Ancient style: found and upcycled

As fate would have it, ancient Egyptian style accessories are all the rage this season. And, if you’re after original Egyptian inspired jewellery, then look no further than ShopCurious. We’ve some lovely pieces that would be perfect for Valentine’s Day and won’t break the bank. What’s more, they’re also curiously collectable, and might even turn into family heirlooms. You never know...









Anyway, these stunningly unusual Nefertiti necklaces have been handmade by acclaimed designer, Annie Sherburne, by upcycling ‘found’ scraps of old jewellery to create an arty mosaic effect. You may not have heard of her, but Annie designed and made jewellery and accessories for Jean Muir for nearly 20 years. A pioneer of contemproary feltmaking, examples of her patterned felt hats can be seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Musee Des Modes in the Louvre in Paris.




Oh, and if you’re searching high and low for a Valentine gift for the man in your life, we’ve some unique vintage silver and turquoise scarab beetle cufflinks too. The scarab was used extensively on jewellery in ancient Egypt, as a good luck charm to ward off evil - it was seen as a symbol of hope and the restoration of life...

Let's hope that a peaceful resolution to the current unrest in Egypt is achievable.

Will you?

Bags of ancient bushido style...

This weekend we’ve got a distinctly Japanese flavour. I’m not sure if you’ve already seen the unusual handbags by British artisan designer Vivien Hew at ShopCurious? Viv’s latest ‘Bushido’ collection is inspired by the five moral codes of the Samurai Warriors.











“I was intrigued by the contradictions; the image of the ferocious head-carrying warrior in battle with the dignified, artistic, and spiritual, tea-drinking individual. I sought to separate the myth from the reality and to try to acquire some understanding of their conceptions of the world,” she explained to me.




Apparently the Samurai were habitual recyclers of armour; whether this was booty acquired on the battlefield, or heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. They frequently replaced the lacing of their armour to repair, update or personalise their battledress. Vivien also uses recycled materials wherever possible. Much of the leather in her products comes from recycled leather garments.

Personally, I love the funky Samurai tassels, however, probably the most unique thing about Vivien’s highly collectable bags is the woven fabric. Not only are the bags handmade, but the textiles and trims for every single one of them are also individually created by hand. Vivien says, “I drew on the vibrancy, the symmetry and order of the armour for my fabric designs. I used the vertical and horizontal stripes of the armour scales but made them less ordered and less predictable.”





I’ve noticed that all things Japanese are gaining ground over here too, from paper and origami in product design and art, to sculptural folding and pleating effects in fashion. I think we might be even see the rise of more curious fashion sub-cultures here too, like the gothic Lolita trend, featured in my post today at The Dabbler.

Do let me know what you think.

Will you?

Stocking fillers for a capital Christmas

The last minute rush is upon us. There’s more cold weather coming too... I suggest you sit back in a comfy armchair with your laptop, so you can pick up a few stocking fillers without even going into town.

Here’s my choice of curiosities from London via ShopCurious, all available in time for Christmas (last UK orders 22nd December):

To start with how about a retro London powder compact, perfect for a liberal dusting of old fashioned charm...



Zarvis London’s divinely scented ‘mothaway cones' make a curiously useful gift, especially if you happen to live in London, where there seem to be plenty of moths. Are there any your way? In any case, there’s a special offer for a pack of two eco-friendly cones, which are available at a 20% discount.





If you’re going for the shock factor, there’s always The Little Shop of Horrors’ anatomical curiosity – the innocuously named Ted and Eddy, a freakish two-headed teddy bear. Eek!






Or for the traditionalist, choose from a selection of curiously collectable royal commemorative tins, starting at only £8 – surely the least expensive heirlooms in town?







The quirky and characterful Someday diary has no fixed dates, making it a totally timeless gift – but also perfect with the New Year just around the corner. And only £17 a pop too...








Keep someone warm this Christmas with a classic vintage men’s silk scarf. At only a little over £20 this is arty style that’s surprisingly cheap.







Or choose from a range of charming, old-style brooches, some attached to a pretty postcard, that are both reasonably priced and perfect as unusual gifts for ladies of all ages.

There are plenty more curiosities and gift ideas on the website, but I thought a few mentions might help you on your way. Take a look around, anyway... you never know what you might find, without eating too much into your capital.

Will you?

Collecting for Christmas?

With purse strings tightened, we may start to become more inventive in our seasonal gift choices. It’s intresting that some of the latest shopping trends recall memories of a bygone era, when people made the most of what little they had, and used their own skills to create special treats for their family and friends.

Some of the things I’ve noticed already are:

- Increased purchases of the basics, such as raw materials for crafty creative pursuits, like knitting wool and beads, which are perfect for those with time to DIY design and make their own Christmas gifts.

- Recycling and updating old clothes and accessories to refresh and give added life to occasion wear.

- Investing in timeless treasures like personalized books and retro collectibles, which can be passed on as heirlooms to future generations



- Buying useful gifts, like this curiously collectable, porcelain Union Jack piggy bank from ShopCurious.

- Making memories instead of giving a tangible present – cooking a nice meal for someone, sharing a walk or a meal out together…

For me, receiving photographs of an enjoyable occasion or event is often more special than being given yet another gift I don’t necessarily want or need… How about you? Hope you’ll share your views and opinions, along with any other inventive gift suggestions you may have…

Will you?

From gift to heirloom: collecting for posterity

This month our theme is collecting and I’ll be suggesting some ideas for unique and unusual gifts that aren’t just for Christmas.

I was recently asked to list my top tips for creating an heirloom legacy by a fascinating new magazine called Eulogy. You can read the magazine online, including my article, Heirlooms: A Legacy of Love - a ten point check list for buying collectable items with the potential to become a valuable legacy for your family or loved ones.

Best of all, I got to hear from world renowned fashion designer, Zandra Rhodes CBE, about her heirlooms and the legacy she plans to leave to the public via her Fashion and Textile Museum in London. You can read the whole interview on the Eulogy Magazine website.

"Fashion has only relatively recently been considered as an art form in its own right and of interest from an historical and investment perspective,” so talking with fashion museum founder, Zandra, was very illuminating. It was especially useful to hear her expert advice on what to look out for when collecting vintage clothing.

Collectable curiosities and antique finds with provenance are also becoming increasingly sought after as gifts. It makes a refreshing change to receive something with timeless style that doesn't get thrown out as soon as it goes out of fashion.

And, talking of provenance, earlier this week I received an email from a kind lady in the north of England about a pair of 1930s retro prints by Lilian Rowles at ShopCurious. She identified the baby in the blue print (left) as a relative of Lilian Rowles, who was born in 1933, and who apparently only had dark hair until she was 9 months old - which dates the picture to between 1933 and 1934. What’s more, the baby’s daughter now runs a fabulous vintage shop called The Cloth Shed – and you can read more about Lilian’s artwork on her charming blog.

Anyway, I’m curious to hear about your heirlooms and the legacy you’d like to pass on to future generations – do you have a collection of your own, or any items of special provenance you’d like to tell us about?

Do you?

Fashion in mourning

We thought we'd seen the back of it, but could there be a deep and meaningful reason why we’re suddenly feeling the need to wear black? I'd like to suggest it’s not just the recession that’s making us seriously sombre, but that a big trend is gaining momentum - a curious fascination with all things to do with death and dying.










I spotted this a few years ago when, in 2006, I wrote a book - ‘Trends Beyond Life: In Search of Immortality’. I said that that Victorians’ obsession with death would return – “Ornate headstones, ornaments and all sorts of vintage paraphernalia will appear alongside graves, in crematoria and remembrance parks.” I also mentioned that old scents and “smells that remind us of our forebears will gain renewed popularity. Sepia photographs, domed displays of waxed flowers, ornamental urns and treasure boxes of our memories will reappear…”





The Victorians knew how to make the most of their mourning rituals, with strict codes of behaviour and dress that also made good economic sense for businesses specializing in areas as diverse as funerals and fashion. The elaborate Victorian commemoration of death disappeared with the onset of two World Wars – mass death in such tragic circumstances hardly provides great cause for celebrating the lives of the departed.







More recently, our curious concern with fame, fortune and everlasting youth are once again putting the spotlight on mortality: Michael Jackson’s life and death certainly captured all of these obsessions… and an untimely death is always a reminder that this is something which happens to us all.

How long will it be before baby boomers are regularly gathering around a coffin in the living room to show off their most stylish mourning gear? If so, we’ve got just the thing at ShopCurious - some wonderful black beaded and jet embellished vintage dresses, along with a selection of ultra-dramatic embroidered velvet capes.






Rare, old fashioned clothing that’s in limited supply is going to be much sought after, as we become more acutely conscious of our own unique part and place in history. I’d suggest you snap up as many of these collectable items as you can now, to pass on as heirlooms - or you might be gone before they are.

Will you?