Saturday, November 30, 2013

Vintage Shopping

Next Saturday is Small Business Saturday. - A day dedicated to supporting small businesses all over the country. My shop will actually be closed on that day whilst I attend the Vintage & Handmade Christmas Fair in Chipping Sodbury...but hopefully there will be lots of visitors there to support all the small businesses that hold a stall at this lovely event. 
Last night I was open till late for the annual switching on of the Christmas lights on the Market Place at Shepton Mallet, with plenty of time afterwards for shoppers to visit all of the small businesses open for the evening on their High Street.



A lovely evening and my thanks go to all who visited and did some shopping :) 
Whilst customers browsed, I made little flat heart decorations from wool and antique lace scraps, which I displayed on my tiny c1950's Christmas tree...




Once the shoppers had dispersed, all was serene and quiet once more. 


Wishing you a happy weekend,
Niki x

Monday, November 25, 2013

Late Night Shopping

Its not just fairy making for the fairs that's been going on around here...
I also have to keep my shop fully stocked with tempting items for the festive period.

One of my recent makes was to create some fabric covers for three reproduced copies of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, by Edith Holden. 
This one was made from antique French linen, overlaid with vintage lace. A length of lace ties around the book when not in use.
The illustrations inside this book are beautifully reproduced to look like original artworks.

I also had a copy of The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady.
This one I've covered in a vintage Sanderson cotton, which seemed to reflect the drawings inside quite well.
This also fastens with a length of vintage lace. 


There is a third book, which is another copy of the original Country Diary, which I also covered in the vintage Sanderson
This is my favourite picture :)


Waste not, want not - Three little mitten decorations were made from the off-cuts of the lacy knitting that I used to make the angel's gown for Nth Cadbury.
Sprinkled around the tops with mica glitter.
It does feel like Christmas is just around the corner now...
The silver birch wreath that I made a few years ago and is still going strong, has been hung on my shop's front door....
The large Christmas tree arrived on Shepton Mallet's Market Place last week...

It will become festooned in lights, with the switching on ceremony taking place this Friday.
I shall be staying open until 7pm for an opportunity for late night shoppers to come vintage shopping.

I've already found some treasures on the High Street - A whole collection of 50's Christmas decorations, which came from the Age UK charity shop.
This fabulous light set has handwritten notes on the box, which state that all the bulbs are working - Tested in 1955!
;-))

I'm planning to use them as pretty accessories for my fairies, rather than potentially electrocuting the household!

There's lots of gorgeous fairy-sized baubles too - all in perfect condition...A thrilling find :) 
Have a happy week!
Niki x

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Fair Days...

Thank you to all who stopped-by my stall at the lovely North Cadbury Vintage Textile Fair yesterday!
A great fair organised by hardworking Lizzie and her hubby Jack.



My little haul of goodies from the day...Sumptuous antique ribbons to re-use as fairy fashion for my next lucky batch of handmade dolls...The work continues in earnest for the final vintage event of 2013...
The Original Vintage & Handmade Christmas Fair on Dec 7th.

:)
Hope you've had a perfect weekend,

Niki x

Friday, November 22, 2013

North Cadbury Vintage Textile Fair


Saturday November 23rd.
9am to 2pm
North Cadbury Village Hall - BA22 7DH
Admission £1.

More details here.
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I've been working on a new collection of fairies for the festive season. Those coming with me to the Textile Fair above, are all named after semi-precious stones...
Moonstone
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Citrine
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Goshenite
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Tanzanite

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Morganite

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And a very special framed fairy called Imperial Topaz.


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I shall also be bringing along one of my large rag dolls.
This is Rose and she is dressed in the palest pastel pink lambswool cardigan and layers of vintage fabric clothes embellished with lace and trims.
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There will be one of my medium sized rag dolls too - Holly is dressed as an angel with a lacy knitted gown and dainty collar fastened with a vintage costume brooch.
She has tiny tinsel wings and
pure cotton bloomers with hand crochet lace at the hems.

I will of course be bringing lots of vintage textiles and haberdashery with me too, so hope to have something to tempt the visitors. Hope you can make it along, as Lizzie works tirelessly to organise a successful event.
(My shop will be closed whilst I attend - Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.)

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I've been off the radar a little lately, as I've also been working hard towards the Vintage and Handmade Christmas Fair which will be held on December 7th. I have plans to take a total of (at least) 10 handmade fairies with me, if I can complete them all in time...!
Niki x