Over there

Hello, I havent managed to keep up with 2 blogs, so you can find me over there
http://vlbeattie.typepad.com/blog/

Buns In The Oven

Rock buns to be precise. What else would you do when you have a new pinny to wear? Except make rock buns from The Victory Cook Book, of course.

 

And they were yummy yummy yum. In case you don't have THIS book which I can highly recommend, here is the recipe.

Rock Buns

Ingredients :

8oz Self Raising Flour

2 oz sugar

2 oz dried fruit

1/2 teaspoon mixed spice

1 egg

2oz unsalted butter or margarine

milk

Method :

Pre-heat oven (it says hot, mine was at 200)

Sieve flour and add spices and sugar.

Rub in the butter or marg

Add the egg, mix in

Add the fruit, mix in

Slowly add in the milk until you have a sticky consistency.

Spoon mix in little blobs (makes 10 to 12, I got 12), onto a greased baking tray

Sprinkle some sugar on top

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until just golden.

Eat them while they are hot yum yum. Don't burn your fingers or lips though.

Rock buns weren't the only thing I made today, I made this little guy for my little guy, I think he is sort of cute don't you?

 

Love From

The Vintage Housewife

A Strawberry Pinny

Is pinny a universal word? I don't know. Pinny is what my Granny called her apron, I guess it probably is universal. So, sewing. I am very much a novice when it comes to sewing. I have had a sewing machine for about 5 months and it has spent most of its life in a box. I bought myself a very cheap little Hyundia sewing machine (Linky), but for some reason (possibly inadequate packing) it didn't survive when we moved house in June. Even though it didn't cost much, I was fairly annoyed and went out bought myself a Brother sewing machine about 2 weeks ago, (I bought it from TJ Hughes, but since they are closing down there is no online link, sorry). There is no comparison between the 2 machines, and even a total beginner like me can tell the difference between a bit rubbish and really great.
My sewing projects are fairly small and not always successful, but I am enjoying the process of learning, and one of these days, I may even buy a pattern to follow.
At the weekend (despite the migraine), I decided to make an apron for myself. I am a 'plus' size lady, or as I prefer to say  voluptuously vintage, so often standard size aprons are too small, especially vintage ones where everyone seems to have been titchy (although that cant be true can it?).

So, tada

 

Fabric closeup - 100% cotton

Its a bit wobbly, its true, but I have a feeling it may be my new favorite, because there is something so very satisfying about making something for yourself, is there not?

Oh and because she was hanging around while I was taking the photo's, meet Alabama my cat.

Cheeky Girl

Love From

The Vintage Housewife

Inspirational

I have managed to sneak in a couple of vintage crafting projects this weekend, and I plan to do a show and tell later in the week. Unfortunately I also have an awful migraine, which I suspect may be due to eye strain. I have an appointment for an eye exam on Tuesday hence the purchase of the vintage wing frame glasses (picture on last Thursdays post).
Anyway, since I haven't quite finished my projects due to a splitting head, here are some nice little video clips to tide you over.

When I read the online article about Ben, I thought he/and the house were amazing, and now I have seen the video, I still do, and his girlfriend looks lovely too. I was saddened to see some negative comments attached to the article, complaints about some of Ben's 'cheats' (washing machine etc). To that I would say, 'get over it folks' its their world they can do what they like in it, I certainly would. 

If anyone reading this knows Ben and Christina please tell them I am a fan.

(This is not the whole program because it is blocked by CH4, but you can see the whole thing on 4OD, should you wish).

I really enjoyed this short film when I first saw it a few years ago. I have discovered since then that some of the people in the film where very unhappy about the way they were portrayed. I don't think they come over as badly as they think, however having a big interest in the subject makes me slightly biased I suppose. 

I think it was very kind of the ladies and gentlemen to give us a small peek into their lives, even if some people don't comprehend that the participants are multifaceted, and there is naturally more to their lives than the contents of a half hour show.

Part 1

Part 2

I also saw this on TV a few years ago and I loved it. If they ever needed a new family to volunteer my hand would be waving a union jack wildly in the air.

I hope you have all had a relaxing Sunday.

Love From

The Vintage Housewife

Movie Night

A few of the blogs I read have been running movie review posts as regular features, and I can honestly say I find in very useful. I am always looking for good period movies, but because they are often sidelined in favor of  teen romantic comedy, the reviews on regular movie sites are sometimes hard to find. Which is, in my opinion, a crying shame.
* What you need to know. I do not like 'stupid' movies. Anything which proclaims to be or seems to be, madcap, goofy, zany, screwball, (Jim Carey-esq), and its a definite no no. I also do not like, college kids, vampire/romance/horror/vacation/coming of age movies. I prefer an intelligent movie, or a beautifully choreographed movie, or a truly keep you on the edge of your seat movie. Not too much mush, just a smidge, but above all else it has to be well acted.*
You agree? Well then, you may find my movie reviews useful. So without further ado.

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day

This is one of the most amazingly choreographed movies I have seen in a long time. It is not a musical, but the actors truly dance around the screen, and I fell in love with it just a little. Miss P.L.F.A.D. was released in 2008 however I had never heard of it until I saw a blog review over at Va Voom Vintage.

The stars - Amy Adams, Shirley Henderson, Ciaran Hinds, Frances McDormand, Lee Pace and Tom Payne.

The Premise - Miss Pettigrew is an unsuccessful governess who is constantly being sent back to the employment agency. When the agency refuse to send her on any more jobs she slips an employers contact details into her pocket and sneaks off to secure the job before the agency can send someone. What she soon comes to realise is  (after an encounter with a naked house guest), the job is not for a governess, but for a Social Secretary  to a flighty young woman, seemingly sleeping with half of London to advance herself in the world. The young woman, named Delysia soon endears herself to Miss Pettigrew and since she has no other prospects she decides to stay.

The Era -  The movie is set on the brink of WW2 and the threat of war plays a part in the storyline. The costumes are amazing and so is the backdrop of 1930's London, although a lot of the architecture looked more 1920's to me, but that's how it should be. The book which the film was based on, of the same title, was written by Winifred Watson and released in 1938 to rave reviews. I would maybe like to try the book, although half the fun of the movie was the visual feast.

My Opinion - I would give this movie 7/10. It really was that good. I was left with a warm fuzzy feeling at the end, but not too fuzzy, just a smidge.

Source

Source

Source

Oh and as an aside, it may be the Scottish accent, but Lee Pace (Michael), is wonderful in this movie.

Love From

The Vintage Housewife

Friday Fashion

Hello, and welcome to the start of the weekend (technically right?).
I thought I would look and link to some hair tutorials today. I have very difficult hair to style, it is thick and straight and hard to curl or wave, and so also hard to get it to stay in place. I have had nearly every hair appliance possible over the years including, heated curlers, heated bendy's, large curling irons, small curling irons, hot brushes, conical curling sticks and also straighteners. I have to say, the bendy's are the easiest to put in, but the heated curlers give the longest lasting effect (if used with a product at the same time). I long for perfectly quaffed vintage styled hair every day, but the truth is, I am home alone with the littlie most days so the closest I can manage is a well placed head scarf. Still, you never know, maybe one day I will manage it, and there are always special occasions to be catered for.

I hope thats enough to keep you going on with, I may make an extra effort over the weekend to make my hair into something special, and if I am really brave take some photo's. Check back here next week for a look. Have a lovely weekend.

Love From

The Vintage Housewife

Thrifted Thursday & Welcome To The Blog

Hello and welcome to The Vintage Housewife Blog. I am a 40-something Wife and Mother, I am also a stay at home Mum and housewife. Mr Vintage and I have been together for 12 years and married since 2005. I have 3 children, my eldest son aged 22, my daughter aged 20 and our littlie son aged 21/2. I have had a couple of other blogs, but the content was becoming quite muddled so I decided to separate it out, and here we have 'The Vintage Housewife'.

Each Thursday I hope to bring you some pictures of my thrifted items.

I usually manage at least one trip to the charity shop or a naughty peruse on Ebay, if not, I have many vintage items around the house to show you instead.

If this is your first visit here please say hello and click the follow button, it can be lonely out here in blogland if you think no one is visiting.

Here are this weeks 'Thrifts'

Palissy 3 Tier Cake Stand

£8.99 Ebay

2 Cuckoo Clocks

Ebay £16.55

The Nurse - Ladybird easy reading series

Amazon - £2.50

The Policeman - Ladybird easy reading series

Amazon - £2.50

 

Lucite wing tip glasses - 1950s

Etsy - £33.00

Check out the etsy seller - Veramode

Love From

The Vintage Housewife