It's Always Tea Time - Mad Hatter

A quick post today just to let you all know that

I'M A LEGEND!

 

A BLOUSE MAKING LEGEND!

I finally found a pattern for a Tea Timer blouse from Scissorhappy . Pretty stoked because not only do they sell patterns but you send them your measurements & they do up the pattern to your size!

THIS IS THE PATTERN

I've searched the interwebs for original pics of beautiful women wearing these blouses or any old Sears catalogues that may have sold them but to no avail.  I can't even find the history or origins of this blouse. Perplexing. I assume it would have been classed as 'resort wear' and worn on holidays to Hawaii.

All I know is that they are probably one of my all time favourite vintage pieces to wear.
They are super comfortable, casual yet stylish (with that lovely mandarin collar), they cover up your lumps & bumps and nice & cool to wear in our shitfull Queensland searing summer heat.

Most VINTAGE Tea Timers are made of rayon or cotton and have the most wondrous fantastic patterns that usually have a tropical theme.  In fact, the name of my blog comes from my love of the Tea Timer. I have in my wardrobe four 1940/50s reproduction rayon "Avanti" Tea Timers I bought a thousand years ago at Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekender in America. I have never worn them because my boobies grew too big. They are so amazing and quite rare now I think. I could never sell them. It is my dream (rayon dream) to one day fit into them and actually show them the light of day.

EXAMPLES OF SOME VINTAGE TEA TIMERS

 

 

 

 

A Tea Timer is normally worn with 3/4 capris pants & flat shoes like ballet flats.

I decided to make my first try in plain black el-cheapo cotton in case I stuffed it up.
The pattern was super easy to follow & I was so excited to finally do BUTTONS!
I squealed with delight as the button hole foot worked its magic! I had to hand sew the actual buttons on but I will buy a button sewing foot as well.
I was nervous about doing the mandarin collar but it worked out great!!!
I even wore it to work the next day!
One of blokes at work said I looked like a Star Trek Trekky or a dental assistant but he wouldn't know good taste if it jumped up & bit him on his daggy boring face.

It's worse than that, he's dead Jim

Mandarin collar - good for hiding hickeys

I immediately dove into my box of fabrics (I have a problem) and found a bolt of Hawaiian print cotton that I bought about 10 years ago and I set to work cutting it out. I'm even going to try something totally outrageous and attempt to line up the pocket print with the front print ala the incredible repro brand Sun Surf.

Buttons! Collars!! Pockets!! What's next in my sewing journey?

Pleats and Gathers I think. Ooooooooo

 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Some People need Sequins, others don't - Edith Head

The vintage clothing aficionado's hearts were all set aflutter with the news that Carmel Bullivant was putting her massive vintage clothing collection up for sale to the public.
There was a lot of chest clutching and gasping in anticipation at what would be for sale.
It was so large it was to be held at the Brisbane RNA Showgrounds.

On Friday afternoon my fellow frocked up filly Mrs Hill joined moi & we headed to the grounds to meet with the other dames.
I gave myself a budget of up to $200 spending money. I knew that the pieces would not be St Vinnie's Kippa-Ring prices but I was hoping that I might find maybe one or two frocks.

Alas, it didn't take long to realise that almost ALL of the garments were smaller sizes (6-12) and there was sweet F.A for the more curvaceous lady. That didn't worry me too much though because I was also just interested in just having a Mrs Mangle sticky beak anyways.

I was chatting to a couple of lovely ladies as we all were perusing the finery when all four of us let out a loud collective GASP of horror!  My hand covered my mouth in a stifled scream as I looked upon the atrocity before us. Not only was the amazing 1940s crepe dress torn but it had been mended with....
METAL STAPLES!!!!!!!!!!



Mz Lisa of Atomic Martini Vintage

As the afternoon went on we found more & more beautiful vintage frocks that had been 'mended' in the most terrible way. So many glorious frocks that were torn, ripped, stained, unlaundered & in a terrible state of disrepair. It was like watching the movie 'Saw' but with divine frocks instead of limbs!
For people who not only collect AND WEAR vintage clothing this is like sacrilege. Fabulous gowns hung on metal wire hangers!!! No respect for these wonderful pieces at all.

Don't get me wrong. Not ALL the pieces were knackered. Some were still quite lovely.
But the prices were just plain silly.  1950s cotton day dresses with tears & stains for $250. One Mexican hand painted skirt for $120 next to one almost identical for $350.
There were also a number of instances of staff being really rude to the buyers.
(I won't go into that but it was just dreadful)

Mz Karie of The Click-Clack Lounge at Sandgate

I WISH this would have been in my size :(

The only item that I almost bought was the most incredible hat. It was about the same diameter of a tractor tyre and was $50 which was a great price. I tried it on & it was fab-yooooo-less. "Where the bloody hell would I EVER wear it?!" I thought "down to the Bramble Bay Bowls Club for a chicken parmi?"
After about half an hour I thought "Stuff it! I HAVE to have it!" but when I went back it was gone. Sigh.

The hat!!!

 

 

After around an hour of looking at everything & tsking to each other we decided to cut our loses and bugger off to The Jubilee Hotel for a quiet bevvy or four.

It was the first time in a long time I had had a GIRLS night without TBF & it was cool sitting around pissing ourselves laughing, talking disgusting most unladylike smut, taking selfies and getting to know some new totally rad glamour-pusses.

It was an average afternoon that turned into an awesome night with a bunch of wickedly funny gals who love & appreciate vintage clothing & treat it like precious thing that it is.

I LOVE THESE DAMES!!!!!!

To me – old age is always ten year older than I am. – John Burroughs

Yesterday was my birthday.

I turned 41.

Stone the bloody crows!

FORTY ONE

How did that happen??!

TBF spoiled me rotten by buying me flowers and PJs from Peter Alexander and last night taking me out to George's Paragon in the city for dinner. I got all frocked up in my vintage LBD & wore my special occasion pearl necklace and TBF wore his fancy pants.

Now George's isn't super duper flash BUT it isn't Sizzler Kippa-Ring either. It is quite exy and is definitely upper middle range so it dismayed us to see people wearing bloody flat brim baseball caps, shorts, T-shirts and friggin' THONGS out to dinner at a pretty swanky restaurant. For the love of Larry at least take off your flippin hat! I HATE that people don't make an effort when they go out to nice places. I think not taking off your hat is bloody rude & I reckon the waiters should have told them to remove them. Grrrrrrrr.

Anyways...................

If any of you go to George's DO NOT order the Greek h'orderves platter for two as an entrée. It was MASSIVE,  chocked with haloumi, feta, pita breads, squid, calamari and olives. We gorged ourselves stupid but then we still had our mains to eat! 
I must admit I struggled to eat my bbq'd squid because it looked like stacks of cooked spiders and I couldn't stop thinking about that episode of Hamish & Andy where Hamish had to eat the tarantula! I felt a bit squeezy & focused on the veges instead.  For dessert I had the sickly sweet delicious mud cake and a coffee and TBF organised the waiters to sing me HAPPY BIRTHDAY very very loudly in overly exaggerated Greek accents!

We left with hugely distended tummies and my Nancy Ganz girdle straining rather uncomfortably against my skin!
Was the restaurant good?  It was ok.  Will I hurry back?  Probably not.
=======================================================

This is the first birthday that I have actually started to FEEL my age.
Up until this point I've been all like "meh wha evs I'm doin' pretty good".
But this past 12 months things have started to ..... ummm.... change.

These are some of the little things I've noticed:-

* Any skin care ad that features Julianne Moore or Rebecca Gibney makes me sit forward in my seat and pay attention. Hmmmmmm Re-Tautening Gel with Pro-Tensium . Amino_Peptides. Ooooooo tell me more.

* Fibre content in foods has become important when choosing which thing to buy.

* I no longer like listening to stations like Triple J and now prefer to be kept 'updated' with the latest going-on and current issues confronting our country with 4BC talk-back radio. Instead of discussing the latest Triple J hottest 100 list I am more likely to get riled up about recycled water schemes & what's happening with the road works on the Warrego Highway!

* I used to rub delightful smelling lotions like Vanilla Almond Shea Butter into my skin at night but now I use things like Pain Away joint rub because Ray "Rabbits" Warren tells me it takes away "The Pain The Whole Pain & Nothing but the Pain".

* I used to take a Berrocca every night before bed because of how much partying I did. Now I take a Glucosamine tablet for my newly aching joints.

* My legs are starting to look like a map of Brisbane with the spider veins on them starting to spread like a Bic pen has exploded on my legs.


Other than those I feel GREAT for a middle aged broad!
Mentally, I still have the mind of a 9 year old boy.

Thanks to everyone on Facebook who sent me birthday messages.
They made me feel & warm & gooey and tingly in my tummy.  
I wish it was my birthday everyday.... it's good for my self-esteem!!

 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

MS MOONLIGHT WALK

 

 



Friday night I fought the terrible afternoon Roma Street traffic shit-fight & headed to meet up with the in laws and around 3000 others to do the MS Moonlight Walk.  
The walk is a 10km walk around the Brisbane river to raise vital funds to fight for Queenslanders living with multiple sclerosis.

We named our team THE MOONSHINE WANDERERS and we ended up raising $4377.
This is mainly because my in-laws are like a staffy with a bit of rope when it comes to raising funds. Once they get their teeth stuck into something they go 1000%.

The Moonshine Wanderers with the Mayor of Ipswich Paul Pisasale

The walk was so lovely. It was great walking around the river at night and made me wonder why we don't do it more often. It took us around the river through Southbank, across the Story Bridge, along Eagle St Pier & through the Botanical Gardens back to Southbank Parklands again.
We kept a good pace... a brisk stroll....
The MIL couldn't help herself though was off striding ahead of the pack. I only have The Tiny Legs & so I mainly bought up the rear.

The Brisbane city skyline at night is beautiful and the weather was lovely & mild.
As we walked through the Botanical Gardens we were treated to a band called Amity Affliction playing on the River stage.  They were some sort of Death Metal Band and were SOOOO LOUD. The lyrics to the song we heard went something like
"GWWWARRRRRRR ARRRRRRRLLLLLLLARRRRRRR SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRZZZZZZ".
Beautiful.

 



I couldn't get over how many people were out and about. Just about all of the restaurants were PACKED!
The walk was mainly on level ground so it wasn't so bad but by around the 7km mark my back & feet were starting to kill.  I was cranky because I forgot to wear my you-beaut sports socks & the dodgy no-brand ones ended up feeling like I had sandpaper under my feet. Stupid fallen arches.

The walk took us about 2 hours and by the time we got to the finish line we were all pretty knackered, aching & hungry. 
It was a great night though & I'm so glad the rain buggered off.
The atmosphere was lovely as you watched all the lanterns everyone was given, illuminating the way around the river. A stack of people were also dressed up as Star Wars characters, in tutus, Mario Bros and a random army camouflaged bloke who kept scaring people.

The Legend Paul Pisasale. Mayor of Ipswich.

Afterwards, the fam headed to Guzman Y Gomez for some Mexican and then we all went home & collapsed into a coma (after I had a scalding shower & coated my whole body in Pain Away cream).

I GOT TO MEET A REAL LIVE JAWA!!

 

 

The whole night raised an amazing $442,414 !!!!!!!!!!!!!

www.moonlightwalk.com.au

The Rechords EP Launch at Lefty's Old Time Music Hall

Saturday night was awesome. It was a combination of my favourite things...

GREAT MUSIC. 

GREAT FRIENDS. 

GREAT VENUE

and the opportunity to get all FROCKED UP!

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!

 

The event was the EP launch of "It Won't Be Long" by one of the best rockabilly bands in the universe The Rechords! (you can check out their music here:  http://www.reverbnation.com/therechords )
The gig was held at the wonderful Lefty's Old Time Music Hall in Caxton Street.

The night was made even better by the support act being The Sugar Shakers (http://sugarshakersband.com/ ) Emma, as usual, looked and sounded divine!
Not many people could pull off wearing a skin tight glittery frock but Emma looked exquisite.



THE BOOBETTES

Before the gig I was asked by the wonderful Sheri of the Sheri Bomb Blog fame to stand in as a Boobette because the gorgeous Mz Elisse was unavailable. I was deeply honoured!
The Boobettes (Sheri & Elisse) are famous for their back-up screaming for the band Men Into Space and now they had been called upon to provide some sexy style singing & gyrating for The Sugar Shakers!  Never one to knock back an opportunity to show off in public I of course agreed.

This meant that I had to forgo my usual demur lady-like style & go for something a wee bit more ... VAMPY.   Thankfully, I had just recently bought a top from Your One Stop Pin Up Shop at Chermside for this very occasion.

At first I felt a bit self conscious wearing such a *cough* saucy number but after a while I thought 'bugger it" and started parading The Girls around like a real two-bit hussy.
I was SO nervous before getting on stage I thought I was going to vomit but in typical Vicki form once I was up there I cut loose and almost had to be dragged off.
Thankfully all I had to do was sing the words "Hoochie Coochie" and shake my ta-tas!
Sheri (of course) was a total natural. She belongs on the stage!!!!

The song was Hoochie Coochie.




It was hilarious. I've watched back the video on Facebook & I am a total dork.
I've got about as much sex appeal as a used tissue on a bus seat! LOL It was a lot of fun though!
I'm not sure how to post the video on here (seriously LOL)

 

 

At around about 10.30 The Rechords came on. Holey Moley.
They are soooooooo good. I mean seriously, their harmonies are to die for.
The crowd went ballistic!  Once again, it was cool to see all the modern day hipsters & drunk 20 somethings in their weird tribal mini skirts loving it and dancing around enjoying the music.



The Rechords going ORF!

By 11 Lefty's was PACKED! Getting to the bar was a total NIGHTMARE. I pray there is never a fire in that place.  By midnight I was starting to get tired and crabby.  The drunken hipsters & loud obnoxious hen's night chicks with fruit & flower things on their heads were giving me the shits BIG TIME. They were knocking into people & were so loud & yucky.
One that looked like something off Snog Marry Avoid came up to me & in a weird manly voice sleazily said "You look great. You should come & stand infront of me. hehehehe" Creepy.
I politely answered "No thank you" & darted back to the safety of The Big Fella.
Other than the OFPs (Ordinary Fucking People) the night was so great!!!
I'm glad I don't drink anymore because I was totally rooted on Sunday even without the grog!

TOTALLY WORTH IT THOUGH!

Mz Atomic Martini Vintage - Lisa

My Boys

The Divine Mz Chelsea

Sexpot Billie

Sue always looks so beautiful

Tyron the bass player of The Rechords... such a handsome devil

The Girls are out to play

 

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:

Drunk hipster dude walks up to me & slurs.... "You look just like Marilyn.......Manson".

I think he meant Monroe.

I hope so....

LOL

The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

 

 

LOSS of 100grams this week.


Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick (as my Dad used to say).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that is a loss of 1.5kg in two weeks which is pretty darn good considering this week is Aunty Flo

 

week. Normally, I mysteriously gain about 2 kilos with her arrival so a LOSS is some sort of Bermuda Triangle freakiness.



My 'danger' foods are sweets. I have a sweet tooth.



You could wack a bowl of Doritos in front of my face & I'd be all "meh. Wha evs" but put a bowl of lollies, cake, bickies, cream bun, tart or chockies in front of me & my eyes glaze over, a string of drool appears

 

 

out of the corner of my mouth and my sugar craving glands go into overdrive.



What has helped me this past fortnight is FINDING A WW FRIENDLY SUBSTITUTE.



As with most sugar addicts my perilous time is mid afternoon from about 3 until 5. This is when, on my drive home, I start to hear the siren song of the Brighton Bakery.

It whispers on the breeze to me "Viiiiiicckeeeeee Mmmmmm Neeeenish Tarrrrrrt. Mmmmmmmm Caramelllll Tarrrrrrrrt Come and taaaaaaste the sugary goodnesssssssss".



I have taken to popping a Chromium Picolinate tablet (which sounds like something out of the show Breaking Bad )around 2pm in the hope that it might suck the sugar craving out.

Around 3pm I have a cup of the Jarrah Choc Mint Madness hot chockie drink and at 3.3pm I have a tub of yogurt with WW fruit in it.

This seems to be working a treat (mmmmmmm treat).

My other saviour (can I get a hallelujah) is Skinny Cow Ice cream tubs.

Holey Moley Mother of Gumby are these delicious?!!!!

How can they only be 2pp each?!!

They are so creamy and divine. They are probably made of paint thinners & pig hooves but I don't care.

If in the afternoon (even after having my yogurt & hot chockie) I am STILL handkering for something & am tempted to stop at the bakery or a servo and buy something naughty, I mentally slap myself on the wrist -

"No Vicki. You have a yummy yummy Skinny Cow treat at home for after din dins".

This tends to be enough for my wonky brain to come to its senses & drive on by.



I also have cut up watermelon in the fridge so that while I am cooking dinner I can have a couple of slices to tide me over.



My last weapon in my artillery in my war against the evil sweets is DIET SOFTDRINK.

I add this last because it's not my favourite. I don't like artificial sweeteners & reckon they are bad for ya gutz and bits.

I really only drink the fizz if I go to a party. The Kirks Sugar Free Creaming Soda, Schweppes Sugar Free Agrum Citrus and Saxbys Diet Ginger Beer are my picks. They don't seem to have that hideous saccharine aftertaste that a lot of them have.



I still have raw sugar in my coffee because I reckon those sugar substitutes taste like bloody poison. Gross.


So, hopefully if I continue to follow my plan, my graph will continue to go down.


This weekend TBF & I are taking our nieces to White water World so I will no doubt accumulate some activity points walking up the steps to the water slides.

I shall be wearing my sexy 1930s style neck to knee swimmers (rashie & boardies) as to not blind or horrify the youngsters.



xoxoxoxoxo



PS: I am after yummy SALAD recipes. Please share.