Requiescant in pace

Requiescant in pace.... as promised lots of pictures of Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires,  a beautiful city of angels in miniature.

It was originally home to monks of the order of the Recoletas in the early 18th century. It was disbanded in 1822 and the gardens of the convent became Buenos Aires' first public cemetery, it was named Requiescant in pace.

There are nearly 5000 mausoleums, they vary in size, age, style and condition. My favourites were the ones that have fallen into disrepair, many overgrown with ferns and creepers and often occupied with various members of the cemetery's cat colony. Made up of narrow little streets it is a fascinating city in miniature, all with coffins in view. So many beautiful architectural details, especially the iron work and statues. 

So many romantic, tragic images, I think we need a quote....

She is coming, my own, my sweet;

were it ever so airy a tread,

My heart would hear her and beat,

Were it earth in an earthy bed;

My dust would hear her and beat,

 Had I lain for a century dead:

Would start and tremble under her feet,

And blossom in purple and red.

from Maud by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Ola amigos!

Ola amigos, I'm back from my whirl wind trip to beautiful Buenos Aires and Rio De Janiero, what a crazy and fabulous week. This lovely angel waving to you is in the Recoleta Cemetery, just about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Tiny streets lined with little mausoleums from different periods, some in magnificent decay, I will post lots of pictures in the next couple of days. 

Buenos Aires has some beautiful architecture, many of the buildings were designed by French architects in the late 19th century, some parts of town feel very Parisian.

 

This is the view from my hotel, Buenos Aires is beautiful in parts, densely populated and not without it's problems. It is edgy and intense, but the people I met were friendly and very hospitable and I can't wait to go back. Especially for the antique shops in San Telmo and the tango, I had a lesson and went to see a show, sooo fabulous! 

These lovely faded beauties came from an amazing store I found in San Telmo, Karl Largerfeld and John Galliano visit this place for inspiration- so many treasures it's like vintage haberdashery heaven.

While I was there I picked up some amazing pieces for the shop including these Art Deco buckles, in French enamel, Bakelite, celluloid and Opaline glass.

 

I also found lots of fabulous hat pins. including antique rhinestone, hand painted French porcelain and Art deco celluloid. I just had to have these stunning Victorian carved mother of pearl buttons, most of them are around 4-5 cm in diameter and beautifully carved. While I was away we received another shipment from France of these fun spiky and feather shaped hat pins, made from various materials including celluloid.

This collection features antique glass, Bakelite and celluloid buttons, Victorian and Edwardian hat pins, including the two fabulous art deco Bakelite and rhinestone pieces. Also included are more hat pins from our supplier in Paris, made from straw, celluloid and glass beads.

More fun and fruity pieces from Paris including some lovely new berries/stamens. The gorgeous piece in the centre is a celluloid buckle, it is incomplete but I love it and may have to keep it for my own collection.

And just in case we don't have enough vintage French ribbon, how about these lovely stripes and spots, in widths up to around 15cm wide, toooo much!

So much shopping for vintage haberdashery can wear a girl out, just as well we had a day on the beach at Ipanema .....

Hasta Luego!

It has been a fantastic and crazy week at l'uccello, open studio was brilliant, lots of lovely visitors made it along to view the curious creative menagerie that is the Nicholas Building.

 I managed to get two windows done (see previous post), finish production of some of our handmade products, unpack, inspect and swoon over our new deliveries, and tidy up the shop ready for the hundreds of visitors that we had on Thursday and Friday and make 5000 lists for Max and Janet who are minding the store while I am away next week.

HOLIDAY SHOP HOURS

Wednesday- Friday 10am-4.30pm

Saturday 10am-4pm

Fabulous delivery of vintage buttons, including lots of lovely Czech and French crystal, vegetable ivory, mother of pearl and beautiful quality vintage plastic buttons.

 

Pretty, sparkly and in lovely condition.

Lovely shades of red, burnt orange and cola.

This collection features some of our spectacular new ribbons, including a complete roll of lilac & pink moire ribbon, 13cm wide and just to top it off it is shot as well. We also received narrow black silk  veiling with metallic oyster coloured decorative detail & ostrich and vintage egret feathers, new stamens & berries and copies of this delightful book about a collection of Dior couture.

Stunning new collection in store now

Along with the veiling we found this lovely Swiss and Italian straw braid, 70 year old wax & pearl buds. Rare antique hat adornments and Pretty Pretty hat pins

Well I have to go now, it's almost midnight and I haven't finished packing yet, I have to be at the airport by 6 am (why is it planes never seem to depart or arrive at civilised times of day?)

Hast Luego, see you soon....

Open Studio

Open Studios at The Nicholas Building is on again, this Thursday 19th of August and Friday 20th of August, from 4 to 9pm. Don't miss this rare opportunity to visit the studios of  the artists and artisans of the Nicholas Building. It is sure to be a fascinating insight into one of Melbourne's creative icons and a great opportunity to purchase work from this diverse and talented group.

 

Make sure you don't miss the beautiful stained glass ceiling on your way in via the Cathedral Arcade. l'uccello will be open until 9pm on both evenings, we are on the 2nd Floor.

It is so busy in the studio this week, production is in full swing with Connie and Max sewing like mad. We have just about finished a fresh batch of Sachets for Pantry or Linen and our little Scented Pillows  for Linen, so the studio is filled with the scent of lavender, rose and cloves. We are also just putting the finishing touches on our Love me True bridal charms, filling cones of silk with lavender and peppermint for our new shoe refreshers and putting the last layers of tulle on our pretty ballet skirts.  

In amongst this I have finally finished the miniature kimonos I have been making for the windows at Kozminsky Jewellers, they are a western take on the kimono and I have set them up as though on a theatre stage. First thing tomorrow I have to do a new window for Worksense Haircutters in St.Kilda, I am planning to cover bare branches with masses of bright multi coloured butterflies in anticipation of Spring. Then I will pick up a huge new delivery of stock, MORE French antique and vintage ribbons, millinery supplies, buttons and silk threads. We are also expecting another two deliveries any time now, so many beautiful things! We will post pictures in a couple of days.

We have also received our first delivery of lovely haberdashery, craft, vintage, fashion and interior decorating books, this is my new favourite book by the very clever French General company. 

So here are the ladies..

It is such a privilege to work for Kozminskys and to have such beautiful jewellery as inspiration.

Kozminskys Jewellers are at 421 Bourke Street Melbourne and they specialise in the finest antique and modern jewellery, silver ware and objet d'art, they also have an art gallery upstairs.

Backstage.

She walks in beauty, like the night...more favourite things

This is another piece from our ephemera collection, a memoriam card for a Belgian princess who died too young. I love her style and there is something about her that is quite captivating, I think it is her dreamy gaze.

Such a romantic image, I thought I should include a favourite first line from a poem to continue the theme, " She walks in beauty, like the night....." by Lord Byron, such an old smoothie!

 

Winter light in Europe is definitely one of my favourite things, it is so gentle and the colours of the landscape are muted, it feels so restful and quiet. This is the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles in late January. It was freezing outside, but it was so still and a little misty, it could have not been more lovely.

Love a window treatment!

How divine is this suite of 18th century furniture, it is in the Garden room at the Musee Nissim de Camondo, in Paris. It contains one of the most amazing collections of 18th century decorative arts, it is displayed in it's original domestic setting, the 19th century home of the collector.

Pane au Raisin from this bakery in the Marais are heaven!

Love a foyer that makes a statement, this is at the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, just before I got told off for taking photos.

Standing in the snow at Schonbrunn Palace, looking towards the hunting lodge, epic.

Fabulous Vintage Millinery!!

French vintage millinery accessories.

It has been a crazy week, a new window for Kleins Perfumery to launch their new fragrances from Honore des pres. More progress on our new wedding range (to be revealed very soon), new Sweet Dreams lavender pillows all ready for packaging, we finalized the artwork for our new business cards and stickers and we have FINALLY sorted out the mess in the store room and office. Phew!

In the middle of all this we have received our latest shipment of FABULOUS French vintage millinery and a few other treasures for good measure. Most of these items are very rare and unique, so if you are interested in purchasing any of them please ring or visit the store. 

Antique silk ribbon with ivory diamond pattern, an amazing collection of Vintage hat pins made in Paris, beautiful feather accessories in chartreuse and emerald green and we just adore the hat pin with the little bananas.

Beautiful vintage ribbons, casein buckles and an exceptional collection of Vintage feather accessories and hat pins in lovely shades of pink, lilac, purple and burgundy. The shapes of these accessories are just amazing, many are art deco and are quite sculptural.

More stunning millinery, silk and velvet trim, vintage moire ribbon, vintage rhinestone buckles and sweet antique glass beaded wire flowers.

Classic navy blue and ivory check ribbon, lovely double cut casein vintage buttons, fabulous art deco hat pins and feather accessories and a lovely Victorian 3 prong buckle.

Stunning antique lace and mirror back buttons, extra wide vintage silk ribbons, hat accessories and pins and antique silver filigree sacred hearts, such beautiful colours.

These French vintage ribbons are just so lovely especially the black embossed ribbon on the right, it is early Edwardian silk or silk rayon blend, it is one of the loveliest that we have seen.

This antique French cotton guipure is just stunning, very delicate and beautifully made, and the most lovely shade of cafe au lait. It is sitting on top of some lovely antique chocolate moire rayon fabric that has also just arrived.

 

These are lovely handmade vintage Brussels lace, they are yoke (v shaped) appliques, ideal for decorating the neckline of a dress or blouse. They are in perfect condition in shades of ecru, cream and ivory.

We have also finally received new stock of these lovely vintage silver filigree sacred hearts.

What a fabulous week!

Favourite things Part 3

Favourite words - languid   redolent   vermilion

 I like the way they sound, I like saying them and I love the imagery they invoke.

Love love love toile de jouy

Favourite music- Bach Suites for cello, if I could only have one piece of music it would be this one. Other favourites are almost anything by Miles Davis, but especially Sketches of Spain, and my other staple is Gotan Project.  

Loooove 18th century decorative arts, this little crochet bag is exquisite, the photo doesn't do it justice. It is from an 18th century chatelaine, it has rows of the tiniest glass beads and the bars and ring are in lovely filigree gold

Favourite films- The Women (the 30's version, don't even mention the remake), Dangerous Liasons, Marie Antoinette, The Leopard, Cat on a Hot tin Roof, Irma la Deuce and anything by Jacques Tati.

A friend of mine bought this beautiful fabric from a very old manufacturer in Venice, it was made for Marie Antoinette.

How cute are these little cards, they are from the 1880s and are trade cards for Barbour's Linen Threads. The two on the right have moving heads and are part of a series of twelve, I wonder if I will manage to find the rest.

I have to include the Janome, even if it is a bit of a love/ hate relationship, the fact is I don't like sewing. This machine is such a work horse, it is 30 years old and still going strong, I don't know how many little pillows, sachets and heat pillows we've made on this poor old thing, but still she just goes and goes. The kittens are there to try to stop me from getting cranky, how can you be cranky with something so cute looking at you?

If you love 18th century decorative art then the Hofburg Palace in Vienna is heaven, the Meissen porcelain room alone is enough to make you swoon.

Sneak peek at my current project all shall be revealed shortly

What are your favourite things?