Brooching the Subject

I do I do love these Vintage Brooch Bouquets by Amanda Heer from Fantasy Floral Designs! Amanda custom makes each bouquet, and uses 50 to 60 vintage brooches (provided by the bride or non-bride) to create her whimsical works of art. Not only vintage brooches can be used - buttons, cuff links, watches set to the wedding time, charms, rings, earrings and other such items can be added to the mix.



Amanda, a professional floral designer, and a stylist for Romantic Homes Magazine, welcomes orders for Vintage Brooch Bouquets from brides and non-brides worldwide.

www.fantasyfloraldesigns.com

Photography by Alice Hu.

1 Year Blogoversary Giveaway

Please Note: This Giveaway is Now Closed!

Tomorrow marks the one year blogoversary of Favourite Vintage Finds, hooray! I love being a part of the blogosphere, and I hugely appreciate your support and kindness dear bloggy friends, thank you! :)

To celebrate my blogoversary, I'm giving away this sweet delicate vintage 40's gold butterfly pendant. Featuring a natural garnet gemstone, this pendant is silver-gilt (sterling silver coated with a fine layer of gold), and bears the 925 (sterling silver) stamp on the back. It measures 1.2 cm across (half an inch). I purchased a job lot of 16 of these pendants and they set my heart aflutter, they are one of my all time favourite vintage finds. Stored away for decades by their previous owner, they were originally sourced in England.

Last year I gave away two of these pendants here and before the end of this year I will give another one away. I will be auctioning some gorgeous original vintage jewellery on ebay soon...stay tuned there will previews here.

A shout-out to Collette for being my very first follower! Collette collects vintage sheet music, beauty books, cookbooks and homemaking manuals, and she is a clever crafter too. A wonderful range of original vintage sewing and craft patterns can be found at her online shop:

www.serendipityvintage.com

From her etsy shop, www.serendipityvintage.etsy.com, Collette sells a range of vintage goodness including fabric, linens, trims, housewares and collectibles. I've purchased from Collette and recommend her!

Serendipity Handmade is Collette's articulately written blog where she shares her collections, craft work and has regular giveaways. It will be her 1 year blogoversary this month too, and she is also celebrating with a giveaway soon, so be sure to pop over to Serendipity Handmade and enter.

Now back to my giveaway which is open to readers worldwide.

To Enter, simply do these 2 things:

1. Leave me a comment. One entry per person.

2. Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. Alternatively, leave a link in your comment to your profile, blog or website where I can access your email address from.

This giveaway ends on August 19 2010 at 4.30 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Comments will be allocated numbers in the order in which they are received. I will use random.org to generate the winning number on August 19 2010 after 4.30 pm AEST. The winner will be notified via email on August 19 2010 by 5.30 pm AEST.

Happy Banner & Happy Hens

I can't wait for Spring (next month here in Aussie). This delightful fabric banner has provided vintage inspired Springness to my home office since mid April this year thanks to talented crafter Camille from Camille's Creations. I won it in one of her blog giveaways! Kind Camille sent each entrant in the giveaway one of these banners!

And this is my also delightful ceramic hand painted Happy Hen. I named her Euphegenia. My parents bought her back for me from New Zealand 10 years ago. Euphengenia is based on a Silver Grey Dorking, one of the oldest breeds of chooks in the world. I'm a chook girl from way back having grown up with pet chooks. Someday I hope to live somewhere again that is suitable for real chooks. One of my real someday hens will definitely be named Euphegenia too.

You don't have to travel to New Zealand to get Happy Hens which are based on traditional poultry breeds, you can buy them online here:

www.happyhens.co.nz

I'm sure many of you will be happy to know that Happy Hens are available in pink. The following pretty blue-eyed girls are called "Peony Hens."
I'll be back here this Friday with that original vintage sweet delicate something I'm giving away to celebrate my 1 year Blogoversary. While I'm on the subject of giveaways, I recently found out about a great site called Giveaway Scout where a large number of giveaway blogs are automatically scanned, and the site is updated hourly.

See you Friday, Happy week! :)

A Cherished Poem

Although the following poem is quite short I think it speaks volumes. I dedicate it to you my cherished readers!

Count Your Blessings

Have faith in all you do,
And try to reach your goal,
Face the future with a smile,
Play out your special role.

Sorrow will sometimes come your way,
And tears will surely fall,
But there will be another day,
As time brings peace to all.

So lift your head up high,
Count your blessings one by one -
God's gifts are all around us,
Embracing everyone.

by JOAN BOND

Poem reproduced by kind permission of the beautiful This England magazine.

Upcycled Funky Pants & Giveaway Winner

Earlier in the year I participated in an online vintage swap for bloggers, and my swap partner was Dara from the USA. One of the items I sent Dara was a Wabasso double size flat sheet and she used it to make these funky lounge pants! They look fantastic, I want a pair! Dara loves to spend time in her greenhouse and garden and she certainly has a green thumb, her garden is inspirational!



Cute to boot! Dara's boots are from Target, they are from the Liberty of London for Target range. I want a pair of these too! Fingers crossed that we'll get the Liberty of London for Target range here in Australia...and soon!

The lucky winner of the giveaway sponsored by Joyous World is Tara! Congrats Tara! Thank you to Joyous World for sponsoring the giveaway and thank you to all entrants!

The next giveaway here will be from yours truly to celebrate my 1 year blogoversary! The prize is an original vintage sweet delicate something...

ReJenerate

Jennie Smith is the creator of the aptly named brand ReJenerate. Jennie 'rejenerates' vintage, recycled and salvaged fabrics and doilies etc into fabulous one-of-a-kind fashion and bridal accessories, specializing in handbags. The gloriously green clutches featured here are from her 'Waste Not Want Not' range.

If you would like a custom item from ReJenerate you can pick the fabrics and doilies etc that you want from Jennie's extensive stash or send her some of your own materials.

www.rejenerate.etsy.com

Joyous World Jewellery Display Frame Giveaway

Please Note: This Giveaway is Now Closed!

Ooh la la! This sumptuous creation by Joyous World offers a way to display jewellery with romantic flair. The ornate vintage goldtone metal frame measures 16.5 cm (6.5 ") x 40.7 cm (16 ") making it the perfect size to fit atop a table or on a strip of wall. Ribbon with a small brass ring is attached to the top of the frame for hanging. 4 jewellery hooks are included with this giveaway (jewellery is not included).

This giveaway is open to readers worldwide.


To enter, simply do these 3 things:

1.Visit Joyous World on etsy where you will find more handmade loveliness and gorgeous vintage finds. Here is the link:

www.joyousworld.etsy.com

2. Leave me a comment and tell me about your favourite find or finds from Joyous World on etsy. One entry per person.

3. Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. Alternatively, leave a link in your comment to your profile, blog or website where I can access your email address from.

This giveaway ends on July 15 2010 at 4.30 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Comments will be allocated numbers in the order in which they are received. I will use random.org to generate the winning number on July 15 2010 after 4.30 pm AEST. The winner will be notified via email on July 15 2010 by 5.30 pm AEST.

Ain't it Quaint?

Little Women written in 1867 by Louisa May Alcott is one of my favourite classic novels. I'm sure that many of you have read it and or seen the film adaptations. This is my copy from 1947 published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York, and illustrated beautifully by Louis Jambor. A favourite of mine to display also, it doesn't bother me that this book is missing its dust jacket as I love the charmingly quaint cover which is made from cloth.

I purchased this lovely book from Rosamund:

www.rosamund.etsy.com

Napkins Upcycled into Bedroom Decor & Giveaway Winner

A glimpse of my bedroom. The throw cushion covers on my bed are made (by Mum) from vintage 50's Wilendur "Princess Rose" cotton napkins. They feature my favourite rose print ever, the most resplendent I've seen, and are still ablaze with colour after all these years. Synonymous with quality table and kitchen linens and boldly coloured prints, Wilendur/Wilendure was produced from 1938-1984 in the USA. In 1958 Wilendur changed to Wilendure.

Can you see the book? It's a vintage book from 1947, one of my favourite classic novels, and with its charmingly quaint cover a favourite of mine to display also. I'll reveal the book in my next post...


The lucky winner of the giveaway sponsored by Allies Adornments is Peggy AplSEEDS! Congratulations Peggy AplSEEDS! Thank you to Allies Adornments for sponsoring the giveaway and thank you to all entrants!

For the next giveaway I'm hosting here the prize is a romantic upcycled display piece that's also useful. I'm not telling what it is...

Vintage for a Good Cause

At Shermancat 100% of the proceeds from sales go to the Humane Society of York County, USA. The HSYC is a non-profit organization that receives no government funding, and relies completely on donations to help the homeless animals in its care.

Run by volunteers, Shermancat is well stocked with a range of fabulous vintage items. Here are some of my favourite finds:

Above, cute miniature tea set and gorgeous framed mirror.

Wonderfully decorative books great for displaying.

Oh so romantic mirror tray with watch and faux roses included.

Shop vintage for a good cause at Shermancat:

www.shermancat.etsy.com

Allie's Adornments Vintage Button Pendant Giveaway

Please Note: This Giveaway is Now Closed!

Depicting two baby birds emerging from their nest, this vintage button pendant by Allie's Adornments could be yours. Awww, how adorable is it? The brass button dates all the way back to the 1800's and is in an antiqued silver plated setting. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

This giveaway is open to readers worldwide.

To enter, simply do these 3 things:

1.Visit Allie's Adornments on etsy where you will find more lovely jewellery handmade from vintage button treasure. Here is the link:

www.alliesadornments.etsy.com

2. Leave me a comment and tell me about your favourite find or finds from Allie's Adornments on etsy. One entry per person.

3. Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. Alternatively, leave a link in your comment to your profile, blog or website where I can access your email address from.

This giveaway ends on June 17 2010 at 4.30 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Comments will be allocated numbers in the order in which they are received. I will use random.org to generate the winning number on June 17 2010 after 4.30 pm AEST. The winner will be notified via email on June 17 2010 by 6.30 pm AEST.

Vintage Button Treasure & Giveaway Winner

I have a jar of buttons that I have had since my childhood. These are some of my favourite buttons from that jar. I went through a stage as a child where I was regularly delving for treasure in Mum's big tins of old and new buttons. When I would find buttons that took my fancy, Mum let me keep them, and in my jar they would go.

Recently I've become interested in vintage buttons again and most of all I love to see them reused and repurposed. Speaking of reusing and repurposing vintage buttons...next week I will be hosting a giveaway for someone who makes lovely jewellery from vintage button treasure...stay tuned my hearties! :)

NGS is the lucky winner of the giveaway sponsored by Teresa DeLeen Studio! Congratulations NGS! Thank you to Teresa DeLeen Studio for sponsoring the giveaway and thank you to all who entered!

Katy Potts Utterly English Teaware

Delicious vintage English china from the 1920's to the 1950's is what Katy Potts is known for selling. Soon her first collection of vintage inspired teaware will be available to buy from her almost ready to be launched new website - www.katypotts.com. Get a sneak peek of a couple of delish teapots from the new collection in these splendid vintage inspired commercials. Enjoy!

Update: the gorgeous new website has been launched (link is above).

The Impression of Vintage & 3 Winners!

Martha, from Menagerie Studio, kindly sent me this gorgeous Shabby Nouveau Charm as a thank you gift soon after I hosted a giveaway for her here in February. Beautifully handcrafted by Martha with an authentically aged appearance, this charm is one-of-a-kind. I love it, thank you once again Martha!

You can find Martha's Shabby Nouveau Charms and more fabulously unique creations at:

www.menageriestudio.etsy.com

Congratulations to Nancy, Samy, and Sarah-Paige who are the lucky winners of the giveaway sponsored by Vintage Life Magazine! Thank you to Vintage Life Magazine for sponsoring the giveaway and thank you to all who entered!

Teresa DeLeen Fine Silver Initial Pendant Giveaway

Please Note: This Giveaway is Now Closed!

Bursting with vintage inspired charm, "Donatienne" initial pendants are handcrafted from recycled fine silver by Teresa DeLeen. In the kids/young adult action-adventure movie, "Hanna's Gold," (due to be released in the not-too-distant future), the Donatienne H pendant is worn by Morissa O'Mara who stars as Hanna.

"As a designer I love to support other artists. Our star wears the piece through the entirety of the film so it was important to me to find something with heart. We wanted the necklace to be special, like a keepsake. When I found Teresa's profile, I knew I had struck gold!" - Stacy Ellen Rich, Costume Designer.

Click picture to enlarge

The prize in this giveaway is a Donatienne initial pendant of the winner's choice teamed with a silver tone ball chain necklace. All letters of the alphabet available. This giveaway is open to readers worldwide.

To enter, simply do these 3 things:

1.Visit the Teresa DeLeen Studio on etsy where you will find more marvellous jewellery made from recycled materials. Here is the link:

www.teresadeleen.etsy.com

2. Leave me a comment and tell me about your favourite find or finds from the Teresa DeLeen Studio on etsy. One entry per person.

3. Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. Alternatively, leave a link in your comment to your profile, blog or website where I can access your email address from.

This giveaway ends on May 20 2010 at 4.30 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Comments will be allocated numbers in the order in which they are received. I will use random.org to generate the winning number on May 20 2010 after 4.30 pm AEST. The winner will be notified via email on May 20 2010 by 6.30 pm AEST.