Hello!
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! I thought I'd begin this new year by updating this blog with stuff from the old year that I didn't get around to. Which was very naughty of me (see previous post for how awful a blogger I am). Now I have updated a little bit, though I still have two markets and some behind the scenes stuff to come, let us commence the general chit chat!
How are you all? Both Sparrow and Nightingale are in fine form, despite it being January, a month which is truly abysmal. I can certainly speak for myself when I say that I had a lovely, relaxing Christmas (when I was in my little nest) and a very stressful working Christmas, from what I've gathered, I believe Sparrow's was much the same. Hope that you had a restful Christmas too and had the chance to truly enjoy it, even if you had to work it.
However, we met for some post-Christmas catch up drinkies with our friends at Truly, Madly, Vintage and Make, Do & Mend where we also discussed our upcoming ideas for 2011 and caught up with everyone's plans - let me tell you, Chelmsford has some very exciting goodies heading it's way! I feel I cannot divulge anymore at this moment, but rest assured those plans are very good indeed....
As for Sparrow and Nightingale's plans....they are also splendiferous, with world domination obviously being very high on the agenda, as always (jokes - or are they?). We are currently having a little winter 201o/2011 sale to make way for some of the new things we are working on, you can see the items at this link which I will hide as it was far too long and to order you simply Facebook message us, or email us at sparrowandnightingale@hotmail.com
For now, over and out!
Love,
A very excited Nightingale
xxxx
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Monday, 10 January 2011
What an awful blogger!
As the title says, it is indeed true. I am an awful blogger, who forgot to take her camera to the next market that we did, back at Shire Hall on the 18th September. Nevertheless, through the wonders of Sparrow's camera and the joys of Facebook, I can bring some photos - huzzah and hoorah!
Around this time there were a lot of big changes and big bits of paperwork I was going through for Mr Nightingale and I's purchase of our first home. It was very exciting, and still is, but....*whispers* also a bit scary! I don't mind admitting that to you chums, even if I did stage whisper. As scary as it is, as grown up and responsible, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world, I'm so happy and so filled with ideas that I feel I could burst! There has been a lot to think about recently and even if times are hard, life is short, and can be so fragile, even when you feel invincible, so as long you know that you always have people who love and support you, you'll get through it. (I must admit that I just found this in an old draft blog I wrote in June, so it comes a bit out of nowhere, however, I think the sentiment, though mawkish is rather nice. So in it goes.)
I am also an awful blogger as I rather shamefully can't remember much of this market. I think that perhaps I arrived late and left early, though with good reason as it was the lovely Kerry and Warren's wedding day (if you remember our very first market, Kerry took lots of great photos for us, and has always been a fantastic friend and supporter of Sparrow and Nightingale) - big hugs and kisses from Sparrow and Nightingale to you both!
Anyhoo, as I said, can't remember much, I'm sure that we had a blast! The market at Shire Hall is always really fun, and truly is the home turf - it means a lot that we get to sell our stuff alongside such talented people who have become great friends of ours over the months.
We had a few new additions, in different fabrics, but by this time I think we were well in the Christmas items mode - working in retail and putting out all the Christmas stock so early on always makes you start panicking way too early. Especially when you have to make the stock yourself before you get to sell it! As at all of our markets, we use them as an opportunity to not just chit chat and enjoy our day, we do other work too you know. We make little bits and bobs, I enjoy sewing more corsages and Sparrow often likes to do a little sewing too, keep ourselves out of trouble! We mostly sit with a notebook and doodle away. The thing about markets and the buzz of people is that they create an amazing atmosphere that is so inspiring; to be surrounded by so many creative people who share your vintage handmade dreams, for people to like your work as much as you do, just makes you full of energy, excitement and ideas (or at least encourages the ideas to pour out of you).
Nightingale
xxxx
Around this time there were a lot of big changes and big bits of paperwork I was going through for Mr Nightingale and I's purchase of our first home. It was very exciting, and still is, but....*whispers* also a bit scary! I don't mind admitting that to you chums, even if I did stage whisper. As scary as it is, as grown up and responsible, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world, I'm so happy and so filled with ideas that I feel I could burst! There has been a lot to think about recently and even if times are hard, life is short, and can be so fragile, even when you feel invincible, so as long you know that you always have people who love and support you, you'll get through it. (I must admit that I just found this in an old draft blog I wrote in June, so it comes a bit out of nowhere, however, I think the sentiment, though mawkish is rather nice. So in it goes.)
I am also an awful blogger as I rather shamefully can't remember much of this market. I think that perhaps I arrived late and left early, though with good reason as it was the lovely Kerry and Warren's wedding day (if you remember our very first market, Kerry took lots of great photos for us, and has always been a fantastic friend and supporter of Sparrow and Nightingale) - big hugs and kisses from Sparrow and Nightingale to you both!
Anyhoo, as I said, can't remember much, I'm sure that we had a blast! The market at Shire Hall is always really fun, and truly is the home turf - it means a lot that we get to sell our stuff alongside such talented people who have become great friends of ours over the months.
We had a few new additions, in different fabrics, but by this time I think we were well in the Christmas items mode - working in retail and putting out all the Christmas stock so early on always makes you start panicking way too early. Especially when you have to make the stock yourself before you get to sell it! As at all of our markets, we use them as an opportunity to not just chit chat and enjoy our day, we do other work too you know. We make little bits and bobs, I enjoy sewing more corsages and Sparrow often likes to do a little sewing too, keep ourselves out of trouble! We mostly sit with a notebook and doodle away. The thing about markets and the buzz of people is that they create an amazing atmosphere that is so inspiring; to be surrounded by so many creative people who share your vintage handmade dreams, for people to like your work as much as you do, just makes you full of energy, excitement and ideas (or at least encourages the ideas to pour out of you).
Nightingale
xxxx
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Time travel....
Cast your minds back, if you will, to June 2010. There was a little bit of a heatwave around that time, it was gloriously sunny, if not always boiling hot and it was fully of happy, balmy, light evenings... sigh.
It was 26th June, it was a sunny day and so Sparrow and Nightingale cracked out their best dresses and headed up to Cressing Temple Barns to sell some wares and also help out a great cause at the same time - the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. This local charity carries out fantastic work, with dedicated research labs and support centres giving emotional support and hope to those dealing with cancer. Nestled out in the Essex countryside (well, a bit) lie some barns originally built by medieval monks of the Knights Templar in the 13th Century. Let me tell you, they did a good job of it!
This beautiful barn was to be our location for the day. We quickly unloaded the Sparrow and Nightingale mobile (aka Mr Nightingale's car, which has been officially named Carlisle), found our table and set up our wares. It didn't take us too long, think we were getting the hang of it by then!
We were loving the atmosphere, it was so great to see so many stalls, all different, with so many quirky and cute items - if I had any money then I definitely wouldn't have any left at the end of it. As the day rolled on we explored some more and found a fleet of vintage cars, more barns filled with lush stalls, horses, crepe vans, tearooms, an old bus and a french scene where you could have photo ops, it was a great day out!
We were located right next door to the rather fantastic A2 Jive dancers and the vintage hair do stand, the Hair Raid shelter (brilliant name, I love a good pun) - where you could get victory rolls galore.
The Jive dancing was so amazing to watch, if I had the time and a willing partner I'd love to give it a go - who knows, I might get round to it one day! A big crowd turned out to support them which was fab as that meant lots of people to look at our stall.
Unfortunately that didn't turn out quite so well, we had lots of people looking at our stuff, and gave out lots of business cards but it was a bit of a slow day truth be told. There was so much to look at though and so much choice, one can't blame people for looking around so much - I know I would have! Not to worry though, at the end of the day we had a fantastic time, we had lots more positive feedback, and it was just great to feel part of something that attracted approx 2000 visitors and was a big event that raised money for a great cause!
As we packed up and drove back to Chelmsford, we blasted the radio, rolled the windows down and decided that one day taking Sparrow & Nightingale on tour would be awesome. And so, we drove off into the sunset, dreaming of a sepia toned future.
It was 26th June, it was a sunny day and so Sparrow and Nightingale cracked out their best dresses and headed up to Cressing Temple Barns to sell some wares and also help out a great cause at the same time - the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. This local charity carries out fantastic work, with dedicated research labs and support centres giving emotional support and hope to those dealing with cancer. Nestled out in the Essex countryside (well, a bit) lie some barns originally built by medieval monks of the Knights Templar in the 13th Century. Let me tell you, they did a good job of it!
This beautiful barn was to be our location for the day. We quickly unloaded the Sparrow and Nightingale mobile (aka Mr Nightingale's car, which has been officially named Carlisle), found our table and set up our wares. It didn't take us too long, think we were getting the hang of it by then!
We were loving the atmosphere, it was so great to see so many stalls, all different, with so many quirky and cute items - if I had any money then I definitely wouldn't have any left at the end of it. As the day rolled on we explored some more and found a fleet of vintage cars, more barns filled with lush stalls, horses, crepe vans, tearooms, an old bus and a french scene where you could have photo ops, it was a great day out!
We were located right next door to the rather fantastic A2 Jive dancers and the vintage hair do stand, the Hair Raid shelter (brilliant name, I love a good pun) - where you could get victory rolls galore.
The Jive dancing was so amazing to watch, if I had the time and a willing partner I'd love to give it a go - who knows, I might get round to it one day! A big crowd turned out to support them which was fab as that meant lots of people to look at our stall.Unfortunately that didn't turn out quite so well, we had lots of people looking at our stuff, and gave out lots of business cards but it was a bit of a slow day truth be told. There was so much to look at though and so much choice, one can't blame people for looking around so much - I know I would have! Not to worry though, at the end of the day we had a fantastic time, we had lots more positive feedback, and it was just great to feel part of something that attracted approx 2000 visitors and was a big event that raised money for a great cause!
As we packed up and drove back to Chelmsford, we blasted the radio, rolled the windows down and decided that one day taking Sparrow & Nightingale on tour would be awesome. And so, we drove off into the sunset, dreaming of a sepia toned future.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Internet Woe and Blog Inspiration
This is still coming to you from a Wetherspoons Wi-Fi connection, so alas no pictures - still! The Nightingales get a phone line on this coming Thursday though and then internet arrives within 2 weeks so huzzah! I never would have thought that internet takes so bloody long to get here as its in the air all around us most of the time anyway....its amazing isn't it the way that amongst the molecules of air there are waves, within which is the biggest, most expansive encyclopedia of anything and everything, all just hovering around, all the time, waiting to be tapped into. It blows my mind sometimes.
Anyway, enough of that little brainfart. Sparrow and Nightingale are getting mega excited about our next markets, they're approaching so fast, its scary! Where has this year gone? But we're busy crafting away on our Christmas bits and bobs, and starting to think ahead to next year when hopefully we'll be expanding our range a bit to include even more new things! Still have so many ideas all buzzing around, constantly finding new inspiration.
I thought I'd bring your attention to this rather wonderful blog by Sparrow and Nightingale's immensely talented friend. This is one of my current inspirations! Check it out - I'm sure you'll love the super cute prints!
Again, hopefully next time won't be from a Wetherspoons!
Lots of Love
Nightingale
xxxxxxxxx
Anyway, enough of that little brainfart. Sparrow and Nightingale are getting mega excited about our next markets, they're approaching so fast, its scary! Where has this year gone? But we're busy crafting away on our Christmas bits and bobs, and starting to think ahead to next year when hopefully we'll be expanding our range a bit to include even more new things! Still have so many ideas all buzzing around, constantly finding new inspiration.
I thought I'd bring your attention to this rather wonderful blog by Sparrow and Nightingale's immensely talented friend. This is one of my current inspirations! Check it out - I'm sure you'll love the super cute prints!
Again, hopefully next time won't be from a Wetherspoons!
Lots of Love
Nightingale
xxxxxxxxx
Monday, 27 September 2010
To the Future!
Big Hellos
The future holds bright things indeed! Keep watching this space and our facebook page for announcements on all things new very soon!
After our impromptu summer hiatus, which we didn't even intentionally take, Sparrow and Nightingale have returned from our holidays all refreshed like and got back into the swing of things with the fantastic Truly Madly Vintage Chelmsford Market, with the Chelmsford Fashion Club who laid on an awesome catwalk show and photo shoot opportunities. It was a very busy market, and was a great way to get us going again! Thanks to all who came along, it was lovely to see so many happy, smiley faces in the increasingly rare sunshine as we slide into Autumn/Winter.
Sparrow has been very busy making millions of cushions (although she is now banned from making any more, lovely as they are) and getting some ace new charms to inspire us, flying around at breakneck speed as usual! Over at the Nightingale end, I've just finished making up three new cute card designs to show Sparrow (and soon, the world!) and we're both gearing up for Christmas with loads of festive ideas whizzing around our heads! Can't believe I'm thinking of Christmas this early, but after seeing retailers already going Christmas crazy I already feel like I've left it a little late.... (which is of course not true!)
This blog entry was brought to you from a Wetherspoons, while I make the most of their free Wi-Fi (as after a big move the Nightingales are yet to sort out our internet, or phone, or even buy a TV!) however, the next will be hopefully coming from a Sparrow and Nightingale base with internet so I can upload such lovely things as pictures!
Take care my loyal (well, you must be to be continuing to read this) readers
Nightingale
xxxxx
The future holds bright things indeed! Keep watching this space and our facebook page for announcements on all things new very soon!
After our impromptu summer hiatus, which we didn't even intentionally take, Sparrow and Nightingale have returned from our holidays all refreshed like and got back into the swing of things with the fantastic Truly Madly Vintage Chelmsford Market, with the Chelmsford Fashion Club who laid on an awesome catwalk show and photo shoot opportunities. It was a very busy market, and was a great way to get us going again! Thanks to all who came along, it was lovely to see so many happy, smiley faces in the increasingly rare sunshine as we slide into Autumn/Winter.
Sparrow has been very busy making millions of cushions (although she is now banned from making any more, lovely as they are) and getting some ace new charms to inspire us, flying around at breakneck speed as usual! Over at the Nightingale end, I've just finished making up three new cute card designs to show Sparrow (and soon, the world!) and we're both gearing up for Christmas with loads of festive ideas whizzing around our heads! Can't believe I'm thinking of Christmas this early, but after seeing retailers already going Christmas crazy I already feel like I've left it a little late.... (which is of course not true!)
This blog entry was brought to you from a Wetherspoons, while I make the most of their free Wi-Fi (as after a big move the Nightingales are yet to sort out our internet, or phone, or even buy a TV!) however, the next will be hopefully coming from a Sparrow and Nightingale base with internet so I can upload such lovely things as pictures!
Take care my loyal (well, you must be to be continuing to read this) readers
Nightingale
xxxxx
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Phew what a busy few weeks!
Hope you're well readers, as the title of this post suggests it has indeed been a very busy few weeks (again), we've had lots of making, and a market!
I come bearing photos from our wonderful friend Kerry, who kindly came along to our first market with her camera, on April 24th at the Shire Hall in Chelmsford, as organised by the fantastic Truly Madly Vintage.
We got to Shire Hall
bright and early, having packed everything up the night before and done a little run through of how we wanted our pitch to look, so after recreating it for real on our real market pitch in a real Hall we went for a nerve calming coffee. Well, a wake up coffee too for me, I was a sleepy Nightingale.
When the market ope
ned at 10am, we didn't have long to wait for our first customer who bought one of our vintage charm necklaces. We were so happy to have sold even one thing, and from then on our nerves went and we just had a great time, meeting so many people who came round to say hello, and making new friends! The day flew past in a flurry of sunshine, smiles and support, then it was all over and far too soon we were packing away.
To all who came out in the glorious sunshine to see the market, thank you so much for coming down, we had a great day meeting you all, and especially big hugs and kisses to those who bought things!
(Apologies for the unrotated ness of the photo of the birds in the tree - it was too nice to leave out! If you click on any of the photos it will link to our facebook album with lots more lovely photos!)
Since then, Sparrow and I have been putting our noggins together to come up with new products for our next market (May 22nd, 10am - 3pm at Shire Hall, Chelmsford, hosted by TMV) so pop back and I might have some sneak peeks exclusively for you!
Love
Nightingale
xxxx
I come bearing photos from our wonderful friend Kerry, who kindly came along to our first market with her camera, on April 24th at the Shire Hall in Chelmsford, as organised by the fantastic Truly Madly Vintage.
We got to Shire Hall
bright and early, having packed everything up the night before and done a little run through of how we wanted our pitch to look, so after recreating it for real on our real market pitch in a real Hall we went for a nerve calming coffee. Well, a wake up coffee too for me, I was a sleepy Nightingale.When the market ope
ned at 10am, we didn't have long to wait for our first customer who bought one of our vintage charm necklaces. We were so happy to have sold even one thing, and from then on our nerves went and we just had a great time, meeting so many people who came round to say hello, and making new friends! The day flew past in a flurry of sunshine, smiles and support, then it was all over and far too soon we were packing away.To all who came out in the glorious sunshine to see the market, thank you so much for coming down, we had a great day meeting you all, and especially big hugs and kisses to those who bought things!
(Apologies for the unrotated ness of the photo of the birds in the tree - it was too nice to leave out! If you click on any of the photos it will link to our facebook album with lots more lovely photos!)
Since then, Sparrow and I have been putting our noggins together to come up with new products for our next market (May 22nd, 10am - 3pm at Shire Hall, Chelmsford, hosted by TMV) so pop back and I might have some sneak peeks exclusively for you!
Love
Nightingale
xxxx
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Show and Tell
Greetings dear reader!
How are you? Hope you are well!
Dear me, April is shaping up to be a very busy month in the Nightingale household, so much going on. Every week I think I'm not doing anything, then all of a sudden *boom*, I have plans every night! Its all exciting though, I think its down to the summery weather, I always seem to have so much more energy in the sunshine. Its a glorious day today and it feels like spring has finally sprung and summer is on its way....of course, now that I've said that I'll have jinxed it, so enjoy it while you can!
At the end of March myself and Mr Nightingale went on a little holiday, we flew the nest and hopped from branch to branch in Germany's tree (or, we went interrailing through Germany). We had a fantastic time, and train is a great way to travel; you see more, get a chance to experience more of the country and its more environmentally friendly than flying! Add to that the trains in Europe are so much better than our transport in the UK and its definitely a trip I'd recommend.
Anyhoo, distracted from the point there, which was that while in Berlin we found some gems! (not actual gems I hasten to add, though mores the pity). A gorgeous fabric and haberdashery shop called Frau Tulpe where I treated myself to some lovely new fabric (the first and second pictures). Among all the funky fabrics there it was a tough decision, but I think I chose well in the end!
The next two pictures are of some paper I bought from Twinkle Twinkle, a little homewares/fabric/everything in lush patterns shop! This place was a little treasure trove and had I a house or the money I'm sure I'd have spent a fortune! As it was I bought the papers (which are also light and easy to carry, added bonuses on the last day of walking around carrying a rucksack). The first, red paper was such a vivid print that I couldn't let it go once I spotted it and the second, had a handmade paper feel, from the parchment/ scroll -esque paper, to the patches of pattern that some times mismatched all of which endeared it to me!
Here endeth the 'look what I did on my holiday' show and tell. I've just started using all of these and I'm really excited to see how they look - here is hoping they look good, bit of a journey to get them changed if I'm not happy (not that I would do that anyway - I'd keep all of it and just buy more)!
Love
Nightingale
xx
How are you? Hope you are well!
Dear me, April is shaping up to be a very busy month in the Nightingale household, so much going on. Every week I think I'm not doing anything, then all of a sudden *boom*, I have plans every night! Its all exciting though, I think its down to the summery weather, I always seem to have so much more energy in the sunshine. Its a glorious day today and it feels like spring has finally sprung and summer is on its way....of course, now that I've said that I'll have jinxed it, so enjoy it while you can!
At the end of March myself and Mr Nightingale went on a little holiday, we flew the nest and hopped from branch to branch in Germany's tree (or, we went interrailing through Germany). We had a fantastic time, and train is a great way to travel; you see more, get a chance to experience more of the country and its more environmentally friendly than flying! Add to that the trains in Europe are so much better than our transport in the UK and its definitely a trip I'd recommend.
Anyhoo, distracted from the point there, which was that while in Berlin we found some gems! (not actual gems I hasten to add, though mores the pity). A gorgeous fabric and haberdashery shop called Frau Tulpe where I treated myself to some lovely new fabric (the first and second pictures). Among all the funky fabrics there it was a tough decision, but I think I chose well in the end!
The next two pictures are of some paper I bought from Twinkle Twinkle, a little homewares/fabric/everything in lush patterns shop! This place was a little treasure trove and had I a house or the money I'm sure I'd have spent a fortune! As it was I bought the papers (which are also light and easy to carry, added bonuses on the last day of walking around carrying a rucksack). The first, red paper was such a vivid print that I couldn't let it go once I spotted it and the second, had a handmade paper feel, from the parchment/ scroll -esque paper, to the patches of pattern that some times mismatched all of which endeared it to me!
Here endeth the 'look what I did on my holiday' show and tell. I've just started using all of these and I'm really excited to see how they look - here is hoping they look good, bit of a journey to get them changed if I'm not happy (not that I would do that anyway - I'd keep all of it and just buy more)!
Love
Nightingale
xx
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