Carrying On...

Firstly, thank you all for your kindness, and for the positive comments left on my previous post. I realise most don't visit a blog to become depressed, or to hear moans and groans, so I'm grateful that you were understanding. I am happy, and take comfort in the fact that our daughter has the confidence to strike out, follow her dreams and to discover what's out there. I am in a happy place and know that I can easily keep in contact with her, despite the miles that separate us.

So, moving on...

A surprise parcel arrived for me yesterday - Totally out of the blue and unconnected with what had been going on at home. It came from my old friend Teena. (Well, I'm older than she is, but we've been friends since we were babies! ;-)) Photos here!

Inside the beautiful box was a wonderful selection of vintage millinery flowers, dramatic beaded fragments from times long ago, and the sweetest little engagement book. T has always been such a generous person...Even now, if you'd care to visit, she is offering a Ryland, Peters & Small book as a competition prize on her blog. Go see!

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Otherwise, my life has been ticking along in much the usual way...

I've been faffing at the shop, trying to keep the displays looking interesting and inviting...

My glamour girl has a new look.

I've been out buying, as always, to keep the shelves stocked...

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And there have been a few 'makes' hot off the production table...

Greetings cards...

I used antique lace and original antique images of lovely ladies to make each card unique.

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I've been enjoying some hand stitching, and using soft antique velvet ribbons in the most delicious colours.

Petal shapes were created, then 5 were stitched together with a vintage artificial stamen to make violet flowers. A leaf was added too.

These were then attached to hair pins - Ideal for wearing in your hair, or clipping to a jacket lapel or handbag.

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And a tiny bag, which I made from vintage French fabric - It fastens with an old metal button.

I've also been putting aside a few textile treasures and hand crafted items for the V&H Textile Fair on February 25th, which I shall show a little nearer the time.

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There's been a few makeover projects completed too.

This Victorian metal trunk was a little scuffed and bashed, but inside was shiny and clean, so it had many more years of storage service to offer!

I had these old American trade cards of a similar era and thought they'd be just enough to give the box a lift.

I simply glued them in place for an authentic looking make-over.

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An old pastel pink basket-weave ottoman was next in line. The tired old foam and fabric was stripped from the lift-up lid...

And I re-covered it in a floral Sanderson linen (I used a layer of woollen blanket as padding). The edges were finished with velvet ribbon.

Sometimes a traditional fabric top are what customers are looking for, so its nice to be able to keep things simple now and then.

It's in the shop today!

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Then there was this old washstand, which you may have seen on my blog once or twice over the years. I added the rose printed eiderdown fabric to the back panel and doors years ago...

Its been in various places around our home...

And been various colours too!

The re-painting of it though had caused the top to split and it had become a little unstable. I suggested to hubby that perhaps I should renovate it and let it go to the shop...

So he worked hard to make it sound and put a brand new pine work surface on it for me.

I then painted it a soft cream...

But fell in love with it again...

And have positioned it back in my workroom as storage! - Under the staircase, where it was in 2008, when my workroom was first created!

But I have been strong and let something else go instead...

The little distressed painted cupboard (that possibly originally came from France) had also migrated around our home quite a bit...

But is now for sale in my shop! That's the beauty of buying old...you are more or less guaranteed to get your money back on an item should you decide to later sell, or perhaps you'll even make a profit if you are lucky. Very few new high street, mass-produced products can boast that!

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Enjoy the rest of your week,

Niki x

I'm in the shop too!