Besame Red Velvet lipstick review

Now, this isn't something I would normally do, and I'm not about to make a habbit of it but I'm so smitten with this lipstick that I just had to share it!

For a number of years, I've been an admirer of Besame lipsticks.  I've seen many a "1940's" lady looking stunning in one of the 6 vintage inspired shades.

I'd seen them online, had thought hard about which colour would suit me, got as far as putting one in my virtual basket before backing out at the last minute was!!  The problem was, I could never be sure of the exact shade.  Monitors show colours differently and matching a red to my skin tone via a computer screen proved too taxing for my brain!   Online shopping is brilliant and I use it a lot, as Mr Postie would agree!  :o)  but there are times when you actually need to see the item in the flesh, so to speak, before you know whether it will be right for you.   

We went into Ipswich yesterday for Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair.  The fair didn't really have my kind of vintage, primarily it was 1970's and 1980's attire.  However, what they did have, which was right up my alley, was Vintage Hair Lounge with their pop up make-up and hair stand and range of Besame cosmetics!

I instantly recognised the two ladies from their appearance on Wartime Farm.  If you spot them about anywhere, I cannot recommend them highly enough.  They were chatty and friendly and gave us plenty of time, even though there were lots of other people at their stand. 

For £15 you could have your hair done in a vintage style or for free, yes FREE!, they would apply your chosen shade of Besame lipstick so you could really tell what it was like.  There was no hard sell to make you feel that you then had to buy a lipstick, but or course I did :o)

The shade I went for isn't your classic, bright 1940's red but the more subtle Red Velvet which is described as a deep, rich red, great for everyday, neutral and not too bright.  The lipstick holder is so pretty and the outside packing is rather lovely too!  Each shade featured a different vintage lovely on the wrapping.


Cherries on Snow Yankee Candle that I also
bought yesterday :o)  Smells good enough to eat!

I've tried and tested lots of reds, my current one, is a bright red from Loreal called True Red.  I like it, but it doesn't really like me.  It's a bit too bright and I'm not overly keen on the staying power, or the texture for that matter.  It's less pigmented than the Besame one so takes a bit of building up.  The Besame one is amazing.  It is so creamy, easy to apply and has amazing staying power.  Here are the two colours on the back of my hand so you can see the difference.
  

Besame Red Velvet on the bottom, Loreal True Red on the top!

At £22, it's not the cheapest of lipsticks, in fact, Mr Y thinks is way too expensive, but because the shade is beautiful and because of the wonderful quality, I think it was value for money.  However, if you are going to buy one, I really would recommend that you try it first, if possible.  If you get it and end up not liking the shade on you, it's a lot of money to waste.

Fear not, normal knitting blog service will be resumed shortly as I have some amazing patterns I want to share with you! :o)

Cardigan, Cupcakes and Christmas!!

Three little things to share with you this evening before I pick up the needles.

Cardigan

First up is a cardigan that I knitted for the beautiful daughter of a very good friend of mine.  I actually knitted it in April and have wanted to post about it but, like so many things, just hadn't got round to it, until now! 

It is the first baby garment I have ever knitted.  Despite having 2 girls of my own, I'm ashamed to admit that I never knitted them anything when they were tiny.  I didn't actually learn to knit until I was expecting my second daughter, 5 years ago, and I just never got round to making them anything, which I really regret now.

For this one, I didn't use baby wool because I wanted a more subtle, vintage pink and instead opted for Stylecraft 4 ply in pale rose.  It's a really sort yarn and lovely to work with.

The pattern is very easy, it honestly is.  The main body of the cardigan is knitted in "feather and fan" stitch, which I've used lots of times before.  The pattern is based on 4 rows.  1 is a pattern row of simple increasing and decreasing, the rest are stocking stitch.  It's the increasing and decreasing on that first row that gives it the scalloped effect at the bottom.  It has raglan sleeves which made putting it together very easy - no extra sleeve fullness to fit in! 

As you would expect, I went for a vintage pattern which is either from the 1940's or 1950's.  Sorry to be vague but baby patterns are very hard to date!  If you can enlighten me further as to the correct date, or have any tips on how to date these patterns, please let me know :o)

The only thing I found a bit tricky was the section for the ribbon to thread through.  I didn't read the pattern properly so they weren't evenly spaced but I got there on the second attempt and think it looks very sweet. 

Although it's not that clear from the photographs, the cardigan was meant to have a ribbon tie at the chest and the neck but I changed the neck one so it was fastened with a popper, very, very securely stitched on.  Personally, I felt that the double bow was a little too fussy.

I haven't worked out how to link the pattern so you can print it, but if you have a special little person to knit for and would like a copy, just send me an email and I will get it over to you :o)

Cupcakes

After a busy morning of work, I let the girls join me in a spot of baking!  They really love to bake and today made vanilla cupcakes. 

When it comes to cake decorating, I must confess that I'm a bit of a control freak.  I like things to be "just so", icing to be smooth and perfect and so on.  When the girls get involved, I try and close my ears to the hundreds and thousands hitting the floor and resist the urge to limit them to say, 10 decorations per cake!  To them, less is most definitely not more.  They are at the wonderful, innocent age where a bit (or a lot in some cases) of everything on the cake makes it very personally theirs.  

Today, I handed over the decorations, stepped away from the table and gave them free reign to do as they wanted.  They certainly took me at my word and created these sugary mountains! 

I think they consumed as many sweets as they used, although littlest Y swears she only had "5, or maybe 6 Mummy" !!! 

My Y, having done the fatherly duty of eating a cake made by each of them, is currently suffering from a little too much sugar! 

Last up..........

Christmas

Is it too early to say the word?  Well, when you consider that many of the shops have been sneakily stocking up on cards and wrapping paper since late August I think it's safe to give it a little mention :o)

I've signed up to the festive swap which is being organised by Lakota over at Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping.  I'm also linking this post into her Ta-Dah Tuesday post :o)

I took part in the Jubilee swap which Lakota organised and it was really good fun which is why I've signed up to this one too.  If you fancy spreading some festive cheer, why not pop on over to Lakota's post and take a little look at what it's all about :o)

Autumn is in the air!

Well, Autumn has certainly arrived and I love it!!

There's a nip in the air first thing in the morning and a wonderful, earthy smell which, to me, signifies the autumn.  I love this season and the way the landscape slowly changes from lush greens to rusty reds with an almost golden sunlight.

We took full advantage of the bright golden sunshine yesterday and headed to Needham Lake.  On a quite day, like yesterday, it's a very tranquil place.  People fishing or taking a walk through the trees in the dappled sunlight.  The leaves here have just started to turn to beautiful shades of rust, red, brown and orange.  Some had even fallen and we were able to walk on a crunchy, crispy, autumnal carpet of colour. 

We love it here and spent a happy time watching the ducks and geese before collecting some conkers.  Conkers, in our neck of the woods, have been in somewhat short supply.  I don't know whether it was the appalling spring we had which knocked off the blossom or whether it has simply not been a good growing season.  Whatever the reason, the girls were very happy to find a lone horse chestnut tree bearing these excellent specimens.

At 4 and 6, with good aim not yet being a skill they have honed, I think playing conkers is a little beyond them and so tomorrow, with the help of some sewing pins, glue and sequins, they'll be making conker monsters.  

I remember playing conkers while waiting for the school bus and being so proud to defeat my opponent.  It was serious stuff and we would soak out conkers in vinegar (I don't know why) while others favoured drying theirs in the oven.  I'd take my foursy (a conker that has smashed 4 other conkers to pieces) on the bus proud as punch, only to have it splintered into pieces by someone else's monster at morning break.  I was a horrible younger sister when I played conkers with my brother and would purposefully take aim at his knuckles - how mean was I?! 



This morning, we awoke to thick mist/fog (I'm never sure which is which!), the first of this new season.  Tucked up by the warm radiator, (npower will love me!!) I watched the girls play in the garden, their feet soaked from the dewy grass.  Mr Y has a very busy time coming up at work so has spent the entire day working, but I don't mind.  An enforced day at home with nothing to do has finally given me the chance to start cataloguing some of my knitting patterns. 

I started with the biggest number in my collection - my much adored Stitchcraft magazines.  These are the ones I always turn to first when I want to try a new pattern and simply marvel and the beautiful colour wools they had.  Here are some of my collection.

These magazines have proved an invaluable source for exceptional knitting patterns.  They contain a wealth of information and are, therefore, incredibly sort after.  A quick search on eBay and you'll see what I mean with early examples reaching over £10 a piece. 

There are quite a few gaps in my collection, mostly from 1939 backwards.  I have made a list of the ones that I'm missing and have been very efficient as it is now pinned it up in the kitchen (hoping Mr Y will take note) and a copy is also in my journal so I can, hopefully, fill in the gaps :o)

On the knitting front, things are moving along nicely.  This is what I'm currently working on.

It's a cardigan which is being knitted in a charming shade called petrol from the King Cole range.  It's very pretty and I'm on the penultimate piece!  Oh, the spider??  Well, that's one of Cadbury's Halloween treats.  Clever Cadbury's, always thinking of something new to snare people like me! :o)  I shall be devouring it with it's green crispy middle later on this evening while I watch Downton Abbey! :o)

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend too!

Needlewoman & Needlecraft Issue 1 - the kindness of a stranger

Just a very quick post about something which recently made me smile :o)

If you have been following my blog for a while, you may have seen the post about my collection of Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazines. 

These magazines are a wonderful source of amazing knitting patterns and the early wartime editions are becoming incredibly hard to find.  I've been on the search for a copy of the illusive first edition for a number of years.  It's been very much a needle in a haystack sort of search, hoping that one might turn up on eBay or at a vintage fair!  Frustratingly, I had been unsuccessful..........until now!!!! 

Delivered last week, and now taking pride of place in my Needlewoman and Needlecraft collection, is...........

This wonderful first issue, in amazing condition, came to me as a gift.  What makes the gift even more special is that it came from a perfect stranger! 

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted out of the blue by a lovely lady who had seen my blog.  She and her husband had been sorting through a relative's effects and had come across some knitting magazines, including issue 1 of Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazine.  While searching online to find out more about the items they had found, they stumbled across my post on the Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazine.  Seeing that I didn't have issue 1 they decided to give me the copy they had found!  I couldn't quite believe it and was so incredibly touched and honoured.

The magazine is even better than I could have imagined.  It is a wonderful first edition packed full of ideas for home items and clothing.  It has a very charming introduction, written by the Principal of the Royal School of Needlework at the time, a Lady Smith-Dorrien, D.B.E, she wrote;

"At a time when all forms of needlework are at once a pleasure, a solace and a service, I welcome the new journal and wish it the success it deserves".

The magazine features patterns for the men and women folk who were "doing their bit" with jumpers which had been specially designed so that they would not show under tunics.

A charming pair of woolies for spring - just look at the matching posies!  I have added the two-tone purple jumper to my "to knit" list, a list which is somewhat long! :o)

Crests of H.M Services - I'm not sure which I like better, the crests so beautifully embroidered or the line drawings at the top of the page featuring, I think, Buckingham Palace and a plane.  A Blenheim perhaps?

The magazine is simply excellent and a very welcome addition to my collection.  It's a wonderful piece of history and, like so many publications of the time, gives us a small glimpse into what life was like for the 1940's woman.  

I am incredibly touched, honoured and amazed that someone, who doesn't know me and lives a considerable distance away could do something so kind and generous.  It has definitely restored my faith in human kindness! 

To the couple who gave it to me, if you happen to be reading this - thank you once again, it will be safe with me :o)

Wimpole At War

Well, we're home, and what a brilliant weekend we had.  We spent it under (rather wet!) canvas at Wimpole Hall for their "Wimpole at War" event. 

Wimpole Hall is a beautiful National Trust property which is worth a visit at any time.  It was taken over by the National Trust in 1976 after the owner, Elsie Bambridge, daughter of Jungle Book writer, Rudyard Kipling, died.  The house is vast and beautiful and the gardens are impressive.  This is a picture of the house first thing on Saturday morning.  The blue sky is deceptive because it was a lot colder than it looks!!

Once a year, they turn the clock back 70 years and the grounds are "invaded" by re-enactors for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend of wartime fun. 

To be fair, the house was a bit of a disappointment from a 1940's perspective.  There were a few "rations" on the breakfast table, a couple of gramophones, a few period knitting patterns and some USAAF boots and a jacket but there was so much more they could have done and it was a shame they didn't embrace the era. 

However, outside was a very different affair.  There was 1940's music, the Suffolk Home Guard, the NFS, the Ministry of Food, a pair of Spitfires, a good helping of Woolton pie and so much more!  All enjoyed with friends old and new :o) 

Love those giant containers!

There was a dinner and dance on the Saturday night and, to celebrate their 33rd wedding anniversary, my parents went along.  They enjoyed a welcome warming meal of sausage, mash and red onion gravy (Woolton pie for Mum), followed by fruit crumble!  Too cold to dress in their best, so overcoats were the order of the day.


Slightly "rabbit in headlight" look going on!  Think it was the camera flash :o)

On the purchasing front, there were more stalls this year and I came away with a green Tala biscuit tin (never can resist green!), some tasty National Trust biscuits to go in it (not sure they'll last that long!!), a Kangol CC41 beret bought by my Dad for C, some more knitting patterns (you can never have enough!) and "The Kitchen Front" cookery book from 1942 which was only 50p because it didn't have the front cover! 

The weather let us down on Sunday big time.  It rained so hard that our tent leaked and we had to pack up early!  There is now a van to unload and a tent to dry out.  Wimpole is our last 1940's event of 2012 - I'm already looking forward to next year! :o)

1940's Hollywood dress pattern in Clydella fabric

Well, I've only been and gone and made another dress!! 

This one has been weeks in the making and to finally get the last stitches done and it photographed on "Doris" is a huge relief. 

Two years ago (time flies!) I bought a piece of fabric which was labelled up as Viyella.  Having worked with Viyella before and really liking the finish, I picked up the 3 meters for a reasonable £17.50.  It's a soft yellow colour with a small design of 1cm which is cream and brown.  The fabric had sat in my stash for months until June (told you it had been months in the making) when I finally found a pattern to go with it. 

1943 Hollywood pattern.

When I came to unwrap the fabric, I found that there was an original label on it that I'd not seen before (teach me to look properly at what I buy won't it?!) and instead of Viyella, I actually had a piece of Clydella.  If you look it up online, you might think that Clydella is Viyella's poorer quality relative.  Viyella has a 55% merino, 45% cotton content whereas Clydella is 81% cotton, thus making it cheaper and less "cosy".  The fabric was actually lovely to work with.  It didn't fray too badly or slip about, is strong and durable yet is soft and hangs really nicely so Clydella gets a thumbs up from me! 

The dress wasn't the easiest.  The instructions weren't exactly detailed and in two places just simply didn't make sense!! 

The dress has 7 buttons running down the back.  Where the buttons end and the two pieces of fabric get sewn together for form the skirt just didn't fit.  If I put the buttons where the tacks were then there simply wasn't enough fabric to cover ones modesty!  I stitched it as per the pattern, unpicked it and hand stitched it again, unpicked that and then, in desperation, decided to ignore the pattern and make the thing fit the only way it would which meant adjusting the seams.  I got there in the end and am very happy with the way it turned out.

Fitting of the pockets was also not easy as I kept getting the ric rac caught!  In fairness, I think it was far more to do with my inexperience at such things than the pattern itself. 

I loved the ric rac.  I bought the giant size stuff at my local fabric shop.  Having never before had a reason to look at ric rac, I didn't realise what a wonderful array of colours and sizes there are - I'm well and truly hooked and have already picked the next dress I want to attach some to! 

Trimming was time consuming, lots of tacking and pining and very careful placing.  There are two places where the two lines or trim aren't exactly symmetrical, and that bugs me a little but for a first attempt, I'm pretty pleased with it.

Enough waffling though, here is what you really want to see, some photographs!!



The belt isn't too big really, the dummy is just smaller than the dress - just realised it needs a belt loop so not "quite" finished after all!!! :o(

 I'm off to the North Norfolk railway this weekend for their 1940's event where I hope this dress will find a new owner. 

Autumn is very definitely here.  The evenings are drawing in and there's a definite chill in the air when Mr Y heads out at 7am.  Darker evenings mean more knitting time and I'm nearly half way through a cardigan which is being knitted in the most beautiful petrol blue colour by King Cole.  Should be finished in a couple of weeks, perfect for the colder months ahead :o)

Vintage suitcase finds + more corsages!

This is a long post with a lot of photographs but please stick with it because I hope you'll think it's worth it :o)

As many of you vintage wearing followers will know, sourcing original 1940's clothing is not an easy task.  We are always on the look out, scouring vintage fairs and buying from re-enactors etc.  Normally we have to "find" the items but, a chance meeting at a 1940's re-enactment, not one that we were trading at, a lady who had discovered some beautiful items while clearing a house, brought them to our attention and we were lucky to acquire them.

First up, a suitcase.  I've riffled through many a vintage suitcase.  Sometimes they are full of treasures, other times the contents are so disgustingly dirty that I have I worry what I might have inhaled!  This unassuming leather suitcase, somewhat battered and tired.......

was full of treasure. 

Please excuse the chapel pew that the case is sitting on.  We have 2 in the garden that came from Perranporth Methodist Chapel where my daughters were christened and they are somewhat of a project!  Back to the case though!
 
It contained;

A half finished dress.  The sleeves are sewn in and the skirt attached to the bodice.  All it needs is buttons and button holes (argh!!), a collar and then a hem.  Why wasn't it finished?  I wish I knew.  It's been beautifully made, neatly finished seams and the like so should be easy enough to follow on and finish it off.  The instructions are in the pattern envelope but sadly no pattern pieces.

A collection of vintage cottons and a rather complicated looking knitting stitch/pattern counter thingy - think I'll stick to paper and pencil to mark off my rows.

Some instruments of torture!  Well, in truth, some 1920's crimping irons but I didn't know that until I asked my Mum.  They are complete with singe marks from when they were heated in the fire before being used on someones hair.  The damage they must have done and the smell - it must have been terrible.

Two rather lovely knits!  The tank top has been feasted on a little by some hungry moths - thankfully it's repairable though.  The cardigan is beautiful with just a tiny moth hole on the front rib and a missing button - better raid my button stash then.  Someone has boiled it and shrunk it which is a shame for us adults but a plus for C as it fits her perfectly.  However, as it's pure wool, she is reluctant to wear it - I shall persevere because I shan't be knitting anything as intricate for her!

More knitting patterns!!!!  I couldn't believe it.  They are in lovely condition and I had been after an original copy of the Bestway "Gifts in Knitting and Crochet" for a while.

Apart from some seriously sharp sewing needles and some random 1960's buttons, the last thing in the case was a little clear bag stuffed full of the most amazing.........

Corsages!!  Just look at them, so very beautiful and each one different.  They are mostly done in perle cotton (thank you Ginny for help on that one :o)!) and each one has a thick green felt back with 2, sometimes 3 safety pins on - no fear of them falling off.  Some require a little stitch here and there and the backs aren't the neatest but, who's going to see that once it's on a jacket?? 

This very talented lady must have spent hours making them and for what purpose?  An artisan with a shop perhaps or simply crocheting for pleasure, we'll never know.  

I would love to keep them all, they were a real once in a lifetime purchase, but I'm being realistic and have only kept 2.  I figure that they have been stored long enough and clearly haven't seen the light of day for many a year.  I'm hoping they will end up with people who will love and cherish them as much as the lady who kept hold of them for all these years did.

When looking through them, I noticed that the Bestway "Gifts in Knitting and Crochet" pattern had been put to good use to make 2 of the corsages.









Along with the suitcase, I bought 2 dresses.  I don't normally "show off" the clothing that I buy but these 2 dresses, both made of moygashel, a linen feel fabric, are so beautiful that I thought you might like to see them.

Patriotic red, white and blue number with it's original belt!

                                              

Cute hey?!

This recent lot of purchases really got to me and it's because there was an actual person associated with the items.  I know that that might sound odd, but a dress brought to us by a re-enactor or purchased at a fair is a stand alone garment with no reference as to the original owner.

 

This lady, whoever she was, couldn't part with her things.  She obviously deemed them important enough to want to hold on to them for many a year.  Worn on a first date perhaps or for a special occasion or maybe, like me, she was just a serious hoarder!!  Whatever the reason, I know that I'm incredibly lucky to have them and will be a willing custodian of them until someone else comes along to love them!