A Beatnik Love Affair

Good Times

2012-02-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

I had an ace time in California

blue skies

and

swimming pools

Ferry rides

and

frisbee

Oh, and great food

Back in the uk there are still blue skies

It's just a bit chillier

More news from Beatnik coming soon, but for now I'll leave this first post of the year with a Beatnik sunset

And this great song which was the soundtrack of our holiday

Good times

December

2011-12-25T00:02:00.000-08:00

I am in sunny California for Christmas. Before I left drizzly England I took some photos of Beatniks' Christmas window,and some snaps out and about walking round my 'hood ( sorry, the local lingo is catching on )

The last leaf left

Katy waiting

As the crow flies

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas

and a

Happy

New

Year

Air of December

2011-12-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

December. Already. The shop is busy. Although the air is still mild we have been selling lots of woolly jumpers and fur coats and jackets ( fake fur of course ). We also have a fine selection of jewellery. I'll show you a very small glimpse... ( a small glimpse mainly because I haven't got around to taking many photos).

That would probably be a nice photo if goldie the dog brooch didn't have a price tag sticking out of its arse (how did I not see that?)

Perfect gifts!

When I was closing up the shop earlier I caught sight of the darkening sky, and the trees opposite looking all of a sudden bare leaved and beautiful. I had to take a snap....

A perfect view.

Happy

shopping!

Autumn Shade

2011-11-07T02:57:00.000-08:00

It is Autumn already, well at the time of posting Autumn is already on it's last golden gasp. I have been so busy with Halloween that this season of all seasons almost passed me by. Luckily I made it out to some beautiful woods the other day and the sun joined in as well. I had one of those moments of just being absolutely thankful for my life.

I like those moments.

Katy seemed to be having a nice time too, although this is her getting a bit bored with me taking ten minutes to photo some leaves.

And now for something completely different....

Halloween!

I know. A bit late. I'm not being very together with posting the latest shop going ons. I'm not sure why, but better late than never.

Our Halloween window display was Hitchcock inspired.

We also had the wolf bride and usual Halloween suspects

The best thing that happened, apart from being lovely and busy, ( thank you Beatnik customers ), Elle came and helped us sell some Halloween goodies....

Thank you Elle, you were the best Halloween sales girl ever!

Some more Autumn loveliness

Outside Beatnik

Outside my house.

Happy

Autumn

Golden

Days.

Blue Light

2011-10-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

I've just come back from Iceland. I fell in love with it a little.

It was something to do with the roads long and empty, the sky massive and ever changing.

I loved hiking high into the hills in the freezing air and finding a hot hot stream to bathe in.

A bit hilarious and chilly getting changed though, but so worth it.

This was a tad too cold for a quick dip.

Luckily for me I have the perfect excuse to visit again. Son Louie has been signed by a basketball club near to Reykjavik, so he's there for the season.

A useful guide to tying a tie on the side of a shop in Reykjavik.

An idea for some graffiti art on the outside wall of Beatnik perhaps?

It is far too busy to do anything about that at the moment. Halloween is almost here so we are turning Beatnik into the perfect costume shop for all your ghoulish and non ghoulish needs. I'm very excited to make a start on our Halloween window, photos to follow hopefully ( As long as it turns out ok )

Enough shop

More Iceland

Watch this

Good luck Louie

Lost In France

2011-10-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

September, where did you go? It was one of those months when everything went a bit hectic, nice hectic, but you know, sort of busy. I went to France for a few days. The sun shone and the days were long and lazy. I found time to mooch around a couple of antique fairs and bought a few things for Beatnik. My French is pretty much non existent but it's surprising what you can recall when you need to haggle a bargain.

The light was soft and golden, I hassled Elle ( my sons girlfriend) into modelling some of the clothes I bought.

Check flannel shirt

Eighties fluffy jumper ( eighties fluffy car )

Seventies Liberty print dress

Sixties wool dress with embroidered skirt

Autumn cardigan

Eighties jumper

Autumn sunset

I'm back home now in the swing of things. The kids are gathering conkers from the chestnut trees in the park by Beatnik. The jumpers and coats are on the rails.

Welcome Autumn.

Merci Elle

Colour My World

2011-09-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

September is here. Summer is closing her emerald door until next year. I wish she wasn't. I'm still enjoying the gauzy skys and light filled evenings. I like wearing tee shirts and taking Katy for long lazy woodland walks.

We are busy stocking the rails with jumpers and coats at Beatnik, which is always a sure sign that Autumn is knocking at our door. (Go away Autumn I'm not here)

One last look back at my very colourful August. In fact it's almost all the colours of the rainbow.

There goes Summer.

There is a photo of some plum jam I made, my first ever jam making adventure. I got the recipe from here

It is the most delicious jam I have ever tasted

Even though I do say so myself

Girls On Film

2011-08-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Exciting things have been happening at Beatnik. A television film crew dropped by to film some stuff for a certain reality tv show that we are not allowed to mention just yet ( it's about eating).... I know, not really that much relevance to vintage clothing, but what the hell, we'll take any publicity that we can lay our hands on.

Star of the show ( nice bag )

The photos I took were not that exciting. Just cameras and fluffy microphones. Wish I could say more, but mums the word for now.

Exciting happening numero 2

Sometimes a lovely little find happens

Some Biba playing cards

And a lovely beaded purse.

Exciting-ish happening numero 3

I entered a photo competition with this view I took on the way into the shop.

I didn't win

I entered this one too ( a detail from the church opposite my house)

I didn't win with that either

Never mind. Life can't be exciting all the time, that would just become, well, a bit boring really.

The Model

2011-07-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

I've been taking some photos of real people modelling our clothes. I usually take the photos of the clothes on mannequins. This takes more time but it is much more fun.

We heard about this magical place, it's called the land of e-bay. Someone said we should get our fingers out and actually start trying to sell some of our wonderful vintage clothes there.

So we are going to give it a go. Who knows, we may even sell some stuff, fingers crossed. I shall post a link when it's all up and running.

This amazing 2-piece was apparently worn by a member of the audience on this

iconic show

I'm sure it was there somewhere.

Now for something completely different....

aahhh flowers, they are so much easier to take photos of. These are sundews and they are incredible tiny carnivorous plants. They grow around bogs and marshes and eat flies. I was so excited when I was shown them, and also a bit muddy and soggy too because I was trying to capture a decent photo of them while in a muddy bog wearing flip flops. Totally worth it, fascinating and so pretty.

Talking of pretty, A big thank you to our lovely models

Elle

Lucinda

Not that I'm comparing you to a fly eating plants or anything... I'll stop now.

Here are more pretty flowers

More modelling adventures to come soon, I hope.

Holiday

2011-07-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

I've been on holiday. It was a 'staycation'. Our friends came to stay and it was a week full of Anniversaries and weddings,
Zoos and forests
Oxford street in the crowds and drizzle
and trying our hardest to get through this great box set but only managing four episodes

But all holidays must come to an end and after teary goodbyes and promises to see everyone soon, I had to roll my sleeves up and get back to work.

It's always a bit of a wake up call to get back into the swing of things after a couple of weeks of having nothing to do with work whatsoever. I felt like I needed another week or so of full R&R, just to ease me back into reality. That was never on the cards. C'est la vie.

On my first day back this week, I pull up outside the shop, my van full of stock. I have to unload quickly otherwise I'm the prey of the traffic warden. there is already a customer waiting outside. Good for business, not good for me getting a ticket.

The customer wants a fifties hire. I find a dress for her and while she is trying it on I hastily start to walk/run out of the shop so I can unload the van. That was when I had the strangest accident. My car key ( this is weird ) jabbed up my nose. There is no other way of explaining it. Even I'm not sure how it happened. My nose immediately started to bleed profusely.

I panicked a bit. It wasn't a normal nose bleed, being as it were self inflicted. I grabbed a scarf (which happened to be red) and tried to stop the flow of blood. At that moment another customer entered the shop and being the ever helpful shop keeper that I am I muffled through the scarf a 'hello, I'm having a small nose bleed but take no notice, can I help you?' He was sympathetic and told me to pinch my nose, and did we have an eighties outfit?

I tried my best, I really did, but feeling a combination of pain (nose), embarassment (key), and anxiety (parking ticket), I just wasn't up to the job of figuring out an Indianna Jones/ Adam Ant/New Romantic outfit.

The customer left disappointed ( sorry). The nose bleed stopped. The lady loved her fifties outfit (hurrah).

Ouch!

Good news is that the rest of the day got much better

Well it had to really.

Glastonbury

2011-07-01T01:40:00.000-07:00

Mud mud glorious mud. Glastonbury Festival was full of it. What a drag. I don't like it. I don't like the way it steadily eats up the pretty green grass. Or the way everybody has to cover their best festival clothes up in waterproofs and wellies.

Our model, Suzette didn't think much of it.

Nevertheless it didn't stop her wearing her sexy black negligee and fishnets.

The sun showed up here and there

And when it did everyone shook off their rain coats and started getting silly

The clothes looked sparkly and our stall sign had a definite animal theme going on.

And keeping with animals, a bee visited the flowers on our stall, everyday.

I'm not sure if it was the same bee everyday, but I like to think it was. It was a bit of a green thing to happen amongst the mud and muck.

And remember you can plant flowers absolutely anywhere

Hear hear

Until next time Glastonbury

And please

Mud

And Love

Build Up

2011-06-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

It is the last week before we take the stall to Glastonbury and my brain is feeling a bit scrambled ( see the picture above). I know I'm getting a little stressed because I keep walking around exhaling in an exaggerated fashion for no good reason. I also have to keep un-hunching my shoulders and breathing deeply.

I should take a leaf out of Teddy and Kittys book

I took this photo last week after my yoga class in my friends garden while drinking mint tea (nice). The sun was shining, the chickens were clucking upon the lawn, the pets were basking, I was feeling relaxed and life was good. Life is still good, but y'know just a bit too busy.

I also managed to squeeze in a much needed walk on the beach with Katy and my eldest Louie. It was a bit windy and chilly but totally worth it.

Anyway, enough talk of stress, shoulder hunching and walks on windy beaches, lets talk about who won the Beatnik Giveaway!

I won't lie, I wasn't expecting a deluge of comments. I didn't think for a moment that I would be having to use some kind of raffle system to pick out a name.

Which was just as well, because luckily for me I was spared all of that kind of nonsense. So I can reveal, without further ado, cue drum roll.... The winners are....

Holly and Harry!

I hope you enjoy the music, and Holly, email me your address

(mandykirkman@hotmail.co.uk)

Glastonbury

Beatnik is

(almost)

ready!

Give It Away

2011-06-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

I've been writing this blog for a year. A year! I have now blogged my way through all the seasons and gone camera crazy. I've tried writing in a few different styles, some have worked , some haven't. A friend once said to me, 'I didn't really like that past tense third person thing you did' (Thanks for that)

I want to do a little give away to mark this bloggy occasion. Now don't get excited, it's nothing fancy. I haven't got any beautiful hand drawn flower pictures to give, or, for that matter, a lovingly hand crafted silver necklace. Nor have I knitted a cushion or painted a whimsical bunny. What I have got however, are two cds. The first one is a mixture of songs from some of my blog post titles, the other is a comp of groovy sixties stuff put together by my boyfriend-partner-fiancee (BPF) and our lovely friend Andy Spaceland. ( I know, you want the bunny, what can I say).

Thank you for stopping by to read about the amazing adventures of Beatnik and looking at my photographic experiments.

Comment below

let me know

If you would like some music

to fill your

soul

Thank you James and Andy for all your great tunes

x

Golden Years

2011-05-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

This last week has been full of golden moments.

I came across some lovely bits and bobs. They were all kind of golden, I didn't plan it.

A pretty display to show it all off....

I also found a Snoopy mirror.....

Wishing you a lovely week full of

golden days

joyful moments

and

time to

dream

There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis

2011-05-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

We were honoured with a very special visitor at the shop this week. I must say Elvis that you're looking pretty good all things considered.

The life size Elvis gave me an idea for a new window display

I like our Elvis impersonator, I'm not quite sure which Elvis-era he's pulling off, a bit of a mixture I think.

I love that when I start taking photos outside the shop our customers join in too

With.....

..... Or without The King

This customer was without doubt one of my loveliest of the week, and what style! Great summer colours.

Other news of the week.....

We are very busy getting ready to trade at

this festival

We received a lovely note posted through the door from one of our customers

I went to the cinema to see this It was a kind of cross between Indianna Jones, A night at the museum and Amelie (in other words weird)

I saw some stunning flowers and secret doors

Well that was some of the weekly happenings. Life is busy especially with all the festival preparations, but that's what keeps everything interesting and ~~exhausting~~ fun.

Some Joni to keep with the hippy vibe

Peace

and

Love

x

God Save The Queen

2011-04-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

The glorious day is upon us. (Are you just a teensy bit tired of hearing about it ALL THE TIME?) Well I must admit I am, but at the same time I've enjoyed dressing our God save the royal wedding window. Oh go on then I'll show you some photos, you've twisted my arm....

It all started with a mohican

He's a bit mean and a bit camp at the same time

Grrrr!

If you feel the need to pogo at any point in the proceedings then

click here

A small giggle

Let the madness

begin

sunshine blue

2011-04-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

I can't stop taking photos of flowers. They are everywhere, showing off all over the place. The dandelions are looking perfectly formed in every way, one o'clock, two o'clock.....

Summer has landed early. the sun is warm and the blue sky dazzling. my favourite place to sit and daydream is just a couple of minutes walk from my house.....

If only I could while away the hours by a reedy river bank mucking about with different photo settings on my iphone everyday, but sometimes I do have to go to the shop. Today was no exception and phew, it was hot hot hot. I could feel the heat rushing in through the door, trying to coax me outside, wanting me to lean against the doorway with my face upturned, my eyes closed and my mind somewhere on a riverbank, with wild flowers and all the time in the world.

However, I was far too busy for that kind of nonsense. For one thing, I had to make a start on our window display for the big event.

More window photos to follow.

Happy Easter

Eat chocolate

Soak up

The rays

Cheerio!

See The Leaves

2011-04-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

I can't help it, I'm loving the leaves, the flowers, the sun, the whole springtime vibe man

I love being able to prop the shop door open and have a sense of the sunny street smells and snatches of conversation hanging in the air. I was taking a photo of our window (sneaking in a crafty sun fix) and I was accosted by two, well shall we say, tipsy young men, who on seeing me with a camera demanded that I take their photo. I couldn't quite work out the point of me taking their photo on my camera, but hey, I just went with the drunken flow (and silently prayed that they wouldn't stumble into the shop)

The inebriated young chaps... You're blogged!

The shop window (that's much better)

I also have a few photos of some beautiful pieces of jewellery that Sas managed to find, but alas my computer is playing up and I can't get to them. Which was actually the whole point of this post. Doh!

Here's some blossom instead...springtime heaven

I'll leave you with my springtime music selection for last week

This one is my current favourite

Enjoy

the

colours

and smell

the sunshine

hopefully

Mother Stands For Comfort

2011-04-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Mothers Day. I always make the most of it. Flower gazing, funny cards, snoozing in the afternoon, that kind of thing.

The plum trees are in blossom

I found this beautiful night- dress the other day, the light was so lovely late this afternoon I tried to take a whimsical photo of it being all floaty and peach-like among the plum blossom.

Not sure that's working really but you can kind of see how pretty it is, and it's from Harrods no less. Fancy.

1950s or 60's I think. S'lovely

More flower photos

here

For all mothers sons and daughters

everywhere

beautiful and light

2011-03-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

Spring. It's here, it's official. Tee shirts are bravely worn, toe nails hastily painted, the aroma of summer tantalisingly near. I'm also getting excited about my vegetable patch but that's another story, well it may be another story if anything grows.

My other sure signs that spring has sprung are as follows.....

1. Boys sitting about in the park opposite the shop, strumming guitars, having fun in the lazy spring sunshine, while I'm working.

2. Finding new bits and bobs for the shop always gets easier once spring arrives.

3. The models can finally be free of their winter window prison ( Wow, I think the spring sunshine is really getting to me)

4. Shades. Always a good look.

5. Katy likes to go tree climbing with Louie and Elle once the weather starts to warm.

6. Magnolia, primroses, and listening to this song too much

Ring

the spring

All the world is green

2011-03-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

Happy St Patricks Day

Even though I'm half Irish I didn't realise it was St Patricks Day until I saw lots of drunken students swaying past the shop wearing foam guinness top (of the mornin') hats. Classy.

Luckily it gave me a theme for taking some shop photos, because although the shop is chock full to the brim of stuff, I sometimes can't think what the hell to photograph.

So here's to all things green in celebration of the patron saint of Ireland

Cool wig Mandy

The shop is looking so good, and we have great stock coming in all of the time. I know that sounds boastful, but I can't help it, I'm having a proud Beatnik moment. If you're in the area, come by, say hello and take a look.

I'll end with something a bit Irish

Sundrops

2011-03-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

The sky is blue, the air feels clear and everything is starting to look shiny and new

My first butterfly of the year. For more spring excitement pop over to see Holly for a chance to win one of her beautiful flower drawings.

To put a spring in your step (see what I did there) I recommend a healthy dose of

sixties surf tunes

Tiki music

and some sixties bossa nova

works
for me

Our Window

2011-03-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

Spring is beginning to unfurl. I know it is because the days are getting longer, there are crocuses dotted about the place and when the sun shines it feels like the taste of things to come. This week however has been cold, the sort that takes you by surprise and has your coat collar turned firmly up and head bowed into the chilly easterly. Come on Spring do your thing.

Some views from our window

Cool musician types are immune to the cold

I've got the people watching bug. I would love to be able to take photos as good as this guy

A purple view

Thanks to everyone that took part in the walking past Beatnik photo shoot
you were all
fabulous

My Favourite Things

2011-02-22T14:58:00.000-08:00

We all have favourite things, and these are some of mine in the last few days.

Gorgeous leather handbag, wonderful wooden (too high for me) wedges and a fabulous floppy felt hat

Oooh what a lovely sequin guitar on a tee shirt, ( the spotty dress isn't bad either)

A positive message

No raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but finding a den in the woods on a dismal day has got to be a good thing.

More favourite things

soon

and listen to PJ Harvey

if you get a chance

good

At The Heart Of Love

2011-02-14T16:33:00.000-08:00

The date ...... February 14th

The Place ..... Blackpool

The Event ...... A Gruff Rhys solo gig

The motive ....... A proposal of marriage

Some photos of hearts and flowers in honour of St Valentines day.

James and I decided to book tickets to see Gruff Rhys ( singer from a favourite band of ours, Super Furry Animals) who was performing at this funny little hotel, in Blackpool of all places.

Have you ever been to Blackpool? Have you ever been to Blackpool in February, in the rain? If the answer to the last question is a yes, then I can completely sympathise, because you know and I know that it sucks. Any town in the grey British drizzle is not going to be at its best so perhaps I can forgive it a little, (or can I)? I bravely took a few photos.

Not much to work with I'm afraid.

Rain, fish and chips and kiss me quick hats were the order of the day. Thank goodness that the gig we went to was fantastic. It was really special and a little surreal.

Blackpool must have brought out the romantic in me (I'm not sure how), because the next morning (Valentines) I asked James to marry me.

He said

Yes

Phew!

Enough soppy stuff for now. Normal service will be resumed shortly.

xxx

It's Only Love

2011-02-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

It's time for some love, and also some hearts. Thank you for the inspiration Holly and Domesticali

Ok, they may be a little wonky, but I feel that just adds to their charm.

The wonky hearts in action

They are quite simple to make. All you need is a magazine or newspaper, scissors that are blunt and too big, a heart template that you cut out using the big old scissors.
I always find it handy to serve customers while you're in the middle of crafting. A top tip is not to use pva glue on newspaper because it may take ages to dry and end up all wrinkled and curled over, and so you will have to screw everything up and start over again.

Love is in the air

Time for a love song me thinks

More of the soppy stuff to come

xx

True Colours

2011-02-02T01:19:00.000-08:00

It is after school drop off and I am walking Katy the dog. It is cold. The sort of cold that is dense and unyielding. The sort of cold that makes me wish I had put on some thermal leggings and an extra pair of socks before I left the house, indeed it makes me wish that I had never left the house in the first place. There is a slight wind that I try to ignore but it bothers me anyway. I need to buck myself up and out of these February blues, and then I remember, with a little pop of excitement, that it is Splash of Colour week. Oh frabjous day callooh callay! I can look for colour, take a photo (or ten) and feel a little more cheery.

I gaze about the frigid landscape. There is an awful lot of brown, quite a lot of grey and bits of dark boring green. I walk for a while, thinking that I shall have to make do with taking a photo of some rhubarb when I get home, and then, I spy, nestled in amongst the frozen bracken, a PINK BALLOON.

What the.... How the.... I must admit I am surprised, also a bit happy and strangely a little sad. I also must admit that I made quite a meal out of telling that story.

The pink balloon on a colourless day

and some more bursts of colour that I have come across in the last few days

From a lost balloon to happy havianas in three colourful photos

Join the colour parade

here

and stay warm

Birthday

2011-01-27T16:36:00.000-08:00

It was my birthday and I went to London (again) and got excited (again)

We started off the day visiting an art gallery

This sculpture (Swarm by Tessa Farmer) is incredible. Tiny skeletal fiends sitting atop all sorts of hand crafted insects. I took lots of photos and youngest son Benjy thought it was hilarious to jump into view every time I pressed the shutter (and to be fair it was quite funny)

More swarm photos

over here

After all the arty stuff it was time to get down to some good old shopping in the west end. I managed to find some inspiration for our shop, at Top Shop, of all places (how common)

You write a message and post it through the bird box.... I want one!

Hanging vintage tea cups. I don't know why, or what for but I want this display in our window. I may have to copy it.

Anyway that was a bit of my birthday

Cheers!

Take it away Clare

Looking Through The Window

2011-01-20T15:59:00.000-08:00

Our windows got smashed which is such a complete and utter pain (no pun intended). It isn't the first time. It's what comes with having a shop situated in the pub and club end of town. The good news, is that we have now had all of the windows and the wooden frames replaced. They look very marvellous indeedy. The bad news, is that we're having grills fitted over the windows to protect them from drunkards and idiots. The plan is that we should be able to remove them each day, I'm not looking forward to that bit, on the bright side it will be good for the old arm exercises.

While I was clearing out the windows I found lots of treasures that needed a bit of a dust off and a new place to live.

Aah where would we be without the retro pineapple ice bucket

Or indeed an apple ice bucket

Remember remember.......?

Just a small selection of our window wares.

While cleaning, photo-ing flitting and serving, I listened to, The Decemberists , Tunng, The Kings of Convience and Jose Gonzalez. All a bit mellow but that's how I'm feeling at the moment (and long may it last)

London Calling

2011-01-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

I went to London this weekend. It was very exciting. Whenever I go there I become a bit like a kid seeing the sights for the first time.

For lunch I had the most amazing meal at this cool japanese restaurant.

I went to two birthday parties in one evening.

I scampered around the streets of London, record shopping (boring), retro clothes shopping ( I bought a denim skirt) and trying to take some photos that reflected my trip to the big city. I'm not entirely sure I made a good job of it but here are a few pics anyway.

I loved this art supply shop. It's the type of shop that is filled with all sorts of art stuff that I don't need but still really want. I don't draw or paint which makes it even weirder.

A happy sign

I'm going there again next week for my birthday with my family in tow, can't wait.

We may as well listen to this to keep the whole London vibe going

Baubles Bangles and Beads

2011-01-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

I've been finding it hard to get my work head back on after my lovely Christmas holiday. My mind is still having a lovely time over 'there', while my body is having to deal with shop stuff, school stuff, dog stuff, cooking stuff, housework stuff, grey weather day stuff......

On the bright side Emma at Silver pebble has been hosting her monthly Splash of Colour thing. I must admit I struggled for a while, I mean we're not in Kansas anymore Toto, we're in gloomy old England and it's January for goodness sake. Luckily for me I have the ever colourful Beatnik for inspiration.

The beads caught my eye

The last pic is a badge (70s possibly 80s) that I found in the shop while I was looking for colourful stuff, I really like it. I love all our sixties beads too. We don't seem to sell as many as we used to. I think they have had their fashion moment, but it will return ( I hope so, we've got loads).

I found some more splashes of colour

indoors....

And out.....

Take a look

over

Here

For some winter

cheer

while listening to

this

It works

It Never Rains in Southern California

2011-01-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

I almost never made it out of heathrow to join my family on our Christmas holiday because of this

and when I finally made it out to California it was raining

monsoon type rain

for days

When the sun dared to show its face again it did so with a spectacular entrance

I didn't manage to do this beautiful rainbow justice on account of only having my iphone with me, but still, you get the general gist

The sun pretty much stuck around for the rest of the trip which was good because it meant that we got to go to the beach

It could be Brighton but it's Santa Monica, promise

That's better

I saw a snowman hoping for some snow

and a dog that looked a bit silly

I went to a secret guest only Foo Fighters gig, no photos allowed, so you'll just have to take my word for it

I went for a nice walk around a silver lake

A sunset to end this holiday post

Our soundtrack of the trip was

this song at the beginning

this song to go crazy to

this song to set the scene

and this one because we all loved it

Thank you B B and B

Happy New Year

x

California Dreaming

2010-12-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

My last and best gig of 2010 was Belle and Sebastian. I'm a big fan and always have been. I knew it was going to be a good set when I started crying when they played this song near the beginning. I had to give myself a stern talking to and thankfully managed the rest of the show without being an emotional jelly.

What else, Oh I know, we have some new jewellery cabinets for the shop. They're sort of plain and just filling in until we get our lovely old fashioned glass counter. It has given us a lot more space to display some of our lovely jewels

Jewellery, lots of it, moving on.....

Something else that I've been enjoying is Emma at Silver Pebble's Splash of Colour Group. Anything to brighten up a cold December Day.

Colour

Splash

Here

But the most exciting thing is that I'm off. Flying off to much milder climes. California to be exact. For Christmas. So I've wrapped my presents, packed my bags and my camera and I hope to bore you with my holiday snaps anytime soon.

Another song if you like from B&S

Toodle pip

Bon Voyage

See you soon

Baby It's Cold Outside

2010-12-03T15:04:00.000-08:00

To state the bleedin' obvious it's cold. In fact it is so cold that I took a hot water bottle with me into the shop today, yes really, that cold. It helped me through the day, well that and the tin of Roses chocolates that our work experience girl gave to us as a thank you present (cheers Grace).

The models have got dressed up in their winter woolies. I'm digging the eighties mustard and black number, originally from 'Snob' ( those were the days ).

A wintery scene for me to gaze at while I dressed the window.........

and some more snowy moments

If it takes your fancy listen to The Lilac Time ( it's somehow a bit christmassy, plus I'm on an eighties kick) and watch this (it's a bit silly)

All The Madmen

2010-11-25T08:09:00.000-08:00

Today at Beatnik I had a bit of a Mad Men moment. I was wanting to dress the window and I found a lovely turquoise sixties dress and thought this is just the colour that looks fabulous on Joan. Which in turn got me thinking about Peggy and how she really is the true leader of style in that programme at the moment. I mean who needs curvy sexy Joanee when you've got smart pussy cat bow peggy cooking up a storm at the copy desk.

As for Don and Betty, well don't get me started. They are as troublesome off screen as they are on. I had a hard time finding a suit to fit Dons masculine figure, but after I stopped myself throwing his silly arms across the shop in frustration I finally found one that was just about ok. The same goes for finding a trilby to fit his big head.

Betty is sitting pretty in a lovely cream fifties dress with red piping and a matching jacket

While I was getting mad at the mad men I listened to Kate Bush ( this album ). I know I should have been getting groovy with Ella or Doris but I've just gone mad for Kate at the moment.

Oh! You Pretty Things

2010-11-17T23:46:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to see Laetitia Sadier, the singer from Stereolab, one of my favourite groups, performing from her new solo album. She was good, I mean more than good, she was effortlessly groovy, super cool and funny. She had a fabulous haircut and sexy french accent and let me tell you that I would take any one of those two features in a blink of an eye. There were ignorant people milling around the bar at the back of the room blathering on and on and making a general racket over her performance and so she stopped and shouted to them (in her cool french accent) "shut ze 'ell up, thees isn't ze internet or somesink, you are not at a zoo'. She then carried on playing her lovely music.

Enough of music and frivolity let's get down to shop stuff. It may be dark and dreary outside but it's the opposite inside Beatnik.....

Some pretty stuff to lift the dampened (if you live in the uk) spirits

So far so pretty, and then, thanks to Sas, my friend and partner in retro delights, she discovered and uncovered in equal quantities, a magnificent mountain of scarves.

This photo does not do them justice, it doesn't even begin to convey the ludicrous amount there is, or the pretty patterns, the hand rolled edging, the playful prints, the ones that are worth quite a bit but we still sell them at a ridiculously cheap price. They're all there in that big scarfy pile and I love them.

And some more

Oh, I also found this lovely coat hanger

Frank Fidkin the taylor..... How lovely it would be to have our own wooden hangers engraved with 'The Beatnik Emporium Fashion and Vintage Southampton'

Hmmm....

She comes in colours

2010-11-08T15:48:00.000-08:00

Colour, it's been on my mind. I think partly due to the autumn show that's been laid on for us this year, but mostly because I've joined yet another flickr group, run by Emma over at Silverpebble. The purpose being to post some photos of colour that will spread a little colourful cheer for the next few months ahead. I'll drink to that.

Post Halloween and things are getting back to normal (well as normal as things get in Beatnik). Which gives me a chance to look for a splash of colour. I'm spoilt for choice......

While choosing which colourful things to take photos of I listened to Midlake and the new Belle and Sebastian, which is the musical equivalent of a good autumn soup. I mean that in the best possible way.

Splashes of colour not just in the shop........

If your day seems grey

Head over to

here

for a quick colour fix