cleansed, toned and moisturised...

...every month or so I get to the point where I have had enough, brain ceases to a hault, there's a malfunction. I can't think straight any more and all my lists don't make sense as I can't compute their order.

Wherever I turn in the studio there is STUFF. And being a hoarder there is a lot of STUFF. Order files, orders in holding files, account files, bowls of buttons, tins of buttons, card, envelopes, piles of magazines read, piles of magazines still to read, mail inbox, mail outbox, linens laundered and ironed, linens just arrived in the service wash pile, packing table, production table, 'whatever it fancies being today' table.

So today I have cleansed, toned and moisturised every nook and cranny of this studio. It feels good to look around and see surfaces, tidy surfaces, no clutter, everything in its place. There's even tiny vases full of snippets from the garden, the smell of roses and beeswax combined. I am now at peace with the workplace.

Have a lovely weekend, hope you have something naughty planned (let me know if you do)....!

second stage of my working day

...early evening, the light in the studio is beautiful and calming, the house is so quiet, no distractions, I have a clear mind (finally) and I can wander through tasks at leisure as I start the second stage of my working day...

embroidered tambourines...

...have been browsing on ebay (when I should have been working - don't tell the boss) and thank goodness I did - this has made my weekend - embroidered tambourines - unfortunatley a little out of my price range...

pink lemonade and paper straws...

...oh the glamour of it all, yet another pretty little linen sign packed its bags and tottled off to another photo shoot...

Here is the work of wedding planner and vintage stylist Kate Fletcher. Kate has been hoarding vintage treasures since childhood, so you can image her collection - from furniture to typewriters to mannequins and fabulous glassware. You can see more of Kate's styling here and she also has a lovely blog called The Stockman Diaries.

Gone are the days where you would simply line in rows your refreshments and desserts on a table. Its all about vintage layering!!The beautiful images you see here are by Charlotte Griffiths who is a documentary food and lifestyle photographer. So if you have a 'project' and need a photographer she may be the lady you might just want to get in touch with...

...and you see those fabulous desserts and macaroons - they are only made by the talented Dr Tim Kinnaird - sweet artistry...

...these reception signs are available from our little shop over at Etsy...

Or after viewing the products over at Etsy you can purchase direct from me here at the studio, just quote the title of the piece(s) in an email and I'll pop across an invoice with the payment details...

More from The Vintage Drawer can be seen here

armchair journeys #7

...on many a Thursday evening I travel round the globe searching for new finds, an image, an object that makes me stop in my tracks. I discovered these beautiful re-claimed pieces and have revisited and revisited, Swarm Home ever since that evening.

The craftmanship by Leslie Oschmann is stunning, I love how she has re-worked old and damaged paintings to re-invent them as pieces and extend their life further. As you all know this is how I spend my time in the sewing corner of my studio . I would love to own one of her bags, not to use, but to just hang on the wall, almost taking it back to its original function. Total admiration and inspiration, for not only the concept, but also how she makes you see the paintings differently to their original intention, a sliced vase of flowers, a stripe from a landscape, people taken from distant landscapes and brought to focus in a locket.....

booklet of deliciousness...

If you follow this blog, the great thing is that you get to see more from the collections than can be shown on both web sites!! You also get to see the new introductions....

These images are from the new size menu booklet (size medium) and are £15.00 each....

feel quite horizontal

...how was your weekend, are we fresh as daisies?

I have spent quite a few weeks working every day and finally had a bit of time off this weekend, it was treat weekend, all about the girls. Problem is, I have now had a little too much fresh air and feel quite horizontal. Sometimes I am not very good at taking time away from the business, as it can take a while to build back the momentum. So I am now counting down the days to the next venture over the doorstep, lots of walking, bbq's, deck chair sitting, magazine flicking, duck feeding, sleeping, oh and some bloody sun would be nice!....Can't remember the last time I saw some sun where you could wear something floaty and not knitted. It is the north east coast and our summer tends not to start until September - but finishes in September too - the delight of sea mist and breeze stops any rays from hitting the garden of no 17.

So completed an order today, set the printers for the orders this week and then finished the little bitty jobs that have been waiting patiently. Here are a couple of new signs that are going up on Etsy today. I had a few purchases last week where people preferred to buy direct, which is fine, just let me know which sign you would like and I can email an invoice through detailing payment options. Annnddd remember we are holding a discount for May - 10% off - just type in VINTAGELOVE1 at the checkout.

vintage life

a few more pretty linens posted over at Etsy.....

shelves stocked

...been working hard over the weekend to fill the shelves of the new Etsy store. We have opened this to mainly sell a selection of items from The Vintage Drawer Collection, thought it would make it easier for some of you to be able to view all of the reception signs and door signs and we may even place a few bookmarks, lavender pillows and sewing cases on there too. Buying is simple, you will only need to register once with Etsy to open an account (if you haven't already)and you will also need to register a paypal account at the same time. So browse at your leisure and enjoy....

Oh and one last thing, if you are reading this blog we would like to give you 10% discount on purchases made through Etsy for the whole of May. All you have to do at checkout is type in the coupon code: VINTAGELOVE1

Remember though, if you have your eye on something, you may not want to hang around as each item is a one-off and cannot be re-produced!!!!........Even if you are not getting married or having a celebration you may want to treat yourself to one of the door signs such as 'boudoir' or 'vintage love' or 'the studio'........

a feisty sunday

I have sat sewing quite alot this week, occasionally flicking through my cd collection that is taller than my house.....I saw a clip over at Lucy Ledgers blog which (a) made me and my girls sing and laugh but also reminded me how much I love this album by Feist (memories of travelling through the windy roads of the Lake District). I love how music is a diary. I also love this video......

armchair journeys #6

...at the beginning of the year I promised to take you on many an armchair journey. Places that I visit when the house is quiet, the kids are asleep and I can explore.... I am back on track. There has been so much to do lately that I have had very little time to meander through my favourite places.

Pia Jane Bijkerk is beautiful. Her styling is beautiful. Her photography is beautiful. She inspires and educates the eye in many layers. Her collections, the places she visits, her work, her play, her inspirations, her little 'back street' shop finds........endless pages that keep turning and you don't want to leave. So when you too have a quiet moment, an undisturbed moment, stop by her site and blog and be prepared to be there for some time...

I am patiently (excitedly) awaiting her new book 'My Heart Wanders' - you can order a copy here......