Monday, June 18, 2007

'Shabby Chic' Style Finds.


As you can see from the clouds behind one of my favourite stands at the Shepton Mallet Flea Market, the weather did not look very promising! Ever the die-hard flea market shopper, I thought it was worth the risk! The rain stayed away most of the day and I managed to find some wonderful items....

The French pink brocade pelmet came form the seller above. It has the most wonderful bobble trim along the hem, in pink and green. I also found some pretty French millinery flower posies and pink silk velvet ribbon, which is getting very rare now.

From another vintage textile dealer I bought the French fabric covered box and the wax flower Bridal headdress in another box, with its original white satin bouquet ribbons......

Enchanting antique French lace edgings on their original cards.........

And this tiny French bed complete with a pale blue cotton fabric cover. The rust from the little metal bed has come through onto the fabric, so I shall hide it by carefully stitching some more lace and some of the pink millinery flowers around the edges. I think it needs a little quilt too!
The wonderful yellow embroidered pelmet came from Sue and will be fabulous to use as a skirt on one of my handmade rag dolls.

The gorgeous rose braid will be stitched onto a set of white bathroom towels.
And I could not resist these fragile roses made from very fine porcelain in pale pink and ruby red; they are a little chipped, but still beautiful.

I bought this whole collection of pink and aqua green costume brooches from one dealer; I love how they all look together...they will each find a place on my handmade bags, coat hangers and gift sets.

I had such an amazing day catching up with friends who visit to buy and others who have stands selling fabulous treasures!
It was also good to come home and unpack all the lovely things and decide how I shall utilise them.
Hope you had a great weekend too!

I also found more vintage postcards, a Victorian hat and the sheet music printed with the beautiful flapper's face will framed and put into my living room.

38 comments:

  1. What wonderful finds!
    I love flea markets to, there is one on every thursday, near me, but I don't get to go very often as I am at school!
    Toby.

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  2. OMG pick me up off the floor I feel faint....

    I just want to run up to that stall in the top photo and grab that quilt. How frustrating. I LOVE that pink pelmet with the bobbly bits too OMG .... give me smelling salts..

    Oh everything is just lovely Niki.

    Hope I recover soon:))))
    best wishes Ginny

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  3. Niki! You've done it again! That's more beautiful treasure than I'd ever find during the course of an entire summer!!! I can't wait to see some of those pretties make their way onto your goodies and into your shop (and keeping fingers crossed that I can get up early enough to buy something before everything says "sold")! heehee =)

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  4. Ooh!! Such visual treats!! The bed is just amazing, and I love that rose ribbon braid!! In fact, I love it all....

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  5. Wow, I love every single thing. I wish I could go to that flea market.
    I especially like the pelmet/valance. See I know what that is.
    It is all so pretty and girly.
    Have fun with it,
    Rosemary

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  6. Nikki,
    What a whole lot of good stuff! I can just see a lot of it used in your craft work. I find a lot of old jewelry, can't understand why people want to part with it.
    Where do you store all the things you get? I like to see what I have, but then I love hat boxes and such too.
    NANCY JO

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  7. Wow Niki, you did do well. Doesn't Rosie's stall look wonderful - I love those door frames. I could have spent a fortune with her!

    Thanks for your purchases, as always, and great to see you!

    Sue xx

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  8. PS - I see you bought the roses braid, then! Sxx

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  9. Anonymous8:32 pm

    HI Niki, what a great selection of goods! Do you know I have that same exact roses trim? I bought a whole card full at our local antiques market. Thank you also for relaying that lady's comment about the large cushions, I need all the encouragement I can get!

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  10. I wish we had car boot sales(I see now this was a stall at a show...) Even still I don't believe we'd have finds as old and wonderful as yours. That little bed is so precious!

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  11. Gorgeous things, bet you're glad you braved the elements. I just love everything.

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  12. Niki how do you do it? Every time I come over for a visit there are even more beautiful treasures, each one outdazzling the last! Wonderful!
    Kim x

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  13. Now this is one flea market I would have loved to visit!!!!!

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  14. Anonymous11:33 am

    Niki, these latest finds are drop-dead gorgeous! You lucky, lucky girl! I would be so thrilled with all of these sweet things! And the bed! Be still my heart! So precious!
    xo,
    Kim

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  15. Anonymous11:33 am

    oh la la ! comme j'aurais aimé être là !

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  16. Anonymous12:51 pm

    Un petit bonjour de France, j'aime aussi le "Shabby chic" !
    A bientôt
    Nathalie

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  17. Hi Niki

    First, I must apologise - I missed your last post! I've enjoyed catching up though!

    You certainly did find some really exquisite pieces at Shepton - and I still can't believe we only saw each other the once during our forays in and around the stalls!

    I think I must have bought quite a few things as we made 3 return journeys to the car!

    I can't wait to see what wonderful things you do with your finds.

    Clare x

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  18. Wonderful bunch of goodies, now I'll be waiting to see how you use them in the beautiful things you make.

    Darla

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  19. Anonymous4:11 pm

    Oh Nicki, you go to the most amazing flea markets and what wonderful finds!

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  20. You always seem to find such amazing things! I definitely must make the effort and go to Shepton. I love that roses braid.

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  21. OH MY Niki!!!!!! I am dying here...you had the BEST day ever!! I wish I could fly myself over there and sort through all of those beauties with you!! I just want to stare at them...he he. Lucky Lucky girl!

    I always enjoy your blog so much!
    Heather

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  22. Anonymous7:59 pm

    I've just seen your photo from the flea market and I loved the stall you bought from...I wanted those old doors! I couldn't think of anywhere to put them though!! I did buy the glazed cupboard at the front of the pic though, wasn't her stall just beautiful. Great fair, cant wait for the next one.

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  23. Anonymous1:05 pm

    I don't even know where to begin - this is all so gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  24. Anonymous3:27 pm

    WOW what wonderful teasures I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do with them all.

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  25. Such wonderful finds, but I don't know how you have the stength to part with them again, even as part of your lovely craftwork. I would eventually drown under it all - actually - what a wonderful way to go!
    I also wish there were flea markets like that around here!
    Sandra.x.

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  26. I've been wanting to be in England for over 40 years!! Now, more than ever, I would love to be there and go to the fleas and fairs !!! What GREAT things you have found!! All I need is a passport, a ticket and a whole lot of money to spend on goodies and UPS to get it all home!!! Love your blog, love you treasures you make and sell. Just met you tonight, but already feel like I've known you forever (must be my British genes from my dad's mom.)I will be back again and again!!!

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  27. You can pick me off the floor too now Niki! I'm almost speechless about the wonderful treasures you found again! Awe! I could need some of the gorgeous stuff for the Marie Antoinette Swap I've currently signed up for. If only our flea markets would be as good as your's! The antique markets here are extremely expensive, so no chance for us to ever come across such treasures as you found for a fair price. Oh you are so lucky! Have a beautiful weekend ahead!
    Hugs Carol xox

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  28. Such Gorgeous finds!
    Alison x

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  29. Now that's my kind of shopping..

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  30. oh- i just carn't talk- every thing is so beautiful.

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  31. Anonymous12:57 am

    I have to say.....I LOVE every single photo on oyur blog. What a lovely site you have. You are now on my favorites and I will visit quite often.
    Lori

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  32. You found some lovely items! A very productive flea market day!

    Love the trims and ribbons. I found 2 different pink velvet ribbons on my last antiqueing venture.

    Ooohh..and that pink pelmet and cute blue bed. All wonderful!

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  33. Niki, you always find the best things (see, even if you didn't get your trip to France this summer, you still found lots of lovely French things). xo

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  34. You are the finest vintage shopper I know Niki! and yes I would love to have tea and lemon cake in my garden with you!which, in an ideal world would be followed by a jaunt around those fabulous flea markets in your neck of the woods! how lucky you are to have such amazing places to visit!

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  35. WOw what wonderful collection of items :).

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  36. Love all your goodies. cant wait to see what you will do with them! Laurie

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  37. These finds are so gorgeous!! I just had to look at each photo again and again ~ you're right, it was worth getting in a little bad weather to find such treasures! xxoo, Dawn

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  38. Oh how I would LOVE to run across the lovely old trims and flowers that you found! I just found your blog and love looking through all the photos ~ thank you for sharing these with us.

    Lana

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