Blog community thanks

"And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit" Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

Thank you - 40sfemme, Gingeygingey and Frollein von Sofa - for your kind and supportive words. Still sniveling, but feeling a little better...  :)

Sick in bed...

So, here I am in bed feeling mighty sorry for myself as I have the flu... This being the weekend I had planned all sorts of things, both work and amusement in the shape of visiting two vintage shops I came upon the other day, but no...

here I lie in bed in an absolute dismal state coughing my lungs out when...


I was made aware of these amazing photo booth photos by a fellow blogger and suddenly my spirits soared...


As I look into each and every ones face I am reminded how much we have in common as human beings, aspirations, sorrows, joys, love, loneliness...It also reminds me of my own mortality... I mean, I never thought when I was 15 or so what it would be like to be 45... or that I could actually become 45 ! ;)

Its a strange thing ( not necessary bad ) to grow older. As I watch these images I feel humbled by all those who are no more and who, just like me had dreams and fears and hopes... May I live my life in such away that I always feel that I lived to the best of my ability !

My B-day gifts to myself ! ;)

Two brooches I bought in Ghana - aren´t they pretty!


Books from Amazon ( actually a belated Christmas present from my brother )
I was a little disappointed in "The 1940s look" as the book said "recreating the look of the 1940s " which I took to be hands-on tips on how to get that said "look"... But the book was more of an inspirational book than a manual albeit a good one ! The book on burlesque is a really good ! And "The Paris Appartement" is simply divine inspiration !


My newly bought slippers to match my...



...newly bought pyjamas !

Other wise my weekend was very nice. On Friday I more or less collapsed once home with a glass of wine and some crackers with my ever so nice room mate and chatted away till late. This first week has been quite intense as I work on getting people to bond and feel secure with one another. Trust being the essential foundation for all theatrical work.

Then on Saturday we went to some enormous mall ( it had sort of a Hollywood studio entrance... ) to do some shopping and then on Sunday I did washing and preparatory work for he week to come. Why oh, why is there never enough time....

Today was also a beautiful warm and sunny day here in Cape Town ( this is SA winter... :)

Having ones cake...

My delicious chocolate cake that I brought home with me ! On Monday I celebrated my b-day ( the same day I held my first rehearsal here in Cape Town ! ). The evening was spent at the fabulous Mount Nelson Hotel & restaurant ! I want to share some of the ( not so good ...) images of this amazing place !


The restaurant


The lounge


The gorgeous bathroom !



Look at this unbelievably beautiful wallpaper !

I leave you know with this promise... I know my posts have not been coming regularly. I have simply not had the energy during the week... My days are spent, from morning till late afternoon, rehearsing and in the evening I´m just totally wasted, so I am gearing up for a weekend of new blog posts ! :)

However this weekend I´m also of to the hairdresser for a "touch -up". I´ve been growing my hair for 5 months and have been taking extra good care of it. Its grown and actually looks quite nice. I´m excited to see what the hairdresser will say !

South Africa is such a a beautiful experience in all its complexity.

Reporting back for duty !

Dear vintage lovers ! Soo good to be back with a decent Internet speed. I´ve been catching up on all the blogs I read. Too bad Landgirl will be off-line for awhile I so enjoy her posts ! Read about Fleure de Guerres upcoming party, wish I could be there too ! Also, Super Kawaii Mama had a great post on finding ones own vintage style.

I am now in Cape Town, South Africa. Arrived yesterday and have just settled in. I´m here to direct a play and feel really excited about the project and the people involved!

A few thoughts from Ghana !

Dear Vintage Lovers !  

Thank you for all your sweet comments ! I miss blogging ! :)

I have now been in Ghana for 5 days. The weather here is cloudy, yet “sticky”. Its not to hot, which is good, but find myself continuously turning the AC off and on, off and on...

As for vintage - if only you could see the old colonial houses of the past...  beautiful ! These houses however are being torn down in order to” develop the land”. I do understand that in a city desperate for more housing opportunities, a single house in a large garden, is almost a provocation... But on the other hand the housing complexes that are built are almost always for the well to do and what no one seems to hold in mind is that tourists love everything that's even remotely old.... And more tourists is of course something that is welcome in Ghana, something that strengthens the economy. I will take some pictures and post them when I have better Internet connections. 

The capital of Ghana, Accra, is a busy city and the traffic ca be quite overwhelming at times... Actually in the mornings and after five it kind of reminds me of LA... Bumper to bumper as far as you can see.  But its not the cars I gaze at, but the people around them. The colour richness of everyday life In Ghana never ceases to amaze me ! 

Women swaying steadfastly down the street all in colourful attire, either  wearing a modern “office look”  or in more traditional dresses or skirts with little matching “blouses and the men in white crisp shirts as they cross the streets on quick feet, they all look so smart ! 

By the way, this smart looking attitude is everywhere. As I sit in the car waiting for the light to shift I watch the hawkers as they weave in between the cars holding out their goods ; candy, green apples, soft drinks, banana chips ( delicious ! ) flashlights, maps, books, toys - all of them in neat clean t-shirts. Even the beggars ( many crippled ) seem to try to keep up their appearances, as if to say - at least I can afford soap ! 

It would seem that those who have lost to all desires of cleanliness are those who did not have anything to loose from the beginning. No possessions, no attachments, no real life... The sit slumped by the road side with aloof eyes in clothes black of car soot and dirt. Many of them lost, emotionally and intellectually within their own minds...

The colours of the streets of Accra dazzle me,  as does its people. Suddenly I realise that the only ones in shorts  are foreigners.... :)

Bye for now !

Since I´m not yet sure of the Internet connection at the hotel where I´m staying in Ghana I don´t know when my next post will be. My comnnection will be more up to date when I´m in Cape Town. So, until we meet again !

My new coat and dress !

Isn´t this cloth the most beautiful ever ! Its a new print of an old pattern from Vogue,

And here is the dress my friends daughter made for me !

And here´s the coat I bought the other day that I didn´t know if it was vintage or not...well inside the coat was a tag with the name Deréta . After a lot of web searching I found out this : 

In 1947 when Dior was called to the Queen's presence to privately show his ready-to-wear New Look dresses to the princesses, Dereta also managed to make seven hundred New Look style suits despite the shortage of fabric and English clothing coupons. The clothing firm of Dereta is just one of the clothing names one would see becoming popular in ready-to-wear in department store boutiques in the UK at this time. In the early 50s quality brand name clothing gained in popularity and Vogue magazine put its stamp of approval on Dereta, as well as Jaegar, Brenner Marcus, Rima, and Mary Black. 

http://www.vintageclothesline.com/

In 1952, Paris was still very much in vogue, albeit adapted by the design skills of ready to wear manufacturers.  Brand name clothes were becoming so good and so popular that Vogue magazine bestowed the ultimate accolade by recommending Jaegar, Dereta, Brenner Marcus, Rima, Mary Black and Susan Small to its readers. 

http://www.fashion-era.com

The eighties saves a vintage gal again ! ;)

So, here I am in the middle of the night, excited and stressed out because I´m leaving for Africa tomorrow and there´s soo much things still that I have to do....

But I decided a girl must have a break and blog a little, no ? So, I´m posting my weekend shopping !

Last I saw my mother ( she lives in the US) she asked me " Why are all your clothes black...???"

And so, I´m trying to change that by these latest additions to my wardrobe.

This pink shirt is from the 1950s, but all the other are from that era most of us want to forget... 

...BUT one that can add that little extra to a 1940s inspired closet - The Eighties ! ;)