How Collections Grow...

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
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Textile Heaven...

...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
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Another Gorgeous Girl in My Life...

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

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

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
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