The Little Shop That (Finally) Was

While my parents gave me the middle name 'Marie' I'm pretty certain it should have been procrastination! I can't remember how many months it's been that I've been saying I would stock The Tiny Atelier shop again, and this time do it properly, but it never happened...until today.

With two weeks holiday from work coming to a close, and a lack of things to do thanks to my still healing ribs, I grabbed a few photos and started uploading. The whole store, layout, fonts, banner etc was already done so it was pretty quick and easy.

Hopefully the weather will be OK tomorrow so I can go out into the back garden with the cat (who is now under supervision due to climbing and getting stuck up a fence - the whole adventure ending with me up a step ladder so he could clamber onto me and then hide in my coat!) and get some more snaps and upload while the F1's on.

For now, here's a quick snapshot of the store's homepage or just head over their and take a look for yourself :)

Visit the shop!

5 A Day

So last Sunday I did my first ever market at Humber Street Fruit Space in Hull - we didn't really know what to expect (we certainly didn't expect to be outside which caused a few problems with the pricing cards and framed sign) but they day as a whole was really successful so I'll definitely be doing it again at the end of September and, fingers crossed, some other fairs/markets before the end of the year. The ultimate dream...to do this full time (I worked out that if I sold at two markets a week with as good a sales as Fruit would earn me the same as my 36.5 hour job!)

Vintage At Vintage

As of yesterday The Tiny Atelier handmade with vintage jewellery is available to purchase from Vintage Cafe in Hull!

The back room is host to a monthly rotation of local artists, photographers, crafters and makers and for the next for weeks my frames filled with charm necklaces, earrings, rings and brooches will be there...

Plus this Wednesday the cafe is hosting a Cake & Couture evening - £2.50 a ticket with a free drink and something yummy to eat. I'll be there selling everything on the wall plus a few other pieces alongside handmade and vintage clothing and some amazing photography!

Fails, Frames & The Future

Had a change of stock today at one of the boutique's I stock in Hull, including some new displays (the abacus/earring stand was a massive FAIL). I went with frames lined in fabric to showcase vintage charm necklaces and earrings and a vintage yellow glass 'dish' (made by gluing together a shot glass and gravy boat plate!)  for rings plus a handful of studs and bracelets.

A few earrings hanging from a frame, reworked vintage blue stone and diamante bracelet, vintage plastic fruit charm and keys and hearts vintage charm bracelets plus vintage daisy studs.

'LOVE' vintage scrabble tile ring set, horseshoe and shell vintage charm earrings, selection of made with vintage rings and various vintage charm necklaces.

I'll hopefully be adding items back onto the website VERY soon. Been cooking up a little spring/summer vintage jewellery collection and looking into a few other handmade ideas :)

Also, apologies for the low photo quality but the shop is in a basement so is quite dark.

Thing's Are Still Flo'ing At The Atelier

So I've been missing from the blog this past week (again - I'm sorry!) due to the fact I've been organising some jewellery pieces from the Atelier plus displays for a new Hull stockist - Bella Flo.

Sophie, the owner, handpicked a selection of vintage charm necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings for her shop...I then had the task of labelling, pricing and and turning an old drawer (courtesy of Eleanor, one of our store's VMs) into a suitable display.

This is the original drawer, acquired from a junk shop and with a quick splash of lemon emulsion to use for a high level at work.

After a few hours sanding and a new coat of paint plus a vintage fabric covered 'pillow' the draw was set for a new life at Bella...

I used a stamping set to create the price labels and earring backing cards, then pinned them to the satin pad.

I picked up the vintage-look jewellery stand from a homewares shop down the street (I also have the larger version in gold which I use to hang my necklaces so they don't end up in a big knotted mess).

Next week's task is collecting all the stock from the other stockist, Co-Co Rose, re-labelling and pricing everything and changing some of the stock around. While Bella is more of a couture boutique with handmade gowns, Co-Co is a straight up and re-worked vintage shop so I can stock it with more kitsch pieces - vintage plastic fruit charm bracelets and over sized vintage plastic daisy studs!

For now it's back to the garden to continue in my quest to turn a vintage abacus into an earring stand...will let you know how it goes.

All The Colours Of The Rainbow

Look at all the pretty colours. Picked these vintage deadstock haircombs up on Ebay and can't believe how fast they've arrived from America. Gonna go make some pretty shiz with 'em!

Paper Bags & Candy Stripes

How much does this purse make you nostalgic?

Natalie Thakur is a London based leather designer whose 'Reusable Range' highlights the disparity between disposability and longevity.

 Available to buy from Howkapow.

I'm looking into a purse friendly (but not as long lasting) alternative for packaging my items if/when I do a market:

Displaying My Wares

With the possibility that I'll be doing a market stall to sell my handmade with vintage jewellery this summer my mind is buzzing with ideas for displays.

Because I love to thrift I've already picked up a few bits and pieces:

Three shelf stand (charity shop 99p). Glass bowl (charity shop 50p). Vintage cake stand (charity shop £2). Jewellery stand (Woods Pine Interiors £9).

And Pinterest has given me some cool ideas:

 Im thinking an old frame with rows of string to hang fish hook earrings

 Bowls of rings :)

 This would be cool for my bow brooches - box frame with brass hooks

I can but dream - vintage printers drawer fitted with hooks...sigh

Fresh From The Atelier

Thought I'd add a few of my favourite just made pieces to the blog. These won't be heading to Co-Co Rose just yet as I'm hoping to do a market this summer so want to have some extra special stock for that.

 Chubby Vintage Bunny Charm with GP Bow & Chain - £6

 Vintage Bow Brooch with Vintage Mickey Mouse Ears Charm - £4

 Antique (real working) Harmonica on SP and Vintage Chains - £12

 Vintage Perfume Bottle Charm on XL GP Chain - £8

 Vintage Musical Instrument Charms on GP Bracelet - bells, guitar, saxophone, piano, harp, harmonica £8

Vintage Enamelled Russian Doll Charm with GP Bow & Chain - £6

It's Got Quite A Ring To It!

I've had these heart shaped keyring fobs for about 6 months and nothing I ever paired it with looked quite right...until now!

 Cat N Mouse

Good Luck

I made these yesterday after returning from the car boot/market with a bag full of vintage goodies. Cat N Mouse is made with a vintage gold tone candy cane twist hoop, plastic vintage cat and brass vintage mouse. Good Luck has the same hoop and cat plus a vintage brass 4 leaf clover with a vintage rhinestone centre.

3 Month Shelf Life

So, last Friday I had a meeting with the owner of a local vintage boutique and am very happy to tell you that TTA handmade with vintage jewellery is now available to buy from Co-Co Rose in Hull!

We'll be there for a minimum of 3 months with the potential to stay longer if all goes well.

Available to buy are a selection of vintage charm necklaces (£8), vintage charm bracelets (£8), vintage scrabble tile 'LOVE' knuckle dusters (£6), rings and earrings made from various vintage supplies (rings - £5. earrings - £4) and vintage faux diamond studs (£2.50).

Space wise TTA has a large shelf full of stock (plus a hand embroidered on vintage fabric sign!) and in the next few weeks will also have a jewellery stand at the till with a very special collection of handmade with vintage pieces.

...Another One Opens

And that's exactly what's happened in the on going adventure that is The Tiny Atelier. We are now back selling handmade jewellery:

It's only a teeny tiny selection of five key pieces to start with but I'm going to add more next week.

Take a look and let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Peace out x

When One Door Closes...

A quick post just to pass on a little news.

I have decided for various reasons to close The Tiny Atelier shop @ Etsy down - I'm not going to get into every issue I have had but needless to say this is not the same handmade promoting business that I first found seven years ago. I think we've all read one story or another about their mis-treatment of members, blind eye to re-sellers and a general lackadaisical attitude amongst the staff.

Vintage Charm Necklaces

Coming soon to The Tiny Atelier Shop...

Vintage charms and trinkets strung on gold and silver plated chains!