Winter blister

The white stuff has returned, which I think is quite a bother. I'm not a fan of the cold and my hands now need regular oiling to stop from flaking away. Hopefully travelling down south (If I make it in the ghastly sludge) will be warmer.

Today I have been researching the traditional European circus as one of the stories for my creative writing dissertation. My protagonist is named Bernard, he lives in an Oddity shop but rarely leaves his castle of dirty teacups that frame his slouched body. He repeatedely twiddles his fingers as they are used to repititive movement due to his past clown profession. He was the finest juggler in the land.
In my evening I slid down the treacherous ice glazing the streets of Manchester to The Thirsty Scholar for The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life book signing by author Melisser Elliot. 'A cross-stitching, protesting, vegan baking fairy Godmother', the words of author of Vegan with a Vengence, Isa Chandra Moscovitz. The book did look interesting, there were guides to what to feed the non vegans in your life,(no vegan cheese, please) setting up an eco enterprise and where to get the vegan tattoos which apparantly are compulsory for the non animal eating ladies. I did not purchase a book as I had £9 and the book was £12. Melissa seemed to enjoy the cupcake I brought her (left over from my housemate's birthday party). A pumpkin and carob chip delight. The rest have been distributed to my Sunday running club and my writing workshop companions. I am off to London on Thursday to see Alice in Wonderland at The Little Angel Theatre and attend a Christmas Craft fair run by Selvedge magazine.
The snow would have melted on my megabus return.

On Monday please attend sandbar for a fine night of poetry and storytelling at Sandbar, Oxford Road. Feauturing Joseph Dobson, Belinda Johnston and myself.

Threads and Letters

My new fanzine is coming together- A self publication about literature and textiles . I thought you would like to have a sneak peek at what it will most likely include:

Secret Button archive artcile and photos
Ecological sewing
Embroidered poetry
Paper windmills

I'll keep you posted.

The Manchester Vintage Fair

My favourite look, Russian Ushanka, peep toes and cable knit scarf.












My dainty rhyming postcards bought from the fair.




















The Whitworth Forest- this lovely lady accessorized a Peter Pan collar blouse with this tartan pleated skirt echoing highland mainstays.










The jumper is the making of this outfit.













Preppy style with a punk edge, the hair.






'The Vintage Fair' is the UK's leading vintage fair bringing affordable and quality vintage items to various locations across the country. The Whitworth welcomed stalls from Manchester based vintage reworked jeweller, Yellow Squirrell, Didsbury hidden hoarders gem, In all her Finery, Killed by Rose, grunge meets glamour History's Attic, reworked timeless vintage finds and extravagantly theatrical cakes from Cupcake Palace . Are just a few of the treasure hunters who presented their wondorous wares to the Whitworth.

Saturday 30th October 2010, The Vintage Fair adorned the green leaf papered walls of the Whitworth art gallery with stalls of antique décor, cupcake tea party, retro hair saloon, grandmother's shoes and libraries of embellished 1920's evening couture and vintage warmers. The dusky smell of worn woollen jumpers amidst the collection of past thrifts and treasures were quickly grasped by the bustling pigeon eyed collectors. It recalled the hustle of a Victorian market albeit the flush of vintage clothes contrasted to the tough bartering of a less consumerist age.
I was photographer and promoter on the day of the fair. I was given the task of capturing members of the public (which then became subsequent attendees of the fair) who were adorning vintage clothing or inspired looks of a more independently stylish era.
It was refreshing to see so many people attending a vintage fair, showcasing individual contemporary styles by patch-working elements of nostalgia's past in their outfit.
People were photograped that represented vintage styles that expressed their individuality. It is subtly political to wear clothes that distinguish individuals, a gentle petition against the mainstream conforms of mass produced fashion by not looking like everyone else.
Purchasing and wearing vintage clothes is like passing on a patchwork quilt, you are reworking and reliving stories of the past wearers in your contemporary footsteps. My purchases included a few essential accessories; a tweed clasp purse, dainty 1950's caricature postcards and seventies floral bucket. Less may be more, but surely having more to play with is more fun.


Photography and writing by

Rebecca Aimée Lanyon Willmott-

threadsandletters@gmail.com