What a lovely Easter tradition  from Germany that’s really  catching on here.  Decorate your home this  Easter with spring twigs – pussy willow, catkins or forsythia, and then  hang little wooden eggs and chicks from them.

I hope you like the picture of my Easter trees and I hope you have ago at making your own it really easy and looks fantastic. Go on have a go! If you are looking for Easter Decorations especially Easter Tree decorations please click the link Easter Decorations at LottyBlue

When people think of a classic vintage look, Marilyn Monroe is one of the icons that springs to mind. Her platinum blonde hair, sultry eyes and pouty red lips were Marilyns trademark, and she was quite secretive about the techniques used to achieve them.

Marilyn apparently spent about an hour and a half a day on her make up, if only we all had the luxury of that time! Even with just a few minutes, there are still a few techniques you can use to bring a little of Marilyns vintage sparkle to your make up.

It is known that she mixed 3 different shades of red lipstick to create that perfect pout. The job today is a little easier, as Besame Red Hot Red lipstick is a recreation of Marilyns favourite shade. Using a liner a little darker than the lipstick will help create that perfect Marilyn pout as she used those shades with the darker on the outside, shading to light in the centre to create an illusion of volume. You could also add a little touch of white highlighter to the centre of your lips for an even more voluptuous pout.

The next part of creating that Marilyn look is those sultry eyes. You’ll need a silky, white, crease proof eye-shadow applied all over the lids and up to the brow bone. To create definition use a little smoky brown shadow in the creases at the outer corner of the eyes. To make her eyes look wider Marilyn used a black or brown eye-liner on her top lid, extended in a subtle sweep, slightly up in a curve at the outer corners. On the lower lid, use a brown pencil, and starting from the centre of your eye create a line that extends slightly out and down, as if it were a shadow cast by your lower lashes. Lastly, use a white pencil to fill in between the two lines of eye-liner, to really open up your eyes.

A few final tips. If you have more time, Marilyn used a lot of blush and highlighter to perfect her face shape. Dabbing blush on the end of her nose and blending across her cheeks, and using highlighter across her forehead, the tops of her cheekbones.

Practice makes perfect, and while we might not all have an hour and a half a day to dedicate to looking vintage perfect, there are definitely a few tips we can take away from Marilyns regime for glamorous vintage style.

This post is by Gemma of Retro Chick

I met the fab Keeley Harris at The National Vintage Awards and she has very kindly written a guest blog pot for LottyBlue:

Last Thursday was an exciting and important day for me. I was off to the first ever National Vintage Awards in Birmingham and I was a finalist for a gong! Best Vintage Wedding Fair for my Discover Vintage Wedding Fair.

The National Vintage Awards is a fab idea! Bringing like-minded, vintage obsessed, passionate people together in one place for one night. What’s not to Love! When I arrived there was a whole lot of glamour in the room. This was the big chance to go all out vintage and there lots of people with amazing frocks and hairdos as I mingled and had a catch up with a few friends.

Being a finalist felt really special but nerve racking as I was up against some tough competition. So having stabilised the nerves with a few fizzy wines I awaited to results. Although I organise various Vintage events (The Vintage Home Show & Festival of Vintage) this one is very close to my heart. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling every time a bride finds her dress and I feel happy to have helped!

Its sounds a little big headed (and I am far from that) but I feel I have contributed to the massive trend for Vintage Weddings. In 2009 I had a hunch that the Vintage Wedding market was taking off, many of my customers were asking for a Vintage Wedding Dresses but did not know where to find them.

After a bit of digging I found there weren’t many Vintage Wedding boutiques and no specific wedding fairs for vintage loving couples. So being a forthright sort of girl, I went and started one!Feb 2010 was the first and I have been doing them 4-5 times a year ever since.

Winning this award nearly made me do a “Gwyneth” style speech but that’s because I am proud and it’s great to get recognition. Thanks to the National Vintage Awards and to everyone one voted, I meet lovely friends old and new and regardless of whether I am a finalist next year I will be there supporting all the great Vintage
businesses and enthusiasts that this country has to offer.

Keeley Harris, is founder of Discover Vintage which was formed in 2009.

Keeley has been selling Vintage Antiques since the age of 10 years and is a writer and vintage expert in addition to vintage event organiser.

Discover Vintage Ltd, based in Leeds and organises 15 events per year including The Vintage Home

Festival of Vintage as well as the Vintage Wedding Fair

The Vintage Wedding Fair is currently held in London & Harrogate with the next dates 22 September, the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate & 10. Visit www.vintageweddingfair.co.uk for more info

Hi All

It has been an  exciting  few week’s  including  attending the very first National Vintage Awards which was held in Digbeth in Birmingham. It is true to say that Digbeth is home to some fantastic vintage shops, all things pre-loved and retro and the Custard Factory which used to be home to the famous Birds Custard Factory . Now home to a plethora of exciting vintage boutiques and shops including the Vintage Hair Salon.

The awards took place on Thursday 24th June and celebrated the small and independent businesses that all work so hard in keeping the vintage scene vibrant and exciting

The National vintage Awards is in colabration with the Vintage Directory
Sponserd by Le Keux Events and
Vintage life Magazine. The venue was in the Fazley Studios which was a great backdrop for the first National Vintage Awards.

The venue was beautiful I had arranged to meet Vivi a friend who writes for Vintage Life magazine at the Station at 6pm the weather was dreadful typical British summer time! After a bit of tea in the oldest pub in Birmingham http://www.theoldcrown.com/ which set us up for the evening.

The thing with vintage is that there is a great spirit and the vintage community all come together the atmosphere was incredible. There is lots to tell you about the evening but here are some of my highlights. The quirky vintage themed photo booth and dressing up props with its cinema seats and sepia photos it really made for a unique keepsake of the evening

Miss Lola Lamour was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Lola looked incredible in a vintage green beaded evening dress she set the room alight with songs from Marilyn Monroe and Dean Martin.

Winners included heyday http://www.heydayonline.co.uk/

My vintage wedding Fair

There is far too many people to mention but there are lots of photos to see from the event like these from from Camera Shy on her Facebook Page

Over the next few weeks and months we will be highlighting some of retro and vintage inspired friends by inviting them to write guest post. Our first guest post is from Amy Morris

Welcome to some of my stash……

What started as finding a few designs is turning slowly into having to find them ALL! And there are quite a few I can tell you. www.pyrexware.com claim that 80% of US households will own a Pyrex glass product. Founded in the USA in 1915, the Pyrex brand was a post war marvel. It was durable, practical and appealing to many housewives for its oven to table concept. It then gave permission to a British company to produce the product in 1922 and thus saving JAJ from certain closure. The product range grew as did its following and in the mid 1950’s they started producing dishes with designs……oh and what designs, Pyrex and JAJ had different patterns to suit every taste from both sides of the pond. From Friendship to Matchmaker, Briarwood to Chealsea. The colours were bold and the designs strong and have continued to be popular across the generations. I am still shocked at how well preserved the designs are on the pieces that I find and how often I come across them. Although I am quite picky about the quality of a piece. Once these beauties get chipped, they can be pretty sharpe.

Post war “Pyrex is economical” continued to its Peak in the 60’s when other ranges came into play, now you could buy tableware to match your casseroles. Around this time another “make do and mender” was opening shop. Tupperware was founded in 1946 and had the same practical ethos a Pyrex, save money save time and don’t waste precious food. The famous burping lid was born!

But you couldn’t get these at the shops, you had to go to a party, dressed in a strict code of skirt, tights and gloves (and, I assume some sort of top too)! This concept was designed so that the (sometimes quite complicated) products could be demonstrated to their optimum performance. And no doubt Mrs Smith was keeping a close eye on what Mrs Jones was buying so as to keep up with her! If you are anything like me, you will have quite a collection of little pots to keep little bits of leftovers in. but Tupperware doesn’t just stop at pots. They had jugs, lunch boxes, hard boiled egg carriers, picnic ware, onion savers, cheese graters… The list goes on, and they were made to last and last they did. This pretty little pastel jug still seals, flips and pours today as it did when it was first made.

Sadly both of these super companies went out of production in the UK & Ireland in 2003 for Tupperware and shortly after in 2007 JAJ took its production to France. Talking of France, they didn’t go without funky glassware product of a similar nature and Arcopal made some super designs in the 1960’s one of my all time favourites being Scania….

….. And another companies worth talking about is Anchor Hocking and their Fire King Glass in many different ranges. Including Lustre Ware

….WOW! And my personal favourite shaped mug, The Kimberly… But I warn you, this is a bit of a marmite design!

Love it or hate it, you have to admit it is pretty groovy!!

I hope you enjoyed my whistle stop tour of some of my stash! It is available to browse or buy at www.facebook.com/vintagepixietreasures as and when pieces are found and are still in stock.

Here at LottyBlue we are always on the lookout for stylish beauty products with a authentic vintage twist! So we were delighted to find the wonderful beauty products by Miss Patisserie.

Miss Patisserie was founded in 2009 by Charlotte Rydwell in Cardiff, South Wales, Charlotte has always has a deep love for all things beauty and bath products, mixing in her stylish illustrations and her love for her patisseries it seemed fitting that her products would take on their vintage stylish appearance of unique stylish high class patisseries.

A Quote from Charlotte :-

“Our aim is to put the fun back into bath time and to also help you feel extra special every time you use one of our products.. Along with our fragrances we use natural ingredients such nourishing cocoa butter and epsom salts which all have amazing benefits on the body.

All of our products are handmade so our quality control is of the highest standard. Mixing, pressing, icing, decorating and packaging is all done by Miss Patisserie chefs to make the most delicious smelling bath products. The fragrances will let your mind take you to places you’ve remembered, whether it be walking into your favourite Patisserie our cutting through a zesty, sharp lime all of the perfumes are exquisite.

We have strict views on animal welfare and make sure that all our manufacturers do not test their ingredients on animals. We also never have and never will test any of our products on animals.”

In 2011, Miss Patisserie were shortlisted for ‘Gift of the Year’ awarded by the Giftware Association for the ‘La Vie en Rose’ Bath Bake. Miss Patisserie were once again shortlisted in 2013 for the Macaroon Gift Tin and ‘Rosie’ Bath Bake.

LottyBlue is proud to be stocking their wonderful beauty bath products here is just a few of the Miss Patisserie bath vintage delights that we stock happy shopping!

I really do love a good film but mix it with glamour and a little bit of decadence then I am smitten and wrap it all around the 1920’s then I am first in the queue.

So I was very excited to hear that the much awaited Baz Luhrman’s adaptation of the 1920’s novel, written by American author F.Scott Fitzgerald, was being released in May 2013. There was much hype surrounding this much awaited film which stares Leonardo Decaprio is finally on the silver screen.

LottyBlue is celebrating the release of this film by applauding Besame Cosmetics for designing a unique brand of nostalgic make up that was used in the film. The Great Gatsby is full of 1920’s glamour and is really a sophisticated adaptation which depicts the roaring 20’s in full techno colour and brings back to life the flavour and full on hedonism of the time. I am sure the film will go down well with fans of this period.

The Great Gatsby features the stylish and beautiful beauty products from Besame Cosmetics which have the same glamourous look and feel of the original beauty products of that period which the film is set.

The Great Gatsby features the stylish and beautiful beauty products from Besame Cosmetics which have the same glamourous look and feel of the original beauty products of that period which the film is set.

The packaging and products from besame are truly fabulous and have the rare nostalgic value to them. LottyBlue is a stockist for Besame and we a delighted today in introducing a couple of products which will enable you to achieve your own Great Gatsby look:

A translucent powder with a hint of Violets this powder will brighten any skin tone , this fine powder will set your makeup beautifully. I can just see the leading lady using the violet powder to complete her Great Gatsby look.

The Merlot lipstick is full on glamour and style it really wont slide but gives full lip coverage and a long lasting semi- matt finish. This lipstick will not disappoint.

Set your eyes alight with the stylish 30’s Besame mascara not only does this mascara looks dreamy but it also goes on a dream to a great asset to you daily makeup routine to getting that true golden age of Hollywood glamour.

The story began a long time ago when young ladies of Britain took up new jobs as a Land Army Girl and a Lumber Jill. These courageous girls were an important asset to the war effort and I dread to think what would’ve happened without them! Their determination and strength was unquestionable.

So when I was asked to get involved in organising an event to raise money and awareness for the Woman’s Land Army Girl Tribute I decided that I would do my very best to assist this amazing cause.

My involvement began in September 2012 when Sharon Taylor from Always Red Events in Burntwood Staffordshire contacted me about working together to create a one off event to raise money for the charity. We were both aware of the Women’s Land Army Tribute and the ladies who are working so hard for this great Tribute.

The ladies behind this amazing tribute are the Women’s Farming Union perhaps the modern day equivalent to the original Land Army Girls, and in a different time some of these ladies could’ve signed up as a land army girl. The reality is that it could have been any of us ladies who could have swapped their positions in society to help the war effort! Quoting from the WFU website the plan is:

It is planned to create an approximately size and a half bronze sculpture of a Land Girl/Lumber Jill as depicted on the iconic recruitment  poster used during the Second World War.  The memorial will be sited at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and set upon a plinth.  The memorial will provide a focal point for the approximately 38,000 surviving Land Army Girls and allow them to share their stories with their families and the nation.

Sharon and myself had a meeting with the ladies of the WFU to outline our intention to help with organising a 1940’s style event on their behalf. From the initial meeting we were amazed with how things quickly progressed and we ended 2012 with having a wonderful venue for the event which was the Staffordshire County Showground for both the daytime and evening event.

The name was in place “Pitch in for Victory” which is very fitting title for such an event the land army girls and Lumber Jills were doing just that every day !

The Day Time event!
Pitch in for Victory – Vintage Jamboree is a fabulous family event from 11am-4pm to be held in the Staffordshire Pavilion with the Staffordshire County Showground – entrance fee is £2 per adult, children free.. The first 500 attendees will receive their registration ID card as a memento of their day. Wartime artefacts will be on display, including the WLA Tribute’s exhibit and the Warwicks Regiment re-enactment group. Vintage stalls, a Vintage Tea Room run by Honey Bees Teas with help from the Staffordshire Young Farmers, a vintage photography booth, with Expressive Marks Arts & Vintage Photography, and Vintage Hair and Makeup, With Elizabeth Peat; children’s activities including a treasure trail from Staffordshire Treasure Trails and activities with the 1940’s Brownies, plus a full billing of live entertainment.

The Evening Event see http://www.alwaysredevents.co.uk/for tickets:

Pitch in for Victory – Dance to Victory is an exclusive night to remember in the newly refurbished Ingestre Suite at the Staffordshire Country Showground, with a nostalgic billing of live entertainment including the vocal talents of renowned vintage songstress Miss Lola Lamour; introducing the sublime Miss Laura Bill and with the truly marvellous String Of Pearls who will take you dancing through to the early hours. The evening will be compered by local toastmaster and actor Steve McTigue,

After an authentic style wartime buffet there will be a ‘Tribute Auction’ and all funds raised from this Auction will go directly to the Women’s Land Army Tribute. Lots listed include an exclusive Fifty Three Deluxe Sofa from G Plan Vintage Designs in collaboration with Wayne Hemingway Design (worth £1,500); a vintage photography or business design package with EM Art & Design; original ‘Pitch for Victory’ & ‘Dance to Victory’ artwork & photography; a Cheryl Hubbard—Old Blighty Days commissioned artwork;. every girls dream bag donated by Cath Kidston; an evening at Monmore Green Greyhound Racing Track, Wolverhampton.

With a welcome drink, a wartime-themed menu and a black and white vintage photograph from Expressive Marks Art and Photography as a memento of your evening, and live entertainment included in the ticket price – this surely is a must have vintage ticket. Tickets are available at http://www.alwaysredevents.co.uk/index.php/our-events/dance-to-victory

I hope you can also hear your countries call to help this truly amazing day in the heart of Staffordshire and be part of living history. I have set aside to work on this event and I have been blown away by the good will from genuine people who just want to help from Gplan donating a brand new sofa to be auctioned off to John Woodhouse from The Sentinel Newspaper covering the story in their weekend special The war time spirit is still alive!

Hope to see you May 18th Staffordshire County Show Ground for two fantastic events all of which are to raise lots of money to honour to the work of the Land Army girls and Lumber Jills:

G Plan Wayne Hemingway Vintage Design Sofa to be Auctioned on the evening

The Women’s Land Army Tribute’s campaign aims to raise £100,000, to enable the commission of a bronze life-sized sculpture (based on the war time recruitment poster) to honour the work of the Women’s Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps during the wars years and to provide an insurance and maintenance fund as well as a dedication ceremony at the unveiling of the memorial. £36,000 of the £100,000 has been raised to date “

Lets all work together to make the dream reality !

Click http://www.alwaysredevents.co.uk/ for more on tickets –