Monday 21 March 2011

The Fruits Of My Labours



Remember this peach of a dress I bought from a jumble sale a couple of weeks ago? I've pimped it up to get it worthy of taking to this year's Glastonbury Festival. 


 What did I do? Firstly I chopped six inches of the hemline and restitched it. 


1960's beach dress (Jumble sale 20p), Vintage Ravel of Bond Street silver platforms (Cancer Research charity shop £4.50), Lilac 60 denier opaques (Dorothy Perkins bargain bin 99p), Jewellery (see yesterday)

Then I removed the plastic stalks and centres from some artificial flowers and handstitched the petals on to the shoulder straps adding a vintage button from my stash to the centre of each.

 Like so:



Much more fun, don't you think?

Here's what I got from Saturday morning's jumble sale:


More ghastly children for my Wall of Misery. These are labelled "2 shillings" on the back of each. So much for inflation, I paid 10p for the pair.



A vintage waste paper bin featuring prehistoric-style cave art filled with a bag of fake flowers, perfect for more projects, like my festival headband below.



A very reasonable 20p for the lot.


A 1930's era raspberry satin cushion currently taking pride of place on our bed (20p)


A juicy bundle of colourful old clothes all at 20p an item, here's just a few.


From left: 1970's St Michael dagger collar tunic, Selina of London cocktail dress, Handmade 1970's tangerine wraparound skirt, Crimplene sundress and matching bolero, cream acrylic lace trimmed pussybow tunic, 1970's Berketex lined chiffon dress.


Flower Power rocks!

81 comments:

  1. the dress defo looks worthy of glasto now!!.. it looks so fun and pretty with the flowers on the shoulders gorgeous!!
    i love the cocktail dress you got from the jumble sale its gorgeous..
    a very bright and cheery post there love!

    charl
    x

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  2. the dress looks a million times more 'you' with the flowers : )
    and well done on the dress bargains, i love the black and white one! :)

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  3. I think you did great, it's the perfect length for a spring / summer dress!:D

    Have a lovely week!:D

    ***** Marie *****
    allthingsmarie.com

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  4. The dress is a much better length on you now and the flowers are great. I love that orange button in the white flower.

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  5. So gorgeous - I love the citrus colours on you Vix! You guys cant elope, you have to get married in that dress - it does marvellous things to your fig ure!

    Love,

    Sarah xxx

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  6. Brilliant, that looks loads better now - fabulous flowerchild look. The Selina dress looks rather interesting, can we see it on?

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  7. Can't believe how much effort you put in. I just feel worthless knowning how lazy I am!!! The citrusy color palate is looking so fresh and summery! :)

    from © tanvii.com

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  8. Such a fab transformation, if a girl can rock flowers on her dress (and in her hair) then it’s definitely you. Such bargain finds as always, I love the mix of patterns and prints on the washing line xxx

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  9. Like your festival headband, and the idea of a wall of misery - every home should have one!

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  10. Loving the bargains.
    The dress looks fab with flowers now on
    x

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  11. Fabulous finds, as always my dear!
    I'm utterly static about what you did to the dress; it's beautiful, romantic and springy at the same time!

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  12. Oh I LOVE it. I liked it originally but the shorter length is very much more you and the flowers are just fab. Bet you can't wait till Glasto.

    ps - the children don't look nearly sad enough for the wall of misery!

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  13. I love the pimped up dress, the buttons as the flower centres look great x

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  14. I love the frock. It's adorable. You look great!

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  15. Love it Vix! Flowers with everything I say.
    I agree with Alex..the children look a bit too cheerful...you need a couple from last night's Waking the Dead. Talk about misery, god help us...I'll have to have a stiff drink before part two tonight!
    xxx

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  16. Brilliantly changed and Glasto'd up.
    Love the flowers on the straps, looks perfect now.

    xx

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  17. Pretty with extra oodles of pretty sprinkles...

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  18. You have been SLAVING, Vix... and it was well worth it. Will it go with you to India, I wonder. xxx

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  19. OK seriously I am about ready to fall over in jealousy at the car boots I am imagining you frequent. *_*

    But moreso, YEAH that dress looks better now you've made it your own! It was nice enough before, but now it is excellent.

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  20. I love , love how you have made the flowers juped from the print to your shoulders to be closer to you...Who wouldn´t??? .
    Much love my dear friend.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  21. It is perfecto for Glastonbury - it looks like it was made for you:)

    Carol x
    www.mystylisms.blogspot.com

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  22. Inspired! Have often swapped buttons on coats and jackets but he flower touch is a terrific twist - so springy.

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  23. You look so pretty what gorgeous sunny colour that dress is the flowers are so sweet you will fit right into Glastonbury ;-) Bit of hippy love ;-) You always find the cheapest bargins i know you really have a good eye. dee xx

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  24. soo cool and girly pretty, Vix!

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  25. love what you've done with that flowers and vintage buttons!, such an awesome idea!, well done!
    and I think that your dress is pretty better now!
    Actually I'm astonished about how many items you can find!
    besos

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  26. I love what you did with the sleeves so that you have garlands of flowers for straps! Very pretty - you'll be the belle of Glastonbury!

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  27. You are so talented with sewing looks fab.

    I love the close up photo of you, you look so preeeety! xx

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  28. Love the flowers on the dress, it looks beautiful!
    Sophie
    x

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  29. Love the flowers on the dress, it looks beautiful!
    Sophie
    x

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  30. Hi my dear!! The dress looks super duper like this, I just love the floral accessories and new length, you'll have plenty of admirers at Glastonbury in this!! xxx

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  31. Feck me that frock is DIVINE!!!! I LOVE the floral addition,and genius to use buttons!!! Jealous!!!
    Good scoring too....the clothes look fab,and your wall of misery is getting enormous!!!
    Hurrah!
    Love you,Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  32. you look wonderful, love the flower straps and buttons,how clever.
    very Glastonbury amor.
    you totally make this dress look GREAT!
    more wall of misery frames, love it!
    so many awesome frocks.I finally have a jumbo sale next week,yay

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  33. Wow Vix I LOVE how you've transformed that dress, it's incredible and looks so you with the new length and flowered straps! xxx

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  34. Ooooh, I love what you've done to that dress, especially the flowery shoulder straps. You did well too at your jumble on Saturday - I absolutely love the thrill of the jumble chase!!

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  35. This is such a lovely dress! So perfect for spring! The flower straps are unbelievably fabulous. :) xoxo

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  36. Oh I love the pimped frock, perfect Glasto wear. Shall we start the sun dances already? xxx

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  37. lovely flower details and the silver shoes

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  38. super-cute straps, look great on you. I always feel a little foolish in pretty girly things.
    Yet ANOTHER jumble sale bargain that my parents had new (the waste bin)

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  39. Vix!!! You are so creative!! Now I have a new use for all the buttons I've been hoarding!! They are so pretty surrounded by petals, I would have never thought of doing that!

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  40. Love love love the flowers on the dress straps and the vintage buttons in the middle - genius. Gorgeous summer outfit. The ghastly children bit made me laugh & I did have to check out the previous blog on the scary little fellas. However the bit about houses burning down if one fell of made me laugh! xx

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  41. Loving the dress, so cute!
    The waste bin with the prehistoric animals we had one of those in the early 60's:-)

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  42. That is a gorgeous photo of you with he headdress, you look so beautiful xx

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  43. The flowers are a genius idea and the frock looks fabulous.

    We've got the exact same waste paper bin in our front room! It's a family heirloom, would you believe?!

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  44. Excellent remaking, and I'm loving the pretty dress bargains! :)

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  45. Fabulous - so bright and cheerful for a grey day. Funnily enough I was wearing a yellow flowery dress today - spooky?!

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  46. Love the flowers, such a great spring look :)
    xx

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  47. The dress is very you shortened - really cute shape and colours. xx

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  48. I love what you did with that dress!! I also LOVE that 1930s cushion!!

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  49. "Bloomin lovely" our Vix!! ;) A lovely little jumble haul too!

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  50. You look hot! Love the flowers and the vintage button idea is quite genius. Great buys as always - that black and white dress is quite fab! xxxxxxx

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  51. That dress looks amazing. Those buttons make it something supper special. You will stand out like a rose between two thorns in that. (sad flower reference I know!)

    Looks like you had a busy Saturday too. Great finds yet again.
    X x

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  52. Love how you centre those flowers with buttons, so adorable.

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  53. Flower power rocks:-) I really like how you added a different vintage button on each flower - you are really very creative!

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  54. Wowee!!! That's gorgeous Vix!!

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  55. The flowery straps make it Vix, what a good idea. I need to start collecting fake flowers. Love the 30s satin cusion too, very glam xx

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  56. Love the flowers - the buttons are such a cool idea! What a find that cushion was too! xxx

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  57. I love what you've done with the dress and that BIN!!!! It was like 1972 all over again. I know this bin. I think this might have been the very design on my parent's waste paper bin in the lounge (very Abigail's Party!) in the late 60s/early 70s. What a weird deja-vu sensation that has given me!

    The buttons are fabulous. you're ever so clever, Vix.

    AX

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  58. What a fab revamp. The straps are fantastic and the length is much better. Glanstonbury ready indeed. Lots of great finds as well. x

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  59. Such a gorgeous dress Vix and great finds xxx

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  60. I love your restyling of this dress!

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  61. wow i really love the strap details!

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  62. The dress looks beyond amazing <3
    (urgh..sorry if all my comments sound the same, i'm not very good with words and it's just not possible to sum up how great you and your blog is into a little comment box. i annoy myself sometimes hah)

    x x x

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  63. You never cease to inspire me Vix. Congrats on a job well done! Ages ago I sold a 50s Hawaiian dress with floral straps similar to yours. To this day the dress sticks out in my mind because of them.

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  64. Dearest Vix, it's tons more fun and I love what you've done to it. You're looking great - you are making me want to switch the Wii on! I'm actually frightened of it now as it sits gathering dust.

    I've just cracked The Actor up explaining your wall of misery to him.

    That silk cushion was a brilliant find. 20p!! A friend sent an email inviting me to a jumble in aid of Japan. I am going to have to go as I haven't been to one since we had one at school in the early 80's!

    Speak soon I hope, much love to you xx

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  65. Your hot to trot VV Love the flower straps.I have heaps of flowers too I just have to get using them.

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  66. Wow, I loved it before but I love it even more now! You are such a babe!! Can't wait to see some pics of you wearing it at the festival :)

    Here in Aus the leaves are falling off the trees and we are preparing the house for a chilly autumn. I cannot wait!

    Xx Claire

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  67. Forgot to mention....the buttons in the flowers are such a great idea!

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  68. Go flower power!!! Vix, you inspire me to start sewing again. I love how you've put the flowers on the straps. You say I'm clever, nah ah you're clever!!!

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  69. Your dress looks perfect now for a festival. Love the headband, everyone should wear flowers in their hair :)

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  70. Vix the festival dress is a wow and I love the Ravel platforms. But you had me in stitches with your ghastly children and wall of misery sentence- hilarious!
    xx

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  71. Woo, never would have thought to use silk flowers to pimp up clothes but they look great.

    You look absolutely lovely in that pic with the headband on :) xx

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  72. You will definitely fit in very well at Glasto with your newly refurbished flower power frock! I love the little vintage buttons you added to the flowers, a nice little touch.

    More pictures for your wall of misery?! They do look rather miserable don't they! xxx

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  73. Awesome, I love what you've done with the dress!

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  74. love love love love love love love! that is all I can say. Love how you look and what you did. Fantastic!

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  75. love what you did with the flowery straps...inspired...perfect day for a sun dress!!

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  76. Vix I couldn't think of anything more festival perfect than this. LOVE xx

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  77. Wow, that's honestly brilliant! I thought it was pretty cute to begin with but you've definitely pizazzed it up! I think I'm going to have to steal your flower straps idea one day. Yes... I'm sorry but it's too nice.. haha. Great!

    I know Ikea is a no go zone but they have some amazing fake flowers at the moment, roses and orchids.. I bought a few to wear probably quite ridiculously around my head (they're less ordered than your headgear) but I like it!

    I like the look of that orange and black skirt its juicy!

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  78. Oh Vix you look so goddamn gorgeous in your refashioned Glasto dress - it'll be summer before you know it. I love the detail of adding the vintage buttons to the flower centres - each one different to the next:))) xo

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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