1950's clip on's

Ever since going to the vintage fair a few weeks ago I have acquired a great liking for vintage clip on earrings.
I have always stayed away from buying vintage earrings because I couldn't face the thought of wearing something that has other peoples ear gunk on it (if pierced of course) and I've often found clips to be quite painful.
BUT I was wrong.
If you remember I bought a cute little pair of clip on's at the fair and I've worn them a few times and they're not bad so I took my self to eBay to see what other beauties I could get and I found these!
They are all dated around the 1950s but there was no definite date sadly.

 

I love these ones but sadly they have quite a few cracks and breaks so they shall be for show only. I'd hate to be the one to break them for good.

 

These are my favourite, they go with any outfit and look so glamorous.

 

And finally these which are so heavy they actually slip off my ears! But I wear them regardless (with the fear of losing one).

On a different note it's bitterly cold here in South Shields which can only mean one thing... It's time to get the hats out!

 

Till next time Folks,

Laura Lou x

It's Vintage Darling!

On Saturday myself and Hannah Potter took ourselves to the South Shields vintage fair held by local vintage shop It's Vintage darling.
It was a beautiful (if not cold) Saturday afternoon, perfect for bargain hunting!

 I was increadibly lazy and couldn't bring myself to make much of an effort so instead I did a cuttie patootie beehive instead.

I've always had this thing about taking pictures of blue Sky in case you were wondering why I had stuck these to randoms in here.
 Sadly I got so caught up in the atmosphere of the vintage fair that I forgot to take pictures! But I snapped a few of my purchases when I got home.
Here they are...

I somehow managed to fine a pair of earring, a broach and a spoon that all matched. I was thrilled I can tell you! The earrings are dated around the 1950s, sadly no one could tell me the date of the spoon and broach.

 

I picked this little beauty up for a few bob too, again undated sadly.

And this cameo chocker, apparently from the 50s but I think it may be dated a little latter than that.

Now this pin I was assured was for the 1950s, it came in it's original box and now has a special place on my shelf.

This vanity set was a bargin, I think it's late 1970s.

 

I also picked up this dress ring, it's fashioned on one of Marylin Monroe's peices.

Till next time Folks,

Laura Lou x

What I've Done Since Monday

Well...
On Tuesday it was the opening night of 'Allo Allo' at the Customs House theatre in South Shields starring my lil' sister Bethan!
I am incredibly jealous of her, she is playing Helga and gets to wear a fantastic costume AND she has a finger waved wig! The green eyed monster may just come and get me (in joke for some of my friends there).
On Wednesday I officially became a student! Well, it's only a night course but hey, I still get the discount so who cares!

 

Me looking disgruntled at my ID card.

But lets rewind to the beginning of the day! *imagines time going backwards* Some lovely little postcards have arrived!

The first one I shall show you is this. On the front is a picture of, and I quote 'The waterfall, Ashton Gardens, St Annes-on-Sea'

 

 The back reads (and I was very pleased with myself for figuring this out)...

'Dear Mother, we are enjoying it here, everyday has been lovely. Will be back Fri Aft about 4-35 so I can go to P.G. Love Madge xxxx'. Isn't it cute?

It was sent to a Mrs Lawson, Bramley, Station Road, Banks, Southampton.

See

I can even tell you the time and date it was sent and where from!

It's because I'm magic you see.... and it's stamped on the postcard :/

Lytham Stannes Lancs.

6.30pm

6th September

1945.

Now the second postcard isn't so easy to decipher, the writing is very odd and I think it may be sent by someone who's first language is not English.

 

'The River and Cathedral, Inverness'

 Okay, I will try my hardest tell you all the content of this postcard but don't hold your breath.

'Dear .... thanks so much for Pavuk(?) M.... safety  J is a little built v .... .... the saw. Hope this finds Z all well. Ra dist love to all I w... Z... l... a...

J.R'

Good lord that doesn't make much sense does it? If any of you can decipher that better than me please do give it a go. I'd love to know what it actually says.

I also sadly cannot tell you where it was sent but I can tell you where from!

Inverness

2.45pm 

11th September

1945.

 Anyhoo, the morning of Wednesday was a particularly cold one which called for a nice warm outfit (I know what you're thinking, a small dress! But I am wearing leggings and socks too).

And a coat.

And that brings us nicely to Thursday!

When me and mother took ourselves along to the theatre to see 'Allo Allo'.

I wore my vintage greens which you've all seen before, I teamed it with a cute little Peter Pan collar top I got from George at Asda and a red bowler hat.

I shall post separately about 'Allo Allo' and give it a little review (which of course will be five star because my sister is in it haha).

A (vain) close up of the hat (of me)

Till next time, 

Laura Lou x

A Bit of A Classic

I seem to be in collecting mode at the moment as I have acquired yet another antique. But this time it's a book. And a lovely one at that. I found it on my local British Heart Foundation store who have recently been selling antique books by the bucket load (I have already bought five from them but I though one more couldn't hurt). personally I have never heard of the title or author but I took  a liking to it immediately, it has some lovely illustrations and from what I have glanced at the story isn't all that bad either.
It is called Ruth Ravelstan by E. Everett Green, this edition was printed in 1907.

 

Until next time Folks,

Laura Lou x

Mirror mirror!

I was given a lovely little treat last week by my great aunt. Two vintage compact mirrors WITH powder still in them! I know, it's exciting isn't it!
I'm told that they belonged to my grandma's mother (my great grandma) when she was younger and I think they date from the 40s to the 50s.

Well, here they are. Feast your eyes!

 

This is the youngest of the two, it's a Yardley and I'm told it's from the 50s which is just far to awesome if you ask me. It's really beautiful and the fragrance left from the powder is wonderful.

This is the bottom on the compact, it has 'Yardley' engraved on it as you can see.

Now this one really is a treat

On the underside is says 'Peronia', I've done a little research but came up with nothing.

I was told that it was from the late 40s but I'm not too sure.

Lets take a peek inside...

 It still has the original powder press and the powder mind yo it gets everywhere so I have to open it as little as possible.

The both now take pride of place on my vintage display and they top it off nicely.

Laura Lou x

Say Cheese!

I recently acquired a small collection of old photos which I can't wait to show you all!
As I've told you all about a million times I LOVE anything  pre 1980 so it will come as no surprise to you that I did a small happy dance when I found this lot, it was like I had just discovered Aladdin's cave but instead of gold, diamonds and rubies it was full of small vintage treasures (that sounds like a pretty good idea of heaven to me).
I'm not sure why I'm so fascinated with old photographs, i think it has something to do with seeing how people really lived and what they looked like. Having an insight into how they really lived their lives.

 This lady strikes me as being rather well off.
We shall call her Ann simply because I can't find a name on the back of the photos.
The photo on the left looks like it was taken in the early 1920s or even slightly before and I think the one on the right is more of a late 20s early 30s shot.

               More of Ann. Now these were most definitely taken in the 1920s, the fur stole and the cloche hat are far too much of a give away.

This isn't a very good photo of a photo (my camera wouldn't focus no matter how hard I tried) but this is Ann again. I would say due to the fact that the photo is on card with the boarder around the edge and her clothes that this could possibly be a late Edwardian shot.

This is the last of Ann's shots. This is actually a postcard photo, it's a lot bigger than this in real life. On this shot you can only see some of the garden but honestly it's beautiful. I love overgrown meadows and wild flowers so I'm insanely jealous of Ann right now.

Now I am almost certain that this chap is Ann's husband. He is now called Clive (I think it suits him). He's very smartly dressed is he not? I think these photos were taken around the same time as the one of Ann on the beach... it's pretty obvious why that thought springs to mind is it not?

 

Sadly this is the last photo I have of Clive. A slightly more casual look for him, I'm loving the tennis racket though.

 

Ah now this woman is in a few oh the photos too. I think she may be somehow related to Ann, they both have a heavy brow and the face shape is similar. I have decided to call her Grace, another fitting name I think. Also i just adore that car. I think this one may be from the 1940s.

 

Here we have Grace at the beach, a pebble beach if I'm not mistaken. I'm totally digging her style, that bathing suit is so cute. It's odd how that was normal for her but if someone wet to the bea\ch in that nower days they'd be said to be dressing old fashioned, no?

The photo on the right I think is Grace but something in my head is telling me that it could maybe be Ann. I'm not sure but I think it's a lovely photo. Her facial expression and her body language have a very dramatic effect.

And now I have some service men for the ladies ;)

On the back of this photo is says 'Dick England'. Now I'm not sure if that's his name or if they just missed the comma off and it's meant to read 'Dick, England' as is his country... I don't know.

First world war and second world war. I love the difference between the two uniforms.

This Young woman is called Joyce, well that's what it says on the back of the photo. Sadly I cannot tell you the exact date because even though it was stamped on, the end number has rubbed off but it is definitely from 1940- something.

 This photo has no name or date but it has a lot of hair! good Lord it must have taken her a while to set that!

And last but not least is this handsome devil.

I would love there to be more photos of this guy, he just looks so unbearably cool! Again no name or date but judging by his shirt and jacket I would say early 1930s.

I think if I'd of been around when this guy was i would probably have fallen in love with him hehe.

Hope you've enjoyed these snaps folkies.

Laura Lou x