On the Piste....again

Once a year I get on the layers for a jolly jaunt in the mountains.....

This year the destination was the Italian Alps. I had not been to Italy since the fated school ski trip in 1974 (where my poor brother broke his leg)

we were stunned by the stark beauty and empty (and I mean empty) slopes.

We named this one the Christmas Cake run as the trees just looked like they had been plonked into the snow as if they were cake decorations.

We stopped here for lunch most days, the guys who ran it were lovely and friendly. we broke the ice (as it were) on the first day when we watched three of them trying to wrestle a hot dog into a bread roll..... it had us all in hysterics and the laughter was contagious to say the least!

This was a quirky gutter pipe on the restaurant - it reminded me of something created by
 Firmin and Postgate....

One evening was spent at a tasting evening at the local butchers. It was very entertaining, and we sampled some delicious Italian food ....(sorry Si, I know you cannot look at Salami after being in an Italian hospital for a week!)

and drink.......................

Who lives in a house like this? I wish I did! Place on the edge of a gentle blue run......... with breathtaking views.

and then of course we had ski school every day! We met some great people, and had a lot of laughs. There were falls.... shrieks....swearing & sick. If you guys read this I won't say who did what!

The Shape of things to come in the world of textiles....

I have always had an affinity with textiles, interiors, and antiques. It started when I was a teenager and I helped my  mum on her stall in the Satruday Antiques market in Walcot Street in Bath. Having done a course in Interior Design in London in the 1980's, we then moved back to Bath where I had a number of jobs in various shops. Above is Atrium Interiors. You can see that the style has changed somewhat, it was the era of frills and bows!

Another shop I worked in was Josophine in Walcot Street, Bath. This was the first time I had come across the "shabby chic" style, and as you can see from the pictures, this look has not really changed much since 1990 when I took these photos. A bit scary to think that 20 years have zipped by!

The third shop where I worked was very different again, beautiful textiles and wallpapers from Zoffany, Cole and Son and Colefax and Fowler were the order of the day in this establishment.

Then my life changed and soon I was trading at Bath Market every Saturday. Mr W and I shared a stall (and the childcare) I cannot find any photos of those early happy (but often freezing cold) days in the Old Tramshed, but we were there from 1991 to when it closed in 2000.

These two photos are from the later years when I shared with Jill and sometimes Bronia.
As you can see there are a lot of textiles creeping into my stock!

In 1999 we took the big step to have a stand at Shepton Mallet Antiques fair at the Bath and West showground. Below is a piccie of our very first stall, it looks a bit bonkers as we were sharing the space, and the stock is a right old strange selection. If Sue peers closely at this picture, she might recognise something...

Now we have a photo of my very first totally textile and vintage clothing stall. This was taken at an event run by Sheila Hyson at Newton Abbot race course of all places. This was in the summer of 2000. With the end of Bath market I was casting around for other events. At Newton Abbot I met the jolly crowd of textile ladies, who have since become friends. I will never forget how friendly and fun they all were that day, Linda, I think you were there?

Then came a regular event in my home and garden... here is a view of one of the many "shed sales" - I think this one was in June 2001.

I love this photo of my very first "Shopping Arcade" at Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair, so began my love/hate relationship with these draughty tents. I think Niki would have been a regular customer around this time?

Below is an Ardingly Shopping Arcade in 2004. I was a tough cookie to do this fair as its a long way from home, and I did it alone. The weather could be fairly inclement and I have experienced thick snow and lashing  rain there on many an occasion. However , when the sun shines it is one of the best fairs in the country.

A fortuitous purchase of some fabulous 40's dresses in Spring 2005 heralded the start of doing the London Vintage fairs. More tough times, lots of driving and not always great takings. However the plus side was that I was able to stay with one of my school friends on a regular basis, thank you Aline for putting up with me on so many evenings prior to London fairs.

Luckily in 2005 I met Edwin who was planning to start some vintage fairs in the West Country. Hooray for Blind Lemon Vintage and no more 4 am drives up to London! Here is the flyer from the very first event that took place in Bristol on 26th February 2006.

 The next few years have been busy times with regular textile events in Honiton, Ilminster, Poundbury and; Stroud. Vintage fashion fairs have sprung up in Cardiff, Cheltenham, Stroud and Bath.... and then in 2008 a new type of fair was launched.by  Michele and Jayne called the Vintage and Handmade fair. A fabulous idea that pulled together a lot of ideas incorporating handmade items, textiles, jewellery, Antique toys and so much more. Their fairs have gone from strength to strength, and this summer they are planning another exciting event, so do watch this space!

The Summer of 2009 was when I took over a space at the Dairy House and soon afterwards I was assisting Sue in her idea of holding a textile event. As regular bloggers will know the special day at the Dairy House takes place on Sunday April 11th 2010.

Now, if that wasn't enough to keep me out of trouble, I have recently been persuaded to run an event this coming year in the pretty Somerset town of Frome. Clare and I have put our heads together and come up with the idea of an event which combines vintage fashion and decorative items for the home.... the date for your diaries is Saturday October 30th at the Cheese and Grain in Frome. Further details to follow soon....and there is a new blog to keep everyone informed http://thevintagebazaar.blogspot.com/

Heartfelt - the official opening!

Just wanted to share a few more photos from this gorgeous new shop...

Today was the launch party with pink champagne & delicious cupcakes...

The live models in the window were a great idea, don't you think?

I know, it is about time I renamed my blog.. The Heartfelt blog!

As promised in the previous post.. chandeliers  and mirrors from France...

and saucy Victorian boots.....

Nostalgia at number 1 opens for business!

Today I made a special journey....

I drove to Shepton Mallet in Somerset to wish Niki all the luck in the world in her new venture.......

Here are some of the delights that awaited me in the shop.

Each surface and shelf was brimming with vintage treasures...

From pretty china to sumptuous eiderdowns....

Pictures, mirrors, frames, vintage dresses, shoes, shoe stretchers, baskets, padded coathangers.. and so much more. Niki and Dave have obviously worked extremely hard, and it really does show. It has all come together beautifully. Jolly 30's music added to the atmosphere, and meeting a fellow blogger, Isabelle was an added bonus on a misty Thursday morning in Somerset!

If you are in the area do make a visit, and if you are not in the area, it is worth a journey!

100 followers, Thank you to all of you!

I realised today that I have 100 followers of the rural ramblings. A Big thank you to all 100 of you and many apologies if I haven't always replied to your comments, or even worse.. not visited your blogs in return. Life is sometimes so busy and impossible to catch up. Anyway, a BIG Thank you. xxxxx

PS one of the ladies in the photo is my mum, can anyone guess which one???

She's a model (and she's looking good)

She's a model and she's looking good
I'd like to take her home that's understood
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
It only takes a camera to change her mind

She's going out to night-clubs drinking just champagne
And she has been checking nearly all the men
She's playing her game and you can hear them say
She's looking good for beauty we will pay

She's posing for consumer products now and then
For every camera she gives the best she can
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
Now she's a big success I want to meet her again

KRAFTWERK

Had to share this lady who I bought today. Somehow the Kraftwerk lyrics fit, don't you think?

Vintage knitwear, I love it!

I have always loved vintage knitwear, and in the past couple of years I have been fortunate enough to find somebody to make certain items to compliment the range of vintage winter clothing that I sell ....

A lovely lady makes the fingerless mittens.

Then I discovered a lady who makes vintage style scarves. She used to own a wool shop - so uses "old stock" to make these beauties for charity.

The berets are knitted by another lady who lives locally, she uses an old 40's pattern & makes a variety of styles. A percentage of the money for these goes to the British Red Cross.

All I need now is somebody to knit some jumpers, I have a huge stash of vintage patterns to work from.

Listen the snow is falling...............

Listen the snow is falling, I have always been intrigued by these lyrics.

 I woke up several times in the night to see if it was snowing.

This morning I was not disappointed! It has been hard to take decent photos, but you get the general idea!

Being snowed in and having time on my hands I decided to look up the lyrics.

Listen, the snow is falling over town

Listen, the snow is falling everywhere

Between the Empire State building

and between Trafalgar Square

Listen, the snow is falling over town

Listen, the snow is falling over town

Listen, the snow is falling everywhere

Between your bed and mine

Between your head and mine

Listen the snow is falling over town

Between Tokyo and Paris

Between London and Dallas

Between your God and mine

Listen, the snow is falling everywhere

Snow, dream

Snowfall

Snow, fly

Listen

Listen

John Lennon and Yoko Ono

This morning the sun is shining and the scene is breathtaking, unfortunately still unable to get the car out of the drive & the lane is lethal with compacted ice.

Expanding the Empire at The Dairy House

It certainly has been a very busy few days. Last Wednesday we embarked on the project of expanding our space at the Dairy House.

First job was to start painting as Sue and I wanted to creat a cohesive space on the top floor, and that pink wall had to go!

It is a large space with a high ceiling, so boy was employed to climb the scaffolding tower...... He worked so hard all day, and amazingly we had the whole place painted in time to collapse in a heap on New Years Eve.

Now the fun part, moving in new stock and creating a fresh new look.

It is taking on a style of its own, and I think the lamps add a cosy atmosphere.

There is still the "Lads corner" with flags, ladders, garden furniture, picture frames so you can take the "other half" there knowing he will be occupied while you browse through the textiles and treasures.......