Oh My, Oh Mary!

There are a great many sellers of Etsy who really will go the extra mile in personalised service. Whether it's a message to say thanks for purchasing and let you know your item's been shipped, or a little note on a business card tucked in to your parcel. Some may even throw in a little something extra if you've made a large order.

But I've yet to find an Etsy seller who'll go as many extra miles as Mary not Martha. I first found her way back when, selling hand dyed silk ribbons, beautiful reconstructed dyed flowers and fabulous vintage silver and gold trims. On a whim, because I couldn't decide between all the lovely things she was selling, I asked for a custom listing for a set price and let her do her thing. I've never looked back.

Since that first order her shop has absolutely exploded with stock. The most fabulous vintage velvet millinery flower and leaves, luxurious velvet and satin ribbons, heavily beaded trims and appliques, rhinestone buttons, top quality lace... I could go on! It's a wonderland to browse through, but I still can't even begin to decide what one or few things I want over the others, so I keep putting the decision in her hands, and she never, ever disappoints!

She's a joy to work with. I give her a price I want to stick to and a theme for the work I'm doing at the moment, with maybe a few links to show her stylistically what I'm after or other things I've bought that I want to work with. The first order I bought was French Renaisance and Maria Antoinette, so she sent me pink and blue silk ribbons, gold braids and some of those hand dyed flowers. The second order was Victoriana (I had some tapestry fabric which I was very keen on) so she sent me rich red and green silks, deeply coloured velvet leaves and velvet lilacs, violas irises and more.

This time there were two themes, one being based on the amazing Zakka fabrics I've been buying from RetroNaNa and Minna Fabric for hat use, and the other theme being Hydrangeas for my wedding. I asked specifically for ribbons, flowers and leaves. And after a couple of lovely messages back and forth, she really is the sweetest lady, my parcel was winging it's way to me.

And here's what I received:





A selection of thoroughly gorgeous velvet flowers. She often sends me the part bunches to keep me in budget and they're so so perfect for hats.


My iPad camera really doesn't do the colours of there fabulous silk and velvet ribbons justice!










But the real winner of this parcel is the leaves. Again, the colours here aren't a patch on real life. They're a triumph in blues, greens, lilacs, mauves, taupe, silver, you name it. Cleverly variegated in places and all in sumptuous silky velvet flock, nicely veined and well wired.

With a haul like this I won't have to go back for a while, which is a shame as she's just to lovely. But I've promised her pictures of the things I make with my purchased, so I'd better be off and get sewing!

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