Colourscape

As promised, here are some pics from Colourscape, the White Blackbird event held at Stoke Place on Friday 28 August. What do you think of the dress? I love it. Although unsure as to when I'll have the occasion to wear it again.

     

 The venue, Stoke Place

     

Colourful couple

            

  

We didn't once lose Adam (yes, the one in the bright suit)

The shop has a name and website

I have discovered, after googling the name on the tag in my new vintage dress, that the store I bought it from is called Berty and Gerty. This vintage delight all began on a market stall in Brick Lane where art graduates, Mark Wearn and Emma Drew, brought their favourite items to East London's vintage customers. Its success and cult following meant they were able to open the Berty and Gerty boutique in 2006.

Summer 2007 saw the launch of their online boutique. Check it out, but I do recommend a visit to the shop itself if you can...

http://www.bertyandgerty.co.uk

Berty & Gerty,
69 The West Yard,
Camden Lock Market,
London,
NW1 8AF

It's open every day 10-6pm and they have deliveries every week.

Shop of the week

Yumchaa - Enjoy a variety of loose leaf teas in their tea shop, with a slice of yummy homemade cake or brownie. Or grab a take-away cup and sip joyously as you explore the delights of Camden Market


http://www.yumchaa.co.uk/

Vintage Shopping

Today I indulged in a bit of retail therapy. I had a special dress to buy and this purchase deserved a little bit of effort. So, not wanting to go to the usual Oxford St haunts; 'Topshop, Miss Selfridge, French Connection' etc., I stayed on my (boyfriend's) doorstep and shopped Camden Market. It was a pleasant morning; the sun was shining and I had all the time in the world. I checked out a new Sue Ryder clothing charity shop - 'Retro and Vintage' on Parkway. It had some nice vintage dresses, but nothing 'glam' enough for the event I'm going to:

http://www.thewhiteblackbird.com/

I then walked to Camden High St to return to Traid, a new charity clothing store. Traid stands for Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development. Traid aims to provide an alternative to the high street by offering stylish and good-quality second hand clothes to the UK mass. The Camden store has a particularly good vintage section too. On my first visit last week I tried on a beautiful floaty Armani number, with detailed beading. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling that well, so instead of snapping it up for its £30 price tag, I put the dress back. Needless to say, it wasn't there on my return. Nor was there anything else that satisfied my requirements; glamorous vintage and colourful,

http://www.traid.org.uk/retail.html

I then headed to my desired destination, the vintage clothing store I had spied the week before. Sam and I went to a specialist tea shop I'd read about in the market called Yum Chaa and whilst sipping my Chai tea and sharing an apple cake, I had noticed this potential treasure chest.

And what a treasure chest it turned out to be! I found a beautiful turquoise one shoulder, drop waisted, floor length dress, with pink peep toe court heels for some much needed height. Perfect for my Colourscape. Plus, I couldn't resist the 'little red riding-hood' style cape, navy with the red lining and bow. It's an A/W must have.

Pictures of the dress to follow next weekend.

Expressing my own creativity

August 2009

You may remember last September I went on a two day dress making course, only to finish it with half a dress. I promised myself I would buy a sewing machine to finish it. Well, 8 months later I finally bought one! Yes, am proud owner of a beautiful machine. And, with a little (okay a lot) of help from a friend of Mum's, the dress is complete.


I have already bought material to make another. Lets hope it doesn't take me so long this time.

(And yes, I'm pretty pleased with it!)