Table to bench tutorial

After perusing Pinterest as ya do, I fell across several tutorials for refashioning tables into seating and  luck would have it we needed a seated bench for the girls AND we had a vintage table hiding out in the shed that we hadn't used for a while so i popped on down to Dunelm Mill for some foam and dug out a vintage toddler bed duvet cover that didn't fit the girls bed anymore and i got to work with my staple gun and my trusty hot glue gun.

 Here's my lovely, and very long vintage coffee table. I think I would of liked to have painted the legs first but I also love the retro wood.

I cut the foam, which is 1 inch thick to fit and hot glue gunned the foam to the top of the table.

I didn't over hang the foam as many of the other tutorials say purely because i didn't have enough foam in one piece and secondly because Dunelm Mill didn't stock foam large enough to cover it in one go and i didn't want to have a seam down the middle.

This is the gorgeous fabric used from the vintage bedlinen, half was large enough to fold in half and staple down with enough overhang which has covered the colour of the foam perfectly and added a little more comfort.

And finally here is the final look!!

I love it!! AND its comfy which took me by surprise if I'm honest. I hope to make another one with a 6 inch foam and large enough to have an over hang that i can use in the hall way for putting on shoes etc, a really easy craft, only took me an hour start to finish and really cheap, was just £6 for the foam and everything else i had.

Give it a go, a really lovely addition to the home and practical to.

L xx

My handmade home

The blog has been neglected this last few months in favour of decorating and crafting and its been a lovely break, however i have 'lost' several hundred hrs of my life ill never get back on browsing pinterest for inspiration. Yet i say that like its a bad thing! lol

Here's a few quick and easy Saturdays makes we can all spare the time for to bring some personality into your home with little to no outlay.

Halloween was creeping up on me and i was seriously unorganised this year, i mean who doesn't manage to get a pumpkin on Halloween?? Yeah that's right, ME!! So to make up for my lacking as the Halloween Queen i whipped up these little bats for the girls. I got the pattern and tutorial from Pinterest which was free and i simply used whatever fabric scraps i had lying around and some old buttons.
The girls LOVE them and they are super snugly as i used fleece for the back, would your little monsters like a 'scary' pet too??

But of course you always get one that doesn't want what your making so with my thinking cap on i found a tutorial and pattern for a fabric doll but i couldn't let the little lady be naked, and Emma didn't approve so i whizzed up some clothes too from some fabric scraps.

As I've been decorating where i can between Christmas crafting and the sort I've been making some bits for the house from what we already had that wasn't being used.
The french doors in the dining room being a major headache for me as i need to get out a few times a day to tend to the chickens but i also wanted them to look pretty and possibly cosy when needed.
So after much pondering i had a route through my vintage fabrics and found two table cloths that where the perfect size to make into curtains.
i simply hemmed the top on both to be big enough to slip the rod through, i moved it from the outside to the inside of the window as i thought it looked nicer.
then i needed some tie backs to keep them back for easy access to the back so i dug out some large doilies and cut them in half and zig zag stitched the raw edge.

Then i decided to make a new lampshade and after some careful consideration i decided to try my hand at making a doily one. There are loads of tutorials on Pinterest for them and being low cost i thought id give it a go.
I blew a balloon as big as i could get it, i would suggest trying to find the really big ones or like an inflatable beach ball you don't mind sacrificing for a more round shape but either way i love mine.
I simply laid on the doilies and painted over with wallpaper paste.

Then left to dry for 24 hours, i then popped the balloon, some times they will pop themselves once they are fully dry and contract against the doilies.
i cut out the top, carefully, to slip the bulb through and voila! new lampshade!!! i made a full one so had to use string to tie the shade to the fitting but i am currently making an open end one for the lounge so i wont have to tie that one on.

I love how it throws the light out and casts beautiful shapes all through the dining room and into the hall.

I then decided to up cycle a large, and damaged photo frame to home some James bond post cards my hubby brought home. They are all retro prints so i could resist putting them up.
It was a purple plastic so i simply repainted with a few coats of grey left over emulsion which took great and inserted the prints. it now has pride of place in the lounge.

 I also made a dream catcher after seeing a gorgeous tutorial on pinterest for one. i got the large hoops from a local haberdashery for £1.50 for two which turned out to be much cheaper than eBay but i would like to get some really big ones and make another.
I simply wrapped a doily around the frame and hand stitched into place then hung charms and feathers etc from the bottom and hung in our bedroom.
its to cute, i need to make millions!!

Next time id like the bottom to be fuller.

Our stairs window, which i hate as its huge and slightly pointless needed a loving touch so with a lace vintage table cloth that had seen better days i whipped up into a pair of curtains that subtly frame the window making it less imposing on the stairs.
i used a little ribbon and some lace edging to make little tie backs and it took all of 20 mins to hem the top and edges and hang them

And finally, an already repainted table needed a make over from red to something more subtle ready for decorating the lounge next year so i painted it a gorgeous cream tone that i picked a tester pot up of for 20p in our local homebase. it was just and i mean just enough to cover it and i customised it with some pacman star wars images.

A little PVA glue and it looks like a completely new table. it now homes the games consoles again and everyone is happy.

This just proves that with a few pounds, a little imagination and a whole lot of patience you can turn your house into the home you want.

 L xx

Modern Day Gentlemen

I cant speak for everyone here but i cant resist a man in a suit, or at least looking as gentlemanly as possible.
My husband takes on a whole new persona when in a suit and really holds himself differently, and thats no bad thing at all.
Men where men when in a suit and i feel if you want to be taken seriously as man you need to dress as such, and with the high street tipping a hat to vintage theres no better time than to see your man looking like the gentleman he is inside.
Men’s fashion is a fantastic British success story - from the established houses of Saville Row such as Richard James, to new and emerging talents like James Long. This first-ever London Men’s Fashion Week this autumn will help to show off the industry throughout London’s Olympic year and will show why Britain is such a fantastic place to visit. Not to mention the totty!
Next are all over this trend and have some gorgeous pieces for the gentleman in your life and for all style looks.
The Signature Black Stripe Tailored Fit Jacket

(http://bit.ly/NwfXua) is a staple for anyone trying to build a wardrobe for autumn and Tan Cleated Brogues

(http://bit.ly/O0jX1S) are as British as a Sunday roast. From loafers to espadrilles, check out the full range of Next men’s shoes here (http://bit.ly/OkWGdb).
We like our men to dress like gentlemen, so this season’s knitted sleeveless tanks

(http://bit.ly/QkFFDs) and waistcoats

(http://bit.ly/Ny5KNB) worn over shirts (http://bit.ly/ORnqOZ) and with smart trousers and brogues are just the ticket. Makes a change from the usual jeans and shorts!
I couldnt agree more that all men should if not for work, at least on date night dress ever the gentlemen, it screams Christian Grey and what woman wouldnt like that?!

L xx

Vintage Style

We all love a hint of vintage to our outfit, be it in accessories or a gorgeous dress and i like most women are crazy about all things vintage even though i love the comfort of modern clothes and fabrics.
I have recently been sucked in by Mad Men and I'm feverishly trying to catch up with the rest of the world! I'm fascinated by the fashion including the mountainous underwear they wore and the gorgeous furniture and accessories.
Ive been interested in vintage fashion since i started studying fashion design when i was just 16. And I've had ideas on making my own underwear for years but never had the guts to give it a try.
However whilst i while away the hours on eBay i stumbled across this beautiful monsoon underwear set whilst searching for dresses.
I just couldn't resist it with its nod to the 1950s and its simple structured look i had to have it and with no other bidders but me 99p was an absolute steal for a brand new set worth £40!!

Now just to find that elusive pair of shoes I've been hankering for!!

L xx

Curtain revamp

Since closing La Chic Unique, i have spent a lot of time finally getting my house decorated and primped and preened into the home i want, my budget has been very small and being as frugal as i am most of our now very priced possessions are preloved.
The man of the house has had an almost obsessive hate about the blinds we have had up since we moved in over 2 years ago so i bit the bullet and tried to find a pair of cute curtains for our newly decorated lounge.
I had wanted some gorgeous taffeta ones, to the floor in a rich cream but sadly these have been out of my budget due to the size of my window! So, as a last ditch attempt to find something as a stop gap i grabbed a pair of vintage floral ones from the local charity shop for a mere £2.
They where cream with a cute floral pattern but with a hideous frill. He hated them and i wasn't a huge fan but they fit beautifully and are gorgeously made and have done the job for the last few months.
However with a little to much time to kill one afternoon i figured enough was enough and something had to be done about them. With autumn fast approaching i have dreamt up this gorgeous cosy lounge for evening snuggles and movies and i went ahead with giving the curtains a make over as my starting point for my autumn cosy hideaway.

I started off with carefully cutting the frill off as close as possible to the seam, with its satin pink strip it reminded me of my grandmas bedroom curtains when i was 6 i still shudder at the thought lol!

Then i used a Dylon Ruby Red machine dye to , fingers crossed, dye them to something that would frame the window instead of give me nightmares.
I had hoped for a really deep red tone to them as the walls are painted a soft grey tone and we have white nets up to the window.
Having been through the washer twice and a few hours drying they have been transformed into these...

As you can see from the photo the colour is a lot lighter than i hoped but they are not 100% cotton so i didn't expect them to be very true to colour, not to mention the pattern! Even though you can still see it on close inspection, when the light floods into the room they turn a gorgeous deep shade against the bright white of the window nets and the light grey walls.

I rehung them the wrong way round so the outer seam would be on the meeting side of the curtain so they now look like a completely  new set of curtains. Ive had two fabulous reactions when i said they where the same curtains, no one can believe five Min's with a pair of shears and a fabric dye can make such a huge difference to a room, i cannot be happier, not only did it not cost me a whopping £100 for a fabulous pair of curtains but i didn't even need to buy a new pair.

And here my window is, with my gorgeous vintage sun catchers up, i love them more than i ever thought i would and with the ease of use of the Dylon fabric dyes i will defo be reworking more in the future!!
Thanks Dylon for the stunning new curtains, i hope you approve.




L xx

TUTORIAL: DIY Vintage Necklace

We all like something a little different when it comes to jewellery so why not give this really easy Ribbon Necklace Tutorial a go and create your own one off piece...

Recycle Vintage chocker tutorial

Tools and equipment:

2 meters of 2cm wide satin ribbon
Ribbon ends with a hoop
Pliers
Cutters or another pair of pliers
Broken piece of vintage jewellery
(i used a large ornate bracelet that was missing some stones that i could get replacements for but any charm with side hoops will work)
2 jump rings and a matching clasp
A short piece of chain and a single bead or charm of your choice
1 head pin

1:  Cut your satin ribbon into two equal lengths and press so smooth out any kinks you may have. Mine was taken for an old item of clothing so needed ironing before use.

2:  I used my pliers and cutters to pry the smaller of the charm off the bracelet. You may simply just need to use the cutters or pliers to cut off or open a jump ring.

3:  Thread the ribbon around the open side bars and pull through so they are of equal lengths on both sides.

4:  Neaten the edges of the ribbon if required and pop the end caps on and close tight with your pliers and pull the ribbon to ensure it doesn't slip through, use super glue or hot glue gun to secure the ribbon in place if required.

5:  Attach your jump rings to either hook at the end of your ribbon and attach the clasp to one side.

6:  On the opposite side attach your short length of chain.

7:  Pop your head pin through your bead, if using a charm just attach a smaller jump ring to the top and attach to your chain,  hoop it round and attach to the stretch of chain.

8:  Fasten and wear with pride!!!

Harlequin Fox Bridal Wear

With the Wedding Season fast approaching our attention turns to the numerous Wedding Fairs spread wide and far across the country enticing us with there exceptional wares and their unique concept for your big day.

Every girl, including myself, loves the hunt for the perfect dress! When we chose a cancellation date for our wedding, leaving just 3 weeks to do EVERYTHING it wasnt the easiest job in the world but we did it and it was wonderful. I did yern for a 50s cut or vintage inspired dress. Like most things that i want bad enough to spend hours and hours just on research i didnt have time to have my wish.

 This one i WOULD of had!

I do however wish i had comes across www.harlequinfox.com during my pain staking research as the very lovely Natasha creates THE most stunning Wedding Dresses ive come across in a VERY long time. Not only are they simply stunning, they are handmade, yes i said it HANDMADE! They capture the beauty of the original styling with their exquisite detailing and textured fabrics and are simply  enough to make any girl weep!

Here's a little something Natasha had to say about her business..

Harlequin Fox Bridalwear

Harlequin Fox Bridalwear is a bespoke bridal dressmaking service established by London-based designer, Natasha Shaw.  A lover of all things vintage, her work combines contemporary dressmaking with a touch of old world charm.

Specialising in styles inspired by the 1920's - 1960's, she makes wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, evening gowns, corsets and bridal accessories such as veils, ring cushions and hairpieces.

All her creations seek to bring out the individuality of her clients, therefore she offers a free initial consultation to discuss design ideas and requirements, as well as the all-important  fabrics and trimmings!  Her gowns are then individually handmade to complement the shape and character of her clients, using the classic techniques of couture tailoring.

If you are looking for  a unique, made-to-measure gown for your wedding or special occasion, feel free to book a consultation today.

Natasha is available on Facebook and Twitter:

Follow me on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harlequin-Fox-bridalwear/266917536678523

Follow me on Twitter! - @harlequinfox

La Chic Unique for 2012 and COMP

Ive been wanting to step away from 'Handmade Jewellery' for some time now but i haven't been 100% convinced that i would be able to compete in the vintage market alone as there, like handmade, is so much competition even though you are never going to find 2 pieces exactly the same!
So thinking about what i enjoy doing on my down days have decided to go with a Curio site, selling everything from jewellery, to clothes, to collectables and children's books and toys etc, anything thats pretty pre 1980 and lots of fun!!!
And to top that off we will be officially stocking Vintage Life Magazine!! How exciting!! And don't forget this months mag subscription offer is our FABULOUS 'Secret Garden' Necklace!!
What i would love you to do, my lovely readers is come up with a fabulous new tag line for the website, ideally using the word CURIO.
The comp will be open for 1 week from today and the winner will receive a goody bag stuffed with jewellery and other goodies!!
Comment below to be entered!!!!
Good Luck and tell EVERYONE you know!!


L xx

Repaired vintage pieces

It seems not many of you know, but La-chic-unique also undertake all kinds or costume jewellery repair work even on vintage.
Even the smallest jobs like replacing stones or fixing broken links or clasps. These are real bug bears to jewellery wears, especially costume jewellery, as the high street items aren't generally finished off well as they are mass produced so many links will be loose and the clasps damaged before you even get to wear it but fear not, for just £1 an item to repair clasps or links this is the cheapest way of keeping hold of your treasured costume jewellery.
I also repair vintage costume jewellery, so the same again with missing stones, links and clasps, as these are the things that will break first.
I also up cycle, which means you can send me a broken piece, which is unrepairable and refashion it into something else that you can continue to love for many more years.
To utilise this service please use the contact for at La-Chic-Unique or alternatively email me at lizipants@yahoo.co.uk

So now you know the services i can offer you, how about checking out some up cycled vintage jewellery?

This beautiful vintage engagement ring, is sterling silver and the shank has been gold plated. there is no wear to the shank or damage. absolutely beautiful condition for its age, circa 1940.
The stones will be paste or glass (a vintage version of CZ) but are all secured into the shank with no damage.
When i bought this it has a stone missing but i have replaced it so is now clean and in tact ready to give to your vintage loving hunny or just for treating your self.
A beautiful alternative to a modern engagement ring and if it wasn't to big for my tiny fingers you wouldn't be getting to see it!! POA and more photos are available upon request.

Next up is a beautiful ornate silver tone hair slide. Its on the large side but has simulated pearl in the centre and some cute cabochons on both ends. One side had a missing pearl and I've replaced it with a contrasting blue one, looks really stunning. Perfect for a bride or brides maid, or just for the vintage lover.

£8 including postage.

Thanks for stopping by

L x

Up Cycled with @beadsmorebylois

The every so lovely Lois from Beads and more by lois, sent me some gorgeous gun metal findings to blog about and they have been sat on my work bench for a few weeks now.
As beautiful as the lovely deep grey findings are i had struggled to find the perfect accompaniment for them and the longer i looked at them the deeper my creative block become.
But after finding 3 huge bags of broken jewellery at a charity shop last week, i found THE most perfect set a damaged beads to use with them.

They are a vintage, twilight blue bead that are circa 1970 i would guess from the way they have been strung, The clasp was broken so i used this gorgeous oval spacer bead to balance out the way the beads hung and reattached a new clasp and the most amazing owl stamping.

As you can see they are short, but with all the glamour at the back it really sets off this beautiful set of strung beads, perfect for an evening event where understated but beautiful is a must!

i feel almost inclined to keep them myself, I've totally in love with the deep colours, makes a fabulous change from the silver , gold and brass and a fabulous addition to your A/W wardrobe.

L xx

Shiny New Shop

As some of you may know, some of you have been waiting with bated breath while the rest of you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, finally our new shop and re brand is up and running with a massive great big, bear hugging thanks to the most wonderfullest person Diddybears .

She has turned my painfully, style struggling Mr Site online store into an all singing, vintage, parisian feel wonder store with her design genius!

I can, hand on heart, honestly say i am totally in love with what she has done style wise with the shop. Especially when using the create.net frame its exactly what i had dreamed it would be. It captures the unique beauty in my jewellery and makes it more marketable and accessible for all to see.

Its grown up but pretty and its easy to get lost browsing through the pages of up cycled and vintage jewellery i currently have for sale.

Its let me move a little further away from those like styled items on the web at the more and made it that little more unique to me.

I can now offer more than just jewellery too, gifts and vintage clothing and accessories will be coming soon. As soon as i have stock piled enough to make it worth while offering!

Possibly cake pops and cards, all handmade from other small businesses, will also be available!

This month has been quite successful in way of opportunities, even though sales have been very thin on the ground with the summer holidays in full swing!

We will be offering a subscription offer in Vintage Life Mag, which will be available around christmas time!

We have been at Earth Salon again supplying jewellery for their goody bags.

We have started working more closely with Carrot Top PR.

Our ad will be in Septs issue of the London University Guide.

And we are sending some fabulous goodies over to Daisy Green Mag for a review.

So all go here, loads of charity auction items off to be raffled off for some fabulous causes and new items in the pipe line!

So what ya waiting for, dust off your credit card and set off browsing our shiny new shop

L x

Handmade year entry approx 3 months

With the school holidays now in full swing i seem to have found a whole new love for this again! i have been really good tho and still only buying from charity shops where i can and making gifts etc and bits for the girls.
Today i have been on a total roll! Ive made a start on Emmas school bag. I did intend to buy her one off ebay, the Cath Kidston oilcloth ones are DIVINE!! but i also had a thought maybe, for her, having something completely one off would help her find her bag when at school without having to struggle to ask to find it.
I used an old skirt in a gorgeous brown tweed then used a roxy summer kaftan i had "outgrown" lol for lining. I had found the tutorial on the net but when i came to use it i just kinda did my own thing! I'm really happy with how its turning out, as i have never made bags before (scary!!) I just need to press it, sew on the straps and I'm going to make a cross stitch monogram button to sew on with a giant E on so she knows its her SPECIAL bag!

i tried my hand at making a little coin purse for Elissa, as she's going thru that, 'I'm a grown up' stage! Im not 100% happy with it but its cute and it doesn't matter if she looses it!!

i used a skirt of emmas she has outgrown and used a little scrap of rose fabric to line the flap, it has a little velcro fastening. i didn't use a template or anything i just cut it out and hoped for the best! lol

My bargain of the week is this fabulous leather, topshop doctors bag i picked up for £6 in a charity shop. Slightly more than id normally spend to be fair but i fell in love with it!! Tho it is HUGE and could quite easily pack essentials for a day out!!

And finally for today, i up cycled this old bar stool i had lying around for my sewing machine as my large chair i use when making jewellery isn't the right height for my machine. This however is perfect. Its been primed then painted with a very pale pink emulsion then i recovered the hideous seat with cream spotty oil cloth! however, i ran out of staples when i was almost finished so it isn't pulled as tight as i would normally like but its easily replaced!

Well its almost feeding time at the zoo, i hope something has inspired you today!

L xx

Handbag Compacts

With progress on my shiny new shop coming along nicely ive been "trying" to make good head way with my stock and the gift range.
And looky what arrived yesterday... our shiny new customisable acrylic handbag mirrors. I am working on a little pouch for them, thinking one that can also be used as a coin purse too with a parisian feel, i think though with the cost it would be a good idea to offer these as an additional cost instead of adding it on to the mirror price. They wont break and shouldnt scratch much either so not essential to the care of your mirror.
anywho take a look see and let me know what you think! these are available for pre-order if you just have to have one now!!! POA lizipants@yahoo.co.uk

Day 8

There has been a major LACK of crafting over the last few days, due mainly to the increasing pile of work i have on order at the mo...dont get me wrong im not complaining but i just wish it was a bit more consistant instead of nothing then half the world and his dog places an order! *ponders* Do dogs wear jewellery???
Anyway today me and the girls had a lovely morning, we took the long way to the local Home Bargains for some supplies, rice and such then stopped by the library on the way home.
The kids got a few books each and i got the Hummingbird Bakery book, long story short, not overly impressed!!
Managed to get through a quarter of mums cross stitch but time is creeping up on me, not sure ill have it ready for her birthday EEEK!!
In other news my silver clay kit came today *squeels* EKKKK cant wait to use it!! AND... the vintage wedding ring set i got from America on Ebay for 99c, thats 68p to you and me :) Now its stamped 18K but im not convinced, plated quite possibly but i could be wrong. The stones arent diamonds of course but it is the CUTEST thing i've ever bought

And no im not getting re-married but when we did get married me and Mr Geek Pants where in such a rush we just got silver bands and after almost 2 years of heavy wear they are very badly scratched and ive longed desperatly for a vintage set, now of course Mr Geek Pants cant wear the band, it wouldnt fit him for a start!! but its a good start!

L xx

my 12 month handmade, pre-loved task

Lately I've been thinking... as you have probably gathered from my last few blog posts, that there must be more to this than throw away culture. I hate high street brands, big business and all things "normal".
So I've decided to go on a 12 months handmade and pre-loved journey. I endeavour to hand make, up cycle, recycle clothes for me and the girls and buy only second hand, pre-worn, vintage and charity shop finds. This also goes for furniture and home accessories.
I also plan to home bake much more than i already do and only cook meals and snacks. No more fast food, take aways and crap. If i can make, grow, reuse it then i will!
Obviously theres things i cant avoid and will have to buy conveniences but from tomorrow (sat 21st may, which freakily is supposed to be some sort of apocalypse) i will be updating daily of the things i make, buy and reuse to cloth and feed us.
I'm hoping to take a lot from this. To see how well we cope without the things we take for granted, also i want THE coolest vintage home and this is a great way to point myself in the right direction. Theres nothing I'm yet to come across that cant be reused and remade into something amazing AND practical!
We have a stores full of clothes the girls have outgrown, but really its all just pre cut fabric ready to be remade into something that's unique AND practical.
I just don't want my kids growing into greedy so n so's! They shouldn't be concerned with the cost but that its a new (to them) toy or item of clothing!
we have a book self full of kids books that have been read to death! now how cool would it be to swap them for other books that they haven't read yet!
Those old toys and games and even shoes and clothing that could be swapped and revamped to suit yourself. no need for cash to change hands just wonderfulness of knowing that item can be loved elsewhere!!
Would be cool to get a few of you lovely readers on board to... maybe do a swap once a month, everyone post the items on their blog they don't want anymore and swap them with someone else that does want them.
After all if it is gonna be the zombie apocalypse tomorrow then money wont mean a thing!!

L x

oh and in all seriousness if you would be interested in a toy/clothes/furniture/recipe swap then pls get in touch and we can set up a list of all swappers