Kids party

Jack is dressed wonderfully for a Kids party, with his sweet little bow tie from Martha trust. It contrasts nicely with the wonderful retro jumper. This jumper is one of my favourite Martha Knitwear finds, great colour and design, it goes with everything really. Jack totally rocks it here, accessorised with a party toy and a plate of party rings and sweets.


Jumper - Martha trust £3
Bow tie - Martha trust 50p
skinny jeans - Topman
Trainers - Topman

Oscar de Winter interview Part One.

This week Gentleman Scholar and chocolate log connoisseur Oscar De Winter, brings us his thoughts and experiences from the bowels of Martha Trust

Lust - You're not in Hereford much anymore, what do you miss most about Martha?

Oscar - The clientele and the staff. The last time I was in there, I was fresh off the boat and had my suitcase with me. The handle on it had snapped whilst I was abroad, and so I had to use a silk tie to fashion a makeshift handle. The case itself still has a few miles in it so I’ve not thrown it out. Apparently the woman behind the till was very impressed by this, if her softly cawing murmur and greedy eye were anything to go by. The old gentlemen who were congregating around her,
their own eyes dulled by too much time amid the Crust, resounded the same opinion, like a Greek chorus. “Waste not, want not.”

Lust - What are your top golden finds?

Oscar - Without a doubt my top find is The Shell Owl, for one penny [pictured
on the here alongside a fellow charity shop owl].



Not since Sandro Botticelli realised The Birth Of Venus has someone so expertly
channelled the beauty of Shell As Art. Whilst one may reside in the Uffizi and the other on top of a stack of books, there is no question that the two masterpieces share a common genius. It is hard to date The Shell Owl; the superglue that is the binding force of the bricolage is heavily yellowed and The Shell Owl certainly shows signs of wear and tear. Where It has been, I cannot fathom, but It has been
places I have no doubt. As to why It exists, I am equally clueless. Is it a quiet, reflective homage to St. James, with the shells having been diligently collected by some wayfaring pilgrim along the Camino de Santiago? Is it a fertility statue, a fetish comprised of symbolic vulvas? An unwise children’s toy made by some unfit mother? Whatever it is, its Minervan mysteries are safely locked away. The Beak Shell, the keystone in this dilapidated assemblage, is missing; no secrets shall come to light any time soon.

More from Oscar to follow!

The best of the Bric a Brac

Martha is pure bric a brac heaven, if you have the time to really hunt through and visit regularly some real treasures can turn up. There is also new stock pretty much every day. So many charity shops just have the same old bric a brac every time i go, prehaps with the addition of an odd china cat if you're lucky!
For instance, Martha had a face sauna in today, if anyone is into that.
Anyway, here is a selection of the best bric a brac i have collected over a year or so, from martha.


Dolls leg (on shelf) - 30p (for whole broken doll)
Green oil burner - 10p
Old glass bottle - 10p
Hard plastic doll in black - 30p
Very old pack of charcoal - 10p
Headless doll - 10p
Mini teapot - 50p
Old book - £2
Jar - 10p
Legless doll (legs on shelf) - 30p
Rag doll - 10p
Photos on wall behind - second hand, from my vintage photo collection


This really old box of charcoal was a great find at the back of the 10p shelf. I love the old yellowing cellotape, its just a great box, and still full of charcoal!



Another couple of great 10p shelf items. Some kind of old rusty oil burner, that i think is just a great object. The jar has a really nice fancy lid, and is a nice shape, looks great with one of my old dolls heads inside.


I got this book so i could use the old paper to work on. Martha has a shelf of older, more interesting books, still only a pound or two, they're good to cut up or use for altered books.
The rag doll is one of my favourites, her embroidered features are lovely and give her a really interesting face, the plastic one is pretty average, but his left eye is kind of sideways which i like. You can see the nice lid of the jar in this picture and the two bits of dolls clothing in the corner are also from Martha Trust, 30p.

This headless doll was in the 10p box, i like her tights and dress, the lack of head is kind of cool. I have enough dolls with heads.


So there you go, Martha is a haven for interesting old items aswell if you keep your eyes out. What don't they have!

Bargain Suit Jackets

The suit rail in Martha occasionally comes up with some pretty great suits, the trousers rarely fit, but for £3 a suit, you can't argue.
These two jackets were the cream of the crop last week. Seemingly a matching pair, one lovely double breasted jacket, and one single breasted. Looking pretty great here with some skinny jeans and geek chic glasses.

Jacket - Martha trust £3
Skinny jeans - Topshop
Check shirt - River island
Shoes - Second hand



Jacket - Martha trust £3
Jeans - Criminal Damage
Silver shirt - second hand, charity shop
Tie - Vintage
Boots - Clarks

MEN!

When searching for presents, we came across this fine fellow:


He seems like a perfectly happy little bear, but wait... What's that embroidered upon his chest?

MEN!!!? His arms out-stretched in celebration of the male gender. Is he outing himself? That sure is a look of pride upon his face.... Or maybe he just has his priorities straight. I mean, where would we be with out MEN? Not even born for starters. I might have to get a full size version knitted for myself, or I could just hope that one turns up in Martha's...

Until next time - Much Lust - Martha

(P.S. Thanks Nancy for letting us borrow your Bear)

Doll Trauma

Martha never ceases to serve up a daily dose of upset and this doll has obviously seen its fair share...

What happened to this poor doll? I'm certain that she has seen UNSPEAKABLE THINGS. With her pink eyes, scorched bib and slightly stained forehead, there's no telling what she's lived through. I think she's trying to tell us something, but sadly her plastic lips are stuck together. We may never know her terrible secrets; we can only look her in the eyes and shiver...

Oh, and thanks to everyone for becoming a fan of Martha Trust on the Facebook page. We've surpassed 50 fans in just a day, your support is much appreciated!

Much Lust - Team Martha

Breast Feeding T-shirt

This little gem turned up on the 50p rack today... The picture says it all really:


Yes, you really are seeing that. Your worst fears can be confirmed by this close up:


I suppose this sort of thing is supposed to make you feel connected with Mother nature, and the beauty of life or something, but I'm not really getting it. I mean those boobs are almost as long as her arms! Are those babies sucking on those pendulus teats, or are they sort of eagle/goat parasites? Wouldn't it be awful waking up with those things swinging from your breasts? And then to have the moment captured eternally in a wearable garment... The ultimate humiliation. I'll be wearing this one to an interview sometime for sure.

Much lust - Team Martha

White sandals and the school run

While shopping in our dear Martha yesterday, I came across an item that brought back long fogotten memories for me. I'm sure most people will have at some point come across some of these sandals!

As soon as I layed eyes on them, I was instantly taken back to my childhood and memories of mothers on the school run in the early nineties. Complete with large t shirts in pastel colours, leggings and of course a pair of these sandals.

That feeling of being so small, and surrounded by such late 80s/early 90s footwear in the mother's waiting area of Cherry Orchard first school. Maybe it was just my town... But these sandals are a sight i haven't seen since then. I just had to buy them, even though I couldn't decide weather they were truly hideous, or achingly cool. There were 3 pairs in the shoe rack in total, £1 each, two pairs in Black, one pair considerably more 'beat up' than the other. I decided to go for this stunning white pair.

I used to play many imaginary games in my garden with my old friend from first school. We required nothing more than a few flower pots for a whole days fun, and her mother practically lived in a white pair of these sandals. I really do wish that my purchase of these sandals could take me back to those carefree days, but I guess it's just a fleeting memory of pure happiness.
That was all abit deep for a pair of sandals!

Ah well, now how to transform them from truly hideous to achingly cool? I thought skinny jeans would take away their frumpy vibe, coupled with a slightly nautical, cropped T-shirt I bought today from another charity shop. Modern with a strong vintage edge. Add a grungy hairstyle and a long pendant for instant cool!

Sandals - Martha trust £1
Striped tshirt - Second hand, customised, charity shop
black skinny jeans - H&M
long tassle pendant - second hand, house clearance store

So there you go! I'm hoping I don't resemble a mother on an early nineties school run, but if Ido, is that such a bad thing?

This week's Martha Crust: Worst item on sale!

While browsing the cuddly toy shelves, we spied something unusual; the corner of a polaroid photograph poking out from under a shabby stuffed Noddy. Perhaps it is an old family photograph? With luck, a real old one where some kid is kicking a clown in the shins or something... But no. This is in fact A PHOTOGRAPH OF NOTHING:

A solitary green square dominates this image. Perhaps it is an extreme closeup of broccoli? Or maybe it really is NOTHING? Has this anonymous photographer truly captured infinity? I'm looking very, very closely at it, and I think I can see some stars, and maybe the face of a bearded man in a white robe? Actually, no. It is just a green square.

When you take a photograph of nothing, don't you usually throw it away? On what planet do you donate it to a charity store? And what charity store would ever think to sell a photograph of nothing?! They weren't even quite sure what it was when I took it to the counter, I managed to agree the fair price of 10p for it. Oh Martha... please never change.

Much Lust - Team Martha

Gabrielle Brace interview

Illustrator, songstress and warrior princess Gabrielle Brace kindly took some time out to tell us about her good times with Martha!

Lust: Hi Gabrielle, what's your favourite thing about Martha Trust?

Gabrielle: It has to be their complete lack of a sense of value or worth. There are loose batteries of indeterminate life on the same shelf as cut crystal glasses, both 50p.

Lust: What is the best item you've ever found in Martha Trust?

Gabrielle: Practically: My brown leather and multi-coloured tapestry bag.
Spiritually: My 1p robin with filthy felt Christmas hat.

Lust: What's the worst/weirdest item you've seen on the shelves of our beloved trust?

Gabrielle: A BUMPER PACK OF TENA LADY PADS! £1! The poor incontinent lady who owned them must have died before she even got to open her bulk purchase...

Lust: What would be your dream item, that you one day hope of finding there?

Gabrielle: Some sort of hand-made Elephant? Preferably by an amature crafts-person. I want it to have been created, not out of a need for money, but out of love or insomnia or misunderstanding.

Lust: How upset would you be if Martha Trust was to ever close down?

Gabrielle: I would be utterly distraught!

Lust: Thanks, we'll catch you hovering around the 1p bin sometime!

Find more from Gabrielle in her trunk of delights here: http://gabriellephant.tumblr.com/

Child Art

Remember when you were in primary school? When you'd come home bursting with pride, a real masterpiece of creation in your bag. You thought you'd cracked post-post-modernism with your poster paints, you'd shown Tracy Emin what for, Charles Saatchi and the Tate will be duking it out with spears for this painting!

Your mother takes it, and stares for a minute."That's lovely, it's a... yes... Why is it so brown?"

No matter how awful it is, every piece of Child art deserves its month on the refrigerator or the mantel piece. But what about when Mum just can't look at it anymore? Where does it go?

Well now we know! Martha Trust came up trumps with these excellent specimens of Child Art:

This piece is by Luke, aged 6 & 3/4 (He says so on the back). I think it's a barnacle, but who can be sure? Is it Morgan Freeman's eye? A sphincter? The Sarlacc pit from Return of the Jedi?



And this piece is by Jack D. At least I think that's his name, it may simply be what this painting was made under the influence of. Either way I applaud this image, as I could tell that it's probably meant to be a Nautilus shell. Rock on Jack D.

Much Lust - Team Martha

knitted flowers and army boots

I found a grungy, short sleeved jumper yesterday, it was part of our 50p rail horde. Its simple but nice, with a cute collar decorated with knitted pink flowers, very understated, i thought it needed abit of toughening up with some bleached skinny jeans and army boots.
The fur jacket was also a Martha find from a few months ago. Its a wardrobe staple, practical and great looking, it goes with everything.



White short sleeved jumper - Martha trust 50p
Faux fur jacket - Martha trust £3
earrings - Martha trust 50p
skinny jeans - H&M
boots - Army surplus store

Hard Plastic Children

My Martha highlight would have to be my vintage hard plastic figures, for 30p each. The figures come in different types of costume, there are welsh national costumes, but my two welsh dolls have parts of the costume missing, so look more like witches! which is a plus for me. We also have a medieval princess, a sailor and some kind of boy with no trousers on and a felt hat! Pretty cool i thought, the boy is a particularly great figure, his face is all dirty with cute tinted cheeks and a sweet expression. The sailor is more sinister in appearance mainly because of his close together, slightly too large eyes, that blink really fast. These figures are now my army of children that stand on my desk, looking completely awesome, here they are!

They don't yet have names, any ideas?
Note the painted shoes and socks on the boy, the detailed beading on the princess' dress, and the brown waterstained tshirt on the boy, tatty chic!

Geek Chic

A classic geek chic jumper, found on the 50p rail yesterday, what a bargain. We're Really playing up the geek vibe today, with big glasses and braces, for a super cool Napolean Dynamite-esque outfit

Jumper - Martha trust 50p
Braces - Second hand, Vintage store
jeans - H&M
Boots - Clarks
Glasses - unknown

Martha Lust Calling

It's snowing in Hereford again! And thanks to everyone who has come out of the woodwork to express their Lust for Martha, keep it coming! The majestic Essie Jenkins sent us a picture of herself, using a fluffy phone purchased for 50p from our favourite shop. She's definitely putting the Lust in Martha Trust!


Picture by Rebecca Magdalena Stutz http://www.rmsmaelstrom.com/

If you have any good quality photos of yourself with Martha Trust gear, don't hesitate to send it to us. You can reach us at: marthalust@gmail.com

Blonde hair and Bow ties

One of Dean's favourite Martha trust items is his blue jumper, here is how to wear it with style and look a million pounds for just 2! Keeping the look smart with a bow tie and maintaining a dressed down element with skinny jeans makes the perfect combination.


Jumper - Martha Trust £2
Shirt - Topman
Bowtie - Burton
Skinny jeans - Topman
shoes - next

Tuesday's One Pence Wonders

Hey Lustlings,

Today's one pence box review involves some killer clutter. Dug up from the depths of what has been described as "literally just a bin" we have: A terrifying angel ornament, a tiny plastic sausage dog and an errr... knitted face?



Something about this little Angel isn't quite happy. The level of craftsmanship is, should we say, poor... It leaves one wondering about the suffering child who painted its blotchy eyes with their shaking, under-nourished hands. At any rate we at Martha Lust love it, expect it on our tree next year!

As for the skinny little puppy... WHY ARE ITS EYES RED? I'm guessing it may have been part of an animal testing lab play set.

And then there's that knitted face. Her wobbly eyes perpetually searching for the nose she will never have. Whoever made this was also a little careless with the glue around the eyes. It sort of seems to be crying orange juice or something... This one will be on my mind for a little while, I mean just look at it:



Okay, I'm off to buy a Polaroid photograph of nothing!

Much Lust - Team Martha

Aristocratic Tartan

A lovely vintage StMicheal Tartan skirt found in Martha Trust, one of my favourite finds, beautiful quality and fully lined, with a nice button up detail on the side



Skirt - Martha trust £2
Lace body - topshop
green tartan jacket - H&M
victorian style boots - second hand, red cross charity store
fishnets (ripped) - primark
Chains - (shorter) secondhand Oxfam, (Longer) Second hand, house clearance

Gypsy chic menswear

a jumper with beautiful colours and patterns, real old person chic, but it works wonderfully. The suitcase was found earlier this week for only £1, Martha strikes again!


Jumper - Martha trust £2
Suitcase - Martha trust £1
Braces - Second hand, charity store
Trousers - H&M
Boots - Clarks

One Pence Wonders

Hey Lusters,

This week's 1p box has yielded some particularly good crop! Although this box is mostly full of half-chewed pine-cones, bits of thread, semi-used candles and the Green Ranger's left leg, who cares IT'S ONLY ONE PEE!

We found a toy Zebra, a knitted duck (which fits rather well on to the Zebra) and a plastic Dinosaur! The care and craftsmanship that went in to the dinosaur becomes apparent with closer examination. His chest is embossed with the word 'CHINA' whilst his over large teeth, stumpy claws and massive feet serve to add a sense of excitement to my evening at home.



There's more to come from this box, so look out. If you've found something cool in the box, please get in touch!

Much Lust - Martha

Love, Cable Knitting and two-tone tights

My favourite Martha Trust Cable Knit cardigan, really thick, awesome quality, and just generally immense, what a find!

Cable Cardigan - Martha Trust £2
other items -
Black dress - second hand, vintage store
Tights - Topshop
Long Necklace - second hand, house clearance store
boots - Doc Martens, second hand, ebay

Dean Sandford Interview

Hereford socialite, illustrator, amateur historian and food lover Dean Sandford tells us of his experiences in Martha Trust.

Lust: So Dean, what's your favourite thing about Martha Trust?

Dean: I'm rather fond of my Martha Trust Jumpers, particularly ones with cable knitting! But also Royal Memorablia and Gold Picture frames.

Lust: Any favourite finds?

Dean: Some of my favourite finds are a book of Stately Homes, my 1977 Queens Jubilee Saucer, a Blue V neck cable knit jumper and The Titanic on VHS!

Lust: What's the worst item you've seen on the shelves of Martha Trust?

Dean: I find a copy of that DJ Otzi single 'Hey Baby' the other day...

Lust: What do you dream of finding at the back of a dusty shelf?

Dean: I want a full Royal Tea Set, with the Queen on it. Or a Byzantine icon, but that would never happen.

Lust: But if it did happen it would only cost 30p.

Dean: Oh and The Titanic on DVD! I want that.

Thanks Dean, catch you in Martha's sometime!

Fisherman jumpers and country pubs

our first Martha fashion find, awesome cream fisherman jumper, looks awesome with cool tights and Docs

Cream Jumper - martha trust £2
other items
Chain - Martha trust - 50p
pendant - antique/homemade
blue mini sailordress (just seen)- angeleye
spotted tights - topshop
boots - Doc Martens - ebay