Dawanda and A Little Mercerie

So ages ago i wrote a post on ETSY vs DAWANDA and I have to say that Etsy won hands down. Though I think the enormity of etsy is sometimes its down fall it is most definitely also a big plus.

I found dawanda to be a little clunky not as easy to navigate and not as easy to promote my items, I felt like I just had to sit back and twiddle my thumb  and hope someone would come to me.

Any way this is not a post about etsy v dawanda rather a post on what am I doing to try and expand my own online presence.

I have recently within the last 12 month started to move away from selling jewelry but rather sell to those that make jewelry. I now sell supplies and vintage items on etsy at www.allthatglittersbeads.etsy.com 

For all you Europeans out there I also sell beading supplies and vintage fabrics at www.allthatglitters.dawanda.com

And for those Francophones I sell beading supplies and vintage fabric at www.alittlemercerie.com/boutique/samanthatenn

Now for those of you living States side and everywhere else in the world these two sites are certainly worth a look too as shipping can be very reasonable and you might find some really funky European items that you wouldn't necessarily  find in your home country.

So why not broaden your horizons and have a look at these two sites you never know they might surprise you

Vintage finds for this week

So I have recently started buying and selling vintage wares on Etsy and I have to say I am finding it quite rewarding.

I have always been a second hand freak in fact it really pains me to buy anything new, this I have my sister to thank for dragging me to all the jumble sales when I was a kid.

I recently have returned the favor dragging her round all the charity shops in her area, re-awakening the thrift store queen that she had forgotten about. She said she was going to have to hide her bags  of swag from her husband as she does have hoarding tendencies...lol

So here is what I have found recently and most of these you can find for sale on etsy at www.allthatglittersbeads.etsy.com

Gorgeous set of 9 vintage french fringe edge napkins in perfect condition.

Very sweet set of six vintage french shot glasses

Set of 3 magnificent vintage Japanese hand painted cups and saucers.

Fabulous set of vintage french magazines from 1937!

And finally for all you quilters out there this amazing 1970's vintage fabric

So I have to hide a lot of this stuff from my husband as Im really not too fussed if I sell most of it as I have inherited my sisters hoarding tendencies too!

This weeks offerings to ETSY

Hi all, as if you all didn't already know I now have two ETSY shops, one selling beads and vintage finds and the other selling jewellery felt items and housewares. So I thought I would start a regular post on what's new and going on in my shops.

I have started a new line of paper mache bowls, using recycled newspaper. I love the idea that all the rubbish we have to read in the news can be transformed into something beautiful... even if I do say so myself.

I also have a range of paper mache beads for sale at www.allthatglittersbeads.etsy.com

Well actually they are paper mache clay beads, made using a recipe that can be found at www.ultimatepapermache.com

You may be sensing a bit of a theme here, yes I do seem to be a little obsessed with paper mache at the moment. But at least it's cheaper than buying shoes!

I have also listed a tutorial for the first time on how to make felt flowers, if you have always wondered how I make them you should check it out.

Vintage Finds

Well it has been nearly a year, I have been neglecting my blog there is no question. It is a sad state of affairs when your day job takes over your life leaving little time for the fun stuff!

Well it's winter and not many people in Chamonix want their houses decorating during the winter months so I'm back to show off what I have been up to.

I have become a vintage- aholic and I hear that it is an easy illness to contract... lol Here are some of my recent finds which you can find for sale on ETSY or on e bay.

SO my first find:

This little clock I think dates to about 1942, it is French made in Paris by a company called Jaz. It is such a charming little alarm clock. When I bought it the man who sold it to me said it didn't work... but it does! and so does the alarm and believe me you will never sleep through this one.

I absolutely adore this necklace and I am quite happy that no one has bought it yet. The beads are so unique I have never come across beads like them. They are very geometric in shape and it harps back to the art deco period. The beads are cut crystal glass and are just fabulous!

Again I adore this table cloth but I am such a mucky puppy I could never use it. It is an enormous great thing measuring 99/65 inches! plenty big enough for a thanks giving table. It has the most exquisite cross stitch embroidery and cut work all over it and it comes with... wait for it... 12 matching napkins! I couldn't believe the condition of the table cloth or the napkins when i got them home and unwrapped them.

Lordy Lordy how pretty is this one! A 15 piece intact 1940's Japanese tea set marked Kutani Hayasi. Kutani is the region in Japan it means 9 valleys and I assume that Hayasi refers to the design of mount fuji and pagodas. The pretty design has been hand painted and is just stunning. The little cups each have a lithophane of a geisha in the bottom so when you hold them up to the light her charming face smiles back at you.

And finally for this post anyway:

When I first saw these dainty little tea cups I honestly spent at least 5 minutes trying to decide if they were plastic or not because my brain would just not accept that they could be porcelain as they were so thin and delicate. I have practiced pottery myself and the thought of making anything this delicate gave me the shivers. They also date from around 1940, though trying to find any other information on these ones has been difficult to impossible. I know they are from before the 2nd World War as they are not marked made in occupied Japan. Not all the cups or saucers are marked but the larger cup in the center does have the most amazing lithophane. These are also thought to be from the Kutani region of Japan.

Well that's all folks for the moment anyway. Please if anyone out there has some more information on my blue and white tea cups I would love for you to leave a comment and tell me what you know about them. And actually I would love it if anyone commented on anything really. So until next time.