Category: blog

mr. bird’s emporium

Mr. Bird’s Emporium had it’s grand opening on October 13th 2012 and it has been busily trading since then. Mr. Bird’s describes itself as “Birmingham’s First Vintage Concept Store” and it is the creation of Frankie Johns (Urban Village) and Sabina Gran (Sutton Vintage & Arts Fair).

It is home to a host of vintage and handmade traders and a few weeks ago I tootled on down to take some pics of these lovely peeps and their wares. Some were a bit camera shy though and I couldn’t persuade everyone to pose for me!

Pictured below are Laura Loves, Bits and Bows, Nothing New, Sneeky Fox, Vintage Hideaway, Vote Vintage, Trunk Junkies Vintage, Uptodated, Boucher and Bond, Roxy Valetta.

(click on images to enlarge)

As well as the permanent traders there are also opportunities for artists, designer-makers and independent sellers to “rent a shelf” and there’s the regular fair The Custard Cream.

So if you’re looking for something vintage or handmade pop down to Mr. Bird’s Emporium. There’s still time before Christmas!

new from old

I have a collection of dolls’ heads that were excavated from the rubbish heaps of German doll factories. They were never made into dolls as they were faulty in some way and have lain buried in spoil heaps until recently. I want to give them “life” and turn them in to what they were designed to be. I also have quite a stash of antique lace, handkerchiefs and embroidered fabrics, I love rummaging through flea markets for this type of thing, and think that these materials will make ideal clothes for the dolls.

By refashioning these old and unwanted items I am seeking to create something new but also make items that have a history and a story to tell.