Your Unique Scrapbook

What’s more perfect for your vintage style wedding than a uniquely designed, personalised handmade vintage guest book?  These beautiful creations are all one of a kind and after the wedding, make a lovely keepsake of your special day.

Designer Sharon Barbour has a love of vintage materials and scrapbooking.  With an art and graphic design background, she takes your ideas, your favourite colours and themes and puts together a guest book that will complement your wedding beautifully. She recycles neglected books and old papers, vintage lace and costume jewellery, mixing them with a modern touch and some gorgeous embellishments to achieve something you’ll want to keep forever.

There are other treasures to be found in the Your Unique Scrapbook online shop too… Sharon now offers wedding paper goods, vintage lace wedding bouquets and headdresses, vintage wedding suitcase cardholders, favours and wedding programmes.

Sharon runs a blog from her website to keep you up to date with all her news and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter, but save the date – because on March 10^th, 2013, Bristol-based Sharon will be exhibiting at our next Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair.  You’ll be able to meet her in person and have a look at her wonderful display of vintage designer guest books.  She’ll also have her portfolio with her so you can be inspired by the many possibilities for your personalised book. In the meantime, if you’d like to know more about these special, handmade and unique gifts, you can contact Sharon on her website, by phone on 01454 633294 or via email E-mail: sharon@youruniquescrapbook.co.uk

Meticulous Ink

We’re delighted to welcome back Meticulous Ink for our next Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair.  Owned by Athena Cauley-Yu, stationery designer & typesetter, and Charlie Cumming, illustrator & printer, Meticulous Ink is a traditional printer and fine stationer based in the heart of artisan Bath.

With backgrounds in typography, illustration and design, both Athena and Charlie are passionate about stationery. They offer a completely bespoke stationery service, ensuring each invitation they design fits your wedding perfectly. You’d prefer a hand-drawn invitation?  They do that too.

  

Your wedding invitation is the first introduction to your guests and Meticulous Ink can help set the tone, letting friends and family know whether it’s a traditional, relaxed or more outrageous event. Taking their inspiration from vintage posters and books to modern designers across the globe, your wedding stationery will be as unique as you wish it to be or as classic as you prefer.  From the choice of letterpressed, engraved or embossed paper to the style of print, each item will be a completely individual, unique design.  From Save the Date cards to the Order of Service, they can customize and print every element of your wedding stationery in whatever format and colour, however elaborate you want.

Everything they produce and sell under Meticulous Ink is designed, printed and finished entirely in Bath on their beautiful vintage presses that date from 1870 to 1960, which help them achieve that authentic vintage style.

At our Fair in March you’ll have a chance to meet Athena and take a look at the meticulously designed wedding stationery samples. She’ll also be bringing along their latest range of hand-printed greetings cards, which you’ll be able to buy on the day.

Oh and did we mention Athena designed and printed this years Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair poster?  We love it and we know you’ll love Meticulous Ink.

BRISTOL VINTAGE WEDDING FAIR 2013!

So ... it's that time of year and we're just about to start posting on our gorgeous exhibitors for next year's Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair.

The Fair will again be held at the stunning Clifton Pavilion on Sunday, 10th March 2013 from 10am to 4 pm and the fabulous Sarah Baker will be putting the first posts up here over the next few days ... watch this space!

Our first featured exhibitor will be the incredibly creative Meticulous Ink - and if you want proof of their gorgeousness, just take a look to the right of this post and you'll see Athena's incredible artwork for next year's Fair.  We're SO proud of our poster and can't wait to start getting it out there!

Looking forward to seeing you all in March - it's going to be gorgeous!

Watch this space ...

Thrifty Style by Janine Chisholm

If you visited our Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair earlier this year, you might have met Janine Chisholm of Custard House Clothing.  Janine was at the top of the stairs of our gorgeous Clifton Pavilion venue, along with some beautiful vintage clothes she'd designed herself and some she'd upscaled or accessorised. 

Janine's long been a friend of Bristol Vintage.  She used to have a shop in St Nick's Market and she's been demonstrating and selling her gorgeous vintage clothes at Tobacco Factory Market for some time. She runs sewing workshops, gives talks and demos and is now an Eco Designer, vintage Stylist and Personal Shopper.  Janine's passion is about transforming your wardrobe to make it work for you and, to add another string to her accomplished bow, she's written a book to help you do it yourself!

Thrifty Style by Janine Chisholm is a gorgeous book both for the novice or experienced seamstress.  It'll teach you how to sew and offers 35 sample projects with full and easy to understand instructions on how to rework your wardrobe.  With three patterns included in the back sleeve, you'll be inspired to tackle those clothes that have been sitting in the back of the wardrobe.  You know... those ones you haven't worn for over a year!

With an eye on style and fashion, you'll find plenty of inspiration in the book.  A fully fledged member of the Ethical Fashion Forum and passionate about sustainability, Janine wants to encourage everyone to recycle and rework their clothes.  The book comes out next week (2nd October) and we've got our copy! Congratulations Janine and here's to the next one.

WHAT A FABULOUS DAY!

Really looking forward to spending the day at the Benjamin Perry Boathouse where Sue from Auntie's Vintage and I will be serving afternoon tea from 1pm.   Sue was baking all day yesterday and I'm just about to leave to add some glorious vintage styling and music and we hope to see some of you there later - photos to follow for those who can't make it!

AFTERNOON TEA PARTY ON 15TH SEPTEMBER 2012

When Katie and I first started Bristol Vintage we had a really fun day serving afternoon tea at a lovely party at The Benjamin Perry Boat House.

Now Sue from Auntie's Vintage is organising a similar afternoon as part of her promotion of The Cat's Meow Emporium & Kabaret and I'll be there helping to serve the teas and support the event.

It's a lovely venue, right on the river opposite The River Station and there's more information on The Cat's Meow blog site.  Hope to see you there!

http://thecatsmeowemporiumandkabaret.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/afternoon-tea-party-in-bristol.html

And while I'm talking about The Cat's Meow, here's a peek at the artwork by Georgina Claire White - just gorgeous!

http://thecatsmeowemporiumandkabaret.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/georgina-claire-white.html

BRISTOL VINTAGE 2013 WEDDING FAIR!

The date for next year's Vintage Wedding Fair is 10th March 2013.  We'll be starting to post exhibitors on here in a few weeks time so watch this space as we hope it will be the best one yet!  

Here's a little reminder of last year's Fair and our lovely models having fun!

Inspiring Us - Piece of Cake

From now on, finding unique wedding favours will be a Piece of Cake!  All you have to do is click onto the Piece of Cake website for a gorgeous handpicked array of individual, handmade favours that will suit any theme or budget.

  

After searching for the perfect wedding favours for her own wedding and finding nothing that suited her vintage chic style, Leanne Hemings decided to create Piece of Cake. With the idea of bringing together a collection of beautiful gifts, focusing on handmade with a vintage twist, Leanne has done all the hard work for you, so you can relax and simply select which of her gorgeous collection will suit your big day.  Think vintage decorated bags containing chocolate drops in a variety of flavours; Belgian dark, white, milk and strawberry or perhaps some mini mocha beans instead.  

    

Think cake pops made with handmade chocolate or vanilla cake, mixed with a rich chocolate or vanilla ganache and then hand-dipped in Belgian chocolate.  What about pocket mirrors, personalised magnets, hummingbird charms, 3D heart gift tags, tea cup candles, heart shaped boxes of mints and the very sweet seed packets of love? 

With a background in TV and design, owner and creator, Leanne has a real eye for special gifts that will bring something special to your wedding.  Teaming up with many talented creatives, Leanne is strict about her suppliers, taking care that each and every item meets her high standards.  Every piece must be something that she absolutely adores.  She’s always on the look out for that special design or product, so if you’re struggling to find what it is you’re after, get in touch and she'll do her best to find it for you.

  

Piece of Cake has just launched to great success so do take a look around their website. There’s the shop, of course and if you‘d like to contact Leanne, there’s an online form or you can email her direct at info@pieceofcakehq.co.uk or call 07710 270 422 (she’s absolutely lovely).  Don’t forget to check out the blog as well and join the mailing list.  If you do, you’ll be in with a chance of winning 30 gorgeous favours! 

A SUNNY PROPS PHOTO SHOOT

I do love my job but sometimes it seriously just doesn't feel like work!  One glorious day in June, a group of us got together and spent the day surrounded by our lovely vintage memorabilia, gorgeous flowers and fabulous cakes so that we could show you some of our props for hire.

Kirsten (aka The Little Wedding Helper http://littleweddinghelper.co.uk) and I often work together so we thought it made sense to show you some of both our props.  I love working with Kirsten as she's so creative and has a real eye for detail and we always have fun.  

We were incredibly lucky to have the very talented Frances Taylor taking photos with beautiful flowers by Emma King Norton and stunning cakes by Anne Gliddon (Pretty Amazing Cakes). 

Kirsten and I are able to hire out these lovely wooden Church chairs.

These are just some of the props available from Kirsten and myself and we're always adding more to the list!

Always smiling - Kirsten having fun whilst Emma and I organise the bunting!

Thanks to Frances Taylor for the beautiful photos, to Emma King Norton for the flowers and her time and Anne Gliddon for the yummy cakes!  And, of course, to Kirsten who is always amazing!

THE CAT'S MEOW EMPORIUM AND KABARET

I'm thrilled to announce my new venture, The Cat's Meow Emporium and Kabaret!  I've joined forces with Sue Fyfe-Williams from Auntie's Vintage, to form 'Jezebel Events' and our first major Bristol Event is a celebration of the Roaring 20's and Prohibition 30's, to be held at The Passenger Shed, Brunel's Old Station by Bristol Temple Meads on Saturday, 17th November 2012.

We're planning on filling this stunning building with art, music, dance, performance and lots of fun all relating to this amazing vintage period.  

Here's a little teaser of the event.

For more information and to keep up-to-date with what's happening, then do take a look at our blog: http://thecatsmeowemporiumandkabaret.blogspot.co.uk  

Looking forward to seeing you there!

SAVE THE DATE - 17TH NOVEMBER 2012!

We've joined forces with Sue of Auntie's Vintage China to form 'Jezebel Events' and this November we'll be presenting our first major event - 'The Cat's Meow Emporium & Kabaret' at The Passenger Shed, Brunel's Old Station next to Bristol Temple Meads.

The event will be a celebration of music, fashion, film, art, food & shopping from the 1920's & prohibition era and will feature an afternoon tea dance, vintage stalls, live bands, burlesque/cabaret, photo booth, make-up boudoir and much more!

Watch this space for our new blog and more news coming soon!

Inspiring Us - Something Kinda Cute

If you’re a quirky couple who love all things vintage, then Something Kinda Cute has the wedding stationery for you. Their handmade collections are created with love in mind and inspired by your hopes, dreams and desires.  

Founder and owner Shell Lewis is a graphic designer and all round creative who started the business after creating stationery for her own wedding.  She loved the process so much and had so many more ideas, she wanted to share them, and so Shell and her husband Craig began Something Kinda Cute.  Shell specialises in a quirky vintage-inspired line of wedding stationery and offers a personal bespoke service with a professional finish.  Her team will work closely with you to help create a design that really says something about you as a couple and still suits the type of wedding you’re planning. Of course, if time is of the essence, they have lots of lovely pre-designed collections available.  Take a look at the gallery and be spoilt for choice.  Each design can be customised with your choice of text and colours, from the beautiful 'Vintage Garden' range to the super fun 'Rockin' 50's Diner'.   

      

When she’s not designing, Shell and her hubby also run a really successful vintage wedding fair in Wales, the Something Kinda Vintage Wedding Fair. In Swansea's beautiful and historic Brangwyn Hall, with over 45 amazing vintage and vintage-inspired exhibitors (including a few from Bristol!), there's Iive music, a vintage tea parlour, burlesque performances, workshops and a fashion show. Shell and Craig will also be setting up shop soon in a new vintage and local design boutique in central Cardiff.  An art, design and vintage 'hub', Hubbard's Cupboard will support local talent by forming a big collective community.  Shell and Craig are already planning 'DIY Bride' workshops where you can learn how to create cost-effective styling solutions for your wedding, in a fun and sociable environment. They're not resting there... They've teamed up with the owners of Hubbard's Cupboard to create a vintage wedding market in the heart of Cardiff!  

You can contact Shell via email at shell@somethingkindacute.com or find Something Kinda Cute on Facebook and Twitter.  Don’t forget to check out their gloriously vintage website and get lost in their gallery of stationery.  For lovers of beautiful, bespoke and quirky stationery, look no further!

Thank you to... 

www.nataliejweddings.com 
www.weheartpictures.com
www.ojphotos.com

... for the photographs.

Inspiring Us - Wedding in a Teacup

We at Bristol Vintage just love good stationery and we know you’ll be as totally bowled over by Wedding in a Teacup as we are.  Their exclusive and bespoke wedding invitations are absolutely gorgeous and perfect for the creative bride-to-be. And this online boutique isn’t just about stationery… Wedding in a Teacup has all the original favours and styling pieces you could possibly want to create your uniquely perfect wedding day.

 

Owner Hester Lear is lovely. With a background in fashion buying she has pretty defined taste. She loves all things retro and vintage with a hint of quirkiness and charm and Wedding in a Teacup encapsulates that perfectly.  She searches for only the most fabulous finds for her website, making sure wherever possible that they’re made from recycled material (or recyclable), Fairtrade or made right here in the UK.

  

At Wedding in a Teacup, they’ve taken the hard work out of styling.  Loving all the nuptial traditions (confetti, favours, place card holders) they’ll help you to style your day yourself using the website as a pick and mix where you can choose from all the wonderful pieces they’ve found.  They’ve got gorgeous mini vases for holding just a few sprays of delicate summer flowers, hanging teardrop tealight holders, wonderfully quirky cake toppers and vintage stamped labels for place markers.  They’ve even got favours for the guests so you can jazz up the tables with retro sweets and personalized honeys and jams.  They’re stocked with brilliant ideas.

The Wedding in a Teacup mantra is “take great pleasure in your planning and preparations, it will spill over into your wedding day and light it up.”  So for help making your wedding fun and original visit their online boutique to be inspired and get creative.  They love hearing from customers, so if you’ve a question, a query or want some advice, you can contact them by email at hello@weddinginateacup.co.uk or by phone on 01273 933134.  They’re around Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays) and you can find them on Facebook, Twitter and with gorgeous images on Pinterest.  There’s also a blog on all things stylish and stationery and a newsletter so the inspiration never stops!

Inspiring Us - Dawn Wilkins Photography

You can’t have missed Dawn Wilkins’ gorgeous pictures.  Whether you’ve been browsing this site or if you were one of the many guests at our Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair in February, Dawn was the photographer who captured all things wedding and vintage on the day and we’ve been proudly featuring the images since. 

Dawn specialises in wedding and portrait photography and she also arranges wonderful makeover parties, perfect for a hen do.  She’s so warm and friendly that whether you’re a couple on your engagement shoot or introducing the newest member of your family with a portrait shoot, Dawn’s approach will capture you at your most natural. 

 

It’s that natural, comfortable, organic feel that marks out Dawn as a photographer that people come back to time and again.  Only last weekend the groom’s brother booked his own wedding with her and another guest booked their children in for a family shoot.  These portraits sessions are something rather special as Dawn prefers not to use a studio, instead visiting the family at home or having the children run about in nearby woodlands or the local park.  It’s this little bit more that gets those gorgeously cute pictures of your children that you’ll really treasure.

For the wedding and civil ceremonies Dawn offers a number of packages including an optional engagement photo shoot before the wedding, post production and retouching of all photographs, all photos on a disc in high resolution, plus a DVD slideshow of 100-150 best photos set to music
.  Also available are some gorgeous wedding albums; magazine style photo books in hardback with dust jackets. 

Her website has just had a lovely spring/summer revamp with wonderful single, family and kids portraits (perfect to follow a wedding!) as well as wedding photos from engagement through to the last man standing. Do check out the gallery.  You can also contact her through her website, find her on Twitter, Facebook and on her blog.