Doing the Gatsby Look at Earsham Hall!

Off to a Party 1920s Style!

It’s just a quick blog tonight as I’ve been sorting out all my bits and pieces for this week and my Tuesday trip to Yorkshire. Fingers crossed we don’t get any snow! Many thanks for all your feed back on my last blog on how to get that vintage look with a modern twist. I’m pleased so many of you enjoyed reading it. Since writing that one a lady came up to me and asked if I had any advice on what she should wear to a Gatsby Party? That’s easy – Gatsby is all about the 1920s and the Jazz age, so think flappers, long beads and dropped waisted dresses. The perfect shoe is one which buttons across with a Louis heel or  T-strap. The T-strap style continued to be fashionable long into the 1930s  and if you go on-line and look at modern Ballroom and Latin American dance shoes you can often find just the right thing. Dresses of this period very often heavily beaded but if you  take a modern straight shift dress and accessories it with long gloves, a head band worn across the foe head you can archive that Gatsby look!

Well must dash as I have so much to do. In the mean time enjoy the photos of me doing the Gatsby look at Earsham Hall which I hope will give you some ideas

Keep Watching Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

Red Lips and Waved Hair 1920s Gatsby Style!

The other day I was out and about and a lady came up and asked me if I had any style tips and ideas about how she might archive a Hollywood look while still maintaining something of her own modern style. I thought for a while and then I remembered seeing a picture of the Puppini Sisters and how they mixed skinny jeans with cropped tops and floral blouses which set my mind ticking over. Up to now I have always used my blog diary to tell you about my latest shows and where I will next be performing but it seems more and  more of you are interested in my style and vintage fashion tips so I thought this might be a good time to share a few of them with you now.

Certainly one of the easiest ways to add that hint of vintage glamour is to have  bright red lips and the lipsticks which work best are often those with a slight bluey tinge. There are some wonderful winter shades available on the high street at the moment which just shout out Hollywood glamour. Of-course when it comes to hair, Rita Hayworth  has always been something of the ideal regardless of the decade. So if you can give your own hair shape and curve by taking some time out to put it in rollers, add that side parting and the finished results can look fabulous.  If you have short hair think Putting on the Ritz, Gatsby parties and the 1920s. If you add a wave that can look great with a pretty side clip or do a Lady Mary from Downton Abbey and stick with the classic bob.  Another little vintage tip is to take your liquid eyeliner and to give your top eye lid a flick in the outer corner. I wear my make-up like this  all the time and it always looks glamorous. Regardless if your clothes are rock chick or High Street if you concentrate on the hair eyes and lips you can give your every-day look that vintage twist. So don’t forget to have fun as there is no harm in having a go!

This weekend I’m back in the office catching up on paperwork and then on Tuesday I’m up to Yorkshire so I’ve much to do in the mean time. Keep Watching and I shall try to include a few more fashion tips in the future. It seems you have been enjoying my Facebook posts on Out-fit of the week and I have lots more lovely out-fits to share with you so don’t forget to keep following.

Toodle Pip and bye for Now!

Paul and I Shopping at Rhubarb!

Trying on Vintage Clothes at Militaria!

Taking Tea at The Band Stand Tea Rooms in Leamington Spa!

This weekend I have been out and about in the Coventry area staying in Leamington Spa and yes it is Leamington Spa and not Lemmington Spar as I so badly spelt in my last blog. Oups – spar as in rigging rather than bath, what ever next! Spelling has always been my down fall, what a shame I’m not really Prudie Jones as she spells so well! Despite my foe par Paul and I decided to spend Saturday in town shopping as Leamington has so many wonderful shops and I love to discover new and interesting places. We came across a great shop by chance called Rhubarb which sold all sorts of antiques and vintage clothes which I just had to try on of course and I was able to pick up a 1920s style dress in Phase Eight which I know will be perfect for my “Putting on the Ritz” shows. It’s called the Gatsby and for once it’s wonderful to find a 1920s dress which is cut right for my figura. I’m really a bit too curvy for 20s fashions but this one is cut just right and it is covered in beautiful silver beads – perfect and so lovely to dance in too! Swish, swish!

On Sunday Paul and I made our way over to the Stoneleigh Militaria show which is always interesting. It’s a great place to catch up with friends and once again I was ever-so tempted by the lovely vintage clothes I saw on display – however I was good! I’m really rather over run with clothes, I can’t bear to throw anything away as they are all like old friends!

I have a a real mix bag of shows to do this week from “Hooray to Hollywood” to “Well Meet Again” but on Tuesday 24th Feb I will be singing for Oxjam at All Saints Church in Leighton Buzzard so keep Watching and I will keep you posted. That’s all my news for now!

Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

George Don’t Do That!

I’m really thrilled to announce that my new Schools Page is now up and running on my web-site.  I’ve been planning this page for ages and it’s really rewarding when you see all your ideas and hard work pay off and come together.  I’ve been performing in Schools for a number of years so I hope this page will make things easier for teachers. My opening cut out photo has what I call my Joyce Grenfell face. I was rather tempted to put the caption George Don’t Do That! –  I thought better of it in the end even though every class has a George! Ha ha! If you get the chance do click-through and have a look. You can find the Schools page listed up above in the contents sandwiched between my 1950s & 60s shows and CDs.

As ever I’m in a bit of a dash tonight. I’m all set to go away tomorrow to Lemmington Spar for a lovely weekend and then I’m looking forward to the Stoneleigh Militaria Show on Sunday. Today  I’ve been trying to tie up all those loose ends. Dates are selling fast only everybody seems to want the same dates. Easter, St Georges Day and Halloween have gone crazy with not much left for December. With lots of new opportunities on the horizon my phone has been red-hot and my printer has been working over time!

Must dash and if you see me at Militaria on Sunday do come up and say hi!

Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

Me Out and About at Furzton Lake

Hello every-one I’ve just got back after my accounts weekend away and I’m pleased to report I am now all ship-shape and Bristol fashion! This year I choose to spend my weekend away in Milton Keynes at Furzton Lake as it has an excellent running path and I always like to go jogging in the mornings. It makes for a change of scene from my local park where I usually run and I’m keen to get my body into shape after a wonderful 2014 and a year of staying in too many nice hotels! The hard work is starting to pay off and I can see my abbs slowly knitting together as I shape up. I’ve been working a lot on my tummy muscles and I’m looking forward to getting back down the gym tomorrow for a good all over work out.

Now I’m back in the office I’ve lots of e-mails and contracts to catch up on with six dates which sold over the weekend and not much left for December. I’ve just looked over the new Schools page which Rachel and I will be adding it to my web-site very soon. It will give teachers an informative and comprehensive insight into what I do. I also hope in turn it will introduce me to a new market so fingers crossed. As soon as we go live I will let you all know so Keep Watching!

That’s about all my news for now as I must start on answering all your e-mails and send out some more album requests. This Friday I’m away to Lemmington Spar and then I shall be at Stoneleigh Park on Sunday for Militaria 2015.  If you see me there do come up and say hi as it’s always lovely to meet you

and stop for a chat.

On that note I must dash and start typing! Keep Following and Toodle Pip!

Me Loving Music!

It’s just a very quick blog tonight as I’m trying to tie up all those loose ends before the weekend. These last two weeks I have been working hard in the office planning the year while getting back into shape with my exercise routine. I’m pleased to say both are knitting together well, my diary is filling up while my muscles are really starting to tone. This Friday I go away for my accounts weekend and I’ve been prepping to see I have everything I need to get down to business. I do this every year I check myself into a Premier Inn for some quite time and get to work on my accounts. It’s a great way of doing it because I always come back feeling refreshed and satisfied I have achieved much.

Apart from paperwork I have been thinking a lot about music and the new pages I want to add to my web-site. I saw Rachel my web-designer yesterday and we hope to have the Schools page up very soon. I’m also planning a Media page as well as others and I’ve been thinking a great deal about design. So many Media Pages I’ve seen seem somewhat two dimensional in their design so I’m keen to do something different with good easy to reach content.

I’m going to have to leave my blog here now as I have much I want to sort out tonight. I shall be back in the office on Tuesday and away to Lemmington Spar the following weekend. Don’t forget to catch my “Out-fit of the Week” post next Tuesday on Facebook and thankyou for following.

Toodle Pip!

Dresses at Hammersmith’s Vintage Fashion Fair!

For those of you who caught my last blog will know I was in the office all last week catching up with paper work so come Sunday I was keen to give myself a day off, and made my way to London and Hammersmith’s Vintage Fair fair. It probably wont come as any surprise to learn Vintage Fashion is my one weakness and there is nothing I enjoy more than looking at vintage clothes. Hammersmith is a favourite haunt of mine and every month they hold the fair at the town hall. I’ve been so busy this past year that I think it must have been a year since I was last there which is probably just as well as I can’t resist buying clothes of yester-year. I had a little shopping list which included a new pair of long black gloves which I was able to pick up and a red belt buckle. I saw quite a few buckles but not quite what I was looking for so I will continue with the hunt. Bargin of the day was a peach satin 1940s dressing gown which I was able to pick up for a real steal. I plan to use this in a photo shoot later this year – but I shall tell you more about that nearer the time when I have all the outfits selected!

Today I have been out and about working in Harrow at the Middlesex New Synagogue singing the music of the 1950s and 60s.  I also met up with my good friend Lynda for tea afterwards and boy didn’t we have a good girly

Me Shopping for Vintage Fashion at Hammersmith Town Hall!

natter! Tomorrow I will be in Milton Keynes performing in cabaret a mixed bag of music and then I’m off on Friday for my accounts weekend. I do this every year. I book myself into a Premier Inn and I work solely on my accounts. I love the peace and quiet  and it allows me to have a break from the distractions of home. I also enjoy a change of scene and run every morning as exercise is very important to me.

Don’t forget to check my Facebook page tomorrow when I post up “Out – fit of the Week”. We may be going a bit Prudie Jones although after all the interest I generated about that 1940s purple satin swim suit I tried on at Hammersmith on Sunday perhaps I should do swim wear instead. We will have to see!

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Me Being Prudie Jones!

Hello every-one since returning from Southsea I have been at my desk daily taking on the role of my alter ego Prudie Jones the ever efficient secretary as I sort out contracts and plan the year. In fact 2015 is shaping up well and some lovely bookings have come in which I’m looking forward very much to playing. Prudie and I have gone through an enormous amount of stamps this week not to mention the e-mails we’ve sent out and I’ve now almost caught up which is very encouraging. Dispite being Prudie I’ve also found time for myself and I’ve been out every-day exercising – in the gym or running . I want to lose a little weight and tone up a bit. I spent much of 2014 travelling which didn’t always give me the time I needed to exercise so it’s been good to get back into a routine. I’ve much to do this month paperwork wise and I’m looking forward to meeting up with Rachel my web-designer next week when we put together the final touches to my Schools page which we will be adding to my web-site very shortly. Some of you may have noticed we have changed my CD add on my home page from holly to art deco corners just to keep things current with the change of year – although I have to admit I rather miss the holly as I enjoyed seeing that splash of green!

I was speaking with the “Best of British” magazine this month and I would like to thank every-one who entered the competition in November to win one of my “Good Old Days” Music Hall albums. Apparently 290 of you entered so thank-you every-one for taking part. As for this weekend I haven’t quite decided what to do. This Sunday Hammersmith are holding their Vintage Fashion fair and I’m quite tempted to go. It’s been ages since I last had the chance to go due to my singing commitments but we will have to see.

That’s all my news for now. Thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!