Hot in the city

Last Saturday saw the 'Summer Fun' edition of The Dandy Lion Market and Frocktasia was there with a rail full of frocking fabulousness. We've finally got some proper summer weather here in the UK so Erik really had his work cut out trying to tempt the passersby to come indoors.

As per usual Leslie had rounded up a tremendous line-up of fabulous sellers.

To kick off the monthly Dandy post proceedings I give you the lovely Cathy of The Origami Boutique...

Cathy makes beautiful and very eye-catching one of a kind origami jewellery and greetings cards. You may very well be thinking that jewellery made out of paper would not last, especially in a usually rain sodden country like the UK but because of this Cathy chooses her materials meticulously and uses a water resistant finish on all her creations to ensure their durability. She even conducted a home experiment some time ago which involved submersing one of her stunning Full Moon rings  in water for a week and lo & behold it did the origami no harm. To keep abreast with what's going down in the world of  The Origami Boutique why not like their FB page.

Up next is mother and daughter team Richardson & Richardson who make the most stunning and unique laser-cut keepsake cards for every occasion and funky perspex jewellery. The cards are made from lightweight birch wood and each feature a beautiful design. They also do customized items such as wedding guest books available to order from their esty shop. I was mesmerized by a funky pair of pink piggy earrings on their stall. Why not give them a virtual round of applause for their amazing creative skills by liking their FB page.

The next stall was shared in-between two friends trading as 'Iris and the Moon' and 'Booreki Designs'. At the moment I can't find a website or FB page for either but will update if I do. The stall featured a wonderful pick'n'mix of fresh & funky one of a kind jewellery, cards and original artwork...

I met Lionheart Stationers a couple of weeks ago when we both did The Dandy Lion Pop-up at The Kentish Town Carnival. Primarily they specialize in hand illustrated and bespoke stationary but after sourcing some beautiful fabrics at a recent trip to India they decided to branch into designing beautiful handmade clothes as well. You can peruse their creative wares in their well stocked etsy shop. I was utterly beguiled with this awesome one of a kind jumpsuit and if you are quick off the mark you can bag it for less than £30 in their summer sale.

Annemarie of Bordello Chic loves to roam the world and is always hunting down fabulous materials and fabrics on her travels to make unique scatter cushion covers, shawls and one of a kind jewellery when she gets back to London. How quirky and cute is that little doll necklace...

Who have we here?

That'll be Frocktasia's stall then ;)

I was chuffed to bits when a lovely customer that I first met at the Kentish Town Carnival came back to peruse my rail once more and bought a vintage 70s does 50s Berkertex frock. Despite it being hotter than Honolulu on Saturday (I just made that up, it probably wasn't) Frocktasia had a very good days trading. Frocks and bags proved popular and my bargain suitcase was a tremendous success. I will be replenishing it with loads more vintage & retro goodies for next Sunday's Mini Festival at The Finsbury and I am pleased as punch to also announce that my bestie Leslie (Wunderbar Vintage & Leslie Works) will be there trading on the day too, it'll be fun, fun, fun on a bun!

Lovely Annemarie of She's Got It Made traded at the very first Dandy that Frocktasia was at back in March. Her delightful cats and owls made from fabulous vintage & retro fabrics can't help but to put a smile on your face. She also makes beautiful one of a kind scatter cushions and tote bags. Annemarie travels to the  market with a wicker basket full of her smaller soft toys and on Saturday she was approached by someone on the tube that couldn't wait to give a couple of her cats a new home, brilliant!

Maximiliano Dugnani is a very talented painter and photographer that fuses these two modes of artistic expression to great effect. On Saturday he was offering up a wonderful array of cards and prints of his awesome artwork.

Talented artist Merlin Glozier's work is a riveting mix of dark and haunting imagery. On Saturday she was selling prints of her work and you could even get her art on a T-shirt. There's an article featuring Merlin on DazedDigital should you wish to find out a little more about the artist and her work.

Forever beaming that lovely smile right at ya, lovely Mark of Gorgeous Jewellery. Easy on the pocket, cherry picked designer pieces, that's the name of the game. Mark is a font of knowledge when it comes to jewellery designers and is infectiously enthusiastic about his lovely wares. This month he'd introduced a small line of vintage jewellery adverts into the mix. These would be a fabulous addition to any vintage loving gals dressing table. Mark very kindly gifted me with another brilliant brooch by Jonette Jewellery, it's a stunning winged pegasus and I put it on straight away. I'll show it in my next post. Thank you so much Mark, you're simply the best!

Next up is lovely Leslie, the dynamic dynamo behind it all, the fabulous founder of The Dandy Lion Market. Not only does she skillfully organize, tirelessly promote and wholeheartedly host this brilliant event but she's also a magnificent trader too. Every month she rolls out a rail holding vast amounts of vintage and retro fabulousness and table full of vintage and handmade accessories not to mention her wicked scatter cushions. This month the scatter cushions stayed at home to allow a new addition to Leslie Works creations take center stage on the Chesterfield armchair, namely these funky soft toy ducks...

Next we have the lovely Kylie, the creative force behind Nautical Cactus. She makes contemporary jewellery from wood and fabulous printed tote bags. I loved her sugar skull brooches that she decorates using a pyrography tool. Kylie's stall looked awesome & perfectly summery...

Last month I couldn't link to Tilias Teas cause they didn't have a FB page yet but they do now and I just know that they'd be over the moon to get a few more likes on it. They were offering free sampling on the day. Tea in a heatwave...are you mad?! N'ah you see, these ladies are cannier than a pair of city foxes so they served up their gorgeous blends iced. I'm sure that in time they will make their delicious teas available for on-line purchase too.  

Downstairs sharing the premium pitch we had two lovely vintage and retro aficionados...

Gorgeous Vinita with her groovy Retro Girl threads & wicked Rocket Girl vinyl and beautiful Alyson of Molly's Vintage bringing along an amazing array of  fabulous vintage home-wares, kitchenalia & perfect for summer picnic baskets. I was sorely tempted to bag that awesome orange soda siphon, however I have nine in different colours already, so I decided to keep my money for a rare car boot sale jaunt the day after The Dandy instead. As I had Mark with me most of the day, I could saunter around the market for a bit and really have a look about and a good old rummage. Vinita has got some awesome stuff on her rails and if you are into the whole Twiggy, Swinging Sixties style you couldn't wish for a more perfect seller and stock. As I've mentioned before Vinita also runs an independent record label and will be hosting a record launch  for a band called Eat lights Become lights at The Lexington on the 31st of this month.

Gorgeous Shonel of Solace Designs never ceases to amaze me with he creative output. Last month I was bowled over by her fabulous new leather chest plate collars and this month I almost fainted with delight when I saw the latest addition to her stock which she is beautifully modelling here...

There is something almost otherworldly and magical about these neck-pieces and I can think of a whole heap of frocks in the Frocktasia Vintage Wonderland that they would look stunning with. It would be an absolute treat to do a photo session incorporating these. Shonel, nudge nudge ;)

I think Shonel has an awesome creative vision and massive talent to boot.

Which one is your favourite? I simply can't decide, I love them all!

Afterwards a few of us stopped for a wee rest and a cooling drink outside The Oxford before battling on home on the bus in the warm summer evening.

So there you go, that was the July Dandy.

Leslie is taking a well deserved break in August so the next Dandy will happen on my birthday the 7th of September and it is entitled 'Back To School'...can't wait!

Yesterday I went to my first proper car boot sale for six months and came home laden with goodies which I will show you in another post cause I'm about ready to hit the park now.

Here's Billy Idol to sing us out, enjoy :)

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and to any fellow UK residents I just want to say, don't forget to slap on the sunscreen guys ;)

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

Peace and Dandy

 Right now I'd love to ride out of town with hubby and a tent, hit the coast of Cornwall and just spend a month walking along the cliffs and feeding off the powerful natural energy that place holds.

 In the summer I loathe living in a big city. I miss the sea, the sound of waves crashing onto the shore, the lovely smell of seaweed & taste of salt in the air. 

This mornings walk to the post office assaulted my nasal passage with a stenchfest of  feculence and decomposing scraps from the butcher. Often the street outside looks as if it's been cluster-bombed with dog turds and I find myself  almost hopscotching in order to avoid all the filth. Retch-inducing mattresses (complete with piss stains and bedbugs) are just dumped in the street and left for days. The only slight refuge from reeking refuse is the park. Thank goodness for the park!

Thank goodness for its beautiful inhabitants that put a smile on my face every day.

This is Baby Grey that I've mentioned before but he's not so Baby anymore. He should be ready to try those pretty wings of his out soon, I'd love to be there to see it when it happens :)

Today I've been busy preparing my stock for this coming Saturday's Dandy Lion Market...

 This month I decided to do something a little bit different and throw a few more separates and some funky 90s clobber into the mix as well. I've been making and revamping stuff for next Sunday's Mini Festival but I'll be bringing a few of the choice bits that I've made along to The Dandy, like this funky PVC leaf necklace/headdress...

 I made an even bigger one for someone who likes to make a bold style statement and like me lacks a soft-pedal when it comes to dressing ;)

I got severe cramp in my fingers whilst hand-sewing all those individual leafs together but watching Black Books on YouTube made almost bearable.

 Needless to say I'll also be bringing the usual medley of vintage & retro frocks. This one is a newbie on the rail...

 Mark isn't working this weekend and has very kindly agreed to assist me on the day, so I'll be able to bring a few more bags and shoes as well.

I'll also be bringing some more of my handmade accessories too.

 As I already mentioned I'm trying out some different stock on the rail this month, it's mostly late 80s/early 90s separates...

I would have killed for some of these pieces back in the day, that dead-stock bikini is amazing but I just wouldn't be able to do it justice...much like Madonna it simply demands a young body to cling on to.
I'm bringing a whole heap more but if you want to see the rest of it you'll just have to poodle along to The Dandy on Saturday ;)

To go with the 90s clobber here's Sabrina Johnston to sing us out with a euphorically happy tune, enjoy!

Happy Friday folks, hope you will have an extraordinarily good one.

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx 

Sail away

On Saturday I went up to The Boogaloo for the three year anniversary of the Can't Buy Me Love vintage jumble. As I wasn't trading myself I rocked up in the late afternoon just in time to have a wee rummage and help Leslie pack up so that we could have a few beers afterwards.

Leslie's stall was looking brilliant as per usual... 

I decided to snap the traders so that I could share them with you :)

Worn Label had some amazing 80s and 90s pieces on her rail. I was eyeing up a rather fabulous studded denim jacket but after a recent slew of eBay purchases I am now under strict 'No Buy' orders.

The Hostess Hotties did a fab array of jewellery and I really liked their funky display...

Janneke De Jong of Small-scale Samaritan was selling things for a song and even gave stuff away at the end of the day. This kitschtastic Dutch clog-boat lamp caught my eye and after Janneke told me that it was still in good working order I just knew I had to give it a new home...

Here's Jet who organizes CBML and her friend who makes all those delicious looking cakes. Jet is also behind the fabulous Muswell Hill Market and she also runs a little vintage shop in Muswell Hill that is open every Saturday from 11am till 5pm.

Unfortunately I have no link to the two funky ladies below but I was in awe with their fabulous wares and display skills. Doesn't that suitcase just look amazing, I wish my stall looked more like this...

When this awesome looking lady came through the doors I simply had to beg a photo of her and her amazing skirt. She told me that she had bought it from a trader at Notting Hill Market a few years ago, I love it! I also love coming across super stylin' women like this...

After we'd packed up Leslie's stall and sandwiched it all into Aiden's car we sat in The Boogaloo beer garden for a bit. Their two gorgeous pub cats are called Starsky and Hutch.

After The Boogaloo we went to Salisbury Hotel for a few and then Leslie and I continued up the road to The Finsbury which is were I'll be bringing out my fabulous Frocktasia rails in two weeks time at The Sunday Mini Festival.

We left The Finsbury when they closed by which time Leslie was reading the walls and I was just off-the-wall at this point, having had nothing to eat all day, just a mother-load to drink.

I felt absolutely rancid all day yesterday and couldn't even face eating until ten o'clock at night. I'm still feeling a bit fragile and have decided to make July a tee-total month. My body is telling me 'Detoxify or DIE'!

I figure listening to my body is the right thing to do, eh?!

I couldn't face taking any outfit pics today so this is what I wore last Friday...

A jumpsuit that I made from fabric that I bought in Krabi, Thailand back in 2010. You may recognize the design from an earlier post. Whilst on the subject of stuff that I've made, I finished this headdress on Saturday morning...

It was inspired by a childhood favourite book of mine, The Flowers' Festival by Elsa Beskow. I'm hoping to make a few more of these to bring along to next Saturday's Dandy Lion Market. Now that I have almost recovered from possibly the worst hangover ever, I can crack on with some work :)

To sing us out here's David Grey...

Hope you've all had a tremendously good start to your week and that the sun is shining where you are.

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

Groove is in the heart

Today my outfit made a dude burst into song :)

When we were taking these pics he passed us with his pit bull terrier and started singing  the chorus to Deee-lite's Groove is in the Heart.

I guess there's a wee nod in the direction of the fabulous Lady Miss Kier in this get-up ;)

90s T-shirt dress (Benetton), Tie-dye footless tights (Indiska), Clogs (Buffalo), Aviator sunnies (American Eagle), Handmade Turkish necklace (gift), Frocktasia earrings + handmade bag  & loadsa colourful bangles.

 On Monday I met up with Jo again, one last time before she headed back to the US yesterday. She very kindly treated me to a spot of lunch and then took me to a secret location.

Before lunch we popped into Traid in Dalston and both of us were sighing in unimpressed unison as we perused their rail of overpriced, crap quality quasi-vintage garb. I did like their Traidremade stuff but their vintage sucked!

 After lunch, a short train journey took us to Rotherhithe (don't worry I can't pronounce it either) and the secret location that Jo's lovely partner had stumbled upon recently and that Jo wanted to share with me, what a fabulous friend she is...

The Rotherhithe Picture Research Library is a tremendous treasure chest of inspiration. A vast collection of visual references for sets, costumes and a wide array of other subjects.

It is open weekdays 10am till 4pm and as an educational charity it offers free access to all this magnificent material, all you pay for is if you want to take photocopies.

Jo asked if we could have a look through some of their vintage fashion magazines and the lady in charge let us grab a whole heap of them before perching ourselves by the glossy green table.

We spent a couple of hours pouring over Vogue magazines from the late 60s and early 70s, chatting quietly and taking pics of anything that we deemed inspiration folder worthy. Jo was keeping her eyes peeled for hand-painted shoes, belts and bags and I was thrilled to come across several wig adverts.

I sent these pics to Sam and wrote that I'd love to see a Tangled Wigs advert in a modern issue of Vogue.

You could easily spend an entire day there and not even make a dent in their stash of thousands of books and magazines. This will be my go to place from now on, whenever I hit a bottleneck creatively and need some inspiration to get things going again, what an amazing place. Thank you Jo for sharing this fantastic "secret" location with me, you are a star :) 

Before getting back on the train home, we took some sneaky outfit pics. As I was giving my closet-goth tendencies a good old airing on Monday I thought it was rather apt for Jo to take my pics in a tiny graveyard. 

Jo will come back over in a few months time and hopefully there will be many more days out and dress-up fun on the cards then :)

This one is for groovy bloggy pals...

 Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx