The Vintage Home

Creating the perfect, restful and welcoming home is something that we all strive for and if vintage is your style then there are a myriad of ways that you can bring fascinating objects into your home to create the perfect look.

The current trend for vintage styling has even been picked up by The Guardian and their article on the subject is available online http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/23/anatomy-of-style-vintage. 

The best thing with vintage styling is that you just can't go wrong!  Any item that you love can contribute to the look as there are no set rules about what can and cannot be included.  If you are looking for beautiful vintage items then you can go out a scour charity shops, car boot sales, antiques centres (never as expensive as they sound!) and vintage shops.

photo courtesy of http://www.lampdoctor32.com/

Truly Madly Vintage has a fantastic range of gorgeous pieces that will make great additions to your home and these are all affordably priced.  These are available in the shop as well as on our eBay shop and at the Battlesbridge Antiques Centre. If there is anything that you are looking for in particular please do get in touch and we will do our best to help you track down that perfect addition to your vintage home.

For the love of knitting

Knitting, knitting, knitting, what images does that conjure up for you?  For many it brings to mind grannies sitting in a corner working on jumpers for their family members which, once finished, will simply be put in the back of a cupboard and forgotten about. 

What a shame!  The art of knitting is clearly dying out as it lacks popularity with the instant-gratification society that we are surrounded by, where people lack the patience to learn a new skill and create things when they can just go out and buy something new. But this means that many are missing out on the simple satisfaction of creating something that is crafted with skill and love for themselves or a loved one.  There is also the joy of creating something totally unique that can be worn or used in the home to add that gorgeous vintage or shabby chic detail.

But perhaps a change has come, with more focus on austerity and sustainability has come an increased interest in crafts and in rediscovering skills that are dying out.  Knitting clubs have sprung up all over the country where anyone, of any age and ability, can go along to learn new skills and improve old ones as well as have an opportunity to meet new people with similar interests.

You can find your local knitting clubs by searching online but if you live in the Chelmsford/Brentwood area you already have at least 2 to choose from.  The Lucy Loves Knitting club run by Lucy Burchell of Lucy Loves Fabric.com meets on Monday evenings each week at the Crown Street Cafe in Brentwood, Essex from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.  The Chelmsford Knitting Club meets at Cherry on Top cafe on Chelmsford High Street on the first Saturday of every month between 10am and 12ish.

So if you are intrigued and want to find out more about this fantastically rewarding hobby do come to join the knitting revolution!

Brrrgh! It's freezing!

Wow, the cold weather has well and truly arrived hasn't it?  Having said that I love winter as I can get out all of my snuggly jumpers and enjoy the feeling of being totally warm even if it is -100 degrees C outside.  If your wardrobe is looking a bit empty and you are getting cold when you are out and about make sure you pop over to Truly Madly Vintage to check out our range of lovely jumpers and cardigans that are all new in.  They are all fantastic (of course) and some of them still have their tags on, they were just bought and then stored and now they are in the shop - very exciting!

We also have a lovely range of party dresses perfect for your impending Christmas and New Year parties. Make sure you don't end up meeting someone else in the same dress as you by choosing a fab vintage option, we also have a range of shoes, handbags and jewellery to match and create the perfect look.

Hope to see you soon xxx

What a success!

Sorry it's taken so long to update this but we are really pleased to announce that the September Chelmsford Vintage and Handmade Market was a fantastic success with over 400 people through the doors ready to spend their money on the gorgeous products on offer from our biggest range of stall ever!  All of the stall holders had a great day meeting their customers and making lots of sales so thank you to everyone for your support.

The fashion show presented by Truly Madly Vintage and the Chelmsford Fashion Club was also a great success and really made an impact with lots of gorgeous girls strutting their stuff in vintage fashions, a picture even made it into the Essex Chronicle - check out the link http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/Vintage-market-success/article-2671949-detail/article.html.  The Fashion Club will return in November so come along to see how they present the clothes and maybe get some new ideas for your winter wardrobe.

Also new for September was the lovely Plum Fairy tea room selling lovely cup cakes and slices of homemade cake, they were so lovely that they sold out!  They will be returning in November so make sure you get there early to grab yourself an iced confection and see what all the fuss is about.

If you made it along on the 18th, thank you for your support, we hope you enjoyed yourself!  The next event will be on Saturday 27th November, just in time for some Christmas shopping so make sure you put a note in your diary and we'll see you there!

xxx

Chelmsford Vintage and Handmade Market Saturday 18th September 10am to 3pm

Come along to the Chelmsford Vintage and Handmade Market on Saturday 18th September from 10am to 3pm at the Shire Hall (top of Chelmsford High Street).  We will have a fantastic range of vintage and handmade products for you to view and buy including vintage fashions, fabrics, vintage and handmade homewares, jewellery and much, much more!  The Chelmsford Fashion Club will also be hosting a fashion show with lots of great vintage fashions.

We will also have a fab vintage tearoom serving handmade cup cakes along with cups of lovely refreshing tea, perfect to take a break from all of your shopping.

So come along to check out the range of products available and support local businesses by buying some of the gorgeous things on offer, you can even get in early with some Christmas present shopping!

The next market will be on Saturday 27th November 2010.

TMV and the "Be Moved" celebration of art, sport and film 17th and 18th September

Truly Madly Vintage are really happy to be involved with the Chelmsford Borough Council Be Moved events taking place in Central Park Chelmsford on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th September. 

On each of the two evenings there will be an outdoor cinema showing classic films.  On Friday enjoy the timeless classic Dirty Dancing as we invite you to join Frances "Baby" Houseman and Johnny Castle on a toe tapping, dance filled adventure.  1960s dresses and shiny dancing shoes are positively encouraged.  This screening marks the one year anniversary of Patrick Swayze's passing so come and see him in one of his most memorable roles on the big outdoor screen in a picturesque park setting.

On Saturday help defend the Earth against alien invasion with a rare Technicolour presentation of the original 50s sci-fi epic The War of the Worlds. Why not go intergalactic and come dressed as a B-movie alien?

Food, drink and traditional cinema refreshments including popcorn and ice cream, will be served from the cafe bar.

Cinema Cafe Bar opens at 7pm.  Art and sport short films from 7.45pm and main feature from 8pm.
Please bring waterproofs and rugs to sit on but not umbrellas as they may obstruct views.  Arrive early to secure the best viewing spots and also to enjoy the refreshments and other entertainment including the Truly Madly Vintage stall where you will find a whole host of fabulous vintage outfits as well as blankets and cushions to sit on.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For any more information please see www.chelmsford.gov.uk/bemoved

Truly Madly Vintage is part of the Chelmsford Arts Trail

We are really pleased to be involved with this year’s Chelmsford Arts Trail which started on Saturday 11th September and continues until Saturday 26th September. The trail takes you around various shops and businesses around Chelmsford town centre and at each one you will find a piece of art work created by a local artist being exhibited. The artist that has been selected to exhibit in the window of the TMV shop is Susan Hilton who creates original, interesting and beautiful pieces from items that have been discarded by others. We can’t wait to welcome her to our little shop and to have the exciting new pieces of art work on view. Don’t forget that all of the work on display as part of the trail is for sale so if you see a bit you love you’ll be able to get in touch with the artist and hopefully take it home after the trail ends.
You can collect a map from the West End Art Gallery (opposite the bus station) or in any of the host venues including the TMV shop and then follow the route around the town. The trail is completely free and available 7 days a week, you can get more information on the route and where to get more details about the artwork on show at the Chelmsford Borough Council website by clicking on this link www.chelmsford.gov.uk/artstrail
 
We hope you enjoy supporting the Arts Trail as well as the businesses and artists that are taking part.