Sunday 4 March 2018

Buy Buy Baby - My Latest Secondhand Finds



Well, the least said about the past week the better. Our vintage fair got postponed, our big Saturday nigh out was shelved and to top it all off, when Jon finally managed to get out this morning, part of the van's undercarriage dropped off. Looks like next week will be mainly spent hunting for a new-to-us work vehicle. Thank goodness we've got no vintage fairs booked until the 17th and 18th March.



I did use my enforced imprisonment wisely by mastering treble crochet, blitzing the mending pile and getting creative with some lacklustre vintage gear. The chiffon blouse I'm wearing beneath this psych maxi used to be a dress but the skirt hung badly and was full of holes (well, it did only cost me £1). In a flash of inspiration I unpicked & removed the skirt, replaced the zip with a shorter one and threaded elastic through the bottom before hemming it. I wasn't 100% struck on the shape of this dress before but with added kitten smuggling sleeves I love it.


I've had a massive wardrobe clear-out this weekend, too. Four waistcoats, five skirts, two catsuits, five scarves and fourteen maxi dresses have now been added to the Kinky rails and I've sold a pair of boots on eBay, making room for my latest secondhand finds.


I spotted this lilies-on-LSD maxi skirt listed as a Buy-It-Now on Ebay for £12. I didn't have to think about it for long, I've never seen a more outlandish floral print. Like most of the West German-made vintage clothing I come across, the quality is superb and it's fully lined.


As always, when I'm trawling eBay, I always look at what else the seller has got listed. The person selling the skirt had this vintage waistcoat, described as a child's, and priced at a mere £5. I checked the measurements and it sounded like it would fit me - and it did - the joys of being a short arse. It's velvet, cotton lined and hand embroidered on both the front and the back. I saw a girl wearing something almost identical on Instagram which she'd described as Hungarian but I'm pretty sure this is Indian.


You don't know how excited I was when Jon spotted this denim waistcoat for £1.49 in a charity shop last week. It's identical to the beloved travel companion I've tried (and failed) for years to find a replacement. I'm wearing the original here in a crumbling old lodging house in downtown Madras on my 40th birthday back in 2006.


Now I can finally lay my 20 year old faithful friend to rest.


You saw my quilted maxi skirt on last Monday's blog post. Here it is without me in it. 


When I spotted this crazy 1960s showgirl costume on eBay I was convinced I'd be outbid - I mean, who in their right mind wouldn't want a marabou feather trim, backless, bell-bottomed catsuit? I was amazed when I won it for £2.20. It's from a long defunct Italian costumier and the previous dancer's names are written on the inside. The colour looks a bit off in the picture above, below is a more accurate representation.


From showgirl to demure country girl. An unworn Dollyrockers gauzy cotton maxi dress for £4.99? Don't mind if I do. 


Our Banardos £1.99 clearance shop is usually pretty dreadful although it does throw up the occasional gem (a Jean Varon maxi and a 1930s crepe evening gown both spring to mind). This metallic gold and black Crimplene maxi skirt is a perfect fit and very Biba-esque. With the temperatures as ridiculously low as they have been I'm so pleased I'm not a fabric snob - synthetics rock when it's bastard freezing!


This rainbow stripe maxi dress is an utter pig to photograph. It's last year's French Connection so not in the least bit vintage. If we go on a European trip this year I'm picturing it with the metallic leather chappals I bought in Mumbai and a heap of silver tribal jewellery - or maybe a long sleeved top with voluminous sleeves, a floppy felt hat and some ankle boots if I'm too impatient to wait. It was £4.99 and the quality stood out a mile from the rest of the limp viscose offerings on the rail.


I always say that if you wait long enough then the thing you want will always turn up in a charity shop. On Tuesday, these beauties caught my eye amongst the usual depressing charity shop suspects from the likes of New Look & Primarni. Yes, some handmade and unworn Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots. I've waited 8 years for a pair. How lucky that they were both my size and well within budget (£3 as opposed to £120!) 


I do love a vintage tooled leather belt - at £1.99 I had to add it to my collection.


This vintage Indian silk scarf was in the 3 for a £1 basket. 


I do love a tacky beaded bag - Jon spotted this one for £1. It might be from Jerusalem but it'll forever remind me of the camels we saw in Gujarat.


Linking to Patti and the gang for Visible Monday

WEARING:  Remade vintage chiffon balloon sleeved top worn with 1970s psych print maxi dress (eBay, £5.50), Lamani tribal coin necklace (India), Vintage French-made high heeled wellies (Jumble sale)

See you soon!

70 comments:

  1. Your remade dress rocks! I am sorry you are having to put up with so much of the white stuff, we have news reports here of all the issues the UK and Europe are having with that nasty storm. Wow, bloody hell about the van. I hope you find a replacement quickly

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    1. Thank you! We're not used to this weather at all. I'm hoping we've seen the last of it now.
      He's got a few vans to look at tomorrow and he's a good haggler! xxx

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  2. you're standing in snow! And look amazing. You find the best stuff. "Kitten smuggling" sleeves.....hahaha

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    1. Thank you! I'm not at all keen on snow but it's a great photo opportunity! xxx

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  3. Love those sleeves! Big sleeves always cheer me up, and they jazz up even a fairly plain frock (not that you'd wear a fairly plain frock...). You did well with your wardrobe clearout from the sounds of it, I'm doing the same (also as part of enforced snowed-in days), and I'm also trying to do more alterations to existing items to make them work for me. You have loads of great ideas so I'll be scouring your blog archives for inspo!

    And that catsuit... what a find!! You seem to have a lot of luck on Ebay. Hoping this week is better for you and Jon (sorry to hear about the van!) xx

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    1. Alternations and blinging up are the way forward - it can be more of a challenge than making from scratch but often a lot more satisfying.
      I can go for months without finding anything on eBay and then, like buses, all the bargains come along at once. xxx

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  4. What a bright and breezy post to brighten up a gloomy day , You have some beauties there , I thought john was working on another vw , I remember you posting about it , Its a nice change to see something positive and not all the bad news that is coming out of our area at the moment , xxx

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    1. Dreadful news this week, especially with that poor lady living in the next street to us. Such a relief that they've caught the murderer.
      The broken van is the VW transporter, not Gilbert, the campervan. You're right Jon is doing up another camper but that's to eventually replace Gilbert- we have to have a commercial vehicle with relevant insurance for doing the fairs legitimately. Any excuse for another van! xxx

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  5. Love that turquoise on you!
    The 1960's showgirl costume is fabulous!
    The Sheikh says the velvet chain-stitched vest is Indian- most likely Kashmiri & from the 70's.
    Those Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots are positively swoon-worthy!

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    1. Yay, thank The Sheikh for me - I thought the embroidery was far more Kashmiri than Eastern European.
      Turquoise is my birthstone. I love it!
      Aren't those boots amazing? Be gone snow, they need an outing! xxx

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  6. Very sad about Gilbert. Is he totally unfixable? What an array of gorgeous colour and what fantastic boots. Not even storms can slow Vix down. Wonderfull!!!

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    1. Don't worry, Sally. It's not Gilbert, it's our works van, the one we use for fairs. Gilbert's off the road for winter...phew! xxx

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  7. great finds! your patience has payed out - this pieces are gorgeous and like made for you. now i picture you coming up our driveway in that rainbow dress.... ;-)
    turquoise ist totally your color - genius idea to change a sad dress into a fab blouse for the otherwise unloved dress - resulting in a totally chic outfit.
    i feel with you about your van - ours is in the garage again for some long overdue repairs......
    xxxxx

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    1. Now wouldn't that be exciting, visiting you this Summer? Hmmmmmm!!!
      Vehicles, eh? Hope yours gets sorted. I think the end is nigh for ours! xxx

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  8. Sorry about the van, though I guess if it had to happen the timing was good.Glad to hear you found a replacement for your favourite waistcoat. In the age of mass production it can be frustratingly difficult finding replacements for things you love.
    Here's hoping the snow melts soon.

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    1. It was good timing, if the bottom had fallen out on the way to the fair it would have been a complete nightmare.
      The snow looks like it's on the way out now. It's a balmy 1 degree today, hooray! xx

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  9. If you hadn't said, I would have thought the blouse was originally part of the dress. The colors match so well! And the sleeves,kitten hiding is cute way to describe them, just add to the dress. All you finds are interesting, but I really like the denim vest. Pretty sure I had one like it back in the day. Stay warm.

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    1. Hello, Lynn! Thank you. The remade blouse adds a new dimension to that dress and makes it a bit more weather-appropriate than bare arms.
      Very happy with my new old denim waistcoat, it'll be going to India next year. xxx

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  10. I'm so happy to have found your blog recently-you really are a Ray of Sunshine during this wintery weather x

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    1. Thank you so much, Flis! Your kind comments are much appreciated. xxx

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  11. Oh, so many wonderful things - kitten smuggling sleeves makes me giggle (I refer to this as "how many bags of marshmallows can we stuff in them?"). I love seeing your finds - the lily skirt reminds me of my dress here: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8pOcwyYE1Y/VvGkdRfAd0I/AAAAAAAAr5U/i4Asm3hUluQTWmd6fUxdnkpSFnAyVrf5Q/s640/008.JPG

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    1. Your dress and my skirt could be sisters from another mister! We need to go out together wearing them! xxx

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  12. Those sleeves are fantastic, I would never have guessed they weren't already part of the dress. The turquoise looks just perfect on you, especially against all of the miserable snow. You've certainly found some amazing stuff!

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    1. Thank you! I loved the turquoise dress but after seeing a photo of me wearing it over Xmas I had to face up to the fact that it was too tatty. xxx

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  13. Car/van troubles are never fun. I hope you guys have some luck finding parts.

    You've had some great luck on Ebay. I never find much at all on there. I don't think I'm doing it right.

    Love your revamped blouse/dress. Electric blue is gorgeous on you.

    My fav of your finds has to be that maxi skirt and the belt although the catsuit is all kinds of crazy cool. The heads you will turn wearing that!

    Suzanne

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne. It's all very well having loads of good stock but pretty useless if we can't transport it anywhere. Jon's mechanic friend thinks he might be able to patch it up for a while, better than rushing into a rash purchase and regretting our haste later! xxx

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  14. What a week - good on the finding side , otherwise not so much , hope you find a replacement vehicle at a good price . My you have found some amazing things , all so very different , catering for your every whim- that catsuit is spectacular on you. Clever you with your sewing skills , those turquoise sleeves . Hope this week is a better one and that weather improves. xx

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    1. Thanks, Jill! Every cloud has a silver lining and all that. If the vintage fair hadn't been cancelled we'd have been stuck on the motorway with a broken van for hours! xxx

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  15. wowww, you're looking Gorgeous in your fabulous sleeves top and psychedelic dress, such amazing colors, and you've braved all that snow to take your pictures!, you're my favorite Fashion Star!, so damn glamourous!.
    Sorry that your week was not good, and hope that you find a replacement for your van! (that kind of issues are so time and energy consuming!). And I'm glad that you could make the most of this awful week, as that means lots of fabulousness to enjoy for us!. I'm (particularly) in love with that 'lillies on LSD' print, and happy that you find a replacement for your favorite waistcoat! and those Lita platforms!. And the showgirl catsuit is Absolutely Amazing! You Totally Rock!!
    besos

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    1. You are kind!! Much as I hate the snow it does make for a fab backdrop!
      The print on that skirt is like nothing I've seen before. I keep taking it out of the wardrobe and smiling at it like a crazy lady! xxx

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  16. Sorry to hear about the van, hope you get a decent, affordable replacement in time for your next vintage fair. But what great finds! I love how you enhanced that maxi with the kitten smuggling sleeves (need some of those, to kidnap my stepson's adorably kitty). You weren't lying about that German made maxi skirt: the print really is out of this world. I'm also loving the embroidered waistcoat. Your star find must be that pink showgirl suit. It looks amazing on you. The boots are pretty amazing too, and what a bargain! xxx

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    1. I hope you're going to share your stepson's kitty on your blog, kittens make life better! xxx

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  17. Oh dear, not good news about the undercarriage but at least you have a couple of weeks grace to fix/find a replacement before the next fair.
    Love your maxi sleeve mash up...bloody stunning and ace ebay finds.
    What a delight the embroidered waistcoat is and I adore the leather belt. Keep warm. Xxx

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    1. I don't think it's looking as bad as we first thought, a few hundred quid to mend rather than several thousand for a replacement - phew! xxx

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  18. It's a pain about the van I hope you find a good one soon.
    You haven't been idle, it sounds like the crochet is coming along well. I love how eclectic your finds are from showgirl to West Germany vintage, there's some gorgeous stuff, I love the waistcoat, at 5'8" it wouldn't have fit me, I hate it when I see fabulous things that don't fit. You are lucky, long is sometimes not long enough for me! I love the denim waistcoat - I love waistcoats altogether.
    You look stunning in the turquoise dress and blouse, such a gorgeous colour and even better next to your healthy tan xxx

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    1. The crochet was coming along well - but now I've developed a new obsession. I'm such a flighty madam!
      I was happy that waistcoat fitted - I could have put it in the stockroom if it hadn't but I'd have been jealous if it had fitted someone else and not me! xxx

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  19. Oh sorry about Gilbert! A good faithful friend. Love, LOVE the lily skirt and all your re-fashioned treasures. Trust you to create beauty in the snow, xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. Thank you, Patti! The snow is miserable but it makes for great photos! xxx

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  20. So many amazing pieces here! I love the lilies on acid skirt, in fact I love all the skirts! I have a denim waistcoat on my ebay watch list after seeing yours. I gave anything denim (except jeans) for years, but now I've gone the other way and thinks it's perfect with everything!
    Hope you find a replacement van in time!
    x

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    1. I do love a skirt - dresses are easy to wear, skirts present a bit more of a challenge! xxx

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  22. Hi Vix great finds, as usual! Sorry to hear about your vehicle issue but at least it was only the van's undercarriage that fell off! 😱

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    1. Haha!! Yes, it could have been a whole lot worse! xxx

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  23. I bumped into the Lilies on LSD print recently but it was a no-buy for me. I am always amazed at what you find clothingwise. Things are massively picked over here in No.Cal with all of the resellers crawling around.

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    1. You walked away from lilies on LSD? Goodness me, you could have made a quilt from it! xxx

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  24. Gorgeous finds Vix....especially the black waistcoat.
    Hope you get a vehicle sorted out soon.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. Thanks, Sheila! It can be repaired - thank goodness! xxx

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  25. The remake looks fabulous, that turquoise is such a stunning colour on you. I love the marabou dance suit. And yippee for finally finding a denim waistcoat replacement after waiting so patiently.

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    1. Thanks, Betty! So happy to find a worthy replacement. My India wardrobe wasn't quite the same without my trusty denim waistcoat! xxx

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  26. I would love to see the dance number that costume was used for!

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  27. You look fabulous in blue dress with these smuggling kitties sleeves and against snow! Gorgeous finds, as always - my favorites are the lily skirt (oh the legendary German quality, it was considered the best in the USSR!) and the embroidered vest! But the jumpsuit was made for you!!!

    Lots of love!

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    1. My Grandma always used to tell us to look out for West German clothes in charity shops, the finish is always top class! xxx

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  28. Sorry about the car! Such a bummer.

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    1. Thank you. Things aren't as bad as we first thought, thankfully! xxx

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  29. These are some amazing finds!!!!!!! I love them all. The lilli skirt and both vests... <3

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  30. What wonderful finds, Vix! From the embroidered vest to the blue dress to the leather belt and beaded bag, I love it all! Xxx

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  31. That’s a bummer about the van. Hope Jon finds a replacement soon. But all the pops of colour are just what’s needed. Everything has been so grey and white and dirty looking recently with the rotten weather. So good on yer for brightening our day xxxx

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    1. There was still some of that filthy grey snow on the pavements yesterday, isn't it vile? xxxx

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  32. You found some fabulous bargains! I love the turquoise outfit...especially the kitten smuggling sleeves :-) Hope the van gets fixed soon!

    Emma xxx
    www.style-splash.com

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  33. I didn't even realize you were wearing a top and a dress right away, I thought it was a long sleeved dress. It's great you've turn a dress into a blouse, it's always lovely when we can alter clothes and save them.

    You bought some really lovely things. That vest does look a bit Hungarian to me, but the original design is probably Indian. A lot of our European folklore dresses are Indo-European in origin. Indian culture is older than our own so it makes sense that their designs predate our own.

    love that maxi cotton dress! The skirt is lovely as well...and the jumpsuit is fabulous.

    Sorry to hear about the van. Our car broke down as well, some parts got frozen or something like that, I'm not sure about the technicalities, but I'm not sure will we be able to fix it. I hope you'll find a good replacement van soon, fingers crossed.

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    1. I do like re-purposing and rescuing my clothes, it's so rewarding when you make something mediocre into something you feel amazing in, isn't it?
      Hope your van gets fixed, the winter weather is a killer for vehicles. I think we might be able to get away with patching it up - a few hundred pounds over several thousand is a vast improvement! xxx

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  34. Oh my goodness didn't you do well!

    I loved everything you bought and how lucky you were that the boots were your size and that the child's waistcoat fitted you too! I'm so pleased you found a replacement denim waistcoat. The charity shops gods were definitely smiling on you!

    I absolutely love what you're wearing; no one would know that was a separate garment underneath. As for kitten smuggling sleeves I reckon you can fit Jon in there!

    Such a shame about the van; I hope it can be fixed promptly.

    I'm not a fan of treble crochet; I've used it quite rarely when making blankets but I'm just doing squares for a cushion cover and the pattern asks for treble crochet for the corners...

    Hope you are having a great week!
    xxxx

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    1. Thank you! The denim waistcoat isn't the most exciting thing ever but I really missed not having one on my travels this year. Hopefully It'll last the 20 years my other one did!
      I quite like treble crochet for how speedy it is - I made some wrist warmers in no time last week. xxx

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  35. I would never have known that wasn't a dress but separate blouse, together they are divine! Loving the lilies on LSD skirt too. xx

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  36. Great finds. That lily skirt is brilliant, and I love how you've reworked the damaged dress into a blouse.

    So glad I missed the snow. I hate snow.

    I hope it's not too expensive to get work transport sorted.

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  37. I'm so sorry about Gilbert! I hope you can find an inexpensive and reliable replacement. It looks like you have more snow that we do at the moment.

    I adored those kitten-smuggling sleeves when I saw them on IG. That Lilies on Acid print is FAB-U-LOUS!!! I would love to have a coat made out of that print. You have such good luck on Ebay - I never find anything inexpensive that I like, and I'm wary of buying any clothing on line as things I purchased a few years back didn't fit when I received them. Congratulations on finding those killer ankle boots.

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix