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

Jacknapped and beyond!

Busy, busy, busy!
That's what I've been folks... very busy.
As you know I have been playing the part of Scruff the dog in The Goblin Kings Revenge.
But before I tell you all about GKR I shall have to explain where the idea originated. It all started in 2011 with Jacknapped!
Jacknapped was a show that my theatre company, Bold As Brass, created. It was all about the inhabitants of Fairy Land... Little Bo Peep, Little red Rididng Hood, Lucy Locket , Georgie Porgy, Jack and Jill, The Gnomes (of which I was one), The Fairy Queen and The Goblin King.
The story went like this...
You’ve all heard the traditional tales; Jack and Jill went up the hill, Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep, and Little Red Riding Hood encounters a wicked wolf on the path to dear Grandma’s - but what happens when things go wrong?
A red hood suddenly vanishes, sheep fail to return from the meadow,
Jack mysteriously disappears before taking his tumble, to say the least.

Fairyland takes a turn for the worse as items all over are snatched and stolen by a mystery force, so it looks like it’s up to our quarrelsome gang of lively characters to find out exactly what’s happening and to get their missing objects back!
Follow them on their trek through Fairyland and help them to discover the truth, while making fun new friends along the way.

As it turns out it was the Fairy Queen that took all of the objects so she could get everyone in Fairyland on her side and over throw the Goblin King who had trapped her in the back of the fairy tale book and took over her Kingdom. The show ended with The fairy Queen victorious as she gained control of fairyland once more and gave the Goblin King a taste of his own medicine.

 The whole cast (minus the Goblin King)... Jack and Jill (played by my very own Bethan), The Fairy Queen, Lucy Locket, Red Riding Hood, Bo Peep and of course the Gnomes (I was Gnome 2... the best gnome)

(Left)The Fairy Queen imparting some wise words of wisdome to Jack, Jill, Red and Bo. (Right) the Gnomes on their way back from walking in a parade.

The Goblin King! I wish you could see the whole costume in this photo, it really is something special.

 

A rather flushed me pulling my Gnome face (which I was later told looked like a blow up doll)

 

The whole cast again, except this time I am dressed as Jack and Jill's mother.

here is a link to one of our reviews .http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/local-news/youngsters-bring-fairytales-to-life-1-3652041

Now We get to the latest from fairyland. 

The Goblin Kings Revenge! 

The story goes like this... 

If you seriously misbehave in Fairyland you run the risk of being banished to the back of the fairy tale book, where no-one gets to read your story because they've fallen asleep by that page! That has been the fate of the Goblin King...
But... He's Back!
With the aid of his newly discovered Troblins, the Goblin King is set to cause chaos in Fairyland, and he has Little Bo Peep, Red Riding Hood and Lucy Locket in his sights.
A red hood suddenly vanishes, sheep fail to return from the meadow, and a pocket disappears.
In order to avenge the Fairy Queen, the Goblin King puts our heroines under his spell.
Fairyland takes a turn for the worse as our quarrelsome gang of lively characters are captured by the dastardly King. Only one person can save the day, but will Old Mother Hubbard come out of the house?

I play Scruff, Old Mother Hubbard's dog who, much to my annoyance, isn't mentioned in the above. 

We go exploring with Jack and Jill to find out who has been causing all the chaos and it turns out to be the Goblin King who has magically gotten out of the book and been stealing peoples things. But not only that! The Goblin King Turns out to be Old Mother Hubbard's long lost son, Wee Willie Winkie.

All turns out well with a fairytale ending and we all go off and celebrate the Fairy Queen's Jubilee.  

Scruff the dog (me)

(Left) Jill, Jack and Scruff. (Right) the Goblin king, Red, Bo, Lucy, Jack, Jill And Scruff :)

And here we have the Fairy Queen telling Bo, Red and Lucy off for being mean to Jack and Jill.

Well I hope you've enjoyed this little insight to the hectic world of me. I will follow this up with a little post at the end of the show and tell you all how it went but for now, take care.

Laura Lou x

Just A Little Hi...

Okay folkies, the last week has been a very busy one for me, I have been doing this... Yes that is me dressed as a big fluffy dog. It's not just for kicks though. I am playing Scruff the dog in a show next week called The Goblin Kings Revenge!
The suit looks fantastic but it's terribly, terribly hot! and the amount I sweat in it (gross I know) makes it impossible to look even slightly vintage. *sad face*
I will blog a full post on the show and show you more pictures very soon... once I am not as busy.

Since I am here I may as well share with you a few other little things.
Last week I met up with my friend Leigh-Ann and she was wearing the most adorable little 1960s outfit.

Sadly this isn't the best photo of all time as it was taken on a blackberry (cameras and fruit do not mix well) but doesn't she look cute?
Answer... yes.

This week I also tried (and failed) a little bit of a Gibson Girl make over.

I look like a ghost in this photo... the blackberry again.

I shall be trying this look again soon and hopefully it will look better :)


Laura Lou x

Go Fish!

On Saturday is was warm enough and calm enough to wear a dress and not end up showing yourself indecently to people by mistake so me and the sisters packed a bag and hopped off to the park.

Armed with a 6 pack of chewing gum, cans of pop and playing cards we found ourselves a nice little spot in the park and settled down ready to play a few games of Go Fish.

Here I am dishing out our cards, please ignore the disgusting state of my nails.... I am ashamed.

 

The day felt quite specail. One of those days that take you back to years ago when things were more simple, when you could play all day in the sun and have nothing to worry about other than what would be the next game you played.

Our not so convincing poker faces.

These shoes are simply perfect. They go with every single outfit I put together! and if you live in the UK (or wherever else has Primark) you can pick them up for a mere £2.50. Mind you, if you're like me and you wear them almost everyday, they don't last long.

You've seen me in this dress before, the last time I was at a park if I recall correctly.... Ebay!

Charlotte looks slightly demonic in this photo but whats new?

You'd never guess I took this one myself would you?... oh who am I kidding!

I did not take this one however. Oh and the cute little cardigan I'm wearing is also from Primark and was only £6. It's so adorable (like the plimsolls) goes with almost everything.

And that was my Saturday folks.

Hope you enjoyed my snaps!

Laura Lou x

Ps. I won this cute blue gingham skirt on Ebay this morning and shall share it with you all when it arrives ;)