FairyFiligree

Corset Parade

2012-01-27T18:09:00.001+01:00

In front of the Mirror by Edouard Manet - 1876

1909 Corset

1924 Corset

Image from a vintage advertising pamphlet

'In a Corset' by Lovis Coringh - 1910

Toile it is

2012-01-25T13:42:00.002+01:00

I recently was hovering around varied Etsy Treasuries and discovered this gorgeous Treasury called Toile Be or not Toile Be, that is the Question which was put lovingly together by the lovely Mom Wald of Mom Wald's Place on Etsy. I had never head of Toile although I have seen this design often enough in antique shops or antique market stalls. So.... I asked this Etsian to kindly illuminate us about this design and its origins... here is what she says,

"Most of us are familiar with a style of fabric known as Toile. Many may not know the name, but recognize it. The actual name is Toile de Jouy, and although it is French, the style actually originated in Ireland. It found its home in France in the late 18th century and from there enchanted the world.

Toile began as cream or white fabric with intricate single color pictures of people or flowers repeated to make a lace like pattern. Nowadays every color combination imaginable can be found.

Rustic Toile Pillow from Photocraft Lady

The popularity of Toile has helped it not only endure, but thrive through the centuries. Today this type of pattern can be found on everything from fabric to glass. Whether it the romance of a bygone era or the flavor of France that appeals to you, Toile is available in almost any form."

I was quite excited to discover this Etsian also has an adorable blog which you can visit here. It's all about vintage teacups, quilting, embroidery and beautiful things from times gone by. Be sure to visit.

Peter Pan and Mary Jane

2012-01-23T08:12:00.000+01:00

Look at this 1939 picture taken in Australia. The lady on the right is wearing a Peter Pan collar. This style of collar became popular after the American stage actress Maude Adams wore such a collar in her costume when she played the role of Peter Pan in 1905. Most of us have had dresses with such a style of collar. I can think of coupling it with Mary Jane shoes.

Mary Janes which have been all the rage recently, also have a strong connection with a popular story - this time a 1902 comic strip called Buster Brown. Mary Jane was the sister of Buster and they were both invented by Richard Outcault. So how did the shoes end up with name of the cartoon character?

It appears that Outcault always drew both Buster Brown and Mary Jane wearing the same style of shoes. In 1904 Outcault went to the St Louis World Fair and sold a licence to 200 companies, permitting them to use Buster Brown characters to advertise their wares. One of these companies was the Brown Shoe Company. The Brown Shoe Company hired actors to tour different states whilst acting out the part of Buster Brown comic characters. The Brown Shoe Company and Buster Brown became synonymous and the style of shoe both Buster Brown and Mary Jane wore started being called Mary Janes. The picture ad above shows the Mary Janes worn by the little girl and in the close-up, the strap is shown tucked on the back of the shoe so that the shoe can be worn also as a slip-on. Cute!

Honiton Lace

2012-01-20T17:29:00.001+01:00

I've been reading about Victorian fashions and Honiton Lace keeps being mentioned, so I decided to find some images to see what it really looks like...
I also found this link which does not seem to be going anywhere but it gives a couple of very good images of this variety of lace. Does anybody know where it originated from?

I cherish your comment, each and every time.....

Hey Bloggers - It's Award-Time!

2012-01-18T15:25:00.001+01:00

I just received a wonderful gift - a blog award from Deborah Piana Agostinetti of the blog Easy and Chic. Researching the blog award, I found it has been given to a good number of bloggers, so thank you Deborah (the above image is from her blog) and I am very proud to have received the Liebster Blog Award.....

Liebster means "dearest" in German and is given to blogs with less than 200 followers.

When you're given the award you -

1. Thank the one who gave you the award and post a link.

2. Mention 5 blogs to forward the award to (let them know by leaving a comment at their blog).

3. Keep your fingers crossed that the chosen ones want to keep forwarding the award ;)

Here are my chosen ones.....

I Look Good Today

Moments

Babettopolis

The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe

Vintage Me

A Cameo laced with Maltese Filigree

2012-01-16T16:23:00.001+01:00

This incredibly beautiful cameo was recently embellished and turned into a fantastic brooch by Maltese filigree maker Charles Gerada. The 'frame' surrounding the cameo, which is reminiscent of 19th Century jewellery fashions, is in fact surrounded by a very delicate frame of Maltese filigree in gold and it is all worked by hand.

See more Maltese filigree here and more cameos here and here.

Hats on and let's Tango!

2012-01-13T15:01:00.000+01:00

When I was in primary school we used to wear hats every day as part of our uniform. Dark green felt hat in winter, straw hat in summer. Each hat complemented each uniform and whilst they did not warm our head or cool it much, they were a staple and we accepted them as such.

You either love hats or you hate them. After my fair share of school hats and woolly hats which were demanded of me wearing in cold weather anyhow, I cooled off somewhat and for many years refrained from wearing any form of head gear.

Until I was convinced I should purchase a warm winter hat and realised not only how comfy it was but also how much it flattered my face. Today I count hats amongst my many invaluable accessories and would never dream of not wearing one every so often as the need arises.

I came across this hats created by this wonderful milliner and could not resist featuring her hats on Fairyfiligree. Aren't they simply stunners? They remind me of the typical styles fashionable in the 194os and 1950s but the modern twist in each style makes them ideal contemporaries. These are literally head huggers....

As the late Mimi Weddell, a great advocate of hats, used to say, "Hats give you a Frame."

"If a woman rebels against high heeled shoes, she should take care to do it in a very smart hat." - George Bernard Shaw

Visit Behida Dolic Millinery and read more about her here.

Where on Art - 'Money and Beauty' in Florence

2012-01-10T18:45:00.001+01:00

The Money-changer and his Wife - Marinus van Reymerswaele (1490-1567)

Have you ever wondered how the modern banking system developed in the Western World? To get an inkling and very good one at that, you have to travel to Italy. The coming few days offer you the last chance to visit an extraordinary exhibition still showing in Florence, which gives you the opportunity to take a journey to the roots of Florentine power in EUrope, the economic mechanisms which allowed the Florentines to dominate the world of trade and business 500 years ago and thus finance the whole machine that made the Renaissance happen.

Money and Beauty - Bankers, Botticelli and the Bonfire of the Vanities
is open until 22 January 2012 at Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi, 50123 Firenze (Florence), Italy.
The exhibition includes masterpieces by BOtticelli, Beato Angelico, Piero del Pollaiolo, the Della Robbia family and Lorenzo di Credi - some of the best Renaissance artists.

Read more about it here.

Recycled and Chic

2012-01-08T10:12:00.002+01:00

I recently received a lovely package in the post, all the way from New York City, from the lovely Suzanne of threepeats Jewelry. I couldn't believe just how refined her jewellery creations are. She admits she has always collected vintage jewelry but never wore it much until she realised she could use some of the vintage beads and chains to recreate something she could feel more comfortable wearing. She says, "As a high school dance teacher, I wanted a necklace that I could get on and off easily and that would look good no matter how it slipped around my neck! The design I came up with included three chain sections interspersed with three beaded sections...three repeated sections...or threepeats. My designs evolved over time and now I also work with recycled t-shirt yarn, felted wool beads and vintage ribbon and lace and I started making earrings. I LOVE that I can recycle old things that people no longer wear into new things that are usable and affordable." Suzanne also blogs regularly about her jewelry making and more.

This inventive jewellery creator is after my own heart for varied reasons...

- First of all, her package was so well packed with care and attention to detail and presentation. You know, sometimes you buy gifts online and ask the seller if she/he would pack nicely to send directly to the person you want to gift it to. Then you sit and wonder whether the package will be really nice enough and whether the person who receives it will feel appreciative of your thought. So much depends on presentation doesn't it? Well, this seller really puts in that much effort even down to the tiny tag attached to each item and the pretty little string she used. Cute!

- She recycles beautiful things to make them valid for today's lifestyle - The necklace pictured includes a variety of glass and plastic beads, all of fine quality. They are linked with a very sturdy chain that is securely connected so I daresay one would never imagine that it could have been used elsewhere before! I love the idea that beautiful old things do not get thrown away but are revived in this way. The earrings have these beautiful old mottled glass beads that are fantastic.

Visit threepeats Jewelry on Etsy. Check out her vintage Sari necklaces and her T-shirt yarn and ribbon necklaces.

I invite you to visit Malta - Part 1

2012-01-06T13:55:00.000+01:00

From time to time I get questions asked about where I come from. When I tell people that I come from an island in the Med, I usually get remarks such as... 'How exotic!' or 'Where exactly?' or 'Malta? What is your language?'....

So, for the first time on this blog, I am not going to tell you about the art and crafts of my country of origin but rather, treating you to something about its actual character, this tiny spec of an island that has been through its fair share of historical trials.

As you fly in over Malta for the first time, it is not uncommon to think the pilot has just made a fatal error and that you're going to land in the sea. There is sea, sea and yet more sea all around so some landing manoeuvres can give you quite spectacular views.... the aerial shots were taken by husband during a trial flight he experienced some time ago..... then come a variety of images taken by yours truly with the countryside, the remains of ancient civilisations, the churches, the old cities..... more to follow in another post.

Why Wear Grey?

2012-01-03T14:37:00.000+01:00

There was a day and a place where I used to hate the colour grey with a passion and for many years I never wore the colour at all. Perhaps because it reminded me of grey skies which are simply not my thing. Or perhaps because I considered it a non colour and failed to appreciate its potential.

Until I realised that it is one extremely versatile colour that combines well with all the bright and interesting colours around us including red, yellow, purples, browns, blacks, whites, oranges, creams, blues, pinks.... need I go on? Here is some inspiration for those grey days and for your shopping during the sales - if it's grey, pick it up, try it on and if it suits you, chances are you'll be using it time and again. What's so grey about that?

from Kate of The Small Things Blog

from Anh of 9to5chic Blog

From Phoebe of Lady Melbourne Blog

From Sharon of My Style - Fashion, Vintage and Me..... Blog

Is this really Vintage?

2012-01-02T16:04:00.000+01:00

Art by Tascha

Back to writing after all that has transpired over Christmas and the New Year. It is all about starting afresh whilst continuing on the same lines as yester...year! Still, the extended meetings with family and friends went well and contributed to feeling refreshed and ready to start over, especially after sleeping for 10+ hours solid. My goodness!!

Quite often I receive questions from Fairyfiligree readers and today I am going to start by answering one such question....

Jessica Williams wrote to me saying....

"I started being interested in vintage jewellery after my friend gave me an authentic 1960s pendant for my birthday last October..... the pendant is made of enamel and is really beautiful .... since I love pendants, I have decided to start collecting older rather than newer ones. But I have a problem - I have already bought something from ebay and the seller promised it was a 1970s pendant. When it arrived I found it was quite stylish but when I showed it to my friend, she said it was not 1970s but probably made later on. How can I know if a jewellery item is really vintage?"

Well Jessica, this calls for a detailed post and I will try my best to answer your question.

Learning how to recognise true vintage is not something which happens overnight. If you are in your 20s, you probably recognise something that was fashionable five, 10 or 15 years ago because you grew up seeing it regularly. You remember the colours, the designs, the styles, and can refer back to your own memory for reference.

However you will probably feel lost when you need to recognise earlier jewellery simply because you weren't around when this was in vogue. The older you become, the more you can appreciate, however, in the meantime, you can educate yourself in many ways.

- Books are a treasure trove where vintage jewellery is concerned. One of the first books I have for my own reference is Judith Millers's 'Costume Jewellery'. The book is especially detailed where illustrations are involved. The images are so very clear and sharp and this, coupled by the information about individual jewellery designers is a great benefit. You will become acquainted with the more popular names, the quirkier designers and distinguish what you like most. You refer to 60s and 70s jewellery so you seem concentrated on these periods. You will enjoy reading about the Flower Power era and all that surrounded it. Don't go away thinking that you should only get books about this period in time. Whilst these are extremely useful, having different periods of jewellery to compare with will help you recognise the differences between the jewellery and the epochs it was born in.

- Websites are also full of information and images. Be sure to click only on websites that are evidently professional so that you benefit from the best sources of information.

- Ebay is a great source of inspiration for jewellery collectors. Seek to find some established vintage jewellery sellers, especially the ones which add lots of pictures and information to each of their listed items. You learn a lot that way - brand names, style names, periods..... it can be great fun. It does take up a lot of time, but researching properly is a great help. Be sure to skip those items which are listed as 'vintage style' or '60s style' which may mean they are not authentic vintage but just styled to seem like something out of the 60s.

- Fashion sites are also of great help and if you concentrate on the 60s and 70s fashion you will understand just why pendants were so popular, why they fitted so well with the fashions of the time. You will come to recognise the designs synonymous with particular periods.

- Visit specialised vintage jewellery shops which can allow you to touch, observe and ask questions. Ultimately you can only learn to appreciate things by handling them. On the other hand, if you wish to consult on any jewellery item about which you are unsure, simply send me a picture & I will try my best to help you.

Good luck in your hunt!

Before ending off this post, I must remind you that amintaonline is still offering Fairyfiligree readers and followers a discount on shoe purchases. Click on the notice on the sidebar or read this post for more details. You have until January 15 to enjoy the discount.

And... thanks to Tascha whose art is the first to grace FairyFiligree in 2012.

Happy New Year... to you too....

2011-12-31T16:15:00.000+01:00

circa 1900

Preparing the house and table to welcome our guests tonight, beloved friends who will share our last moments of the year with us, and looking forward to tomorrow when we will welcome the New Year in the company of our closest family.

Whichever part of the world you inhabit, I am sure you are also keeping busy and are eager to share in the joy of new beginnings, whilst taking stock of the year that was.

Here's wishing you all lots of wonderful days ahead filled with happiness, exciting adventures, intriguing challenges, innovations and pleasant surprises to enrich your life. Whoever you may be, you're wish well, you're wished love and you're wished serenity.

If hard times do come your way, you're wished the courage to confront them, the tenacity to see them through and faith in a better future.

Thank you for following FairyFiligree and hope you will keep visiting through the New Year.

All the best....

The Blonde who was made Brunette

2011-12-28T15:46:00.000+01:00

Not all is what it seems to be in art. I chanced upon this video from the National Gallery. It impressed me how the touch of paint completely altered the whole outlook of the original intent of this picture. Which version do you prefer?

Style - Your Attitude makes it or breaks it

2011-12-26T10:18:00.000+01:00

Vintage Fashion

Writing about style. Blogging about style. Being stylish. Ok, so there one million bloggers (I haven't counted but it seems like it) out there, all harping on about style, being fashionable, being stylish, dressing glamorously, fabulously, lavishly, beautifully, ravishingly, stunningly.

We all aspire to be just so, whatever we wear, whatever our budgets, whatever our life situation may be.

Mod Love

But we tend to forget one simple premise that must be observed if our stylishness is to be well appreciated and truly deserving of the word stylish.

It is ATTITUDE.

It our attitude that makes us get noticed and speaks louder than the clothes and accessories on our backs, hands, feet, head. It is that smile, that graciousness, that well-behaved attitude, that gentleness, that willingness to reach out.

Vintage Look

Have you ever thought about it when you're in front of the mirror, frowning at yourself, at the outfit you're trying out? Ok, so you're frustrated because you don't look exactly like that vision you imagined you could personify. You don't seem to be as perfect as what you expected to be. Nothing seems quite so right.....

Just stop. Turn your back to the mirror. Smile widely. Smile with your eyes... then turn back to look at the mirror and see the difference. The sour face is gone. The outfit might or might not look any better but your attitude will change it, lift it, transform it.

Just one smile can make all the difference and your style will shine through.

All my love in pearls

Incorporate a smile with every outfit you wear..... - try it out and see the difference it makes in your life.

Here is some inspiration....

"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best.. If you're not, pretend you are."
Muhammad Ali

"A man without a smiling face must not open a shop."
Chinese Proverb

“The magic is inside you. there ain't no crystal ball.”

Dolly Parton

and another one from Dolly...

“Smile -- it increases your face value.”

Big thanks to Theresa of trolleyla for these wonderful images which you can find in her charming Etsy shop.

Dori's Homage to Frida Kahlo

2011-12-23T10:37:00.000+01:00

Frida Necklace by Dori Csengeri

I wanted to treat you to something especially gorgeous to think of this weekend. I mean, wouldn't you just love getting this beautiful necklace in your stocking on Christmas Day?

As homage to the artist Frida Kahlo, jewellery designer Dori Csengeri has created this hand embroidered Haute Couture necklace which I think has something extra warming - perfect to liven up outfits during this cold season. Can you just imagine it on a long white dress?

Dori's love of colour, a long tradition of hand embroidery and textile design are combined together through an ancestral technique of assembly with needlework of silky cotton cords. Such scene-stealing creations are made in Dori Csengeri's atelier using cabochons, fine stones, crystals, bohemian beads, shell, wood or metal and leather-backed forcomfort. Dori Csengeri regularly collaborates with Swarovski and she has designed for Swarovski’s Jewelry World Facets 2011 Collection, Swarovski’s Crystallized™trend inspirations or, the Atelier Swarovski collection. Today Dori Csengeri is an award winning, internationally acclaimed artist, with offices in Milan, Paris, Barcelona, New Yorkand Tokyo.

Read more about Dori Csengeri here and here.

http://www.doricsengeri.com/

More about Guerlain

2011-12-21T10:49:00.002+01:00

Some time ago I wrote about the special Baccarat bottle for Guerlain which I saw displayed in the very special scent bottles exhibition I wrote about. One of you wrote back to me saying.....

"Hello, I was looking at your blog and saw your new post about perfumebottles. This is a funny coincidence - my grandmother worked all ofher life for Guerlain. I am sending you a picture of an old document, she ispictured on it, the first lady at the bottom from the left......"

The document isall about the birth of a perfume with detailed images of the whole procedure.Isn't it interesting? Thank you for sharing this Nathalie.

News from Lynn

2011-12-20T08:53:00.001+01:00

This ravishingly stylish lady you may have seen before on this blog. She is Lynn Dell, style guru and owner of Off Broadway Boutique in New York.

She contacted me to tell me some fantastic news.

Starting on December 20that 8:30 AM (that's today) on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), Lynn Dell's 1994 TV show "Positively Lynn" will bere-airing! (To check local listings, visit http://www.mnn.org)

The show isabout Lynn discussing and giving tips on everything fashion, fromhow to dress for your figure/age, to how to accessorize a simpleoutfit. Lots of useful information for women of all ages! The show will be running every Tuesday morning for 13 weeks.

Read more about Lynn Dell here and here.

Shoes extravaganza & special offer

2011-12-18T09:45:00.001+01:00

I found these shoes and fell in love with them. It's fun to see how the vintage characteristic has been taken a step further to create a modern styled shoe with the modern feel. What about the red Mary Janes (something Mrs Christmas would love to wear I'm sure), the polka dotted booties, the multi-coloured brogue and the wedged ballerinas?

Amintaonline.com is offering Fairyfiligree readers and followers 10% off shoe purchases made between today and January 15, 2012.

Just use the code FAIRY_XMAS when placing your order.

Before the Sales

2011-12-16T13:40:00.000+01:00

Chicago by Rachel Smith

Soon we will all be engrossed in them - January sales. Do you wait for them all year long like I do? Well, admittedly, these days, with the recession and all, sales seem to happen all year round with pre-Christmas sales making us spend all our saved pennies before Christmas is over so that we have nothing left to spend on January sales.

But in keeping with tradition, January sales always attract crowds and we all fall for the illusion that we shall find that long-aspired-for garment or accessory to complete our wardrobe forever and ever. Most of us will take stock of what we buy after the sales and just shove it all in the with rest. Come spring time we will probably just remove half of it all, give it away or swap it, and the vicious circle goes on and on.

So, hey you must be wondering why on earth I'm harping on about January sales when we're still so many days away from Christmas. That's just because this is the perfect time of year to prepare ourselves for a successful January sale-mania-affair.

Vintage New Wave by Rachel Smith

Taking stock of what's in our wardrobe before we embark on any more shopping expeditions does make sense. If anything, it will help us to think out of the box, in full cognition of what we possess and what we might possibly wish for.

My way of doing it is this....Get hold of all yourusual favourites, get them out of the wardrobe and out of sight. They're your favourites, you wear them enough, you don't need to find new ways of wearing them and they generally would appreciate a good rest.

Then considerwhat you have left. This will include clothes you rarely wear and clothes younever wear. This may be for varied reasons, including the fact that some of them might not fit you anymore. The non-fitting category is as useless as having to wear a wig when you already have a full head of hair. What doesn't fit today, may possibly fit tomorrow, but hey, don't keep hoarding non-fitting clothes because you will end up with a wardrobe of useless items.

Then there are the clothes you think you cannot wear or clothes youbelieve are too boring to be worn anymore. It is often surprising what we can do with clothes from this category and here is how it's done.

Prepare yourself to spend at least one solid hour trying tomatch up items from this lot. That pair of trousers which you never wore afterthat one party… you might find that it actually matches very well with thatjacket your sister swapped with you some time back. Try on, take off, changethe ensemble until you find something that seems to come alive when puttogether.

Once you figure out whether you can wear some newcombinations with your un-favourite items, get out the accessories and mix and match those along too. Chances are you will findthat you will be able to mix and match one item with more than one other item,and this is how you will start building up some new outfits for the new year.

And.. the good thing is that this exercise will be an eye-opener. You will realise that you really must have a new black handbag because the one you do have is crying out for a retirement scheme; it will dawn on you that you really do not need any more red belts because you have three of those already; you will come to the conclusion that you can afford to give away at least three of those seven black skirts because you really will never wear them all. Don't rely on mental notes because these can soon be forgotten in the enthusiasm of so many well-priced goodies. Make a written list of what you really need to look out for and carry it with you so whenever you chance upon what seems to be perfect - you'll know for sure that it is.

Read more about wardrobe organisation here, here and here.
Thanks goes to Rachel Smith on Etsy for these gorgeous images.

The Miram Haskell Bangle

2011-12-14T16:14:00.001+01:00

The first Miriam Haskell jewel to join my collection was this marvellous Cloisonne bangle. I bought it some years back from ebay at a very good price and have cherished it ever since.

The art of Cloisonne is quite a complicated one originating from the Middle East and becoming really popular in China especially during the Ming Dynasty. The process begins with a metal object that has to be decorated. It is usually made of bronze, just like this bangle, and whether it is a plate, a vase or a bead, the process is identical. Small metal strips called cloisons (French) are soldered onto the base in the desired pattern. The capsules of space formed by the strips are then filled in with enamel. The piece is heated in an oven and once cooled, the cloisons and enamel are permanently set into the base.

The beads of the necklace in this picture are made with the cloisonne method and they are extremely well made, each bead being carefully knotted to be thus separated from the other one and avoid damage. There are 30 beads in all... aren't they simply gorgeous? They are for sale here.

Flowers in my Hair

2011-12-13T12:14:00.000+01:00

Just found these out on one of my favourite blogs - One Shoe A Day. These are the creations of Anne Schneider aren't they just so very cute? They very much remind me of the style of artist Frida Kahlo... don't you think so too?

See more images of Frida here

(more innovative headwear here)

Get your mom a plastic spoon

2011-12-12T12:29:00.001+01:00

Aren't these flowers simply divine? I found out this Happy Bouquet by Joy StClaire and was struck by the delicacy of the image. It got me thinking about the beauty of the simple things in life, such as these flowers - the perfect gift for anybody, at any time of the year. And at a time such as this when the rush to buy the perfect Christmas gift is in full swing, it makes sense to stop and think about this. I mean, you can get your mom a plastic spoon but will it move her the way a bouquet of flowers would?

In the language of flowers, pink roses signify perfect happiness. But you needn't have to research a flower and its meaning to create a pretty little homage to a good friend now, do you?

Hello Morning

Fashion photography of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

2011-12-10T12:39:00.001+01:00

Fashion model underwater in dolphin tank, at Marineland, Florida. 1939. A similar image was published in

Vogue in October 1939.

Model wearing an evening gown on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington. June 1949.

These beautiful black and white fashion photos were taken by the New York fashion photographer Toni Frissell (1907-88). She not only photographed fashion models but women from all walks of life. She photographer great personalities of her time, worked with the Red Cross during WWII, becoming the official photographer for the Women's Army Corps. She worked for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, Life.

Fashion model in Victoria Station. Published in "Harper's bazaar", 1951

Top two images are courtesy of the Toni Frissell Collection at the US Library of Congress.

Where on Art...? Scent in a Bottle

2011-12-07T14:37:00.000+01:00

Few have seen the likes of the beautiful bottle in this image. This is the rare 1919 Guerlain bottle created by Baccarat to a design by Raymond Guerlain for the perfume MITSOUKO (which in Japanese means Mystery). The bottle is made of glass crystal with both stopper and bottle having been issued with matching etched numbers which indicates that a limited number of this designer bottle was produced. The bottle in this picture still contains some of the original perfume and its box is intact, which makes it even more rare.

This marvellous perfume bottle is just one of the 250+ scent and perfume bottles on display in an exhibition called Scent Bottles – From Ceremony to Seduction, presently at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, located in the old city of Mdina on the Mediterranean island of Malta.

The exhibition includes bottles from the Palazzo's collection as well as from other private and museum collections around the islands. The variety on show ranges from an ancient Egyptian alabaster perfume oil vial excavated in Malta, through to some of the most attractive chatelaine hanging bottles, the first disposable scent bottles, Victorian double-ended bottles......

I was particularly impressed with the beautiful dressing table bottles made out of Murano glass, Cranberry glass, Mary Gregory glass, Bohemian Cut Crystal.... Then were was a perfume bottle designed by Lalique and an exceptional vanity box dating back from the Napolean III period containing perfectly stored bottles and containers made of glass and porcelain.

Scent Bottles – From Ceremony to Seductionwill be at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina, until December 31,2011. Opening - Tuesday to Sunday 10.00– 16.00 hrs. Admission is free of charge. Formore information visit www.palazzofalson.com.

How do I....? Hanna Bernhard on creating Jewellery

2011-12-05T13:47:00.006+01:00

Hanna Bernhard Aztec Style Necklace

In today's How do I...? post, I am interviewing the Parisian Nathalie Hanna Berhard all about Hanna Bernhard Jewellery and how the brand was born, how the jewellery is created and who wears it... Read on....

Who is Hanna Bernhard?

HB. It is me, my name is Nathalie Hanna Bernhard,Hanna is my middle and Hebraic name, which I chose to name our brand.

How did you start creating jewellery?

HB. I really started after purchasing a big pineapplerhinestone pin in a flea market about 20 years ago (we have a passion forantiques -I sell vintage jewellery and antiques too beside making our pieces-).The dealer asked me whether I would be interested in getting more of suchpieces, and he introduced me to the man who was making them. This person was infact at the head of a Parisian studio working for all the big names -Dior, NinaRicci, etc-.

So I started to meet him as often as I could,I love to learn any technique in which I can express my creativity; then I met Fernandmy husband, who had learned dental prosthesis and how to see things and sculptthem in 3D. Pierre taught Fernand the basis of how to solder the jewellery.Pierre died not so long after and we never stopped to create jewellery sincethen - well, at the beginning we burnt more than one piece !:)

I don't do the soldering, I design, sculpt, choosecolours and set stones, Fernand can do all of those things as well. 'HannaBernhard' is a team, I do everything with my husband Fernand. Most of ourpieces are based on a sculpture and he is a very good sculptor, especially foranimals. I remember one day, coming back from the zoo, he made a giraffe head;it was amazing, he is really gifted. Some customers have seen it in ourstudio and told us we should make it in bronze for decoration. Anotherfield that we should explore…..

Nature and particularly animals inspire us both. Myfather was a biology teacher; Fernand grew up in Corsica, spending most of histime in the nature and especially under the water :) That is one of the reasonwhy we make so many sea animals !

Hanh Merriman wearing her Hanna Bernhard Lucky Cat Necklace in NYC during Fashion Week last July

Why jewellery and not fashion wear?

HB. I could create anything actually, but we onlyhave one life and time is flying so fast ! We often talk about making otherthings, objects, bathing suits, bedding accesories etc etc ! I have alwaysloved jewellery -was already creating rings in primary school :)-, I think thatmeeting this person has been the opportunity for our lives to take thisparticular road..

Bakelite - why bakelite?

HB. This is an old story and you are the first toask this question. As I was telling you earlier, I have a passion for antiques.I love jewellery particularly and especially plastics.

Years ago I was selling on ebay and there was a bigfight because some dealers were using the term 'french-bakelite' for aparticular material, which looks like bakelite, but doesn't pass some testsused by bakelite collectors to identify that material. So some bakelite collectorsstarted to complain to ebay about this expression and eventually it becameforbidden to use it. At that time I had decided to create an internet site, andI guess I was mad at ebay not to be able to be free to say what I wanted to, soas I am French and loves plastics and bakelite, I have used that name for oursite. I have to change it to just 'Hanna Bernhard jewellery' probably, but nowmany people know about it, it is listed in collectors books etc, so I am notsure. And this is part of our 'history'.

The most elaborate jewel you have created so far?

HB. One of them is a Chinese dragon necklace,ordered by a Dallas customer who has Asian origins. It was a challenge as itwas the first time we had to make such a piece.

Iris Apfel and friend Nancy Lowe Turner from store 'Elements of style' in Atlanta. Iris is wearing the Hanna Bernhard Toucan Pin.

The most popular Hanna Bernhard jewel so far?

HB. Our animals are popular, we are not many peopleto make big animal jewellery. Among them the snake necklace is a best seller.

Who is the typical person owning Hanna Bernhard jewelry?

This is also the first time someone asks thisquestion…..Lot of our customers are jewellery collectors, women but alsomany men. Men also wear our pieces :).We often create jewellery displays forour pieces so customers can use them as decorative objects.

Beside that, some of our customers just likefashion and wear our pieces. When I read your question I thought it was funnybecause I had already noticed that those ladies look like each other: strongcharacter, in fashion but also 'feeling free' and confident in themselves.

Hanna Bernhard Snake Necklaces

Is there any new material you are using lately?

HB. No new material for the base, which is alwayscopper that we solder and then it is gilt, silvered or bronzed.

For the ornaments it can vary as we alsouse vintage elements that we find when we are 'antique hunting'.

We are actually in the process of creating some'mass produced' pieces, so we may have some pieces made in sterling silver fora more luxurious range.

If you had to choose between Czech glass beads, cloisonne beads orSwarovski crystals, which would you prefer?

HB. Choosing is a thing I hate to do in my life : Ilike everything you mentioned!

When was the brand Hanna Bernhard born?

HB. About 20 years ago

Some famous personalities who have worn Hanna Bernard jewels?

HB. Dannii Minogue, Anna Plunkett -Australiandesigner of 'Romance was born, Barbara Berger -jewellery collector who makesexhibits of her collections worldwide, next one is scheduled in NY next summer,Iris Apfel -US fashion icon, Heidi Klum -who ordered a python snake necklace afew months ago, and now Raquel Zimmermann Brazilian top model inVogue….. does that count ?

Hanna Bernhard

How to get lots of comments on your blog

2011-12-04T07:44:00.000+01:00

You want to find out how to get people visit your blog and leave you comments. You blog every day or every other day or once a week and then sit and wait for the comments to roll in.

I would like to be able to help you out, would like to be able to tell you how easy it is for this to happen and that once you diligently post on your blog with regularity, then you're on the road to success.

I started out this blog in 2009, late in 2009. It had been a chaotic year for me. One of my sons (ok so now you know I have more than one) left home to live abroad with his beloved in February(ok so now you also know one of my sons is old enough to do this) (you can also assume that I am not that very young, but hey, I'm still pretty young.....)....

My mother died in May 2009 and left a great void in a full life that still felt her void painfully so;

I finished a University degree course in May 2009 as well. The end of three full years of books, study, life on campus.

It seemed to be the end of an era of many things which had been ongoing for many years and suddenly....

The idea to start a blog began as I started to try to fill my empty spaces with interesting things to do. So much so that there were many interesting new things I was getting in touch with and I reckoned the blog would serve as a virtual scrap book to keep them all in one place. It certainly filled the space and brought me in touch with a whole new world of people, artists, designers, fashion ideas, creative ideas, beautiful things, beautiful minds.

I followed all the rules - blog regularly (well almost), include interesting content.
I realised that beautiful content did not necessarily mean lots and lots of prose. Just one exciting picture could be enough to get something noticed.

I visited other blogs, left comments, asked questions, emailed people.
I also helped promote other people when I liked their work enough to want it on my blog. I still do and I love to see them happy about it.

So, how do I help you get comments on your blog?

I don't.

My blog gets visited by many people - I know, I count the number of visitors.
Fairyfiligree now has 100 official followers who supposedly visit regularly. It is a great feat and I am proud of it - 100 is a big number.

Still I seem to attract the lazy variety of followers because very, very few people actually bother to say hello.
Which means, that I am personally still asking that question myself...

How to get lots of comments on your blog?

A Treasury, an Interview and a Montanucci

2011-11-30T16:04:00.000+01:00

Recently I didn't blog much because I was away in beautiful Sicily for three days for an impromptu visit. There I met Sicilian artist Salvatore Montanucci who recently relocated back to Sicily after spending so many years in Malta. Above is just one example of his work.

In the meantime, however I did find time to feature the lovely Phoebe Montague, an Australian blogger who keeps the just as lovely blog Lady Melbourne. In my interview I asked her about her jewellery collection and she shared some of her secret solutions for organising it better.

I have also visited an extraordinary exhibition all about scent bottles... but more of that later on.

Thanks to Liat Resnick for featuring one of the cutest items in my Etsy shop in her recent treasury called
The Very Pink of Perfection.

Selling for a Song - Pre-Christmas Super Sale

2011-11-29T09:57:00.002+01:00

If you're looking for some good jewellery bargains, pay a visit to Fairyfiligree on Etsy. Super saver prices on jewellery for a few limited days only. Only 18 items left.

Lady Gaga, Absinthe & Marie Antoinette

2011-11-26T09:56:00.000+01:00

What do Lady Gaga, Absinthe & Marie Antoinette have in common. They are all featured in the latest fun Etsy Treasury which I created and itall about hair, long hair, and ideas around it.
It's called My Head of Hair Part Three.... Check it out and remember to leave a comment.
Part Three follows Part 1 and Part 2 which are also brimming with ideas and fantastic items.
Have a great weekend.

How do I....? Lady Melbourne on her Collection of Jewellery

2011-11-24T11:19:00.024+01:00

Welcome to the second in the series of 'How do I...?'. Our second guest on FairyFiligree is Phoebe Montague, alias Lady Melbourne. FairyFiligree asked her about her abundant collection of jewellery, how she stores it, what she collects.... Read on...

How many pieces of jewellery do you reckon you own?
PM. I don't think I could put an actual figure on it, but it would be in the hundreds.

What do you prefer wearing on a day to day basis.. modern, vintage, fine costume or just about anything that takes your fancy?

PM. I always lead my outfits with my accessories, so really its about how I feel and the occasion on the day. If it calls for fine jewellery then so be it, otherwise it's about how I'm feeling and what suits my mood.

Where and how do you store your jewellery items?

PM. As I had my own accessories label for seven years, I have a lot of storage!! For the things that are put away in storage I use strong cardboard boxes. Any fine jewellery, for example Chanel, is kept in its original box and I also have a large pin board with what I tend to wear 'day-to-day.' I also have a cube bookcase where I keep my cuffs, larger pieces of jewellery and the shoes that I wear on a daily/weekly basis.

What is the quirkiest jewellery holder/box/container that you own?
PM. I don't know about quirky but I bought a bookcase just to hold my jewellery. Enough said really!

What is the most effective way of storing jewellery?
PM. It depends on how and what you want to store. For fine jewellery, store in its original box out of direct sunlight. I like a good large pin board so that I can see what I might wear on a daily basis.

What do you do to ensure jewellery items do not get damaged in storage?

PM. Wrap in tissue paper and individual boxes.

How do you remember what you have - is there a method by which you store/organise your jewellery?

PM. I'm obsessed with jewellery and accessories and I know where each and every piece is stored from memory. Don't ask me where to find the TV remote though!

What is your favouite jewellery item at the moment?

PM. My current favourite item and one I've been wearing for about a year is a large Turkish statement coin necklace that I bought on Sydney Rd in Brunswick for $40. People stop me in the street when I wear it wanting to know where I bought it. In fact I'm wearing it as I type this!

What jewellery item do you specifically collect and how many of that do you own?

PM. I'm not biased, I will collect/buy whatever tickles my fancy at the time.

Is there any particular jewellery item you aspire to possess one day and why?

PM. A vintage art deco diamond engagement ring. Although that has to be bought for me obviously!

Lady Melbourne

Where on Art...?

2011-11-18T15:49:00.000+01:00

An extraordinary exhibition of SpanishDamascene Metalwork spanning from 1850-1900 is presently in Malta. This selection of beautiful artefacts forms part of the world-famous Khalili Collection originated by Nasser David Khalili.Khalili, an Iranian born billionaire resident in the UK, academic, artcollector and philanthropist. Over the years, he accumulated an astonishing collection of artworks from very specific periods and regions namely – The Arts of the Islamic World(700-1900), Japanese Art of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Swedish Textiles(1700-1900) and Enamels of the World (1700-2000). It is estimated that theentire collection, including also the Spanish Damascened Metalwork, totalssome 25,000 irreplaceable objects. Parts of these collections have travelledaround the world to be showcased in some of the world’s most distinguishedmuseums and this time it is Malta’s turn to enjoy some of these treasuresthanks to the initiative of Heritage Malta.

Many of the exhibits were created by PlacidoZuloaga (1834 – 1910). Zuloaga lived in the Basque region of Spain, an area famous for its production of arms. In fact Zuloaga started out in his father’s gun factory eventually transforming it into one dedicated tocreating Damascened art creations.

Metal Magic - Spanish Treasures from the Khalili Collections will be exhibited atthe National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta until April 29, 2012.

Read more about the Khalili Collections.

What's in That Bag?

2011-11-16T16:49:00.032+01:00

What can the owner of this bag cram inside it.... check it out!

Vintage 60s Black Purse
Red Buckle and Belt Vintage Head Scarf
Leather Five Year Diary with Lock
Erotic Sleep Mask
1960s Ballpoint Pen

Multipurpose Holder

The Fruit Necklace and Carmen Miranda

2011-11-14T14:37:00.001+01:00

In this autographed picture taken in 1930, a young Carmen Miranda (1909 – 1955) was just starting her career as the world's best known Samba singer and dancer. Born in Portugal, she grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After her singing talents were discovered, she moved on to become a superstar in her own right. She sang, danced, wowed the audiences, made movies until she died suddenly, barely 46 years old, after suffering a heart attack on stage.

Recently I came across this pretty colourful vintage necklace, full of lovely stylised plastic fruits and leaves, and in great vintage shape - it instantly reminded me of Carmen Miranda's typically flamboyant and colourful Samba outfits. Her publicity pictures and all her movies portrayed her wearing huge towering headdresses including luscious fruits. She soon became known as 'the lady in the tutti-frutti hat'. Many jewellery designers were keen to copy her style and fruit jewellery became all the rage, especially after Saks Avenue created a whole collection of Carmen Miranda inspired accessories.

You can see her in action on the links I found for you. If you like the necklace, you will find out more about it here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZFVGyBzVpk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0p2-R3b_Ko&feature=related

How do I...? Wendy Brandes on her Jewellery Creations

2011-11-11T10:44:00.000+01:00

This is the first in this new FairyFiligree series entitled - How do I....?
The chosen lady blogger, jewellery creator and wonderful person is
Wendy Brandes....

Wendy Brandes was a finalist at the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award in February 2011.

Photo by Eric Michelson for Fashion Group International

How is a WB design born?

WB. When I think of a great story that I can interpret in metal

What inspires you to design?

WB. I'm very inspired by the stories of important women of history. Queens, Empresses, legendary female popes. Some of them are obvious ones like Cleopatra. Others are perhaps more obscure, like the 7th century Empress Wu of China.

What is most important to your designs - style or practicality?

WB. There's no use in making something beautiful if it's uncomfortable to wear. I put all my designs to the test.

How do you work with colour?

WB. I like interesting color combinations, like my green (tsavorite) and purple (amethyst) Marie Antoinette ring.

Empress Wu Ring

How long does it take you to design a specific piece?

WB. A simple piece, like a wedding band, might be done in less than two weeks. But complicated pieces have taken as long as a year. This post on my custom tiger ring will take you through the process better than I can here! http://wendybrandes.com/blog/2011/10/jewel-of-the-month-tiger-tiger-burning-bright/

Why jewellery? Why not fashionwear?

WB. I like the permanence and timelessness of jewelry made from precious metals. When I see gold jewelry from ancient Egypt and Rome in museums, I feel like I'd be happy to wear it now. The other great thing about jewelry is that it's not dependent on body type, like clothes are. You can be any size or shape and find top-notch jewelry that works for you. If a ring or a necklace is too small or too big, I'll customize it for you. Simple as that.

What typifies WB jewellery?

WB. Obsessive attention to detail.

How would you like to imagine the women who wear WB jewellery to be? What sort of personalities?

WB. The women who wear my jewelry are ones who are brave enough to make a statement and attract attention. But they're not necessarily like that when I meet them! I find that -- without really trying -- I often persuade women to break out of a more conservative mold.

Cleo Earrings

What has been the most successful WB jewellery creation so far?

WB. In silver, my "swear rings" have been popular, and, in the gold category, my Clemence rings are always a big hit.

How many jewellery items do you design every year? How many in 2010 for instance?

WB. Oh gosh. Twelve? Fifteen? It's kind of unpredictable.

Wendy Brandes Jewellery

What's in That Bag?

2011-11-03T07:55:00.002+01:00

Did you know that the carpet bag was originally made out of Oriental carpets and that is became popular as a sturdy travelling bag during the 19th Century? An alternative name to the carpet bag is tapestry bag. Here is what the lady owning it could hold within.....?

Sixties Tapestry Bag

Vintage Princess Gardner Leather Wallet and Coin Purse

Vintage Hair Net

Vintage Style Cat's Eyes Sunglasses

Solid Perfume in a Vintage Gold Compact

Brooch Bonanza

2011-11-01T14:17:00.003+01:00

As winter creeps closer, we're all aiming to wear heavier jackets and coats with lapels large enough to hold all those brooches and pins which have been waiting patiently for the reason to exist. I mean, most pins and brooches are way too heavy to wear with the lightweight fabrics which spring and summer and often autumn clothes are made of.

I especially love picking up vintage brooches and pins when these come my way and some of the prettiest I have handled have been pre-owned and well-respected. Sometimes, discovering a beautiful brooch which has lost its pin is dismaying but I tend to keep special ones which have been created with an eye-catching design. One never knows what use might be made of it.

Some of the loveliest pins and brooches to come my way have been passed on to others, some others are still waiting patiently for the right person to come along and make them her/his own.

Here is a Brooch Bonanza for you to enjoy...

Floral Brooch with Pearl available here

Hand-painted bone pin available here

Pink Rhinestone Brooch available here

Da wonder of DaWanda

2011-10-31T15:55:00.001+01:00

Although I love traipsing off to visit Etsy shops and own my own in this virtual marketplace, I am always seeking new avenues of inspiration and visual pleasure. One of these is DaWanda which was founded by Claludia Helming and Michael Putz way back in 2006.

It was close to Christmas and they had just been quizzing themselves on where to get unique gifts. Handmade seemed the best idea and although they tried to make their own presents, they wanted to see what other talented people were creating. DaWanda started off in earnest on December 3, 2006, so it is rapidly approaching its 5th anniversary.

Knowing that DaWanda is an African woman's name meaning 'something extraordinary, unlike any other' fully explains why this special name was selected for this website where unique handmade and hard-to-find gifts are located.

The second edition of the DaWanda 'Lovebook' has now been launched and offers a selection of the loveliest handmade Christmas gifts available in this marketplace. It is called 'Lovebook' because giving a gift is a way of showing your love. Choose from items created by over 110,000 designers at DaWanda.

What's in That Bag?

2011-10-27T14:51:00.019+02:00

Super Sleek 60s Handbag
Silk Luxury Sleep Mask
Breast Cancer Awareness Pen
Vintage Modernist Scarf Clip
Blond Mink Hat
Christian Dior Pink Leather Wallet

2011-10-26T12:10:00.000+02:00

Vintage Styled Cat's Eye Sunglasses to return to the past....

Who will turn 100?

2011-10-25T17:56:00.001+02:00

Fairyfiligree is eagerly awaiting to welcome its 100th Follower. And this very shortly after this blog has celebrated its 2nd Anniversary on October 18. No celebrations were made, but the 100th Follower will definitely be feted. Wonder who it will be?

As I wait to find out, I am treating you to some of the best pictures featured on this blog, at least the ones which excited most questions....

Ageless Pearls

2011-10-24T17:38:00.001+02:00

Dita Von Teese Cannes 2007 by Mirelli Ampilhac

Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge 1879 by Mary Cassatt (1844 - 1926)

The Pearl Necklace c. 1905 by Henry Tonks ( 1862 - 1937)

Beautiful women and beautiful pearls go hand in hand in a timeless combination. Beauty is ageless after all.

Alice in Wonderland never had it so good....

2011-10-23T15:57:00.000+02:00

Three-some of multi-strand bead necklaces were featured here.

The Bullfight

2011-10-21T09:04:00.000+02:00

At the Bullfight by Albert Lynch (1851-1912)

Thankfully for the bulls, the last bullfight in Barcelona was held last September whilst bullfighting will be banned in Catalonia as of next year. As I wondered what all the Matadors, Toreros and others involved in the bullfight would be doing in the future, I also wondered what they would be doing with the beautiful traditional costumes they wear.

Matador Antonio Barrera 2003

Matador Limeño Patio Cuadrillas 1960

Image by Maesejose (Flickr) 2007

What's in That Bag?

2011-10-20T08:25:00.000+02:00

It is once again time for the What's in That Bag? feature. This week I chose a very different bag from what I selected last week, bubbling with colour and so very fun! The focus is on handmade with love. Here is a sneak peek at what's in it.....

Swirly Pop Felt Bag

Personalised Leather Notebook

Large Zippered Cosmetic Pouch

Granny's Long Scarf
Felt & Zipper Flower Brooch

Where on Art? - Second Lives

2011-10-17T20:35:00.009+02:00

Hanging made from a dragon robe, China, 19th century. TM 2009.9.2. Gift

of Elina Vesara Ostern Trust.

Today I am introducing another new feature which I plan to offer here on Fairyfiligree as regularly as possible. Where on Art? is all about art exhibitions which may be found anywhere around the globe. Whilst I publish the blog from a tiny island in the Med, I am aware that my readers and followers come from all corners of the globe. So Fairyfiligree is constantly seeking info about inspiring exhibitions which might be close to where you live, work or travel.

'Second Lives - The Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles' is an exhibition focusing on re-inventing the wheel or rather, the textile. Take the image above - a wall hanging made from a Chinese dragon robe.

Left: Chief Anotklosh of the Taku Tribe, wearing a ceremonial mantle, Juneau, Alaska, ca. 1913. Courtesy of the Seattle Museum of History & Industry.

Right: Vest made from a ceremonial mantle, Northwest coast of North America, ca. 1825-1875. TM 1963.53.1. Gift of Alan R. Sawye

Ceremonial mantles, or cloaks, were sometimes cut into pieces and distributed as gifts by the Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Haida tribes of the Northwest Coast-resulting in creative reimaginings of the prized cloth, such as with this vest shown above.

Hanging -Afghanistan 20th century (detail)

This exhibition has been at The Textiles Museum, Washington D.C. since last February and will stay on show until January 8, 2012.

Recycling is nothing new after all!

Packing for the Weekend

2011-10-15T10:30:00.003+02:00

One of the challenges of packing an effective weekend bag is packing things that mix and match well enough to keep the bag as compact as possible. You don't want to be lugging a 50-kilo affair around with you when you're supposed to be spending the weekend enjoying yourself. Trying to come to terms with making do with as little as possible may not be easy but this is what I have found works:

- Choose a maximum of three colours that can mix and match, blend and coordinate intelligently. You must make sure that whatever you choose from your bag, matches well with anything else you have in your bag.

Take this basic colour range - denim + blue/black; cream + tan . Think of the possibilities here. You can mix tan coloured shoes/black shoes/blue shoes; you can add black skirt/black pants; you can also add cream wool sweater or cardi/cream pants/cream wool dress/ cream tights.

Choose fun items that can mix in well with a number of other colours. this tee has a basic white colour and includes black, red, yellow (cream) and it's never out of fashion. Think how easily it could combine with any of the items in the previous picture.

Take low maintenance items such as the denim jacket above. Again consider how well this set of clothing can match well with anything featured so far. You have an ideal situation of mix and match. And only one extra change of clothes so far.

Choose handbags that speak their own story whilst mixing in well with your basic gear - one handbag for the whole weekend which is spacious enough to hold just about everything you want. The dress featured above could also match well with either of the jackets seen in the pictures above it as well as with the red bag.

Remember to always take one largish scarf that can blend well with all of your repertoire. It will come in handy for varied reasons. You may have noticed that Fairyfiligree loves scarves and I always carry one with me wherever I go, winter or summer. It's usually a lifesaver and my scarves have been used for tying around my neck to keep out the cold; shielding me from the hot summer sun as I trudged up a steep hill; tying around my head to keep my hair in place in the wind; tying up my hair; wrapping around my shoulders for an extra layer; lent to a friend who wanted to go into a church but was only wearing skimpy shorts - she used the scarf as an impromptu sarong; and a hundred other useful ways.....

Take comfortable shoes....

Take one extra pair of shoes. Never ever take just one pair to wear for the entire weekend - no matter how comfy they are. Shoes can get wet (I know), soiled, start hurting you (surprise surprise) or just fall apart when you need them most. And your feet will feel better for a change of shoes after a long day of walking.

All the wonderful imagery is being used with the kind permission and courtesy of David Nyanzi from

The Nyanzi Report - Street Fashion and more...

What's in That Bag?

2011-10-13T17:03:00.000+02:00

Do you ever wonder what other women keep in their bags? Where they got that bag from and how they managed to get their act together, bag and all, so stylishly?
Fairyfiligree just loves bags and like most of you, wears hers to death, especially the ones she loves the most.
Today I am introducing this new feature on bags, all sort of bags.... I'll be picking out an eclectic selection over the weeks, with the most eye-catching, intriguing and curious bags I can find.... and then proceed to stuff them with some exceptional items, things you and I would just love to have in our bag.

I couldn't resist this cute white marble-ised Lucite Purse Box with Diamond Stars , an original vintage collector's item.

Wonder what's inside?

Follow on......

Lucite Handbag Purse

Wild 60s Big Lens Eyeglasses

Softly Fringed Vintage Hanky

Vintage Soft Blue & White Leather Gloves

Coin Purse with Sherbet Flowers

What's in That Bag? will be featured every week. If you would like to propose and vintage, handmade or antique item for inclusion, just contact me on fairyfiligree@gmail.com

The Bustle

2011-10-12T08:35:00.001+02:00

Temple Of Love Velvet Bustle Jacket by Lovechild Boudoir

Bustle circa 1907

Don't you love the bustle? Between 1867 and 1908 bustles were worn by women in the West under the skirt, attached to the waist. It was meant to keep their long skirt from dragging especially when heavy fabric was used. However by the last quarter of the 19th Century, the bustle became a fashion must. Reviving the bustle has resulted in gorgeous coats such as the one above.

A Pup for added Style

2011-10-10T11:00:00.001+02:00

Would you feel more stylish accompanied by a pooch like this? I spotted it emerging out of a luxury boutique along one of Florence's poshest shopping districts and couldn't stop myself from snapping the shot.

Dying Lace

2011-10-08T10:19:00.000+02:00

Dying traditions around the Mediterranean... This story from Cyprus pretty much epitomizes it all. Courtesy of Etsy...

I thought I'd share this video I found on Etsy which pretty much sums up what is happening in member states of the European Union where small handcrafts and skills are being lost to machine-made imports.

Leave your comments please.

She used to wear Goth....

2011-10-02T14:45:00.000+02:00

Antique Victorian Lace Handkerchief from FrenchFrouFrou

My latest Etsy Treasury is all about Monochrome colours - perfect for wearing anywhere and any time you want to make an impression. I figured out some of these fantastic items would be favoured by somebody who used to wear Goth all the time and is slowly weaning herself off that style.... This is the FairyFiligree item that was included.

Long Summer Blues

2011-09-30T17:53:00.001+02:00

Back after a long summer of many happenings. I preferred to spend my free time swimming and in the meantime, I abandoned my blog for a good while, but am back with a bang and promising lots more to come. This is something of what I've also been doing for the past months....

Travelling....

English Travelling, or The First Stage from Dover, aquatinted by Francis Jukes 1747-1812, pub. by T. Smith, 1785

Writing.....

Image by Pilarportela (Literacy in Oaxaca - 2005)

Studying gems.....

Mourning the loss of a relative....

In Memoriam, painting by Alfred Stevens, c. 1858-61, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

City Wear for Summer

2011-06-22T16:36:00.001+02:00

Sex in the City during an Oriental Summer with Ice on my mind......

Fancy some new exciting ideas on what to wear during a torrid summer in the city without forgetting how to stay cool?

Visit my latest Treasury on Etsy here...

Collectible Mannequins

2011-06-16T15:44:00.000+02:00

Recently blogger Lucy of Corset Laced Mannequins

whom you can also find on Etsy,

sent me a lovely set of postcards she created to promote her beautifully crafted mannequins.

The postcards are a great compliment to my own postcard collection about which I will hopefully find time to blog soon.

I have been following Lucy's blog for ages and love her continuously evolving army of mannequins with their variegated characters and styles.

Corset Laced Mannequins whose recently revamped blog you can visit also through the link on the sidebar of this blog here, has kindly offered a giveaway to FairyFiligree followers.

Up for grabs is a set of these lovely four postcards - collectors items with fantastic photography.

All you have to do to participate is this:

1. Visit http://www.corsetlacedmannequins.co.uk/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CorsetLacedMannequin

and leave a comment to tell us which mannequin you like best.

2. Last day for this giveaway is June 25th.

3. Remember to leave a link to your blog, webpage or email so I can contact you if you win....

A Feather for Writing

2011-06-09T18:02:00.002+02:00

Have you ever fancied yourself writing with a feather? Do you imagine the man in your life writing with one? Definitely the epitome of class and elegance, don't you think?

Some time ago I had the opportunity to meet Roberto Di Giorgio, the Italian Chairman and founder of Campo Marzio Design. This was during a press conference held for the occasion of the official opening of a Campo Marzio Design shop in the marvellous old Maltese city of Mdina.

You may have seen a Campo Marzio shop as you walked along the high streets of some of the world's most exclusive and cosmopolitan cities.

Campo Marzio was born as a pen producing company and shop in Rome, Italy in the 1930s, right at the heart of one of Europe's most intellectual arenas - the Campo Marzio. The aim was to create calligraphy and writing instruments to be used by senators, politicians, writers and all those people who in that day and age valued calligraphy with a passion. A well-bred person was judged by his or her well-bred writing style. And a good pen was the best tool to have.

The company developed with the times and in the 1990s, Campo Marzio Design came into being, creating designer writing insturments and stationery and accessories in vibrant colours and signature styles... unmistakable Italian style.

With shops in major cities around the world, Campo Marzio Design opened its second London store in July 2010.

In the autumn of 2010, Campo Marzio Design signed a deal with Kate's Paperie, to officially introduce the brand to the US.

And earlier this year, it launched a shop in Russia.

Today Campo Marzio shops are probably found in a city near you since the brand is located in countries as diverse as Italy, China, South Africa, Chile, Australia, Japan, Malta, Denmark and elsewhere....

The images with this blog post are of a very particular Campo Marzio Design. The beautiful Feather Calligraphy Set represents the best of the old fashion concept of Campo Marzio.

View the entire Campo Marzio Collection at

http://www.campomarziodesign.it/

Five Vintage Yellow Essentials to pack in luggage

2011-06-05T10:08:00.001+02:00

So you're planning a vacation.

And you love vintage.

And you want to stay stylish even on a wardrobe tucked in a suitcase.

Here are 5 vital vintage essentials to take along.
Especially if, like myself, you love yellow...

1. Vintage Scarf
Keeps head cool in sun;
Keeps head warm in wind;
Keeps neck warm in cold;
Keeps pants up when elastic breaks on you;
Keeps dull tee jazzed out;
Tuck under face when napping on a bus/coach/airplane;
Keep out light when trying to nap on a bus/coach/airplane;
Use to dry hands when there's no hand dryer in the restroom;
........

2. Vintage coin purse
Keeps coins together;
Keeps coins handy;
Saves you from diving to bottom of bag to retrieve coins;
Easy to tuck safely into small pockets;
.......

3. Vintage sunglasses
Keeps eyes shaded;
Keeps you looking fabulous even after too many late nights in a row;
Keeps eyes shaded when you've obviously been losing sleep;
Keeps you looking cool through all vacation;
........

4. Vintage pin
Keeps boring tee looking perky;
Great to add to hat;
Great to keep vintage scarf in place;
Great to keep blouse closed against the wind;
Great as a conversation starter;
Great to use to wake up comatose travelling partner;
.......

5. Vintage dress
which is baggy, comfy;
doesn't need ironing;
has ample pockets;
can wear over leggings;
can wear open over another outfit.
couples with all accessories.

My kind of flowers

2011-06-01T20:50:00.000+02:00

I love flowers, flowery things, whatever they are made of.

Recently came upon some flowers which particularly appealed to me. I thought I'd share them with you here on FairyFiligree....

Beautiful Romantic Angora Triangle Shawl by lovelycrotchet

Modern Brooch Bouquet by TheRitzyRose

frilly floral by artmeister

Royal Cuff by staroftheeast

Filigree Floral Bracelet by TrulyFiligree

Janet Laura Scott 1938 Baby Book from wonderdiva

Vintage Flower Earrings from FairyFiligree

How much is too much? - Part 2

2011-05-31T10:38:00.002+02:00

In my previous post I introduced Lynn Dell.
Somebody asked me her age and I told them... she's a glorious 75+ and enjoying it.

She came to my blog curious to see what I wrote about Josephine Baker as she had eaten at her restaurant as well as visited a museum in Mexico which is dedicated to Josephine Baker.

But off we went at a tangent, so we steered our long-distance conversation back to the topic at hand -

Jewellery - how much is too much?

Lynn Dell says,

"I consider myself an artist more than anything else. When I put together my experience in my shop Off Broadway Boutique which I've had for 42 years now here in Manhattan, apart from the six stores I've had along the way, I have learnt that the way things sell most is to put more of the same together in the window.

So if I'm focusing on brown, I will include lots of different shades of brown jewllery together. It is all about making a statement.
My advice tips are these:

- If your clothes are simple with beautiful lines, they are the perfect background. You can go ahead and add the sparkle with your jewellery.

- Choose a theme; balance colour and texture.

- Forget the busy background - the simpler the background created with your clothes, the better to show your jewellery.

- Nothing is 'wrong'. You are allowed to make a statment but....

- Some people cannot wear big jewellery yet...

- Too much can be wonderful.

-I break all the rules myself but ultimately...
I don't believe in fashion... I believe in style.

- Fashion says ME TOO; Style says ONLY ME!

- As you grow older everything should go up to fight gravity and this includes earrings. 90% of the earrings I sell at my shop are clip-back earrings - so that's a hint for the older ladies.

-Dress for the theatre of your life."

Off Broadway Boutique also has a back-of-store collection of designer and vintage wear which you'd like to visit when you're in NY City. And if you're after fantastic jewellery - you'll see the biggest collection of jewellery in any one store in the whole of NY City at Lynn Dell's shop.

How much is too much?

2011-05-27T07:24:00.000+02:00

You probably adore jewellery just as much as I do. I've got tons of it, most of which I wear regularly. Most of my friends always look out to see what I'm wearing and remark that I'm always wearing the most unique pieces.

As I have said before, for me, jewellery is wearable art.

Sometimes when I'm planning an outfit, I like to think of what jewellery I'll be complimenting it with and even when I'm actually finalising my outfit in front of the mirror, I sometimes downsize the amount of jewellery I wear because I prefer to go for a couple of unique items rather than tons of the stuff all at one go.

Still I always marvel at those who can happily wear and carry off huge amounts of jewellery without seeming over the top.

Lynn Dell photographed by Chris Clinton

And as I planned out this post, I thought.... Lynn Dell. Ms Dell is one fine lady I found out about through the wonderful blog Advanced Style.
She runs a boutique in New York called Off Broadway Boutique.

Although I have never been to NYC, I did manage to get to know Ms Dell a bit better through a long and interesting transoceanic phone calle during which she shared some of her glamour tips and style ideas.
Coming up in a post soon, you will get to read my interview with MS Dell
- keep following!

The Transformable Necklace

2011-05-24T10:08:00.000+02:00

When my good friend jewellery designer and maker Nadege told me about the Boomerang I was quite impressed by the originality of her creation. I wasn't the only one apparently, considering that her inventive design recently placed 3rd at the

WIPO Award for Creativity.

The concept is exceptionally dynamic and versatile. You have one fine piece of jewellery which you can combine with anything you favour from your accessories wardrobe. Get the curved shape made from sterling silver sheet and add to it a proposed attachment or scarf to create multiple wearable alternatives to satisfy your mood and outfit, whatever the occasion, whatever your age.

The simple detachability and attachability concept is quite fun and helps you avoid the 'stuck-in-a-rut' outfit everytime.
I thought it was a fun transformable item to have and know you will be quite curious to see more of it here.

Hortensia with love

2011-05-19T16:08:00.000+02:00

Some days ago I was gifted a beautiful hortensia plant in a colour variation that I hadn't seen ever before. Hortensias are popular Mother's Day flowers on the Mediterranean island where I live and a variety of these coloured blooms are found on display almost everywhere you go. They herald spring in with a vengeance of colour. The most popular colours are lilac, soft pink and soft yellow.

This particularly glorious plant was gifted to me by a lovely florist whom I interviewed for the umpteenth time. The flowers are grown by a Maltese nursery and are particularly sturdy and acclimatised to the Mediterranean climate.

The pot sits on a curious stone contraption which is an antique. Most of you will wonder what on earth it could be.

It is called a 'kenur' and is an antique portable stone stove which was used by housewives in the olden days on the Mediterranean island of Malta. I thought it served the purpose of holding these delicious blooms to perfection.

Wartski, Kate and Japonisme

2011-05-16T15:49:00.000+02:00

You may have heard of Wartski quite recently as this was where Prince William got the wedding ring for Kate Middleton.

If you're curious about visiting this exclusive London jeweller, you have all the more reason to do so now since you can also view a very special exhibition dedicated to jewellery:

Japonisme: From Falize to Fabergé,

the Goldsmith and Japan.

This is a loan exhibition which carries approximately 200 items on show. Wartski decided to do the exhibition, as it was an area of design in jewellery that had not been explored hugely. Whilst there had been exhibitions on Japonisme in art more generally (and also on aetheticism), no exhibition had explored the influence of Japonisme on jewellery.

This exhibition, spanning the fifty years from 1867 to 1917, is in fact the first devoted to the influence of Japanese works of art on Western jewellers and goldsmiths including Falize, Boucheron, Fouquet, Gaillard, Vever, Lalique, Cartier, Tiffany, Gorham, Elkington, Wolfers, and Fabergé.

Some 160 jewels, objects and original designs assembled from public and private collections will be shown alongside photographs of related Japanese source material. Amongst the loans are a centrepiece by Boucheron featuring a Japanese boy painting a screen, a diamond-set corsage ornament by Vever composed of a spray of cherry blossom measuring 29 cm, a winter landscape pendant by Lalique framed by ice-laden conifers, a brooch in the form of a chrysanthemum set with Mississippi pearls by Tiffany, and a hardstone Japanese flower study poised on a miniature table by Fabergé.

Open until 20th May 2011, 11am to 5pm (closed Sunday) at

Wartski, 14 Grafton Street, London W1S 4DE.

http://www.wartski.com/

Versace Style

2011-05-08T16:43:00.002+02:00

Some time ago, my good blogger friend Sharon of My Style - Fashion, Vintage and Me.... wrote a lovely post about one of my fave designers - Versace which you can read here.

I dug out the picture above from a 1980s magazine which I think pretty much shows the impact of this great designer's flair for mixing and matching colours and textiles.
So imagine my enthusiasm when I also came across this fabulous blouse...

which encapsulates the 80s pretty vividly with a cacophony of colours, shoulder pads, flounces and sheer fabric. It's not a Versace, but I think it is simply fab... check it out here.

Fireworks Festa

2011-05-05T16:32:00.000+02:00

Bang, Boom and Varoom!

Last weekend I was invited to enjoy an open-air barbecue in a historic landmark on the island of Malta from where we could all later on enjoy the spectacle offered by the Malta Fireworks Festival.

Held in the Grand Harbour of Malta, the fireworks festival was really a wonderful event as you can see...

The colour effects were magnificent and the festival well and truly opened the festa season which starts off during May and spans throughout the whole of summer on Malta. Each village and town has its own 'festa' and fireworks are the order of the day.

The old capital city of Valletta is seen clearly as a backdrop to these marvellous fireworks which were launched off a floating barge in the middle of the port.

Cheers to all!

What Miranda said

2011-04-29T17:12:00.001+02:00

I first saw the film 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006) flying clubclass aboard an Emirates flight to Dubai. I was off on a prestigious press trip and when I was given the chance to view the movie I wanted whilst en route, I knew just what it would be.

For me this is one amazing film, not only because I love seeing Meryl Streep in action, but also because it is about the fashion world. The movie opened my mind up to a novel concept that hit me as I heard this short but concentrated conversation between the two main protagonists of the film. Here's how the conversation flowed...

Miranda Priestly: [Miranda and some assistants are deciding between two similar belts for an outfit. Andy sniggers because she thinks they look exactly the same] Something funny?

Andy Sachs: No. No, no. Nothing's... You know, it's just that both those belts look exactly the same to me. You know, I'm still learning about all this stuff and, uh...

Miranda Priestly: 'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent... wasn't it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.

Do you remember the scene?
Now, when I hear somebody commenting about the superficiality of fashion, I have to agree that yes, fashion might seem superficial to the uninitiated, but...

fashion provides jobs for people, clothes for people, fun and colour for people... clothes are also what we think of when remembering special events in our lives, special people, historic moments.

I haven't read Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name as the movie, but if she was the one who penned these verses for Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway to say, then she was so very darned well right!

Josephine Baker

2011-04-28T09:02:00.000+02:00

Josephine Baker dancing the Charleston at the Folies Bergère, Paris

- Revue Nègre Dance (1926).

Picture by Walery, French, 1863-1935

Finding out about Josephine Baker is an insightful experience. This is the 1920s..... and a woman of colour is taking Paris by storm.

She started life in 1906 as the daughter of a washerwoman in Missouri USA. Her first jobs were as a cleaner. She ended up being one of the most exciting dancers of her time. I you-tubed some old films of her, one as late as 1974 which shows a splended woman with a marvellous voice, taking centre stage to an acclaiming audience. A year later she passed away and had a funeral in Paris which attracted thousands of followers.

If you watch Baker dance, it seems as if she cannot stop once the music starts. She jives and jiggles and jumps and romps about with inexhaustible energy.

More importantly, she was a woman of colour, taking centre stage in a white man's world.

Amongst the many curiousities of her lifetime, please note that she adopted 12 children which is no mean feat; was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the French government.

If you'd like to find out more about her, check these links...

http://www.cmgww.com/stars/baker/index.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPCYYdECJIs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsXyDrf9HO0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNwt-q8rabY&feature=related

Josephine Baker in "La Revue des Revues" (1927)

Picture by Walery, French, 1863-1935

Going back to colours

2011-04-20T12:40:00.000+02:00

It's officially colour-time again. As spring-time is well and truly here, I can't but help feeling excited about wearing real colours again. Now you might ask... what's to stop her from wearing colours even in winter? Why does winter always have to be about wearing boring, staid, depressing colour?

Have tried to shake off the feeling of un-enthusiasm where winter clothes are concerned, and I honestly need to find a way and a means to do that come next season. Perhaps it's because shops seem to automatically switch to 'winter' colours leaving behind the fund and the joy of pure colour fun to spring and summer.

Today, I found some time to re-shuffle my wardrobe contents and I must admit that the experiment which took place last season where I had decided to organise my hanging clothes by item rather than by colour, has well and truly failed to inspire me.

So, I have re-shuffled blacks with blacks, blues with blues, purples with purples, reds with reds, etc, etc and already my wardrobe contents are making real sense.

At a glance I could pick out three or four outfits ready to be ironed and pressed for wearing during the coming weekend.

Now I am starting to re-evaluate what I have ready to wear for summer and am eager to get myself some new stuff. I have been eyeing Etsy shops to get inspiration and boy, is there a lot out there!!

Sit Back and Listen

2011-04-19T11:42:00.000+02:00

Lestat (Jan Mehlich)

Performer's Cafe is the place to visit when you feel like listening to some real groovy music. This is the second music podcast show available to listen to anytime, produced by Lydia Lilli. On the current show, which is 5 hours long, she's even included music from the Maltese rock band “Winter Moods”. I think you’d enjoy the shows which she hosts and produces. Although it’s available as a free subscribe podcast on ITUNES, it’s easier for people to just hear it at www.performerscafe.com. It’s a long show, over five hours long, but you can listen to a little at a time day or night.

The playlist and bands, musicians, singer-songwriters always change. Lydia tries to feature as many different artists and songs as she can from everywhere. Show # 2 features Winter Moods from Malta, some calypso and reggae music, artists from the UK, from Germany, from Canada, the U.S., etc.

You will find specific details announcing the songs, who the performers are, where they are from, their websites, where they are appearing, etc. The site even features an interview each month with a different recording artist. This month it's with UK jazz and funk saxman SHILTS (a/k/a Paul Weimer) who now resides in California and performs all around the world with top jazz acts. Quite a few of his recordings feature on show #2.

The next show will be available sometime in May. Lydia says, "I also feature various comedians in my live comedy and music show productions too. And – I am always seeking music submissions from singer-songwriters, bands and musicians from all over the world. They can e-mail me at Lydia@performerscafe.com with their information and links to their music and cds. I also encourage them to visit the PERFORMERS CAFÉ Facebook page for other information. I would love to feature more music from Mediterranean countries and this is why I encourage people to recommend bands and musicians to me. The purpose of PERFORMERS CAFÉ is to play music that some people may not normally ever get a chance to hear in their part of the world. So the more song submissions I get, the more I can feature artists from everywhere."

Embroidered Heirlooms

2011-04-15T08:12:00.001+02:00

Those who follow this blog regularly might have realised that I do love embroidery. Handmade embroidery is especially exciting to me - the idea that somebody painstakingly and patiently worked their way through the cloth with thread and needle, bringing out colour and design.
I don't know why this fascination really, but some fine embroidery is really worth keeping and enjoying as often as possible. I don't snob machine embroidery when it's well done however, but obviously, handmade is always much finer.

Take this dress which you can see better here.....

I think it is particularly suggestive of the era it was made in. It combines two of my favourite characteristics when I'm out hunting for special vintage finds - it belongs to the 1950s, and it's including embroidered floral designs. This would have been the kind of dress that required you to wear a slip underneath just not to have anything seen through, or a frothy underskirt that would have also plumped out that skirt exquisitely. I still remember I used to play-act with one such skirt when I was a small kid - it was pink nylon, tiered with lace and some soft netting.

I thought this delicately made billfold is especially cute. Check it out here. From this listing I found out that this type of embroidery is called hardanger embroidery but also whitework embroidery since it is done with thread of the same identical colour to match the pale fabric.

Something contemporary like this sweet blossom bag which you can view here
is hand felted and adorned with ribbon embroidery and brass flowers. I think it is adorable and quite unique. Felting is a very particular technique which I've been seeing used quite frequently lately.

I must say that I once owned a blouse somewhat similar to this one, though not so colourful. Unfortunately I must have given it away many summers ago. This unique vintage item comes from the early part of the last century (1930s) and apart from embroidery includes other special hand-made techniques such as smocking. You can see it better here

These slippers I had included in a Treasury some time back when I was still bemoaning the arrival of winter and tried to create a cheerful Treasury with alternative ideas to drab winter wear and most of the items actually sold, so I assume visitors to that Treasury really liked what they saw.

I find these slippers particularly pretty with their sequined leafwork. Check them out here

And then there is this awesome dress....

you can see more of it here

Very bohemian, it also includes, apart from the embroidered floral designs, also

crotchet trimming and satin ribbons... Isn't it simply fantastic? I love it. Isn't it fun?

Thanks to the Etsy sellers who allowed me to use images of their wares, namely

Stellahsgroove, Jeanjeanvintage, StarBags, Gemma2010, Naranja37 and Vdingy.

Blooms

2011-04-12T09:31:00.000+02:00

I thought I'd share this beautiful picture of the gorgeous flowers of an almond tree in the countryside where we live - it's in full bloom, a joy to see and a promise of many delicious almonds very very soon.....

Buying Diamonds & Gems

2011-04-06T12:13:00.000+02:00

I was recently asked to review another one of Antoinette Matlins' latest books, written with A.C, Bonanno -

Jewelry & Gems - The Buying Guide, 7th Edition.

If you've ever wondered about those coloured stones on your jewellery or on the jewellery you admire more, this author is here to explain it all with the help of some exceptional pictures.

Whether you're enthralled with diamonds, opals, sapphires or rubies.... there's a lot to learn in this book. There is also a lot of detail on individual stones, their official name, their popular name, their typical colour, as well as approximate retail cost per carat.... so if you're planning on buying yourself a gemstone or getting somebody one or actually enticing somebody to get you one, you really must read this book and learn all the nitty gritty details. Especially since we all know there are several synthetic imitations of the real thing and unless you know what you're on about, you can easily be conned.

Jewelry & Gems - The Buying Guide by Antoinette Matlins, PG and A.C. Bonanno, FGA, PG, ASA, is published by Gemstone Press.

For more information visit http://www.gemstonepress.com/

Clothes of many Colours

2011-04-02T16:11:00.001+02:00

Taking direct inspiration from a very favourite song of mine - Coat of Many Colours by Dolly Parton, I am referring to clothes of many colours - all the ones in my and your wardrobe. How many colours are there in yours?

First of all, my wardrobe is divided in colours... at least I try to organise it by colours - from black through to white with all the other colours in between including colour combinrations that can mould and blend.

The clothes in this picture are just some frok my vintage collection. Some have already become owned by other vintage lovers, others linger on....

Some pick their colours very carefully, only wearing a very minimal range of colours all year round.

Then there are those who wear one-colour dress only. Colour analysts claim that one-colour dressing is great to get you noticed, to make you look slimmer and to make your life that much simpler... then again, if you decide to wear red..... not all reds are the same, there is cherry red, crimson, ruby red, vermillion....

And what about blues? navy, royal, powder.....

My favourite colour?

To have around me.... definitely yellow.

To wear.... all shades of purple and lilac.

To wish I could wear effectively.... green which is not always my best friend.

To make me stand out, always...... red.

To make me feel alive..... turquoise.

To leave aside most days... pink.

To make me look washed out - white and shades of light brown.

And then it depends on the colour of my skin.... if I'm in winter, I tend to look better in some colours than in others which are my favourites in summer.

How does colour work for?

Cats and Shades

2011-03-30T17:12:00.000+02:00

Who invented the Cat's Eye Style of Shades?

Have you any clue? Would love to hear what you know of this typical 50s style of sunglasses.

See more of this fantastic pair of Cat's Eye Sunglasses here

De-Clutter

2011-03-29T18:01:00.001+02:00

A McCall Homemaking magazine cover 1942

Everybody used to call it spring cleaning. Now the hip word is de-clutter.

Twice a year, when I have to change all the ingredients of my wardrobe, pack up the wintry clothes or the summery clothes and replace with the summery clothes or the wintry clothes, it's my time to take stock of what I have accumulated over the past season.

I find that more often than not I have loads of items which I need to keep but also quite a handful of items which need to be removed as they are either 'mistakes' that never got used, things which are simply not being used for a variety of reasons, and others which are simply obsolete - soiled, torn, mis-shapen, completely boring according to my current frame of mind.

Does it happen to you also that one thing which seemed to be so very special when you bought it, is something you wouldn't look twice at today?

Over the years, I've learnt to gauge better what I buy and very rarely make impulse buys.

Then again, since I love to add a dash of vintage to my stock of clothes, the vintage must be just so because it's not something that can be found easily and neither is it something that can be used easily, unless you plan for it properly or unless it just happens to fall on your lap as a blessing.

Every time I go through this exercise I remind myself of how much I would really desire to have a walk-in wardrobe.

It's been the dream of my home for years on end but never materialised so far. It's not like we havent' got the space....

It would be the perfect place to have an all-round dressing experience without having to go to another room to get my larger coats or jackets, without having to ferret in trunks and drawers to get at my bags and without having to hop downstairs to try on the shoes with the outfit.

Sigh.....!

The Perfect Shoes

2011-03-24T17:12:00.000+01:00

by Oana Fuica - Shoes Designer

What is your idea of the perfect shoes?

I am still looking out for the perfect pair that will match most outfits, will feel comfortable, will be supremely fashionable, will be stylish and fun.
Perhaps that is why most women have dozens on shoes in their closet and they are never enough.
You can't solve the dilemma by having one black pair. Unlike the little black dress, that one black pair won't match everything in your wardrobe. You need a black pair for work, another for the evening, one with heels, a pair of flats. Then you probably need a pair that is good enough to endure water when it's raining so suede and soft leather are out.
You need black boots for when it's really cold and one flat pair is not good enough because then you can't wear them with your longer denims can you?
And what about the style? Hunky wedges won't match that dainty number you're wearing out to dinner tonight and those stilettos are too high to totter into town for your next shopping spree.
Vintage fashion came up with the shoe clips.
I guess that was one quick-fix solution to re-create the black shoe into something different every day.
What is your idea of the perfect shoes?
Is there a brand you prefer to others & why?

Visiting Mucha

2011-03-22T15:51:00.000+01:00

I made it to the National of Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Malta

to view the exhibiton about Alfonse Mucha entitled

In Quest of Beauty: Alphonse Mucha 1860-1939.

(mentioned here)

You cannot begin to imagine how beautiful it all was.

The stupendous Grand Salon of the museum was transformed into a living space of colour and beauty. I was there for close to an hour.

There is something from each of Mucha's special art forms exhibited -

line drawings, sketches, paintings, posters, books, documents, photographs, postcards, biscuit tins.... There is even a film documentary with authentic period film material and photographs showing Mucha at work. The film is a very clear-cut and concise re-telling the story of his life, his passions, his creations.

His name became the talk of Paris when he first created a poster for Sara Bernhardt, and from that day onwards he never looked back.

Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt by William Downey

Sarah Bernardt as Empress Theodora. Photograph by William Downey.

Sometimes referred to as the father of Art Nouveau, Mucha had a knack of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary and making the beautiful into an aesthetic delight to excite the senses.

The photograph hereunder shows a model in Mucha's studio standing against a poster of Sarah Bernardt's role as Gismonda.

I was especially inspired by two of his quotes:

"The aim of art is to celebrate beauty..... Beauty is the projection of moral harmonies on material and physical planes."

and

"Black is the colour of bondage, blue is the past, yellow the joyous present, orange the glorious future."

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