It's a gorgeous day here but being the chaotic woman I am, after a quick trip into town to get my eyes tested and pick up a busted platform from the cobblers, I'm be spending the day indoors, sorting my stock for the two vintage fairs we'll be trading at this weekend.
That's one of my newly repaired shoes. The cobbler saw the state of the damage and asked if I was drunk when I did it, my reputation precedes me.
When I was rummaging through my collection of handbags to see if any could be sold I rediscovered my owl saddle bag so it got an outing.
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| Grandpa as a young man, 1938; Outside the family home in Stone, Staffordshire, 1925; My Grandparents wedding day, 1940; First birthday in the family garden, 1914 |
Tuesday marked 100 years since the birth of my Grandpa (Mum's dad). Coming from a long line of hoarders I've boxes of family photos, daguerreotypes, certificates, paperwork, clothing, jewellery and ephemera going back over two centuries.
One of the best things about trading at vintage fairs is the friends I've made along the way. I spent a massively educational afternoon yesterday showing Vicky, a fellow lifelong collector of curiosities and organiser of some great collectors fairs, some of the weird things I've inherited.
Call me dim but I never thought the stuff I grew up with and took as commonplace would be so desirable and sought after.
Miniature prayer books, Whitby jet, jewellery made with butterfly wings and dead people's hair.
It's nice to know I'm not the only weirdo in the world.
Vicky said it was a shame not to enjoy these family pieces passed down the generations so I took note and wore a few today.
This locket is monogrammed with the initials, AC, after my Grandpa's mother, Alice Chapman. She's actually wearing the locket in the picture inside. The dapper chap with the 'tashe is her husband, Thomas Harris. Nice to see that my female ancestors were also fans of bastard massive jewellery. Nothing dainty in our family!
The enamel bluebird and Victorian butterfly brooch have been in my jewellery box since childhood.
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| 1970s cotton maxi dress and waistcoat (The beautiful Lucy), 1970s suede platforms (£10, eBay), 1970s Ted Lapidus sunglasses (£1.95, Acorns Hospice), Tooled bag (£2, Islamic Relief charity) |
Right, off to do some work!
Have a fabulous weekend.
I love that gorgeous turquoise blue dress on you and the platforms, drunk indeed - obviously not a gent cobbler to even mention it :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's true you have so much wonderful inherited stuff and so glad to see you wearing them in your turn, I really love that locket! Hope you have a great trading and fun weekend! xx
You look so gorgeous in that frock. I LOVE the combo of ric-rac & polkadots. Your rack looks pretty impressive there too! The tooled owl bag is the ultimate! Your collection of family jewels are amazing. It all looks so fascinating. The locket is beautiful & so special too. I've kept most of my jewellery from childhood too, whereas my sister gets rid of everything. I'm happy to be called a hoarder, it's much more interesting then being a minimalist! Xx
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing collection of beauteous goodies to inherit. They have gone to the perfect home!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Sell! Sell! Sell!
Z xx
Stunningly beautiful heirlooms! You have some beautiful ancestors as well. Your grandfather much resembles my father.
ReplyDeleteAll the best at your TWO shows this weekend, you hard working ga you!
There is the bag that causes all others to be envious! Happy to see you looking so beautiful in that blue polka dot maxi, yum! I don't recall this dress I just love it on ya! I loved seeing some of these momentos in the flesh, they are tiny bits of your family history and its rare these days to have anything from past generations, such a shame if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteYour grandpa was a handsome man! Is he the one you told me the story about that had to buy his wife the nice handbag? I have a few items that were my grandmas but what I really want are the stories that went with them. I'll just have to make that up.
I'd love a chat with you before I take off today. I'll email ya once I start work and hopefully we can make it happen. Miss you sweetie!
Lotsoflove
Xxxxooooo
Some wonderful and interesting things you have there Vix!! I love the Whitby jet, and seriously...who wouldn't want to wear other peoples hair around??lol, I do it all the time!! Love it all!! It's especially nice that you have so many pictures, newspaper clippings, etc. It makes your history real for you....it connects you.
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky to still have so many heirlooms around you, with wonderful stories. My mother was going through her jewelry box, and I got to pick out an amazing little mosaic pin and earrings that I can't wait to wear! Things like that are indeed one of a kind!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the dress...the bag made me salivate...xxx
ReplyDeleteYou look like you stepped out of my high school yearbook (class of 77) FABULOUS!!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful you have all of these pictures and such from your family--it's priceless!!
The bits and bobs are fascinating!!
You wearing your great-grandma's locket has inspired me to pull out my great-grandma's locket and wear it this weekend!!
Have a fantastic time at your sales!!
fabulous watching you enjoying some sun outdoors and looking gorgeous on your platforms and delightful turquoise dress!, your bag is really covetable!
ReplyDeleteI think inherited pieces are always great to wear, pieces with a story to tell! and a touch of decadence and genuine victorian freakness is always welcome!
besos & happy weekend!
I only wish the world was full of weirdos like you, my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteI see you are kissed by the sun.
Much love.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
What a shame I will miss the Pesall Fayre as we are off to Alton towers on Sunday ( in my newly cobbled boots )
ReplyDeleteI love your sunnies and your family heirlooms are sooooo cool!!! lucky you to have such amazing keepsakes. The locket is incredible.
ReplyDeleteBecky
I'm so happy that the sun is shining there, please enjoy the sun for me!!
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous in your polkadots maxi and I adore the fact that you are using accessories with such a great sentimental importance!The enamel brooches are so lovely and the locket is awesome but I love all your inherited things, I'm one of those weirdos that would kill to have them too! Everytime I see the photographs of your relatives I understand that beauty is genetic, your grandpa was so handsome and elegant!!
Have a wonderful weekend
IloveyoumorethanVictorianparaphernalia!!!
What a treasure of goodies! Even more meaningful is the fact they are momentos of beloved family members!
ReplyDeleteYou as always look amazing- great shades, shoes and frock. I tell you when I start traipsing about in long 1970s maxis, you are the person who inspired it.
How marvellous to have a reputation. I'm sure he got it wrong though. I blame the hill of doom beside the church into town on a dark night. Call me Sherlock and hand me my detective badge.
ReplyDeleteAnother dashing male heir. You got all the good genes. I love that wedding pic, is that the grandmother whose house you bought? You have an amazing collection of heirlooms and more importantly, family history. How wonderful to have such immediate and detailed knowledge of those who came before. I would love that.
I love that fresh turquoise dress on you. It is so bright and cheerful looking and as ever, you look delicious. Shame you have work to do...
I had my second ever eye test the other week. Well, it's been 15 years, I thought I was probably due. I'll tackle the dentist soon before all me teeth fall out. Keep smiling! xxxxxx
Oh wow!!! What a wonderful collection of inherited items!!! It would take a lifetime to find such treasures. You are a lucky girl to have such an interesting heritage. The family photos are beautiful also, as are you! XXX
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous as ever . Love the shoes and the big pendant - hope you will have a great sale this weekend and of course a great time !
ReplyDeleteXxxx
You look gorgeous as ever . Love the shoes and the big pendant - hope you will have a great sale this weekend and of course a great time !
ReplyDeleteXxxx
I love the owl tooled bag and those platforms are so much fun! Wonderful treasures, the jewellery is amazing! Happy weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteLooking fab in polka dots.
ReplyDeleteYou look very pretty and summery in that dress! I have a brooch very similar to one of yours. It has a bloke in it and it spins round and there's another bloke on the back. Is it some kind of mourning jewellery? We don't know who the people are but they must be relatives of mine. Have a lovely weekend, hope this one's busier than the last. xxx
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous, and what fabulous treasures your family has collected! Old things are the best.
ReplyDeleteMy Nan was also born in May 1913 but unlike your wonderful collection I only have a couple of pieces of her jewellery. I do have some of her crockery and cookery books tho. Lovely to see the sun again eh, we got it 'darn sarf' as well. Love your frock, you look so summer-y. Never realised before how mahoosive your house was. Good luck this weekend.
ReplyDeletex
I absolutely adore all the old artifacts you've got Vix-that whitby jet is stunning, there's some in the Bristol museum that I'm always drooling over!
ReplyDeleteLooking stunning as always; love the platforms, we've all broken a shoe or two when under the influence! haha xxxxxxxxxx
You come from a loooomg line of FABULARSE, my darling!!!Who could possibly have known that those wonderful bits and bobs would be the source of such envy?! I for one LOVE jet, and Victorian jewellery, and am most annoyed nothing, NOTHING was ever kept in my family. I clearly come from a line of inconsiderates!!!
ReplyDeleteYou look TOTALLY gorgeous in the sunshine! That makes me very happy!!
Love that frock, it's rather scrumptious, and those platforms make me MOIST! And you know I adore tooled leather, so what that owl bag is doing to me I shall not divulge in public...
I am missing you terribly...lets Skype soon!
love Helga xxxXXXxxx
i love your collection of objects from your family. i feel i am a bit of a voyeur as i love looking at other peoples personal objects. you have such lovely things. i love your dress. be careful in the platforms. love lucyx
ReplyDeleteGosh that dress is a stunner and aren't you also in it. Eee I'm champing at the bit to come and sort the weeds in your front garden!
ReplyDeleteYou have some lovely family mementoes. Have fun at the vintage fairs! x
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting collection!!! Sometimes hoarding is a good thing!! I wish my family would appreciate that!x
ReplyDeleteWish I could be in The Midlands this weekend....
ReplyDelete(and are those platform shoes comfortable?)
Your inherited collection is absolutely spectacular Vix! I trawl every weekend in the hope of finding such deliciousness! Wearing items that belonged to long past family members is priceless and so special.
ReplyDeleteyou have some amazing trinkets!! The shoes look great and such a pretty dress and ohhh you know I just love that purse I was wondering where it has been we haven't seen it in awhile :) Love Heather
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dress, quite a calm and restful look today, the turquoise looks really pretty with the denim and your light tan. I love the shoes and bag - thought for a moment the owl was wearing a nightcap; obviously need my eyes tested!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be criminal not be a hoarder when you've inherited such an amazing and beautiful stash of social history. It's pretty far removed from the kind of hoarding where you're trapped in your flat by 14 years worth of empty pizza boxes, junk mail and telephone directories...
xx
Hooray for hoarding! You have some amazing treasures. The Whitby jet is beautiful. That dress is fabulous. I love the star-type pattern.
ReplyDeleteegad, hoarders don't have nice things like that, they keep old pizzas boxes and empty cans. I have a cheap pearl necklace and that's about it. How nice to have things your family touched
ReplyDeleteYou look exceptionally gorgeous in this post. Blue looks wonderful on you. And all those precious items from your past family are incredible. How lovely that you are starting to wear them. I especially love the locket, that your Great Grandmother is wearing in the picture as well - how great!
ReplyDeleteYour grandpa looked quite dapper with his neatly pressed slacks, well starhed white shirt, handkerchief neatly folded in his pocket, cufflinks and bow-tie. Somehow I don't think I could ever think of holding onto or acquiring keepsake heirlooms and jewelry as lovely as what you have pictured here as hoarding. It's nice that it's being preserved and appreciated. OH MY .... my father and your grandfather were born the same year! I hope that makes you feel young... and I have things passed down from his parents, some of it monogrammed.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that you're wearing some of that lovely vintage jewelry. I love that frock you're wearing in these photos. I noticed your nailpolish matches the colour beautifully.
Love the old photos and the locket is amazing - you are so lucky that these bits and pieces were passed down to you.
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
I'm gasping at all your treasures. My great-grandmother, Emma Stephenson, was born in Batley, and I have inherited a Whitby jet chain like your one, possibly from her. I looked on a map and they are not too far apart. Thank you for identifying it for me!
ReplyDeleteI adore old family photos and keepsakes. It is nice to know the history of your own family, good stuff and bad!! So glad you wear the jewellery when so many people keep it under lock and key.
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky to have inherited so many beautiful and personal things Vix, my mum is a hoarder too and my kids love going to her house, it's like a treasure trove to them. As someone else mentioned, I'd rather be a hoarder than a minimalist, there's something so cold about minimalism. Love your turquoise and tan look today, it makes me think of sunny days, and that owl bag always makes me green with envy! Loved hearing how you blubbed when you saw Morrissey live, I was lucky enough to see the Smiths live twice (and I wish it had been more) but that was my first time seeing Morrissey on his own and it stirred up so many memories and feelings for me that I felt very emotional, so I can understand you crying, there's just something about the man isn't there? xx
ReplyDeleteI love all that vintage jewelry!
ReplyDeleteHi there! That is wonderful how you've been able to keep hold of your family's treasures, they really are so lovely!! Good luck at the fairs this weekend xxx
ReplyDeleteBusted platforms, cheeky cobblers, and Victorian mourning jewellery, a typically eclectic mix from you, Vix! I love all your heirlooms, but I can understand that if you grow up surrounded by the stuff, you maybe feel less amazed by all those treasures than we do!
ReplyDeleteThe photos are always the most fascinating, I think, and even better when they are combined with bastard massive jewellery! Your ancestors are a handsome lot, there are plenty good lookers as well as hoarders in your family.
You look beautifully summery in your turquoise maxi and excellent denim waistcoat, and that bag is a real find. Hurray for wearing the family jewels, for sunshine, for mended shoes, and for vintage fairs (hope you sell loads, all the more cash for Thursday!) Xxxx
Both those shoes and that locket are amazing!
ReplyDeleteHope the fairs go well for you this weekend!
Your entire look is stellar, Vix, and I'm in awe over your lovely inherited treasures, especially the locket and whatever that green thing is - a brooch, or perhaps a pill box? So many of us are detached from our histories. I find it inspiring to see how connected you are to yours. Xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove the dress and shoes. Well worth making do and mending.
ReplyDeleteSo many lovely and memories fill items!
ReplyDeleteYour family and you share have a very handsome genetic line.
Its better to have a reputation than not to have one at all.
I love your posts when you show us your family's things. It's so neat that you have them. The locket is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI am admiring your beautiful outdoor bench. So pretty.
Enjoy your weekend vintage fairs!
I love your whole outfit esp the dress its beautiful x
ReplyDeleteCzęsto do tu zaglądam i bardzo mi się u Ciebie podoba:nie znam języka więc nie zostawiam komentarzy,bo nie zawsze rozumiem o czym piszesz:))Bardzo podoba mi się też Twój dom:)))Pozdrawiam serdecznie
ReplyDeleteGlad to see your enjoying the sunshine, whoo love your dress and owl handbag :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend :)
LOVE your blue and denim ensemble. And that charming little owl bag. You know I have a reputation for being a drunk hoarder as well. I think it's a fab way to live.
ReplyDeleteThe title of your post really caught my eye--as my 'inventory' has now taken over two rooms of our home and every closet in the house.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see so much sunshine there and hope your weekend sales are stellar.
suc wonderful pieces, vix! love your shoes and the lovely purse! the blue bird is so cute!xx
ReplyDeleteClearly your love of collecting comes honestly!! I love the fact that your great grandmother is wearing the locket in the picture inside it. It looks beautiful on you. The dress, vest, shoes, and bag combination is making me very happy, too. XXOO
ReplyDeleteThe treasures that you've displayed reveal a very interesting family history. I think it's wonderful and meaningful that you're wearing your inherited pieces. The locket is the perfect statement accessory for your 70's cotton maxi and waistcoat. Hope that you had a successful weekend at the vintage fairs.
ReplyDeletethis locked is so special! family pieces need to be worn. bring them back to life. :)
ReplyDeletelove the dotted dress: dots forever.
Ah Vix that turquoise colour is so gorgeous on you, what a dreamy dress and I love how you've accessorized it with that beautiful bag, waistcoat and uber cool sunnies. Your heirloom locket is so special, such soulful and adorable photographs of your good looking great-grandparents. Good looks and dapper dressing clearly runs in the family!
ReplyDeleteyou are one incredibly lucky woman to have all these family heirlooms from so long ago! you look amazing in your dress..love the bag..the accessories..and your grandpa was a very dashing man!
ReplyDeleteOh wow that is so cool to have that collection - and what a dashing bloke! How amazing to see you in that and then the picture of your great gran (?)in it!! I'm a fan of hoarding! (not in the can't-find-the- door type of way obvs!) My mum held onto so much which I love.. x
ReplyDeleteAnd there you are. Beautiful with a personal touch as usual.
ReplyDeleteOh Vix I have been pouring over the photographs of your wonderful family history in jewellery......I love the mourning pieces...the Whitby jet. Oh just stunning. Collections like that are blessed when they end up in the hands of someone who understand the beauty and value in them.
ReplyDeleteLove V
adorable spring/summer outfit *__*
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely dress, you look wonderful in it and I love all the bits and bobs from your family. I don't have much in that manner, just the odd piece of seventies jewellery that was my mums and some old watches that were my nans, which I would love to get working again xxx
ReplyDeleteoh my word! I love that locket!!
ReplyDeletehttp://shaktidove.blogspot.com/
So wonderful what you are showing us, all that inherit - I love it!
ReplyDeleteLove the dress and the vest and those bastard huge sunnies are extra terrestorial, adore them!
It's lovely continuingly discovering family treasures and other treasures you put away and forgotten about. You really have some fantastic bits and bobs there, I can't stop looking at it all. The locket is fantastic and I love all the slightly macabre Whitby jet, religious bits and threat of human hair (can't see it, I presume it's in a locket). You lucky lady! You look fab in your blue spotty dress and I know you had another successful if knackering weekend, so I hope you're having a rest this week! xxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteYou have such an amazing collection of vintage trinkets - I'm glad to see you wearing them - I trawl ebay and flea markets for that sort of stuff you know! I love the blue polka dot dress!
ReplyDeleteWow!! What a collection (are you tired of hearing it yet?!). Wonderfully amazing to have the locket of your ancestors and to see Alice wearing the locket in the photo...in the locket, is an extra and quite unique treat! Thanks for sharing. Love your bodacious personality and blog. You are constant inspiration. Cheers. xo Jasmine // Ricochet Waves
ReplyDeleteYou've inherited some lovely things. I have a few war medals and a whistle from 1915 that have been passed down onto my dad and then onto me. My mum also gave me her wedding ring from when she married my dad. It's quite nice having all these things, but it gets me very emotional. x
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful in this colour my dear, I really like the dress & waistcoat combi, plus those shoes are fab & the owl bag so cute!!
ReplyDeleteYou have some great collectables also and it's nice you know the history behind them too :D
Hope you had a good weekend selling?
Sal x
You know I love all the weird and wonderful trinkets you've inherited and I think it's great that you wear them to go shopping in! That turquoise dress looks so pretty with your long black hair and matching nails xxx
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