Jolly Girls Outing

Yesterday was a great day, like minded girlies together at the wonderful Textile fair in Ilminster.
From left to right Donna of http://www.donnaflower.com/
Sue from http://www.vintagetovictorian.co.uk/
Niki http://www.nostalgia-stonehouse.co.uk/
and me... no website address as I am the mad one who prefers to drive all over the country selling my textiles, costume & other fripperies... talking of which.....
A small sample of goodies I will be taking to The Oxford Vintage fashion fair on Saturday. The fair is being held in St Michael & All Angels Hall, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7EZ.
The fair is open from 10 am to 4 pm Admission £2.00/£1.00 conc.
If that isn't enough excitement for one day, on Sunday I will being selling at The Vintage fashion Fair in Cardiff City Hall, CF10 3ND. fair opens at 10 am (9.30 trade). See the Blind Lemon Vintage website for further details.

Another week, another town.........

Monday morning already, and trying to recover from the excitements of the weekend. On Saturday was the amazing Vintage & Handmade fair in Rangeworthy Village hall. This charming building was transformed into a fantastic & alternative shopping experience for the day. Those who missed it must put it on the calendar for next year (Saturday 30th May in Chipping Sodbury Town hall). I did take plenty of photos at the fair, but after seeing that everyone elses were better than mine I will keep them for another day! It was lovely to meet so many new people, my only regret was that there wasn't more time to chat (as we were busy selling). So, look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Sunday was another very busy day....Here is a piccie of my stall at the Fair in Bath. The fair in the Assembly rooms is fast becoming well known for its selection of top quality stalls & is a great hunting ground for collectors, designers and anyone who is passionate about Vintage clothes and textiles. The next fair is February 22nd, so another important date for the 2009 calendar.

So, onto this week.... it is all systems go to prepare for the Textile Fair in Ilminster on Wednesday the 26th November. It takes place in the meeting house at the top of the high street & you can park right outside. Open from 10 am to 4 pm.
As always there will be a wonderful selection of textiles, trimmings, buttons, quilts, lace and of course.......................................

No visit to Ilminster is complete unless you visit the wonderful time capsule that is Dyers (shown at the top of this post). This shop has to be seen to be believed, it really is just like stepping back in time. It is not a museum, but a working commercial outlet, selling ladies & gents clothing.. also haberdashery & much more.

Vintage clothes & the mysteries they hide....

I recently purchased this gorgeous jacket & at first believed it to date from the 1940's. Imagine my surprise to find a handwritten note in the pocket which gave a lovely insight into the previous owner. Here are a few lines from the note.
"This Irish tweed Hebe sports jacket was bought in a "posh" small shop in Keynsham on the Bristol to Bath road in about 1952. I liked it because it reminded me of a field of buttercups & daisies!!! (But I was young and silly then!)
I saw many of these suits in Bath, but few in Bristol, but i have heard that the money is made in Bristol and spent in Bath!"

However, this dress (shown below) does date from the 1940's as it has a Utility label and came with its very own "make do & mend" wartime brooch made from plastic covered wire. It came complete in the bag (above) with its price label & shop bill. The mystery is why it remained in the bag for over 60 years and was obviously never worn.