Hello hello!

I'm still alive, promise! 

I haven't disappeared, my heads just been full of Christmas crochet projects, clear-outs  trying to sort out my life, tailoring courses, oh and a whole career change and adjusting to a new job. Hectic indeed, but I'm glad to say I've come out the other side feeling slightly more organised and perhaps a little more on top of things again. Fingers crossed anyways!

I've got so many exciting things to share with you, and can't wait to get things properly going next year. I'm toying with the idea of setting up some sort of crochet-y project on the side to see if I could actually make a go of it and earn some extra pennies. Still in the planning stages, but it will be along the lines of vintage inspired crochet accessories and clothing....ooooh! But here's a little sneak peek at what I've been making these last weeks:

I've also successfully passed my Occupational Psychology course, woop! My first effort at distance learning.

I've also spotted myself in the November issue of Vintage Explorer, thanks to the lovely feature on local vintage Photographer Mat Keller. This photo was taken a few years ago, how I wish I could stay 22 forever, hah. Also spotted a lot of familiar faces I didn't realise were also part of the SouthernRetro.com project, wonder who of you will be next?

Due to the lack of posting, there are also a lack of pictures from recent outfits. I keep taking the camera along and then completely forgetting about it. I'll just have to get all dressed up again and take some pictures, what a shame, heheh.

Thank you for all your lovely comments while I've been away in lala-land, they mean so much to me and remind me of why I do this blog, and why I shouldn't let it slip. I've been asked for a few tutorials, so while I have some time off over Christmas I shall be posting a handful of hair styling how-to's as well as a few crafty ones. Keep your peepers peeled!

And the best news of all? I've hit the 100+ followers mark in my absence, how amazing!! Thank you to each and every one of you who has stuck by me throughout, and I look forward to a busy blogging future. To mark this grand occasion  I'm putting together a little thank you hamper which I will share with you for the next Give-away competition. 

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Give-Away Winner Announcement!

Evenin' All!

 

 

Thank you all for your messages and to those who will be joining me with the Sunday Best campaign. I think this will be a great, and hopefully we'll get some more fellow bloggers involved in the future.

 

Don't forget, let me know when you put any posts up and I'll have a monthly round up! I have to admit, doing it every Sunday isn't as practical as I was hoping, but I did get all dressed up yesterday, so I'll share with you shortly :)

 

 

Without further Ado, using one of those online random generator thingys, the two winners of the fascinators are.....

 

Georgia at The Life and Times of a Vintage Ecentric- Green

 

 

Wendy at the Butterfly Balcony - Pink

 

 

Please could the two lovely winners get in touch with me via email at emma.c.collier@gmail.com so I can pop them in the post for you asap!

 

Thank you again everyone and I look forward to the next round!

 

Much Love from Brighton,

 

L.J.

xxx



The Sunday Best Campaign & Give-Away!

Due to the lovely comments I've been receiving on digging out my Sunday Best, the thought came to me, why don't we try to start our own little campaign to spread the love of Stylish Sundays?

I recently wrote about one of the problems I have with my wardrobe. I keep finding beautiful dresses in flea markets and boot sales, but cannot find an occasion to wear them. Too nice to wear for an everyday normal day, but not quite evening wear. So they started gathering dust at the back of my wardrobe, looking at me longingly, saying 'wear me! wear me!' but I can always think of a reason why they just wouldn't suit. Enough of the excuses I say, they deserve to be worn and seen, and why do I have to have a reason anyway? We all used to get dressed up in our Best for Sundays, every Sunday.



I know I'm not the only one out there. I've had this conversation with the girls many times. These beautiful dresses shouldn't be hidden away any longer. Lets go back to those days gone by when everyone would dust off their best and bust it out for all to see on Sundays.

 So without further ado, for all you lovelies out there who expressed a want to do this yourself, why not spread the love. To mark this grand occasion, I have put together a little campaign poster for you to take away and stick up on your own blog, facebook or whatever tickles your fancy, and see how far we can take this! Let me know if you post up pictures of any of your Sunday Best ventures, as I will be having a monthly round up of anyone who decides to participate.

To get you started, and to also celebrate a personal milestone of 90+ followers, I'm combining the launch with a home-made Give-Away prize!

For your consideration we have 2 prizes up for grabs. I have put together some fascinators which are looking for a new home. Home-crafted and featuring feathers, crochet edging, pom-pom's and flowers, I think these would make the perfect topping to any Sunday Best outfit!

One in Pink:

And one in Green:

And here's me pulling silly faces while showing one off in the patio:

On to the rules of the game. I shall try to keep it quite simple, not done this before! The condition of giving away two are: 0-10 entries = 1, which the winner may choose or 10+ = both, so 2 winners.

Rules:

1. Comment below that you want to take part, and please mention which one you'd prefer!
2. Join me on Facebook HERE

and an optional:

3. If you do join the campaign for Stylish Sundays, please do put the poster up on you blog, and if you do, let me know and you get a 2nd entry to up your chances :)
 

So join me fellow bloggers! Whatever motivates you, lets bring back the wearing of our Sunday Best, and let's see how far we can spread this!

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

And the Winner is......

 Miss Tami Lee!

Congratulations and hope you like the dress :)

Thank you to all of you for your suggestions and comments, I really appreciate them and feel a new wave of inspiration for the Blog!

Tami, if you send me your address I will pop this in the post for you on the weekend, my email is emma.c.collier@googlemail.com

See you all soon with new posts and a soon to be revamped Blog!

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

PS - watch out for another Give-Away real soon, been having a look through my closet and have found another little beaut in need of a new, better fitting home.

Vintage Dress looking for a loving new Home, for FREE!!!

Hello my pretties!

I have a lovely silvery gem of a dress hiding in my closet ready to give away today. It has been waiting for the day my arms will shrink and I will actually be able to wear it without fear of splitting the seams on the arms....alas....I have given up that fight now and have come to accept that my chubby little upper arms shall never fit in this beaut, so I have decided that it deserves a better home than I can offer.

Now I know it doesn't look like much, but trust me, once you slip this baby over your head, you will KNOW why I bought it. It is a super sleek, silky curve hugging wiggle dress. I would guess it is probably around 1940's, judging by the cut, the metal zip, and the home made shoulder pads, but there is no label, and it is hand made, so you're guess is probably better than mine!

It is made of a lovely silk (don't quote me on this, not a fabric specialist, but it looks and feels like a silk), has darts all up the back from the waist line, and on the sleeves to shape them, and a sash that comes from the front section and pulls to the back around the waist to tie in a nice big bow...or whatever wonders you can create!

It is clean, does however need a bloody good steam (I'm too scared to trust the iron after a previous accident) and has no rips or tears. I know it really doesn't look much on a hanger, but you are going to have to trust me on this one. I love it, and really don't want to part with it, but to be honest, it gets more and more depressing every time I try it on. Damn my chubby arms!

It's a 28" waist, but if you want more measurements, please just shout and I'll pop them up. 

Now, this beaut can be ALL YOURS ABSOLUTELY FREE!!

All I ask in return for this dress is a bit of feedback. Since I took a few months off blogging due to health reasons, I have lost my way a little and cannot think of what to blog about next. So my question is, what would you like to see here in future? What have you enjoyed reading, and what not so much? All comments are welcome, both good or bad! 

I will then pick out a 'winner' at random on Thursday and will pop this in the post to the lucky one on the weekend.

So Girls, lets go go go!

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

50 Followers Give Away!!!

Greetings All!

I have (*nearly*) reached 50 followers, and as promised, have put together my VERY FIRST GIVE AWAY!! I'm rather excited about this :)

So to celebrate my first big bench mark, and to say thank you to all you who have been following my happenings-on.

Without further ado, up for grabs to one lucky winner will be:

It consists of a lovely white straw hat, modelled by my glamorous assistant Mr Pineapple, with a little white rose on the back:

A set of stockings, wrapped individually in a light tan colour, which I picked up in their originaly box. In total, there are 10 single stockings: great for when you ladder one, you have enough spares to keep you going! Label say are a size 11, but as you vintage ladies know, this isn't shoe size! I would say about a medium?

Tanned leather strap bag, with pretty embossed detailing on the front, with pockets inside! Perfect for a trip round town, wearing your nice new hat and stockings!

So on to the rules: 

If you aren't already, become a follower, then simply comment below! Simples :)

The winner will be picked at random, and will be announced on Friday next week, so keep your eyes peeled!

Good Luck!

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx