Castlefield Artisan Market, today (Sunday 20th July) 10-4pm!!!

Hello!

A little quicky of a post to share that I will be doing a Pretty Nostalgic stall at today's Castlefield Vintage market in Manchester.

The market is held under the arches of Castlefield, which is an especially pretty spot of Manchester. I popped down last weekend and bought a vintage map, a tasty loaf of homemade bread and some delicious strawberries whilst perusing the fantastic mix of stalls.

You will be able to purchase our newest issue 8, back issues 1-7 and even subscribe from the stall via card payment, and there will be special offers too!


                                                        
There will also be a small amount of our brand new Sunny Days bookazine available, hot off the press, but you will need to be quick to snap one up though! And, do please come and take the Pretty Nostalgic Pledge and promise to Spend Wisely, Waste Less and Appreciate More!

This week is a vintage special and there's live music and the usual fabulous Black Cat Cafe. Come down and soak up the atmosphere in this gorgeous weather!

Regional Editor,

Sam

www.castlefieldmarket.org.uk

www.prettynostalgic.co.uk

A fantabulous day at Vintage Village, 14th April 2013

Today was a fantastic day! I did a Pretty Nostalgic stall at the wonderful Vintage Village Fair in Stockport. I'm no stranger to the fair - its my second time as a stallie and I go every month as a shopper (with the ocasional lapse which sees me sulking at the prospect of all those missed treasures) I even did their Finder of the Fair once...

I had a great time chatting to other stallholders - some who I know from the vintage scene, others new faces I only met today. One such lady was Lesley Stevenson of Watch the Flowers Grow, who was selling the most beautiful handpicked flowers from her stall outside. Presented in little jam jars tied up with ribbon, and hand foraged by her, I couldn't resist buying a daffodil arrangement - they were the perfect accompaniment to my stall, and particularly went well alongside issue 6's beautiful spring cover.

 

 

I also saw the lovely Emma of Oooh Betty and we chatted about our next Pretty Nostalgic Manchester Vintage Book Group meeting... Richard of the Handmade Feast, the Show Us Your Threads ladies and many other wonderful vintage folk. I met a lovely lady called Melanie Hart (www.melaniehart.co.uk) and had a lovely chat with her about weddings, Pinterest and many other things! 

So many people came to the stall to check out Pretty Nostalgic and as usual there was so much wonderful feedback about the magazine!

I also found time to make several purchases myself (it would have been rude not to with so many fantastic stalls on offer, and I can never resist treating myself to a few treats!)

My most treasured purchases of the day came from the fabulous Kitsch Republic which I always find has great things, in particular beautfiul floral fabrics which I am forever buying and putting away to use for future craft projects I never seem to have the time to do!!

I am so pleased with these beautiful stamped envelopes - a steal at 50p each! I'm planning on framing them to go with all my other natural history bits and bobs!

 

Fishes...

 

 

Spring Flowers...

 

 

British Birds...

 

 

 Ships...

 

 

As well as this pretty jug...

 



 

and lovely basket from a different stall, for future foraging adventures...

 

 

along with two dresses and a scarf...Not a bad set of purchases for only £28!! The Pretty Nostalgic award for Britain's Best Vintage Fair is definitely well deserved! and, it was a Vivienne Westwood themed event, so I donned one of my Westwood headscarves in honour of our Dame Viv who I am a big fan of.

 

There was also a rather dapper gang of Steampunks in attendance turning heads everywhere they went with their impressive attire. They were particularly taken with the Pretty Nostalgic Steampunk feature from Issue 4 that I showed them!

 

 

 

 

All in all it was a great day all round! Thanks to the fabulous organisers of the event for having me back! Now its time to retire with my epic book and wish for Monday to come round a little slower...

Pretty Nostalgic at Treacle Market, Macclesfield, tomorrow, Sunday 24th February!!

This Sunday I'm off to man another Pretty Nostalgic stall, this time at the fabulous Treacle Market in the Historic town of Macclesfield, Cheshire.

The market takes place on the last Sunday of every month, between 10am and 3pm and gets its sticky name from an old tale about the town, whereby an accidental spillage of a cargo of treacle was spilt onto its streets after a horse and cart was overturned.

Having visited last month for a nosy, it looks to be a fine day in the beautiful Old Butter Market Hall (where the Pretty Nostalgic stall will be located) with no trace of that pesky sticky stuff except maybe in some of the scrummy cakes available from the many delectable food stalls. The market is beautifully presented, taking place across the picturesque Market Square next to the town’s church and onto the streets beyond.  There is a wonderful mix of artisan foods, crafts and vintage available.

You will be able to subscribe to the magazine from the Pretty Nostalgic stall, as well as purchase copies of Issues 1-5, and there will be special offers available throughout the day.

Come along and say hello!

www.treaclemacclesfield.co.uk

 

 

Come see Pretty Nostalgic at Altrincham Magpies and I Market, this sunday 17th Feb

Hello!

 I am pleased to share that on Sunday I will be donning my stallholders cap and thermals once more, this time at the superb Altrincham Magpies and I Market.

You will able to purchase back issues and the newest issue of Pretty Nostalgic, as well as subscribe from the stall. There will also be special offers available!

The market is open from 11am until 3.30pm, and having visited many times I am really looking foward to it. Its a fantastic market with a fabulous mix of vintage, craft and food stalls in the heart of Altrincham town centre.


Do come along and say hello!

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!