A Very Swedish Birthday!

Well I have been back from Sweden about a week now and what fun it was but I guess it is time to document!  I wanted to get away for my birthday this year, no where crazy.  Just somewhere nice, fun and relaxed.  I thought I was leaving the sunniest weather behind when I left London but apparently it got all "English" on us again so I didn't miss our "summer"!  Sweden was beautiful as always and sunny which was perfect.  I even got some tan lines (unfortunate for me - Miss Sun-Shy) but I can't complain as I'd rather the sun.  It does lift the spirits after all!

My Birth-Day started with a musical rendition of a very famous song but in Swedish from my blondie Malin presenting me with a little sweet with a candle on top :)

Realising I liked to collect miniture animals Malin gifted me these.

They are from her childhood which she was going to sell.

How adorable... little glass pups!

I also received this via the waves from my little brother.... Hahaha... Lazer eyes Dottie!

After breakfast it was time to get ready to hit the town.  To one of my favourite shop that is!  It is hands down one of the best antique stores I have been to and will always visit when I go to Göteborg.  It's one of those ones that you are constantly spotting something glorious.  Not at all like some antique shops I have been to where you are afraid to touch things or are made to feel uneasy.  I love it in here and could easily part with a small fortune.

Vanity Antique

This set of cigarette holder and ashtray was so beautiful.

Naughty, but almost worth smoking for! 

Wandered round town some more and picked up a few bits here and there but I'll do a shopping post separately.  It's called for.  They even had their own version of our Boris Bikes... Although maybe they had them first?  Lovely old style cobbled lanes lined with coffee shops.  Anyone fancy some fika?

For the evening we went to the lovely Liseberg, home to the green rabbit.  My first visit to Liseberg was the first time I came to visit Malin about seven years ago now.  That was my very first trip to Sweden and look how many times I have been back since.  There must be something in the air... Not just the cute Swedish boys ;)

We did a lot on my first visit.  All the touristy things...  I remember it fondly.  I even made a scrapbook of that vacation.  It would be nice to print some more photos of my various visits I think.

Now follow me...

Doesn't it just look so beautiful!

Country trio 'Cookies n Beans' were performing that evening.

The Hives were billed a few days later which sadly I missed out on.

A lot of original 1950s features remain; the ticket box and the lamps above :) 

Double Denim!

Plopp... Always a joke in England

With our 'Winnings'

Ice-cream sundaes were on the agenda whilst at Liseberg but it was getting far too cold out.  I even grabbed a hot chocolate before we stopped for dinner.  It all worked out though as there was scrummy ice-cream back at home!  Washed down with a hot cuppa tea.

So that was my very Swedish Birth-Day!  Beats just going out for drinkies/dinner and the weather hasn't been great the pass few years to even consider a picnic.

I leave you here with my outfit for the special day.  I'll be back with more Sweden fun posts!

Simple 'n' Chic for day-night look.

From top of the head to the tootsies!

All dressed up and ready to go.

Tara until the next time,
Alison xxx

Wearable Vintage Fashion Book - The Launch

Hey!  So I have finally got round to posting about the actual party for the book launch I helped organise for Wearable Vintage Fashion.  I know this was back in April, nearly a month ago now.  I'm really sorry for being a slow coach but I promise I have just been busy and not lazy.  Here goes...

Star of the Night

Clare & Jo with the Usherettes

Cover star in attendance!

Here is Amanda of Lipstick & Curls beautifying the Usherettes earlier on.

Hanging out with my besty... hehe

THE yummiest moist cupcakes and really inventive flavours!

Colours to match the book cover of course.

It was nice and busy and everyone was having a jolly good time :D 

The Performers...

Tricity Vogue who sang little ditties from the 20s-40s and a number of her own too.

I rather enjoyed myself watching Tricity!

Here's a video I made...

Jake Vegas with his band... and the dancing began...

My cousin Nicki came to give us support and to have a drink or two.  She insisted that we took a photo together so that she could send it to her mum, my aunt!  There I am in the book.

The book has been really successful for Jo & Clare which you can find on sale in many shops and on-line; including my personal favourite, the amazing Victoria & Albert Museum and in The Tate Modern!  How exciting is that?  I will have to pop by to see for myself soon.  There was also a wee write up on The Vintage Festival website by one of their correspondents on the launch night with a review of the book which you can read right here.

I do have something even more exciting to tell you relating to the book but I will have to keep it to myself for the moment and wait until it has been confirmed.  It would be amazing for me if it came through!

For now I leave you with a photograph of me with the book that shows off my dress that little bit better.  It's a shame that I didn't capture the back of my dress because it is a lovely backless number.  xxx

Boppin' with JD McPherson

Last night was fun!  I went to see JD McPherson down at The Borderline; I've not been down there for years.  It was an amazing sold out show and I definitely had my dancing legs on.  It was great to get to see him play finally.  Especially since listening to his music for so long now and with it being such a happy reminder of last summer for me at some rockin' festivals.

I captured a few photos and some videos too.  Hope you don't get seasick as I was filming whilst boppin' at the same time.  I couldn't help it :P

Your Love (all that I'm missing) - Spot me just after 2mins in :) 

Country Boy

North Side Gal

On my way home with record in my handbag

Happy days! Getting to play said record when I awoke the next morning :D 

My beautiful Malin - where were you!?

If you get to go along to one of his shows I would highly recommend it. Hope you are having a lovely and sunny day too where ever you may be. xx

Book Launch for Wearable Vintage Fashion!

Hi All

So all is a-go-go for the book launch next Saturday 21st April!  It would be great to meet some of my fellow bloggers and readers at the launch if you can make it along.  I'm not sure many of my followers are based in London unfortunately but do say hi if you can :)

At the launch there will be performances by Jake Vegas and Tricity Vogue.  The amazing Lipstick & Curls ladies will also be on hand to beautify you all.  Music all night to twist to, cupcakes to keep everyone happy and the drinks will be a-flowing of course.

Wearable Vintage Fashion will also be on sale at a special price on the night sold by our gorgeous usherettes doing their turns.  Oh, there's also a dressing up box just because!

The Brown Derby pub is only 2mins away from Oval tube station so wear your highest heels and your most glamorous dress to make it a night of frivolous fun.  Don't forget to RSVP.

Hope to see you all there! xxx


Ps. go take a little look at the shop run by the girls behind this magnificent book - Second Hand Rose.

2012 begins...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

ONE AND ALL!

How has it been so far?  Three days in?

I've already been back at work so today was not going to be my first like so many others.  I do however have some extra days off this week due to the Bank Holidays which can only mean one thing.  More nights out planned!  It is so windy and rainy today, I'm afraid to step outside in the case I may just be blown into thin air.  I do have drinks with friends tonight so after this I shall be getting ready.

I'll leave you with a few photos from my night out on NYE at The Boston Arms Rockabilly Club with Bloodshot Bill.  It turned out to be a rather long eventful night starting at my friend Jaana's flat, then onto the club before heading over to The Brown Derby where I usually host my Vintage Tea Party.  My head hit the 'sofa' at around 7.30am... and I had to be at work a few hours after that!

Unfortunately there were not many hotties there but there were plenty of quiffs and gorgeous ladies all coiffed and dressed to the nines.  More seven hours of dancing to come this year I say!

Kate and I looking rather festive in red and gold!

Well, that was my first post of the year.  Short and sweet. xxx

Oh My, its New Years Eve!

This is where I shall be this end of year going into the next!

It should be Rockin'! What are you doing?

It's been some years since I last made a visit to The Boston Arms.  The last time was for the fabulousness that was The 5, 6, 7, 8's gig way back when.  Now... what to wear....?

Have fun whatever you have planned.

Don't forget to kiss at the stroke of midnight!!

See you all next year!

xxx

A-Bombers 16th Old Style Weekend (Saturday)

I Am in Love!

Not with who... but with Sweden!  Well, maybe with the boys too but a girl can't help it!  I am helpless against the Swedish charm.  You know, I really could see myself moving to Sweden.  But what would I do there?  I'd have to be married off first... that's the quickest way to do it I guess?  No really, how should I go about moving to Sweden?

Anyway, back to the point in matter hehe.

My fourth instalment of the excitement that is Hot Roddin' weekenders!  So Saturday morning came and our plan was to go to Magnus' parents who live nearby for a shower and freshen up.  How lucky are we to have that.  Actually, on previous years Malin and Magnus have stayed over at his parents during OSW.  But this time they drove their caravan along to stay in and so we all camped there staying up until god knows what hours of the day/night.  We chose our 'Races' outfits and left the campsite.  There were the four of us so a queue was formed for the shower/mirror/hair dryer!

We arrived at The Devils Peak Hill Climb Race with time to get a good viewing spot.  I was hoping that the offer of riding in one of the Rods for the race would come through but unfortunately it wasn't to be.  It would have been nice to take part, especially since it was my first visit.  Oh well, that's boys for you.  Maybe next time.  Any offers?

The crowds gathered in their hundreds.

All up the Hillside and along the whole race track route too.

The A-Bombers Speed Division team doing their bit.

All lined up and ready to go!

Dust in your face!

Here are a couple of video's that have been uploaded onto YouTube of the Devils Peak Hillclimb.

This one is of all the Cars & Rods climbing the hill and then snippets of each of them racing past!

Here's a nice little video of the Cars & Rods lining up for the Devils Peak Race with some stills of cars parked at the site.

The girls at the Races!

Malin in her tiki playsuit, Marea in a polka dot halter and denim pencil skirt.

I'm sporting a wife beater and my royal blue Tara Starlet pencil skirt with my trusty Wrangler cropped denim jacket.  It was a bit nippy!

As the race finished, crowds dispersed and we left via the car park with all the beautiful cars.

The results of the race was announced in the evening.

And lunch back at Magnus' parents home.  It was sooo yummy!

Where the sun also came out :D

This was the scene before we ate lunch.  Marea and I were so tired from being up all hours.

How embarrassing... haha!

Back at camp I had a wonder around to check out all the new arrivals before we had more drinks and got ready for the evening.  On my way I also met a very stylish lady.  I was also filmed by a Swedish TV channel during my walk for a fashion coverage :D

Look at this cute number!

I saw a fair few of my beloved Mercurys as mentioned in a previous post -

  I don't even drive.

Right.  Time to get all dolled up for the evening and lots and lots of drinking too.  I was the hairstylist for the weekend which was really fun but I will leave that for another post.  Plus I have enrolled on to a make-up course too which I am really excited about.  Again we were back and forth all night between our party tent and the bands.  

The precedings for the evening.

and back again...

Now here's where the fun begins... The drink has flowed.  You have been warned!

Malin is getting violent haha!

Malin in her Stop Staring number.

I am wearing my Vivien of Holloway sarong halter dress.

We had a bit of a Hawaiian theme going on. 

Beautiful x

As more drinks flowed...

Things seemed fine again...

Or not... eek!

Back to the party tent we went with DJ Malin.

3. 4. Girls!

Things were starting to get rather messy... and I was falling off my sit.

By the end of the night Malin had to hold me up as I did my geisha steps.

And my eyes stayed closed...

That was pretty much our Saturday at The Old Style Weekend.  I know this turned into a bit of a picture post but I really don't think I could do better than show you.  We had such a blast and remembering bits and pieces of the nights event afterwards through the photographs is so much fun and sometimes so embarrassing.  I love it!  Does this make you want to go to OSW?  I hope it does because I sure want to go again.  Year on year.  I met some lovely people and although I am always silly enough to forget to take peoples contacts I know I will see them again next year or the year after.

I will tell you all about Sunday and my last days in Sweden next time as this is probably getting a bit too long now.  Until then... Alison xx