Vintage Brooches

Some of you may know that I often add vintage brooches to my hand made creations.

I love the old twinkly costume brooches which add a little sparkle and a unique touch to the vintage and antique fabrics that I recycle.

The variety of them is endless and I am at my happiest when in search of these treasures to find as embellishments for my work....but sometimes the perfect piece proves elusive....

And so I have been making some unique brooches of my own.

I have reused small pieces of vintage fabrics and hand embroidered linens stretched over the circular frame and held in place by decorative running stitches in silken threads. I have added a safety pin to the back so that they can be attached to a lapel, hat or bag.

These have been added to my website's on-line catalogue today, along with lots of affordable festive gift sets for the vintage-lovers on your shopping list.

An assortment of postcard gift sets....

Handmade powder-puffs (with brooch detail!) for the boudoir...

Pretty diamante necklaces for the glamour-puss of the Christmas party!

Pillows and coat hangers with more glittering adornements.

And of course some new one-of-a-kind dollies are awaiting adoption!

This is Esme, who I think looks as if she may burst into song at any moment! 'White Christmas' perhaps?

Pearl (proudly wearing her mother-of-pearl brooch pinned to her fluffy vintage mohair coat)...

And this is Joy, in her traditional tartan ensemble, who would be happy to sit beneath your Christmas tree this year.

My thanks to all who have made a purchase from my website since the last update and also to all of you who have ordered a copy of my book. Your kind emails, feedback and book reviews are very much appreciated - they really mean a lot to me, so thank you for finding the time! xx

Have a great day,

Niki x

Gulp!

Only 6 weeks to go.....why can't I be more organised?!

*****************

Update:

Has anyone noticed how the word verification codes, when leaving a comment, have become less complicated? They used to be full of X's, Y's, W's and V's. Now they seem to spell out cute little words! My latest one was this one:

I can just imagine this being a word on 'Call My Bluff' and there being three very plausible definitions for it!

"Could you fetch my befuzza darling? - I seem to have got myself into an awkward situation here!"

OK, signing off now before you think I've completely lost the plot! But let me know if you're issued with any good verification words that we could add to the Blogger's dictionary!

Niki x

November 11th

(My Mum (second row, right) - Girl Guides Remembrance Day Parade during the 50's)

Wear & Tear

Of course it wouldn't pay for us all to be the same; as they say, 'it takes all sorts to make a world'. But it seems to me that it is the majority who scuttle around the high streets buying pristine and perfect goods to add to their gleaming homes, at an almost obscene level. Acquiring items because the ones they own already are 'beyond their best' and need replacing.
It is good to know, through the power of blogging, that there are a minority of us who appreciate the general wear and tear that occurs to the objects that surround us with the passing of time. As well as those who actively seek out and recycle treasures with time-worn characteristics to add uniqueness to their surroundings.
Be it: Tarnished and rusted metals, crusty with oxidisation.

Rubbed, threadbare and shredded fabrics....

Worn thin from a loving touch.

Repairs, patches and darns adding their own sympathetic additions.

Faded, mellow colours to evoke a calming, easy-on-the-eye quality.

Creased, crumpled, floppy adornments that just can't be replicated in the modern world.

Frayed, scuffed, tattered and torn lovelies...

with ragged, shabby edges.

Cracks and wrinkles expressing that passing of the decades.

The chips and knocks of a well-loved piece.

Scratches, scrapes and nicks revealing the bare bones beneath.

Mottled, grungy, stained surfaces echo that elapse of time.

Weathered, windswept, craggy and eroded stonework...

Creating homes to lichen and mosses, who envelop and add character to the gnarled and battered surfaces.

Smoothed areas from daily handling...

and distressed edges creating a comfortable, lived-in look.

Textiles yellowed with age - not seen as a flaw or weakness.

Dilapidated and blemished, but embraced and relished.

Love and enjoy the things around you and accept and welcome their defects for the individuality they imbue.

Niki x

Glad Rags.

Just back from a lovely day out with Busy Lizzie, to Frome Town Centre. We visited all the usual haunts, but then stumbled across a newly opened shop called 'Make and Mend' in Catherine's Hill.

Donna, the owner, has a wonderful range of stock including vintage costume. (Loved the C1950's white dress printed with pink roses, above)

Lots of pretty accessories displayed behind the bar!

As well as kitsch and retro goodies, all beautifully laid out and styled.

And should you wish to try on any of these garments....

It can be done in the very glamorous surroundings of the fitting rooms, with walls plastered in images of beautiful women in stunning fashions to keep you company!

Later Liz and I treated ourselves to lunch at Diva's - creamy garlic mushrooms, spinach and brown bread was my order for today - delicious!

Liz managed far more shopping than I did (!) - lots of lovely hand knitted treasures and vintage clothing, but I did find this wonderful roll of floral hand blocked wallpaper.

A perfect paper for lining the back of a cabinet perhaps?

And I also picked up a copy of December's issue of 25 Beautiful Homes, which I shall settle down with this evening and enjoy reading all about Donna's festive home.

Thanks for a lovely day Liz - we must do it again sometime soon!

Niki x

Remember, Remember...

Happy Bonfire Night!

Be safe, Niki x

Friends Reunited.

We've just got back from a wonderful few days away visiting friends and relatives in Norfolk. It was lovely to relax and be looked after by my parents, and to catch-up, having not seen each other since last October.

We made the most of the short visit, spending one of the days in the delightfully old-fashioned and unspoilt Suffolk town of Southwold. We walked to the end of the pier and also around the interesting little shops along the high street.

We spotted this in an Estate Agents window - hmmm...very expensive sheds they have around here(!)....

But very beautiful sheds....

We're talking very select beach huts, compact and bijou, arranged in neat rows...

Painted in glossy, cheerful, summery colours....

...with stunning views out to sea!

To round off the day, we visited 'Nutters', where my daughter bought handfuls of tasty jelly beans of beach hut colours!

When we got back from our day trip she carved a pumpkin ready for the Halloween visitors.

Which we lit and placed on top of the well outside my parent's house.

Another very exciting day was one which I had been looking forward to for ages. We had arranged to go and visit Teena of Kitschen Pink in her beautiful self-built home. (We knew each other as young children, but had lost contact when Teena moved to Norfolk.) We hadn't seen each other for 30 years...so there was a lot of catching up to do!

Lots of tea was made on the beloved aga in her gorgeous 1950's style kitchen and we talked for several hours and ate delicious homemade lemon cake. Isn't her kitchen fabulous? - they have worked so hard sourcing, renovating and fitting the original 50's 'English Rose' metal cabinets and adding suitable accessories and adornments.

Thanks again Teena - it was sooooo good to spend some time with you and to meet your adorable son - thanks for making us so welcome. (Let's not wait another 30 years!)

Teena also showered me in gifts, which I have enjoyed finding homes for now that we are back in Somerset. This dainty figurine stands on my tiled bedroom fireplace....

A rose printed china cream jug holds a hydrangea head on a kitchen shelf....

And a black floral glazed bottle has found its place amongst some Carlton ware. My gifts also included homemade crab apple jelly and apple juice - what a treat - thanks T! xx

Now its back to work and getting up to date with all the laundry!

Have a great week,

Niki x

PS: A few of you think I would have been clever enough to have made a souffle! (See post below) -No way! I'm not the best cook; this is my version of a shepherds pie! I use an egg yolk mixed into the mashed potato and red Leicester cheese grated on the top.