Busy Bees!

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vintage milk jug designed by Kaj Franck and produced by Arabia of Finland

Yes, we know, it’s a picture of a cow jug – but we’ve been very busy bees recently! We had a lovely mention in the Guardian Weekend Magazine recently – and a frenzy of orders, packing & posting followed.

sky blue vintage 1950s powder coated aluminium teapot vintage 1950s tea tin

It’s now calmed down a bit, and we’ve been back out buying new stock again.

set of four vintage teak candle holders set of vintage frosted jug and glasses

We’ve picked up some really great stuff and had a big listing session on Friday.

vintage pastry crimper vintage wall clock produced by Kienzle of Germany

We added items to most of our shop sections – these are some of our favourites!

Bookmarks – Homemade Home

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Homemade Home book cover

Homemade Home by Sania Pell and published by Cico Books is the third in our new series of Bookmarks book reviews.

Homemade Home book with vintage sewing machine and fabric

We’re often in awe of people who seem to find the time and have the creativity to make something out of nothing. In our case, we either don’t get round to doing it or don’t think we’ve got the skills.

page from Homemade Home book showing various hand-painted bottles

Homemade Home will put paid to both – it will motivate you to make a start and it will give you the instructions in how to do it.

title page in the Homemade Home book showing covered buttons

Recycling household materials was once common in most households.

page from Homemade Home book showing handmade linen napkins

There was a certain decline in during the latter half of the twentieth century, but that trend is now very much reversing again…

page from Homemade Home book showing handmade napkins

…whether in the guise of recycling, up-cycling or remodelling.

page from Homemade Home book showing handmade canvas deckchair seats

This could be for many reasons – a new awareness of conserving the world’s resources, saving money or creating an individual/distinctive look.

page from Homemade Home book showing handmade labels

Whatever the project, this book’s a perfect companion.

page from Homemade Home book showing fabric covered notebooks

The pages are divided into quick ideas and larger tasks.

page from Homemade Home book showing covered buttons

There are easy to follow, step-by-step instructions – and some lovely photographs of the finished items in household settings.

page from Homemade Home book showing handmade origami flowers

There’s plenty of opportunity to adapt the ideas in terms of materials, design or finish.

page from Homemade Home book showing upcycled planters made from food tins

The author’s objective is to inspire you to have a go… and it certainly works!

page from Homemade Home book showing teacups now being used as plant pots

Before you know it you’ll be collecting buttons & scraps of material.

page from Homemade Home book showing sewing paraphernalia

And, if you already have such a collection, it will offer some fun & interesting ways to use it all.

Homemade Home can also be bought from our vintage design bookshops: Amazon UK | Amazon US

[Many thanks to Cico Books for supplying this review copy]

D is for… Daisy

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The vintage skirt below was the inspiration for today’s post. It recently caught my (Adelle’s) eye in the window of one of Manchester’s Northern Quarter vintage shops – a real bargain at just £2!

vintage black and daisy patterned skirt

So this post is going to be a feast of fab flowers…

vintage Staffordshire Pottery mug setvintage Staffordshire Pottery mug set

vintage drinking glass with orange & yellow daisy pattern

vintage Figgjo Flint 'Turi' cup and saucer vintage 'Dolly Days' cup and saucer designed by John Russell for Hostess Tableware in the 1960s

A gallery of items that incorporate daisy motifs or simple, stylised blooms.

vintage gravy boat decorated with simple flower motif

vintage flower patterned make-up bag vintage flower patterned oven glove

montage of vintage daisy patterned enamel pots and pans

set of vintage flower patterned coasters designed by Al and Lena Eklund set of vintage flower patterned coasters

vintage Pyrex bowl decorated with green flower motif

These striking patterns often catch our eye on a crowded market stall or auction room full of boxes.

vintage flower patterned tea towel

vintage flower patterned curtains

We had so many examples to chose from – this is just a small selection…

vintage Staffordshire Pottery storage jar

vintage Staffordshire Pottery storage jar vintage Staffordshire Pottery storage jar

vintage Genia Sapper 'Heidi' fabric

vintage flower patterned curtains vintage flower patterned bedspread

vintage Genia Sapper 'Heidi' fabric

…hope you enjoyed our choices!