10 Years Ago

Today is a happy day; a time to look back at the years gone by and a wonderful weekend to look forward to!

10 years ago today, on a cold, crisp November day, I nervously clung to my dad’s arm as I walked down the aisle of the amazing church, below, to the tune of Pachelbel's Canon.  I was so excited to be married in the church that I’d admired since I was a child.  It towers over the lawns of Christchurch Mansion, a wall stands to mark the boundary between churchyard and park.  In the wall, a little doorway, bricked up long ago, a reminder of the historical link between the two architectural wonders and the privileged private entrance from the "big house". :o)


This photo was taken when it snowed back in February, not on "the day", although snowy wedding would have been   rather lovely!

In front of family and friends, many who had travelled far, we said our vows.  Hymns were sung, rings exchanged and the register signed,
  
I was 21 when I got married and hadn’t even given vintage fashion a second thought.  Although our wedding wasn’t a vintage affair, it was certainly a family one.  The occasion brought together family and friends who used their combined skills to create table decorations, wedding favours, cravats, waistcoats, bouquets and the like.  Fun was had and memories were made in every favour we tied and in each glue gun burn we got from gluing pine cones onto wire!  Mr Y still has a small scar on his stomach where the wire cutters caught him when he was cutting a particularly awkward piece of wire! 

You’ll know from my previous posts that I simply don’t “do” pictures of me.  I’m an incredibly camera shy person and actively go out of my way to be behind the camera, never in front of it.  (I’m also very shy in person which can be somewhat of a trial when manning the stall!).  However, as it’s a “special occasion”, I though I’d finally put one on here, albeit a very small one!

My goodness, how young we look!!  It certainly doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years, it's so scary how time flies!  The amazing journey that began at the altar as just the two of us is now a journey of 4 as we have been blessed with 2 beautiful little girls and are looking forward to what the next 10 years. and beyond, will bring us all.

To celebrate, we’re child free this weekend (something which fills me with mixed emotions as I'll miss the little critters) and are heading to Norwich for a spot of Christmas shopping.  Oh, and to take a peek in the Cath Kidston shop where a much coveted knitting bag beckons.  (Yes, I could probably buy it on line but I want to actually see how many balls of wool I can successfully stuff into it!)

As if that weren't enough, On Sunday, we’re going into Ipswich for the Christmas Craft and Vintage Market to see whether there are any true vintage treasures to be found.  It’s coupled with a foodie Christmas market so even if I don’t find vintage, Mr Y will find food!!

Whatever you are up to, I hope you all have a lovely weekend :o)

We Will Remember

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grown old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grown old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

-x-



Vintage Haberdashery Heaven - Christmas come early!

What an incredibly lucky lady I am. 

In this previous post I told you about the kindness of a stranger and how they had generously given me a collection of knitting patterns, including issue 1 of Needlewoman and Needlecraft.  Well, last week, the same amazing lady contacted me again with the offer of some knitting and crafting things.

Delivered this morning to a very excited household were two rather large heavy parcels.  I had been expecting them but what was contained inside them was far more than anything I had imagined.  The collection of items was so vast that it took me a very happy 2 hours to sort through everything.

It would be impossible to show you everything that arrived, such was the volume of items, but I have picked out some of the most pretty and colourful things and hope that you like them!  Here goes!

Along with lots of little squat balls of thread, there were over 120 embroidery silks which means my 1930's sweet jar is now perfectly full!

Some pretty pastel crochet threads, so incredibly fine.  In the central part of two of them I found some delicately crocheted edgings; stored away and forgotten about maybe?

A vast range of shades of the most beautiful threads.  I've never seen anything like them before.  They are delicate and fine yet have a wool like texture.  There were over 50 of them but the amount wound on the cards isn't great so I wonder what they were meant to be used for. 

Various mending threads including wool for Chilprute underwear, the needle still threaded and slipped into the wound wool by the hand of it's last user.  Stocking threads, darning wools and my favourite of all, the little green and navy Greenwoods card with the rather dashing sailor on the front.

Two items were still in the bags they were originally packaged in.  One still with the receipt from a shop in Hanley, close to Mr Y's old stomping ground from when he did his teacher training.

More amazing examples of vintage packaging, so much more appealing than the ones we get today.  My favourites are the two Newey's ones.  The blue one from the 1930's and red from the 1940's - stunning in both colour and design.

Numerous bindings, grosgrains, ribbons and lace!  All so pretty and many in shades that you simply cannot replicate today.  Matching binding to vintage fabric should be a whole lot easier now.

In an old cardboard box, there were crisp wrappers containing clean, white starched collars new and never used.  Delving deeper, I discovered four CC41 collars, again, unused.  Precious clothing coupons would have been exchanged for these simple pieces of white cotton yet they, too, look unused.

The most delicate of collars.  Dating from, I believe the 1930's, these collars are simply splendid.  So pretty, feminine and fine, obviously belonging to one incredibly petite person, so tiny in size.  I hope to have them cleaned and then frame them, they're too pretty to be in a drawer somewhere.

Last, but by no means least, a little collection of small, pretty things which were discovered  among the various paper bags and mountains of threads.  I love the little handmade flower pins, the green bakelite needles, the pretty box of pins, well, all ok it really!

The owner of this amazing collection certainly took great care of all she had.  Tiny pieces of embroidery silk wound round pieces of wrapper, carefully kept.  Threads shorter, I'm ashamed to say, than I throw away.  A mended stitch ripper laid alongside another, new in it's wrapper.  Items kept until they could no longer be used, because they had to be, the result of living through a period of great austerity and rationing, nothing like the throw away society that we live in today.

It was an immense gift from an incredibly generous, thoughtful couple and one I'm truly grateful for.  Some things will, obviously, be used to create vintage inspired pieces.  Others, like the packaging and collars, will be kept and used for display purposes, meaning that the items treasured by this amazing woman, can be enjoyed by many more people in the years to come. 

The Inquisitive Child - a Remembrance Day poem

A Poem – The Inquisitive Child

Why are they selling poppies, Mummy? Selling poppies in town today.
The poppies, child, are flowers of love. For the men who marched away.
But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy? Why not a beautiful rose?
Because my child, men fought and died in the fields where the poppies grow.
But why are the poppies so red, Mummy? Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child. The blood that our soldiers shed.
The heart of the poppy is black, Mummy. Why does it have to be black?
Black, my child, is the symbol of grief. For the men who never came back.
But why, Mummy are you crying so? Your tears are giving you pain.
My tears are my fears for you my child. For the world is forgetting again.

                                                                                                 Author unknown

This week, I've been teaching the girls a bit more about Remembrance Day and came across the above poem.

Growing up in a family with of an obsession for all things wartime, the significance of remembering the past is something that, for their age, they have a pretty good understanding of.  Home educating them, we get to teach them about the things which we feel are relevant and important and we don't have to skip over the subjects which might offend someone or might otherwise be deemed too delicate or not politically correct enough (and all that twaddle!).

Last week on a shopping trip to town we saw, for the first time this year, a poppy seller positioned in the foyer of the local supermarket (where have the street sellers with their familiar blue boxes brimming with poppies gone?).  I was surprised to see how the poppy appeal has diversified, I assume, to make it more appealing and to offer more choice.  A look on the Poppy Shop website confirms this.  Personally, the below paper variety will always be the original and the best. 

Image from Wikipedia

Back in the summer, we were driving home from my parent's house when we saw the wondrous sight of a field of wheat interspersed with a mass of bright red poppies.  Parking up, we couldn't resist taking some photographs and, crouched in the field listening to the rustle of the wheat blowing in the breeze we captured these shots.

If you follow me on Facebook, you will have seen this one before :o)

I know the wearing of the poppy isn't for everyone, each to their own I say, but it did surprise and sadden me that so many people, including lots of the older generation, walked past the unobtrusive poppy seller. 

Our family?  We will be wearing our poppies, with great pride, this Sunday as we head to IWM Duxford for their Remembrance Day service.

Antidote Vintage - My Woollies Now in Stock!!

We've woken up this morning to the first frost of the autumn.  White frosted roof tops and clean crisp air; I just love this time of year!

This is a post I should have done back in the summer but didn't, the disorganised person that I am!!  And I'm linking in with Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday because, do you know what, I'm pretty pleased with the below!! :o)

In the spring, we were contacted by the lovely Annie of Antidote Vintage, a charming shop in Norwich selling an eclectic mix of vintage clothing and accessories.  The shop was being re-launched to include the work of local artisans and we were asked whether we wanted our corsages and knitwear included, which, of course, we did!

Unfortunately we couldn't make it to the official re-opening but we did pop up the day before, with our trusty camera, to have a sneak peak and a good old nosey at what was going to be on offer. 

A local newspaper did a piece on the new collections.

The article used a little bit of artistic licence because I'm actually based in Suffolk, not Norfolk, and obviously the jumpers aren't my design, I just chose the colours, but I figure any publicity is good publicity, right?? :o)

The shop is lovely and very welcoming.  It was once an apothecary and still has some of the original apothecary shop fittings which provide the perfect backdrop for the vintage and handmade goodies on offer. 

Antidote currently has the two below jumpers in stock and they have also taken some of our turbans - perfect winter head warmers!

If you're in Norwich, why not take a trip to Antidote Vintage, Upper St Giles Street, where you'll be met with very friendly service and will find some lovely items of vintage clothing as well as some of our woollies to keep out the cold this winter :o) 

1930's Vintage Style

We're already in the 11th month!  How can that be?  The year is simply rushing past yet there is still so much to do!  Cakes to bake, puddings to make, chutneys, crafting, gifts etc.  I know I'm not alone in having a long list of things to do at this time of year :o)

Half term is nearly at an end, and what a lovely week we've had but how is it that the working week drags but a week off skips past in the blink of an eye?  We had so many plans but time simply ran away from us. 

We've de-cluttered, a fairly never ending task with two small children, crafted and relaxed.  We also took a trip to visit my parents.   Determined to make the best of the wet weather, we headed into town and visited a second hand book shop, rather appropriately named Treasure Chest, where C & M picked up some more Enid Blyton books for their collection.  As soon as C was old enough to read, I gave her the copies that I had collected as a child.  I love that the books are still being re printed so new generations can enjoy them, but you simply cannot beat the artwork on some of the older copies.

For us adults, there was a visit to Vintage and Green who, along with flowers, (the "green" part of the name), sell a rather eclectic mix of lovely vintage and vintage inspired things.  The shop is attached to the old railway station, a plus in Mr Y's book, and always has something new to gaze at!  Our latest visit was no different and I came away with some paper chains, Christmas fairy cake cases and an amazing, and rather large, 1930's sweet jar with bakelite lid!  The day we shopped was also the day that my first issue of Pretty Nostalgic dropped on the door mat.  Hadn't heard of it until I read this post by Landgirl1980 - no reclycling bing when I've finished reading this one - it's a keeper! :o)

Also, from the local craft shop, I picked up some more felt.  More often than not, they only have the children's craft colours of felt.  I'm sure you know the ones I mean, bright, garish even, in reds, blues and yellows.  This time, I was very pleasantly surprised to find some amazing shades including an ochre colour, much sought after but rarely found. 

Teamed with dark brown, I have great plans for the ochre.  Lovely autumnal corsages I think! :o)

Last up this morning, and slightly off topic, so to speak, I have some beautiful vintage images  to share with you. 

Following my last post about the Good Needlework magazines from the 1930's that Mr Y had picked up, I was asked by the very stylish blogger over at A Cat Among the Pigeons, whether I could share some more images from them.  Obviously there are plenty of amazing pictures to chose from but I'm sure you can only stand to look through so many before you get bored so I have picked just a few of my favourites - I hope you like them :o)

Pretty bows!

The cravat is on my to knit list! 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend :o)

Norwich Vintage Finds!

Well, half term has finally arrived, thank goodness!!  It's been a long time coming and we are certainly looking forward to taking a break.  Mr Y has taken C out for the day, M is happily playing and, while I should probably be doing something productive like ironing, I'd far rather share with you the lovely things that were found this weekend.

On Saturday, we left the car at home and instead took the train to Norwich.  We were taking our wares to the Little Vintage Lover Fair which was being held at Dragon Hall.  I love the train journey.  The carriage was peaceful, nearly empty in fact, as you would expect at 7am on a cold October morning.  We enjoyed looking at the countryside and watching the sun rise over the autumn fields revealing the varying shades of amber and brown.

As we approached Norwich, the sunny Suffolk skies faded and we found the station shrouded in ominous dark rain clouds.  By the time we got off the train and out of the station, the heavens had opened but, undeterred, we paddled our way to Dragon Hall!

The venue was lovely, old, charming in fact, with lots of nooks and crannies.  We were very lucky and were positioned in a little room just beside the main shop.  It was so pretty and quite luxurious in comparison to other places we've been.  There was an amazing 1930's sideboard and a rather comfy leather couch which I utilised to full effect throughout the day!  It was so cold that I didn't venture outside of our space and therefore didn't get any photographs of other stalls, sorry.  I did, however, get a few snaps of our things.

Although we could see through the window, it took me a long time to
realise that the same couldn't be said for the other side! :o)

 The fair itself was very slow with a small footfall compared to normal.  It couldn't be helped.  It's an established event, brilliantly organised, publicised wonderfully well and in a great location but what you simply can't plan for is the weather.  Rain, I find, especially heavy, freezing rain with an added bit of hail never does a good fair make!  On the plus side, I got a lot of knitting done and managed to finish the beret I was making in Stylecraft heather to go with one of our jumpers.

Despite low numbers, I sold the dress I'd made in Clydella fabric from the 1940's Hollywood pattern as well as the 1937 jumper in mint green that I showed you only the other day!  We had a lovely time, chatting to some of the other traders with a just little bit of shopping to boot!  I came away with just one thing, issue No.45 of Needlewoman Needlecraft magazine from 1951.  I know that it's not the specific era that I collect, but it still had the transfer for the most adorable children’s embroideries that I simply couldn't resist! 

Mr Y, on the vintage front, was far more successful.  He never sticks around at these things.  It's not a place for the girls and anyway, Norwich held things far more interesting than anything I had to offer!! 

Up in the Forum, there were a handful of vintage stalls with various books, ephemera and the like.  Stacked alongside some Picture Post magazines, he spotted 9 Good Needlework and Knitting magazines dating from the 1930's.  They aren't in the best condition, a couple have some water damage on and bizarrely someone has removed all the staples!  However, the patterns inside them are simple beautiful.  I'm now itching to get started on another 1930's jumper but I shall resist - for now!

One of the other stalls had an eclectic mix of vintage jewellery including 3 of the wartime brooches I collect.  Luckily for my purse, I wasn't there to see them or I may have been compelled to buy them all!  Mr Y was far more sensible and entrusted the choosing of a brooch to C who, knowing my fondness for the "sticky up ones", as she calls them, chose this pretty blue one.

As if that wasn't enough, he also took a trip to Waterstones book shop where Alex and Peter from Wartime Farm had been book signing.  Much to C's disappointment, who has been fascinated by the series, they missed the actual signing, but did manage to pick me up a pre signed copy. 

I know the series received mixed reviews due to the number of inaccuracies.  I mean, celebrating Christmas 1940 with a gift of CC41 socks?  Really!! 

When I watched it, I did sit there having a little grumble now on then, mostly about the clothing!  But I really like the trio and had previously enjoyed both the Victorian and Edwardian farm series so stuck with it to the bitter end.  The book is really nice; I actually like it a lot, from what I have flicked through anyway.  I'll definitely be reading it.

Norwich really does have some amazing vintage shops as well as a rather massive Cath Kidston store!!  We always go there Christmas shopping - I can't wait!! :o)