Crafts
Vintage map pockets.
Autumn is with us and Winter not far away, so I thought why not make use of the longer evenings/nights and be creative. I have a box full of supplies and a list of things that I would like to make, but never seem to get the time. So a few cold days and a [...]
Decoupage with French Vintage Wine Labels.
I have a confession to make, not an embarrassing one, but none the less a confession!! I am not very arty, and I would not consider myself creative. Despite this and my better sense I had the urge when I got hold of these vintage wine labels to create something – anything as long as it [...]
Decorating with pretty things inspired by French Vintage
We’re always on the lookout for stylish decorating items to make our holiday vacation comfortable and pretty. Even though it won’t be available to rent out until next year (hopefully the major renovations are almost finished, so the enjoyable ‘work’ of decorating and furnishing is almost upon us) we are wasting no time in looking [...]
Using Vintage French linens to cover a lampshade
As part of my bedroom revamp, I realised just how boring my bedside lampshades were! The bases themselves were quite interesting, even if they were brand new, but I thought that the lamp as a whole could look a lot better. I am not the craftiest person around (in either sense of the word!) and [...]
Quilts, glorious quilts!!
I love vintage quilts! I don’t know what it is about them – their homeliness, their versatility, or the fact that something so comfortable can be made with odds and ends of fabric. They are the epitome of a cosy living room, either stacked in baskets, or folded over the back of the couch for [...]
Making money from crafts made from vintage items
In other articles I’ve been talking about upcycling and recycling from vintage fabrics, but what about going that step further and make something to sell, getting money from your handmade crafts, and even making a living from this? This does not mean selling something that looks as good as if a child made it! There [...]
101 inspiring uses of vintage linen, monograms and fabric
Over the years I have amassed quite a collection of monograms with the idea that I would make some useful and pretty items from them. So far I have only made a sachet bag or two and covered 2 lampshades for my bedroom, which all took a long time for me, not being an expert [...]
Say it loud. Say it proud. “Yes, it is homemade”!!
The revival in handmade items and the huge success of Etsy is testament to the explosion in re-purposing older materials into shiny new objects of desire. The creativity of humanity seems to know no bounds, and looking through some of the amazing creations made from former and no longer wanted possessions on Etsy is enough [...]
5 Ways to use vintage fabrics to ‘display’ memories
What better way to remember a person or an event that the garment evokes, or the favourite dress itself, than to use it in a different form and have it on display all the time? We all have items of clothing stored away that either no longer fit us, or are damaged. They may have [...]
Recycle, Re-purpose and Renew – the Green Side of decorating with Vintage items.
When people think of the three Rs of green living – reduce, reuse, recycle – what often comes to mind is recycling bottles, cans and paper; reusing shopping bags and containers, or shopping for second-hand items. But there is a growing trend among environmentally friendly clothing and accessories designers to re-purpose authentic vintage fabrics. In [...]
