Home & Colonial Berkhamsted

                                           
Following many years of selling exclusively online and in fairs, Brocanteart now has a presence in the 

High Street.

We have been offered a place at the wonderful Home & Colonial Antiques Emporium in Berkhamsted. This four stories building is a Georgian gem in the heart of the affluent market town of Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. The antiques on offer are all top quality sold by reputable dealers. 

We have a small area next to the stairs to the cafe, which is due to reopen at the end of October'14.

Here's a could of photos of our display:

The display is in a constant state of flux so not all the items are available but there's always plenty more on its way. 

Conceptual ideas in a haberdashery box

 

This sweet little ensemble represents my return to the experimental art of composition which has been an obsession since my days in art school. Now I'm using the products I have got at hand, my beloved collection of antique haberdashery which has been used as a medium for an experiment in color. Golden and cobalt blue work wonders together and here I have added some oyster and wax to enhance the deep blue. 

Work in progress

Lovely mood board just published by BrocanteHome containing gorgeous collection of sewing supplies

Pretty Notions...
curated by BrocanteHome on Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/pages/brocantehome/pretty-notions

I visited the Decro Fair on the grounds of Knebworth House weekend before last. It was much quieter than the usual Salvo Fair which normally promotes this end of June event. Lots of wonderful architectural salvage, vintage garden furniture and the wonderful treasures of Beyond France
here's a link to their website where there's a huge stock of top quality linen and antique textiles for home decor and furnishings http://www.beyondfrance.co.uk

These gorgeous bobbins were brought for the shop last week and are now on Etsy with BrocanteArt. They are a time piece we can only wonder how many times they have been wound with wonderful silk, used int the production of endless textiles... the wooden bobbins are covered in silk thread in earthy colors with the odd pink blush and oyster. 

This weekend we are taking part in The Grand Vintage Bazaar in St Albans. Hopefully it is the right venue for us if not we can always enjoy a day with St Albans folk anyway.

Soooo long to get back in the writing mood
Last weeks market in Milton Keynes didn't live up to my expectations so it is so long MK market
here's a couple of photos of BrocanteArt exhibit

A box full of lace

What do you do with a box full of antique broderie anglaise lace? Any suggestions?

Just listed the most divine tape lace
It is fairly wide with a floral slightly abstract pattern that belongs in fairyland... I can't help imagining this turned unto a fabulous dolls dress or the most romantic of wedding veils.
Any suggestions?

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/170383811/25-ys-antique-mesh-lace-vintage-tape?

Just listed this exquisite piece of Art Deco embroidery in our Etsy shop
It is so beautiful that one doesn't need a vivid imagination to repurpose
Any ideas anyone?
I can see it as the cover of a cushion or similar

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/170246615/antique-metallic-bullion-embroidery?

London Antiques Textiles Fair

BrocanteArt stall at London's Antiques Textiles Fair

These little beauties have just been listed in our Etsy shop

similar candle holders were our best sellers last year

https://www.etsy.com/uk/your/listings

After a long summer recess in which we moved homes and started a major renovation project, BrocanteArt is now back on its feet. We are exhibiting at the London Antiques Textiles Fair this Sunday 6th October at the Gorgeous Chelsea Town Hall with a huge variety of our stock for sale as well as other wonderful sellers from up and down the country

 I just found this most wonderful blog which is run by an American in Normandy that includes fantastic home decor and delicious recipes 

http://sundaybrocantes.blogspot.co.uk/

These wonderful mini Madonnas & child originate form a never finished church project from the Limousin  region of France. They are more than 100 years old unpainted and a little battered, as you can see the Madonna on the left has lost her Fleur de Lys but still holds on to her child...
They were found in a small brocante in Northern France were they were rescued from a pile of other chalk materials
There are other  figures as well as these two Holly Marys which will be made available in our Etsy shop in a few weeks
These are very rare pieces and are sought after specially in North America and Australia as they perfectly symbolize the "old world" with its cultural influences firmly rooted in the past, now long overtaken by new beliefs and aesthetic.

Orange Blossoms Wax flowers Arsenic & Old Lace

Beautiful hoard of antique Wedding accessories all orange blossoms wax flowers, blue and purple roses (something blue).
Orange blossoms became a popular choice of flowers for Wedding Headdresses in Victorian times, they were very popular in America and Europe as well.
As one of a few plants that bloom and bear fruits at the same time, they soon became a symbol of plenty and fertility at the Wedding ceremony
The box on photo is only a small part of a collector's sale I attended a while ago. Parting with them, for someone who loves the old Victorian Wedding look as much as I do, takes great courage. But then again I am happily married and not planning to wear any of these so some of these items are now being listed on my Etsy shop BrocanteArt

Huge collection of antique wooden bobbins are now available in my Etsy Shop BrocanteArt
This time I have got a huge choice of colors and have sold quite a few
They are a true beauty as the wooden bobbins are very rustic and sturdy with the additional bonus of the wool and wool/cotton mix threads

I just got hold of the most wonderful box full of antique laces from a Country house linen collection
They will be put up for sale on my etsy shop but not just yet
I am really going to take my time with this hoard and spend time with them... imagining the history behind their existence, the skill always wondering what were these women thinking and living through as they applied their art, which now I am fortunate to hold.

Only I know how much I miss the laces now parted from me but I rest assured they have gone to good homes as we lace collectors are on the same wavelength

And a final close up Mr DeMille

This room just came to life with a little help from the royal pink roses

Xmas styling joy

The big day closes in. Very happy with my antique apothecary jars turning into light focus points

and there's always room for something suggestive... hazelnuts chocolate gifts anyone?

We are having a Christmas dinner on Friday and I am super busy looking for table decoration, this is the time to go over the top, I just wish my dining table was twice as long to accommodate all the stuff I love, collect and quite honestly hoard. These mini installations use those much loved pieces that I cannot part with and are not being advertised in my etsy shop.
So what do you think?

When it comes to shabby chic styling the top tip has got to be keep the color palate super limited, add lace or netting for texture and something reflecting light for extending space.
As in the still life shown on pics above all these elements are present complementing each other and building up the interest as the eye travels and engages with the dimensions without the interference of color change.