Vintage Inspirations

I am Lindsay of L&P Vintage Inspirations. P is Paul, my husband. I am a hobby dressmaker with a love of the style and design of vintage fabrics and clothes, plus the 'Make do and Mend' attitude of people following the austerity of the war years. I love to take an old piece of fabric, old coffee cup, or buttons and turn them into something useful rather than throw them away. 

At the Art Trail this year I will be showcasing handmade reproduction vintage clothing and Vintage Brocante (bric-a-brac and collectables), plus vintage textiles, curtains, bedding, table cloths and aprons. I am always on the run but did not use the Olympic theme in my display.

The biggest challenge I faced was showing in my own home and realising very late on that there was too much to display and not enough room. Last minute decisions were made as to what to include and what to leave out. I also did not anticipate how tiring having the home open would be, trying to fit in around the day to day requirements of home life. Just four hours on Saturday and Sunday have left me exhausted but in a very contented way.

I love E17 and have been here for 30 years, I have had the opportunity to leave but would never do it unless the perfect new home came available elsewhere, you know the one, five bedrooms, large garden, well-equipped dressmaking workshop, etc etc. My only groan is the rubbish and 'lets just dump it here' attitude we seem to be fostering.

I am inspired by the colour, style and design of vintage clothes. I love the smart tailoring of 1940's suits and the masses of floaty fabric crammed into gigantic 1950s circle skirts and petticoats. The women were always feminine and the guys seemed to be smart and have manners, which I feels are sadly missing today. 

My advice to aspiring artists is to not dip your toe in, as if the water is cold, you will pull away and never try. You need to hold your breath and jump right in. It may be cold but you soon get used to it and it opens up so many doors as I have found over the first two days of the Trail.

L&P Vintage Inspirations is open on Wednesday 7, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September, at 166 Belgrave Road.