Vintage and handmade

I had a lovely visit to the Selina Lake, Vintage and Handmade Fete this weekend. It was taking place in the gorgeous old market Hall in the middle of Kingston's historic market; a hop and a skip away from where I live.

It was a chance to finally meet Viv from Hens Teeth, who's quirky Textile Art I have admired for some time, and who I have chatted with on line, but have never met. I was also the opportunity to put faces to names of other makers who's work I had stumbled over on facebook and Twitter, and to see their pretty wares.

With offers of cake and home made lemonade from the Vintage Tea Room, my boys were persuaded that they did want to spend part of their Saturday here.  (Perhaps due to the trade off that I would go to the toy shop afterwards.) So while they ate, I had the chance to sneak around and take some pics.

Pincushions by Mabel and Bird

Ceramic jewellery by Abby Monroe

Bundles of Vintage pegs from The Linen Garden

Vicky at The Linen Garden's pretty floral stand.

Cheryl-ann Taylor's Stand (Look at her name handmade in lace!)...

... her selection of clips

...and corsages. 

(Cheryl-ann; your teeny crochet bunting has really inspired me to press on with my attempts at crochet!)

'Open for business' with Little a Designs...

...where you could buy corsages ready made or in kits to make yourself.

And finally the work of Viv at  Hens Teeth

Including lovely brooches hand made with vintage textiles, hand and machine embroidery, and vintage haberdashery.

Oh and what with it being the Selina Lake Vintage Fete, Selina Lake was there busy signing her books...

They are a jolly and friendly lot the Vintage crowd. The place was packed to bursting with happy shoppers, and the atmosphere was great. 

I hope you have time to visit some of the maker's pages, just follow the links with the photographs. xx

The jewellery of Ebba Goring

At the start of the month, it was London Jewellery Week, and I visited Treasure at Somerset House. One of the makers who's work stood out for me there, was Ebba Goring. Delicate threads cast in silver struck a chord with me, and I wanted to share her work with you.

Ebba set up her business in 2009 after graduating with a BDES (hons) in Jewellery and Metal Design from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee. Her jewellery is inspired by her love of traditional needlework and her passion to translate textile skills that have been handed down from generation to generation, into a new material that will preserve them forever.

Magically, handmade, delicate lace and crochet is transformed into solid precious metal and combined with sparkling stones.

Not surprisingly, Ebba had a very successful Treasure.

You can visit Ebba's blog here. 

You can look at her website here.

Antiques Fair treasures

I promised to show you what I bought at Sunbury Antiques Fair a couple of weeks ago...

Two gorgeous Silver Plate egg cups which will become pincushions.

A hand full of teeny blue cottons from man from Belgium.

A small 1940's child's wooden spade, and a postcard of Bridlington.

(Dad's childhood holidays)

Love letters from WWII. His and hers.

A hand full of keys - very wee. Labelled travelling baggage.

Beautiful hand written old ledgers x 3, from 1913.

Full of the most amazing information about Architectural tenders. 

Scrumptious.

Treasure indeed.

A workshop with Abigail Brown Textile Artist

I have just spent a great day with Textile Artist Abigail Brown, and a lovely bunch of people, on a bird making workshop. Here are some photos of my day in Abigail's studio at Cockpit Arts.

We arrived to find the table laden with scraps of fabric in every colour.

Abigail had already machined our little bird bodies, in our own pre-selected colours, to make sure we had enough time to finish a bird by the end of the day. After a concentrated period of activity, we all ended up with a basic bird that looked like this. (And if you want to know how to do this yourself, book yourself on one of Abigail's wonderful workshops.)

Next came the tricky task of selecting the fabrics that we would use to embellish our bird. As well as the table full Abigail had provided, I had taken lots of bits with me, but really had no idea which bits I would use.

Slowly my little bird began to take shape, and his little personality began to emerge.

It can be difficult knowing when to stop adding bits!

We wrapped the little feet in fabric, and bound them in thread.

We made their little beaks.

I added some delicate stitches.

And at the end of the day, we put our birds together, and we had made this lovely little flock. They were all so different. 

*****

Abigail was the perfect host, generous not only with her tea, biscuits, and fabric scraps, but also her knowledge. She was kind enough to share her techniques, and give us all a helping hand, in return we promised not to make these birds for commercial gain. Please be respectful and do not treat this blog post as a tutorial. 

If you want to make your own little bird, (or buy one of Abigail's utterly amazing creations), please look at her website here for future workshop dates. 

Follow me Friday

Up to town to end the week. Home is on a main train route from S W London to the centre. Why not come with me...

Out at Bank tube Station, and past this charming row of 'Boris Bikes' named after our haystack haired Mayor of London.

Wander up to Gutter Lane, St Paul's on my left.

Pop in to the Assay Office at Goldsmith's Hall. Here the purity of my work is tested and British hallmarks and my makers mark applied. Today I had something to discuss, so I went into the 'airlock' one locked door off reception, but another locked door to the inner sanctum, in case I was a master criminal!

We decided the thing that I was discussing would not work, so I walked down to London's Jewellery Quarter - Hatton Garden. Lots of diamond's sparking in windows, and best of all a young couple spilling out onto the street, bottle of Champagne in one hand, admiring a sparkling ring on the other. They were wrapped in pure joy. I couldn't help smiling.

Wander down the road. (Gratuitous London shot for you.)

Hope on the tube.

Walk along The Embankment to Somerset House, where the jewellery show 'Treasure' is taking place.

Catch up with a friend who has a stand there, and enjoy having a look around and spotting some lovely things, and talking to some lovely people.

Back over Waterloo Bridge.

Along the South Bank where a fashion shoot was taking place in the skate park. The model must have been about seven foot tall, and her sequined jacket sparkled like mad.

Through the recently beautifully landscaped Jubilee Gardens, under the London eye.

To Waterloo Station. Why the clock? Well I think all Londoner's must have at one time in their lives had a 'meet me under the clock' moment.

On the train, tired feet.

Home.