It was the early 1990s and Liz's 25th birthday so a gang of us were off to a club in Birmingham to celebrate. We met in the Trough aka The Watering Trough, Walsall's infamous biker pub. Whilst Liz and I were playing pool with a couple of Hell's Angels I overheard her then boyfriend and Jon Baker (at that time pretty famous for being the lead guitarist in Madchester band, The Charlatans) up the corner discussing who would be DJing at the club later. Birmingham three-piece had a hit with Soul Train in the 1980s....can't think of their name, said Jon. Mid shot, I turned my head and said Swans Way. My boundless knowledge of pop trivia must have impressed him as at the end of the night Jon asked for my phone number and on the 1st April, 1992 we went on our first date to a local pub.
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| Who's that boy? That's Jon back in the Madchester era! |
Twenty seven years later and we're still together and nothing much has changed, we hang around with the same friends, still frequent dodgy pubs and I continue to astound him with my endless capacity for useless information.
How are we celebrating today? We're off to Wetherspoons!
The song that brought us together.
Yesterday we took our wares to Moseley, the hip and happening part of Birmingham (yes, there is one!) where we had a fantastic day. Spring seems to have sprung up and left us though, it was freezing cold and I wore my Afghan for most of the day.
So (or should that be sew) what else did I get up to this weekend?
Remember the kurta I shared on Friday's post? Well, when I tipped my fabric box upside down on Saturday I caught sight of this 1970s maxi. The nylon bodice was full of holes and seemed at odds with the crisp cotton skirt so out came my seam ripper and this happened.....
Another Frankenstein-frock! A possible contender for Glastonbury?
Do check out Beate's post HERE, she's another refashioning queen!
Do check out Beate's post HERE, she's another refashioning queen!
Another listed in the wrong category eBay bargain, this kaftan is handmade using vintage silk scarves. I'm wearing my vest underneath it today, though.
Right, the pub is calling.....see you soon!
Linking to Judith, The Style Crone, Hat Attack #69
Happy Anniversary vix and john , Enjoy your day , Glad you had a great day trading xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eileen! x
DeleteHappy Anniversary to you both.
ReplyDeleteFabulous Frankenstein frock....what stunning colours.
Hugs-x-
Thanks, Sheila! x
DeleteLove the word, "Franken-frock", and yours are the bomb. Sandy and I had our first date just 5 months after you and Jon, and same happy story: 27 years hanging out with your best friend! xox
ReplyDeletePatti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
There must have been something in the air back in 1992! xxx
Deletehappy anniversary.
ReplyDeleteThanks! x
DeleteHappy Anniversary, have a lovely day. Hope the celebrations are fun.
ReplyDeleteAnother great Frankenfrock! xxx
Thanks, Sally!
DeleteHappy Anniversary to you both :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Fil! x
DeleteWow, 27 years! Enjoy your anniversary pub day. Love that silk scarf dress, again as I always say, blue is so fab on you!
ReplyDeleteI know - the time has flown by!! xxx
DeleteWhat a great story of how you met : ) . It sounds like you are really starting the week off right.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you had a good show.
Your creative sewing skills never fail to impress me.
The blue dress looks as light as air.
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
I can't believe it was so long ago! At least after 27 years people have finally asked when we're getting married and having children - hooray! xxx
DeleteGorgeous kaftan!! You're such a great pair--- happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Becky!
DeleteHappy Anniverary, Vix! I love the story of how you met. When you went out to the Trough that night little did you imagine how your life would change!
ReplyDeleteThe silk kaftan is gorgeous and you wear it so well!
I know, I never went out expecting to find a boyfriend, I loved my single life! Thanks, Jan! x
DeleteI love the story of how you two met. Having met you both, I've got first hand experience of what a great pair you are. Congratulations, you two! I'm sure you're celebrating in style in 'Spoons! Love that gorgeous silk kaftan, and the Frankenstein-frock is another fabulous Vix creation! xxx
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks so much, my lovely friend! xxx
DeleteHappy Anniversary! I have a dress that I think you would love, and it would probably fit you. I haven't put it in my etsy shop yet. Black velvet maxi with big felt flowers sewn up the skirt front. Enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteOhh! I'd love to see it. Email me on goanmad(at)hotmail(dot)com if you have time! x
DeleteHappy anniversary, Vix and Jon!
ReplyDeleteI love what you've done with the kurta and the dress made of silk scarves is so pretty. Both look lovely on you.
I hope you had a wonderful celebration in Spoons and have a fab week.
xxx
Thanks, Vronni, we did! x
Deleteyou won't believe this but I was also bidding (against you!) on that same silk dress on EBay!! It looks absolutely beautiful/fabulous/enviously lovely on you (trying to be a good loser here!) I just knew that was going to be good silk and clearly it is :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that - what are the chances? xxx
DeleteHappy Anniversary! Hope you had a great day.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think we did - ha! x
DeleteHappy anniversary, what a great story of how you and Jon met! Love the refashioned dress, very clever. X
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jess!
DeleteHappy unniversary! Talking to people at work, dating seems so much harder now than in the 90s, when we just met people and figured out if we liked them *before* trying to go on dates.
ReplyDeleteYour refashioned dresses are so clever! Should I keep an eye out for interesting textiles for you, as well as vintage? I've passed over a fair few African cotton pieces of late...
I love "unniversary" - you should patent that! You're right, dating seems a lot more complicated these days and so much pressure, too. Everyone wants to know the gory details on Facebook while it's still happening!
DeleteIf you find any interesting bits in crisp cotton then I'd love them - thank you! x
wowww, happy aniversary! and congrats on being such a fabulous couple! You Totally Rock!! (did you know that Mr.A. and me had our first date on 4th April?, mwhaha, we were classmates and both fans of punk rock!)
ReplyDeleteObviously, I'm in love with your new Frankenstein dress, those rainbow sleeves with the floral print! it looks fabulously psychedelic!. Really inspiring!
And also love the purple and blue dress, thanks for sharing more pics of it!, you look gorgeous!. And Jon looks really elegant and cool in his Green jacket! lots of attitude!
besos
We're almost anniversary twins - great minds and all that! Wishing you and Mr A loads of happiness and love today and always! xxx
DeleteHappy 27th anniversary to both of you, that's amazing...I wish you a great night in the pub! The story of how you met is really sweet. My memory is a funny thing too, I never seem to make sense of it, I remember such odd details. I struggle to remember anyone's name but I can probably name every character in every novel I read...but in real life not at all.
ReplyDeleteYou look great in your new creation. That'Frankenstein flock' is gorgeous. It looks even better now. Love the lively colours. The second dress is lovey as well. Very pretty looks!
Thank you so much, Ivana! memory is a funny thing, I'm hopeless at remembering numbers but silly facts, I'm great. I'd be most people's phone a friend if they were on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire! xxx
DeleteGet thee to the pub! Happy anniversary, Jon and Vix! Aw, look at Jon! We were all so young back in the 90s, weren't we? Obviously!
ReplyDeleteLove your floaty dress in the last pictures - so pretty! I remain in awe of your madd sewing skillz.
Thanks, Sheila - we did and I had the hangover to prove it! x
DeleteThe two of you are a match made in heaven -- or whatever positive force of nature is out there. Methinks you should trademark the term "Frankenfrock" no one re-assembles a dress quite like you :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are kind!
DeleteI think Frankenfrock's been done before by people far greater sewers than me although the finished result is pretty original! x
I dont know whats happening with Google but my comments keep disappearing or I cant even make them grrr. Looks like the one I made earlier has disappeared.
ReplyDeleteIt was to say that you have a lovely bunch of A level fashion students from Yorkshire following you now after I told their teacher a friend of mine about your terrific blog. I bet they loved this blog post xxx
It's there - you posted it on a different post! Hello to the lovely Yorkshire A level fashion students! xxx
DeleteHappy anniversary!!!! You'r a perfect match it seems! Love the pic of you both in front of the taj Mahal. Wonderful what you made out of the two garments! From bla to fabness!!! Oh, and thanx for mentioning me..... Xxxx
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning me, I'm thrilled that I inspired you to alter that awkward dress! xxx
DeleteCongrats to you two relentlessly gorgeous people. xo.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteFascinating to look back and see the little moments that bring us together. Congrats on 27years. That is some good going right there. Love the Taj Mahal photo although you seem a little posed!
ReplyDeleteThat dress looks so much better with the new top. You are a master at recreating to make it look like it was always that way. I see a silk scarf dress making in your future :-)
xo Jazzy Jack
Thanks, JJ!
DeleteStrangers always offer to take your photo in India but by agreeing you have to go along with their pretensions of being the next David Bailey, it's a small price to pay for a rare photo together! x
Awww, I'm glad to hear about how you and Jon met! That is pretty cool!! Happy Anniversary!!x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kezzie! xxx
DeleteGlad you had a lovely anniversary and isn't this weather mental? Last weekend I was full on gardening in the glorious sunshine and now I'm back in my winter coat!
ReplyDeleteI have the same sort of brain, crammed full with random facts and lyrics! I always remember my tutor at college saying if you could only memorize your course work the way you do song lyrics you would be a straight A student, sadly I couldn't and wasn't.
I've been colder this past fortnight than I was in Winter. I was reduced to going to bed in my clothes twice last week. These lovely light evenings make me so frustrated when it's too cold to potter around the garden! xxx
DeleteI do like hearing a love story, congratulaions both. The silk scarf dress is a beauty xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! xxx
DeleteThanks for sharing the story of how you and Jon got together, and a big Congratulations on 27 years together! You are definitely one of the coolest couples I know.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shelley! xxx
Delete