New Etsy store - Gemima's Gems

I have an Etsy store on which I'll be listing some of my treasured, but under worn items.

Having just made my first listing this morning I thought I'd share... plus there's a  celebratory shop opening 10% discount!

The "Day at the Races" hats set is up for grabs

Watch that space for more listings... and this space for my paper doll dress up, coming later today, where you'll help me pare down my wardrobe!

G x



P.S... A Footnote to my embroidered dress post

I was trawling through Etsy this morning and came across a picture on a sellers profile... of the pattern to my dress!

Many thanks to Anna of A Few Loose Threads for sending me the link to her blog with the snap!

A grand day out and bit of bedtime frock porn

Hullo there,

This weekend's gone by in a blur... Saturday I spent 15 hours at work and emerged feeling utterly disorientated and today I headed to the homeland to see Mother dearest. We went to Farnham Maltings. Farnham's a place very dear to my heart as I spent many a happy evening in my youth at drama classes at the Redgrave Theatre, I also remember going to the Maltings as a kid with my folks, who enjoyed the odd antique fair (when I say odd I mean odd hundred!) So it was lovely to return to the place.

I thoroughly recommend a visit if you're that way. Farnham itself is a pretty town, and the Maltings runs a wide range of events, classes and fairs. Today was the first Vintage Fair the venue has hosted, and I was rather impressed by what I saw (pictures of goodies bought will be posted soon.) Hopefully another event will be organised... If you're reading Farnham Maltings... pretty pleeesae do another soon?!

Anyway, I decided to don my beloved 1930s dress, it's a flattering style from about 1934 (at least I think it is... any other guesses?) It falls to low calf and has the most amazing embroidery on it... From looking inside my wardrobe, I've realised that I have a thing for florals and embroidery, this dress involves both which makes me super happy! here is the little beauty...

A close up of my special frock

I love the length and the cut

A pattern I've found which looks simular. C.1934

Whoever made this was a clever seamstress, the embroidery is so precise, and the cut is super flattering, it makes me look long and lean, when in reality I'm only 5ft 4" and rather curvy!

I've yet to decipher what fabric it is. It was sold to me as cotton. But it doesn't feel like it. A clever lady who's in the know on such things says it's silk, and I have a feeling it could be a silk blend as the fabric has a slub grain to it and feels fairly thick.

Alas, due to my uncertainty on fabric and along with the embroidery I can't find a dry cleaner willing to touch it, which is annoying as it has some water marks and lipstick marks on it. Fortunately I've managed to soak the worst out... but I still want to brighten it up. Any ideas my lovely readers?

Anyway, I really must get to bed. Sweet dreams one and all

G x

Psst... Mr. Churchill has just forwarded a very exclusive invite... just for you!

 Next Friday, on the 13th May, The Churchill War Rooms will be holing a Museums at Night celebration. It kicks off at 6pm and will run till 10pm.

"What will be happening inside?!" I hear you cry Well, just to tempt you...

You'll be able to get in the mood with authentic music of the era, visit the Vintage Boudoir where a team of forties fashion experts (including Jeni, Lisa, Fleur and Naomi.) will be on hand to transform you. Why not sample a 1940s up do, or try a touch of rouge? There will even be a dressing up box complete with period clothes and accessories to try on. When you’re transformed, make sure you have your picture taken by the original No.10 Downing Street door in the Churchill Museum.

You can even have a natter with the Museum Director and pick his brain about the great wartime leader and those who want to find out more about the historically significant site can join one of the informal guided tours taking place throughout the evening, these I highly recommend, I only visited for the first time a couple of weeks ago and couldn't quite believe I've never been before, it's a truly magical Museum, and this event promises to be a special evening. I'll be there with the girls helping out, so if you can make it, it would be wonderful to meet you :)

G x

Admission:
Adults £15.95, Seniors and Students £12.80,
Visitors with disabilities £9.60 (Carer admitted free of charge)
Book your ticket by calling 020 7416 543

Adults only

Farewell to a 1930s dress... but hello to a blouse and skirt set!

Well, the day has come to finally face facts and do something about this little beauty...

A wonderful 1930s voile print dress. My favourite frock. Alas the fabric is so brittle at the skirt that it has many tears in, all of which are irreparable. I have been contemplating many things to restore it, from removing the skirt and using it as a pattern to make a new skirt in a plain voile that matches one of the colours in the print. Unfortunately, all the voile I found in red, green or yellow were too vibrant, white is too bright and black is too heavy.

Then, one day, I showed the dress to the lovely (and very clever) Shona of Heyday. She suggested making the dress into a blouse then running up a skirt and bolero to wear with it. We decided green would look the best, and that I could use the skirt fabric to trim the bolero and the belt could attach to the skirt.

So I began hunting for a suitable pattern and the correct shade of green fabric. I thought a lovely floppy linen would look good. the problem was getting that vintagey looking colour. Modern dyes are too vibrant (either that or the vintage stuff was just as bright and has faded with age).

Then, whilst naughtily peering at Ebay this popped up...

An early '40s skirt and bolero, in the right green, in my size... and a snip at £40 including P&P! Well, it would have been daft not to snap it up. I got the set through on Thursday and it's in amazing condition, the bolero is spot on, the skirt is a little full for my liking, so I'm working out a way I can make it a bit more of a 30s trumpet shape (I think it'll be easy enough as there's a lot of fabric).

So, today, I must be brave and make my beloved, ragged bottomed, 30s dress into a snazzy new blouse. It's a sad, yet happy day all at once. Now I must concentrate so as not to mess up!

Results will be posted soon :)

Happy Bank Holiday Monday one and all

G x