Sunday, February 04, 2007

Textiles and Treasures.

It never ceases to amaze me how many beautiful old items are out there waiting to be rediscovered. Yesterday I made a quick visit to Bath city centre. I was looking for a gift for a friend of mine, who has a Birthday on the 14th. She shares my passion for vintage items, so I didn't want to visit the high street shops. I started at the antiques centre at the top of the town. I couldn't believe what I found there. I have never seen anything quite like it:

She is a Deco doll head on a stick that has been decorated in crepe paper. Maybe she was a carnival prop, or part of a fancy dress costume? I'm not sure, but I decided to buy her for myself, to add to my doll collection. So my hunt was still on!
I then went to a shop called 'Vintage to Vogue' which sells fabulous vintage costume, accessories and some household linens. Here I bought these pretty little mats. The one on the left is embroidered with roses and has a metallic braid edging. The other set looks to have been hand painted with a thick substance to create 3D roses. She will love these.

I also came across these 1920's camisole samples. There was a whole book of them, containing around 100. I would have loved to have bought them all, but my budget wouldn't allow! They were £1.00 each, so I bought this selection:

They will make pretty shelf edgings.

I finally visited the tiny flea market with its half a dozen stalls in a last attempt to find something else wonderful for her. And here it is!
It is a very old shawl collar in ecru lace. I shall present it on a pretty padded coat hanger. She lives in a tiny character filled cottage and I am sure this will be perfectly at home there.
A successful days shopping and I didn't step foot inside a large soulless chain store. That's my kind of shopping!

33 comments:

  1. The lace collar for your friend with the Valentine birthday is just lovely.
    I have never seen dolls on sticks like yours either, I can imagine that young ones would to like to play with then like puppets and have the most glamorous puppet shows ever.
    You are a lucky duck to find such treasures.

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  2. Oh I love your phrase "large soulless chain store". I too did some thrift shopping yesterday. I found some things I really liked, but I've never seen such treasures as you find. Those hand-painted roses are exquisite. Your friend will be so thrilled with her gifts. :0)

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  3. Niki,
    Wow, lucky friend!!
    Love all your finds, that shawl would look really nice on a dress dummy wouldn't it? Yep, the thrift stores and antique, and collectible stores are the best.
    NANCY JO

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  4. Hi Niki, What some wonderful finds and delightful gifts! I totally agree with you about high street shopping - it's so boring! You never know what you will find in an antiques shop or flea market and that's what makes it so exciting! Clare x

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  5. Anonymous5:02 pm

    How wonderful this doll is!!! What a rare find. Thanks for sharing so much beauty on your blog!

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  6. Oh to have a friend like you Niki! A book token just never has the same impact does it? LOL! lovely treasures.

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  7. You're my kind of treasure hunter! You've got some beauties. I love the lace samples, and that shawl is just gorgeous! It will be a most treasured gift by your friend I'm sure!

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  8. You find the most amazing things! I would love to carry such a pretty doll, with the crepe ribbons flowing in the breeze :)

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  9. What a great way to spend a Saturday, have you thought of doing vintage tours around the Bath area. I would certainly book a seat!!

    Best wishes Ginny

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  10. Anonymous9:35 pm

    The lace shawl is absolutely beautiful...very lucky friend and wonderful finds again Nikki.

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  11. I prefer shopping in antique shops and fairs as well. Having unique one-of-a-kind items beats mass merchandising any day of the week. What beautiful finds you've gathered today! No doubt your friend will be thrilled.

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  12. My kind of shopping too :) I love thrift stores and junk shops, hate over bright shopping malls.

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  13. That's my kind of shopping too! What wonderful finds, sounds like they will have a good home!

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  14. What an inspirational post for me as I am learning from YoU and others to step outside my box when shopping.I now have a new set of eyes when out there. The lace the shawl..to die for! I am sure your friend will squeel with delight!

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  15. The shawl is sooo romantically gorgeous. Your friend is absolutely going to love it.Those hand-painted roses are just painted perfectly in the lovliest shade of pink.I just love all of your treasures.

    Annabelle ~^..^~ xo

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  16. I love to visit your site because you always have such pretty things here.

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  17. Absolutely stunning!!!!

    Isn`t Bath the most amazing place...I`m from South Africa, but visited there on occation.....loved it

    Chamara

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  18. I am salivating!

    When I was in Bath, unfortunately I had to tow the line and let myself be given a tour + history since I was writing an article about it. We had no free time at all; otherwise I would have been looking for shops like these.

    I did see Peter O'Toole having tea at the hotel I was staying at though....

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  19. Wow, what beautiful treasures you discovered!
    This doll is gorgeous! I hope I'll have time to sew my first dolls / fairys very soon, too.

    I am sure your friend will appreciate that gift! Oh, she's a Valentine's girl, born on February, 14th!

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  20. That lace shawl is gorgeous. I'm sure your friend is going to be delighted. Sounds like you had a lovely Saturday. I totally agree about the soulless chain stores.

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  21. Oh my I totally fall in love with this very old shawl collar in ecru lace! Your friend is very lucky to have you as her friend! xox

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  22. Anonymous12:35 pm

    ALL of these newest treasures are SO precious, Niki. From the doll to the collar ~ your eye is so keen for the uniquely beautiful and exquisite things ~ I'm happy that they end up with you. Enjoy them!!
    xo,
    Kim

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  23. Anonymous12:36 pm

    ....AND given to your friend! She is very lucky and you are so generous!!
    xo,
    Kim

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  24. Anonymous12:39 pm

    Gorgeous buys, your friend is lucky to have someone who takes so much time and trouble over her birthday gift.

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  25. Niki just a little note. Be sure to check my blog today. I hope you don't mind that I mentioned you there.
    Hugs,
    ~Betty Jo~

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  26. Sure enough you find the most amazing things! Somebody needs to make a bunch more of those doll heads on a stick. (I didn't make them sound very pretty then, did I?)

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  27. I wish I would live in England to discover such nice things as you have them in your shops and fleemarkets!

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  28. You obviously have an eye for the right thing. All your pictures look amazing.

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  29. Beautiful, what a lovely lovely friend you are :-)

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  30. I am just ooooo-ing and aaaah-ing over these beautiful finds!
    That doll is just precious; she looks like she is within a beautiful flower whose petals are gently dripping around her.
    Your friend will be delighted! :)

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  31. That shawl is gorgeous, I would love to find one here for my old vinatge dress form. Your friends goodies will be treasured!

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  32. what a thoughtful friend to hunt high and low for just the right gift. sounds perfect.

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  33. the dolls are nice but the collar is beautiful. ciao ciao

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Thank you for finding the time to visit me...
Niki xx