My Style- Vintage inspired Sewing Machine

Great news vintage lovers- Singer (the sewing machine company- no, it's not an opera group) have brought out a new vintage inspired sewing machine! it's a modern twist on one of Singer's first sewing machines, the Singer 160 is celebrating the company's 160th birthday. At just under £400 it's not something I'll be buying any time soon but I recommend it to any of you sewers out there. It combines vintage tradition with modern features, and I think it's a really cool product. But watch out! It's only available for a limited time- so buy one, and fast!

The Singer 160- £399

So that's what I think of one of the newest sewing machines? What d'you think?

El

Film Review- Funny Face

Ok, so you all know that I love Audrey, and so I thought I'd do another review on one of her films. Funny Face is a great film- directed by Stanley Donen, starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire- I mean what more could you want?! It's not as well known as Breakfast at Tiffany's, and it's a musical, but I really love it! So, here's my review on one of the best films from the fifties...

Funny Face (1957)

Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn) is an ordinary girl who works in a bookstore. She loves books and philosophy, and really wants to meet philosopher Professor Floster in Paris. Her life is fairly ordinary until Quality Magazine editor Maggie Prescott and photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire) barge into her bookstore with clothes to photograph on one of their models. Maggie wanted an intellectual background for her latest photo shoot, and she got one! After throwing Jo out of the shop and totally trashing it, she apologises and makes her way back to Quality HQ.
After proccessing the photos, Dick comes to Maggie with a great idea. Maggie wants a Quality woman; a girl with grace, elegance and pizzaz to appear in all the photos for her magazine.
At first, Maggie thinks Dick's idea is proposterous, but after reviewing the situation, she agrees.
"It's decided then- Jo Stockton can be the Quality woman!" she exclaims.
After a bit of persuading, Jo agrees to model for Maggie, and soon falls in love with Dick after a modelling trip to Paris. Soon, Dick realises that he and Jo were meant to be together...

A very iconic photo from Funny Face

My Style- Vintage Style Playsuit

So, as you already know, I love vintage. I was wandering around Matalan, and came across a lovely forties style playsuit for £14. It has the classic 1940's sleeves, and buttons down to the waist. I love it and wear it all the time!



Matalan Playsuit- £14

I really like the floral sprig pattern on it, and the purple/pink colour scheme matches many other items in my wardrobe!!!

I also bought a champagne coloured cardie from new look that I also love for £12.99!

So there you have it, a timeless forties look with a modern twist.

El

TV- What to Watch

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't been blogging- with all the Christmas hustle and bustle finally over I thought I'd return to the blogging world with a guide of my favourite TV shows.

Firstly, I suggest Cooking Made Easy with Lorraine Pascale. This cooking show is divided up into 4 episodes, each showing you how to make recipes from black pepper pasta to chocolate cheesecake! I love it.


Home Cooking Made Easy with Lorraine Pascale- Mondays at 7pm on BBC 2

 My next What to Watch is Restoration Man with George Clarke. George is an architect, who goes and sees people who are restoring old and unloved buildings such as churches, watertowers and old barns into beautiful homes. Whilst they are restoring, George is finding out the history of these listed buildings. I really reccomend this and I think it is one to watch!


Restoration Man- Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4

So those are my latest What to Watch picks! I will definitly be informing you of any other new ones!
El

My Style- Cath Kidston

I love vintage inspired things, especially floral things. For over a year now, I have been a Cath Kidston lover. As well as flowery designs, Cath also produces Spotty, Paisley and sometimes even Striped fabric, clothes and bags.

Spot Washed Messenger Bag £45

Cath is known mostly for her lovely bags, but she also has a range of clothing, accessories and home (sewing, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom) items. Her newest collection- her A/W collection- consists of her newest designs.


Owl Pin Cushion £7

I love CK, and I have bought many bags, accessories and gifts for others from there. So here are my top ten must-haves from this season's collection....

At number ten we have a £50 Cath Kidston Voucher. It makes a brilliant gift, because if you're not too sure on what a person would like, giving them a Gift Voucher can let them choose their own present. And if you're not prepared to fork out £50 for a voucher, there are also £5, £10 and £20 ones!


Cath Kidston £50 Gift Voucher £50

At number 9, we have the beautiful Bird print Glasses Case. This stylish case can keep your glasses safe, and it also makes a great gift!


Bird Glasses Case £12

Felt Slippers take place number 8. These beautiful embroidered slippers are also available in children's sizes!

Felt Slippers £24

At number 7, we have the gorgeous (but pricey!) Chelsea Rose Shawl. This pretty blue shawl is sure to keep you warm during those winter months!


Chelsea Rose Shawl £45

Place number 6 is taken by the Wild Rose Lip Balm. This girly lip balm is sure to stop sore lips, and makes a great present!

Wild Rose Lip Balm £5


At no. 5 we have Tea Roses Ribbon for £6. If you, like me, love sewing, then this lovely flowery ribbon is perfect for you. Be sure to put this on your Christmas list!


Tea Rose Ribbon £6

Number 4 goes to the Vintage Rose Thermos Flask. A brilliant way to keep your tea warm, this flask is perfect for picnics in the summer or refreshing walks in the winter.


Vintage Rose Thermos Flask £15

In 3rd place we have the beautifully vintage Country Rose Stone Messenger Bag for £45. This lovely bag is very spacious and extremely handy with two front pockets and two inside pockets. With an adjustable strap, this pretty bag can be longer or shorter to suit your needs.

Country Rose Stone Messenger Bag £45

The penultimate item on my list is Chintz Wallpaper. This vintage inspired wallpaper is absolutely lovely!


Chintz Wallpaper £25 per roll

And the 1st and final item on my list is the Town House Sewing Basket. It's a great storage solution and I think it looks great too!!!


Town House Sewing Basket £48

So! There's my top ten items from Cath Kidston. What d'you think?!
El

Films- Breakfast at Tiffany's Film Review

As well as reading, I also love watching movies. I enjoy watching films, but sometimes the blurb on the back doesn't tell you all that much (if anything!) about the movie itself. Today I am reviewing the wonderful Breakfast at Tiffany's starring the amazing Audrey Hepburn! I'm sure that nearly all of you will have seen this smashing movie which was made in the 60's, but just in case you haven't, here's what it's about...

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Holly Golightly (Audrey) stands outside Tiffany's, the jewellery store, sipping coffee and eating her croissant, just as she does every day. Holly is not a rich girl, but dreams of money and the fame that comes with it. Living in her rented apartment, she lives the life of an ordinary sixties woman.
One day, when Paul Varjak (George Peppard) moves into one of rooms in the flat, she begins to make friends with him. She calls him Fred, after her brother, because they look so alike. As their relationship grows, Holly starts to realise that he is not very rich himself, and only seems it because of the money his girlfriend decorator gives him.
Whilst confronting love, hate, the Police and her annoying neighbour, Holly begins to understand that money isn't everything and it certainly doesn't give you happiness!!!
A brilliant romantic film, I certainly recommend Breakfast at Tiffany's!

Audrey Hepburn

So, there's my review on the wonderful Breakfast at Tiffany's! What d'you think?!
El

Books-The Vintage Tea Party Book by Angel Adoree Book Review

As mentioned in previous posts, I love reading. Recently, I purchased a copy of The Vintage Tea Party Book by the wonderfully vintage Angel Adoree. This beautifully illustrated hardback contains everything that you would ever need to host your own tea party- from decorations to recipes... and more!!! As well as invitations and desserts, the book also tells you how to do your own vintage hair and make-up.

The Vintage Tea Party Book by Angel Adoree

I am sure that you all love a good old-fashioned tea party, especially one with vintage inspired china, decorations and hair and make up. Many of us have tried (and probably failed!) to attempt to recreate a truly feminine tea party, but without no guidance or skills (unless of course you are Angel Adoree herself!) the effort is put to waste. I am not saying that everyone is rubbish at making scones or pouring tea, but sometimes we all need that extra boost of tips and advice, and that's exactly what The Vintage Tea Party Book is all about...

Some of you may have heard of Angel, and some of you may not have. In a nutshell, she runs the The Vintage Patisserie, and has a love and desire for all things old and vintage. Her book is all about creating the perfect tea party without the stress and fuss.

Her book is spilt up into her Introduction, Brunch, Afternoon and Evening recipes and towards the end of her book, Style. I love Angel's style- especially her hair- and last Saturday when I went to go and have my hair done, courtesy of Lyndsey LeKeux of LeKeux Events, I took a photo of her with me. I love Victory Rolls, and Angel's are just perfect!!!

Angel Adoree

So, there you have it! My review on the latest must-have vintage inspired Tea Party Book! What d'you think?!

El