SOLD!

Some recent sales...

vintage enamel jugs

Vintage enamel ware jugs are used effectively in this modern country home on housetohome.co.uk.

Used as vases, my bright blue enamel jug would work for this look. In my Etsy shop, £20.

new stock

Even though I've been quiet on the blog front, I have been busy making new stock and hunting out vintage treasures! I had a good week in my studio-shed, printing, dyeing and sewing while Chris took time off to look after Hesper. Bliss. The result is a range of larger sized lampshades (30cm Diameter), some cushions with my "foxy" design that I had only used on kids clothes before and some dip-dyed cloud cushions. I also replenished my smaller cushions and tea towels. Most of this has been put into my space at My Little Vintage, with some left for the next fair.

Did I take any decent photos before I took them away? of course not. Have I got to rely on Facebook photos?...yep.

I have found a new fabric for my lampshades, I am now using an off-white medium-weight power loom cotton. Still organic and ethically made, it is a lighter, smoother fabric than the linen and heavier cottons I used before. It creates a better finish when rolled into a shade and lets more light through. 

I have used the last of my lovely linen for some small cushions. I printed this Foxy design and backed with a lovely woollen check - remnants from a Derbyshire mill. Sadly, this linen is no longer available, so I experimented with an organic cotton twill - I'm so-so about this. The next lot will be made with a heavier weight grainy cotton, hopefully in different colours.

I've also been accumulating lots of vintage pieces and furniture to restyle. I finally got the opportunity to photograph and list in my Etsy shop. My favourite is this Yellow Hornsea Jardiniere, which is not only stunning but apparently scarce.

  

Check out my Etsy shop here.

Thank you

x

ps: I will have a table at the My Little Vintage Fair at The Granary at Fawsley, 22nd June 11-4!

vintage swap No.2

This is my second attempt at trying to find vintage alternatives to new, chain-store or high-street finds. 

This time I've chosen a large glass vase by Bloomingville, reminiscent of vintage hand-blown bottles. It is a cool blue, 25cm high, 18cm diameter and available at John Lewis for £61. Phew!

My alternatives are both vintage, both on Etsy and both cheaper! They are green glass rather than blue, but they are the real thing! First, is a French Demi-john with a height of 26cm, from Chezvivianne on Etsy. It costs £25 and even with postage costs of £12.25 to UK, it is still a cheaper option. Larger still at 33cm high, this pale green Italian Demijohn from Rusticitalia on Etsy is £35 plus £18 postage to UK, so only slightly cheaper but it is bigger... and vintage!

(By the way, I decided to call this post vintage swap as "Don't buy this..." is a bit harsh!)

Happy vintage-hunting!

Latest vintage finds

I had a good weekend in terms of vintage hunting. I found these lovely big green glass vessels. Are they demijohns or carboys? There seems to be confusion online as to the difference but I think either will do. I have been on the look out for something like this for years, to display fairy lights in at Christmas and I was lucky enough to find two! They are made by Viresa in Italy during the 1960's. The glass has that dimpled, hand-blown quality to it and they just need a little clean. I do love old glass, which I never realised before but I do seem to keep buying old bottles and vases in different colours, preferably in vibrant colours and with wobbly bits!

I also bought a collection of brass bits. Something else that I am unexpectedly drawn to. I even managed to get in the shed ("studio" if I'm feeling cocky) and take some half decent photos and get some listed on Etsy:

I thought these brass cherub candle sconces a while ago and decided they were a bit too yellow looking. So I painted them with layers of Annie Sloan Chalk paint - Old White and Florence. I distressed the paint and then added some dark wax in the details before sealing with clear wax. 

I wanted a weathered look of old paint and verdigris. I think it has worked...! All available in my Etsy shop now.

vintage finds

Here are some of my latest purchases, waiting to be added to my Etsy shop. Coincidentally, they are all green and so will look good in a row of their own in my shop... I do try to group pieces that work together.

Ladybird Alphabet book

set of six Eastgate coffee cups

plant pot made in Norway

I might have to make an exception for this handsome chap though. I spotted him ages ago in a charity shop that I often go to. He was on a bookcase but was not for sale as he was used for display. He was on display on several occasions that I went back and on my last visit he had gone... only for me to find him in a differen spot with a price tag on! So I bought him home with the intention of selling.

I've become quite fond of brass paperweights since I found this lovely (which quickly sold)...  do I really want to see him ago?!

new in my shop

After a lovely day on Saturday spent at Holcot Car Boot Sale and Farmer's Market (10am start - perfect!), then a pint and chips in local pub... I spent Sunday photographing my car boot finds and updating my Etsy shop. I managed to set up a corner by our dining room window and got some lovely images using daylight for a change...

I also re-photographed a few things that I already had in the shop...

I have a few more things to photograph and update, but I'm much happier with the way it's starting to look!

logo loco

I have spent a lot of time lately messing about with ideas for my blog logo, etsy banner and packaging ideas. I think I've cracked it...until the next time. I just can't get it right and have got a little obsessed with it. Of course, I'm no graphic designer so I'm frustrating myself no end. I've gone from this:

old logo

...to this:

business card idea

etsy banner idea

...to this:

etsy banner idea

business card idea

...and finally to this:

new blog banner

new etsy banner

new business card

...with a few variations in between. Now I've started selling vintage goods alongside my handmade stuff, I need something that works for both. I want something quite clean but not boring...and it had to have stars in it! My shop is named after my daughter (Hesper - middle name Roo) and Hesper means "evening star" and I always wanted to include little hand drawn stars that I am always doodling. I am printing them myself for now to keep costs down. I'm also working on packaging ideas that are individual, but professional... still working on this! There is a tendency to over work this which is probably the direction I'm heading in... SELF EDIT NEEDED!!!