Contemporary two-storey house located in Sydney, Australia, designed by Greenbox Architecture.
Just a quick post to show you some of the items that I shall be taking along to the Vintage & Handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury tomorrow (Happy Birthday Daddy!)... I have been saving the summery deckchair, that some of you may remember I made-over last September, especially for the fair. I thought it would make a good centrepiece on my stall and be great for displaying dolls and cushions. I've booked a single pitch instead of a double one this time, so want to create a neat and cohesive display of my wares...Well, that's the plan!... New handmade rag dolls include Pagan in her mohair jacket and French fabrics. * Maisie in a Fair Isle cardigan and C19th Vichy check dress... * And Harriet in a striking turquoise cardigan and luscious floral layers. * I've made some more fluffy powder-puffs with vintage trims. And one of my flapper style hat stands will be coming along too. I recently bought the old doll's face and have combined it with a vintage candlestick and antique trims... Doesn't she look cheeky?! There will also be plenty of handmade handbags (including this cotton ticking variation on my usual design below), cushions, brooch pillows and lavender sachets, to name but a few. (And yes, I did manage to finish 25 chandelier charms!) Hope you can make it along to the 4th V&H fair, as it promises to be a great event once again, with lots of fine craftswomen and vintage dealers to tempt you with their treasures. Thanks to Jayne and Michele for all their hard work in its organisation. Sunshine please! Right, off to the shop now - Have a great BH weekend, whatever your plans, Niki x *
Wow!! It's been sooo hot! I've spent lots of time in my bathroom this week, having cold showers trying to cool down....it's become my sanctuary. I began to look at it afresh. I have had it red and white for some time, which I love, but I thought I would try introducing some other colours in the accessories.... I have a glass fronted cupboard that I bought at a local junk shop to display vintage treasures and also store handtowels, bubble baths, soaps etc. A few years ago I bought some French shelf papers, that I had forgotten about and never used. -They were in red and white and also green...So that was a good starting point. I added some other green items and also some black. (Was it Terence Conran who once said that all room schemes should include something black in them somewhere?) Anyway, I think the black adds a sophisticated, boudoir look.... My favourite tin has an embroidered fabric lid, with beautifully worked flowers- great for storing cotton wool balls! As is the little wire basket that I have lined in vintage fabric. I have a collection of bottles that I fill with bubble bath, to make them look special. Added to this are piles of soaps and lavender bags, so that when the cupboard is opened it smells wonderful! I realise many people couldn't live with this amount of clutter, but I think the whole lot creates a pleasing image- more fun than a framed print or painting, because it can be changed around at will.
1904/5 Cafe Rouge in Bath was the venue for a light lunch spent with two lovely ladies - an all too brief meeting with Michele was enjoyed on Friday morning, by Sue and myself. After catching up and savouring the French style food and ambiance, Michele had to head for home. You may know that Sue recently made a very large purchase of hundreds of antique French fabric samples by the Scheurer company. Each sample is approx: 80cm x 50cm and had been stored in the Scheurer archives, many from the 1800's. Most were dated and held in paper folders, which means they are as crisp and new looking as the day they were first printed. The colours and condition are truly unbelievable for textiles of this age. 1910 Sue came back home with me to let me have a look through the whole collection. Just to view these gorgeous designs is a privilege, to think that some of these prints haven't been seen for decades is awe inspiring... Some of the designs are printed onto fine silks. If these fabrics had been used back in the day, there is no way they would have survived the years intact for us to enjoy today...OK I'm gushing here, but I really enjoyed myself! It took a good two hours and several cups of tea to look through each and every sample. There are several colourways for most of the designs and picking favourites was extremely difficult! In some cases I couldn't manage it, so chose three! 1912/13 Of course my purse came out and I made a few purchases... 1910 Being the predictable girl that I am, pink roses feature heavily! I'm thinking that I may have to make a patchwork bedspread with large rectangular patches, so that each design can be seen and enjoyed every day. 1912/13 Perhaps your choice wouldn't be pastel colours and roses? The Scheurer company had most styles covered; from bold ikat styles, Art Nouveau and Deco designs, full blown county house prints with urns filled with tumbling bouquets, to more graphic, almost William Morris type designs. You can see a few of these other styles on Sue's slide show here. 1904 If you are interested in looking through the samples, then email Sue for details. Its a treat that I would recommend, but allow plenty of time! I'll leave you with photos of the rest of my purchases. I've labeled those that were dated on their sample folder with a date of production...I obviously should have been born around the early 1900's! * * * * * 1884/5 * 1912 * * 1910/11 * 1885 * 1904/5 * 1904/5 * 1903/4 * 1904/5 * * Hope you enjoyed my selection - there's plenty more left for anyone interested... Have a lovely weekend, Niki x
I don't think I've ever made a secret of the fact that I love fabric...Especially old fabric...Vintage, antique or retro, dressmaking, furnishing, lace, or wools, tatty or perfect...I'm not fussy! ;-)) So, when faced with a project, such as curtain making, it can be difficult for me to narrow my choice down to just one textile... Which is probably why the majority of curtains (and cushions for that matter!) in our home, end up a patchwork of more than one fabric! If not a large collection of assorted patches... They are at least made from two or three large strips joined together. * Or perhaps just an edge has some interest added - Like an antique fabric patchwork border (with beaded bobbles!) Failing that, then I'll add a pretty lining as a surprise when the curtains are pulled back. * Two lace tablecloths where joined together here - And a pink cotton sheet was used as a lining. ** When we decided that we needed a change in our funny little back living room, as usual I wasn't going to limit myself to just one fabric! I went for 28! Those who have visited my blog before may well recognise these lovelies. They are some of the Scheurer fabrics that I bought from Sue a couple years ago...I was always determined to use them where I could see and appreciate them everyday...And I've finally got round to it. After cutting out the 112 large patches, I've been stitching an odd seam now and then, when I've had a moment - No real pattern to the layout, just an informal jumble of deliciousness!...Sewing time at home always seems to be very limited, as there is always so much to be done for my shop...But I do feel these have been worth the wait, and now that they are hanging in place, all I have to do is enjoy them every time I walk past. I lined them with an antique French linen sheet to give them some weight. And I made a simple channel at the top from the same linen, which saved buying heading tape. They glide easily over the pole that we already had. The colourful addition to this previously all white room, has meant its still a work in progress in here, whilst I decide what pieces we already own, look best teamed with the new curtains... The green painted chest has had three different cloths on top so far (since I took this photo!)... For now I have settled on an embroidered cloth with silk satin stitched anemones around the edges. Our large white linen covered arm chair has moved into the main living room - swapped for the wooden bench which now takes up less space in the revamped room. A lace edged tablecloth makes a pretty 'skirt' (photographed a rather intense blue for some reason) and a quilt creates a comfy seat pad. I did mention I like textiles, right? ! ;-)) * My favourite Victorian velvet log cabin patchwork cover, softens the back of this old chair. And cushions always have their place! :) I think things will evolve in here a little more yet, but for now we are enjoying the changes. At last a pair of curtains for this window, that meet in the middle (don't ask! ;-)) - Time to keep cosy now the nights are drawing in... Warm wishes, Niki x
We've recently returned from a beautiful week spent in sunny Devon. Hubby and I took our youngest daughter and her best buddy for a relaxing break in this charming little Victorian cottage in Kingsweir. We had this stunning view from our bedroom window over the river Dart, with Dartmouth quay in the distance....yes, I could get used to waking up to that view every day..... Being based here, meant that we rarely had to use the car. A quick passenger ferry trip over the water and we could be in the town for our evening meal. One of the best evenings was spent in a restaurant on the river, in a converted Dutch barge. Naughty....but very nice! The girls were able to chill and enjoy crabbing from the quayside in the evenings too; it was good to see them revelling in these simple childhood pursuits and such fun when it generates competition and light-hearted rivalry between other kiddies doing the same, with parents rooting them on! We even rubbed shoulders with the stars at Brixham harbour! ;-)) My souvenirs from our lovely holiday were all vintage, of course! This French chocolate box..... Two tiny handmade silk lampshades and a roll of French wallpaper printed with bulbous summer fruits were my best-buys. ************************* On our return, my eldest daughter turned 21.....another milestone...gulp! ****************************** So, I am now back and trying to get into a working frame of mind! The sewing machine hasn't stopped the last couple of days...... I've also been trying to come up with some new ideas. I have collected vintage costume brooches for a long time and always enjoy adding them to my hand made items and looking for ways of displaying them for instant selection. They are easily damaged when tossed inside a jewellery box, so I have come up with this hanging display frame. It creates a way to recycle antique picture frames that have lost their glass and also to showcase an attractive vintage fabric. It consists of a pad for fastening brooches to and the strap provides a place to clip earrings or to hang bracelets and necklaces from. I shall hopefully add some to my website when I update the on-line catalogue soon. I have some pretty vintage eiderdowns to launder and list as well, so must get on...... Hope you are all enjoying the summer and have a fab weekend, Niki x
Some of you may know that I ran a little shop situated on the side of my house a few years ago... Whilst I have been sitting in my basement workroom this week I have been thinking about it a lot - I'm such a nostalgic person and am always wearing my rose-tinted spectacles! ;-)) But in many ways it was easier to run the physical shop that it is to run my on-line one. When I didn't have any customers in the shop, I could beaver away at my sewing machine making lots of pretty items from vintage fabrics. When each piece was complete, it was just a case of writing out a price tag, adding it to an attractive display somewhere in the shop and then waiting for a lovely customer to come through the door looking to buy. I do miss the interaction with customers too. Whilst I am very grateful for all the emails that I receive now, it isn't quite the same as actually talking to someone and seeing the look on their face as they walked into my shop for the first time - it was rather full!! - But these lovely ladies rarely walked out empty handed! This week the RSI in my wrist has been giving me some problems, so I have had to leave my handmade dolls to one side and work on some smaller items that require less stress, for the V&H fair. It will be lovely to actually talk face to face with like-minded ladies again there, as I said, this is something that I miss. I'm hoping that some of the old customers to my shop will be coming. Many of them don't have the internet, so are no longer able to shop with me on-line, so it will be great to catch-up. Anyway, enough of my whingeing - the photos on this post are all from my archives from around 2004 (when I had my first digital camera - so I used to take lots!) Please indulge my look back over some of them...they serve to remind me how many items I have made over the years, so I should perhaps expect my poor wrist to object sometimes! The photos also remind me that I am settled; in that my look hasn't changed over the years and I am still enjoying making a wide assortment of treasures from the beautiful vintage floral fabrics. The fact that over 5 years down the line, I would still like my bed to be dressed in this way, is testament to that. And I can't beat fiddling with even the tiniest of fabric scraps to make feminine boudoir style pieces to beautify the dressing table. (I'll be making some of these cuties for the fair.) So I hope you will enjoy my small selection of photos of the goods I used to make to be placed in my own little piece of paradise.... Lovely lace and cherubs... Useful shoulder bags fashioned from the good sections from damaged quilts... Small items of furniture were revamped... Bold 1950's fabrics added a colourful statement to the mix. Piles of patchwork cushions were always for sale. Along with boudoir bags for the vintage-loving girls. Peg bags to make the chores a little more enjoyable... With the more mundane utilitarian items receiving a floral beauty make-over too! Garden gift sets... and vintage stock was constantly being sourced. Mountains of floral eiderdowns were laundered and dried, along with piles of linens and curtains. sigh....I do miss you little shop... Have a lovely weekend. Niki x
Just a quick post to show you some of the items that I shall be taking along to the Vintage & Handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury tomorrow (Ha...
I don't think I've ever made a secret of the fact that I love fabric...Especially old fabric...Vintage, antique or retro, dressmaking, furnishing, lace, or wools, tatty or perfect...I'm not fussy! ;-)) So, when faced with a project, such as curtain making, it can be difficult for me to narrow my choice down to just one textile... Which is probably why the majority of curtains (and cushions for that matter!) in our home, end up a patchwork of more than one fabric! If not a large collection of assorted patches... They are at least made from two or three large strips joined together. * Or perhaps just an edge has some interest added - Like an antique fabric patchwork border (with beaded bobbles!) Failing that, then I'll add a pretty lining as a surprise when the curtains are pulled back. * Two lace tablecloths where joined together here - And a pink cotton sheet was used as a lining. ** When we decided that we needed a change in our funny little back living room, as usual I wasn't going to limit myself to just one fabric! I went for 28! Those who have visited my blog before may well recognise these lovelies. They are some of the Scheurer fabrics that I bought from Sue a couple years ago...I was always determined to use them where I could see and appreciate them everyday...And I've finally got round to it. After cutting out the 112 large patches, I've been stitching an odd seam now and then, when I've had a moment - No real pattern to the layout, just an informal jumble of deliciousness!...Sewing time at home always seems to be very limited, as there is always so much to be done for my shop...But I do feel these have been worth the wait, and now that they are hanging in place, all I have to do is enjoy them every time I walk past. I lined them with an antique French linen sheet to give them some weight. And I made a simple channel at the top from the same linen, which saved buying heading tape. They glide easily over the pole that we already had. The colourful addition to this previously all white room, has meant its still a work in progress in here, whilst I decide what pieces we already own, look best teamed with the new curtains... The green painted chest has had three different cloths on top so far (since I took this photo!)... For now I have settled on an embroidered cloth with silk satin stitched anemones around the edges. Our large white linen covered arm chair has moved into the main living room - swapped for the wooden bench which now takes up less space in the revamped room. A lace edged tablecloth makes a pretty 'skirt' (photographed a rather intense blue for some reason) and a quilt creates a comfy seat pad. I did mention I like textiles, right? ! ;-)) * My favourite Victorian velvet log cabin patchwork cover, softens the back of this old chair. And cushions always have their place! :) I think things will evolve in here a little more yet, but for now we are enjoying the changes. At last a pair of curtains for this window, that meet in the middle (don't ask! ;-)) - Time to keep cosy now the nights are drawing in... Warm wishes, Niki x
It seems all but a distant memory now when hubby spent several days concreting 21 supporting posts into the ground of our very sloping site ...
Since putting together my book back in 2008, the feedback I have received has always been along a similar vein...The book includes my own home and three of my friend's. We all share a similar passion for nostalgia, so it was easy to combine the four homes throughout the pages...Readers will always have a favourite though and very often I've been told theirs is Maggie Neale's Dorset home. Maggie has a huge talent for hand-making, embellishing, or discovering new uses for old things. This has always been the case and her taste has remained little changed since she was a child. The easygoing style is in evidence throughout the whole of her home and is a look that's simple to add to over the years. When I visited Maggie's workroom on the day of the photo shoot, it had been newly built in the attic space of an extension. Old apple boxes lined one wall, stacked up to create a display system. Each had been painted a pretty pastel colour and then lined in the back with a patchwork of vintage wallpapers and greetings cards. She had started to display some of her prized possessions inside, alongside some of her own creations. Since then, Maggie's workroom has developed and she tells me there is now enough to fill another book! I would dearly love to put together another one, but with the only option I'm aware of, being to self-publish, I don't feel it's a viable option. The self-publishing website's pricing structure for a reasonable sized book, make them extremely expensive...And that's before the author puts a bit on top for themselves. There's usually a P&P charge in addition for the customer to pay, so the books become virtually unsellable. At the beginning, my blurb book started off at a high, but just about doable price, and then the recession hit and the on-line publishers ramped up the price. I've always been very grateful to those who still purchased it. It took me about a year to put together, but in the end I had produced one that I would be happy to buy myself, as it included hundreds of photographs, which I felt still represented good value for money. Disappointed by many craft related books on the market at the moment, I would love to write one showing what I and my friends are capable of...I'm sure many of us have at least one book inside of us...be it a novel, a collection of poems, recipes, tutorials, or perhaps research we've amassed over time. Such a shame this plethora of knowledge and passion will never be shared. I realise a blog fills the gap a little, but I think they will eventually become redundant. When we are required to pay for storage every year, and with a falling number of visits from blog readers, many will turn away from their space on the www and the posts will be lost for ever. I've meandered now and got away from the point I wanted to make...Maggie's home is cheerful and pretty - I don't want to go off on a tangent that's depressing! ;-)) Maggie works full-time, so as a consequence has always said she wouldn't write a blog, as her free time needs to be her crafting time! But... I am VERY happy to announce that Maggie has started a Pinterest page...and very beautiful it is too! Her boards sum up her style and what inspires and influences the things she makes, the way she dresses, and the style she chooses to decorate her home. She has said that once she has bought herself a better camera, she will start to include a lot more photographs of her own home and craft projects. For now, here's one of Maggie's photos that show how her workroom has moved on... Photo Maggie Neale - Pinterest. I've been extremely lucky over the years, to receive some wonderful handmade Maggie creations as gifts. All with her cheerful signature style that can only be hers. Maggie doesn't sell her work, so I feel very fortunate to own some of her unique pieces. Hope I've wetted your appetite! - She's been pinning like crazy, so if you haven't visited already and would like to sample her Pinterest boards, then hop over to here for some serious eye candy! ;-)) In the meantime I'll leave my blog with a few more photos that I took around Maggie's home back in 2008... Image: Lucy Neale And following in her Mummy's creative footsteps, daughter Lucy Neale has become a successful children's book illustrator. Her work can be found here on her website. Such talent in one family! - It shouldn't be allowed, should it?! ;-)) Photo Maggie Neale, Pinterest. Hope you enjoyed your visit, Niki x
Keen to make use of the two c1920's hand embroidered oval panels that I bought recently, which would have once been a part of traditional French boudoir pillows, I went looking for examples on the www for inspiration. I found these lovely ones... Found on Pinterest here. Found on Pinterest here. Found on Pinterest here. Source And then there's the beautiful pillow (above) that turns up in Rachel Ashwell's book, not just on the front cover, but several times on different pages inside and in various room schemes...its obviously a favourite of hers! :) I've had a couple of them in my shop in the past too, including a very striking black satin one (Can't find photos at the moment, but will add if I come across them). Original ones are often filled with foam chips, making them very floppy and saggy, which I love. Anyway, I decided to go ahead and make my own versions, trying to make them as authentic looking as possible. The first one I decided to combine with a c1930's velvet. I had a large green door curtain in my fabric stash and after working out the best way to make it, it was clear it was going to take a lot of fabric...The joy of gathers! I used half of the curtain on this one project! It is filled with a full size pure goose feather & down pillow insert, making it lovely and plump and floppy. The second one had this wonderful orange floral center. I've used a c1950's oyster coloured satin finish fabric with this. I had wanted to take these with me to the Vintage Bazaar in Frome, but they do take up a lot of space on a 6ft pitch, so I shall have to think about my display and how they could perhaps fit in... After investing in the new feather pillows, I decided to make another extra large cushion. For this I used a hand worked tapestry panel of a pair of pheasants... I combined this with a wonderful spring floral 30's fabric. For the reverse, I used the colourful flowery barkcloth that I bought from Elaine at the recent Blandford Forum fair. I used the same fabric to create this little handbag too. This little pouch bag is one I made from the same 30's velvet as the boudoir pillow, with some vintage hand embroidered linen and a wool lining. I have also made a larger matching shoulder bag, very similar in style. A cute bucket bag made from a vintage Sanderson, perfect for Easter/springtime. And here's a quick makeover for the box I was left with after using the silver egg cups for this project. Now lined in a c1970's velvet... Perfect for displaying the little woolen heart hair pins I made here. Finally, something else for the boudoir that I enjoyed making... Several pretty powder puffs embellished with the vintage millinery flowers that I bought from Sarah last month. These will definitely be coming with me to the fair :) Hope you have a great week... I'm off to finish some more little projects for the bazaar. Niki x
Since putting together my book back in 2008, the feedback I have received has always been along a similar vein...The book includes my own...
French cottage living room decor features a blend of rustic elements, vintage furnishings, and soft, romantic accents, creating a cozy space.
Imagem 4 de 8 da galeria de O Galinheiro / Alex Wyndham. Fotografia de Sarah Fretwell
It seems all but a distant memory now when hubby spent several days concreting 21 supporting posts into the ground of our very sloping site ...
It seems all but a distant memory now when hubby spent several days concreting 21 supporting posts into the ground of our very sloping site ...
Since putting together my book back in 2008, the feedback I have received has always been along a similar vein...The book includes my own...
Since putting together my book back in 2008, the feedback I have received has always been along a similar vein...The book includes my own...
Modern TV stand/TV console/TV cabinet/central entertainment center. High gloss fronts with high gloss body. Wall mounting kit electric fireplace insert included with remote control and on/off control, 3 changeable flame colors, temperature control, timer setting, and dimmer. Manufactured in and imported from the European Union. Modern and unique contemporary design perfect for those in need of living room storage space.
