Minimum Mouse's Diary

For the love of prints

2012-01-31T11:46:00.000-08:00

I was photographing some lovely 1960's dresses this evening to go on eBay, and it reminded me how much I love the prints we find on the clothes that pass through our doors. I think I might start collecting them in a little album. Print love...

Front Page News

2012-01-10T06:34:00.000-08:00

We were very excited when we heard from Lucy at The Vintage Rag Mag - she wanted to use one of the shots from one of our photoshoots as her cover shot for the January 2012 issue. How exciting! So here it is, in all its glory, it's one of my favourite shoots from the shoots we have worked on and was taken by the lovely Ursula Roxy at Canon Hill Park in Birmingham. The make up (check out those beautiful red lips) was by Jen from Gipsy Lady Make Up and the model is the superb Jolie Myatt at Adage. We wanted to put together a chic ladylike outfit to match the crisp winter day, and doesn't Jolie look every inch the elegant vintage lady! We're so glad that lots of people will now get to see the results of our hard work.

If you are into vintage (and I'm guessing you might be since you are reading our blog!) then I would thoroughly recommend a read of the magazine too. You can pick up a paper copy from various vintage fairs and events all over the place, but you can also read it online. This month's issue has features on the vintage trends of 2011 and ones to watch for 2012, also a round up of great vintage January sales and lots of gorgeous vintage fashion. Well worth a look!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! A look back at 2011

2011-12-31T05:28:00.000-08:00

2011 has been a busy, busy year for us. So before I get to trying to choose my outfit for tonight (decisions, decisions!) I thought I would have a little reminisce about the adventures, challenges and good times of the last 12 months...

This year we have done more travelling than ever before. We used to do one or two vintage fairs a month, and usually not travel too far from our Birmingham base, but this year we have been all over, calling in at Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Macclesfield, Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield, Shoreditch, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Stratford Upon Avon, Stoke On Trent, Torquay and Winchester.

Me looking cheery in Bristol

A trip down the pier in Brighton

Beautiful Leicester Cathedral

Crazy crowds at Harborne Carnival

When the morris dancers joined us at The Prince Of Wales, Moseley

Anna Fur Laxis at Ruby Slipper's Retro Romp, Torquay

We also hit the festivals full force this year, taking in Friends of Mine Festival, Beach Break Live, Hop Farm and Strawberry Fields Festival. Camping is still not my favourite thing, but there were good times a-plenty!

Bargains-a-plenty at Friends of Mine festival

It's a big yes to Beach Break Live

Prince performing at Hop Farm Festival

The most glamourous place to be at Strawberry Fields Festival

We finished up the year at Clothes Show Live, the biggest event we have done yet! It was exhausting and exhilarating in equal measure and we were definately in need of a rest by the time Christmas came around! Here is a picture the photographer Jemma Dodd took of our stand...

So that's been our year. Of course the real stars of the show have been you, the customers who have met us along the way and picked up some vintage goodies. We have seen so many great items of clothing pass through our doors this year and make their way on to a new home. Here are some of our favourites (well ones that I could find on my computer!)...

As well as our eBay shop and website, we started selling on ASOS Marketplace this year, so our fab model Aly came to work her magic. We're hoping to do a lot more of this in the new year!

And finally, we worked with some amazing photographers, models and make up artists on some photoshoots. Here are a couple of my favourites...

So all that is left to say now is a big thank you to everyone that has helped make 2011 such a great year for us. We'd be nothing without all the people who host fairs, come and shop, buy from us online, read our blog, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and generally keep us going on this road. We have big plans for 2012 - we're turning 5! So watch this space for all the new developments. We hope you all have a super duper New Year and wish that 2012 is everything you hope it will be! Happy New Year xxx

Minimum Mouse at Clothes Show Live 2011

2011-12-09T08:32:00.001-08:00

Our stand - it wasn't this quiet very often!

We're just recovering from one of the busiest weeks of our lives - Clothes Show Live 2011! This fashion behemoth sets up camp once a year at the NEC in Birmingham (which conveniently happens to be just down the road from our house) so this year we decided to take a chance and be a part of it. Our little stall was part of the Anita's Vintage Fashion Fair area which, though I am biased, was one of the best areas of the show - full of unique treats and with a more laid back and less corporate vibe than some of the areas.

Vintage Jewels

More of Anita's Vintage Fair

It was a long 6 days - with screaming girls, pumping beats and bargain hungry shoppers everywhere, we were tucked up in bed by 10pm most nights! Not being a viewer of Hollyoaks or TOWIE I was quite amused by the regular stampedes of girls chasing after people from these shows, but I was more appreciative of the free Haagen Dazs and Diet Coke being handed about from time to time! It was interesting too, as the people who came to shop at our stand were often not our usual market and hadn't really shopped for vintage before - we had many questions like 'have you got this in another size?' or 'have you got more of these?' and some interesting comments from people who struggled to understand that the clothes had been worn before, but for the most part the people we met were enthusiastic and friendly, and it was quite exciting to see people taking their first steps into vintage fashion.

Our neighbours were the superb Le Keux Events & The Vintage Salon, who were offering vintage hairstyling and makeovers, and were also doing demonstrations about vintage hair on the Inspiration Stage. See below for a picture of my sister Elise, who came along to help us out on some of the days, having had her hair and make up done and looking very glamorous.

Also next to us were the lovely folks from Vintage Life Magazine, Trunk Junkies Vintage, Kate and Aud, Love The Baroness, Your Vintage Life and Borderline Vintage and over in the purple zone were our friends from Syd & Mallory - you need to check all these folks out, they're amaazing!

All in all it was a rollercoaster week, but an amazing experience!

Festive Pop Up Bazaar

2011-11-23T11:54:00.001-08:00

On Friday 18th November an exciting new addition to Birmingham's New Street opened its doors - The Festive Pop Up Bazaar. Organised by Sabina Gran and Eva Francis, the team who created and run the superb Sutton Vintage and Arts Fair (you can catch next installment of that this Sunday!) the Pop Up Bazaar gives independent businesses a golden opportunity to make the most of the festive season by getting a spot selling smack bang in the middle of the city centre, right in the hustle and bustle of the German market. We had the tempting aroma of hot candied nuts and waffles to contend with all weekend! Not to mention the lure of the bar!

It was a preview weekend with only the downstairs open, we were joined by the lovely ladies from Trunk Junkies Vintage, Laura Loves Boutique, Tallulah Rose and Shop. It's already looking pretty amazing, with the walls decorated by local graffiti artists, and from 24th November (tomorrow!) the upstairs will be open too with lots of vintage clothing, handmade gifts, homewares, jewellery and art. The idea is that businesses, crafters or artists can book in to trade for just a few days or stay there throughout the period, so every time you pop in there will be more new goodies to discover. It will be open until 23rd December so make sure you check it out.

Tinker Tailor Soilder Spy Style

2011-10-27T02:13:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we took a trip to see the new Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy film, starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong. I'll be honest, I'd make a rubbish spy as I had a job keeping up with what was going on, but the film was a feast for the eyes. Well, perhaps not in the conventional sense, it's not what you would call a beautiful film. But I loved the way it was shot - everything was tinged in nicotine, a little dingy and very atmospheric - and the wardrobe was superb. It's set in the 1970's, which is a decade which is rarely celebrated for its style, but it was the ideal showcase for classic British men's tailoring, featuring an array of sharp suits, classic trench coats and superb shoes. We even got a look at some cool 1970's casual wear thanks to Tom Hardy's character's spell in Istanbul. So here's a look at some of our sartorial highlights from the film...

Throughout the film George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is seen in his reversable Aquascutum trench coat. An absolute classic! We had one recently that was almost identical, though it was snapped up very quickly from our eBay shop. I think that every man should have a classic trench coat, it really is the ideal coat for wearing over a suit and doesn't go out of style. I love a good trench coat, we have a few in our shop at the moment -

The classic trench. This one's by Burberry.

It's not the only great coat on show though, as you can see from the picture above. For colder days, the stylish spy needs a wool overcoat. Here's one I love-

I love this Dunn & Co crombie coat, you could wear it for casual and smart occasions.And always look effortlessly cool.

Tom Hardy's character Ricki Tarr is a field agent, and while working out in Istanbul he wears a lovely array of jackets and coats! Here he is in a superb sheepskin (can't help but feel this would be a bit warm for Istanbul though, I find them too warm on all but the very coldest of days!) We have quite a few lovely sheepskins in stock at the moment, here is my current favourite -

This amazing 1970's sheepskin coat is unusual, since it is almost knee length and has a belted waist. Super duper!

Also he had a very nice Harrington style jacket with an attractive tartan lining -

This is another great wardrobe classic - easy to throw on over a casual outfit, light enough for spring and summer wear. We have a similar one for sale here -

Also in this film we get a couple of great leather jackets, always a favourite -

Unsurprisingly though, the jewel in the crown here is the tailoring. Every man needs a great suit, and this film is just choc-full of great suits, including a couple with amazing flares worn by Benedict Cumberbatch.Whether you want two-piece, three piece, checked, striped or plain, this film will provide you with some great vintage tailoring inspiration.

We're always getting in new suits, such as this beauty-

All the way through this film I was thinking to myself 'Ooh, we've got a coat like that' or 'that suit looks just like one we just sold!' so it really was right up our street. I'd recommend it, whether you love thrilling twists and turns or great clothes, as you'll get both in spades.

Fairs, fairs and more Vintage Fairs

2011-10-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

Since I last blogged (aaaages ago) we have been all over the place and barely stopped - in fact we had our first actual day off in over 6 weeks yesterday! Crazy! We have been to vintage fairs in Leeds, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Loughborough, Essex, Shoreditch, Winchester and Bristol, with Leicester to come this weekend. We've also got quite a full November and December, so we will have earned a good old rest once Christmas comes around.

This season's fairs have been some of the best ever for us. The popularity of vintage fairs and events shows no sign of waning, and with the great vintage looks referenced everywhere from the catwalk to street style websites, it's great to see people taking a bit of a detour from the high street and choosing to buy vintage. Here are some pictures from the season's events so far...

Busy day at Leeds Freshers Vintage Fair at Leeds Met SU


Quirky displays at Sheffield


The beautiful Shoreditch Town Hall...

...and the beautiful Winchester Guildhall

We're coming to Coventry, York, Sutton Coldfield and more over the coming weeks, you can find out more here.

ASOS Marketplace Update

2011-09-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

So we finally got some clothes up on ASOS...

Clothes Show Live 2011

2011-08-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

Our final piece of news - we've just signed up to exhibit at Clothes Show Live 2011, which is on at the NEC from 2nd to 7th December. It's something we've fancied doing for some time, especially since it is local to us, so this year we have finally taken the plunge and we can't wait!

We're going to be in the Blue Zone, as part of Anita's Vintage Fair alongside loads of other amazing vintage companies. If you've never been to the Clothes Show then why not join us and make this your first visit - alone with the most amazing shopping ever there is a huge catwalk show, a hair salon giving you a chance to get your hair cut by a top stylist, hair and beauty demonstrations, make overs and celebrity appearances. A fun day out and a chance to get your Christmas shopping sorted too!

Strawberry Fields Festival

2011-08-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

We spent the August bank holiday weekend at Strawberry Fields festival in Leicestershire. When Sabina of Sutton Vintage and Arts Fair told us she was organising the Strawberry Glam Vintage Tent at the festival, we knew we had to get involved!

The other traders in the tent included Rebecca Louise, who had created an official bracelet set for the festival, beautiful ethical fashion from Annie Greenabelle, cute jewellery from Laura Loves and Prudence Collins Design, great T shirts from Daisy Chain, as well as great vintage collections from Mad Elizabeth, Vintage Revolver and Roxy Valetta. It was not to be missed

The weekend was a little chilly and damp but that didn't stop the fun, it was a really friendly crowd who enjoyed taking a break in the vintage tent and chilling out on the leather chairs and deckchairs which added a really cosy feel. There was even a hair dressing booth so you didn't need to let roughing it in a field stop you looking your best - what a good idea!

Add to the mix great music from the likes of Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Kelis, Jaguar Skills, Beardyman and Mystery Jets (and the fact that it was only a 40 minute drive from our house) and it was a pretty great weekend. Here are our pictures...

The lovely Nina Smith, who bought an adorable cloud print cardi from us

Our stall

Pat Butcher would be proud! Amazing earrings from Roxy Valetta

Mad Elizabeth

Laura Loves Boutique

Prudence Collins Design

We're on ASOS Marketplace!

2011-08-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have quite a bit to tell you today, but I'll do them in separate posts to keep them tidy! First up, I wanted to let you know that we have started selling on ASOS marketplace. It's pretty exciting, everyone knows what a fashion giant ASOS is, and I have seen the new Marketplace grow over the last few months, but as everything has to be photographed 'street style' (which basically means on a human, outdoors) I had not had a chance to start selling on there until a couple of friends came to visit and I managed to drag them out into the garden to take a few pics. Here a few examples of our efforts...

I'm hoping to get out and shoot some more on Monday, so if all goes to plan I'll be adding some more jewellery and clothes too. You can take a look here.

Vogue's Autumn Trends

2011-07-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

With our stock room slowly filling up with jumpers, coats, hats and scarves, I'm starting to long for the autumn. I know it's wrong to wish the summer away (I'll soon miss those warm days and light evenings once they are gone), I can't help but get excited about the lovely clothes we are saving up for it. So imagine my delight when I discovered Vogue's trend reports for A/W 11 - vintage-tastic! Here are some of their predictions for the coming season...

Forties Glamour

image from vogue.co.uk

Well, you don't get much more vintage than this! Apparently Gucci, Prada and Gaultier have gone mad for the ladylike chic of the 1940's, including vintage staples like pencil skirts, furs, pearls, gloves and shrugs. What's great about this is that is such a flattering look that can work for any figure - plus tweed pencil skirts and faux furs are well stocked at most vintage events and shops so we can all find the ideal pieces to work this classic look. Can't wait! Next up...

Tartan Army

Being a Scottish born girl, I must admit a little fondness for the old tartan print. What's great about tartan is that you can be as subtle or as OTT as you want - work in a little flash of tartan on a scarf perhaps, or bring back the spirit of the Bay City Rollers with some full on tartan flares, it's up to you! Vogue say, "TARTAN, hound's tooth and Prince of Wales checks abounded on the autumn/winter 2011-12 catwalks - with plaid usurping denim as the new key fabric to double up on in your wardrobe. Make like Daks and Yves Saint Laurent - where a Prince of Wales check opened the show - and wear jacket plus dress, or skirt plus blouse."

image from vogue.co.uk

One of the boys

image from vogue.co.uk

For those who think vintage is all about dresses - think again! Vogue predict this boyish look is going to be big, and what better way to create this look on a budget than with vintage? Well, perhaps raiding your boyfriend's wardrobe, but for a better fitting, more you version of this look then you'll need to be keeping your eyes out for gents' tailoring, crisp shirts, braces and gentlemanly accessories. For a more laid back version, why not channel the classic mod look with some crisp jeans and a polo shirt? Which brings us on to...

Sixties Scene

My favourite of all! "GO back in time this autumn/winter 2011-12. Leave fashion's summer obsession with the Seventies and look to Sixties style icons Mary Quant, Twiggy and Julie Christie to inspire your new season look," say Vogue, and who are we to argue! You can create this look with a gorgeous original 1960's mini dress in an eye popping print, team with a great A-line coat and some hot boots and you are good to go...

image from vogue.co.uk

Now, can someone sort me out a time machine so I can fast forward to October?!

Hop Farm Music Festival, 1st - 3rd July 2011

2011-07-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

This time last week Mr Mouse and I were just getting ready to shut up shop for the final time and go off to see the legend that this Prince! Today it's nice to take a moment and reminisce...

The first morning and the shoppers arrive

We were at Hop Farm Music Festival in Kent with our friends from The Vintage Fair, who were hosting a marquee filled with vintage delights to enthuse and bedazzle the festival goers. When we read the line up for this festival we knew we had to be a part of it, so we packed up our finest vintage festival fashion (denim shorts - check, cosy knits - check, waterproofs - check, crazy things we would never be able to sell anywhere else - double check!) and headed south for some fun in the sun.

Browsers in the menswear department!

More lovely stalls

The weather was scorching throughout the festival, as was the line up - we managed to check out The Eagles, 10CC, Ocean Colour Scene, Graham Coxon, Young Rebel Set, Brandon Flowers, Morrissey, Prince and Stewart Lee doing a spot of late night comedy. We also got our groove on at the indie disco each night, while still managing to work 10 hour days manning our stall - phew, no wonder it has taken us a week to recover!

The crowd rather enjoying Brandon Flowers

Birmingham legends Ocean Colour Scene

The Eagles had an impressive show

Indie Disco!

Mozza

A giant puppet in the kids' area

Prince!

The crowd were friendly and very diverse, with everyone from families with young children, teens and students through to people who most likely saw all the legends on stage the first time around. And they were all into different looks - for example the more mature Eagles fans were loving our denim jackets while the younger crowd loved our kitsch sweatshirts and denim shorts (practically a festival uniform now!).

There were a few celebrity visitors to The Vintage Fair tent too - Kitty, Daisy and Lewis popped in before their superb set and their mum picked up a dress from our friends at Jeny & Amber, The Secret Sisters, who I watched and really enjoyed at the Big Tent stage just minutes before, came by and bought a few bracelets and necklaces from us, and the legendary Patti Smith took a browse with some friends (one of whom bought a pair of braces with pictures of horses on - how apt!).

Of course it was all about the music really though, and Prince did close the show with an amazing set - with purple rain tumbling from the sky as the sun set (I still have a few pieces zipped safely away in my purse). What a weekend.

Beach Break Live 2011

2011-06-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Giant deckchairs, a Moustache Bar, a trip through the keyhole, a ski slope and a stunning sandy beach - all things you find at Beach Break Live, a festival for students at the beautiful Pembrey Country Park, South Wales. We were there selling our wares with The Vintage Fair. Joining us this time in the vintage tent were Jeny & Amber, Dolly Anna Does, Kathleen & Lilys, Mother Said, The Magical Tree, Dorothy's Wardrobe & The Gingham Deer.

The festival opened with a bang on Thursday night, with the eager crowds descending on our tent and grabbing all the prize pieces. Friday followed with solid rain all day (boo!) but thankfully Saturday and Sunday offered mainly blue skies.

The view from our stall - the Main Stage!

The crowds were genuinely lovely folks having a well earned break after their exams, they partied hard and shopped even harder! We did manage to fit in a bit of fun too - our musical highlights were We Are Scientists and White Lies, and we loved just exploring the site - there were so many things to see and do and the venues looked amazing - The Leaky Sheep was done up like a Welsh old man's pub, the Moustache Bar was a cabaret tent extraordinaire and the Ghetto Blaster was just that - a giant ghetto blaster hosting all manner of DJs.

We're glad to be home, showered and rested, but we hope we can make a trip back to Beach Break next year! Next stop for us is Hop Farm...

The New Generation

2011-06-13T01:15:00.000-07:00

This week we attended Exhibit This 2 at the Zellig (part of the Custard Factory complex). It was a showcase of the work of this year's crop of graduates from Birmingham City University who work in the fields of media and communication. We were invited by our friend Jemma Dodd, who is a super duper photographer who we have worked with a number of times. It was really exciting to flick through Jemma's portfolio and see so many of our clothes in all their glory!

I had never been to this type of thing before, but we were very well looked after - with complimentary wine and sandwiches when we arrived and sweets and treats dotted around all over the place! We had a nice wonder around, chatting to some of the exhibitors - a highlight for me was meeting Katie Fox, who had produced Trashion Magazine for her final project. I picked up a copy and really enjoyed reading it - it's a fantastic idea for a magazine, it's a blend of fashion and lifestyle which focuses on buying vintage, upcycling and making your own clothes and accessories. There was a review of the recent Birmingham Vintage Home Fair and guides to make clothes that you would actually want to wear (refreshing when most craft magazines feature clothes that even your granny thinks are a bit dated), including an Alexander McQueen inspired clutch bag. You can check out the Trashion Blog here, and buy copies of the first issue.

We also met Rachael Clarke, a photographer who specialises in product photography who has actually photographed some of our jewellery before but who we had never actually met! So it was nice to chat and see one of the pictures she look of one of our necklaces in her portfolio.

All in all, It was exciting to see so many young photographers, journalists, film makers and creative types who had produced really polished and professional work, which was also full of fresh new ideas. I hope they all manage to put their hard work to good use in their chosen careers.

We also parked in my favourite Birmingham car park - did you know that 'Forward' is Birmingham's motto? Well, this car park makes the most of it-

Friends of Mine Festival 2011

2011-05-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

A well earned shower and big lie in was in order after our busy weekend at the first ever Friends of Mine Festival. Set in the beautiful grounds of Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire, the line up featured acts like The Lightning Seeds, Buzzcocks and The Charlatans, it was a treat for anyone who likes the music of the northwest! We were there for another reason though, and that was to supply our usual heady blend of vintage clothing, accessories and jewellery to the unwashed masses. And we had a lovely time. We were in The Vintage Fair's marquee, along with our friends from Kitty Kavanagh, SpankT Vintage, The Gingham Deer, Jeny and Amber, Vintage Junky, Angel's Egg Vintage, Dorothy's Wardrobe, Kathleen & Lily's and Syd & Mallory.

The weather wasn't the best, on Sunday a couple of the stages actually had to be closed because of high winds which was a real shame, but the crowd didn't let it stop them having fun. The Charlatans closed the final night with a superb set. Around the site there was lots going on - we spotted a man in a nightie talking on a banana telephone, the sonic manipulator wowing some passers by on Sunday afternoon, a steel drum band playing Madonna's 'Like A Prayer', a house party tent which was set up like a real house (complete with washing machine, beds and strange family portraits), some bizarre inflatable games including people rolling about on a paddling pool in big inflated balls, and a gorgeous traditional big wheel.

We met some lovely people who dropped by to perfect their festival outfits with waterproof jackets, hats, sunnies and cosy knitwear. They were all impressed with the Vintage Fair tent's reasonable prices too, none of your over inflated festival rip offs from us!

Our next festival is Beach Break Live, and we can't wait. In the meantime, here are some pics of our lost weekend in Cheshire...

Minimum Mouse - sunglasses galore!

Beautiful display by Kathleen & Lily's

Our stall

Jewellery by Syd & Mallory

The Vintage Fair in all its glory!

This was my favourite find of the weekend, from SpankT Vintage

The Cribs

The amazing Gideon Conn

James Mouse meeting one of his faves, Gideon Conn

Bristol Vintage Fair & Nana's Vintage Fair, Stoke

2011-05-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

We were clocking up the miles this weekend, with a swift jaunt down to Bristol on Saturday, followed by a trip up to Stoke on Trent on Sunday. We're exhausted now!

I'm always happy when there are customers about!

The beautiful Circomedia, a grade II listed former church - now used for circus skills, hence the trapeze!

Bristol Vintage Fair is always a favourite, the people of Bristol seem to really love their vintage fashion! We set up in Circomedia for a busy afternoon, we sold out of all of our new pocket watch necklaces, which I had planned to put online this week! Oops, oh well we will have to get some more in asap, I think we have a hit on our hands! Other popular picks of the day were summery dresses, kitsch 1980's t shirts and denim jackets.

We love the amazing swimwear for all the family from Oh So Retro, and this amazing vest type body suit thing from The Magical Tree!

So on Sunday, a little bleary eyed from the day before, we headed up the M6 to Stoke-on-Trent, for Nana's Vintage Fair. Hosted in Fat Cat's Bar, a really lovely building, this was the first fair organised by Faye of Nana's Wardrobe. It was another good day, with a vintage Scooter rally adding a fun twist to proceedings.

Our pick of the day - this amazing 3D design golf sweater from Jeny & Amber

Now we have a couple of days to recover and prepare - as this weekend we will be at Fom Fest, near Manchester (our first festival of the season) and Solihull Vintage & Arts Fair. Phew! Hopefully see you there!

New summer treats and a cheeky sale

2011-05-06T04:56:00.000-07:00

We're really excited at Minimum Mouse this week, we just took our first delivery from a new supplier yesterday and the stuff is immense! We've spent years building up a network of suppliers who can bring us everything from jewellery supplies to vintage mod gear, but it is always exciting to find a new one, especially when their stock is lovely. So, we've been getting some of the new pieces in the eBay shop, here is a little taster...

We've got some super kitsch t shirts - ideal for festivals & holidays

Another summer essential, the playsuit! Just add sandals and sunnies for an adorable outfit

I just love this original vintage floral halterneck, team with a skirt or denim shorts for that beach babe vibe

You can't beat a good sequin beauty from the 1980's - this one is an emerald wonder!

This is a stunning 1960's jersey dress, unusual and in excellent condition

This Victoriana style green shirt will look gorgeous with jeans for easy, laid back cool

And finally, my ultimate favourite - a fruity wonder! This circle skirt is uber cool.

Because of all this new stuff we don't really have room to move at Minimum Mouse Towers, so we're also having a little sale on eBay. It's just ladies stuff at the moment, we'll hopefully be adding some menswear to the mix soon. It's a mix of all kinds of stuff including a few last pieces of winter wear - a great chance to pick up a bargain if you're from the Southern Hemisphere! You can take a look at the new collection and the sale here.

Summer Calendar of Events!

2011-05-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

Ooh our summer calendar is really filling up now - we're going to be busy, busy, busy! We'll be travelling up and down the country bringing our travelling boutique of vintage clothing, accessories and handmade jewellery, hopefully we will see you somewhere along the way! First stop is Bristol on 14th May with our friends The Vintage Fair. Their fairs are always a great day out - you'll find the cream of UK traders offering a superb mix of vintage clothing as well as handmade items, homewares, cupcakes and a vintage salon - plus the DJs spin retro tunes all day long! We will also be joining them at Nottingham on 11th June and Norwich on 12th June, as well as some other events which you will find out about below...

The next day we'll be heading up to Stoke On Trent for Nana's Vintage Fair, which sounds like a rocking good day out - it's in a bar, which is always a plus as you can sip a tipple of your choice as you peruse the stalls, and there is also going to be a vintage scooter rally congregating outside to add a real sense of occasion!

The next stop is FOM Fest - our first festival of the year! The Vintage Fair will be curating a marquee of vintage shopping, and that's where you'll find us. The festival sounds ace, it's developed from a club night which started in Manchester in 2004, and has a great line up mainly featuring Manchester bands including The Charlatans, Badly Drawn Boy, Buzzcocks, The Cribs and The Lightning Seeds. We can't wait!

That very same weekend we'll be a lot closer to home too, for the first Solihull Vintage & Arts fair - organised by the people who brought you Sutton Vintage & Arts Fair which has proved a real hit on the West Midlands vintage scene, they'll be taking the same super atmosphere to the Methodist Church Hall in Solihull, just around the corner from Touchwood!

The same company will also be hosting a number of fairs in beautiful Stratford Upon Avon which we will also be attending, in the lovely venue Cox's Yard. So there is plenty of opportunity for midlands vintage fans to get out and about this summer!

Our second festival of the season will be Beach Break Live in South Wales. It's a five day bonanza by the beach! Again we'll be in The Vintage Fair's marquee which will be full to bursting will vintage goodies, and we're looking forward to the line up which includes White Lies, Professor Green, Katy B and Example.

So, we'd best get busy making sure that we have the best stock ever to take to all these super events! We're thinking summer dresses, denim shorts, cute accessories, hawaiian shirts, hats and shades.... the list is endless! We'll let you know more of our summer plans when we have them!

A grand day out in Brighton

2011-05-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

While the world was awash with Royal Wedding excitement, we had a different event on our minds - The Vintage Fair's visit to beautiful Brighton. We love any excuse to pay a visit to this jewel of the south coast, so we packed up our finest summery vintage pieces and hit the road. The fair took place at Brighton University's Sallis Benney Theatre on Grand Parade, just a hop, skip and a jump from the Lanes.

And the prize for the best dressed shopper of the day goes to the gent in the boater! Beautiful hats by Snaffle Vintage

It was a gloriously sunny day, but thankfully that did not divert these savvy shoppers from their hunt for gorgeous clothes at bargain basement prices! We were joined by our friends at The Magical Tree, Curious Cleo, Yellow Jelly, Second Hand Rose, Snaffle Vintage and Jeny and Amber among others, and as always I was impressed by the quality of clothes on offer, and the great prices too. If you are still a vintage fair virgin, you need to get along to one near you very soon, you're missing out!

After the fair we managed to squeeze in a walk down to the seafront where we treated ourselves to fish and chips, and had a lovely walk on the Palace Pier as the sun started to go down. Bliss!

Our next stop on the vintage trail is Bristol in two weeks' time, check it out here.

Summer Photoshoot with Jemma Dodd

2011-05-02T05:11:00.000-07:00

Take a look at these adorable pics from Jemma Dodd Photography's shoot at Birmingham Botanical Gardens the other day. It was a stunning summer's day (in April!) and I think the pictures have captured a lovely, laid back summer vibe. The models are Zoe and Sophie, hair by Adrian Love and make up by Sharon Jarvis.

Clothes by us, of course!

The Royal Wedding : The Dress

2011-04-29T00:47:00.000-07:00

The country's gone Royal Wedding mad, and it's only a couple of hours to the big day. As I watch the TV I can see the queue of guests waiting to get into the Abbey for the main event and really it doesn't look much different to any other wedding. Until you realise that there are 1800 guests and many thousands more across the road crazily waving flags and most likely feeling a little worse for wear after camping out on the pavement for a number of days.

Not being a big fan of the Royals, I can't quite share their enthusiasm, but any excuse for a party is fine by me and I hope everyone has a lovely day. Of course I am looking forward to catching a glimpse of THE DRESS. As someone who sells vintage wedding dresses it is quite an interesting moment as this dress, tipped to be designed by Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen, will no doubt have a huge influence on bridal trends for years to come. I think that McQueen is an interesting choice as while the house is known for their stunning, opulent gowns, it is a less conventional choice than I would have expected from a very classically dressed girl like Kate. So we shall wait and see what they have come up with....

In the meantime, I thought I would take a look at some previous royal brides. Kate has quite a lot to live up to!

The Queen Mother marrying King George VI, quite a modest dress by royal standards, in 1922

Princess Diana's insane, OTT mega dress for the showy 1980's

Princess Margaret, possibly the most glamorous Royal, looking elegant in 1960

The Queen marrying Prince Phillip in 1947. Beautiful lace train

Queen Victoria in 1840

For any brides to be wanting to create a royal feel, here is my selection from our wedding dresses, it's suitably spectacular and fit for a princess!

Have a great day everyone!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

We hope you all had a lovely time!

Car Booting With Minimum Mouse!

2011-04-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

Car booting - the epitome of Englishness

Always a chance to stock up on Cliff Richard vinyl

We were very excited mice today - we visited our first car boot sale of the season! It was a nice little bank holiday treat and with glorious sunshine it would have been rude not to go and do a spot of rummaging. We love a good car boot, it is where we have found a lot of the great vintage that we have sold over the years, and is where we get lots of stuff for ourselves! Today we visited Coleshill car boot (near Birmingham, just off the M42) which is on every Tuesday and Friday. We hadn't tried this one before so we didn't know if it was going to be any good, but we were pleasantly surprised - the good weather and bank holiday had brought out a good crowd and lots of sellers had some nice little knick knacks and oddities to look at.

We came away with some nice goodies too - I got a couple of cute wicker handbags, a giant tomato ice bucket, a lovely stripy satin dress and James found some nice retro sportswear and a couple of vintage suits.

Don't let a mound of stuff like this put you off - have a good old rummage!

For the next few months we will most likely be at car boots at every opportunity! And you should be too, they are the finest way to find some great stuff on a budget. In fact, I don't think there is much that you won't find at a car boot sale!

So, with this in mind, we have a few top tips for booting...

Go early! A lot of car boots kick off at around 6 or 7am, which is an excruciating time to get up at the weekend, but if you are looking for the pick of the crop, you need to be there with the dealers who get in early before the more casual shoppers arrive. Alternatively, if this sounds too much like work...
Go late! Some of the best car booting we have done has been when we have nipped along late for the dying moments of the car boot sale. When people are starting to pack and go home they are more likely to give you a good price on stuff, after all, they are not looking forward to packing it all up and lugging it all home - if they can offload it, they won't have to pack it!
Don't be afraid to bargain a bit - you may be shy to, I was at first, but it is always worth asking if you can get a discount. Start by asking the price of an item, if something is 20p then I tend to think you should just pay that (I would feel really awful asking for money off something so cheap!), but for more expensive items then go for it. Tell them what you would like to pay and see if they'll accept your price or perhaps meet you in the middle. Always be polite and the worst that can happen is that they say no!
Bulk buying - another way to drive a bargain is to buy a few things from the same stall and see what discount they will give you for the lot. Of course there is no point doing this unless you genuinely want the items, but don't forget to ask for a deal when buying more than one thing!
Don't let a multitude of stalls selling cheap toliet rolls and knock off dvds put you off, it's always worth having a quick scout around a sale even if it looks disappointing, you never know when you will spot an amazing gem!

To find out about car boots and jumble sales in your are check out the local newspapers and also Car Boot Junction, which lists car boots in the UK by county (though many car boots organisers don't seem that internet savvy, so there will be lots more that you won't find on here). In the midlands, Dunworkin is a good source of car boot info.

Have fun and happy bargain hunting!

You'll often find the odd vintage gem on an unpromising clothes rail..

Feeling Floral

2011-04-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

If you're from the UK you'll know that we've been having unseasonably lovely weather this last couple of weeks, and my isn't it lovely! James even came to work in shorts today. And with all this lovely sun streaming in through the office window I couldn't resist breaking out a little of the summer stock early. Here are a few of my favourite floral pieces hitting the eBay shop very soon indeed...

Have fun in the sun folks! Don't forget your sunnies...

2011 so far

2011-04-06T02:47:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned previously, we've been a bit lax on the old blog this year. There's no excuse really, but we have had quite a busy old start of the year. So let's have a bit of a catch up over a nice cup of tea and some biscuits...

The Photoshoots

Marianne from Minimum Mouse does a bit of work as a stylist here and there, plus we do the odd photoshoot for our own promotion. It's quite addictive - as well as being lots and lots of fun playing dress up, we keep meeting great new creative people with new ideas that we want to get involved with! So far this year we have done numerous photoshoots and worked with some amazing people, some of whom I have mentioned in previous posts.

We have worked with the amazing Ursula Roxy on three different shoots this year, including some menswear shoots which I was really excited about as it isn't always easy to get male models to work with. She is based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, and she does high fashion editorial work which is really stunning, as well as offering wedding photography with a difference. So, if you are looking for some stunning images for whatever reason, get in touch with her! Here are some of the things we have worked on together-


Country meets urban!

Country chic


Rock goddess!

This Is England meets Twilight!

Old school vintage style

We also worked with one of our favourite conspirators, Jemma Dodd. We love Jemma's work and have supplied clothes for her shoots lots of times. Recently we did an Alice in Wonderland themed shoot and were so happy with the results!

The Events

So far this year has been our busiest ever for vintage fairs and events. We have been all over the country from Bristol to Sheffield - where disaster was narrowly averted as snow showers risked runing the day but stopped just as we were opening the fair! We also visited Macclesfield, where there was a celeb guest - Noddy Holder! We've also been back in Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield, and also Leicester (in the Cathederal - how posh!) and uncharted territory for us - Norwich. We're now filling up our diary for the summer and it looks like it is going to be a busy year for us!

Here are a few pics from our travels...

A fab fashion show at Macclesfield's Make Do And Mend Fair

Vintage Glamour Days organised a beautiful tea room at The Vintage Fair in Leicester

Vintage hungry crowds in Norwich

Amazing dog-kitsch in Sheffield

Online

We've been working away this year to improve our website. We have a new look front page, an easy to use events page and also we've set up a new, improved online shop on our website which we are slowly filling up, so if you don't want to use eBay or Etsy you can now shop direct. Plus we have been working harder than ever to source the best vintage clothing, as well as coming up with lots of lovely new jewellery designs. So watch this space for new items popping up every day!

As always, to keep up with our news of upcoming events, new products, sales and special offers, join our Facebook page.

Ruby Slipper's Retro Romp

2011-04-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hola all! And apologies for our lack of blogging this year, we've been very busy mice (but that's a different story for a different day). Today, boys and girls, I'm going to tell you a story of a far away land, filled with glamourous ladies and well spoken heroes where people shop, jive and eat many a cream tea. That place is Ruby Slipper's Retro Romp!

Organised by Kinky and Quirky, it was a weekend to remember and the first of its kind. Fans of all things retro, burlesque, vintage and rockabilly descended on Torquay's Rainbow Hotel for a three day extravaganza which included jive and lindy hop workshops, retro make overs, and many amazing performances. There was also lots of lots of shopping, which is where we came in.

Local rockabilly band Back Hand, who entertained the shoppers on Saturday afternoon

Dance workshops went on all weekend

Our stall in the Soda Fountain bar was just one of a number selling fantastic vintage, alongside stalls selling superb burlesque inspired lingerie, corsets, vintage knick knacks and lots of pretty handmade goodies. Our neighbours were the lovely Second Hand Rose from Worcester, who wowed us with their amazing selection of vintage dresses, all at very reasonable prices. You can shop online with them here.

Lots of shoppers!

Frills aplenty!

Love this bar!

I just loved these goodies, the stallholder sells at Torquay flea market every Thursday

The guests at the event were real vintage enthusiasts and were very friendly too. They particularly liked our vintage menswear - many a dapper chap picked up a smart waistcoat or some braces over the weekend. We even sold a suede jacket to the owner of the hotel, who said it made him feel 20 years younger. Minimum Mouse - making dreams come true since 2007!

The highlight of the weekend had to be Saturday night's entertainment, which featured the fabulous Flirtinis, the amazing Anna Fur Laxis and Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer, who I had been looking forward to seeing for ages. Needless to say, he didn't disappoint, and we had a great night - it was nice to see some of the crowd wearing things they had bought from us earlier in the day too!

A big statue of Marilyn graced the stairs!

The whole place had amazing decor

The crowd loving Mr B

Anna Fur Laxis

It was a busy weekend, but it was well worth it and we hope they hold the event again soon... any excuse for a trip to the seaside!

I'll leave you with a little ditty by our favourite chap hop artist...

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2011-02-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

Hope you got a card equally as fab as these babies - enjoying the strange food related fascination of these vintage Valentine card designs.

A belated Happy New Year!

2011-01-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody, and how is 2011 treating you? I hope everyone managed to have a good break over Christmas and New Year. We managed to take a whole week off - yes, one whole week! Which is quite a feat when you are self employed. We had a lovely time visting family, catching up with friends and catching our breath to be refreshed for another year of vintage adventures.

We've been a bit quiet this month but worry not, we are busy working away in the background to bring you lots of exciting new developments for the new year. Of course there are the usual dull chores like getting the accounts done, putting some new shelves and generally sorting stuff out after the madness that was the Christmas shopping season, but we have also been scouting down the finest vintage pieces, working on some new products and filling our diary with some lovely vintage events over the coming months, so, keep those peepers on our Facebook page for all the news. In the meantime, if you fancy seeing us in the real world for a bit of vintage retail therapy, here are some dates for your diary...

Bristol Vintage Fair, 29th January
Sheffield Vintage Fair, 19th February
Macclesfield Make Do And Mend Vintage Fair, 26th February
Birmingham Vintage Fair, 5th March
Sutton Vintage & Arts Fair, 13th March
Leicester Vintage Fair, 19th March

We're chomping at the bit to get back on the road, and have some lovely new stock for y'all, so hopefully see you around!

Aside from our day to day vintage selling activities, we've been getting busy doing some styling for photoshoots recently, working with the cream of the creative crop in the West Midlands. It's a fun way to meet talented people and indulge our passion for vintage fashion! Here are a few fruits of our labours...

We had great fun shooting with the fabulous Tom Hart on the 2nd Jan, with the gorgeous Kayleigh and stunning make up from Misfit Makeup. I love this Edie Sedgwick type look!

Jemma Dodd is a fantastic photographer who we have worked with a few times before, so we were happy to assist on her dark fairytale themed shoot, and the results were superb! Make up was by the fabulous Lush By Sharon Ann.

And we were involved in another Tom Hart shoot with one of our favourite models, Alexandra Lanchester, who created a beautiful femme fatale look.

Hope you like them! Have a great weekend guys!

All the fun of the fairs!

2010-12-16T09:45:00.000-08:00

We've finally come to the end of our Christmas run of fairs, and went out with a bang at London and Nottingham, two of our favourite fairs. London, at Bloomsbury Lanes, was a bit different to usual as the heavy snow meant that some of our fellow stallholders couldn't make it, but thankfully the shoppers were still there getting some Christmassy treats. It turned out to be a busy day but lots of fun, well worth battling through the rubbish weather for!

Then it was on to Nottingham at the lovely Spanky Van Dykes. The atmosphere is always great at this fair as the venue is a huge pub, so everyone can enjoy a tipple while perusing the rails. There was a DJ playing some kitschy Christmas faves and special festive cupcakes to scoff on. All good!

We're going to be taking a well earned break from the vintage fair circuit until the end of January, when we will be back with a bang in Bristol. Which will give us plenty of time to restock with more gorgeous vintage goodies for your spring wardrobe!

The Swinging Sixties!

2010-12-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

So, I finally started on my mission to document the decades in the form of vintage clothing! That's right, I plan to get a set of photos for each decade that we sell clothes from - the 1940's to the 1980's. It's partly a labour of love and partly part of my grand plans for improving and developing the Minimum Mouse website. I'd love for you to be able to shop by decade and have some beautiful images to document the key looks of that particular decade to give the shopper a bit of inspiration. So, when I was contacted by photographer Adam Fraise about the possibility of working together on something we got chatting about the clothes we sell. He said he'd quite like to do a Twiggy style 1960's shoot, and I was over the moon! I think the sixties is such a rich source of amazing fashion, and sixties stuff is one of our best selling categories. So I collected together all of my favourite 1960's pieces from our stock and popped over to his studio in Edgbaston. Adam is a great photographer to work with, he is very experienced and efficient. And you can see the quality of his work right here...

The model was the super talented Caroline Halford, who could not have been more perfect for the look. Sharon Ann Jarvis provided the make up and hair, creating amazing big eyes with fabulous lashes. Much fun was had by all, and I was so happy with the finished results I could not wait to share them with you! Expect to see them on our new look website in the new year.

Birmingham Vintage Fair, 27th November 2010

2010-11-28T02:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we were back at the Custard Factory for another fabulous vintage fair. We always like doing a fair on our home turf, and as it was the last one before Christmas it wasw extra special, with mince pies, Christmas jumpers and gift ideas galore. Here are some pictures from the day.

We also had our lovely assistant Elise on hand, and she spent a bit of time tracking down some of the stylish shoppers enjoying the fair. Here they are-

Next Saturday we'll be in London for the Bloomsbury Vintage Fair. Maybe see you there?

Photoshoot with Kera Robson

2010-11-28T01:49:00.000-08:00

A while ago I was contacted by a photographer who was looking for vintage clothing for a photoshoot, and since then I have done a bit of styling work on some photoshoots, which is great fun and a good way to get some amazing images that we can use in our promotional materials. I love taking the clothes along to a shoot and then see them being transformed in to works of art thanks to the skills of the photographers and models.

Last week I was contacted by a lovely lady called Kera Robson, a Midlands-based photographer who was planning a shoot at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, one of my favourite places to visit. The theme was 'Modern Day Marie Antoinette' and I was keen to be involved, especially once I had looked at Kera's impressive portfolio.

The team that Kera had put together for the shoot was equallily impressive, we had Sharon and Rachel the make up artists, the lovely models Chloe, Aly and Elina, Kera's assistant Kate and little old me, supplying the clothes. Sharon and Rachel worked their magic with the make up, they started with more subtle, pastel looks and worked up to full on Marie Antoinette inspired looks.

It was a freezing cold day and the poor models were shivering away between shoots, but once they were in front of the camera it was all glamour and professionalism.

I brought loads of pastel coloured dresses and pieces from our collection, and we picked out some lovely outfits. I had a fabulous day, despite the cold, and we all got on really well. I think that the finished product is amazing as well, which makes the day all the more worthwhile.

That's a wrap!

A Round Up Of Recent Fairs

2010-11-21T03:24:00.000-08:00

Phew! We've been busy little mice this past month, which is why we have not checked in on the old blog! So, I thought it was about time I updated you on our recent adventures, travelling up and down the country selling vintage. And if you live in Birmingham, London or Nottingham, we'll be coming your way before Christmas!

Our first stop was Leicester, at The Auditorium. The venue is a former bingo hall, so it would have been rude not to have a spot of bingo - the prizes were money to spend at the fair, getting your hair done by Lynsey Le Keux and a box of yummy cupcakes! We had a lovely time at the fair and as always, the people there were absolutely lovely and super stylish. Jeny and Amber, Rehaberdashery Vintage and Mad Elizabeth were just a few of the great traders who were there. We look forward to visiting Leicester again soon!

Next up we were down to the big smoke for the second Bloomsbury Vintage Fair at the amazing 's style bowling alley, Bloomsbury Lanes. This fair was buzzing - we could barely move for the crowds. People were stocking up on cosy knits and coats, and starting to think of their Christmas shopping - a few lucky folks will be unwrapping Minimum Mouse jewels on the big day! We'll be back in December for a Bloomsbury Christmas special!

Yesterday we hit the beautiful city of Bristol for a brand new fair. The venue was Circomedia, a gorgeous listed former church which is now used for circus and physical theatre, so there were trapezes and ropes dangling from the ceiling! We were joined by our friends at Curious Cleo, Vintage Vanity, Spankt Vintage and Purple Sparkle Crafts, as well as loads of other stalls full to the brim with vintage goodness. We were also very impressed by Vintage Glamour Days' gorgeous travelling tearoom which was a huge hit with the crowds - I devoured one of their scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam and it was no surprise that they completely sold out of their amazing cakes!

Hope to see you soon at a vintage fair near you!

Brilliant Brighton and Superb Sutton

2010-10-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

Phew, another jam packed weekend for us! On Friday afternoon we dashed down to the south coast for the first Brighton Vintage Fair on Saturday. I love Brighton, it's such a cool place to visit, full of interesting shops and iconic sights - the pier, the pavillion, the beach! We had a good old look around on Friday, a walk along the prom and enjoyed hot dogs and falafels at Red Veg before getting an early night to be fresh as a daisy for the fair on Saturday.

The fair was jam packed and a huge success, we met some thoroughly lovely people and sold some of our new season stock, including an amazing oversized red leather jacket with cream faux fur collar, and a wolf print oversized sweatshirt which had attracted lots of attention.

Next stop was a little closer to home, Sutton Coldfield, for the Sutton Vintage and Arts Fair. This was another new fair, organised by our friend Sabina of Rehaberdashery Vintage. As with all new fairs, we didn't really know what to expect, but we were very impressed. The venue was Sutton Coldfield Town Hall which is a beautiful and expansive building, which provided space for fifty (yes, 50) stalls of vintage, handmade goods, homewares, art, even jams and chutneys! There was also vintage makeovers and hair styling by LeKeux Events, henna tattooing, and cakes by Sweet Disposition (who sold out by 1.30pm so we didn't get any - boo hoo!). To top it off there was a fashion show and jive and charleston lessons by Strictly Jitterbug, all in all it was a great fun day out.

Now we have to get down to replenishing our stock for the Leicester Vintage Fair this coming weekend!

X Factor star wears a Scrabble ring!

2010-10-18T01:49:00.000-07:00

Our Scrabble rings have long been one of our best sellers. After all, what's not to love - it's recycled, it's personalised, it's quirky.... and now it's on the biggest TV show in the country!

Yes, here's the lovely Esther Campbell from Belle Amie wearing her Scrabble ring. And doesn't she look lovely. With taste in jewellery like that, she'll go far!

Get yours here!

Fair season starts with a bang at Leeds and London

2010-10-14T07:19:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, sorry we have not checked in for a while, it's been a busy month! Not only have we been busy getting out all the Autumn and Winter stock, but we've also been updating the website, making new jewellery designs, and buying even more stock! When we've had a chance to leave the office we've been meeting some of you lovely folks at vintage fairs.

First up was Leeds at the Leeds Met union on 28th September, which was excellent. The students were loving our dainty charm bracelets, vintage badges and leather jackets in particular.

Following that was the London Vintage Fair at Bloomsbury Lanes, which is the fabbest venue ever for a vintage fair - it's a 1950's style bowling alley with its own diner! The fair was good fun, with batwing jumpers, watch necklaces and oversized shirts proving the best sellers of the day. We'll be back in November for more fun times (may even squeeze in a spot of bowling!)

Tomorrow we are off to Brighton for the Vintage Fair on Saturday, and then it's a swift trip back up to the Midlands for the Sutton Vintage and Arts Fair on Sunday. Who said this vintage selling lark was easy, eh?!

Offset Festival

2010-09-14T01:39:00.000-07:00

We spent the last big weekend of the summer in a pretty country park in Essex, for Offset Festival. It was the first time I'd been to a festival to do something other than drink, dance and get up to mischief.... we were working!

Yes, our friends at The Vintage Fair were attending, with a big marquee full of vintage wonderment, and we wanted to be a part of it! It was a great weekend, despite the long days, portaloos, lack of showers and being next to the shouty Hardcore tent the whole weekend. We met some lovely folks too, who made the most of our sale rails and new jewellery collection.

We were joined by our friends at Curious Cleo, The Magical Tree, The Vintage Revolver, Vintage Junky, Jeny & Amber, Boulevard Rouge and many others. Check 'em out, they are all ace!

Here are some photos from the weekend-

Now it's time to hunker down to some hard graft - we have so much gorgeous vintage clothing to lasvish on you this autumn and winter, so keep your peepers out!

New Stock - Vintage Jewellery

2010-08-30T01:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Bank Holiday, y'all!

We've got loadsa new stuff coming to the eBay shop this week, here is a little taster (click them!)

Nature

2010-08-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

We took a little break this weekend and headed off to the Nature Centre in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. And what a lovely day out it was. It's like a mini zoo, and costs the bargainous fee of £3.50 for adults to get in! Very inspirational too, as I'm working on our new jewellery collection - perhaps some meercats, lemurs or tamarind monkeys?

In more relevant news, we're off to Offset Festival next weekend! We're going to be trading in the lovely Vintage Fair tent. If you're going, drop in and see us!

Strange Fruits

2010-08-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

No, this isn't a Billie Holiday tribute. Oh no.

This is my tribute to one of my favourite inspirations - Fruits Magazine. It's a Japanese fashion magazine that was started in 1997 by photographer Shoichi Aoki. You know all those 'street style' features that you get in magazines these days, where magazine staff seemingly grab people on the street and post their mugshots on pages and harp on about their original look? Well this is where it all began. And before you ask, no, I don't speak Japanese. But I don't need to - the magazine is just pictures (well, save for a little info at the bottom of the page - but the pictures say it all)! Pages upon pages of crazy kids from Harajuku in amazing, eye boggling, mind bending outfits.

Here are some examples for your viewing pleasure-

Would I dress like this? No. Do I understand why these people do? Not really. But I just love looking at the photos, wondering what inspired these people to put together such amazing ensembles, and how much time it takes them to get ready in the morning! I just love the creativity and, frankly, the barmyness of it all. (No, barmyness is not a word, but you get what I mean.)

If you've been finding fashion a little dull of late, get yourself a copy of Fruits and luxuriate in the infinate possibilities of Japanese teen culture! You can order them online direct from the website, but you can often find them on eBay too. The same company also make a magazine called Street which covers global fashions - maybe one day you could be the star?

A busy weekend of mouse adventures...

2010-08-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

My goodness, we have been busy! Whenever we are not grafting away at Mouse HQ we are off out hunting for vintage goodies, and whenever we aren't doing that we seem to be off all over the place for weddings, reunions - you name it, we are at it this summer! I'm also toiling away on a new webstore that will hopefully be open in time for our new autumn/winter collection - exciting stuff, but ever so slightly knackering too!

Last weekend, we were off to a city I really like, Sheffield. It was time for the Sheffield Summer Vintage Fair, and we were extra excited as it was at a new venue, The Circle. The venue is a vast improvement, it was light, airy and right in the middle of town. We held our summer sale which meant that all of our clothing was priced at the amazingly cheap price of £5 each, or 3 for £12! Naturally, we weren't the only people who were excited by this and there were lots of people leaving the fair with Minimum Mouse bags in hand!

Our neighbours on the day were SpankT Vintage and Gracie Airs, who were selling amazing greetings cards which featured vintage pulp fiction covers. A great day was had by all, and we can't wait until our next trip to Sheffield!

Another day, another dollar, and I was off to the Custard Factory on Sunday afternoon for Lady Luck Rules OK's Trade Secrets talk, hosted by the founder of the brand, Leona Baker. The event was held at the COW Shop, a place that I had heard of before but never had the pleasure of visiting. COW, which stands for Creative Open Workshops, is a very exciting project which runs arts and crafts events and workshops. They have a regualar handmade market which is soon to move to The Bullring, which is very exciting. Having a look through their programme of upcoming workshops I wanted to do them all - maxi dress making, fabric necklace making, soy candle making...and all with tea and cake! Check them out to feed that crafty craving!

I had been so excited about this since it was announced, as I have been an LLROK fan since around 2005 - I remember going on to James about this cool and quirky website that I'd found selling amazing kitsch jewellery that was totally up my street. Come Christmas, I was the proud new owner of a Blondie themed kilt pin from that very site (James has a good memory!). At that time I wasn't even vaguely thinking about starting a business, but I really admired what she was doing and loved the idea of making a living from being creative. A couple of years on, and I found myself starting up an eBay business with James, and realising that here was my opportunity to start getting creative and making some money from it. So, out came the jewellery pliers and jump rings, and I've never looked back.

Leona Baker's event was fabulously informative, yet fun too. The audience ranged from people who already ran creative businesses through to people who were only just starting to think about setting up a company, but it was pitched in a way that all levels could get a lot from it. She covered topics such as sourcing materials, getting help from organisations like The Prince's Trust, protecting intellectual property, trade shows, PR and marketing, production and employing staff, and charted the history of LLROK from the early days on a market stall in Portobello up to the very last collection and why she has decided to move on.

An extra treat was getting to make our own personalised russian doll necklace - the icing on the cake of such a great afternoon. I came away buzzing with new ideas - so watch this space!

Birmingham Vintage Fair, 12th June 2010

2010-06-21T03:09:00.001-07:00

We always love doing events in Brum as it means we can have a bit of a lie in! Also, it seems that Birmingham folk have an insatiable appetite for vintage, which we are more than happy to cater for! So we were back at the Custard Factory on Saturday 12th June with a fantastic selection of summer delights - cute sun dresses, hawaiian shirts, denim hotpants and kitsch trinkets were the order of the day. It was the day of England's first match, so James Mouse showed his support in a 1982 England shirt, which attracted many compliments from vintage loving fellas.

We were next to the lovely Jill and Jim from Alfie Robot Retro, who sell amazing vintage homewares, as well as handmade coasters and placemats which feature images from 70's cookbooks (I have two on my coffee table, they rule!).

As usual, we scoffed our fill of cupcakes and had a good old rummage around the stalls. We met some lovely folk too, including a lady who was visiting from Northern Ireland and bought a one off reworked vintage necklace from us, and some regular customers who had popped along for a spot of shopping. All in all, a great day out!

Pixie Lott rocks a Scrabble Ring

2010-06-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

What a lovely lady that Pixie Lott is. Not only does she produce toe tappingly catchy party pop, she also has rather fabulous taste in jewellery. Which explains why she has been spotted out and about wearing a personalised Scrabble ring, and why she is also rocking one in the video for her latest single, Turn It Up.

If you wanna make like Pixie and Scrabblify your fingers, you can by popping over to our ebay shop here, where we also have Scrabble necklaces, earrings and bracelets, as well as cufflinks for the boys!

Fairs Galore!

2010-06-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

We've been busy little bees (or should that be mice?) this past week, attending two fabulous vintage events. The first was on Wednesday 3rd June, in St Paul's Square, Birmingham. It was a glorious day and St Paul's Square is a lovely spot to sun yourself for a few hours. The Nostalgic Love A Fayre was held in aid of the Alzheimer's Society, and took the theme of a traditional village fete, complete with coconut shy, hoopla and brass band! There was also a pretty ace fashion show, styled by Amy from Vintage Reflection. Here are some pictures from the day-

On Saturday we headed east to Nottingham, for the first vintage fair at the fabulously named Spanky Van Dyke's Eatery and Funhouse. It was a real scorcher of a day, but thankfully the heat and sunshine didn't keep the vintage hungry crowds from heading in to peruse our wares. Here are some pics-

We had a lovely time and sold out of many pieces - which means I am going to be busy replenishing our stocks in time for the Birmingham fair this coming Saturday. Hopefully see you there!

Etsy Storque Feature

2010-05-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

A daily read of the Storque is an essential part of my day, it's always filled with inspiring stuff and fresh ideas. So I was just ever-so-slightly excited when Louise from Catwalk Creative Vintage contacted me to say she was putting together an article for the Storque featuring the best bricks and mortar vintage stores across the UK.

I jumped at the chance to feature a Birmingham store, but then I was left with the question - which shop?! Birmingham doesn't have loads of vintage stores unlike some cities, but the ones it does have are pretty ace. There's Cow, which is massive, but I discounted that because it is a small chain so is not exclusive to Birmingham. Then there's Urban Village and the plethora of little vintage shops in the general stores, which are all under one roof - but I'd have to choose just one, and how could I do that?! So, in the end, I went for Top Banana, in King's Heath. You can read the piece here, and find out about great vintage shops in Manchester, Upminster, Carlisle and Alfreton too!

Sheffield Vintage Fair, May 15th 2010

2010-05-20T01:50:00.000-07:00

We ventured up to Sheffield last weekend for yet another vintage fair, and had a lovely time. It was a beautiful sunny day, but thankfully people didn't mind ducking out of the sun for a few minutes to check out our wares! We were next to the fabulous Pop My Cherry, with their amazing range of patterned tights, and The Vintage Revolover, with a fantastic selection of clothing, and we had lots of fun. Thanks to everyone who came along and met us! Here are a few pictures from the day.

Our Guide to Online Vintage Shopping

2010-05-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

The internet is an amazing resource for vintage shoppers – all of a sudden you have the whole world at your fingertips and a greater chance than ever before! Some people are a little wary of online shopping because they have heard of people getting defrauded by unscrupulous sites or having their details stolen, others worry about buying clothes without being able to try them on. Now, we are somewhat biased since we run an online vintage clothing business, but we’ve put together some simple tips to help you get the most out of online vintage shopping.

1. Measure yourself! So simple, yet many people don’t bother and just hope for the best. If you don’t have one, get a simple tailor’s tape measure (you can get one from haberdashers or hardware shops) and measure around your bust or chest, waist (the slimmest part), hips, inside leg (from your crotch to your ankle) and inside sleeve (from your armpit to your wrist). Jot down these details and keep them handy for a quick reference when browsing online.

2. Think about the fit you want – you have your measurements, and that will be very helpful. But it is also worth considering what kind of fit you want. For example, if you are buying a t shirt, you may want a loose fit or a figure hugging fit. The best way to get an idea of how the garment will fit is to take the measurement of a t shirt that fits you well and see how the measurements compare.

3. Forget about size labels! Sizing has changed dramatically over the years, a size 12 from the 1960’s is more like a size 8 by today’s standards. So, it is always better to go by the measurements of a garment and not be put off by size labels that suggest you have suddenly put on a couple of stone! No one will see the label, but they will notice if you have tried to wedge yourself into a dress that is two sizes too small.

4. Ask about a seller’s return policy – despite your best efforts, sometimes you will need to make a return. Quite a lot of vintage sellers will only accept a return if there is something wrong with the item, but in fact, due to distance selling regulations, you are within your rights to return an item within 14 days for any reason (but be aware that this does not apply to auctions). Having said this, it is best to check the seller’s policy before making a purchase to avoid hassles later.

5. Search, search, search. You can find whatever you are looking for if you know how to search. Ebay is a treasure trove of great bargains, and is always a great place to start. Don’t be afraid to shop internationally either, you can check prices by converting the currency at http://www.xe.com/ . Ask sellers for the shipping costs to your address and how long it is expected to take. Etsy is another excellent resource, especially for clothing from the USA.

6. Take care online – if you find a site and don’t know whether or not to trust it, do a search online to see if anyone has had any problems with it. Also, consider your payment method. Using Paypal gives you added protection, so if your item does not arrive you can make a claim to get your money back through their buyer protection scheme. If you are paying by card, it is a good idea to use a credit card rather than a debit card as your credit card company will provide insurance on purchases (of course, check this with your credit card company ). And above all, go with your gut feelings – if a site seems dodgy, go somewhere else.

7. Condition – a very important point when buying vintage clothing. First off, unless the item is deadstock (unsold brand new stock from the era) then the garment WILL be used and therefore some general wear is to be expected. In fact, this is one of the things that makes vintage clothing so fantastic – the fact that it feels like it has stories to tell and a little bit of history. You should expect t shirts to have a few bobbles or cracks to the print, jeans will be a little faded and battered, and shoes will have general wear and tear. But things such as stains, rips, tears, holes and other damage should be mentioned, so if you don’t see any comment on the condition it’s worth contacting the seller to check this. Now, if an item arrives and you find a flaw that wasn’t noted, don’t automatically assume that the seller is trying to rip you off. We list hundreds of items every week and despite our best efforts we do sometimes miss things, so first of all contact the seller to let them know about the problem. If they are decent they will apologise for their mistake and want to do whatever they can to help, be that letting you return the item for a refund, or a partial refund to cover repair costs. Most vintage sellers are thoroughly lovely people with a genuine passion for the clothes, so don’t be afraid to let them know if you have a problem!

8. Modelled clothes. This is an interesting issue – some sites have beautiful shots of the clothes modelled by cool looking folks, others use a mannequin, others just hang the item up and keep things simple. What’s best? Well that is a matter of taste I suppose. There is no denying that modelled shots look great, but don’t let them distract you too much – first of all, check what you are getting. If the item for sale is a top, the model will no doubt be wearing a skirt or trousers to go with it, and shoes and perhaps accessories too. Always check what’s included and focus on that – the top may look great on the model in the way they have styled it, but will it look great with your clothes? And check the model’s size too – if she’s a good bit smaller than you then that loose, slouchy jumpsuit is going to look more like a slim fit catsuit on you. Bear this in mind to avoid disappointment later.

But, above all – have fun! Buying vintage online can be the fastest and cheapest way to build up a fabulous vintage wardrobe full of unique items. And shopping in your pyjamas is always a joy! And when you grow tired of that dress or jumper, sell it on for someone else to enjoy, and get some fresh money in your pocket to buy something new. Everyone’s a winner!

We’d love to know about your experiences of vintage shopping online – let us know any tips you have, or shops that you would recommend.

Vintage Fair & Fashion Show, Hennessey's Bar, Digbeth, 11th May 2010

2010-05-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic time at the vintage fair and fashion show last night. The event was organised by students from University College Birmingham in aid of Cancer Research UK. The event was a fun packed night, with The Lost Boys spinning motown, northern soul and reggae all night, delicious cakes from Sweet Disposition to keep us sweet and, of course, the hospitality of Hennessey's Bar (which is just a stone's throw from the Bullring.

We took up residence in the courtyard, along with Lemon Aide, The Old Wardrobe, Bow and Crossbones and Wooly Bears. There were some fantastic clothes, jewellery, toys and gifts and everybody seemed to really enjoy having a little browse and a drink!

The fashion show was the highlight of the evening, and our models did a fantastic job strutting their stuff! Here's a little bit of the action for your viewing pleasure...

Of course, the best bit is that the event raised over £500 for charity!

Fairytales

2010-05-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

We loaned a couple of dresses to fab photographer Jemma Dodd (who took the photos for the front page of the website) for her latest shoot. It was a fairytale themed project, and the photos were taken in the grounds of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which are simply gorgeous! Here are a couple of the pictures featuring our dresses. Enjoy!

Manchester Vintage Fair, 17th April 2010

2010-04-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely time at the Vintage Fair in Manchester this weekend, and met some lovely people. Here are a few pictures from the day...

Style Icon - Emma Pillsbury

2010-04-06T05:56:00.000-07:00

Being a closet Gleek, I have long been admiring a certain character's style. And no, it's not Mr Schue and his dodgy barnet, it is the fabulous Miss Pillsbury and her prim, retro inspired look that gets me going! Instead of trying to guide the teens through their troubled love lives, something she is hardly a role model for, McKinley High's guidance counsellor should be doling out advice on how to dress like a lady at every turn, something she does with finesse and a quirky twist.

Emma Pillsbury We Love You! by mariannecat featuring RJ Graziano jewelry

Reasons to love Miss Pillsbury-
1. She's a woman of morals - she adores Mr Schue but won't interfere with his marriage to the crazy Terri.
2. Jayma Mays, who plays the part, auditioned by singing 'Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch-A Me' from the fabulous Rocky Horror Picture Show.
3. She makes having OCD seem almost cool, with her obsessive cleaning regime and preoccupation with germs. This is the acceptable face of those weird quirks that we all have!
4. In a show full of pretty young things, Miss Pillsbury shows that ladylike elegance will always win out over short skirts and, er, cheerleading costumes in the style stakes.
5. She is part of one of the happiest, jolliest, most refreshing shows to land on our tv screens for many a year - Glee adds a touch of sunshine to my Monday evenings!

Glee's costume designer Lou Eyrich says of her iconic look, "We wanted to make her look like everything’s so neat — perfectly ironed and tucked-in shirts with matching belts, shoes and pins. We wanted to make her stand out from the other teachers. She’s always so happy and excited, so we wanted her outfits to represent that sunny disposition. In the pilot, we made her look much more teacher-y. Now we're having more fun with her character, keeping her bright and unusual. Quirky is the word. Emma’s also always in stacked Mary Janes or T-strap heels. It takes the outfit down from being too stylish or too sexy. It makes her look prim and almost old-fashioned."

Minimum Mouse picks for a Pillsbury inspired look- you can click to shop!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-02T04:50:00.000-07:00

I always enjoy easter time, not least because it means that my birthday is just around the corner, but also because it means that spring has sprung, and we get to feast on chocolate eggs! We're off down to Wales for a well earned rest this weekend, but before I go, here are some lovely Easter shopping picks from the treasure trove of creativity that is Etsy. You can click them and get shopping. Enjoy!

Created In Birmingham

2010-04-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

(picture courtesy of Created In Birmingham)

Today I popped up to the city centre - no, not for a sneaky spot of shopping, though I was tempted - to drop off some jewellery at the fabulous new Created In Birmingham shop. I was really excited that they wanted to sell my jewellery, as this is such an exciting idea! Created In Birmingham began in 2006, as a blog documenting the arts and culture of the second city, it has gained a loyal and strong following, and now has it's own shop. Occupying a prime spot in the Bulling, opposite the Apple Shop, this little haven from the big brand names is a gem in the truest sense of the word. Just when you think you have seen everything in the Bullring a hundred times before, the shop surprises you by containing only stuff that has been created in the region (as the name would suggest!). They have all kinds of stuff on offer, from books to handbags, clothing to photography, and the shop has a really friendly vibe, with a coffee table and sofas at the back and lots of bohemian types milling around.

I have a small selection of jewellery on offer there, hopefully more if it goes down well! Whether or not the shop will be a long term fixture appears yet to be decided, but I really hope it does as it breathes a well needed blast of fresh air into Birmingham city centre, a place hardly known for its independant shopping opportunities. So if you live locally, be sure to pop down and check it out!

Birmingham Vintage Fair, 6th March 2010

2010-03-08T06:11:00.001-08:00

We were pleased to be back at the Birmingham Vintage Fair this weekend. It's nice for us to do a fair on our home turf as we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get there! It took place at the Old Library in The Custard Factory. Such a beautiful spring day really seemed to bring out the vintage fashionistas - at one point people were queueing for around 40 minutes just to get in the door! Thankfully it was worth the wait, as there were so many fabulous stalls inside. Here are some of our photos from the day-

The vintage hungry crowds get to the rails!

Our lovely neighbours for the day.

Sylvia and her man looking dapper in some choice vintage pieces - the dress drew a lot of attention, while our man mannequin had 4 or 5 costume changes as people wanted to buy the clothes off his back!

Our little tree of trinkets.
Our stall.

The Vintage Fair is coming back to Birmingham in June so we will hopefully be back for another great day. You can find out more at The Vintage Fair

Bristol Vintage Fair, Feb 21st 2010

2010-02-24T08:03:00.001-08:00

We were off on our travels again last weekend, down to the lovely west country city of Bristol. It's a fabulous, vibrant place, and the location of a Blind Lemon Vintage Fair. It's actually only the second vintage fair we have done, so we were quite pleased with how our stall looked, with our mannequin Sylvia in a stunning fifties dress, our trusty long mirror and fabby new banner!

The morning was very busy, with lots of people enjoying a rummage in the rails and bargain bins!

We were loving the retro 1960's vibe of the Anson Rooms, the main hall of Bristol University Students' Union. Amazing chandeliers and a very cool sweeping staircase up from the lobby, just the thing to complement the vintage vibe!

We did a little shopping too, picking up some ace vintage buttons that are just crying out to become earrings, and I treated myself to a super duper Welsh themed tote bag from Plump Pudding, made from original vintage fabrics.
Our next vintage fair is in Birmingham on March 6th, and we can't wait! Maybe see you there?

Etsy Midlanders - Picks For Spring

2010-02-19T05:37:00.000-08:00

As you may know, we are members of the Etsy Midlanders Team, a group of Midlands based artists and crafters who sell on Etsy. They are a great bunch, and very talented too! Here are some of my favourite pieces for spring, created by this crafty crew-

This gorgeous beaded brooch by Aster Sadler, $38.

An adorable spring bunny by Pepper Pi, $18

This super kitsch beer mat cushion by Brimborion, $30.

These zingy lime green studs by Sarah Myatt Glass, $10.

This amazing beaded brooch by Kerrie Slade, $135.

Of course there are always too many things to choose from when I look through the Etsy Midlanders' shops, why not have a look for yourself at Etsy Midlanders.

We're off to Bristol tomorrow for a vintage fair - I'll tell you all about it on Monday. Until then, have a great weekend!

Style Icon - Miss Marple

2010-02-17T01:32:00.000-08:00

I was going to call this post "Style Icon Of The Week", but let's be realistic here, I am so bad at keeping up my blogging that our series of style icons would soon become very overdue! So, let's call it plain old "Style Icon" and we can have a nice occasional series documenting some of the people who inspire us! I'm hoping to get Man Of Mouse, James, to do a couple of blog posts soon so we'll have some nattily dressed men gracing our dear blog too! So, our first style icon is the super sleuth of St Mary Mead, good old Miss Marple. An unusual choice, perhaps, especially given that she is a fictional character, but why be dull and just talk about filmstars and Cheryl Cole? Here are some reasons why we love this old dear-

1. She's an independant woman - never married and with no close family to speak of, she makes her way in the world using her best asset, which brings us to...

2. Her intellect - shrewd with a capital S, Marple's sharp logical mind allows her to understand the complexities of the human psyche and deduct mysteries that have the police stumped.

3. She makes being nosy an art form - what better excuse to want to know all the gossip? One day it may come in useful! Just think, "what would Miss Marple do?"

4. She is the star of some of the most gripping murder mysteries ever written, Queen Of Crime Agatha Christie brought her to the world in titles such as The Murder At The Vicarage, They Do It With Mirrors and 4.50 From Paddington.

5. She has been portrayed by some fabulous actresses, including Margaret Rutherford, Angela Lansbury, Joan Hickson and Julia McKenzie.

6. Her crisp and prim sense of style! She is always well turned out in lovely tweed suits, elegant coats and well cut skirts, with the odd brooch or necklace to complete the look. Everybody needs a bit of ladylike elegance in their wardrobes, and Miss Marple is a fabulous example of demure, traditional style.

Here are some of the Miss Marple inspired pieces from the Minimum Mouse collection...

Jemma Dodd Photography

2010-02-10T05:58:00.001-08:00

We recently had the pleasure of working with up and coming Birmingham based photographer Jemma Dodd. She took some ace shots featuring some of our vintage clothing and handmade jewellery, and we had lots of fun! Thanks to Jemma and all of the great models - here are a few of my favourites-

New Stuff!

2010-02-08T02:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! Here are a few pictures of new jewellery items that will be hitting the shop this week...

Happy New Year!

2010-01-29T03:52:00.001-08:00

Well, better late than never! We've had a busy start to 2010, getting set for a fantastic year of bringing you the finest in vintage clothing and handmade jewellery. We have quite a few things up our sleeves for the coming year, so watch this space! In the meantime we have been jazzing up the website, getting our online shop in order and working on sourcing the best stock for the coming spring and summer season.

It's our mission to keep the blog updated this year so that you always know what's going on at Minimum Mouse HQ, and hopefully provide some previews of upcoming events, ranges and other fun stuff. As well as the usual inane chatter, of course!

So, until next time I'll leave you with some images of the gorgeous new brooches just added to our eBay shop
Love Minimum Mouse xx

A Christmas Bazaar at The White Horse, Harborne

2009-12-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been mega busy here at Minimum Mouse HQ over the last few weeks, what with the Christmas rush (but hey, we aren't complaining!). Despite this, we managed to drag ourselves off to A Christmas Bazaar at the White Horse Pub, in Harborne, Birmingham on Monday. We were pleased to be invited to take part, especially when we saw how many other talented artists and craftspeople there were there. Here are a few shots of our little selection of jewellery-

I was exhibiting next to Jaggy from Citrus, a very talented beauty therapist with a lovely selection of wares. She even did my nails!
The nails were done using Minx, a new technique from the USA where a transfer is applied to your nails using a heat lamp. She had loads of designs to choose from, but I just adored the retro look of these flowers!
Here is some of the art that was on show, by Lewes Herriot and Shelli Graham (who organised the event).
And some very cool jewellery by Ruth Herriot.
Here is the event in full swing (I'm sitting by my jewellery), come the evening it got very busy with lots of people enjoying the free mulled wine and mince pies!

All in all, a fun day out. Now we are back to the grindstone for another week, and then we'll get our well deserved Christmas break!

Birmingham Vintage Fair, 21st November 2009

2009-11-23T08:42:00.001-08:00

I know it's been a while folks, and I'm sorry. Here at Minimum Mouse HQ we have been so busy of late that no one has found the time to keep the blog updated! Boo! But here we are with a little news about what we were up to at the weekend. Those lovely people at The Vintage Fair have taken the very wise decision to start up a new fair in Birmingham! So, on Saturday, the vintage fair rolled into the Custard Factory for the very first time, and we were there to show our wares and generally have a good old day out. As you can see, our mannequins Sylvia and her gentleman friend were well turned out for the occasion (the glorious 1950's dress caused many 'oohs' and 'aahs' from admiring lady folk), and we had brought a ton of stunning vintage, including these fine Christmas jumpers-
The jewellery proved very popular and I actually ran out of many designs (note to self: take more jewellery!).
We also met a load of lovely folks, and had a stall next to Pop My Cherry, who sell THE most amazingly patterned tights!
And, in case we got a bit peckish, there were the most stunning (and tasty) cupcakes from The Tea Boutique to keep us happy.
It's fair to say a grand day out was had by all. And it was lovely to meet so many vintage loving people!

Etsy Midlanders have the skills!

2009-06-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

Since starting to sell on Etsy a couple of months ago, I have been really getting into it. Having started out on eBay and then branching out to Etsy I was not really expecting the strength of community feeling over on Etsy, and it is fabulous! I suppose it is because everyone is linked in a passion for craft or non mass produced stuff, but I was amazed at how friendly and helpful everyone has been (and the shopping! What wonderful stuff you can get! Stuff I never knew existed, but now I am not sure I can live without!). Anyway, the community spirit on Etsy is bolstered by the ‘teams’ that you can join – groups of Etsy sellers linked by a common factor, be it location, medium or something entirely unrelated (there is a group for owners of beagles, for instance!). Being Birmingham based, I decided to apply to Etsy Midlanders, a fab little group full of such interesting crafters. It’s nice to meet other Brits since Etsy is quite an American centric site, but also nice to share tips and ideas about selling on Etsy, and craft in general. So I thought I would take a moment to show you a couple of glorious items made by my fellow Etsy Midlanders…

The top image is a cute felt corsage by Linenandroses – I love a corsage as it is ideal for brightening up any tired old clothes you have, and you can pin it somewhere different each time you wear it. In fact, I’m rather partial to corsage making too, so you see them popping up on Minimum Mouse from time to time.

Anyone for a Sherbet Dib Dab? This necklace by pennydogaccessories is made by setting a piece of Dib Dab packet in resin, and it creates such a cool effect.

This is a really unusual find from VintageWantsNotNeeds – it opens out to show 12 images of London!

This print by graphic designer Beckyismyname is, like much of her work, inspired by the cityscape of Birmingham, and I love it!

And finally, I just love this amazing Liquorice Allsorts tea cosy by jacksknits (just a shame I don’t have a tea pot!). I wish I could knit like that!

Introducing... our new mousie!

2009-05-10T03:16:00.001-07:00

How adorable?! We're chuffed with the new addition to our Minimum Mouse family - THE minimum mouse! Designed by superbly talented Midlands artist i heart joan, this little lovely is super cute, in the colours of our website, and the design in the body of the mouse is made up of drawings of our jewellery. Check out i heart joan for more fabulous illustration.

On another note, the sun is out so we're off to a car boot sale - here's hoping for lots of vintage buttons and delightful knick-knacks! Have fun in the sun guys x

Buttons, business and Bluestone bliss!

2009-04-29T04:05:00.000-07:00

Since I have last blogged I have been a busy little bee - car boot sale season is now upon us and this is of great excitement to me! Car boots are where I find some of my most fantastic materials, including these darling buttons, which I have been fashioning into bracelets and earrings, hopefully with necklaces to follow. I just love vintage buttons, you never quite know what you will find. I am in love with coral pink and mint green at the moment, so I created these dangly earrings which allow you to channel your inner Pat Butcher!

Trashy gold buttons are another of my loves, here I've woven them together with gold wire and attached them to a chain for a trash-tastic bracelet.

This is my favourite button creation so far!

On another note, I have just returned from weekend of partying and pampering in Pembrokeshire. We stayed at Bluestone, which really was a little piece of heaven - you can check it out at http://www.bluestonewales.com/

Above is a picture of my best girls, Sarah, Meryl, Sian, Jenny & Cara (I'm the one in the bottom middle with the glasses, and yes I think I did come off worst in this piece of 'art' from Van Gogh's Workshop!), we have been the best of friends since school, and now that I don't live in Aberystwyth anymore I don't get to see them half as much as I should, so, after a long slog of organising and coordinating, we managed to meet up and catch up, and get this masterpiece between rides at Oakwood Park. Roll on the next one!

Finally, I got down to business with an interview at Trespass Magazine, about the trials and tribulations of bring a young businessperson, which you can read at

http://www.trespassmag.com/?p=3072

Until next time, friends!

M xx

Get ready for a summer of fabulous dresses!

2009-04-07T06:12:00.001-07:00

What could be better than a pretty summer dress? As far as I'm concerned, the dress is the uncrowned queen of vintage, dresses just aren't what they once were! Whatever your taste or style, there is a vintage dress out there for you. In fact, since I started dealing in vintage I have really come to realise how much of what's on the high street is recycled - whenever I see a cute dress in Topshop or New Look or wherever else for that matter, I think to myself 'hmm, we had something like that in recently' - it rather takes the fun out of shopping, but it does make you think. We have made a big effort over the last few months to get together a big selection of vintage dresses to cover the summer months, from pretty sun dresses just made for picnics in the country, through to full on prom gowns for any of you attending a special event. And what's more, at a time when we are all trying to save a few pennies, they will be at prices that the high street will struggle to contend with! Here are some of our current picks...

I love the tropical print of this 1980's halterneck dress, it makes me want to go to Hawaii and drink cocktails (well, drink cocktails at least!)

This original 1960's party dress is sugar sweet and as bright as a button!

A fab 1970's casual dress in soft jersey, ideal for shopping, mooching around uni or sunning yourself in a beer garden somewhere!

And then we ramp up the glam factor with this slinky sequined dress -simply amazing!

There will be more where those came from very soon, so keep your eyes peeled! xx

Ooh how we love a man in vintage!

2009-04-01T03:09:00.000-07:00

Well, biased we may be, but we think nothing looks cooler than a man who likes to rock a bit of vintage. I'm not sure why, but vintage clothing gives a man a cool, laid back look, and suggests that he has something to talk about, some stories to tell, and doesn't just follow the crowd. Either that, or he's trying to create that image! So, with that in mind we have been fleshing out our menswear selection, and have a whole load of vintage men's hotness in the eBay shop this very week! Here are some of our top picks...

This is one of many gorgeous western shirts that we have, including brands like Wrangler and Lee, and all original 1970's vintage - very Dukes of Hazzard!

An ideal cover up for the spring and summer, grab yourselves one of our cotton Harrington jackets like this one, for a cool mod look.

And for the ravers, kitsch lovers and kings of colour, we have a whole load of fantastic 1980's sportswear, like this Nike Air t shirt, and this Adidas sweatshirt.

All of our auctions are starting super low, so despite the credit crunch there is no excuse to look your best!

Have a look at http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Minimum-Mouse

A weekend in Devon

2009-03-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were down in the lovely county of Devon for James's dad's birthday bash, where much food was eaten and wine consumed! So, the next day we nursed our hangovers by visiting the Fairground Heritage Centre, a truly fascinating place! If you were anything like me as a child, you most probably couldn't contain your excitement when the fair rolled into town, and this place brought back all of those memories.

In Aberystwyth, where I grew up, the fair arrived in November, so going to the fair equalled putting on tights under your trousers and two jumpers to keep warm, the lights of all the rides dazzling us in the winter night and the smell of candy floss and fried onions tempting our tummies at every turn! The Fairground Heritage Centre captured the atmosphere of that and much more, acting as an archive of fairground rides, signs and games dating back to Victorian times. The intricate detail of some of the older pieces was amazing, such as thic cheeky cigar toting cat-

And the toothy grins of the carousel horses made us all giggle-

This lovely Fench organ was a bit of a gem too-

All very inspiring stuff! At the moment we only have this fairground theme piece in our collection -

But we're sure to add some more soon! If you'd like to take a visit to this fairground-tastic little place, you'll find the info here - http://www.dinglesteam.co.uk/

Shiny new rings & things!

2009-03-26T04:42:00.001-07:00

If you are on a diet you may not want to look at these images, as they are almost sure to give you a craving for cake! Combining our love of all things miniature and edible, we have come up with some super cute new pieces... We have slice of cake rings in a selection of colours (or should that be flavours?!), and each one sits on a real china plate!

For a touch of ladylike chic, we have Pearls & Chocolates, a long string of pearls which you can double up, with a girly ribbon and chocolate charm.

These are 'Nice Cup Of Tea And A Slice Of Cake', in either vanilla with a lilac ribbon or chocolate with a red ribbon, with a real miniature cup and saucer and cake made from polymer clay.

The classic convenience meal, the Egg & Beans Ring really hits the spot.

And for all you groovy music loving ladies, get retro with our miniature record rings (we only have a few of these as the charms are vintage and hard to track down!).

They'll be in the shop in the next couple of days, so watch this space!

Craftin' it up at RAF Cosford

2009-03-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

So, this Sunday saw us get up at an ungodly hour to travel to RAF Cosford, in Shropshire. Why on earth would we want to that? Well, don't worry I'm not about to confess some tragic passion for vintage aeroplanes or anything... it was the venue of a Spring Craft Fair, and an interesting venue at that! We pitched up at a little after 8am to discover that we would actually be setting up in a hangar among the planes (they are museum pieces, by the way, otherwise we really would be getting in the way!) It was a nice opportunity for me to show off our new food themed rings, fittingly displayed on a cake tray. They certainly raised a few laughs!

Here is me (waving) and my sister Elise who had been roped in to help out.

We had lots of new pieces in for the event, which will be popping up on the website very soon...

This is Mr Mouse, ready to serve!

And one of the many, many planes we saw on the day!

Cute Cupid

2009-02-02T02:17:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here writing this while looking out at a thick blanket of snow covering my garden, admiring how pretty it looks and putting off the drive over to the office... I don't fancy winding up buried in a snow drift somewhere! So, while I procrastinate here with my cappucchino and cosy slippers, I thought I would share this little man with you! It's one of our designs for Valentine's Day (love it or loathe it, it's coming!) and I think he'd make a charming addition to any jewellery box, so perhaps share this link with your special someone and keep your fingers crossed for the big day!