Showing posts with label retro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retro. Show all posts

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Up-cycle: Farrow & Ball Drawers

It's the Summer Holidays still and I'm getting restless (I'm a singing teacher by day) so I decided to do re-work a little set of drawers for my bedroom. Well, I painted them with gorgeous Farrow & Ball paint in Parma Grey. I picked up these drawers for a fiver from my favourite hospice shop in Sheffield. 




You  will need: 
  • A piece of unloved furniture
  • Assorted sand-paper
  • Dust sheet
  • J-cloth and warm water
  • F&B paint of your choosing
  • DECENT brushes
Begin by sanding down your wood with a coarse paper and some elbow grease. 
 

Once you've gone to town on the wood all over any paint or varnish should be gone. Then go over again in a fine sand-paper to really make sure you are varnish-less. 


It's around now I suggest you grab a cream scone and a brew.


Then continue by wiping down your now dusty drawers with a damp cloth and warm water.


Now, I cheated quite a bit with the paint. Because there wasn't a great deal of varnish and the wood is quite light, I missed out the undercoat. I recommend using a plain white emulsion of any brand. Nothing too fancy - you'll just be creating a blank canvas. If, like me, you're lazy then head straight to your paint of choice!

The brush strokes must be in the same direction at all times and it's quality not quantity, when it comes to painting wood. Neat neat neat!


Once you've done one coat, wait for it to dry and begin your second coat when your common sense tells you it's time. As you can see, the second coat looks much better so be patient and do as many coats as you need. I went for three altogether.


Right then! I forgot to take official finished draw photos, but here they are in action.


It's simple, but I really like the colour as it works with the vintage/retro theme I have going on in my room. Plus I have so many papers that need a home (nevermind CDs) and now they've had a bit of TLC I'm really happy with them.

Do you up-cycle/rework? Want to share any of your creative projects? Get in touch!

G x







Wednesday, 6 June 2012

The Nichol's Retro Centre

Jubilee was a wash out no? Such a shame yet completely predictable.

 However, I popped down to The Nichol's Building in Sheffield to have a cheeky look at their Jubilee Vintage fair. It is definitely one of my favourite retro/antique centres in the city as it caters to a more retro clientele than the fusty dusty old antique centres which, don't get me wrong, I love. But sometimes it's nice to smell OK upon leaving a building.

 I bought my new favourite 60s dress from this centre the other day. The skirt is so full! And even if it does make me look a little like a doll, I love the little puff sleeves.

Bag: Carboot sale
Shoes: New Look
Belt: Peacocks
Earrings: Primark
Glasses: Dead Man's Spex
Umbrella: Charity shop - now lost. GUTTED.





Complete with Lindy Hop dancers from none other than Lindy Hop Sheffield, today saw the centre a little busier than usual and with more stalls to find even more treasures.




 I picked up a new Sheffield Girl canvas bag for a fiver, I love the whole branding of the company and they're right! There is nothing like a Sheffield girl! You can find them on Facebook and look out for the Sheffield Girl Times which is dropped off around Sheffield in all the very finest establishments. 





One of my niggles about Vintage as "thing" is the obsession with bunting, teacups and cupcakes. But I think I'm slowly learning to love it - eek. Teatime Vintage had a mighty fine looking stall set up at this fair selling their delicious wares. Teatime aren't just another cupcake stall, you can hire your retro china from them too. Their website is incredibly helpful http://www.teatime-vintage.co.uk/ so for all your tea party needs I highly recommend popping over their way, or visit their blog here.



I thoroughly enjoyed my mini Victoria sponge.

All in all I would highly recommend paying a visit to The Nichol's Building for some very affordable, quirky vintage. I will even go as far as to say it hosts the best variety of vintage clothing in Sheffield. 









G x


Monday, 21 May 2012

Polka Pleated


 Hello again, time for a quickie?

I had to nip into town to talk to a gorgeous young man off of SoYo Live on Mondays so felt the need to dress for the occasion. That's not strictly true, previous to this I was in slacks, essentially, but the sun came out and I "hurrah!-ed" and put on polka dots.

I'm a really big fan of bright, clashing colours and have always loved pink VS turquoise so aim to air this colour combo whenever possible. I also seem to wear tan leather with black too much, so have started opting for more white in my accessorising, which I think is working rather well.



Top: Charity Shop
Skirt: Nannan's
Bag: Freshman's
Shoes: New Look
Scarf: Carboot
Earrings: Charity Shop
Belt: River Island 


ta-ta x

Sunday, 20 May 2012

Feeling Blue

Just a quickie for you chaps. I was feeling a little optimistic temperature wise, so I opted for a maxi sans tights. Error, I tell you. Bloody freezing in Sheffield today.

I am wearing...
A vintage blue maxi from charity shop
Sequin Cardi from charity shop
Leather belt
Vintage quilted black bag
50s specs
Models Own lipstick in Orangeade


Also got some carboot goods to share with you, but not just now. Oh yes. I'mma keep you waiting.
x

Monday, 30 April 2012

Orange Lips VS Turquoise Skirt



Good evening to you all, especially you, yeah you.

I went out for some dinner this evening with my two favourite housemates and now I am very full of chorizo and halloumi and BURGER. Oh Bungalows And Bears you are good. Now before I take to the sofa with said housemates and ice cream to watch Made In Chelsea (what larks we have) and Game of Thrones I thought I'd do a little outfit post.

Terrible face coming up, but in a pencil skirt, one must do a booty shot. 

Coat: Debenhams
Bag: Flea Market
Top: Matalan
Skirt: Matalan
Stockings: Primark
Shoes: New Look



Showcasing my brand new Model's Own "Orangeade" lipstick. It is part of a limited edition range called Hyper Bright Matte, priced at a very reasonable £6. Also, I washed my hair for the first time in approximately one whole week. I didn't want to load it with hairspray so just did a little side quiff and backcombed the rest a little. 



Well well, now to indulge in some slovenly sofa action. Keep your eyes peeled for new arrivals on my ASOS Marketplace this weekend by the way, got some very lovely pieces to share with you.

x

Monday, 9 April 2012

The problem with vintage is...

I reckon we've all been here, but those who buy vintage may have been here moreso.

The problem with vintage is when you find a dress you love, it's 9/10 times, one of a kind. Now this comes with a whole bunch of pros but God damn if not being a size X/Y  isn't a huge con. So I'm in COW in Sheffield and I find this dress...


I fall in dress love. I adore houndstooth and the contrasting floral pattern is just amazing. I've never seen anything like it and it reminds me of the S/S12 Preen collection and Mary Katrantzou's quirky designs. Naturally, the dress is not in my size. I mean, I'm not a big girl (anymore) but I'm certainly not a skinny thing and size 12 is still a bit far off for me, especially with these babies *gestures at bosom*. 
But I still bought it. And I tried it on loads with various types of control underwear. Still no joy. Cue very embarrassing photos...




My thinking is that I will fit into it one day. Am I right in thinking we've all been there? Especially with vintage, because the beauty (and the problem) is, I will probably never find this dress ever again. 


Gina x



Friday, 30 March 2012

Dead Man's Spex




Lovers, I gots me some new specs. I have been after a pair of 50s cat eye frames for a long time as the high street just wasn't quite doing it for me and I just don't have a designer budget. Thankfully, my Mother is wonderful and has delivered me with a cracking early birthday present. These 50s frames are from Dead Men's Spex. The chap there, Darren I think, even fits prescription lenses to most frames, which is incredible, especially since they are really quite affordable. 

I couldn't wait to show you these glasses, so I didn't make as much effort on the hair and make-up as I would usually. These glasses definitely need a bold lip colour (surely Gay Geranium by No7?) and hair up on top of head, but not so messily as this badly done suicide roll. 







The dress is from Miss Selfridge, belt is vintage brown leather and the sparkly shoes are - quite honestly - what I found by the front door - but they are from ASOS.


Much specky four eyes love to you all.
xxx