What's On The Cards - May

Here are a couple of events I have seen advertised going on in and around Lincoln in the month of May. I am planning on doing a post like this on the 1st (or as close as I can manage) of every month and it will feature a few events which are in and around Lincoln as well as a couple from further afield which have caught my fancy. I find out about these events through word of mouth and by searching on the Internet.

I like to look up 1940's events here at Friends of the 40s as they have a really great calendar of listings.

Rockabilly gigs are easy to search here at The Complete Rock N Roll UK Gig Guide.

I also regularly check out "East Midlands Vintage World" on facebook to find out about events and what's happening.

But anyway, on with the show!

6th May 2012 - The last showing of "By the Winter Sea" will be on at The Collection in Lincoln and has been showing everyday at 2pm from the 30th April 2012. It's a 15 minute film focusing on a young lady called Ada, a WWII land girl in coastal Lincolnshire. It sounds like a fantastic recreation of one of my most favourite subjects, the Woman's Land Army. For more information have a look see here.

19th May 2012 -  Bizarre Bazaar Vintage Market. This is a vintage and retro modern open air market which will be held monthly at different sites around the city. May's site is the Upper High Street (at the bottom of The Straight I think) and is the second of these markets. I attended the first in April which was a little soggy but there were many treasures and lovely folks to chat to!

26th May 2012 - Vintage Fayre & Mini Market at Kind Bar. A regular fayre held monthly at the Kind Bar which offers a mix of different stalls with in the bar indoors (a real treat on the colder and wetter days!) What's handy too is you can enjoy a glass of something to wet your whistle while you peruse the clothes, cupcakes, jewellery and housewares on offer.

These posts are by no means exhaustive and will obviously only be accurate at the time of posting. While I have gone to every effort to make sure the information is accurate I cannot account for changes of location, date or even cancellations. If you are travelling long distances to attend any of the events I recommend please be sure to check with the venue or organisation before travelling to avoid disappointment.

Vintage Lincoln - La Vida Vintage

Welcome to my new feature, Vintage Lincoln! I got the idea for doing this since I noticed there were a lot of very good vintage shops, fairs and events in and around the area of my hometown, Lincoln. I often think of Lincoln, in the nicest possible way, as being something of a back water and a little out of step with the rest of the country. Geographically it's the largest county in the country and settlements are quite spread out in comparison to the rest of England. Transport wise I find a car essential as public transport around this great county is difficult at the best of times. Due to these factors I have often thought of this area, and the city of Lincoln, as being a little out of step and not as quick to move with the times as other areas and cities. However, when it comes to the vintage trend I find this ever growing university city is really ahead of itself and I love it!

So here you have it folks, my little attempt to catalogue all of the vintage delights this wonderful, historic city has to offer. Enjoy!

First stop on my vintage adventure is La Vida Vintage which is a shop as well as a cafe. Vintage and cake? Well how can a girl resist! Me and the fella went a long around a month ago as I had been talking about going for quite some time since I see this little gem every day as I drive to and from work and it has been open since December 2011.

First off let's talk cake. As La Vida Vintage is located down Monks Road it is a slight walk from the centre of town but on a sunny day, like the day we went, it's pleasant, easy to get too (Monks Road is just one long, straight road) and has the Arboretum half way down to explore and stop for a rest at.

After the walk a home made cake and cool drink was very welcome but they also serve coffees and speciality teas for the cooler days. My cake was ginger and the fella went for a lime and coconut, I just love the little cherry on top!

All finished up and it's time to get down to business, vintage business! But what's that I spy in the background? A vintage picnic set! Don't toy with me by showing me such beautiful baubles which are out of my grasp.

But it's not out of reach at all because everything you see around you is for sale from the vintage tea sets to even the chairs you sit on. I think I need this picnic set for the summer and when we go camping. A side not here folks I'm crazy and have this strange dream to one day go camping fully vintage. Mad, I know!

Having such lovely items surround you as you enjoy your refreshments is a wonderful experience and gives you time to sit and really appreciate each item. It also makes you want to buy more, hooray!

The staff here are so friendly and I sat down to have a chat with Rachel, the owner of La Vida Vintage. I really enjoy meeting people who are also interested in vintage and Rachel's love of vintage housewares really shows through as you talk to her about her shop. Rachel told me about how to begin with she had planned to sell only vintage housewares but has also branched out to selling clothing too. Her stock ranges from the 1950's to the 1980's although the 50's would have to be her favourite decade and she recently bought herself a pair of saddle shoes so is also getting into the fashions of the decade a little too.

As a self confessed hoarder Rachel is sometimes sad to see her vintage items go off to new homes however it does mean she's able to go out and buy more. She gathers her stock from a selection of sources so you can be sure everything is carefully chosen (I don't think it would be fair to reveal where from though, spoilers!)

So there we have it, La Vida Vintage and the first of many in my Vintage Lincoln series. I really hope you've enjoyed this post and any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

La Vida Vintage is located at 108 Monks Road, Lincoln, LN2 5PG or you can find them on the Facebook by searching "La Vida Vintage". Do also keep an eye out for Rachel and her La Vida Vintage stall at local vintage markets!

I'll Take You To The Candy Shop

Another sunnier day and another little outfit post for everyone. I've had a couple of good outfit days before I went off and I did get the fella to take some pictures but it's taken me until now to actually get around to posting them for your viewing pleasure. This was when I and the fella went to a chocolate shop nearby where my parents live. It's called Hanson's and used to be in their actual village but now it's in one a little further down; I remember going there a lot as a child to buy their white chocolate shapes. Even as a teenager I would go there because I thought the chocolate masked the smell of cigarette smoke, how dense was I? That's a rhetorical question by the way! Anyway I still love popping over to Hanson's and buying handmade truffles in little pink candy stripe bags.

The look of glee on my little face as I clutch my bag of candies; ahh memories! I remember as a child telling mum I wanted money for Easter instead of an egg and as soon as I got my money I went round to Hanson's and bought chocolate; what a goof!

When we were in the shop a really nice couple told us they liked our outfits and asked if we dressed like this every day or if there was an event on as they like to go to Steampunk festivals. It was really sweet of them!

And finally amen to that!

Skirt: Tasty Vintage, Lincoln
Tshirt: Primark
Cardigan: Also Primark (in fact I like this cardigan so much I bought three, two of which are black)
Pumps: F&F, Tesco
Handbag: Stamford market (knock off Cath Kidson one I think)
Belt: Gift from me ol' best friend Beattie
Sunglasses: Tasty Vintage, Lincoln
Headscarf: Gift from the lovely Miss Becca

Remembering Sunnier Days

Hello, hi! It's been a while and I apologise for such an absence. I have been off poorly for nearly a month and as such haven't felt terribly motivated to do any blogging; even though my doctor did advise me to "do something which gives you enjoyment everyday" and even though I do enjoy blogging I didn't feel much like sitting in front of a computer screen. My experience has given me a little shine of inspiration though and I do hope to be revealing more on that for you very soon.

In the meantime I thought I might share some pictures of an outfit worn a while ago when we had something of little heat wave. The sun shone so brightly I felt warm enough to wear a circle skirt even though it was only March. Now its April showers all day, every day, and I find pleasure in remembering sunnier days.

It's all very patriotic colours in this outfit, I think I've found what to wear to the Jubilee celebrations (or Jubilympics as me and the fella call it).

I'm in the middle of getting up here but I thought it was a good one to show off my bouff. I like doing a large pin-curl and pulling it forward a little to make a sort of fake side swept fringe. I think the curl adds fun detail too!

Sorting out my curls post lie down, it's a busy life and one needs one's rest!

And my old favourite don't-know-what-to-do-swing-on-a-lamp-post.

I hope these sunny pictures don't make you sad remembering what we had because I'm sure the weather will pick up again this summer. And even if it doesn't I'm off to Cyprus anyway ha ha!

Skirt: Ebay (was sold as 1950's but I have a suspicion it's actually 70's)
Top: Oxfam (sadly I think I shrunk it in the wash!)
Shoes: H&M
Belt: Asda George
Beautiful, faithful handbag which goes with pretty much everything: birthday gift from the lovely Miss Becca
1950's Sunglasses: Tasty Vintage, Lincoln
Orchid hair flowers: Accessorize