Sunday 8 May 2011

Rain Didn't Stop Play




It's been too wet for car booting this weekend but it's done me a favour and I've cracked on with a few tasks I've been putting off for ages.


I discovered this vintage steel meat safe festering in the garden of our last house and held on to it for years thinking it would come in useful one day. Yesterday I finally scrubbed it down and painted it so it's now respectable-looking storage receptacle for my plant pots and gardening accessories.


Our motley assortment of cast iron garden furniture has been salvaged from skips and reclamation yards over the years. After giving them the same olive green paint treatment the garden looks a lot more inviting and less like the council tip.


Can you see the washing line? I picked up some cute yellow daisy print bark cloth at Friday night's jumble sale and hopefully they'll be enough fabric to run up some camper van curtains.


When my fab friend Margaret at Penny Dreadful Vintage blogged about jumpsuits a couple of months ago I saw this beauty on Etsy and I knew it had to be mine whatever the cost (but it was only $15 so just about within budget). When it arrived from the States I absolutely loved it but felt the sleeves made it too "costume-y" so I hacked them off and now it's perfect.


Just remind me not to take it to any festivals this summer. Much as I love an all-in-one trying a negotiate a port-a-loo with a knackered lock after a gallon of cider isn't a pretty picture.


1960's Orange perspex ring (inherited), turquoise heart (my darling Helga), turquoise & silver (present from Jon), iridescent steel ring (my dearest Sarah)



Hope you've had the best of weekends. As usual I've eaten and drunk far too much and stayed up well passed my bedtime. I'll have to spend the next week on the Wii Fit so that I can do it all again next weekend.

I can't believe I've got over 600 followers, I'm sure it's after my dear friend, Christina's brilliant post here. I'm so excited and can't wait to get to know some more fabulous bloggers.

66 comments:

  1. The bodice on that dress is beautiful and the sleeves definitely had to go. Have arms - flaunt arms.

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  2. Amazing job on transforming your jump suit. It looks stunning on you.

    X x

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  3. LOVE what you did with the meat safe!

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  4. I love the jumpsuit! It's a gorgeous colour and very Margot. You've done a great job on the meat safe too. Joe's mum has got one she brought with her from Ireland and I covet it. xxxx

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  5. oooh Margo, it is gorgeous! I love the buttons too!

    The meat safe looks brilliant, what a great save! Can't wait to see what you do with the lush barkcloth!!!

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  6. I don't know why you would be surprised, yours is such a great blog and your so lovely. Makes sense.

    I thought the jumpsuit was a dress at first. It's fab. Xxx

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  7. Ha ha! A jumpsuit at a festival would be an epic wardrobe planning fail! Yuk. I sometimes balk at maxis (no one wants a hem that's been on the floor of a portaloo) but you have the height and heel stamina to look glam at the muddiest fest!

    I like your garden furniture. Oh, to have a garden. We're home-hunting, fingers crossed a small house or garden maisonette...

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  8. I am not surprised at all. You are not only warm, kind, beautiful and fantastic, but also unique.
    Love u.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  9. Lovely colour...good and sunny!
    I'm not surprised at over 600 followers at all. You are a total inspiration. Actually, you are a bloggy national treasure!xxxx

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  10. I love that dress. I agree with you about the sleeves it looks better without them

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  11. Lovely colours, with wide legs like that it may be from the era when they were called pants-dress rather than jump suit but fab by any name!!!

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  12. I can totally believe you have over 600 followers, Vix- you've got such grand style! Love the jumpsuit on you and I think the sleeve removal made it perfect. Here's to your next 600!

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  13. Congratulations on reaching 600! You totally deserve it and more than that everyone needs to get inspired and learn from you about soooo many things!!! Love the Maxi and your rings are 'stealing worthy; :P [Kidding]

    ♡ from © tanvii.com
    Apothica Giveaway

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  14. Gorgeous jumpsuit, much better sleeveless, you were right. Your garden furniture is ultra-pretty!!!! xxx

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  15. this jumpsuit is awesome! really adorable but I think it wuldn't look good on me. but you really rock it! love your garden funiture!

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  16. OMG i would never have known that was a jumpsuit its just gorgeous and so much better without the sleeves you did a good job ;-) It just fits and flows so nicely i love it. And that meat cabinet looks fab to i need to spray my metal garden furniture to really the green has almost gone but like you say its just one of those jobs that never get done plus i think i am a little nervous never having done it before. Congratulations on the 600 followers but i am not at all surprised your a lovely person with a great style a love for the 70's and it just shines through on every post. Have a great week, dee xx

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  17. what a beauty of a jumpsuit! dont you dare take it to a festival!! I made the mistake of wearing a playsuit to a bbq in the park , lots of cider was had and i ended up having to get full blown naked in the bushes! eeep!! hehe .... also, back on the subject of festivals, i find i have to stand either side of the seat, thai style me and my sisters call it, as im short and dont want to ruin the back of my knickers/ trousers (if you know what i mean without going into TOO much detail...) xxx

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  18. That jumpsuit is definately not suitable for festivals - unless you can gain access to the VIP 'posh' loos.

    No rain here at all - we really need some though.

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  19. Oh myyyyyyyy

    Now that is a jumpsuit of a kind I could really get wardrobe-friendly with. A great desire has arisen in my and it is a desire to wear giant empire-waisted trouserlegs. *_*

    Good call on the meat locker. Much prettier than great stacks of plastic pots (like we have).

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  20. The safe and garden furniture look great

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  21. i just love that second last show.

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  22. Looking as fabulous as ever! I agree with the festival loo problemo - need alcohol friendly clothing, either that or get a 'She-wee' (I thank my best mate for that thoughtful glasto gift!) Mwah Scarlett x

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  23. I love your jumpsuit you look very foxy. x

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  24. Holy rainbow of colors!
    I love the pic with your nails, rings and dress.

    I went out garage saling yesterday morning. The first sale I went to was the best one all day. So I went back near the end to scoop up a few more things. It was supposed to rain! Thank God it held off for a good portion of the morning.

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  25. The meat safe looks fantastic now, and I adore the jump suit!

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  26. this jumpsuit is absolutly gorgeous! good idea to have removed the arms... it fits you perfectly.

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  27. I adore your cast iron furniture! It's amazing what people think fit to throw away isn't it? And love what you did with the meat fridge!

    At first when I saw your first pic I thought you were wearing another maxi dress but what a jumpsuit - and clever you transforming it! Your creativity never fails to astound me. Pink and orange belong together as a colour combo. I'm happy to remind you not to pack it for Glasto - I still have nightmares of the portaloos there!

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  28. You look amazing! I thought it was a maxi dress at first! What a lovely groups of colours!
    I think I am going to hack the sleeves of the laura ashlet dress I found, is it hard? Never altered anything before, bit nervous!
    Sophie
    x

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  29. That jumpsuit looks amazing, you altered it so well! I love the vibrant nails and all the rings too - gorgeous! x

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  30. Congratulations on 600 followers, you deserve it. Beautiful dress too :)

    x

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  31. I would never have guessed that that was a jumpsuit!!! It's awesome!! Love the bodice,the colour,the print-eeek!!!!
    Love your outdoor furniture,too!! We don't see much of that unless it's brand new.....
    Rock on,my freaky twin!You have 600 followers because you are a STAR!!!!!!
    Love you madly!! xxxXXXxxx Helga!

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  32. More congratulations on gaining over 600 loyal followers, happy to be one of 'em!
    You are a vision of colour and creativity on a dull weekend. God I need to do something with our lacklustre collection of garden furniture, I feel very lazy in comparison to you. That's having kids for you, at least that's my excuse...
    Well done on a busy productive weekend, you deserve the food'n'drink bonanza after all your work!
    Love Curtise x

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  33. whouuu, love love that orange jumpsuit, pretty color, delighful shape and it fits you so well!!
    (I'm a huge fan of orange color!)
    And I agree with you about jumpsuits: they're not sensible cloth for festivals!
    besos

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  34. Dearest Vixy,
    YOWZA, you are a vision of technicolor loveliness today.
    I think $15 was well cheap for such a stunning garment, I haven't bought anything on etsy yet.
    Mark has "banned" me from buying anything more on eBay until I start selling & I think that "ban" may extend to etsy too :(
    Anyhow, more listings are going up this week, so fingers crossed, I'll get my first sale soon :)
    Hope all is well with you & Jon.
    Take care luv,
    Jem
    xXx

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  35. Wow, that jumpsuit is fab, what a brilliant find! I love what you've done with your garden furniture, its amazing what people throw out these days. My family are great believers in not throwing out furniture but passing it on, its helped my sister get her new home set up. I'm going to keep an eye on skips in the future for any thrown-away treasure! xx

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  36. Dearest Vix, you deserve every follower you get, you're fabulous!

    Love the jumpsuit. It's far nicer sleeveless and the turquoise is gorgeous with it.

    I also love your buddha's head. I've been looking for one for my garden too. I want a really silly big one. I'll have to wait until I've paid off everything before I start spending again.

    Speak very soon, love you xx

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  37. You have the coolest outfits ever and that's a fantastic use of up-cycling on the old meat container there. The paint makes it look brand new! And I can imagine Brazil is beautiful. xxx

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  38. Fabulous idea for the meat safe, well done! The dress looks fab, I think the colours are very Mildred Roper and I love the contrasting buttons.xx.

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  39. Never heard of a meat safe until this post... but now I can see why you'd want one! Very cute. The jumpsuit is amazing and def worth the cost.

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  40. OMG you look AMAZING in that jumpsuit!!! The colours are just amazing and I love all of your fab rings especially the orange one (and that's an opal in that steel ring!). Your garden looks so green and lush and just lovely. So glad you hacked off the sleeves - they were just too much, and I love the bodice details. You are frickin gorgeous - this is one of my faves!

    Sarah xxx

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  41. I love how you just buy random things, like a meat safe, because they may be useful some day. That's awesome! :)

    I adore your dress. I wish I looked as lovely in that shade of orange as you do. And I adore your nail polish color. xoxo

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  42. Great color on you and I love all the rings.
    The house entrance is so cool with those mushrooms and the buddha head.

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  43. Loving your jewellery again and that entrance is gorgeous as are your garden accessories .. you are good xx

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  44. Well you look a dream in your dress. Love what you have done to your meat safe, its looking lovely. Hope you are able to make your curtains for your VW with the material. I got my solar fairy lights from Ebay btw. And yes my hand is tattooed with a design I drew up from mehandi, based on a heart and leaves.

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  45. The transformation of the meat locker thing is fantastic - looks wonderful.

    Of course the outfit if FAB - as USUAL!

    Congrats on reaching that massive amount of followers. I've just got over 100 and am feeling pretty pleased with that :-D

    Hope you had a lovely weekend.

    Ali x

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  46. That jumpsuit is magnificent, but the portaloo comment made me laugh. I wore a jumpsuit on holiday recently - try negotiating a european style hole in the floor in one. Oh the glamour!

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  47. fab outfit, and i love the transformation you have given the cabinet!

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  48. That jumpsuit is amazing! I very much like the changes that you made to the sleeves. And OMG, as much as I love jumpsuits, I would not be able to stand working one in a port-a-loo. Definitely not festival wear!

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  49. Gorgeous gal, I am not surprised you have such an avid following. It's because you are truly honest about how you choose to live your life and you do live it to it's fullest. I love that about you. Thank you for being yourself. I adore the colour you've chosen for the meat safe and garden furniture - they look like they've been zapped here straight from the mid-20th century. Oh but holy mama, the jumpsuit is so beautiful and just you!!! sigh - beautiful rings and nail polish! xoxo

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  50. Wow its gorgeous, fits perfectly, great find! I got rid of a playsuit for the same practical reasons tho - hard to negotiate the loo! :)

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  51. I love your garden furniture and storage solution, totally fabuoous transformations! I am about to try and work out how to revamp my garden unmbrella from mouldy and tired to flowery and fun, but haven't worked out how yet! Your jumpsuit looks gorgeous. Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog post, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Hugs and love, Em x

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  52. i can honestly say that is the prettiest jumpsuit EVER!

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  53. I can totally believe you have over 600 followers - you're fab!

    I love what you've done with that meat locker - it looks great.

    Fab jumpsuit, I have a black vintage one which I love, although your orange is amazing. x

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  54. I've been searching for a perfect jumpsuit - so I'm envious that you have found this FABULOUS one. You look gorgeous and the colour and print have such a feel-good factor that you must just want to smile the whole time you're wearing this! Ah yes, but portaloos and jumpsuits...eeek, definitely to be avoided.

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  55. Great post!
    Glad I found your blog, definitely a follower.
    xxx
    http://shopping-diva-com.blogspot.com/

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  56. the orange dress is so pretty :D

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  57. Still chuckling at the vision of you in those lovely loos at Glastonbury struggling to get out of your jumpsuit!! xx

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  58. What an amazing thing to find in the garden! And well done on revamping all your furniture, I need to find some in skips etc!

    Fab job on the jumpsuit too and no do not take it to Glastonbury, I cannot even imagine having to negotiate something like that in a portaloo when drunk ha ha!

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  59. Love the meat safe! We have been busy popping our campervan festival cherry at the Big Bang this weekend; it has only taken us two years! x

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  60. Loving your 70's jumpsuit!! And that meat safe is brill :-) xxx

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  61. It looks fab, I'm so glad you got it (and in budget!) I still haven't read Christina's post, I don't really use the internet at weekends so always have loads of catching up to do on a Monday. You have 600 followers because you are awesome.

    (ps just finished New Moon in a day and a half. Need the next Twilight book now. You got me hooked!) xx

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  62. The garden furniture looks ace - v jealous, would love some outdoor space but I'm in a top floor tenement! Congrats on the followers - it's cos you're fab! xx

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  63. It is perfect Vix! I always make a mess when i decide to hack off sleeves (gapey armholes!) so i'd love to know your secret ;)

    xx

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  64. Fabulous all in one. Gorgeous garden bit and bobs and excellent dolling up as always! x

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  65. Wow, the meat safe looks amazing! It's always so satisfying when you finally get round to doing those things you've been meaning to do forever isn't it?

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Lots of love, Vix