I've just recently discovered Ercol furniture, as a couple of my customers have asked me to cover Ercol chairs, and I'm becoming a big fan. It's only the light wood variety that is popular though and can go for a lot of money on Ebay. The vintage furniture tends to have pretty hideous fabric on the cushions though, which is where I come in. This Ercol chair has been really freshened up with its coat of Tinsmiths linen check. I think they suit the Scandinavian chic style of decor.

I went to Burford Garden Centre near Oxford with my mum last week. They have some gorgeous things, including cushions by Donna Wilson and Helen Minns. They are great supporters of British design talent. But I was stopped in my tracks by these chairs! I could do this kind of thing if it's of interest to you.

  

I've created a new page on my website "Eclectic Home", because I am always seeing things on my travels that I think a lot of you out there will like, particularly if you like retro & vintage things. So this will be things that don't come under the category of upholstery and cushions. So do have a gander...talking of cushions however, this is my latest. I picked up the vintage scarf from the Leeds Vintage Fashion Fair at the Town Hall last Sunday, and look what I've done with it...

I can't stop covering chairs in this fabric! Have you got a chair that you would like me to cover with it? It works particularly well on small chairs from the 1950's/60's. This is an old office chair of mine, I was going to sell it, but my partner won't let me because he likes it so much!

This is my latest upholstery project, a chair that I found in a junk shop, covered with some vintage fabric which my partner found on Ebay (well done him!). This sort of fifties pattern is possibly where Orla Kiely got some of her inspiration from. It works very well on the clean lines of this Danish designed armchair. I have some more of the fabric if anyone is interested in a cushion in it, or a similar chair.
 

I have just finished this gorgeous chair which my client wanted to cover with a fifties inspired fabric. We found this fabric at Sanderson which is called Dandelion Clocks, it comes in 3 other colourways. It works really well even though the pattern gets a bit lost amongst the buttoning on the back.

I've been making some pin cushions from my left over scraps of fabric. And for men, some lavender filled wardrobe refreshers, or car air fresheners. My partner loves them, but would any of you out there buy them?


      






          

I've been very busy making cushions for the various vintage fairs I've been taking part in in the run up to Christmas. And for my space in the Harrogate shop "Space"(see below for details). They are almost all made from fabulous vintage silk scarves, which are my obsession. And I'm not on my own because hip doyenne of the "new craft" movement, Danielle Proud, says they are "an easy way to landing a seriously chic designer punch in your living room" (or bedroom in this case). Here is an example of how they can be used....

If any of you live oop north, not too far from Leeds, then you can now buy my cushions made from vintage silk scarves from a cool vintage & retro shop in Harrogate called Space. If you go to my links page you can see their website. It is chocka with wonderful home furnishings and clothing from the 1930's to the 1980's. Harrogate is a gorgeous place for a day out. It's a spa town like Bath or Buxton, with beautiful architecture and loads of lovely shops, cafes and restaurants. But be sure to check out Space, 1 The Ginnel, just down the hill and to the left after Betty's tea room.

On Friday 27th, Sat 28th & Sun 29th of November, I will have a stall at Harewood House Christmas Craft Fair with my friend Anna Kennedy, who makes gorgeous bags from handmade felt. I'll be selling my cushions, plus homemade Christmas decs and some interesting vintage inspired gift ideas. Harewood House is just north of Leeds on the way to Harrogate. It is a beautiful stately home, and it would make a lovely xmassy day out.

Vintage lovers, put this in your diary. Vintage & retro fair this Sat 26th Sept & Sun 27th at St. Gemma's fair, Harrogate Rd, Moortown, Leeds. I've been several times before and it is always full of reasonably priced goodies. Plus, there are tea and homemade cakes, which is reason enough to go in itself!

On Sat I went to a vintage fair organised by Discover Vintage www.discovervintage.co.uk as I've booked a stall with them in Harrogate on Dec 5th. It was full of wonderful vintage coats, dresses, scarves (which is good for me) and homewares. I saw a cushion just like my mum had in our living room in the seventies!

Then afterwards, we visited a retro store called Space which is on The Ginnel in Harrogate. It was fantastic! A veritable treasure trove. We could have bought so many things but we had to restrain ourselves to a Tretchiko picture. We had a picture by him when I was a kid of a rose with exaggerated almost hyper real dewdrops. Anyway, if you're ever in Harrogate, go visit this shop, you will love it! www.spaceharrogate.co.uk

Wow, I've had so many great responses since I went live, and I've even had a review!

 Many thanks to Louise from Catwalk Creative for that.