a new dress that made me smile!

Today I bought a lovely dress.

It was £20 in the sale at Monsoon! 

It is lovely and a bargain and although LSP thinks I look like a school teacher!!!! I love it. 

I could do with losing a few inches as it is a bit tight, I can wear it unbuttoned and it looks fine as it has an underdress, but I do need to lose my cheese board (I have eaten a lot of cheese and its gone straight to my tummy) 

We have a day at the races planned so it might be handy for that (I happen to have a handbag and hat that will go well) 

it is in a lovely vintage style so will do nicely for tea parties and vintage events.  

last night I chose 3 of my friends to be the first recipients for 1st tea party, its not till next month so I have lots of time to prepare and decide upon what I am going to serve. 

I am also planning my 2nd....to include lots more of my friends......

i am looking forward to it. last year we did a bbq in the summer. I was not 100% happy with it as I spend so much time fussing about the food, I do not have chance to spend as much time with my pals. 

Tea parties are much more civilised. 

Museum of Shops.

If you ever find yourself in Eastbourne make sure you visit the museum of shops. (this is not a sponsored blog I just liked it so much I had to share it with everyone)


The Museum has over 100,000 exhibits displayed on FOUR floors of authentic shops, room-settings and with various displays covering 100 years of shopping and social history. 


here are some highlights....

I could have spent hours in there. There was so much to see. I loved the things I could remember for my childhood, the things I had seen in old photo's from my parents and grandparents houses as well as stuff that was stuck at the back of my mum's cupboard! 

I loved some of the make do and mend items such as the Pot mender's. 

Could you imagine using your cooking pots for years and then when it develops a hole nipping down to the hardware store and getting some pot menders.

when was the last time you darned a sock? 

What was also amazing was listening. I listened to the older people who were reminiscing about things that they had and had used. I could have spent the day there! So if you find yourself at a loose end and want to spend an hour or two then get yourself down there. Its the best £5 you can spend!

Good friends and give-away's.

Today I was back up to the doctor again... I will now not be back at work till the 26th April! I am looking forward to going back. I miss my workmates a lot!!!  

I have a lovely friend who lives near my doctor and she invited me for a cup of tea following my appointment. 
She is a lovely person whom we have known for years and although we communicate often (through the magic that is facebook) we do not get together very often. 


As well as being a wonderfully warm and lovely woman she also has exquisite taste and does not find it odd that I ask to take photo's of her house while we are having tea. 

 The next 3 images are the wrong way round, I cannot get them to rotate no matter what I do so you will have  to turn your head (or your screen)  to appreciate them. She has a lovely home and is a lovely friend. 

 I have been having problems with blogger in the past week. Blogs not appearing in Dashboard. 

Yesterday's blog feathers-and-flowers did not appear in dashboard despite trying to republish! 

Ok so now to the give-away!!

This is post number 100!!!! 

So I thought I would mark it with a small give-away. 

I searched through my fabric box and found one of my vintage pillow cases. It is a lovely soft fabric and is a bit faded through regular washing over the year's. 

It would be wonderful for bag's, quilting, dressmaking (small) or even as a pillowcase on a single bed! 

(I will iron it before dispatch)

It will be a random draw that I will draw on Friday 22nd April. As it is small and light I am willing to post overseas. 

In order to be eligible for the draw all you need to do is be a follower and write a comment outlining what you would like to use the pillowcase for. Good Luck!

Putting on the Ritz....

Wow what a birthday!

My LSP (long suffering partner) had bought me a voucher for tea at the Ritz for Valentines last year. However we had not been able to book it in until now.

So on the eve of my birthday, we took the train to London.

I had needed to do a quick change in the work loo's (how glam), I had a lovely vintage style dress in blue velvet, with a proper vintage black hat resplendent with hatpin!

This was worn under my black woollen cape and blue clutch bag!!

I had been so excited everyone knew where we were going.

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It was everything I was expecting and more, the food was lovely, the service impeccable and the surroundings exquisite. I hope I looked the part.

It was one of the most amazing experiences I have had. ..........I will cherish the memory forever, Thank you LSP.

Ladies Mantle

Although our house is pretty much a work in progress.... One area that is complete (nearly) is the main bedroom.

I love the fireplace including its mantle...... It is the girliest place in the house ...

I adore flowers especially Roses, what else can you fill a fireplace with.

Across the Mantle, we have some special treats.

oops  need to polish the mirror!
I love the mix of old and new. My bottles of perfume, tealight holders which look amazing in the dark, vase for my pins and brushes, vintage rose prints and postcard and a lovely old box...

The box is handmade to look like a row of tiny books, inside it contains my makeup!! (and a secret compartment)

A wonderful surprise was the print of the roses, it was in a frame that my daughter bought for £1, she only needed the frame and gave me the prints.

The vintage postcard is of Godshill on the Isle of Wight and is 100 years old and was a fab Christmas pressie.

Currently this is my favourite part of the house!!!

Hats On!!

Hats are wonderful things, I love them in summer and winter and would love to wear one all of the time.

I always wear a hat to church.

I wished it was still commonplace for people to wear hats all the time.

However the choice now is very limited, there are a very limited amount of styles. All formal hats and facinators are very showy ( I should know I have worn some outrageous ones).

I have a stock rotation of 3 winter baker boy hats with some good old wolly ones for out on walks.

In the summer I have trilby hats, fishing hats and straw hats.

However following a trip to a recent antiques market I discovered a liking for 40's and 50's styles, especially the small half bonnets and caplets.

So for my next hats I have decided to look back. I am off to a wedding in the spring and so looked to eBay.

I had forgotten how addictive it is, just the urge to go a little bit higher and another little bit and before you know it the budget has gone....

I missed out on a few nice one's but am now the proud owner of a vintage green hat!

I just need to add the dress, bag, shoes and gloves!!