Thrifty shopping tips

Some time ago I compiled my top 10 tips for junk shop shopping for Craftier magazine's "Frugal Crafting" issue. For those of you who haven't had a chance to see them, here they are:

1. Get up early

Most car boot sales “officially” start at 8am, but traders get there from 6am (or earlier!) to set up - and professional bargain hunters get there at the same time to make sure they get the best bargains as soon as they are unwrapped.

2. Don’t rush

Charity shops, thrift stores, junk shops and car boots all have one thing in common - if you’re going to find a bargain you have to be patient. Set aside a good amount of time so you can have a proper dig around without feeling you have to rush back to your desk.

3. Learn to haggle

Just because there is a price on a tag doesn’t mean that’s what you have to pay. Go lower than you are willing to pay and hopefully they will meet you in the middle - or even agree to your first offer!>/p>

4. Befriend your charity shop manager - part one

Charity shops get donated all sorts of stuff - some is great and some is rubbish. Broken jewellery would normally be binned - but crafters could give it a new lease of life. Ask the manager if he or she will set broken pieces aside for you to buy at a cheap price - and you’re helping charity!

5. Keep your eyes open

I once found a beautiful but damaged vintage rhinestone brooch in the middle of a field after a horse show. Now it’s a gorgeous new necklace.

6. Do your research

Particularly important if you are buying online - it will help you spot the difference between a real vintage piece and reproduction. Learn which names to look out for, like Coro, Krementz and Sarah Coventry.

7. Don’t let a bit of dirt put you off

What can initially look like a grubby bit of junk could turn out to be a sparkling treasure after a little warm water, washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush.

8.Befriend you charity shop owner - part two

Ask the manager at your local charity shop what days they usually put new stock out on. Then you can be the first to scope out the bargains.

9.Be open minded

Will that horrible looking dress make a quirky cushion? Can you customise that quilted handbag and make it look like Chanel? Always be aware that an initially unpromising item could be reworked into something cool.

10.Be quick

This is particularly true at car boot sales - if you walk away from an item to think about whether you want it be prepared for it not to be there when you go back. Snap up bargains quickly - you can always give them to your local charity shop if they turn out to be no good.

Hurray for the High Street!

I am so ridiculously in love with Topshop at the moment. I popped in there this weekend to find something to wear for my Halloween "zombie flapper" outfit (think The Great Gatsby's Daisy Buchanan... as she would look now) and accidentally spent a hundred quid. And that was after I reluctantly left behind the gorgeous vintage-sequinned slouchy blazer, which I know sounds wrong in words but was so very right with my new silk drop waisted dress. They've got some amazing twenties-inspired stuff in at the mo that made me drool a little bit.

I did, however, splash out on a dove grey ruffled bolero, which at the time I thought would be one of those "wear once" items, but it turns out it makes everything in my wardrobe look amazing. It's coming out again this weekend with a trompe d'oeil t-shirt and my skinny jeans - if I can get the mud out of them. Pretending to be in a fashion shoot by wearing your best jeans to turn the horse out in a muddy field may look fabulous at the time, but it has far-reaching consequences, believe me.

This is the item itself - it's the sort of thing worn by people who have terribly romantic adventures. Fingers crossed!

I'm also very excited by the fact that the Royal Exchange's Fairytale Christmas exhibition has opened - featuring my jewellery! Must pop down to have a look this weekend.

The real "More Dash Than Cash"

Has anyone seen the November issue of Vogue? The so-called return of "More Dash Than Cash" for the thrifty fashionista? Well what a joke. Their idea of "budget" is items under £150. One of the bracelets they featured was little more than a cowrie shell on some chain - and it blew the whole hundred and fifty quid! I could make one for about three pounds (and some weekend soon when I've finished my Christmas decoration buying spree I intend to do a tutorial showing you how you can too).

They also spent quite a while writing about upcycling, and yet the cost of their "upcycled" items still managed to run into three figures. Are they missing the point or are the editors of Vogue so out of touch with the real world that they think that in a recession we can afford to spend hundred turning an old nightie into a vest top that looks like an old nightie... but with some added sequins.

Gosh I'm furious.

As it happens, I'm currently working ona thrift/craft book that will show people how to be really creative without spending a fortune.

I bet it won't get reviewed in Vogue

Royal Exchange - sneak preview

I've been hard at work for the last few days making things to go off to the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester as part of their Fairytale Christmas sale in their craft shop.

I've gone a little bit out on a limb as I've been using some fabulous but not-at-all-cheap stones, along with some really beautiful handpicked pieces of vintage jewellery to rework. I've also wired everything together using 14 carat goldfill wire - much nicer than gold plated which I hate and never use. When I saw my bill when I'd finished filling my trolley on the semi precious beads website I nearly had a heart attack - I hope you all think it's worth it!

As ever these are all one of a kind designs, and won't be available in my Folksy shop unless someone specially requests them before Monday. If there is a piece here you've fallen in love with and you want me to set up a listing for you email me at made_with_love@rocketmail.com

Speaking of Christmas, I will also be at the Christmas Festival at The Met in Bury at the beginning of December - it would be lovely if lots of people popped by to say hello!

Anyway, here are the new pieces. I will also be stocking up my Folksy shop this evening so pop by and have a look at what else is new.

Vintage brooch with amethyst, pyrite, smoky quartz, freshwater pearl, Swarovski crystal and ametrine:

Vintage brooch with lemon quartz, rose quartz, smoky quartz and Swarovski crystals:

Vintage brooch with carved roses with rock crystal and Swarovski pearl:

Vintage brooch with lemon quartz, aquamarine and Swarovski crystals and pearl:

Fashionbite

Fashionbite is currently the coolest fashion blog on the block. It was set up during London fashion Week by Emily Sears, fashion guru at Drapers magazine and guess what? She's featured me in her "Vintage Rocks" feature:

You can read the full article, here

Handmade Christmas - suggestions please!

I've just done a lovely interview for UK Handmade's blog - you can read it here. I am also going to write a tutorial for the Christmas issue of their magazine.

Initially I was going to do a step by step on reworking a brooch into something new, but as it's Christmas I'm thinking maybe I'll do a "how to" on making Christmas decorations out of vintage stuff instead - what do people think? What would you prefer? Or should I do something else altogether?

As featured!

Woop! The thousands of press releases I've sent out over the last few weeks seem finally to be working - look at this lovely article on Greenmystyle.com:

All through october anyone who makes a purchase will be entered into a prize draw to win a made With Love goody bag worth £50. Yep £50! What better excuse to start your Christmas shopping early and maybe bag a little pressie for yourself in the bargain!

You can read the whole article, here

Visit my shop here to buy and be in with a chance of winning the fabulous goody bag.