Rags to riches!

Rag Wreath Workshops...

My Psychic Umberella

There's no other explanation... The umbrella I have is psychic!!!

Today I had to brave the horrid rain to get to the post office. The post office is only ten minutes walk away and so, doing my bit for the environment, I decided to walk instead of take the car even though the rain was torrential.

I resisted the temptation to call into any of the shops on the way, when I passed a charity shop and my brolly blew clean inside out! I huddled in the doorway and then decided to go in and sort my brolly out in the dry.

"Have you got any buttons?" I asked the lady behind the till - and she HAD :-)

I ask everytime I'm in there and normally the answer is "no, sorry".

So I left the charity shop clutching my bag of buttons and hurried onto the post office, so I could get home quickly and examine my booty.

Just as I was passing another charity shop, again my umbrella blew inside out, and so again, I popped into the warm dry shop to sort it out.

Well, what should I see on the shelf? A Cath Kidston handbag for just £3.99!!!!!

(Of course I had to get it).

My psychic umberella had done it again - and guided me to my treasure!!!!

It may blow inside out and leak a little too - but I can't bear to part with it - especially now I know it has magic powers!!!!!

WOW factor Wedding Flowers!!!

I have completed the brides heirloom posy, corsages, buttonholes and babys headband...

Now at the start of creating wedding flowers with a real WOW factor!

Today the postman arrived with these beautiful ostrich feathers in rich cadburys purple...

The flowers to the side of the vase are actually going to be duplicated the other side and (don't tell) but they will become the mother of the bride and mother of the grooms bouquets...

something they can keep forever!

Happily having a play around...

will let you know what the finished product looks like!

I've been hacked!!!

Oh no! - I've had my yahoo email account hacked and blocked :-(
...so HUGE apologies if you have been trying to contact me unsuccesfully because of this.
I have now changed the email adddress on my contact forms on my website - so if you need to contact me please go to www.anniefloribunda.com and complete a contact form at the bottom of one of the pages - Thanks Annie x

Purple Bride

The colour of Cadburys Purple seems to be very popular amongst brides at the moment. I remember my freind had it many years ago - with huge purple anemomes stitched under the toille of her dress and I hand painted her wedding shoes to match!

This is the latest purple posy I've made...

 Features, roses, poppies and peony...

 vintage costume jewellery in the shape of a shooting star, flowers and butterflies...

 Vintage glass buttons, fluffy fur and handmade ribbon roses

 ... and matching wrist corsage for bridesmaid/mother of the bride...

If you can't live without them you can buy them from my website at

www.anniefloribunda.com

Latest make at Anniefloribunda.

Wrist corsage of large Ivory Gerbera, with vintage brooch at its centre.

Pearl spray and shades of green ribbon.

Perfect for prom, wedding or St Patricks Day!!

All sits on top of a gold bead elastic bracelet.

One size fits all.

£15.00

from

www.anniefloribunda.com

or

http://folksy.com/shops/bloominglovely

Cool Britannia!

I've been thiking about the Queens Diamond Jubilee

and what I should do to mark this special year.

I've decided that I am going to make a limited edition of

60

Jubilee Corsages

Each one will be unique, a one of a kind design,

they will all be red, white and blue

and will use materials, ribbons, buttons and beads from the last 60 years

in all of them!

Some will have a vintage feel, others will be contemporary,

Some will be for everyday wear (to the Olympics maybe to spur on our team?)

and some for very special occassions (Jubilee Ball or Night at the Proms).

I've also decied to give 10% of all sales on these corsages

to a charity.
If you want to nominate a charity then please
leave a comment underneath this post).

You can buy them from my Folksy shop

http://folksy.com/shops/MaterialGirl

 

Cadburys Purple

Cadburys colour puple organza ribbons and tiny rose on top of a stretch pearl ivory braclet with ivory leaves, petals, pearl spray and satin ribbon, make up this fairy like wrist corsage.
Perfect for wedding, prom or special occassion.

have a look at this and my other wedding/prom accessories at
http://www.anniefloribunda.com/bridal--prom.html

New Website!!!!

Yahoo!!! We've got a website at long last!

For beautiful bespoke and ready made bridal accessories,

please click on www.anniefloribunda.com and take a look.

Burlesque Bride or Prom??

I'd just finished watching Moulon Rouge when I started to make this corsage - I love that film and all the gorgeous burlesque and bohemian clothing!

This corsage would be great for either an alternative groom or bridesmaid at a wedding and would look equally as gorgeous setting off a prom dress.
Made from a very realistic looking lily in deep pink against black feathers.
A spray of black beads, netting and glass beads finish it off.
This is a button hole corsage at the moment but i can add a brooch back or make it into a wrist corsage or hair clip if desired - please just message me.
Measures 27cms at longest point and 15cms at widest point.

£12.00

Buy it from my Folksy shop at

http://folksy.com/shops/bloominglovely

Daffodils, Daisies and Lemon Cup Cakes!!!

Spent part of my morning at La Vida Vintage today in Lincoln,

a vintage shop that's only been open since December 2011.

They serve a mean lemon cupcake and cup of tea - trust me - I had two...

and was pleased that there were only two there,

or heaven knows where it may have ended!!

It was (almost) a shame to eat them as they were decorated

soooooo beautifully.

Wish I'd had my camera with me so I could show you what they were like.

Check out La Vida Vintage if you are local -

some fabulous vintage clothing and household items

at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Vida-Vintage/136224953145809?ref=ts

When I returned home I was feeling all springlike (and full up!)

and was wishing that I'd bought a pair of vintage daisy clip on earrings that I saw - If you're reading this Rachel please put them to one side for me :-)

Just loving daisies, daffodills and lemon cup cakes at the moment and continued with my "Spring" day and made the wrist corsage above.

Fabric flower petals, bright yellow vintage button to it's centre

lots of frou frou and mounted on a satin ribbon.

If you can't live without it...

as always, in my Folksy shop at

http://folksy.com/shops/bloominglovely

Take a look at my Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anniefloribunda/107524221727?ref=tn_tnmn

for more of my makes and please like if you like! x

Fit for Downton Abbey

OK... I know it's not real... and it's only a TV programme... but I am soooooooooo excited about Mary marrying Matthew in Downton Abbey, and when I came across the wonderful brooch to the middle of the posy - I built a Downton Abbey themed posy around it.

Hope you like it as much as I do!

I have used both vintage and antique jewellery, buttons and dress trim in it's construction.
The central brooch is left unfixed to the bouquet (so that you can unpin it each year and wear it on your anniversary, or other special occassions, to remind you of your special day).
There is a small gold glass button to the centre of each rose. 

A real silver thread, dress trim, from the 1930's edges each rose and over time this trim has gained a wonderful goldish patina. Mother of pearl buttons and clear glass buttons fill any gaps.
This is a very special, one of a kind, posy - just waiting for a "Mary" to marry her "Matthew" in true Downton Abbey Style!

Only one of me in the whole wide world!
£75.00 from http://folksy.com/shops/bloominglovely

Crystals galore!

This is todays project

Crystal bridal posy

Loads of sparkles £60 from
folksy.com/shops/bloominglovely
Click on the link at the top of the blog.

Cinderella Needed for Beautiful Vintage Shoes!!!!

These amazing shoes are looking for a new home!
I love to trawl antique fairs, car boots and charity shops and am always amazed at the beautiful treasures that can still be found at these places. However, every once in a while, I come across really amazing, something that takes my breath away, that I just can't possibly leave without buying as I know I'll never see them again!!! ... and these beautiful shoes were one such purchase.

I should never have bought them. They have never fitted me - but 15 years ago I just could not resist and for fifteen years they have spent their time in a glass case in my bedroom with me wishing that my feet would suddenly have some mad sporadic disease that would make them grow a couple of sizes!!!

After 15 years, and loads of wishing - I have now come to realise that this is just not going to happen :-( and so have decided to sell them to some lucky Cinderella, who they will fit!

They deserve to get out more(!), they cry out to be admired and I'm selling them short in a glass case!

Not sure if they are 1940's or a retro repro from the 1980's - but are definately 1940's style.

They are made by the famous Italian shoe designer

Salvatore Ferragamo (who has a shoe museum in Florence - Google it - it's amazing!!)

They are in immaculate condition

(Looks like they may have been worn once - oh and a couple of times by me around my bedroom willing them to fit me!!!!)

Black satin over real leather and the photographs do no justice whatsoever to the stunning rhinestones set onto the front, which are beautifully cut and just ooooooooouze sparkle!!!!!

They were made in Italy and are size 8 AA - this is not the same as an English size 8

They are a narrow fit and I am a size 4 1/2 (37) and I can fit in my index finger at the back - so I would say they were a size 6 - but i have not found an Italian show size chart to confirm this.

I have measured inside from toe to heel as 26cms and have 8cm heel.

£ 120 through Paypal and they are yours!







Special Spring Bride Offer!!!

So pleased that the sun is making an appearance

and letting us know that Spring is on the way at last!

For all you brides to be, I am currently doing a special deal where if you commission a posy or bouquet from me before the end of March,  

I will create a matching buttonhole for your groom FREE!!

Take a look in my Folksy shop at

http://folksy.com/shops/bloominglovely

or click on the Folksy button at the top of this blog.

Posy and bouquets typically contain antique lace and vintage costume jewellery, buttons and beads - prices start at just £45.00

...and the bride wore black...

Black and cream look so elegant together and make such a statement!!
The "Lollita" posy is part of my ready made collection...

Vintage brooch to central rose

Edged with Victorian glass bead dress trim...

Tiny black baby's breath stems...

An alternative posy for an alternative bride!

To purchase this posy or commission one in your own style/ colour scheme, please visit my Folksy.co shop by clicking on the folksy button at the top of my blog.

Alternative Brides - Check in here!!!!

My lovely Hollywood Monroe Bridal Tiara has found a home and has been shipped to the bride to be. This headpiece was made from vintage fabric roses, vintage jewellery and vintage buttons with a huge AB brooch as a centre piece. There is even a tiny golden cherub nestled amongst the glass and gilt buttons.
This was a ready made peice - but I am always happy to take commissions and give a free consultation at my studio in Lincolnshire. Click on the "Folksy" button at the top of my blog to take you to my shop to see other styles of head wear, buttonholes, posies and corsages.

Worked in the florists today :-)

Surrounded all day by beautiful blooms!



Lollycocks, River Walk, Sleaford, Lincolnshire.             Saturday 11/02/12                                    Lunch at Cogglesford Mill.

Busy Making Love...

We've been busy making Lovebirds, Love hearts, Love letters and Love lavender sachets at HCCC and SkillsLinc to give to our loved ones, family and friends this Valentines day.
As part of the free craft courses run in Lincoln, we have covered decoupage, and paper folding and weaving in the Valentine Craft Sessions - have a look at the gallery below to see all the learners makes. All given the same materials - but all such different results...

Next free craft courses are listed below on the blog -

come along and join us!