Mary's Marvellous Vintage and Craft Market - a scrapbook of my day...

Sheffield Up Market

A new vintage and craft fair has been taking place at the University of Sheffield over the last few months and is quickly becoming established as a fun place to shop. The Sheffield Up Market is a range of traders selling various vintage and new items including clothes, bags, shoes, jewellery, books, tea, art... and Pink Flamingo's items!

Pink Flamingo's stall at the March Sheffield Up Market

The most recent market took place last Thursday right in the heart of the Students Union building and was its usual eclectic mix. Here are just some of the things you might have found there...

If you followed the signs you would have found...

Lots of clothes to choose from!

Vintage Clothes and accessories

Leather bags

Shoes!

 

Pink Flamingo's Sheffield pictures

The next Sheffield Up Market takes place on 13th May in the Foundry/Fusion/Studio at the University of Sheffield.

Let Me Introduce You To...

Bags and purses are something I believe it's impossible to have too many of... unless you have so many that you literally can't get into your house, but I don't have that many...yet.

I particularly like the classic purse frame and the satisfying 'snap' it gives when you close it. I also love modern, colourful fabrics and with this week's shop I get to see both.

This post is in no way sponsored or influenced. All opinions are my own and any quotes are taken directly from the people I'm writing about.

This week I'd like to introduce you to...



Octopurse is the wonderful creation of Daphne and is based in Belgium. She designs and makes all her items herself and is involved in every aspect of the process, as this fantastic photo proves!

In Octopurse's shop you can find all kinds of fun accessories made with some 'colorful japanese and US fabrics' in a whole range of colours (so you can have an excuse to get one to go with every outfit!). Daphne first made some purses a few years ago as teacher gifts but as she says her 'fingers have never stopped moving' since and her hobby has turned into a business.

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I'm always drawn to bright and unique fabrics and I think Daphne matches the patterns and her designs really well to get the most out of them. Whether it's featuring a picture or element of the pattern in how she cuts the fabric or choosing the frame/fabric combination, all her items look fun, fresh and well designed. 

I also love an element of mixing old and new and some of Octopurses pieces do this too. The classic purse frame has a recognisably vintage style bringing associations of glamour and style, but the fabric choices bring it right up to date to make it fit with modern outfits too. Daphne has 'done many tests to find the best shapes and a great "puffy touch" which all adds to the charm of her pieces.

And it's not just purses you'll find, Octopurse also offers clutch bags, phone covers, card holders and magnets.

My favourite fabrics have to be animal patterns:

Find out more about Octopurse:

Facebook
Shop on Etsy
Website

Let Me Introduce You To...

Last year on this blog I had a weekly feature showing the work of one of my favourite UK crafters. I love to look through other people's work and creations and share the passion that goes into the pieces. While doing my research (it was research, not just window shopping!) I found lots of wonderful people who were either outside the UK or were vintage sellers rediscovering rather than creating treasures.

So, for a new year I'm having a new way of working this weekly feature. I'm broadening my searching and bringing you lots of new non-UK and/or vintage sellers to be introduce you to, and hopefully love their work as much as I do.

This post is in no way sponsored or influenced. All opinions are my own and quote are taken directly from the people I'm writing about.

This week I'd like to introduce you to....


 
Catwalk Creative Vintage
Catwalk Creative is a home for wonderful vintage pieces including quality, hand picked clothing, accessories and homewares dating from the 1920s - 1990s. There's a great range of pieces all kinds of tastes and budgets and it's wonderful looking through all the unique and retro pieces to find new favourites.

My favourite way to spend an afternoon is wondering around an antique centre or vintage shops looking at all the unusual and fun items for sale. However, I'm no expert when it comes to what pieces are or their history, so I love finding someone who does know and wants to share that knowledge. That's what I love most about Catwalk Creative Vintage's site, as well as buying items you can find out their story too as well as lots of additional information and suggestions - just like having a personal shopper!

Catwalk Creative Vintage is the idea and work of Louise who has been buying and selling vintage items for nearly 10 years. She established her own online emporium in 2008 selling a whole range of stylish items for you and your home. As well as running her own business, Louise is also a member of the Vintage Fashion Guild who are a great resource of information on and promotion of vintage items. She says of them 'we are committed to providing excellent customer service and accurate information' which, if like me you know little about vintage, is a reassurance that what you buy is genuine and good quality. 

Louise sources the items she sells from a range of countries and contacts so she can offer a varied and unique collection where you can 'be sure to find something special to add to your own collection'. The wealth of knowledge she has gained from her trading means Louise is also able to offer lots of useful advice about subjects such as caring for clothing and accessories, vintage clothing sizes and suggestions of outfits and collections from different decades. 

A piece of advice from Louise- In order to keep your precious clothes in good condition, wash them less...
a good airing can often work just as well for removing odour without damaging the garment.

 

(Any excuse to do less laundry is fine by me! I'll have to buy more vintage clothes as an excuse.)

For Louise vintage means items 'over 20 years' which have had a previous life and use. There are other shops I've seen who use this cut off point to sell anything and claim it as 'vintage' when it's just 'stuff' that was made a couple of decades ago. Catwalk Creative hand picks quality items to truly represent their era and give you a proper vintage piece. This commitment to offering the customer quality pieces means that Louise has established a 'sterling reputation in the vintage clothing industry' (and with over 150 five star reviews in her shop on Etsy.com it's clear others think so too!).

These are some of my favourite items from my favourite era from Catwalk Creative:

Find out more about Catwalk Creative here:

Catwalk Creative's website and shopping

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My Favourite UK Crafter of the Week - wonderful vintage inspired dresses from Dig For Victory

I love looking at vintage fashion pictures. I can't resist an old book or magazine with photos of glamorous looking women in beautiful outfits. So when I saw these dresses I couldn't help taking a peek. However, I soon discovered that they aren't vintage dresses but new ones made in vintage styles which is great because they can be made to measure and customised to suit you too. Wonderful!

As usual, this post is in no way sponsored or influenced. The crafter featured is genuinely a favourite of mine; all quotes are the crafter's own and the opinions are mine. So, with this in mind this week's UK Crafter of the Week is...

Dig For Victory

I love the story behind Dig For Victory. It's the idea of Eleanor who first started making dresses for herself to wear while performing in a twee-pop band with her boyfriend. She started sewing when she was at university and clearly had an eye for wonderful fabrics and designs as soon friends and family were requesting outfits too. And it grew from there. This is what I love about independent designers and handmade crafters; it starts as a passion you make for yourself and this comes across in your work. If the idea was just to set up a brand to sell vintage style dresses to everyone there wouldn't be the unique and detailed designs you find at Dig For Victory.

Black and yellow striped tea dress, made to measure Dig For Victory £155

I also like the range of occasions Dig For Victory offers their customers. There are day and evening dresses, skirts and accessories too so everyone can have a little touch of vintage with them. Imagine attending a special event in this gorgeous evening dress (I have to imagine, I never go anywhere too fancy!). That's what's wonderful about these type of dresses - you can go into a world of glamour and imagination, just thinking about what accessories you could pair with it and the event you'd attend is exciting!

Emerald green taffeta tea dress Dig For Victory £120

Dig For Victory has grown from selling 'through friends and a few local shops' to a full time business with online and a 'real life' shop. The team has grown from just Eleanor and now includes a group of talented dressmakers. They've opened a boutique in Brighton where customers will find a 'unique shopping experience' seeing where and how the pieces are made as well as 'select from the huge collection of vintage fabrics'. I love going into a haberdashery and oohing and aahing over the lovely fabrics but my sewing skills are still rather basic and making clothes is beyond these. So I would imagine going into Dig For Victory's shop, discovering the fabrics and then being able to have a talented dressmaker make a custom piece just for you would be amazing! Finding a fun print such as the one on this skirt with its cute animals would be too good an opportunity to resist.

Mini menagerie pleated skirt Dig For Victory £68

If you're lucky enough to live near Brighton you can pop into the shop. For the rest of us a similar experience can still be had online with a range of lovely ready to buy creations as well as an opportunity to have a made to measure piece created for you. So if you have a special occasion coming up do check out the links below to find a wonderfully glamorous and unique outfit.

Dark blue rose print bolero jacket Dig For Victory £59

To see more of Dig For Victory's beautiful creations take a look here:

• Dig For Victory's website

• Shop on Etsy  
• Facebook

Or visit their shop at 175 Edward Street, Brighton. 
Thursday - Saturday 10-6
Monday - Wednesday by appointment. 

And the latest addition from Dig For Victory is a hair bow which can be custom made to match their dresses! You can choose the fabric and ribbon colours to be perfectly accessorised.      

Matching hair bow Dig For Victory £6