Sisters turn flea market finds into handmade decorations

Andrea and Lilja Guðmundsdóttir make colourful handmade decorations from old objects they find at flea markets abroad, mbl.is reports. Their creations are sold at the Fischersund shop and Mixmix in Reykjavík.

In a small room at Andrea’s home, the sisters work at a table covered with decorative materials, old coins, pieces of jewellery and safety pins. They meet at least three times a week for several hours, making three decorations each time.

Their project began after Lilja returned from abroad with an old decoration bought at an antique shop. It was an ordinary medal belonging to a soldier, but the sisters were fascinated by it and decided to make their own pieces to wear on jackets, hats and bags.

“Then word somehow spread, and people saw the decorations we were wearing,” Andrea says. After making more, they received offers from people who wanted to buy them. The Fischersund shop became interested, and has sold the decorations for almost two years with good results.

The sisters later met Claire at Mixmix on Langholtsvegur, who also wanted to stock some of their work. Mixmix sells some of the pieces as fragrance decorations, accompanied by a fragrance sample.

When they travel abroad, Andrea and Lilja search old markets for materials and objects to attach to the decorations. They prefer to use items that are old and say they have never advertised their work because they are simply “two people playing around.”

The sisters are currently preparing 50 decorations for a garden party at Mixmix next Saturday from 12pm to 5pm. They will attend the event and meet visitors.

They also make necklaces and crosses. Although they initially criticised themselves for uneven stitching, they now see it as part of the charm.

“Our sewing is free-form,” Lilja says. Andrea adds that they want the pieces to look handmade rather than factory-produced. She describes them as small works of art and says the decorations make excellent gifts because they express affection and respect, telling the recipient that they deserve one.

A detailed interview with the sisters appears in Morgunblaðið’s Sunday supplement.