Four Go Mad in Manchester!

We arrived by train - it rained, the wind blew, the sun came out, we walked, we gawped, we shopped, we ate cake, we saw Urban Stuff - we had a grand time!

Highlights included a newly kindled love affair with the 'Northern Quarter' - indie, boho, crafty, artisan shops, bars, cafes set amongst semi-derelict, red-bricked buildings. So many, many good things but these two come with the highest recommendations:

Astonishingly fab cakes including the 'Brokeback Battenburg', plus Carrot & Toasted Coconut and White Chocolate & Poppy Seed

Probably the best teashop in the Northern Hemisphere - Teacup on Thomas St - where cakes reign supreme, the tea is heavenly and the service, utterly charming. Cannot recommend this highly enough! Go!! If we lived in Manchester we'd probably live here..

Gorgeous Pistachio & Rosebud Tea flavoured sponge and our slab of amazing White Choc & Poppy Seed cake

 Secondly, the fabulous Junk Shop - vintage clothing shop with a sublime retro style and vibe all of it's own. Browse delicious clothes upcycled from vintage fabrics, vintage and vintage styled jewellery and accessories; you can even enroll in a class to make your own lovely clobber!

Divine dresses, pretty vintage styling everywhere! The Junk Shop - sustainable fashion made in Manchester 

Plus, the amazing Afflecks - couldn't get the kids (or me!) out of this place!

Floors of goth, hippie, biker, Teddy Boy and Girl gear, posters, bespoke jewellery, vintage clothing and footwear - so much fun under one roof, including the best, little hairdressers ever - Miss Effie got her barnet styled beautifully at the Northern Cutter. They don't need my recommendation, they are already legends, but I was impressed at the level of care and attention give to one wee scrap of Argyll Attitude, and her lollipop!

Manchester - we love you, and we'll be back!!

View from the top of the National Football Museum - yes, really!

Glasgow's Va-Va-Vintage Voom!

Now in it's 12th year the Merchant City Festival, once again, provided 5 days of spectacular entertainment in Glasgow’s cultural quarter plus the most fabulous addition of Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway's 'Vintage' Festival. 

With Glasgow's reputation as a hotbed of vintage inspired designers and crafty vendors, this promised to be a massive treat for the many Glaswegian fans of all things Vintage - it did not disappoint!

One of the amazing 'Customise your Dr. Martens' Team

The vibrant Vintage Market Place brimmed with clothes, accessories plus cool vintage/retro homewares and tea bags to die for:

Gorgeous, customised vintage clothes and accessories from Vi Nouveau

Stunning vintage homewares from Love Me Again - hand stamped silver
spoons + adorable messages = perfect gift for engagements, weddings,
anniversaries, christenings, anything really!

Tea bags, china cups and saucers, all you need for the perfect
'tea for two' - Tea by Lita, how divine!

There were inspiring businesses aplenty, using strong vintage motif/styling/vehicles at their stalls and pitches:

The lovely 'Félicitié' - delivering flowers to your door from one of Glasgow's best beloved
florists, Ruby Flowers

The Gramophone Djs - one of a number of services by vintage event
hire specialists Butler and Taylor

As they say themselves "Trucking good street food" - all sorts of delicious
food served up from an equally delicious wee van, belonging to Loving Food 

A proper 'Beauty Salon' where you could be primped, curled and powdered to within an inch of your vintage life, in any era you chose: 

Vintage hairstyling in action - those girls were awesome!

Outside the Vintage Wedding Fair venue sat the ultimate Wedding transport to die for - the most gorgeous Routemaster bus complete with cute clippie and gorgeous blooms!

Too cute - Wedding Transport with that extra va-va-voom! Contact
the Red Bus for further details

It was almost too much to bear  - but bear it we did, rounding off the day with bubblegum ice cream and tired, but happy smiles. 

Miss Bubblegum Ice Cream Face

Can't wait for next year!