Tuesday 26 May 2015

Treasure Hunting

I'm so behind on blogging it's shameful - life has got in the way the last couple of months and blogging has taken a back seat. Over the next few days I'm hoping to get back into the blogging loop and tell you all what's been happening with me and my little handmade business. 

So, this weekend I decided to have some me time - but couldn't help go on a treasure hunt for china plates. I took a little trip to Matlock and invited my friend who's never been - also an avid treasure hunter! We spent the day strolling around the shops - theirs quite a few vintage ones!

I'm currently converting my dining room into my studio so I was on the look out for interesting storage ideas. I fell in love with these wire storage boxes from Bow Boutique - the coral colour is dreamy.


I picked up these cardboard cotton cones from The Vintage Rooms, a great way to display my bakers twine - I definitely feel like I need to get organised - making everything look prettier is my way of making things easier to sort out. 


Another purchase which came in useful for my washi tapes was this vintage fold up hanger - I'm addicted to buying these - you can never have enough washi tapes!


My home is mostly mid century finds, however, I feel I am being drawn to the 'floral side', my guest room has a wall display of charity shop floral finds. I noticed these stunners on my trip - I love the colours and they have inspired me to bring more of the outdoors into my home.


We also managed to sneak a car boot into the day - I try not to look for anything in particular. I feel everything has a second use and I'm a strong believer that someones rubbish is someone else's treasure. I came across these beauties - apart from being great props in my product photos I want to try and up-cycle them too, maybe a few pages into art prints and incorporate the illustrations into plate designs.





I couldn't resist picking these lovelies from the car boot field - free flowers!!!! what did you all get up to this weekend? find any treasure?




Sunday 8 February 2015

Prima Makes - Press

In the latest issue of Prima Makes magazine Heart Vintage features in 'Be My Valentine'. Readers will be able to have a go at making a up-cycled vintage plate following my 'easy makes' instructions.



Styled by London stylist Selina Lake, the feature includes other handmade loveliness, photographed with beautiful fresh flowers & vintage finds....bloomin' lovely.

'love you' & 'bloomin' botanical' ranges feature vintage bird illustrations and botanical drawings, perfect for Valentine's & Mother's Day gifts, available from my online shop now.





New Stockist - Taylor'd Bundles

Another stockist!!!! Heart Vintage will now be collaborating with online store Taylor'd Bundles bringing new exclusive personalised up-cycled vintage plate designs for every occasion. 


Taylor'd Bundles are based in London, selecting handmade products from all over the UK to bring you bundles of loviness for every occasion including new baby gifts, wedding & new home to name but a few.


The 15 collaborators design and create personalised gifts for your loved ones bringing you one off designs. All items are handmade so completely one offs, just like Heart Vintage...no two designs are the same, which I love.


I'm chuffed to be a part of the 'crafty family' and look forward to launching the new designs next month!! here's a sneaky peek of the new baby design for you to see which include adorable vintage rabbit illustrations....


Friday 6 February 2015

Period Living - Press

At the back end of last year I was approached by Period Living magazine to appear in there monthly feature 'My Vintage World'. How bloomin' exciting!!! I obviously jumped at the chance. It gave me chance to let readers know about what inspires me, my earliest childhood memories, my vintage heirlooms as well as my recent vintage purchases and my love for up-cycling.




In the March issue I chat about one of my personal heirlooms, a locket given to me by my grandmother, which my mother also have engraved for my 30th Birthday - I don't leave the house without wearing it, it's one of my favorite pieces of vintage jewellery, it probably doesn't hold much value but it is dearly sentimental to me. I share how I'm addicted to vintage fairs and shops, we have quite a few in Leicester and the surrounding area. I spotted these Luminarc vintage drinking glasses in an interiors mag years ago, I luckily came across a set in one of my stockists stores - Alkaline I'm totally smitten with the pretty bird & floral designs.  Also I share one of my recent up-cycling projects - updating an old vintage lampshade. I really enjoyed doing the piece and was really happy with how the final article turned out.






Thursday 5 February 2015

Leicester Mercury - Press

January was a pretty hectic month for Heart Vintage thanks to some great press features. Leicester Mercury More Magazine featured Heart Vintage TWICE!! Firstly in the shopping feature, but also a two page spread. I really didn't expect the piece to be this big. It was a little overwhelming when I opened the paper in my local newsagents....I'm totally chuffed, and I've had so much positive feedback and custom order requests which is great news! You can have a read of the full article here over on the Leicester Mercury website.