A Royal Discovery!!

I recently purchased these two wedding photographs from an antiques warehouse- They probably date from the 1930's. I like to take along old photographs to the Vintage Fashion Fairs that I attend, so thought they would be interesting...They were very dusty, so I decided I would take out the photos to give the frames and glass a good clean. After removing the old rusty nails and the backing board, I made an amazing discovery!.....
Hiding beneath the wedding couple was a beautiful photograph of Queen Alexandra in the most stunning dress! - Behind the backing board of the second frame was a photograph of King Edward VII.They are both signed and dated 1889 and were printed by 'Walery' Photographer to the Queen, 164, Regents Street, London. I love the one of Queen Alexandra- her costume is fantastic the detail is incredible and her waist so tiny!

Vintage Treasures!

Just a quick post to show you some of my new vintage treasures that I have bought in the last two weeks! This shabby, but gorgeous fabric covered box, came from eBay. It is full of vintage beads stored in little glass tubes- around 50 of them!! It's so decorative in it's own right, but it will be fun to use the beads too.
This selection of items was found at my local carboot sale- I couldn't believe my luck. The lady was selling these beautiful hand mirrors in wonderful colours. I also found the swansdown powder puff and the little Oxo tins. The glass bottle was plain, so I have added a French soap label and a flower.


Finally- I love this piece!! I bought it at the Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair. Fabric covered drawers fresh from France- with their original little labels on. It will be perfect for storing lace and ribbons...

Handmade Bag.

My eldest daughter will be leaving home next month to start her second year at University. She has been offered the wonderful opportunity to complete her second year at Montana Uni, USA!! But it's such a long way away!! I will miss her so much, but I know she will enjoy every minute of it.

I have just finished making this bag for her today, to take with her. She chose the sweet 'Holly Hobby' style fabric for the centre panel and I added other vintage fabrics around it. It has a layer of wadding to make it durable and is lined with 1950's rose fabric inside. Fastens with a vintage button and has two shoulder straps.
I hope that when she uses it, she will think of her family back home.....

Sanctuary!

Wow!! It's been sooo hot! I've spent lots of time in my bathroom this week, having cold showers trying to cool down....it's become my sanctuary. I began to look at it afresh. I have had it red and white for some time, which I love, but I thought I would try introducing some other colours in the accessories....
I have a glass fronted cupboard that I bought at a local junk shop to display vintage treasures and also store handtowels, bubble baths, soaps etc. A few years ago I bought some French shelf papers, that I had forgotten about and never used. -They were in red and white and also green...So that was a good starting point. I added some other green items and also some black. (Was it Terence Conran who once said that all room schemes should include something black in them somewhere?) Anyway, I think the black adds a sophisticated, boudoir look....

My favourite tin has an embroidered fabric lid, with beautifully worked flowers- great for storing cotton wool balls! As is the little wire basket that I have lined in vintage fabric.

I have a collection of bottles that I fill with bubble bath, to make them look special. Added to this are piles of soaps and lavender bags, so that when the cupboard is opened it smells wonderful! I realise many people couldn't live with this amount of clutter, but I think the whole lot creates a pleasing image- more fun than a framed print or painting, because it can be changed around at will.

Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair, Somerset.

Most dealers have huge vans to load all of their goodies into- or at least an estate car, not me! Here is a photo of my tiny car packed and ready to go to the Antiques and Collectables fair!

Off I went to Shepton Mallet- the whole lot creaking as I drove along!! But we made it- thank you little car! Then there was the unpacking....Several hours later my stall was set up!......

My stall is bright and colourful- a little mad maybe, compared to some of the other stands- but I don't care! I think it's fun- something that the antiques trade needs more of! Thanks to everyone who made a purchase! I am back tomorrow and Sunday.....

Any Old Iron!

This is where we live! We have lived here for 8 years this month, having moved from a Bristol suburb. It is a stone house built in 1930 from the local stone. It was once the village post office and has also been a B&B. We have recently added a stone porch to the front entrance- something I had wanted to do for a while, as the wind used to howl under our old front door in the winter time! I finished painting the new front door the other day and have added a vine wreath to welcome visitors! I am not keen on the roof line where the tiles meet the stonework though-too much cement showing- so I am now on the lookout for any old ironwork to cover it up! Or maybe some carved wood salvaged from a Victorian Villa...you know the kind of thing! That's another trip to the local reclamation yard then! Oh my husband will be pleased! I'm sure he's thinking 'Why can't we get something from B&Q like 'normal' people!'

to be continued....

Summer Roses

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture!!

Vintage Corsages

I discovered this collection of 1950's French corsages at a local flea market. They were completely squashed and looking rather sad, but I felt I could do something with them. I would like to share with you the method that I use to revive these lovely old flowers. Firstly, set your steam iron to 'steam'. Lay the flower on your ironing board and hold the iron a few centimeters above it so that the steam touches the petals. The flower appears to grow in front of your eyes! Do this for just a few seconds at first, stop, and manipulate the petals back into shape. You can use the steam of the kettle, but this risks the flowers becoming wet and spoiled- also if you open the petals too wide they will never return to the shape they once were.
The iron method can also be used on vintage hats, to open flowers, reshape a distorted hat, or to bring back the crushed pile of old velvet- like magic!
Once my rose corsages were looking wonderful again, I put them to use. They were in stunning summer colours, so cheerful, so I thought it would be nice to keep them out on display. I painted some old wooden coathangers with 'Farrow and Balls' Green Blue #84 eggshell. Then twisted the corsage stems around the hook of the hangers and held them in place by tying antique lace bows to them. They would look wonderful hung on hooks in a bathroom, to hang clothes whilst taking a bath. Or on the back of a bedroom door for your dressing gown.... The flowers can be removed at anytime to be worn on a jacket lapel, sewn to a hat or clipped in your hair, as they were once intended.

1950's Prom Gown

Whenever I come across the wonderful tulle layered American Prom gowns of the 1950's, I cannot resist!! I love the frothy layers, the pastel colours and the feminine quality of them. My latest purchase didn't make it to my Antiques Stand, however! My youngest daughter, age 12, spied it and had to try it on! It fitted her perfectly, amazing to think this may have been worn by a young woman in the 50's- not a 12 year old!! Anyway, I didn't have the heart to say that she couldn't keep it- especially as she looked soooo pretty! It probably won't fit her for very long, but it will look lovely displayed in her pink bedroom, and the fact that she appreciates something old, makes me smile, too!