Blog Update

Evening All!

As you may have guessed I'm still out of action and unable to touch a computer (typed up courtesy of the Mister as from now) but I thought I'd share with you what I have been up to of late, and being stuck at home watching daytime TV for the past 2 weeks has got my creative juices flowing once again. Unfortunately, I wont be able to be creative for quite a while (blame the NHS, I am still waiting to find out the date of the OP). So the only thing I can currently do, other than watching TV and procrastinating, is take pictures!

I am ashamed to admit it, but yes, I got excited when Bargain Hunt came to Lewes on TV! I think that just about sums up my life in the past month ;) heh.

So planned to be up on the blog in the next coming weeks will be:

Vintage Shoppers guide to Lewes

Vintage Shoppers guide to Bexhill

Art Deco Walking Tour of Brighton & Hove

London to Brighton Classic Car Run

The Vintage Party & Events Guide

All sewing projects, paintings, and crochet have been put on hold until the doctor says so, so I'm filling my time exploring the 'hood, and wanted to show you all the hidden gems in Lewes and Bexhill, two of my favourite places to find a bargain, so you too can go have a rummage!

I don't know if I've mentioned this previously, but I have a huge love of Art Deco since staying at Burgh Island in Devon for my 21st Birthday. As the Mister's birthday is only 2 days before mine, I splurged out and surprised him, packed up our vintage (matching) suitcases, and whisked him off to Bigbury-on-Sea, where the idyllic Burgh Island is situated. More on that some other time maybe. Anyways, since then, I have loved Art Deco buildings, and started realizing just how many there were on my daily route to work. So as soon as the sun decide's to return, I'm going to construct my own Art Deco Walk around Brighton, taking in as many examples as I can squeeeze in!

The London to Brighton Classic Car Run comes to Brighton next Sunday, so if you are about, come pop along! I can't wait :)

I recently attended a friends 30th Birthday, which she had themed 50s, and my parents happened to go along to a 1940's charity party. After I had a look round the web, I realised just how many vintage themed parties there are at the moment, and will share some of them with you and come up with a little 'What's on Guide'.

Hope everyone is well! I have managed to read quite a lot of fellow Bloggers posts, and learning a lot! Will post up some of my favourites very shortly. A huge huge thank you to you, I've really been enjoying it and you've been keeping my mind busy and happy :)

Much Love from Brighton

L.J.

xxx

Kristy Devine Photography - Part 2

Popped down to the beach with Kristy the other day as promised. More drinking and chatting was done than photo's, but she's been kind enough to send me this as a little taster:

Dress - Beyond Retro, Brighton

Parasol - Lewes Flea Market

Flower - some car show 3 years ago

Sunnies - Primark

Still resting up so this has to be all for now.

Much love from Brighton and hope to be back in action soon

L.J.

xxx

Learn to Crochet in Brighton, by Miss Amy Phipps

If anyone is about in Brighton next Tuesday, come along and join me at the Brighton Sewing Centre for Crochet for beginners

Hosted by my good friend, and very talented Miss Amy Phipps

I like to do a bit of Crochet myself, but am always blown away by Amy's creations, so cannot wait for her to finally teach me some tricks of the trade. One of her designs has recently been bought by Topshop and her work has been featured in Babiekins Magazine, so she is definitely one to watch. She's also got a blog going right HERE, showing off some of her many design ideas and creations, and interioir inspirations. Add to that the fact that she is one heck of a gal, why she's not already plastered across the front pages of Vogue I do not know!

High Fives Phipps!

Much Love from Brighton,

L-R - Miss Amy Phipps, Moi, Sophie, Louise and Ridder

L.J.

xxx

PS- it may be a while before I post anymore, as I might be having a little spell in hospital. That pain in my arm has turned out to be carpal tunnel syndrome :( no painting, sewing, typing or walking the dogs for a few weeks. I may need to dictate to the Mister though....

Cats with Thumbs

I just saw this on Channel 4 in the add break during the news and had to post it up!

Introducing...Cats with Thumbs:

could not stop giggling!

L.J.

xxx

Brighton Marina Boot Sale Bargains!

brI think I may have just found the best way to spend £11 on a Sunday Morning in Brighton. By making my way down to the Marina!

Every Sunday, the top floor of the Marina Car Park is turned into an Antiques and Car Boot Sale. People come from all over the place to sell their unwanted bits and bobs, and there are antique furniture dealers who come along on a regular basis too. Although prices are usually a bit higher than your regular Boot Sale, it is definitely worth paying a visit to.

Most times I come away with one or two small bits of clothing or jewellery, but I have come across an amazing Art Deco wardrobe a few weeks back, but no way of getting it home and I didn't have enough money on me at the time : ( alas, it went home with someone else! Lucky Bugger!

Yesterday, however, proved to be the best outing to the market so far! For the pricely sum of £6, I managed to bag 2 pairs of gloves, never worn, 15 pairs of stockings (you heard right, 15!!!), 13 of which were from a vintage multi pack, still in the box, aaaaand.... a replacement fox for the one that got eat by moths. I have named him T.C., after my very first cuddly toy which was also a fox. All from the same stall! They must have bought a job lot of stuff, as they had a pile up to my waist of old costumes and drama props.

A few stalls down, and about to head off as I thought I'd had my fair share of bargains for the day, I walked past something that looked like part of a spaceship...double take....a vintage hood drier!! I have been wanting one of these for ages but have never seen one and only ever found any online, so when the lady told me she wanted just £5 for it, and that it still worked, I had to have it! 

I've plugged it in and it does still work, and sounds as much like a spaceship as it looks! A bit of spit and polish, and I think she might turn out to be a real beaut : ) Sadly there was no stand, but I have already briefed Dad and informed him of his next project! Cannot wait to settle down into my seat by the TV with a book, gentle toasting away under my Hood! Maybe a celebratory whiskey will be in order?! 

Anyone found anything exciting at a Boot Sale recently?

Much love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Burlesque at the Regency

Last Sunday saw the opening night of Burlesque at the Regency, 'A Right Royal Hoot'.

As mentioned in my post, this was also my very first performance, and I was honoured to be able to lose my performance virginity with the amazing Miss Honey Moon by my side. 

Miss Honey Moon

Honey runs a Burlesque School, hidden away in the Regency Hotel on Regency Square in Brighton. I went along to her back in the summer, and had a little 'end of term' show, but I hadn't plucked up the courage to go out and perform afterwards. Then one day in March, up popped an email from Honey asking if I wanted to take part in her new event, a Royal Wedding After Party on May 1st. 

A few weeks later, and here you go! A reverse strip to Abba's 'Take a Chance On Me', getting ready for my 'wedding':

Thank you to the magnificent Vanessa and Aoife for being my bridesmaids, and for maid-ing the whole evening through! Couldn't have done it without them :)

Trixy Vixen then took centre stage as 'The Vicar' to conduct the ceremony, whereby I am seduced by the Vicar, and my 'hubby' is dragged off by the Maids of Honour. It was such a hoot!!

It was an amazing night, also featuring acts by Coco Deville, Therese Le Tease and Pandora Fox as the Queen and Kate, Miss Honey Moon and Trixy Vixen, and the Ophelia Fancy Girls also popped in for a show  of their new vintage inspired underwear.

A huge thank you to the Maids of Honour for all that they did, to James for slaving away in the kitchen to serve up some amazing treats, and to Honey Moon of course! Thank you for making my first performance such an amazing experience which I'm sure I shall never forget!

All pictures were taken by Tristan Glinski, to find out more about him and his work, visit his Website. Many thanks for taking such brilliant photos, they really captured the night!

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.
xxx

Outfit Post - Dress Down Day

This is my very first outfit post, so please bear with me!

I happened upon a lovely little blog yesterday, which you can find right here. I was reading through LandGirl1980's dilemma around the office 'Dress Down Day' outfit. I love wearing my vintage suits to the office, but they can feel rather OVER dressed on occasion, so I tend to keep them for the important meetings and client visits. Instead, most of the time I wear a dress and cardi combo, and sometimes, just sometimes...trousers! 

My Mum will tell you, I was always a tomboy when I was younger, and you'd physically have to pin me down to get me to wear a dress. Jeans were my life. But something changed a few years back. Now you will struggle to get me back into Jeans! I own just 2 pairs, and very few other trousers. 

So when it comes to dress down day, everyone in the office cracks out the jeans and jogging bottoms. I tried a few times to do the whole jeans thing in the office, but it just made me feel like I was taking the dog out. I either look put together, or a total scruffbag, and I don't tend to let the general public see the latter unless it's totally unavoidable.

So what to wear for dress down day at the office?

Voila:

Dress - Vintage, found in British Heart Foundation in Cheltenham

Cardi - Brighton Marina Boot Sale

Belt - Primark

Sunglasses - Betsy Johnson

Also took pictures of my hair. I bought the Vintage Hairstyling Book last summer, and so far have only got round to attempting a few, and this one is my usually quick go-to style when I've just curled my hair. I can't brush it out on the first morning after a set as it just goes MASSIVE otherwise, but I quite liker this one. I saw that Freelancer at Freelancer's Fashion Blog also used the same style from the book recently. Ok, her's has come out amazingly, mine a tad bit more scruffy! Maybe if I practised a bit more I could get it as gorgeous as hers :)

L.J.

xxx

Classic Car Shows - A Calendar of events to come this summer!

Finally got my act in gear and have made a list of all the car shows I intend to be visiting this summer!

There are far too many to name across the country, so I'm trying to keep it to ones along the South Coast, with a few further a field thrown in for good measure. Unless I can magic myself to being in several places at once, I am going to have to choose between shows on some weekends. 

 If anyone comes up with any I may have missed, please let me know! And if you have been to any and could make my life a little easier when choosing, let me know what you thought when you went please :) Always wanting to explore new ones and meet new people, and show off Tilly of course, heh!

Anyway, here it is so far. I've kept it to dates and places, if you want to find out more about any of them, there's a few sites I use, but Google generally does the job!

Maybe see you there?

Kustom Kulture Blastoff, Spalding, 2010

May

08.05.2011

London to Brighton MG Run - Madeira Drive, Brighton,

14-15.05.2011

Autojumble at Beaulieu

15.05.2011

London to Brighton Mini Run, Madeira Drive, Brighton

29.05.2011

London to Brighton 2CV Run, Madeira Drive, Brighton

June

4-5.06.2011

Retro Car Mania, Weston Park, Shropshire

05.06.2011

London to Brighton Classic Car Run, Madeira Drive, Brighton

12.06.2011

Stanmer Park Classic Concourse Sow, Brighton

12.06.2011

Bromley Pageant of Motoring

19.06.2011

International Customer & Hot Rod Day, Beaulieu

26.06.2011

Pure-Nostalgia, Classic Car and Retro Show, Rochford

30.06.2011

Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood

Eyeing up the Motors at Beaulieu 

July

1.07.2011

Britain by Bentley tour

03.07.2011

Boneshakers SE Annual Extravaganza, Berwick

03.07.2011

Heathrow Classic Vehicle Show, Heathrow

10.07.2011

Sussex Vintage and Classic Car Show, South of England Showground, Ardingly

19.07.2011

Bodiam Classic Car Show, Bodiam

22.07.2011

HEROS Summer Classic Reliability Trial and Tour, Beaulieu

22-24.07.2011

Silverstone Classics

24.07.2011

Amberley Classic Car Summer Picnic, Amberley

31.07.2011

Classics on the Rec, Shoreham

August

07.08.2011

Southern Classics Late Summer Show, Worthing Rugby Club, Angmering

21.08.2011

Retro Rides Gathering, Prescott Hillclimb, Gloucestershire

27.08.2011

Rudgwick Steam and Country Show, Horsham area

27.08.2011

Hellingly Festival of Transport, Broad Farm, Hellingly

28.08.2011

Simply Classics, Beaulieu

28-29.08.2011

Classic Car Show, Knebworth House

September

10.09.2011

Brighton Speed Trials, Madeira Drive

10.-11.09.2011

International Autojumble, Beaulieu

Ace Cafe Reunion, Madeira Drive, Brighton

16.09.2011

Goodwood Revival, Goodwood

25.09.2011

Southern Classics Autumn Show, Chichester College

October

01.10.2011

Brighton Breeze, VW Show, Madeira Drive, Brighton

November

06.11.2011

Veteran Car Run, Madeira Drive, Brighton

11-13.11.2011

The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Next on the To Do list is Vintage Shows and Boot Fairs, and I might start writting up about a few Vintage Shops I've visited outside of Brighton recently.

Much Love from Brighton,

a random Car Show at the Bluebell Railway, 2010

L.J.

xxx

Further Confessions of a Sewing Machine Junkie

This is starting to turn into a bit of a problem....both in the actual available space, but also the fact that I am finding it increasingly difficult to walk away from a sewing machine on sale.....Do they do 'Sewing Junkies Anonymous'? If not, I think they should! I know a certain someone who has been over doing it in the sewing department of late and could probably do with a visit, hehe. 

I've picked up a few more additions on recent outings I've been meaning to post up about. I always feel a little guilty when buying them, but as soon as I get them home, I just can't stop myself getting excited! Who's were they? What did they make with them? WHY did they get rid of it?? 

I am now counting down the days until I finally have my very own workroom (dream...) and can put them all up on display, ready to be pulled from the shelf and brought back to life :)

I've been very lucky in that all of the sewing machine's I've picked up over the years have worked and quite literally sing, but I also picked up a rather good manual that I am currently reading through and learning how to service my own machines, the old school way! Elly the Elna is currently rather poorly, so I have dug out the trusty service manual and have decided to (very carefully mind!) have a little tinker and try to bring her back to her old smoooooth self. Updates as an when, wish me luck she doesn't end up in hospital...GULP!!!

So here's the latest addition, my new Alfa:

I went to a car boot sale in the middle of nowhere, came across this in the first 5 mins....had a little think....told myself I didn't really have the room....and that I should be buying for the heck of it...but she was £5! How can you say no to £5?! Walked all the way around the HUGE sale....lots and lots of kids toys...and kids clothes...and general junk...stupidly passed up a massive Chinese fan...walked back and...oh no! he'd started packing up his van and was giving everything else on the tables away for free! Panic set in...the Alfa was no where to be seen.  WHY hadn't I snapped her up earlier?

He saw me having a look, and to my relief, he had packed her away! £5 later, and home she came with me :)

I'm struggling to find any info on the date of it etc, so if anyone knows or can point me in the right direction, please let me know! However, for now I have named her Romeo, can you tell I've been to another car show? More on that tomorrow!

Next up, we have another Singer to add to the choir!  This is a model 201K, from 1958, thought to be one of the last of the best ever produced by Singer. One of my favourite sites to visit to research old sewing machines can be found right here:

SEWALOT

Found at flea market in Seaford a few weeks back for £20. I can never believe how cheap these things go for and they still work! I mean, if you want to buy a good modern sewing machine, you have to fork out hundreds, and count in the fact that most are computerised, you can kiss goodbye home done services and expect to have to spend more dosh getting them fixed again. And modern sewing machines just don't have the same charm as these lovely ones. Yes, OK, modern ones are probably more reliable, can do more, and have an insane amount of settings, but still.... Old School for me please! 

Now this last little lovey is not actually mine. She has been given to me for safe keeping until she finds a new home. And that new home could be yours!! The only reason I myself cannot keep her is that she's slightly out of my price range right now. Sadly, cannot afford to keep her for now :( maybe one day!

Don't get me wrong, she will make a great investment to whomever chooses to belong to, and isn't really all that much, but if you are interested, just comment below and I'll be in touch :)

She's a Singer Featherweight 222k, and if you have a look here you'll see just what I mean. She is deemed as the best ever sewing machine made by Singer, and is highly sought after. One of the many features (plus the fact she's quite petite!) that got me excited was that there is an embroidery hoop you can attach to it, and do free hand machine embroidery! Now you can take inspiration from Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage and get crafty on your own designs!

If you want any more details let me know. She is in full working order. I have had her threaded up and sewing away, and is surprisingly quiet but quick! The light still works too, what a fab little thing.

Also, in recent news, we went down to Magnificent Motors in Eastbourne on Saturday! Aaaaaand....did my first burlesque show on Sunday!! *Squeal* So much fun!! Waiting to find some pics and then up they come :)     all the girls were amazing and cannot wait to show you!

Hope everyone has recovered from the Bank Holiday weekend?

Much love from Brighton,

Sneak at tomorrow's post!

L.J.

xxx