Turban-tastic

I've been wondering about how to tie a turban for a while. They do look so chic and are great on a bad-hair day! I came across this excellent guide today on Noir Girl's blog. Fabulous!

Dig for Victory

Thought I'd show off my vegetable beds today - they're full of plants which are growing - just like they're supposed to.



This is my first attempt at growing anything, so I'm very pleased with the results of my hard work! The soil hasn't been worked in years, so it's been back breaking work but all the more satisfying for it. Next job is fixing the fence and then I'll have a presentable garden.

Here's me, digging for victory in my Freddies of Pinewood dungarees. I realised that my fork was probably made in the 1940s too. It weighs about 2 tons...

Cross stitch Crazy

I've fallen in love with Moira Blackburn's cross stitch designs. She uses her knowledge of real antique samplers to create new designs, which she then sells in kit format from her website. The kits are detailed but pretty easy to follow. I just love the colours and the look of them. Just beautiful. Any more cross stitchers out there?

Shoes shoes shoes

I've bought too many shoes this week.
First I was in Marks and Spencer and saw this fab pair of wedges. Then I found some lovely white slingbacks with a peep toe on ebay, and after that some cream brogues.




Now I've seen 2 pairs of great shoes in Clarks.
Vanilla Cream

Ashill Bombay

I thought they both had a good 40s vibe about them. Clark's Originals range are a great source of well made vintage pattern shoes, based on their own archive. They also have some fab 30s style dance shoes. Managed to restrain myself from buying those though! No more shoes till the depths of winter for me!

A blog is born

I received the greatest compliment I've ever had last week, when a friend suggested I should start a style diary.
While I can't promise to be hugely inspiring, I'm hoping that this mild ego trip / exercise in self indulgence might at least give me justification for my obsessive clothes shopping! So here I am, with a blog of my very own!

It's all about me...
I'm 26, live in Bristol in the South West of England, and I love vintage clothes. I'm also a spendaholic and don't earn nearly enough money to support my vintage habit.
I love the 1940 - music, fashion, cinema - it's all a wonder to me. I hope to share some of my favourite outfits with you, and to shout about the great purchases of vintage-style pieces from modern shops (one of my greatest pleasures). My wardrobe is quite eclectic and, although my main focus is the 40s (the shape suits me best), I have clothes from and inspired by the 1920s through to the 1950s.
I also do quite a bit of sewing and am working my way through my extensive vintage pattern collection at the moment, starting with a house dress from 'Past Patterns'. I really enjoy crafty projects and I have an antique style cross stitch sampler on the go at the moment too. I'll post pictures as I progress!
Gardening is my final passion of the moment and I have my first vegetable patch dug and planted. I'm just watching out for my first ever veggies now!

Here is my cat Deryn helping me cut my pattern out.