We slip through the streets while everyone sleeps

This is what I wore last Saturday night for a meal out with friends

A spot o' leopard print

OK, that's not all I wore, but the photos were such pants quality that I cropped them specifically to get the new hosiery in there

I do love tights!

Victorian style dress (unseen) and tights - Ebay

Shoes - Office
 

I've accumulated a few new (and old) things lately:-
 

These 2 vintage bags and peg bag were in the 3 items for £1 section of one of my favourite local chazzas

Miscellaneous bowls, plates and eggcups £1.50

My sister bought me these books from one of her local old lady charity shops, don't you just love those.  One of them had a 50p sticker on - up yours Barnardos!

1970's tablecloth - £2

Scored this set of 4 Babycham glasses in a British Heart Foundation furniture shop.  They were originally priced up at £3 each but when I checked, the woman said I could have them for £3 for the set, woo hoo!

Vintage Ladybird books 70p each

1977 Disney hardback - 20p

Harking back to my last post check out these sparkling beauties

Ruby slippers with t-bars!  Unfortunately not in my size but they will be perfect for the Little Miss.  They are H&M overstock so still brand shiny new.  Come on high street, get it together and make these in adult sizes you muppets

Now, this is one of my favourites new purchases.  A cute little Fidelity record player in perfect working order

Isn't it the cutest?

Only thing is since it's been such a long time since I've owned a record player I've kind've lost all my vinyl.  It was quite the eclectic collection too.  Everything from Marlene Dietrich to my beloved Cure and Sisters of Mercy, Bananarama to Roxy Music.  Dammit, I'm kicking myself now.  Nevermind, I've been contenting myself by listening to The Inkspots - my one and only piece of vinyl :(

This was the most expensive of all the purchases at £18, but I negotiated it down from £25 like a dynamite hostage taker!

I just love a bargain.  Can you tell?  The only time I mention what I paid for stuff is when I'm especially proud of it's cheapness!:D

Thought I'd link up with Lakota to show off!

And just because they make me happy, here are The Cure

Lucy xx

Just follow your eyes

Hello my friends.  It's been a little while.  How thee fettlin'?

These are some pics of me from last month getting down and dirty in the back alley with my new haircut and glasses

Yes I finally have a prescription for glasses, and just look how pleased with myself I look

Coat, blouse and tights - high street (Next, I think)

Skirt & vanity case used as handbag - Charity shop

Boots - Ebay

 I have wanted glasses for ever but I have never felt inclined to wear them just for fashion purposes.  To me that is the equivalent of wearing the t-shirt of a band you've never heard of just because they have a cool logo, ugh! (Yes all you teenage Ramones 'fans', I'm looking at you!)

Anyway, years of working with computers finally took it's toll and I was delighted to set about searching the interweb for glasses inspiration, which I found in the form of:-

1. Velma, 2. Enid Coleslaw, 3. Random 50's chick, 4. My stalkee style crush Emily, 5. Janeane Garofalo, 6.  The West Wing's Amy Gardner aka Mary Louise Parker

...and many others

So what's been happening?

I've had a wonderful break from work including many a duvet day, much needed time with family, time with friends featuring whiskey, home cooked food and flowing badinage, house clearing, and general lazing about.

We went walking in the forest looking for signs of the Gruffalo




and found a giant mosquito!

My gorgeous Mr N did some baking...

Yes, they were all as good as they look, although the lemon sponge cake was the pièces de résistance

I finally spent some time posting random stuff on my Tumblr page which I created and then left dormant for months.  I really enjoyed the anonymity of blogging into the ether. 

And although pickings have been relatively slim at the charity shops of late (which I blame on the time of year) I have managed to find a few pretties

 Boxed lace hankerchiefs and cute kids musical jewellery box

Orphaned china plates 50p each

Cute vintage kid framed pics & colourful tealight holders

Botanical print pic and vintage pinnie made for someone with a tiny waist!

It's nice to be back.  I've missed my little blog.

How is everybody?

Lucy x

What's a girl to do?

Indeed, what is a girl to do on a bad bad hair and make up day?  You know when you just can't be bothered with your appearance for love nor money?

You sweep your greasy hair off your face, pull on your favourite boots and try to distract attention away from your pasty, make-up free face with jewellery and... hair.  It doesn't always work so well.  But it didn't matter.  These pics were taken after a fabulous morning spent with Mr N followed by a charity shop crawl and a lovely lunch

Dress - Two Squirrels Vintage

Boots & satchel - Ebay

Coat, cardi, tights & brooch - high street

Pendant - Groupon

I promised to show some of my Lake District charity shop finds and I'm nothing if not predictable reliable so here you go.  I've been meaning to do a thrifted finds post for ages now as I have found rather a lot of treasures recently, so I've incorporated all my recent finds into one rather epic post and here they are:-

I fell in love with this picture.  It reminded me of the illustrations in one of my favourite fairytale books when I was a kid

 

To be honest, this post has a been a work-in-progress for a couple of months now.  I have found so much stuff that by the time I've gotten around to photographing it, I've bought more.  Then I forget which stuff is new.  I have bought loads more since these pics were taken!

Which leads me to ponder the thorny issue of selling vintage.  Something I've been thinking about for a while now, as I've slowly but surely seen my collection growing around me and gradually taking over my house.  I've been selling stuff on Ebay for years but have never thought of it as a potential second income.

So, what do you reckon:-

Is it worth selling vintage, even for pocket money?

Online or at fairs?

Ebay or Etsy?

Pro's? Cons? Tips?

Any pearls of wisdom you lovely people could dispense in my direction would be much appreciated!

Have a great week

xxx

Thursday, I don't care about you

I hate Thursdays.  I'm not sure why.  My working week is over.  I have some time to myself.  But somehow the messy house, the many pressing tasks, the even more numerous less pressing tasks, and the empty, grey hours seem to sit on my chest like a seemingly cute, but very heavy, sadistic kitten.  I end up just wanting to get out.  

Usually, I end up going charity shopping.  

I have precisely 10 charity shops all within a 5 minute walk from my house.  I know, temptation, much?

Today I can't go out.  I can't even curl up in a cocoon of sleep.  I'm waiting for 2 parcel collections and a delivery

This is me exactly one week ago.  Last Thursday. Lazing around a tidy (for once) house in a comfy vintage dress and charity shop cardigan.  The sun was shining but there was a nip in the air and life seemed quite come-day-go-day in a reassuring kind of way.  Not a typical Thursday.

Still, customarily, I went charity shopping.

I bought these

1. Catherine Holm (I think) stock pot - £4  2.  More children's books - free   3.  Pink pyrex - 50p   4.  Chintzy tea plate - 99p

 I was ostensibly out looking for chintzy china plates for a forthcoming family wedding with a vintage cream tea theme.  The manager of the local hospice shop, who obviously knows my face well, let me have a rummage in the boxes of unsorted bric-a-brac donations in the back to see if I could find what I was looking for.  And oh my, I did!  Nothing wedding related, just a few me-treasures!

She let me have the books for free and the other stuff for 50p each.  Apart from the stock pot for which I was more than happy to hand over the £4 she would have charged for it.

I bought this book in another shop for 50p

A 1967 Purnell edition of Hansel & Gretel with illustrations that look sweet at first glance but become creepier everytime you look at them

I want a house made of sweets

Today if I went out, I would need wellies and a waterproof.  So, instead I sit here typing this, listening to the CD kawaii queen Clare made for me

It has brought several smiles to my face on this grey day.  To say I love it would be an understatement.  Clare, you get me!

Go on, ask her to send you a copy, you need it in your life.

Maybe this homemade white chocolate cheesecake will help too

Maybe?

Hope you are all enjoying your Thursdays

Lucy x