Friday 25 May 2012

Bike tra la la

A very hot day today!  Gave my bike its promised mini  makeover - just painted it with leftover sample pot paint and reused blue bunting from the garden (Dom didn't  like it as he had to stoop to go under it).  A new seat cover - just a very rough triangle shape and elastic threaded - the fabric will easily 'mould' itself to the shape of the seat (especially with a heavy weight on top of it......cough, cough). You may recall the fabric from my old trunk makeover.
I could not see a thing  on the camera when I took these photos so not the best - I might have had the setting on night vision by mistake! The paint is pale blue - by late afternoon I have already decided to go a bit darker....

Cannot decide whether I should redo the basket too - what do you think?  If you preferred it how it was before I will paint it back tomorrow.

Painted the bike in the garden in order to conceal paint drippings.  Excellent that it was soooo sunny as the paint was dry as soon as I finished painting (no hairdryer needed - which is what I usually do in my haste to complete something!).  Whizzed indoors to get my faithful Vacco Vacuum flask.  Then thought about the children's vintage picnic thermos set.....I used to 'force' the children to use this on all picnics.  Teeny vacuum flasks (filled with squash) and sandwich box - all in its purpose built wicker basket. Have you ever read 'Mrs Armitage on wheels'?  Then you will understand my friend....



Remember a previous posting about 'smallness'?  There is something so charming about it all I think. A second after taking this photo the bike tipped over and I thought that Vacco was done for!!  All intact though.  Removed Vacco for following photo...


Okay - so thermos - check
sandwiches - check
cushion - check
sun brolly - check
beach bucket - check
larger size bucket (for big fish) - check



Big bucket courtesy of Mr Langfords (see previous postings regarding the wonderments at Mr Langfords!) a few years ago.  You never know what Mr Langfords will have in store! I have one or two buckets...bucket blog planned....


A pleasing clash of patterns - in my eyes at least. 


Made this little bag last night (finished at 22.30 to be exact) - I was going to try and sell this then realised that the sewing machine had skipped a stitch, wretched machine it really does need to go to the menders before I chuck it out the window (or into the sea!).  I like the buckle and spent a goodly amount of time threading it up and down just because!


Added a bit of lily gilding on the reverse - 

This type of bag is perfecto for keys and purse I find


Will be making panniers for the bike but will have to spend an age deciding on the fabric first - I will keep you posted! 

My old bike is relatively famous - you may remember that my photographs of it were featured on the display screens at the Royal Festival Hall and Southbank for last years Vintage Festival in London.  Also few months ago I was cycling into town and was stopped by a young man who admired my bike (I clutched my bag a little tighter at this point).  Fear not - he was asking if I could possibly stay to be interviewed for an article about pollution and cyclists.  I said that I must press on to the post office but if they were still there when I returned I will stop.  Well strange things happen to me sometimes - turned out it was the BBC and they were filming a piece for the South Today news.  Laura Trant (those of you in the south may have seen her) interviewed me and we got chatting about my bags.....the cameraman got a little tetchy because there was too much vintage bag chat!!  To cut a long'ish story short my interview was on the lunch time and evening news and there I was cycling around on my bike! Who knew!!! Best of all is when I hear pleasant comments about my bike when tra la la'ing. Mind you when I parked it at the supermarket today I was next to a bike that had been completely decoupaged.........now there's an idea!!!!

Just remembered that my vintage maps were featured at Southbank too - along with a few other bits and bobs from our house! Anyone planning to go to the next event at Boughton?  One of my sisters lives nearby so thought we could stay there but I cannot figure out if you have to pay to go in or just pay for 'events'.  Anyone any the wiser as I would love to go but far too much money.  If free to go to shops etc perhaps we could organise a 'meet' - I will be wearing a black hat and a red rose...oh and plus some clothes!!!



Oh dear now I see this photo I am thinking.....oh dear, oh dear....

 I wish you warmth and sunshine

PS Still planning giveaway - decisions, decisions! PPS thank you again for not posting on Pinterest - I sense that Pinterest has lost interest

19 comments:

  1. It's all just perfect! Have a lovely weekend xx

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    1. Many thanks - it cheers me up no end! Have a nice BH weekend!

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  2. A famous bike eh??
    Love your bags and the blue fabric on your bike seat is gorgeous!

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    1. Well perhaps I should have written 'famous' - I don't feel that we are quite at the autograph stage yet!! Thank you for kind words

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  3. Love the photos, the bike, the fact that I've got a bit of that seat fabric, the bag (THE BUCKLE!) and you and your Tra-la-lahing! Have a great weekend lovely lady. xx

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    1. Aww - thank you - happy tra la la'ing to you this weekend. Do you know I have that delicious piece of bunny fabric next to my sewing machine - I run through so many things that I could make with it but I need to 'optimise' the pattern so I don't cut through a bunny! I could be some time.....but I nice dilemma to have!

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  4. Hello sweet Jenny! What a delightful and charming post! You always put a smile on my face dearest! Your bike is gorgeous and all the accrouments that you so beautifully added! Such vintage sweetness and the colors are fantastic! Your bag is gorgeous and looks perfect to me! Love the colors, fabrics and that fantastic buckle! I can see why you arranged it so many times! The doily on the back is the perfect touch! You sew beautifully! I do hope you can get your sewing machine fixed, but I would not worry about a skipped stitch as your bag looks perfect! I loved reading about your old bike and the wonderful interview! What fun! A decoupaged bike sounds wonderful too! I would love to ride a bike into town and all around, but we live far out in the country and it would take days to get anywhere. :) I wish you warmth and sunshine too, and many a joyous bike ride! I am very happy your non-pinning request is being honored! Much love, Paula xo

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    1. Oh Paula - what a kind soul you are. I did indeed very nearly chuck sewing machine out of the window the other day - Bronte kindly fetched me some tape to stick bits back on which saved the day! Would a tandem work in your part of the world? I am thinking double the power and double the decoration potential! I dare not say it but it is toooooo hot for me now....oh dearie me...Enjoy your lovely humming birds Paula best wishes Jenny

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    2. Thank you dear Jenny! You sweet words always bless me! YOU are a kind soul too! I know how frustrating sewing machines can be. Thankfully my hubby can fix anything and loves to tinker with my sewing machines. I still don't know how to thread the lovely little 1940's featherweight he bought me, so he takes care of that too! :D I need to learn how to thread it though! I am glad Bronte could help! Oh yes, a tandem would be fun! There is a state park right next to us that would be fun to ride it there. Hee hee! I love that, double the power and double the decoration potential! So true! My dream bike has always been one of those three~wheeled bikes! I would put a basket on the front and decorate it and the basket in the back could be decorated and filled with all sorts of goodies for a picnic! I understand about the heat. It is very hot and humid here in the south and I can no longer walk outside, so I am having to do my exercising indoors with the air on and the fan blowing on me. Thank you for your kind wishes sweetie! Best wishes to you! Paula

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    3. oops! I meant to say "your" instead of you! xo

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  5. Glad the thermos was ok! Love the bike - so jolly!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. I feel a thermos posting coming on....I have a little collection in our garden shed....oh no....

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  6. Love your bike, I think I would paint the basket to match. My bike is my transport to my gardening jobs and I have boring green panniers to carry my tools etc. I think I'm going to look through my stash of fabric and see if I can give them a vintage facelift!

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  7. PS I loved your blog about recovering your sunshade brolly. I made the mistake of storing ours in our shed that the bunnies have access too. It now has a more scalloped edge than it used too! I have been thinking about how I can make it look better and have decided to give it a bunting edge, which I need to get on with as it is hot, hot, hot here today!

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    1. Oh please do sort out fabrics - what could be a better way to while away a few hours! Then you can move onto brolly coverage and give yours a new lease of bunny proof life! I like the idea of bunting edging - I am in the middle of doing something similar with some old crocheted edging (that larger variety). Keep your bunnies cool too!

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  8. Great post Jenny I do hope you had fun out on your bike this w/e... Just love that bag and its buckle... I do like something to fiddle with, I use to make rings with an inner bit to twiddle just because it was rather comforting to play with. Love the fabric mix on that cushion too. Cass x

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    1. Many thanks - bike has had lots of outings recently (does need an oil though - I am a bit too concerned about looks rather than 'cyclebility'!). Your rings sound a lovely idea. I used to make lots of bags with buckles on the handles and if I remember rightly a batch went to a boutique in France to have a little taste of a more cosmopolitan lifestyle! Hope that there is warmth and no rain this weekend!

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  9. I just found your blog and love it, I am going to put it in my favourites on my blog http://evajeanie.blogspot.co.uk/ I am going to Vintage this year as it is only a few miles from where I live, I don't think it's the same set up as the southbank I think you have to buy a ticket and that gets you into the venue, don't think there's anything for free :( x

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    1. Many thanks Lindsay - I will popped round later. Thank you for the information regarding Vintage - I emailed them and found out that sadly we would not be able to afford it really. Still I will set up a stall in our garden to make up for it! Have a nice time there and post photos if possible!

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