Make a Pair of Knickers from a Vintage Scarf
Posted on: March 7, 2011Day one of my crafting adventures and I'm meeting my new best friend the Janome sewing machine and learning to sew a pretty pair of fancy pants at the Create Place. Continue reading »
The Create Place, 29 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PJ. Tel: 020 8980 2092
I recently popped into The Create Place in Bethnal Green to meet Jill Robertson the creative driving force behind the project. The little workshop space is super sweet & I really like their ethos from the free drop in craft mornings for locals to meet up and make stuff to the shelf full of sewing machines that have been donated by people in return for free classes. Whilst I own a sewing machine, it’s long been sitting in it’s dust jacket on my shelf so I thought first things first I should pop myself on one of their beginner’s sewing classes. Continue reading »
A Thrifter’s Route Around Brick Lane
Posted on: March 6, 2011Bored with Beyond Retro? Always go in Absolute Vintage? As much as I LOVE these Brick Lane vintage meccas why not take the Thrift-ola's route around Brick Lane one day featuring 8 hidden gems that might well become your new fave haunts. Continue reading »
10 Gales, Railway Arch 10, Gales Gardens E2 0EJ. Tel: 020 7772 98416
Step down a little alley off Bethnal Green road and hidden away in a railway arch is 10 Gales – a mix of fashion shoot space, café and vintage clothing boutique run by the dashing duo JJ & Ernesto. Take the staircase upstairs to the super cute tiny café with it’s chequerboard floor and see full length mirrors flank the central changing room where you feel like a starlet trying on their super select range of 80’s and 90’s vintage clothes. So what makes this secret haunt thrifty? It’s the little hairdressing salon out the back where East End gals in the know go to get their hair cut by Yuya or Asami for £5 to £15. Sweet. Continue reading »
A Thrift-ola Trip to… Brighton
Posted on: March 6, 2011There were many a thriftin' opportunity in Brighton Town from flea markets & car boots to vintage fairs & charity shops. Could I fit them all into one weekend? Continue reading »
Salty sea dog egg cups & bobble hat warmers.
On the first weekend in March I hopped on a train to Brighton to discover the delights of thrifting in a bustling seaside city. As I scurried down the North Laines I found Upper Gardner Street Market which was bursting with jumble. I was drawn to the stalls where folk were having random clear outs of their own stuff and a vintage jeans stall with some ace pairs of old Wranglers and a stall with printing blocks both made me stop & sift. Continue reading »
Car Boot Sales: Trader Types
Posted on: March 2, 2011There are two types of trader at a boot fair – a Casual and the Professional. Who's who? And how can they work for you? Continue reading »
Ce Ce and Mo Mo were first timers at Brighton Car Boot Sale.
The Casual is a person having a genuine clear out of their own belongings. They’re probably moving, redecorating, need to raise some cashola and so on. The Casual stall is more than likely quite chaotic and full of mostly modern items. However, now and again you’ll find a real interesting Casual and you have to beat the Professional to their pitch! I met Ce Ce and Mo Mo at the Brighton Marina car boot sale and they were destashing their lives before a move to New York to study performance and visual arts. Continue reading »
A Little Local Jumble Fun
Posted on: February 16, 2011Come & visit Fish Island to see the Olympic Park, snack on a tasty meal at Counter Cafe, wave at my cats & do some mini thrifting! Continue reading »
A jumble stall outside my local cafe one sunny Sunday.
I recently moved into a new studio situated in a magical little patch of East London called Fish Island. No-one’s ever heard of it, don’t worry. It’s an industrial estate full of warehouses, made into an island by two canals and a motorway. As the businesses started to close down, the artists moved in. I have a unit with my two kitty cats Joey and DeeDee Ramone and from my window I can see our brilliant little local eaterie the Counter Cafe. One sunny day recently I was popping in for my coffee & almond danish fix when I discovered a miniature jumble sale occuring in the courtyard. Hurrah! That morning I forewent my breakfast in exchange for a pair of heels and a satchel!
Hey there! My name is Leona and this is my online shop and blog where you can follow my thrifty adventures and snap up a vintage gem of two.
