Swell Sunday

Hello again!

Blogging twice in the space of one weekend - wowee!

So I've had a very productive day. Not only did I measure all of my pieces on sale at http://swellvintage.etsy.com following a popular demand, but I also made a few new ones!


Locked up in pearl! This is a locket made from a vintage base locket, adorned with a repurposed vintage pendant and freshwater pearl and hung on vintage chain. I really like working with real pearl, so expect to see more of that in the future!



This is one classy cat - not balls of yarn, but shiny pearls to play with! This necklace is made from a vintage 'leopard' broach, hung on vintage silver tone and faux pearl chain. It's a real statement piece!



The perfumery. This necklace is made from a vintage sterling silver perfume bottle, hung on various vintage chains and adorned with two vintage faux pearls. You could use it to store perfume or even a sneaky shot of something!


Wilma only wishes Fred would buy her a necklace like this! This is definitely my boldest piece so far - made with vintage faux silver pearl chain, it's a real beast. Think you could handle it?



Ruby-red ribbons! This bracelet is made from a vintage broach (kindly donated by the lovely Miss Amy at the Wonderland Boutique), linked with vintage chain. I took out one of the stones and replaced it with a freshwater pearl to give it a little something extra. It's a magpie's dream!

So as always, I've love to know what you think! I really value all comments and feedback, so please don't be shy. I'm always looking to improve. And if you'd like to see more, visit the Swell Vintage etsy shop at http://swellvintage.etsy.com.

I'm very sad Sunday is almost over. I hope you've all had a lovely weekend, and that the week ahead is pretty good too!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell kindness

So I hadn't expected to blog today, but then the exceeding talented and lovely Tanja of Sinta nominated me for an award!


***This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog’s content or design is, in the giver’s opinion is brilliant.

The rules: When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real.

Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends. Show the 7 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.” Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!

Here’s 10 random honest things about me.

1. I am becoming more and more of a social recluse as the days go by.
2. I am totally obsessed with Poirot. Both the books and the TV series.
3. All babies (whether I know them all not) cannot help but stare at my face. I think it's because I have ridiculously big clown-like features.
   
4. I'm part-Egyptian and part-Italian. Oh, and half-English.
5. My real favourite outfit is pyjamas.
6. I've always thought I'd make a really great vampire. That's not right, is it?
7. Sometimes when I'm having a bad day at work, I google 'puppies' to cheer myself up. I like puppies.
8. I (probably not so) secretly love love love Beyoncé. If I looked like that in a leotard, that would be my real favourite outfit.
   
9. I love really awful, badly made 70s horror films. The more ridiculous the better.
10. I one day plan to move to Edinburgh. It is my favourite city.
    

The seven random victims of this award are:

1. The Hand of Fatima NYC - a lovely lady who makes epic jewellery.
2. Wonderland Boutique - Amy is an angel, and her designs just get better and better!
3. Fumblog - My friend Jamie Smart is an amazing comic book artist. And his blog is very well made.
4. Couture Carrie - this lady always posts the most amazing selection of photos!
5. Dear Golden Vintage - I frequently spend a fortune at this lady's etsy shop. And she's brilliant too!
6. Dooder City - a great fashion blog that knows when everyone's birthdays are!
7. Jan's Gems - Jan embodies all things craft, and she makes me want to make things.

Wow, it was hard picking just 7! I have about 100 blogs in my reader, and I love them all dearly.

Anyway, thanks again, Tanja - that was fun!

In other news, I got some film for my polaroid camera:


I look much better blurry.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell snapping

Hello!

I didn't plan to blog today, but I NEED to share my happiness with everyone!

POLAROID IS SAVED!!!!!!111 (hopefully):

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/smile-polaroid-is-saved-1418929.html

Is anyone else as excited as I am? I recently got a polaroid camera from a charity shop, and was a bit gutted by how difficult the film was to come by. Fingers crossed this business plan goes well! I really love the look and feel of polaroid pictures.

To celebrate, here are the Spice Girls:

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell times

Hello there!

It's been a while, hasn't it! How are you? I'm good thanks, finally feeling like I'm getting back on top of things. I've been a bit slack recently. Tut tut.

SO - what's been going on? Well, since finishing my Poirot DVD box set (best 11 days of my life), I've actually left the house a fair bit, which is pretty unusual for me.

I was accepted onto a 'Creative Industries' programme, an initiative run by Flying Start and the NCGE. They invited 33 students and recent graduates who wish to pursue freelance or business activity in any art and design related concept to Bournemouth for three-days of workshops and mentoring. It was a very intensive three-days in a hotel by the sea, but totally worth it, as I've learnt a lot. Hopefully I now have the knowledge necessary to take my jewellery stuff a bit further! Not only that, but they paid for EVERYTHING - the hotel, all of our food, the tutoring...if you're a UK student/graduate, I highly recommend you have a look at the Flying Start website.

Not only did I learn a lot, but I also met some very lovely, supportive and talented people! Hopefully I will have a chance to work with some of them in the future, as they all have something so individual and brilliant to offer. I'll let you know!

Due to my travels and general exhaustion, I've been a bit rubbish about making new stuff, but I finally managed a few new pieces today. Here are a couple:



Pure fan-tasy! See what I did there? This necklace is made from a very ornate vintage broach, hung on vintage brass chain and adorned with a vintage pearl. I debated adding more to this, but I think the fan itself is a fan-tastic centre piece. And an excuse for terrible, terrible puns.



The water of life! I am a non-drinker, but in my youth gin was my tipple of choice. This necklace is made from a vintage 'gin' decanter label, hung on vintage chain and adorned with vintage faux pearls. An ideal choice of any fan of gin, or if it happens to be your name!

Both of these necklaces are for sale on my etsy shop, http://swellvintage.etsy.com, along with many of my other designs. If you get bored, why not stop by and have a browse? Also, as always I welcome your feedback, please! It was recently suggested to me by Jody of Couture Allure that I should post measurements of my necklaces, and I think that's a great idea! I'll be doing that this very week.

Thank you for reading. You are rather lovely.

Where did the weekend go?!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell roundups

Hello one and all!

This is only going to be a quickie (waaaaaay), but I'm just so excited to have contributed to the Independent Fashion Bloggers' Links à la Mode weekly roundup for the first time!


...and I'm extra excited because they've included a photo of my shell antique drawer pull necklace! HOORAY!

Even if you aren't a member of the IFB, I highly recommend you check out the listed blogs - there are some brilliant reads. Oh go on, have a look! http://independentfashionbloggers.org.

I can't even tell you how happy I am that it's Friday tomorrow. Yes lie-in.

New jewellery coming soon to http://swellvintage.etsy.com! Perhaps even this very weekend...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell selling - UPDATED!

...well, hopefully anyway!

Yes, today I've FINALLY put my jewellery for sale on etsy! To browse the Swell Vintage etsy shop, visit .

It's definitely been a long time coming, so fingers crossed the lovely people of etsy like what I do! I also put two of my newest pieces on there today, and I'd love to know what you think:



This necklace is very unusual! Made from a vintage broach, I've added a touch of vintage faux pearl and hung it on vintage brass chain.




This necklace is rather lovely - I just wish I could capture it better in photographs! It's made from an antique drawer pull, hung on vintage brass chain and is adorned with vintage faux pearl.

So, what do you think, my lovely lovelies? I'd love to hear from you, as always!

Also, a very sweet lady named ZoeDuthie has blogged about me! Go and have a little look at her blog - her project sounds fascinating! http://zoeduthiejewelleryproject.blogspot.com

Not only that, but my dear friend Amy of the Wonderland Boutique has written about me in her blog too! You can read that here. I highly recommend that you check out her etsy shop, http://wonderlandboutique.etsy.com, where she sells gorgeous vintage-inspired clutches, totes and purses! Amy has been so so kind and supportive since I joined etsy. It's also nice to meet someone who loves vintage as much as me!

Is it freezing cold where you are? It certainly is in the UK!

Hope all is well with you, and that you're having a lovely weekend!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell interview!

So, who'd have thought that anyone would want to interview me about Swell Vintage?! But it is so! The lovely lovely Maria from Style Kingdom has posted an interview with me on her blog! If you fancy a read, here's the link: http://stylekingdom.com/

Style Kingdom is a German fashion blog, and (from what I can translate) it's a very good one too! Maria has a real passion for all things fashion, and it shows.

It was really such an honour to be interviewed for Style Kingdom. Thank you so much, Maria! I just hope I haven't come across as a total idiot!

I hope you are all well, and enjoy 2009 so far!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell resolve

Happy New Year, one and all! I hope you had a magical evening. I started the new year as I mean to go on - making jewellery!

2009, eh? I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited about it. I have some plans coming up that could potentially lead to great things, so fingers crossed! I also have a few resolutions that I do hope to stick to:

• Get all of my jewellery items up on my Swell Vintage etsy shop, and hopefully achieve reasonable sales!
  
• Visit Edinburgh again and pop in to see my jewellery in Trinket. I love that city more than I can say...
  
• Get the Swell Vintage website up and running (hopefully by end of January/early February)
  
• Invest in a sewing machine
  
• Start saving(!!!)
  
  

I think that'll do for now...

So as mentioned above, I made some new jewellery last night. Following the lovely feedback I had on my menagerie, I hunted out more vintage animals:




La petite grenouille! This bracelet is made from a small vintage broach, linked on vintage faux pearl and brass chain. I don't want to toot my own horn (oh ok - toot toot!), but I really like this one. I'm tempted not to put it up for sale, even!





This necklace is made from a vintage broach, hung on vintage silver plated and faux pearl chain. It's bold, but quite charming (well, I think so anyway!).




This one is not for the faint hearted! This necklace is made from a very large vintage broach, hung on vintage brass chain. I've measured it so that it'll hang within the cleavage - sexy stuff! Could you handle it?

So I didn't just make animal themed jewellery last night. Here are some more!



This necklace is made from an antique drawer pull, hung on vintage faux pearl and brass chain. It's very light to wear, and is most unusual!



Fit for a pearly queen! This necklace is made from a vintage broach which has been adorned with a vintage faux pearl and hung on vintage brass and faux pearl chain. It is very shiny and suitable for your inner magpie!

This necklace is made from a vintage pocket watch (which no longer works, unfortunately), hung on vintage brass and faux pearl chain. It really is a beauty.

Well, I think that's enough for one day! What do you think? I'm going to be putting all of these on sale tomorrow, so feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I wish you all a wonderful and prosperous 2009!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x