Welcome To The Family

First off, thank you. Your comments reguarding my "run in" with the eBayer has given me some confidence, just because I'm a girl, I will not be bullied by a man. I clearly have more knowledge in this area than he does, therefore, I am Queen!

Thanks to your wonderful hug, I'm feeling much more in the mood for some proper old fashioned blogging.

Last week I became the proud new owner of a bicycle! This time, she is a perfect fit for me, so many happy adventures are sure to follow. I'll now give you a little run down of my new baby:

She is a BSA, I think the model may be a Club Roadster, some investigation is needed.

Bought in 1930, the previous owner has the original receipt, but has mis-laid it, fingers crossed it will turn up

She has a single speed, which ideal for someone like me who is useless with gears!

A whopper of a bell, which sound like a telephone, or shop bell, it has a rather loud ding

A chain cover (only a half, not fully enclosed)

Dunlop sprung saddle, with matching saddlebag (Ideal for my make-up, as my Dad said!)

BSA rubber pedals

She had an ivory coloured Apex pump, but the washer had split, so I went o get a new one, and came away with a new pump instead! I'd be gutted if the Apex was stolen, so it will go on display and the Zefal will be the pump attached to the back.

I picked her up on the Thursday before last, following a rather exciting jaunt into the hills, and a few wrong turns - I blame AA Route Finder entirely, fine for straight forward journeys, but it doesn't understand country lanes too well!

So that's my girl, safely tucked away in the workshop until we get the nice weather back. I spent last week re-learning to ride. I'm rather wobbly and seem to emulate a 4 year old's first ride without stabilisers!

By the weekend I had discovered the joy of indicating, even though it was only on the yard. I'd never been able to remove my hands from the bars before... Well, I did, but ended up skirt over head in the hedge.
After this little achievement, I started riding without hands at all! I've yet to go out on the road, so not half as careless as it sounds.

Due to her impressive 81 year old status, I've started looking a bit into early 1930's get-up, but come across one problem. I now really want a cloche, I have one but it's in dire need of some TLC. I wants to knit one and thought I'd found the perfect pattern, but after finishing it, discovered I'd knitted a beanie! I'm too old to be a skateboarder, so it was soo unraveled and is now being knitted into a cardigan. Know of a suitable pattern?

Anyways, I'd best be off, work to do and all that.

Thank you once again, you really have helped

Queen Jennie of Carmarthen

(How fantastic does that sound?!)

eBaying Problems - Help?

Not my jolly self today, for which I can only apologise, I'm actually in need of your help...

A few weeks back I sold my 1956 Rudge bicycle, in used condition. Everything worked, the gears, brakes etc.

The buyer then emailed me to say it was damaged:

The forks are bent - No they're not, vintage bikes have forks which can appear bent, this is the style of them.

The handlebar stem is bent - No again, no more than you'd expect in a vintage bike.

The gear cable was creased and it wouldn't change gear, so he's thrown away the cable - Well, he can't even work out how to get the front wheel in, so wouldn't be able to ride it to see that the gears work!

The bolts for the front mudguard are missing - No, one set are attached to the mudguard, and the other set attached to the front forks.

He's sent quite a few unkind emails, trying to make out I don't have a clue and asking me for half of his money back for his time and effort!

I obtained advice to email him back reguarding his concerns, from a qualified bicycle mechanic - The seller thinks I'm making this up!

Then, to make my day worse, leaves me negative feedback! Now I have 99%, and I've always been proud of my 100% positive feedback.

I, as a seller, cannot leave negative feedback and I'm pretty sick of him. He doesn't understand vintage bikes, or the fact that I'm not at my computer 24/7 to answer his emails.

eBay are less than helpful for me as a seller by suggesting I should refund him, depite the fact that he's already started throwing parts away!

What do I do my dear readers? I know this isn't the worst thing in the world, but it is upsetting, and I hate people who email me in such a rude manor.

Advice?

Jennie xx

Shrove Tuesday Bicycle Trouble Outifit Post

Good Morning All,

I realised last Thursday that I just post enough outfit pictures... Probably because I don't take many, nd the ones I do take are rejected because they were taken in the mirror and I'm pulling a "mug-shot" face! This is entirely down to my inability to get the self-timer to work.

On Thursday, after lunch, we took a walk over the back, a mile or so, to go and vote in the referendum. On the way back, some photos were taken, here's the best of an awful bunch!




Coat (modern) - Present from my Gran
Beret (Accessorize) - Boot-Sale
Elk Scarf - Hand knitted by me
30's/40's Leather Bag - Charity Shop
White Scottie Brooch - Hand made by me
40's zip-up bootees - eBay
Leather CC41 gloves - eBay

 I was also invited to a picnic on Llansteffan beach on Friday afternoon. We were terrier-ised by a little black dog who smelt sandwiches, after a scuffle, we started eating only to discover we were eating sand-wiches! Gritty!

Then, this weekend I cleaned up my bicycle... I bought her a few weeks back, but the wrong size was given, and she is far too big for me! So after a thorough clean and some photos, she's made her way onto eBay. If I can get my money back, I can buy another bike - The sun's becoming a common sight, and I can't even go out and cycle!


Rudge - Britain's Best Bicycle

 Although I didn't have a place on the Tweed Run, I did intend on riding 10 miles that day with a Tweed theme... I just need a smaller bike! If she was just two inches smaller, she'd be perfect for me - 1956 Rudge in deep red... bliss

I also listed my Dad's late 1940's (?) Raleigh, and it seems I'm getting the bug for listing on eBay again, which is a good thing, I've been living in clutter for too long now!

But enough about me, how are you on this fine Shrove Tuesday?

Jennie xx

Not A Stitch To Wear

I've been going through my usual Spring routine this past week. Early, I know, but the sun has been out (although it is bloomin freezing!) and this causes me to search through my Summer wardrobe and complain that I "don't have a stitch to wear"! This has come at the perfect time, as it's still only January, I can do something to change my wardrobe dilemma before we have a real heatwave...

In a bid to try and mix it up a little and avoid my usual habits of wearing 1930's styles in the Spring, 1950's in the Summer and 1940's in Autumn/Winter, I have tried my very best to put together a good selection of patterns which will compliment the garments already in my wardrobe. Here are the first few items on my "To Do" list:

Yes, it's a 1950's dress, but it's a wrap dress, I already have the fabric and it'll be ideal for those lazy days in the shade, sheltering from the heatwave... I can't keep a straight face saying that either!
This dress will be in pink with a red trim, just like the picture!

This pattern is from 1939, but isn't very dated, is it? So it will be worn from Spring through Summer. I have actually already started this one (last year!), but the pattern is wrong and needs some rewriting... argh!
This is in white, again, like the picture!

Just a simple slip, but why can I not find any? I'm sure I had some packed away. So I'm going to make many in the hope of always being able to find one!
Probably in whites, pinks, blossom prints etc - I'll see what I can find

Oh, how I do love this 1940's jumper! I don't think this really needs explaining.
Red and white, blue and white... I don't know where to start, it's all so exciting!

And finally, something I've already made:

Does he look like a sausage dog to you? I can't make up my mind, but I made him a few days ago with sausages and dogs in mind. He already has a new home, boo. Made in felt, hand sewn.
As long as I keep up with my hand sewing (brooches), I can justify being sat in front of the sewing machine or with knitting needles in hand.

Oh, before I forget, I'm going to have a quick complain about the VAT rise (up to 20%!!!). Here goes: booooooooo, no fair!

There, it's out of my system now, but unfortunately, my brooches are up in price by 50p! The felt has gone up, the thread will no doubt go up in price, as will pins, kapok and postage.

I'm also thinking that now is the time I finally get a little online shop set up for the brooches, which will hopefully have a wholesale section to make it easier that emailing me with orders. Just need a name...

It's all coming back to me, I want to ask, what you you like as a giveaway prize? There are now 54 followers, you all get a say, because if I give away something rubbish, you're sure to complain :)

I also have some exciting developments in the cycling front, I haven't bought the plane tickets, but get training!

See you in a few days when I've calmed down a bit!

Toodles

Jenny (& George, resting by the fire) xx

Ding Ding!

What's your dream for this year? Not marrying Brad Pitt or winning the lottery, but a real achievable dream.
One of my big dreams for this year can be summed up with the following words:

Bicycle

Los Angeles

New York

Whoo Hoo

I'm a big dreamer, I love maps, I love planning and packing and journeys - I love journeys! My favourite thing to do is to get out the maps, guide books and a basic kit list and make a huge plan in a note pad, then spend days refining it. Some trips haven't come off, but it doesn't matter, the fun was in the planning.

I know I certainly wouldn't be the first, or last, but this is a really big thing for me - personally. I was told I wouldn't make anything of my life, and I fell into the trap of believing this, so I didn't put much effort in. But I realised that when I read about people who untake these trips, I have a warm fuzzy feeling - So why don't I do something and permanently have a warm fuzzy feeling?

We should do something, I say we... I'm dragging you all into this! I'm quite good and dragging unsuspecting people into these things, like a female Derren Brown - You want to come on this trip, don't you?
Imagine the scene: a group of vintage-y people, all on vintage-y bikes, screaming with delight at being on Route 66 - Like a hardcore Tweed Run, but maybe without the tweed? Plus, I hear there are some fabulous vintage shops in the States...

Route 66 is awfully quiet!

I'm sure you're doing one of two things right now: Squeeling with delight at the thought of doing this, or shaking your head thinking it's too crazy to comtemplate. But just remember, it has been done, it is possible, so why not?

Although, I've just done a search - 2462 miles? Seriously?

I may have already put too much into this, I've already got a bike sorted, I just have to raise and extra £30 and it's mine... Please come with me, my Mami won't let me go alone!

See you at the airport!

Jenny xx

New Beginnings

And maybe an introduction would be nice? Well of course..

I'm Jenny, I live in Wales (land of the sheep and cheap dragon toys!) and I am a collector (some may say hoarder) of vintage clothing and accessories. I spend too much money on clothes, I spend too much time watching films and spend too little time paying attention to the real world. I knit obsessively and sew for my supper.
I have a cat who is embarassed to be seen with me and a family who don't understand me.

I'm desperately hoping that blogging can save me enough money to buy me a bicycle.. pink with a wicker basket and handlebar tassles, please. I figure that the more time I spend here, the less time I spend on eBay, etsy, folksy and all those deliously gorgeous reproduction vintage websites.

Oh, and I ramble on.. A lot!