New stuff from the house of Swell

...although I actually live in a flat!

Although I've been busy with a good few Christmas jewellery commissions recently, I've also made some new pieces that I really want to share with you. As always, I'd be grateful for any feedback or thoughts you may have about the pieces, so please sock it to me. All of these pieces will be available from Swell-Vintage.com in the new year.

This is my Queen of Hearts necklace. It's made from a vintage brooch, hung on vintage chain and is adorned with freshwater pearls. I am really pleased with it's simple beauty - so much so, in fact, I might even wear it to my Christmas party tonight! Turns out I'm very indecisive...

The Luck be a Lady bracelet is a bit of a bold beast, but it still has an air of elegance about it. It's made from a vintage brooch, linked on vintage chain and is, of course, adorned with freshwater pearls. I do so love a bit of wrist bling.

Inspired by everyone's favourite Quality Street treat, this is The Purple One. I do have a confession to make - this is not a new necklace. I made it a long time ago, and it was for sale in a boutique in Edinburgh. Unfortunately that boutique has now closed down, and although I am very sad about it I am very happy to have this necklace back.

So what do you think? Which piece is your favourite? What would you wear them with? Tell me what's on your mind.

Also, it's nearly Christmas! I am so overly excited about it, and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with friends and family. What are your plans for the festive period?

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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A swell competition

So this is my 100th post! How time flies when you're having fun. Thanks for sticking with me all this time, it really does mean a lot.

To prove just how much this means to me, I'm having a SWELL competition (see what I did there?)! I have never done this sort of competition before, so I am very excited. The prize is, shockingly, a piece of Swell Vintage jewellery, but it won't be just any piece of jewellery. The winner will get a super-special CUSTOM piece! You can pick from either a bracelet or a necklace, and you will be able to specify the kind of style you'd like. I'll work with you, and together we will make something truly one-off.

I'm off to Egypt next week, so I'm going to keep the competition open until Sunday 26th September. To enter, all you have to do is tell me the kind of piece you'd like to win and include your email address. If you have Twitter, you can also gain an extra entry by tweeting: "I'd like to win this swell competition! @swellvintage". The winner will be chosen at random.

So what sort of piece would you like to win? Perhaps you'd like to win something pearly and sparkly - a bit like my latest piece, the Isabella bracelet, now available on the Swell Vintage shop?

Made from a vintage doo-dad, freshwater pearls and vintage chain, the Isabella bracelet will make any lady feel like a princess.

I can't wait to hear all of your ideas. Good luck!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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More from the House of Swell

I'm afraid this is going to be another quickie post, but the good news is I have some pictures to show you. And everyone prefers looking at pictures to reading words, right? Right.

I've been making more new pieces, and I've really been enjoying it. Here are a couple of my favourites:

Don't go chain-ging! This necklace is a beast. It's made from various different vintage chains, adorned with a cheeky vintage faux pearl.


Oh, sailor! This bracelet is made from an old vintage charm, linked on vintage chain and adorned with freshwater pearls.

So what do you think? Feedback is very welcome, as always. The good news is that both of these items will be available to buy through the Swell Vintage shop soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

In other news, there are some exciting things on the horizon for ol' Swell...but more on that soon.

Thanks for reading!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell quickie

Hello lovely people!

This post is going to be a quick one to say:

1. I love you.
2. I miss you.
3. I made a new bracelet today

The Green-eyed monster. This bracelet is made from a vintage brooch, linked on vintage chain and adorned with vintage faux pearl. What do you think? I'm quite pleased with it.

In other news, I'm having ALL FOUR of my wisdom teeth out on Wednesday 9th December. Apart from being absolutely terrified (I've never had an operation or stayed overnight in a hospital before - help me!!!!), I'm also going to be very busy. I have so much to do before then as I'll be out of action for the four days after. Wish me luck, please!

I hope all is well with you, and that you had a bloody brilliant weekend.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell bloom

Hello everyone!

How have you been? I hope you've had a lovely week. Mine has been ever so busy!

On Monday I went to The Sartorialist book signing with the wonderful Reena of Fashion Daydreams - it was absolutely insane! Never have I seen so many immaculately turned out people in one room. Nor have I seen so many people queuing for a book signing! It goes to show how powerful and influential members of the blogging world can become. He signed my book to "Franke", which I thought was rather amusing!

My very clever friend Mark Pavey also popped over to show me the features of my soon-to-be live, newly improved version of my website! It's looking really, really good, and I can't wait to show you all. I'm even going to have my very own web shop, which I've very excited about. If you ever need any design work done, I highly recommend Mr Pavey. He's a bloody genius.

I've also been working on some new pieces recently. Here is one of my latest ones:




This corsage bracelet is made from a vintage brooch, linked on vintage chain. I'm really pleased with how it's come out - it's pretty bold, but so easy to wear. I've also found a great new place to photograph my jewellery in my flat! My housemate has this amazingly huge chinese cabinet, which is so easy to hang pieces from. I love the rustic background.

Oh, and I apologise for the extreme paleness of my skin. The sun is definitely not my friend.

Lastly, speaking of my flat and the sun, there was the most incredible sunset tonight:


I love living in London.

So what do you think of all of my pictures? I'd love to hear.

Until next time, my lovely friends! Have a great week.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell bridal

Hello there, my lovely friends!

So I've been massively slack on the blog front - sorry about that. But the good news is that things are going really well at the moment. I will reveal more when all is 100% confirmed, but let's just say that the Swell Vintage word is spreading nicely. I am very excited about it all. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! I have big plans.

In other news, I recently worked on a commission for a friend of mine who wanted something special for his bride to wear on the big day. I really like doing bridal pieces, and you may well see a Swell Vintage eco-bridal range coming soon!

Here are photos of the bracelet I made for him:



This bracelet is made from freshwater pearls and features a vintage faux-bone rose. As with all of my pieces, it's one-of-a-kind. I'm really pleased with how it came out, and so is my friend - everybody wins!

I apologise for the very short post. I promise I'll be back with a vengeance soon!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell start

Hello again, my dear friends.

How have you been? I hope you've had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.

Today for the first time in bloody ages, I have had the chance to make some new pieces. As mentioned in previous posts, I am going to be exhibiting at Handm@de Winchester on 5th July, so am starting to build up my stock. I've used some of my Brighton finds - what do you think?


Emerald city joy! This necklace is made from a vintage brooch, adorned with freshwater pearls and hung on vintage chain with a bit of asymmetry thrown in for good measure.



The weirdest looking ID bracelet of all time? Probably. I found this vintage ID bracelet and adorned with a vintage brooch to make it more feminine. I think it has a rather steampunk feel to it, but I quite like that.


I think perhaps I've been watching too much of The Tudors (I really love that show), but I think this necklace has a real Catherine of Aragon feel to it. It is made from a vintage broach, adorned with a freshwater pearl and hung on vintage chain. Definitely a statement piece!

So what are your thoughts? As always, I welcome any feedback that you may have for me. I won't be adding any new pieces to my etsy shop for a little while, but if you see anything you'd particularly like here, please feel free to email me at frankie@swell-vintage.com.

Thank you, again, for reading. You are my world.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell times

Hello there!

How was your weekend? Mine has been nice and chilled - I saw Slumdog Millionaire (WOW, by the way!) and also made a couple of new pieces!



Times, they are a chain-ging! This necklace is a beast - made from a vintage pocket watching, hung on vintage dark brass and faux pearl chain. Unfortunately the pocket watch no longer works, but it's so bold and beautiful that it doesn't need to be practical!




A diamond era! This bracelet has a real 60s feel to it. It's made from a vintage broach, hung on vintage brass chain - a real statement piece.

So what are your thoughts? As always, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Both of these pieces are available at my Swell Vintage etsy shop, so pop over and have a browse if you fancy it - http://swellvintage.etsy.com.

I'm ever so excited for the Dress Up IFB party for London Fashion Week tomorrow! I know that the lovely Mademoiselle Robot has been working super hard, so needless to say it's going to be an amazing night. If you're there, please come and say hi to me! I can't wait to meet my fellow fashion lovers!

Have a lovely week, one and all!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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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

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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

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