Phew! The last few days have been a bit of a whirlwind. On Sunday we traded up the road in Moseley (Birmingham's Bohemia). As is often the way for a bank holiday event it wasn't mad busy but we did just fine and, having a bit of spare time to explore the other stalls, I decided that I couldn't live without these Italian deadstock 1970s sunglasses.
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| Wearing: JON: Vintage Farah nylon skinnies, Austin Reed waistcoat, Turnbull and Asser shirt, 1960s Mary Quant tie, Brogue boots (all second hand) VIX: 1960s Sears maxi (Present from Krista), Candy colour platforms (off the market) |
The final fair of the season took us across the border to Welsh Wales where we had a phenomenal day's trading at the Vintage Extravaganza in Cardiff. Business was so brisk that I didn't notice until packing up time that I'd had my dress on backwards all day.
We'd booked into a hotel as, after a 4.30am start followed by pretty much relentless selling until 6.30pm, Jon didn't fancy the drive back home. We had plans of hitting Queen Street for some legendary Cardiff night life but ended up having a couple of pints and a pizza in the hotel bar. At some point reality hit and we realised that our first festival of the season kicked off in less than three day's time. Obviously we've known for months but, as usual, we'd done sod all about it so the rest of our night was spent frantically scribbling lists down on a beer mat.
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| Paul Young, The Blockheads & Midge Ure - It's like being back at the school disco! |
On Tuesday lunchtime, as soon as we got home and, with less than 48 hours to go, I pulled out & ironed the festival stock (we've been collecting Steampunk style gear for months) while Jon got the trading tent, the Kinky Melon sign and lighting out of the shed and tested that everything was still in working order from last Summer. I updated our risk assessments & fire safety certificates, checked the fire extinguisher and fire blanket and printed off some safety signage. Last time we traded at the Acoustic Festival several traders got evicted from the site for failing the Health and Safety inspection. Having a corporate background has its advantages.
I'd made another eleven crop tops from my vintage linen stash last week but, never one to make things easy for myself, decided on the genius idea of making some little girls' skirts out of novelty printed second-hand duvet covers before I went to bed last night. By 8am I'd managed to finish eight and called it a day. (I didn't even have time to take photos).
This morning Jon did the booze, fuel and food run while I sorted our rucksack. An outdoor event during British Summer time means you'll need everything from thermal underwear, factor 40 sun cream, waterproof rain capes, wellies, sheepskin hats and mittens to flipflops and parasols then we bagged up the stock, broke down the rails and stuffed poor Gilbert and the trailer to the rafters.
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| Wearing: House of Lavina cutaway side 1970s maxi (75p, charity shop, 2011), Deadstock sunglasses, Vintage 1960s green suede go-go boots (Courtesy of blog reader, Vonda) |
After I've showered, eaten, painted my nails and caught up with Wallander it's an early night for me.
Wish us luck!
Linking to Visible Monday.
