New items on etsy!

Hello again!  Just wanted to let you know that I have now added a lot more items to my etsy store - the link is on the top right of this page.  I've added my handmade purses, that a lot of my friends and family will be getting for Christmas, as well as  a few Christmas themed goodies for the  holiday season.  Hope you approve!

Also available to buy now are the gorgeously girly pink triple orchid clips, the same in yellow and the Tiki tiger lilies 

Good news, bad news

Unfortunately this weekend did not go completely to plan for me. I had planned a lovely evening out with some lovely friends to Proud Cabaret in London and I think with a mixture of cold and home decoration I put my back out :-(  All evening I had reminders of what I was missing - my hair was done, nails done, dress hung out and heels at the ready.  So disappointed.  Hope you had a lovely time girlies!

I was having a think from  my last post about what constitutes 'vintage'.  I've seen some funny ol' things on the internet which have been described as vintage, an example of this was a cushion with an embroidered rose and skull on it.  This apparently was a 'vintage skull pillow'.  Hmmmm.  Anyway, the reason that I was wondering about this is because I have recently bought the most stunning earrings (in my opinion) from AquArt Jewellery

Ever since I can remember I have loved amethyst and silver.  I saw these and just had to have them. I would whole-heartedly recommend you check out the website as they have some wonderful things and every piece is bespoke so you will be the only person to own that item.  So, back to my question - are these vintage?  Maybe not but it's how you wear them.  These will go perfectly with a 1940s updo and one of my hair flowers.  They are simple and understated but have that elegance that I think lacks in a lot of mass produced jewellery but is quintessential to the 1940s style.  I am tickled pink with these and will wear them a lot and that's what it's about.  If you buy good quality items that you love now then they will be the sought after 'vintage' pieces of the future.

Stunning starlet dresses

Hi all, not only am I getting excited about Christmas but also all the little things I have planned in the run up.  So many opportunities to get glammed up and I can't wait.  I don't know why I do this to myself but even though I am lucky enough to have some really lovely dresses I always have a look online and see what there is going.

A favourite site of mine, as mentioned before, is 20th century Foxy and they have just introduced this beautiful evening dress. 

It's the Ava Dress in Metallic Aqua by the gorgeous (but slightly expensive once imported to the UK) Stop Staring.  I have this in red and just love it and am sorely tempted to save up and get it in blue as well.  It's a dress made of an amazing aqua metallic stretch taffeta that looks like a silk dupioni, fitted from top to bottom. The bodice is one armed with an asymmetrical neckline.  It is one of the most flattering dresses I own and disguises all sorts of lumps and bumps, even the tell-tale signs of underwear!  You can buy yours here. 

 Another favourite dress of mine for the Christmas season is from Tara Starlet. Some might not see this as a party dress but I definitely do - I think it is completely stunning and super glamorous.  I love the detail of the little dice on the trim.  Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving to all those reading in the States too.

 

New Forest Photos

I recently went on a team build in the New Forest with our management team.  It was a tough few days but the surroundings were beautiful.  We stayed in a hotel called Rhinefield House and the grounds were stunning, think Autumn catches it at its best.  We only  had a few breaks so I don't have many photos but wanted to share the ones I do have with you.

The Make Lounge photos

I really cannot recommend The Make Lounge enough.  I have been there a few times now and just love it.  Their slogan is 'meet people, make stuff' and that's exactly it.  I am actually really shy with new people so it's great for me and I love learning new things so I find them perfect.  The Make Lounge runs more than 35 different workshops, from cupcake decorating and dress making to teacup candle making and millinery. Classes take place weekday evenings, weekend mornings, and can also be booked especially for groups.  new classes just launched include Book Binding, Soap Making, and Screen Printing.

One of the classrooms, below it is an ironing room!

Hedgehog lining

Finished product!

Time is flying

Morning, hope you all had wonderful weekends.  I can't get over where the time is going, 17th November seems too long since my last post.

Main news is that the countdown has started to our next stall – the Hitchin Farmers and Crafts Market in Hitchin this Saturday.  That means only a few days to get ready and I can’t wait.  The last stall went down really well and it will be great to be part of something that we’re more suited to.  It is going to be COLD though so will be wearing cosy boots and will have some hand warmers in my bag just in case.  What's all this talk of snow?  I am prepared for it though, the air con is stuck on full in my office and I was so cold yesterday that I had to put my feet in a jiffy bag, yes, a jiffy bag.  I'm not proud!  Anyway, today I have my furry boots on and they are working out nicely :-)

Back to the stall.  I have found the most wonderful orchids and made them into clips.  I love the yellow and pink, they look so really.  I've also made some hair clips using white tiger lillies which remind me of ones from Elvis's 1950 movies in Hawaii.  I wore one out the other night and it just finished the outfit off.  Here are some photos and what I've been making.  I'll take some nicer photos over the weekend and put them on my etsy store.

Mock up of stall

Padded heart brooches, single orchid clips and glitter roses

I've made some Poinsettia clips for Christmas too

Close up of the new additions

All this preparation helped me in the end as I was offered a place last minute at a Christmas craft fair last Saturday.  It was at a school so fascintators and pasties wouldn't have gone down too well so I focused on smaller flower hairclips.  It was a great feeling to just be able to do it.  It was a really lovely day and great experience.  I’ve recently bought a fold away table for events and wanted to try it out along with a layout for the stall itself.  Here’s a photo of what it looked like.  I was really really pleased with how it turned out.

The flowers were really well received and I met some lovely people and had a good day.  A highlight was seeing two best friends, who had each bought the same orchid clip, wandering around wearing them.  It was so cute! 

Something completey non vintage about the day was a temporary tattoo that I got on my wrist of a little tree frog.  I loved it and couldn’t stop looking at it.  I was lucky enough to have my stall next to the lovely lady who runs Falling Rock Airbrush Body Art and she gave me my own tattoo at the end of the day!  Such a good idea and very effective.  It would be a wonderful idea for parties too.  I had trouble picking a design as they were so many - all shapes and sizes and then you can pick your colours too.  I don’t have any real tattoos but I love this one - maybe it's because of the glitter?  It did give Mr P a bit of a fright when he saw it though.

Other weekend news is that I have lost my most favourite pair of vintage earrings; actually, even worse I’ve only lost one.  Bad news for me but good news that I can talk about where I bought them.  As you know I have a little etsy shop and have been part of that online craft community for a good few years so I have my favourite shops and know who to trust and how fast shipping can be to the UK.  One of them is where I get my earrings from www.etsy.com/shop/AstilbeDesigns



My favourite lost earrings



I love the simplicity and vintage feel of the designs.  My lost ones above are adorable glass flower pattern buttons and measure 6mm, They are made of 1940s Japanese glass and I just love them.  Luckily there was a pair for sale so I've bought them.  They arrive very quickly to the UK as well, a wonderful trusted seller.

Is Cath Kidston vintage?

I didn't know whether to do a blog on Cath Kidston products and the question was only raised as I randomly received one of their catolgues for Christmas.  I am trying to keep this blog vintage based and mention small crafters  so i wasn't sure if Cath Kidston fitted but she had to start somewhere and they are selling some things that, to me, have that vintage feel that I go for. So I did a bit of research on Cath Kidston and here's what I came up with:

Cath Kidston Ltd was founded in 1993 when designer Cath Kidston opened a tiny shop in London’s Holland Park. She began by selling the vintage fabrics, wallpapers and brightly-painted junk furniture she remembered fondly from her childhood. Her clever, witty re-working of traditional English country house style meant that her shop soon became a cult success.

 

Gradually Cath began to design her own prints and products. One of the first was a printed ironing board cover – practical, quirky and with a distinctive floral print, it has come to epitomize the Cath Kidston look. The product offering has expanded steadily to include an extensive range of homewares as well as women’s fashion and accessories and the 2008 launch of the Cath Kids brand.

 

It is yet another fairytale ending, and truly is something special to have a look to a product that is instantly recognisable, so Cath Kidston - I salute you!  I didn't even realsied that they did jewellery but here are my favourite brooches.

The other things that caught my eye are the sweet little baubles that have what I consider to be a 'vintage rose' glitter stencil on them.  I am a sucker for cute packaging so I'm sold on these.

As you know I love making things and think that the tins disguised at books are so sweet, there is one for threads, buttons and pins.  I can see these being really useful around the house but they will be so cute on a shelf hiding your little treasures.

 

So this is all a bit 'Betty Homemaker' and that's what I love!!!  I think it's such a funny idea in this day and age that there is a shop out there that is unashamedly girly selling homewares, sewing kits and cooking bowls.  Where are there the masculine teapots?  There aren't any!  It seems such an unPC shop and assumes that the woman will be doing all the cooking and mending of her husband's clothes while still looking glamourous.  A bit like the lovely January Jones who plays Betty in Mad Men.  I wish I could look as glamorous as she does on a daily basis.  I might pass on the drinking in the day, chain smoking and cheating husband though thank you!  Have a good evening everyone.

Vintage events other than in London.....

Hello lovely ladies (and maybe some gents)

A couple of things pop to mind today.  Firstly, I do not live in London, I used to work and live there and was never sure where one finished and the other started.  I have to say though there is always so much going on and it takes a lot to raise an eyebrow from a passerby or even a second look.  There are club nights and events a plenty.  I still have a finger in the pie of London by being a member of The New Sheridan Club (www.newsheridanclub.co.uk)– country membership of course!  Now that I live in Hertfordshire I do find it a bit much to try and go to all the things I want to in London but have admitted defeat and pop in when I can.

It would be wonderful if there was more to do out here.  Does anyone know about any secret vintage rumblings out here in the sticks?  I have heard about one such event being held on Friday 26^th November in Letchworth Garden City.  A vintage event in Hertfordshire I hear you cry?!  Why yes, I’m not a member of facebook myself but here’s the link to it on there: http://www.facebook.com/Sinners.Playground

Details are: SINNERS PLAYGROUND - DECADES OF DECADENCE BALL, Burlesque and Music Event featuring Marianne Cheescake, Fifi Fatale, The Zipheads, Unseen Shadows, Amelia Valentine, DJ Electrobunny and many more....

 LETCHWORTH: The Spirella Ballroom

FRI 26TH NOV, 2010 7.00pm - 12.30am

I’m not sure what it will be like but might be worth a peek, tickets are available here http://www.wegottickets.com/event/97729

Another non-London vintage do is in Bath.  I know that’s even further than London but think this would make part of a wonderful weekend away.  When I was at Vintage at Goodwood this year there was a beautiful stall that took my eye belonging to the talented ‘Mrs Strokes’.  I kept passing the stall as it was right by their ‘40s section but resisted buying anything.  This is the one and only pit fall of living with a boy, I can’t buy an excessive amount of girly pretty things and can’t see me getting Mr P to sit down with a bone china mug sipping tea.  Having said that we are off to Fortnum and Mason’s for afternoon tea as a birthday treat to me soon – yippeeeee!

So, I was checking out the lovely things on Mrs Strokes’ site and she has the most wonderful idea of having a monthly ‘Secret Tea Party’.  How wonderful!  http://www.mrsstokes.com/userimages/The-Secret-Tea-Party(2121681).htm

Tickets are £15 and the location is revealed on purchase of the ticket to build the excitement.  Here’s an excerpt from her site:

The Idea

Each month I host a Secret Tea party in a location that is only revealed once you have booked, to add to the excitement of the event - and the exclusivity. It's a full afternoon tea with fizz, music and vintage china shopping. I am also going to partner-up with different people each time who will each have a special talent or skill or perspective that I hope you might like. And of course there will be shopping - vintage china in a private setting with a glass of bubbly in hand.

The first one

November 6th was the first Secret Tea Party and it was held at The Nineteenth House in Bath. The special guest was Gemma Lye who runs The House of Go Disco, Bath's agency for vintage-style models and burlesque performers. Gorgeous Gemma gave a demonstration about how to create the perfect, wearable vintage hair-do and make-up look. We also had Inma and Lou there - two vintage stylists who gave everyone fabulous makeovers.  There was also a full afternoon tea, music, china on sale and a goodie bag.

An example of the lovely gift sets of Mrs Stokes

I have to say that Bath is on my list of places to go and this makes it even more appealing.  Well done that lady!

Chilli Chutney recipe

Lots of exciting things have been happening in Blog Land.  Winter is truly here and that’s not a bad thing as I love winter and everything that comes with it – walks through the woods and then warming yourself as home, wrapping up pressies, writing Christmas cards and lots of baking to be down.  Can’t wait to make stain glass sugar cookies this year using my new snowflake cutters! One of my favourite things about all the house time is making chutney.  The world outside the window looks like a scene from Sleepy Hollow,  fog descending and freezing everything in sight but inside it’s all warm and cosy while things simmer on the stove.

Thought I’d share my favourite chutney recipe with you which I know is a bit random but thought I’d do it anyway.  It’s from a Jamie Oliver book and it really has a lot of kick to it.  Love it with cheese on toast. 

Ingredients

• 8-10 fresh red chillies

• 8 ripe red peppers

• olive oil

• 2 medium red onions, peeled and chopped

a sprig of fresh rosemary, leaves picked and chopped

• 2 fresh bay leaves

• a 5cm piece of cinnamon stick

• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 100g brown sugar

150ml balsamic vinegar

If you want your chutney to last for a while, make sure you have some small sterilized jars ready to go. Place your chillies and peppers in a griddle pan or on a tray under a hot grill, turning them now and then until blackened and blistered all over. Carefully lift the hot peppers and chillies into a bowl (the smaller chillies won’t take as long as the peppers so remove them first) and cover tightly with clingfilm. As they cool down, they’ll cook gently in their own steam. By the time they’re cool enough to handle, you’ll be able to peel the skin off easily.

When you’ve got rid of most of the skin, trimmed off the stalks and scooped out the seeds, you’ll be left with a pile of nice tasty peppers and chillies. Finely chop by hand or put in a food processor and whiz up. Then put to one side.

Heat a saucepan and pour in a splash of olive oil. Add the onions, rosemary, bay leaves and cinnamon and season with a little salt and pepper. Cook very slowly for about 20 minutes or so, until the onions become rich, golden and sticky.

Add the chopped peppers and chillies, the sugar and the vinegar to the onions and keep cooking. When the liquid reduces and you’re left with a lovely thick sticky chutney, season well to taste. Remove the cinnamon stick and the bay leaves. Either spoon into the sterilized jars and put them in a cool dark place, or keep in the fridge and use right away. In sterilized jars, the chutney should keep for a couple of months.

Yum yum yum!

It’s just case now of fitting everything in!  I got some more flowers in the other day which have a real Hollywood glam feel to them and getting ready to stock a stall at a few craft fairs coming up.  I have a few ideas for vintage jewellery at the moment so watch this space.  It seems so crazy that an idea of wanting to make a few pinnies for Christmas has turned into this.  I am very excited to do the first craft market with Shara in Hitchin in a couple of weeks, I’ll feel like a real trader and it will be great experience.  I’d love to wear one of my favourite vintage dresses on the day but last time it was so cold, my coat covered up every last bit of me.  I have invested in those hand warmers that you get from outdoorsy shops, think we’ll need them!

I'll add more photos when I have them!

Tempting trinkets

Just in time for Christmas I’ve found some lovely things that would make perfect pressies.  I am hoping that Mr P takes note as well!

First up is this fantastic mug, think it says it all really. 

As a big reader myself, I love to curl up on the sofa with a book so you can buy it from the Literary Gift Company.  Due to the nature of the company I work for, I’ve been dragged into the real paper book versus electronic book debate.  I actually had someone in my office the other the day who was convinced that ‘proper’ books were going to stop being made in a few years and we’d all have a Kindle or something similar.  I agree that maybe hardbacks will stop being made but paperbacks?  I may have to eat my words but I can’t see it happening, to be fair though this is coming from the girl that when she worked at Virgin Megastores in Brent Cross scoffed at the idea that dvds would take over from video cassettes....oh dear.....

My boss has bought a Kindle for his wife and have to say I was very very impressed.  It’s  a lovely little bit of kit and would make going on holiday a lot lighter for me.  I read at a rate of knots and can easily get through 4 or 5 books a week if on holiday so of course I have to pack them on.  However, on a diddy little Kindle you can upload all the books you want and still have space in your case for an extra pair of shoes or two – hurrah!  Anyway, as usual I digress....

Next stop are 2 similar sites for vintage jewellery.  Below are an example of what they do and some of my favourites (I hope my family are reading this hehe!)

The first site is Elsie Belle, gorgeous little trinkets that have that one off vintage feel. I love the scissors (fits in with my dress making) and the lovely vintage bee and I'm not a fan of gold.  The whole site is darling and has a really lovely feel to it. 

A similar site is Temporary: Secretary  I have no idea where I have been but I hadn't even heard of these sites until today.  Something for everyone on this site - cute, kitsch, vintage and quirky.  i truly believe that there is something for everyone of this site.  I've just had to buy the birdcage necklace but the pearl bracelet is on my list now too.

Lastly, these 'Keep Calm and Carry On' neacklaces I thought were perfect for so many of my friends, whether they like vintage jewellery or not!

Another idea for presents for the girlies in your life is a voucher for the makelounge in Islington.  I went there at the weekend and doing one of their workshops is one of the nicest ways to spend your Saturday morning.  There are 2 locations on the same road, separate only by a cycle shop.  I was in the bright and airy workshop next door to their retail shop where they sell gorgeous fabrics, craft books and little bits and bobs.  It gave me the feeling of an old fashioned sweet shop, large window, shelves piled high and full of colour.  If you have a look at their website you can see what workshops they do and hopefully see one you fancy.  It was definitely worth the long work from Finsbury Park (as all the lines I wanted to get were down that day).  I did take some photos but as is the story of this blog, I haven't uploaded them yet.  To get a better idea of what I got up to have a look on the website http://www.themakelounge.com/