SEASON'S GREETINGS

With all things handmade and crafty in vogue once again, we all want to send beautiful handcrafted cards to our friends and family this Christmas so, luckily for us, Arbee Cards will be selling their lovely wares at Seaside Frock this Sunday.

Arbee Cards create bespoke wedding invitations, handmade cards and stationery in beautiful, unusual, interesting, elegant, quirky and vintage designs to suit all events, styles and budgets.

The vintage range features vintage papers, lace, buttons and other ephemera and has proved very popular with Frock Around The Clock customers and visitors to St George's Market where Arbee Cards can be found on a Sunday.

So for unique and beautiful Christmas cards, and indeed cards for all occasions, pop along to the Seaside Frock Vintage, Craft & Collectables Christmas Fair at Cairn Bay Lodge, Bangor on Sunday 5th December. Admission is free and the fair is open from 12-5pm.

ELECTRO CUTE at the Safehouse Gallery

Harriet Myfanwy Nia Tahany, a Leitrim based artist, is opening a new solo exhibition in Belfast next month. "Electro’ Cute" opens at the Safehouse Gallery, located on Donegal Street in Belfast, the exhibition runs from 12th – 19th December 2010. The Safehouse Arts Space Gallery was opened in 2002 as a new art space in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Safehouse aims to provide a gallery which nurtures new emerging art as well as challenging some of the established artistic norms.

Harriet is originally from Wales and recently completed her Masters in Fine Art at the University of Ulster in Belfast. She now lives in Dromahair, Co. Leitrim. Her career has gone from strength to strength since she won the annual Taylor Art award at the Royal Dublin Society in 2007. “Electro'Cute” is Harriet’s second solo show this year. When asked to describe her new set of works, Harriet describes a “surreal fairytale set in a strange futuristic ice age, inhabited by cybernetic sweethearts and cute bionic animal mutants”. Each work of art offers a glimpse into Harriet’s surreal fantasy world of character’s and narrative, Harriet’s invites us to engage with this new works story telling potential, presented without a beginning or an end, enduringly stir’s the viewer into they own imagination.

The works in this new show portray a commentary or warning about loss of animals and environments. Harriet refers to William Blake’s “Songs of Innocence and Experience” at the time of the industrial revolution in the nineteenth century as being intertextual to her new work, “it’s a futuristic surreal notion about the technology and nature”. William Blake used symbols of childhood in his poetry and illustrations to portray the simple rural life that was becoming threatened by the new age of manufacturing and steam powered industry. Those who are familiar with Harriet’s work will see her trademark theme of sweetness with darker undertones, which can be identified in much of her previous work.

Harriet explains the inspiration behind this new set of work, “The futuristic elements come as a result of constant environmental disregard, which has caused an ice age. The characters are only surviving in it because they are cybernetic.” A main theme is that nature has become dependent on technology. Ideas include that the world has become uninhabitable without the aid of cybernetic implants and breathing devices, mutant animals have been bred especially to support these technology dependant humans and that the world is entering a strange new era.


The exhibition is in two main media, sculpture and painting. "Electro’ Cute" opens on Sunday 12th December 2010 at 2.00 pm. All are welcome to celebrate this new collection of work and to meet Harriet in person.

DECK THE HALLS...........

If you are tired of putting up the same old Christmas decorations year after year, take a look at the Seaside Frock Vintage, Craft & Collectables Christmas Fair this Sunday at Cairn Bay Lodge for inspiration.

Purchase from a range of handmade decorations created from both natural materials and recycled textiles, so this year you can have unique Christmas decorations and help the environment at the same time.

Bows and Bells will be selling Christmas wreaths, table centrepieces and matching tree decorations made from natural materials, while Salvage Kitten will have their quirky tree decorations hand-crocheted from salvaged wool and trimmed with vintage buttons. Choose from gingerbread men, snowflakes, trees and hearts - much too nice to keep just for Christmas.

Available from Decadence are hand sewn tree decorations made from recycled fabrics and vintage buttons in traditional colours of red, green and blue while their Pulp Art range of decorations offers bunting and paper chain kits made from vintage maps, books and comics.

Natural decorations from Bows and Bells

Recycled fabric tree decorations handmade by Becky at Decadence

Tree decorations hand crocheted from salvaged wool by Rachael at Salvage Kitten

Pulp Art range of paper chain kits from Becky at Decadence

The Seaside Frock Vintage, Craft & Collectables Christmas Fair takes place on Sunday 5th December at Cairn Bay Lodge, 278 Seacliff Road, Bangor, County Down from 12 - 5pm. Admission is FREE.

I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE

HAVE YOURSELF A VINTAGE LITTLE CHRISTMAS......

at the SEASIDE FROCK

Vintage, Craft & Collectables Christmas Fair

Sunday 5th December

12 - 5pm

Cairnbay Lodge, Seacliff Road, Bangor

(Map)

FREE ADMISSION

The very first SEASIDE FROCK vintage fair will be taking place on Sunday 5th December at Bangor's award winning guest house, Cairn Bay Lodge.

Shop for unique and inspirational Christmas gifts in the nostalgic atmosphere of yesteryear, drink tea from vintage china and enjoy some festive cheer.

Our exhibitors will be selling:

. Vintage Clothing & Accessories . Jewellery . Vanity Items .

. China . Glassware . Collectables . Cupcakes .

. Handcrafted Fashion Accessories & Jewellery .

. Handmade Christmas Decorations & Cards .

. Unique Gifts . & Much More... .

 

PLUS

Visit the Cairn Bay Lodge gift shop for mementos, Irish linen, handmade soaps, vintage postcards and posters, books, bric-a-brac, antiques and works by local artists.

AND

Enter the charity raffle for the chance to win lovely vintage and handmade prizes - proceeds to Kiwoko Hospital, Uganda

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

NOVEMBER FROCK

What a fabulous day we had at Frock Around The Clock last Sunday! We had a fantastic turnout of visitors who shopped til they dropped, choosing vintage party frocks and unique Christmas gifts from 48 different sellers.

The Jenny Kallen Jazz Band provided some nostalgic tunes with a festive yuletide flair and the ladies from Living Vintage treated us to 6 different fashion shows throughout the day!

The fair was ended with the prize draw from our charity raffle and the lucky winners received some lovely vintage and handmade treasures donated by our generous exhibitors. As a result of the raffle we raised £350 for Cancer Research.

Here are some images from the day:

Frock Around The Clock returns to Belfast's Holiday Inn on Sunday 6th February 2011.

NOVEMBER EARLY BIRD SPECIAL OFFER

Once again we will be running our Early Bird Special Offer at this Sunday's Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair, meaning that there will be £2 off the general admission charges for the first half an hour of the event.


So, on Sunday 21st November from 11am to 11.30am admission will cost £3 for adults and only £1 for seniors and students!

For this you will get entry to Northern Ireland's premier vintage fair which will feature 48 sellers of vintage clothing, accessories, jewellery, homewares, collectables and handcrafted designs - perfect party frocks and unique Christmas gifts. PLUS live music from the Jenny Kallen Jazz Band and mini vintage fashion shows by the Living Vintage Company throughout the day.

This is all happening on Sunday 21st November from 11am to 4.30pm at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast (opposite the BBC). Hope to see you there!

DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS

At Frock Around The Clock we will help you to buy all your Christmas gifts and do your bit for the environment at the same time. Buying vintage is the simplest way to reduce, re-use and recycle but not only do our fairs feature sellers of original vintage treasures - we also have a selection of talented creative designers who sell handcrafted items made from vintage textiles and found objects.


All is fair at our vintage fairs! Not only do our handcrafted items involve elements of recycling, but they have been handmade locally by local talented people. When you shop at Frock Around The Clock you are supporting local small business and creativity, and we thank you for your choice to shop with us.

We have some wonderfully unique, quirky and attractive items at Frock Around The Clock which make perfect gifts for loved ones or yourself, your home or your wardrobe. Being fashionable, individual and ethical all at the same time has never been so glamorous or fun.

Here are just a few tasters for this Sunday's vintage fair:

Photo-frames decorated with vintage fabric flowers & jewels from Ultraviolet Floral Design

Vintage china from a selection at 'It's Vintage Darling'

Hollywood brooches from Nik's Vintage

Watch part necklaces from Jennifer Robinson Jewellery

Vintage teacup pincushions from Decadence

Measure Up brooch from Rachael Murphy at RJL Designs

Fascinators from Ursula Bamford at Bam Bam Boutique

Kitsch skirts from Sharon Hay at Innocent Chaos

Pretty corsages from Beadylicious

Vintage teacup candles from Wicked China

Christmas decorations crocheted from salvaged wool by Salvage Kitten

Handcrafted 1950s style Christmas cards from Arbee Cards

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair takes place on Sunday 21st November at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11am to 4.30pm. Admission to the event costs £5 for adults and £3 for seniors and students (payable at the door). Earlybird admission applies to the first half hour of the event (11 - 11.30am) when there will be £2 off the general admission prices.


More information on this and all other Frock Around The Clock events can be found on the website http://www.northernirelandvintage.com/

Swingin' Santa

Everyone loves a good Christmas party and our friends the Bellehoppers intend to see the year out in style with their most glamorous, extravagant and all-out swinging party to date!


'8 to the bar' is always full of surprises but this one is an extra special Christmas wish. Santa has decided to slide down the chimney to the Bellehopper's swinging Christmas party on 3rd December in the Black Box, Belfast to spread the Christmas cheer.

Feel like a kid again in their Christmas grotto complete with Mr Claus himself. Sit on his knee, get your picture taken by the Amazing Photobooth and if you've been a good boy or girl, you may even get a surprise!

Enjoy an extra special performance from the gorgeous Whistle Bait Babies, Northern Ireland's premier burlesque troupe, who will sprinkle some Christmas magic on the proceedings.

There will also be a free dance class at the start of the night which will feature the Bellehopper's own Christmas stroll, especially for the party.

So purchase the party threads (from Frock Around The Clock this weekend, of course), take along your Christmas cheer and enter the Winter Wonderland!

When? Friday 3rd December 2010, 7:30pm

Where? Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast

Admission? £8 (pay at the door)

ESSENCE OF VIOLET

Sarah-Jane of Ultraviolet Floral Design will be exhibiting at Frock Around The Clock this Sunday, providing us with lots of inspiration for Christmas gifts. Check out her photo-frames decorated with vintage lace, buttons and fabric flowers. We also love her little vintage trinkets filled with fabric flowers, and her fabric bouquets - perfect for the vintage bride.

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair takes place on Sunday 21st November at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11am to 4.30pm. Admission to the event costs £5 for adults and £3 for seniors and students (payable at the door). Earlybird admission applies to the first half hour of the event (11 - 11.30am) when there will be £2 off the general admission prices.

More information on this and all other Frock Around The Clock events can be found on the website http://www.northernirelandvintage.com/