Introducing Locher’s. In 2001 Swiss born Nicole Locher opened her design atelier in Paris. Combining objets trouv? from London and Paris flea markets with modern fashion, she has created a style all of her own.

After finding an embroidered handkerchief from the turn of the century it became Nicole’s mission to bring back this refinement and mix it with modern styles. And to counterbalance this elegance and antiquity she has thrown in a few saucy sayings just for good measure.

For clothing your mother wouldn’t wear and your father shouldn’t see go to www.lochers.com.

tomate d’?pingles is a wonderful Etsy store offering a quirky range of jewellery, accessories and stationery made from vintage, recycled, retro and new materials. Like the flat notecards for example, shown at the top of the post. They’re hand embroidered and feature gorgeous multicoloured vintage repurposed buttons.

I’ve picked out a few more of my favourite pieces to share with you. Second from top is ‘Le Temps des Cerises’ - cherry vintage button necklace and earring set.

Oh yes, and the pretty vintage daisies on silver filled ear wires and last but not least the hand wrapped coconut ring, made from polished coconut shell and hand wrapped with copper wire.

Take a look for yourself at www.tomatedepingles.etsy.com . It’s a great site to browse. I’m off to buy a set of the notecards.

Paper Flower Girl is an emporium of all things pretty. Earrings, toys, pincushions, bags and brooches are all handmade from a mixture of recycled and/or natural materials.

Wool felts and linens are layered and stitched to produce cute flower brooches. Vintage buttons are given a new lease of life as nostalgic napkin rings and fabric remnants are combined, hand sewn and hand painted to create plushies, pin cushions and tissue holders.

Definitely one for the Friday Afternoon Surfing list!

February 14th. A day of love, romance, flowers, hearts, chocolates and the launch of the eagerly awaited Tokyo Made. At 8 o’clock a.m. Tokyo time, the much anticipated emporium of Tokyo cool threw open its doors to share its stylish treasures with the online global community.

The store is full to the rafters with goodies from hip, young Japanese designers and artists. Kawaii meets Street meets Wa. But more than this, co-owners Masao and Deanne describe it as an ‘an open window to a Tokyo shopping adventure’. As well as clothes, accessories, bags and jewellery, Masao and Deanne are eager to share the booty from their frequent power shopping trips.

And keep reading their blog, where they will keep us updated with Tokyo stories, fashion reports, street shots, designer interviews, product reviews and daily bits and pieces from the city.

Tammie Bennett has a head full of pixies, along with stickers, fabric, totes, stationery, paper and much more besides. Maybe it’s the pixies that make her so creative.

Her online shop is bursting at the seams with things I like, including patchwork cushions, fused glass pendants, notecards, magnets, pin cushions and vintage sticker packs. One to be added to the ‘Friday Afternoon Surfing’ list!

Delve right in at www.headfullofpixies.com.

Somewhere in deepest Cornwall sits Lee May. Surrounded by a menagerie of animals, she doodles and paints, creating hand printed tees and sweatshirts. Real and mythological creatures sit alongside each other in imagined conversation. And quirky characters appear against natural and dreamlike backdrops.

All of the t-shirt designs have been taken from Lee May’s own drawings and then hand printed onto 100% cotton jersey. In addition to the tees, Lee May also makes and sells a range of quirky jewellery, mixing silver, gold plate, vintage lucite and glass.

All of these charming and imaginative creations can be found at www.bonbiforest.com.

If (like me) you’re on the last minute with your present buying, I have a good tip. Hoolala has a stunning range of unusual jewellery and frippery. Sam Gannaway-Jones is the creative force behind the company. Her handmade charms have been created from her own personal photo archive and ephemera she has collected over the years.

So, here are my recommendations:

For your sister/best friend - the Gnaughty Gnome Sterling Silver Charm Necklace (how could you resist him?)
Stocking fillers - Dolly Dimple Hair Grips (my favourite)
For the man in your life - Ouija Cufflinks (deliciously dark)

Hoolala is still posting in the UK up to Christmas (Royal Mail permitting). You can order online from www.hoolala.co.uk or from Hoolala’s Etsy shop at www.hoolala.etsy.com.

I think I’ve mentioned before that I hate housework. Before I got married I had visions of running a pristine, efficient household, whipping up home cooked meals every night, baking delicious cakes that I would serve at elaborate dinner parties; my kitchen would be a warm and welcoming place with freshly cut flowers on the table and spotlessly scrubbed floors. I thought I would be a real domestic goddess. As it turns out, I’m not. In fact, I hate all domestic chores with a passion.

And yet, despite this, I’m strangely drawn to items associated with housework - peg bags, Lloyd Loom laundry baskets, tea cosies, aprons and these gorgeous hand printed ironing board covers by Lisa Stickley London. The Lisa Stickley online shop is filled to the brim with pretty housewares such as linens, tea towels, crockery, table cloths and much more. And for our UK readers she has recently opened a bricks and mortar shop in Clapham, London.

Further details can be found at www.lisastickleylondon.com.