Talking Shop

I always like to have a selection of my handmade cards in the shop, as they are often an extra purchase alongside a little gift with many of my customers.

For those on a limited budget though, I thought I'd come to the rescue by combining the two!

Last weekend I bought a large quantity of embroidery transfers; mostly from the 1930's and 40's. Some I have packaged and will sell as-is, but others I have included with a greetings card.

I ironed-on one transfer onto the front of a blank card and then worked a few bold running stitches around the outside of the design by hand.

Inside each of the cards, I have included a packet of 4 vintage transfers for the recipient to enjoy.

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Today I started using some of the fab 50's fabrics that I also bought last weekend. I've made 4 cushions so far, and have 3 more to finish. I try to update my other blog regularly with some of my latest handmade products. I'll hopefully show the new cushions sometime over the weekend.

I am often told by visitors to my shop, that they enjoy the posts on my blog which show some of the current items on the shelves. I think its useful for them to have a good look, before they perhaps make the trip over?

I'm sorry if these aren't your favourite posts, but the shop is a large part of my life now and sometimes I have nothing else to show or say!...I promise I shall try and make my next post more interesting!

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I've sold a lot of furniture this month, so am now having to improvise with crates until I have the time to go out sourcing more pieces.

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Here are the steps that I made over and showed on my previous post.

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There's almost dancing room around the central island! - Furniture is definitely on the shopping list!

Hope you have a lovely weekend,

Niki x

Toadstool!

I won't bore you by talking about the hours of housework I've been doing today...Believe me, it was catch-up time!...
What I will bore you with though ;-)) is my latest little project that I worked on today, in-between all of the chores...

I bought these little old wooden steps this week, and as you can see, they had received a slightly dodgy paint job!

So after all the vacuuming and the cleaning of the bathroom...(Whoops, I wasn't going to bore you with that!)...I painted the steps with two fresh coats of white paint...

Once they were completely dry, I added a layer of wadding to the top of them and then stapled some polka dotted oilcloth over the seat.

A very simple look, which reminds me of a toadstool...Quite appropriate really! :)

They will find their way into the shop tomorrow.

I've had quite a few items of furniture leave the shop this month, so I need to find the time for some more make-over projects if I can.

Hope you've had a good day - Enjoy the rest of your week!

Niki x

Finds from the 50's

Firstly, thank you all for visiting my blog and leaving your kind good wishes with me on the 1st anniversary of my shop. I am really looking forward to another years trading and hope to be able to continue finding lots of vintage goodies, and hand making unique items to fill the shelves.

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I hope you had a lovely weekend. I wasn't sure whether to spend Sunday at the local antiques fair - It being the third day of the 3-day event, I wasn't convinced if it would be worth the visit...But knowing of the luck I had, had on a previous Sunday forage there, I decided it had to be done!

At the end of a full day searching, thankfully I did come away with a few treasures...

The red and white polka dot piece here is a c1950's collar with detachable bow.

Then there's this cute 50's frilly pinny and a selection of cheerful (50's again) floral fabrics...

I was so pleased to discover them, as not only are they getting harder to find these days, but the prices seem to becoming ridiculous! I love finding usable lengths to recycle into cushions and bags, which these will be perfect for.

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I can't wait to start using them.

Flowers continue atop a little Barbola mirror...The other piece is an antique French hand mirror with etched design and the name Lottie on the glass.

They are sitting on a wonderful piece of old velvet, which I have plans for. I hope to use it to make a bag this week...If I'm successful, I'll include it in one of my future blog posts.

The next item that I found incorporates both a mirror and velvet! It's a Victorian wall shelf, covered in embossed olive green velvet...just in need of a little tlc.

Next some fun 50's magazines...

and another with instructions for smocking.

This old chocolate box is filled to overflowing with old embroidery transfers. I'm finding there is renewed interest in these old crafts and hobbies...so it's nice to be able to supply my customers with the sewing requirements they are looking for. At the shop I have lots of sewing and knitting patterns, as well as buttons, threads and embellishments...when I can spare them from my own supplies! ;-))

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Finally, I was glad to find some costume brooches. I was down to just one of my best-selling bottle/brooch ensembles, so today I have been able to put together a new collection with some of the brooches below, which I shall take to the shop tomorrow.

I've been painting a wall mirror frame today too...and I also have some vintage daywear dresses to take in, and some handmade cushions. The map drawers have been reserved, so I shall be on the look out for new furniture this week to fill the gaps.

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Hope you have a great week,

Niki x