Friday 24 June 2011

WATCH THIS

I love Jennifer Robinson's jewellery designs so I was delighted when my friend Kelly bought me one of her double coin necklaces for my birthday with matching bracelet. I get compliments every time I wear it. Based on the coin necklace worn by Holly Willoughby, these come in silver or gold, and you can get your hands on one for yourself (or one of each colour) this Sunday at the Seaside Frock Vintage Fair.



Next I would like to get my hands on one of Jennifer's watch part bangles. Each one is totally unique - this one will be coming along to Seaside Frock on Sunday so if you want it, come and get it!



Here you can see some of Jennifer's bangles in the recent Citra Showcase at Urban Outfitters, Belfast.



Wednesday 22 June 2011

LINEN PRESS

Norma Jean Vintage has been a seller at every single one of our vintage fairs since we started back in 2008 and since then the range of vintage goods has expanded from costume and silver jewellery to also include vintage clothing and fashion accessories, bridal wear, china and glassware, vanity items, furniture and homewares, and vintage linens.

Visitors to Seaside Frock this Sunday will find a treasure trove of vintage goods at prices to suit all budgets, so come on down early to catch the bargains!








BORN IN THE USA

We love Vintage USA for their fab range of vintage costume jewellery which is always rapidly changing, and as it is always very reasonably priced we have a good excuse to treat ourselves regularly.

Melanie and Karla have become regulars at our events but this Sunday will be the first time that they have appeared at our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair and we can't wait to see what new stock they have in store for us.





FEELING BLUE

Jemima from Little Blue Cottage will be travelling all the way from County Leitrim to Bangor this Sunday to exhibit at our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair and we can't wait to see what vintage treasures she brings with her.

Little Blue Cottage say 'we sell original vintage clothing, handmade vintage inspired items and reworked vintage pieces. We believe in ethical and sustainable fashion and have a fantastic range of vintage wear for the girl who likes be to a true individual'. They have always had a fantastic range of clothing and accessories at our past events, and are always season and trend led so we know that they will have some fab summer pieces with them this weekend.

And we have just discovered via the Little Blue Cottage Facebook page that they have just had a huge delivery of super new vintage stock in time for Seaside Frock this Sunday so we are very excited!







CHINA IN YOUR HAND

I'm a bit of a vintage china addict so I'm always pleased to see Tea Party at my vintage fairs. With prices from 50 pence for a saucer there is always something to suit every budget, and Elsie usually runs a 3 for 2 offer on her teacup, saucer & plate sets.




Tea Party will be at our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair at Cairn Bay Lodge this Sunday 26th June from 1 - 6pm. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.

Tuesday 21 June 2011

KITSCH BITS

A first-timer for our events, Susannah of Keepin' It Kitsch will be appearing at our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair this Sunday and I'm really excited about seeing her stall as she is another vintage button and haberdashery fanatic.

Choose from funky and kitsch handmade button jewellery or if you are a crafter yourself you will love these bags of buttons, the themed Kitsch Bit packs and lace, ribbon and braid available by the metre.







SNAIL MAIL IT!

Having officially launched at our inaugural Vintage Bridal Fair in June 2010, Arbee Cards celebrated their 1st birthday at our 2nd Annual Decadence Vintage Bridal Fair last week and now they will be appearing at our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair this Sunday.

Come along and see Arbee Cards creator Rachel at Cairn Bay Lodge in Bangor for bespoke wedding stationery and greetings cards for all occasions - unique and vintage inspired designs. We love the Arbee Cards range of framed collages and key rings and the fact that Rachel uses vintage ephemera, lace and buttons in her creations.

Arbee Cards have also teamed together with Aware Defeat Depression, a Northern Irish support network for depression & bipolar disorder, to create gorgeous personalised charity wedding favours. For more details visit the Arbee Cards blog.







X-WOMEN

If you missed X-perience Boudoir at our Vintage Bridal Fair last week, you will be able to catch them again at our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair this Sunday.

X-Perience Boudoir Photography is run by award winning professional female photographer Trazanne Norwood, and specialises in boudoir and burlesque photography, pin-up and retro shoots, pregnancy shoots, and makeovers especially for women.

X-Perience Boudoir Photography have a dedicated studio entirely for the purpose of both vintage & modern boudoir photography and have an aim to make you feel wonderful about how you look. The photographer, digital artist, printer and framer are all professionals in their field and are all female, and all portraits are produced entirely in-house so X-perience Boudoir can guarantee exclusive privacy for every client.

Come along to Seaside Frock this Sunday at Cairn Bay Lodge, Seacliff Road, Bangor from 1 - 6pm to chat to Trazanne, and visit X-perience Boudoir on Facebook to keep up to date with regular special offers.


Trazanne Norwood - X-perience Boudoir photographer

Alicia McTeggart - X-perience Boudoir make up artist

Monday 20 June 2011

A VINTAGE VACATION

Keri Johnson of Vintage Homebird has recently opened a vintage shop at Hoops Courtyard in Greyabbey but she has found time in her busy schedule to join us this Sunday at our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair at Cairn Bay Lodge in Bangor, which is just a stone's throw from her home.

Vintage Homebird is a celebration of all things well-loved and well-worn, the quirky and the imperfect, and Keri says that 'Vintage Homebird was born out of a passionate interest in all things vintage. I have a long-standing fascination with the world of interiors, particularly in design that is less about convention and more about the individual. As a long-time collector, I decided it was time to share my collection with others and to inspire people to express themselves more fully in their homes. I believe that this creates for people a home which is truly unique to them and acts as a mirror for who they are as individuals'.



Another arm to the business is the Vintage Homebird interior design service, with Keri offering a full consultation, design and sourcing service to support clients who have the desire to go for the vintage look in their homes, and Keri even offers us the chance to escape from it all at her Vintage Homebird thatched holiday cottage, where you can snuggle up beside a roaring log fire and enjoy a cosy night's sleep in a Romany caravan! If you fancy taking a vintage vacation, pop along to our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair this Sunday afternoon to find out how.





ROLLING STONE

Another new exhibitor to our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair this Sunday is Bangor artist and businesswoman Shelley Cave and her husband Colin with their interior design and decorative art business, Juniper and Stone. Regulars to our events will have met Shelley at our very first vintage fairs at the Wellington Park Hotel in 2008 and 2009, and then again at our Retro Rooms Show earlier this year.

Shelley says 'growing up in an arty, crafty home, it’s no wonder that scouring antique shops, junk shops, auctions and skips has led to a life long passion for old, unique, vintage items with a story to tell. Nothing pleases us more than being able to breathe new life into these wonderful but unwanted items making them beautiful and loved once more. At Juniper and Stone we love all things vintage, not just furniture, and if it’s not perfect just as it is, we’ll turn it into something else like our cushions, handbags and corsages, bunting, table runners and napkins. They’re all made from vintage and vintage inspired textiles. Recycling at its most creative and fun'.

Juniper and Stone will be taking over one of the outbuildings at Cairn Bay Lodge this Sunday so if you are looking for something beautiful, unique and unusual for your home, be sure to come along early to catch the bargains.









OPTIMISTIC GIFTS

Visitors to our Seaside Frock Vintage Fair this Sunday will love The Optimists for their eclectic and unusual range of collectables. Owner Gillian is a Norah Wellings doll expert and her main love is collecting and selling antique and vintage dolls, toys and bears.










The Optimists also have a lovely range of vintage jewellery and evening bags, vanity items, 1950s beaded tops and cardigans, linens and lace, sewing baskets and dolls teasets, and all at really reasonable prices. This is the place to pick up a really unique gift for someone that you love, or just to treat yourself to something pretty and girly.