On the Therapeutic Benefits of Charity Shopping (and Blogging)

Oh, you delicious people have made me feel so much better!

Thank you for your supportive comments, and for sharing your tales of the unexpected twists and turns which life can take. I appreciate them, and you.

Having indulged in a whinge and a wallow, I shook myself and did the right thing - I went charity shopping.

 

 My darling friend Vix, always a voice of sound reason and good humour, reminded us in her current post that there are still vintage bargains to be found in the UK's charity shops.

 

She's right.

 

Three fabulous 1970s dresses - the first two are destined for Ebay, but the maxi with the splashy print is staying home with me. 

 

1960s vanity case; 1960s Warmco wool blanket; 1970s St. Michael top; and a large wicker basket. 

 

Those old St. Michael labels transport me back in time - I am pretty sure I had a top just like this when I was a teenager. 

 

Sadly, a 1970s size 14 doesn't fit me, but it's perfect for Eldest, she's perfectly happy for me to buy her clothes from charity shops. That's my girl!

I found this retro 1970s-style shirt dress last week - it's not vintage, but I liked the print and it was only £3.50.

 

And the denim jacket is definitely my Wardrobe Workhorse.  

 

Lynne is doing a series of posts on her excellent blog highlighting hard-working pieces which we wear to death. Once the weather is warm enough for me to ditch my winter coats, this is my go-to, goes-with-everything jacket.

Look - a grumpy-looking bird which isn't me, how refreshing...

 

 

Showing off my self-made tote bag - it's proving to be very useful, I can fit a whole heap of crap in there!

 

I think that's my smug I made a tote bag face. 

 

 

Denim jacket, shirt dress, cardigan, bangles, 1960s flower brooch, belt and tights - charity shopped

1960-70s steel pendant - Ebay

Shoes - jumble sale 

 

I'm linking up my charity shop finds with South Yorkshire escapee Max, feel free to join in. 

And thank you again for listening and letting me complain a little, and for getting it and being kind.

 

It means a lot. 

 

  xxxx 

She could clean the house for hours, or rearrange the flowers

Is it just me who sometimes feels they have stumbled into a life they hadn't planned?

 

 Not all the time. 

Mostly I like it, and I recognise that being at home with the kids is a luxury many women - and men - long for but can't afford.

 But...

But... it's not what I expected to be doing.

I expected to continue my career, to use my education and professional training and skills.

I think these are now so rusty after years of disuse as to be non-existent.

I'm good at making a tit of myself though, that's a skill I still use regularly, to keep it sharp.

 

In case any of you UK gals are wondering, these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago. I haven't become so unhinged as to wear a winter coat on a warm sunny day.

Not yet anyway...

The original intention behind these pics was a jokey look - sexy neutrals! post, since my disdain for beige and camel and neutrals in general is common knowledge to most of you.

But the photos... oh dear, the photos gave me pause.

 I look sad. Not just in a Chronic Bitchface way, but properly downhearted, dispirited, tired and old.

So I shelved the idea.

1970s Alexon wool/faux fur coat, 1960s slip, sunglasses and faux pearls - charity shopped

Bangles - gift from my favourite freckleface Tania

Lurex fishnets - gift from darling skip-filling Vix

Shoes - retail, ancient

Just so you know, I am not meaning to denigrate the hard work and valuable contributions of stay-at-home mothers. 

It just isn't what I anticipated for myself, and now I seem a little stuck with a role in which I'm not sure I am either effective or satisfied. This is a view I hold about myself, no one else.

Don't mind me; in a couple of days I'll be whizzing round the charity shops, selling on Ebay, helping out at school, feeling more productive, and counting my blessings, of which there are many.

 

I credit blogging, a less provocative equivalent of Lucy Jordan's urge to run naked through the shady streets, screaming all the way, with helping me avoid her fate on the Paris rooftop. I adore this song, but had no idea when I first heard it in 1979, that I would come to identify with Lucy's story.

Funny how things turn out.

Oh good grief, give me slap or a shake in your comments, snap me out of this!

I don't feel at my most visible, but I'm taking my angst and my neutrals over to Patti's as usual. She may throw me out for being a misery but it's a risk I'm prepared to take!

    xxxx

                     



                                    

Visions of you, in shades of blue

Getting dressed is a tricky business at the moment.

Freezing cold one day, warm and sunny the next.

What's a girl to do?

Wear old favourites in shades of blue with splashes of green, obviously.

 

 

1970s dress - vintage shop

Cardigan, tights, shoes, necklace and bangles - charity shopped

 

 

 

This dress is one of my old faithfuls. 

 

It needed some fixing up when I bought it, it's been a little battered by life.

It's not flashy, it doesn't shout Look at meeee! 

But I love it. It's a survivor. 

Aren't we all?

 

 

 

 

My garden is full of bluebells and forget-me-nots amid lush greenery, such a beautiful combination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first butterfly of the year - an orange-tip.

 

 

 

This skirt is also firmly in the favourite camp.

 

 

 

It received a lot of attention today from Joseph the Bric-a-brac Man on Chesterfield market.

I might have used his enthusiatic admiration for bargaining purposes, but since I was buying from his 3-items-for-a-quid boxes, there was no need to haggle!

 

 

 

The 1960s Alfred Clough coffee and tea pots and the Meakin jug were my 3-for-£1 buys.

 

Other purchases;

1930s Homeleigh ware egg cup set (one sadly missing) - £1

1970s floral sheet (behind) - £1

1970s hat - £2

Late Summer - print by Clemens Freitag - £3

 

 

 

 

 

1980s skirt, shoes and sunglasses - Ebay

Top, cardigan, tights and bangles - charity shopped

Scarf - flea market

Brooch - gift from road tripper Sarah

 

So what's been inspiring your colour choices lately?

xxxx

Like the colour when the spring is born

I had a lovely relaxing weekend doing things I like, with only a smidge of the stuff I don't like thrown in.

 

So;

 

 

Friday night's curry was delicious...

 

...and the pint of Cobra, through which Seldom Seen is peering, went down very nicely, thank you.

 

 

I missed two vintage fairs on Saturday through being too lazy to go into town - I wasn't feeling it, and they are pretty frequent occurrences anyway. 

 

Miss one, and another one comes along in a few weeks.

The wind and rain are trying their hardest to shake all the blossom from the cherry tree, but it's hanging on in there, at least for a little while longer.

 

 

Beautiful.

Littlest and I went out for a quick spot of shopping and the obligatory cafe visit on Saturday. We found a mirror in a charity shop, just right for her bedroom.

(Don't look at the heinous state of our skirting and floorboards.)

This is me today.

The lollipop lady looked askance at my double tights action this morning, and said it was migraine-inducing...

Bloody cheek.

What do you think?

I used some fabulous tapestry fabric I bought ages ago from a charity shop to make another bag. I had to use the lining to extend the straps, but I rather like the effect.

If you are wondering why I am making so many tote bags - there's only so many I can use, after all - I am trying to perfect my technique so they are good enough to be gifts or maybe to sell at our school Christmas fair.

Trouble is, anything I make always has a touch of the wonk about it. Which I don't mind, but other people might...

See? 

 

Polished and professional... not so much.

 

 

 

But I do have a fine sense of the ridiculous and the ability to laugh at myself, and those are skills of which I am proud, even if the sewing isn't up to much.

1970s D L Barron maxi dress (neckline altered by me), 1960s stainless steel star ring and pendant - flea market

Beret, cardigan, shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Sunglasses - Ebay

Green beaded bracelet - swap gift from dear Sacramento

 

This dress continues the Art Deco theme from my previous post, the print has that look about it.

 

 

And though I am slightly camouflaged among all the greenery of the garden, I still intend to be visible over at Patti's this Monday!

Hope you had a good weekend, filled with the things you like. 

 

xxxx

Friday on my mind

It's Friday; how did that happen so quickly?

Not that I am complaining, Friday night is family dinner out or takeaway night, so we all look forward to that. None more so than me, I get sooooo tired of the relentless treadmill of cooking.

I wish I liked it more, or felt more inspired...

 As it is, the thought of a curry and a beer later is perking me up no end!

I had my hair cut this week.

I do so love the banishment of the grey roots and the swingy feel of a good haircut!

The shorter fringe and more precise bob, accompanied by the chevron skirt, and my new-to-me Art Deco-esque shoes and necklace, give a rather 1930s look.

Top, 1970s midi skirt, fishnet tights, bangles and shoes - charity shopped

Belt and necklace - retail (sale)

Vintage sunglasses - Ebay

So gorgeous!

(Sources here, here and here.)

Green shoes, £3.50.

Cherry blossom in my garden, priceless.

Sticking with the black and white theme, this was me yesterday.

I feel a bit like Madonna in the video for True Blue when I wear a 50s-style dress over leggings, but I went with it.

 I forgot my chiffon scarf, most remiss of me.

I pottered around Chesterfield flea market as usual, just because it's there and I can, and came home with a few bits and bobs for a whopping £3 spend!

Return to the Pool, a Vernon Ward print - 50p

1950s glass jug - 50p

Two 1960-70s stainless steel rings - £1 each

Charlie's tail just made it into shot there.

He is in disgrace. He is a killing machine, we have had a steady supply of dead rats, birds and squirrels lately. 

I bought a collar with a bell for him, but couldn't bear to watch his abject misery and distress as he tried desperately to get it off, so I gave in and removed it myself. 

The bloodshed will doubtless continue, and there will be other shouts of "Muuuum! Charlie's got a squirrel and he's eating its head!" from my appalled-yet-fascinated kids.

I can't keep an eye on him all the time, I've got things to do!

Like making another reversible tote bag.

Fabric (1960s curtains and remnant) from the flea market and a charity shop.

1980s-does-50s dress - Ebay

Shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Red floral bangle - gift from darling Tania

Necklace - gift

Leggings - jumble sale

Whatever you are doing this Friday, do it in fine style, ladies!

xxxx