Thursday 13 August 2015

Retail Therapy - Midweek Car Booting & Charity Shopping Fun



Just lately it feels that we only exist for festivals, by the time we've unloaded the van, washed the beer and glitter from the stock, caught up with our sleep, tidied the house, made amends with the cats & the tortoise then its time to pack up and head off to the next one. This week we were determined to squeeze in a bit of R&R, after the pub, our favourite kind of relaxation, retail therapy!

WEARING: Vintage Prova psychedelic maxi (Retro Fit, Vintage Village @ Stockport), denim waistcoat (charity shop), Native American wolf choker (car boot sale), basket (made in Ghana from last weekend's Kaya Festival), sun tan (two months spent working outside)
Firstly it was the return of the midweek car boot sale. We hadn't been to the Wednesday one for a while as it was starting to become tedious, the same old sellers peddling the same tired old tat (foot spas, C List celeb bios, over-washed Primark & H&M tat, fake Prada bags). But after a break of a couple of months and some glorious sunshine we thought we'd make an effort and set the alarm for an early-ish start.


I pounced on these groovy 1960s Heals curtains in minutes, recognising Barbara Brown's style from yards away. During my childhood tea always served on her Focus dinner service by Midwinter, my parents received it as a wedding gift in 1966 , I still use a few of the pieces still survive, 49 years on.


I'd love to hang these up at our windows but dislike curtains that aren't floor length, so I'll probably knock up a funky maxi length waistcoat or a dress but not tea towels like the seller (the son of the 88 year old lady who'd owned them from new) suggested.


I do love a retro flight bag. BOAC became British Airways in 1974.


There were a pair of these 1950s wooden Vikings, his brother had lost his weapon but the seller threw him in for free.


I love a Hong Kong-made beaded bag, they remind me of the purses I used to take my dinner money to school in back in the early 1970s. I hadn't seen one in this style before.


Massive vintage sunnies to add to my collection.


Groovy 1960s wellies.


I can't resist a box of sewing notions. The zip puller is brilliant for an arthritic old crock like me who occasionally needs help getting dressed.


I'm not a fan of dainty vintage china but these 1950s Arthur Meakin Mexican cactus plates were too cool to pass up.


Most charity shops price their scarves for more than we sell them for so I always pounce on any I see at car boot sales. When the stall holder told me that they were vintage and that one had a Paris maker's label I began to think she was going to ask a fortune but no, she even chucked a couple more in for free.


Today we went for a quick whizz around the chazzas. A 1960s velvet trimmed jacket; snazzy 80s waistcoat (the festival goers can't get enough of them!); a fab ethnic sun dress; an original Panama hat by top British hat makers Olney ; a crazy 1980s Adini jumpsuit; a vintage Pakistani waistcoat; tooled leather cowboy boots and a gorgeous Cuban shirt.



No rest for the wicked! I'm off to pack the van ready for a 7 am getaway tomorrow.

See you soon. x

46 comments:

  1. love that black and golden waistcoat <3

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  2. Yet another amazing haul!

    I thought earlier on in the post you'd written that you were 'catching up with sheep' not what it actually said which was 'catching up with sleep'.

    Clearly I need a lie down!

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  3. You live a fabulous live buy and selling glorious clothes with stories to tell. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    Gorgeous always, dear Vix
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

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  4. Wow - I never see anything like those finds. How on earth did recognise the curtains? I had a beaded bag which I loved as a 70s child. I've seen those vikings in someone's house - just can't remember whose - could have been mine, but I think we were more trolls. Enjoy your next festival:)x

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  5. Didn't you do well! I love, love the curtains - and so many of them! I remember looking at Heals fabric in 1969, eye wateringly expensive!

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  6. Squeeeee!!! I love that woven basket/bag you picked up at Kaya!!! Great haul - esp those white wellies. Have a great weekend, Vix xox

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  7. I love your denim waistcoat ! Its so perfect!
    Xxx

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  8. Excellent! I love the Heals curtains; loads of potential there, but no, not teal towels!
    Love the Meakin and the massive sunnies. I have my mum's pair that she wore all those years back and they are huge! She looked like Ali McGraw in them, I fear I look more like Trevor Horn in them. Video Killed the Radio Star? Not 'arf!
    Oh I do love a beaded purse. I too took one to school and tried not to pic the beads off when I got bored in class.
    Have a fabulous weekend when it gets here, gorgeous.
    Loves ya.
    xxxxxxx

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  9. Lovely to see a ray of sunshine on a bloody foul day like today, the rain here has been torrential. Glad to see you managed to find some good stuff amongst the tat at the car boot. I had a beaded purse too but can never remember details like you do. Well it was such a long time ago! Lovely plates and always handy to have a few more sewing notions in your stash. Loving the Vendée scarf beaucoup. Have fun this weekend and hope you avoid the rain...I'd take those wellies if I were you.

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  10. There is no doubt that you are a Pro at vintage shopping. It is an art and you are an artist. Love those cactus plates. And those scarves! Excellent therapy session.

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  11. you found some real treasure! I love the waistcoats,, all of them!!
    I'm not much for dishes or china but the ones with cactus on are really unique,,
    I hope the sun shines on you ,,

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  12. Great finds I haven't been to a carboot for months. I love the heart bag and the cactus plates there gorgeous. Have a great weekend, dee xx

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  13. Good haul! My husband loves his guayaberas, we bought them in Havana donkey's years ago. We keep joking about going back to Cuba just so he can get some more clothes.

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  14. I love all the clothes you share. You look fabulous as always!

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  15. Love the china and that pretty beaded bag. I used to see the purse versions in newsagents and gift shops in the 80's but I don't know how long they'd been there for! Love some sewing notions too xxx

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  16. I remember beaded purses, loved the feel of them. The cactus plates are fab and I haven't seen one of those wooden vikings for years lol! x

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  17. Tea towels are my least favourite thing so no, I agree!!!! Yay, you did well!! Hope you are well!!!!x
    I often fund scarves to be overpriced in charity shops!!x

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  18. I had forgot about those beaded purses. They were fab. What fantastic finds. I stopped collecting vintage scarves so prolifically because the charity shops started overpricing. You look fab, as always. Xx

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  19. You and Jon are like those Energizer bunnies that don't stop (North American TV ad for hardy batteries). Hahaha. No wonder you take your vacation to India every year - it's one of the few times you get to breathe, although you always seem to have a blast wherever you go with Gilbert. Great finds on the hunt! Cheers to you both as we sail into the weekend.

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  20. Brilliant finds, you tow. I love the vintage purse. And don't you look smashing with a tan and a denim vest. xox

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  21. You did find some goodies didn't you! I really love that beaded purse. :)

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  22. Hurray, you got to go shopping - OUR sort of shopping, of course, having a bloody good rummage and finding all sorts of random secondhand treasure! Those Heals curtains are fab (and huge) so I'm sure they can be refashioned into something more exciting than tea towels! I'm seeing a smart trouser suit, myself.
    Ahh, that lovely beaded bag, and your mention of little beaded purses, bring back memories for me too. Like Em, I found it impossible to resist picking the damn beads off... That wooden Viking is a blast from the past too.
    The scarves are fab, as is the summer dress, and I do like a Meakin plate or two, some of the quirkier designs are brilliant.
    Despite your extremely hard-working schedule, you radiate good health and cheer, Vix, and you are rocking that fab maxi and trademark denim jacket!
    Now, just one request. Model that 1980s jumpsuit for us, pleeeeease!
    Love you! xxxx

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  23. No glorious sunshine dan saf....... did get a beautiful silk Aquascutum scarf and a clutch of classic brand new French tea towels (yes they are my guilty pleasure.....) for £10 today...... and I know you could probably have got that lot for 82p up your way but I was barganing in Spitlefields Market!!!x

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  24. I don't know how you two do it, all these festivals and selling. But it must have an element of fun in all the socializing and music, etc.....It sure beats a mundane life.

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  25. guess it pays not to shop for a while. SO many nice things. Hmmm....I haven't been shopping in a while either.

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  26. The cactus plates are the standout for me. So cute! And that basket! You made a great choice.
    Glad you had two seconds to breathe between festivals!
    You do look remarkably rested in spite of your punishing schedule. Xo Jazzy Jack

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  27. I can never resist old zips, buttons and reals of thread too

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  28. What a great haul. Those curtain are brilliant. I love your maxi skirt, fabulous outfit. Hope that the festival this weekend is brilliant and not to soggy after all this rain. You and Jon really do work so hard. Xx

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  29. My favourites are the bag and the curtains. We have similar curtains in our living room. As we never close them and weve got three big windows I bought the narrowest and saved pounds.
    I like the idea of the zip puller useful for when the man of the house isn't around xxxx

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  30. Those cactus plates are ace, I love a bit of Meakin. The curtains are fab too, you can just imagine them in a swanky 60's pad.

    None of my beaded bags survived I used to chew all the beads off!

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  31. Now that's what I call a proper, bona fide haul. The curtains are an extra special find too.

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  32. So glad you bought that basket, I am not sure I would have been able to choose only one!! It's going to be so handy. You are looking so happy, healthy and relaxed Vix.

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  33. Nice to see you took some time to do a bit of shopping for yourselves - those curtains are very cool! I'm sure you will transform them into some marvelous piece of clothing using your sewing skills.

    I'm with Curtise - I'd like to see a photo of you modeling the 80's jumpsuit! Do it for us, pleeeeeese?

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  34. What a great haul of vintage treasure! I love the curtain fabric. Can't wait to see what you make from them.

    And I'm admiring your new basket tote. Very nice.

    Here's wishing you a fun and successful weekend! xo

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  35. Looks like it was worth the couple months break. What an ace haul. That flight bag & beaded bag are my favourite. x

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  36. I have one of those Alfred Meakin cactus plates!! I have an oblong shaped one, think it's a sandwich plate. I collect Alfred Meakin, a bit unintentionally, I'm always just drawn to it.

    I definitely could do with a zip puller too, it's fine when someone else is around but getting dressed on your own is sometimes a mission trying to get back zippers up!
    xx

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  37. the design of the curtains is sooo cool! for sure i would sew a dress out of them too!
    and your other finds are fab as usual too - love the little viking and the souvenir scarf! and very well done buying that basket from the festival! xxxxx

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  38. What a haul … love that beaded handbag … I remember having a purse like that too :0)
    xx

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  39. Oh that maxi skirt you're wearing is utterly gorgeous! Love it. Great finds too. I especially love the airline bag and the beaded one too. Xx

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  40. Great finds! Those curtains are fantastic and I just love the vintage scarves xx

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  41. Oh man that crazy 80s jump suit!! SO SO GOOD!! You found some great things and those curtains are just asking to be make into somethings fabulous (NOT TEA TOWELS!!)

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  42. I LOVE your vintage retro style :) and your blog is so cozy and personal

    Check out my new post- 6 sexy coffey tables :)

    have a fab weekend dear

    LOVE Maria Inredning - it's Swedish for decor

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  43. Tea towels? Tea towels? I don't think so! Can't wait to see what they do end up as though. If you'd asked me, I'd have said 1980s with quite an air of confidence, so she was very modern, your Barbara Brown. I belonged to the BOAC club, they used to give us a tuck box, in flight, and send us postcards. I still think I've got a set of cutlery. Your little Viking is so cute! Loved those beaded purses, we used to bite the beads off though. It's nice to see you wearing that denim waistcoat, when I first started reading your blog it was a regular. Xxxx

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  44. Wow! Look at the amount of fabric in those curtains - what a super buy and yes, your beaded bag reminds me of those purses too. I remember happily picking the beads off mine! xxx

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Lots of love, Vix