Re-covering the footstool

The footstool has been asking to be recovered ever since we were given it, but I am lazy when it comes to these things.

But I've been catching up on some much missed blog reading and feel rather inspred by everyone's projects. I'm really up for revamping a few bits and bobs around the flat now, and seeing what you're all doing for a bit of inspiration!

Here it is, looking very sad and stained:

It turned into a bit of an excavation through the lives of this poor footstool. Layer after layer of quick done jobs, which had done their time but for some reason were never removed...odd!

First we had the beaten up blue, then a layer of mish mash foam, super glued to...

...horrible sticky pink brocade. Off that came too. And then under that...

...the original orange-green fabric...no idea what you would call this but was like a thick wool weave. If only it wasn't so beaten. I decided to cut it off, stick it through the wash and see if I could re-use it somehow in a different project.

Question for you: What the hell did they used to use as padding back then? Because when I took the fabric off, a huge pile of pink dust came out, like the padding had dissolved or something. And the weirdest thing was, when I went out to the patio the next day and swept it all into the bin, the slabs underneath were the cleanest they had ever been. What the hell was that stuff?!

Anyway, once I had cleaned it all off and unscrewed the legs, I put to work using several layers of wodding sewn together and some vintage fabric I picked up from a boot sale last autumn. I will get through my stash this year!

I got a bit OCD with matching up all the lines and making sure it was PERFECTLY straight, several times, but had to give it up a little after about the 10th time. But I like it very much :)

TA DA! The finished piece:

 

Now, any tips on what I could do to polish up those legs? I think they're veneered, so haven't the foggiest what to do. Paint them? Scrub them down and start again?

 

Thank you, any hints and tips much appreciated!

 

Much Love from Brighton,

 

 

L.J.

xxx

Raspberry Print Bargain!

Yesterday, the Mister and I, joined by Charlie Beagle, popped along to the Vintage Pop-Up Fair in Hassocks to see what bargains we could snap up. Mum and Dad tagged along, which was a new but very fun experience!

Mum and I took a Vintage Pattern Cutting class for a few days up in London at the V&A in February, and now Mum is on the hunt for some inspiration for a vintage style dress to make for me (I am a very lucky girl!). More posts on her progress on that, and I also want to show you what sewing projects I've been working on recently!

Anyway, back to the fair and our bargains. I managed to pick up 2 dresses, a mink headband, a 3 piece matching set of suitcases, and a little Beagle figurine.

One of the dresses had a super cute raspberry print, and means I can now clearout a few pieces I don't realyy wear anymore. I love this dress, and it is so comfortable to boot. The lady I bought this from said she has a few more pieces lying around at home and will email me some pictures to see if I'd like any of these too!

Looking a little rained on after taking Charlie out for his walk, but wanted to put it on right away anywyay.

This morning we got up bright and early to take part in a Classic Car Run around Sussex, and took the car out in the sunshine (we were very lucky as it only rained on as we drove home!)

Teamed it up with one of the Mister's jumpers to keep out the cold, and took the opportunity to pose on Tilly to show off the dress, and my bright green petticoat underneath!





Hope you all had a lovely weekend too. Anyone picked up any new treats? Or come across any new Vintage Events you'd recomend?

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx



In Loving Memory of Buster Beagle

Buster Boo very sadly and suddenly passed away this Saturday.

I am left with a big hole in my heart, as I am sure all those who knew him have as well. Even though he may not have been our dog, we loved him as if he were our own.

We have been lucky enough to enjoy the most amazing 4 and a bit years with Buster and his brother Charlie, and will always be greatful for the chance to be their aunty and uncle every weekend. Thank you Julia and Bryan, we have so many happy memories we will never forget. I know their whole family will be hurting right now, including Charlie, and I wish there was more I could have done.

You may have noticed photo's of the mischevious Beagles sneaking into a blog post here and there, but it is hard to explain what exactly these boys mean to me. We were part of their pack. I could spend days not seeing anyone and just being with them. They brought so much happiness to both mine and the Mister's lives.

 I still miss my own dog, Heinz, terribly, and the Beagles were there to comfort me. Now Buster has passed too, I know that Heinz will be looking after him, and Buster will be joining him in the Big Sniff in the Sky.

Those boys came everywhere with us. Many a Car Show...

 

...Afternoons lounging on the beach under a parasol...

...long walks through the countryside...

...and through the woods...

 

...galloping through the snow at Christmas with their cousin Bertie...

 

...and sleeping it off in the back of the car...Buster loved his hammock, and would snore for hours...

...on the subject of sleeping, he loved sleeping! Especially in random places, mostly in his trademark 'superman' pose! Seen here under the bed...

They have stayed with us at every flat I have lived in in Brighton, and never stopped enjoying all the smells in town. they would greet us when we came to pick them up, bounding up to the car and jumping up and stretching to reach us. It was like they were saying 'come on Em, we've been waiting aaaages! Let's go!'.

I think my favourite memories have got to be the curling up with them at night, and watching them slowly fall asleep with us.

However, there would be times where I would pop out quickly, and find them fast asleep on our chairs! Naughty boys!

 

And on another occasion, although we only have one chair in our bedroom now, Buster was too slow and Charlie would get there first. They were so full of character and I would frequently end up in fits of laughter watching them together.

 

...how could you not coo over these two when your greeted by this when you come home...

How many beagles can you fit in one bed?

As you know, they also let me have my wicked ways with them occassionally, by dressing them up! I even made them matching tartan coats with a wool fleece lining and their initials embroidered on the collar last Christmas. They were starting to feel the cold a bit so I wanted to keep them warm, and they looked very dashing indeed. I will have to dig out the evidence, they are so handsome.

Buster may have been naughty and stolen his fair share of cake over the years, but I would never have changed a thing about him. He was our Buster Boo and we will never ever forget him.

 

In Loving Memory of Buster Boo

1st April 2000 - 14th April 2012

Emma

xxx

The day I met Dame Vera Lynn

...and I this dress!

Sorry, no actually pictures of me getting to meet her were taken....stupidly left my camera at home!

So anyway, I met Dame Vera! I popped along with the Mister and the beagles to the grand opening of the new Vintage Tea Rooms and Shop in Hassocks, just 20 mins up the road from Brighton, and 5 mins from my old school. Bridge House Boutique on the highstreet opened last Saturday, and was full of people waiting to get in. A  lovely little place, with a front courtyard to soak up some sunshine, and then nip into next door to find a little vintage shopping on hand. While having a rummage through the rails, I realised that I was standing right next to D.V. and hadn't realised because I was so distracted by this dress, a steal in my opinion at £30. I should have taken a close up though, the detailing is so fine and the fabric super soft.

I thoroughly recommend a trip up to have a look and a lovely cuppa, and overheard that, as they bake all their own cakes, if you have any dietry requirements, you can call them before you come and ask if they could make something for you. I will definitly be taking another trip up when it is slightly less crowded though. And while you're in the village, make sure to check out Rockinghorse Antique Market just up the road to the station, well worth it.

Forgot to mention, also bagged me a lime green dirndl style dress at the same time...hell yes!

Much love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Spring is Springing

And I've decided to come out of hibernation!

I seem to be terrible with keeping up with things in the colder months, as you can probably tell by the lack of posts and comments on fellow blogs for several months.

It's still a little chilly outside, and today was a stereotypical April Showers day, but as it happens, just as I stepped out of work at 4pm today, the clouds parted and I was basking in glorious, long overdue sunshine!

In recent news, I had about 5 inches chopped off my mop last week, and feel like a new person! I really thought I wanted long hair, but it was starting to stress me out, do any of you girlies ever get that? Waking up sleeping on your hair, trying to curl up with the Mister and him then lying on my hair, inevitable ending in a few screeches on my behalf, and the most annoying of all....your hair getting IN your food....yum, and so not cool. It was also getting too heavy to do much with, and as Cheryl Cole would say, it had become 'limp and lifeless'.

So off it all came! Yay!

I set my hair in curlers 2 nights ago, and actually really like how it looks when it just has a little curl left, and now with the cropped 'do, I feel much more motivated to actually put in my rollers; it was such a mission with long hair. As it was a windy rainy day, I thought it best to take a few snaps before I left for work this morning, at 6.40am...yawn!

One of the upshots of being a serial hibernator has to be the long dark evenings crafting away at home in our 'den'. That crochet blanket you see in the background, yes, made by me. I haven't actually finished it just yet, needs a few more rounds doing, so keep an eye out for some further posts on how that goes. Also been covering the footstool, digging out the sewing machine, and sketching away.

1960's knitted two-piece - Charity Shop in Hove

Cat Broach - Charity Shop in Uckfield

Shoes - *whisper it* Primark

Great to be back and look forward to catching up on some blog reading! Have missed it greatly but now we have a new laptop that, fingers crossed, wont be breaking any time soon.

Much love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx