The Get Away : part 4: Afternoon tea

Any one who knows me, knows i loooooooooooooove tea and everything that goes on the side. I have a obsession with cupcakes and tea sets so nothing makes a better birthday treat for me than going for afternoon tea! The cupcakes here were divine!! Yum Yum x

The Get Away : Part 3 : Columbia Road Flower Market

Jessie Chorley & Buddug - The Shop

jessiechorleyandbuddugtheshop.blogspot.com

http://www.jessiechorley.com/

http://www.buddug.com/

On another mad hot day, We (we being myself, big sis and brother in law to be) went to explore Columbia Road flower market. Clue is in the title that this is one rather large flower market, bursting with colour and smells, but this street also holds alot of hidden gems that had me spellbound. If i was made of money i would buy a house on that road just so i could watch everything unfold outside my window.

My most favourite find was a small this shop called jessie chorley and buddug (links above) This mini vintage emporium was bursting at the seams with creativity and housed all my loves. From vintage jewellery to hand embroidery and many more marvelous things. Im not going to babble on to much about it as I think their websites say it all.

Hats off to you two lovely ladies! I am in deed, in awe of your work!!

The Get Away : part 2 : Brighton

What summer break is complete without a trip to the seaside! so sticking to the rules we hit our local beach that just so happend to be BRIGHTON :)

The weather was unusually hot (always rains when im in london) so we took advantage of this and jumped on the train straight to Brighton.

What a perfect saturday it was! Little shopping trip in the lanes, I was in my element with all the vintage and shabby chic boutiques and had to keep telling myself " now fee, you wont get those home on the train in one piece" so for once the purse didnt get a battering! Although my pennies were safe my mind was on over drive taking mental notes of everything that was catching my eye so i could use this trip as inspiration for my next collection.

I have to say a little part of me fell in love with Brighton, this may have been my first trip but most certainly wont be the last! x

The Get Away : part 1 : Secret Gardens

As the summer kicks into full swing another chapter in my life closes. I decided to leave my job in vintage retail so I could spend more time on my label as its becoming more and more in demand. So after a busy end to my job as a buyer and designer for said vintage retailer i was in much need of a break! and where better to run away to than to visit the big sister down in London.

On my first day there we went for a little walk to explore the new area of the capital she has moved to. We stumbled into an opening along the river which lead into these lovely gardens. Open to the public but we felt like kids again entering a secret garden. At the top end of the gardens was this amazing fountain! it was huge and very grand but at the same time very peaceful. The perfect setting for two sisters to have there long over due catch up over an ice cream, basking in london sunshine. . x

Keep Calm and ... Eat Cupcakes

It has been a crazy last few weeks for me, I had to bid farewell to my job in vintage retail, to dedicate more time to my accessories label, which has been going down a treat at the Customs House gallery and i have several more outlets in the pipeline. My head is fit to burst with new collection ideas all which have been spurred on from a few weeks wondering round london town for inspiration.

Many an afternoon spent in portabello, stumbling across Columbia road flower market and a heck of a lot of tea and cake ... I am now home and ready to go ... so i am sorry for having not kept ontop of my blog but here goes the longest catch up of what i have been up to ... enjoy!

fee x

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New Collection on sale May 2010

I am really inspired by the elegant woman of the 40s and 50s, and I love how hats were worn as part of an everyday outfit, rather than just a special occasion. Never needing an excuse to dress up hats varied from simple caps to elaborate turbans. After many years of researching into fashion of the war years it fascinated me to learn about fabric rations and how many woman renewed their hats by recycling old materials and adding trimmings.This is an aspect I try to reflect in my own designs, many of the fabrics used are old remnants and trims with beads and buttons I have found and collected along the way.
Each piece is a off one and I love how this allows it to have its own story, its own history. I'm working on some new point of sale graphics. Iv been doodling ideas for days now and Ive but the ball in motion for each to come with an Identity card telling the story of where the materials were found.


I like little touches like that, and hope you do too.

This is a sneak peek at my new collection that is available online and both in store at Between the Buttons vintage and the Customs House gallery.
Having originally started out with Alice band hair accessories I'm really pleased of how my designs and style have developed and after a lot of soul searching I really feel now my work reflects who I am as a designer, but is flexible enough to appeal to a wider audience.
They have attracted quite a following so far, new outlets as well as scouts for a well known high street retail company which shall remain nameless for now, but is super exciting!

Crazy to think that something I have made by hand in the comfort of my own room, fuelled by endless cups of tea and carrot cake, could be whisked up by one person and catapulted onto the main stage of the high street ... an exciting but daunting thought ... have to watch this space!!

xxx