Have Jeans Left My Life?

 Well they seem to have this past year. 

Not jeans per se, but those of the denim persuasion.

These past few months I’ve worn coated jeggings, faux leather leggings, thick jeggings, but ne’er a denim jean has been seen. 

I tried wearing some at the weekend.  They lasted all of one minute on me.  They feel claustrophobic after the freedom of thinner fabric.  

All my jeans feel claustrophobic. 

I researched high polyester content and recently ordered a pr of barrel jeans with some polyester content, hoping they’d be lighter.  Nope, they’ve gone straight back, seems polyester isn’t the magic ingredient. 

I even popped into Marks whilst in town during the week for the IRL test.  There were many white blue black and grey jeans that looked fine, until I touched them.  So thick. Yuck!  And this is Marks’ spring range!

I’ve shared my experiences today so you can see I have made some effort to re-join the jean gang. 

So I researched what I wore SS24  and seems jeans featured occasionally, but just the one pair (note to self -  check out their fabric make up).  It was mostly white jeans and beige chinos.  Thus yesterday these pieces found their way into my spring capsule.

Here are some ways I wore my bottoms. 

(FaceApp!)

(I also hooked out the comfy footwear I seemed to wear on repeat)

And that is the way I’m building my Accidental Capsule for SS24.  Using pics to remind me of what I’ve found comfortable and tolerable on my bottom half. 

It seems that my hunt for the comfy jean has been ongoing since the demise of my perfect pair in 2017 (click HERE), which I wore on repeat to any early death, sadly. 

2017, wearing my best ever jeans, M&S “501s”. 

I felt good in them.  I want to find these jeans again!

Now dear reader, is intolerance of denim a retirement thing?  

Does our newly found freedom reflect itself in leg wear?

Are you knee-jerking denim too?

So that leaves me signing off with a plea to you lovely ladies out there.  Can you recommend any jeans that are of lightweight thin fabric?  Jeans that can parallel the soft freedom I’ve enjoyed from coated jeans, winter leggings and faux leather?

Help!!!!

Ala be perchoine,

Mary x. 

The Bordalo Pinheiro Cabbage

Hi my lovelies.

🎼 Just one look, that’s all it took 🎵 

It started with a battered old bowl mixed in an auction lot;  I forget what my target in the lot was because this chipped old green bowl muscled everything aside. 

That was some years ago now, and in retirement I had more time to reflect on this old bowl.  I was oddly drawn to it.  

I searched Amazon to find a suitable touch up medium for its chips - after discovering that felt tip does definitely not cut the mustard! Or cover the chip. 

Then over time I found that the ceramic bowl I had grown to love did in fact have a name, and its name is Cabbage Ware. 

Some of my cabbage ware

It’s made by Bordalo Pinheiro. 

Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro founded a ceramics factory in 1885 and the company is still in production today. 

The Bordalo Pinheiro mark

Thanks to generous birthday and Christmas presents, I’ve now built up a little collection of Raphael’s beauties.

I now need to learn the art of tablescaping!

Because it seems this cabbage ware is now quite a thing on social media and if I up my game I can join the trendy gals. 

It’s displayed very artistically on Pinterest.

It’s often mixed with blue and white table ware.

It’s displayed on dressers. 

Some have amassed absolutely amazing collections of the stuff.

Dinner plate 

It can be found on the John Lewis site in the UK

HERE! at, £24

Or buy direct from the factory

.at an even better price HERE!

€16!

 

But many large stores have recently started creating their own dupes;

some are close to the original, some not so much. 

Marks

Marks has gone off piste and come up with this version of a cabbage plate.

M&S £10

I prefer the fine lines of the original design though.

Here’s the range currently on offer at John Lewis.

Target

Target has come up with a stunningly realistic dupe, and at $4!.  My dear blogger/insta mate Tamera Beardsley

I’m was quite spoilt for choice in her local Target!  It’s at times like this when I feel quite jealous of my lucky cousins across the pond.

Find Tamera on Tamera Beardsley

Primark 

Even Primark has jumped on the bandwagon.

I found these pink versions on their website, but I think they also offer a choices in the traditional green too but possibly only in store. 

And as they don’t deliver to Guernsey it seems rather profligate to fly over to the mainland to pick up a 5 pound plate!

So right now I will amuse myself with creating some form of dresser arrangement for my cabbage ware.

On the bottom of this display, you can see a fine pristine version of my serving dish. Mine will never look like this again, not in a month of Sundays!

Here is a more informal tablescape, again merging cabbage ware with blue and white.

I don’t think I’ll ever reach the dizzy heights of tablescaping. 

But I do have a pine dresser, and I think something near to this type of display is definitely within my artistic ability.

Watch this space!

So my friends, have you come across cabbage ware? 

I think it’s the marmite of the table ware world, you either love it or hate it.

Where are you? Or are you quite simply ambivalent?

Perhaps you have your own favourite tableware.

Perhaps you see table ware as merely a vehicle for food and nothing more.

Either way, I’d love you hear from you. 

So please spare a moment to drop me a comment on your thoughts on tableware, if you have any that is!

And whilst you’re at it, please take another moment to subscribe.

Your spared moments make me a happy bunny and give me the strength to carry on with this blog. 

A la perchoine,

Mary X. 

A New Purchase for Spring!

Hello my lovelies. 

 Yes, you heard right in the title, a purchase!

Me, whose wardrobe contents span 25 years, buying something!

Yup, this dress got me to dip my hands in my purse, almost instantly.   For I see this as the perfect dress. 

Let me count the ways that make it so.

It’s one-and-done speedy wear.

It is such easy-wear and comfy. 

It’s jersey, doesn’t crease.

It’s jersey, needs no ironing. 

It’s jersey, so for all seasons. 

Calf length, my sweet spot length. 

Body/waist-skimming flattering shape, with no silly flounces, smocking or tiers to add bulk to an already bulky body. 

Shirt style to dress up or casualise.

A year-round colour and print.

Looks equally good with tights, boots and a cardi in autumn/winter and sandals, bare legs and arms in spring/summer. 

The neutral shape, length and colour allow it to transcend trends, making it a classic dress with longevity. 

And it’s got pockets!

So that’s 12 reasons why it’s my perfect dress, and maybe yours too. 

You can use my “reasons” as a mental checklist when searching out a really good dress that can work its little socks off in your wardrobe, questions you can ask yourself in the fitting room.  I hope you find these guidelines helpful when shopping for a dress staple. 

This is how it’s supposed to look, on a “normal” body shape!

It comes in other colour ways too. 

You can find the RUA DRESS HERE.

A la perchoine,

Mary x. 

And please spare a moment to drop me a comment on your thoughts the perfect dress. 

And whilst you’re at it, please take another minute to subscribe.

Your moment and minute make me a happy bunny and give me the strength to carry on with this blog. 

Thank you!

Clocks. Just Clocks.

My lovelies.

You’re in for a treat today. I’ll be keeping this post brief!

Today I want to talk about clocks, clocks that don’t work. We have three very old clocks in the house, each with its own special history. None of them worked. We’d had them looked at by clock repairers over the years and each had held up their hands in despair and said it was a job too far for them.

TP had then had a go at fixing each of the clocks over time but, like the professionals, he too was defeated. 

These clocks were declared irreparable. 

 A few weeks ago I decided that even though these clocks will never work with their original mechanisms, we could actually get them to be working clocks by fitting them with modern battery operated mechanisms.

So I did an Amazon shop, as you do.

Let’s see the results!

This attractive wall clock hangs in the kitchen, we don’t quite know its age, but I would think it to be in from the late 1800s. 

For this clock we used this mechanism from Amazon.

https://amzn.to/4ij2CFm

I’m pleased to report that this clock is now working!

This is very attractive long case clock is dated 1821.  It stands proudly in the back lounge. 

It too, got the modern battery mechanism replacement by using this kit

https://amzn.to/4kYIBFy

This beauty was a presentation clock dated 1899. This was the biggest transformation as the clock face was encased in glass and had developed quite a, errr, patina over the decades. 

It took the most work as TP had to patiently clean the clock face then work out a way behind the scenes to set the new mechanism onto the very old and rickety back of the clock. But he persevered and the transformation is amazing and well worth the effort. 

This clock now sits proudly on the roll top desk in the front lounge

Each of the three clocks took much time to “repair“, as the challenges were to remove the clock faces very carefully, clean them, work out a way to attach the new mechanisms and work out which clock hands fitted the casing.  On this last point I will say if you are thinking of doing a similar project, it’s best to buy perhaps a couple of different packs because one size definitely does not fit all when transforming vintage clocks into something that works in modern day. The hands were used for these three clocks with used were from two different packs.

Of course, we saved all of the original mechanisms for each of the clocks, for posterity.

What do you think of TP’s work?  I think he did brilliantly!

He worked on them when he had the time over a span of about two weeks. 

See, I kept my word, quite a brief post, 

relatively speaking. Hope you enjoyed this type of post and I hope you find it useful.  Perhaps you can rethink an old clock in your house that maybe could receive this transformation, making it into a workable clock. 

A la perchoine,

Mary x. 

 

In Praise of The Lightweight Skirt

Hello my lovelies. 

A bit of housekeeping first.  I may be posting twice weekly for the foreseeable, on Fridays as well as Tuesdays, as the ideas keep flowing.  

Tuesday posts will probably be house related and Friday clothes related, but I’ll let you know if I change anything (and I probably will!). 

~~~~~~~~~~

The days are warming up on the island and I’m thinking of lighter wear.  And this skirt came to mind. 

It’s from Wallis (do they still exist?) and it’s probably the most used skirt in the history of the world, or maybe just in my history!

It smartens up nicely, here with a longline jersey tunic top and frockcoat overlay. 

It’s great with knee boots. 

Equally is casualalizes itself with a polo jumper and ankle boots. 

It’s cool enough to wear in summer with sandals and a linen top. 

What is not to like?

I bought this skirt in 2002 for a Rhodes holiday.  Right length, right forgettable print, neutral colours so goes with everything.  

And hugely important, it doesn’t crease, it’s as light as a feather and packs away to nothing, making it the perfect holiday skirt. 

As you can see here, it’s fits in with anything I do and anything I wear and any time of year

It doesn’t seem to date because if it’s neutral length, neutral print, and A line bias cut shape.  And the waist is elasicated - nuff said!

Plus, the lightweight fabric doesn’t add bulk so it’s always flattering, despite the pounds pile-on. 

It really is the most perfect skirt. 

Ok, I’ve just sold it to myself.  I’m adding it to my next Accidental Capsule!  Watch this space. 

So my top capsule tip is if you find one of these beauts then grab it quick as it will integrate with everything you have.  Everything.

And if you already have one, you are a very lucky lady. 

Maybe you need to hook it out retirement and give it a whirl; try styling 2-3 ways for the current season. 

I’d love to hear if you already have a this type of enduring lightweight skirt.  

If you do, perhaps you can share how you style it.

A la perchoine,

Mary. 

And my dears, if you enjoy my posts then please do subscribe, it lifts my spirit to see there are ladies out there who want to hear more from me, and that encourages me to keep plodding on.  

🙏🙏🙏

 

. 

 

What I did in February

 Hello my lovelies!

Oh my, I cannot believe it’s time for my monthly round up already, time really does speed up as you age.  And how cruel is that, stealing this precious commodity from those who really don’t have an abundance of it.  Couldn’t He just tweak things so that OAP time has more elasticity?

The month started with a stephdaughter arriving for a long weekend.

This was her room. I do like the white velour quilted bedspread, a purchase last year from Amazon.

It keeps the bedding dust free when not in use, and is easy on the eye too.

Not so easy on the eye is me with no make up!

A black cashmere V and warm khaki jeggings has become my sorta day to day uniform for the winter. 

A slightly posher iteration of jumper and jeans is this. 

I slipped out of uniform for a family restaurant lunch. This pretty green long line jumper and my old Berry coated jeans has become a favourite go to outfit in recent months. Sorry to bore you, but not sorry.

I choose one-two starters at most restaurants these days.  Easier on the tum.  Prawn cocktail is always my starter of choice at this restaurant.

The other starter was spring rolls, very filling.

We took TP’s daughter to meet up with a friend of decades.  They’ve not met before, but got on like a house on fire. They have a common interest in literature, my stepdaughter being a published author and my friend a committee member of our local literary festival.

Call me weird, but I seem to always take visitors to one island burial chamber or another.

But my stepdaughter actually requested she be taken to this Stone Age burial site!

This is a large piece of granite from a nearby quarry, which was erected in 1999, and was unveiled by our dear Queen Elizabeth II the following year to mark the new millennium. 

My kindly stepdaughter brought me a bottle of Salcombe gin. It was rather delicious but sadly we can’t source it locally. 

But not all days is what alcohol fueled! We managed to down a few hot chocolates as the weather was very cold whilst she was here.

So on cold days, it’s really nice to have signs of spring in the house, like these uplifting daffodils.

But not all days are gin and daffodils.  Minor health issues needed to be addressed.

My torso is prone to ugly cysts.  I looked up the condition and in small imprint under the fancy Greek name was its street name, Senile Warts .  Ugghhh!

They’re not sinister but my doc recommended I have the worst of the bunch removed, which was an easy process.

Let’s move on to more pleasant stuff. 

We went to the cinema for the premier viewing of Mad About The Boy, the new Bridget Jones film.   It’s release was on 14 Feb., fitting, and it seems half of Guernsey’s aging population had the same idea as me of a romantic Val Day movie date, the matinee was absolutely packed with those of a certain age.  And yes, mostly female but TP is cool with that!

The film is well worth a viewing . 

My take on her kitchen in the film can be seen 

by clicking HERE.  

Yes, I’m Mad About Bridge again, 25 years on!

My ducks returned for their daily nosh, as they do every early spring. 

This felt appropriate for a family birthday lunch mid February. 

Longline grey cashmere jumper and the old fave berry coated jeans. 

It was sunny but chilly so I added a grey bouanet (hat) for the short walk to Son’s house.  I also slung on a gilet for the walk, not pic’ed. 

We enjoyed a fab chicken roastie to celebrate a special birthday. 

TP looked happy with his plate. 

And no birthday is complete without a yummy cake!

February was a bit of a medical overhaul.  I also needed antibiotics for yet another cyst. 

 It was in an area I couldn’t see so I got TP to take daily photos so I could monitor progress.  It wasn’t the sort of photo shoot TP had in mind. 

Another lunch, this time with dear ex-neighbours.

And yup, I reached for my go-to green and berry combo again. 

I may seem to be wearing this on repeat right now but this feels so right for someone my age, at this time of year, doing this sort of lunchy stuff. 

Do you have an absolute go-to outfit right now?  One you’re wearing on repeat like me?

I also discovered specs make a face more interesting.

If you wear specs, do you prefer your look with or without specs?

Yes, another lunch date cropped up in the month.  The operation to surgically extract me from my green and berry uniform seemed successful as on this day I reached out to a classic all black outfit.  My black cashmere jumper polo neck and black coated jeans seemed appropriate. 

Brightened up with an old silk scarf and cross body, and big bold pearls. 

An old knitted Zara jacket kept the chill off.

And it has a hood!

TP got himself a fine old project in February. 

He started cleaning up and repairing old 

clocks we have around the house.  

This is a commemorative clock from 1898, given to a retiring policeman in the family. 

I wish he’d taken a before shot to compare, but maybe not as the face was embarrassingly grimy,  err, let’s change that to “it had a charmingly aged patina” ! 

It didn’t work.  And now it does.  I’ll explain how he fixed this and two other clocks in another post. 

It started warming up towards the end of the month. 

I’ve focused on beach and headland walks to avoid fungi spores and leaf mold which I have developed an allergy to. 

Filling my lungs with the sea’s ozone seems to help. 

Soups seemed to be de rigeur during this cold month.  I make most of my soups from leftovers.  This one was leftover prawn curry which I called “seafood mulligatawny “.  

I just fry an onion, bung in the leftovers from the previous day’s meal and add some stock and seasonings, and maybe some cream and hey presto, it’s reinvented itself. 

Is this something you do?

My last outfit of the month was still based around the berry coated jeans and floral scarf faithfuls from my Accidental Capsule, but I brought in this cream cardi and jumper twin set, lighter for the defrosting weather.  I can’t remember what it replaced but when I do my spring capsule overhaul sometime this month I’m sure I’ll discover what I ditched!

So that’s February done. 

I hope the month was good for you.

A la perchoine,

Mary x.