Emerald With Envy...

...of Lulu Frost designer Lisa Salzer's overflowing with vintage apothecary drawers!

Neither A High Nor A Low

As promised here's what I picked up yesterday...

 

Midi skirt!

So I did say I was looking for a black one over any other colour but when it's made of jersey and priced at 75p you can't really say no can you?

[worn with TS Boutique vest, 3 quid battered belt and Casio watch]

T & D[IY]

How awesome is this tea service? This is the end result of a tutorial from re-nest that I cannot wait to try. I already have a cute little blue and white thrifted tea service and am scouring ebay for a black porcelain paint pen with an idea in mind that will hopefully end up in the shop (which will, fingers crossed, be live come the middle of august).

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.

Vintage Cafe

This week saw the opening of my Aunty's tea shop, Vintage Cafe.

My first visit was for a pot of tea served in a vintage cup and saucer (with a shot glass of dolly mixture on the side!)

And here are few more snaps I managed to get before we had to run home to get an umbrella on our way into town...

A very good commandment for a tea shop (and life in general)

[artwork by Olivia of Goldielocks & Cupid]

Cake, blackboard menu and pretty things

Cosy corner for reading and drinking hot chocolate

Cabinet filled with vintage and shabby chic bits n bobs

Part of the backroom seating area with black and white photos of Hull 

(which are also available for purchase)

Since my favourite thrift store is nearby, I won't be needing to make many excuses to head in the direction of Chanterland's Avenue from now on.

Find out more on the Vintage Cafe Facebook page (and don't forget to click like!)

Fawning All Over You

If it wasn't for the fact that I'm on a strictly 'no spend' to save money for LDN I'd be buying this adorable little guy from TTA fave Thrift-ola to add to my collection. At just 7 quid I hope someone snaps him up and gives him a good home.

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

Bicycles On The Brain?

Keep seeing vintage-y bicycles everywhere which I wish was a sign that I should get one. Just one snag - never been very good at riding them!

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

'99 Forever

What where you doing on New Year's Ever 1999 just before the world moved into a new Millennium?

My cousin, Olivia, was just 9 years old and only ever having known the Nineties was a little trepidatious about moving into a new century. She's now almost 21 (jeez how time flies!) and using her memories of that night for her final year uni film project.

Not only do they get marked on the film itself but also how they promote it. The '99' team have set up a Facebook page and need as many 'likes' as possible so head over to the '99 Forever Facebook Page' and get clicking!!!

See more of Olivia's set design work on her blog Goldielocks & Cupid.

Get By With A Little Help From My Friends...

Any research I've attempted myself to find the answer to this question has unfortunately been fruitless!

So - why the heck is there a pop out blade in this charm?

 

I picked this up at Walton Street Market a couple of weeks ago as I'd never seen a hot air balloon charm before and coloured/enamelled ones seem much harder to come across. When we got home it was my boyfriend who realised that by pressing the central dot between the stripes you released a little blade, leaving a circular hole behind.

Our first (and to be fair only) guess is a cutter for hand rolled cigarettes? Any help would be much appreciated mainly coz its driving me mad!!!!!!!

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.

A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place

A little bit of interiors geekery - inspirational place settings that make me want to have a dinner party so I can dress my own antique hunk of wood table.

Erin Fetherston's table as seen on MTV's 'House of Style' - the sequin rabbit is a 

hat from Fetherston's Fall '09 catwalk show

Candy bracelets used as napkin rings and giant lollipop favours at a wedding 

at The Tally Ho Inn, Aswarby

From Sweetpea Vintage Company who rent out vintage china and place settings - a mix 

and match selection of rose print tea cups, clear and green glass and linen napkins

Children's tea party with tiny vintage cups and saucers and scattered bite-size 

cupcakes (see more pictures here at The Sweetest Occasion)

Brass wolf charms and string used to tie hessian napkins used at Thanksgiving 

by Studio Choo (seen here on Design*Sponge)

Tales Of Thrifting #1

Got a mega haul in various thrift stores/charity shops in my hometown today -

Art

The large floral is an acrylic painting, the lady in the hat is (from what I can tell) a print that has been accented with acrylic paint, the girl and boy are matching prints in gold plastic frames, the floral circle is a print and the flowers on black background are embroidery on fabric.

Homewares

A large metal painted bowl adorned with young couples and roses.

Handmade toadstool cushion to add to my collection that is threatening to take over the armchair!

Ornate cupboard handles (no purpose as yet) and a pale pink heart shaped trinket bowl.

Oversized rose print coasters.

Cake plates and saucers (some for a potential move into vintage homewares/gifts for TTA).

Clothes

Handmade vintage blouse - looks good open or fastened.

But how much did it all come to? Well, if they still made penny sweets I'd have come home with all of this and a fistful of fizzy cola bottles and only £10 lighter!!!!!

Trinket Bowl - AgeUK
Cushion & Lady in Hat Painting - Oxfam
Everything Else - The Sailors' Society