever do

And no shopping trip would be complete with out a new pattern to lust over.

And I picked up the tablecloth these are on too - so pretty and only £2!

I also had a look at Rocket Originals new Mitzi Shoes - Nice!

If you are interested in the re-enacting scene, I suggest you come along to the War and Peace show in July, or check out the World War II Re-enacting magazine (sold at some WH Smiths and here). WWII would be the most prevalent, but other wars and battles are covered in what is know as "Multi Period Living History" events - just in case you need to know.

Over and out!

Talented ladies of the vintage world part 1

2011-01-24T08:38:00.002Z

Happy Monday morning my lovely blog followers.
I have been meaning for some time to introduce you to some talented ladies that I have met in my travels in the vintage world. These are entrepreneurial business women and clever, artistic craftspersons. It is these type of girls who make my world go around because they are so inspiring and capable, with a streak of daredevil in them to be making their money alternatively. I will spread them out in a small series of posts because they each deserve some individual attention.

The first is Fiona Stephenson. She paints the most stunningly gorgeous ladies who all have good reason to show their suspenders in the most delightful way.

She creates Gil Elvgren reproductions in oil on canvas as well as her own original prints. The prints are very reasonable at £22 for an A2 size and £12 for an A3. (I have 3 of them that I am about to get framed.) Or, if you can splash out, the oil paintings are £998 and if you really can go for it, she does take individual commissions too.
The pic above is a reproduction, and this pic below is Fiona's own work. She really captures Elvgren's cheeky women exceptionally well and I do love the themes she dreams up.

I have these two above and below. I think the rocket girl is my fave, I would look as apprehensive (if not as slim and stunning) if I were her!

If you are looking for some Monday morning coffee-time browsing then pay her website a visit here. Do bear in mind that they are all limited edition so don't wait about if something takes your fancy. In browsing the gallery I found I have missed some gorgeous prints so I am watching eagerly to see what else she produces next.
Well done Fiona you clever lady you!

Oh No it's NOT! Winner announced!

2011-01-20T11:44:00.003Z

Thank you to everyone who took part in our quick and dirty mock-bet competition. That was a nice bit of fun wasn't it?
The dress aired on telly last night was definitely not our Fleur dress. It had longer set-in sleeves, no pleats at the neckline and was princess-line in construction. I bet it didn't have pockets or a cute button either though!
So Fleur herself was right. Personally I was trying not to get my hopes up, but feel deflated anyway.
Moving quickly on to more exciting things then... who won the £25 voucher?
Only 19 of you, out of 79 chose to say "No it isn't" and bizarrely, quite a number of those couldn't even view it and just took Fleur's side (loyal followers you lot!) or said no to get a better chance of winning (dare devils!).

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:13Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Our Random Number Generator came up with No.13. Unlucky for some, but very lucky for Miss Betty Lou.
She has a lovely blog, is a red head and takes great pictures. She also writes in both Swedish and English which is pretty impressive. She also likes the colour green, home baking and is a bit excitable, my kinda GAL!

Ain't she sweet?
Betty Lou I will Tweet you your voucher code but if you miss it then do get in touch.
Have a good day all!

Get your bets on Quick Competition

2011-01-17T21:45:00.001Z

We might be FAMOUS!
By that I mean that our Fleur dress might be on Telly! Or maybe it won't...

The Fleur in disguise (Glasses by Dead Men's Spex)

Lady Jenny from our Heyday team spotted the trailers for a dramatisation about Hattie Jacques. Hattie was a Carry On actress (a show much loved by Brits in general) who was married to Dad's Army star, John Le Mesurier and who also had a live-in lover. The show is being aired on BBC 4 This Wednesday at 9pm.

Hattie Jacques

Ruth Jones is playing Hattie and (drumroll please...) a dress she wears in the trailer is definitely the same fabric, and COULD be one of our Fleur dresses. Eee! The thing is, from the short shot on the trailer it is hard to tell if it is ours. Fleur, being always modest, thinks it isn't. Lady Jenny is positive it is. It might get rough. Do you wanna bet on it too?

Have a look for yourself at the Trailer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00d7l35
(later amendment after a few people have commented - it seems if you are not in the UK then you can't watch it - Booo. But have a guess anyway and enter the draw. Sorry about that!)

We are going to run a quick competition to win a £25 voucher to go towards your very own Fleur dress or something else from the Heyday web shop.You can vote "Yes it is" or "No it's not" (in true pantomime fashion) in the comments below, up until the start of the programme at 9pm on Wednesday. Only those who have answered correctly will go in the draw which we will make by random number selection on Thursday. If for some reason we can't be sure, then we will put everyone into the draw.

As always you can get more than one chance to enter if you let others know about it. If you want to vote both ways, then simply make sure you get yourself more than one entry! That's better odds than you will get at any betting agents.

The competition rules are straight forward and offer three chances to get involved...

For one entry, leave me a comment below.
For another entry, you can retweet our quick competition.
For a third entry, post about the giveaway on your own blog!

Please take careful note that each time you enter you must leave a separate comment. Don't leave me one comment saying you've done all three things, as it will only be counted once!

If you commenting to say you've retweeted or blogged, please post the link.
The competition will close THIS Wednesday 19th January at 9.00pm BST

Yes it is! No it's not! It is, It isn't...Oh I don't know, but I will be glued to the set on Wednesday!

Sale Starts Thursday!

2011-01-12T22:28:00.005Z

Hi there everyone out there in Blog land.

Thanks for the lovely comments designed to help me feel better. I had one day of feeling on top of the world, then this morning I slipped and cut my finger open on a cupboard door handle. OUCH! Why am I telling you this? Well because I would have got this post out earlier but I was stuck in A&E making angry faces at the nurse (who was overworked and, in the end, quite sweet) and throwing invisible death daggers at the doctor, who I think wasn't concerned about my death dagger powers in the slightest, or about my finger, much.

Anyhoo, I am back and the finger is so well padded I can actually type (it is the little finger, so it is not overworked). I am already fed up of sympathy too so no need to bother, however donations of chocolate, size 5 shoes and exotic alcoholic beverages are always welcome.

So,this, later than expected post, is to let you know that I have my first ever Heyday Sale starting Thursday morning. Some of you would have already seen it written up on Andi's blog here. These items pictured here are in the sale and you can go in and see what stock we have available if you like, even though the prices won't appear until tomorrow. It is set up ready to go on the web shop.

Before you go, Slinky Sparkles, (who is modelling the green floral Mary dress in our sale) needs your vote in the Viva Las Vegas Burlesque competition. Well done Ms Sparkles! Go vote for her here
Happy Shopping!

Happy shoes

2011-01-07T13:27:00.001Z

Happy Friday dear followers

What do YOU do when you are poorly and yuck?

I put on groovy heels with sparkly socks, even if I am not leaving the house.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

The Info bit:

Shoes:Next, last winter

Trousers: Own design from Heyday!

Socks: not sure, possibly nicked from a 1970s roller disco queen

Happy New Year and Christmas recyling

2011-01-04T14:07:00.002Z

Hello and Happy New Year!
I am so thrilled that I have made it through another festive season, how about you? For some reason this year I was bored of it all so quickly, that the decorations are down already and the place is looking surprisingly bare. I blame the shops who were playing Christmas music around Guy Fawkes. Those will be the same ones that have already got Easter Eggs out (yes, I spied them in WH Smith yesterday). Sorry but my FAT making cells need a little break, Easter will have to wait!.. until... well, February at least.

Anyhoo, as part of my Christmas breakdown I do a little fun recycling thing with my cards that I thought you might like. I cut them down to make parcel tags for next year!
I know tags are not dear to buy really, but this is much more fun. I make it a game with myself to see how many good tags you can make out of a card, sometimes ending up with very little that the recycling men have to take away.
Firstly, though it might be a little morbid, but one lesson I have learnt is to save cards from loved ones who are getting a bit elderly. That way you can bring them out after they can no longer write you one, which is neat thing to do.

Once I have saved the specials, I get happy with the scissors and snip like a mad woman. Picture cards can be made into numerous tags, and often the back of a card has a small picture that is worth cutting out too. It is fun to work out where the cutting lines could be to make 2 or 3 cool cards rather than just one.
Shapes come out interestingly and as you get on a roll you see different possibles - like the word "Merry" on it's own. I like that!

This year I didn't stop and collected the messages on the inside too. If I had kids it would be great to get them to decorate them, but since I don't, I might have some fun with the glitter pens myself!
I hope your first week of the New Year is coming along nicely. Hip Hip Hooray!

T'was the night before Christmas...

2010-12-24T13:41:00.000Z

Merry Christmas to all of you my lovelies, all around the world.

Santa as he is often seen in NZ, complete with sheep, Kiwi and Pukeko

We have my 17yr old stepson, Wolf Jnr, here for Christmas, and so the day will include me embarrassing myself on X-box, trying to convince him that old Bond movies are the ONLY ones worth watching (a bit of young Sean goes along way), and fighting for the phone (he has a girlfriend now).

We are also hoping to pop by to see the serpentine swimmers - a keen and over-eager group who have a race in the serpentine pool in Hyde Park. They race for the "Peter Pan Cup". Peter Pan...as in the (ahem) little boy who never grew up... you can read something into that sly English wit that says as much about the freezing temperature of the day as the youthful nature of the participants.

Tinsel and poinsettias festive up my false rose display

For lack of interesting, vintage-inspired photos, here are some of our decorations we have out. I only bought one new thing this year and I can't find it. I think it is lost in the sewing/storage/dumping stuff room - in fact I know will be on the bottom of a pile of stuff along with my sewing mojo!

Instead of new purchases, this years decorations are a bit of a mash up of things we have had before, not a bad thing since the tree was new last year. So it was cheap, quick, and a bit make-do-and-mend.

Our platinum coloured tree, in likeness of the aluminium ones that were popular mid-century (and were too dear for us!)

Easier to see the colour of the tree the without the light behind - I love it!

Mash up of odd bits that made our wreath

I hope you all have a nice day planned, and can avoid some of the stresses that come with it.
May you drink enough that you don't remember what Granny caught you doing, but not so much that you can't hit the post Christmas sales. Get yourself stationed next to the mistletoe and enjoy!

Adventures at Ninas Hair Parlour

2010-12-22T22:14:00.000Z

Eekk! Not long to go now... the big man is getting ready to wriggle down your chimney. (That is quite a strange "fairy tale" really isn't it, I mean how does he stay clean?). This post isn't all about Christmas though as I figure you, like me, might need a little break from that.
Don't get me wrong, I am pleased Christmas is nearly here, it is nice to be doing something different as I have been SO bored with myself of late. Do you get that, when everything just feels too much the SAME. ALL the time? I wanted a jump start the new year and it felt like time for different hair. I have agonised for ages as my problem is that, while I think shorter is sleek and sophisticated, at the same time I am always pining for pre-raphaelite long tendrils.

Sophie Anderson Print

A bit too vintage though eh? In the end I was bored both with agonising AND myself, so something had to be done. Shorter was the only way to go, and the only person I trust for that kind of trimming is THE Nina of Nina's Hair Parlour at Alfies Antique market. I hadn't seen Nina in ages so I headed there armed with some Christmas chocolates and photos of Amy Adams character in "Miss Pettigrew lives for the day".

I want the hat too

I know it isn't THAT short, but it is short for me and knowing that, even Nina was a little cautious with the scissors.

The lovely Nina

Since they were quiet Issidora showed me how to do Marcel waves using original metal clips, and here is the results of my first effort with her help. It lasted for 4 days (albeit getting softer at the end) and I loved it! (You can see the actual length of my new cut in the last picture as the rest of my hair is tucked up at the back in this photo.)

Issidora the Marcel expert. I'm going to head back to her for some make-up lessons

Then, just when I was thinking - "now where I am going to find some marcel clips to do this myself?" Along came Ian, a stallholder at Alfies, with a whole set for sale. Lucky day!

I am chuffed with my new length and it's ease of styling. Here is it, without the waves and using just hot sticks.

Sorry, the best photos are the ones I take myself, so they are all the same!

So now I have the start of my fresh start - not sure what is next which is kinda exciting too.

I hope you have happy preparations for Santa wherever you are, or if you are not celebrating Christmas then that you are rounding up the year in a good way.

And the winner is...

2010-12-20T12:21:00.001Z

Hello lovelies. Welcome to Monday again. We are slow moving here today at Heyday, possibly because of the amount of mulled wine consumed yesterday, but also possibly because of over indulging in too many dance/boxing/bowling competitions with our new Xbox Kinect. (Mr Wolf gifted it to himself just in time for Mr Wolf Junior to join us for the holidays). Boy it is some kind of work out, and I now have a mental note never to get in a real fist fight with one (gentle looking and petite) friend!.

Anyway - this is a quick post to let you know our winner of the Hokey Cokey sign....

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:18Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Number 18 is Miss Amber Sweet!! Woo hooo! Amber, send me an email with your address on it so we can get this posted out to you, and your poor postie can drag it to your door (hopefully) before Christmas. Email me on HeydayVintageStyle(at)gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who entered and blogged and tweeted about it. It is lovely having such nice followers!

If you want to purchase this sign yourself, you can find it on ebay if you google "hokey cokey" . Mine is from McCarthys Interiors. There are other things with the same slogan on it - fridge magnets and t.shirts etc, which might make good emergency Chrissmas Pressies for the person who has eveything

The Hokey Cokey is what it's all about

2010-12-17T12:08:00.000Z

Hello! I hope you are getting in the swing for Christmas. We have our tree up, but only one bauble on it so far, but, like Christmas, it is coming along.

Today is the last day to enter the not-your-normal-Christmas-giveaway. I am amazed that more of you haven't entered, cos it is really cool! Was it something I said, or didn't say? It really is not really all THAT big a plank. It just sounds cool to be sending a plank for Christmas. At 57cm x 10cm x 2cm (approx 22" x 4" x 1"), it is about the length of a pillow, the height of an iphone and the width of a good paperback.

Maybe you are not sure what the Hokey Cokey is. It's a DANCE silly! One of those goofy party dances that you do when you hope no-one has a video camera. You remember, you put your right arm in, you take your right arm out, right arm in and you Shake It All About (that's the best bit), you do the Hokey Cokey and you turn around - THAT'S WHAT IS ALL ABOUT!
Some people will know it as the Hokey Pokey, and I remember it at the Hokey Tokey from primary school. I wonder if it is subtley changed for children, as "Hope he tokes me" isn't really a usable sentence...if you get my drift.

Anyhoo - get your entry in double quick cos it closes at midnight tonight BST.

Not your normal Christmas Giveaway.

2010-12-12T22:03:00.002Z

No not some vintage sparkley bits for your tree, not lovely underwear, nor party accessories, stockings, bags or broaches, not even some designer chocolates. Not here at Heyday, No Siree bob. Well not this year anyway.

This year we are going to offer you a plank of wood!

YEAH!

A 57cm x 10cm x 2cm plank of wood. (approx 22" x 4" x 1")

I can see you are getting excited now.

Because of this ludicrous idea, the competition is only open to UK residents. Only UK posties are tough enough to lug that plank to your doorstep. Through the snow. Barefoot. (ok, so we are prone to exaggeration...)

Besides being REcyclable, REusable, REnewable and REtro, it also appeals to all REligions and can be used REgularly. All yeaRE.

As you can see it appeals to our sense of humour, both the jovial notation and the making a plank a prize. We think you are going to love it in your home too.

It has a slightly distREssed REd background and a cREam typeface. (I have no idea why RE has become a theme but now I am stuck with it).

And it has two rings to attach to a wall if you so desiRE

The competition rules are straight forward and offer three chances to get involved...

For one entry, leave me a comment below.
For another entry, you can retweet my give away.
For a third entry, post about the giveaway on your own blog! Three chances! Whooopee!

Please take careful note that each time you enter you must leave a separate comment. Don't leave me one comment saying you've done all three things, as it will only be counted once!

If you commenting to say you've retweeted or blogged, please post the link.
The competition will close THIS Friday 17th December 2010 at Midnight BST

Good luck everyone! We know you will be tickled gREen if you are the winner. (Sorry, pink didn't work)

Frock Porn

2010-12-11T14:50:00.004Z

Now that I am recovered from jet lag, the Annual Winter Bug has got me in its grips. Thank goodness I did my family Christmas shopping before I went to NZ. It is just Mr Wolf to buy for now, and though it is hard to think of something REALLY good to get him, a slab of Guinness and a kilo of crisps also keeps him happy.

So, while this blog might be slow at getting all silly and fun for Christmas, I have something equally scrummy to look at....FROCK PORN !

We know you like it.

Don't pretend you don't.

There is something for everyone.

Whilst visiting family I was lucky enough to attend a talk by Leimomi Oakes. (gorgeous name don't you think? Pronounced leigh-mou-mee). Leimomi is a historial designer, museum professional, and very likeable speaker. She is also a swing dancer and Really Nice Person.

Leimomi with passer-by-dog
My brother's girlfriend, Ness, was modelling a dress for her, so I got to go backstage and help out. We arrived late, but got her hooked, laced, buckled, pinned, strapped and tied in record time.

There is a LOT going on under there, and we are not talking too many chocolate biscuits

Leimomi had created outfits that spanned several centuries to demonstrate the influence of eastern design on western clothing. She made the bloomers, petticoats, slips, corsets, dresses, trains, jackets and buttons.
Then she decorated them.

One hundred zillion miles of seams

After the lighthearted and educational talk, we had ourselves an impromtu photoshoot in the gardens at Lower Hutt Horticultural Centre. While Leimomi said she had had her "dream day", my afternoon was pretty wonderful too. After all, mucking around taking pictures of girls having fun in big poofy dresses is my idea of a good time!

by fluke, (and a wee bit of stalking) we managed to get a white pigeon to act out the part of a dove

Some passerbys were thrilled to see the dresses and see the girls acting up in them. One Dad sat for ages while his little girl was transfixed (I am sure it had nothing to do with the impressive cleavages on display!)

Ness was modelling the Juno dress, more information about it's inspiration and construction can be found here.

For more photos of all the dresses go to Leimomi's beautiful blog, rightly named The Dreamstress. If you are interested in fashion history, sewing construction and lovely pretty things you will adore it!

The End

Period homes and Gardens

2010-12-08T09:32:00.002Z

Hello my lovelies!
Long time no chat eh? I have been back from my travels for just over a week now and I must say, despite the freezing temperatures here in the UK, I am glad to be staying put now for a bit. In fact the snow and cold are not bothering me right now because what I most want to do is hibernate. Perfect!

sleepy bear (not the least bit grizzly, honest) found here

I have had the most terrible bout of Jet Lag (yes it deserves capitals) ever. Apparently, when you fly around the world anti-clockwise it is much easier to get back on your feet than if you go clockwise. Well I believe it might be true given my recent state of wide-awake-ness at 2am and inability to concentrate on anything (except, maybe, fabric shopping on ebay...) Since I booked my flights quite last minute, I had to fly back from New Zealand via the States instead of through Asia, so I travelled the wrong way around the world.

Anyhoo, while I am still getting my act together for Christmas I thought I might do a couple of posts about NZ and the things I love most there (besides family and friends of course). I LOVE the houses. Especially weatherboard ones. As soon as I arrive I soak up the sight of weatherboard houses that make up the majority of our homes.

Whenever I drive out to my brother's place in Otaki this one calls out to me. I love the sweeping drive, wide lawn and the huge verandah. Although the eras don't match, I imagine Scarlet O'Hara might come here on her days off. Maybe that lawn just begs for a big poofy skirt and a parasol.

Otaki is a small coastal township and is full of these lovely Californian Bungalows, with huge gardens and verandahs to sip your G&T's on (sigh). I want a verandah! The warm weather and the available land in New Zealand inspired the adoption of this house style when the colonials were planning their towns.

Another feature of a Californian bungalow is the low, sloping roof line, and in NZ you see lots of colourful roofs, probably because so much of it is on display.

This one has the most striking roof line, only visible for a second as you drive down the street. I suspect the part of the house with the chimney is a newer addition.

Having left Otaki (it was time for lunch and Mum was hungry) we are now in Karori, Wellington. Suburbs closer to the city centres tend to have less gardens and more compact detailing (obviously!). The verandahs are have much more of a "enough-to-take-your-gumboots-off", than "great-Gatsby-picnic-after-croquet" feel about them.

This one probably had stained glass windows in the small, upper windows originally. I love the rows of white rose bushes though.

This house has so many distinctive features! The curved corrugated iron roof is typical of early homes and the subtle use of tones of paint colour brings out the detailing. Even the fence line has been carefully considered. The decorative flair of the arts and crafts type in the woodwork would have been quite expensive to have in those days. And it would have had stained glass windows too, so this little house was quite the little "show off" but in the best possible way.

And there ends our whistle stop tour of NZ homes. I hope you agree they are rather enchanting and can see why I love them so. Now that I am back in the UK for winter though I am very glad for Georgian brickwork and gas central heating! I hope you are all warm and cosy too - wherever you are!

Gift Idea - Kitten Calendars

2010-11-17T07:17:00.019Z

Hi all - Christmas is hurtling towards us! Eeck!
For those of you who are vintage fans (ok, that is most of you) and have a man somewhere in your life, (or even if you don't) we have a Chrismas present solution for you - the 2011 Kitten von Mew calendars!

This is one classy calendar, one that Grandad could cope with... and yet cheeky enough to keep red blooded males silent with admiration (I have seen them on the stall, they get REAL quiet).

If you don't know Kitten already, she performs incredibly authentic burlesque routines and can cater for family audiences as well as corporate events.

Not only did Kitten manage and design the calendar, coming up with the concept of each of the gorgeous monthly themes and styling each outfit, she actually did all the graphics as well. Not just a pretty face eh?

You might need to be quick, as I have only about 20 left. You can get them on my website.

As an added bonus, Kitten was generous enough to pop over when we were both at Goodwood Revival to sign and KISS them all.

She got through quite a bit of lippy and I bet her smackers were sore by the end!

One happy customer!

She is wearing her RAF fancy fan performance outfit, which, while it is wool, there is not a lot of it. While she froze her goose bumps off, she caused a bit of a stir - check out the poor chap in the background trying to work out what he was missing!

If you are interested, please be quick as there will not be any more printed, and I have some of the very last stock around.

Bloomsbury Lanes

2010-11-15T06:28:00.003Z

Yeah G'day

Here I am back in Kiwi land, way down under, so you might hear more of my New Zealand accent coming through. Whilst I have jet-lag and have woken early, it seems a perfect time to catch you up on the vintage fair at Bloomsbury lanes that was on the weekend before I left.

It was really sad to have missed the lovely gals including Fleur, Jenni, Gemma, Naomi who attended the Throwback Festival in the evening, since I could only make the daytime event instead.

Having said that, I was super chuffed to catch up with other good friends, Natasha and Amanda from Lipstick and Curls. I have known Natasha ever since I first moved to London (9 years now) and it was so lovely to chat between her appointments. More often than not we are both working at different events so hardly get to see each other out dancing now.
Please excuse the dark pics, the photos with a flash didn't work out

Between clients, Tash had a play with my hair and did a fantastic job.

The girls hard at work. Note the 50s diner in the background

A happy customer. She looked so good!

I was beside myself to meet some fellow Kiwis who were running the Fleet River Bakery stall. I found out they were Kiwis because here they are, selling ANZAC biscuits (a national icon of ours belonging to wartime). There was another yummy looking cupcakes stall there but Fleet River sold gluten free...in fact they sold Gluten Free Chocolate Mud Cake (the capitals all very important there). Ohhh heaven. I even bought an extra slice to take home.

Looking around the stalls, most of the items on sale were more recent vintage than what I normally swoon over. (If you wore it already you can't bring yourself to call it vintage!). So I only made a few small purchases.

The best find was this ring, from Popsie's Vintage. She recycles all old odds bits of Jewellery into new, modern peices, and I was thrilled to find a orange 50s/60s rose ring that matched the set I have at home! I have in fact done really well at matching existing sets recently and I have to catch you up with those buys soon.

Natasha's handiwork once I got home. Impressive work, especially since I have a LOT of hair.

If you want to go along, the fair is open on the first Saturday of each month and is followed up with the Throwback Club in the evening. While it has just got started, I am sure it is going to get better and better. I can't make Dec, but I will be keen to go again in the new year!

Back from the Nile

2010-11-11T11:29:00.002Z

We're back!

Congratulations to Hela for winning the Fleur dress give away. I do hope you love it Hela and please send us pictures of you wearing it!
Thank you to everyone who blogged, tweeted and yelped about it - it was so much fun to see all the comments and it would have been lovely to have given each and every one of you a dress, as everyone was so enthusiastic! Nothing like something going free to get us all excited!
Speaking of the Fleur dress... look, check out the name of the French restaurant at the hotel in Egypt!

Yes, sadly enough we are home and starting to recover from our Nile adventures. The trip was A M A Z I N G. The monuments, like the heat, were overwhelming. Even though I have seen these massive tombs and pyramids, there is a part of me that still doesn't believe they are real.

Funnily, the pyramids looked smaller to me close up. From a distance you have the perspective against a tour bus and then you really get to see the scale.

I have to say, while the kings are more famous and more powerful, some ladies of ancient Egypt were impressive for their ingenuity and shear determination. This is the temple of Hatsheput, who was an amazing lady. Quick history lesson as we were told it by our guide: Her father, the King, died. She marries her half brother to keep the throne secured (they did a lot of that), half brother/husband dies, she marries his son by a mistress (her nephew and step-son) to maintain the throne. Puts child husband in prison while she rules - as a KING (now that is cool), travelled and set up trading expeditions. Then convinces the Egyptians that she is actually the daughter of a GOD.
Now that is some hefty PR work!
Her tomb backs on to the valley of the Kings in such a way that by the time you have reached her actual resting place, you are on the other side of the hill, effectively placing her securely in the area reserved for the Kings...Wow that's clever.

It wasn't all just sight-seeing. Evening entertainment included a Egyptian evening (above) and a "treasure hunt" which did involve me ruining my knees doing an Elvis impersonation and Wolfie wearing a dress.

Of our trip I enjoyed cruising the Nile the best. It is very much a working river, and it was so amazing to see how the desert was visable just past the thin stretch of green land that the river kept fertile. The scenery was fascinating from the boat: Water Buffalo, cows, donkeys, goats all grazed at the waters edge, a woman hanging her washing in the bushes to dry, the entrances of tombs in the desert hillside, a busy riverside port, Trucks on a busy road, a school with rather rude little boys (whats new?), and then back to the cows taking a dip. Why I have no decent photos of that I do not know.

While I didn't get to see many Crocodiles (just one from a distance), I did get to see lots of Camels. They really are graceful creatures, (even when they have their heads through a hole in the fence and scratching their necks!). Except when they are in a hurry... I saw one running, and would have laughed if his rider were not an armed guard. Camels run like tipsy teenage girls, all limbs flailing around in limited efficiency and control despite their speed.

You can see what I mean here, in slow motion!

Now I am in a bit of a hurry to finish this off, why? Well I am about to catch another plane to head home to New Zealand to visit family. I KNOW! It is jet-setting month here! I didn't really plan for it to happen that way, it just did. Anyway I can be in touch from NZ and will send you some spring sunshine from there.

Toodles

And the lucky Fleur winner is...

2010-10-31T13:35:00.001Z

Hey everyone! Fleur here...

Shona is still off enjoying herself in the land of the Pharaohs, and she's left the draw for the winner of her 100 Followers Giveaway in my barely capable hands. Since the prize is my namesake dress, it seems fitting!

Just to recap, the winner will receive one Heyday Fleur dress in their size - from XS (about a UK 6-8, US 4-6) to XL (about a UK 20, US 18). See the sizing chart for a range of measurements. It's a reproduction 40s wrap housedress in a delightful rose printed, quality cotton. With a slip underneath, cardigan and stockings, this beauty can and should be worn all through autumn! Here's a fabulous shot of they Heyday ladies, Susanne, Jenny and Shona herself wearing just that at Goodwood!

So the lucky lady should have ample opportunity for Fleur dress wearing, or can save it for next spring!

So now, the moment you've all been waiting for! Using the Random.org number generator, I asked it to pick a number between 1 and 451, and the winner is....

Comment number 397! A lady called Hela with a blog, Howling at the Moon! Congrats Hela, can you please send an email to fleur@diaryofavintagegirl.com with your preferred size and your address, and we'll get your Fleur dress out to you asap!

Thanks everyone for taking part, and Shona will be back soon with more fab posts, and most likely another smashing giveaway!

All the best,

Fleur x

Close of Competition

2010-10-30T00:10:00.009+01:00

Thank you to everyone for entering, blogging, tweeting, and wishing to win this give away. I have meet a whole bunch of new followers and you have all said such lovely, encouraging things! Thank you!

Thank you also to Fleur who is completing this competition on my behalf. You are a real Champ girlfriend!

The competition is now closed and Fleur will announce the winner shortly. If you don't win, do remember that the dresses can be purchased on my website here.

Pin up Jewellery

2010-10-28T16:21:00.003+01:00

I hope you have all entered in the dress give away and made sure that you leave a comment for EACH entry you make. One comment saying you have tweeted and blogged will only be counted once remember. You have until Friday 29th midnight BST before Fleur closes the competition. Good luck to everyone!

I am thrilled at how many new followers have come to join in. Hello Lovelies! I will organise another give away to celebrate soon. You lucky people!

You know I am away on holiday at the moment, but I was good and prepped this blog before I left, though now I see that it never got posted automatically when I wanted it to. Hello Blogger - whatsup? Anyhoo, with the magic of the internet, here it is!

While I was packing and sorting and organising, stressing a little, then organising some more, as you do before you go away, I managed to tidy up my jewellery collection (I had super hero powers one afternoon), so it is worth showing you now while it is looking nice!

I have learnt to manage my china jewellery obsession.

My favourites are these one colour flowers, as opposed to posy's of flowers (which I still love, but can now walk away from if I have to)

My "dressing table" is the most ingenious ever, and it was here when we moved in. I think it might have been used as a computer cupboard, in that it is a converted wardrobe, with a wide table height shelf a bright light above, and a higher, narrower shelf that holds my old mirror perfectly.

I can shut the doors on all the mess and my perfume bottles are kept well away from sunlight (which makes them go off). I have drawers under the big shelf for curlers, hair flowers and girlie junk, and there is two plugs for hot rollers/hair dryers. Heaven!
I call it my "Shrine". Tee hee.

A Electrical wire broach, typical of wartime jewellery

In order to sort my jewellery collection, I have 4 small pin boards pinned around the walls of my shrine. They are arranged approximately by colour which makes it easy to choose what I want. I also put away ones that are "out of season" in some way - such as shell earrings, pineapples and anchors after summer is over.

Here are some of my favourites...

The poor wee scottie dog has gone through the wash by mistake...Twice! Sorry little guy!

A bit of bling from the 50s.

The "Peggy Sues Panthers" tiny trophy thing always makes me smile, I wonder if it was given out as a prize, or if you joined a dancing club. I am sure it was treasured.

You can see I am not limited to only vintage pieces. That ring on the right I picked up from a street vendor in NY and I love it as much as my 50s opal on the left (a car boot fair scoop!). Each piece as a story to tell, how I came across it, who I was with, or who gave it to me, which seems appropriate for any kind of jewellery, modern or old.
Maybe when I am old myself I will write notes to go with them such as "bought on holiday in LA" or "lost and found these earrings three times" or "do not machine wash!", so the next owner can know a little more about their history, and know that they were treasured in their second life with me.

Off on Heyday Holidays

2010-10-15T16:24:00.003+01:00

I am really excited over here, Mr Wolf has organised a trip to Egypt for us! Aren't I lucky?
I am sure you know that we have had so many events and have been working really hard for a lot of weeks on end. This is our first chance to get away and Egypt is on my bucket list of things to do and see. Now I am working like a honey bee because we leave on Wednesday! Eeeck!

Book available on Amazon

We have a week on a cruise and a week in a hotel - Eeeee! I haven't cruised before either - how STYLISH. I will be lapping up every moment,and probably not sleeping much for over excitement.

Apparently the shopping out there is pretty good - though of course not for vintage wear, so I am not sure there will be much for me. Has anyone been before? Any tips?

I have to tell you something a bit funny. It is of course, the Pyamids that are highest on our priority list. Normally when booking anything Mr Wolf and I fuss and fuss about dates and researching our destination, sometimes then missing a deal, or getting to a stalemate of indecision and not going. This time we just went online and did it - and so chuffed with ourselves we were!

Then we realised we were going to Luxor... and the Pyamids are in Cairo! NOoooo! And it is not like they are close! So, we will probably get a day trip to go and see them anyway.

It will be a LONG day trip, but better than not seeing them at all.

Since I knew that crocodiles lived on the Nile, and that we were cruising the Nile, I got a wee bit freaked about crocodiles swimming underneath the boat while I was asleep. Never mind when I was awake, it was the sleuth like steath of a croc while I was un-awares that scared me...

Until Mr Wolf checked out the croc stats, and found they have all been moved on when the dam was built. Now I am disappointed I won't see ANY! (Honestly, there is no pleasing some people!)

Now gorgeous Lovelies, I need to pack to be cool, and respectful of the culture, and lightweight of course. Being a vintage gal seems to be an advantage as all my dresses and skirts reach to below the knee, and I have lots of sleeved options too. While I might not risk taking too much favourite vintage, even look-a-like Repro items have these features.

I will be hemming a pair of my own design beige trousers (above) to take because of their lightweight viscose content, and one of the cotton Olivia blouses will come too, along with at least one high-street peasant blouse

this one from here

I am wondering if I risk taking a couple of vintage favourites, one rayon and one moygashel linen dress? They are lovely and cool and I can hand wash them anyway. A vintage swimsuit and possibly a playsuit are also on the list (for in the hotel complex of course). And I will be taking my Fleur wrap dress too.

Speaking of the wrap dress, you may be wondering what will happen with my give-away, as the finish date is while I am away? Well, the talented AND gorgeous Fleur, the dress's own namesake, is going to manage the selection and posting of the prize. Thank you dear Fleur!

I am so thrilled that I am now nearing 200 followers! Yikes! Does this mean I need to do another give away? Oh no point asking you lot, you will just say yes won't you?

100 followers give away!

2010-10-13T13:21:00.005+01:00

Wowee - you guys are great! Not just 100 followers, but now I am at 106! Welcome new Heydayees and thank you so much for hanging out here in Blogland with me. I am really enjoying meeting you all and have many topics up my sleeve to yabber on about. I hope you enjoy the journey!

I have been pretty excited about running my first give-away - Weeee! You can tell that I am the kind of girl who likes presents - giving as much as receiving, so offering something to the world of Blog is pretty exciting to me.

Anyhoo, without further ado, to celebrate more than 100 followers, I have a Fleur dress up for grabs!

The gorgeous and lovely Fleur (whom I am sure doesn't need any introduction) collaborated with me to create this easy wrap dress. We incorporated all the things we want in a dress ourselves, sweet bows, matching button detail and pockets - YES pockets!

The dress comes in sizes from XS (about a 6) to XL (about a 20), and will be posted out to the winner after a confirmation of your measurements.

The competition rules are straight forward and offer three chances to get involved...

For one entry, leave me a comment below.
For another entry, you can retweet my give away.
For a third entry, post about the giveaway on your own blog! Three chances! Whooopee!

Please take careful note that each time you enter you must leave a separate comment. Don't leave me one comment saying you've done all three things, as it will only be counted once! If you commenting to say you've retweeted or blogged, please post the link.
The competition will close on Friday 29th October 2010 at Midnight BST

Good luck everyone!

Info bit:
The Shoes are from Rocket Originals
The fabulous Tony Nylons took the shots
Fleur is riding her own bicycle
And we are at the back of a lovely friends garden - Thanks Jenny and Barry!

In The Heyday

Springing up with Daisies

And the St. Patrick's day winner is...

St Patrick's Day Giveaway!!

In Search of Charm - Stoles

Earring Stash

More coat pics and a handy tip

Beaded Bag and other stuff

Ric Rac Club sillyness

The Fitzrovia Radio Hour

Style me Vintage!

Too late for Christmas

Snow! Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow!

Hat fixings

Orienteering - not the sporty kind

ZOMG by Rockalily

Bag Lady

Pops of colour

Recent Purchases

Hat Hair

Resolutions... with cats

And the winner is.....

2011 Christmas gift voucher give away!

This is me

My most beloved vintage possession

The last time I saw Paris

Autumn arrives with a thud

Me Tarzan, you Jane

Whoop-sie Daisy!

Daisy Chain Fleur dress WINNER!

Butterfly dress

Daisy Chain Fleur dress GIVEAWAY!

Jukebox Jive Show 2011

Jukebox Jive Show and outfit post

Bling Bits and Dancing

Rocket Girl

I'm back, with Shoes

New glasses from Dead Man's Spex

Daffodils and Dresses

I fell off the treadmill

Do you get it wrong sometimes?

Just some bows on shoes

Vintage adventures in the Isle of Wight

6 years and counting

Lovely things found at Stoneleigh

Talented ladies of the vintage world part 1

Oh No it's NOT! Winner announced!

Get your bets on **Quick Competition**

Sale Starts Thursday!

Happy shoes

Happy New Year and Christmas recyling

T'was the night before Christmas...

Adventures at Ninas Hair Parlour

And the winner is...

The Hokey Cokey is what it's all about

Not your normal Christmas Giveaway.

Frock Porn

Period homes and Gardens

Gift Idea - Kitten Calendars

Bloomsbury Lanes

Back from the Nile

And the lucky Fleur winner is...

Close of Competition

Pin up Jewellery

Off on Heyday Holidays

100 followers give away!

Get your bets on Quick Competition