Liberty print dresses

I have just produced  a small batch run of baby and toddler dresses in really pretty Liberty tana lawn cotton prints. I'm very lucky to live just less than an hours drive from Standfast and Barracks the company that prints Liberty's cottons and has a factory shop! 

A selection of Liberty prints destined to become childrenswear.

I had a delightful afternoon fabric shopping with founder member of the ARK gallery at The Cloisters in Appleby.

Pretty fabrics laundered and ready for making up.

I'm delighted with how these dresses have turned out, I hope you like them too! 

 

All for sale at The Cloisters Gallery, Appleby in Westmorland.

January stock

 It's been a hive of activity over the holiday season. New bags everywhere, lots of lovely vintage embroidery to play with. We're working hard behind the scenes to bring you some up-cycled furniture and denim to start 2016.

Happy New Year!

A Jolly Good Do Two!

I had my first fair this weekend, and it could not have gone better! It was a beautiful spring day with daffodils in abundance and sunshine letting everyone know it really is Spring at last!

It was also held in the cutest village hall in the world ever, Kings Meaburn Village Hall.

I had a lovely time with Manpants on board, lovely ladies all around, please check them all out. 

Goodbye Norma Jean,  Golding's Old Things  Jolly Good Vintage,  

There was also a lovely tea room who took very good care of us and served ginger beer by the lashing. Tip top. And they let me take the daffodils home!

Phoenix Antiques Barn

I'm delighted to be a guest blogger at the wonderful Phoenix Antiques Barn this week, check it out. Things are hotting up in Retro land......

Newcastle vintage

Newcastle is very close  to my heart and family. My great grandparents lived in the Westgate road area and Grandad was born on Scotswood Road, featured in the famous song The Blaydon Races. On the way back from our first shopping trip Manpants and I called in to Winlaton (Good homemade pies in the shop - MP) to do some family tree research, where we found the gravestone of Coffee Johnny, who also makes an appearance in verse eight of the song.

The Westage pull must be genetic as I usually start my shopping trips to Newcastle here with a hearty lunch at Stateside American Diner on Pink Street. Once full to bursting with burger and fries it's onwards to Flip keeping with the Yankee theme you can find bowling shirts, army surplus and a great assortment of vintage for men and women. There's also a cute hippy shop underneath where I drop by for nose studs and incense.

There is a great run of charity shops on the bottom end of Clayton Street, it was here I scooped a holy grail of this stunning border print fabric in the British Heart Foundation charity shop.

Once done trawling the second hand bargains I then cut across Newgate Street to Grainger Street, where Forbidden Planet and Travelling man comics are situated conveniently close to each other for an epic dose of thrill power! 

Further up the road and round the corner is Attica on High Bridge. This is a fabulous den of vintage clothing, accessories, art and homewares. A wonderful place to while away time and empty ones wallet! It is quite well hidden so head up the steps and round the corner, but it's a great place for a vintage hunter to get lost as there are several other vintage and boutique shops on this street!

I'm getting all homesick now, and brewing another post on some of the great venues and gigs to be found in Newcastle too!

Bedside cabinet upcycle

Here's a recent furniture upcycle project. I got the beside cabinet from my local Freegle group for £0. It was a dark brown veneered cabinet with a pull out formica shelf which really appealed to me as a place to put books and specs at night.

It is rather cute. The cupboard also had an interior shelf that just seemed a perfect fit for my bedroom tat. Time to break out the sandpaper. 

I had just spray painted a lovely chunky pine chest of drawers, but had gone through two cans of expensive paint so I decided to brush paint this with a similar cream colour. I used some nice quick drying water based B&Q paint I had in the shed.

Feeling inspired by this fantastic upcycle, I decided to paint the interior a powder blue which matched my bedroom walls, nearly, while the cream interior matched the other bedroom furniture.

This is a dutch knob. I bought it at the Waterlooplein flea market  while vintage shopping in Amsterdam. I got two and its mate lives on my purdonium :) 

The blue just seemed perfect and it looks great.

It's a nice home for my cute set of pink 1960's glassware. I'm glad my kids buy what I tell them to for my birthdays :D

Amsterdam vintage

My lovely friends Kate and Andy from Phoenix Antiques have just been to Holland in their lovely camper van, Minty.

I'm not the slightest bit jealous, but I do want to share some of the lovely vintage finds I've discovered in Amsterdam.

My favourite has to be Laura Dols a gorgeous little jewel of a shop, enticingly dressed with a fantastic stock of retro and vintage clothes from all eras. It is especially worth a look downstairs at their stunning selection of evening wear and vintage bedding and household linen. 

Here's a picture of my kitten in a Laura Dols bag. Just because.

I bought this fab green leather blazer style jacket from there on my first visit. There is one mis-matched button and there are belt loops but no belt, but still, the colour is fantastic and I love the top pockets.

My second visit coincided with my 40th birthday and a rummage in the bargain bin. The offer was four items for 8€ each. Kerching! Three of the four items I grabbed with a view to altering but I liked this Indian cotton printed wrap skirt which has escaped the scissors.

First alteration project in the making is this lovely green polka dot print that will become a skirt or possibly a dress. I'm not very keen on the sleeves or the lace bands. Or the style. But the print is lovely and it is going to become something very wearable in the future. Honest.

I also acquired this pretty blue print dress. It has already been disassembled a bit in this picture, the bottom had a further 12" deep lace trimmed frill on. I like the long waist ties, and the sleeves are very comfortable. I might try and fill out the skirt a little. Or make it a top and skirt. Hmmm...

This frock is an ocean of liberty print. There are far too many ruffles and pin tucks in one outfit for me, but I'll just start removing flounces and see where I end up! 

Next up is Moo!zo, situated near a lovely place to stop for a coffee and watch the world go by in the Jordaan quarter. I got this lovely Russian folk print ankle length (on me) skirt, with a side pocket. I loves the pocketses.

I'm also a sucker for border prints. Feast your eyes on the colours here, this has become one of my favourite things to wear, cannot get enough of it.

Man pants and I had a lovely day trip to Zandvoort, a seaside resort west of Amsterdam. I had seen lots of these star print tops on the market stalls there for about €15 but didn't get one. I was delighted then, to find one here way cheaper! It's a great summer throw on top, goes great with vest tops and skinnies on breezy summer days.

And for last, the first vintage shop I found in Amsterdam! Tut&Hola is a beautiful boutique brimming with retro delights. I've yet to find anything that fits :'( despite lots of trying on and hoping! They also stock vintage knitting and sewing patterns for the holidaying vintage crafter.