Happy Hallowe'en!

Happy Hallowe'en everyone!!

Beautiful Buttons.

Sunday, for me, was spent treasure hunting! Here are my finds:

Beautiful vintage buttons, including glass, mother-of-pearl, tin, plastic and diamante.

Two brooches, one of which is handmade and embroidered with French knot flowers.

The Scottish mohair scarf in the background and the ancient curling tongs- bought just for display!

and all these vintage sewing treasures!

Chair Makeover.

I have had a little Lloyd Loom style chair for many years, but the upholstery on it had worn thin and was a bit grubby, so I decided to make it a slip cover, that I could take off and wash when necessary. I wanted to use it in my kitchen, so that my daughters could sit and chat to me while I cooked.

Normally I would have used a vintage fabric, but as I needed around two metres and I wanted it to be hard wearing, I went for the vintage look! I bought some Cath Kidston Rose print fabric during her Autumn sale, so it was a bit of a bargain! It was a good weight too.

I made a paper pattern by drawing round the sections of the chair. Cut the pieces from the fabric and then got sewing! It took about an hour from start to finish.

Maybe the frill is a bit much, but as I have used a lot of gingham in the kitchen, I think I can get away with a small feminine flourish!

Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair.

I was selling at the Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair last Sunday, which was great fun. It was held in a very grand building- Cardiff City Hall. We arrived at 8am., as you can see from the clock tower...

Carrying all of the stock from the car to the building is the worst part- very tiring- especially at that time of the morning, having driven an hour to get there!! But I think I got set up in record time, so was quite organised when the public were allowed in. I specialise in hats and prom gowns from the 1950's. But I look out for anything quirky or unusual too!

I had to take this photograph of the young lady wearing one of my prom gowns, because she looked so pretty and she was so pleased that it fitted her perfectly.

We caused such excitement in Cardiff, as this was the first vintage fashion fair to be held here, that the local television company arrived to make a programme! It was for the Welsh channel S4C. Here they are doing a piece from behind my stand. I have no idea what he was saying because he was speaking in Welsh, but I hope he was being kind!

Thank you to everyone who came to visit. The fair is back in Cardiff next February on the 18th!

From One Rose Lover to Another....

Today I wanted to share with you this package that arrived at my door this morning. It was from Carol at the gorgeous blog http://carolsgarden.blogspot.com/ We had arranged our own private swap and called it a 'nostalgic roses and magazine swap'! Everything was beautifully presented, bound with pink ribbons and decorated tags with personal messages and a hand made greetings card.

Carol had also made this stunning collage herself and it featured old fashioned roses and nostalgic images. I shall hang this above my dressing table, as I love it's romantic look.

There were three German Interior magazines. I am looking forward to settling down this evening to look through them for inspiration. I think there will be some fantastic Christmas ideas in them.

Carol had also kindly included some Victorian garden magazine images, some Cath Kidston rose printed paper napkins and a rose scented sachet that had infused the whole parcel!

Thank you so very much Carol, your kindness and care is very much appreciated. I LOVE everything!

Vintage Mirrored Frames.

This is an update to the flea market finds that I purchased last weekend. I have grouped the little mirrored and vintage glass frames together on my old washstand.

At the back is the little Victorian glass frame that I bought for £4.00- it had a gold coloured surround to it, so I have placed an old sepia toned photograph in it of two little girls with their dolls prams. The other frame has a pretty young lady, that I cut from one of the postcards that I also found at the flea market.

Finally the third frame was also mirrored, but with an inlay of mother-of-pearl and was my bargain of the day at just £2.00. I cut two of the hand painted greetings cards to fit this. I would like to add to this little collection, as I like the look of them grouped together.

Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair

On Sunday the 22nd October I shall have a stand at the first ever Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair. I have a few free tickets (admits 2 people) - if you are interested in going -please send me an email and I shall get one in the post to you, but be quick- it's this Sunday!

There have been several of these fairs around the country and they are very exciting and well attended both by the trade and the public.

Flea Market Fun.

I spent Sunday at the Shepton Mallet Flea market. The sun was shinning and I was in my element! Here are my purchases: A glass picture frame, an old embroidered pin cushion with a mass of hat pins, a French pin cushion that opens up to reveal a storage box, a Victorian glass casket, a mirrored picture frame inlaid with mother-of-pearl, a violets brooch, a teeny-tiny mirrored box and a pretty beaded purse. Also the mohair shawl that can be seen in the background- perfect to make some Christmas stockings from.

An old tinted photograph of a pretty little girl in a gorgeous froufrou dress, an old chocolate box printed with a girl skipping, a box complete with wedding veil, orange blossom flowers and silk bodice, and some chunky green buttons.

A strange little crocheted lampshade, cards of antique American and French lace, a sweet little celluloid fan- hand painted with flowers and a Devon Ware china bowl decorated with forget-me-nots.

And a large box full of vintage greetings cards, postcards and photographs, many from the early 1900's.

Mohair Mittens

I have been working on some Christmas cards today. I bought some vintage Scottish mohair scarves from various charity shops, in lovely green shades, perfect for Christmas. These are usually quite easy to find in charity shops- mohair looks lovely and cosy, but it is very itchy to wear!

I cut out two simple mitten shapes from the knitted mohair. Machine stitched around the edges, leaving the top open. Antique lace was then hand stitched around the cuff, with a ribbon hanging loop and button. Tape the loop inside the front of the card, so that it isn't seen. They can then be removed from the card to hang on the Christmas tree, maybe filling first with chocolate or coins. (or chocolate coins!)

Autumn?

I thought I would share with you the view that we have from our back door. As I gaze across, it still doesn't look as if Autumn has begun. The field opposite was ploughed yesterday, ready for it's winter crop, but that is the only sign. The trees are still lush and green and the air is still.

The ordinary pink Hydrangea that I have has turned though, to a beautiful rich red. It is the perfect time to pick them now to dry in a vase- they keep their colour beautifully. I also included some red Sedum flowers that will dry well too.

On my hanging rack I have some roses that I bought at the supermarket for 30pence, because they were passed their best- I hope they will preserve to use in our Christmas wreath...

Lovely Ladies!

I know many of you are chicken lovers! - so here are my 6 hens....

Left: Budgie- the boss, who likes a cuddle!
Right: Chicken Nugget- Shy but noisy.


Left: Socky- nosey, she likes to follow to see what's going on.
Right: Miss Milly- The lap chicken- always ready to sit on your lap and go to sleep!

Left: Tinkerbell- not very bright! Is always amazed when she's laid an egg!!
Right: Pete (Don't ask!)- the loner- always by herself exploring.

Until I owned chickens, I didn't know that they had personalities, but despite their brains being the size of a pea, they do seem to!