Sunday, April 06, 2008

Show & Tell


Today is 'Show & Tell Sunday' organised by Cerri at 'Little Pink Studio'. She asked us to share our collections of vintage millinery on our blogs. I have had to pack a lot of my supplies and collections away at the moment, due to the building work going on here, so I have added some archive photos to this post and apologies to all of those who have seen these before.
The two hats on the right are my favourites. They are smothered in velvet flowers in wonderful pastel purples and deep mauves.

Some beautiful loose corsages and hairpieces.
I have used some yellow roses tucked into this display on my mantel, as well as a lovely old hat given to me by a friend.

I managed this new photo - my wire work mannequin stands on our landing. I have created the rose garland by threading them into a metal swag that I bought from Heather at 'Pretty Petals'. The mannequin also wears a flamboyant hat and an ostrich feather boa.
I have recently added some of my deep red velvet flowers to this hanging brooch pillow, which I made for my friends Birthday today.

Hope you like your present Maggie and have a lovely day!! "Happy Birthday!"
**************************************
The conversion of our basement into a workroom for me is coming along nicely. The combi-boiler will be housed in a cupboard, which will hide all of the pipework too.

The carpenter took great pride in his work and has produced this smart banister rail upstairs....

And the staircase is in place downstairs. Most of the walls have been plaster-boarded and are now waiting a coat of plaster. The floor will need to be leveled too.
Whilst the building work has been going on I have hidden myself away in my youngest daughters bedroom. I have been redecorating it. She decided she had grown out of the 'Barbie' pink walls and so has chosen a more grown-up scheme. The main walls are white and there is one dramatic red feature wall. It has taken three coats so far to get an even dense coat of the red, so my muscles are beginning to ache.....

I have received several emails asking when I shall be updating my on-line shop. I realise that the stock is somewhat depleted, but my existing workspace is rather difficult to work in just now. Having emptied the basement and the backroom for the building work, I have to clamber over things just to get to my collection of vintage fabrics. As soon as it is practical to do so, I shall get back on my sewing machine and start creating some new items. I'll let you know when new stock has been added and in the meantime, would like to thank everyone who has made a purchase, I appreciate it very much.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I must get on with the redecorating!
Niki x

30 comments:

  1. Of course you have a beautiful collection of millinery flowers! Wow! What a transformation going on in the basement, it is going to be so fabulous when it is done. xo, suzy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Niki, you millinery collection is stunning and i am just drooling over here:) your hats are so gorgeous! i love them all...and the gift you made for your friend Maggie is oh~so~sweet, what a lucky girl she is! it looks like your basement makeover is in full swing, i am very excited for you and can't wait to see the reveal of the finished product!

    ReplyDelete
  3. well, of course i meant to say "your millinery..." i always drop that "r" for some reason...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your collections are just beautiful, I love all your photos of them. They've made such quick progress on your basement haven't they. I bet you're itching to get down there
    Kimx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous4:13 pm

    Great work in the basement, Niki!! How a swift progress!... It looks really FAB!
    Your vintage millinery is gorgeous, as the red and blue pillow for your friend!!! Lucky girl!!!
    Monica.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:37 pm

    Lovely photos Niki, such gorgeous colours. The work on your workroom is galloping along isn't it, it's going to be great. Jackie Mx

    ReplyDelete
  7. BEAUTIFUL millinery, Niki! I envy your collection! =) (In a good way, of course!)

    How exciting to see the progress being made at your home! My hubby renovated our cellar and he also hid the burner and oil tank behind cupboard areas (lots of nooks and crannies in our cellar now)! =) SOMEDAY I would love to come see your new workspace in person! heehee I miss England so bad it hurts! =) If only I knew you lovely blog-ladies when hubby and I did all that traveling!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my! Those brooch pillows are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love looking at the pics on your blog! They always, always make me smile.
    And your basement conversion is moving along, isn't it? Of course, it probably seems to be taking forever to you and your family! We've just done a conversion here--our storage building in the back garden is now a study for my husband which makes our bedroom back into a bed-sitting room. At least all the dust and clutter were out back!!
    Love your blog--oh, that I had the talent you do for making such lovely things!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a beautiful collection of flowers. I love your pictures.
    Greetings Marja

    ReplyDelete
  11. WOW! So glad to discover your blog. Your millinery is just beautiful and what a great idea you did with the wire dressform! I especially love the purple velvet and the gold velvet flowers...so gorgeous!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Magnificent collection! I'm glad I stopped by your beautiful blog.
    -Karoline

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love all of your velvety flowers. Those are always my favorite! Thank you for sharing!
    Alisa

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fascinating collection! I am always in and out of French brocante shops, maybe I can find something for you?

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a gorgeous collection. I love your variety of colors.

    For your daily dose of vintage goodness & a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen, the home of Vintage Thingies Thursdays.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous8:38 pm

    oooh, i envy your millinery collection =) VERY pretty!!! your new studio looks like it's coming along nicely... it'll be done before you know it. debbie

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looking good Niki!! What progress in such a short time.

    Sue x

    ReplyDelete
  18. OH, you have beautiful vintage roses! I adore you mannequin and how you have made a garland of roses to adorn her!
    Thank you for playing along!
    ~Cerri xo

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Niki!

    WOW! I just love your beautiful collection! And your mannequin is stunning!!

    Your blog looks so beautiful, I can't wait to read more!

    Thanks for sharing with us!

    xo
    Analise

    ReplyDelete
  20. Just beautiful! I love all your beautiful flowers--so many too! wow! I also love what you have done with that adorable mannequin, fantastic! Good luck with the cellar makeover project--I'll bet it will be wonderful when you are finished with it!
    Smiles, Karen

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful flower collection!
    I wish I still had some millinery flowers to participate in the show and tell, but I sold all of it at a flea market a few years ago.
    All I have left are a few white ostrich plumes.

    How exciting to have a new work space. I can't wait to see it when its all done.
    Kimberly :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. What deep and rich colors your flowers are!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Everything is so pretty Niki... I LOVE that mannequin and love how you added the millinery to the garland you bought.

    Your downstairs is looking wonderful! I cannot wait to see your photos when done. :) I bet you are so excited about it.

    xoxo Heather

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh wow your millinery collection is incredible! No wonder Heather loves your goodies, you and her have wonderful vintage style that just seems to blend in beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  25. You do have a wonderful stash Niki :) I can never find millinery anywhere around here...can't figure it out. Your new spaces will be fun to play with!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh my goodness, Niki! When you say you're gonna do something, you get right to it! I'm so jealous of the progress you're making on your dreamy studio! Keep us posted. :)
    Your flowers are so lovely, too. I knew they would be!
    Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a lovely millinery collection!!
    So happy to see on Flickr now, too!
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous9:48 pm

    Beautiful flowers and gorgeous photos. It's very uplifting to look at such pretty things. Hurry Spring flowers. vicki at hollyhocks.typepad.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. You have such a fabulous millinery collection! I love the turqoise iron mannequin with the roses! It seems almost impossible to find such millinery here in Germany and as I just read it is the same case in the Netherlands too. Strange!
    How wonderful for you that you are going to get a new and bigger work space Niki, something to really look forward too, oh I imagine the fun to decorate it with all your lovely vintage things!
    Best wishes Carol xox

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh, what beautiful flowers! :)

    ReplyDelete

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