When we spotted Diane Chandler’s up-cycled dolls’ head cactus planters at the Johnny Loves June Vintage & Handmade Fair in Shoreham, we had to find out more…

Betty Shek creates unique jewellery and accessories from found objects and fuzzy felt and is among the local designer-makers currently selling at the Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery.

Trudi Davies’ vintage fabric creations invoke a nostalgia of childhood, holidays and general joyful occasions. Here she lets us in on her inspiration and obsessions…

Brighton entrepreneur Sarah Shaw has launched a flower delivery service – Brightbunch – based on the organic veg box. VB readers can get their fourth bunch free with code VB4FREE.

Kate Holden, designer behind Oh Someday jewellery, shares her inspiration: “I started making jewellery because I found that I couldn’t find affordable, handmade jewellery in designs that I liked.”

Building on the success of their monthly clothes swaps, Brighton’s busiest workshop space Super+Super is hosting a haberdashery swap on 18 January to get those creative juices flowing for the year ahead.

We love hunting down hand-made and printed cards on offer through craft sites such as Etsy and at fairs and makers’ open houses. Here we take a look at five of our 2012 favourites.

This year Brighton is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Artists Open Houses Christmas festival over the first three weekends of December (1/2, 8/9 and 15/16).

Marking the start of the festive season, AOH offers a chance to buy unique pieces from the best local artists and makers at 54 venues, many of whom look to the styles of the past for inspiration or use vintage materials to create new works of art. Here, Helen Cann champions vintage-inspired talents from three different types of media.

Fashion & textiles

Fashion and textiles always play an important part in the vintage lovers’ open house experience. Barbara Jones’ is showing clothes and homeware in colourful 1950s style inspired fabrics at her house at 99 Ditchling Rise. Flirty frocks are beautifully retro. Quilts are made from genuine vintage fabrics, all handmade and totally unique. And homewares such as cushions and zip bags come in playful patterns and make gift buying decisions easy.

Paper-based art

Paper-based 2D work shows up strongly in the Artists Open Houses this Christmas. Mid-century styles influence Lou Taylor’s striking papercuts, showing at the AT Open House, 42 Hendon St. Bold colours and geometric cuts reference ’50s synchronised swimming routines, classic cinema scenes and the elegance of ’30s fashion magazine covers.

A pop-up shop and creative hub run by 16 – 25 year old volunteers opens its doors in Brighton Square on Saturday 3 November for a one month stay, offering products by local designers, screen-printed goods and workshops.

A new hard-back book celebrating the work of over 150 London-based designers makes Christmas shopping easy for those both within and outside of the capital’s boundaries.

We’re super excited to share the news that Brighton’s creative studio space Super + Super are hosting a series of workshops run by experts from perspex art jewellery cult brand Tatty Devine.

Jo Porter of the Brighton Bead Shop explains why the shop’s vintage tea party, held on Saturday 15 September from 10am – 5pm, will be supporting great style and a great cause.

The organisers of Brighton Art Fair (21 – 23 September) & MADE12 (23 – 25 November) are offering Vintage Brighton readers 2 for 1 entry into the popular art and craft events at the Corn Exchange. To take advantage of the offer, e-mail your name and address to 241@brightonartfair.co.uk for the Brighton Art Fair by Monday 17th September and 241@made12.co.uk for MADE12 by Monday 19th November.

Brighton-based retro pin-up lingerie label Frantic About Frances has launched its autumn/winter collection. Here, designer Jenny Mearns talks us through the new made-to-order ranges.

Brighton-based designer Daniella Christina has launched her autumn/winter collection, taking inspiration from 1940s tailoring: “In the 1940s suiting fitted the female shape and empowered women like never before.”