Category Archives: gemma

Blog Snog

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Let’s be open, I get a little thrill out of the communal love of blog! Who can deny the little flutter that comes with a comment, or a pingback or a ‘pin’ interest..

I’ll have to admit, I seem to be more into reading blogs, blog crawling or creeping as I think its known, than posting at the moment. Its why the Salvage Sisters are a great duo, right sis! What with the Sis upping her photos another notch, the inadequacy is ever greater to be a contributor to the beautiful world of blog.

I just wanted to rave about a few blogs I’ve been creeping lately, with a focus on good old Northern Ireland for today.. and give them more a peck on the cheek, than a snog! Phew.

First up the really and truly ‘Absolutely Glorious’ by Jenny, a fellow East Belfaster, and dreamy, inspiring and i’d say romantic blogger of life. She makes the everyday into something Sugared, Spiced and irresistable. Pop over to see her world of kitsch memorabilia, perfectly placed blooms, and charming muses on life. If you’re left longing for one of her irresistable looking bakes, check out her business Silver Spoon Society.

Next we have the artiste and mad hatter Aly over at Aly McLoughlin Harte. Here you’ll pick up a a dollop of positivity and a dash of the joy in every day in her fabuously honest, and hugely creative musings on the day to day of family life..

Lately, I was given a word up on Mel Wiggins, and all the more keen to read on, when I saw she hails from the Craigavon direction, near where I grew up! Assuming you’re a blog boff if you’re here, you’ll know that comeradery, and joy that comes from having something in common with someone you dont even know and have never met! What is that. Im still not sure. But I’ve been enjoying her adept skill at actually doing the things I intend to, like home made cosmetics and cleaning your house with vinegar, Acting up against Human Trafficking, and i loooove it – ‘Crafternoon Teas‘ for the fellow craft amateur/enthusiasts to unite in a joined purpose to create.

Now for those more reflective moments, when all your inventing, crafting, and thrifting is done I’d say Tell it in Colour, will lift your spirits and poke your positivity, and Steve Stockman’s Soul Surmisewill stir you up, especially if you like to go deeper in the everyday.. his analytical view of life and love through song lyrics is an alka seltzer for the soul..

Kissing booth!

 

Christmas bits ‘n bobbles

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I tried very hard to lose my christmas humbug this year, and I must admit a massive drive at organisation and a 2 year old have definatley helped. However its truly the run in now, and I cant say I’m totally organised, it’s more a matter of just giving up! Have adopted the granny method of a wee cash spot for the remainder of my ungotten presentations.

Meanwhile, the sparkles and bobbles have all but blocked my blog outlet, so here are a few Salvage sis christmas blobble tips.. bit late for some of them, but I’m sure all of you havent finished wrapping just yet!

Decorations.. I used the necessary prunings to our christmas tree to provide a free surround on the mantle, or fir place!

Any greenery looks great in the house at christmas, as long as you do it decadently as Lucy mentioned in her previous post.

Fir place

Anyone will be impressed with a present you have rustled up yourself, too late now of course but log it for next year. If your lucky you might be the recipient of one of my home made potions. Nigella’s Christmas Chutney, and Honeyed Fig Vinegar, both from her Nigella’s christmas book, which i must say would knock the humbug out of anyone!

Of course saving up your jars is key, and decorate them with any remaining scraps of wrapping paper, material, gift tags.

Chrismtas Chutney and Honeyed Fig Vinegar

 

Lastly wrapping, a very savvy friend of ours gave us wedding presents wrapped in the financial times and adorned with decadent ribbon. They looked fabulous and I’ve always meant to copy her!

I thought with our current financial tornado, and the ever escalating corporate take on christmas this makes a nice little piece of statement wrapping! Plus the dusky pink pages against the dark ribbon look gorgeous! AND they’re all ready in perfect sized rectangles so no cutting out the wrong size and consequent swearing,  helping to keep the joy!

Financial times wrapping

I love the vintage take on christmas, clashing bright colours of old. Hence the decision to return to coloured lights and tinsel on the tree this year. If anything has got to be kitsch its the tree. Here is an example of some festive neons for you, and again cutting out the agony with pre large pieces of tissue which you just scrunch at the ends, no awkward corners here! boom, done!

kitsch tissue

Wishing our readers a very merry, kitsch and cosy christmas. We really are delighted when anyone stops by here, so thank you and a spicy hug.. you are all angels!

PS Of course Christmas is one of the pinnacles of my faith, and I celebrate it with joy, I just find the exhaustive to do list and earnest intention to make it something extraordinary so strange, when really good food, family and fun is all thats important! End of qualifer.

Get skirty

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I’ve mentioned one of my blog crushes, Miss James at Bleubird vintage before. She does a thread called Mama style which is worth checking out for those uninspired dressing days! I find if I keep an inspiring pic in my head, it spurs me on to make an effort in the morning! Check her out for lots of vintage life and fashion inspiration and bouts of downright jealousy!

It’s been a while since we show cased some Salvage sister fashion finds, so here’s a collection of skirts for you. Had my Salvage sister over in the summer so didn’t even have to fall out with the husband to get some of these shots!

The skirt, so up-or-down beat, whatever you want it to be depending on what goes above and below it.

First up, Im in love with navy at the moment, and grey, and navy and grey..

Navy Pencil skirt Cancer Research shop Belmont road

High waisted Navy Pencil Thrifted in Dublin

That reminds me, have been meaning to tell you about my shopping trip in Dublin months ago.. will do. Heres another  Dublin find and a shot in our trendy hotel!

Denim pencil thrifted in Dublin

Sisters choice.. mustard and tourquise.. love.

Mustard skirt - Urban outfitters

And finally a reworked number I got from the fabulous Fashion Souk, catch them at Belfast fashion week next week!

Oh and the bracelet is from MK Vintageusa at St Georges market, and the necklace watch from Liberty Blue on Lombard Street.

Pleated skirt

Pleated skirt

Carvela wedges from Deja Vu

There are some great designer second hand shops in Ni, including Deja Vu on the Lisburn road, read more here, and theres also Rich Rags on Bloomfield avenue who fabulously supported our Charity Swap and Fashion show last Dec.

And just to remind you that we did have a summer here’s where the skirt went that day

Stormont Park Walkies

Go fetch!

 

 

Virtues of thrift – keep it in the family!

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I’m dedicating this post to my family, especially my late mother, Frances Dalzell and late Grandmother, Kathleen Mulligan who are responsible in large part for the existence of Salvage Sisters! Family readers cue wry smiles!

I’m convinced they would be delighted to see the efforts of my Salvage Baby Lucia, who turned TWO this week.. she certainly has an eye for the antique! I was delighted when i ‘mistakenly’ won (thats what I had to tell the baffled husband who went to pick it up!) this vintage German Sleigh at Ross’s Auction in Belfast. It’s uses have proven unending even convincing said husband of its merits as a household item!

Tv seat


 

Snack time

 

She loves to pull it out from under the table and have a seat, or use it to climb up on the table to dance! It’s a great little coffee table too.

Auntie Doris' pram

Its hard to imagine any of our modern day toys would live to tell the tale, let alone look so charming as this little pram which Lucia took a shine to as we cleared out Tullyroan lately. It belongs to our Aunty Doris who  certainly knows how to hold on to a thing or two! This little beauty is around 70 years old. Doris has a fabulous eye for interiors and I must do a post sometime on her amazing collection of refurbished antique chairs and sofas!


Birthday trike

 

 

Salvage Aunty Lucy has excelled in her shoppping this year and got Lucia this trike for her birthday! We looooove it. I trust it will last to hand on to the next generation too.. 

And finally some words of wisdom from people who know, to hand down to the family.. I especially agree with the first and last one.

“Thrift is not an affair of the pocket, but an affair of character.”  ~S.W. Straus

“I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living.”  ~John D. Rockefeller

“Cannot people realize how large an income is thrift?”  ~Cicero


“We are not to judge thrift solely by the test of saving or spending.  If one spends what he should prudently save, that certainly is to be deplored.  But if one saves what he should prudently spend, that is not necessarily to be commended.  A wise balance between the two is the desired end.” ~Owen Young

Road trip, Coffee, Salvage..

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The treaty of blogging elevates you to the official position of ‘go-to’ person on your chosen topic!

I got a call from my good friend Vicki lately who needed some Salvaging done, I was her woman!

Her late Grandmother, a prolific seamstress, had an insatiable addiction to haberdashery in all its forms. I have never in my life seen a stash like it, with every description of wool, fabric and fibre imaginable, and for that matter unimaginable! I believe she made almost everything she wore. I would love to see some photos of her in her finery. This lady had an eye for quality, and she makes my hoarding won a minimalists award.

My trustee day tripper Fionna and I set off through the vales of Ards along Strangford Lough, through Balloo to Killinchy. This was to me an uncovered patch in our quilt of scenery here in NI. A grand day out, with beautiful coffee shops along the way, and sheer views over the water here and there.. it feels like you’re driving to the edge of the world.

Fill er up Fi!

We came upon our destination, where Alan, Vicki’s dad was clearing out. After the salvager’s excitement of seeing a few remnants and juicy tit bits, we were baffled as roll upon roll of beautiful material, and balls and balls of the finest wool kept appearing.

roll up

chair makeover sorted

life supply

 

Angora

As many an unconverted salvager would, the builders who were there at the time, were more highly amused and baffled at our delight in filling our car literally to the roof with our ‘treasure’. Much the same as Vicki’s husbands response! Luckily Ivan has given up on noticing my stock-piling.. almost. He uses this skill for the house work too! Hee Hee.

Tweed

Leather! any ideas?

Crocodile Dundee

 

Now, if you have an interest in some remnants, or what to do with rolls of leather.. give me a call, or drop in, it’s looking for a home, there’s only so much my garage can hold. xx

Salvage hi five

I hope Vicki finishes this coat off!

Storage solutions?

 

Knit and Knatter

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I have made a discovery.. what with our world of social networking and virtual time passing, it fits that to get anything done you need background company!

On reflection, perhaps this is a personal character flaw, I always studied best with company and over the years at school and uni came up with many study comradery adventures – in caravans, parks, cafes, sleepovers chewing actual coffee granules.. aah moment of appreciation for all you tortured students out there.

It was bliss to attend the recent Belfast council run Revamp workshops I wrote about here and here, not least because just pottering away in a room full of people doing the same thing was so comforting, social, inspiring.

So in a bid to reclaim a childhood skill I had a glorious girls night in to ‘Knit and Knatter’.

 

It really was a rare privelidge to have both a relaxing and gratifying friday night after a long week..  sipping cocktails from a teapot ((i was served lately in a bar in Belfast to this effect) and catching up, whilst patting oneself on back for new skill acquired and that comforting feeling that should you find yourself shivering or naked in the future, you could yarn your way out of that predicament!

The next event, a ‘Pic – knit’. If you’re interested let me know! Extreme knitting ideas welcome..

TV Sista

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As traumatic as it is to see yourself on TV, thought I’d share the link for your amusement, to tonight’s regional news, with me on it having a bad hair day!! It’s a feature on the brilliant Revamp Rethink Restyle classes I’m taking part in that I mentioned here..

Check it out!

Scroll in to about 16 minutes.. Not sure how long this link will stay up, sorry if you miss it!

Seasonal Soup

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Early spring is the time to pick your nettles I’ve heard,apparently they get tough after that.

It seems just as your getting into spring, its already speeding past, so I marched myself out on sunday, dentist latex gloves to hand, and went nettle hunting. Harder to remember where you last saw a lucious big clump of them than you might think!

I’m told you can pick nettles bare handed if you know how, always run your fingers upwards along the stem and your golden. I didn’t risk it, and was bemused to find my double layer of latex gloves still allowed the sting to cost me for my harvest!

Accomplices

I was surprised to find a Nettle soup recipe in ‘Rachel Allen’s Home Cooking’ book and this is what inspired my mission.

It turned out rather unnattractively, not the ideal ingredient for a soup I’d day, it doesnt merge itself into the rich bright velvet texture of perfect soup. Was it tasty? Yes, but the texture was off putting!

I served it up with some smoked haddock pate and bread so a hedgerow lunch was still achieved!

If you’re up for some nettle picking, here are two more recipes you might like to try,  Nettle Spanakopita and Nettle Lasagne. Don’t forget to report back if you do!

It’s yours..take it!

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You must look out out for this little treat of an event, which popped up in our city in February this year.

This one in February was held in the delightful venue, of the recently opened Belfast Barge near the Waterfront, and run by Portavogie artist, Alice Burns.

It’s an artists collective, which was conceptualized as a free art show with world wide artists sending their work to be displayed at an impromptu street gallery created in a public space. The works are displayed by local artist(s) residing in the city of an IYTI! show. It was resolved that the shows would be held on the same weekend in 5 cities globally! You can read more about the concept here.

I love Butterflies, and was delighted to pick up a street artist interpretation by ‘A1’, a Finnish street artist apparently.

I love it, and you can see me happily picking it up, along with the other chuffed customers and their finds in the event gallery.

Thanks A1, and IYTI!

Revamp…. for free!

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Hi readers,

Just popping up to share a little treat for all our Belfast Salvagers..

The Belfast council have collaborated with our favourite Fashion Soukers, to create a series of free workshops to guide you on your merry way to a greener, revamped facelift to your life, wardrobe and home.. wow! All our favourite stations here at Salvage sisters. I’m signed, let me know if you want to join me.. wish you were here sis!

More details and sign up info here or on facebook x