Pretty Nostalgic Issue Five, OUT NOW! and Pretty Nostalgic at Vintage Village, Stockport this weekend!!

Another beautiful issue of Pretty Nostalgic is fresh from the printers and currently making its way to subsribers, buyers and stockists all around the UK. Its amazing how time flies!

 I got to work on yet another two great features in this issue, the first one on a selection of superb paper artists: Jennifer Collier (www.jennifercollier.co.uk) Kate Kelly (www.kaperonline.com) Katherine Richmond (www.katherinerichmond.com) and Justin Rowe (www.daysfalllikeleaves.com)

 

All four artists use paper in completely different but incredible ways and it was fantastic to speak to them about their work.

The other feature is called 'A Lake District Road Trip' and was great fun to put together. I met some fantastic people on my travels which took me all over the Lakes, with a stay at the gorgeous Rumdoodle (www.rumdoodlewindermere.com) in Bowness and visits to Grasmere (home of Wordsworth) and Hawkshead Relish (www.hawksheadrelish.com) to name some of the places on our trip.

You can read the full features in Issue Five of Pretty Nostalgic magazine (www.prettynostalgic.co.uk) - out this week in WH Smiths and independent stockists.

Manchester people why not come and say hello this Sunday at the Vintage Village Lucky 13 Fair, at Stockport Market Hall, SK1 1EU, 10-4pm where I will be manning the Pretty Nostalgic stall. You will be able to purchase copies of the new and previous issues and make fantastic savings on subscriptions!! You will also receive a free back issue and gorgeous greeting card with your subscription too!!

http://www.thevintagevillage.co.uk/events/the-vintage-village-lucky-13-fair

I will look forward to meeting you!

Manchester WI Christmas Fair, Chethams School of Music, Sunday 9th December

A couple of weekends ago it was the Manchester Women's Institutes Christmas Fair. Set in the grand surroundings of Chethams School of Music's medieval Baronial Hall, it was a superb setting for vintage inspired crafts, jewellery, fashion and food stalls.

The mulled wine was flowing and christmas tunes playing, creating the perfect atmosphere for a mooch and the opportunity to purchase handmade christmas gifts from a fabulous mix of stallholders.

 

 

Gorgeous china was available from the All That Jazz stall, presented in rustic picnic baskets...

 

....and tied up with festive ribbon and candy canes

 

I fell in love with a vivid coloured tea set on the stall, as well as these super cute vintage hankerchiefs...

Bringing a touch of naughtiness to the festivities was Crass Stitch Crafts, who produce cross stitched greeting cards and other products, which the name suggests are a little crass! (note the strategically placed card over a really rude caption below!)

The Manchester WI Calendar, which featured images inspired by inspiration women of Manchester was on sale.

The Reconsidered Retro stall was packed with upcycled items, from brooches made with old tape measures, to bracelets made with recycled knitting needles!

 

 

 

Gorgeous artwork and textiles were available on the Ursula Grice stall, with products drawing inspiration from British wildlife. Whilst Barefoot Books were on hand to offer some unique childrens books, including some illustrated with hand stitched images.

 

 

 Festive touches were everywhere, with Mince Pies available from Hayley Beth's stall...

 

And handmade decorations on other stalls around the event...

Handknitted items including these tea cosies were extremely popular, selling out fast

My personal favourite of the event was the Cheshire Cat stall (http://thecheshirehat.com/)  owned buy Milliner Emma, whose vintage inspired hats were out of this world! I fell in love with this 20s looking pastel peach number below. Emma also makes custom order hats and will incorporate personal touches, such as sentimental jewellery pieces.

She also creates jewellery inspired by Alice in Wonderland, sold on playing cards.

Despite being there to represent Pretty Nostalgic, I also managed to spend quite a fair bit of money! I purchased a clock made out of a vintage china plate from Stephanie Lindsay, who revamps china, turning tea cups into candles and cake stands.

Her friend whose products also featured on the stall, upcycles old suitcases and handbags giving them that real nostalgic feel.

As well as this, I bought some handmade earrings, brooches from the Reconsidered Retro stall, and a food hamper from Fyq Deli, who brought some foodie goodness to the event.

And of course,  Pretty Nostalgic magazine was available at the fair too!

All in all, it was a great first fair for the Manchester WI ladies, and hopefully one of many more to come! Here are the co-founders of the Manchester branch, Lucy and Alex, below.

You can read more about this branch of the WI, who describe themselves as 'an eclectic mix of sisters jazzing up the WI tradition' and other WI groups in the forthcoming Issue 5 of Pretty Nostalgic magazine, hitting shelves nationwide January 2013.

www.prettynostalgic.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ManchesterWomensInstitute

Sneeky Peek at Issue 4 of Pretty Nostalgic Magazine

Excitement is building as I await the arrival of the new issue of Pretty Nostalgic magazine - Due to hit the shelves of suppliers and letter boxes of subsribers over the next few days.

Even though I am a Regional Editor for the publication I still desperately long to see the other beautifully written and presented features of the new issues.

I have special permission to show a sneeky peek of the wonderfully festive cover of the new issue right here!

Here are also some little teasers of my two features in this forthcoming edition of the magazine, which are my favourite to have worked on to date:

The first is a look into the world of nostalgic sweet making and I got to visit a beautiful tradtional sweet shop in the stunning Peak District National Park, Mr Edwards Sweet Emporium (www.edwardandvintage.co.uk) It is a real Christmassy feature and even has some recipes for readers to try themselves. I particularly enjoyed my photoshoot at Edward & Vintage and the owner David was a charming host!

The second is a feature on Taxidermy and explores three female taxidermists working in the field today, along with a collector of taxidermy who has incorporated it into her home transforming it into a fantastic space full of character. Taxidermists Amandas Autopsies (www.amandasautopsies.com) Nicola Jayne Hebson and Holly Christian (www.hollychristian.co.uk/Holly_Christian) are profiled, along with Rachel Whylde (the collector)

I enjoyed working on this feature especially and even got to have a dabble in the craft myself - a surprisingly delicate process. Many thanks to Amanda of Amandas Autopsies for letting me attend her Stuff & Nonsense Taxidermy workshop at the amazing St Barts Pathology Museum, London.

 

You can read these and pages more of inspiring and beautiful features in Issue 4 of Pretty Nostalgic, available at WH Smiths, from the Pretty Nostalgic website and a host of Independent Stockists. A list of stockists and also the option to purchase online can be found here: http://prettynostalgic.co.uk/this-issue/

Subsriptions and the gorgeous Pretty Nostalgic Home book also make fabulous Christmas gifts for Vintage, Craft & Nostalgia lovers! 

Kopparberg Un-establishment: The Marketplace, Saturday 13th October, 12-6pm at 2022NQ, Manchester

Along with my pals Mr Sebastian Matthes and Mr Will Tramp I have co-organised The Marketplace - part of a Kopparberg Un-establishment Manchester event which is taking place on Saturday 13th October at 2022NQ, 20-22 Dale Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, between 12 and 6pm.

The boys have done an incredible job organising a week long series of workshops, talks and events aimed at celebrating DIY culture and creativity - including a knit and crochet workshop from Stitches and Hos that I will most definitely be going along to! (http://www.stitchesandhos.co.uk/)

The Marketplace is your chance to see some of Manchester's top Vintage sellers, Makers and Vinyl Collectors all under one roof. Expect to see only the best but at affordable prices. Stallholders have been specifically selected for their attention to detail and top knotch products. I have organised the vintage and craft stalls whilst the boys took charge of the record fair - so theres something for both the ladies and gents!

 Tim Burgess of the Charlatans will be having a stall at the Record Fair. As well as the eclectic array of stalls, there will be workshops from super talented Textile and Print Designer Lisa Stannard (http://www.lisastannard.com/) who has worked for the likes of Whitney Eve and Matthew Williamson; as well as Anna Lapenkueper who makes outstanding jewellery.

There will also be a pop up polaroid studio from the fabulous The Impossible Project! (http://www.the-impossible-project.com/)

This event is not to be missed, and best of all  - its all free!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/347699271986007/

http://unestablishment.tumblr.com/

Finds of the Fair feature, Vintage Village, Stockport, August 2012

This weekend I did the Finds of the Fair piece for Stockport's fabulous monthly vintage market, Vintage Village.

You can read it here:

http://www.thevintagevillage.co.uk/finds-of-the-fair/finds-of-the-fair-12th-august-2012

Heres one of my favourite finds from the lovely Oooh Betty! stall

Sugar Junction Tearooms and Pretty Nostalgic Magazine Present: Bookbinding Summer Workshops

I am pleased to announce that I will be running a series of Summer Bookbinding Workshops at Sugar Junction Tearooms, Tib Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester on behalf of Pretty Nostalgic Magazine, whom I am Regional Editor for the North for. Not only will you be able to learn the traditional craft of Bookbinding in the wonderful surroundings of Sugar Junction, but you will also receive a copy of Pretty Nostalgic (which retails at £8 per copy) an introduction to the magazine, as well as the opportunity to subscribe or purchase further issues or a copy of their beautiful Home book.



I have been a Book Artist since my time at University and have a passion and knowledge for this age old tradition that can be used to display artists work, or transform personal collections and photographs into beautiful books. The course is suitable for beginners wanting to learn how to make a variety of book structures. We will produce a selection of books during the two hour workshop, which will run each Tuesday afternoon from 31st July until 28th August 2012.

You will also receive a handmade book containing information on all the book structures we make, useful links and pages of inspiration, as well as a pot of Sugar Junctions loose leaf tea and a homemade cake.

Contact me via email: youngsam85@yahoo.co.uk or telephone: 07920 404795 for further information and to book your place. Workshops are limited to 15 ppl per session so book early to avoid disappointment!! Tickets are a steal at £20 per person!

I will look forward to meeting you and having a natter over tea and cake and teaching you how to make some fabulous books!!

The Observer Book of Birds

The 'Observer Book of Birds' is one of my most favourite books that I own. I reall love Antique Illustrations of Birds, Mammals and Plants. I think it comes from back in my childhood. My Dad had an old and slightly battered looking Encyclopedia that I would look through when I was little, and there were drawings of all different species with their Latin names.

I often use these images to draw sketches from as I find it really relaxing. I am also in the process of decorating my bathroom with copies of some of my favourites...(pic to follow)