Loving the vintage vibe!

Here's where I'll share my obsession with vintage fabric! It's taking over my house!

I'll sharing with you my favorite fabrics, my 'adventures" in dressmaking using vintage patterns, some home furnishing ideas and no doubt I'll be telling you about any exciting finds! Love to hear about your vintage adventures too!

My first Shop was AudreysCat ( online shop May 2010) , but my new logo / name - WittyDawn , arrived Jan 2014.

I hope you'll have time to browse my shops too !

Thursday 24 October 2013

A Vintage Hunters Guide to Cirencester

I am lucky to live in the pretty Cotswolds town of Cirencester. It's not a large town but it has an interesting mix of indepent shops and great places to eat.

For quite a small town we are pretty well able to cater for the vintage hunter if you know where to go! not to mention about 13 charity shops - well run with good quality stock too. For example we have bought many bits of funiture from the Sue Ryder shop ( near the town center Tesco )  - like this display cabinet.


SO vintage fans if you want to visit Cirencester here's a few places you might like to check out !

  • Sheila at SheUnique . Although Sheila has closed her shop now she is still involved in many local vintage events and also provides vintage makeup and hairstyle makeovers - very much in demand for weddings and hen dos! her facebook page is here  https://www.facebook.com/sheuniquevintage.cirencester?fref=ts&ref=br_tf.
  • For 20 century Furniture you need to head out of town to the Love Lane Business park to Mark Parrish's place. A treasure trove of great funiture ( that chair in the photo above came from there as have several other pieces of our furniture) here's a  selection of Mark Parrish's items. If you want to see what he has make sure you contact him first to arrange an appoinment !
  • In the Market place there is a great antiques center with a coffee shop , The .Cirencester Antiques Centre people are very helpful and there's a great range of items. Open Mon to Sat.
  • Every Friday 9 - 3 pm we have a great Antiques Market in the Corn Hall in the Market place directly opposite the Cirencester Anitiques Center
  • If you have a nice bit of furniture that you'd like repainting to get that Shabby Chic look head out of town towards Stratton on the Gloucester Road / Cheltenham Road junction to the Lavender House Interiors and Coffee Shop  . The ladies there do a great job renovating old furniture AND you'll get a great coffee too AND they usually have one or two items from me!
  • We also have  Lavinia's Tea Party  based in Stratton. Amongst other things they can hire out vintage tea sets for wedding and hen dos - very pretty things.  
  • I noticed last week  that the little Jewellery shop Joli Beau run by Nicole near the Post Office had a cabinet FULL of the most devine vintage jewellery so I'd advise you to check that out! 
  • There is often a lovely lady selling vintage clothes on a stall in the market place, and my friend Carole https://www.facebook.com/vintageupcycling often has a stall in the Corn Hall.  
  • For General shopping info here's a good site Cirencester Shopping 

 and OF COURSE if you want to see a great range of vintage fabric for fabulous cushions , bags and other homewares contact me for an appointment - I'll put the kettle on !  I am based in Stratton - a mile outside of Cirencester Town Center - as well !

Events

 'Vintage and Artisan Fair'

 At the Corn Hall, GL7 2NY  Cirencester Sun 29th April 10 - 4pm . Organiser : Augusta Wreay 07970859703 - I believe some stall slots are still available. Lots of other shops. pubs and cafe's are open on a Sunday in Cirencester so you can make a day of it!

'Vintage Heaven' 
At the Organic Farm shop  Now Being planned for next Autumn, pencilled in for 15th Nov 2nd 2014 .
It was such good fun last time and Emma / Hilary did a great job organising it - lots of charity money raised too. Details to follow nearer the time !


'Cirencester Toy and Train Fair'

Organised by Ronnie Rocket , who also has toy stall each week in the Corn Hall Antiques Market each Friday. Details are here http://www.cirencestertoyfair.com/ . I think the next one is on August 2014 . The last one had about 40 stalls so it's worth a trip if you are a toy / train collector .


Thursday 17 October 2013

I do LOVE a vintage fabric washing line

It occured to me that I really don't mind washing when the result is a pretty washing line.

I then relised that I have a LOT of pictures of washing on my line! so what the heck lets share 'em







This is becoming something of an obsession - this morning I found myself considered the order in  which I arranged my washing on the line to get the best photo.... OPPS! 

Wednesday 9 October 2013

The Last Major Harvest ?

Well this could be it - the last bit of tender stuff !

It's been a better year than last year ... a bit of a fail on Pumpkins ( 1st time in 12 years without homegrown) but everything else has been pretty good!






Hope you have had a good growing season! 



Tuesday 8 October 2013

Cuteness OVERLOAD! - baby bib and bootees sets from vintage fabrics

Oh my WORD these are so cute !

I've really enjoyed making these from some of my vintage fabric - the bootees are sized to fit 3.6 month old little uns, fully lined, NO raw seams with elasticated backs. The bibs are reversable and have a velcro fastening. They are £15 plus £3 P&P.

I have a little Bootee Giveaway running on my facebook page  - and I will select a winner when I get to 500 page likes - all you need to do is comment on FACEBOOK and share that giveaway link . Teh ones I'm giving away are the red bootees top middle :


I haven't listed any of these in my online shops yet as I am taking them to a few fairs first but if you do want a set  you can buy via contacting me here or on facebook.

Here's a close up of my favorite!  its  another set I've just finished