Some Dairy House goodies.

I have been over at the Dairy House today, after tidying and restocking our stand I wandered around to see what other goodies were on sale.....

Above are a beautiful pair of Barbola bookends that were hard to resist.

Then there was this pretty child's patchwork quilt along with vintage buckets, spades & tambourines.

Here is a scrummy basket of colourful crochet blankets.

then on our stall I have placed more fabric covered boxes and a selection of French & English textiles suitable for all sorts of projects.

visit http://www.dairyhouseantiques.co.uk/ for further details.

Nice frock.........?

I have just watched the fascinating and enjoyable BBC production of the story of Enid Blyton (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00nxkm8/b00nxklj/Enid/) There were superb sets, excellent acting and all very evocative of the period.. BUT..... why oh why did they have to use a total of 3 Cath Kidston dresses? Some might say I am being hyper critical, but in this day and age when there are dozens of vintage fairs where costume designers can find plenty of original 40's dresses it does seem a great shame to resort to the High Street.

I have nothing against the pretty designs of CK, far from it as I own several of her dresses (including the one shown above!) I just feel that if you are putting on a "costume drama" of this type & quality it should be true to the era. It certainly cannot be a question of cost as these CK dresses retail at about £80- £90 each and you can still buy a good 40's dress at a vintage or Antique fair for anything between £45 and £75. One may also argue that sizing is tricky, there are ways around this as dresses can be made from vintage patterns using vintage fabric, both of which can be found on the Internet or specialist fairs. Helena Bonham Carter looks to be an average size, but it was she who was wearing the CK dresses, another character called Dorothy wore some great vintage dresses (but appeared to be the larger size of the two women).

Come on BBC costume department, stop being so lazy & get out there to see what is on offer!

Thank you for your comments on this one, I had no idea that there was no longer a "BBC costume dept". What a shame. However it still doesn't excuse the fact that whoever worked on this production took the easy way out.

Hoorah for the Vintage and Handmade Fair!

Three cheers for Michele & Jayne! The fair on Saturday was yet another resounding success & all thanks to the blogging gals!

I am afraid I have failed miserably as only took a few photos of my stall & Amanda (aka the shabby Chick).

I was sooooooo busy from the moment the doors opened until close of play at 4 pm (and even then there were still customers in the building).

So, a big thank you for all your hard work in making this event possible.

PS there are some great photos of the event on the website http://www.vintageandhandmade.co.uk/

do take a look!

The Vintage & Handmade fair preview.....

OK, spot the silly mistake...... Handmade & Vintage instead of Vintage & Handmade....

Anyway we all know that its only 5 days to go.... so thought I would try a "dress rehearsal" on the kitchen table this morning.

To give you a taster of what I am taking along to the fair on Saturday in Chipping Sodbury...

There will be vintage fabrics, puzzles, dolls, dolls house items, Vintage Xmas decorations, fabric covered boxes, jewellery, corsage, vintage pinnies, vintage children's hankies, colourful china & a lot, lot more.......

The "dress rehearsal" was rather overwhelming and it would appear that once again I have squirrelled away far too much stuff for the fair, but hopefully I should be able to cram it all onto the table with the help of the trusty shelves!

Festive fairies....
Snowmen, gnomes.. more fairies.... the list is endless! See you there! http://www.vintageandhandmade.co.uk/

New Items in the Dairy House this week.............

It has been another busy old week. The Textile fair in Ilminster was buzzing with enthusiastic customers despite the miserable weather.

However, earlier in the week I managed to get across to the Dairy House to stock up our stand.

Here are a selection of new items that have gone in this week. However, if you were making a special journey for any one item it might be as well to contact Sue first as there is a chance that items shown on this blog may have already been sold.

http://dairyhouseantiques.blogspot.com/ or http://www.dairyhouseantiques.co.uk/

This metal wall hanging candle sconce would look great decorated with foliage for Christmas.

This stunning lamp is on the stall next to mine & caught my eye, the shade is gorgeous.

A very funky abode.....

I would like to share with you some photos I took recently in a friends home.

Isn't it fabulous?

Each corner has fab & funky arrangements of kitsch goodies..

I love the way items are grouped together, like the perspex collection of bambi's in the hallway (shown above)

The kitchen is probably my favourite room & evokes childhood memories of growing up in the 60's and 70's.

As you know I am rather keen on 50's china too!

If you are seriously into kitsch then Bronia will be selling at the Rook Lane Retro fair in Frome on Saturday November 7th. Sadly I cannot be there as I will be selling at the Stroud Rag Fair at Bisley.. and Mr W is selling at the Exeter Flea Market at the Matford Livestock centre. There are just too many events to cover on one day!!! Stop press! Just found out that the Rag market in Bisley opens at 9.30 (not 10 as I previously said). Get there nice & early as there might be a queue!

Amazing Axbridge......

A few weeks ago I told you about the 2 day fair at Compton House in Axbridge. It is open for the rest of today until 6.30, and then from tomorrow from 10 until 4.

If you are able to go along, you will have a real treat. This beautiful old house is crammed with stalls selling everything from Lavender soap to fabulous cushions (made with Vintage fabrics)

This display cabinet has vintage china & great handmade items with a Christmas theme

Beautiful cushions are piled high on four poster beds & window seats...

Painted baskets with delicate china...

This Posting box was on display in one of the bathrooms!

Funky Seasonal lampshades.....

.. and even live music while you shop.... this guy was really good!

I fell in love with these felted bags.....

Another bedroom was full of silk clothing & these fab brollies. If you can get to the fair tomorrow I am sure you won't be disappointed as there is so much to see..... and I haven't even mentioned the willow workshop in the basement....

November, dates for your diary

This months rather gloomy sign from the 1960's school room!

However, it is not all doom & gloom as there are plenty of great vintage events this month.....

Remember how I am always rattling on about going back in time to old fashioned shops? Well, if you take a trip to Ilminster Textiles fair on November 4th, you can pop into Dyers at the opposite end of the High street.... apologies for the quality of the photo, I took it through the doorway. I am always rather shy of taking photos, but one of these days I will be brave enough to ask if I can take some good interior shots of this gem.

The Ilminster fair takes place in The meeting house, Ilminster TA19 0An and is from 9.30 until 4 pm. Admission free.

These photos were taken at last years fair and show the great quality of goods on offer. As well as stunning vintage clothing from Angela Milson there are textiles, trimmings & goodies galore from all the stalls..

Another must for this month is the Stroud international textiles event at Bisley Village Hall, a few miles outside of Stroud on Saturday the 7th of November.

See link to website for full details http://www.stroudinternationaltextiles.org.uk/events.html

Open from 9.30 to 4 and a great event not to be missed!

Last year was well attended, and the stalls were piled high with a variety of vintage goodies for the collector & maker....

Next is the Vintage and Handmade fair on Saturday 14th of November. I had a stall at the very first fair this time last year, and the event has just gone from strength to strength thanks to the hard work of Michele & Jayne.

If the fair in May was anything to go by, this promises to be a bumper event. Quality stalls with beautiful handmade items, vintage toys, pictures, aprons, hats, trimmings, tins, cushions and so much more. The location is the Town hall in the centre of Chipping Sodbury, and is open from 10 to 4. Admission is free and tea and homemade cakes are on sale all day.

http://www.vintageandhandmade.co.uk/

Images from last years Blind Lemon Vintage Fashion fair in Cardiff. A lively & fun event, bursting with sparkle for the Christmas party season. Takes place on Sunday November 15th at The City Hall, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3ND. Open at 10 am (public) Early entry to trade at 9am, and don't forget to hang onto your door ticket for the draw at midday when you get the chance to win £150 worth of vouchers to spend at the fair!

You can tell the Festive season is getting close by the pictures I have chosen to promote the next few fairs.....

Another event in Wales takes place on Saturday November 21st at the Wenvoe Community centre, Old Port Road, Wenvoe near Cardiff. CF5 6AL. The Love Vintage fair is open all day from 10 to 4. There will be stalls selling vintage items, vintage clothes, jewellery, fabrics, textiles and much more..... any questions, email info@plump-pudding.co.uk

Bridport Christmas Market is another new event and takes place on the 28th November at St Mary's church hall, Bridport. Open at 10 am & trading all day until 4 pm. I will be there with a selection of vintage clothing & seasonal inspired goodies!

A great day out as the town of Bridport has plenty of great shops & a vibrant market.

The following day is the Ashley Hall vintage fashion & textile fair in the Assembly rooms, Bennett Street, Bath. Open from 9 am to 4.30 pm, see website for full details

http://www.ashleyhallfairs.co.uk/

Always a super event with a good selection of vintage fashion items, Antique textiles from France and a lot more besides!

The Class of 1979.....

This week is the 30 year anniversary of the November 1979 intake of student nurses at the Nightingale School of Nursing at St Thomas's hospital in London. The above photo was actually taken a year or so into our training, but it is the only one I have that shows most of the group.
Here are some of us who got together 2 weeks ago to compare wrinkles & grey hair. Ruth hosted a great day & served a delicious lunch. Some of us had not seen each other for 10 or sometimes 15 years, so there was a lot to catch up on. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone & reminiscing over funny stories that we had from our nurse training days....

This hilarious photo was taken I think in 1981, it was during our time at the "Geriatric hospital" in Clapham. We hosted a party for the residents, shown here doing the "Conga" by the look of things!

Compton House pre-Christmas shopping event

News of an unusual event that I am taking part in very soon! The Compton House pre-Christmas shopping event takes place on Saturday the 31st of October from 10 am to 6pm, and on Sunday November the 1st from 10 am to 4.30 pm. It is held in a beautiful old house in the town of Axbridge in Somerset. There will be a wide range of items for sale from Vintage clothing, textiles, cushions, bags, quality crafts, jewellery and a range of gifts from Axbridge's Splendid Ethel range. The address is Compton House, Townsend, Axbridge, Somerset BS26 2AJ. Compton House can be found on the right as you enter Axbridge from the west on the A371 Wells road (or last on the left if you come through the main square from the Cheddar direction)

It promises to be a super event and well worth visiting, hope to see you there!

NB... I have set up my stand at the Compton House fair today. What an interesting & delightful house it is! I will take photos tomorrow. Also, the small town of Axbridge is a real treat. I have never been there before & I was bowled over by the beautiful (and extremely old houses). All in all it is well worth a visit if you are free on Saturday or Sunday.