Beautiful Meakin

Yesterday I took another trip over to Ludlow for the Antiques and Collectables Fair. I love going to this fair. The trip over is fantastic, beautiful scenery and some amazing old houses including the magnificent Witley Court, which I really most visit properly at some point. Ludlow itself is wonderful, I could happily wander around all day.

I had gone hoping to find some utility china but found instead an Alfred Meakin dinner set. It is a Marigold Princess shape set. It also has Chelford printed on the base of the plates. According to the mark it is post 1937 and so is probably a 1940's set. I wanted it the moment I saw it. Oddly enough the lady I bought it from lives about 10 minutes away from me!!

The set actually looks a bit more yellow than in the photos.

Trip to Devon

Just back from a very busy and inspiring trip to Devon.

NCFE Vintage Design Level One

Last year I looked at the change in fashion following Dior's New Look in 1947. It was a great change in fashion from the utility and military look of the 1940s to the ultra feminine look of the 1950s. I looked at the rise of the teenager in the 1950s and also how the look of the 1950s is still influencing youth fashion today.

For my production piece I chose to make a skirt and waistcoat from a 1951 original Simplicity pattern. I wanted to make this as it was very close to the original New Look designs. The waistcoat was very tailored so it I thought that it would be a challenge for me to make it as I had not made anything as tailored before.

Overall I was very pleased with how it turned out despite some technical difficulties. One day I may even make it again.

I have created this blog so that I can keep track of my ideas and thoughts whilst I am completing my course. I am currently in the second year of a NCFE Creative Crafts - Vintage Design course. I am absolutely loving the course again this year. I am hoping to be able to use the qualifications to move onto higher education and hopefully a career involving vintage clothes.

In my next post I will write about my first year and the final piece and project I completed.

Signed up at last.

So I've managed to sign up for this blog. I just need to find my bearings and then we are in business.