The London Vintage Fashion, Textiles & Accessories Fair 13/6/10 part 1

The London Vintage Fashion, Textiles and Acessories Fair has been around for over 10 years now I think and Paola who conceived the idea of 'Vintage Fashion' was kind enough to let me look around and talk to some of the stall holders... what an amazing fair! I had been before but this time wanted to take photos and talk to some of the stall holders.... If you haven't already been and you like 'vintage' or anything of yesteryear this is the first place to go...!

The two chaps from 'Frock Off It's Mine" were absolutely charming and promised to send me a photo of one of their fab finds.. a dress with a box of raffia fruit/flowers on the yoke and at the hem was what is supposed to represent the basket. I'll let you have a look when I get it! Jill from Butterfly Girl Vintage who let me take a picture of her cool hats and her lovely daughter Lily..... Lily, now there is a super vintage gal in the making, start them young that's what I say ... what great taste Lily! Linda Bee from Linda Bee Vintage and I had a lovely chat about 'Lea Stein' broaches, and the great personalities that turn up at the fairs... we both took a picture of the beautiful lady in green... I wish I could tell you about everyone but the one thing that always always stands out at these fairs is that everyone is passionate about vintage!

Delightful Knits

Well it is really about time that I learned to knit eh! I found these in a little charity shop the other day. Although I can’t knit I thought "well these could be the very things I need to learn to knit"! The covers are so much fun

Suitcases Galore!

During my usual Saturday ‘looky’ around my area I popped into the antique and collectables centre! It is not too cheap but they have some interesting stuff… low and behold in one of the room were 3 suitcases, 3 lovely ..…red suitcases! ………. From the 60s I think………I have never ever seen a new vintage suitcase that has not been used with it’s labels….well low and behold…... There they were a set of 3!! Great colour, great size, great for storage……great stuff…great they are going home to Betty’s!!

Horsey Milk Jug

On my trip to Bournemouth a few weeks ago as I walked past the window of a charity I noticed this charming little milk jug! Very unusual! In fact I don't think I have ever seen anything like this before! A foxy head for a spout with a saddle on one side and a hunter on the other!

Hot to Trot

So I had a look at my cups and thought "well I can't really see the design on these in the other photo.. had better see if I can get some better pictures.. so here you go...I hope you like these as much as I do. I love the fact that there are two designs on item and so beautifully drawn.... don't ya think!

Fire Screens are Us

This is one of my favourite tables. I found it a while ago in a reclamation yard! Can you believe it! It was made as a fire guard but it could also be used as a table. It was probably made in the 30s. The flowers are sewn using satin stitch in the lovely Deco colours of the period. Then covered with glass (a bit like my Art Deco tray) I have it in my sitting room with one of my 60s lamps...... now all I need is a coal fire... maybe a bit tricky!Hmmmm!!

GORG GARDEN

I picked this up from a lady that I met at a carboot! She dealt mainly with linens and of course I bought some lovely pieces and was just about to leave when suddenly I saw this poking out from under a tablecloth so of course I had to buy this! It goes fabulously well with my collection of beautiful embroidered samplers.... more about those to come!

Head Band bonanza

It seems to be the Summer of hair adornment! There I was in one of those accessory shops and thought why not try making one yourself Betty! I have had a couple of these little pieces of cotton lace shapes for years never really knowing what to use them for. I got them at a car boot. In fact, I must tell you if you want to get some interesting sewing bits and bobs.... here is a tip....car boots and charity shops! They nearly always have some sort of sewing related stuff on stalls and boxes in charity shops...from cottons to old patterns to wool and needles.! So I have them in this sweet tin with some other bits and pieces! You can get really old cottons which are ten times stronger than what you can buy now!

It took only about 20 minutes to complete this headband as you can see it came out quite well and have already had some comments on it! But is it me or do head bands give you a headache!! bar humbug!!

Beauty in death

Now I know that some people do not find these to be very nice but I am very interested in taxidermy. I have a few Victorian mounted butterflies and a Victorian chaffinch in a dome and a Oyster catcher! This beautiful butterfly lights up when the sun comes through my window!

Fox Hunt Tray

As you know from my musings I am definately not a fan of fox hunting but want to show you this. I found this Art Deco embroidered tray quite a few years ago. I absolutely love it. The workmanship is stunning even the faces of the man and woman is highly worked. The detail is incredible. There is a sense of fun and movement caught by the horse jumping with the dogs and the dogs jumping after the butterflies. Much nicer than jumping after foxes me thinks!!!

It is quite typical of the Art Deco period found in crockery and prints. This has been woven and embroidered and then placed under glass and made into a tray.

Little pieces of beauty

Well one of my passions are vintage quilts. To be honest I think it is the fact that in one object I have all the elements that I am passionate about. Textile, print, design and crafting... I have a few of them and love makeing them as well. Here is the beginnings of another quilt made from various old quilt pieces that I have recently sourced.

A while ago I stumbled upon a women who sells cut up pieces of Vintage Durham quilts, with BEAUTIFUL prints as well as colours. These lend themselves amazingly well to the idea I had of making a patchwork quilt of these mixed cut up pieces. So as you can see I have started to work these together. I have been working on them for about a month. Luckily, they are already cut and quilted and small enough to carry them anywhere. So far I have worked on them on the tube, the overground train, the bus, at lunchtime at my desk as well as on a bench, (whilst trying to eat my lunch), in front of the telly and sitting on the seafront! I had to smile to myself when I was sitting on the bench in the HOT sunshine making a Winter quilt …….

I tend to do small sections and then I will sew them together to complete the quilt. It shouldn’t take super long as the pieces are already cut and quilted….. the last one I made took a year….....That I also made by hand like this......I will just have to make sure that I don't spend too much time eating my bagel at lunchtime!

Patchwork 1 Sofa Throw

I love my sofa with one of the many patchwork quilts that I have. Luckily it is very hard wearing and sits so well with my little cushions. One of the things that I am passionate about is to finding old unfinished quilts from anywhere from the 30s to the 70s and using my vintage fabrics to finish off them off. It feels kind of a noble thing to do, to finish someones project that for so many reasons didn't get finished. I know that for one of the ones that I completed the lady passed away before she could finish it and I was so happy to finish her work of art and labour of love. I wonder if she is looking down and is happy with my workmanship! ps. Have a look at my Embroidery Envy section for a quick look at the sofa! Splendid my dear!

Let's meet up and be crafty....

Liisa and I met up and thought why not work on our projects together! Just look at her crochet blanket... I can tell you it is even more gorgeous in real life and feels so cosy! What an amazing collection of colours.

I was working on my table cloth, it has taken quite a while I can tell you! .... I think that it needs a bit more colour. There is only so much green in one project I can take!I have been working on this for years now! I do a bit when I feel like it and seem to move from my furniture frolicks, through my quilting, sewing schinanagins to bric-a-brac banter! I'll let you know when it is finished... lets hope in the next say.... couple of years!

Cosy Cushions

I just love my little collection of embroidered and applique cushions! There is something so special about them and knowing that they are unique! Mostly using iron transfers popular from the 30 - 70s!