A blog about vintage fashion, vintage jewels and art.....

Monday, October 31, 2011

Da wonder of DaWanda






Although I love traipsing off to visit Etsy shops and own my own in this virtual marketplace, I am always seeking new avenues of inspiration and visual pleasure. One of these is DaWanda which was founded by Claludia Helming and Michael Putz way back in 2006. 


It was close to Christmas and they had just been quizzing themselves on where to get unique gifts. Handmade seemed the best idea and although they tried to make their own presents, they wanted to see what other talented people were creating. DaWanda started off in earnest on December 3, 2006, so it is rapidly approaching its 5th anniversary. 

Knowing that DaWanda is an African woman's name meaning 'something extraordinary, unlike any other' fully explains why this special name was selected for this website where unique handmade and hard-to-find gifts are located.

The  second edition of the DaWanda 'Lovebook' has now been launched and offers a selection of the loveliest handmade Christmas gifts available in this marketplace. It is called 'Lovebook' because giving a gift is a way of showing your love. Choose from items created by over 110,000 designers at DaWanda.




Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Who will turn 100?



Fairyfiligree is eagerly awaiting to welcome its 100th Follower. And this very shortly after this blog has celebrated its 2nd Anniversary on October 18. No celebrations were made, but the 100th Follower will definitely be feted. Wonder who it will be?

As I wait to find out, I am treating you to some of the best pictures featured on this blog, at least the ones which excited most questions....







































Monday, October 24, 2011

Ageless Pearls


Dita Von Teese Cannes 2007 by Mirelli Ampilhac


Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge 1879 by Mary Cassatt (1844 - 1926)


The Pearl Necklace c. 1905 by Henry Tonks ( 1862 - 1937)

Beautiful women and beautiful pearls go hand in hand in a timeless combination. Beauty is ageless after all.





Friday, October 21, 2011

The Bullfight


At the Bullfight by Albert Lynch (1851-1912)

Thankfully for the bulls, the last bullfight in Barcelona was held last September whilst bullfighting will be banned in Catalonia as of next year. As I wondered what all the Matadors, Toreros and others involved in the bullfight would be doing in the future, I also wondered what they would be doing with the beautiful traditional costumes they wear.


Matador Antonio Barrera 2003




Matador Limeño Patio Cuadrillas 1960



Image by Maesejose (Flickr) 2007

Thursday, October 20, 2011

What's in That Bag?

It is once again time for the What's in That Bag? feature. This week I chose a very different bag from what I selected last week, bubbling with colour and so very fun! The focus is on handmade with love. Here is a sneak peek at what's in it.....





Granny's Long Scarf
Felt & Zipper Flower Brooch

Monday, October 17, 2011

Where on Art? - Second Lives

Hanging made from a dragon robe, China, 19th century. TM 2009.9.2. Gift 
of Elina Vesara Ostern Trust.

Today I am introducing another new feature which I plan to offer here on Fairyfiligree as regularly as possible. Where on Art? is all about art exhibitions which may be found anywhere around the globe. Whilst I publish the blog from a tiny island in the Med, I am aware that my readers and followers come from all corners of the globe. So Fairyfiligree is constantly seeking info about inspiring exhibitions which might be close to where you live, work or travel.

'Second Lives - The Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles' is an exhibition focusing on re-inventing the wheel or rather, the textile. Take the image above - a wall hanging made from a Chinese dragon robe.



Left:  Chief Anotklosh of the Taku Tribe, wearing a ceremonial mantle, Juneau, Alaska, ca. 1913. Courtesy of the Seattle Museum of History & Industry. 
Right: Vest made from a ceremonial mantle, Northwest coast of North America, ca. 1825-1875. TM 1963.53.1. Gift of Alan R. Sawye

Ceremonial mantles, or cloaks, were sometimes cut into pieces and distributed as gifts by the Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Haida tribes of the Northwest Coast-resulting in creative reimaginings of the prized cloth, such as with this vest shown above.





Hanging -Afghanistan 20th century (detail)

This exhibition has been at The Textiles Museum, Washington D.C.   since last February and will stay on show until January 8, 2012.


Recycling is nothing new after all!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Packing for the Weekend

One of the challenges of packing an effective weekend bag is packing things that mix and match well enough to keep the bag as compact as possible. You don't want to be lugging a 50-kilo affair around with you when you're supposed to be spending the weekend enjoying yourself. Trying to come to terms with making do with as little as possible may not be easy but this is what I have found works:

- Choose a maximum of three colours that can mix and match, blend and coordinate intelligently. You must make sure that whatever you choose from your bag, matches well with anything else you have in your bag.

Take this basic colour range - denim + blue/black; cream + tan . Think of the possibilities here. You can mix tan coloured shoes/black shoes/blue shoes; you can add black skirt/black pants; you can also add cream wool sweater or cardi/cream pants/cream wool dress/ cream tights.


Choose fun  items that can mix in well with a number of other colours. this tee has a basic white colour and includes black, red, yellow (cream) and it's never out of fashion. Think how easily it could combine with any of the items in the previous picture. 



Take low maintenance items such as the denim jacket above. Again consider how well this set of clothing can match well with anything featured so far. You have an ideal situation of mix and match. And only one extra change of clothes so far. 



Choose handbags that speak their own story whilst mixing in well with your basic gear - one handbag for the whole weekend which is spacious enough to hold just about everything you want. The dress featured above could also match well with either of the jackets seen in the pictures above it as well as with the red bag. 


Remember to always take one largish scarf that can blend well with all of your repertoire. It will come in handy for varied reasons. You may have noticed that Fairyfiligree loves scarves and I always carry one with me wherever I go, winter or summer. It's usually a lifesaver and my scarves have been used for tying around my neck to keep out the cold; shielding me from the hot summer sun as I trudged up a steep hill; tying around my head to keep my hair in place in the wind; tying up my hair; wrapping around my shoulders for an extra layer;  lent to a friend who wanted to go into a church but was only wearing skimpy shorts - she used the scarf as an impromptu sarong; and a hundred other useful ways.....


Take comfortable shoes....



Take one extra pair of shoes. Never ever take just one pair to wear for the entire weekend - no matter how comfy they are. Shoes can get wet (I know), soiled, start hurting you (surprise surprise) or just fall apart when you need them most. And your feet will feel better for a change of shoes after a long day of walking.

All the wonderful imagery is being used with the kind permission and courtesy of David Nyanzi from









Thursday, October 13, 2011

What's in That Bag?


Do you ever wonder what other women keep in their bags? Where they got that bag from and how they managed to get their act together, bag and all, so stylishly?
Fairyfiligree just loves bags and like most of you, wears hers to death, especially the ones she loves the most.
Today I am introducing this new feature on bags, all sort of bags.... I'll be picking out an eclectic selection over the weeks, with the most eye-catching, intriguing and curious bags I can find.... and then proceed to stuff them with some exceptional items, things you and I would just love to have in our bag.


I couldn't resist this cute white marble-ised Lucite Purse Box with Diamond Stars , an original vintage collector's item.
Wonder what's inside?
Follow on......















What's in That Bag? will be featured every week. If you would like to propose and vintage, handmade or antique item for inclusion, just contact me on fairyfiligree@gmail.com