Monday 27 July 2015

Up The Junction - Indietracks 2015



Its not often I can claim to be appropriately dressed but when I spotted a pair of Thomas The Tank Engine curtains in a charity shop the other day I knew I had to make them into a dress for Indietracks, the unique music festival combining steam trains with Indiepop music which takes place at Swanwick Junction at the Midland Railway Museum in Derbyshire.


If ever a dress was the centre of attention then this was the one, small children stood transfixed pointing out Edward, Thomas and James, grown men became misty eyed nostalgics recalling the bedroom curtains of their childhood and I even got a walk-on part in Indietracks, The Movie.


This weekend was our fifth Indietracks and our third as traders. 


The first train pulled into the station at 6pm, delivering a legion of excited Indie kids to this year's festival.


Within minutes those incredible deadstock 1970s brown & yellow Dunlop shoes got snapped up (and we'd only bought them on Thursday!)


Friday night was filthy, the rain was torrential and the temperatures were more akin to Winter than the height of Summer. Indietracks has a multi-national clientèle and desperately cold Southern Europeans & Californians were snapping up cosy jumpers, scarves and wool trousers.






Fortunately Saturday was dry and warmer. I even took my coat off for a couple of hours in the afternoon.






Business was brisk and the sunset was spectacular. After shutting up shop we popped down to the Indie disco in the passenger shed and had a dance, proudly admiring the number of people dressed in vintage clothes they'd purchased from us over the years.


Sunday was appalling, torrential rain and high winds. The dress I'd packed was sleeveless and reluctant to spend another day in my coat I borrowed the 1970s Martin Emprex quilted maxi off the rails (I'd worn it at Cornbury a fortnight ago). 


Jon donned the 1950s llama wool overcoat I'd found for £5 on a second-hand stall on the market a few weeks ago, got papped by the press and published in the Nottingham Post. (HERE)
Courtesy of the Nottingham Post


The bag of White Zinfandel we opened at 11am certainly helped to take the chill away.


Not that a bit of inclement weather puts off the hardcore festival goers. 


Between acts on the main stage we cranked up the volume on our boombox and danced the day away.


After shutting up shop for the final time we headed off to see the incredible The Go! Team. We first saw them at the Big Chill back in 2006 and if anything they were better than ever. 


We were up bright and early to pack up & dismantle the stall and drive back to wet and windy Walsall. 


We've got three days at home and then we're off to Dubtoberfest.

See you soon!

66 comments:

  1. good re-make on the dress. Cool idea. That festival looks more my speed...small.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That dress is inspired! Although I suspect the men weren't just misty-eyed about their old curtains, I think the gorgeousness of the woman in the frock might have had something to do with their wistfulness!
    You and Jon are intrepid festival traders, you keep on keeping on whatever the weather, and I bet your customers love you for it. As always, the Kinky stall is a joy to behold, as are you and Jon. (Tell him I had a 1960s llama coat, bought from a long-gone secondhand shop in Oxford for a pittance and worn to death in freezing cold Sheffield in 1982!)
    I think you should just accept that the quilted maxi is yours now - nothing says British summertime like quilting... Oh that bloody rain! Indietracks looks like a laid-back kind of an event, and I'm pleased the clientele appreciate their high quality vintage.
    Now get dry and warm and restocked, ready to do it all over again!
    Love you! xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. And I do love that song! xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's an ill wet windy day that brings sellers of warm clothes no good! Zinfandel at 11am - girl after my own heart! If we in the UK gave up whenever it rained we would stay at home an awful lot!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That dress is perfection, just right for the setting and you wear it so well.
    So glad that the bitching rain didn't put a stop to Kinky's festie fun and frolics. It looks like such a chilled out festival; vintage, music and trains? What's not to love?
    Have fun at the next one.
    Loves ya.
    xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. That quilted maxi looks gorgeous and cosy! Sorry about the bad weather, it's been hot and humid here:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. First up the dress is fantastic, if I wore that when doing a fair here I'd be certain to get the same reaction from people visiting my stall. It seriously is wonderful and great that it tied in with the event location. Despite the weather it sounds as though you had a good time, I admire how you and Jon are constantly on the road doing events and fairs. Anyways as always you look fabulous and happy and I just to also say I'm sorry I haven't popped in much in recently, but I'm finding my way back to popping in on everyone more again. Stay beautiful. X

    ReplyDelete
  8. i'd say that quilted skirt is trying to tell you something, like keep me, keep me!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love, Love , Love the Thomas the tank engine dress !. best wishes Vix xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I LOVE the Thomas culottes!!!! You are genius!!! So cool!!! You are looking brilliant and I'm glad you did some fab selling of jumpers!!x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Absolutely looove the Thomas dress. Pity about the weather but it didn't seem to dampen the festival spirit! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fun Thomas dress! I like the quilt skirt, it's a real statement piece and definitely belongs in your wardrobe.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks cold ! And your train dress is so perfect !
    Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a shame about the weather , Glad you had a busy weekend sales wise , weather is supposed to be better this weekend for you , fingers crossed xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great dress! I'm not surprised that it was the centre of attention.

    You and Jon are definitely made of stronger stuff than me, the weather at the weekend would have sent me running home! Hope this weekend is better for you weather wise! x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, doesn't seem like a year since I read your post about going to the last one. Isn't this weather rubbish? I love that quilted maxi , you look fabulous in it. Hope that the weather gets better for this weekend. Dubtoberfest sounds like a good one. Xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. At least the inclement weather was good for your trade. You must have been the most appropriately dressed person there!

    ReplyDelete
  18. That Thomas the Tank dress turned out great - too bad the weather turned so lousy. Nice that you can steal items off the rails should the weather change on you. I hope you get a bit better weather this weekend. Wine in a bag, my kind of woman!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love it : I was a tomboy as a child and had those curtains in my room : great memories : could probably find a photo of them somewhere too x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Some of my favourite posts are when you make a dress or a skirt from curtains! I love this Thomas the Tank one- it was so perfect for the occasion. You wore it so well too!

    ReplyDelete
  21. More Curtain Couture -- Love it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. that dress what brilliant!!
    Too bad the weather was bad but it didn't appear to crush anyone's spirits!!
    You live life full on you do!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your Thomas dress is great. I love the style on you and of course, the print is perfect. I remember this neat festival from your previous years' posts. It's such a drag that the weather wasn't nice for it this year.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would have skipped many great live performances if I had spotted that cozy tent.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wasn't the weather terrible! Friday we grocery shopped in it and Sunday we drove to the hospital in it. I swear it felt more like autumn than July! Anyway, love your Thomas dress and the quilted number and I'm glad you and the festival goers had fun despite the weather xxx

    Ps - I felt for you shut up in that car! Cigarette smoke and car sickness :S

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thomas the Tank Engine just grew up thanks to you!! Who doesn't know and love Thomas.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Goodness this weekend certainly saw wind, rain and sunshine with us to I was froze trading on Sunday but basking in sunshine on Saturday only in England :-) It looks like you had an amazing weekend and I am not surprised you got such a lot of attention over your Thomas the tank engine and fiends trouser suit its cute and you look gorgeous. Have a good week, dee xx

    ReplyDelete
  28. snapping up that curtain and sewing it to a dress for indietracks was a genius coup!
    i´m sorry that the weather was so bad - but in the end it helped sale some warm goodies. is´t great to see people wearing the stuff you sold! i was even more thrilled when i occasional saw a women wearing a dress i once made!
    good luck and lots of fun for the "dubtoberfest" - sounds interesting :-)
    xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  29. p.s.: the rain arrived here yesterday - the house almost got washed down to the riverbank......
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a mixed blessing the weather was. Great for sales but no good for standing around in. Did you gave your thermals on under your quilted skirt ? XXXX

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'd say that quilted skirt's a keeper, at least for festies -- you can always chuck a pretty dress over the top if you want to change up your look!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I vote with the other fans who have nominated The Thomas Dress, the quilted maxi and Jon's floofy llama coat as permanent residents in your wardrobe. We look upon them and smile with satisfaction that they are, like their wearers, smart in all meanings of the word!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Just .. you're a genius!
    These clothes are adorable, fun and stylish!
    How nice to combine old trains to music, fantastic event!
    Very nice long black skirt, it is austere but you know make it sunnier!

    ciao ciao

    serena

    ReplyDelete
  34. Your Thomas The Tank Engine dress is brilliant and it's exciting that you will be seen wearing it in Indietracks, The Movie. If the movie lands here in the states, I will be the first in line. And of course Jon's photo landed in the Nottingham Post. Congratulations to both of you.

    Love the photos, as always. Your zest for life and what you do shows through with every post!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Haha, how briliant. I love the dress. My nephew loves Thomas The Tank Engine. Enjoy Dubtoberfest, I know you will! x

    ReplyDelete
  36. you are so brilliant. that maxi is so clever and you look so beautiful in it. also, that black quilted maxi has to be one of my favorites. love that the rain does not stop you one bit. so unlike southern california where rain throws us all. x

    ReplyDelete
  37. In love with that print, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
    You even have evening lights for the Retro Boutique wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. You are just too fabulous and unique.
    Love jhon´s blue socks they match your nail polish. What a fun fabulous pair.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

    ReplyDelete
  38. Charming! Location, event and you in that dress - no wonder grown men got teary eyes. The black and red outfit is dramatic as the stormy skies! Have a wonderful restful days at home before the new fest!

    ps I baked Flopjack using your recipe - big success! Will be sharing it with my Russian readers in another blog. Flopjack just means pancakes here in the US, btw.

    ReplyDelete
  39. You and Jon should get some sort of award for most festivals attended in a summer! What troupers you are - neither rain, nor sleet, nor bitter cold shall prevent you from flogging your vintage wares :) Leave it to you to create an outfit to match the festival theme - I bet the men were getting misty-eyed, but not over memories of curtains.

    I think that dress REEEEAAALLY wants to live with you. Who doesn't need a quilted Maxi in their closet, especially one that looks that great.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I can't think when I've seen a better match of outfit to backdrop location - the first pic is pure poetry and should definitely feature in a train-spotting guide to the bleeding fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a shame the weather didn't play nice ... but you still looked fabulous ... the Thomas dress is a winner :0)
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  42. Felt like I was there!! Thank you for the lovely vacation. Sorry about the rain, although the temperatures don't sound too bad to me. I LOVE your train dress!!! I agree with Curtise however. Not sure if the grown men were thinking about curtains from their childhood. My father loved trains, so I particularly loved the train pictures.

    Sending much love!! Hope the next festival is a joy, with less rain. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  43. That dress with Thomas print is spectacular. I remember this show, it was really sweet. I can't believe you managed to make such a wonderful dress out of curtains. You're both talented and creative...and you look like a million dollars in that dress. Like one of the above comments said, I suspect men were teary eyes not only because of the print and nostalgia this cartoon might have inspired but because of your overall gorgeousness.

    This festival looks quite interesting. No wonder those shoes were sold so quickly, they really seem nice...and that photograph with the sun setting behind those trains is utterly beautiful.

    Jon is also looking very stylish. I like his outfit as well. So cool he got published! Your second outfit is fabulous. I love the print on that top an that maxi skirt is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  44. You guys are awesome! Your stall always looks spectacular, and you're prepared to travel, no matter the climate. I love that.

    Your dress was a great idea for Indie Tracks, what a brilliant festival! xx

    ReplyDelete
  45. No curtains are safe when you're around lol! Seriously though, fab job! Jon looks dapper too.
    I am so fed up with this so called Summer, it must've rained on St Swithins Day for sure.
    Your boutique looks very inviting, even more so when it is all lit up. x

    ReplyDelete
  46. Your latest curtain couture is inspired. Not only do you look bloody fabulous but your frock is also a brilliant marketing tool, luring in more kids and males to Kinky Melon than usual I suspect.
    Indietracks looks like the sort of festival I might attend, not too big and lots of lovely vintage rolling stock to photograph. I'd have to take a hot water bottle and a flask of mulled cider tho! Not surprised Jon got papped...such a cool looking dude could not be ignored. Hopefully the weather will improve this weekend. xx

    ReplyDelete
  47. This dress is so FANTASTIC! Seriously...be careful because next thing you're going to be seeing a version of this on the summer 2016 collections.

    You always manage to have a good time despite the weather. I'll send some of our crazy heat over your way.

    bisous
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  48. A Thomas the Tank dress. Inspired and bang on theme! My little Mast L would have been transfixed. I'm sorry I don't get to keep in touch more. Life still a tempestuous beast. One of these fine days I will come to one of your festivals and have a good route through the Kinky Melon stock like I've been meaning to for ages xxx

    ReplyDelete
  49. Brilliant dress there - and so venue-appropriate. No wonder it was such a crowd pleaser.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Fabulous Thomas dress but I really love that black quilted skirt.
    Enjoy the next leg of your journey.x

    ReplyDelete
  51. Your Thomas dress is adorable. My son would have been following you around, he loves Thomas.

    ReplyDelete
  52. That Thomas dress is so cool!!
    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  53. What a perfect dress! love it Vix.

    X x

    ReplyDelete
  54. If ever there was a dress for a train festival...!
    Glad the rain stopped so you could air it :-)
    Jon looks spiffing in his jacket. Go Jon!
    On my knees bowing with admiration for your intrepidity...is that a word?! Xo Jazzy Jack

    ReplyDelete
  55. I've been internetless for a couple of months and I have to say Vix, I'm really enjoying catching up on your posts!
    The Thomas the tank engine jumpsuit is fantastic! My younger brother definitely had a pair of those in his room and as young'un, my mum probably got them from a car boot come to think of it!
    I love Kinky Melon and whenever I read your posts it just makes me want to open a travelling vintage shop even more!
    Rachelle xxx
    http://inspiredbytheretired.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  56. You and Jon are so popular it's a wonder you can't just sit at a booth and autograph photos of you with your fans for a fee. You are true stars! But there would be riots if Kinky Melon shut down and you would be bored to tears.
    I love that you made a dress from the train curtains. Hahaha! True imagination and genius. And clearly that maxi has a thing for you.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Wowzers Vix that maxi dress in incredible! You rock it. I'm enjoying catching up on some of your posts. Been off the blog radar a bit, this baby baking seems to be using up all my resources! Xx

    ReplyDelete
  58. Heheh! Your dress is insane and I LOVE it!! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  59. that dress is so much fun and so perfect for this festival!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Who thought Thomas could be so sexy? You're truly one in a million, Vix. The dress is stunning.,(Don't let my toddler see it!). Xo

    ReplyDelete
  61. Adorable cute train dress! So fun!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Ooo, those trucks!
    Fuck YES, that Thomas the Tank Engince curtain couture number is GLORIARSE! Love it. Ha, dressing appropriately!
    Love Helga XXX

    ReplyDelete
  63. I LOVE dressing in THEMES and I LOVE that Thomas dress *squee* Sounds like the weather was rubbish but you made the best of it! Also loving the quilted skirt - I've wanted to make one of those for years, but its pretty far down the to do list right now!

    ReplyDelete
  64. That Thomas the tank engine dress is an act of genius. Only you would think of it and pull it off with such aplomb. Yes, I bet all those men were starry-eyed! Sounds like the weather was pretty dismal. I always have a bit of a pang when I see you posting about this. That red tin tabernacle is where we had the funeral for my friend Penny. We rode on that steam train to get there, so it is all very familiar, and although it was an amazing day, all planned by her, of course it makes me a bit emotional. Not surprised those Dunlop shoes were snapped up, they're wonderful. Well done for having exactly what the punters wanted to buy! Xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix