Steptoes Dog Vintage Wares&Ninetynine Gifts

What Is EPNS?

2011-11-03T22:56:00.007Z

Here's a question we get a lot on the phone and our website.

So here is a bit of info about EPNS.

EPNS stands for Electro Plated Nickel Silver.

Electroplating is the application of a very thin coating of Silver on to base metal often with some Nickel content, it was invented by Elkingtons in 184o and the stamping of Silver-plate was brought in around 1896, to prevent Silver-Plate being passed off as Sterling Silver.

So any items marked EPNS date to after 1896 and they sometimes also feature the A1 stamp.

If you have a set of stamps, you should check to see if there is the Britania or Sterling Silver hall mark, in which case they will be Sterling Silver. The the marks are not Sterling Silver marks, then they may be older Silver Plate.

Most EPNS is not massively valuable, but, is often very pretty and useful.

EPNS can be cleaned, although if you put it into a dishwasher with stainless steel it can mark bady, so better to hand wash it.

The other great thing about EPNS is that it is quite inexpensive and you can pick up some really pretty antique and vintage pieces.

EPNS cutlery sets are worth buying, they're pretty, useful and hold their value well.

I also really love Victorian Silver Plate vases, they're really pretty, add really charm to your home and don't brake if you drop them or knock them over - very handy in my house!

Buttons!

2011-10-28T11:32:00.008Z

We buy and sell 1000's of button every year and they're one of my favourite things, I love rummaging through a button box, it calms me! A bit bit odd, but, there you go!

My husbands gran once said to me 'you'll never be poor if you've got a button box'. I'm not sure about the scientific or financial accuracy of her statement, but, the sentiment and thought is quite heart warming, especially in the current tricky financial climate.

Then I got to thinking about making do and mending (very now) and that buttons are great for making gifts, decorating bags, making jewellery and other cute bits and bobs. I also thought what a lovely gift in its own right a button box or even a sewing box is too!

So if you fancy buttoning up a perfect gift, here's an idea or two:

Recipe A for a great gift:

1 x Vintage tin
+
1x Mixed lot of 100 pretty vintage buttons
=
A really wonderful gift

Recipe B for a fabulous gift:

1 x Cute Sasss & Belle Felt house box (it is a perfect sewing box)

1 x little bird sewing kit

1 x vintage tin ( for buttons)

1 x 100 pretty mixed lot of vintage buttons

1 x pretty bird tape measure

A truely fabulous gift

A (very) brief tour of toast racks....

2011-10-13T16:02:00.009Z

Toast racks are a staple of the vintage breakfast table or tray and have been around for centauries, with the earliest known examples dating to the 1770s.
A toast rack is a small rack, usually in metal, but, they can be found in pottery, plastic and glass. It often has feet and handles, with bars to keep the toast upright and separated, and is designed to hold multiple pieces of toast.
The main aim of a toast rack is to hold the toast and keep it separated, so the steam can escape, and this means you don’t get soggy toast – handy! Although it does result in the toast getting cold quicker - not so handy...
Like most household items toast racks are influenced by fashion, and have mirrored changing styles, which means there are wonderful antique and vintage toast racks to be found.
Toast racks are great for adding vintage style to your home, breakfast table or tray and whilst most of us might only have time to actually use them for breakfast at the weekend, they are also perfect for keeping your post organised. A nifty little storage solution, if you only feel like tackling the bills once in a Blue Moon....
So if you want a toast rack or two, the choice is vast, ornate twirly Victorian examples, stylish Art Deco pieces, sleek 1960s & 1970s stainless steel numbers and quirky 1950s Atomic designs.
Unusual design features, such as shaped handles and feet, unusual materials and colours, like Celluloid, Perspex, Glass and Bakelite and known designers and producers, I’m thinking Old Hall, or if you have the budget, Christopher Dresser, are all points to consider when looking for a good toast rack...
The main point though is: do you like it?
Quick Tip:
An antique or vintage toast rack makes a great wedding present.... it evokes ideas of domestic bliss, doesn’t have to break the bank and is unusual and stylish enough to please even the most discerning of couples!

Fun & Games and cake!

2011-07-27T19:09:00.010Z

I have a love of vintage games. When I was little we'd have Sunday lunch with my Grandma & Grandpa and after lunch Grandpa would take a nap and to keep us occupied my Gran had a whole draw full of games. She'd set up the card table and get us started on the games and then after about 1/2 an hour she'd wheel in a trolley-load of cakes, buns and biscuits! In the good weather we'd be outside, surrounded by her beautiful gardens and in the winter snug in front of the fire... Bliss. THE perfect Sunday afternoon - cake and games! So when I find a vintage game, I find it's almost impossible to walk away.....
I found this great What is it? game and I was thinking haw easy it looked to play, but, some of the images are really hard to guess!

Being Busy!

2011-07-21T12:38:00.005Z

We're all working very hard in the office to get loads of lovely vintage things into our online store....
The best items this week are the vintage 1950s Chiffon scarves, we've got them in loads of lovely colours and they remind me of all my Great-Aunties, heading out to the pub in breeezy Barrow-in-Furness, with Bee Hive hair-dos carefully protected by said chiffon scarves. They looked amazing - a little oasis of colour (and noise)!

Sweet Memories

2010-10-06T18:42:00.011Z

A few years ago a friend gave me a lovely hard back notebook and I decided to start compiling a recipe book. It's going well, I've got Granny's fail safe scones, Mum's chocolate pudding and my friend Debi's scrumptious pear and ginger cake (just perfect at this time of year). The thing is my recipe book is almost entirely cake and pudding! It got me thinking that it's the sweet things, the treats, that make us feel the most nostalgic. Will I ever find that magical combination of equipment and skill to recreate my Granny's baking?

Click here to see our kitchenalia department

As a new Mum I've discovered all sorts of new responsibilities. One of the nicer ones has to be providing birthday cakes! Why not try your hand at some stylish icing with this fabulous forties icing set by Tala. You can always have a tube of smarties at the ready just in case!

Those of you with allotments, or friends or relatives with one, will know that food is plentiful at this time of year. Bowls full of apples and pears are filling my kitchen. What better time to discover some new recipes.

Click here to browse our antique & vintage cookery books.

Who knows maybe one day someone will strive to recreate the magic of my baked treats!

New Term, New Treats...

2010-09-07T09:28:00.014Z

Up here in Leeds there's a change in the air. Autumn is definately just around the corner, and I kind of like it. We're a student city and this is the moment of calm before Autumn term arrives with a bang.

Our lovely little shop is starting to shape up. We've just had a large delivery of new stock (which always feels like presents arriving) and now we've got to work out how to cram it all in!

Summer term saw vintage style bunting, cuddly owl cushions and these sunshine yellow Suki Bracelets flying off the shelves...

We've got new additions on the way to all our departments. Cute kids lunch boxes you'll want to nab for yourself. Bags of brilliant handbags. And gifts galore for all the different people in your life! There are so many fantastic new treats for you this term so why not come and join us for a cup of tea and a biscuit this Autumn?

You can visit us at 164 Kirkstall Hill, Leeds
or from the comfort of your own armchair at www.ninetyninegifts.co.uk

Handmade by Kate Hamilton Hunter Studio

2010-08-26T13:56:00.005Z

Hello again from NinetyNine Gifts, and SteptoesDog.

We have a really beautiful selection for handmade jewellery at NinetyNine Gifts by Kate Hamilton Hunter Studio. The range is made from Vintage tin sourced here in the UK so all of the items are environmentally friendly and carbon neutral, as are all of our products at NinetyNine gifts. Kate Hamilton Hunter Studio combines stylish elegance with environmental awareness and sustainability as all of the items are recycled from vintage tin. The range comprises earrings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets.

Hand Made Vintage Flowers & Button Tin Brooch. £26.50

Ornate Hand Made Sterling Silver Vintage Rose & Pearl Tin Necklace. £32.00

Blue Hand Made Vintage Tin Earrings. A delightful pair of earrings, handmade from a vintage tin, by the wonderful Kate Hamilton Hunter Studio. £12.00

2010-08-18T12:30:00.005Z

Grab a Bargain

Have you seen our fantastic Bargain Corner? A great range of bargain housewears, books, collectables, clothes, accessories and jewellery. You can get yourself a great piece of vintage for a cut price.
Here is a little selection of our Bargain bits and bobs.

Vintage 1980s Primrose Yellow Lace Prom Dress
Price: £24.10

Vintage 1970s Tiger Book of Soccer Stars
Price: £8.50

Vintage 1950s Biscuit Barrel
Price: £12.00

Retro Vintage 1980s Black Vinyl Shoulder Bag
Price: £12.00

rain, rain, rain......

2010-08-04T12:53:00.004Z

I don’t know about you, but I am starting to think that it will never stop raining! Well, if that is the case, then I guess we should just make the best of it and accessories accordingly.

Ivory Edwardian Parasol Umbrella £22.50

A delightful umbrella, totally practical, being fully water-proof and with a wonderfully elegant design taken directly from the hey day of Edwardian style. This fabulous umbrella has a long sleek handle in Black, smooth waterproof Ivory pagoda shaped body and Black tassel. This divine parasol umbrella measures 88 cm tall and 87cm wide when open. Perfect come rain or shine and it looks great in your hallway too!

Don’t forget to save for a rainy day!

Magical Mushroom Money Pot £12.50

This super cute money pot is classic toadstool found in every fairytale woodland! Made from pottery and painted pillar box red with white spots the money pot has slot for your pennies at the top and a rubber seal and the bottom to get them out again. This would make a lovely gift for a child of any age to get them started collecting their pennies. The mushroom money pot is approx 4 inches / 10cm tall and wide. Please note that this is not a toy and should not be given to small children to play with.

available at NinetyNine Gifts
Have a look at our Vintage Shop SteptoesDog

Pearls never go out of Fashion

2010-07-28T12:22:00.005Z

Much like the little black dress, the classic silk scarf and the diamond ring; Pearls never go out of fashion. Here at Steptoes HQ, we understand the need every girl has for a classic, like the pearl necklace, and know that the boys can never go wrong with Pearls as the perfect gift. Therefore, we have a great selection of pearls for you to peruse at your pleasure.

This Pistachio String of faux Pearls is ideal for the summer and can be worn simply as a long string, doubled to create a more regal look or tied in a knot for a casual contemporary twist.
£54.00

This beautiful 1920’s Flapper glass bead necklace has a real charm and elegance that would suit anyone!
£73.00

And if you want to look incredibly grand, this is the number for you. This 1950’s faux Pearl Collar is in great condition and has a sophisticated look that will turn heads.
£64.00

All of these Vintage Necklaces can be found in our New Arrivals Page.

It’s out with the new, in with the old!

2010-07-21T13:48:00.004Z

SteptoesDog Vintage Wares

Everyone here at SteptoesDog agree, that it’s about time these classic sunny’s are due for a massive come-back. Forget your huge celeb style Sunny-G’s and make a statement this summer. We have a very cool selection of SunGlasses for your classic vintage collection that won’t break the bank but will guarantee to set the retro fashionista inside you free!

Retro Vintage 1990s Wire Framed Round Sunglasses

NinetyNine Gifts

These Cute Retro Inspired Wall Art Stickers are in demand at the moment and the good news is...... we have them. And £8.50 for this pack is outrageously good value! I challenge you to find them for a more reasonable price anywhere outside of NinetyNine Gifts.

Cute Retro Inspired Wall Art Stickers

Our Top Gift Tips....

2010-07-14T10:31:00.004Z

My lovely mum’s birthday is coming up and I have been trawling the net trying to find perfect gift! The internet can be a confusing beast and I tend to look at so much but find nothing. But NinetyNine Gifts has got this gift buying game sorted. The gift finder tab helps you find unique and beautiful gifts for you budget.

For Under £15.00

Wallis Sterling Silver Deco Leaf Earrings £13.50
For Under £30.00

Patchwork Wise Owl Cushion £26.50

For Under £50.00

Vintage 1920s Inspired Glass Cake Stand £46.50

Also.....
For Under £70.00
For Under £150.00

Dresses, Dresses, Dresses!

2010-07-12T10:40:00.005Z

When your weekends are spent at festival, fairs, relaxing and basking in the, slightly overcast sunshine, you know it’s the Great British Summertime. Today is a bit of a rainy one, but we have not been discouraged and I am enthused to see lots of people strutting about in their flip-flops ignoring the wet weather and getting on with their day.

Steptoes Dog

We have got a bundle of new dresses through the door and they will be shooting back out just as fast once you get a look at the selection. We’ve got retro, hippy, classic, floral, glitzy, glam, maxi and mini.

Vintage 1970s Black Floral Splash Dress.

Vintage 1950s White Floral Voile Cocktail Dress.

Retro Vintage 1970s Dollyrockers Black Floral Cotton Maxi Dress.

Strawberries and Cream and Bunting!

2010-07-02T10:29:00.004Z

Hello to all you loyal followers of Steptoes Antiques and Ninety Nine Gifts. This warm weather has given us a real boost and the creative juices have been flowing here at Steptoes Dog Headquarters to make our shop and website more beautiful than ever.

Trends

Bunting

Not sure if you have noticed but, everyone has gone bunting mad this summer. Have a look at our pretty polka dot bunting and see if it could give your garden BBQ a festival feel!

Strawberries and Cream

This summer the tennis has been a source of inspiration for the worlds most fashionable and glamorous. Have a look at this beautiful Strawberries and Cream Necklace, the perfect choice this time of year!

A Modern Twist on an Old Classic

2010-06-23T09:58:00.004Z

Set of Three Pretty Blue Pottery Swallows

This Set of Three Pretty Blue Pottery Swallows is a modern twist on an old classic. This is such a sweet little set of pottery Swallows, a fresh take on the kitsch flying ducks of the 1950s. Give your home a chic look for only £13.50 at Ninety Nine Gifts

Retro Vintage 1970s Wooden Bead Shoulder Bag.

This cute vintage handbag dates to circa 1977. This cool bag has a body made up from a mesh of wooden beads and a long matching shoulder strap. This lovely vintage bag would make a wonderful addition to your vintage inspired wardrobe or handbag collection for £34.50 at Steptoes Dog

Discount!

2010-06-16T11:55:00.002Z

Who doesn’t love a bit of discount? Well this week at Steptoes Antiques and Ninety Nine Gifts we have decided to reward our loyal customers with a lovely 10% off future purchases. Just type in our voucher code at the point of purchase. Happy Shopping!

Voucher Code: thanks9

p.s. Don’t forget to drop into our shop, 164 Kirkstall Hill, Leeds, LS4 2SX, Thursdays and Fridays from 10.00 till 17.00. Don't forget your shopper!

Eco Friendly Vintage Cotton Shopping Bag, £7.50

Beautiful Vintage Brooches

2010-06-02T08:32:00.004Z

The big news this week at Steptoes Antiques and Ninety Nine Gifts is that we will be opening our Leeds shop on Thursdays and Fridays every week. We have lots of new things both on the website and in the shop, so you can find the easiest way to shop at Steptoes. Keep checking the Blog and Facebook page for special promotions in our store at 164 Kirkstall Hill, Leeds.

I am having a ‘brooch moment’, and am loving our huge collection of beautiful brooches at Steptoes and Ninety Nine, so lets all take a ‘brooch moment’ together and have a look at these….

Steptoes Antiques

This fab Vintage 1960s Black & White Celluloid Sunglasses Brooch is available online and in our store. This brooch is stylish and eye-catching and will complete your retro look.

Vintage 1960s Black & White Celluloid Sunglasses Brooch

Ninty Nine Gifts

A delightful brooch, hand-made from a vintage tin, by the wonderful Kate Hamilton Hunter Studio. This perfect brooch features a panel, taken from a vintage tin, which features a Victorian couple, with a little Aluminium heart hand stitched on to it. Perfect for adding a touch of quirky, yet pretty vintage style to any outfit.

Hand Made Vintage Victorian Couple Brooch

Bring on the Bank Holiday

2010-05-27T10:02:00.003Z

Last weekend was an absolute blinder, sunny and hot, you don’t get much better than that. I don’t know what it is about this weather that makes me want to shop but I have been, well and truly bitten by the retail therapy bug! We have been busy here at Steptoes Dog and Ninety Nine Gifts, getting lots of lovely Vintage bits and Gift bits online for you lovely bunch, and just in time for the bank holiday.

Steptoes Dog
Have a look in New Arrivals at this Large Vintage 1950s Tan Leather Handbag, this bag will hold all your essentials and look stylish doing it!

Large Vintage 1950s Tan Leather Handbag

Ninety Nine Gifts
This retro inspired Go With The Flow Jute Handbag is the perfect size for all your holiday essentials, but this is no throw-away beach bag, the bag is made from eco-friendly Jute and is lined in wipe clean plastic so even after your trip, this bag just keeps on giving.

Go With The Flow Jute Handbag

We are good to you!

2010-05-19T09:42:00.005Z

Here at Steptoes Antiques and Ninety Nine Gifts, we just keep giving and giving. Starting this week we will be opening our shop on Thursday and Friday, so you have even more opportunity to come and pay us a visit. We are very good to you!

It looks like the sun is finally coming out and we can all start cashing in that BBQ Summer we have been promised. So this week we have chosen a Bright Vintage 1950s Black Embroidered Birds & Flowers Evening Bag to brighten up your wardrobe and add a touch of vintage chic at the same time.

We have exciting things coming up at Ninety Nine Gifts over the coming weeks, so keep checking the blog and Facebook page for weekly updates on New Arrivals. In the meantime, give yourself a sugar rush with this little treat!

Delux Retro Swizzles Matlow Sweeties & Fun Suitcase

Getting into bed?...... Better make it toasty!

2010-05-12T13:28:00.005Z

Steptoes Dog

With the political revelation this week, that seemingly, any two parties can get into to bed together; we at Steptoes think that things could get a little frosty! We are here to help; this Antique Victorian Copper Wendy Bed Warmer or Hot Water Bottle could be just the thing.

Although we wouldn’t recommend using this Victorian Bed Warmer as it may not be water tight and metal containers can cause scalding if touched when hot, we suggest filling it with sand and using it as a stylish door stop.

Ninety Nine Gifts

Just to cover all bases we also have this Super-Cosy Red Wooly Heart Hot Water Bottle & Cover at Ninety Nine Gifts. We are feeling the love!

May! .......already?

2010-05-05T08:47:00.003Z

Hello happy shoppers, hope everyone had a good Bank Holiday, even though it was a bit drizzly. We opened Steptoes Dog on Friday and we had a few lovely customers through the doors so……….we are opening again this Friday!

But, if you can’t pay us a visit, we are still online….

Check out our gorgeous collection of Vintage Compacts

At Ninety Nine Gifts, we have this incredibly cute Magical Mushroom Money Pot.

This sweet little money pot could make anyone want to save their pennies!

2010-04-28T12:41:00.005Z

Pay us a Visit!

Good news! ............every Friday, starting this week, Steptoes Dog and Ninety Nine Gifts will be open to the public from 10am – 6pm. So as well as browsing for our bits and bobs online, you can pay us a visit and have a wonder around our shop. Everything we have in the shop is available on the website so it’s the perfect opportunity to try before you buy.

You can find us at;
164 Kirkstall Hill
Leeds
LS4 2SX

Steptoes out and about!

We have been keeping very busy here at Steptoes, so as well as providing vintage lots of lovely vintage bits to the National Gallery shop, Tea Cups and saucers, Cake Stands, Vintage Tins and Handbags, you might also spot some of our Chocolate Boxes on Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, and if you fancy one of your own just visit out website.

Vintage 1960s Coc D'Or Ribbons and Lace Chocolate Box

Spring in full Swing!

2010-04-21T13:54:00.005Z

What an exciting week this has been! Who knew that a bit of ‘volcano dust’, as my mother calls it, could cause so much bother? So many people have been stranded, unable to come home or get away, that this news even beat a pending general election! With all this excitement, we almost didn’t notice the delivery of a fresh batch of Jewellery Trees, found at Ninety Nine Gifts. Back by popular demand, the Jewellery Tree is a divine little White metal jewellery stand in the shape of a pretty tree with three little birds perched in it. Your earrings, necklaces and bracelets will look wonderful festooned in this little tree and it'll stop them all getting tangled in a box!

Ninety Nine Gifts

These Jewellery Trees have always been extremely popular and the good news is that they are now back in stock! Perfect as a gift or even just to treat yourself......why not?!

Steptoes Antiques

There are plenty of shiny new Vintage Brooches at Steptoes Dog Antiques, including this very pretty 1930s Crescent Moon Diamante Rhinestone Brooch. Simple and eye-catching, would enhance any outfit this spring.

Longer Days and More Sunshine......We Hope.

2010-04-14T11:06:00.007Z

The clocks have gone forward and we are all feeling the benefit of longer days and more sunshine. As ever we have been promised a BBQ summer, but this year I have faith in the weather man and have already broken out the Flip Flops! Things have been busy here and we are all very excited about a bundle of Antique and Vintage Cameras new to our Housewares Department, some snazzy Lucite Bangles in every colour under the sun and some pretty Antique Belt Buckles, guaranteed to add a touch of class to any outfit this Spring.

Steptoes Dog

Nudes and pastel shades are all the rage at the moment and don’t show any signs of budging from our High Street this season. The good thing about this trend is that anyone can make it work just by customising your accessorise, and our Lucite Bangles are just the ticket!

Ninety Nine Gifts

The very talented Claire Murphy designs and makes beutiful jewellery from fabric waste and vintage and antique buttons. Each piece is unique and handmade here in the UK by Claire, so they are very eco-friendly and ethical so make a statement with a chunky button necklace.

Spring is in the air!

2010-03-19T09:22:00.010Z

Spring is in the air - it's official - my mum-in-law bought me some daffs the 1st of the year - lovely!
So time to Spring clean home heart & wardrobe.....
You may want to inject a spot of fresh air into your world, so here a my top tips:

1. Get everything out and try it on. Throw away old socks with holes and the like. For items you like but don't really wear - then try pairing them with items you wouldn't wear them with - such as: a long sleeve t-shirt, cardi or shrug under a summer dress, so it becomes a spring dress!
At www.steptoesantiques.co.uk we've got a big selection of vintage Lucite Bangles in lovely juciey Spring-time colours and lots of great vintage handbags, all perfect for adding a touch of Spring freshness to your wardrobe, without braking the bank!

2. Clean - do a little bit at a time - but do it well and start on one room - don't move on to anouther until it's finished and move through the house. Take plenty of tea brakes and keep the biccies handy! Wash cushion covers - it instantly brightens the room. Wash the windows and polish dry with newspaper it really shines them and it really works! Remove cobwebs with a feather duster - we've got a Black French Maid type feather duster at www.ninetyninegifts.co.uk, it's perfect for hard to reach places and the sight of you with it may even put a little Spring Oh La la into your love life!

3. Go for a walk in the sunshine and smile. Hug those you love - even if it's the dog - in the dogs case, I recommed hugging before gong on a walk rather than after!
Buy yourself a treat - we've loads of lovely treats at both our stores some come & check them out! Happy Sringtime!

Afloat on a Sea of Vintage Jewllery....

2009-11-10T20:19:00.006Z

Vintage is really eco-friendly, it is recycling or even precycling at its very best, so I think it's a great business to work in. However, i have decided that we can do better and I have done a Carbon emission analysis for the business and found that we produce very low carbon emissions (v good!) and then I decided that it would be good to off-set the ones we do produce. And a couple of cups of tea and a the odd jammy dodger later and I decided that it would be even better if we off-set the carbon emission for all our products too, so we have off-set them too! So

I went to see Marie-Ann, this week (again). Marie-Ann is the lovely lady who searches the length and breadth of the UK for the beautiful vintage and antique jewellery and accessories that find their way to Steptoes Dog Vintage Wares. She has perfect taste and a good eye for a bargain and usually is the source of the very best of our vintage jewellery and accessories and she now fancies a trip to France, so we may well head over there togeather next year - hurrah! I LOVE French vintage (I lived in France for 4 years and couldn't afford anything other than vintage, so have a close personal relationship with it)! Anyway I digress. The upshot of my several lovely meetings with Marie-Ann other than trip planning is a huge range of truely delectable antique and vintage jewellery and accessories, which I've been lovingly slaving over and are now coming in store - so don't say you haven't been warned. Christmas is coming and the lovely pretty vintage things are starting to fly, so don't miss out! A breif rundown includes:
Antique amber necklaces
Antique Victorian Whitby Jet brooches & bracelets
Vintage Art Deco glass necklaces
Vintage Art Deco brooches
Vintage sterling silver bracelets and brooches
Vintage 1950s Norwegian enamel and Sterling Silver brooches
Antique Victorian glass and mother of pearl cufflinks
Vintage theatrical diamante rhinestone necklaces
and loads loads more......

New Stock For Christmas & A New Website Too!

2009-10-17T20:29:00.005Z

We've been really busy adding new stock ready for the christmas gift buying season, so there's loads of sparkling vintage jewellery, handbags, evening bags, toys, games and homewares coming online and our departments are just groaning with stock.

NEWS FLASH: The new vintage inspired and recycled gift & homewares shop is up & running. There are loads of lovely gift ideas and cute things for your home. The business is socially responsible, we send 10% of the proceeds to social and humanitarian charities and projects and it is carbon neutral too - so the feel good factor is guaranteed! Come & check us out at www.ninetyninegifts.co.uk

Busy Busy Busy!

2009-09-03T10:50:00.007Z

Apparently there's no peace for the wicked... which makes me a very very wicked girl indeed! I'm not quite sure where the summer went really! Anyway, we've been putting lots of new dresses, jewellery and accessories into the online shop, so those departments are looking really full of wonderful vintage treasures! We've made a start on putting so more of the vintage homewares on to the site too, so they'll be coming online over the next month, along with more vintage jewellery and accessories.

The Amercians do have some amazing vintage clothing and accessories labels, such as Enid Collins and Whiting & Davis (the bag in the picture is a 1930's Whiting & Davis alu-mesh handbag, with Cream Bakelite frame and handle) and I do try and stock these, so this week I'm going to New York to source some more fantastic vintage handbags and evening bags, and whetever other vintage treasures I find! So watch this space!

Vintage dresses, jewellery and accessories as far as the eye can see ....

2009-07-06T12:09:00.009Z

Well, what a busy (and expensive) few days i've had. On Thursday we went to check out a new vintage dress supplyer and came away with bag loads of beautiful vintage dresses. Lots of fantastic vintage Seventies maxi dresses, some proper retro Eighties 'power' dresses, some darling vintage Fifties full-skirted dresses and even a few retro 1980s cat-suits, and vintage jackets ... oh... and some very cool vintage 1960s and 1980s leather jackets too!
Then on Saturday, I met up with a lady who supplies me with vintage jewellery, and bought some fabulous vintage 1930s Art Deco diamante rhinestone necklaces and bracelets. She had some other wonderful stuff too ..... so I wound up buying that too! So we got vintage powder compacts, accessories, brooches, jewellery sets, evening bags and more!
I'm, writting descriptions and taking pictures of these things this week, so they'll be coming in store within the next month.

This week I've added more new stock to the website. We do this on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, and the items go into the New Arrivals department for about 1 week before going into their proper department, you can click the link on the right of this page, marked New Arrivals to go straight there, so now you know!

This week we have more antique mother of pearl shell handled butter knives and pickle forks - these are divine and look beautiful with antique or vintage mis-matched china and linen! More very pretty vintage 1930s hankys, in linen, silk and cotton. Come and see the Three beautiful antique Victorian evening purses, the bird one nearly didn't make, I almost kept it, I love it some much! We also added more vintage dresses - lots of different styles and eras. Finally, we're adding some homewares too - vintage glasses, dressing table items, kitchenalia and loads of other things too!
I think that's all for now ...

Where has she been ?.....

2009-07-03T11:54:00.008Z

Hello Again!

Sorry i've been away for so long ... feel very bad ...... very busy ...... lots of excuses ..... blah blah blah ..... boring!

Anyway, here I am back again, trying to get to grips with blogging ... it's all a bit new and it'll take me a little while to get the hang of doing it, so please bare with me!

A bit of an update for the last 2 years!:

Finally managed to produce baby after several attempts.

We moved business into new premises, with showroom & proper storage, the baby objected to sharing her cot with vintage handbags - unreasonable child!

I now have a lovely assistant who works with me quite a lot and keeps me organized!

Re-branded the business, so we're now Steptoes Dog Vintage Wares, with a lovely new logo, all thanks to the guys at Lazanby & Brown in York.

Re-designed the website, so it has a neat new look and fly-out menu on the homepage so you can access all of the departments from there - cool and easy to use too!

We now offer a stylish gift wrap service for the small accessories and jewellery, to save you the hassle of doing it yourself.

We also now stock a range of greetings cards so you can order your vintage gift, card and wrapping and have it sent direct from us to your recipient - how easy is that!

Please rest assured that whilst i may have been really slack in the blogging department, i've been working really hard sourcing vintage treasures, but, more about that later!

In meantime, as a penance for being so slack, i'm going to eat a pot noodle - i've haven't done that for about 2 years either!

Don't forget to check out the website, we have 8000+ genuine antique and vintage items on there!