Frames | attic.

With the advent of Instagram, and our regular email newsletters (that we send out to our subscribers) it’s been quite a while since we last posted an ACTUAL blog!

Sometimes there is much more content that we want to get across, than is possible on Instagram. We always have lots to write about – and photos to share from our travels – but it’s just finding the time!!

We’ve had a whole lot of fresh and exciting new stock arrive recently. A selection across the board, from new suppliers and makers, to new vintage pieces.

Since Christmas, we’ve looked carefully at what stock we hold, and introduced some great new ranges of products that focus on value – as well as quality. So we are pleased to say there are now alternatives to the high end ranges of toiletries, candles and frames etc.

Having recently given the shop a ‘refresh’ – we took some photos of the results, and that seemed like the perfect reason to kick-start the blog again…This little corner of the shop (above) – features our original antique hand painted ‘Hampton Hill’ sign! It originally adorned the front of the ‘Hampton Hill Dress Agency’ sometime in the early 1900s. A bit of a mystery, as no-one local to us seems to know about it or remember it. Anyway, it was offered to us a few years ago – as it was going to be thrown out!! 😱
We have a lovely new range of toiletries, handmade in Yorkshire, and beautifully packaged.

Original vintage postcards (new old stock).

Also just arrived from the workshop, this beautifully stylish painted vintage sideboard/cupboard…

A new collection of seasonal scarves and bags. (Stock changes regularly)

Vintage kitchenalia – mixed with our beautiful Tierra Negra black clay cookware from Columbia. And of course some vintage industrial drawers and scales…

This lovely old painted panel was originally abandoned in the shop garden, when we first started the business nearly 20 years ago. Not everyone’s cup of tea – but we just loved the faded patina and flakey paint. We loved it then and we love it now. Great backdrop for photos!Brilliant quality, men’s shaving/grooming products from LA:Bruket in Sweden…Brand new range of classic, great value, black framed photo frames. Made In England.There’s a good collection of faux plants and flowers in at a the moment – mixed with some lovely original vintage pieces…These pots are a favourite of ours. ‘Whitestone’ rose and cactus flowerpots. They make any plants look that little bit more special! Also just arrived – a new delivery of our reclaimed frames – made from salvaged timber from South Africa…

We are trying to grow our ‘gifts for gardeners’ section this year, with a selection of books, toiletries for gardeners – and garden tools etc…And it won’t be long before we open our shop garden again, for the Spring/Summer season. Beautiful and useful vintage garden accessories, plants and one-off decorative pieces…

So if you’re local to us, do stop by and have a look at what we’ve been up to. We’re always grateful for your visit!

We don’t tend to sell much art. Not because we don’t want to, we’ve tried in the past, but nothing has really worked in the context of our shops. There has been work we have liked but it’s been more suited to a gallery type environment. Then we discovered James Brown….We’ve been selling James Brown’s wonderful screen-prints for a while now. We love his use of bold graphic designs, coupled with vintage styling. Right up our street!

Here’s a bit about him (taken from his website)………..

“James Brown is an illustrator and printmaker, living and working in London. Trained as a textile and surface print designer, James worked in the clothing industry for 10 years producing print designs for numerous fashion brands from Levis to Louis Vuitton. James has been commissioned to produce work by publishing houses, magazines and newspapers and advertising and design agencies. Recent clients include GQ, Random House, The Guardian and The Poetry Society. Alongside his commercial practice (www.generalpattern.net) James produces limited edition screen prints and linocuts. James’ prints reflects his interest in the printed and typographic ephemera of pop culture. The traditional processes that go into the production of James’ prints are very important.”

We stock a selection of James’ work. They range in price from £40 – £130, (framed in classic black frames) some are Limited Editions.