Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair, Sheffield, March 2011

Today was the day of all things vintage in Sheffield, 

The Vintage Fair ( http://www.thevintagefair.com/) was at the Town Hall,

 Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair ( http://www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/ ) starred at the City Hall 

and for those wanting a smaller scale event, equally fabulous and more crafty, Reetsweets Spring Sheffield Spectacular was at Millennium Galleries ( http://www.reetsweet.com/)

I was a bit short on time so I had to pick just one event to go to...I went for Judy's! And it was a choice that wouldn't disappoint! 

As I walked up to the City Hall, I was greeted by the bright yellow "Judy's" banners and balloons. 

The guy who took my £2 entry fee complimented me on my outfit (a brown mid-thigh dress, black boyfriend fit jacket with a vintage flower press broach, black tights, brown brogues and a vintage silk neck scarf, hair curly and tied high with fringe in a quiff, bright red lip gloss), stamped my hand with a very pretty bird on a branch logo.

  

 

I then joined a mailing list to get a Judy's Advintage Card (I didn't make use of the discount benefits from the sellers, but definitely seemed worth joining-can be used at any Judy's event, one seller was offering a£10 discount on coats if the card was used, it joins you to a mailing list to keep up to date with all things Judy's)

When I got into the main sales area I was not let down at all, I could see masses of clothing, jewellery, accessories and furnishings! 

I was immediately drawn to a stall being run by a guy, it had two things that always call me... a heap of neck scarves and a rail full of sparkly, glittery, sequined tops! I bought three wonderful scarves from him for £5. 

The next purchase I made was from a stall called  Jarvis & Janis (https://marketplace.asos.com/boutique/jarvis-and-janis), it was made up of a huge selection of vintage clothes, and some handmade accessories and cards. I was drawn to two items on the five pound rail but I went with the patterned, capped/slashed sleeve jumper shown below. The service given by the staff on the stall was like that I would have expected at a boutique. The packaging was amazing! The stall was definitely buzzing and there was no doubt as to why, as everything was top quality and very reasonably priced!

                                       

Third purchase of the day was an Alice takes a trip (http://www.alicetakesatrip.com/) skirt. 

I have loved Alice takes a trip, from its early days, every item I have bought, I have loved and cherished from the moment I set eyes on it. This small floral patterned, green skirt was no different! It will definitely be  one of the items featuring a lot in my Spring/Summer wardrobe.

         

The fourth, and final, purchase I made was a very pretty biscuit tin from Amour Vintage Affair (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amour-Vintage-Affair/189919351067235)! I have a slight obsession with old tins, any shape, size or use. As soon as I looked at this tin, I just knew I had to have it! The rest of the stock they had to offer was beautiful, there was a blue mirror that I desperately wanted but knew I wouldn't be able to carry it. 

    

Overall, I would give Judy's a huge ten out of ten and a massive recommendation. I was there just over an hour, I could have spent longer there but like I say time was short for me. I really wanted to try the cakes and teas on offer at the tea party, it seemed busy when I put my head around the corner. The whole atmosphere at the fair was great! There was wonderful music, lots of laughing and chitchat, friendly "Judy's" staff. All the stallholders deserve a huge pat on the back because everyone of them had created a wonderful scene with the stock they had to offer, some of the stallholders really looked the part, and made me feel like I wanted to travel back in time if people were that friendly then. 


Well done to Judy's Affordable Vintage Fairs for bringing together such a wonderful set of people and creating something so special!  I can not wait for our next encounter!


Love Lucy 
x

Postcard Romance

Ladies & gentlemen, welcome....hello...here I go with my first blog post!


As you may know from actually knowing me, or from reading my profile, I am a true romantic! So, in the hustle and bustle of my modern life, where my main forms of communication seem to be texting and social media, I was genuinely thrilled to come across a pack of ten used postcards in a shop in Castleton on Sunday. 
As soon as I had paid the lovely lady the £1.50 for them I desperately wanted to be taken somewhere nice, warm and cosy with a lot fire, pot of tea (served in fine china, of course) and some wonderful homemade cake, so that I could read the postcards feeling like one of the original recipients. Instead, I had a ten minute, uphill walk, in the rain, before reaching our red Fiat Punto. This would be the romantic seclusion I had to settle for.

However, I quickly realised that my real physical setting really wasn't that important. My romantic mind quickly sucked me in and whisked me away. I was picturing the senders and the recipients of the cards, I was trying to work out if there was any connection between the ten postcards, I had visions of the birthday celebrations taking place.

As my boyfriend drove, I admired the handwriting of each one. Each from a distance looked identical, but when I looked closer, I noticed some O's were slightly longer, some C's had more curl. But each was very beautiful. Each showed effort and care. 

The art works and photographs on the cards are all stunning. Where colour is used it is so vivid. The printed messages are meaningful, nothing like the messages a lot of mainstream cards you see on the High Street now. Both the printed and the handwritten messages give an indication as to how different family life was at the time. There were three postcards for 21st birthdays (two addressed to Florence...I wonder if this was the same person?), and they give a clear image that being 21 then you were much more mature than 21 now. 

There is no indication on the cards as to when they are from. I would love to know this bit of info. Someone has suggested they may be from the 1930s. The only indication as to where they are from is that one is addressed to "Mother" in Cadley, Leicestershire. 

I didn't get the love letters I had first imagined (and I admit, secretly wanted) but nevertheless these postcards have tugged on my heartstrings and the romantic tunes played on in my head (and heart) all day. I have now read the cards six times and each time I build up a new image, the characters faces change, their clothing alters, their lifestyles have differences. Maybe I have enjoyed them so much because they are a quick and easy escape from modern life, where it is so easy to lack appreciation for these simple things in life. I guess I will never know the answers to the questions I have come up with, maybe the less I know the better as my naivity helps build the stories I have created in my mind surrounding the cards. 


I am definitely on the lookout for something more "love story", someone has suggested I should read some old war letters. Someone else has told me about a time they got some Italian postcards, and trying to translate the messages added so much more to the experience, so when I visit Paris in June I will definitely have postcards and letters on my wishlist at the flea market!


I think the ten I have now will be the start of a much larger collection!
With love, 
Lucy
 x