Accessories Of Old

Handpainting a Valentine card

Now that Valentine is on its way,I  have all things pink and pretty on my mind. I had bought these plain white card  that have been sitting in my drawer waiting to be used for something.

Firstly I start sketching leaves (yes back to my leaf fetish!)

 

I then add some more details of little roses and bows that make me think of a four letter word..LOVE

 

Add a touch of color...

 

What I love about the card and why I bought them is there is a window for a picture. I had this old black and white photograph of my father as a boy .. 

  

The card has a fold so I continued the roses and leaves onto the next fold..

  

  

  

A little pretty detail on the back of the envelope.

  

Voila.. a hand painted valentine card . What could be better than getting a valentines card that is hand made and comes straight from the heart xxxxx

     

A Winter Wonderland

Today my world turned from being just cold and leaf less ..into a winter wonderland fill of enchanted powdered forests and snow angels.

 

 Coming from Africa where we never saw snow I still marvel at the first sight of a snowfall.

Everything is so crisp and absolutely white..so perfect that you want time to stand still as not to spoil it. I grabbed my camera early this morning and went for a walk around the neighbourhood letting my imagination run in my own little winter wonderland.

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Vintage kids motifs

One of the things that hold a special place in my heart are the vintage kiddies motifs that we have in stock. To me they represent a era of innocence.

The motifs we have are French and Swiss and are made in 1940's.

We have a great variety of these motifs and can be bought on our website accessoriesofold

 

 

These were used mainly to sew onto pram blankets... but these days the uses are endless all you need is a good imagination, some fabric glue and ...

                 

                  

                    

Oh so pretty- porcelain earrings

  I was busy photographing these vintage hand painted porcelain earrings to load on my website when I decided they were just too pretty not to share with all those that read the blog too!

Have a look at how delicate and feminine each flower is made... not to mention the care and time someone took in painting them by hand.

 

 

 

There is definitely something to be said about all the time they took in the old days for detail. With all the technology we have today there is still something to be said about all the pretties produced back in the day. 

 

 

  

  

 

Cath Kidson Picnic Basket

As you know I am a devoted Cath Kidson fan. I have blogged about her a few times and often have people asking where they can buy her merchandise here in the USA.

I  often keep a look out to see if she is possibly being sold anywhere in the USA. Well, to my suprise I came across a site here in the USA that is selling the most adorable Cath Kidson picnic baskets.

It goes for $249.95 for two people. There are different sizes to choose from.

Go to Gourmet Gallery and have a look for yourselves. I know its not exactly picnic weather but hey just think you can store this baby away and when the first ray of sunshine comes your way what better way to enjoy it than having cucumber sandwiches and tea out in the park... 

The Inauguration

Living in Washington DC it was a obvious to me that I would take the trek downtown and witness the swearing in of the new president.

I got up and together with my son Adam got onto the metro to head towards The Capital.

 By the time I had finished getting all my layers on to brave the cold I could harldly bend my arm to brush my teeth!!!

Here are some of the images that I think capture the mood...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I must say it was well worth the cold.  What a buzz. What energy. What a day to share with all those who had all assembled for the same reason... a day to remember not only for me but for my son Adam too.

An Inaugural cuppa and cupcake to go with it..

Well with only two days to go to inauguration day there is a buzz here in Washington DC... everyone is trying to make a plan on getting downtown without getting stuck in crowds,freezing to death and actually getting close enough to witness this day in history. I myself plan to go downtown and take my son with me. I figure even if I cannot get close enough I need to go and feel the energy.

So with inaugral fever in the air I had to share this two really cool things I found that go hand in hand...

an inaugural cuppa coffee and a cupcake to go with it.

                                                      

                              

Button paper cut out

I found the greatest cut out today . I saw it at the craft store Michaels and couldn't wait to get to work to try it out.... obviously because all I do revolves around buttons in one way or another it is just up my alley - have a look.

 

 

How wonderful is this little paper button?? I then threaded some cord through it and used it as a embellishment on a gift box for a client.

 

 

 

Decorating a frame

I have this oval wooden frame that I found in my stash of odds and ends and so decided to give it a facelift.

                      

First I chose some pretty paper to cover it with..

 

 

I then decided to cut some paper out and make a 3D type flower to put onto the frame.

                          

 

After placing the paper flower on the frame now comes the fun part..embellishing the rest..

 

 

                             

Amazing what a leaf shaped sequin and a flatback crystal can do ..

 

Add some vintage ribbon,buttons and sugar coated beads...

 

 

  

  

 

Put it all together and voila... a really cute frame.

Fun wrapping paper

I just got in some really fun wrapping paper that I had to share .....  talk about getting a gift and recycling the paper!! well this is definitely one of those that you would want to reuse over and over again not only for wrapping but any other craft using paper.

 

 

 

 

Something old...something yellow

Today is one of my favorite colors.. yellow.. what is it about  yellow that just makes one smile?

 

 

 

 

                                

                                   

                                          

                                                         

                                                      

  

  

 

                                           

                                 

Something old...something red

   Well as I stated at the beginning of this week I was going to pay tribute to all the colors that surround me each and everyday in my shop.. today is the color of love,passion and energy ..something old..something RED.

                                   

                                    

                                     

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                  

                                   

 

 

Something old..something green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 

 

 

                                         

                                  

                                       

                                

                                           

                                              

                                             

 

 

   

Something old... Something blue

  I have so many people that come through the doors at the shop and tell me how inspired they are.

Most people say how they want to run home and create something after being in the space of Accessories of Old. I am so thrilled to hear this as it means whatever I visualised in my head for the space has come through.

I have decided to dedicate this week in my blog to all the different objects of color I surround myself by each and every day.

I hope you will find them as inspiring as I do. ....

So, today is something old...something blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                  

                               

 

 

 

 

                                  

                                        

 

 

  

  

                          

 

                                  

                                  

 

 

 

Pretty in pink

I had a lilac tutu that I had bought at the ballet shop a while ago. Together with some pink lace,fabric roses,crystal beads,leaf shaped sequin and a hand full of 60's plastic necklaces I dresses a wire form and made her look slightly less bare and prettier in pink.

 

 

 

 

                                               

     

I had found this saying that says " Life is what we make it... always has been ..always will be."

I made a tag card using the saying and embellished it ... a good message for the beginning of a new year wouldnt you say...