Swell spectacle

You may not know this (or even care to know this), but I do in fact wear glasses. I'm horribly short sighted, and it's definitely getting worse. For the past year or so, I've been in massive denile about my apalling eyesight, insisting that I only need to wear my glasses at the cinema or when looking at presentations.

I think it's because glasses are annoying to carry around, and most of the time I forget them. This has lead to a new idea for Swell Vintage - glasses chains! Although glasses chains are normally associated with librarians and - let's be honest - the elderly, I don't think they have to be mumsy or cheap looking as they so often are.




This is my prototype! It's made with vintage chain and adorned with freshwater pearls. I'm planning on doing a whole range, using different vintage chains to create one-of-a-kind designs.

So what do you think? Do you think it's a bit too old lady-esque, or is it something you'd considering wearing? I'd love to know what you think, so please let me know - all feedback is welcome, good and bad!

In other news, I was recently interviewed by the wonderful people at DEER BRAINS. If you fancy a read, hop over to their brilliant blog.

That's all for now, folks!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Just Swell

Hello hello!

How are you, my lovely friends? Did you have a brilliant weekend? I certainly hope so.

This weekend has been a good one for me. I managed to make not one, not two, but THREE new pieces! These will all be available to buy through my fancy new web shop, hopefully going live in the next couple of weeks. Wanna see? Oh, go on then!









I'm really pleased with how these have come out. I must confess, I've been a bit rubbish with making new pieces recently - BUT NO MORE! I'm also going to start work on a *new* collection for an exciting new stockist in Sweden! But more on that later....

So what do you think of my new pieces? All or any feedback is greatly appreciated please!

I hope all is well with you. Thanks for taking the time to read this. You've made my day.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell weekends

Hello, lovely people!

I've been SO very busy this week with my real work, and I was actually social this Bank Holiday weekend. Because of this and general laziness, I only managed to make one necklace this weekend! In my defense, it did take me most of the day. I am rubbish.

Anyway, here is my latest piece:




This necklace is made from a vintage shoe clip, hung on vintage chain and adorned with freshwater pearls. What do you think? Is it too extravagant? I quite like the regal feel of it, but then again I'm a bit too into the Tudor style.

I apologise for the short post! Hopefully I'll be more productive once I've moved and am more settled in my new place.

Thank you for reading and commenting! You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell chain

Hello again!

First of all, I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all of your feedback on my pouch prototype. I can't get over how supportive and kind everyone has been, and it really means a lot. I'm going to have a go at another pouch design soon, so expect pictures and tales of more sewing machine disasters soon!

UK Vogue says that necklaces should be huge with lots of chain and adorned with gems, so with that in mind I set out to make my biggest necklace yet. I know that it's no where near the high standards of the designs in Vogue, but I'm quite pleased with the results. It took me ages, so it's quite satisfying when the final result resembles pretty closely what you have in your head:

This necklace is made from lots of vintage chain, adorned with a prism and freshwater pearls. It's good and heavy - definitely one for the braver among us. So what do you think? Should I make more big necklaces like this, or is it unrealistic to think that someone would wear this in the real world? Your feedback would be GREATLY appreciated, please!

I also had a play with another style of necklace. The very lovely Jenny of The Style PA very kindly sent me a load of old broken jewellery, so I used a couple of these parts for this necklace:



I've never been one for symmetry, so I enjoy experimenting with different chain lengths and hanging styles. This necklace is made from vintage chain and is adorned with vintage faux pearl, a purple prism and a little swallow. Do you like this style, or do you think that it would be impractical for someone to wear? Please let me know your thoughts, all constructive feedback is useful and welcomed!

In other news, I really need to start packing for my move! Not long now. I have so much to do, but not much time to do it in - eeekk!

Well, I hope you've had a lovely weekend, and that you enjoy the week ahead! Until next time, my lovely loves...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Swell bits

Another Sunday has come and gone - where does the time go, eh?

Hello, lovely people! How has your weekend been? Have you got anything exciting planned for the week ahead?

I did manage to get out and enjoy the sunshine, and even to frolic with friends around London town. However, I did also manage to make a few new bits. What do you think of these?



Looking at these photos again, I can't help but think, "Frankie, turn off The Tudors!" However, I quite like this necklace. It's made from a vintage compact, hung on vintage chains and adorned with a line of freshwater pearls. The compact is still intact and comes with the original puff! It has that amazing powder smell too...if only this blog had a "scratch'n'sniff" facility.



People seemed to really like the cuff I posted last week, so I thought I'd have a go at making another (Cuff II - Antique Boogaloo). This cuff is made from an antique drawer pull, linked on vintage chain and adorned with a vintage faux pearl. The drawer pulls came as a pair, so I can even make another if you all like this one! Lovely.


I've been wanting to do something with this vintage brooch for a while now, and today it finally felt right to use it for a bracelet. I like it because it reminds me of grapes. I mean, everyone loves grapes...don't they?

So, as usual, I would love your feedback on these, please! I find it really helpful, and all of your support means a lot to me.

Speaking of lovely support, the wonderful Clandestine Chick (aka Sheena) of Observations and Musings was kind enough to feature some of my jewellery on her blog. It's a really great post, although I can't help but feel like a total fraud - the other jewellery she has included is so much nicer than mine! Click here to have a read.

Also, I just want to take this opportunity to mention another person who is far more talented than me. The lovely and brilliant Sian of Siansburys specialises in sock monkeys (among many other things), and I recently asked her to make me a Poirot one (if it's not The Tudors, it's Poirot - I need to get out more). Don't get me wrong - I knew that Sian was talented, and I knew she made amazing monkeys, but I was TOTALLY blown away when Poirot arrived. Sian's attention to detail, both on the monkey itself and the packaging he arrived in, was just perfect, and he is so well made. I am now in love, and can't wait for him to take pride of place in my new flat. Here he is with just some of my Poirot-related merchandise:



Isn't the likeness uncanny?! To see more of Sian's wondrous creations, visit her website at www.siansburys.net.

Well, I think I've rambled on for long enough - it's off to bed I go! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and I hope the monkey made up for the poor quality of my writing.

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 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

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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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