Rumble In The Jumble

When I joined the ranks of the self-employed six years ago, I discovered an underground society to which those in paid employment remain oblivious. The details are often hazy, communicated by Facebook messages (thanks, Shabby!) or via whispered conversations in charity shops. Forget the illicit raves or blues parties of my youth, these days its the wonderful world of the lunchtime jumble sale....... and we've been to two this week.

1960s suede mini (courtesy of Liz), 1980s bodysuit (jumble sale), 1970s Stirling Cooper fringed velveteen jerkin (Garbo Antiques @ Vintage Village at Stockport Market Hall), original 1960s go-go boots (inherited from my Mum), crazy tights (courtesy of Kerry, House of Harrie Hattie)

On Wednesday we set up and sorted the donations out for the regular Methodist church event, yesterday we served the buyers, cleared away and bagged up the leftovers for the rag man and today we went to another jumble as ordinary punters.

Jumble sales are a Black Country way of life. Whilst the weekend ones are packed out, the week day ones aren't quite so hectic. The buyers tend to be the retired and stay-at-home mothers along with a handful of second hand dealers and there is little competition for vintage stuff. Most of the regulars chuck anything old in my direction. Apparently I'm known as "that nice girl who dresses weird."

Want to see what we got?

This Sona percolator makes a mean cup of coffee but, according to my friend Gail at Essentially Eagle Vintage, they sell pretty well which should help towards the flight fund.

I found all three pairs of 1950s skates in the same donation bag, the cream pair at the end have bells threaded through the laces with Queens Ice Club, Bayswater W2 etched inside. I haven't been ice skating since I was a teenager but they'd look fantastic hung on an interior wall.

This Rococo mirror has a fair bit of age to it, it fits in well with our mirrors in the bathroom (there's a song there!)

This hideous thing actually lights up and plays Its a Long Way To Tipperary. Unsurprisingly it was unsold at the end of the jumble so I had to rescue it, much to Jon's disgust.

More Spanish tat.

See, Jon gets stuff too. A groovy retro ice bucket (with the 1960s guarantee still inside) and a vintage camera.

Some Scottish jewellery (complete with the tartan gift boxes)

...and a fascinating 1937 edition of Every Woman's Enquire Within covering everything from animal husbandry, politics, travel advice and beauty tips. 

Whilst there's a fair few vintage clothes on offer I only buy stuff that excites me, like this amazing array of 1970s dresses.

I also found the vintage swimsuit of my dreams but that'll have to wait for another post.

Wearing: 1970s Crimplene maxi dress (the lovely Linda at Hey Homewrecker!), bastard massive 70s Stainless Steel cross (£1, car boot sale), 1960s go-go boots (as before)

...and here's something I wasn't tempted with - the biggest pants in the world.

Jon'll be taking Kinky Melon's Retro Boutique to Bridgnorth tomorrow - alone! I'm having the day off. He's a star, isn't he?

See you soon!