TRY THIS - Chit Chat Among Brica-Braca

I found this Italian-made silk scarf at Ealings's Avenue Vintage & Antique Market, hosted the last Saturday of every month. Lovely Fallon - aka Lost in Retro CLICK HERE - a local 2nd-hand siren set up an enticing stall and this Prada-esque scarf she was offering at just £5 had my name on it. Actually it had the name Osterelli on it. My advice: if a scarf is silk, includes a maker's name, catches your fancy and is less than a tenner, BUY it! Around your neck, tied to a handbag, as wrapping for a gift, framed or fashioned into a cushion, silk scarves are happy, adaptable accessories. 

This Ealing vintage event is a gem, and the organizers should be proud of their efforts to bring quirky, quality 2nd-hand to West London. The sellers are friendly and helpful, many of them local to the area, and the prices are fair. After you've properly perused the stalls, I highly recommend a bacon bap and a cuppa at The Drayton Court, the well-appointed pub, overlooking the market. 

Markets like this are the perfect place to pick up unusual gifts and homewares with personality. Professional and amateur interior designers alike are sure to find inspiration here. Neither will vintage wearers or collectors be disappointed  

Not just a shopping spree, Avenue Vintage & Antique Market is a community gathering. A chance to make new friends, chit chat and connect with like-minded locals. An old-fashioned idea, the market square, that's enjoying a new lease on life in Ealing. But it needs support. Mark Your Calendar: Saturday 28 March you've got a date with your neighbors. 

          

TRY THIS - Make a Date with Paste

I find myself longing to sew, paint and draw, but sadly I'm unskilled when it comes to manual crafts. I'm tempted to say I've two left hands but aren't southpaws well-known for their artistic dexterity? While I can turn a phrase, turning-up a trouser leg is well and truly beyond me. 

However, it is possible for the craft-less to conjure a project. Glue stick at the ready, I cobbled together these party invitations all by myself. Old black & white postcards spotted at Oxfam in Ealing are my foundation. Interesting bits and pieces cut from magazines and free catalogs are added. Place, paste and like magic it seems even I'm crafty.

        

Party details - date, time, place - are simply handwritten on the back of the cards. Popping with personality, I think these rival any store-bought variety. The 12 old postcards were 10p apiece and the glue stick a pound. The feeling of DIY pride - priceless.

These unique little mementos remind everyone that we're off to Zedel's CLICK HERE in March to celebrate my friend Susan's 70th birthday - paper scene stealers that perfectly suit the stylish septuagenarian tucked in our handbags.     

TRY THIS - The Arts & Crafts of Style

I found these hand-made, recycled wrist warmers at a tiny market situated in what's called the Undercroft in Deal, Kent CLICK HERE. A twice-a-week affair, it hosts 6 to 10 tables offering everything from homemade baked goods to wee watercolour paintings. Sue Evans, a local crafter, created these lovely gloves by cutting up a used jumper and 'felting' the sleeves. This, as she explained, is the simple process of washing wool on hotter and hotter settings until the desired effect is achieved. Sue fashions wrist warmers, along with bags and hats from interesting, colourful 2nd-hand cardigans and pullovers.         

I wear these 2 ways. Over a pair of thin leather gloves they look rather stylish - call it Dickensian Chic - and effectively combat winter's chill. I also pop them on indoors. Curled up on the sofa, enjoying an old film or Bargain Hunt (oddly compelling), these soft arm accessories are akin to slippers for your hands. Add several hand-made one-off pieces, like these, to your wardrobe to ensure stylish individuality. Cost? A fiver.

TRY THIS - Stylish Finds Down on the Farm

At the weekend I found this gorgeous hand-made bag at Duck Pond Market in Ruislip, North West London CLICK HERE. What a find, both the purse and the place! This leather accessory is the work of Amma Gyan, a skilled designer whose jewellery has featured on the shelves of high-street retailer Jigsaw. A Londoner born in Ghana, Amma's designs (see more below) combine leather and metals in a manner that is warm and inviting. Teamed with vintage, these well-made accessories keep your 2nd-hand style looking fresh and modern. To see Amma's complete line CLICK HERE.

Duck Pond Market is located in a lovely barn on the grounds of Manor Farm in the borough of Hillingdon CLICK HERE. The site - the remains of a pre-Norman Motte and Baily fort - boasts an extensive series of barns and outbuildings that house artisan workshops, an impressive library, a 350-seat theatre and more. It's a lovely natural setting not far from the high street. 

The afternoon was topped off with a tipple in The Duck House, a friendly pub in the shadow of Manor Farm CLICK HERE. The next Duck Pond Market is scheduled for Sunday 15 February. See you there.