Special Feature Friday: Peg and Awl

Edition 33

Peg and Awl is a truly unique shop on Etsy.  Entering it for the first time gave me feelings of freedom and happiness. The items in this shop seem to have been made with a lot of thought and care. Peg and awl is run by Margaux Kent and her husband Walter, with behind them a team of specialized craftsmen and women.

Most of the materials used are organic, and many of them were once forgotten items saved from markets and houses, who have been given a second life. Even though there is a team behind this shop, all the items are unified in style. Margaux, Walter and their team do not only make the items beautiful, but also durable and fit for heavy duty.

This tree-swing brought me back to my youth, as I remembered the swing we had, it was attached to our barn and lots of hours were spent swinging on it. This large swing was made of pine wood. For years this piece of pine functioned as a floor joist for a 19th century house. The rope is 3/4 Manila with a 694 pound tension limit. The rope is looped through the seat and secured with a fisherman's knot. It comes with instructions on how to attach the swing to a tree or a pole. 

This is an extra large weekend bag. It was made with waxed canvas and finished with antique leather and a vintage metal zipper. It was build to endure! 

This ring with the image of a wood sorrel, or as others know it, the shamrock can be bought in 4 different metals: sterling silver, oxidized silver, bronze or gold. It is available in sizes 5 through 8.

Besides swings, bags and rings there are many other wonderful discoveries to find in Peg and Awl, and going over for a look trough the shop is certainly worth the effort.

Walter has kindly made a 10% discount code for the readers of this blog: LEAVESFALL

There is also a website, for those who would like to learn more. And if you want to stay up to date about this shop, I suggest you add them on Facebook or Twitter.

Special Feature Friday: Minouc Brocante

Edition 40

I have a thing for vintage and antique's. Everything old has a story, and even though I often do not know that story, I find it fascinating to wonder where an piece has been in it's former lives. 

Minouc Brocante is a shop that sells wonderful vintage items. The shop is run by mother Nienke and daughter Minouc. Many of their family holiday's where spend in France, where they came about the most wonderful treasuries at antique markets and in secondhand shops. 

In Minouc Brocante we can find a great diversity of products. Wonderful tea sets, postcards, tablecloths, candleholders and handmade fabric buttons. The way the items are presented makes them very attractive, and in the photo's it is easy to see their charm and detail.

This wonderful tea cup trio was made between 1966 and 1969. It was made in Germany and marks '100 jahre Bareuther Waldsassen, Bavaria' . The fine gold decoration and the teal give this trio a fresh look. There is a beautiful collection of trio sets to be found in Minouc Brocante, from very elaborate designs to the more fine ones.

These apothecary jars make a great decoration for any kitchen. Besides being a decoration, they can be useful  for storing. More kitchenware is available in Minouc Brocante, including old copper ware.

For anyone in to sewing or quilting I would really suggest to have a look at their collection of fabrics. These vintage french fabrics are difficult to find in any shop but would make for great quilts or bed spreads. 

You can also visit Nienke and Minouc's other shop Minouc where you can find lovely hand made accessories.

Minouc Brocante offers a 10% discount to the readers of this blog with this coupon code: BLOGSPECIAL 

This discount code is valid until the end of September 2014.

Special Feature Friday: Natural Clocks

Edition 31

This week in the special feature Friday I would like to introduce Natural Clocks. The owner of Natural clocks, Val, is originally from Italy. After finishing her studies she decided to move to London, where she met her husband. 21 years later they decided they wanted a countryside life, and moved to the lake district in north west England.

Here Val started a little gift shop in a rural village. However, soon she realized she wanted to sell more different and unusual items, instead of the ready made goods purchased from suppliers or whole-sellers. The area Val lives is a great place, with access to many different types of material to work with. This way her costumers know they get an items from the area. The items are unique and provided by nature.

Driftwood always has a very natural rustic look. This clock is made of a well weathered piece of driftwood that was collected by val on Morecambe bay. The clock hands are metal and the clock parts are quartz with a silent sleeping movement.

This desk clock has a wooden base and is covered by a beautiful vintage postcard. The print is sealed with an acrylic sealant and an acrylic varnish. The clock measures 12x12 cm. (5x5 inch)

Val has given the readers a coupon code for a 10% discount: COUPON10OFF

Special Feature Friday: Tienda Nordica

Edition 29

Alicia always loved Nordic countries, she herself is from a warm place, Mallorca in Spain to be precise. A couple of years ago she moved from Mallorca to Sweden with her boyfriend and two cats.Today they live in the middle of a forest, in a small house. Alicia has always appreciated antiques and folk art. 

In 2013 she started her shop Tienda Nordica. In the shop we can find many vintage Scandinavian items.

From toy's to dinnerware and from sculptures to woodwork. It is a joy to browse trought Alicia's shop and check out all the items for sale! The shop is very colorful and the items have a truly warm and homely feel about them. They are the kind of things that will welcome you home every time you enter your house.

The Dala horse is a Swedish traditional handmade horse, mostly used as a toy. It is carved from wood and hand painted! These horses can differ in style and the way it was painted depending on the region it was made.

This is a set of a pepper and a salt shaker, they are made of porcelain and bronze and beautifully decorated.

The simplicity in the design of this elegant deer has a lot going for it. The clean lines make is look like a modern piece, and is truly timeless. The craftsmanship used to make this statue is admirable!

Alicia gives a 10% discount on her shop with this code: NORDICSHOP77

Special Feature Friday: Sa Jolie

Edition 23

I first noticed Lindsay's shop Sa Jolie in one of the many teams on Etsy. Lindsay is an expat from the UK, now living in the US, She started her jewelry store in February 2013. Lindsay found it a struggle to find the right jewelry in shops, this inspired her to start her own shop. New and vintage items can be found in the shop, this means that you can find a diverse range of jewelry and accessories. Each piece is about making a statement! The jewelry is made for every day life, but also special occasions like weddings and parties.

A lot of jewelry in Sa Jolie is up-cycled or recycled, the items will be wrapped as a gift before shipping.
Besides jewelry we can also find key chains, bookmarks and hair accessories. Lindsay's big inspiration is France, and she keeps this in mind whenever she works on a piece.

If you are into jewelry making yourself I would suggest you have a look at the shop as well, because Lindsay also offers a nice range of jewelry supplies. If you wish to package your jewelry nicely you will find a lot of supplies for this in the shop, twine, tags and burlap bags will make for a lovely wrapped items. Without using paper or tape, this is a great economical and easy way to wrap gifts, and it looks luxurious as well!

Lindsay offers a coupon code for the readers of this blog, it is a 15% discount: springisintheair15
If you order over 30 dollars you will also get a free surprise gift! (after discount, excluding shipping)

Special Feature Friday: Jen's Closet

Edition 20

Jen's Closet is a vintage shop on Etsy with a big range of vintage items to offer. When entering the shop the first thing I noticed is the great diversity in home decor, accessories china and glass-work.
This shop has over 1500 items and this makes it a lovely shop to brows through, I took my time to look around and found many wonderful things I would love to see on my own shelves.

Don't we all have memories of our childhood, of our grand parents and all the little things in their house. We only have to see a picture of that old biscuit tin and we are taken right back to the table, where we got tea and a biscuit when visiting. It is a wonderful thing to browse trough a shop or market and just be taken back instantly to wonderful memories.

Here are some items from Jen's shop that I like in particular.

These little forks remind me of a set of forks that my grandmother used to have, it is a long time ago since I last saw them but I do remember the handle with the pattern on it. I can almost see them on the table, when everyone gathered for a birthday.

This must be the most fancy cup I have ever seen! it has legs! And the way the handle is turned makes this cup unique. I adore the decoration on it, as I am a big fan of this kind flower decor.

Another item that reminds me of my grandmother, I am sure she would have loved this brooch!

I would like to show more, but there are so many great items to be found in Jen's shop, I suggest you go and have a look for yourself!

Jen is very kind to us, and offers a 10% discount code, the code has no expiration date:

SUNDAY2011

Special Feature Friday: French Baguette

Edition 10

I can't believe it is edition 10 already! There are so many lovely shops to choose from on Etsy!
Usually I search for a while before I decide witch shop to feature, but this time I found a shop real quick.
I love vintage and antiques and we all know that a great country to shop for unique pieces is France.

This week was my anniversary of my first year in France! unfortunately I did not get to see as many antique markets as I would have hoped for. But I did find this shop on Etsy.

It is called French Baguette and filled with lovely mainly French vintage items.

                           Isn't this just great? I can picture it in the most wonderful country kitchen!

Browsing trough this shop makes me wish I had a huge kitchen, I want it all! Wonderful enamel coffee and teapots, the cutest cups, ceramic container and plates, I could go on because there is way more.
They all breath that atmosphere of a wonderful warm kitchen with a delicious meal is cooking on the stove and cookies in the oven. Really, yet again I get hungry writing this blog!

Lets not forget about the tins, I just love vintage tins.

Of course this shop also sells items that are not kitchen related, but I would really suggest you go and check them out yourself. I think there are great things to be found for the collectors!