Vintage toys

I'm regularly tempted into the antiques shop across the road by the bits and bobs left outside the shopfront on the pavement, come rain or shine. Recent noteworthy items include a 50s fur coat, a very retro all-in-one ski suit, a lovely antique wooden high chair, a toy pram and this old wooden toy trolley that I couldn't resist for Milo.

Handmade cushions

I've been meaning to post this for a while - Mrs Biddle's beautiful handmade cushions given to me for my birthday. Ingenious as ever, Mrs B found some fabulous 50s print Horrockses hankies from the V&A shop and turned them into cushions, using some gorgeous mint-striped and candy pink fabric for the back. I love her personalised 'Handmade by Mrs Biddle' labels too.

Readers' Homes: Rowan's place

We made a weekend trip back to the East End recently and stayed with our super stylish friend Rowan in her gorgeous Hoxton flat. The kind of space that feels calm and immaculately tidy yet cosy and quirky, with plenty of vintage finds to admire. A crochet cot blanket from her own childhood now covering a sofa arm, a vintage floral quilt on the bed, old Bunty annuals stacked up by the fireplace - and lots and lots of perfectly placed books (and they're not just for show - I guarantee she has read them all!)

Vintage Fabric

I bought these vintage fabrics from the Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury, only to discover that Vintage Husband had the colourful houses fabric as his bedroom curtains when he was a little boy! Definitely one for Milo's nursery - just got to decide what to do with it! 

Moving On

No sooner do we arrive in a new town and new home way out west in Henley-on-Thames, than I discover that our new street is home to an aladdin's cave of an antique shop (already purchased wooden toy trolley and blocks for Milo), an old-fashioned sweetshop, a fantastic second-hand bookshop (watch this space for the blog posts) - and that the cafe across from our house was hosting a vintage night. I think I'm going to fit right in!

Run by the Ministry of Vintage, there was champagne flowing, lots of designer vintage gear and lots of lovely people to meet. They'll also have a stand at Henley's very own vintage fair at the town hall on November 26th.

 

Vintage at the Museum of Childhood

The Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood has just opened its Magic Worlds exhibition looking at magic throughout the ages. I was hoping for a bit more of an 'enchanted forest' feel to it, but loved the retro magic sets and puzzles, plus an original Sooty hand-puppet.

Even more interesting was the museum's permanent collection of antique children's paraphernalia - everything from 17th century high chairs and Victorian rattles to the coolest doll's houses i've ever seen and some gorgeous clothing.

 30s handknit jumper

80s Mr Men skirt

40s Jaeger dress

30s dress

20s boys' buster suit

40s smock

art deco dollshouse

50s mini picnic set and laundry roller

An old fashioned sweet shop

Miss Hope and Mr Greenwood are self-confessed sweetie addicts and have channelled this weakness into their own brand of confectioners aptly named Hope and Greenwood, specialising in British-made traditional sweets and their own inventions (Gingerbread Humbugs being my favourite). 

Their East Dulwich shop is a sugary feast for the eyes - bursting at the seams with beautifully packaged sherbets, chocolate, toffees and rows of bonbons in jars. There are some lovely ideas for wedding favours here too. 

Readers' Wedding: Laura and Dan

I haven't posted a reader's wedding for a while, but I couldn't resist this utterly beautiful one, especially as Laura hired out my own collection of vintage china (one of my first clients!). Textile designers Laura and Dan designed their own tablecloths and napkins, screen-printing them in their studio in Dalston, East London.

The creative couple decked out Ratsbury Barns in Kent with personal and original details, such as handmade paper-cut bunting, family photos strung up with pegs, wild flowers by Cafe des Fleurs and giant wooden initials. Laura's lace dress had a vintage feel but was actually by Australian designer Collette Dinnigan, and I love the vintage bridesmaid dresses too. The results are beautifully shot by photographers Tom & Lindsey Fallon.