A few things that I’ve just added to my shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/NickyGrace
Tag Archives: Vintage Gifts
Pop up vintage fair in Hampstead, London NW3
Last Sunday I went to the Vintage pop up fair in St Stephens church hall in Hampstead. Many years ago the place fell into disrepair and became home to a few squatters and their barking dogs. I walked past it to and from work every day and was so intrigued and curious, I’d have given anything to have a peak inside. They were lucky to be residing in such an amazing, huge and stunning church, quite medieval and haunting at night, all dark as there was no electricity. The dogs barked, heavily tattooed shadowy figures came and went and I imagined the place to be candle lit. It must have been freezing. Roll on a couple of decades and it’s been repaired at great cost and is now a most beautiful church.
It’s a huge, imposing place with tons of atmosphere and there are always lovely stalls. I never come away empty handed.
I bought some gorgeous notebooks from www.retrofromscratch.co.uk who use the front covers of vintage books to make into note books and diaries.
There was a lovely vintage china stall called MadAboutPots by Jane Murphy who also had a plate stand full of very delicious tiny cakes for free.
I fell in love with this beautiful little jacket and it took all my will power not to buy it. If I had I would have hung it on the wall as it’s not something I’d get away with wearing but it was just so gorgeous.
If it’s still there next time I know it’s meant for me.
Filed under London, UK
Flat screen tv versus the fireplace
When we moved into our derelict Victorian wreck 12 years ago, I had the fireplace knocked through in the front room. I left it as rough brick, painted it green, put our old grate in it and filled it with fairy lights. It was beautiful and I loved it. Roll on a few years and our very old telly in the corner lost the will to live and as I sadly put it in the front garden for the council to take away, my children started working on me to buy a big flat screen tv. I love telly as much as the next person but I hate big flat screen tvs. I think they’re dominating, aesthetically unpleasing and a bit sinister. Anyway, it was 3 against me and I reluctantly gave in and bought the horrid thing. That was about 5 years ago and I’ve barely been in the front room since, literally.
Then I was chatting to a lovely marketing lady Chloe Goddard about decorating fireplaces at Christmas and how I was making my mini vintage bunting in Autumn/Winter colours and how they’d look lovely edging the top of fireplaces and she suggested I do a mock up and take a few photos.
That was just the push I needed so while my kids were all out I moved the hideous creature (flat screen tv) from the focal point of my living room and reclaimed my beautiful fireplace. The creature is now on a shelf in the alcove behind a curtain and is no longer the undeserved centerpiece of room and as a result the room feels welcoming, serene and cosy again.
Mini vintage bunting around the fireplace
Ceramic floral jugs, candles, mini vintage bunting and plants in the fireplace.
If you don’t want a fire but still want the focal point of your room to look lovely then just paint it with emulsion and put a few nice things in it.
Filed under Miscellaneous
Fabric workshops for children at my Open House Sale on Sat 27th & Sun 28th October 2012
My living room will be transformed into a lovely fabric workshop with a long table and chairs. About eight children will be able to sit round at a time. I and a friend or two will be on hand all the time to help them make pictures, mini bunting, or a lavender bag.
Below are a few photos of pictures that I made years ago. Since then I’ve made lots of other things but I’ve always wanted to go back to making pictures as I love it so much.
beautiful serene flowers under a blue sky on a sunny day
I will pre cut some of the shapes from all sorts of fabric, some of it vintage. I’ve been collecting fabric for a very long time so have lots to choose from. Children will have a piece of card and I’ll help them choose what they want to do and they can do the gluing if they like or I can do it if they prefer.
If they like, instead of making a picture they can make 2 meters of bunting. I’ll help them to choose the fabric they like and I or a friend will sew it on the sewing machine. I’ll have two friends there who are both professional machinists.
Children can come anytime between 11am and 5 pm can stay for up to an hour. biscuits will be provided and hopefully they’ll have great fun. They can bring friends or siblings and if they come on their own we shall do our best to ensure that they feel welcome and at home. We are all mothers and being with children comes very naturally.
Lovely orange duck
Another option available will be custom made sleeping bags. Your child should bring his or her doll or teddy (or ducky, monkey ….) and we will help choose the fabrics of choice to make a lovely little sleeping bag for it.
blue grey smiley dolphin
little pigs and mini bunting
I’ll be making mini fabric bunting with children too which they can take home with them.
I’ll have lots of fabric to choose from including bits of vintage.
Little crabby.
Parents can stay in the room if they like or wander around and see the array of amazing and unique things on offer including handmade ceramics, vintage fabric lavender bags, floral jugs, cushions, cards, bunting and more. There will be home made cake and you can wander round the garden if you like.
Cost per child will be £6 each.
I have public liability insurance and am CRB checked.
Filed under Childrens Workshops, Vintage Pop Up Sales
Hoopy Picture
vintage embroidery brought back to life
Here’s another hoopy picture made from an old and damaged embroidered tablecloth which I’ve sewn a colourful variety of vintage fabric flowers on to.
Filed under Handmade, Vintage Embrodiery
What’s that hanging on the bathroom door
Mini vintage bunting on the bathroom door
Mini vintage bunting on the bathroom door. Available at my on line shop
Filed under Bunting, Vintage Fabric
My kitchen table at the Pop up Shop
cushions, lavender hearts, purses, mini bunting
I took this photo at my Pop up Shop in July. It was hard to ‘style’ it nicely because there is so much and because the lavender hearts are in cellophane bags and they slip and slide all over the place so I just plonked it attractively on the table and hoped for the best. There is a selection of all of these at my on line shop
cushions, lavender hearts, pin cushion hearts, mini bunting, purses. All made from the most beautiful vintage fabric.
Filed under Vintage Pop Up Sales
Nicky Grace Vintage Fabric & Gorgeous Things 
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