Am I blue?

Well... no, I'm more of a pinkish colour. But today I awoke feeling rather green under the gills and subsequently a trifle blue. To make matters worse my skin is being at it's most annoying and sensitive so I couldn't even give myself a lick of warpaint to lift the spirits and fool people I have a rosy glow.

All I wanted to do was curl up in my nightie and watch old films, but I had to go to work. So I had a small tantrum... I slammed doors, stomped about and made small whining noises. This accumulated with my dramatically throwing myself upon the bed, where his Lorship removed the risk of a repeat performance by thrusting a cup of tea into my hands... thank you, your Lordship!

Instead or a flash of rougue, I daubed my face in E45 and had a wardrobe experiment, which was fun! 

I also took some snaps of some things I saw in my house that lifted my mood as I hurriedly prepared myself for the commute, which was not great today due to student demonstrations causing long queues.

The Outfit

I've been unsure what to team with this delicious skirt since I bought it, as I felt pattern with checks may be overkill. I had a great yellow cardi but it shrunk in the wash... boo! I also feared that a brown top may make me look like an rather big Brownie? I gave this a shot, what do you think?



Ms. King is modelling:

Early '20s hand embroidered blouse

30's skirt: Addelines Attic

Shoes: Clarks

Pallor and poorly coiffed hair: Models own

Things that make me smile....

Ranunculus flowers, they're common name is Persian Buttercups... to me they look like blousy roses.
Galle vase (fake). It looks so lovely against the light... coloured glass when the light shines through it is so pretty.
Mabel Lucie Attwell. I love her drawings and use of colour. This postcard has a cute picture of a girl with a big old powder puff in her face, the tag line says "Taking After Mother!" 
Liberty Print knot watch. This was Christmas present to myself . The print is called Wiltshire Rose...  it makes me smile when I look at it. 


 Japanese lacquer jewelry box. It smells a bit funny (think it's the glue) I've had it donkeys years... it feels like a treasure chest.
Chrissie White postcards. Chrissie was a British silent movie star who acted in silent films made by Cecil Hepworth. The studios were in Walton on Thames, a stones throw away from where I grew up. She did her own stunts, had impeccable comic timing and got into films at 12 years old by cheekily offering her acting services whilst she was delivering a message to Hepwoth to say her actress sister couldn't make filming that day! In the 20's Chrissie married her long standing leading man and director Henry Edwards (known as Tedwards) who was responsible for the expansion of Teddington studios (he was also quite a dish!) Here's a great link to a little Pathe film about the two of them in the '40s: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=48323

TRIOS! I don't know what it is about tea cups, but I really love them. especially trios. Here is a picture of a few of my favourites and my beloved teapot too!

Old dolls. I'm not a doll fanatic, but having found these at home last week I'm very fond of them and want to find out more about when they were made. The one in mauve is called Eliza I think she's made of celluloid and is a Rexard Costume doll. The middle one in green is called Greta has a fabric face and is in one of the Swiss national dresses (from Vaud). The little one sitting down is called Heidi and I presume she's in Germanic costume?!

I hope you're not suffering from a touch of the January blues and are having lovely weekends :)

G x

'Appy Birthday (to me)

It was my birthday last Wednesday and I had a few days off (I don't see why I should wake up at 4am on my day of birth... or the few days after it!)

Wednesday was a quiet day which I spent mooching about the house, listening to records, sewing, baking and curling my hair. In the evening Chris took me to a gig which was fun... lots of early jazz and dancing :) Before we went I was given my pressies....

Chas bought me a vintage railway poster book. the prints are splendid. I feel a seperate post is needed for this book alone

Posing using my new vintage compact, I love the deco design. Thank you Chas!

And it fits Rimmel powder refills!

Then I curled my hair

And it actually set! I wore my early 1930s dress in black silk crepe with white square pattern and detachable jabot.

The next few days were spent relaxing and I went to see my Ma which was lovely and she treated me to a wonderful lunch. Then on Sunday I had a tea party to celebrate. I've not had a birthday party for a long time as I've invariably been living far away from loved ones when the dreaded day falls. So this Sunday was filled with excitement and a bit of apprehension... what if I burnt my sponge cake and my sandwiches were curly?! Well... The sponge cakes came out alright (mini Victoria sandwiches with clotted cream and strawberry jam.) The sandwiches were less of a success as they were a bit floppy! (Can't have it all!)

I wore the same dress again and to brighten it up I clipped on a felt cherry brooch and slid into a pair of magenta tights (which was a bit daring for me... but I rather liked the look!) I didn't wear the jabot on Sunday for fear I'd dip it in the jam! Lena, Claire, Bethan, Jeni and Naomi all headed over for tea. Then a few of us headed over to a ceramic painting cafe, where we met Fleur. Here are some piccies of the day...

The Tea Party

I made mini Victoria sponges with clotted cream, strawberry jam and raspberries. Hazelnut noisette shortcakes and lemon almond biscuits. with crumpets and (wilting) cucumber sandwiches

The lovely Jeni, Claire, Lena and Bethan

... and the equally lovely Naomi. Check out Bethan's dress and Jeni's Rocky Road cakes too!

Painting Plates

Bethan at work

Jeni creating her Mafia Mug

Naomi having an Art Attack

Fleur pottering with paint

Me mid bowl movement

I was utterly spoilt with not only great company but some wonderful cards and gifts (including a mammoth bottle of setting lotion! See Jeni's blog (via last link) for a good read, good news and more photos, including a tour of the inside of my lift!

I thoroughly enjoyed my day... thank you so much for coming girls, you made it truly special :)

Gx

Q&A

Hello readers, including the new ones who have joined since my last post (104... how exciting!) Welcome one and all!

Part of the rules and regs for receiving the Stylish Blogger award is that I have to tell you 7 things about myself which you may not know. So, without further ado...

1) I'm a trained actress and specialised in Living History. This involved me researching, dressing up  and running guided tours (oh the wig, petticoats and crinolines I got to wear!) I was lucky to work in some fantastic places, my favourite was doing Children's guided tours at Castle Howard which is a little north of York. To cycle up the long driveway of a morning and be confronted with this splendid place as your office was something else! I sorely miss this job, but found getting permanent stable work doing this sort of thing was very tricky and, alas, I'm a coward who likes to have a regular wage each month. If ever I could get back into this again Id be there like a shot as I think that Living history makes the subject so much more tangible and vivid.

Castle Howard, York

2) Whilst "resting" as an actress I found myself temping a lot, which I hated. so I decided to gain a new skill,and trained as a florist. It was a great way to do something creative, flexible and still earn pennies. I also could use the historical knowledge I'd picked up and specialised in historical floristry which is a fun way to create floral displays, as you have to do a bit of detective work by researching paintings, photos  and botanical books. The most exciting project was when I assisted with displays for a function in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, the sight was breathtaking! (I hasten to add I didn't do all of the displays!)

A little bit of my floristry work

3) I found myself working on the radio by doing voice over work. I've always loved radio and volunteered at my local hospital station when I was about 15, but never fancied being a DJ,as I feared  I'd run out of things to talk about! So now I use my vocal skills as a travel reporter... yes I'm one of those annoying voices that click in on the car radio when you're happily listening to a CD... just to tell you that all's well on the A34... I'm sorry! The most interesting couple of reports I've had to broadcast have been when an unexploded WWII bomb was dug up on a major arterial road and when a wallaby was found hopping about on a road somewhere in Hampshire... I had some callers insisting it was a kangaroo, others that it was a wallaby, it certainly made my morning go faster!

4) I used to live in Valencia and toured all around Spain. The basque country was my favourite area, especially San Sebastian and Segovia, the old town looks like it's been frozen in time or has come out of a fairytale, it also has a whopping great Roman aqueduct!

It must have transported a lotta water

The Alcazar... there was a ladies lav in here that boasted breathtaking views!

5) My favourite animal is the Ring Tailed Lemur. The Coulthard family who lived in Eltham Palace in the 30s owned one called Mah-Jonng. He, unbelievably, was purchased from Harrods in 1923 and had his own heated cage complete with painted tropical forest scenes and a series of ladders around the house for him to have free range of the building. I've seen them in wildlife parks and they seem like such gentle, curious and personable creatures. I'd love to go to Madagascar and see them in the wild.

Mah Jonng

6) I have a grade 7 in both ballet and tap and continued training in both until I was 17. I really wanted to train professionally as a ballerina but I've never been delicately built so that dream was stamped out.

7) My first word was pretty, pronounced "pitty" whilst pointing at the Christmas tree. I also didn't have hair till I was about one, twas not a "pitty" child!

I'm now supposed to forward the award above onto some blogs, I'm a bit apprehensive about doing this as there are so many lovely blogs out there, but here are a few I've found recently that are well worth taking a looksie at...

The Deco Devotee (Andrea is the gorgeous owner of Puttin' On the Ritz. makes great frocks, has great style)

Seeds and Stitches (lovely crafty bloggette. Hannah makes some smashing things)

Ray Makes Do (this lady had a gorgeous wedding... check out her wedding dress! Ray loves florals ... sensible girl!)

Tea and Crumpets (Lauren makes clothes... pretty pretty clothes. Her blog also has the words tea and crumpets in = winner!)

Please do take a look at the lovely people who are following me aswell... So many lovely Blogs out there... and plenty of time to check :)

G xx

100!

I have awoken to 100 followers and an award from the spiffing Bruce Partington Plans of Eclectic Ephemera.

Many thanks to Bruce, I will shortly type up  my blog post to comply with the award rules and regs.

Also many thanks to all of You who are following me. I never dreamed I'd even reach 10 followers, let alone 100. I think a little prize drawer will have to be run as a thank you, I'm off to Greenwich market today so maybe I'll find something there :)  

Oooo! I also have a post to do about some vintage celluloid dolls clad in national costume. ( I think they're tourist dolls) I discovered back at home, having completely forgotten I'd ever owned them . They're in jolly good condition and are now sat proudly on display, but more on that later...

Thanks again and TTFN

G xx

The Queen of Crime

I love Agatha Christie. Her crime novels keep me hooked from beginning to end, constantly guessing and subsequently gawping at the conclusion. 

There are only a handful of murders I've guessed... "Five Little Pigs", "Mrs McGinty's Dead" and "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" and despite guessing the murderers I remained glued to the books, as the interweaving sub plots hammer away at my detective fathoming!

I think my all time favourites would be...

Stand alone mystery

"And Then There Were None"

Published in 1939 under the name "Ten Little Niggers" and re-named in the US in 1940 for obvious reasons. It was still published in Britain well into the 1980's under its original name, I own a Fontana edition published in 1981 with a rather bizarre and possibly offensive front cover. It is the best selling mystery novel of all time.

Poirot

"Five Little Pigs" 

Published in 1943 (in the US as "Murder in Retrospect"). It tells the same story, five times over. However, each account varies as they are told by one of the five witnesses to a murder that happened 16 years beforehand.

Miss Marple 

"The Body in the Library" 

Published in 1942. One morning Colonel and Dolly Bantry wake up to the discovery of a strange, flamboyantly dressed platinum blond lying dead in their library. Simultaneously a local Girl guide, Pamela Reeves, is reported missing and discovered dead a few days later in a burnt out car at the bottom of a quarry a few miles away. Are the incidents linked?
This book is seeping with some marvellous characters including Dolly Bantry and her husband, the Colonel. Their opening conversation once the corpse has been discovered lightens the mood of what is a pretty sinister novel.

My Collection...

I avidly collect her novels. My Granny got me started, and I now have all but four of her titles. 

the top shelf is all Agatha. Most are Fontana paperbacks published in the 60s and 70s.

I am also collecting her green Penguin editions. these were the brain-child of Allen Lane, who, whilst travelling back from a weekend stay with Agatha Christie, was stuck at Exeter station. Unable to find anything worthwhile to read he had the idea to reprint popular hardbacks in a small, light and affordable format. (The cover price was 6d – the price of a packet of 10 cigarettes in the mid-thirties.)
The first ten Penguin paperbacks were published in July 1935, including the"The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Christie. Each Penguin title was given a stylish but uniform cover look which was colour coded: orange for fiction, blue for biography, and green for ‘mystery and crime'

I'm doing well, but many are extremely rare, expensive and hard to find

Sleuthing...

Having had heard that many of her books draw inspiration from her life and places she frequented crop up in disguise as locations in many of her novels (for instance, the grand house Chimneys in "The Secret of Chimneys" is allegedly based on her Sister and Brother-in Law's house, Abney Hall, in Cheshire). It made me want to find out more, so I've recently started reading about Agatha as an individual. My initial problem was that I've always been a bit apprehensive about reading about authors, as I feel sometimes you can search too hard for comparisons between private lives and fiction and some statements can simply be hearsay. 

However, I decided to bite the bullet and read her autobiography, which includes a great CD with her dictating book notes. The strange thing I found was that she completely misses out any reference to do with her famous missing days which I had heard were shrouded in mystery.

Like a real life mystery I found myself wanting to know what happened, so I begrudgingly purchased "Agatha Christie ad the Eleven Missing Days" by Jared Cade, telling myself that it'll all be speculation and fallacy! I ate my words and cannot recommend this book highly enough. Cade objectively looks into the disappearance and collates statements from those personally connected with Christie, as well as witnesses to the occurrence. What made the "mystery" more gripping to me was the fact that her car was discovered not too far away from where I grew up, Newlands Corner in Surrey. I have always loved this area and have spent many a lazy Sunday driving around the Surrey Hills, so all of the descriptions of searches around the area are wonderfully vivid to me. I shat ruin what Cade's theory is over her disappearance, but it does make a lot of sense and hold a lot of substantial evidence. He also talks about her second marriage to Max Mallowman which, if true, is a scenario that makes me very angry with the male species! However, if statements about Agatha throwing teapots are in fact correct, then maybe she was not the easiest person to live with... in spite of the possible broken crockery I'm still on Ms. Christie's side though and exclaim "naughty men!" BOO!"

It is speculated in Cade's book that she based many of her Mary Westmacott novels (a pseudonym under which she penned more romantic works) upon the emotions she experienced in her personal life. The first Westmacott novel "Giant's Bread" was published in 1930 and she continued to pen 6 titles under this name, only being discovered in 1949 (after her fourth publication). Henceforth she was required to state that she was using an alternative Nome de plume. In the 15 years, before her "outing" only one person guessed it was Agatha writing these novels. I think I'll have a read of these at some point, just to see if I like the style and can see any similarity in tone to her mysteries.

My aim in 2011...

Anyway, I've waffled enough. The main point of this post is that, now that my Christie collection is almost complete, this year I plan to read her mysteries chronologically (I make it 78). She wrote from 1920 to 1973 and had two posthumous novels "Sleeping Murder" (pub. 1976 but written approx. 1940) and "Miss Marples Final Cases" (pub. 1979, believed to have been written during the war along with Poirot "Curtain").

I intend to read each novel  and discover which era of her writing I prefer and if any outside influences can, in fact, be seen through her pen.... my findings will be posted up here. I can't wait!

Gx

Cont... Colouring in my humble abode

As I was talking about decorating in my last post I thought I should pop up some pics of the canvas I plan to embellish.
A) As it'll help you envisage what the colours may look like.
B) As I thought some Bloggers may like to see my house (I love house snooping!)

So, here goes...

Bedroom: View from door. I'd really like an art deco mirror for my dressing table, one of those big 3 piece ones. Just off to the left of this picture is a wall of cupboards. where, strangely, the kitchenette would have been had this flat been used as guest accommodation when the place was a Tennis Retreat

Bedroom: View from window... I'm not a fan of the pink walls! But a green scheme with black and white furnishings should look Art Deco-ish?

Bedroom: View from bed. I am a fan of my kimono, Roberts radio and vintage suitcases!

Hall/Study: This is my favourite room in the house as it's transformed from a hallway to a small study, just by adding some shelves and a drop leaf table (which sturdily holds my sewing machine, when I've the inclination to get it out of the cupboard!)

Hall/Study: View from living room... Could such a small space pull off a vibrant Yellow?

Living room: View from kitchen. Again, I'm thinking a lovely sunny yellow and keeping the woodwork and white bits white

Living room: Another view from kitchen

Kitchen: View from living room. could I paint the kitchen units and breakfast bar white too? Or would that be a nightmare to maintain? I just dislike the brown backing to the breakfast bar.

Kitchen: Pink splash back tiles... pink? Hmmm, really not that keen. Check out my well Art Deco Microwave and classily chipped crckery!!

Who lives in a house like this.. Bloggers, it's over to you! ;)

G x

We're painting the woodchip red... well, maybe eau de nil?

October just gone I stripped the carpet and sanded my bedroom floor...

It was a dirty, tiring and lengthy process... I'm still finding wood dust in places! The task was empowering though and it's lovely walking over my handy work, but it has made me a little DIY shy... as what appears to be a simple task can end up being a lot more complicated!

This year I would really like to paint my walls, the problem is that I have that dreadful woodchip wall paper. Simple! I hear you cry, just strip the walls... but this would mean a lot more cost, and the possibility of discovering hidden problems as invariably woodchip is used to disguise uneven surfaces and I really don't want to cause any damage. So I'm strongly considering biting the bullet and just painting. My pink bedroom and grey living room are not at all inspiring. As for the pink tiles as the sink splash back... I'm really not keen.

Now just what colour to paint it all. I really would like an eau de nil or soft green for my bedroom, with maybe a mural on one wall (which would have to be painted on a large piece of plywood as I doubt a mural would work on woodchip, alternatively a screen would work). Have you seen "Bright Young Things"? I love Nina's house in it...

The only pic I could find, but that tree mural would be amazing as a mural or dressing screen!

This bedroom looks fab too...

The thing is I've tried the green on the main walls out out that is said is used in this room and it came out a little dirty looking, I like these sorts of green but am unsure if they'd be a little cold...

 

I found the mood chart it on the web but no clue as to what colour to look for in paint... does anyone know of a paint that can look like this?

Have just found this pic from "Upstairs Downstairs"... this green is great too. What is it? Pistachio? Mint? Seafoam?!

Twas thinking of yellow for the hall and living room.. I love this colour...

But think it's a bit too bright for my little place. Would it work if I had it (professionally) watered it down with white? I just love how sunny it looks.

Does anyone have any ideas? I would really love to stick with a 30s look as my flat was built in 1935. just want to give it some oomph and glamour. Overall I'd like a gorgeous and sophisticated boudoir and a sunny
hall, living room and kitchen. The colours used in "Upstairs Downstairs" this Christmas were amazing, but I fear too OTT for such a small space.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

G xx

Pinching an inch

WARNING! this is a post about having a fat day. If such topics make you feel a bit uncomfortable please navigate away... now.

The catalyst to this waffle is that I've put on an inch around my hips but lost one from my bust. Mother nature can be cruel.

I've always been a bit apprehensive talking about my weight for fear onlookers will believe I am fishing for compliments. Many girls, myself included, have fallen into 'that' mechanical ladies powder room-esque  conversation...

"Oh I have such fat thighs, I wish I looked like you in that dress" ...

a brief silence ensues till the reply echos out...

"Oh no,  I love how you look in that top, I wish my boobs were a good as yours"

I know the sisterhood should stick together and nurture one another, but sometimes we're allowed to feel genuinely... well, porky. And, today, that is how I feel, this post is certainly not seeking for any ego inflating comments to the contrary. I'm just a bit fed up that my crepe 30's dresses are a bit snug.

I also fear I could offend by speaking about it. I was once taken into the confidence of a gorgeous, leggy, size 8 siren. Whilst she complained that she had back fat I looked on trying to work out precisely where this elusive glutinous deposit was concealing itself? Each of her gripes made me feel increasingly hefty, my inner logic fathoming that if this nubile beauty thinks she's stocky then surely I'm beyond Rubenesque?
I most certainly do not want to alienate anyone reading about my love handle wallowings, in case they look at me and not be able to locate the extra inch I'm griping about but, as a result, suddenly become increasingly aware of their wobbly bits!

I think most women have body issues and I'm no exception. As a child I was always bigger than the other kids, my Scapegoat? ... Ostermilk; a powdered milk feed that "builds up" small babies... basically infant steroids... and as a teeny mewling ball of one month jaundiced prematurity I was doomed to be force fed the stuff. At 12 I developed into a rather rotund red cheeked teenager boasting a stone for each tender year and by my early twenties I had withered to a size eight through a mixture of stress and ridiculous eating habits, rice cakes alone were my friend... I was a miserable bitch!

Back on track at 29 I know I will never be a "skinny lizzy" (to coin a phrase from my Mother.) But I do like to feel svelte and the older I'm getting the more I notice sudden differences in my body shape, for instance that bump between the top of my thigh and hip... where's that come from?! And why precisely are my boobs shrinking and migrating south to my mysteriously expanding derriere?

And before you blame diet and exercise I can vouch that I'm active and careful, just not fanatical about my food intake, having lived on all those silly rice cakes and for a time only steak (oh I smelt... bad) I refuse to fall into "fad" diets and just stick to a healthy balance. I want cake I'll darn well have a piece! Life's too short!

What this post is getting at, albeit a little incoherently, is that if you're out there feeling a bit of the post Christmas wobbles and are a bit fed up about it then you're not alone. It may help to do as I'm trying to do and embrace those rogue lumps and bumps as a bonus extra feature... for a limited time only... 'till the Christmas pudd effects have worn off!  ;)

G x
.

Sunday: Tidying sewing up and dressing up

Today I had set some time aside to organise my wardrobe and repair some dresses which getting a bit threadbare... a stitch in time...

However, I overslept, rousing at one, as I opened my wardrobe a hat fell out and suddenly thought how much fun it would be to dress up just because I can. I purchased this particular hat a while back (I believe it's '30s or '40s) but haven't had the occasion to wear it, so why not today? In the house whilst tidying my cupboard and sewing my dresses!

Felt I needed to look a bit prim in this ensemble

• Dress late '30s peach rayon with M.O.P buttons and buckle... one of those splendid Ebay bargains at £10 P&P. It does have a tear in the bottom which I've sewn up, so I use it for everyday wear. I do like how a hat can really lift it and make it look smarter though. Never thought of trying with this frock.
• Black hat 30s or 40s? Can anyone have a look and let me know please? It was sold to me as '30s but I reckon it has a 40s look to it
• Gloves charity shop. Think they're 50s
• Shoes 30s/40s leather Neutralisers. Wee bit tight so I'm stretching them by foot and a shoe stretcher

Close up of the hat. I love its cut out details, velvet appliques and massive bow. Tis a bit snug though, as you'll see in next pic

The tidying went well. I put all my shoes into clear shoe boxes, which are cheap as chips and fab as you can see what's inside and it keeps the most precious slippers dust free. I organised all my skirts, trews and tops to be folded in a hanging fabric shelf. The lower drawers contain my hats. I also put my most delicate dresses in suit bags, to save them from little fabric munching beasties. This included my early 30s velvet dress which I'm working on atm, blog post coming soon!

Ahhh a tidy wardrobe make me happy!

Wearing at hat to do this work was a short lived fad. Within 5 minutes I looked like this...

Note the red line across my forehead, that's how tight my hat is! the shoes stayed on as I'm stretching them. This means my feet now also have red marks on them! the things we go through for fashion!

I also had a rummage and found these beauties which I'd forgotten all about. George Barbier Art Deco fashion prints. I love his use of colour and the frocks in them are pretty smashing too!

On this one my curtains match her wallpaper! All I need now is that dress!

Next thing on list... must buy some frames and get these up in the bedroom!

Hope you all had lovely Sundays

G x