Proud mum moment......(it is allowed!)

I have always had strict instructions not to include my family in this blog (or join Facebook for that matter)... but, I did get permission from youngest boy to post this cutting from the local paper about his recent community project. We knew nothing of this until it was almost done. Well done Dude!

Dairy House update

Mr W and I have stocked up our space in the Dairy House once again. While I was there I took these photos of what I have decided to call "The French Room", it was looking particularly atmospheric with the low Autumnal light coming through the windows.....

I don't know the lady who sells from this room, but she certainly has a real knack of arranging her stock to the most effect.

It just feels like a sumptuous French drawing room. I could move straight in there, couldn't you?

Upstairs there is a more "rustic" feel to the stock. More of Mr W's English and French finds.....

These edging tiles would look amazing in the garden, defining the edges of a herbaceous border or a gravel path....

and lastly this pretty chenille embroidered picture........ not sure how I managed to part with it!!!

A Snapshot in Time

Recently I visited my parents, and mum had been sorting through some old boxes of photographs as she was about to visit a schoolfriend who she had not seen for some years.

You can imagine how much I enjoyed looking at all the fashions of the day. This one came with a newspaper cutting titled "Regatta Fashions", and described "Three fair spectators at the Northwich Regatta well equipped for the weather in rubber boots." Must have been the "Glastonbury Festival" of its day, and usually took place in the rain!

Jam and Jerusalem

Last night was the annual auction sale of Harvest produce in the church. As usual the local school had provided most of the food, and there was a superb selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, chutneys and jam.
The church was decorated with flowers and these sheaves of corn, it is a beautiful old building and it looked lovely.
Soon we were gathered together at one end and the bidding started. There was hot competition for the massive beetroots and the gooseberry jam (one of my favourites). Mr W and I came home with a huge box of goodies including a whopping great marrow. I can see a lot of vegetarian cooking happening over the next few days.....
The auctioneer & his wife who hosted a fun evening, and raised about £300 for Water Aid.

Well done Dick and Helen!

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!

Happy Birthday to me!

A sunny day on September 11th in the mid 60's, does anyone remember that strange tradition of having the jelly & ice cream as a first course at Birthday parties?

Here I am with my little brother, Alison, Gilly S, Gilly T, Linda, Shirley, Lisa and the mystery girl in the foreground with the scary fringe. I have wracked my brain to remember who she is, so if you are that person do get in touch! It is not like me to forget names or faces, but she has me foxed!

There is a clue as to my Birthday pressie that year.. a gorgeous blue easel can be seen in the background, possibly by Triang?

le Shed Textile.....

The challenge was made by Linda of Lindiblog (http://lindaclift.blogspot.com/2009/08/come-on-girls-i-want-pictures-of-your.html ) to "show us your sheds"... or work spaces of a gardenesque nature.....

Well here is mine in all its shabby glory, complete with "misty" view into the interior thanks to a neighbours bonfire this afternoon!
As you can see I have been busy sorting, ironing & pricing the latest finds....

How am I going to part with this Hydrangea head fabric?

This is one of many (Mr W would say "too many") Lloyd Loom chairs where I can sit & sew... weather permitting.

NB :The cushion is not for sale, it was a purchase from the recent Honiton Textile fair. A girls has got to have a treat sometimes, I thought the fabric looked a bit "Silver Studio" what do you think?

Baxters of Oxord Street

I am on the look out for that Time Machine again! Just look at this amazing shop, I would just love to visit.......

Some months ago I bought a huge lot of old sewing items from an auction. Gradually I have been sifting through and sorting all the items.. some to keep and enjoy, and of course some to be sold as I really do not have the space to keep it all (and it might cause a Divorce if I did!)
These images are from a selection of catalogues from a shop in London called Baxters, which was based at number 51 Oxford Street. The invoice inside one of the leaflets is dated 23rd November 1951.
The dress fabrics are listed, and include such temptations as "Printed Organdie......Slipper Satin.... Printed Egyptian cotton.. Glitter Georgette......Metal Brocades (Made in France) and of course Felt in 52 Glorious colours"
There are patterns for toys... slippers.. handbags.. Bonnets & Berets.

It has been such fun to sift through all these treasures. I have now decided which to keep and the rest will be going with me to Rag Fair in the village of Chagford (near Exeter) on October 3rd. A possible date for the diary if you enjoy sewing, making things & crafts?

Favourite China & friends coming for supper

It is always a pleasure to see friends, and this evening we are hosting a "pot-luck" style supper. All I have to do is set the table.......

well not quite, but this is the fun part where I can rummage into the sideboard and get out my favourite Alfred meakin Cactus Dinner service and Lord Nelson Rio 1950's side dishes..... along with my vintage glasses & favourite spotty jug.....
Oh yes, and the 1930's salad servers that I have had forever..... may have come from a jumble sale in the 1970s? Linen checked napkins, much nicer than paper I think.

Table cloth of course by Cath Kidston & spotty cutlery from Tesco! Just need the guests & the food......

A quintessential English afternoon

Today was the annual Church Fete. The elements were braved to set up the stands....

The Bric-a-Brac stall, always a favourite. (I came home with the red checked table cloth and the Shorter pottery fish shaped dish).

The rain soon subsided and the customers arrived, there were cream teas on offer and some very popular beer from an Organic brewery called the Avon Brewing Company (their slogan? Proper Beer for Proper People!)

It went down a treat.......

Then there were the ever-popular cake & produce stalls....

A pot of the legendary runner bean chutney & some freshly picked Gooseberries were purchased.
The bottle stall was groaning with a varied selection of prizes. From Daddies sauce to Single malt!
and of course, no village fete could be without a plant stall.....

A pleasant afternoon was had by all despite the English weather. I was in charge of the Nearly New stall ( but forgot to take a photo of it) we had been donated some good quality items & there was nearly a fight over a very pretty yellow floral Vintage dress! Another interesting item was a pair of "Hob nail" leather walking boots. A customer was intrigued by the newspaper stuffed inside them which was dated 1936. A great little slice of English Country History.