Gladiator Sandals these look so soft and are a bit more understated than others I’ve spied

Fringed Suede Bag Yummy soft suede bag

Chunky Gold Necklace from Esty seller Vicious Vintage Finds

Gold Tassle Earrings from a collection at Chelseadoll

Black Knitted Headband by Ollie&Agnes

Vintage Floral Tea Dress from Extinct Design! (oh yeahhhh)

I like playing around with accessories and see what pops against different colours and textures… here you have the whole remit of leather, suede, beads, wool, metal and material…

Be prepared to play!

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I love blues music, sad eye vintage pictures, moody broody guys peeping out from their long locks, grouping together on Monday mornings, sharing gripes… but I’ve been doing so recently with a bit of a giggle. I know its so fashionably chic to pout and practice runway scowls but I guess I’ve just got a case of the Happy January Blues!

January has traditionally for most been a depressing month, cue the cold weather and the post Christmas chocolate come downs, new council tax bills (OK bleurgh.. even I can’t get too happy ’bout that) but I am just so happy and grateful to start this new year.

I feel like I’ve been give a fresh new start, new diary, new lists and new lovely phone have all helped but I guess the biggest help and lifter upper (that is a new phrase for 2010  – oh yes it is!)  has been to make time to meditate and listen to some wonderful hypnosis… calming, relaxing and blissfully reviving…

Try New Life Catalyst where the soft tones of skilled Hypnotherapist, Zofie Kucia, will have you overcoming your fears, feeling great about your body and self, sleeping better and generally feeling good about life!

Highly recommended.

You can find time for that right?

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http://newlifecatalyst.co.uk check the site out for FREE relaxing download plus help on fear of flying, self esteem, insomnia, weight loss priced £4.25.

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‘Charleston – a Bloomsbury House and Garden’ by Quentin Bell, Vanessa Bell’s son, and his daughter Virginia Nicholson  A facinating history of the house and the collective of artists who lived and worked there. Published by Frances Lincoln. ISBN: 071122370X

There seems to be a lot of talk about ‘collectives’ at the moment and we think these groups of people working together, to the same goal often in the same place; fits with the whole community spirit of make-and-mend.  For us, there is definitely a romantic notion about a bohemian group of people, holed up together, creating wonderful works of art, inspiring each other while sharing a collective-consciousness.

We first started to notice collectives gaining in popularity last year but groups of artists working together, towards a similar goal in the same place; is nothing new and have occurred throughout history. The Bloomsbury Group which could be thought of as a collective of artists, painters, writers and ‘thinkers’, came together in the Bloomsbury area of London in the early 1900’s. Members of this fascinating and boundary-pushing group lead by artist, and sister of Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell moved to Charleston Farmhouse in East Sussex to live and work as a group of like-minded people. Among them were painter Roger Fry, writer Clive Bell and artist and critic Duncan Graham.

Artist Niko, who modelled the black woollen surf hat for us, is part of a collective called Ornamental Conifer based in East London. We met him on the South Bank. He was already wearing a hat, so we asked him if he’d wear an Ollie&Agnes hat, and have a photo taken, and he did! He and an interesting group of artists work at the London studio offering hands on approach to print design and sign writing. Check it out!

‘Made in the Shade’ are a new Glasgow-based collective, which was set up by an ex-university lecturer, Carrie Maclennan, and includes designers and graphic artists. They were brought together by their love of The Fifties and offer bespoke design. These guys have taken the collective a step further by opening a shop, come gallery called The Maisonette which sounds really interesting and will also serve as a workshop and place to hold craft events.

Carrie Maclennan (in the Daily Telegraph magazine) says: ‘I am working with my friends in a space that feels like my living room’  …and what could be better than that!

Quick, let’s form a collective, it sounds brilliant.

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Things to make n do:
I found this gorgeous vintage vogue pattern and thought I’d try and make myself a swimsuit this year!

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The little darling, Spring,

Has run away;

The sunshine grew too hot for her to stay.

She kissed her sister Summer,

And she said

“When I am gone, you must be queen instead.”

Now reigns the Lady Summer,

Round whose feet

A thousand faires flock with blossoms sweet.

Cicely Mary Barker

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Well, well, well, it’s been a very Merry Christmas, not to mention a thrifty one!

‘Our Graham’ caught me ditch deep battling with this years Christmas Tree! Found it cut down, sawn off in it’s prime, laying waste in a ditch….thought I’d better bag it as soon as can be, after a few odd looks from other motorists, who come along but my beloved, we collected the tree together and set about putting all me handmade apples and decorations to have ourselves a unique and thrifty – no expense spared – Christmas Tree!

Was really lovely to be able to make all natural wreaths for the door, some friends came round and we made them all up together…made our own mini arrrrt gallery as we surveyed them drinking tea n mince pies – we were all using the same leaves, pine and conifers but each one came out different and entirely unique!
Simply lovely!

I am really looking forward to 2009 – it’s going to be even more exciting than this year, got some great costume ideas and accessories to put in the shop, lots of creative ideas to share and oodles of excitement to emit! Have a Happy New Year – See you there!

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