What's your Major, Town Tramp?

Set in the year 1963, it's the story of a glamorous, not your middle-of-the-road mother; Mrs Flax with her two daughters, Charlotte and Kate.  Charlotte 15, who is very straight and narrow.  Obsessed with Catholicism and a half photo of her father's legs.  Holding to this one memory she has of him from when she was a little girl.  Kate 7, very cute and bubbly who wants to be world champion in swimming, constantly trying to hold her breath under water (in the bath) timing herself each time to try and beat her time.  Every time Mrs Flax has a "relationship" that turns to disaster they all up-sticks and take a roadtrip to another town.  This time they end up in the small town of Eastport, Massachusetts.  As you can imagine, Mrs Flax (Rachel) turns a lot of heads but it is not her who gets into trouble this time...

I wouldn't want to spoil it for you newbies to this so I shall leave the story right there.  But this has to be one of my all-time favourite go-to movies.  I must watch it once or twice every year and it really surprises me when I meet someone and they have no idea which movie I am talking about.  So this is why I wanted to post about it here on my little blog.  I want everyone to be able to enjoy it as much as I do.  And when you get to the end all you want to do is dance along in the kitchen with them!


Enjoy!
Alison xxx

I'll have You, You, and You Please!

So it looks like I have finally finished furnishing my living room thanks to an impromptu nip into the local charity shop back at my "homehome" in Surrey.  I went back to see my sister and pups and before we went to the cinema I quickly visited one of the British Heart Foundation shops.  I used to always swing by when I was around but never actually bought anything from there before.  Until now that is.  Although I did once spot a 1920s Singer sewing machine in the window but I had no room for it at the time.  It was beautiful though.

Well, now I'm a happy girl because the flat is really coming together.  I'll do more posts on the furnishings and decorating for sure.  But for now here are my awesome new additions!

I will take some better photos once the pieces are at mine.  The inside of the wardrobe is super cute.  Cannot wait to sit it next to my Art Deco dresser in my bedroom.  They're going to look such a pair.  The sideboard will take pride of place in my living room along with my other pieces.  The glass front display cabinet might go in the corridor as I already have another display cabinet in the living room but we shall see.  Or I could even have it in my bedroom and replace my old tall display cabinet which houses my handbags??  Hmm... The dilemma.  But I think I will do something with it for certain.  Maybe paint it or just sand it down and re-varnish.  Either way I think they will all look amazing alongside my green velvet sofa!

Once I am happy with the placement of all my furniture I can start arranging all my paintings and prints onto the walls too.   Because you just can't do one before the other.  Not if you don't know where the tall or short pieces will be sitting lol. This is all too exciting and I may just pass out now.  Forgive me if you don't hear from me for a while...

Toodles peeps,

Alison xxx

Not Here but Elsewhere...

Hello!

So since I have been away and didn't have much time to write I actually took to some other less time consuming web activities.  I Tweeted a bit more, I set up my Miss Cherrylicious Facebook page for my modeling work and I recently made my Instagram public having had it the last couple of years.  I just checked and my first ever photo on there was from May 2011!  No one I knew used Instagram back then and that was one of the reasons I remember for not sharing on it originally.  I have favored between them on and off.  One of the things I missed most on here was writing my outfit posts.  They were fun!  I have tried to do a few more snaps on Instagram recently so thought I would share with you some of the photos which I haven't posted here before.

Full on all-up bouffant which I never usually do but I do occasionally now.

New top from Topshop which could almost be from a repro brand!

Teamed with my Freddies and favourite varsity jacket.

One of my dress-down days.

A-Bombers yeh! Cannot wait to go back this year.

This colour looks great with my skin tone and black hair.

Perfect make-up face. Eyes, brows, lips, everything. Happy.

Getting ready for some Yeah Yeah Yeahs carnage!

Sweet 60s look.

The super-crop... Has a tendency to flash though.

I love my collection of Tara Starlet button-down pencils skirts.

Such a shame they no longer make their clothes in my size :( 

I love doing the heels and socks combo!

Comfort and style... Great for summer. 

It's funny because I had my hair cut quite a bit maybe a month or two ago but you can't really tell in the pics because it grows like a monster!  It's nearly halfway down my back already and I couldn't even ponytail it up when first cut.

I've just had a huge BH weekend of partying and am about to die so this is me for the evening.  I am off to eat cake.  My sisters homemade Chocolate Guinness cake.  Yums!

Tara,

Alison xxx

CAKE. SHOP. DANCE.

Our second instalment at The Brown Derby on Saturday 18th this month.  So the coming Saturday really.

This will be a similar event to our last with cake and complimentary tea, clothes and accessories for sale, music and dancing!  If you are in London I'd love for you to come and join us for a little bobbing on down or a lil' toe tapping if you are shy.

Bloomie and I will be sound tracking the night as always.  We also throw in a wiggle or two of our own when not behind the decks.  Well... we do need a cocktail from the bar too :P

Hope to see you there!  xxx

Come Join Me for a Vintage Tea Party!

A date has been set and we are all go!

Dear Ladies and Gentleman,
Lady of the Parlour and Bloomie presents to you... A Vintage Tea Party!

Saturday 10th December from 2pm onwards.

I shall be hosting along with the lovely Kate our first Vintage Tea Party at The Brown Derby in Oval, London. This will be our first event at this newly opened bar but not our 'very first' venture into events together.  So if you are local or happen to be in the Big Smoke on this particular day then do pop along for some Fun & Frolics, a little Vintage Shopping, Tea & Cake and Music to tap your feet to.

Sip a cocktail at the bar whilst you enjoy the sounds of the 40s, 50s and 60s. You may even want to do a little jive or twist. Who knows where the night will take you?!  We'll be there from 2pm until late into the night.

This is the start of hopefully many more events to be hosted by us gals. We say the more the merrier, so if you would like to join us in setting up a stall then pop me an email. We would love to have you there either at this or a future event!

This is also your chance to come and pick up a copy of The Domestic Burlesque book by Elsa Quarsell and meet the lady herself. http://www.thedomesticburlesque.com/

The Brown Derby is handily located just 2mins from Oval Station. Turn right as you leave the station and we are the second bar along.  The Brown Derby, 336 Kennington Park Road, London, United Kingdom.

Join our Facebook event page here.

Look forward to seeing you there! xxx

The Domestic Burlesque Book Launch

It must be around two years ago now that I opened the doors to my home and welcomed Elsa Quarsell in.

Since then, there has been more clicks of her camera, a couple of exhibitions and now the launch of the book - The Domestic Burlesque.  A couple of Thursdays ago I popped up to North London to Angel to a cute little antique book store which was the venue for the launch.

It went with a bang - a successful launch and book.

A cheesy pic of book and I - it had to be done  :)

There I am in the book.  Look me up.

I did my first impromptu book signing which was unexpected; I didn't even have a pen or knew what to write.  We all went around to collect signatures on the night.  Now I feel like I should try and get my whole book signed!  It would take me to Japan and the US which I wouldn't complain about.  I personally think you should all go out there and pick up a copy to support Elsa and the burlesque scene.  Of course it's also a damn fine coffee table book to have laying around.

Here are a few links from press etc...

Erotic Review

Timeout

Mudkiss

Enjoyment and laughter was had by all!

The lovely Elsa and I

She's not actually that short, pretty tall in fact.

Busy in and out!

Cover Art

An interview with Elsa will follow soon.  Lastly I would like to say a huge congratulations to Elsa for her amazing work and for letting me be involved! xxx

A little out-take

Do you like my pen?  :P

Bye Bye Birdie

Sunday previous I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with my friend Kate at the NFT to catch the screening of Bye Bye Birdie as part of the 55th BFI London Film Festival.  I try and attend at least one showing as part of the festival each year and have never been disappointed.  The choices are wide and there is always without fail something that catches my eye.

Bye Bye Birdie was inspired by Elvis when he was famously drafted into the army; no doubt with girls screaming Noooooo the world over when the news was announced.  It's a musical based on the idolizing of the rock 'n' roll figure and the effects it has to ones young life.  Which hasn't changed too much years down the line really?

Made in 1963 and directed by George Sidney with a star cast of Janet Leigh as Rosie DeLeon, Dick Van Dyke as Albert F.Peterson, Ann-Margret as Kim McAfee, Maureen Stapleton as Mama Mae Peterson and Bobby Rydell as Hugo Peabody.  Kim and Hugo being the High School steadies whose lives are then complicated by one rock 'n' roll star Conrad Birdie and those around him.

The showing was to showcase the digital restoring of this wonderful film as part of their Treasures from the Archives collection.  The colours was vibrant, vivid and the sound glorious.  A job definitely worth doing and a job well done.  I would recommend the buying/renting of a dvd since this showing was a one-off.  Maybe there will be a re-release version with the restoration.  That would be an idea!  It was surprisingly funny and very fun to watch.  Lots of laughing out loud.

Telephone Hour - one of my favourite scenes from the film :)

Here's a few of the film stills worth sharing...

I loved this outfit of Kims.

It was in a bright bubblegum pink and it looked fab on the big screen.

Do you remember the episode in Mad Men where they used this as an inspiration for a Patio Cola advertisement?  I couldn't embed the video but have a look at this comparison of the Ann-Margret version against the remake in Mad Men - YouTube Link

Bye Bye Birdie opener and closing theme song

This is the Mad Men cast & crew version... Hehe

I leave you with this photograph of Ann-Margret.  Isn't she a sight to behold! xxx

Temptation Always gets the Better of Me!

For over a year now I have been meaning to visit the local Flea, Antiques and Collectors Fair in Woking held at the leisure centre.  This Sunday I did just that with my sister; she looking for bits and pieces for her wedding and moi?  Well, as usual anything that takes my fancy.

It was a good size fair with lots to see and touch.  We spent over two hours in there where I picked up a few things but had to leave a few too.  They had everything from glass, army memorabilia, jewellery, boudoir, silver to kitchenalia, postcards, handbags and furniture.  An all-rounder I would say.  Here are a few lovely bits and pieces.

Victorian Inkwell Stand

 1920s Glass Pendent Lampshade - I love! 

Bakelite & Plastics Galour!

Note the space in the bottom right display :)

ColourColourColour

I really wanted that fruity brooch but couldn't part with the amount.

Busy Busy!

There were plenty of Ladies Pampering sets but I saw this lovely Gentleman's Grooming kit.

Perfect for slicking that hair back.

1950s Lace Corset

Now to show you some of our buys...

To ease you in I'll soundtrack your browsing with a record we picked up...

You may have to crank up that volume!

Now that the music is playing.  Tipple anyone?

Adding to my collection

What lovely compacts

All in un-used condition too!

Keep the home fires burning.

 My new little Friend

My bargain of the day at just £1... Well spent.

My buys of the day.

A 1930s Bakelite Hair dryer - An Iron Marcel Wave Tong

Found at separate stalls but both at amazing prices!

Nothing beats a good rummage around on a cold Sunday afternoon.  It was well worth a visit and no doubt I shall be back again.  My gosh I am poor now and it's only mid-month.  I really need to start setting up my own stall again at some point!  Hope you enjoyed my buys, I love them :)

Tara for now,

Alison xx