Halloween

Sadly I'm travelling so it's unlikely I'll see much in the way of celebrations but it's been an excellent excuse to spend a month in novelty prints, themed brooches, lots of black and colour combinations that would otherwise be deemed lurid and in bad taste. 

Like everyone else I've been living for the novelty prints released by Pinupgirl Clothing and I was fortunate to nab the Pumpkin and Witch Transformation Jenny's before they sold out.  Sadly not so with the delightful Hansel and Gretal skirt.

But what really gives me that seasonal feeling of giddy excitement are the brooches!  The brooches that add such wonderful little finishing touches that get over looked in the bigger pictures.

Like this adorable little cat from Creep Heart that sweetly mirrors the hell cat in the Pumpkin Jenny.

And how about an all round Pumpkin theme with this gem from Luxulite?

Actually most of my Halloween pieces are from Luxulite but Katy just has a knack for creating pieces I can't say no to.

Then there is always something irresistible from Erstwilder

I'm sort of kicking myself for not buying more of their Halloween collection in time but i can doubtless console myself with their 2016 Christmas themed collection in just a few short weeks but then again Halloween isn't over just yet.... 

Amelia

Paris Jenny from Pinup Girl Clothing

The original run of the Paris print predated the current heights of my Pinup Girl clothing infatuation so I didn't actually know of its existence until the bat signal went up for input on which discontinued prints to bring back.  When I did finally clock it- heart eye emojis abounded and I felt a deep and burning need to have this skirt in my life.  I briefly considered creating multiple accounts to boost the vote tally in its favour, fortunately I wasn't the only one with hearts in her eyes!

I was pretty excited when this print went from maybe, possibly, might be to an actual reality.  So much so that the feeling of elation that scoring this Jenny within 15 minutes of the alert notification hitting my inbox continued through the short wait for it to be dispatched, couriered, clear customs and land into my hot little hands.  

It was the cherry on the top that I managed to avoid the sizing issues that have plagued the newest Jenny runs.  

And then when I saw all of the possibilities for co-ordinating tops well- I had to high five myself on my score, obviously!

As you can see there are plenty of colours in the pattern to choose from.  Also in case you haven't heard (lol) it has POCKETS!!

Here's a selection from my wardrobe alone, sadly (?) I don't have any bright orange or light aqua tops to complete the selection and I found that the Pinup Girl bright pink Sabrina top is just a little too bright pink to co-ordinate with the bright pink in the skirt.

The main colour in the pattern is a delicious mid blue that co-ordinates perfectly with this slash neck top from www.vivienofholloway.com , handily it's a favourite of mine.

 Then there is Deadly Dames Voodoo Vixen top in lime that is a perfect match for the woman in the print's lime green dress.  Can we say 'Helloooo Summer!!'??

The Baton Rouge Peasant Top also co-ordinates perfectly with elements of the Paris print.  Somehow I don't think thats an accident of design.

Whilst not a perfect match for the darkest pink/wine colour in the print, the Wine Sabrina top is close enough to be an option especially in cooler weather.  Season to season versatility? Yes please!

Then there is trusty black which lets the print take centre stage.  This print will also co-ordinate with any children's Minion themed outfit- as my three year old was keen to demonstrate for you.

So get off the fence already, if you were ever on it- this is a unicorn in the making for the second time!

Amelia
xx

Loving Laura

Hello Lovelies,

Last Sunday, in what will forever be known as an act of self sacrifice and pure heroism on my part,  I ventured out into -19 degrees centigrade (!) and foot deep snow (!) to walk (!) to the supermarket to fetch smoked salmon and eggs for our Sunday brunch.

That is what happened to a nearby water feature someone left running.  Shortly after this photo my phone stopped working.  I'm not regaling you with my weekend adventures so that you think I'm a legend on par with Edmund Hilary scaling Mt Everest for going forth in it or anything, I'm illustrating my point (but also maybe a tiny bit of the legend thing).

The point in question is that when this is the view from your window and it's cold enough to freeze running water and stop your electronics dead the only thing getting you out from under your duvet and crochet is the promise of something warm to wear!  And also smoked salmon, poached eggs, smashed avocado and fresh bread.  But why settle for just being warm and fed when you can also be stylish?  And reproduction vintage type stylish at that!

Enter the Laura dress from Vivien of Holloway, of which I am now the happy owner of two out of four of the colour ways- charcoal and mocha fleck.

Also available are navy fleck and grey sans fleck.  

It's made of a lovely warm, medium weight flannel.  The label does say 'dry clean only' but as I like to live dangerously I washed them both separately on a cold gentle machine wash with a reduced spin then hung them on coat hangers to dry in the bathroom with no obvious ill effect.  

The dress itself is true to waist size- the top is slashed (potential there for nursing mums) and the skirt free so there's some wiggle room top and bottom.  Both the charcoal and mocha colour ways (the navy and grey too, I'd imagine) lend themselves well to partnering with multiple top colours- good news for wardrobe versatility!  The Vivien of Holloway slash neck top is the obvious partner piece but anything with sleeves and a high neckline is going to work smashingly.  

Another major draw card- pockets!!  The contrasting stitching around the neckline and the pockets somehow stops the dress one stop short of vintage school wear for me.  That being said it has the sort of comfortable utilitarian feel a school uniform would envy, paired with good design and looks it's an unusual mix of luxury and everyday practicality.

And although it's unseen, the large amount of material at the neck and arm openings says 'no expense spared.' You do have to check that it's all tucked in once you've got the dress on and zipped up (zip is hidden at the side) but aside from its technical function the double layering of the overlap is appreciated in the cold.

One of the final small details, that to me highlights the quality of the make, is the overage at the seams.  This dress has not been sewn with sole intention of eking out material yardage to save on manufacturing costs.  At £85 a dress though that's exactly the sort of quality you'd expect from a Viv.

My tiniest bug bear is that after all the attention to detail elsewhere the pattern hasn't been matched up along the front seam of the skirt of the mocha dress.  It doesn't seem to be a problem on the charcoal version as the pattern is more subtle. That's really all I can nit pick for the sake of attempting a balanced review because truly this is a great winter staple of a dress- no two ways about it!!

Happy winter dressing!!

Amelia xx

Disclaimer** I did not wear this dress on my smoked salmon adventure.  I'm not insane.  I wore two layers of thermals, a ski jacket, a woolly hat, gloves and snow boots!!! Some days I do settle just for being warm.

Are you dissatisfied with the size of your...

Brooch Collection?!

Once upon a time in the not too distant past my brooch collection looked like this;

But now I have a much bigger brooch collection and I am so much happier with my life and I find I am much more attractive to the opposite sex and my teeth are 7 shades whiter and I have dropped 3 dress sizes and improved my mental acumen x100!! See;

Just kidding- brooches get me acting pumped like a low budget infomercial actor!! Plus 'before and after' shots are begging for it!

Ok so let's keep this short and sweet (lol) here are the brand new to me brands I'm loving;

Tangerine Menagerie
 https://www.etsy.com/shop/TangerineMenagerie

Gorgeous little resin sculptures to adorn your clothes, hand made in Seattle by a lovely lady named Julia.  I managed to snag this Alice Brooch for a friend by way of a pre-order which was the only way my slow fingers were ever going to manage it- these baby's are limited 

edition runs and sell out within minutes!!  

I added the mint dachshund to my order at a later date from the etsy shop because I needed a little green sumin a and Julia very kindly combined postage and refunded the difference after first emailing me.  

AtomicMingo 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AtomicMingo

I'm vaguely aware of the Trans-Tasmin rivalry I ought to participate in by virtue of being a kiwi but credit where credit is due Australia is at the top of its game when it comes to pumping out retro inspired brooches and none more so than AtomicMingo!! There are plenty of plagiarist's lining up to be 'inspired' by the fabulous Miss Lixxie Lou's designs but my money is on the real deal every time!

Heidi and Gretel

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HeidiandGretel

+

Bok Bok B'gerk

http://www.bokbokbgerk.com.au

Hehehe I do so love a novelty theme- coffee and pie! I'll be double brooching these little darlings in the near future!! Two more Aussie brands creating sweet pinable clothes treats for you.  The coffee cup I purchased from Bok Bok B'Gerk directly. The piece of pie I purchased from www.vintagepip.com.au (my all time favourite supplier) but it's made by Donna under the brand Heidi and Gretel and profits from her sales go directly to her brother with cerebral palsy to help him get out and about.  So you don't just get a lovely resin or wood brooch you also get a dose of good feels when you buy a Heidi and Gretel.

Charcoal Designs

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CharcoalDesigns

Over to the States for some kitschy resin goodness.  This brooch is BIG and it is KITSCH and oh boy do I love it!!  My order also came with a bonus brooch that a friend nearly twisted my arm off for... So, not shown here but a surprise brooch delivery is a good brooch delivery in my book!!

And lastly;

Mrs Polly Lucite

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MrsPollysLucite

From Italy! Mrs Polly Lucites creations have an air of 'serious vintage reproduction' to them.  From the colours, design and quality of the finish to the vintage packaging design.  Mrs Polly Lucite is not mucking about- these are novelty brooches for the vintage enthusiast who wants a little something authentic to the era and as reproductions go this brooch is exquisite! 

And that about covers all the new brands I've added to my collection recently.  I've also revisited a few trusty old brands such as;

Erstwilder 

http://www.erstwilder.com

Now selling direct from their own Australian website for your convenience.

DeerArrow

http://www.deerarrow.com

Hey Australia why you so good at brooches?

Luxulite

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Luxulite

File these under 'N' for 'Never disappoints.'

And lastly (yes really);

Baccurelli

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Baccurelli

I waited patiently for Rosie to come directly from Meli at Baccurelli head quarters and my patience was rewarded! Then Betty Mae arrived from Vintage Pip shortly after and now I am all brooched out!

Happy Pinning Lovelies 😊

Amelia

Follow me on Instagram @mammatwohoots to see how I style my collection on a day to day basis!

And I shall have ALL of the Petticoats, please!!

If repro vintage clothing was a buffet it'd be fair to say I've pretty much gorged myself on circle skirts recently! 

I've sampled lindybop, Pinup Girl Clothing, Vivien of Holloway and (if they are ever released by Bulgarian customs) Bernie Dexter.  Patterned or plain, novelty or not, cheap and cheerful or pricey pricey- I care not. For there is room in my wardrobe for all!!

But this isn't about my love of circle skirts- that's old news!  Though in fairness to linear thinking I ought to be blogging about the old news first rather than skipping ahead to the new news.... I digress!  At any rate this blog is about my desire to up my circle skirt game with Petticoats!!!

So if petticoats were cars it'd be reasonable to say that Sam's Petticoats are the fabric equivalent of one of those vintage rides that smell of old leather, even older money and have a busty silver lady chilling on the bonnet.  You know- Fancy with a capital F.  I have one cream Sam's that's stuffed (in a reverent way) into one of my wardrobes (I know, I know).  Like that fancy pants car though, it's pretty much only ever used for special occasions (read- twice) and being in the market for an 'everyday wear' type undergarment at an affordable pricepoint I decided to look elsewhere.   

Hell Bunny petticoats come well recommended so I duly tracked down an online supplier and got most of the way through check out before the inability to find/read my card details in the dark defeated me (PayPal is a must for anyone who does their online shopping in the dark waiting for the sound of toddler breath to change to the slow, steady sound of deep slumber that indicates ninja-ing out of the room is now possible).

At any rate I never got round to buying a Hell Bunny Petticoat.  Instead I went to London and met this awesome lady (Leanda Lewis) 

And together we visited Vivien of Holloway.  And then I went back on my own.  That's two visits to Vivien of Holloway on a two day stop over to buy not one, not two, not even three but FOUR(!!!) Sam's Petticoats.  Oh the shame.  So much for mid range affordability.  I went intending to buy a skirt.  One skirt (ok that's not entirely true).  I tried on the skirt and in the corner of my eye, I could see hanging the fluffy, swishy softness that is a Sam's petticoat and suddenly it was there in front of me and I was stepping into it.  One swish and I was asking for a red one to await me at the counter.  Two swishes and a pink one joined it.  I restrained myself at two under the watchful eye of Leanda (jk she's as big an enabler as I) and left with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction.

The missing practicality of a black one haunted me through the night and I knew that I had to go back and fill this petticoat emptiness!  So I did.  And because it was quite a long tube journey I convinced myself I needed a lavender petticoat along the way, you know, for fun.  Sadly there were no lavender petticoats so I settled for a purple one and two brooches (yes I am the worst).

I might have had to buy an extra suitcase at the airport and be that person, hurriedly re-packing my suitcase at the check-in desk.  And sure I splashed a ridiculous amount of money on undergarments that go largely unseen.  And ok... Having reached the blistering hot climes of my final destination, Sofia, I realise that I will have to wait a few months before its cool enough to wear them without dying.  But as I recall the gentle swish and soft sigh of my top quality, silky, Sam's petticoats against my bare legs and the cheeky flash of colour peeking out from beneath my now immeasurably more epic skirts I have but one smug thought- Worth. it.

Brooch, Brooch Baby

I have a huge weak spot and its name is Novelty Brooches. There's something about a good novelty brooch that I just can't say 'No' to.  Though I try to display a little discernment in my choices for the sake of my pocket the truth is if its plastic, colourful, odd or shiny chances are high I'm planning out the outfits I'll pair it with before I've even finished carting it.

Believe it or not I really only started collecting novelty brooches about 5 months ago.  It started innocently enough when Leanda Lewis over at GinnedUp introduced me to this little Erstwilder beauty in March '15...

Ahhhh Erstwilder and their novelty resin brooches in adorable flora, fauna and miscellaneous kitsch designs that are oh so affordable. It's virtually impossible to say 'no, not for me' to an Erstwilder.

One little birdy was pretty quickly followed by a few more delicious friends.  'Shake, Rattle and Roll' sold out almost everywhere before I knew she existed and she became my Unicorn brooch- I hunted her down mercilessly and paid out a ridiculous sum to have her shipped half way across the world.  Of course if I could have summoned up an ounce of patience I would have had her at a more affordable price a month later.  Ho Hum. 

Then I branched out and purchased a gorgeous little pink resin palm tree from another Australian crafter PeachFlamingo and a nifty little silver and pink number from the ever on point Luxulite to join my glorious Erstwilder and true vintage originals.

Sad story time- my Erstwilder magpie took flight somewhere between London Heathrow and Hong Kong airport.  Truly it was a case of 'One for Sorrow, Two for Joy' as I replaced her and got into the habit of securing my brooches with tiny elastic bands- a trick that has saved at least two other brooches from a similar fate.

Then I thought I would take a short break from resin and purchased this amazing Litewood Tiki brooch and the Atomique brooch from U.S based TheOblongBoxShop (which also happens to sell the most glorious novelty circle skirts) and these two amazing hand-painted wooden brooches from Australian DeerArrow.  I double dipped on the Deer Arrow- a red gumball brooch and cupcake sprinkles cardigan clips are in the post this very minute!

And lastly... back to resin.

Beautiful, beautiful Betty from Baccurelli who came to me via the quite frankly amazing, enabling VintagePip who comments the nicest things on Instagram and even tags me to make sure I don't miss out on future awesomeness- how's that for customer service?!  The crafter behind Baccurelli also provides exceptional customer service as I discovered when I emailed her directly about an unavailable mini doll that I was lusting after.  I had a reply and specially listed brooch carted and paid for within 30 minutes of contacting her. 

Unfortunately my full brooch collection is scattered across the globe thanks to some rather interesting circumstances and I have more than one or two in the mail but for now feast your eyes upon my glorious collection of novelty brooches one last time!!!

And prepare for future updates...

Amelia xx
instagram @mammatwohoots