1940s Jazz Duo Design

Last year I had the pleasure of creating a vintage look for a fabulous local Jazz Duo -The Christine Geiger Duo with the lovely Christine Geiger and Annie South. These very talented ladies wanted a vintage inspired 1940s look created that they could wear to all their performances, so I got to work on creating an individual dress style for each of them which suited their silhouette and a matching headpiece to suit the look.

Knowing the dresses would have to wash and wear well as they be worn week after week, we decided on a practical but lovely crepe fabric in a lovely chocolate shade - perfect for that 1940s look and jazzed them each up with a bit of bling; being a sequin motif on the shoulder. I also created a simple but gorgeous felt headpiece for each of them in chocolate adorned with handmade grossgrain ribbon embelishments and more sequin motives.

The ladies had the very talented Annalee Beckman from Journey Shots take professional photos of their look and the results were stunning so I just had to share.

Brenda :)

Brooch Bouquets

Crazy Teapot Bridal Brooch Bouquet

I am very excited to showcase the first Crazy Teapot Brooch Bouquet for sale. Creating a brooch bouquet has been something I've wanted to add to the Crazy Teapot design range for a little while now but it was not until our quiet season that I was able to spend time developing, creating, designing and perfecting the process. I am now pleased to promote the release our new special custom design piece - Brooch Bouquets.

Crazy Teapot's Brooch Bouquets will primarily be available for custom orders, as they are such a special and unique item that requires much time and cost creating. We will always however have one available to purchase as our showcase piece and this piece is pictured above/below.  A beautiful example of how special these types of bouquets really are and a true keepsake.

Our Showcase piece has a mix of 22 silver new and vintage silver/nickle brooches which cover a circular bouquet of off white artificial flowers (diameter approx 17cm) and the handle is covered in white grossgrain ribbon. This bouquet is available to purchase now through our website for $370 AUD plus postage.

You can contact us to discuss creating a custom brooch bouquet to suit your colour requirements, size preference and budget. I really cant wait to start creating more of these beautiful pieces for brides who want something really unique and special.

Brenda :)
Crazy Teapot

Continuum at Eumundi

Another fabulous vintage/retro/antique shop I stumbled upon while on my travels was Continumm in Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast in QLD, the shop is located in the main street directly across from the famous Markets. The owners do two buying trips to England and France a year and specifically search for well priced Art Nouveau and Art Deco pieces (my personal favorites!) and ship them back throughout the year.

I found so many beautiful and surprisingly affordable treasures at this little shop it was overwhelming, when you first walk in your initial scan will see a few lovely pieces but it is not until you really start to look through each part of the store that you see just how many gems there are. I visited the store near the beginning of my trip and was worried about my budget so just bought one beautiful french fashion print from the 1920s but after a week of dreaming about two amazing glass pieces and a vintage enamel brooch I knew I had to return before our trip was over.

Gorgeous French Fashion Print from 1912, cant wait to frame it and put it up in my studio

So my mother and I returned on my last day and she spoiled me by buying me one of the beautiful Art Deco bowls I had been dreaming about in a lovely pink shade and I was so happy to see that the other glass piece - a English small rose vase in a light green shade was still waiting for me as was the beautiful Weiss enamel vintage brooch in coral and yellow.

While I was there I also found a new item that had just be put out, another beautiful Art Deco glass piece in a soft pink shade but this time a lovely medium size vase, I had to have it. So visiting this shop was my super indulgence and I don't regret it at all as I picked up 5 amazing pieces all very special, great quality and well priced.

Beautiful Art Deco glass bowl in soft pink shade

Lovely English Rose glass vase in soft green

To die for! Gorgeous enamel vintage Weiss brooch

Suprise extra find - Lovely Art Deco medium size soft pink vase

Continuum also have a website with an online shopping option which I will now be watching closely to see what new treasures are found www.chequredpastantiquevintageretro.com

Brenda :)

Custom Work for Masquerade Ball

I love doing custom work for clients and late last year I had the pleasure of creating some beautiful custom masks and an amazing headpiece for a wonderful local Masquerade Ball and wanted to share some pictures of these fabulous creations.

 

 Brenda :)

Woolloongabba Antique Centre

While away recently in Brisbane, I finally got to visit the Woolloongabba Antique Centre which has been on my list of things to do for a while now and it did not disappoint. This place is one of the best vintage shopping destinations I have ever experienced including vintage expos/markets as there is just such a huge array of mixed vintage/retro/antique dealers all in the one fabulous location.

I however did not have a great shopping experience much to my displeasure because I had my 3 1/2 year old daughter with me and an impatient husband with my other 19month old daughter waiting outside on a hot day. I only had a small window open to quickly drive past and see the centre before checking into our hotel in the city but as soon as I arrived I realised this was a mistake, I should have waited and come back by myself at some other time but it was too late. I had only 1/2 an hour to scan the mass of treasures waiting for me to swoon over them and no time to really absorb the true beauty that was hidden in amongst it all.

In my mad rush with my temperamental 3yr old I scanned as much as I could and managed to find myself three wonderful treasures but if I had of had more time and less stress this could have been a magical shopping experience. I plan next time to spend a whole morning or afternoon there with no one but myself and that will be BLISS. I cannot recommend the Woolloongabba Antique Centre highly enough, there is something there for everyone's budget (I'm always in the lower end of the budget and managed to find some beautiful gem's) and they have a great range for all those who love vintage, retro or antique bric a brac, furniture, books, jewels, textiles, fashion and so much more including a fab cafe to stop and refresh at.

So if you are in Brisbane and love a bit of vintage you simply must head to this amazing shopping destination but learn from me and don't take your kids or husband.

The true GEM that I found was this amazing hand painted retro silk Kaftan in gorgeous colours of green, blue, yellow, orange, pink and more. I wore this on Christmas Day and felt very special in it :)

Super gorgeous milk jug that I snapped up actually is the match to a beautiful teapot my mother bought me years ago

A pair of lovely retro flower printed heat plates, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these :)

 Woolloongabba Antique Centre

Is OPEN every day 9am till 5pm

Featuring Brisbane's best Antique dealers in Traditional Australian Antiques, Vintage Clothing, Retro Homewares, Art and glassware. Dealers who trade in Art Deco, L’Art Nouveau, Fine French Antique Furniture, Hollywood Glamour Fashion, Rockabilly Fashion of the 50’s and 60’s, Kitchen-alia, Rural Antiques and Quirky Collectables.

Call in to Brisbanes largest, funkiest & only Air Conditioned Antique Centre

• * Over 1500m2 under one roof.

• * Fabulous Industrial character building which has just undergone renovation.

• * Fully air conditioned centre.

• * 50's Style Cafe serving coffee from Brisbane's best Barista's

• * Funky vibrant atmosphere.

• * Ample Car parking & Loading bay. 

• * Live Music - The Butter Brothers Jazz Trio - most Saturdays

Brenda :)

Some Lovely Treasures I found on my travels

Well the holidays are over and its back to work again, I had my first week back into it all this week and already feel exhusted but I've been going through our holiday snaps today and am remembering some great times with my lovely little family even though it was often had work with little ones.

One thing I managed to do on a couple of occasions while I was away was search for some treasures, I had a small budget but managed to find myself some lovely beauties at great prices which made my shopping days feel very fulfilled. I have some snaps below of some of the beautiful treasures I purchased along with some of the lovely presents I received from loved ones.  I will share separately some of the special finds I found at the Woolangabba Antique Centre in Brisbane and a fabulous little vintage shop in Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast.

Having a break away from everything was exactly what I needed to relax, refresh and be inspired after what was a very busy year in 2012. I am giving myself a few weeks to settle back into the swing of things before I start working on the next Crazy Teapot project but I know that I need to pay more attention to balance between work and family this year, to get the best working combination and I'm looking forward to what the year beholds :)

Brenda )

A beautiful gift from my best friend Jess, made by herself especially for me. She found a gorgeous old frame and re-vamped it, made it pink and strung wire across the back to hang photos from. Here it is showcasing some lovely Crazy Teapot creations :)

Thought this was a cute retro fabric, found in an op shop in Pamona on the Sunshine Coast.

Bold royal blue crepe skirt - found in an op shop..bargin!

I couldnt go past this bold print on this blouse, I later saw a very similar print by Prada in the last Grazie Mag so I'm very on trend...also found at an op shop.

A gorgeous vintage LBD in chiffon, I wish you could see the detail but it is hard as its in black but it is a beautiful design and very flattering :)

What a find! a Leona Edmiston dress from an op shop! it was priced more but still well below retail and was in excellent condition. I absolutely love this dress and am now a huge fan of her designs, they are very flattering on a post baby mummy figure if you get my drift :) and so easy to wear and comfortable. love love love

Some cute Art Deco design earings found in an op shop in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast

Some more super cool retro earings I found

This was an awesome present from my lovey Ma, she knows me well and this new book has some wonderful inspiration for my new designs to come

Another fantastic book I received as a present, this one from my lovely sister Rell. This book is amazing, I love it so much and has so many great references through the history of hats, it will be a great addition to my collection of fashion reference books and also a great source of inspiration.

Super cute nautical style scarf...you guessed right, from an op shop :)

love this retro print on this piece of fabric I picked up

A beautiful silk scarf in lovely colour tones

And of course I just had to snap up this little treasure when I stumbled across it in an op shop in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, my love of all things feminine, vintage and lady like stemmed from my early love of my mothers Crazy Tea Set which is how my label name Crazy Teapot was created.

 Brenda :)

Crazy Busy time is over.

Well its over, that is my impossibly crazy busy time of the year is over..between the Spring Racing Carnival and Spring Brides, September through to November is unbelievably busy and I just love it!

I worked my little butt off this year to create a number of beautiful custom headpieces for Race goers and lovely brides all who where such a pleasure to create something special and unique for, along with some gorgeous stock pieces for the website and shops I stock. Here are some snaps of what I put together over the last crazy month.

A beautiful 1920s style Bridal headpiece created for a lovely Mackay Bride in ivory with touches of lilac

A statement headpiece created for a lovely client who went to Melbourne for the Cup day

Vintage inspired hat in ivory was created and then a handmade silk pink flower was added to tie in with the clients outfit

A beautiful bridal headpiece made for a gorgeous spring bride in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Handmade silk flowers with Swarovski crystal stamen centres are clipped onto a birdcage veil covered headband.

A stunning one off creation which was made for the Melbourne Cup this year for a client but was sadly never worn, so this lovely creation is still yet to hit the race day fashions on the fields.

The lovely Arabella headpiece in black made for the November Mooranbah race day

 Now I am enjoying a bit of quite time with only a couple of lovely custom orders to create for a fabulous Masquerade Christmas ball in a couple of weeks and then I will be off to the Sunshine Coast to enjoy a much deserved Christmas break with family. I hope you all enjoyed a fabulous Spring event season and remember to spread the word to all your friends about what lovely creations Crazy Teapot can do for your next special occasion.

Brenda :)