New stock coming to the fairs this week...

Having just returned from a buying trip in France, I am about to set off  again to sell at the Decorative Living Fair at Eridge Park near Tunbridge Wells on Thursday.  I will be taking along some English and French Textiles, trimmings, lace, buttons.....

As well as Beautiful old shell boxes from France, hats, corsage, sequined scarves, floral oil paintings, floaty vintage dressing gowns and a smattering of French enamelware.... an eclectic mix I hear you say... That is what happens when I am let loose buying in France!

If you are unable to get to the fair in Kent, never fear.. I am doing the Avalon Textile and Decorative Fair in Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury  BA6 8DB on Friday the 20th of May. The fair is open from 9 am to 4 pm. Entrance is free to the fair and museum buildings.

Catching Up!

After many weeks of frustration at not having full access to a computer, I have finally got an opportunity to catch up with my blog.... Here are a few sunny reminders of our most recent trip to France. 

We visited plenty of markets and vide greniers, but also had time on the beach

There was an opportunity to relax by the pool at a friends house.

Spotted this house which I fell in love with....it reminded me of something straight out of a TIn Tin book. It is in need of much love and attention....

......the sign on the front was temptation....

I bought this great little vintage dolls house bathroom at a Depo Vente. At present it is "resting" in my collection until the start of the fairs at the beginning of September.

Another day we watched a cycle race - the French do love their bicycles.

On our return from France we were off again to enjoy the sun at the WOMAD festival. At long last we got to see the wonderful Skip McDonald ( aka Little Axe). He is a regular at the WOMAD festival, but we usually missed seeing him as he played on the Thursday evening in previous years.

Other highlights were Toumast, if you like African music with a Hendrix influence, then this is the band to check out! Above are the excellent Toubab All stars - a lively French Ska band which got everyone dancing.
Below is Gilzene & the Blue Light Mento Band   traditional Jamaican music.

I have discovered a lot of new things to enjoy, including this - Kormac's Big band which has to be my absolute favourite find of the month! There is no CD available yet, but I am sure it won't be long....... Lastly, I was a little disappointed by the tracks that Gil Scott Heron played. He has a fantastic new CD, and should really have included this in his set. Hey ho!

French Leave...........

Despite being very busy with the repairs and redecoration of the house, we managed to escape to France for a little retail therapy last week. Above is Flossie wearing one of several red & white scarves I purchased. I should think that Sarah might be tempted by one or two!

This is the view of the largest vide grenier that I have ever been to. The stalls stretched for almost as far as you can see....that was 2.5 kms along this road, meaning 5 kms of stalls in total to get round.......and a very long walk to where the van was parked!

However, we did grab the odd tranquil moment, and a delicious lunch with family in Brittany.

Then it was back to the cottage to sort out all our finds.....

I bought several of these empty clock cases, I think they will make interesting display cupboards....

This unusual carved frame was one of my favourite finds on this trip, it will be taken to the Dairy House this week. Now, back to the painting..... no time for slacking!

A peaceful few days in France

Last week we were lucky enough to be able to have a few days away at our favourite place. One morning we took a leisurely stroll along the beach, it was deserted as you can see......

Apart from signs that somebody had been having some fun in the sand the previous day

........ this brought back happy memories of hours spent on this beach when the boys were young.

All the houses are closed up for the winter months. This particular house has always been my favourite. It has a wonderful view of the sea and the garden is never very tidy, but in the summer the family usually eat their meals outside.

We drove back through the country lanes, watched by spotty cows in the orchards.

I saw this bench and had to take a photo, I love the way the flowers have grown through the slats of wood.

Another day was (predictably) spent searching for French treasures at one of the biggest Vide Greniers I have ever been to. The stalls stretched as far as the eye could see!

Look closely at what this man has in his arms. It is a beautiful tame fox! He walked around with it on a lead, chatting and showing his "pet" off to anyone who wanted to see it.

Once I was back at the cottage, I couldn't resist a little "photo opportunity" with my finds. I often find that when I am buying stock a theme or colour scheme somehow forms itself.... this time green & red dominated.
Even the way we then set the table for lunch reflected the colour scheme! The green vintage china is from the 1950's/60's and is called Beryl ware. This was the china I grew up with in my parents home, and now my brother has chosen it for his holiday cottage. The white china bowls with vegetable design are French. I bought them for him as a house-warming gift when he bought the cottage.
Next I had a little photo-shoot in the bedroom, the Boudoir doll looks quite at home doesn't she?

..and the lovely old toy horse had a good view of the garden until we brought him home.

This corner of the sitting room looked cosy with knitted "finds", including some balls of wool which I will give to my knitting lady. She is busy at the moment making Vintage style berets for the Winter season.

While we were in the cottage, we discovered these plump house martins nesting in the shed.

and lastly.. the great thing about holiday cottages! Always a very eclectic book collection to delve into. This time I dipped into the Sex Pistols Biography for a bit of a change!

All Things French.............

"All things French" - a quote taken from Blackadder the Third first shown in 1987. It seems a suitable title to go with this post as we have just returned from a flying visit to France.....

As usual we have returned home with an interesting and eclectic mix of goodies for the home and garden.....
Does anyone know what these wooden toothed items are for?

(we couldn't resist them!)

Love the colour of this 50's kitchen clock...

These are sample pieces from the late 50's or early 50's, great graphics & in lots of colourways. Nice heavy cotton suitable for jolly cushions for the garden?

White roses of a red background, along with a kitsch kitchen curtain with more groovy graphics.

A more sombre selection of sample pieces.. displayed on one of several ladders which we bought.

Huge vibrant floral curtains (in two colourways)... could be used for deckchairs...

and an eclectic selection of decorative metal ware, photo frames, a dolls cupboard, a wonderful picnic basket, wire wine carrier & a French perfume bottle all displayed on rosy fabric!

Not shown (still on the washing line) are large pieces of Navy and black mattress ticking and a selection of heavy cotton unused sheets which can be used for many projects including table covers.. cushions.. window seats...bags etc.

I also bought a selection of 1930's, 40's and 50's clothing, all of which will be coming with me to the next few fairs.

Ardingly is the first date, it takes place on July 21st and 22nd, see the DMG website for full details. There are 2 dates for Honiton in August, the first is the Rag sale in the Mackarness Hall on the 1st of August, followed by the Textiles & Decorative fair in the same place on the 11th of August.

What I love about France.......

Just got home from a wonderful few days in France. The weather was mixed as you can see, but here are some of the things that caught my eye. I love the stunning architecture of the cathedrals.

I love the fact that you can buy delicious sausages from barbecue-stands on every street corner on market day....

Secret gardens behind beautiful rusty old gates, and beautiful domestic architecture.

Very shabby Vide Greniers in the middle of small towns. Unlike the Car boots sales in this country everyone is relaxed and jolly, happy to haggle and they make a day of it. Even the rain doesn't deter the French, they just cover their stands with clear plastic sheeting and stand under their umbrella until it stops.

The lilac was particularly prolific this year, as was the wisteria and blossom.

Sunset over the graveyard, not a blade of grass in sight.. very French!

I love this old painted sign above the cottage where we stayed....

Flower shops bursting with colour were so tempting. I could have filled the back of the car with pots of hydrangea......

Another street market with an amazing cupboard that I would have loved to have brought home, but the car was filling up fast with vintage dresses, old linen smocks, flowery textiles, picture frames & some very pretty enamel teapots & jugs!





... and where else could you buy an ancient Mercedes hearse for £900!!!!! (but I resisted the temptation!!!!)