Category: Vintage Finds

Changes Afoot!

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So Retro!

These pictures are of gorgeous poppies I spotted in a garden – just for the sheer beauty of them!

Changes to Craft Classes.

There have been some changes to the weekly craft classes for adults. We now meet once a month for a social catch up and to do a bit of crocheting too!

coloured crochet blocks with words spelt out on them in puff stitchThis month’s ‘homework’ has been to try a panel for the Cancer Support Charity Blanket which is free and by Peach.Unicorn Designs. It looks good in a plain cream colour too. Puff stitch baby hat and booties in white yarn.

The only other crafting I’ve done is made a baby bonnet and matching booties for Rosie who’s moved away from Stansted. I made them in a neutral colour and quite enjoyed making the puffy stitch for the hat!

My craft room has been taken over by bathroom components so at the moment I can’t use the table at all! Soon I’ll get back into the swing of things and we’ll have a nice bathroom to boot!!

More News…

We now have a bathroom and I kind of have my craft room back!!

I had a lovely Art class with Jaden and Gino today and we tried our hand at some Giacometti sculptures. Didn’t make too much mess with the mod roc either! I guess they won’t look so Giacometti by the time they’re painted next week!

I’ve also set up a few shelves at Victoria’s Vintage barn which is near Little Hadham. It was lovely to get out some of my vintage collection and set up a space. Hopefully I’ll sell some things so I can change stock every so often. It’s a nice place and Vicki is friendly and does craft classes upstairs in the barn. Here’s some pics!

I’ll try and blog about once a month as I’m now a busy Postwoman!!

 

 

 

 

Beside the Seaside!

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Walton On The Naze

It was lovely to be beside the seaside at Walton the other weekend- finally Summer is here! It was super to have a paddle, pootle around the shops and eat ice cream. Also enjoyed going on the 2p arcade machines and we got enough tickets to get a Star Wars mug!

Crafts

Recently in the world of arts and crafts we’ve been up to all sorts. My Kids Crafternoons have finished and here’s a few images of what was made over the holidays. There’s some really lovely pieces of work here and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Vintage Finds & Other News

New StorageIn other news I have some new storage which is much better than keep having to unload about six boxes to get to the bottom one! I was trying to get organised ready for my Retro & Vintage Sale next Saturday..

Metal 1950s Monopoly counters, wooden buildings and dice.

I also finished an audio visual presentation of the sculpture exhibition I had some work in. Hopefully you can click on the link and it will show you a taster of the exhibition..

https://studio.stupeflix.com/v/55th82o8mW0z/

See you at the sale!

 

Retro Buys and Sales!

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Retro Stall Sales

It was fun having a stall at the Henham Garage Sale Trail and the weather was a lot brighter than anticipated too! Many people turned out in search of a bargain and I did well at my retro stall. Amongst other things, I sold an old wooden ‘Victory’ jigsaw puzzle, a tiny tea set and a lovely French silk scarf. It was a tiring day and now I’m working up to unpacking the things I didn’t sell back at the studio!                                Figgjo Saga design soup tureen with lid.

I actually bought this gorgeous Figgjo of Norway soup tureen at a charity shop. It didn’t make it to the vintage stall because I love it too much! It’s the Saga design and if you check out vintage Figgjo ware it’s beautifully designed with pretty funky patterns.

 

Craft Classes.

This week in craft classes, the grown ups did crochet and some hand quilting and the children were busy sewing too- cross stitch book marks. The youngsters did really well at the sewing and managed to use a needle threader  to control the pesky thread. I heard that the decoupage phone stands we made last week went down well with the dads- a useful and unique gift! Binca bookmark with simple multi coloured stitching made at the Tuftydawn Designs studio.

There are no craft classes for children on Saturday 2nd of July as I’m on  a sculpture workshop. Back the week after though!

Back To Crafting

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Finally back to crafting!

Crocheted Frida's Flowers Hexagon in purple, cream and green yarn.

Feels like ages since I’ve been in the studio and it was nice to be back making. I’d spent two weekends on a paediatric first aid course which was essential to my usual job and actually interesting and fun!

In the studio I had a good clear up and felt better for it. I wrestled with my sewing machine trying to complete a piece of embroidery on some water dissolvable fabric. I decided to put it aside for a while because it was too annoying!

I also started on another Frida’s Flowers crochet block and that at least was ok. Not sure I’m going to finish the blanket for this Winter though!

Crafty Classes Mobile phone stand decoupage 1

We continued with some crochet on Wednesday night’s crafty class for adults and also got out a few other projects to finish off. Children’s class on Saturday was all about making Father’s Day gifts and we decoupaged some mobile phone stands which looked great when finished.

Peter Randall Page sculpture at the Gibbard Gallery in Harlow.

To add to the arty mix of the week, I went to the private view of the Peter Randall Page exhibition at The Gibbard Gallery in Harlow. It was really excellent and the sculptures were beautiful.

Vintage and Retro Sale

On Sunday the 26th of June I’ll be having a stall at the Henham Garage Sale Trail. I’ll be outside 9 Pimblett Row and will have lots of great items for sale from women’s and men’s clothes to housewares. Here’s a small selection of things on offer….

 

Birthday Break!

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Eastbourne & All Kinds of Weather!

Took a lovely birthday break in Eastbourne for a few days hence this post is after the holiday! The weather on Sunday was scorching hot and we sunbathed Eastbourne pier in the sunshine.but by Wednesday the seaside town was in thick mist..Eastbourne Pier shrouded in mist.

Scoured the charity shops and tried really hard to resist buying more vintage fabric but failed! Some old books also sneaked into my bag .. Topsy and Tim vintage books on blue flowery 60s print fabric.Camilla’s Bookshop was a treat too, so piled high with books it was hard to spot the proprietor! Inside Camilla's Bookshop in Eastbourne piled high with books.

Arty Crafty Classes.

This week in Arty Crafty Classes for Children we used a decoupage technique to decorate picture frames or make elephants from recycled milk cartons. They worked really well! Next week we’ll be doing some simple sewing and fabric dying. We’re continuing with our crocheted mandalas in evening classes for adults and they’re looking good!

Elephant made from a plastic milk bottle and covered in paper patches made at the Tuftydawn Designs children's craft classes.           Grey and pink decoupatch picture frame with button decorations made at the Tuftydawn Designs studio.

I was lucky enough to get the complete pack of yarn needed to make the Frida’s Flowers crochet along blanket for my birthday. I’m in it for the long haul and am crocheting the blanket for myself! I’m doing the tension swatch at the moment in a lovely Plum colour. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!!

Back to reality!

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Back to reality- back to work!

The Easter holidays are over and I’ve had a lovely, busy couple of weeks off – children’s crafty classes, shopping and a short stay in a snug pod!

The snug pod (basically a posh shed with a bed in!) was lovely and right on Leiston beach. We spent ages picking out shells and stones with holes in from the shore around the campsite and wandering the shops of Aldeburgh. Retro 1950s display unit, ornaments, table and chairs at Delphine's Diner, Aldeburgh.The weather wasn’t great so we took in a film at the cute Aldeburgh Cinema and had a tasty veggie burger at Delphine’s Diner in Aldburgh. I loved all the retro knick-knacks and furniture as well as the food!

Finished the vintage wooden jigsaw I bought in a charity shop. I love buying them second hand, wondering if people were doing the puzzle around their old radio – and if all the pieces are there!Victory wooden jigsaw puzzle half completed with box.

The pieces were indeed all there but the completed picture was nothing like the one pictured on the box!! Extra challenging! Completed wooden Victory puzzle of ships.

Back to work this week so craft classes start again too. Crochet class on Wednesday are going to start some mandalas. See you there! Crocheted mandala.

Arty Crafty-ness!

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Decoupage Delights

All enjoyed this weeks Arty Crafty Kids Classes on Saturday. We made decoupage heart shaped magnets for Mother’s Day.

The results looked great – plenty of glitter and glue!

Decoupage Heart Magnets

Getting glittery!

Decoupage Heart 1  Decoupage Heart 2

More vintage finds- this time in Braintree.

I love old children’s books and find the illustrations really inspiring. The ‘ Marmalade Cat and the Frisky Housewife’ has really surreal pictures!! Love them!

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Vintage Children’s Books  

There are no children’s classes on Saturday as I’m at a sculpture workshop. There are adult’s classes on Wednesday but unfortunately the studio won’t be open during the day due to other work commitments.

Fab Furoshiki!

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box n hankie

Furoshiki fabric & Festival of Britain objects

Some more great finds from charity shops this week- a 1951 Festival of Britain hankie to go with my box from the same era and a piece of Furoshiki fabric.

 

Apparently the fabric is used for wrapping presents in Japan and used to be for bundling up clothes when people went to the public baths! There’s loads of beautiful ones on the internet- I haven’t decided what to make from mine yet!

I’ve been on a course on how to improve my website- so expect some changes here soon!

Another successful art class for children on Saturday, again with interesting results..

Chloe print

Chloe’s Garden print.

Missie print

Missie’s ‘Meteox Shower’ print.

Half term is approaching so I’m getting ready for my first children’s workshop- making Modroc masks. I’m sure the young artists will produce something more exciting than mine!

Modroc mask example

More Vintage Gems!

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More vintage finds this week- a lovely ‘Pixie’ suitcase and some 70’s children’s books. Does anyone else remember Barnaby the Bear? I remember a cute little bear twirling around in a forest on T.V.- I’d forgotten all about that character. The Camberwick Green book has some fab bright illustrations too.

case

I’ve been busy as usual this week- a new crochet hexagon for the Wednesday class and getting ready for the Creative Classes for Kids on Saturday.

The classes went well and I had a few people enquire about Arty Crafty Parties for kids too – details of which will appear on this site as soon as I sorted the finer details! The children enjoyed getting messy and making press prints this week. A different kind of printing next week- making block prints.

Have a great week!

Hexagon 5press print kidsb