Oh I do love to be beside the Seaside!

I do love Brighton Beach, but sometimes it's nice to head along the coast to the less touristy parts of our beautiful Sussex Coast. 

Having worked in Worthing for 5 years up until a recent change in career, I forgot how much I love the more rustic and old-school seaside town it is. Lancing is just round the corner, and on a recent charity shop hunting trip, the Mister and I decided to finish the day with a stroll along the promenade, and a spot of posing with the fishing boats...as you do!

On a windy day like this, headscarves are called for!

You will very rarely spot me in jeans, these are the only pair I own, but am looking to invest in some new ones. If anyone has managed to find some perfect jeans, please do tell! I have spent years on the look out to no avail.

I've also been messing about and experimenting with hair-do's a little more after having picked up a few tips from the Vintage Hair Lounge. Would highly recommend you pay them a visit if you ever get the chance, they are a lovely duo and have so much knowledge to share, very inspirational! I shall be posting up a picture tutorial very shortly as requested :) thank you for all your lovely comments!

On a hint from a charity shop manager in Shoreham, we made our way to Green House in Lancing, the most humongous charity shop I have ever had the luck of coming across. Jaw dropping stuff, the place was an actual warehouse and was stuffed to bursting point with furniture, bric a brac, clothes and an amazing haberdashery section to boot. Not only that, but they were selling some 70's G-plan-esque furniture from £20!!!! If we only had room in our little den... 

Go bag yourself a bargain!

Much Love from Lancing,

L.J.

xxx

Pussycat Pussycat, Where have you been?!

...I've been up to London to visit the Queen.

Well....not really (but I do wish!)....haha! 

A very belated Happy New Year to all, and an even more so belated Merry Christmas! 

I decided to put down the keyboard over the festive period so I could crack on and get the mountain of presents finished, and then just enjoy and indulge myself. I'm happy to report this plan was a great success, however many a box of chocolates have had to offer themselves up and are no longer with us ;) well worth it!

Christmas was spent with my nearest and dearest, and I have to admit, I was itching for them all to open up their presents, this was after all my very first home made Christmas! Stupidly, I failed to take pictures of 99% of the presents I made, so cannot share them with my lovely readers :( sorry. Will do better next year.

I absolutely loved making everyone's presents, and have learnt a few lessons for next year:

Leave more time for completion

Vary the crafting techniques (not everything has to be crocheted!)

Plan further ahead and prep. I have leftover bits and bobs coming out my ears!

However, one present I can share with you is what I made for the little furry ones in my life. I realised none of them had their own stockings, so of course it was my duty to make them, and stuff them full of home baked dog biscuits. Of course the cat didn't miss out, she got catnip instead (very funny!). So here is one of them, made for Charlie Beagle:

I was so happy with how these turned out, and they loved them just as much, as Maisy can prove. I'm thinking of making a few of these for the local dogs trust.

Now normality has returned, I fully intend to make a come back to the blogosphere; it brings me so much joy writing this blog, and how I have missed it so.

Much love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

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

A furrrry Sunday Best

Another sunny Sunday, another Sunday Best!

Winter has most certainly arrived, I opened the curtains this morning and had the very first frost of the season, so what better way to prepare for a day out walking than wrap up warm with layers of wool, petticoats and fur :)

We took a stroll into town along the seafront to blow off those cobwebs (quite fitting this weekend, nay?), and in-between rain showers and sunshine managed to take a few snaps.

This jacket is starting to make a lot of appearances on the blog now the weather has turned, and still has to be my favourite item of clothing. If I haven't mentioned before, this is a 1940's Cyril A. Castle Saville Row Suit jacket, and I have the matching skirt! Woop! Gloat much.....sorry! ;) This time however I've teamed it up with a 50's floral tea dress, padded out with 2 layers of petticoats for added warmth, white jumper and fleece tights (hallelujah Primark, finally something I actually needed!).  

A little on the controversial side perhaps, but I'm not ashamed to admit that yes, the fur that I am wearing is real. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I am completely against the 'production' of new fur, but don't see why that should mean that vintage fur should be left to be eaten by moths in a darkened cupboard. What's your opinion on the matter?

I also finally got around to dying my hair again this week, long overdue indeed but I am totally in love with being a fiery red head once again. If only this could be my natural colour, hah. Pinned up at the front in swirls and in a big birds nest at the back, one of my recent favourites.

And of course Charlie had to join in and wear his Sunday Best. This is a made-by-me coat I rustled up in time for last Christmas. There were two, one for Charlie and one for his brother Buster (RIP), they're fleece lined, with a waterproof inside layer, their 'family' tartan and finished off with green pipping and their initial embroidered on the fleece collar. Sure to keep old Charlie warm in the coming months, and sure to attract plenty of attention from passers by. I think Charlie got more comments than either the Mister or myself! The people of Brighton sure do love a beagle in a coat heh.

I see quite a few fellow bloggers have now joined me in the Sunday Best Campaign, and I'm loving seeing all the effort you've been going to to crack out your Sunday Best, no excuses needed! Please do remember to let me know when you've posted up a Sunday Best post so I can start creating a monthly round up of all your frilly frocks, looking forward to it!

1940's Suit Jacket - Martlets Charity Shop, Brighton

1950's Brown Floral Tea Dress - Upper Gardner Street Flea Market, Brighton

Fur Ear Muffs - Christmas present

Fur Headband - Pop Up Vintage, Hassocks

Fur Collar - Brighton Marina Car Boot

Vintage Glass Bead Necklace - Brighton Marina Car Boot

Yellow Fleece Tights - Primark

1950's Floral Umbrella - Seaford Flea Market

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Vintage Caravaning

I have a secret dream of one day doing up the old 70's caravan that's been left neglected on the Mister's Mums drive and hook it up to Tilly the Triumph and spend a few weeks travelling around the British countryside....

 

And after spending an afternoon a few weekends ago in a middle of a field with lots of fellow classic car lovers, I found myself some inspiration. Check this baby out. It is the blue version of what I imagine will be our brown set, so it matches with our brown Triumph 2500.

 

I'm hoping for a dry winter so we can get started on it this year, and then start exploring in the spring. I am in love.

 

 

I asked the owners if I could pop my head in and take some pictures, but I don't think they were prepared for quite the amount of squeaking and squealing which ensued. I got rather excitable! heh!

 

The interior was AMAZING. They've collected bits and bobs over the years for the caravan to kit it out, and all they had to do was give it a bloody good clean as the interior was still spotless! I know ours will need a lot more work than just a quick clean. I'd love to have ours like this one one day :)

 

And just look at this tea set!! I want it I want it now! It's just too cute, matching caravan tea set..whatever next?!

 

Does anyone else have a hidden love for caravans? Got one hidden away in your backyard? After staying at Vintage Vacations last summer, I think next summer will be the christening of our very own caravan :) Let the travelling begin!

 

 

Much Love from a field in Sussex,

 

 

L.J.

xxx

Puzzling Away

Sticking to the theme of classic cars, I managed to pick up an old puzzle in one of the charity shops in Shoreham a few weeks ago. Finally finished it, but only to discover quite a few of the pieces were missing.....

 

Does anyone have any tips how I could maybe scan in the box lid and make up the missing pieces?! I'd love to stick it in a frame, but unfortunately the missing pieces are in rather obvious places! Grrr!

 

 

Much Love from Brighton,

 

 

L.J.

xxx

Experiments in Vintage Crochet - Part 5

Strictly speaking, not exactly vintage corchet, but crochet none the less!

I've started branching out from cardi's now...5 of them are enough for the time being, heh. and with Christmas a few months away, I'm trying to crack on with some present making. First up, and because the recipient of this is only a wee one and unable to read the blog, I've made a crochet unicorn pillow friend!

If you want to give it a try yourself, the free pattern can be found right here

I'd say this is a very good beginners project. It was a lot simpler than I thought, and only used double and triple crochet stitches with very easy to follow instructions for the increasing and decreasing. All pieces were made in the round which was an interesting and very fast way of making this up.

I've shown a few people these pictures and already being asked to make more for other people. think I'll be a bit busy for the next weeks!

The body was made in the round in stripes until you have a square, sew up one side, stuff or insert a pillow, and then sew up the other side, simples!

The head is then started with a straight line in the snout, which you then start working around in as circle again, increasing and decreasing as you work your way up.

Then it's ears in a petal shape, sewn onto the head with a cone for unicorn stuffed up first.

And a mane of dark green hair and tail to complete.

And all made up of leftover wool frm previous projects. A proper Stash Buster!

I'm so pleased with how this turned out. I've never actually made a toy out of crochet before, and it was so much fun! I think I might have to make one of these up for our sofa too :)

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx