Monday, 13 April 2009

Swell times ahead

Hello once again, my loves! Did you have a good Easter time? Did you eat your body weight in chocolate? I certainly hope so.

I've had such a nice and relaxing long weekend, but I probably should have used my time more productively as things are getting increasingly busy. I'm still working on pieces for the Handm@de Fair in Winchester on 5th July, and I'm also starting on my next collection for Trinket in Edinburgh. Not only that, but I'm moving to East London in about 6 weeks - needless to say, there's plenty to do!

However, I did manage to make a couple of things. This necklace, for example:


I really like this vintage perfume bottle. I've cleaned it up, replaced the flimsy chain it was found with with a stronger, more textured vintage one, added freshwater pearls and hung it asymmetrically. I also like that it is still functional - all you need to do is pull the cork (as below) and insert a small piece of fabric soaked with your favourite scent:

A necklace by any other name would smell as sweet!

This bracelet is made from a vintage faux turquoise brooch and is linked on vintage chain. One of the stones was missing around the center turquoise (oh no!), so I removed them all and (shockingly) replaced them with fresh water pearls. Now I think it looks a bit like a weird cake with a bird's egg in the middle.

So what do you think? I always love to hear what you think of my pieces, so any feedback you may have will be welcomed with open arms, and maybe even a cheeky kiss!

Also, I wrote an article on vintage satchels for the Queens of Vintage last week, which you can read here if you fancy it. Not only that, but Handm@de Winchester kindly posted a "Meet the Maker" interview with me on their blog, which you can read right here. There really are so many lovely people in the blogosphere!

Well, now that Easter is over, it's back to normality. I hope you have a really good week! I'm now going to watch Clueless and attempt to catch up on my (ever-expanding) blog reader.

Thanks for reading. It's been emotional.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

24 comments:

  1. How lovely, I love how you used the perfume bottle, and how you even attached the little cork.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Way to go...love the perfume bottle and the pearls around the turq are also great. Satchels are some of my favorite bags and the article was an interesting read...good job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great little interview! Love the new pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend, Frankie!

    So exciting about the move and the collections! I love your pendant necklaces so much. Unique and lovely, every one!

    Thanks for all your amazing, complimentary and observant comments, darling - I so look forward to them!

    xoxox,
    CC

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very lovely pieces, Frankie! Moving? Not fun... Hope you get some great help.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my gosh darling, you sound super busy! Where do you find the time to makes such lovely stuff?
    The necklace is divine, I love the fact that its a perfume bottle.
    Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The vintage bottle is so pretty.... wish I didn't stop collecting them...

    ReplyDelete
  8. the bracelet is B-U-tiful. and i think i like it better with the pearls, well-done!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think, (other than your necklaces with the vintage drawer-pulls), that this perfume bottle necklace is my favorite! Selling it I hope? Cause I would really REALLY love it. Actually the only reason why I haven't bought anything from you yet is cause I'm broke (hah!) BUT I have an interview on Saturday for a job so hopefully *crosses fingers* I will be visiting your Etsy shop very soon!

    Great work as usual =)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Look at you, writing, making jewelry and what not. I love the fake tortoise piece. Very beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  11. I adore this!! Also, I got a plug in for you at my makeup school. We had to submit an assignment on costume design for Casablancas... I used your "Blue Bird" necklace and mentioned you, and your website :-) xo

    ReplyDelete
  12. mimartiste, thank you so much! How very kind! Please email me at frankie@swell-vintage.com, as I'd love to hear more about this! x

    ReplyDelete
  13. ALSO- mentioned you on my blog =)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those are very pretty. I like how often you use asymmetry in your designs.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love how the perfume bottle is kind of egg-shaped - talk about teaming with the theme! You find the most wonderful pieces with such great little hidden functions, jewellery with secrets is such fun. xo

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the turquoise piece. I think it looks wonderful. I don't see the cake and egg thing. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Those are beautiful , I want one! Unfortunatley I'm not that crafty...
    XOXOXO
    Libby
    http://fashionconfectionairy.weebly.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. i know i've already commented here...

    and twittered with you today...

    or is it tweeted?

    but i really am thanking all who follow my blog and that includes you, it means a lot to me, thanks! i'll try to keep it interesting... :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congrats on the interview! I love the necklace. How creative! I would have never thought a cork was in there!

    ReplyDelete
  20. glad you had a good easter, mine was so uneventful!

    i like the turquise...
    xx-LJ from SOS!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love this necklace. A lot!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful! Truly unique and beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oooh gorgeous! I love that the perfume bottle is still functional.
    x

    ReplyDelete
  24. These are perfect as always - I particularly love the piece made from the perfume bottle, so beautiful *wants*

    Huge yey for the Winchester Handm@de - it'll be on you before you know it F, but it'll be Swell I'm sure!

    A x

    ReplyDelete