It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

We love Christmas here at SVWH and we never fail to get excited about new goodies in our shop but also the Christmas presents we select for our friends and family. Christmas is definitely the season of giving and spreading a bit of festive joy.

We are a big fan of this website and we love the idea of making beautiful vintage gift tags.

Retro books always make a great gift whether in a stocking or as a Secret Santa. Cosmopolitan magazine rated this as one of their faves and we're inclined to agree.

We've been good Santa, we promise!

Charm bracelets are making a comeback thanks to companies like Pandora. We love their modern take on the old classic. It means you can buy the bracelt for a special friend or loved one and other people can add to their bracelet with personalised charms to make it truly unique.

Children can be tricky to buy for, usually wanting the latest craze or fad. We're smitten with kid-friendly and kid-favourites in the form of mini hampers! Pack a beautifully wrapped box with their favourtie sweets and chocolates and the more retro you can go, the better!

We always wish that we could play dress up all day and these gorgeous Beatrix Potter inspired tea sets would do us nicely. Another one for our wish list.

Get creative in the kitchen and rustle up homemade truffles, jams, chutneys and cakes. This beautiful morsel is taken from another blog we love - www.vintageandcake.blogspot.com

If we had an iPad, we would get one of these to play all our music on! We love our people can effortlessly fuse vintage with modern and this is right on the money.

Rockett St. George (another fave website of ours!) always nails our absolute must-haves. What's not to love about these wooden signs? We'll take them all.

We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and wish everyone all the best for the New Year.

Don't forget to come along to our shop in Shalesmoor, Sheffield from 3rd January 2012 as we are having our January sale with up to 20% off furniture and homeware items.

Come and grab yourself a bargain and get something beautifully vintage to boot!

Best of British

Following on from the uber British wedding of the year (cheers Kate and Will!) we have come over all patriotic and have been holding a Best of British theme at our beautiful shop. 

(You can check out pictures on our website - www.sarahsvintagewendyhouse.com or find us on Facebook (SarahsVintage WendyHouse)

So we thought we would check out some other British bits and pieces which puts us in a jubliant mood......

 British stamps are iconic anyhow but we loved these quirky ones from a few years ago.

It's not just the French who have great cheese. We do too and we should be proud.
Wallace and Gromit are! Wensleydale anyone?

 John Lewis, the quintessential British department store,
have now given us more reason to make cupcakes. Huzzah!

Hope and Greenwood make the most amazing sweets and chocolates,
all 100% British made right here in the UK.

We're undeniably proud of commemorating our fallen soldiers and The Royal British Legion does a brilliant job every year of raising funds. We are wearing our poppy with pride.

A Sunday roast - no other words.

Every gal should have a Roberts radio in her boudoir - not only Made in England but teaming up with
Cath Kidson gets the thumbs up from us!


Come and visit our shop in The Nichols Building, Shalesmoor, Sheffield to see our Best of British month!

Summer heatwave!

Well it has been a while since we last blogged and so much has been happening.

At the moment we are enjoying the crazy heatwave that has hit most of the UK.

To celebrate this 'second' summer, here are a few of our favourite summer things;

Sunbathing on the beach - ideally in a retro swimsuit!

Primrose Hill - one of the best views in the world. Picnic and friends optional.

We really want one of these! They look good enough to eat in our favourite candy colour.

Fish and chips with lashings of salt and vinegar wrapped in newspaper with a wedge of lemon. Perfect!

And you HAVE to have some homemade ice cream for dessert.

Just a few things we're making the most of before the snow arrives at the end of the month!

Enjoy it while it lasts! x

Beautiful gems

We LOVE jewellery has much as the next person and any small trinket usually makes it home with us!

This brooch/necklace is really stunning and is a real one off piece.

The colours on this locket are gorgeous and is beautifully handpainted.

This is a modern twist on vintage inspired jewellery. A real WOW piece.

Every girl needs pearls and this one will do us nicely.

Cute and quirky is our trademark and this necklace hits the spot.

Little pin brooches are making a comeback and anything with a minature pocket watch adds to the charm.



Charity shops

Here at SVWH we are big fans of charity shops. Having donated a lot of items ourselves in recent years, we love having a rummage round to see if we can dig up any treasures.

However, a lot of charity shops are pretty neglected and people use them as an excuse to dump their rubbish on the lovely volunteers who give their time for free to help out. Charity shops are having a bit of a revival thanks to Mary Portas. (She of Queen fo Shops fame) She has been on a mission to makeover our ailing charity shops and make them into something a little more special and we salute her for it.

So get yourself down to your local charity shop and see what you can do to help

or failing that have a clear out!

Here are a few of our favourite charity shops in London;

Octavia Foundation, South Kensington - MARY PORTAS-APPROVED
A large, slightly austere space packed with designer donations from wealthy locals.

Plus a 'brilliant' hushed vintage book department with oriental rugs and coffee tables covered in art periodicals and old Christie’s catalogues.
Mary's verdict ‘Yves Saint Laurent? Wow! Miu Miu! Chanel! Max Mara for 30 quid? Come on!’

Octavia Foundation, 211 Brompton Rd, SW3 2ED

(7581 7987/http://www.octaviahousing.com/).

South Kensington tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun.

British Red Cross, Chelsea - MARY PORTAS-APPROVED
Couture cast-offs, big-label handbags and Manolo Blahniks are presented beautifully on an airy, uncluttered shop floor, flooded with natural light.
Mary's verdict ‘It’s where a shop is based that’s the key. Just look at the incredible donations in here - you wouldn’t get this in Orpington.'

British Red Cross, 67 Old Church St, SW3 5BS (www.redcross.org.uk).

Sloane Square tube. 10am-5.30pm Mon-Wed, Fri; 10am-7pm Thur; 1-6pm Sun

Crusaid, Pimlico - MARY PORTAS-APPROVED
Crusaid’s tiny Pimlico store, lit with fairy lights and an antique chandelier, is a real find. Nicole Farhi and Designer Warehouse Sale’s Roger Walker-Dack regularly donate unworn stock, alongside Urban Outfitters, Ralph Lauren and Hackett (often dropped off by the Hackett family themselves). Stock is perfectly merchandised in two rooms packed with on-trend designerwear and handpicked bric-a-brac.
Mary's verdict ‘It’s gorgeous! I think charity shops that try to copy boutiques lose the soul of what a charity shop is. In here you know you might just find something incredible.’

Crusaid, 19 Churton St, SW1V 2LY (7233 8736/

Pimlico tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-3pm Sun.

Traid, Westbourne Grove
A favourite of fashion stylists and journalists alike, and with mentions in Japanese and British Vogue, this is the charity shop to head to for superior secondhand clothing. Raising money for international development, the shop has a small, boutiquey feel, making it a great place to rummage. In particular, check out the vintage section, where you’ll find quirky one-offs. They get some impressive designer pieces: a Burberry coat recently sold for £69. There’s also its renowned remade clothing to look out for.

Traid, 61 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UA (7221 2421).

Bayswater tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.

British Red Cross, Victoria
This branch is packed with designer labels thanks to donations from wealthy locals. Brands currently in stock include Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior, plus Manolo Blahnik shoes. A selection of bric-a-brac, handbags and hats are also up for grabs alongside a range of ballgowns.

British Red Cross, 85 Ebury St, SW1W 9QU (7730 2235).

Victoria tube/rail. 10am-5.30pm Mon-Fri; 10am-4pm Sat.

www.crusaid.org.uk).

Vintage lives...

Ok so we always get asked how much of a vintage lover are you? Does it extend to your own choice of clothes? Do you have vintage items in your home? The answer is yes we do.

Being a lover of all things vintage comes in varying degrees and we couldn't do what we do if we didn't love it!

Of course it's all about being practical in this day and age.

But Sarah @ Sarah's Vintage Wendy House has taken the time to show you a few items around her home to prove that we really have embraced all things vintage.

A recent purchase of mine that will be making it's way up to our Sheffield shop.

An original BUSH radio.

This beautiful silk kimono was given to me by a family member as a gift and no I'm not selling it!

I hate having it shoved away in my wardrobe so keep it hanging on my bedroom wall to admire everyday.

Why don't you do the same with a special dress or blouse you might have.

It's clothes art.

I had a go at decoupaging my old chest of drawers using pictures I liked from old magazines I had lying around. It's transformed this drab piece of furniture and I'm really chuffed with it.

I love beautifully packaged vintage soaps.

These ones were made in Spain and I love the paper covers including the lady in full flamenco dress.

Vintage soaps piled in a bowl in your bathroom always make a impact.

Every girl loves jewellery and has a special box to keep it in.

I use teacups and milk jugs for mine as shown above.

A cute, colourful way to show of your precious gems!

 Bought this beautiful monogrammed attache case at a car boot sale today.

This will wind it's way up to our shop but in the meantime, I will use it on my desk to keep my notepads and stationary in. Another excuse to admire it!

I love getting invitations, postcards, photos, business cards, etc so I keep them and have made a collage above my dressing table.

Always have a pile of great cookbooks in my kitchen. Some new and some vintage inspired.

They go with my powder blue kitchen cupboards.

My flatmates and I are big fans of cooking.

One of my flatmates got these cute jars to keep all our spices in.

So there you go. A few vintage finds in my own home.

- Sarah @ Sarah's Vintage Wendy House x

Vintage postcards

On a trip out last week, we came across a batch of really pretty vintage postcards and although they had been written on, we loved how great they still looked and how well they had retained their original designs.

These make a great alternative to a birthday card or a simple thank you note and can be bought for anything from around 25p. Plus you get to put a smile on someone's face!

Decoupage

Here at SVWH, we are big fans of decoupaged anything. If you like bringing things bang up to date but still retaining a vintage vibe, then this is a useful skill for you. You can use anything you want as your canvas and either use decoupage kits or cut and paste your own favourite pictures.

Smaller pictures obviously look great on small items such as bangles, boxes, notebooks and glassware. Larger pictures look great on items where you have a bigger space to use to great effect - chairs, tables, chest of drawers and even wall spaces.

Let your imagination run free.......

This would look beautiful in a simple hallway as a feature piece.

You can use decoupage papers to compliment various items.

As you know, we love the unusual.

This is an example of individual decoupage birds and flowers being used to decorate a hallway ceiling.

A modern twist using old world maps - a great bedside table!

Glass decoupage is not as tricky as you think. Just be sure to lay out your pattern before you start gluing and don't be afraid to go bold and bright.

Decoupage can extend to jewellery. Give old worn, wooden bangles a new lease of life with a colour pop and make some unique presents for your friends.

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse
1983 - 2011

Singer, Muse, Icon

RIP
xxx

Celebrity Brides

Celebrity brides have been in the news a lot recently particularly in the wake of Catherine Middleton's marriage to HRH Prince William of Wales. Simple lace creations seem to be the summer choice for dresses this year with make up and hair kept natural and youthful to showcase the bride's natural beauty.

We should be proud that these ladies have celebrated the best of British and international vintage in their weddings and cannot wait to see what the next batch of celebrity weddings will showcase.

Lily Allen got married a few weeks ago and we were overjoyed for her when it was announced that she was also pregnant on her wedding day! Congratulations Lily and Sam!

Lily used her love of vintage for her wedding right down to the 'save the date' cards. Cute!

Karl Lagerfeld designed Lily's wedding dress which was made by Delphine Manivet.

Handy knowing the head at Chanel hey?

The design is perfect for Lily and showcases her English rose beauty.

Beautful muted flowers and a happy smile made for a great day.

Lily's veil and headdress were a beautiful choice and Sam looked smart in his suit.

Kate Moss has finally tied the note with her groom Jamie Hince and we were bowled over by how beautiful she looked on her special day. We al knew Kate would choose something vintage to compliment her figure and supermodel attributes but her choice of John Galliano gown was stunning and we applaud her!

We loved the bridesmaids dresses (12 in total!) and the fresh flower hair garlands.

Jamie looks particularly dapper in his light blue suit and those skinny trousers rock!

Kate looked radiant and her simple hairstyle was offset by the beautiful antique lace veil she choose to highlight her beautiful dress.

We wish the new Hince family all the best for the future!