Fallen Angels

I've wanted to have a go at making these for such a long time...
On my travels, I often come across antique lace fragments that haven't stood the test of time very well.

They've become discoloured, damaged and riddled with iron mould and rust spots. Looking beyond these faults often reveals fine examples of beautiful silks and lace edgings, many from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The age stains are notoriously difficult to remove, so I thought why not work with them, using them as a feature to give my items an instant antique look, rather than them no longer being of any real value or use.

Hope you're with me on this, as I've started making some of my tiny angel dolls again in time for Christmas...

Using the damaged antique pieces of lace to dress them, I'll call them fallen angels!

This is my first attempt...I shall be keeping her for the Vintage Bazaar at the end of the month to gauge reaction...I'm working on a way to display several of them all together, to create a flight of angels!
She has a very full skirt made from the wonderful embroidered voile edging which can be seen in the top two photos.

Her wings are made from tattered and torn muslin, embroidered with stars. A brassy crown, worn at a jaunty angle, finishes off this lady who's fallen from grace!

I do intend to make some other angels too, of the prim and proper variety - Ones which won't get up to mischief on top of the Christmas tree! (I'll try to have some at the fairs I shall be attending, at my shop, and the on-line shop catalogue if I can...)

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I'd also just like to mention the new 5th edition of Country Living Magazine's Guide to Rural England - The West Country, which has just been released this month.

My shop can be found within the Somerset section, under Shepton Mallet.

Its a great guide for those living in the region, or who intend to visit, as it covers several topics including: places to go, what to see, what to do, where to eat and buy, and where to stay.

There is also a huge amount of information stored on their associated website too.

Enjoy the rest of your week,
Niki x