Monday 28 March 2011

Little bits....


Sweetest little baby clogs...... black leather lace ups with "horseshoes" underneath......


Totally titchy.....only 5ins long....and so cute!


Little glass poison bottles in pretty colours....


And wonky shaped glass inkwells in varying shades of pale green.


Vintage glass jam jars with old labels....ideal for cheery daffodils.


These new items will be making the journey to my next Fair at Rheged Discovery Centre  Penrith this Sunday 3rd April 2011, along with other new Spring inspired stock.

Bye for now....

Julie x

Friday 25 March 2011

Spring Flowers For Sale.....


Two large vintage cushion covers, hand embroidered on a close weave buff coloured linen.


A Dutch girl in a tulip field with a little bird above her on a tree branch.
Love her floaty pinny and red clogs....

The cover measures 18ins across by 22ins length.


I'm calling this the "Cinderella" cushion cover.....the dashing Prince in his uniform and the young lady blushingly accepting his bouquet of flowers. They are standing on a rose covered floor in a grand house complete with chandelier and potted fern.

Not quite Mr Darcy, but still romantic in a chocolate box way...

The cover measures 20ins across by 22ins length.


( I popped a  feather cushion pad into the Dutch girl cover to give you an idea of how much better they look with a bit of stuffing )

The Dutch girl cover is £12 .... P & P £2 ( UK )
SOLD

The Cinderella cover is £15......P &P £2 ( UK )
SOLD

Of course, they would also make lovely framed pictures if you didn't want to keep them as cushions.


Also For Sale is this long woolwork, hand embroidery done on a larger weave linen cloth........most probably a table runner and unbacked.
Measuring 69ins across by 17ins deep. 


A full cottage garden border with trellis edging.

Wisteria and lupins.....

Hollyhocks and daisies.....


Roses and..... I'm not sure......any ideas?

The linen table runner is £15..... P&P £2 ( UK )
SOLD
If anyone is interested you can email me at

Julie x

Monday 21 March 2011

History lessons, hats and handmades......


 Two original 18th century copper engravings purchased at the Fair in Kendal yesterday.....portraits of 17th century gentlemen, resplendant in their curly hair wigs.


 George Saville.....Marquis of Halifax ( 1633-1695 ) Statesman, Writer and Politician whose famous quote....

" Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught" 

  George Hamilton....Earl of Orkney ( 1666-1737 ) British Soldier and Nobleman who attained the promotion of Field Marshall in 1736 a year before he died.
This was the first title of Field Marshall to be handed out in the British Army and was awarded to this gentleman way before that famous Field Marshall Montgomery in World War 2.


A slightly battered hatbox containing.......



A top hat with velvet pads either side for keeping it in tip top condition.


Made in Piccadilly, London by Woodrow for a gentleman's outfitter in the North of England.



The sweetest cotton bonnet with drawstring tape to pull and secure onto its owners head......reminds me of dippy Minnie from Larkrise to Candleford!


A 19th century butter box mould with a hand carved base comprising a geometric pattern with a simple heart.
This would produce a pattern on the top of the butter when the mould was inverted and the sides released.
Even the little pegs are intact.


The cutest little child's basket measuring 9ins from the top of the handle to the base....


And finally some lovely, handmade gypsy clothes pegs.....


Known as "gypsy clothes pegs" because it was the travelling gypsies who made and sold them in villages and towns throughout Britain.
Each peg was made from a piece of wood..... split lengthways and held together with nailed-on strips of tin.

I wonder how many sheets and clothes these pegs have seen?

Far nicer than my blue plastic clip ones....I think I might try them tomorrow on my washing line, as it looks like good drying weather is on the cards for the next few days.
I do love washing dried on the line and it certainly looks far more appealing than draped on radiators.....

Roll on Springtime....
Julie x

Thursday 17 March 2011

Linen Cupboard.....


Can you imagine having a linen cupboard big enough to hold all your bedlinen, quilts, eiderdowns, pillowcases, tablecloths, napkins etc AND have shelves deep enough to take these gorgeous shelf edge embroideries....( 13ins deep x 56ins wide! )


The Crown,
The Glory,
The Blessing,
The Beauty of the house is.......



Godliness,
Hospitality,
Contentment and Order.....

 As much as I try these days, the idea of this last one is a constant battle....too much "stuff" needing sewing, painting, washing and ironing....I think it breeds overnight!


This fabulous natural linen bedspread, beautifully embroidered with flowers and swallows would not look amiss folded on a shelf in this Country House Linen Cupboard with shelf edging....





Satin stitch and cutwork flowers....


Even the reverse is beautifully done.....


A sign of great workmanship from someone with infinite patience and plenty of time.


So, to do these lovely things justice, I am going to have to get to work and iron these beauties in readiness for the Antique and Collectors Fair at Kendal Leisure Centre, Cumbria this coming Sunday.....

Along with the sewing, painting and washing of other "stuff" that needs to go too.

Have a productive weekend,
Julie x



Monday 14 March 2011

Quick painting project....


Take some modern gold frames....


Paint with off white emulsion paint.....



They will need two or three coats of paint to even out the brush strokes...... then a bit of sandpaper distressing and a coat of clear wax polish.

Et voila...


Pictures made from Kate Forman / French linen fabrics.....pretty enough to grace any boudoir!


Transformed mirror and my bargain bunches of flowers from Tesco ....reduced to 75p a bunch.
Extavagantly, I splashed out on two bunches for maximum impact in my big white jug.....



Hexham Vintage and Retro Fair tomorrow....think it will be a pink theme with a bit of red and white .....off to pack....must dash....
See you soon.
Julie x

Thursday 10 March 2011

Rustic hangers....


Old hangers are great for displaying vintage hand towels in the kitchen or the bathroom.....


Also good for displaying lavender hearts of course.

Sometimes you find hangers that were probably taken by "mistake" from hotels....




 This one from the Imperial Hotel........Room and bath from 5/- sounds a bargain for Russell Square, London.

French hangers for vestments with labels....




I think my favourite for "rusticness" has to be this one...


I love that simple iron loop and brass number plate.




Some handwoven, Hungarian linen towels would compliment it nicely don't you think?


Oh and finally, I have to sneak a picture in of my latest addition ....a gorgeous vintage toile and Vichy check cushion from the lovely Jo at Hesta and the Pugs.....thank you so much Jo!

The toile collection is growing at Chez Cloth Shed.....


Enjoy your weekend everyone,
Julie x