Tuesday 10 April 2018

Dresses, Doll's Houses and The Queen Is Dead



Where did that last week go? I would have posted sooner but after Jon took these photos the camera died a death - obviously not able to cope with all that dazzling yellow. We do have another camera, a whopping great pro model bought from a friend a few years ago who, in turn, bought it off another mate. Although it came with the manual neither of us have ever found the inclination to read it and I can't say I'm struck on the picture quality or on the size of the bloody thing. I suppose I'll just have to bite the bullet and buy a replacement for my trusty compact camera some time this week. 



Cher card; 1970s knife pleated mint green sun dress; cotton nightie; vintage tin; poodle scarf; 1970s Boots' make-up bag; massive peacock feather earrings.

Last week Liz and I popped over to Nottingham to meet Curtise & Tania and such was our need for a good old catch -up, a slap-up 'Spoons lunch and a charity/vintage shop rummage that not a single photo was taken. Needless to say I didn't come home empty-handed. Above are the presents Curtise and Tania gave me.


I found this killer Pucci-style cut-out strapless swimsuit in one of the Nottingham chazzas and couldn't resist this classic Vix sleeve chiffon maxi from off a sale rail in the wonderful Hopkinson's vintage emporium.


So what have I been doing with my time during my week-long absence? Messing around with doll's houses, of course! Look, they're breeding....


 I bought The Smiths promo poster behind me from a tout outside a gig in Brum just before The Queen is Dead was released in 1986 ......32 sodding years ago! As I lived in a number of dubious shared hovels when I was younger I took my precious poster to my parents' house for safe-keeping. When I sold a few bits from The Cottage to an antique dealer, he spotted my poster and offered me a couple of hundred quid for it - which of course I turned down, that poster represents my misspent youth. Jon was all mysterious before my birthday and kept disappearing, turns out he'd framed it for me as a surprise. There's a tatty one currently listed on eBay for £595!


On the doll's house front, I've been busy restoring (and de-beigeing) my vintage Lundby. Here's bedroom number one. The partially boxed Lundby Blue Heaven bed, dressing table and wardrobe set were made in 1976 and were a lucky eBay auction bargain, finishing at an odd time on a Bank Holiday. The sink, vase of tulips and chair were part of the bag of furniture which came with the other week's charity shopped doll's house. The mustard doll's house carpet was also from eBay and was a perfect replacement for the grubby original. The pendant light is made from a plug chain, the cap of a bottle of cola and the lid from a tube of glue.


I love how when pleated, paper resembles fabric. I found the swan wallpaper on this website (HERE) and glued it to a kebab stick trimmed with beads from a broken necklace to replicate a curtain rail.


The wall lamps are Indian toothpaste caps, the mini pom-pom trim was salvaged from some fancy Xmas present wrapping. The picture frames were on the walls in my other Lundby doll's house (Oops! That'll be house number four!)


Here's some of my bedroom mini-makes. Thanks to Sarah and Aril who both suggested using beads as perfume bottles which I glued to a super size sequin from an Indian garland. The cushions were made from a 30p sheet of felt and decorated with daisy appliques which I bought from the Asian haberdashery stall on the market a couple of years ago. I knew they'd come in useful one day. The hairdryer was made from a bead, a drinking straw and a piece of knicker elastic.


I've just realised that this dress co-ordinates with the bedroom - no surprise really as I've decorated the entire house in colours I love to wear. In fact I might have to dress to match each of the rooms I'm going to show you over the next week or so.

WEARING: Handmade 1970s chiffon maxi (Hopkinsons of Nottingham); Pewter boots (New, retail sale); Indian choker (Age UK)

Linking to Patti & The Gang for Visible Monday.

See you soon!

75 comments:

  1. interesting design on the swimsuit, all those V's pointing........somewhere.

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    1. How funny - I just saw a Vix (as in my initial) when I saw it! x

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  2. Fab post lovely! That swimsuit is amazing and made for you.
    Loving this dollhouse action.
    My old man offered to get me one a few years back for me to 'do up' but decided against it as it would end up as a house of horrors and he's have to live with it!! I still might do one yet.
    Loves ya!
    xxxxx

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    1. You should get a doll's house, Em! Join the gang.
      Love ya! xxx

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  3. How wonderful is Jon to have your historic and sentimental poster framed?? Now it will hang with you forever. i'm crazy for that bathing suit, and for the swan curtains in your mini. So delightful to look at and read about. Stay fab, xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  4. Those perfume bottles made out of beads - perfect but would have never guessed! Love that tin you were gifted.

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    1. I love vintage tins, this one has already been put to good use! xxx

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  5. We did it again! I almost needed sunglasses for your bright yellow outfit, complete with umbrella. Shame about the camera, I have a DSLR camera, but even so I'm always using the same, simple options. No faffing about with light and aperture ... Oh, that poster, it's the stuff of dreams for me! How fab that you and Liz met up with Curtise and Tania. I do miss them both! I see your Lundby house is coming along fine, but I think I need that swan wallpaper for Dove Cottage! How brilliant is that hairdryer! xxx

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    1. I knew you'd like that poster! I was so lax with looking after my stuff as a student I'm amazed it survived.
      I'm hoping Tania & Curtise start blogging again, they both think they might! xxx

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  6. I’m moving in haha
    How lovely to meet up with T & C but what a shame there’s no pics. Fingers crossed for some sunshine this weekend
    LYNN xxx

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    1. You know what that means? We have to go back and do it all over again!
      Talking of meeting up, I've finally got my festival dates, I'll email you over the weekend! xxxx

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  7. That yellow skirt is incredible!! "Camera died a death" ughhhhhhh! THE SMITHS POSTER!!! And you're doll houses are so inspiring---I totally think dressing to match the rooms is a great idea!

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    1. Thank you! I loved that yellow skirt - my second purchase via IG (my first was a doll's house, obviously!) xxx

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  8. I love the poodle scarf, naturally! The chiffon dress looks beautiful and really suits you.
    You've got a talent for mini interior design, I love the style.
    Ah, the Smiths poster, I saw them live just once, at Brixton Academy back in the 80's, first time I'd been there, it was such a good night, how great to have that on your wall. xxx

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    1. I thought you'd love that scarf, fellow poodle lover!
      The Smiths were amazing, I'll never forget hearing them on the John Peel Show for the first time. xxx

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  9. Glad the beads worked so well!x
    Arilx

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    1. They did, thank you! Keep those tips coming! xxx

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  10. stunning!
    looks like a hotel room i´d love to stay! such a gorgeous color theme and all this neat details.
    fab yellow outfit - no wonder the cam got weak - you look like the sun. how sweet of jon to frame the poster. its such a treasure!
    xxxxx

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    1. p.s.: you met curtise! awwwww*****

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    2. We talked about you - were your ears burning?! xxx

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  11. The hairdryer is an act of genius! Soon you'll have us all regarding bits of jewelry and Christmas tree ornaments as potential miniatures -- origami papers? have you considered small print origami papers for wallpaper?

    That stunning Pucci swimsuit is er, stunning. I'm somewhat relieved that Thorne the Costumer joins me in squinting at it.

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    1. I can stand looking at jewellery displays in charity shops for ages now, scruntising the beads and wondering if they have potential to become something else, cupboard feet, plant pots, perfume bottles, hairdryers... xxx

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  12. Sorry to hear about the camera dying.

    Your ingenuity when it comes to making articles for this dollhouse obsession is amazing! Each room you create is distinctively you. Really you should have been an interior designer : )

    Suzanne

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    1. Camera's are so annoying. I've got through three in three years. Just when you get used to how they work they decide to give up. xxx

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  13. OMG, that bathing suit! So 80s! I love your dollhouses - I am just fascinated by miniature anything (I painted miniatures and dragons and built dioramas about 10 years ago).

    I adore your gauzy-sleeved dress - I would wear that in a heartbeat. I'd love to see an outfit coordinating with every room. How marvelous! Thank you so much for such a fun post, Vix!

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    1. That's exactly what Jon said when he saw that swimsuit and then started singing Club Tropicana! xxx

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  14. I have to also gush over that bathing suit. Wow!

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    1. Some people are funny about secondhand swimwear, it doesn't bother me especially when i find crazy numbers like that swimsuit. I need to book a glamorous beach holiday so I wear it! xxx

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  15. Wow! those are some finds. Love the bead perfume bottles & hairdryer.
    The cut on that chiffon maxi is gorgeous- why don't they make dresses like that any more? If you don't want to lug about a big camera the new smartphone cameras are amazing- I take all the photos for my blog on my Samsung Galaxy phone.

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    1. Thank you! I love making stuff out of nothing.
      1970s dresses are just the best, stuff today is far too low cut, clingy or just mundane.
      Your photos are fab. That could be an option! xxx

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  16. Hi Vix, I love your yellow outfit and swimsuit- you've got a great yellow theme going on!

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    1. Thanks, Jess - it must mean that Spring's on it's way! xxx

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  17. That mini hairdryer is fab, all your mini-makes are. So clever! Lovely dress on you, and yes I think matching your outfits to each dolls house room sounds fun. Xx

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    1. Thank you! I saw that bead and thought - hairdryer! My brain's obsessed with doll's houses! xxx

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  18. The sunny yellow outfit is so good on you , as is your new dress with those glorious sleeves. The swimsuit just so very you.
    Clever you having the insight to store your poster for safe keeping and now framed and in pride of place. The doll houses are simply getting better .xx

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    1. Thanks, Jill! Yellow is such a joyful colour, I think everyone who saw me when I wore it commented on it! xxx

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  19. I love the doll's house and the creative fixtures fittings and furnishings! It looks such fun!

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    1. Thank you! I'm having so much fun! xxx

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  20. Your dolls houses are brilliant, and you seem to be having masses of fun with them.

    Glad to hear you had a fab day in Nottingham; I miss Tania and Curtise's blog posts.

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    1. Thanks, Mim. I'm loving playing with 1970s interiors - such a change from our own house!
      I'm doing my best to make Curtise and Tania come back to blogging - I think we might be hearing from them before too long! xxx

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  21. ohhhhh, I do love so much that bedroom that I would move into it (in my dreams). What a job of art you did!, I enjoy particularly your creativity and how you pay special attention to small details, that's my favorite thing!
    Glad that you have a nice meeting and some thrifting with fellow ladies! I love this kind of meetings, and also love your dress, so much fabulousness!, and sleeves!!!
    besos

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    1. Thanks, Monica! I'm having so much fun decorating this house - I've never been into "modern" houses and now I'm starting to appreciate them.
      It was wonderful to catch up with Curtise and Tania, it's been far too long! xxx

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  22. Love the doll's house! :)
    It's been a long time and you're even more fabulous, Vix!

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    1. So good to hear from you, gorgeous lady! xxx

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  23. I've been gone less than two weeks and you have 4 dolls houses? Im sure it was 2 when I left...

    Fabulous outfits and how lovely to meet up with Curtise and Tania.

    I'm loving what you're doing with the doll's house; those fab cushions and tiny bead necklaces are so gorgeous!
    xxx

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    1. God help me once the car boot season kicks off! I'll have my own jousing estate at this rate! xxx

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  24. WOW....you sure wear yellow well. That outfit is stunning.

    Love the doll house bedroom.Oh that little tiny hairdryer is soooo cuuuuuuute.
    Can't wait to see what you do next.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. Thanks, Sheila! It's a colour I never wore as a blonde, how foolish! xxx

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  25. The profusion of turquoise in the bedroom is a wonderful thing - all things turquoise are great (in my book, anyway)! My favourites are the little perfume bottles - ingenious!

    I'm rather partial to yellow too, so I'm very much liking the outfit as well. :)

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    1. Thanks, Fran! I loved that bedroom set as soon as I saw it! I can't imagine ever waking up in a bad mood if you slept in that bedroom! xxx

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  26. How wonderful that your friendship continues to bloom!
    I had no idea people pay such crazy money for a poster - granted, a special one, but still ... mind-blowing! You look fantastic in both the yellow outfit and the blue dress, and I love your new swimsuit! Great pattern! Hope you'll figure out your camera quest soon.

    The newly decorated house is just adorable! One can use your posts as a manual for decorating doll houses - so imaginative and made from what's available. I would live in this house, completed with necklaces of my fave colors! <3

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    1. Someone asked us how long Curtise & I had known each other when we were in a charity shop last week. It's over six years! Who says the internet's full of weirdos (that would be me before I started blogging!)
      Fancy noticing those necklaces! You're as big a magpie as I am! xxx

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  27. God I'm in love with the outfit at the top of the post....and the Pucci-esque cozzie is amazing! How fab to meet up with the girls, hope you enjoyed some Porn stars? Love all your dolls house ideas, especially the hairdryer...genius. xxx

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    1. Thanks, Fiona! i do love a bit of yellow and when a friend posted that she was selling that skirt on IG I had to snap it up! xxx

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  28. Yaaaya, you saw Curtise! How is she???
    Your new dress is lovely AND I LOVE the new doll room! MY favourite colour too! The way you have created things is amazing! I saw some Doll's House furniture in the charity shop today and was wondering whether to pick it up for you or not!!

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    1. She had a bit of a rough start to the year but she's doing well now. hopefully she'll be back to blogging sometime!
      That's very kind of you. Doll's house furniture is like hen's teeth in charity shops. I'm always after the older (usually wooden) stuff. Modern doll's house stuff is 1:12 scale as opposed to the vintage 1:16 - so it looks a bit too chunky! xxx

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  30. Just love watching the progress of the dolls houses and how clever you are doing such tiny items. Xxx

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  31. The little bead perfume bottles are delightful, what a clever idea. I love seeing the dolls house posts, I have always wanted one but don't have the space, maybe one day....

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    1. Not trying to tempt you but I've been told that there's some lovely wall-mounted doll's houses in Ikea! xxx

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  32. How great you plan to wear a dress to match the rooms in your doll's house. That maxi dress looks great on you, I love its colour, so perfect for spring. You're so creative with decorating your doll's houses. All the rooms you showed us so far look great. I love that swan mini painting. How cute that you thought to use it like that. The doll's room looks adorable. That folded paper does look like plaid fabric....adorable mini curtains as well. I love that you bring so much DIY elements in the doll houses. I always enjoy DIY projects. They are a great way to unleash our creativity! Plus, they often give us a chance to recycle.

    How sweet of Jon to have that poster framed! Such a thoughtful gift for you.

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    1. Thanks, Ivana! I wasn't sure if the dress was a bit pale (for me) at first! luckily my friends talked me into buying it and I love it now! xxx

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  33. The perfume bottles are genius, I had the full size version of the brown one (Obsession, I think). The knicker elastic made me chuckle, but the dryer looks awesome!
    xx

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    1. Thanks, Hazel! That brown one does look like Obsession, doesn't it? I wonder if I was subliminally thinking of that when I made it. xxx

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  34. That is the cheeriest brolly I have ever seen! That dress has an ethereal air to it.
    I have all my Smiths posters, cuttings, tickets, and every single and album on vinyl - I will never get rid of them. xxx

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    1. I love vintage brollies - they're a pain to lug round the shops 'cos they don't fold up but they're brilliant for a walk.
      Good to know that you treasure your Smiths stuff, too. I've got every piece of vinyl I ever bought. xxx

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  35. I want that pink and yellow skirt in the first photo to be a full dress... for me. Wouldn't that look awesome??? The colors for the bedroom are just so freaking wonderful!!!

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    1. Those colours would look amazing on you. xxx

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  36. Good Lord woman, you have obviously found your calling (or at least, another one). I cannot get over the frickin'genius creativity you are displaying in these doll houses. The hairdryer LOOKS like a little hairdryer, not a bead, straw and elastic. I am gobsmacked, as the saying goes.

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    1. I'm surprising myself, I never imagined I'd be any good at making things so small!
      Jon had been out and when I showed him the hairdryer he thought I'd bought it, praise indeed! xxx

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  37. *sigh*
    Your dolls house is making me pine for my lost childhood house 😔 xxx

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    1. You need to get another one!! I'm obsessed with vintage Lundbys (although the new ones are gorgeous, too). I dread to think how many I'll have if I carry on! xxx

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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