Betty & Violet ~ Message in a Teacup

The Winner is...

2012-02-01T09:56:00.002Z

The name drawn out of the hat this morning as the winner of my little giveaway is.....

Sharon at Bluebells & Lavender!

Please let me have your address details so that I can send your copy of the Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine!

Ali x

My gift to you ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living Treat

2012-01-26T14:57:00.006Z

Long time no speak....

So, by way of a little treat to my fellow bloggers, followers and customers to say thank you for your continued support and comments, I have a little giveaway...

The current, most lovely and inspirational issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine!

I have been selling this gorgeous publication via my website and at fairs for just over a year now and have built up a great following of subscribers and regular customers ~ thank you for loving it as much as I do!

This is a really inspiring issue. Sometimes I look at beautifully styled photographs of interiors and feel that they are unachievable in our real, often less than perfect lives and homes, but this week I decided to experiment and tried to re~create some of the ideas in the magazine. OK, I know my house is not on the same scale and I probably don't have the same budget either, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could take just a little inspiration from the pages and bring the concept to life. I used items that I already had in the cupboards or in stock ~ here are my interpretations of the photos...

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

Photo ~ Ali

I have this Edwardian silk bodice already hanging on hooks in my dining room and just moved it to an old grey painted cupboard for the photo...

I loved this collection below of vintage candlesticks ~ I have a selection dotted around the house and tucked away so gathered them altogether to recreate the look...

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

Photo ~ Ali (the fireplace in my dining room)

We have a conker brown leather sofa in the kitchen, normally piled up with old French floral pillows, but liked the idea shown in the magazine of using simpler linen cushions with old printed text and remembered what I had in stock waiting to be photographed for the website...

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

I just need to source an old leather trunk or suitcase for a coffee table to complete the look...

Finally, I loved this feature on how to transform a printer's tray. I have a couple of these that I use in my workroom to separate beads and buttons. Before Christmas I reworked this smaller modern wooden tray and used old wallpaper, book pages and white paint.

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

My own effort!

If you would like to win the latest issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine, just leave a comment at the end of this post ~ the giveaway is open to all wherever you are in the world. To be entered twice and double your chances, just post a link back to this page and mention my blog and don't forget to let me know!

The giveaway closes next Tuesday 31st January at midnight and the winner will be announced on the 1st February.

Good luck!

Ali x

In print...

2011-12-08T11:28:00.006Z

BBC Homes & Antiques magazine January 2012.

I got my copy yesterday...and I'm in print! I love this magazine so am really pleased to featured in it ~ especially the Christmas issue... I won't bore you with all the photos here!

I have added some lovely new hand~made & festive stock to my website to coincide with the feature...

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?.....

Ali x

The Vintage Christmas Boutique

2011-11-24T21:09:00.006Z

Here I go again....

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, in the lane, snow is glistening, a beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland...

The second Vintage Christmas Boutique is almost here and the house is currently being turned upside down in order to transform it into a festive vintage emporium! I am comforted by the sight of my favourite decorations finding their familiar little spots in the house ready for the season. I can't help it, I love this time of year, a whiff of cinnamon & cloves and I am away with the elves...

I have been busy making some special one~off stockings, decorations and cushions using my favourite textiles and trims and have sourced some unique hand~made goods that definitely cannot be bought on the high street! Added to this will be an eclectic mix of antique & vintage treasures along with some exclusive Scandinavian pieces from Jeanne D'Arc Living ~ what more could a girl wish for? Well, maybe a home~baked cookie or two with a cup of warm chocolate?

All are welcome, please contact me for an invitation and further details ~ more information can be found at the Vintage Christmas Boutique blog.

Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd December 2011. 10.00am ~ 4.00pm.

Ali x

Angels Gather Here...

2011-11-01T14:10:00.004Z

Angels Gather Here...

This Friday 4th November at the Cozy Country Christmas Fair held at the home of a very talented friend of mine along with some like minded souls offering vintage and homemade delights. Chris and Dawn will be creating a cozy Christmas cabin ~ take in the aroma of cinnamon and woodsmoke, evergreen and fresh apple pie, whilst shopping for unique gifts and decorations. Not to be missed! I shall be visiting late in the day and hoping that everything is not sold out...

Open from 8.30am until 6.00pm ~ entrance is free but donations greatly appreciated for the charity 'Williams Fund'.

The Warren
14 Oval Way
Gerrards Cross
Bucks
SL9 8QD

Other fairs this week...

I shall be having a stall at a private sale hosted by Little Mann Classics on Thursday 3rd November from 9.00am ~ 2.00pm. Lots of Christmas goodies, stocking fillers, childrens clothes, jewellery, cards & wrap, gifts and decorations. Held at Setherum House, 93 Benham Park, Marsh Benham, Newbury, Berks RG20 8LX. Supporting The Elizabeth Foundation (helping deaf children and their families).

On Friday 4th November I am participating in the Holiday Craft & Gift Fayre at Ascot Racecourse. Hand~picked Christmas shopping! Open from 9.30am until 3pm. Free parking, refreshments on site. For further information www.awbs.org.co.uk.

Hope that you can come along...

Until next time
Ali x

Jeanne D'Arc Living New Books

2011-10-25T16:55:00.007+01:00

I have not made a secret of the fact that I am in love with the style and beauty of the Danish company Jeanne D'Arc Living ~ I have been selling their gorgeous magazine for a year now via my website and have a loyal following of subscribers to whom I am very grateful for sharing my passion!

This year, to whoops of delight, the highly covetable and collectable book 'French Atmospheres' was translated into English and I am the only seller in the UK offering this title along with 'Amazing Retreats' which was published just last week. I have just a few copies left ~ they are available in limited quantities only and printed in small batches (not available on Amazon!)

I also have a very small quantity of their softback magazine style 'Christmas' book translated into English from their original Danish book 'Jul' ~ jam packed full of the most gorgeous photographs of the festive season.

The Christmas issue (no.8) of the Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine is out on the 11th November ~ the most popular edition of the year, and I have just listed it on my website for those wishing to reserve a copy in advance!

All of the Jeanne D'Arc publications can be bought via my website at www.bettyandviolet.com along with a small selection of their Christmas decorations and homewares.

I will have examples of the books with me this weekend at The Vintage Bazaar in Frome ~ looking forward to this great event again!

Until next time, Ali x

Just a perfect day...

2011-08-30T10:23:00.004+01:00

Hand~made brooch purchased from Viv at Hen's Teeth just as we were all packing up for the day at The Cotswolds Vintage Fair...it seemed very appropriate!

I don't think any of us were anticipating the number of visitors that found their way to our village hall in the Cotswolds countryside, but I am so grateful that they did ~ a big thank you to each an every one of you that came and supported us and made purchases!

The venue was a picture of vintage loveliness ~ every which way you turned was a fresh display of unique goodies from the past mixed in with beautiful hand~made treasures from our talented stallholders. Truly amazing...

Hand~made china label from Rosie's Armoire.

My thanks to all of the stallholders for taking part and making it such a unique event! Lots more pictures taken on the day can be seen at thecotswoldsvintagefair.blogspot.com.

I am inspired to make the next one even better ~ watch this space...

Ali x

Vintage Fair This Saturday!

2011-08-25T07:23:00.003+01:00

Time to set off and join us if you can at The Cotswolds Vintage Fair this Saturday 27th...

There will be 35 sellers offering original vintage & antique goods alongside a carefully selected range of handmade treasures inspired by the past including homewares, fashion, furniture, textiles & trims, china, kitchenalia, books, toys & games, jewellery, ephemera and much more!

Lavinia's Tea Party will be creating a vintage style tea room offering homemade cakes and sandwiches, served on the prettiest vintage china and weather permitting all set up outside overlooking the most glorious Cotswolds landscape.

Doors open at 10.00am and entry is £1.00. If you happen to have a copy of the August issue of Homes & Antiques magazine, we have a special offer on their events listing page which means free entry ~ just bring the page with you!

Toddington Village Hall, Stow Road, Toddington, Glos GL54 5DU.

Full details of the event including stallholder & visitor information, directions to the venue etc. can be found at The Cotswolds Vintage Fair blog.

Hope that you can make it!

Ali x

Two day open house (one week to recover...)

2011-06-24T12:21:00.006+01:00

I think it must be my age...but it has taken me almost a week to get the house back to normal and restore my energy after my open house sale last weekend...

I would like to say a big thank you to all those lovely customers and friends who stopped by, made purchases and supported me again ~ it was so nice to see some familiar faces and new ones!

Thank you also to the other fabulous, talented ladies who joined me in my home selling their own wares, for arranging everything so wonderfully and for making it such an enjoyable couple of days ~ much merriment and mayhem...

Angela Evans' whiter than white linens and English embroidery

The tea room (hastily arranged under a gazebo due to poor weather...)

Chloe Vintage ~ handmade bunnies made from antique textiles

Beautiful & unique clothing & textiles from Philippa Bowes

Flowers everywhere...

Lucy Bloom's eclectic mix of homewares...

Hesta Nesta's gorgeous quilts & textile treasures...

Some of my own collections of goods for sale...

My Mother's Vintage Costume Jewellery...

Watch this space to see if I am brave enough to have another event in my own home...!

Ali x

The 'Vintage Summer Boutique'...

2011-06-16T06:46:00.000+01:00

Oh, what lovely summer weather we are having ~ who knows what Friday & Saturday will bring ~ sunshine or rain? Whatever the weather The Vintage Summer Boutique will be open, outside in the garden if the sun is shining, or indoors if there is the chance of getting wet! The house is currently being turned upside down in preparation (have always been told to have contingency plans!)

Whatever the weather, you are welcome to join us ~ here are the house rules:

1. Please turn a blind eye to all cobwebs that haven't seen a duster lately.
2. Please be patient with dear husband and father who have been roped in as caterers.
3. No squabbling with others over the gorgeous merchandise ~ once it's gone, it's gone!
4. Please understand that ours is a family home and there may be the odd piece of lego found underfoot or dry piece of toast under the sofa (but you shouldn't be looking under the sofa!)
5. Only those with a friendly disposition and highly developed sense of humour allowed. (Ours is still just about intact)

Looking forward to meeting you all...

Ali x

The 'Vintage Summer Boutique'...

2011-06-01T17:40:00.005+01:00

I am hosting my first ever summer open house sale this month! Yes, I know I need my head testing and there are not enough hours in the day but sometimes a girl just has to do what her heart tells her. My heart and head love to talk vintage ~ and what better way to do just that with other like minded souls than at a vintage style garden party?

I shall be joined by a small gathering of talented friends with a gift for making, displaying and selling their beautiful vintage stock and hand~made creations. Lots of lovely goodies to be inspired by...

Tea and home~made cake served all day (on vintage china of course!) and the opportunity to browse, chat and enjoy a thoroughly (unashamedly) old~fashioned girls' day out. Shabby Lloyd Loom chairs on the lawn, a cottage garden, a bit of bunting and (praying for) sunshine, hope you get the picture!

If you would like to receive an invitation to The Vintage Summer Boutique, please contact me with your details.

I do hope that you can make it....

Ali x

The Avington Brocante

2011-05-24T14:57:00.003+01:00

I am really looking forward to having a stall at this lovely fair on Thursday this week ~ the first time that I shall have been there...

Set in the beautiful house and grounds of Avington Park ~ there will be approximately 30 dealers offering decorative antiques, furniture, accessories, textiles, garden ware and more...

Entrance fee £5.00. Open from 9.30am ~ 4.30pm with refreshments available ~ do come along and say hello if you can!

Avington, Nr Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1DB.

Ali x

The Summer Cotswolds Vintage Fair

2011-03-29T20:37:00.003+01:00

Last year I participated in a lovely new fair in the Cotswolds and recently learned that its current organiser was unable to continue with the commitment of any further events this year. So, I stuck my hand in the air, waved it around a bit and offered to take over the running of The Cotswolds Vintage Fair.

I have made contact with all those stallholders whose details have been passed on to me, and hopefully you will have by now received an email with a new booking form and information. It would be lovely to hear from you all! New stallholder applications would be welcome too ~ please contact me via the link on the sidebar or take a peek at the new dedicated blog ~ The Cotswolds Vintage Fair.

The date is set for Saturday 27th August and will be held in the original venue at Toddington Village Hall ~ set in glorious Cotswold countryside with views to die for.... weather permitting we shall have a vintage style tea room on the lawn...

I am prepared for more sleepless nights, making bunting in my dreams and putting on a few pounds tasting the sample bakes from the cakemaker ~ well someone has to do it!

Wish me luck...

Ali x

Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine

2011-02-17T14:40:00.000Z

It's here!

Issue No. 2 .... has arrived from Denmark. Oh me oh my, this is like receiving a special gift from a thoughtful friend everytime the big white box arrives from Jeanne D'Arc Living. It never, ever disappoints, each issue is fresh, unique and like no other magazine on the planet.

Thank you to all the lovely customers that placed orders and reserved your copy ~ they have been despatched today, just in time for the weekend when hopefully you will find a quiet, cosy corner in which to squirrel yourself away and read...

or dream...

sigh...

wish for...

and sigh again...

There are just a very few copies left ~ available here.

Have a lovely weekend!

Ali x

Love Works Wonders

2011-02-14T10:30:00.000Z

It really does, doesn't it?

Happy Valentines....

Hearts and flowers to you all...

Ali x

And the winner...

2011-01-31T20:33:00.002Z

...of the January issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine goes to...

PG!

Well done! Please let me have your address details via the contact button on my blog or website and I will whizz it in the mail for you. Happy reading...I hope it inspires....

Ali x

Inspirational Giveaway ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine

2011-01-26T11:49:00.004Z

I have been catching up with all of those lovely blogs that I follow ~ and it still continues to amaze me how much inspiration and creativity you are all willing to share. It seems that many of us find this time of year a time for renewal, with lots of energy ~ the imaginary lightbulb inside our head is busy flickering, dreaming up new ideas and putting them into action.

For others (me included) the New Year often is slow to start for bodies and brains, our creative flow takes a while to get, well... flowing....

Inspiration sometimes needs a helping hand ~ and the quickest, simplest and most gratifying source of this elusive inspiration is visual...

Don't you just love the feel and smell of a virgin magazine, silky smooth pages...

Just read back the words I have written and think I ought to stop as it is getting a bit risque...

Or is it just me?

I do hope that I am not alone in my love affair, as I am now delighted to announce that I am an official UK stockist of the... (drum roll please) most luxurious, delightful, original, dreamy and utterly inspirational magazine from Jeanne D'Arc Living.

If you haven't come across this company and their extraordinary publication before ~ it is the brainchild of two very talented Danish women with a very unique style. The magazine will be published 8 times this year and is available via my own website alongside selected items from their decorative accessories ranges. I also have a very limited number of back issues.

I would love to give away a copy of the January 2011 issue to share the inspiration...

To enter, simply leave a message on this post and the winner will be drawn out of a hat on Monday 31st January at 6.00pm (UK time). The giveaway is open to all, wherever in the world you may be.

In the meantime, here is a little inspiration from the magazine...

2010-12-02T06:55:00.002Z

Today's the day...

For my Vintage Christmas Boutique! The roads here are clear with just the merest hint of icing sugar like snow on the rooftops, so it's business as usual!

A sneak preview ~ for more information click on the email me button or visit the blog.

Hope to see you some of you over the next 3 days and keep warm...

Ali x

Putting it all together...

2010-11-17T22:54:00.004Z

This morning I had a bit of a practise run, arranging some of the new and old items I have been collecting for my Vintage Christmas Boutique.

I love putting it all together ~ that eclectic mix of Christmas decorations, shabby roses, a vintage pair of shoes (who says they can't be used to add a bit of style to the festivities?) sparkling trees, mercury glass, a bit of old linen and lace, charming hand~made delights and not forgetting the odd candle...

No matter how hard I try, I just can't do minimal when it comes to Christmas!

Smoke is rising out of my sewing machine as I make more goodies to sell and the house is being spring cleaned in winter ~ save a few cobwebs that the duster can't reach and am hoping that visitors won't notice!

The biggest job still awaits ~ untangling the lights for the tree...

Ali x

Love Something Vintage ~ Winner...

2010-11-02T16:10:00.002Z

is.....

Denise at A Bun Can Dance. This little lovely will be winging its way to you...

Ali x

Love Something Vintage ~ Giveaway...

2010-10-27T17:30:00.004+01:00

It's.........high time I had a giveaway for my patient and loyal followers who somehow stay with me despite my long absences! Amazingly, I have reached a milestone of over 200 wonderful fellow bloggers and I would very much like to say 'thank you'!

I have had some gorgeous hand~painted wooden signs made for me by a very talented lady and the giveaway is for one which reads 'Love Something Vintage' pictured below. Appropriate I think for all of us...

To enter, simply leave a message on this post and a name will be drawn out of a hat on Monday 1st November, 6.00pm UK time. The giveaway is open to all, wherever you may be...

I will be taking a small selection of the painted signs with me to the Vintage Bazaar in Frome this Saturday 30th October where I have a stall ~ hope to see some of you there!

I have been brave (mad) enough to set a date for my very first open house sale in December. I have started a new little blog dedicated to the Betty & Violet 'Vintage Christmas Boutique'. All are welcome, please email for an invitation...

Ali x

A Perfect Corner...

2010-07-27T15:54:00.016+01:00

In my home...

Sometimes when the whole house is in a state of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) I try to make myself feel a little better by taking control of the tiniest of spaces and making it look pretty and tidy. Often I have just one or two little pockets in the house that look like this and the rest ~ well, I just have to close my eyes and pretend that they are not there! Keeping a home neat and clean with a 4 year old whirlwind playing with toys and dress up is an ongoing battle just not worth the fight!

So here is my 'perfect little corner' in my home that I can write about ~ while I wouldn't dare go near the rest of the house with a camera at the moment!

I like to play around with the placement of all the accessories adding more as I go ~ and eventually I arrive at a complete arrangement that I like (I just can't do minimal!)

A recent purchase ~ a lovely old textile printer's woodblock, I have brushed the lightest coat of white paint across it to highlight the pattern.

This little pair of frames have had the shabby paint treatment ~ if it stands still I will paint it!

This lovely china bowl and the 'H' were bought at the Summer Cozy Fayre I talked about it my last post.

I can quite happily spend a few hours achieving this vignette which gives me such pleasure to sit next to; while upstairs on the guest bed the ironing pile grows all by itself into a veritable mountain, last night's supper dishes still balance in a tower on the kitchen worktop and just in front of these very shelves a stack of books and dvd's need to find their way home ~ amazing what a bit of photo cropping can do....!

Until next time...
Ali x

A Cozy Summer Fayre...

2010-06-22T13:17:00.005+01:00

I was lucky enough to be invited to have a stall at a beautiful small event held in a private garden which raises funds for a very special children's charity. Chris Myers is such a talented and generous lady and has been hosting the fayres at her home for the past ten years. The day proved to be so inspiring and I left feeling positively uplifted by the overwhelming gathering of creativity all together in one garden!

It was just like a page out of Country Living magazine, quite simply one of the most gorgeous events I have participated in ~ the sunshine did help of course, but it was the friendly atmosphere and lovely stallholders who really made the day ~ along with the nicest customers you could wish to meet!

I had to order one of these signs for my workroom ~ very appropriate...

One of my latest creations...

My stall...

Chris serving refreshments ~ divine Swedish cookies and cakes baked by her friend Geraldine who came to visit especially...

I could have brought everything home with me from this stall ~ fabulous chippy painted furniture and kitchenalia...

Beautiful hand embroidered and printed textiles from Sue...

and lots of lovely goodies from Rosablue

A wonderful day out and an absolute pleasure to be a part of it ~ sadly, for the time being there are to be no more fayres here, but watch this space as I am sure that Chris and her talented friends will be cooking up some other ideas....

In my next post, I will share with you some of the lovely things I brought home with me...

Ali x

Flowers and Fairs...

2010-05-03T17:41:00.008+01:00

A lovely, thoughtful friend gave me the most beautiful hand~tied bouquet of flowers on Friday ~ the perfect combination of soft antique coloured roses, with large blousey heads and crinkled petals. They are just right for my entrance room where I have recently placed an old painted firescreen in front of the open fireplace for the summer ~ the colours couldn't be more appropriate...

On Saturday I finally managed to get to the Vintage & Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury ~ my very first visit and I wasn't disappointed! I think the colours from my floral bouquet were very much in my mind, as when I got home to photograph my purchases I realised everything just went together very naturally...

Gorgeous floral fabric and glass bead fringe from Sue at Vintage to Victorian...

Along with some beautiful ribbon corsages from Clare at Daisy Darling ~ this one is in shades of pink and green and I also bought another in shades of plum & violet which has already found a new home in the guest bedroom...

A pretty padded coat hanger with lace and vintage brooch trim from Niki at Nostalgia at the Stonehouse ~ this is destined for my wardrobe door when I eventually re~decorate our bedroom ~ I just want to find a delicate 1930's satin nightgown to hang on it for display...

Some bundles of old ribbon with original paper labels ~ I can't remember the name of the stall, but it was full of wonderful small treasures. I also bought some large old linen mangle cloths from Liz at The Washerwoman ~ but very appropriately they have just been laundered and are still damp waiting to be ironed!

I could quite easily have bought everything I looked at ~ some really beautiful and unusual things, but Gorgeous Girl was with me this time and it is not so easy to concentrate with a mischievous four year old whose only interest was in the cakes! Maybe next time...

Have a lovely week everyone...

Until next time
Ali
x

How Collections Grow...

2010-04-23T07:13:00.009+01:00

They normally start with just one innocent item that somehow calls to us ~ something about it that fills a gap in our hearts and homes. Then (for me at least) an obsession starts and the need to find more of the same or similar in order to create little families of objects that all belong together grows and grows. Sometimes, collections happen quickly and others take years to gradually come together. As both a dealer and personal collector it is often hard to decide which of those precious finds to keep and which to pass on ~ but often it is equally easy to make the choice ~ and last weekend I found a treasure that is a keeper....

Edwardian silk wedding shoes ~ the bows are still perfect...

I love all that is wedding related ~ many moons ago I had my own small business styling and organising weddings and the fascination for this romantic occasion has remained. I wonder who would have worn these shoes?

So...I thought that I would put together a small display for my stall at the Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair in Bath this Sunday. Brace yourselves ~ lots of photos (might want to make a cup of coffee!)

glass diamante tiaras from the 1950's/1960's

a selection of lace trims, old flower corsages and fabrics

c. 1920's French florist's silk posy holder

lustrous ivory silk satin ribbon still on its shabby reel

one of my own handmade miniature pillows ~ an antique French silk brocade with old silk ribbon and a carved mother of pearl button

old wedding photos ~ a perfect reference for fashions of the day

handbags always feature heavily in my displays as they are one of my favourite accessories ~ both old and new!

this one is a little shabby ~ but perfect for display

a rarely found original 1930's large cake topper ~ still in its original box...

as were these 1950's wedding shoes...

...complete with their matching handbag

more shoes ~ much later dating to c.1990 ~ handmade and a collector's item for the future!

I am a button hoarder ~ my evenings are spent sewing them onto little cards for display...

My mother will be with me as usual with her wonderful collection of original vintage costume jewellery dating mostly from the 1950's & 60's ~ something blue for the bride?

handmade lavender filled hanging heart with a Swiss embroidered monogram c.1900 on vintage white linen

the perfect sentiment...

Until next time...
Ali
x

Textile Heaven...

2010-04-12T13:33:00.017+01:00

...at Dairy House Antiques. For fabric lovers, the Vintage Costume & Textiles event yesterday was indeed ~ heavenly! This was the first time I had made it to the Dairy House and it certainly won't be the last ~ in fact I am already planning a visit so that I can sit quietly and look through every single drawer that Sue at Vintage to Victorian has bursting with glorious fabrics and trims ~ some Scheurer pieces had to come home with me but I seriously could have bought the whole lot! These are destined for little pillows and hearts when I can find some extra hours in the day...

I found a gorgeously shaped vintage chocolate box with little drawers at Liz's stand ~ which I think I will recover in a different fabric, something a bit more faded floral to fit in my own workroom as I don't think I can part with this treasure ~ it is ideal for storing buttons. I also found a large shabby piece of old French fabric with a great pattern for cutting into smaller pieces.

I was also lucky enough to find a great selection of fabrics from Donna Flower ~ and so beautifully and temptingly displayed on her stall...

Floral delights...

I discovered a handful of fabric flowers in a cabinet belonging to one of the permanent sellers at Dairy House ~ this one is the largest and made of a soft linen with velvet leaves in a delicate natural creamy colour ~ just how I like them...

And a couple of lengths of old satin ribbon...

I went back to my car after shopping to get my camera, so didn't manage to take photos inside (besides which it was so busy!) but had to include these from Niki's (Nostalgia at the Stonehouse) outside stand ~ Niki has an amazing ability to style her wares so beautifully ~ I aspire to achieve this level of gorgeousity!

It was also a lovely opportunity to put more faces to names ~ this time I met Isabelle, so nice to meet like minded people who share the same passion for vintage fabrics!

Impossible to show photos of everything but suffice to say it was a fabulous event and hopefully there will be more to come...

Ali
x

Another Gorgeous Girl in My Life...

2010-04-10T12:06:00.009+01:00

In addition to my four year old gorgeous girl, I have a new 'old' gorgeous girl now living with us. She is probably about a hundred years older but just as beautiful (and a lot better behaved!)

I have wanted an original Stockman Paris mannequin forever. I have longed and wished for a companion in my workroom for a long time and now she is here and meant to be...

Last year, my Grandmother Violet passed away at the amazing age of 95 and left me a small amount of money in her will. This little nest egg has been sitting in my savings account until such a time that I found for sale just the right 'gorgeous girl'. I wanted a lasting reminder of my Grandmother ~ something that I could keep forever and pass on to my own daughter and I am so delighted that I finally found her. Perfect in every way ~ proportion, colour and patina with just the right amount of shabbiness around the edges that give away her real age and purpose over the last century.

She has already been dressed up a little with some pretty vintage flower corsages that I bought recently in Amsterdam along with some old pearls, but I can't quite decide where to put her in my workroom yet. I think I shall move her around for a change of view for both of us from time to time...

Where to stand for the best view?

Grandmother Violet is now gone with many many memories to cherish and a dream has been fulfilled ~ thank you Nanna...

Until next time,
Ali

I'm Late, I'm Late....

2010-04-04T16:12:00.007+01:00

For a very important date...

Happy Easter and sincere apologies for my absence during the past months. I promise to be a good blogger from now on! I hope that you all have a wonderful Easter break.

Back soon...

Ali
x

Finding my voice...

2009-07-31T14:21:00.008+01:00

It has been such a long time since I was last here; and now putting ‘pen to paper’ again, I realise how much I have missed following all of my favourite blogs and of course writing my own. Thank you so much to those that have emailed and left messages for me asking how I am and if everything was OK ~ this really means a lot to me!

I lost my voice.

Then I lost my inner voice…

I got tonsillitis followed by the flu (of the piglet variety that everyone is talking about). Add to that a few family issues and the result was that not only did I lose my speaking voice; but the natural rhythm of writing and finding words ~ my inner voice ~ that I share via this blog also seemed to abandon me. I haven’t sewn a stitch during this time ~ I actually think that I lost more than my voice, I also lost my sense of direction and purpose.

I think I have come to realise that ‘big plans’ don’t actually really matter, it is just the happiness we can find in day to day living which is most important. So now, I shall not only be nurturing my relationships with family and friends, I shall be looking after my creative self, and continuing to make, sell, restore and collect the vintage & antique treasures that I love so much, just because it makes me happy…

We were lucky enough to take a wonderful family holiday in the Loire region of France (more of which later...) which has given me the much needed boost to get back on track . Like a door that has been opened for the first time to reveal something new behind it I now feel refreshed and energised and thankfully have discovered my voice again…

Doorway in Candes St Martin, France ~ a secret glimpse into another world...

Springtime Garden

2009-05-01T15:28:00.009+01:00

Lily of the Valley arrived just in time for the 1st May...

I love this time of year in the garden ~ not that I can claim to be a gardener...I am to gardening what a back seat driver is to driving ~ I can imagine how I would like the garden to look, but not sure exactly how to get there! I can just about tell the difference between a weed and something more valuable that should be left alone (or perhaps watered occasionally!) I always start the year off with great enthusiasm for cottage style gatherings of pots and containers filled with lavender, geraniums and the like, but sadly by the end of summer my promises of watering every evening have quietly fallen by the wayside and mutterings from my husband of 'I told you so' which makes me so mad I could go and trample across his azaleas (if we actually had any!) This year no doubt, will be no different because already I am teetering on the edge of a shopping precipice to purchase some more floral lovelies...

I do have a husband that thankfully loves gardening (giving him a very valid reason why he cannot be inside doing any other kind of jobs...) and is good at it, which in return lets me off the hook a bit...I am better in a more supervisory role, explaining that of course the garden is an extension of the house and therefore colour schemes, planning and design all come under the main heading of 'This Is What The Wife Wants'.

The latest project has been a small decked area on which to place a bench we have had for ages and recently painted white. Husband made a raised deck as this small patch of garden is on a bit of a slope and created some little steps at one end. He painted the deck a soft sage green colour and here it is in all its glory...it just needs a pot or two with maybe some hydrangeas?

We wanted a bench in this little spot as it faces the sun in the evening and looks out across our rose garden ~ I am imagining the month of June sitting here peacefully after gorgeous girl has gone to bed slowly sipping a glass or two of fine wine and taking in the wonderful aroma of the fragrant roses.

I am of course romanticising ~ in reality gorgeous girl will have probably got to bed later than hoped after a mad day all ending in tears (mine not hers) and I will be clutching a much needed extra large gin and tonic. The sun will have all but disappeared behind the trees and with flailing arms; having forgotten that I was standing on a raised deck will lurch backwards into aforementioned roses. The following morning will be spent contorted into some ungainly pose whilst poor husband has the unenviable task of removing the thorns from my perforated derriere with a pair of eyebrow tweezers. Ho hum, well it wouldn't be the first time...

Have a lovely bank holiday weekend everyone ~ I promise to do some more catching up with your blogs over the next few days...

Ali x

Makeover Madness

2009-04-24T15:14:00.018+01:00

I hope that everyone had a nice Easter break ~ it all seems such a long time ago now, and I have been absent from blogging for too long!

It's amazing how a deadline focuses the mind isn't it? I have a stall at a local antiques fair in Hungerford tomorrow and wanted some new (old) items for displaying buttons, ribbons & fabrics etc. I had some pieces under the bed waiting for a makeover and I finally decided that now was the time to get the paint out and try and work some magic. My motto recently has been; 'if in doubt paint it white' ~ which is essentially what I did!

I have had this miniature vintage trug on my desk for ages holding pens & pencils etc.

Three coats of Chalk White later, with a bit of rubbing back with a sanding block to give it a timeworn feel it now looks like this...

Months ago, I bought a large sized jewellery stand in the shape of a mannequin (a modern one, with lots of glitzy decoration, not my style ~ but I wanted a larger size and couldn't find anything else) so I stripped her bare, took it all apart and then covered the body with scraps cut from an original vintage French embroidery magazine. I didn't want to photocopy the magazine as I like the flimsyness of the paper on the original and the worn texture, so I cut it up into varying sized pieces and slowly covered her in a decoupage manner, overlapping as I went until the resin base was completely covered. I then coated her with PVA glue which works just as well as any varnish and let her dry. I am sharing the stall at the fair with my Mum who specializes in 1950's costume jewellery, so I expect she will be adorned with beads and baubles along with a little bit of lace and silk. I forgot to take any 'before' photos, but here she is now...

Next for the white paint treatment was a little old wooden box with compartments that I bought on ebay for next to nothing ~ this time I used Joa's White from Farrow & Ball which is a creamy aged white. After a bit of scuffing on the edges with the sanding block and lining the little compartments with some of the same old French paper it now looks like this...

Using the same colour, I overpainted an mdf trug that I had painted red about 5 years ago! After a couple of coats and some rough treatment, I managed to get some of the old red paint showing through which I was quite pleased with ~ and it is a perfect size for displaying some small pieces of vintage fabric...

Gorgeous girl felt that she was missing out on the painting action and had to join in ~ the kitchen table was a busy little area, I just managed to stop her from painting everything green!

I found this lovely vintage Terry's chocolate box with drawers for a song with the thought in my mind of covering it with old fabric. Firstly, I had to paint it with a coat of white as the fabric I had chosen was quite thin and the dark pattern showed through.

The fabric is French c.1900 and pretty shabby ~ very faded florals, my favourite kind ~ with a few holes here and there so I knew that I couldn't really use it for much else ~ but it covered the box like a dream...

Last on the list was a peculiar little single drawer also bought on ebay that looked like an old tool box drawer ~ very dirty and odd looking, but I have a thing about miniature drawers (nothing to do with lingerie!).

I used some leftover paint from my Easter egg project in another Farrow & Ball colour called Pale Powder which has the merest hint of duck egg blue and then covered the top with another piece of 1950's French paper, I love the typography and graphics! The little vintage brass drawer knob I already had in my box of treasures just waiting for the right project.

Phew! That was my week of makeover madness ~ I think I will put the paintbrush away for a little while ~ until I can work up some energy to tackle the stack of old picture frames under the bed. ('Under my bed' works in the same way that Mary Poppins' bag does!)

Have a great weekend, until next time...

Ali x

A Vintage Easter...

2009-04-09T14:04:00.020+01:00

Easter Greetings to everyone ~ I hope that you all have a lovely weekend!

Firstly I must say a big thank you to LissyLou (lissylouandthe2littleboys) for such a thoughtful and generous giveaway prize. LissyLou had put together a lovely springtime theme of flowers & butterflies in my favourite shades of duck egg blue & pink! A little pocket sized mirror in its own embroidered pouch, a beautiful address book (for my desk) an enamel butterfly necklace (gorgeous girl has already noticed this!) and a big bar of chocolate, which I am ashamed to say didn't last much longer than it took to download this photo! This really started my week off with a big smile on my face...

I finally got around to setting up an Easter themed vignette ~ not sure that this will be it's final resting place, but for now it is in the guest bedroom as we have friends coming to stay...I used a shabby vintage miniature armoire that I use when out and about at craft fairs, that I roughly painted in off white. I had collected a few old egg cups, which I filled with shredded brown paper (I am one of those mad women who has difficulty in throwing away useful packaging materials and have a hoard of rubbish like this under the bed!). I made the eggs a few weeks ago, using German glass glitter and other vintage trimmings on wooden eggs that I painted in shades of duck egg & white ~ and a few mini chocolate eggs (the ones that got away!) In the wooden bowl is a hand~pierced goose egg bought in Hungary years ago that I love as it goes with my creamware collection in the kitchen.

Gorgeous girl in her 'Easter Bonnet' ~ her favourite dressing up hat...

More 'Easter Bonnets'...

These are more examples of the beautiful original fashion prints I found dating to 1913. I think the hats are fabulous! I have managed to photograph most of them now and have started offering a few for sale in my shop.

Have a wonderful Easter break everyone ~ don't eat too much chocolate (how much exactly is too much I wonder?)

Until next time...
Ali x

Fashionably Late...

2009-04-05T20:50:00.011+01:00

It's been a while I'm afraid. I really enjoy posting once a week but juggling ordinary life seems to take up so much time lately...

However, I have managed to get out and about and be a real life human (albeit frazzled) person for a few hours (in addition to Mummy and Wife) and make a few vintage purchases that got my heart racing...

An old toffee tin with gorgeous colours and floral motifs ~ destined for holding buttons or notions of some kind...

A wonderful 1950's clock in perfect working order that I bought with the intention of selling on, but I'm not sure that I can part with it as at the moment I am enjoying the gentle tic~tock in my workroom...

It is nestled on a 1930's eiderdown also bought last week, with the most wonderful floral & roses pattern of the like that I hadn't witnessed before and will be perfect for the end of our bed after I have decorated our bedroom...

A gentle, beautiful Victorian print of a Maude Goodman painting ~ the frame is chipped and discoloured but I won't touch it as I like it this way...

And finally, something to share with everyone ~ a superb collection of original vintage fashion prints, rescued from a book that was all but falling apart called 'Dame Fashion 1786 ~ 1912' by Julius M Price printed in 1913. I have taken some photographs of a small selection of the colour plates, and over the coming weeks will offer them for sale via my website in groups or singles. I have about 140 altogether and each plate features an English or French fashion drawing from a given year between 1786 and 1912. They are so gorgeous and will frame beautifully or would also be perfect for other paper craft projects. I admit that I will have to keep some for myself as I probably will never see anything like them again, I just can't stop browsing through them...

This colour plate is a copy of a painting by the author Julius M Price ~ isn't she beautiful?

Until next time,
Ali x

...and the winners are...

2009-04-01T14:02:00.002+01:00

The first name gorgeous girl pulled out of her 'Easter Bonnet' (favourite dressing up hat!) was Bonnie (Bonjade) who wins the lavender filled heart and 3 co~ordinating painted eggs.

The second name pulled out was Jayne at Country Cottage Chic who wins a set of 3 painted eggs.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments ~ I really wish I had painted enough eggs to send some to all of you that entered. I've enjoyed making them especially for the event, so will think up some more ideas for giveaways and make them a regular feature!

I'll be back again soon!
Ali x

Easter Egg Parade ~ Giveaway!

2009-03-26T20:55:00.014Z

I have been having some creative fun this week making vintage style decorative Easter eggs...

These are wooden eggs that I have painted in shades of the palest duck egg, cream and white, then decorated with my favourite kinds of vintage treasures ~ ribbons, buckles, buttons, beads & trims. They have a little hole in the base of the egg, which allows them to either stand (balance) on their own, can be fixed into other displays or of course placed into egg cups as I have done for the photos! They are all hand~made by me and completely unique one~off little items created especially for my first giveaway (and a few extra for me to keep!)

So ~ for my very first giveaway I wanted to share a taste of vintage Springtime! For the first winner (yes, there will be 2 giveaway winners!) there is one of my signature hand~made lavender filled large heart pillows made from vintage textiles and trims. I featured this one in a previous post here. Then to go with it, there are 3 decorative eggs in colours that complement the heart pillow...

Giveaway No.1

And for the second winner ~ a set of 3 co~ordinating vintage style decorative eggs...

Giveaway No.2

I do hope that you like them! Since this is my first go at a giveaway, just as I was uploading the photographs, I had a bit of a confidence crisis! To enter your name in the giveaway draw simply make a comment on this post before the end of Tuesday 31st March and the first 2 names picked out by my gorgeous girl from an Easter bonnet will win. To have your name entered twice, copy and paste the giveaway invitation at the top of this post onto your own blog, then leave a second comment to let me know!

Until next time,
Ali x

Flowers for Mother's Day...

2009-03-22T09:34:00.004Z

For special mothers everywhere ~ have a wonderful day...

I picked these flowers for you from my garden...

With love
Ali x

A Mixed Bag...

2009-03-17T20:38:00.029Z

Firstly, thank you Nicky at Hollypops for this lovely award ~ so thoughtful of you!

I'm not used to doing this, but I believe that I have to list 7 things that I love and pass on the award to another 7 lovely bloggers. Hmmm, the first part is easy, the second ~ not so easy! I would of course like to award it to all the blogs that I follow and read, but I know lots of you lovely ladies have this award already. I hope I'm not duplicating, but I'm sure it doesn't really matter ~ it just means that you are doubly 'Kreativ'!

So here goes (loving my family goes without saying so will not put that on the list...)

I love...

...a vase full of fresh flowers ~ I would spend my last bean on cut flowers..roses, violets & sweetpeas are favourites...
...a snowball ~ the alcoholic variety ~ I am a '70's girl at heart!
...Audrey Hepburn & all of her movies
...an old children's Ladybird book called 'Gingers Adventures'. I have the copy I had when I was little and now read it to my gorgeous girl.
...my aga! A bit sad to list something so material, I make no apologies because I do absolutely love it. My husband calls it 'the most expensive radiator he has ever bought!'. It wasn't new, it was a wreck that was lovingly reconditioned and is a cream 2 oven. I'm sure that I will bore you with photos as some point...
...musical films from the 1950's ~ like 'Singin' In The Rain', 'Carousel', 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' 'High Society' etc. etc...
...wrapping packages ~ I much prefer the giving...

I would like to pass the award on to:
Lissylou at Lissylou & The 2 Little Boys
Robin at Miscellaneous Thoughts
Maggie at Sweet Scarlett
Primchick at Tales From Our Cottage
Vintage Nina
Charlotte at Cottontails Baby
Floss at Troc Broc and Recup'

I finally managed to get to the Country Living Fair this weekend ~ I've never been and felt I wanted to satisfy my curiosity! It was a bit of a mixed bag really ~ some very beautiful, unique high quality products and some that fell a bit below expectations ~ or maybe I just had very high expectations! I did make a few purchases...

A Victorian slop bowl with a pretty floral design from Kitty Fisher ~ I have an assortment of these as they look lovely all mismatched on a table for serving food.

A pretty cushion from Louby Loo. I know I shouldn't be buying cushions and could make them myself, but this one was the perfect colour combination for my gorgeous girl's bedroom. We have finally dismantled her cot ~ she is 3 but absolutely loved her cot, I think she would happily have remained in it for years! So we have changed her bedroom around and has a new day bed which looks so cute but sadly means that lie~in's are now a thing of the past...

Another purchase for gorgeous girl was the cutest pure linen summer dress from Little Linens. The colour is an adorable tea rose pink with flower shaped mother of pearl buttons at the back and they had the sweetest fabric corsage to pin on it!

I had to buy a bottle of Violet scented linen water from The Laundry bought at the 'Selvedge Magazine' stall. I have never seen this fragrance before and for obvious reasons ~ it needed to come home with me!

I have been intrigued by Tamar at Tamielle for a while ~ I think I must have seen an article on her in Country Living in the past. Her printed lavender sachets and handkerchiefs are beautiful and feature exactly the images that I love ~ old perfume labels, handbags etc. Her packaging is delightful. Each item is hand sewn in Bulgaria by women working in their own homes. This handkerchief in its pretty box was purchased for pure inspiration!

Finally I stopped at Caroline Zoob ~ one of the nicest stands by far, I could have bought everything! I would love a selection of her creamware china with delicate painted flowers, but as I was travelling by train this was a no no. I did pick up a couple of rolls of ribbon on wooden spools in my favourite colours, but will be visiting her website again to drool over the china!

I have to say another huge (enormous!) thank you to Sadie at Cotton Rose for such a kind gesture in sending me one of her delectable little cushions. I am a sucker for miniature pillows and this little flag cushion is just gorgeous. In my favourite colours, it has found the perfect, albeit temporary home on a child's painted Lloyd Loom chair I have downstairs. Eventually, when I redecorate our master bedroom it is destined for another special chair! Sadie has a giveaway at the moment on her blog ~ so if you are quick you might be in with a chance of having one of these special pillows...

The new Kate Forman brochure arrived this week ~ if I could wish for my whole house to be instantly redecorated, then I would wish for Kate to organise it! Every picture in the brochure is beautiful, inspirational and aspirational. I promise myself that I am going to redecorate our bedroom and use one of her stunning floral linens. Here are some photos to get your creative juices flowing...

Photograph ~ Zara Hart

Until next time Ali x

Handbags & Gladrags...

2009-03-10T20:34:00.029Z

My obsession with beaded bags started a long time ago and were one of the very first vintage items that I started to collect and I don't think that I will ever tire of them. I love the detailed designs and the fact that they were lovingly hand~worked. I love to imagine who would have owned them and used them and the occasions and dresses they matched. The faded lipstick stains inside, or a tiny cracked mirror in the pocket only adds to the mystery...

A few lost beads or a faded patch with loose stitching is part of the history of the bag and unless absolutely necessary, I don't repair or try and hide these little imperfections. Most of all, I love the scale of them, petite and lady~like; the complete opposite of what I require in a functional handbag now! My collection changes quite frequently ~ I sell some then buy a few more! They are mostly displayed on a wall at home on pretty decorative hooks, then a few more on bed knobs, drawer pulls etc.

My favourite type of beaded bag to collect are the ones with decorative metal frames...

Nearly all of the bags that I collect are in soft colours of beige, cream, duck egg and white...

With the exception of this one, which has the most wonderful amethyst and pale pink beads and has to be my favourite!

My collection of bags has been a source of inspiration for the items I make ~ this is one of the larger lavender filled pillows I make in the shape of a handbag. It is made from a vintage French rustic white linen and trimmed with the corner of an old embroidered whitework and lace edged handkerchief. The finishing touches are a gorgeous early 20th century paste button and a length of 1920's glass flapper bead fringing in a tarnished silver colour.

I use the original bags I have to copy the shapes and also have some excellent source books of designs to use as well (the pages that you see above are from Dover Books ~ and are copyright free so you can use the images for lots of different purposes). The little bags above are all made with vintage linen and lace handkerchiefs or collars with old trims and filled with lavender. The cream kid leather long gloves are c. 1930.

Illustrated sourcebook from Dover Books (you can also get the images on CD Rom)

A wonderful reference book 'The Handbag' by Caroline Cox.

This large sized handbag shaped hanging pillow is my latest creation ~ a vintage fine cream linen textile bought from Vintage to Victorian, overlaid with the palest pink lace collar. I have trimmed it with old glass beads in pale pink with a faux pearl and real shell bead drop. The ribbon is a vintage French grosgrain. On the back is a 1930's pink pure silk satin. As the fabrics are delicate, I have fully lined it before filling with French lavender.

These old handbag frames are just waiting for me to start a new project ~ the woven cream silk fabric in the background is French c.1900 and is going to be perfect for restoring them. I think they would be lovely as wedding bags when finished.

I rarely buy new handbags now, mostly because the ones I really want are way out of my price range. My little luxuries in life are Cath Kidston 'mummy sized' bags, that are reminiscent of a Mary Poppins bag as you can just get so much in them ~ essential kit with a little one...

My favourite Cath Kidston bag with a little raggedy vintage fabric corsage made by me. The shawl is a 1920's silk georgette.

Until next time,
Ali
x

Friendship's Garden

2009-03-06T07:35:00.001Z

I was rifling through my precious box of vintage greeting cards and ephemera and my hands fell upon this little gem that was once the lid of a perfume box. I have read the words many times before, but this time interpreted them differently ~ such a gentle sentiment that I thought describes the creative blogging world so perfectly...'Friendship's Garden'.

I definitely feel the need for Spring to arrive; there has been a glimmer of sunshine and I, like so many others it seems, have been moving furniture around to freshen up the house and deciding on new paint colours (white, cream, off white, ivory, with maybe a touch of duck egg blue ~ oh, and a bit more white!) Not much of a departure from what is already on the walls, but I need more light in the rooms ~ it feels like it has been dark for so long...In the winter it is perfect in an old house like ours to have darkness with candles and the fire for a warm glow, but at this time of year I want to banish the log basket, throw open the windows and let the light flood in. I want to look out of those windows and see colour in the garden again ~ am I asking too much too soon?

I crave fresh Spring~like florals and set out in earnest this week to complete a little collection of lovelies that I began to sew before Christmas! Last year I found a small piece of the most gorgeous 1930's floral print and vowed to use every last morceau...

The fabric features delicious little bouquets of flowers in my favourite colour palette of duck egg, pale pink & soft green with touches of white, and it has a washed out sort of 'laundered many times' feel with a slight crinkle that wouldn't budge with an iron, but of course this only adds to its charm...

For this large 'handbag' style lavender filled pillow, I used the floral with an old lace edged handkerchief and trimmed it with a glorious vintage opaline glass jewellery find, which would probably have been part of a necklace. The finishing touch is a drop that I made with 3 faceted glass beads ~ a white aurora, a pale pink and crystal clear. The last bit of heaven is an old French ribbon printed with a teeny floral in the same kind of soft faded colours.

I had this wonderful old painted, moulded glass button in my collection of treasures just waiting for the very moment it would find its rightful place in life again...I love it when you have special things kept, safe in the knowledge that with patience, you will find exactly the perfect fabric and trims for it, and it all comes together like a little family that were meant to be together...

More faded floral linen...I'm so predictable! I am naturally drawn to these soft, often bleached out shades because they are so gentle and easy to live with, they make me feel ~ well, happy! Especially when there is a frost outside like this morning and still need a blanket on the bed...

This little pillow has a feather inner ~ I have this sized pad made especially to my own requirements as I love miniature cushions piled up on beds and chairs and they are practically impossible to find in the shops. It measures just 12" x 6". I made the cover from an old damask cloth, trimmed it with lace and made my own corsage using vintage fabrics. I like the edges to have a frayed raggedy feel, it honestly takes ages to pull away individual threads to get the effect...

The little button in the centre is a Victorian French hand~painted enamel, my absolute favourite kind of button!

I told you there was a glimmer of sunshine ~ hope that this picture doesn't look too washed out, but I actually quite liked the fact that it looked bright and sunny and yes, positively Spring~like! This is one of my favourite old boxes, covered in a faded green fabric and a celluloid portrait panel in the centre ~ I think she looks a little like the Duchess of Devonshire?

Another favourite fabric covered box, a gift that was bought in Bruges. It is a bit fragile, but the bird motif is so adorable and I use it to keep these little lovelies in...

A set of French greeting cards with die cut, embossed scraps and ribbons c.1900. They are so beautiful and the colours fit in perfectly with everything that I love most...

Be still my beating heart...

Isn't this little one enchanting? I wonder if my gorgeous girl would agree to being dressed like this? 'Look what I found in the garden Mummy!'

This paper scrap is an old button card which has been hand~painted to match the buttons that were originally on it. It never ceases to amaze me how much careful attention to detail was given to tiny things ~ buttons used to be such an important design aspect of a garment before zips and velcro came along! I can't find any of the buttons that belonged to this card now, so I must have used them all, but I still love it...

An original watercolour of a strikingly elegant lady painted on a postcard, dated 1904. This is one of those special items that I couldn't ever part with because I think that she is so beautiful and I often wonder who she is...

...I've got at least a hundred of them, but top of the list is the arrival of a new season and with it blue skies, sunshine, flowers and light! My wish for you, is of course the same and to have a lovely weekend in 'Friendship's Garden'...

Until next time,
Ali x

Reading Matter...

2009-02-21T10:22:00.022Z

My one weakness (in the manner of Dorcas from 'Larkrise to Candleford') is a subscription to a lovely magazine. The delight when the postman drops these paper bound visions of loveliness through my letter box is well, ~ I can't think of an appropriate word ~ but I know that you will all understand...

These are such little luxuries in my life now, finding the time to read without any interruption is rare, so I look forward to planning 'me' time in the day when I can sit quietly with a cup of tea and a fresh magazine to open up and discover the treats inside. The result is usually a mixture of thoughts in my head 'oh why can't my house look like that?' or 'I could try and make one of those' (when I get the time) but mostly I am simply inspired by the wonderful creators and creations that appear as each page is turned.

Over the years I have become a little more discerning in the publications that I buy ~ I used to indulge in every home and crafts magazine out there, but now have whittled the selection down to just a few of what I consider to be the very best...

Here goes the list; 'Victoria' ~ bereft was I, when this gorgeous magazine left the scene and now it is back! This comes directly from the USA in airmail packaging along with another favourite, 'Romantic Homes'. The best English magazine by far still has to be 'Country Living', closely followed by 'Homes & Antiques' which actually just keeps getting better and better (I give a gift of this one each year to my mum and get to read it when I visit!) If you haven't discovered 'Selvedge' yet, then you must, this is a real treat for textile enthusiasts and I just love it ~ this was on my Christmas list and I devour it from cover to cover.

'Romantic Homes'

'Victoria'

'Selvedge'

My absolute new favourites though, are the American publications from Stampington, which I discovered by chance last year. Oh my oh my, if you have not yet managed to see a copy of any of these gorgeous magazines then treat yourself... Magazine is really not the right word to describe them ~ more like reference books to keep forever, heaven forbid that one of these should see a recycling bin! The special titles to look out for are; 'Artful Blogging', 'Where Women Create', 'Somerset Life' & 'Sew Somerset' but there are many more to indulge in if you have the opportunity!

Stampington Publications

I also have a passion for reading old magazines ~ when I say old, preferably pre~1920. I adore the advertisements and the typography used and the content is fascinating too ~ full of inspiration for projects. Here are some I have bought recently;

'The Home Circle' dated 1905

love the little drawing and typography on this feature...

Edwardian issues of 'Needlecraft' 1909

the advertisements are decorative in their own right...

and look at the little treasure I found inside one of the magazines ~ a silk thread sample card

I even managed (in between reading magazines!) to get a little sewing done this week and finished a few more lovelies to add to my shop.

large 'handbag' filled with lavender made from a 1930's paisley & floral eiderdown fabric, trimmed with an old lace collar, 1920's silk velvet ribbon and old glass beads ~ a small handbag with a vintage whitework embroidered collar piece & two mini lavender hearts in vintage faded floral linen, old ribbon & buttons

I'm going to sign off now, as it is Sunday evening and 'Larkrise' beckons ~ does anyone else dream of owning a shop like the one featured ~ the drapers & haberdasher's? Have you seen the reels of ribbon on the shelves? I wonder, when I watch; are they originals found by the prop buyers for the BBC, or are they recreated and if so, who has this fabulous job?! I think I would start hyperventilating if I ever walked into an old shop like that!

Until next time...

Magpie Tendencies Anyone?

2009-02-19T22:14:00.041Z

I have come to the conclusion that I must have been a magpie in a previous life ~ I would have been happily flying around with a tiara on my head, rings on my toes and maybe even a little sparkly number flung around my neck too...

It wouldn't have been the real thing of course ~ I probably would have been a poor magpie as I am in human life, but you see this doesn't matter to a magpie (or me) as a bit of fake bling ~ as long as it is vintage, is perfectly fine. More than fine. My absolute joy in life is to have a box full of lots of broken bits of old paste jewellery, that just need to be reinvented in some way. Odd earrings, brooches without pins, necklaces without clasps and even pieces with missing stones, I see past their little misfortunes and want to love them again and take them home with me.

I know that there are others out there just like me; blogging has enlightened me of this fact! I used to think I was a bit strange. Very strange. Now that I have got a bit older, I relish the fact that perhaps I am a bit strange, as I don't want to be just like everyone else. That's where vintage bling comes into it's own. I have the most fabulous 1950's glass necklace in a smoky grey colour that every time I wear it generates compliments and whispers of 'where did you buy it?' followed by a gasp of surprise when they ask 'how much was it?' The gasp is for how little I paid for it! Perhaps I should just say 'Tiffany's' and keep 'em guessing!

my favourite vintage glass necklace from the 1950's...a bargain at less than £10!

This week I have painstakingly removed hundreds and hundreds of teeny glass seed beads from a fragment of a 1920's/30's dress. I just had to salvage those tiny little silvery sparkles just a bit bigger than a speck of dust. You see, I told you I was strange! They are worth it, new beads are lovely, but a bit too perfect. I like mishapen, I like a scratch here and there but most of all I like the colour of old bling ~ it sparkles but is not too shiny. I hardly need to mention this as I know that I'm speaking to the converted...

teeny tiny silvery pink glass seed beads...

Edwardian large brass & paste dress ornament...

1930's square faceted glass dress ornaments

an unusually organised bead box... (before gorgeous girl opens the lid!)

Art Deco glass buckle...

1930's beaded dress decoration

Victorian paste buttons...

one of my handmade miniature pillows...
fine dress silk in grey stripe c.1910, decorated with a 1920's diamante panel

There are a few exceptions to the vintage rule however, especially when it comes to handmade. Last year I met a talented jewellery maker who creates entirely by hand, wonderful sparkling rings using Swarovski crystals. Each one can take hours to make and they are so unique. I met Anne last year whilst participating in the same craft fair (I always see so many lovely things, I end up spending more than I make!) Her website Cristaline is well worth a look and you may be lucky enough to meet her yourself at a craft fair...

my growing collection of handmade crystal rings from Cristaline

I could go on and on about my magpie tendencies; the way candlelight bounces on the facets of little paste stones, chandelier lustres hanging on a Christmas tree, but most of all it's my eyes that light up when I spy a little sparkling treasure that all the other magpies out there have missed...

Is anyone else a bit superstitious about magpies? I have this thing about one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl etc. If I see a lone magpie I have to do a little salute ~ yes, as if I were in the army standing in front of an officer ~ that kind of salute! I was told a few years ago that by doing this I would avoid any sorrow. And now I just can't stop myself! Lord knows what people think of me if they see me driving my car saluting them as they go by. So, if you ever happen to witness this ~ it was the magpie I was saluting, honestly! Strange, strange, strange...

Until next time...

A Host of Memories...

2009-02-17T09:32:00.008Z

I meant to post this in time for Valentine's Day, but time ran away with me...

The poem below was written by my grandfather (married to Betty ~ you can see him in the photo on the left) on the 12th February 1944, whilst serving in the army during the second world war, after Christmas leave. I have a small collection of writings by Grandad and an ambition is to one day put them altogether in a book of sorts, but in the meantime, I thought I would share this one as the date is so relevant. The poem is dedicated to Betty & also Angela ~ my Mum.

A Host of Memories
Wedding day, a daimler ride
Wine and happy hours
You as radiant as the bride
A church adorned with flowers
Angela shouting, dancing too
And earning admiration
Then to sleep without ado
And guns at Edgware Station

Angela rousing in the night
And waking me and you
Torpedo switch, electric light
The clock at half past two
A cup of milk, a piece of choc
A tiredness in my brain
Another glance ~ it's four o'clock
That's good! She sleeps again

Leicester Square to book for seats
My sister Eileen wins
A Mars Bar and a roll of sweets
To exercise our chins
Laughter, Strand, orchestra, tea
A crooner wasting time
'Green Man' darling, and with me
To seek a gin and lime

Party day and Sunday best
The children laugh and sing
And then recite before they rest
And gather everything
Including presents from the tree
And apples from the bowl
Whilst Angela climbed chairs to see
The dear and happy soul

Quiet evenings by the fire
Such softness for my head
The midnight news and then retire
On tiptoe into bed
Buying shoes in Oxford Street
A crimson frock and soap
Record exchange and 'Bitter Sweet'
Then tea served by a dope

Piano at midnight, siren notes
That caught us unawares
Angela bathing, playing boats
And scrambling up the stairs
A host of memories my sweet
And many more I know
But they must wait and take a seat
For now I have to go

Original poem written by my grandfather ~ February 12th 1944

Until next time…

Ali x

I Love Paris...

2009-02-13T15:56:00.018Z

Firstly...

I'm participating in a charity gift fair today; I'm hoping that everyone will be loved up, full of romance and looking to buy lavender filled hearts...the car, as usual when going to an event, smells of lavender ~ wonderful!

Husband has been to Paris this week and is there next week too ~ I wish I had been able to get out there as well, I love looking in all the shop windows for inspiration, and breathing in the Parisian way of life. It is over a year now since my last stay there and I definitely have withdrawal symptoms. I am running low on ribbon stock and I have a favourite haberdashery store there that I always visit to buy a good supply Entree des Fournisseurs and just around the corner is a great little bead shop too Matiere Premiere. Both are in the Le Marais district which is so pretty, if you ever find yourself in Paris, these two little shops are such a treat...sigh...

I recently found a little collection of Paris photograph postcard books ~ vintage souvenirs, probably about 1930's which are really lovely, I just couldn't resist them. The photographs in black & white are beautiful and the typography on the front covers is so romantic. Once I have taken some scans of my favourites for future reference I will offer them for sale (if I can bear to part with them!)

I also bought a couple of old valentine cards ~ to add to my growing collection of vintage ephemera. There is something about handling old bits of paper with somebody's handwriting on them that makes you wonder about the people who have owned and enjoyed them before. I think they are so precious and I have a box full of cards, letters and scraps that I never get tired of looking at.

I set the photos up with some lovely bits of vintage & antique fabric bought recently from Donna Flower and an old micro mosaic heart locket. I'm not usually drawn to black in a big way, but I remember from my old 'interior design' days learning that every room in the house should have a tiny bit of black and also red in it whatever the colour scheme. It could be something as small as this little heart or a picture frame, book spine etc., but just adds a teeny punch of colour to draw the eye ~ and it works!

I found some pretty valentine graphics from the very talented Rhonna Farrer. You can find her work at twopeasinabucket which is a great site for lots of digital images, scrapbook ideas etc.

Have a wonderful, romantic day ~ sending more hearts across the airwaves.

Until next time,

Ali x

Birthdays & Beads...

2009-02-10T21:00:00.011Z

Does everyone else have days and weeks that go by so quickly or is it just me?

The scary thing is, it's not just the days and weeks, it is also the months and years that are whizzing by my nose at an incredible rate. My gorgeous girl celebrated her 3rd birthday this weekend (how did that happen?) The years before gorgeous girl arrived seemed to stretch on forever and I sometimes struggled to believe that we would ever be blessed with our own family ~ it took a long time; fertility treatment, lost hope and then a miracle ~ our gorgeous girl.

Everyone says that when you have a child time seems to pass much more quickly and it is so true! Those years before she arrived now seem to melt away and she is 3 years old already! Caring for her is the hardest work I have ever done, but without doubt the the most rewarding, inspirational, funny and lovely. Today she said 'you're my friend, mummy' and I forgave her for emptying all my cosmetics onto the beige carpet, drawing a 'rainbow' with crayons on the kitchen floor and pulling the cat's tail ~ again!

Last week, in preparation for her birthday I ordered a wooden doll's house which; due to the weather still hadn't arrived by 6pm on Friday evening. So I decided that 'just in my spare time' I should stay up half the night to make a little quilt & pillow for her dollies cot. The miniature cot is a vintage wooden painted cot from the 1950's ish that my Dad re~painted in a creamy colour and was just waiting for this little set to be made.

I used a vintage printed pink (of course) floral cotton from the 1930's and backed it with a new cream pure linen. I filled the quilt with a natural cotton wadding to give a lightweight but tactile feel and stitched simple straight lines down the length for added texture. I also made a mattress that I covered in calico. The finishing touch is a feather pillow (I have these small feather inners bespoke made for me as I love tiny cushions on chairs) and it just fitted perfectly into the cot. I trimmed the pillowcase with vintage lace and new ribbon. I'm glad to say that gorgeous girl loves it and carried the quilt with her (and teddy) to pre-school today! All well worth the loss of few (more) hours sleep...

I have also been sorting out more stock to photograph from the collections I have accumulated over the years and bought recently from my antique textile dealer friend who always seems to have a great selection of treasures that I just can't resist. I have a lot of gorgeous glass beads of all shapes and sizes that have taken ages to put together in little bags and co~ordinate in colours ~ it has been driving me crazy picking up teeny glass seed beads that I keep dropping! I've taken some photos to include in a flickr group that I have joined organised by the lovely Sara at Sadie Olive (who designed my website for me) and this week's theme is hearts, which are my absolute passion in life! So here are a few examples (I will try and save some for Valentine's Day!) The flickr link is on the left sidebar of my blog page if you want to see the full selection so far...

Ceramic heart with monogram A bought in France ~ I'm mad about collecting things with initials on!

Finished handmade hearts in my workroom...

Mini lavender filled hearts in a bowl...

1950's diamante scatter pin with a Victorian mercury glass dish and vintage glass beads...

Until next time...

Let it snow...

2009-02-05T21:01:00.011Z

I love snowdrops in the snow...

I hope that you are all warm and safely tucked up inside ~ what a winter wonderland it has been this week. A great excuse for lighting the fire, eating toasted teacakes with loads of butter and copious mugs of tea ~ oh, of course making an enormous snowman with gorgeous girl!

I was in the Cotswolds over the weekend and didn't manage to get back home until Wednesday, so would like to apologise to those of you waiting for packages ~ most of them were despatched today, but the postman didn't make it to me this morning so I'm not sure how long they might take to reach you. I try and send packages via recorded delivery, which of course means a car trip to our 'local' post office. I say local but in fact is not that near as my genuinely local post office closed last year. We have a very entrepreneurial pub close by offering limited post office services with minimal opening hours, which sometimes helps, but not if you live in the back of beyond like me (actually more like the middle of a field!) on a snowy day. So, I trudged in my boots to one of those little 'lollipops on sticks' post boxes which you can just about fit one envelope in and hope that some arrive with you in the morning!

I have been trying to navigate my way around Photoshop and when I have a moment have been playing with the special effects ~ I love the way old photos look with a faded grainy look to them, so I applied a very subtle layer to the above photo of my house taken in the snow today.

Gorgeous Girl in the snow

Taking Stock...

2009-02-01T21:20:00.022Z

Or perhaps I should say, stock taking...

A busy few days. I decided that my fabric collection & buttons, ribbons etc., were somehow multiplying secretly without my knowledge as I just can't fathom out how on earth I have got so much stuff...

So, I decided to take have a bit of a sort out, which actually for me is very therapeutic and a perfectly lovely way to spend an evening ~ clearing out lots of boxes of buttons, ribbons and bits and pieces that I have been keeping to make lovely things or just for a rainy day. I feel the need to bring in some fresh pieces to look at for inspiration, which is all very well, but I need to make more room...

My dream is to have a whole room full of just my things ~ am I being selfish? It is not easy when the family home is just that but also has to accommodate an office for a husband who works from home, a 3 year old gorgeous girl and of course a fabricaholic with a creative streak! One of my current favourite books is 'Where Women Create' ~ I wistfully look at the pretty rooms filled with vintage French armoires and stacks of neatly arranged textiles; books standing like soldiers on their shelves, fresh flowers on a table next to a sewing machine and an old box full of threads and buttons and ribbons. Yes, I know I am looking at life through rose tinted glasses, but sometimes you have to just to get through the day...

So, back to real life ~ I do not have a room that could be included in a book like the one mentioned, but I am really lucky to have space in a spare room with a work table and bookshelves and a few touches for inspiration.

Where this woman creates...

inspiration on the wall above my desk ~ a Victorian button salesman's sample card

I have been busy taking photographs of stock to sell on my website and ebay whilst looking after gorgeous girl who has had a nasty virus with a name I have never heard of! Buttons were high on the priority list for reducing in number ~ I realised that my collection of mother of pearl buttons are scattered around the house in various glass jars...I don't make life easy for myself!

on the bookshelf in old perfume bottles that I decorated with vintage labels & trims...

on the windowsill in the downstairs cloakroom...

on a shelf in the bedroom...

on a chest of drawers...

I finally got it all sorted out and photographed, so I now have some fresh stock to showcase ~ here is a little taster of what will be for sale...

Thank you so much for the lovely comments, it means a lot to know that there are more of you out there that share the same addiction! Until next time, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

My Marie Antoinette Day...

2009-01-13T21:25:00.008Z

I really am a bit new to the blogging world ~ today I received such a lovely award from Shabby Chick (Mel). I am loving reading your blog 'Country in the Town' which is already one of my favourites and slowly making acquaintance with some of your favourites too. I just need to figure out how to get the picture onto my blog and choose some others to receive the award in turn. I am so green that my list at the moment is a little on the short side so I think I need to get reading and posting before I can get the photo onto my site!

My 'Marie Antoinette' award is perfect and so apt as I have a bit of thing for her ~ last summer I fulfilled an ambition by visiting Versailles and I read a wonderful biography 'Marie Antoinette The Last Queen of France by Evelyne Lever which I highly recommend. I have in my thoughts a special little collection of hand~made lovelies inspired by Marie Antoinette fashion and have been scribbling the beginning of some new patterns...

Today, coincidentally started with a 'Marie Antoinette Day' even before I received the lovely award as my husband returned from a business trip to Paris last night with a little box of Laduree macarons. This famous patisserie in Paris (and now in London too!) made the macarons for the 2006 movie 'Marie Antoinette'. If you haven't tried these yet, then you must do everything in your power to acquire some ~ and make it quick! They are heavenly. The delight starts with the beautiful packaging, which I can't bear to throw away as it is so pretty, followed by the contents ~ in this case, vanille, citron, chocolat et framboise. Gorgeous girl managed three all by herself (my daughter ~ not me, I'm definitely not so gorgeous after eating too many macarons!) I probably manage to get one of these little boxes just once a year, but worth waiting for....So, just to get you all drooling, I took a photo ~ well why not?

Continuing on the French theme ~ here is another beautiful book that I received as a late Christmas present from my Mum this weekend. The photography is amazing and the focus is on how the French style and put together their collections of vintage stuff for display in their home, which is right up my street and perfect inspiration for taking better photos...

Opening Packages

2009-01-12T22:13:00.012Z

Above ~ Late 18th century French silk hand~made trim in duck egg and cream with perfect little silk 'buttons' completely hand stitched in the finest thread ~ utterly gorgeous!

I have a lovely friend Jan, an antique textiles dealer who I have known now for about 10 years or so. She used to have the teeniest little shop but now just works from home and I am so lucky that every now and again she puts together a little parcel of goodies for me to look at to see if I want to buy them. Of course, she is soooo good at knowing what I like that there is never anything I want to send back and always buy everything! This weekend I had such a parcel to open ~ the anticipation of opening all the little bags... Inside, were various lengths of old ribbon, lace, buttons and 'bits' ~ some will be perfect trimmings for the pieces I am planning to make just as soon as I get some time, and others will be offered for sale on my website ~ if I can just bring myself to part with them.

Jan and I chatted for ages on the phone today about our interest in old textiles and agreed that we are so lucky to be involved in something that we are passionate about, and while we will never make our fortune doing what we do, we are priveleged to be able to hold and appreciate such amazing little treasures and wondrous rare finds, even if only for a short time before they are passed on to a new owner. I would never have the budget to buy and keep collections of antique textiles just for my own pleasure kept in a drawer to look at every now and then ~ but what I do is the next best thing. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, and just occasionally something will catch my eye and I just know for sure that I will keep it forever... Mostly; the desire to be able to find more goodies is what encourages me to make and sell just enough to fund my little business and keep me happy!

An early 20th century needle lace butterfly c.1910

A bunch of Victorian tiny fabric flowers

Art Nouveau hand~worked silk appliques

I can't wait to photograph some more to share with you. I now must absolutely stop buying stock and start sewing again!

Finding bliss in books...

2009-01-08T20:47:00.016Z

My gorgeous girl started pre-school this week and despite longing for some free time to spend on my own, dreaming of satisfying mornings spent at the sewing machine, I had such mixed feelings! I know that she is nearly 3 but it all seems to be happening so quickly and she's not my baby any more...

She absolutely loved it of course and I had no need to worry, but on this first morning a friend (also leaving her little one) and I decided to abandon any thoughts of catching up on ironing and housework in favour of a visit to our local antiques emporium and have a coffee and a browse. Well, I say 'browse' what I really mean of course is hunt for treasures with serious determination! Hopefully to find those elusive trinkets that I can keep for myself or offer for sale on my website. The problem is, I only buy stuff that I love, so parting with anything is impossible!

Here are the little treasures I found and had to bring home with me...

A set three delightful little 1930's books by Katherine Mansfield ~ I was initially drawn to 'The Garden Party' as I used to have a business styling and organising weddings and this was my business name (I also use it for my ebay id too!). I felt I couldn't leave the other two books behind on the shelf...

I am addicted to old books ~ especially those with charming titles like these. I have a growing collection of old Christmas books which are brilliant for display. I find these little old books offer a bit of comfort ~ so reassuring that they have survived the years, just waiting for me to discover them again.

...and a little vintage 'Paris' brooch which will eventually find it's way onto something that I make, but for now will nestle in a box with lots of companions ~

I was lucky enough to get a new digital camera for my birthday so forgive me if I am getting a bit 'click' happy, I am trying to practise and get better at taking photo's ~ I love the setting up bit, but don't have any technical ability at all! I took some pictures of a very shabby painted cupboard we just bought to put 'gorgeous girl's toys in downstairs, I thought I might have to re~paint it but actually I love it just the way it is complete with chippy finish, dents & dings...

New Year's Resolution

2009-01-03T11:35:00.013Z

A Vintage Year....

Well here goes - my first post on a new blog which I have been meaning to start for a very long time and have now finally plucked up the courage as part of my New Year resolution list ~ which happens to be as long as my arm again this year...

I have been inspired by so many other vintage obsessed bloggers (I didn't realise there were quite so many afflicted with this wonderful passion) and encouraged by lots of lovely people that I have met over the last few months to put pen to paper (or press a few buttons on a keyboard!). December was truly, madly, busy! There was smoke coming out of my sewing machine until the early hours most days as I tried to get stock ready for craft and gift fairs. I had an especially lovely time at the Holiday Bazaar hosted by the Chiltern American Women's Association ~ my idea of bliss is to share thoughts about collecting and making with vintage textiles, buttons, ribbons, jewels and more ~ such a festive, friendly atmosphere!

Now the Christmas holidays are nearly over and my brain is already working overtime with lots of new ideas and inspirations ~ a good excuse (as if I needed one) to stock up with more vintage goodies. I look forward to sharing my 'loved in a previous life' finds with you all!