Pied Beauty

 

 

 

Right, here I am, back, I'm a bit slow posting, blame the hideous weather.

 

"rough winds do shake the darling buds of May"

 

That sonnet is the most accurate comment on British weather, we've been moaning about it for hundreds of years 

 

My post is inspired by the poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Pied Beauty

 Glory be to God for dappled things —
  For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
    For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
  Landscape plotted and pieced — fold, fallow, and plough;
    And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
  Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
    With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
                Praise him.

 

 

I'm lucky enough to live next to a large stretch of woodland, it's been looking almost offensively green these last few days. It haven't touched up these photos at all, it really is that bright.

 

 This week I've bought a few things in the chazzas...

Linen smock £5, 60s mauve gloves £1, atomiser £1.50, Magnifying glass a present for Mike £1, hankie and "mood ring" cat brooch 25p each

 

On Thursday I bought a ring in an antiques shop. It's hallmarked silver, but not very old. Very pretty but the clear stone was very scuffed. So, I decided to change it. Inspired by Krista's painted rhinestones and a Blackbird's egg I found

 

I'm so pleased with it. And what did I use? Emulsion, Acrylic paint and clear nail varnish!

I also bought... 60s/80s ties for Mike £1 each, Wicker Man-esque sun charm - I've named him Sulis, now I'm off to do a sacrifice to make sure the Sun stays in the sky and makes the earth bountiful and that  - £2.50, car print top £3.99, silk tie dye scarf, 50p and 80s belt £1 all from Charity shops.

Japanese pattern book 99p, 60s Spanish singles 45p each, Cameo ring £2.50

 

Now, talking of records, I've got some exciting news... I'm now working two days a month in my local record shop. Somewhere I (and other music nerds in Wycombe) have wanted to work in forever. I'll get some photos up soon!

 

Just before I go, here's a look at an artistic work in progress...

 

 

  

Pears of Death, Rotting Flesh

 

 

What the hell is that smell?! Turns out it's the wild pear blossom, it smells like rotting flesh.

 

 

I really love this dress, which I picked up in a charity shop on Friday, it's definitely WI Punk.

I love pansies, they have odd little faces

 

Just after work on Friday I had a quick run round the charity shops and ma -

sorry blog writing had to stop for the ice cream van

 

-managed to come back with...

 

I love the pattern on this skirt!

 

and when I got home, some magic lantern slides were waiting for me...

I got 5 for £4 (incl P&P), not bad, they're beautiful and I hope to use them in my art work.

 

Most of this Holiday weekend has been rather languid, pub lunch, cinema, watching Adventure Time etc. But Bank Holiday Monday is the local Catholic church's May Fayre, which means loads of books and bric-a-brac.

 

 

 

 

 

I wore:

Headband - made by me

Dress - Ebay

Bloomers - Charity shop, dyed green by me

 

This year it wasn't pissing down with rain, so it made the shopping all the more fun.

It was packed. Everyone was there from the bloke with a huge beard, tracky bottoms and his dog on a piece of bailing twine to the lady in 6" heels, mini skirt and Chanel bag.

This year the fayre offered Filipino, Polish and the usual Burgers in the way of food, sadly there was no "Magic Ian" to entertain the kiddies.

 

I bought

 

All the books, between us, Mike and I bought 36. Everything from Ladybird and the story of Christ to Solzhenitsyn and Wittgenstein. My personal favourite is this "how to" book on Beauty by Sophia Loren. I also got a great book on household management from the 30s.

BOOK ARM

 

Remember the mister I bought in the previous post?! Well I actually did find one... for 50p, damn it. Mind you it's too rusty to use for spraying sheets with. Also found this awesome Drs Bag, tan leather wedges £2 each, a broken microscope (I wanted the box), zig zag cushion, metal beauty case, pink flower glass for 50p, whilst the Sekonda watch and shredding scissors were £1 each

I also rescued and repotted this Money Plant for £1 

All weekend, I've been really pleased with my nail varnish - Carnival by Technic.

 

 

Here's my Friday work outfit. The skirt is from Second To None and from the Liberty Plus label with a classic Liberty print. I turned it up a few inched and added the green Indian trimming to make it more interesting.

 



 

Just before I go here's some advice from Sophia...

In summer it is nice to put some crushed mint leaves in your bath so you feel fresh

 

I think I'll try that.

 

 



 

You've got the power to know You're indestructible

 gold, always believe in your soul

 

Headband - Claire's Accessories

Sunglasses - Charity Shop

Bracelets - Village Fete/Charity/Present

Haori Jacket - Ebay

Plant Mister - My Spooky twin Emma also wanted one of these ( my Nana used to have one).

Gold Leggings - Ebay

Shoes - Charity shop

 

Always believe in, because you are
Gold

 

I've been dressing up and baking to distract myself from a rubbish driving lesson!

 

Bit of wandering on "The Ladies' Mile"

 

 

Dress - vintage nightgown from Ebay, dyed blue with lace collar added by me

 

Ruby's had a trim, Monty's been digging, old bracelet from my Nana's jewellery box and Blackthorn blossom

 

I met a long lost friend Jess in London on Monday. She's another spooky twin, we hadn't seen each other in many years but I was so happy in her company - bitch lives in Cardiff though, too far to see her often as I'd like

. (artist's impression)

 We had an amazing time, again with loads of chatting and very few photos. I did get to visit D R Harris, the fabulous chemist in St James'

 

I came back with

I'm going to put some of the lavender water in Mr Plant Mister and spritz by bed clothes. OK, I didn't come back with the thing in a jar or the elephant's arse, sadly, but we had a trip to the Japan Centre and I picked up the pie in Fortnum and Mason (sorry for the meat feast Vix!)

Matching my milkshake

 

 Partially re-creating my London outfit and eating some homemade sponge

Shirt -Ebay

Skirt - Ebay

Petticoat - Charity shop

 

 

Lastly.... I painted my bedroom chair, the colour is sugared lilac apparently.

 

BYEEE



Skylark, Have You Anything To Say To Me

 

 

 

 Skylark, have you seen a valley green with spring
where my heart can go a journeying

  

 over the shadows and the rain
to a blossom covered lane?

 

 

 Faint as a Willo The Wisp, Crazy as a loon

 

 

Hat - The Vintage Festival

Sunglasses - Camden Market, with flowers added by me

Dress - Reduced from £20 to £12.75 in Sainsburys. I adore the button detail

Bangle - Second To None

Casket Basket   - Ebay

Shoes - Ebay

 

 

 

 

It's a great feeling when you mention something obscure to a friend and it turns out they love it too. This is what happened with the wicker lunch box, which was just a prop in Sherlock Holmes - The Red Headed League. Both Em, my spooky bitch partner and I had clocked this gem.

 

 

The Red Headed League - The Jeremy Brett Sherlock version is absolutely perfect. The production values in that series makes Downton look like Acorn Antiques

 

 

 

 

Bad Taste Blonde

 

 

Sometimes when you try to dress well you only end up disappointed, so dressing badly is the only solution.

 

 

Visor - Jumble sale

Bolle Sunnies - Charity shop

Necklaces and Bracelets - Charity/Village fete/Garage sale/Second to None

Shirt - Flea Market

Waistcoat - Ebay

Leggings - Ebay

80s shoes - Charity shop

 

Today, after the worst driving lesson ever, I needed some trash to cheer me up.

 

I've also reblonded. Here's my bleach blond inspiration

Crysi de Milo, Debbie Harry, Sara and Patsy Stone

 

I've been trying my hand at decopage

 

 

This wonky but effective effort was done using super glue and clear varnish, to cover my sewing suitcase with this rather camp poster.

 

The small chest of drawers I keep my craft crap in was transformed from this...

 

to this!

 

 

byeee