The Vintage Tea Party Book

I'm sure you've already heard about this book, or at least the author, Angel Adoree. Of course, if you have no idea who, or what I'm talking about, please allow me to indroduce to you to a new friend - The Vintage Tea Party Book

I was told that this is not a "cupcake book", and that's no lie, it's a very sophisticate, yet delightfully fun book about hosting a tea party, though it really covers dinner parties too and I will be using it for my Christmas planning.

Speaking of Christmas, the Chocolate Prune Tea Cakes will be on the menu this festive season, I have a deep dislike of fruit cake (Bara Brith excluded), but cover any fruit in chocolate and it can find it's welcome on my plate!

Even cocktails are included, and instructions on making hats, flags, pinnies, then there's the style guide with three wonderful hairstyles, which I can assure you, you will have tried before you've even contemplated inviting anyone over. Oh, and then there are the Invite and Thank You templates!

Everything is well planned, and I can't even imagaine how many hours have gone into creating this book, which is a hefty hardback. The illustrations too, they took me straight back to being a wee one (I know I'm barely 5', but that's not what I mean't!), with faerie tale books filled with pictures which still managed to keep me enterained.

The Athol Brose Morning Drink, which includes Whisky and honey... Two of my favourite ingredients. I'm pretty sure this will keep out the cold first thing in the morning (when you don't have to drive!)

So to sum up, I will say what I said the other day when asked if I would use this book:

Gran had Marguerite Patten, Ma had Delia Smith, I have Angel Adoree

That's all for now, hopfully I'll have a kitchen when I blog again (it's mid demolition) and I can show you some of the fab creations made from this book

Toodles

Jennie xx

It's A Charmed Life - For Charlie

Hello All

Just a quick note to say that I'll be changing the name of the blog tomorrow. This was only a temporary name anyway, but the new name will be:

It's A Charmed Life

Just so that you won;t be too confused when you see a new name in your blog reading box and wonder which of your cats has been selecting "Follow" on random blogs

Apologies for the absence, but there's so much work going on in the house and I'm busy working too. I'll try and write something with a little substance tomorrow, if I can't think of anything else, I'll tell you about the ghosts

For now I'll leave you with a photo of this charming boy, Charlie

Until tomorrow, Jennie x

1934 Chevron Jumper

Well doubters, here she is - My chevron jumper knitted from a 1934 pattern, and you thought it would never happen!

It has to be said that knitting a jumper goes a lot quicker if you don't mess up the pattern on the shoulders - I completely missed the chevrons on the front shoulders, so I stayed up half the night to amend this.

In the original picture, the tie is in a bow, but I really like ties to be tied like ties, so mine is tied like a tie.

After all this work to finish a Summer jumper, it's still raining and I'm even planning my Autumn/Winter wardrobe... Please bring me a proper Summer!

In other news, today would've been George's Birthday, I just wished the sun could've shined for him today, he was a sun worshipper.

Anyway, I'm exhausted after all that knitting, I have another jumper which needs the pattern working out (how did so many patterns get printed without being checked first?!). So I'll wish you a pleasant Summer Solstice and we'll chat soon

Jennie and Charlie xx

The Weekend

Oh Boy, oh boy! What a weekend I've had, I get to that in a moment. Back to the dentist I mentioned in the last post - He has the whitest smile I've ever seen, he really is wasted in the dental profession, his dazzling smile should be gracing bus stops, advertising toothpaste. Whatever brand he uses, I'd certainly buy it!

Also, I'm having issues with commenting on blogs. I'm asked to sign in each time I try, even after I've signed in (again), it keeps sending me to sign in. Any solutions? I'm aware that if you'r having the same issue, you won't be able to comment to tell me, but if you've solved the problem, could you let me know how?

Anyway, I'll work backwards: Last evening, Charlie was in clear discomfort, eventually it was realised that although he was digging holes and constantly trying to "water the garden", it just wasn't happening. A quick call to the on call vet and he was in his basket and being rushed to the practice.
After the vet gave him a good examination, he brought in the ultra sound machine. He was diagnosed with an inflamation, and given two injections and sent into the reception to pay. Then the vet came out with a bottle of tablets (I think he said they were essential vitamins, or osme such thing), this was clearly designed to make sure the bill topped the £100 mark!
£101.01 lighter, we left for home. About half an hour later, Charlie picked up. By this morning, he's happy as Larry.
That was my stressful Sunday evening, which is also my excuse for not listing half as much on eBay as I shoud've.

Sunday morning was a much nicer affair, not only was there a bootsale on, but also Gwili Steam Railway were hosting a Transport Weekend on the showground.
I am feeling rather duped by them however. The lady on the tannoy said the cost of entry was £3, no, it was £4. Then there was a £1 charge for the programme, which is full of adverts and not much else. But by far the worst thing, we'd had rain in the middle of the night, though the ground was dry by morning, a good number of the cars advertised were no where to be seen!
There was a rather fine 1942 Fordson - Doesn't it just scream "Land Girl"?

So, the bootsale:
3 compliments really made my day. They were: "I thought you looked like a fabric person when I saw your skirt" from the woman I bought the dress and nightie from. "Two stylish ladies" from a man with a 1930s table I didn't buy (when I went back to ask, he'd already gone!) and "I really like the way you've done your hair. No, I love the way you've done your hair, your whole look" from the lady who sold me a table...

These two, the long one I'm sure is a nightie, it's long, with one waist tie (one has been torn out) and the detailing on the shoulder. The other is shorter but seems to be better made. Both need a bit of work.

Then I found myself buying a table... Do I need a table, no? Could I walk away form such a fantastic find? No!

So that was my excitement for the day. Oh, I haven't even shown you an outfit! You can't see the wrap dress I'm wearing, and I look truly awful, but look at my hair! It's safe to say that this was a very relaxed "Casual Sunday Outifit"...

Jumper: Hand knitted by Ma, indeed it was the first "vintage" jumper she knitted for me

Bandana: Modern, from a bootsale, and I only paid 10 pence for it!

Dress (not seen): Modern, from the Ethel Austin Closing Down Sale of 2010, reduced from £12 to £3!

Shoes (not seen): White tennis shoes, also from Ethel Austin when they were in the stages of being under a different name and having somewhat of an identity crisis

Bag (not seen): 1940s straw clutch, from eBay

I must dash, I have a pile of sewing to finish and deliver this week and we're not going to talk about the jumper!

Hugs to the cats

Jennie & Charlie xx

Vintage Finds

Alright there my lovelies?

Charlie is settling in nicely, he must be fairly happy as he's already come home with two mice... Well, I think the second one may have been a vole, but I was too busy squeeling and trying to get away to really take note!

Anyway, enough of that. I'll show you some of my best finds over the past few weeks, starting with this picture:

This reminded me a bit of the wedding mirror I have, so I had to get it... To match..
It has a chain to hang it up, like the many crinoline lady mirrors I have... Did I say many? Yes I did!
I thought this was lovely and seasidey, and I just can't turn down vintage...

Yesterday I was punished with yet more rain, but it was fine rain, which to me is worse, it tickles and gets in my eyes. But one charity shop came up with this:

A Radio Times cover! I don't get the Radio Times, and this is too big for TV Choice, but how could I say no? Please excuse the creases, I was so excited to show you, I haven't washed or ironed it yet.

That brings me on to  another item, which comes with a question...

This is a Matita suit which although fits me, is a little too big, but it fits my mannequin like a charm! My question is: Does anyone know anything about Matita? I've searched, but haven't found anything, other than a few adverts.

This actually brings up another question, do I sell? It's a horrible moment when you realise a fibreglass body fits into your clothes better than you do!

So I hope you're all well, and see you next week, when I'll have hopefully finished the 1934 Chevron jumper... Don't hold your breath!

Jennie & Charlie xx

P.S. I'll also tell you all about my gorgeous new dentist!

Boys In Shorts And Girls In Ties

What on Earth happened to Blogger? I was going out of my mind without my daily reads! So I'm going to do something rather unusual, and blog on a Saturday, but I'll reward myself with a Sunday outing if the weather holds (fingers crossed).

Maybe you'd like to see a few more pictures from the bag...

First up, this lovely is the spitting image of my neighbour's son, who is married, sorry girls!

This is a photo of a photo of a photo. The boy sat at the very front has a little anchor on his top, awww.

It was agreed last time I posted photos that girls and ties are a good combination, so here's another example of just such a match:



Coate + Norah at the 'Country'

Man with shorts and long socks (and a cigarette), girl with sunglasses, girl with ribbon in hair, girl with puppy... My guide to creating a wonderful photo.

And finally, another picnic in the country, Denise is back (second on the left), there's a girl in a blazer (back), a tennis racket, a Thermos, a nifty hat and my favourite, the girl on the far left is wearing wellies - I live in my wellies come rain or shine!

I hope you're all having a wonderful start to the weekend, we'll catch up on Monday?

Jennie and Charlie xx

Silly Season Comes Early

Crumbs on my plate, where does the time go?

The day after my last post, I wore this:

It's an outfit much worn last year, and I'm sure will be much worn this year too.
The jumper with a yacht motif was hand knitted by me, shorty clam diggers are vintage, and the tennis shoes are modern.

The odd pose is possibly down to "silly season" coming so early, I'm not used to such warm weather, so if it comes back again, be prepared for salutes, jumping and bicycle tricks in my photos!

Any hoo, I mentioned going to visit someone special, well, two weeks ago yesterday, he moved in...

Meet Charlie, former stray, now a confirmed house cat. He's about two years old, lovely tickles, digging up onions and chasing my hair when I'm asleep!
He has a shocking amount of energy, but also loves sleeping, washing and eating... He seems to have "rounded out" since he got here.

So apart from this, I had a trip to Llanelli, my Grandparents visited, my Uncle stayed for a weekend, my Brother is visiting this weekend and I found a stunner of a picture in a charity shop but forgot to photograph it! Oh, and voting was yesterday, we had three papers each this time... I do love crosses!

Hopefully I'll have some outfit type posts after the weekend, fingers crossed to a little rain (enough to keep farmers and gardeners happy) and plenty of sunshine.

Toodles

Jennie and Charlie xx