Hello Ladies! Had a little brainwave last night, and I think it's quite an exciting one....
I've had a few people asking for bespoke pieces, and measurements need to be taken and people also asking about payments and sizes. A lot of people have asked if they can come round and look at my stuff, and i've had quite a few people visit my house and find things they wouldn't have normally liked just from looking at the pictures online! I currently have a lot of stock that needs to be shifted and I am willing to sell it off very cheap, soooo....... what do you all think to.... A Savana Vintage & Handmade Partaaaay? Almost like an Ann Summers or Body shop party, only with my stock! I was thinking wine and nibbles at mine, and I can get all my stock out for you to try on and take a look at. I understand that people can feel a bit funny buying handmade online as you can't always be sure of the quality, so it will be a good chance for you to take a look at the quality of my handmade & altered pieces!

80's Baby Blue Bat wing Jumper, Size 8-10, £7. Unisex Nike Polo, Size L, £9

80's Bat wing top, Size 8, Bought from Camden, £15 - 80's Cardigan, I would guess Size 12-14, Looks good oversized! £20

60's Shift Dress, Size 10-12, £15, 80's Unisex Jumper Size L £10

Handmade Skirt, Will fit sizes 6-10 £15

Handmade 30's Style Beach top (Made from 30's pattern imported from America) Using Vintage Laura Ashely Fabric. Size depends on bust, it ties around the neck and back. £25

I still have a lot of shorts left! All priced at £10/£15 each. Various Sizes and styles

Handmade Skirt, Vintage 70's fabric, £15 Will fit Sizes 6-10

70's top, Size 10-12 £10

All this is available and sooooooooo much more!

I've had quite an exciting week this week in regards to new ideas, new things and business opportunities!
This time last week I was a seller at Crikey, it's vintage in Exeter, selling all my vintage and handmade bits. . Hearing some of the feedback from buyers was definitely a confidence booster, and having confidence in what you do is definitely the key to a successful business!

Unfortunately I was kept quite busy on the day and forgot to take more pictures, but this basically sums up what my stuff looked like on the rails! Whilst I was there I picked up a few bits for myself too. My absolute favorite thing I bought on the day was a beautiful headband from Crown & Glory. I literally haven't taken it off and it matches my hair so well! I also got a quirky little hair grip with a dog on that I just think is absolutely hilarious!

As well as these little buys I finally received the CD i've been waiting for for absolutely ages, it definitely got sent all around the world before it finally got to me, I nearly forgot about it. But if you need something to get ready to before a night out, this is definitely the best CD to invest in! I'm no music critic or anything so i'll just leave it at IT'S AMAZING. Fabric is a London nightclub, that releases monthly compilations mixed by different DJ's. I bought the album that was mixed by Spank Rock, but I definitely want to get the Diplo and Evil Nine versions as well.

This week I finished a bespoke piece, which I so wish I could keep for myself! I made a circle skirt using some lovely glittery fabric, and I was asked to make a pencil skirt version. I'm not a huge fan of glitter but it's nice and subtle, pain in the arse to work with though, couldn't wait to finish it so I didn't have to deal with that evil fabric anymore! The first picture is the original skirt, and underneath is the newest. Excuse the poor quality, it was taken on my phone and it was a quick picture to show the buyer the length etc. 

Paris, Feb 2013

I was lucky enough to visit Paris last week, and having never been before I was SO excited. However, Paris was a bit hit and miss for me. The Eiffel Tower and The Arc de Triomphe lived up to my expectations completely, especially as I visited the Eiffel Tower on Valentines day and the atmosphere was lovely. I also visited the Louvre, The Pompidou and the D'orsay, which I really enjoyed, even though I was suffering from awful pains in my feet (Probably from walking more whilst I was there than I ever have in my life). The second day we were there was the main reason for going to Paris. I went to Premiere Vision & Indigo at Parc d'Exposition. Unfortunately no photos were allowed as the work on show was completely new and they were fashion predictions for 2014, so there had to be absolutely no way that the ideas could be stolen. However I did manage to find this video that gives a little taste of what the event was about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVnEhlFbl98 I really didn't like Premiere Vision, every booth you walked past felt like there was a business meeting happening which put you off going in. I did like Indigo, however I found a lot of the fabrics and prints were exactly the same, and even though they were all from different designers and slightly different, I couldn't help but think they were conforming to what fashion thinks they should be making not what they actually wanted to make. I did find a few vintage fabric suppliers that I absolutely fell in LOVE with. I can only imagine the price tag, but a girl can dream...
After Premiere Vision and Indigo, I visited the Pompidou, that was an experience. Not because of what was inside, but finding the actual way in! We ended up walking around a huge library before realising.. yeah this isn't the Pompidou.. this is a library. Apart from a bit of confusion finding the place, I really enjoyed it. Definitely my kind of thing. I took a few pictures in there, but silly me didn't even think to write any of the artists names down! 

After the Pompidou we went to the Eiffel Tower, and I loved it! It was Valentines day and it was such a lovely atmosphere. We only queued to go up it for about 45 minutes, which I thought was pretty good considering the amount of people were there. I must admit I had a bit of a heart attack on the way up, I knew I was a bit worried about heights but the lift going up was awful! Definitely worth it though, it was so beautiful, I went at night so I saw all of Paris lit up, So gorgeous, and my fear went a way instantly. We went all the way to the top, which has 2 levels an inside bit and then slightly above, you can go outside, but it was absolutely freezing and I knew i'd pushed myself to my complete limit! That night We had the pleasure of being taken out for a meal in Champs-Elysees, Cocktails at a 7 Star Hotel, and we then met the Sheikh of Dubai... Wow, writing it down makes it so surreal, but it was amazing.

                                          Excuse my Reflection!

The next day I was literally in so much pain from walking so much, but I pushed through, as I knew I would regret wasting my time there on my stupid feet. We started the morning off by going back to the Champ-Elysees, for a wonder round the shops, and worked our way to the Louvre. Originally we wanted to see a fashion exhibition, but the Louvre was literally the biggest building I have ever seen in my life, and again, couldn't find our way to the right place! We did manage to have a little look around all of Napoleons apartments, which was absolutely beautiful. 

               

The day was finished at the D'orsay, unfortunately we weren't allowed to take some pictures and I had to sit down for a lot of it due to being so dead! I managed to see some Van Gogh, Monet & Manet, which was lovely, but fine art isn't really my thing.

On our last day we visited a Parisian Flea Market, which was quite hit and miss. A lot of it was typical market tack, but after wandering down a few alleys the real treasures were found. There were a few vintage shops, but one really caught my eye, The clothes were absolute beautiful, and I was so torn on what to buy as most of my money was gone by this time, but after a bit more rummaging I eventually found a pair of boots that i fell completely in love with, I spent every last euro I had on them, and they were completely worth it. Fitted me perfectly so that was definitely a sign! 

Overall, I had a really lovely time in Paris. However I did find it quite dirty, in all the parts that weren't tourist attraction areas. I know that it's like that in most places, but I did find it really quite dirty. And it's true, it does smell a bit of wee, but luckily only in the underground - Which I also hated. It was so busy that I waited for a metro for about half an hour, even though the metro I was meant to be getting on ran every 4 minutes, I found the french extremely rude and unwilling to help, I know, I know, it's like that in most cities but this was absolutely ridiculous! I would definitely go back, but as i've seen a lot of the things that I wanted to see of Paris, hopefully if i go back it would be a lot more chilled out!

I thought I would do a post on my work space, what I use, where I store stuff etc. My 'work space' is basically a small corner of my room that has just been completely taken over by all sewing bits and bobs, fabrics, books, patterns and of course my mannequin and sewing machine! Sewing can often get pretty stressful, especially when your resources aren't doing what you would like! So, this sounds silly, but I named my mannequin and sewing machine, to kind of keep me sane, and I have actually heard of a few other people doing this, I'm not gonna get in to how I chose the names as i'd be typing all night, but I named my mannequin 'Trini' and my sewing machine 'Penelope'. 

1. My rail purposely for finished garments I have made or altered, or pieces that are soon to be used. This keeps everything together and I just need to look at the rail to know what needs to be done and where I am.

2. My pins used to literally grow legs and walk, and I could never find any anywhere, then for my birthday I got two of the Cath Kidston Book pin tins, they came with pins and I managed to fill them both up, I use my Vintage ginger snaps tin for needles. I recently went in to Cath Kidston a bought the house Pin tin as I thought it was so cute!

3. I have such an extensive button collection, every time I go in to a charity shop I normally walk out with millions of buttons! I don't really use buttons with my work I like to just have them.

4. I own sooo many scissors. Fabric/Craft/Embroidery/Paper Scissors and pinking Shears! 

5. This box of patterns was kindly given to me by one of my close friends, and looking through it was like christmas, So many different era's, styles, shapes and sizes.

6. I keep all my spare sewing bits in my Vivienne Westwood shoe Box, i didn't want to chuck it and it was perfect for storage. It has all my embroidery hoops, tailors chalks, tape measures, thimbles, and oh look! Another pair of scissors!