Hello there, Today marks one year since my very first sale and the 'birth' of The Vamoose! As a small thank you to all the support you have given, I'm offering the chance to win an item, any item, of your choice from the shop. All are welcome to enter, just be sure to follow the guidelines below and ensure the product is in stock. EDIT: This giveaway has ended. Thank you so much to everyone who took part! I ended up randomly selecting two winners. Congrats to Meredith who chose the serpentine and metal necklace and Anabela with a pom pom necklace! To enter: leave a comment with your name, a link to your chosen product from the shop and an email address so the winner can be contacted. Increase your chances: Posting about this giveaway with a link on your blog, twitter or facebook entitles you to an additonal entry/comment. Please ensure to include the link to your post in the comment. The giveaway will be open for a week until Wednesday, 24th November and a winner will be chosen at random. Not sure what to choose? I've compiled a collection of products below as inspiration for your selection. Simply click on an image to be linked to the product page.

pom pom necklace in soft green

tourmaline and silk cord necklace

agate slice necklaces

metal and serpentine necklace

onyx cubes and brass necklace

sesame jasper and metal necklace

pyrite cluster necklace

citrine drop necklace

turquoise nugget necklace

Good luck everyone! And don't forget, your comment requiresyour name (surname not required), a link to your chosen product and an email address. I look forward to seeing your selections! Image source: personal photographs

I was sorting through a few things this afternoon and came across this photo taken a year ago today. It feels like a lifetime ago and I'm still popping out those pom poms... source: personal photograph 4.11.09 | dress and blouse from H&M

Last month I was very lucky to receive a great big package from Kate of Hello Lindello. With such wonderful thrifty finds it's no wonder she has her own vintage etsy shop and blog worthy personal style.

Fabre's Book of Insects / amazonite cubes / chalcanthite specimen / amethyst notecard / Niagara River Gorge stereoview

I have a somewhat nostalgic curiosity for insects so receiving an old copy of Fabre's Book of Insects was a real treat. Illustrations accompany the text, separated by crisp semi-transparent paper.

full-length floral dress / delicate lace bolero

amazonite cubes / chalcanthite cluster specimen / vintage earrings / floral fabric covered case The chalcanthite specimen is especially beautiful in person with a name that derives from the Greek, chalkos and anthos, meaning copper flower *

image source: personal photographs links: hello lindello* | hello victory!

Hello there, I'm back from my holiday to Italy and feeling pretty inspired! I played tourist for 12 days around Florence and Tuscany with lots of walking, cramped car journeys and finally found time to devour Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie. I don’t read nearly as much as I should. Prior to my trip, I had been working on a collection heavily inspired by marble stone columns, grand Renaissance interiors and Romanesque carvings and sculpture. Italy has done well to fuel my fascination. Read on for a short taster of my latest inspiration and development.

The Cathedral of Siena was a notable favourite. Ornately decorated inside and out, Siena’s Duomo was built between 1215 and 1263 and features the most amazing gothic sculpture and vast frescoes.

seraphinite specimen / natural turquoise / marbled fabric swatch / self-made japser and brass necklace

Currently obsessing over anything remotely marble-esque. My attempt to marble fabric didn't turn out so bad, although I definitely need more practice. Black and white was the easy choice but I plan to experiment further and make an attempt at replicating the feather-like patterns found in the seraphinite specimen. How incredible would a full length skirt or dress look in that pattern?!

This large slab of seraphinite stone is one of my favourite specimens. With its feather-like patterns in forest green and silver striations of mica, the stone gets its name from the Latin word "seraphin," which means first order of angels.

Back to Siena’s Duomo, the striped columns consist of black and white marble, those being the symbolic colors of Siena, etiologically linked to black and white horses of the legendary city's founders, Senius and Aschius.

Pictured above is one of the initial samples made prior to my trip. Inspired by marble columns and pillars, the necklace consists of jasper beads paired with brass tubes and discs. Parts of the collection are almost a progression from the tribal/heishi style I had last been working on. I'll save the remaining images until I have a more cohesive collection to share. Expect lots more semi-precious stones, this time in shades of deep purple and black, paired with super soft navy suede and layered metal. Things should be getting a little more anti-pastel around here. And before I forget, thank you to Hannah and Landon for the blog feature/interview while I was away. One of my all-time favourites, their blog, flickr and everything else is not to be missed. You can read the interview here. image source: personal photographs links: visit here for further information on Siena's Duomo

Utterly charming and refreshing, Oh Comely is a London based magazine focusing on people's quirks and creativity, rather than money and what it can buy. Issue 2 is out now and it is an absolute honour to be featured!

I couldn't resist showing you a preview of the magazine.

beautiful editorial titled the colours of summer, photographed by Luke Newman

an interesting article on the Rorschach inkblots, testing the charm of the Royal Mail and four illustrators remember what went missing...

Issue 2 is out now and available to buy at all W H Smith shops and selected boutiques across the UK. I'm not entirely sure about international shipping but they have an online shop here for those interested in a subscription. What do you think? Anyone already a fan? links: oh comely magazine / further info

I thought I'd share a collection of images from one of my dyeing experiments some few months ago. The simple techniques were just an excuse to familiarise myself with the dyeing process and gain some confidence. Taking inspiration from pink carnations and a vibrant slice of pink agate, I chose to work with silk jersey, feathers and a silky nylon-mix fabric to start. I've been straying away from this kind of post for a while. Please let me know if you are interested in seeing more.

The original plan was to create a dip dyed feather neckpiece (although not in pink). I lost interest in the end. The feathers above were to test an idea. A fringe made of soft goose plumage was intended for the main piece.

hand dyed silk / agate geode slice / hand dyed fabric pompoms

I attempted to create a kind of dip dyed, washed out effect on the pompoms. Almost like a reverse look of the carnation petals.

carnation flower heads - such a generic choice of inspiration, but they sure are pretty.

Although I have now lost interest in dip dyeing the silk, I do still plan on further dye related experiments. Finding the perfect shade of navy to pair with this vintage brass collar would be a good start.

marabou feathers / silk jersey / ribbed viscose / sliced agate / carnations / vintage coral specimen / sketchbook packed with further samples and dye colour formulas

On a shop related note, thank you VERY much for all the support with the new website! Can't believe it has almost been a week since the launch. I have also really appreciated your comments and suggestions in the previous post. Closer, further detailed photographs will soon be added to the product pages and I have been talking to my web developer about some kind of navigation bar at the top or side rather than solely at the bottom. Sometimes times I like a little too much white space. If you have any further suggestions I'd love to hear them. image credit: personal photography

Hello there, Just a quick note to say that the newsletter sign-up page will be down while the final checks and changes are made to the new website. In the mean time, I have made a facebook page for the vamoose and signed up to twitter, at last, so you can keep up to date with shop news and announcements. Be sure to check back tomorrow for a shop update! image credit: self-made necklace / photography by fetie

I am very happy to share my latest collaboration with the wonderful fetie and a new collection of handmade jewellery pieces. It has been far too long since I last shared my jewels with you and there is still a lot more to come! Photography throughout is either by Eefje or myself. As usual, please click an image for further information and links to the source.

mushroom coral specimen / hand dyed fabric, rope + metal necklaces / antique coral specimen

natural bamboo coral necklace / blouse from siri

hand dyed fabric + metal bead necklace / vintage coral specimen

natural coral specimens / hand braided rope + fabric necklace / metal links necklace

hand braided rope + wooden beads / hand dyed fabric + metal beads / hand dyed fabric + vintage brass components

white coral antique stereoview

vintage metal beads / vintage chandelier drop / natural coral beads / coral specimens / gifted metal ring (unknown origin) / pompom necklaces / brass mesh

vintage metal beads / vintage chandelier drop / natural coral beads / coral specimens / gifted metal ring (unknown origin) / pompom necklaces / brass mesh

Zara dress / metal links necklacethe collection originally involved the use of pearls, but in the end I opted to use a collection of vintage metal beads instead.

underside of mushroom coral / quartz, coral and layered metal necklace

natural coral specimens / pompom hair clips / wilting flowers / personal sketchbook / hand dyed fabric samples / egon schiele postcard

natural coral specimens / pompom hair clips / wilting flowers / personal sketchbook / hand dyed fabric samples / egon schiele postcard

A selection of the pieces will be available at the shop launch and others will follow soon after. I was hoping to have the shop ready this week but it's looking like the first week of August is more likely. Don't forget to sign up to the mailing list if you're interested in shop updates! Credit: photography by fetie / model: stine View a previous collaboration with Eefje here

It's about time I showed you guys some of the lovely treats I received from an exchange with Siri of Ringo, Have a Banana!. My favourites include the braided belt, green tea flavoured Kit Kat from Japan and of course the soft pink blouse with an amazing doily-esque collar. Thank you Siri! source: personal photographs links: Ringo, have a banana!

Last month, I sent a few of my designs to the lovely fetie. If you haven't visited her flickr photostream before, it's well worth a look. She was kind enough to photograph some of my pieces, including a modifiable dress I made last year, the vintage glass teardrop necklace and a pyrite necklace. Very talented girl, I look forward to any future collaborations. photography by fetie model: stine

Oh dear, please excuse my lack of posting! Here is a quick update of some of the things I have been creating recently... Continuing a love for sliced agate and developing a new fondness for braided leather. For now it takes the form of a bracelet but I hope to make something a little more adventurous soon. A silk/wool mix yarn has been knitted into tubes and plaited. The mesh band has swivel clips attached to each end enabling the removal and addition of sections. I finally managed to find a decent quality crepe cord which you can see plaited above in black. I'm very tempted to transform it into a bracelet/bangle instead. | Self-made necklace paired with a vintage silk blouse from Anja I can't help but scrunch my face up at the sight of this necklace. Looking at it now, the proportions appear so awkward. Hopefully removing one of the sections and lengthening the mesh band will change my mind.

I've been trying to find large vintage brass beads for so long! A hunt which began when I started planning a collection based on molecular structure and geometry. I've now accumulated enough to keep me happy .... at least for the time being. I did have plans to do more exciting things other than stringing them onto snake chain, but that said, I'm quite fond of this piece. The simplest designs often agree with me the most. Seeing as I prefer the necklace in it's simplest form, I thought I'd follow on from the idea in the previous post and see whether I could implement a removable aspect. This is just a rough example, but even attaching the pom pom brooches seems to create a nice effect. OR.... perhaps they should be left to adorn a skinny belt? The beads move freely on the snake chain, only stopped by the caps which finish each end. When other forms of decoration are attached, e.g. a large or small pom pom brooch, they separate and rest beside the decoration. I have another idea to incorporate fabric ruffles into beaded necklaces. An idea which may finally enable me to create a piece involving PVC! I have a love/hate relationship with PVC, but that just makes me all the more eager to work with it. And before I forget, thank you to both Blonde and Lucky Magazine for featuring my sailor knot bracelet in their recent issues! Blonde magazine were very kind to send a copy to me and thank you to the lovely Michelle for sending Lucky! image source: personal photographs

I wanted to create something simple and versatile. The necklace consists of a plain mesh band as the base with the option to slide on other forms of decoration. I'm not quite satisfied with it as it stands, but read on for the developments so far.

I found that round back pins work best. The larger surface area makes the bond stronger and better balanced.

It also means that they can be used as brooches, shoe decoration or slid onto skinny belts to form pom pom clusters. You must be growing tired of my persistent pom pom making but I'm sure I'll find something else to obsess over soon. Well, other than mesh of course...

I'm very eager to make more of the mesh knots so I can slide them on in one big row. They may look simple and easy enough to make but not so for an amateur such as myself.

The image on the left is my first attempt.. messy, messy, messy. After much frustration I managed to find a way to tuck the mesh within itself to create a much neater appearance. Having the upper band free from glue also means that it has the possibility to be lengthened and translated into a bangle or ring. Still requires further work but I'll get there!

Inspired by the beautiful artwork of Irana Douer (pictured in the background above) and Abbey Lee Kershaw's hair as photographed by Max Doyle, I've also been looking into dip-dying techniques. So far I don't have much to share but I'm working in bright shades of colour(!) and the usual pastel shades which seem to appear even when they are not required.

I started with the a creamy base colour with a light yellow tint, which I quite like as it is, and attempted to add a teal gradient.

No signs of teal OR a gradient but I've left the string in tact for another attempt. I'm hoping dipping the ends in a really strong solution will do the trick. I've struggled to find any extra fine silk jersey in white, so Nylon will have to do.  If you have any tips for dying such fabric successfully then feel free to share!

source: personal photographs links: Irana Douer's flickr / Abbey Lee Kershaw by Max Doyle

Personal treasures: antique postcards, gifts from the handsome panda, a good looking chunk of amethyst, pyrite specimens and other items of the usual self-made variety.

Mary Pickford postcard from a local antiques fair / sparkly pyrite specimen / self-made geode necklaces, pom pom hair clips, gold faceted bead necklace

The brass bird skull and talons were gifts from the handsome panda, along with the rabbit skull, whose name is Frank! Love him. Anything that reminds me of Donnie Darko is surely a good thing. The surface of the amethyst specimen is so visually appealing it makes me want to replicate it somehow in a necklace but without using the amethyst itself. I think some experiments with resin are definitely in order!

source: personal photographs

Hello there, Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day weekend! My boyfriend took me to White Scar Cave near Ingleton, North Yorkshire (England). For anyone who enjoys going underground with a hard hat and has an interest in cave formations/caverns I'd recommend! I'd also suggest suitable footwear. Unaware of my underground activities, I was not equipped with such a necessity and spent the tour tip-toeing in heeled boots to avoid the peril of metal walkway grating. Hmmm. Here are some of the things I have been creating of late...

pompoms / rope / fabric knots / brass beads / twisted chain

leather / brass beads / fabric knots / chain Working with leather cord and fabric knots allow me to create more sculptured shapes. I will definitely be developing this technique further.

leather / gold plated metal I'm fondly reminded of friendship bracelets...

I've been testing out a sample for the past week and I'm a little in love.

A remade version of the twisted metal necklace, this time with narrower mesh. I'll be replacing the grosgrain ribbon with thick black silk and then it's ready to list in the shop.

I finally got a chance to perfect the mesh bracelet last week and my hands are still healing from the perils of working with metal. I've already had a number of requests for the mesh bracelet since I posted the updated version to my tumblr. I'll be making a batch of them this week! oh, I almost forgot!! I'm giving away one of my sailor's knot bracelets over at Post Grad Haircut. All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address. Easy. The giveaway ends tonight at midnight so be quick!!

I recently did an exchange with anja from clevernettle. I'd been saving my gifts for a special post but I just can't resist posting them now! I also received some prints from caitlin shearer in the mail this morning, my first purchase from her store but definitely not the last! Plus my favourite super comfy black suede heels thrown in for good measure..

vintage salmon pink silk blouse / vintage ruffle neck blouse / shoe clips?! / postcards - all gifts from the lovely anja

prints I purchased from caitlin shearer's etsy / vintage lightly studded bow heels

I think the cornflower blue blouse has quickly become one of my favourites. Great tucked into a belt cinched skirt or the more I admire Miss Shearer's delightful print, I'm eager to to pair it with a pair of shapely jeans. I wish I could make big hips look as lovely as this little lady does! On another note, I've just bought a great deal of brass mesh. I'm dying to show you what else I've done with it but i'll leave that until next week. There may be pompoms involved.... maybe, definitely.. hope you all have a lovely weekend!

OK, this is getting a bit addictive! I may have to do an entire mesh collection. For now here's one I created before I'd even changed out of my pajamas this morning.

// self-made vintage mesh and ribbon necklace / h&m wrap dress

...and here's what I used: some old black ribbon I picked up at an antiques fair, vintage mesh and erm.... some blu-tack. Please forgive me, I'm still waiting for glue supplies to arrive!

I love it as a necklace, but it is perhaps a little too large for wrist-wear. I'm now on the hunt for some mesh which is half the size of this one. A more delicate approach may be better suited. I also think this piece could make a pretty amazing headpiece, perhaps not quite for everyday wear. Speaking of headpieces, how beautiful is this one? Well I hope you've all had a lovely weekend. I'll be back at some point with that shop update (so long as the Postman actually pays us a visit this week, damn snow).

Seeing as a few of you liked the mesh bracelet, I thought I'd try a some other mesh related experiments whilst I wait for the necessary supplies to arrive. You all sure are good motivators! It's always good to hear your opinions so thank you. After a fair amount of rummaging I came across some vintage skinny mesh, a much thinner and delicate version of the stretchy and thick mesh I used for the first bracelet. I did try and repeat the sailor's knot bracelet but the result was not good! After a little clipping and twisting I changed it into a tiny knotted ring band. Still not what I had in mind but not a bad first attempt!

because I couldn't not make a mesh tassel...

... which was quickly developed into two styles of earring and then the mandatory bow necklace

...the ends still need to be filed smooth and I may try some other bow shapes. Perhaps add this to my list of ring designs?

It will also need to go through the necessary quality checks. Quality checks can often involve me making up a sample and pulling at it as hard as I can in multiple directions. Some good things can come from this! Such as when I was trying to pull the metal ends off the rope knot bracelet, I ended up destroying everything but the connection between the metal and rope. It resulted in quite a nice looking rope tassel.

While searching for the skinny mesh, I came across some tiny vintage charms I'd forgotten about.........airplane earrings anyone?

I do enjoy crafty Saturdays. I'll keep you updated on the mesh bracelet, I'm hoping to sell them in the etsy shop once they've been perfected :) I'll be having another crafting day tomorrow. I have so many incomplete bits and pieces which really need finishing, so expect a proper shop update post sometime next week!

In case you're sick of my cotton rope bracelet, I thought I'd show you a few others I've been working on. The most recent is the brass mesh version. I've been meaning to work more with mesh for a while but as things sometimes go, it was put to one side for a few months. It's vintage brass and I liked the antique colour too much to clean it properly. This is just a first attempt and I dislike everything except the knot...i'm not giving up on it just yet though! I can't help but think that a similar version of the knot would make a great ring. It's been snowing quite a lot here! Very pretty but everywhere is so icy it takes me 3 times as long to walk anywhere. I should really invest in some snow friendly/waterproof footwear...any tips? Also, the shop is back open! I'm still waiting for an order of boxes required to ship the large pompom necklaces, but if you want to reserve one then feel free to send me an email or such and I can make a list.

Just a quick note to say that I have temporarily closed the shop for the holidays! I'll be creating the next batch of items ready for the New Year, so feel free to check back then or you can be notified of the return via email here. If there is anything in particular you wish to see more (or less) of, then your comments are more than welcome. Thank you VERY much to all those who have been window shopping, blogging and purchasing! Hope you have a very merry Christmas! image credit: personal photograph

Hello there, Apologies for the lack of posting! I'll do a big update this week (and perhaps a D.I.Y?!) but until then here's a look at some of the new pieces now available in the shop.....

rope and cube necklace / h&m dress

papaya whip pompom necklace /  silk blouse from zara

pale blue pompom necklace with removable chain / vintage dress with my Grandma's old leather belt

Mini papaya whip pom pom necklace / H&M dress

Sailor's knot necklace / H&M dress / Urban Outfitters belt

More to share very soon!

image credit: personal photographs