All Change...

Here in the UK we have been experiencing a VERY wet May! The rain outside has deterred me from entering my garden, so instead I have been bringing the outside in, with bright floral fabrics. It has also been fun to move furniture from different rooms and make changes without redecorating!

The little green chippy painted table used to be in my laundry room, but always ended up as a dumping ground for the girl's school bags!

A larger move involved re-hanging the white glazed cabinet that houses my vintage hat collection. It used to be on our landing, but I never really looked at them up there.

Here it is in its new position. (What a patient hubby I have!)

The old French mannequin standing in the corner wears another vintage hat and a Victorian lace collar and feather boa.

Turning round in the room you would then see my wooden bench with a pile of vintage fabric cushions that I have been recovering.....

I also made a cover for an eiderdown, to make a squishy feather filled seat pad! (I know I need to recover the lampshade! That's next on the list!)

Next to the bench is my French armoire. Sometime ago, I saw a beautiful armoire with a cherub on the top in a Bath Antique shop. The price tag was humongous! - So I have made my own version with a brass cherub from an old clock, painted white and attached at the top!

The hand painted lamp base and rose printed shade is also French and was a recent purchase from my local antiques fair.
Have a lovely weekend. If we have more rain, at least my living room is cheerful and bright!

Retro Chic.

I couldn't resist buying this old copy of 'Oldies But Goodies' by Donna Lawson, from my local second hand book shop the other day. It was printed in the US, so I am not sure if it was available in the UK back in the 1970's when it was printed. It is all about recycling old clothes and textiles into new items of clothing. Some of the ideas are quite frankly hysterical!

It was a blast of nostalgia for me and reminded me of the fashions worn by the actors in 'Sesame Street', which I grew up with.

How about these for some wacky ideas?:

8 silk scarves become a floaty dress! Or 12 ties stitched together create a patchwork skirt.

Not quite sure why you would want socks that jingle, jangle, but if you would, then stitch buttons to the cuff of the sock!

Or maybe doily decorated sleeves is your thing!

I think this bedspread coat is quite stunning though.
Many years later, here I am recycling textiles myself, using vintage fabrics such as old curtains and eiderdown cottons and making new accessories and collectables.....hope they aren't seen as hysterical in the future!

My latest fabric finds include some beautiful floral barkcloth and linen fabrics, so a week of sewing lies ahead - have a great week, Niki x

A Floral Fantasy!

I have had this old Barbola mirror for some time. Unfortunately during its life-time it has lost several of the roses from the top garland, making it look a little ugly.

So I decided to do something with it and try to make it beautiful again.

I had an old vintage hat that the moths had attacked. Thankfully they hadn't munched through the delicate velvet pansies, so I was able to remove these from the crown of the hat to recycle them.

I then had the simple task of adding them to the edge of the mirror, securing with a dab of glue.

Here it is complete.

I shall be hanging it next to my cabinet filled with old floral hats and hat stands. The perfect mirror to use when trying on vintage hats!

My other handmade items that I have completed over the last couple of weeks include this vibrant collection:

Many thanks for all the 'Happy Birthday' wishes that I received to my last post, you are all so kind!

21 Again!!

Please forgive this very self-indulgent post, but it was my Birthday yesterday and I have never been so spoilt in all of my life! I had a wonderful day and some amazing presents that had been put together with great care and thought. I also received not one....

Not two.....

But three bouquets of flowers!!

I had this beautiful fabric covered vintage box and treasures, including a Michal Negrin key ring from my friend Clare.....

The boxed bouquet above and this lovely selection below came from my friend Debbie, which included a lavender filled heart and soap from 'Susannah' of Bath....

And this glorious array of goodies from my friend Maggie.


She had created a stunning picture frame encrusted with vintage pearls, shells and china posy brooches and presented it in a hat box that she had covered in vintage wallpaper. Amazingly the fabric flower trimmed vintage hat to add to my collection, was originally from 'Jolly's of Bath', which is still trading in the city centre today.

I count myself very lucky to know such kind, generous and thoughtful women. They have all put such care and attention to detail in the gifts that they gave me and made them so personal to me, that I am overwhelmed. Thank you!

My dear hubby bought me two antique chimney pots!! These are going to be planted up amongst my growing collection of chimneys; they are the perfect answer for keeping plants out of the way of my chickens! Soon they should look something like this one...

We spent the day at Gloucester Docks, where there is a large Antiques Centre.

I didn't find very much there, but I think I had been spoilt enough anyway!!

I hope you enjoy the rest of this Bank Holiday weekend, Niki x

This delightful image was taken from my Birthday card from Clare!

Fair Days and Lilac Trees.

Yesterday I had my stand at the Honiton Textile, Costume and Decorative Fair. It was a good day to catch-up with like-minded women and to sell some stock too! I was amazed to see Louise, one of my lovely website customers, had come all the way to the fair from Warwickshire!! She very kindly bought me a bunch of Anemones too. (Louise hopes to start her own blog soon!)

Liz (see post below), also had a stand at the fair; she had a breathtaking collection of costume and vintage accessories......

I couldn't spend the whole day surrounded by beautiful things and not get tempted! - so had to make a few purchases!! ....

An amazing painted hatstand to add to my collection and (yes more!) vintage fabrics; including 1950's barkcloth printed with rose buds, a 1930's pair of curtains with a classic green background and some small pieces of French fabric for my next sewing project.

I am considering giving-up with the vintage fairs. It takes a day to prepare stock and load my car, a day at the fair, then a day to sort and store the stock on my return. That's three days that I could be sewing!! There are lots of people I would miss, so would still have to visit to buy, naturally!!

A photo of the stunning Anemones (Thanks again Louise. x) And I couldn't resist picking some of my White Lilac flowers.

A very old Lilac tree grows in my back garden. The scent is heavenly.

I also planted two new Lilacs in my front garden last year. They have rewarded me with beautiful blooms already.

Thank you for all of your lovely comments to my last post. Wish I could have taken you with me!

Niki x