The Joy Of Encants...

I got a great haul of vintage gems today at Encants. Most of the stuff is for my vintage shop 'Violeta Vintage' but I also got a few great pieces for my own ever expanding wardrobe!

Boy Oh Boy

Just a quick post to show you the finished boy Russians from last week. The simpler dolls nestle inside the pocket of the bigger doll.

Busy busy busy...

Phew this week is going to be crazily busy! Big Wild and Beautiful order, over 50 new vintage pieces to photograph and list in Violeta Vintage as well as the big Easter market coming up...here are a few pics of the mess I was making yesterday trying to get a set of 13 new dolls/plushys made. I will post the finished dolls later...

chaos!

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sorry I haven't had a chance to blog for a few days, those two days spent nursing Elqui has totally thrown my work schedule into chaos...so much to do and sooooo little time! My studio is in chaos, everything all piled up all over the place...and yes, don't be fooled I know that it actually looks quite neat in the photos but that's because these photos were taken at the begining of the week!

Ophelia

I bought this dress this morning from Encants. Its in a pretty sorry state...all that delicate lace and beading hasn't fared too well, which considering its age (1880's) isn't too surprising. But I love it, and even if I just hang it up in my studio it was well worth the 1 Euro I paid for it! Though I have an art project that's been slowly bubbling away that would use these broken dresses that ive been hoarding...I just find such beauty in these things, especially this dress, so heavy with history and untold stories. Ive called her Ophelia, although I think that its more for the image of it soaking in the tub than for the actual dress itself. Does anyone know any good books on clothing restoration?

With love from Russia...

Here are the finished Russian dolls. This week, keeping on the Russian Doll theme, I'm going to make the set of bigger dolls as well as a set of boy Russian Dolls...Obsession, me?

and some more Russian doll making...

Well, its taken me a lot longer than anticipated to finish a set of 10 Russian Dolls with ten baby Russian dolls nestling in the front pocket of the bigger doll. I have market tomorrow so I will be able to see what people think! The pricing though is always difficult, I was thinking maybe 22 Euros, What do you think? I'll post photos of the finished dolls tomorrow night after market...unless I sell them all!

Russian Doll...

Today I began designing and making Russian Doll plushys/soft toys. Its good to be moving away from the monster theme at last! I love creating new products, problem solving and seeing my design from idea through to production. I bought a whole load of wonderful new fabrics from market today that I cant wait to use. The dolls are great to make because they use a lot of different fabrics and textures...lots of opportunity to play around! Today I designed four sizes, two pairs where the smaller doll nestles in th pocket of the bigger doll. I also like the idea of creating a Russian doll 'wrap' of ten little dolls. I also want to create a Russian boy doll aimed at little boys!

Wild & Beautiful

After spending two weeks concentrating on my internet businesses (I still have more than 20 items to list in my vintage shop 'Violeta Vintage' and over 50 items to list in my kids shop, 'Wild & Beautiful) I am letting myself have some fun over the next few days designing, developing and producing new products for my Wild & Beautiful Label. First up, I wanted to develop the roll up crayon holder set than I designed for Christmas- lots of people suggested a utility belt that held crayons for kids would be great...

Snow + Barcelona = Amazement!

Utter amazement today as heavy snow fell for the first time in more than a decade here in Barcelona. A smile of wonderment was upon everybody's faces. Shopkeepers were standing in disbelief in the doorways, everyone was taking photos or calling someone to share in their wonderment. Kids were dancing in the street and snowmen cropped up in a matter of minutes!
It really was an incredibly heavy snow storm, leaving 4 inches of snow in little more than a hour! Apparently all will be back to normal by wednesday, blue-eyed skies and sunshine...just in time for market!

Elqui

Trying to get my 2 year old son to model for me was just hilarious! He's very expressive and his smile is pretty fierce...

A Few Vintage Gems From Etsy...

I just wanted to share with you a few of my favorite vintage gems from Etsy. These pieces are soooo darling! and with prices starting from just $20 how can you resist?! Just copy and paste the link to see more of each wonderful vintage piece!

1) A Beautiful Vintage box from Leftylouvintage -http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41120345

2) An amazing 1960's mod dress from LEfantTerrible- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41694372

3) An incredible cropped kimono embroidered jacket from Verhext -http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37742125

4) THE perfect dress from SassySisterVintage- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41387816

5) A kitch mexican wool 1940's jacket from Wearitagain- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39088719

Blog, Flickr, Twitter and Violeta Vintage

Today is all about trying to get myself out there a little more...I have never really 'done' Flickr, joined any groups (in Flickr or Etsy)! It all takes so much time and, as a two-finger typer, it really is time-consumingly painfully slow! but needs must... I'm trying to update my Vintage shop- I have a good 20+ things to list, and a good 20 more to yet photograph. And this is only the vintage...my other two shops are being seriously neglected, I have well over a 100 things that I've made and could be listed on my 'Wild and Beautiful' site...tomorrow...
So, some exciting news, in trying to get myself out there I have paid for a advertising slot on the wonderful Heartomatic site, which will run from tomorrrow for 4 days on the carousel and from next thursay for seven days on the sidebar!

The first image is my advert (what do you think?) and the second, a selection of some of the new clothes in Violeta Vintage

For The Love Of Vintage...

Today at the local market I managed to pick up seven new things for my vintage shop. It required some serious rummage dedication and a lot of haggling! I love going to market and hunting for the clothes for Violeta Vintage. The joy of the discovery and the pleasure in seeing the garments come back to life with a little TLC. I love seeing my array of vintage gems all pegged out on the washing line. More ofetn than not, with my eye for color and pattern, its a glorious technicolor affair!