1940s Village At War Event

This bank holiday weekend I was invited to attend the 1940s Village At War event at Gressenhall Rural Life Museum in Norfolk as a retailer.  I had a fabulous time and met so many lovely people who really inspired me even more and made me realise how much I really do love everything vintage.

It really was a chance to experience what life was like on the home front.  We had Prime Minister Winston Churchill make an appearance to make his historical speech, it was quite moving the way the whole of the place went very quiet to listen to this speech each time he made it.

We had fabulous music from the group  Timescape who provided us with 1940s live music throughout both of the days we were there. They made the whole atmosphere seem more nostalgic and really like that era.

Here is a picture of my stall which did very well and I had lots of interest and chatted to lots of people who some of them I even inspired to start knitting again which is so lovely.  I also met the very lovely Retro Chick who looked fabulous check out her blogs on the link and here at vintage norwich

The children that attended had sweet rations and we had to make sure we visited the ice cream parlour because ice cream was soon to be banned.  We mingled with civilians, members of the Women's Land Army, the Home Guard and troops.  There were a number of vintage wartime vehicles and a red cross display where you could speak to nurse Gwyn about her work in the wartime.  On the farm there was farming techniques by the Women's Land Army with ration cooking in the farmhouse kitchen.



Other stalls in the marqee ranged from people selling antique original items from that era











There was a fabulous 1940s room set up as wartime living as courtesy of the Vintage TV and Wireless Co.

There was a fantastic display of millinery run by Martin Faulkner Painting The Clouds With Sunshine the craftmanship that went into these hats were truely amazing.

Dad's Army Museum Museum stall was there too and even had characters dressed up too.  Here is a picture of them with some of the Women's Land Army members.

On the Monday we even experienced a fly past by the Hurricane, Lancaster and Spitfire flying over the site to commemorate the bravery of those young servicement who fought in the Battle of Britain some 70 years ago.





At the end of the days we had a great time all joining in with the memorable song 'we'll meet again' and all joining hands which was a lovely way to bring everyone together and quite a moving moment. 

I will finish off with a fabulous video of some 1940s dancing that really got us all in the mood for the village at war era.











1940's Village at War Life on the Home Front

I am pleased to announce Peggy's Collection has been invited to be one of the first retail stall holders for The Rural Life Museum at Gressenhall, Norfolk for their 1940's village at war event on 28th and 29th August 2011.  It is going to be a great day with costumed characters from the 1940's era there too.  There will be toe tapping 1940's music from Timescape and lots more activities to take part in. Peggy's Collection will be selling a range of items from knitwear, headscarves, pincushions, clothing and more.
 Rural Life Museum

A Vintage Lover's Dream

A vintage lovers dream

Since my last blog I have been to every vintage lovers dream! At out local museum Gressenhall rural life museum they opened a 1940′s land girl room. It had so many informative features and the displays were fabulous, I have included a few pictures for you all to see with authentic clothing on show too.

Authentic clothing



Tools they used hanging from the ceiling

Gorgeous picture that shows even the land girls were still very glamourous

There is also a great 1950′s house set up there too with authetic items you can look at which is very inspiring to someone like me
Part of the kitchen where they dined

1940′s era

Vintage styling has been a favourite look of mine for a long time so of course all my
designs have that vintage inspired theme to them. The 1940’s and 1950’s are especially favourite eras of mine.

‘Make do and mend’ was the slogan the government tried to encourage in the 1940’s era. Older clothes were transformed into more modern styles. While the men were away in the forces even their husband’s suits were revamped into ladies wear.

Knitting was also encouraged and if you were able to get the wool or unpick an old jumper the designs were endless. Also heavy blankets were made into fashionable overcoats.
Knitting patterns were available these could be for socks, slippers, jumpers for all
ages and the wife could also knit something for the loved one in the forces.
Sewing patterns at that time had to conform to stringent guidelines as shop purchased
clothes too such as limits on hems, turn-ups and pleats.
British women, and American took fabulous pride in their appearance though. This was improvised with make-up and accessories. The accessories were
gloves, hats and of course their gas masks had to be used too. Hats were adapted with feathers or flowers although the gas masks had to be disguised so they used cardboard boxes to put these in and some made into handbags. It was almost unpatriotic not to look ones best!

There is soon going to be a 1940’s event celebrating the land girls at my local museum
that I intend on going to which will be great to see the different styles and
how they lived. I will take lots of pictures and blog about this too as I am sure it will be of interest to lots of people.

I would love some comments so please feel free to add a comment to my blog, many thanks