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Showing posts with label dancing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dancing. Show all posts

Thursday, 20 February 2014

What Success feels like - and a dress

Thank you so much to those that commented and sent their support after last weeks post. I really appreciated the feedback. I think it is good to say "things are difficult for me right now" so that other people also realise that life is not a Coke ad for anyone, even people in bloggerspace. 

Mr Heyday and I are really self sufficient emotionally, having been through a lot together. This recent house buying mission and dealing with our lousy solicitor really did me in though. When the person who is supposed to be helping you doesn't return calls or emails, and doesn't do the paperwork she needs to do in a timely fashion and then lies about it, blaming everyone from the agent to the vendors, their solicitors, the vendors vendors, our lenders, even her email system ("Really, down for SEVEN days? You don't say! What decade is it again?"). The saga was ridiculous and we were powerless - sort of like an abusive relationship, once you realise, you've already waded into the deep end and your swim wings are a long way away.

The agent kinda gave up at one stage and developed a special laugh instead - poor guy. Shall I name and shame her once it is all done? I'm very tempted. We will definitely be talking to the ombudsman and leaving some truthful reviews online to save anyone else the stress we have gone through.

Anyway, on Friday, we finally had a break-through and exchanged on the house. This felt like passing the finish line of a marathon. I was so thrilled, pleased and excited I could hardly talk straight! We took some champagne to dancing to celebrate with and we I got a bit tipsy and quickly became a menace on the dance floor. A menace that just didn't care anymore... "Hi, would you like to dance? Only, I might be hard to steer right now".  Hats off to the brave leads that just laughed and carried on.

Valentines dress made from an Anne Adams pattern
I wore a dress that I made last year for Valentines and then didn't wear, so it is the sewing version of "one I made earlier". It is entirely made from The Stash so didn't cost anything* either. 

I omitted the back tie, because they always seem little girly for someone with boobs as big as mine, and they hide the curve of the lower back.
LOVE the old envelopes that patterns were sent in, but the lack of a date on the stamp is infuriating
I made the pockets bigger because they were a silly kind of small but kept their original shape, since it is, you know, vintage and one wants to be authentic. But I wish I had changed that too, as they are hearts gone wrong and for no good reason except for someone made them that way 70 years ago. 

Easy up do
I was very happy with it, although found at the end of the night that my petticoat had inched its way up and was wrapped around my hips. I must have looked all kinds of odd.
a close up of the print aka my bottom. That is what happens when Hubby is a bit bored and waiting to take pictures. I nearly didn't include it, but hey, you might as well know what mischief I put up with
All up, it has been a good week and by the end of today we will have the KEYS TO OUR OWN HOUSE! 
Moving tips and ideas all welcome!

Shona x


*except it's initial cost plus storage for 3..4... maybe 8 years


Monday, 17 October 2011

Bling Bits and Dancing

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?

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

Welcome to In The Heyday!

Well hello there!

Now I've 'caught' your attention, let me introduce myself!

This is the first (test) post in a blog all about the busy life of myself, Shona Van Beers, vintage aficionado, balboa enthusiast and designer of Heyday! Vintage Reproduction. Do subscribe and pop by regularly to find lots of pictures and stories.

Bye for now!

Shona

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