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Wednesday 23 February 2011

ArtFire - They get my Vote!

I've just had fun looking around Artfire for Studio Sales. Wow, there are some absolutely fantastic items on sale when you look. ArtFire is such a great and diverse selling arena. ArtFire is a finalist for Best Online Handmade Marketplace and quite rightly so. They look after you very well and provide a good place for buyers and sellers alike to meet and do business. So take a moment and give them your vote!

Work in progress

This week I've been working on a new, one off Gypsy Twist Skirt It's gunmetal grey with silver and purple highlights. There's a real Steampunk fusion feel to it. The basic style draws influence from the early 1920s with a little Edwardian touch through the draped decoration with Vintage buckles. The print on the base fabric is a gorgeous paisley, very Art Nouveau, yet evoking Orientalism. There is a lot of hand finishing to do to complete this skirt but so far I'm quite happy with how it's going.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

This Weeks Featured Artisan

Another gorgeous shop from the talented people at On Fire For Handmade Look out for the adorable baby booties!


On Fire for Handmade



This weeks Featured Artisan is Sandi Levy of I Knit Quilt Sew! Sandi has wonderful creations for you to behold! You can find I Knit Quilt Sew on:


Saturday 19 February 2011

Great Finds - Please vote for me!

My work has been included in this weeks Great Finds by the lovely Anne Hopfer who works so hard for On Fire For Handmade. Each week there's a competition with a poll to find the winner, who receives a free ad by My Helping Hands Graphic Design and ad placement on all Anne's sites. Also a free listing at The Gift Shop Handmade Directory. 

Please take a moment to vote for my Feather & Flower Fascinator. The Poll is on the left side of the page At the Bottom of the page. Click on the caption below to go straight to the site and vote. Thank you!

Vote for Vaudeville Gypsy here!

Thursday 17 February 2011

My Favourite Piece of Vintage Jewellery

I thought today I would share with you my favourite piece of Vintage jewellery. It is an Art Deco dress clip and brooch set from the early 1930's. Attributed to Coro it is in wonderful condition. It is a dress clip 'Duette', with a difference. The design incorporates tiny flowers over the typical geometric lines of Art Deco, all set with sparkling diamanté. It carries the patent number for the sprung mechanism, which was registered in 1932 to Elisha A. Phinney.





Duette was a term used by Coro to describe their combination dress clips and brooch design. It is a piece of metamorphic jewellery which can be worn in more than one way. The typical configuration is a frame which has two removable dress clips. When all pieces are fitted together the piece then becomes a brooch, as can be seen in the first picture.






This piece is slightly different. Normally the frame which holds the clips together to make the brooch is purely functional. Alone it cannot be used as a third piece of jewellery. However, this piece has been made in such a manner that the frame is a brooch in its own right that can be worn alone.



I know this is quite a rarity, as I have been searching for another! They are out there but I think I'm in for a long wait. It gives me great pleasure to own this little piece of Art Deco heritage sitting here telling you about it from Balham's own Art Deco jewel, Du Cane Court.



Tuesday 15 February 2011

R&R

Taking things a little easy for now as I'm recuperating from a minor op. All's well, just need a little rest so for now I'll be a bit limited with online content. In the meantime I'd still like to share this weeks On Fire For Handmade Featured Artisan as Anne very kindly does the hard work for us.

Do take 5mins to look at Edi's work, she is an extremely talented artist and makes truly beautiful jewellery.


This weeks Featued Artisan is Edi's Little Treasures. True Treasures indeed.. Edi has wonderful creations! A Must have for every Jewelry Box!! You can find Edi at:

Monday 7 February 2011

This Weeks Shared Artisan is...

Kim at Va Beach Quilter has a large selection quilted goodies for you to see. My personal favourite is a lovely Spring Lunch Tote. The fabrics have a lovely vintage look to them in gorgeous colours. There's plenty more in her shop for you to see...


 
This Week's Featured Artisan is Kim - Va Beach Quilter.. darling creations for you by a very talented lady!
Everything from A-Z! You can find Va Beach Quilter on:
Kim also has a Destash Shop and a Guild on Artfire for Shops with less than 15 sales.

Saturday 5 February 2011

Walk on the Wild Side

Thanks to Anne over at On Fire for Handmade one of my pieces has been included in a great, bold Artfire.com collection of purple and orange. Never one to shy away from bold colour combinations the piece featured is my Peach & Poppy Fascinator, below. If you click the caption it will take you to my studio where you can see more photos

Peach and Purple Flower & Feather Fascinator

 The gorgeous collection, which you really should check out can be found here:Walk on the Wild Side, and below is a snapshot to whet your appetite. The collection includes jewellery, art, kitchenalia, homewares and accessories. My personal favourite is the Cross Body Hipster Bag by PapaCouture who choose some truly gorgeous fabrics for their creations.

Thursday 3 February 2011

Studio Sale @ Vaudeville Gypsy on ArtFire

I'm spreading the love this Valentines by holding a studio-wide sale on ArtFire. I have a nice selection of hair jewels from bobby pins to headbands to glamorous fascinators. Great for a mysterious evening assignation! My hair ornaments are heavily influenced by Vintage aesthetics and use beautiful elements including Vintage jewellery, feathers and millinery flowers. Also in the studio you can find other handmade jewellery and accessories, tribal costuming and signed Vintage pieces.





So if you'd like to find something unique for a loved one, or even to treat yourself, please take a look whilst my Sale is on



Tuesday 1 February 2011

Cameleon Art

Can we save the planet with beauty? Well, probably not, but it certainly makes it more fun. I do get a kick out of using discarded, forgotten elements in my work, turning one persons 'rubbish' into another's treasure or future heirloom. Taking things apart and putting them back together in a totally unexpected way. I got the recycling, upcycling, repurposing bug when I was at University and I love art created with found objects.

One of my little efforts was a light from recycled wool jumpers, play pit & ping pong balls, and LEDs which we still use.

Shibori recycled light


So I had a little look around ArtFire to see what recyclers were about. I was pleasantly surprised and made this little collection: Cameleon Art to celebrate their efforts. Here's a preview below, but try the link and explore their studios further to see just how inventive and creative these people are.



Cameleon Art

Community News!

Sharing the love for handmade...Beth makes some super cute Button Brooches, including some with gorgeous kimono fabric.


This Week's Featured Artisan is The Beas Knees.. darling creations for you by a very talented lady!
Beth has lot of creations for you to see! You can find The Bea's Knees on: