My Vintage Vows

French dressing

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 11:16:00 +0000

My final post from our French holiday comes from the ancient Dordogne town of Monpazier, where we came across this gorgeous little kidswear boutique called Piquepoule, whose Dutch owner hand-makes beautiful Liberty print dresses for little girls in lovely vintagey styles (I'm hoping she might introduce some boys' rompers soon!). I also loved the paintbox bright tees and polos below. Inside is beautifully decorated, combining antique sewing paraphernalia, piles of fabric, old stone walls and crisp, bright colours, as well as an atelier and craft table for little visitors.

Inspiration from France

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:33:00 +0000

40s motorbike propped up in Saint Pompon Village

Van Gough chairs in the abbey

Worn cobbled floor

Vintage enamel kitchenware found in St Pompon attic sale

Pretty candles from gorgeous Monpazier boutique Lilly Mary

Handmade pottery found at Monpazier market

Cute cup from Lilly Mary

Milo loved his bunting

French Fancies

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:41:00 +0000

I'm afraid moving house and a holiday in wifi-less rural France has put paid to my blogging of late - and I now have a backlog of lovely things to post. The Dordogne provided plenty of vintage inspiration - flea markets, faded antiques, medieval market towns and some suitably chic boutiques.

La Petite Minoche in the picture-perfect village of Daglan is a lovely hat shop where the young milliner creates vintage-style panamas and cloches, as well as contemporary looks from her atelier within the shop. Her wares are displayed on vintage hat stands, with framed antique fabrics and pressed flowers on the walls. Milo loved the little play area set up for mini hat lovers (although, he only likes his bike helmet at the moment.)

Pretty windows

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:31:00 +0000

I keep passing by the second-hand bookshop Richard Way on my road and marvelling at the gorgeous window displays - this one is Jubilee / boat race-inspired. I love the bunting made out of old music sheets - handmade by the owner herself.

Craft Club

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:43:00 +0000

When we first moved out of London, I had visions of setting myself up a little space in our new house to craft, sew and generally create. I managed to make the space, with an abundance of vintage fabrics, handcraft books, ribbons and buttons waiting patiently by the sewing machine - but did i create? Well, you can guess the answer to that. Discussing this with local friends who have similar crafty ambitions, we decided to start a craft night when babes are in bed and we can natter over a glass of wine while working on our own projects - hopefully with a bit of peer pressure to keep the momentum going!

The first Craft Club was held at my house and I loved every minute - we had Michelle knitting a beautiful grey baby cardi, Sara stitching vintage-style embroideries, Nikki expertly quilting and I got down to making cushions using vintage fabric for Mrs Biddle's (long since past) birthday. You can see how the finished cushions look in her lovely new home here.

Local Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Today I raced round the craft and design fair just outside Henley at the end of the afternoon, and came across a few lovely things (alongside a fair amount of felt and new age jewellery!)

My favourite was this gorgeously pared-back, hand-thrown pottery by Adam Marsh, which really stood out for its beautiful display of earthy colours.

My eye was also drawn to the cute hand-smocked dresses in vintage prints by Sallyann Dunn, who told me she also makes boys' smocked rompers!

The fair also had some imaginative food stands, including the intriguingly named Victorian Kitchen and this cute retro ice cream van.

Vintage luggage

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:52:00 +0000

Milo's Godmummy over in NYC found this fabulous vintage suitcase and her talented sis stencilled Milo's initials on the front - a treasure to be kept forever (and useful too!)

Queen Street Jubilee!

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 09:53:00 +0000

The street next to ours came alive on Monday with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations - we had bunting, flags, Union Jack rugs, cucumber sandwiches, HRH-themed cupcakes, live bands, Olympian games and dancing 'til nearly midnight - fabulous!

The antiques shop with no name

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:01:00 +0000

The antiques shop across the road from my house always has a treasure or two in its window or on the pavement outside, and I've been meaning to take some pictures for too long to mention.

So I popped in the other day and told the owner (a very charming silver-haired gent) about my blog. He was delighted for me to take some pictures, with the understanding that I don't include the name of the shop. But, I ventured, don't you want the publicity? Oh no, he said, we don't like any kind of publicity, we only do word of mouth!

So here you have it - some anonymous pictures from the antiques shop with no name (on Friday Street, Henley) - shhhh!

Pretty Knits

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:02:00 +0000

One of my favourite birthday gifts for Milo was a gorgeous handmade knit cardigan from Emma Embery (whose boutique I featured recently). I love the perfectly embroidered mini cars, balloons, the striped grosgrain ribbon and colourful buttons - can't wait for him to grow into this one!

Birthday Tea

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:36:00 +0000

I'm sorry I've been absent for a while - somehow motherhood and part-time work seem to have taken over! Here are some pictures from Milo's first birthday tea. We were so lucky with the weather so our little courtyard came into its own. We pegged the alphabet flash cards as bunting on the washing line, got the vintage deck chairs out and there were homemade cakes and jelly. I found the cute striped paper cups, plates and polka dot napkins from the gorgeous French website My Little Day, which peddles a fabulous range of children's party paraphernalia with the emphasis on taste rather than tack!

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:06:00 +0000

I love these vintage-inspired flash cards by Japanese artist Junzo Terada - given to Milo by the impeccable gift-giver Mrs Biddle. My favourite is Mme. Jaguar resplendent in on-trend animal print! These cards also make great alternative bunting pegged up on a washing line (see next post - Milo's party tea.)

Made with Love

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:31:00 +0000

This pretty package arrived at my door today, containing one of Claudine & Compagnie's gorgeous handmade vintage-style collars that I had sent for after coveting on Bleubird Vintage. It was so beautifully packaged, with a handwritten note from the designer Johanna Van Daalen, that it reminded me of the joys of buying online! All handmade in Belgium, Johanna's collars and bow ties come in gorgeous pink, blue and turquoise chambray cottons and Liberty-style florals - guaranteed to brighten up the drabbest of outfits.

Vintage in Reading

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:44:00 +0000

Reading may not be a city known for its vintage delights, but there are a few quirky little shops to be found just by the station in the old fashioned Harris Arcade. There's a couple of vintage shops, an eccentric old toy shop and this little gem of a boutique run by milliner Adrienne Henry.

Taking the 20s cloche as her starting point, Adrienne handmakes a range of vintage-style hats with cute details like contrast stitching or vintage brooch appliques, while also stocking true vintage hats alongside. She offers a bespoke service too for specific commissions. I loved the way she had cleverly merchandised her wares among piles of hatboxes, military memorabilia, unusual hat stands and antique suitcases and toiletry sets.

Liebster Blog Awards

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:56:00 +0000

What a lovely surprise to see that I have been nominated for the Liebster Blog Awards by Whitney at What Whitney Did Next, I feel truly honoured!

My task now is to nominate five other blogs (with up to 200 followers) that I love - well I have to say it's been easy to choose my favourites. Take a look and be inspired -

Albert and the Lion

Postcards from Battersea

Wolves at the Door

Sally Likes Doodling

On the First Day of Marriage

If you are nominated - pass the award onto 5 other blogs with under 200 followers.

Write a post about it and link back to the one that nominated you.

Leave a comment on the blogs that you nominate.

Hide and Seek boutique

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:12:00 +0000

I've been up north on the Wirral this week and popped by Emma Embery's new boutique and workshop, Hide and Seek, in Irby Village. If you've been an avid reader of this blog you may remember Emma's pretty studio space and the beautiful vintage-inspired hairpin she made for my wedding, as well as her gorgeous knits for Milo (see below post for the cardigan that seems to grow with him!)

Emma's shop is a magpie's dream inside - with every nook and cranny filled with things to treasure: her own lace and jewel embroidered shawls and dresses, jewellery made with antique pearls and gems, lampshades up-cycled with vintage fabric appliques, hand-knitted and vintage children's clothes, and a few bits and pieces from other local makers. She also hosts creative workshops such as vintage-inspired jewellery making and embroidery where you can wile away a couple of hours drinking tea, eating cake and brushing up on your crafting skills.

Vintage Craft

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:40:00 +0000

My friend Vanessa very thoughtfully sent these lovely retro crafty kits for Milo all the way from Australia. I love the lovely vintage colours of the embroidery sets from Marc Vidal and I'm looking forward to finding a suitable sock to steal from Vintage Husband's draw to make a sock giraffe (find more on Aussie site Craft Schmaft). Milo is clearly intrigued...

One-off wedding stationery

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:28:00 +0000

I have long been a fan of Sally Leach's gorgeous illustrations so I was very excited to hear of her latest project - a bespoke wedding stationery company called The Little Peach. She's already proved herself a dab hand at wedding work, creating 'Walk of Love' maps for her sister Mrs Biddle's wedding, so I've no doubt her business will fly.

The idea is simple - Sally works with the bride and groom to illustrate their love story, creating a caricatured design which she hand prints onto each invitation - so each one becomes a mini work of art for guests to treasure. Couples can choose to be illustrated into a readymade backdrop (see below) or create a bespoke design from scratch. The results are charming, funny and totally unique.

Vintage books

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:58:00 +0000

A pile of beautiful old books from quite possibly the best second hand bookshop I've ever come across - Richard Way's, a few doors from our house.

It's a wonderful little place - crammed from floor to ceiling with books, but surprisingly easy to find exactly what you want. So far I've bought antique maps (ideal man gifts), vintage children's books, a wild flower annual for my mum and some beautifully covered pre-war Oscar Wilde classics. No website I'm afraid, so you'll just have to come and visit.

Vintage toys

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:49:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:25:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:25:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:28:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:28:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (The Vintage Bride) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:55:00 +0000

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