brocobelle

Happy Vintage Valentines Day

2012-02-14T04:33:00.000-08:00

I probably spent more than I should have done on this ebay purchase of a batch of vintage 30s Valentine cards from the USA. But these two cards in particular led to my Paypal balance being yet further depleted. I adore the little couple in their "crinoline" costumes in the first card; and in the second I think the figure on the right is probably a little girl (I understand these Valentine cards were produced for children to send to one another) & I just adored her hairstyle and jazzy edged bell bottom trouser suit.

Happy Valentine's Day x

My snowy Valentine

2012-02-11T02:54:00.000-08:00

More vintage Valentines coming soon ... just thought I would post this image of a heart being used as a sleigh for the sheer vintage fun of it ... and a photo of my little Chum for the sheer love of it!

Sand to snow in one week!

2012-02-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought it? We had barely shaken the sand from our shoes when my buying trip to Newark antiques fair was cancelled by the first snow fall. Then more snow, and now even MORE. That's me in the front in the blue scarf and mittens and my little dog running alongside when we went on our walk this morning - last night's snowfall is even deeper! I have got quite a large ebay parcel run today, wonder if I can harness the dog to a small sleigh?

Posts have been thinner on the ground than the snow, have had a very busy ebay week (good) and a strangely unhappy little dog (bad). It is our little Chum's adoptive birthday on the 13th of this month - we will have had him two years - and there are still times when we think he remembers and probably pines for his old life. This week, there were two days when he wouldn't eat or play and seemed to be worrying about something; jumping out of his skin and staring at non-existent shadows. He wouldn't even lie down & snuggle up in one of his many beds in the house. Maybe the snow had triggered a memory? (When we adopted him from the RSPCA it was after he had been found abandoned in that winter's snowy weather). Anyway, all back to normal yesterday & today, thankfully, so I can stop fretting. Last night I was even treated to the privilege of sharing the sofa with him so I could stroke his tummy while I watched the TV.

In spite of not going to Newark, have still found some good textiles on my more local stock searches. In particular, lots of embroidered tray cloths & tablecloths. Will pop some photos of these on this post later. In the meantime, ebay packing, here I come!

A little beach with my name on it ...

2012-02-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

What bliss! Just returned from a short escape to the sunshine and spent a few happy hours wriggling my toes in the sand and paddling in the gentle waves on this pretty little beach above.

Haven't been on a hotel & beach holiday for years as we have spent a lot of our time in France, but on impulse we booked a late deal to Spain and are so glad we went.

Seven whole days of an all inclusive break were just what we needed, and since we arrived home I am finding it extremely difficult to adjust to the fact that cava is no longer on tap.

Saving up for next trip already ....

Looking forward to spring

2012-01-21T02:34:00.000-08:00

On my bookshelves (currently groaning under the several hundredweight of vintage craft, dressmaking and needlecraft magazines I have acquired, during the last 12 months especially), there remain a few treasured books from my childhood. This little book I am looking through now dates from, I would guess, the 1930s (and no, my childhood was not then!). My Nan used to buy me books from jumble sales when I was about five years old, about the same time I started buying frocks for fancy dress or to cut up to make dolls' clothes. (Yes, I still shudder when I see the scraps of lace in my sewing cupboard which I cut from a 1930s patchwork lace top!). "Secrets of the Flowers" in The Bunnykin Books series has several sentimental post-Victorian melodramatic tales (and yup, I still wipe a tear from my eye if I read one today), all of which are illustrated by flowers with little faces. I have seen Art Deco handbags and tea cosies etc. decorated with little faces surrounded by flower petals, and as I have some doll faces picked up last year, methinks that might be a nice vintage project to try. Until the stitching gets done and I show a photo of what I have made, please enjoy the pictures with the promise of springtime arriving soon.

Decluttering in 2012 and a few of my favourite things

2012-01-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

This year I am determined to make some real progress in dealing with the mounds of "stuff" that surround us in our home (most of it mine I must confess). Sometimes in quiet moments, I look around whatever room I am in and try to apply my "divide and rule" principle - what would I keep if I were to get rid of two thirds of my possessions? I am acutely aware that having broken our half century a while back and having no children, as we go forward we should strive to become unencumbered by too many belongings. My little vintage French letter rack above finds itself in the winning third. For several years, mr. brocobelle and I contemplated living in France and spent a lot of time there. One hot summer day we pulled over whilst driving and I ran into a little antiques shop in the middle of nowhere and found my treasured china butterfly rack. One to keep.

Bought last year, thinking it would probably not work and happily proving us wrong, my little deco barometer which neatly stands on a shelf or sideboard is another treasure I will keep.

The standard lamp we made out of an antique camera tripod and a vintage pleated silk shade (amazing what you can achieve when you cannibalise a £2 lamp from Asda for its fittings!) will move with us to the retirement flat (not yet, but you know ...)

And while I am still happily working selling my vintage and crafts and developing my vintage needlecrafts, I will hang on to the divine Edwardian hat covered in silk organza blooms above. Although usually stored away in several acres of acid-free tissue, I will try to recreate the blooms soon - watch this space.

What would you keep?

How to style a vintage 30s spring wardrobe

2012-01-07T07:58:00.000-08:00

I know printemps hasn't exactly sprung yet, but I do hear birds singing every bright January morning and some of my shrubs and roses have been flowering all winter long, so a good excuse to turn to a spring wardrobe planning article from a vintage French Marie Claire magazine dating to April 1937.

This is a delightful mix-and-match spring wardrobe feature. I have scanned the two pages which show how you can achieve 12 ensembles using the basic 8 wardrobe items. As the magazine is in quite a large format, it was a little difficult to fit the pages onto my A4 scanner (shopping time for an A3 scanner maybe??), so I have scanned and cropped the garment illustrations for the purposes of composing your toilettes. Note the cute bows at H and I - if you would like to make a bow tie to use as a spring accessory (wear it round your hat or at the neck of a smart blouse), check out my blog post with instructions on making a bow tie out of a redundant neck tie.

A la prochaine ...

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T01:58:00.000-08:00

Here's wishing a happy 2012 to all my vintage crafting & sewing friends wherever you may be around the globe.

Here's hoping we all find tons of vintage treasure this year & complete all of our projects & maybe achieve a few of our dreams for good measure.

All the best everyone. x

Ever Expanding Vintage Craft Library

2011-12-30T01:04:00.000-08:00

OK, I've got to admit it, I have been ordering on ebay, etsy & amazon over the last week or so. And my December evenings are being spent devouring every page again and again of my new-to-me purchases. I love the adverts almost as much as the features. I was particularly intrigued by this page above taken from a 1920s Home Crafts magazine as I had bought a vintage bead necklace only a few weeks before which looked to be home made. The top right advert offers jewellery kits - maybe the necklace below was made from one of them as although the beads are quite lovely, the wire findings are uneven in places.

My reading is also turning up plenty of articles about barbola work. It seems this was a type of paste one could buy ready mixed in tins. Do any of you know if it can still be bought, or if not, what might be a suitable substitute as I would love to give this craft a try.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T03:39:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a happy, cosy day for Christmas, with love from me, mr. b. and our little Chum x

Sew 30s Peg Doll Fairy & The Alternative Christmas Cherry Tree

2011-12-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

Have come over all "minimal" this year & when I saw this little LED cherry tree in a local discount store, thought why not give it a try. OK, so my peg doll fairy can't perch on top, but I have tried to style it as a fairytale tree using some of my favourite vintage decorations. In the spirit of feng shui, yin and yang, whatever, there are a couple of pairs of decorations - two little doves and two little bauble people which belonged to my maternal grandmother. A man in the moon I remember from Christmas trees back in the 60s, a few stars and a couple of planet-like painted glass baubles.

My peg doll fairy wears a dress made from vintage 30s silk saved from a torn dress and antique lace. She has Tilda hair and a pair of large pink feather butterfly wings. A large sequin & beaded butterfly and dragonfly flutter through the scene, as well as a fancy candelabra confection I received a few years ago as a gift (probably by Gisela Graham). OK, maybe not exactly minimalist, but we are really enjoying this little alternative festive scene.

Sew 30s - Seasonal Felt Flower Corsage

2011-12-17T05:50:00.000-08:00

Aware that I haven't really made any Christmas needlecraft items this year, I decided to give my Saturday Sew 30s felt flower project a seasonal colourway. For many years I have treasured a little vintage 30s suede flower corsage, shown below

I finally got round to using one of the flowers to make a template

I cut 3 of these 5 pointed flowers; five small rounded diamond shaped leaves; & a small rectangle which I cut part way into 3 stems and two larger circles of green felt for the mounting and backing pieces to the corsage. The centres of the flowers are small eau de nil coloured felt circles snipped all round the edges and mounted with pearlised sequins and small pearl green beads. The felts are all wool mix fibres in vintage shades.

I assembled the flowers, then stitched all the flower pieces to the mounting circle which was backed with a second felt circle in the same colour with small slits cut through which I could slip a brooch mount, and the edges of the circles finished with buttonhole stitch.

The reason I have not stitched the brooch mount to the corsage is so that I can easily use it for other purposes by simply slipping the brooch mount out.

Soon after I finished stitching, a little chap jumped up to see what was going on - any chance I could get a small dog involved in the production of corsages????

Sew 40s Felt Flower for Frock or Coat

2011-12-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

A little bit of 40s sewing this afternoon with some scraps from my felt box and some vintage cotton threads - Gay Green, Blue Crest & Cambridge Blue - don't you just love the names?

Completed my first project from my "Let's Make a Gift" book received yesterday. I wanted to use the colours suggested by the author but had to substitute with what I had in the hope that they are a suitably vintage 40s palette. This is actually a lovely little tactile flower, the snipped felt fringe at the centre is almost like wool. The stem and leaf have a nice sculptural quality and I will definitely be making more of these corsages. Pattern will follow soon.

Let's Make a Christmas Gift

2011-12-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Always exciting to receive my latest ebay/etsy/amazon purchase and today's delivery does not disappoint. Fab little vintage 40s book with tons of needlecraft projects for gift making. Haven't had chance to look at it thoroughly as have been busy wrapping parcels to post today, but this little braided gift caught my eye

I am thinking of trying to braid some rugs in the new year, possibly some bath mats, but a teapot stand looks a good project to start and I like the way the flower petals are created.

Actually, on receiving this book I really fell off the wagon! There is a list of books in the series on the back cover and yes, I had to go trawling the www for them, and you know that temptation when Amazon lists books for 1p, yup, three books now on their way to me ... (not all at 1p, but not too expensive really ....)

Hope your festive preparations are going well. We have a break from tradition this year and I found a lovely little LED cherry tree so have bedecked it with a few of my special sentimental baubles and really pleased to have a different "look". Will post photos soon. Stay warm those of you who have snow already, we are expecting it later tonight.

Recipe for an enjoyable November evening

2011-11-27T01:30:00.001-08:00

Glass of wine, log fire burning, stack of my vintage needlework magazines .... bliss!

My favourites are from the 50s as they seem to have so many useful projects and articles - sometimes there is even a great project tucked away in a little half column at the back end of a magazine that I overlooked on the first ten or so read throughs.

I have been putting together as many copies of Needlework Illustrated from the late 40s/early 50s as I possibly can. I have also got a good (and growing) collection of 1970s Golden Hands magazines. With regard to the earlier 30s, finding magazines is more difficult but I have a growing collection of needlework books from this era. Of course, I am discovering echoes of earlier needlecraft projects everywhere. Plus ca change and all that. I am enjoying trying the vintage projects out and also creating my own interpretations of them. I have started putting some of the instructions on my posts and hope to do lots more next year. In the meantime, if you would like to make a vintage inspired peg doll fairy for your Christmas tree, instructions are here. Or if you would like to make a 50s inspired bow tie for your man, instructions are here.

If you would like to get hold of a job lot of Needlework Illustrated magazines, I have some listed on ebay right now as I have quite a lot of duplicates resulting from my buying up lots of job lots to increase my own collection.

Happy needlecrafts everyone! Karen x

Lost & Found at Kings Lynn Fleamarket

2011-11-21T02:56:00.001-08:00

Not just a case of curb my enthusiasm, more a question of curse my enthusiasm! I had a lovely morning on Saturday at the Kings Lynn Fleamarket and found some great treasures, the usual mix of some to keep, some to sell. I also met two lovely ladies with whom I had a great conversation about vintage & handmade (I waxed lyrical as usual about the Vintage and Handmade fairs held in Chipping Sodbury!), and we talked about organising a similar event in the local area. One of them gave me her email address on a small piece of paper which I carefully placed into my purse. Somewhere amongst my next few purchases at the fleamarket and my usual gassing about vintage textiles and crafts, the piece of paper was lost. So if by any small, vague chance you are one of those ladies with whom I was talking, please please get in touch! I bought the Singer skirt marker and some knitting patterns from you, hope I might hear from you somehow!

Once upon a vintage Christmas

2011-11-06T02:30:00.000-08:00

No matter whether you love vintage 30s Deco embroidery

Vintage paisley and fine cross stitch

Gay 60s cottons and guipure lace

Or vintage Liberty of London wool decorated with vintage carved bone buttons

Once upon a vintage Christmas I will have made a stocking to suit!

Remember, remember ...

2011-11-06T02:19:00.000-08:00

Someone has been feeling poorly lately. Maybe he missed me when I went to my Ladder Club seminar a couple of weeks ago? He had to go to see the nice kiwi vet last Monday (not a vet for kiwis, you know!) and get some medicine. We were finally over that sickness episode when wham, bam, fireworks weekend! Last year, I had dosed our little Chum up with homeopathic pet calming pills for a couple of weeks before the Big Bang on 5th November. I thought they had not worked and that mr. brocobelle and I should have been taking them instead. Let's just say after last night, I now know they DID work. Somebody will be going into their cage covered with a blanket at about 5pm tonight

(no, not mr. b!)

The Ladder Club Seminar - How to Start a Greeting Card Business

2011-10-22T03:17:00.000-07:00

Just back from an enjoyable couple of days on the sunny Essex coast attending the seminar for start ups organised by the wonderfully generous Lynn Tait in the form of the Ladder Club (in conjunction with the Greeting Card Association.)

There were some truly inspirational speakers and everyone was so generous in the way they shared information about the industry. The prospect of digital printing seemed way too daunting but thanks to the straightforward presentation by The Imaging Centre even someone who doesn't know their pdf from their elbow might have a go. Who would have thought I would ever give paper a second thought? Not me, but thanks to G.F. Smith I now see paper in a different light. It was and still is a huge shock that any industry can be so welcoming to newbies. Even though since the seminar I have alternated between wanting to give this a go and thinking the whole project could be too daunting & maybe just a nice hobby (after all, cardmaking is the number one hobby in the UK!), at least I now have realistic information and have heard some real life success stories (Blue Eyed Sun & Paper Salad) to help me with my decision making.

As you all know, I love all things vintage. So I thought it would be apt to illustrate this post with images from a few of my favourite vintage greetings cards from my huge collection of vintage ephemera.

As the lovely Steve from Sherwood Press pointed out, the couple in the card above look nearer to modern 15 year olds than 21 year olds!

Guess this was from the days all the girls longed to be as glam as Liz (Taylor not Hurley)

Love never changes - I remember sending Valentine's cards in the 70s (well, I was a teenager then ... and yes, I did send one to Donny Osmond!)

Finally, thank you to all my fellow attendees - collectively known as Ladderettes! - it was brilliant meeting you & sharing our ideas & knowledge & I wish all of you all the luck in the world. Who knows, maybe we will meet up at Springboard at PG Live before too long ...

Sew 50s - Trifold Bow Tie from Redundant Necktie

2011-10-16T05:46:00.000-07:00

Maybe you know someone who has a favourite necktie that is rarely worn, but would be just the right textile for a smart bow tie for a special night out. I found a lovely vintage bow tie that had an unusual tri-fold bow section, so I have unpicked it and drafted a pattern & instructions. Feel free to use these to make smart bow ties for your nearest & dearest ready for the winter party season. (Please do not sell the pattern, instructions or the finished bow ties, thank you).

This is the original bow tie, very grubby and with a metal clip rather than a neckband on the back. I loved its tri-fold form and asymmetric finish.

The tie I used was a lovely rich silk tie dating from the 80s or 90s. Firstly, choose the most even sized piece of tie to be the long neck band section. Fold narrow section of tie so that width (approx. 3cm) matches most evenly. Cut this section 51cm long. If ends of the long central seam need restitching, do so now. Open each end of neck band, trim 1.5cm of interlining from each end. Fold and pin ends neatly using 1.5cm seam allowance. Overstitch by hand.

Unpick any label on main front tie section carefully. Unpick tie section along seam. Remove interfacing and any linings. Press outer silk piece flat (even an 8cm wide tie will often be 20cm wide once opened out).

Fold tie interlining section in half widthways. Pin pattern to fold & cut interlining section. (Pattern diagram at end of post).

Fold main tie silk piece in half lengthways, right sides together. Pin interlining piece on top, taking care to position straight along pattern. Cut with 1.5cm seam allowance all round.

Machine around interlining as closely as you can, leaving the bottom central “V” section open. Clip curves and points, turn right sides out. Turn under seams on bottom edges and sew by hand. Press.

Cut section which will form knot, 3cm wide by 11cm long. Cut piece of tie interlining 1.5cm x 11cm and place along length. Press long edges to middle so knot section is 1.5cm wide.

Fold bow section into 3 (as per photo of original red bow tie). Run a couple of gathering stitches through middle. Draw up.

Place neck band on back of bow section so that 8cm is to the side of the centre. Wrap knot section around centre of neck band and bow section. Pin knot section on reverse, turning under ends to neaten. Stitch around this section onto neck band.

Pattern diagram

The Karma Kittens - Indian Summer

2011-10-09T02:26:00.000-07:00

My little "Karma Kittens" have their first outfits!

Under an Indian summer sun and boho breeze, they have sundresses stitched in the manner of "real" 1970s clothes and fashioned from vintage bandanas. They each have a long wrap which they can wear as a shawl or tied round their ears in suitably hippy chic fashion as above.

Their ponchos are finished, but mitts and bags still to be stitched. Watch this space!

(For those of you who haven't read my earlier post, the Karma Kittens are vintage-inspired hand puppets I am stitching for my friend's two little daughters).
Sewing tip: If you need a small, circular template when cutting out eyes for toys, tiny flowers, etc, use buttons - they work a treat.

Isn't she lovely? My dream (sewing) machine

2011-10-07T02:30:00.000-07:00

I had been thinking about buying a vintage hand sewing machine for a while. Now that I am sewing ever more vintage craft type items (bags, toys, boudoir bras, snoods ...) I often end up cranking my electric machine by hand anyway when I get to the tricky little faffy bits, so had been considering looking for an old Singer or suchlike as I remember from my childhood.

So when I was asked in one of my usual charity shops yesterday if I was interested in buying an old sewing machine (they know me well!), it didn't take too long to say yes. The machine in question is in lovely condition, all the decals are good and bright, and more importantly, all the tools, handbooks, attachments and feet are present. Hadn't ever thought about using a ruffler, under braider, quilter or hemmer, let alone a tuckmarker or five-stitch pleater, but hey, I try to keep an open mind on these things.

I wasn't sure of the exact date of my machine, but when I checked Google, I was thrilled to find the Singer Company has a really handy checklist for serial numbers

so I was able to date my machine accurately to 1939. Check it out if you are wondering about your own machine. Have also found an interesting site with historical info on vintage sewing machines, check it out here.

Will be taking a test run this weekend and will report back on how she handles!

STOP PRESS --- STOP PRESS --- STOP PRESS Have just lugged my little 99-er up onto my work table, threaded her & - hoping that she maybe had a bobbin already in there! - cranked the handle. She runs like a dream, a pleasing combination of purring and clicking as the handle turns. She manoeuvres really nicely on curves. Keen to try some free embroidery with her. Phew!

Plus ca change ... 60s caravan kids

2011-10-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

Little bro & I weren't on holiday in the photo above, we were staying with our Auntie who lived in a caravan. I never really understood why two of my aunties & my Mum & Dad (before bro came along) lived in caravans. We weren't travellers. Then again, we weren't wealthy. But why caravans? Then yesterday, I broke the ceiling of my usual £1 second hand book budget and blew a massive £2.50 on a 1950s "Better Home Making" book by Newnes.

Inside is a quaint article about caravans - of course I was initially drawn to the fab retro photos. Then I read the text. What a shocker. Entitled, "Your Caravan Home", the article speaks about the housing shortage and the sub-standard rental accommodation which was often all that was available. It sang the happy alternatives of living in a caravan. I cannot imagine how bleak it must have been for a young couple with a tiny baby living miles from anywhere, without a car, in a flimsy and doubtless far from luxurious caravan. I have heard anecdotes about how we all awoke with frost on our faces. Tall stories perhaps, but thankfully being just a baby, I was too little to remember. I remember the above photoshoot, though. My uncle was keen on photography. His camera ready, we were instructed to sit still & my baby brother kept kicking his legs. You can see my arm round his side, trying in vain to hold him still. I look at this photo with tiny tears in my eyes, and not all of them due to nostalgia. So grateful for my own beautiful home, and so sorry we have a housing shortage once more. Let those of us with a nice roof over our heads count our blessings and remember all those needing somewhere to live. x

Sew 50s, Crochet 50s

2011-09-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Had a happy day's hunting in the September sunshine yesterday and found this quaint little 50s sewing booklet in one of my usual haunts! Sadly it doesn't contain any patterns, but has some nice illustrations and I reckon I can put together a pattern for the workbox/basket on the cover - I love the folksy decorations they have used.

Bit of a 50s theme going on right now - I received my latest Etsy purchase, a vintage 1951 crochet booklet. Now, my hooks have remained in my workbag lately, but these brilliant evening gloves are calling me ...

Just had to share one of my other finds yesterday, a brilliant little vintage embroidered velvet jacket, I reckon Turkish embroidery made into a bolero c. 1930.

The Karma Kittens have lost their mittens ... and hats, and bags, and ....

2011-09-28T01:36:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, my Karma Kittens are going to have a whole WARDROBE of clothes as befits two little glampusses whose favourite shop is Kittybiba, who love reading Kittyjackie and who listen to Kittybolan on their radios ...

Sorry for my kitten 70s inspired nostalgia trip there! I am visiting two special little girls in a few weeks' time and have decided that the little kittens will accompany me. Test puppet #1 in the middle was stitched out of scraps from my felt box. I have decided the body of this kitten - although perfect for hands aged 3 to 7 - was a bit too small, so have upped the body size. As is usual for my craft projects, influences come from most decades since about the 30s. The head shape is 60s, the heart shaped nose 80s, the body shape 70s and the little flower which will be perched jauntily on each ear 30s! The puppets can be sewn by machine or hand, and have embroidered whiskers and mouths and irises on their eyes. The head is lightly padded and stitched over the shaped neck section which will allow the heads to nod, shake, etc. Haven't started on the clothes yet - mittens, of course; handbags; I thought ponchos would be cute and maybe a little kaftan to tie in with the 70s theme; will definitely have something made from a hankie, possibly a dress or nightie, so that all those cute vintage hankies can be put to good use.

I am going to ask Evie & Lilly to think of names beginning with "K" for the Karma Kittens. Must reassure their Mummy that I won't be bringing any live animals with me, only two little kittens who can be safely put back in the toy box after play. Miaow!

DIY Taxidermy - a flapper essential perhaps??

2011-09-20T00:39:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite books for browsing when I have a few hours to spare is my Concise Household Encyclopedia from around 1930 (as with so many books of this era, it is undated). I simply adore the wide range of articles. I love the illustrations and house plans which make me think of the beautiful country houses on the further reaches of Metroland in the Chilterns countryside.

Amongst the household essentials - cooking, mechanics, managing servants, sewing, etc - and a few interesting craft articles - making artificial flowers, bag making, barbola work, leatherwork, metalwork - is an article that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Makes one wonder whether any small furry within several miles of this book was safe!

My life in stitches

2011-09-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

In honour of being awarded a "Versatile Blogger" award by my blogging friend (hope you don't mind my calling you that) & talented craftswoman Urban Rustic , I thought for my seven facts about me I would list seven of my most prominent crafty sewing life stages.

1. Age 5, sewing a pair of white cotton, lace trimmed pants for my "Michelle" baby doll. Michelle came with a pair of red legging type tights and a white angel top. My best friend Caroline had her own Michelle and we stitched away together. I admired Caroline greatly. A precociously artistic age 5, she could already draw a straight line without a ruler!

2. From the ages of 5 to 10, I really was the quintessential Blue Peter child, and I cut, glued, stitched and stuck my way through the second half of the 60s. I loved the Jean Greenhowe toy designs in Woman's Weekly magazine and made the peddlar doll out of a clothes peg (still making peg dolls today - see my peg fairy above!), various rag dolls and one memorable Christmas, several families of hamsters which quickly took over the house.

3. Aged 11, we were let loose on electric sewing machines in our "Dress" class with the fearsome Home Economics teacher who referred to us as "my gels". I made a cord pinafore, a skirt, a blouse and by the age of 16 was making a lot of my own clothes. Sadly, in those pre-mobile phone & digital camera days, I really don't have any photos of me wearing them.

4. By the age of 20, when not decked out in Laura Ashley or Marion Donaldson, I was wearing my own design gypsy type skirts along with vintage fair isle cardis, checked shirts & granny coats & jackets I had bought at jumble sales. I was studying in Bordeaux in France & one fellow student, trying to insult me, told me that I was dressed in the way that French women dressed 40 years ago. I was delighted!

5. Fast forward to 1985, I sewed Clothkits suits & jackets to wear to work in the City. I had made numerous curtains and some enormous ruched Austrian blinds for windows in my first flat in North London. 1988 saw me stitching two little bridesmaids' dresses in pink satin & embroidered organza using patterns from the Ann Ladbury bride's sewing book. Sadly the dresses probably lasted longer than the marriage.

6. In the 90s I was tremendously in awe of my adorable French neighbour, Yann, who made ballgowns, wedding dresses, costumes - I was even allowed to help with stitching on a few sequins when the going got tough. He even stitched amazing velvet chokers decorated with tiny diamonds for an antiques dealer friend of his. My own stitching pulse was a bit weak during those years.

7. Finally, late noughties, I started stitching again. Happy in the deep English countryside with my darling Mark and my dear little dog. Tentatively at first, with items such as my deco daisy corsages. Gradually some more projects, like my jewellery . Then I found Sew Retro and my stitching story began over. Thank you fellow stitchers for inspiring me anew. x

Hope I haven't bored you with my stitching story! I will award my five blogging awards in a separate blog as I need to consider my main influences (has been a mega busy week as I was at the Autumn Fair in Birmingham - wow!)

Sew 40s - The Retro Sewer with the Pearl Earring?

2011-09-09T04:10:00.000-07:00

Move over Scarlett Johansson, I say, there's more than one of us can look enigmatic with a scarf thingy wrapped around our head and a pair of pearl earrings. OK, OK, I know, I don't really have quite the same photogenic qualities as the divine SJ, but I sew wanted to show you my little vintage 40s snood-esque hat creation.

Yup, the 40s Hollywood Pattern (#1505) had barely arrived from the US before I was selecting a vintage scarf to use to make the hat (that's what they call it)/snood confection. I had forgotten how slippery silk can be to sew, and given that I am a needleworker of the pin-and-pray persuasion, there were a few scarey moments. Basically, the construction is a bit like a half apron with most of the curved bit gathered up into 6" of elastic and the tie ends wrapped round your head and tucked into themselves.

Once I had - literally - tied my head in knots, I realised my short bobbed hair is not sufficiently luscious to fill up the snood bit at the back - I contemplated putting some rolled up socks in there to pad it out a bit (no cheeky comments please!)

What did I learn? Even if the pattern says Sew Simple, it can be a bit of a faff constructing even a relatively basic garment when following instructions which make the word "brevity" seem like OTT gobbledygook. Although there is only one main pattern piece with tie ends attached (which are wrapped round your head), I think it would be better to have a long front edge and ties combined then stitched onto the snood section. Maybe the snood section doesn't need to be so long, definitely could be shorter. I am going to attempt to draft a pattern which could be easily made from a square headscarf (I used a shawl type scarf for this) as I think there are lots of 40s fans who would like a snood but cannot knit or crochet. Will be giving my redrafted pattern a try in lace/net/chiffon type textiles, probably decorating them with embroidery and/or flowers. The pattern has a cute blouse, dickie & jerkin which I will attempt in the future.

Thanks for reading! Happy retro sewing everyone. Karen (aka brocobelle )

VPBA (Vintage Pattern Buyers Anonymous)

2011-09-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

My name is Karen and I am a Vintage Pattern Buyer

Ebay, Etsy, Amazon, I'm not fussy ... browsing page upon page of listings until I have morphed into a 51 year old doppelganger for a teenage boy hooked on World of Warcraft; jumble sale or thrift shop, I'll be there bent double over an old shoe box full of vintage patterns

Hubbie says it's like the tulip bulb mania of the 17th century, that thousands, nay millions, of crazed VPBs get high on buying and collecting vintage patterns

Recently, I have gone cold turkey and haven't bought a pattern for, well, at least FIFTEEN WHOLE DAYS (maybe it was only because I was outbid on ebay and not a case of iron-willed self control)

But today, whilst browsing Etsy I slipped off the wagon and bought the most fantastic 40s pattern ever! (It's not the one pictured above - that is one from my current guilty hoard). The minute I receive it from the States I will be making the item and posting it up on Sew Retro. Heck, I might even compound my shame by having a photo taken of me modelling the garment. That's got you wondering. Anyway, until our next VPBA meeting....

Ah, them crochet nights ...

2011-08-30T03:31:00.000-07:00

The whippersnappers amongst you might find it hard to believe that during the 70s we often tripped the light fandango in trailing maxi skirts and that for soirees at home, wedding guest attire and even school discos, maxis were almost de rigueur!!

I was reminded of that fact while looking through my 70s craft books for some maxi skirt crochet patterns for one of my blogging buddies (check out her wonderful crafty blog here Urban Rustic) and found plenty of inspiration. My own fledgling crochet attempts haven't progressed beyond my Gay Gypsy Scarf (see earlier post), some granny squares (nice waistcoat idea for using these below) & some flowers, but I am persevering with the help of my patient neighbour, Eileen.

Anyway, more maxi crochet heaven below - let me know if you are interested in any of these. (Plus, having a little smile to myself as I type this - I snapped up a lovely early Edwardian crochet jacket on ebay which was listed as "crotched". Ouch!)

Sew 30s - Poke Bonnet Needlecase

2011-08-28T02:16:00.000-07:00

Amongst my recent needlework book buys have been several vintage 30s home sewing tomes. I adore their quirky projects, & whilst I may not hanker after duchess sets, antimacassars or nightdress cases, there are plenty of cute projects my stitching fingers are itching to try. The little felt "Poke Bonnet Needlecase" above is the first. She has a little felt bonnet to hold a thimble & layers of felt petticoats for needles. Just the right size for scraps of felt & trims & oddments of embroidery thread. She was easy, quick & fun to make. More vintage 30s projects coming soon.

Five Fairies Flying - time to make a wish!

2011-08-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

No, that's not a quote from "Twelve days of Christmas", just an indication that I have finally got my act together to give some instructions on how to make a vintage inspired fairy peg doll. These are perfect for adorning bedrooms, as bridesmaid gifts, and of course on top of Christmas trees!

I usually make them in batches of say 6 at a time in a little mini production line!

You will need: old fashioned wooden clothes pegs; scraps of lace, fabric and ribbon (these fairies are all wearing Liberty tana lawn dresses cut from patchwork charm squares); embroidery thread or yarn for hair; pipecleaners; beads, trims & sequins; some pink paint (I improvise by using matchpots with a speck of red acrylic paint mixed in); black & red felt pens; and, most importantly, butterfly wings - I have used vintage Nottingham lace butterfly wings as well as sparkly Christmas decoration or feather wings; glue & needle & thread

Paint head and neck and 4cm from foot tips pink. Tip: set fairy on rim of plastic cup to dry
Cut pipe cleaner to 11cm; bind & glue both ends with ribbon or felt to make hands
If paint is now dry, paint or glue ribbon toning shoes on feet; decorate face - I use 2 small black dots for eyes, a teensy red heart for mouth and two small rosy cheeks of a touch of blusher rubbed on with a cotton bud/Q tip. Face painting is more tricky than it seems, if all goes wrong, try on the other side and you can cover the ugly face with hair later!!
Cut pieces for clothes - if you are making more than one fairy, it might be helpful to cut cardboard templates then trace round these with a disappearing pen before cutting - it makes it much quicker. These sizes are for a standard 11cm high peg: knickers: 2 pieces 5cm x 4.5cm, glue lace trim on one 4.5cm edge and leave to dry; petticoat: scrap of lace 4cm long and 9cm wide; dress skirt: 6cm long x 20cm wide - glue lace along bottom edge, glue 6cm edges to make tube, run gathering thread around top edge; sleeves: tube 9cm long bx 2.5cm wide - glue along long edge to make tube, insert arms, trim cuffs with lace; sash: 6.5cm long x 1cm deep; bodice crossover: 11cm x 1cm
Assemble clothes on doll: glue knickers pieces into tubes, put glue round tops of legs and position; glue petticoat to form a tube, glue over top of knickers; gather waist edge of dress skirt and tie onto doll, put glue under top edge to secure; glue arms at back of doll; take bodice crossover and place on back of neck, cross over front, bring round back, trim and glue in place; glue sash in place at waistline over top edge of skirt. Doll should now be dressed. Trim dress with beads, sequins etc.
Cut a piece of ribbon approx. 60cm long. Stitch this securely to centre back of arms/bodice as this will tie the fairy to trees & other alighting points. Take your butterfly wings and stitch to back of fairy.
Time to put on the hair - this can get in the way of dressing the doll so best to leave until last. For long hair, cut lengths of embroidery thread approx. 9cm long, tie in the centre and then glue and arrange on head. Bobbled knitting yarn can be piled up high a la Duchess of Devonshire - glue and stitch as you go. Decorate with lace, ribbon, rosebuds, felt hats as you wish.
Last of all, the wand! Cut a length of wire (I use millinery wire) approx. 5.5cm long. Cover with ribbon, glue beads and ribbon onto the end and then secure with a couple of stitches to the fairy's arm.
Make a wish!

More fairy photos follow.

Sewing for the soul

2011-08-25T03:09:00.000-07:00

I've embroidered a frock
And I've sewn the long seams,
While I stitched up a heartache
And mended my dreams

Don't you just love those words? Taken from one of my vintage needlework books, I think they sum up so wisely how sewing and stitchery can ease our troubled minds

And looking through these needlework books, I have had a bit of a "eureka" moment. I was never sure how to classify my interests, not quite crafts, not quite dressmaking - I love stitching hats, bags, gifts, tops, toys, corsages, jewellery, cuffs (like the beaded and ribbon flowered one above) etc etc - of course, it was needlework all along!

I am sitting here in needlework heaven, looking through my recently acquired books. When I go to the great hereafter, wherever that may be, you'll find me sitting in the corner, surrounded by scraps of felt and textiles, needle and thread in hand ...

Art Deco Boudoir Bra

2011-08-21T01:57:00.000-07:00

Why am I calling this Art Deco confection a "Boudoir Bra" you might wonder?

Well, the simple answer is a silk crepe hankie and a few lengths of satin ribbon are probably insufficient support for most embonpoints once they have emerged from the inner sanctum of the boudoir. Imagine walking the dog/doing the weekly shop/going to work on the bus in this .... Yup, the results could be liberating in the extreme and a threat to public decency. But reclining in your boudoir with a glass of bubbly in hand ... you get the picture.

One of my 1930s needlework books (from my ever expanding vintage craft and sewing library) had some very basic instructions for making a bra out of a hankie. I decided I would use an original Art Deco silk crepe hankie and some ribbons from my ribbon box to have a go. There was a lot of improvising - the only instruction that seemed to be precise was to make a 2" dart - and with a lot of pinning and checking on my (size 12) mannequin, I finally got there with the delicate taupe and cream creation above. I was glad to have a couple of little ready made bows that matched, but when I make this garment again I am going to ensure I have toning ribbon flowers ready (can feel a shopping trek to VV Rouleaux coming on already ...). Plus, I will make longer ribbon ties for the back and am going to try it with gathers instead of a dart as well as experimenting with different size hankies. No cheeky comments about extra large men's hankies, please!!

Below is the diagram from the sewing book plus a couple more views of the bra.

Peaceful thoughts for troubled times

2011-08-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

Blessed to have a garden to chill in

Crafts, home business and interests that occupy me

Nearest and dearest that I love

Little dog to make me smile and take me for walks when I need to blow the bad news from my thoughts

Make do and makeover 40s style

2011-08-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been clearing out Amazon, ebay and local charity stocks by buying up every vintage needlework and craft book they offer - my bookshelves (which I had been decluttering) are now groaning under the weight of books from the 1930s through the 1970s

Following my recent post about Make Do & Makeover 50s style, I realised that I have similar makeover features dating from the 30s and 40s and then again from the 70s, so I thought I should share some extracts from these various articles

Above is the 1940s item which inspired me to make my applique bolero (seen in a previous posting but reposted here)

I will work my way through these books but in the meantime, below is a neat diagram of how to make a fitted 1940s jacket from a "swagger" (coat) - perfect for weekenders

Liberty for everyone

2011-08-04T04:44:00.000-07:00

Don't think that Liberty textiles are only for the ladies

This classic rockabilly style early 60s shirt was made by Golden Needles in the US circa 1961 from a lovely striped paisley Liberty cotton - just has to be the coolest shirt in town

Liberty print vintage 70s dress by Marion Donaldson

2011-08-03T03:08:00.000-07:00

There were those of us who spent our mid to late 70s dressed like country maidens from a long before time, bedecked in petticoats trimmed with lace and broderie anglaise, ruffled skirts, shawls, soft floral patterns and with flowers in their hair. Others went the punk route and could scare a bird at 20 paces. No prizes for guessing I took the floral route and trod the romantic pathway.

One of my favourite designers of the time was Marion Donaldson. My Saturday girl wages working in a clothes shop rarely stretched to the rails of garments delivered direct from MD's, and I would never have been able to afford this gorgeous dress made in the prettiest Liberty of London tana lawn.

Sadly all my own clothes from that era - Radley, Laura Ashley, some Marion Donaldson petticoats, Liberty of London scarves - have mainly gone the way of the charity shop back in the 80s before I really got bitten by the vintage bug. But it is such huge fun finding these garments today and remembering ....

Revenge of the Rollers

2011-08-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

That's the Bay City Rollers to those of you too young to have experienced the 70s first time round. They wore a lot of checks, I seem to remember, and so when I found this 70s trouser suit in a groovy mauve, pink and yellow check on my stock shopping trip today, those cheeky lads with crop-going-on-mullet hairdos sprang to mind!! Now, I was never a real Rollers fan, Donny Osmond and David Cassidy were more my thang. But I would have worn this suit if I had owned it. It appears unworn. Another garment from the cavernous wardrobe of history that should have had a label on it stamped in big, bold letters

DO NOT SAVE FOR BEST

My motto for today, folks, is love it, wear it, use it. Don't put it away in the back of the cupboard because it is "too good" so that some person like me can discover it 40 years later and be amazed at its condition.

I also found an early 70s Wallis suit in a size 8. Any idea how big a size 8 was around 1970??? About the size of a large doll, I reckon, a doll with an 18" waist.

Couple more pics of the suit so you can relax in 70s heaven ....

Brocobelle vintage textile bag

2011-07-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

I love this (modern) bag pattern and was keen to adapt it to use up some of my vintage textiles. Years ago I took a handbag making weekend course, absolutely brill, and the tutor was an inspiring guy who I reckon must have been BORN in a handbag!! Anyway, we learned lots of useful stuff about patterns for bags, cutting out, sewing, lining etc. I used this knowledge to adapt the above pattern to create my own interpretation below.

I changed the body pieces so my patchwork would fit. I also sewed on longer suede handles rather than using braid. I was so pleased with the result.

My 70s soul

2011-07-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been finding tons of 70s craft books in charity shops

Reading them avidly and finding them very inspiring and, in a funny old way, fresh, and it has made me look again at some of my vintage 70s sewing patterns, like the one above. Am I imagining it or do the designs from the 70s have a simplicity, charm and style that is very appealing?

I enjoy embroidery and reckon I could tackle the folkloric look of these tops

Now, I know the fashion gurus say you shouldn't wear things if you wore them first time round, but hey, my 70s soul is calling me louder every day ... x

50s style summer wardrobe make do and makeover

2011-07-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

I recently bought a batch of 1950s Woman's Weekly magazines - have already spent several hours sitting in the garden, glass of vino in hand, totally fascinated by the vintage fashion and home articles. This feature from the June 30 1956 edition had me intrigued as it has good instructions on how to remodel your clothes to create a natty summer wardrobe. I thought this was too good for us Sew Retro gals to miss, so please feel free to use these scans for inspiration for your own sewing. Happy summer sewing everyone!

Are there fairies at the bottom of your garden?

2011-07-23T02:14:00.000-07:00

Maybe not, but I have several sitting in my housemaid's cupboard full of crafting supplies and makes

Some are destined for Christmas trees, others, like the little fairy above, can be used to decorate rooms, summerhouses, wherever - after all, remember a fairy is for life, not just for Christmas!

They are perfect for using up tiny vintage scraps of Liberty tana lawn, lace, silks, ribbons, wool or yarn for hair and beads for sparkles

Instructions to make your own will be posted shortly

Run away with the gay gypsies

2011-07-17T02:56:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, currently in the process of releasing my inner gay gypsy - 1970s style - and attempting to crochet a "gay gypsy" scarf from a 1970s crochet book. OK, I haven't got the yarn specified in the pattern, my crochet hook is probably a size too big, and I didn't check my tension - but since when has not following a pattern exactly ever stopped me from having a go??

I sewed and stitched my way through childhood - toys, dolls' clothes and dressing up outfits; through my teens - gypsy style tiered skirts, pinafores and petticoats along with various am dram outfits (tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be Cinderella); through the 80s when I even made my own suits to wear to the office. But I never really got to grips with knitting. But then I had my dear Mum (who was one of the best knitters ever) to take care of beautiful cardigans and knitwear for me.

I taught myself a few basic crochet stitches from an old leaflet I bought for the grand total of 5p in a charity shop. Then a kindly neighbour, Eileen, has showed me some more stitches (although she despairs of my crooked edges!) Another 50p spent in another charity shop discovered a fab book of vintage crochet patterns. Watch out folks, a crochet bikini might be on the cards yet ...

Sweet as cherry pie

2011-07-16T02:47:00.000-07:00

It's often the smallest details that make the biggest impact

I recently discovered a batch of Woman's Weekly magazines from the 1950s

Lots of fab vintage knitting patterns, including a whole department store of knitted dolls' clothes - must have been the only thing they played with way back then!

Each issue had a page of fashion hints from the "London Girl"

As I have an original 50s cherry corsage somewhere amongst my collection, this little snippet caught my eye. Maybe I should get sewing a red gingham dress sometime soon....

Can't move forward for standing still

2011-07-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Please tell me it's not just me.

Sometimes there is so much to do - finish designing the garden, make a start on decorating the entire house, sew some clothes, carry on learning to crochet, walk my 10,000 steps a day, shop for stock, list items to sell so I can actually afford to live - that I find myself overwhelmed with it all and instead of rushing around really DOING things, I am unable to decide what to do first, end up doing nothing, then feel really frustrated with myself for wasting so much time!

I know it must be many, many times worse for those of you with kids to factor into the equation too, and I know I have some days, nay even whole weeks, where I can effortlessly achieve some of or even all of the above. Guess it's just not one of them weeks!!

Time for tea?

2011-06-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

Barely a moment to fill my tea or coffee cup this week!

Started on Sunday, mr. brocobelle was on the hunt for a handbook for his vintage motorbike so we visited a sale where we had seen a vendor of all things kawasaki - he wasn't there, there were literally truckloads of discarded kids' toys and clothes for sale. Not a happy hunting ground, thought I. Happily I was wrong! Found some great retro textiles and trims and even a few sewing patterns.

The good week continued when I went to one of my usual little thrift shops on my stock search circuit. They had taken delivery of a quantity of deadstock - household linens, blouses, some lingerie - and to my great delight, a batch of retro 70s pinnies in groovy florals. Out came the blue fold up Ikea bag - you know, the one that doubles as a two person tent - and it was promptly filled to the brim with textiles.

Going going guide to UK textile & fashion auctions

2011-06-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Inspired (as I so often am) by Lizzie at the vintage traveler, I thought it was about time I compiled a list of UK textile & fashion auctions - well, the ones that I know about anyhow. Hope this is of interest to you textile lovers out there. Don't forget you can often listen to the progress of a sale either by logging onto the auction house website or sometimes on the saleroom.com - really interesting for research. The photo above is of a part of an embroidered Chinese shawl I bought at auction last year.

Kerry Taylor Auctions is in South East London and has amazing sales featuring museum quality items as well as more general mixed lots. I have sold through Kerry in the past and have always found her and her team to be really helpful and approachable. I haven't succeeded in buying through her sales (I think Lily Allen often bids in them for her vintage boutique - Lily must have been bidding against me!!).

The Cotswold Auction Company in Cheltenham holds several specialist sales a year - the next one is on 31st August. A busy, bustling auction room, packed to the brim with fabulous mixed lots and just a short walk from the delights of Cheltenham, highly recommended.

TW Gaze in Diss, Norfolk is a lovely country auction room. Once upon a time I lived in Suffolk and most Fridays would find me buying furniture and other interesting items for my pink Suffolk cottage. I remember I got to know the local Mr Shifter quite well!! General sales on a Friday which always have several rooms of interesting items, as well as a meadow sale. Specialist sales usually on Saturdays. Next textile sale is 20th August.

Bonhams in Knowle in the West Midlands has approx. 3 sales a year - the next one is 26th July. Have never been to this one although have drooled over the catalogues. Unusually, you are unable to follow this sale online - commission bids or bidding in person only.

Morphets in Harrogate has a couple of textile and costume sales each year - I registered online for the last sale in the spring and was staggered at how much items sold for!! Not sure when the next sale is.

Roseberys in South London has textile sections in some of its auctions - the next one is 9th July - I have not attended this auction.

And finally, for all you vintage jewellery lovers, Fellows & Co in Birmingham have special vintage jewellery sales which include large mixed lots of costume jewellery - next sale is 27th June. I have not bid with this auction house, but their catalogues and archives are very interesting and the live sales can be followed online.

DISCLAIMER - I am not responsible for any monies you end up spending at any auction whether listed above or not!! Happy bidding folks.

Scarf City

2011-06-21T03:43:00.000-07:00

How on earth did we manage before we moved to our current home? Our previous abode was a charming Cotswold stone cottage complete with beams and sloping ceilings - cute but small, and nowhere near enough space for a serial textile hoarder. Now I am spoiled and have two rooms for my textiles and sewing. And you know what? I am nearly overflowing from them! Today I vow to make some headway sorting through my scarves - of which I have lost count - and above you can see a clothes airer literally groaning under their weight. Oh no, don't think this is all I have - these are simply the ones I have yet to sort through ....

Gorgeous vintage 30s chinoiserie design silk flapper dress

2011-06-19T01:07:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post about a lovely original 1930s dress I have listed on Etsy

The textile is quite beautiful - a chinoiserie design silk in the prettiest shades of blue and pink

This flapper dress is so beautiful, hopefully it will fit someone (about a UK size 10-12) and go to a good home and be worn to and flaunted at some cool 30s style events

Sayonara sewing!!

2011-06-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

Every day starts with a list of resolutions:

today I will sort through my mega-library of sewing patterns

today I will choose one to start sewing

today I will go through my textile/clothing for repurposing stash and match textile to pattern

today I will cut something out

And you know what?

Each day I get sidetracked with stock shopping, listings, sitting in the sun reading Philippa Gregory, whatever!

Yesterday I found this amazing vintage 70s kimono by Mitsukiku. Totally wonderful textile with a design of fans and flowers. I was researching it on the internet when I found a really groovy fashion photo from 1973 from the Daily Mirror showing some Mitsukiku kimonos. Turns out the Mirror has a fab photo archive you might like to browse - link to kimono photo and the archive below

Sayonara

Mitsukiku 1973 photo link

Daily Mirror photo archive link

French leave

2011-06-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

Just returned home after a few days in France

You might have read in an earlier post of a big French barn I frequent which has lots of textiles for sale

Well, given that my current passion is for scarves, I was thrilled to find a metal shop basket full of them - and no other customer seemed interested

I happily sorted through them and picked out 15, some to sell, some to sew, not too sure yet which are destined for ebay

But the jewel in the crown has to be this lovely silk Christian Dior scarf in pretty apricot shades with a design of pink roses on a trellis surrounded by baroque scrolls in shades of gold

Back home now, recovering from another birthday and long days of ferry and road travel (no longer 21 so the travelling wears me out these days!!); our little dog is just about getting over his stay in the kennels with the lovely Paula whose kindness and TLC did help to allay his fears that his owners might not return (sadly, we will never know his little personal history but we fear it probably entails numerous abandonments and changes of domicile before being taken in by the Dog Warden - every time I visit Kings Lynn I shed a little tear as I think of him running around alone and scared, scavenging scraps from the pavements)

Have been looking through my sewing patterns today but too tired for cutting out this evening

Demain, demain, my scissors await!!

Back to the drawing board

2011-06-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to get on with my sewing, but something always seems to get in the way

Found this pattern - I reckon 80s? - and thought as it is Very Easy Peasy it should make up quite quickly as I am in desperate need of summer tops

Then I thought this easy looking tunic would be nice too

I've got some lovely vintage textiles just waiting for me to get the scissors out!

Bead harvest time

2011-06-01T03:50:00.000-07:00

Have been so busy with my bead harvest, too busy to post! - happily making up sets of jewellery for the Discover Vintage fair this Saturday 4 June in Stamford, Lincs

http://www.discovervintage.co.uk/

I have been using vintage beads and textiles dating from c. 1910 to 1970 from my stash in the huge housemaid's cupboard to make a unique range of jewellery.

Items from this new collection will be available on my Folksy shop (see link top left of page) soon!

Hope to see you at Stamford on Saturday!

Experimentally speaking ...

2011-05-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Mr Brocobelle might drop the "experi-" off that statement

Have been busy experimenting with some new jewellery ideas for a vintage fair I am "standing" at in Stamford, Lincs. next Saturday 4 June

I am incorporating vintage beads (I have a whole little wheeled 6 drawer cupboard full - now there's a surprise - not!!) and my vintage textiles from the dark recesses of the gigantic housemaid's cupboard (that is, the cupboard is gigantic, not the housemaid who once owned it, although one never knows ...)

Spent a lovely hour or two creating the recipes for my necklaces, bracelets and earrings - that is, going through all the bead boxes and choosing lovely beads to complement the textiles - bliss

brocobelle dreams of brocante

2011-05-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

It's been too long now since I last went to France to truffle out textiles and treasures

If any of you are visiting la belle France, be sure to check out the following site for lists of vide-greniers and brocantes

http://www.pointsdechine.com/

You click on "calendrier", select the appropriate month, and then select the region you will be visiting. I will post more brocante tips soon, both for the UK and France. A bientot!

Can never throw anything away ...

2011-05-19T04:07:00.000-07:00

Some vintage millinery flowers - 30s to 50s, a piece from a broken bracelet, some cute little dyed wood 1930s beads - just had to make them into a corsage cuff to go with my favourite Frida Kahlo inspired embroidered skirt! Quite unusual for me to make something without lace and sparkles, but I really love this bracelet.

Presenting Mr Cholmondeley Border

2011-05-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of posts ago I showed off a bolero I had made using patterns and applique ideas from my 30s and 40s home dressmaking books. I mentioned I had also made a little dog jacket for a special little boy. Well, here he is! I appliqued his jacket with countryside motifs as I was inspired by the farms all around us. I was particularly pleased with my tractor motifs each using a large and small button from the button box.

My little model didn't really get the concept of posing for the camera and kept wriggling and hoping that the camera might in fact be a box of treats. Oh well!

Desperately seeking vintage

2011-05-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

Depends how I'm feeling on any given vintage shopping day - can I face asking the ladies in the charity shop if they have any sewing patterns for sale?

Replies have been variously a) we only get really old fashioned ones so we throw them away (WHAT! those are the ones I want!) b) we throw them away because we cannot guarantee they are complete c) we use them for wrapping china

Anyway, yesterday I was feeling courageous. I was pointed in the direction of a drawer in a rickety old chest in a forgotten corner.

Result! Some lovely patterns, mainly 70s/80s, including a lovely wrap sundress which is even in my size!! Thank you, oh thou Benevolent Good Queen of Vintage! Patterns will be pictured in a later post.

Hello Dolly (Bonjour Poupee)

2011-05-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

Never cease to be amazed by the items I find in charity shops. This elegant lady had a very elaborate 50s/60s interpretation of an Edwardian outfit. She was made in France and had an unusual painted rubber composition face, the like of which I had never seen before. Unfortunately it gave her complexion the appearance of an artiste from the seedier side of town and, for me, made her all the more interesting.

Out shopping tomorrow .... what treasures are awaiting?

A fairy is for life not just for Christmas ....

2011-05-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Have always loved making peg dolls ever since I made a Jean Greenhowe pedlar doll design from a Woman's Weekly magazine back in the 1960s!

These little fairies indulge my love of whimsy as well as my obsession with Liberty Tana Lawn cottons! I find I can make a doll from a 6" charm patchwork square and usually buy the squares on ebay, although the mauve Tana lawn above has been in my sewing cupboard for many years since bought as a fat quarter at Liberty's sometime in the 1980s.

My little fairies, now listing on Folksy, are definitely good fairies. Make a wish and all your dreams will come true.

The "It" Bag - or rather, the "Make It" Bag

2011-05-07T01:26:00.000-07:00

Reckon I've got my make it mojo well and truly back as I have finally used up some patchwork I had made using some of my treasured vintage textiles by making this ruched tote bag

Those of you who remember the 70s might recognise some pieces of vintage Laura Ashley prints; then there is a 30s paisley chintz in the prettiest pink tones; antique French ticking; 30s barkcloth; French print; Liberty furnishing linen; some vintage toile de jouy. The top panels are made from an 80s Boussac oversized paisley floral. Handles from burgundy suede. The binding on the top of the bag is a pique ribbon my Mum used to trim a lace dress I wore as a child back in the 60s - told you, I never throw anything away!! So, as you can see, I love hunting out vintage French textiles as well as English ones. My hubby still has nightmares about all the times he has to stand in a French barn in the middle of nowhere, arms outstretched to receive the textiles I am excitedly removing from huge jumbles of fabric laid out on trestle tables.

Make Do & Mend - My Way!

2011-05-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

A dowdy, matronly but impeccable 1960s coat set me thinking ... what can I do with that? I had recently bought two copies of a home dressmaking book - one being the 1930s edition, and one being the Make Do & Mend 1940s edition. The result of the equation

1 wool coat x (30s / 40s styling) = 1 vintage style bolero and 1 small doggy jacket!

I made my own pattern using the books as a guide and copied some applique motif designs from the 30s book; I worked with some of the seaming and lining in place, binding other seams for neatness. Et voila!

Doggy coat will be shown in another posting when I have persuaded the reluctant doggy model to participate - you know, he just doesn't get out of bed unless there are at least a few biscuits, chews and choccy drops in it for him!!

Anyone for netball/handball/football Deco style?

2011-05-04T04:44:00.000-07:00

Had to smile when I found this little vintage Deco fairing at a jumble sale - not sure if she is playing football or maybe netball - but whatever sport it is, she is certainly decked out to excess by modern lycra-clad standards, what with the large floppy hat, bell bottoms, waistcoat and tie!

Or maybe she was just an elegant spectator who grabbed hold of the ball?

Scarves - the natural selection process

2011-05-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

My current passion is for scarves, shiny 50s satin roses, 80s crepes, 60s Pucci-esque brights, I love them all! Sometimes this passion gets so out of hand I have to list some of them for sale on ebay. I find this is performs a process of natural selection and saves me from choosing which to keep ....

Sunny Saturday in York at the Festival of Vintage

2011-05-01T05:14:00.000-07:00

Only now unpacking my bags from my lovely day spent yesterday at the Festival of Vintage (organised by Discover Vintage)

I met so many lovely people and we had loads to talk about - sewing, vintage, patterns, textiles, fave shopping haunts, the world today!! Strangely, we we were all so busy chatting about our vintage loves that we didn't even mention the royal wedding!!!

Quick trip to a sale this morning and found some lovely scarves (my current retro passion!) and pretty brooches

ditsy dizzy deco daisies

2011-04-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

I love Liberty prints ... I love Art Deco ... above some of my attempts at combining the two by cutting a deco-style flower template, adapted from a vintage corsage, then blanket stitching round the petal edges and backing in toning felt, and trimming with lace, beads and ribbons from my vintage sewing cupboard (yeah, I know, some people have a sewing box or basket - with me it is a huge Victorian pine housemaid's cupboard!)

Have found a wonderful blog this weekend - The Vintage Traveler - http://thevintagetraveler.wordpress.com/

Full of all the things I love. Have been very busy sewing in readiness for the Festival of Vintage at York racecourse next Saturday 30 April, but will be checking this lovely blog out more fully when I have time

A little picture of some more of my jewellery made by upcycling old jewellery and scraps of fabric and trims:

Do you like the cute little portrait to the right? I printed off a photo of a postcard onto some textile, backed it in felt and then stitched it into this vintage diamante belt buckle. Will definitely try that again with other buckles. I love the antique paisley cotton in the large flower. I was lucky enough to buy a huge length a few years ago on ebay and have been happily stitching my way through it ever since. The paisley is backed with antique French ecru linen.

Busy like a bee

2011-04-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

Have been busy today assembling the kits I will be taking along to the Festival of Vintage at York Racecourse next Saturday 30 April - I will be a participant in the "Mend & Make Do" corner showing how to make bracelets from your unworn brooches, broken beads and unloved buttons.

Hope to see you there

Details at http://www.festivalofvintage.co.uk/

Recipe for Happiness

2011-04-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

Just add a little bit of April sunshine to the above recipe on a vintage 70s tea towl and all will be right with your world.

Manic Monday Madness

2011-04-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Maybe I am just an internet dunce but I never realised it would be so difficult to add the Paypal button to the website I am building at brocobellevintage.co.uk ... think I got there finally!!

How do you know when you are well and truly vintage?

2011-04-09T03:08:00.000-07:00

When sewing patterns you used to make clothing back in the 70s and 80s are being listed on ebay as "vintage" ....

Kerry Taylor Vintage Fashion Auction

2011-04-08T02:38:00.000-07:00

Love vintage fashion?

Make sure you don't miss the Kerry Taylor vintage fashion auction on 11 April http://www.kerrytaylorauctions.com/sales.php

The online catalogue alone is fantastic viewing and helps develop your vintage fashion knowledge

If I win the lottery this weekend, I might go along to bid .... otherwise, will just be bidding in my dreams

Blind Lemon Vintage Fairs

2011-04-07T01:29:00.000-07:00

Having been a vintage fan for what sometimes feels like a hundred years, thought I would start listing the fairs and shops I like best

One of my favourite fair organisers is Blind Lemon Vintage http://www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk/

Not only are the fairs absolutely great, but Edwin sends out a regular newsletter - The Myopic Citrus - with tons of facts about vintage, listings of vintage shops, links etc - one email that really is great to find in your inbox!

Festival of Vintage

2011-04-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

So looking forward to the Festival of Vintage at York racecourse on Saturday 30 April

Busy planning my vintage outfit for the day!

Will it be my own example of "Mend & Make Do" and a waistcoat I made from a 1960s grey wool coat using a 1930s pattern and decorated with 1930s style applique and embroidery?

Or my Frida Kahlo-esque skirt, kitten heels, chunky 50s cherry red pearls and a 50s brown lace fronted blouse?

Or will I have time to sew a tunic from a 1970s pattern I bought recently on Etsy?

For groovy guys everywhere ...

2011-01-30T05:43:00.000-08:00

Just having some fun creating a postcard design to put in with my ebay sales to groovy guys, the ones who buy all my Tootal, Sammy and Duggie scarves.

Got a couple of old motorbike magazines from the 60s - do you like my montage?

I love the paisley design on the Duggie scarf on the left - really bold and vibrant, typical 60s going on 70s.

And of course nothing can beat the elegance of the original Tootal white evening scarves.

Forget-me-not garden

2010-08-06T03:16:00.000-07:00

Have been busy over the last few months learning jewellery skills. It all started when I wanted to repair some broken beads from a job lot bought at auction ... I went on a beginners' beading course and was hooked!

I am now searching out beautiful beads and vintage trinkets to use in my jewellery designs. This bracelet has several vintage charms nestling amongst the Czech glass flowers. I love the colouring of vintage toned findings (the chains, rings and fastenings used in jewellery) but it has been difficult to source them. Pretty pleased with this bracelet. More jewellery pics soon.

To Etsy or to Ebay, that is the question ...

2010-08-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

Now I am beginning to see straight again after the hell of having flooring fitted throughout the main living area of our house, my thoughts have turned away from interiors to earning money. I am contemplating setting up my own vintage and handmade business but not sure whether Etsy or Ebay would be the best selling platform. Have any of you tried Etsy? I have used Ebay intermittently to offload some of my unwanted auction purchases, the items in job lots containing one item I wanted to keep, but am aware of its limitations. I have seen some lovely items on Etsy and wonder if that is the way forward. Opinions please!

Divine Dior

2010-07-26T02:08:00.000-07:00

Sadly I will never be able to squeeze my old bunions into these elegant vintage 70s sandals (size 3) by Christian Dior, but I hope they will turn some lucky girl into a Cinderella who meets her Prince Charming.

More treasures to discover

2010-07-26T02:02:00.001-07:00

Since our move East late last year, have found a lovely auction house deep in the Norfolk countryside selling lovely mixed jewellery lots.

Truffling through them takes a bit of dedication and a pair of latex gloves (I kid you not!) while I search through tons of broken chains, yukky old hoop earrings and so on, but the joy when I unearth a treasure like this vintage 70s faux topaz and opal pendant is worth it.

The first time I bought some mixed jewellery lots at this auction I weighed my bags when I got home and they weighed 1 stone 9lbs! Would that I could lose the weight that easily .... oh well!

Slightly chaotic at home this week as we are having new flooring laid throughout the hall and living room, should be finished tomorrow and sure it will be worth it.

2010-07-26T01:47:00.000-07:00

It has been too long since I last blogged, over a year! In that time we have moved house, from the Cotswolds to Lincolnshire, and gained a new arrival in the form of a darling little rescue dog, Mr Cholmondeley Border!

I feared I might be moving to a vintage wilderness, having left behind my usual hunting grounds of Cheltenham (Cotswold Auction Co http://www.cotswoldauction.co.uk/), the Oxford antiques market on a Thursday and the fairs run by Vintage & Handmade http://www.vintageandhandmade.co.uk/ and Time after Time in Stroud http://stroudvintage.com/.

But no! I am saved. I am gradually finding my way round the auction rooms and antiques markets of the East of England, as usual buying mixed lots of items because there is just that one thing I just must have.

Our house move has prompted yet another massive closet clearout and I have been selling off some more items on ebay - the lovely vintage 30s shawl featured above is on offer this week (check me out under seller vintage-vie). But thankfully for the first time in ages I have some space to collect more vintage textiles and fashion, so hope to get back into my vintage shoes with my vintage hat on my head before too long.

Will be updating the blog with more news of the great Vintage East shortly.

Goodies galore for the Vintage & Handmade Fair

2009-01-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

I know the Vintage & Handmade Fair isn't until 30 May but I have started sorting through my treasure store already and can be found sitting in the eaves of the cottage sewing away every free moment! I will be offering a typically brocobelle selection of vintage jewellery, handbags and corsages along with my own designs of corsages, hearts and keepsakes handmade using vintage textiles and trims. Here is a glorious vintage cocktail jewellery bangle, very chunky and pink.

Of course, there will be my keepsake boots, lovely for Christmas or just as a decoration in your boudoir, the one shown made from toile de jouy and decorated with antique lace, vintage millinery trims, silk ribbon and carved buttons. More items coming to the gallery soon. A la prochaine!

Bonjour from brocobelle

2009-01-04T02:34:00.001-08:00

Have seen some lovely blogs on blogger so thought I would give the service a try.