Make do & Mend

This month's make do & mend is.....vintage teacups.

As a lover and collector of vintage china, I often come across lonely teacups on my plate hunts to charity shops & carboots. Instead of leaving the abandoned little cups, I bring them home to sit on a shelf looking pretty in my workroom, however, I want to find another use to show these little fellas beauty off....

teacup lights via Kotivinkki

I adore these lights, an upside down teacup made into a quirky lamp. These would look beautiful grouped together to make a teacup chandelier, maybe with a bright pink lighting flex too,

similar to these below.

pink light flex via Dowsing & Reynolds

Or how about some wine glasses....perfect for a vintage themed wedding or dinner party. Love the contrast between the delicate pattern and shape of the teacup and the clean modern wine glass base.

teacup wine glasses via Festival Brides

teacup wine glasses via Apartment Therapy

I think one of my favorites is to make a collection of planters, I spotted this over at the Hema blog...

teacup planters via Hema

I love the mixture of vintage and modern cups with the washi tape highlights. I want to make NOW! Maybe Heart Vintage decals instead of the washi tape....a lovely addition to the up-cycled china family.

Hello 2015

Happy New Year everyone! I'm back in the studio today after a lovely couple of weeks off. I can't believe Heart Vintage is one already!

Some of you may know I also work as a graphic designer within the fashion industry for over ten years now. Although I design full time I feel like I need another creative outlet, especially as I've always been fond of home decor. With a passion for vintage & up-cycling Heart Vintage was launched.

I'm a massive list maker, I've got pretty notebooks full of them...starting a business I made a list of aims, things I wanted to achieve in the first year....

To start a blog and maybe design a website - I managed to do both although I'm not the most confident writer I do try my best, sorry for any grammar or spelling errors :) I wanted to create a diary more for my own benefit, but if others enjoy reading it it's a bonus. And the website, it's pretty basic for now but I'm super thrilled I did it all on my own (with the help of Google of course).

To get a Twitter account and actually use it - done! and my aim is definitely to tweet more in 2015...I was surprised at how many orders and enquiries I get from Twitter, as well as Instagram I couldn't live without either now!

To open an online shop - I have two...Etsy & Big Cartel. Both are doing well, in 2015 I'll be added lots of new products and designs.

To attend a Craft Fair with my wares - I attended a few, Selina Lakes Handmade Fete being my highlight. I remember being so nervous and excited at the same time. I was silly to be nervous though, as soon as I arrived everyone made me feel right at home, I learnt so much and had so much fun! I'm hoping to attend lots more this year.

Those aims were all achieved over 2014 along with some pretty big surprises which I never expected to happen in my first year of launching.....

Stockists - I never dreamt of having a stockist in my first year and now I have three...I didn't push for these they organically happened which was great. I'm so happy to work with like minded, supportive stockists, I'm looking forward to working on new ideas over the next year with these fab people.

A Photoshoot - I wanted to have a range of piccies to use on social network to promote my wares as well as to upload to my website. Although I'm quite good with a camera I know someone who is far better!!! Linda and I had a great day styling, looking forward to the next one!

Press - to have my designs written about and photographed is pretty bloody exciting. I've had some lovely feedback...I can't wait to see Heart Vintage is more press this year.

So what will 2015 bring...fingers crossed more of the same. But of course I wouldn't be able to do any of this without my lovely customers, followers, stockist, friends & family. Thanks for making a dream come true, leaving comments, reposted piccies, retweeting and for keeping me sane (well kind of). 2014 was my warm up year I have a feeling 2015 is going to be pretty special!

Vintage Matlock

A couple of weeks ago I visited Matlock for a spot of Christmas shopping. I've heard there is so many lovely shops to visit and I wasn't disappointed.

Here's a quick round up of the quirky independent shops I came across.

Magpie Antiques - 18 Dale Road, Matlock DE4 3LT

This little gem of a store sells vintage retro home decor, over two floors. There vinyl collection is well worth a look if you're a music lover. The staff with super helpful which is always a bonus, they pointed me in the right direction to find all the other shops I wanted to visit on my list.

The Vintage Rooms - 117 Dale Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3LU

I've heard so many fantastic things about this place, check out there IG, you'll be hooked! The Christmas window display is absolutely stunning, a mixture of a vintage dining room setting with handmade snowflakes and tasteful taxidermy. Instead the store is set out beautifully - I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I could have walked out with everything. A great place to visit for vintage home & wedding gifts. I will definitely be returning soon.

Riverside Vintage - 77 Dale Road, Matlock DE4 3LT

A delightful boutique selling some bloomin' lovely vintage china pieces. I couldn't resist purchasing some lovely vintage china dinner plates - which will be upcycled to make one off clocks in 2015.

Matlock Antiques & Collectables Centre - 7 Dale Road, Matlock DE4 3LT

Oh my goodness, this place is like an Aladdin's cave, three floors full of antiques, vintage & retro finds. I spent over an hour having a good rummage. There's definitely something for everyone in here.

Us Retro - Crown Square, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AT

A small but amazing little store is Us Retro. Full of lots of retro finds including advertising, kitchenware, pottery & my favorite -  the vast collection of rustic food crates. A couple of these made there way home with me. They will look fantastic in the yarden with some spring bulbs.

Matlock you definitely will be on my places to visit again soon, has anyone else been recently?

Betty & Walter

Lisa Levis’s (nee Stickley) designs have been a huge inspiration ever since my days at university. I love how shes mixes vintage inspired patterns with quirky touches "modern with a vintage flavour". Since launching her new brand Betty & Walter in 2013 I've been smitten with every collection each season.

party rain liquorice apron

B & W is in inspired by her Aunt Betty and Uncle Walter, which I think is just lovely. The mid century retro prints for the new 'Allotment' range are inspired by vintage cookbooks and Uncle Walter's love for growing his own veg. I just love how there's a story behind each print and pattern....and those product names, bloomin' fantastic! I especially find the photo-shoot snaps very inspirational, mixing the retro finds with each new collection.



treacle toffee tote



pineapple souffle make up bag

After meeting the team back in the Summer at Selina Lake's handmade fete in Guildford I've been wanting to send the lovely ladies a personalised gift. The black & white spotty retro plate discovered in a local vintage store was crying out to be up-cycled with the B & W logo, with a hint of Heart Vintage of course. Here's the final design for you all to see - photographed in the lovely 

B & W studio. 

Heart Vintage for Betty & Walter

Make do & Mend

This month's make do & mend is......vintage lightshades.

patchwork fabric lightshade via At Home In Love

I recently updated my guest bedroom and wanted an up-cycled feel as the main wall features a gallery space for all my Heart Vintage plates. I wanted something different for my lighting....something individual.
I love the idea of using a collage of found fabrics and recovering it like the above photo..... 

up-cycled doily lightshade via Mollie Makes

or maybe recovering the wire shade with vintage dollies like this one is Lisa Meunier's home. I can imagine lots of pretty patterns on the walls when this turned on.

up-cycled wire lightshade via La Maison D'Anna G

The guestroom is painted with midnight blues and white, with accessories in mustard and aqua.

I love the shape and idea of spraying in a accent colour like the above lights, I managed to find similar in my local charity shop for a couple of pounds each....

...and here's a sneaky peek of my guestroom, the floor light base has been passed down to me from my grandmother. After stripped the shade of its fabric I sprayed the wire it in a bright aqua shade - I'm pretty chuffed with it the final result.