Category Archives: Vintage Fabric

A few things I’m going to sell on eBay

20131108-170030.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111205828670

20131108-170403.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111205849140

20131108-170643.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111205858716

20131108-170949.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111205862824?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

20131108-171501.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111205853792?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

20131108-171658.jpghttp://www.ebay.com/itm/111205839799?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Andy Bridge is my favourite artist and I’m lucky to have collected his work for years. Now that I’ve given over a room to my little guest room business https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1626486 I’ve had to be a bit ruthless and de clutter slightly so I’m going to give other people a turn to have some of these beautiful pictures.

2 Comments

Filed under My Etsy Shop

Flowers, hearts and a pigeon in June 2013

Photo 10-06-2013 16 42 10Vintage fabric mini garland in my shop. I love making these so much as every piece is different and beautiful. There is old embroidery of hyacinths and patchwork in this one and I’ve cut out some flowers too.

Photo 12-04-2013 18 59 12Patchwork vintage fabric cushion covers with old Disney characters, embroidery and florals.

Photo 27-03-2013 11 41 00One of my cut flower collages which I make using vintage floral fabric.

Photo 15-04-2013 12 38 12Vintage fabric patchwork throw. Lovely over a settee or bed.

Photo 07-05-2013 12 57 29Flowers from my garden a couple of weeks ago. Tulips, wall flowers, bluebells and forget me nots in a tiny little glass.

Photo 08-05-2013 12 26 04One of my vintage fabric lavender hearts. This floral fabric was made in the thirties.

Photo 10-05-2013 19 08 31A small selection from my little on line shop.

Photo 08-05-2013 12 55 52Little patchwork pin cushion. The blue fabric is from 1940’s America and is so precious. I  treasure every tiny piece đŸ™‚

Photo 16-05-2013 19 54 16The bluebells in my garden were extra blue and lasted a long time this year due to the cool damp May/June.

Photo 21-05-2013 13 44 38Flowers from the garden. Lilac, bluebells, wall flowers. I LOVE this picture………

Photo 27-05-2013 15 51 11Lilac, borage, ceanothus, forget me nots, fairy washing up liquid, my lovely pigeon card and cut out vintage fabric flowers.

Photo 27-05-2013 15 15 12More lovely blue and purple flowers. xxx

10 Comments

Filed under Miscellaneous, My Old Victorian Garden, Vintage Fabric

OMG I’m in the book !! “Pretty Pastel Style” by Selina Lake

I received my copy of Selina’s brand new book a couple of weeks ago and was completely overwhelmed  to find so many pics of my house in it. I’ve taken photos of the pages and I’m not going to write anything with them because that would make me feel silly, like when an estate agent shows you round a house saying “this is the kitchen, this is the lounge” and you just want to ask him to please go away so you can look round in peace.  The photographer is Catherine Gratwicke and the words are by Joanna Simmons.

Pretty pastel style fair 025

The lovely embroidered hoop is by Vicky Trainor

The lovely embroidered hoop is by Vicky Trainor

Frans birthday 006

Frans birthday 007

Frans birthday 009

Frans birthday 013

Frans birthday 010

Frans birthday 014

Frans birthday 008

Frans birthday 012

Frans birthday 015

Frans birthday 016

Frans birthday 017

Frans birthday 018

Frans birthday 019

Frans birthday 020

Selina's bike

Selina’s bike

Thank you SO much Selina Lake, Catherine Gratwicke, Joanna Simmons and publishers http://www.rylandpeters.com

8 Comments

Filed under My home featured in Selina Lake's new book !!!, Vintage Fabric

Selina Lake’s book launch and vintage fair for “Pretty Pastel Style” March 2013

Pretty pastel style fair 013

I’d had a stall at Selina’s book launch and vintage fair a year ago for ‘Homespun Style’ so I knew that this event would be lovely too and it really was. It was in Kingston Surrey in a beautiful old building called Market House in Market Place surrounded by lovely shops, fruit and veg stalls and hustle and bustle. Selina’s used a few pictures of my house in her new book so I felt quite ‘part of it’ and a bit bowled over actually.

My vintage fabric flower pictures

My vintage fabric flower pictures

Jane's vintage fabric purses and make up bags

Jane’s vintage fabric purses and make up bags

My good friend Jane Clucas came too and we shared a stall as we had also done at the last book launch.  Jane makes the most beautiful purses, make up bags, tiny animals in vintage sleeping bags and other things. She’s been a designer/ maker for about 20 and has sold to Cath Kidston, The Conran Shop, Couverture, among others and currently sells to Paul Smith.

Pretty pastel style fair 002

We’ve been good friends for 22 years ( our sons were born on the same day 21 years ago) and it’s such a treat spending the whole day together.

Pretty pastel style fair 004

When my children were small they loved her tiny knitted animals in their little sleeping bags.

Pretty pastel style fair 030

Little blue painted shelves with vintage mini bunting. I sold these on the same day in my Etsy shop.

Pretty pastel style fair 003Lovely Bambi.

There were lots of lovely stalls there.Pretty pastel style fair 005including Love Lane Vintage  who’s sister sold beautiful flowers from her stand.

Pretty pastel style fair 006

I love these paper straws by Peach Blossom . I remember paper straws when I was little. They were a real treat.  Before plastic straws there were only paper ones. We would suck up our drinks,  Nesquik if we were lucky and about half way through our drink the top of the straw would go completely  flat and soggy and close up. Who else remembers that ? I don’t think that paper straws then were treated with anything then. I’m sure they are now.

Pretty pastel style fair 008

Mable and Bird were there with lots of cushions and these adorable lavender birds.

Pretty pastel style fair 009

Anna Wiscombe  was there with her beautiful handmade wooden birds.

Pretty pastel style fair 010

Sesame and Lilly were there with some amazing cushions and other delectables.

Pretty pastel style fair 011

There was a queue  of people all day long waiting patiently for Selina to sign there books.

Pretty pastel style fair 014

Gorgeous padded coat hangers by Clover’s Closet 

Pretty pastel style fair 012

Selina with Debi Treloar photographer extraordinaire, who did the photos for Homespun Style and countless other lifestyle books. Debi’s lovely and I met her when she came to one of my Pop up Shops at home when Selina did a book signing there.  

Pretty pastel style fair 026

It was lovely to meet the very well known Vicky Trainor who produces the most amazing work with vintage textiles. She was there with her very good friend Jane Day from Tea with Ruby and they’d driven all the way from Cleveland (up North !) Peels of raucous laughter could be heard coming from their corner stand all day. They must have had aching tummy muscles by the end.

Pretty pastel style fair 027

More of Vicky’s beautiful creations.

Pretty pastel style fair 022

All day long the stall holders were brought cups of tea in these vintage cups and saucers by friends of Selina who helped her with the event. Chantal from HedegrowHome  brought us refills regularly and tea really really does taste better from vintage china. Something to do with the thin rims I think.

Pretty pastel style fair 024

Selina’s friend Laura froms  Cakey Bakes was in the Tea room with the most amazing homemade cakes and lemonade…….

Pretty pastel style fair 019

See the yellow and white paper straws ?

Pretty pastel style fair 020

She’d made the tallest Victoria sponge I’ve ever seen, I wish I’d measured it………

Pretty pastel style fair 016

and she made this !!!!!!!! a cake version of Selina’s book. It was stunning and everyone was taking pictures of it.

Pretty pastel style fair 023

I’ve never seen anything like it. It was unbelievable.

Pretty pastel style fair 031

Some of my vintage patchwork bunting.

Pretty pastel style fair 028

So despite the Arctic weather outside, everyone had a lovely day and went home happy and full of cake.

2 Comments

Filed under My home featured in Selina Lake's new book !!!, Vintage Fabric

Three of my things on the front cover of Prima Spring Makes magazine April 2013 !!

Frans birthday 003It’s a beautiful magazine and the front page and the styling was done by Selina Lake. The floral heart (top left) and the moustache cushion  are by Thimble & Bobbin, the Aunty card is by Abigail Warner, the little floral note books are by Emma Wilson, the LOVE postcard is by Cassia Beck, the lavender card and vintage lavender pillows are by Sesame and Lilly  and the vintage embroidered hoop, lavender bag and yellow floral lavender heart are by me !!

Blimey that took ages, I’m not a natural at all this copy/paste/link business but I wanted to acknowledge all the other artists on the front cover with me.

Frans birthday 004Amongst all the beautiful pages is a six page spread about stylist/maker Torie Jayne who’s well known for her amazing blog.

Birdhouse Key rack

Birdhouse Key rack

Torie's workroom

Torie’s workroom. I love that pink chair !!

Some of her lovely things

Some of her lovely things

Her business card

Her business card.

I met Torie at Selina’s book launch a few weeks ago when she came to my stand and introduced herself. I was quite taken aback because I didn’t know she’d be there. She gave me her card and I’ve kept it safely because it’s SO lovely. One of the nicest business cards I’ve ever seen.

5 Comments

Filed under Magazine Features, Vintage Fabric

Happy Kitsch and colourful Easter

Easter rabbits 001Poor mummy chick forgot to change the clocks forward and she overslept so she’s an hour behind and no time to do her hair.

Easter rabbits 002My kids think I’ve totally lost the plot ! Do I care ? No I don’t đŸ™‚

Easter rabbits 003In fact one of my boys is sitting in the front room with his football shirt on watching a game shouting at the top of his lungs every time the ball goes near the net. God knows what the neighbours think.

Easter rabbits 004The other son has just this second phoned me to say he’s on the train and can I fetch him in ten minutes…. errr no I can’t. He seems to think that I sit here with my car keys in my hand all day and night happily waiting for his call. I don’t. He’s 21 !!!!!!!!!!!!

My pictures, Book launch, Easter 013I was having a happy little Easter blog,

My pictures, Book launch, Easter 007and now I feel like this     Ahhhhhhhh. Happy Easter everyone. Off I go to the station.

4 Comments

Filed under Easter, My Etsy Shop, Vintage Fabric

Encouraging comments on Face Book

flower cards 001

I’m just realizing that the amount of people that see my posts on Face Book

directly correlates to the amount of people who leave a comment.

flower cards 005 I get a few likes sometimes which is always nice and shows that people have seen the posts but it’s the interaction that counts, which means commenting about the post. The more comments the more people get to see it. I don’t know how Face Book works but comments seem to generate action.  I’m not very good at explaining things I don’t understand !

I’m a culprit myself. I’ll see something nice on someone’s page and press the ‘like’ button but not often comment because I can’t think what to say and whatever I do say sounds phoney or cheesy and it’s a bit cringe….. I don’t always want to comment anyway, I just want to ‘like’ and go. But now I realize that it’s the comments that make the Face Book world go round I shall make much more effort to do so.

flower cards 006

I’ve also noticed and been told by  social media expert Lindsay that if you don’t comment on people’s posts or they don’t comment on yours that Face Book now don’t show you those posts any more and not only is that a real shame but when you have a business (fan) page it’s  also detrimental. FB now want people to pay for posts  to reach more people which does work as I’ve tried it but I’d much rather deal in comments than £££.

To encourage such comments I’ll do little competitions sometimes on my page which is what I made these cards for. That was all a bit long winded wasn’t it. Never been good at explaining myself, sorry xx Press this !

6 Comments

Filed under My Etsy Shop, Vintage Fabric

Wonderful New deli and cafe in Muswell Hill, North London

Last weekend something very exiting happened in Muswell Hill. A new cafe opened.  That it has opened a few doors from where I live and I can almost yell my lunch order from my front room is amazing enough, but the fact that it serves some of the best food I’ve ever eaten (and I’ve eaten lots) is a very rare treat.

Chriskitch 004

It’s owned and run by Australian born Chris and his Polish born wife Bibi. They make absolutely everything themselves and it’s divine. Chris trained in Australia before moving to London where he worked with Gordon Ramsey in his signature restaurant in Hospital Road.

Chriskitch 016

He’s worked in some of the finest restaurants in Indonesia and in Egypt where he had a staff of 170. He also worked as number 2 head chef at London’s Dorchester Hotel for four years, was executive chef for at the Edwardian Hotel in Mayfair and executive chef for two years at The Hilton Tower Bridge.

Chriskitch 017

Chris and Bibi have just converted what was the chocolate shop on Tetherdown into the most convivial cosy, modern little eatery complete with fantastic antique furniture.

Chriskitch 006

The counter at the back came from an old paper mill in Essex and is stunning.

Chriskitch 005

In front the food stands on an old joiners bench which was sourced in Holland by antique dealer Drew Pritchard.

Chriskitch 023

The wooden floor boards are from an old textile factory in Islington and you can see where it’s been worn down by the trolleys

chriskitch & cafe rouge 001

and the main table at the front is a very well worn butchers block from an old French Country house.

Chriskitch 008

As for the food, oh my God the food, well I’ll eat anything and have just had mackerel and sweet corn straight out of the tins while writing this but I do know and very much appreciate exquisite home made food when I see it and that’s what you get at Chriskitch.

Chriskitch 020

I went there on Saturday (first day it was open) and we were kindly given a big plate of desserts to try.  Chocolate and wild strawberry tart, orange cake,

chriskitch & cafe rouge 003

baked cheese cake to die for, look at them all in their own little baking tins, banana cake and a scrumptious cake made with polenta. My friend and I were literally in a quiet cake euphoria  and couldn’t believe how good it was. We  were barely aware of Chris chatting away enthusiastically about his ingredients and cooking methods. We were very happy in our little cakey worlds.

Chriskitch 002

The next day a friend came over and we went there for a proper lunch as I was desperate to go back and show off my virtually en suite cafe to her. Well what joy….we had beetroot, orange and feta salad with pomegranate, and aubergine and chilli salad, with blue cheese and beer bread and corn and chilli bread, all of which Chris had made.

Chriskitch 003

With the most delicious  baked cheese cake to follow, coffee and the most delicious home made peach juice. I know I’ve used delicious twice in one sentence….but it was.

Chriskitch 010

It’s been Chris and Bibi’s  life long dream to have their  own deli one day and now they have, in my lovely Tetherdown in a beautiful Victorian building which has………

chriskitch & cafe rouge 004

it’s very own OUTSIDE  EATING AREA  !!!!! How lovely will that be in the Spring and Summer. ( No pics of that because it hasn’t been beautified quite yet ).

Chriskitch 011

Chriskitch 007

Chriskitch 014

Chriskitch 021

Chriskitch 012

Chriskitch 018

chriskitch & cafe rouge 002

Chriskitch 022

Chriskitch is open every day till 6pm  and opens at 12pm on Sundays.

7a, Tetherdown,

Muswell Hill

London.   Just by Fortismere school


33 Comments

Filed under Chriskitch, Handmade, Muswell Hill, London, UK

A lovely Selina Lake feature with a few of my things included.

prima and quilt 001

Prima Magazine (March) came out a couple of days ago and I thumbed manically through the pages as the stylist Selina Lake  had borrowed a vintage fabric patchwork throw and three cushions from me.

prima and quilt 002

Page 81-83 they’re on  !! I was quite exited standing in the magazine section of Tesco at 9pm, my new shopping time which is quite relaxing as it’s not busy and the crying  babies and fed up toddlers are all at home. I think that after about 9pm they should put out a few comfy chairs so that those so inclined could read the mags in comfort instead of leaning heavily on our trolley.

prima and quilt 006

I could quite happily  spend a whole day in Tescos. I usually spend about half an hour in the magazine section anyway and sometimes meet a friend upstairs at Costa for a nice uninterrupted hour or two of quality catch up time.

prima and quilt 008

Then back downstairs to meander round shopping leisurely, reading labels, peering at calorie contents, noticing how it’s all so expensive these days and wondering if my kids will notice that I’ve bought Tescos own brand of Special K. (They did and declared it inedible so I gave it to the birds)

prima and quilt 003

Then I’d go and buy a couple of news papers, go back up in the lift to Costa and  have a nice cake or two which I didn’t have with my friend as we’re fiendishly slimming (not)….

prima and quilt 004

Then I’d go back down and maybe browse through the ‘colds and flue’ isle wondering if it’s actually worth buying vitamins and then maybe saunter (wearilly, after those two cakes) around the electronic isle looking at phones and ipads.

prima and quilt 007

By this time I would hope that at least one of my children would have bothered  to phone me to enquire as to my whereabouts….but probably not.

If my local Tesco had a bed and breakfast area for tired shoppers, like a little rest stop with own brand sheets, cheap slippers and mini tubes of toothpaste for those of us who couldn’t face the inevitable job ahead of unpacking the shopping and putting it away then I’d book ahead. As long as I got tipple club card points.

My throw featured here was £140 but to celebrate it being in Prima it’s now the amazingly good value of £95. The cushion was £45 and is now £38.

Stylist Selina Lake  is launching her lovely new book ‘Pretty Pastel Style’ with a wonderful fair with fantastic designer maker stall holders. I went to her last one nearly a year ago and it was so beautiful and quite exiting. It’s in Kingston West London on Friday the 22nd March 2013 and everyone is welcome. There will I’m sure be lots of cake.

The photo here are by Sussie Bell

prima and quilt 005

9 Comments

Filed under Handmade, Magazine Features, My Etsy Shop, My home featured in Selina Lake's new book !!!, Vintage Fabric

Colourful bowls of vintage flowers.

bowl of flowers 009

I’ve been making some flower collages which I absolutely love doing. bowl of flowers 007

I was a florist for about 10 years during the eighties  in our family business which was a Dutch/continental flower shop in London so I’m no stranger to flower arranging.

bowl of flowers 038

I’ve always loved hot, strong clashing colours and where as most of our customers preferred the safety of  elegant white bouquets  and arrangements, when they saw the wonderful, vibrant clashes of carefully selected orange, pink and red flowers flown in straight from the growers in Holland, they  gradually loved  those colour combinations too.

bowl of flowers 004

This fabric is from the thirties and forties and I cut out the flowers by hand. It’s much warmer than working in a busy flower shop and I don’t get rose thorns in my hands.

bowl of flowers 031

These pictures can be found in my on line shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/NickyGrace

bowl of flowers 032

5 Comments

Filed under Vintage Fabric