Two Fairies to Welcome Spring...

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

It's certainly beginning to feel like spring is just around the corner now, so with no more prompting required from the lovely sun in the sky, I set about making some colourful new season fairy folk...

I always take my time selecting just the right vintage textiles and trims, because if I get this wrong at the start, the fairy won't turn out well. I decided upon a beautiful kingfisher blue and another of a soft salmon pink. 

First the pink...

I've called her Bunny. 

She's dressed in a very full and fabulous c1950's stiffened flocked chiffon skirt. 

I added lots of springlike accessories, including a handmade bunny ear headpiece! Also, an Easter basket brooch at her waist and faux glittered bird's eggs and flowers.

She wears a pompom tail on her bottom!

She will arrive in her hand decorated box, which I have papered in antique sheet music and spring themed book pages...with a sprinkling of glitter. 

She will also be accompanied by a special bird clip friend, which can be fastened to her arm, or used elsewhere in your Easter decorating. 

Bunny is now reserved - thank you! 

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Then there's Solace...

Dressed in the most beautiful kingfisher blue ensemble. 

Her skirt was stitched from a c1950's chiffon headscarf, with an overlay of hand crochet lace with pansy motifs. 

Solace also has Easter-themed accessories, including faux glittered bird's eggs and a diamante crucifix.

A pretty bird clip will accompany on her journey too. 

She will arrive carefully packed inside her hand decorated box, papered with original book pages and a sprinkling of glitter. 

***

Both girls have just been added to my on-line shop. I hope you will enjoy taking a look when you have a moment. 

Have a perfect week!

Niki x

Miss Havisham

I had to nip into Bath this morning as there were a few Birthdays I needed to buy for this month. To be honest, I'm not usually seduced by new items in the shops, preferring to do my shopping at flea markets, antique/junk shops and vintage fairs, but I was stopped in my tracks by these stunning velvet arm chairs sat in a shop window on Milsom Street. 

Sorry the photos aren't great - There was a lot of reflection, but hopefully they give you an idea of how they look - There were three colour choices and the antiqued ombre effect of the silk velvet really gave them a wonderful character. They were being sold in Savannah Home. 

There was no indication of price, but I'm guessing they'd be beyond my budget - The gorgeous cushions as seen in the top photo are available online at £148.00 each - Just fabulous! They have a well worn almost decayed look about them, certainly not fresh and new, which is probably why I like them! - Which tenuously links me to my next subject...

;-))

Source.

I have been wanting to create a Miss Havisham style fairy for a while now...I'm always keen to try and give my fairies an authentic antique feel, but going one step further by using materials with obvious signs of wear and tear was something I was excited to try. 

I was inspired by the quote in Great Expectations where Miss Havisham talks of her brother.

The box that I decorated to keep her safe, is covered in antique book pages, a lace doily and paper glittered butterflies. I also added a butterfly to her headpiece...

My fairies always have simple facial features, but Miss Havisham's needed to be different to my usual style. I wanted her to have a more haunted look. 

She's dressed in antique netted lace which has become grey with time and which is frayed and torn along the hem.

Other details include a veil fashioned from tattered lace, a bodice covered in discoloured sequins with beaded sleeve sections and old squished millinery flowers in her hair. 

She even carries a small bouquet and a rusty key. 

I'm pleased with how she's turned out (Can I say she's my favourite one of the moment?) 

I reluctantly offer her for sale in my on-line shop.

I'm reserved - thank you! 

Thanks for stopping-by and for your kind comments to my previous posts. My friend called me this lunchtime as she’s already received the doll in the post – she was so surprised and happy to have her – we had a long chat and a catch-up and she’s being very positive.

Niki x

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A Make to Mend

I'm still struggling a bit with a lack of mojo, so to put things in perspective, I decided to get-on and make a rag doll for a friend... 

I don't usually make these dolls anymore, as stuffing the limbs hurts the old lady's wrist these days ;-))

But my friend has a lot of troubles, so I wanted to try and cheer her up a little with a surprise. 

This is Claudia, who I have dressed in a patchwork of antique and vintage French blue and white checks and prints. She also wears a pure white cotton petticoat and bloomers with lace edgings. 

I'll be wrapping her up carefully and getting her off in the post tomorrow.

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It certainly helped to put me in a better frame of mind and released a bit more creativity...

I gathered together a pretty assortment of vintage supplies to make another 30's style hat stand. 

I've been saving this beautiful woven silk ribbon for a while now, wondering how best to use it. I gathered it by hand to make a cloche hat and trimmed the edge with a sequined braid bought in France. 

I also decorated the hat with a vintage button and velvet flower applique motif.

She's attached to an old chippy gloss painted wooden lampbase.

The fluffy marabou feather boa hides the join. 

Thanks for stopping-by...

I hope all is happy in your world, 

Niki x