A nice new Shop in Aylsham

Last Saturday my friend Julie opened a gorgeous new shop in Aylsham (on Red Lion Street), Norfolk. Filled with locally sourced goodies mostly handmade things. Great for unusual gifts, gorgeous handmade jewellery (I’m taking about her jewels, I’m much too modest to sing Butterflies & Hurricanes praises) but we so have some nice things displayed there too. She also has bags and dresses made with vintage fabrics to painted T-shirts and baseball boots. Vintage inspired and made products make up lots of the loveliness from teacup candles & cupcakes to up-cycled chairs covered in a resplendent mix of fabrics.

Other reasons to visit Aylsham. Well you really need more that one reason to visit somewhere what with the price of fuel and the carbon footprint to consider.

There is a lovely tearoom called the Tea Rooms or something suitably similar! Good for morning coffee and a cheese scone or homemade cakes yum. A nice clothing boutique called Blossom & Green and a wonderful toy shop with really different toys, gifts and learning games.

It’s worth a browse in the charity shops too, nice for little vintage finds. I purchased a working Singer sewing machine for £12.00 in one and a Day Birger et Mikkelsen black silk dress (brand new) for £15.00.

After a little light shopping and lunch, there’s always Blickling Hall just down the road which has lovely gardens to walk around, tea rooms and the house is pretty impressive too.

Also Holt is just a few miles away with plenty more cute boutiques if the shopping bug has bitten. And that’s where I ended up and bought the ball dress & evening coat from my previous blog – like I needed either. Oops he he xxx

Vintage Viewings

If I'm honest, I'm not really a fan of Sundays. Too close to Monday & being back at work. Plus unless it's sunny and spent with friends then it's often chores day. Today is that such day.

Bored of shuffling paperwork & not really achieving very much I decided to see what's on TV. Ahhhh Agatha Christie's Marple, nice bit of easy viewing usually with at least one pice of eye candy, a beautiful and stylish woman with clothes to die for, vintage sports cars and beautiful properties. That and a 1/2 bottle of vino should keep the boredom at bay for a wee bit.

Onto better things, yesterday afternoon I wandered over to Holt and popped into a fabulous little vintage / antique clothing shop called Past Caring. The sad news is that it's closing for the summer, the lovely ladies are after a break & why not. The good news is that there were bargains to be had. I'm a sucker for ball dresses, I already have a 1950's one in eau de nil that wants altering.. sorry Mum but I bought another - this is mesh net again but in pale blue. I think it needs a little something on the bust & the over the shoulder train needs playing with.... oh and I need a Summer ball or two to go to. All minor details.

I also decided on a late 1950,s / early 60's black Satin evening coat. I thought it might go with a beautiful dress that I got from the lovely Emmie which is about the same period I think. I wore this to the Goodwood Revival last year & wasn't quite as warm as I pretended I was! I did manage to pop on a champagne cloak later though ha ha - much classier than a beer coat!!

Anyway I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and treated yourself to something nice xx

Walking on Sunshine!

yipppeeee it's sunny!!

I love the sun, it makes me smile.

I've also treated myself to some nice things this morning - bribing myself is what it's come to!! I have a friend opening a shop in Aylsham next Saturday & I have things to make, finish, price tags to add.... not that it's not nice chores, although I get get the vacuum out earlier (shudder). That's up there with ironing.

Sooo my treats so far were freshly ground coffee, two mugs which will make me bounce like tigger! And poached eggs on toasted muffins with watercress. Never added that before but it was lovely, I guess it's not a million miles from spinach & that's so yummy with eggs & hollandaise sauce.

Anyway I just wanted to say that I hope it's sunny wherever you are - even if it's just sunny in your heart. Have a wonderful Friday (I love Fridays too).

Gosh I'm lovely dovey today - blame the sun for getting the serotonin going!! Hope I didn't make you want to vomit!!

xxx

tea and a nice bit of crumpet!!

Popped into Norwich on Saturday to check out Norwich Fashion Week. Saw some splendid 1950's hair styling at Goldfinches Vintage shoppe and then pootled up Lower Goat lane to squeeze in a bit of light window shopping. (The bank balance is not looking so good but it 's rude not to check out the delights of the lanes boutiques).

We popped into a Biddy's Tearoom - a nice little vintage styled tearoom which was rather nicely done up. It was the perfect spot for an afternoon tea with friends. It had a lovely feel to it and made me want to get dolled up for future occasions - perhaps a bit of courting with a genteel stroll about town afterwards!!

Anyway RetroChick already blogged a very nice piece about this sweet little cafe, complete with photos. I simply can't out do it! :)

Do check out her website for finding on all things gorgeous, vintage and fabulous in the Norfolk & Suffolk area.

Anyway back to the tearoom.... It's really worth a visit and of course you must force yourself to try some home baked cake yuuum!! You never know, you might even spot a nice bit of crumpet there too!!

Happy Valentines x

Well I was at a lovely Vintage Fair yesterday selling emergency Valentines cards to plenty of people who had forgotten all about it!

We made up a variety of vintage image cards from Victoriana grandeur to 1950's kitsch. This image is one of my favourites & I dropped on into one of my girlfriends letterboxes yesterday. She really does wear the craziest hats!!

Anyway last night I took the boyfriend to the Jonathan Wyatt Big Band concert where we were treated to some fabulous Glenn Miller tunes & some incredible singing from the Moonglow Sisters who were doing Andrews Sisters songs. It was brilliant but sadly there was no room for dancing - shame as I was hoping to practice, lord knows I need to before the summer events.

Anyway this evening a few of my lovely friends are meeting up to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's at Cinema City. I can't wait as I love this film so much and I've never seen it on the big screen.

Wishing you all a rather splendid Valentines day, I love you all xxxx

Valentines - Dead Romantic or Utterly Rancid?

Ok, I need help… hummm most people who know me would agree with that!! However what I really need help with is Valentines Day. I’m no romantic and would normally cast the day aside as an over hyped retail marketers dream. And also, if you have to have a day depicted to you of when you are supposed to be kind and spoil you partner it’s a sad shame. Kind, thoughtless acts are for all year round surely? Gosh I’m more of a humbug about this that Christmas ha ha

Ok I can make a card, just happen to be knocking up some vintage styled ones for a Vintage valentines fair I’m doing… ok so that’s done. I can easily find something nice to write as he’s such a sweetie (he he luckily he rarely reads my blog as sweet is like cute in his book – reserved for kittens and cupcakes!)

I had a scan on a vintage events website/blog for the Norwich area and found a Jonathan Wyatt Big Band event. Should be set for a good bit of old style music. I profess to know nothing, other than what I like. – I grew up with Glen Miller, not literally obviously!!

Anyway I shall already be vintaged up from the daytime event so a bit more red lippy & some heated roller action (if there’s time) and a glass or two of pink champagne (ok probably really cava) and I’ll be ready. I also can’t dance to music pre 1950’s so I should thoroughly out of my depth – especially as the boyfriend like to show off his dance moves. I’ll get him back at anything playing dance music – he’d be like a deer in the headlights ha ha.

Anyway I’ve been babbling on & I’m not even on the wine. What I was hoping any advice on how to be romantic – I looked on Amazon some time ago ha ha but I value friend opinions over some smug book writing advice giving couple.

What lovely things are you doing for Valentines? I imagine that you are all fun, fabulous, thoughtful types 365 day of the year.

Well it’s not that often that I visit the cinema. I’m not very good at sitting still for long and generally prefer to be able to pause a movie for a quick admin break – ok to refill the wine glass.

Anyway Norwich has a gorgeous little place called Cinema City. The cinema & restaurant / bar is set in an old Merchant Hall – it’s a fabulous setting. It makes for a polar opposite experience from the big chain cinemas. It’s friendly, cosy, warm & comfortable. They sell Green & Blacks choc late, posh ice cream as well as encouraging you to take in wine or cocktails – in real glasses. We saw Sex & The City 1 all glammed up with a Manhattan for refreshment & to get us fully into the mood!

Anyway I digress… this time we went to see Black Swan in case the visual clues hadn’t been enough!! I completely loved it!! I was drawn into it as much as my co-viewers appeared to be. There were quite a few gasps & giggles when we jumped at the thrilling and unexpected parts. The dancing was incredible. It’s a film I could easily see again if only to work out a few bits and be ridiculously envious of the talent of the ballet dancers. The acting was superb too and I could see why it’s up for so many awards.

It’s prompted a little flurry of cinema jaunts for me, thinking The King’s Speech is the next one on the list; that is unless anyone wants to see Black Swan … I could easily be persuaded!!