Sunday sale

Had a really good time at the sale today. It wasn't the most successful one I've done in terms of sales, but I did enjoy the ambiance and chatting to the people who came along. I thought you might like to see some of the stalls. There were some brilliant things at amazing prices. I love this lady's vintage style (above). She has lots of retro 1970s things, and displays it really well. 

There were around 30 stalls in the Hall.

An eclectic mix on Cherry's table....

I must admit to experiencing some 'stall anxiety' and even 'stall envy' at this sale. For the last couple of years, I've only done a few sales, always at the same venues where there aren't many other vintage dealers,or where people know me and my stuff. This was different, and for the first hour, it did seem that everyone was making a beeline for anywhere but me! Thankfully things got better as the day progressed. 

I sold my patchwork suitcase, which is great. Now I can make another one. 

Tiny jigsaws. 

              
               This stall did very well indeed (above)

Time to pack away until the next one (on November 16th at Foxtail Lilly.)

Stall ready

With an empty house (empty of people, that is, not things....) and my work just about finished, I spent a happy couple of hours getting my stall ready for Sunday. According to the organiser instructions,  I had to specify the sort of things I would be selling, so there are not too many duplicates, and I chose children's vintage and things which might appeal to teenagers. This is my selection of purses and accessories (above). 

A stack of tins....and then it got too dark  for iPhone shots....

That's better, let there be light. It is soooo grey this afternoon, pearly grey rather than a really horrible murky grey, but I still don't like it.

Miniature tea sets, bricks and toy dogs, a tiny sewing machine in working order. The floral fabric on the cushion is really cheery. 

                  
                    Beautiful piano shawl

Blankets, shoes and nursery chairs. A pink cot, and plenty more. 

The vintage and handmade sale takes place this Sunday, 11am - 4pm in the Victoria Hall, Oundle, Northants. Admission free. Tea and cakes on sale. 

Down to earth

It always takes me a while to get back into the groove after a few days away. But I think I've come back down to earth now. I've had lots of deadlines recently, too, so the blog had gone to the back of the queue. Most deadline things are finished for this month, so I've got a couple of days to prepare  for a vintage sale on Sunday. It's taking place in Victoria Hall, Oundle, Northants, from 11am to 3pm, if anyone likes the sound of it. I think there are going to be about 20 stalls. I've finally finished the printers tray so I can take it with me.
The gaps are intentional, as it looked too much like an optical illusion when all the little squares were covered. 

I thought it might be right for a bathroom. The paper is washable/vinyl, so it wouldn't mind a bit of steam.

I've got some lovely goodies to take to this sale. Some of them are hard to part with, but they have to go.

I love the giant red and white sewing basket. It's the biggest one I've seen. 

My stall is quite small, so I will have to plan what I am taking quite carefully. I hope to do a trial set up tomorrow, rather than hurling everything at the table in my usual style. Just have a few cushions to make first. See you soon. 

A short break

                                                                   Nice, France

Last week flew past as I was getting ready to go away for a much anticipated long weekend in France. One of my oldest friends had booked a big house in Provence to celebrate her 50th, and her partner's 40th birthdays and they'd invited 20 friends to come along. It was so exciting, it seemed quite unreal until we were on the way to the airport on Friday morning. Husband and I landed in Nice at about 4pm, and had five hours spare while we waited for two friends, who were sharing our car to the house. We drove the short distance to the town centre, and stepped out of the car into bright sunshine, palm trees and warmth. It was glorious.

  We strolled around the old town, soaked up the Mediterranean atmosphere, and had a meal in a little bistro in a square. I love the colours of Nice. 

There were more French delights to come. The next day, a big party of us headed into Grasse, a place I've always wanted to see. The perfume industry is big in Grasse, there is evidence of it everywhere.

                                                  The Perfume Museum, Grasse

            Perfect little town for mooching around

We walked, sat in cafes and bought some beautiful soaps and lotions from the  Fragonard shop.

                Tamsin sampling the scents 

Saturday night was a birthday dinner and lots of celebrations, and then a chilled Sunday morning by the pool at the house, and a big barbecue lunch, before heading back to the airport at 2 o'clock. 

 Lemon birthday cake baked at the house by friend Ronnie 

Not even a storm at Nice airport, with lightning forking around our aeroplane could take the edge off a really wonderful weekend. I'd love to go back there, with more time to explore. Hope you enjoyed the sunny interlude. 

Just one final snap: is this what is known as a cool cat?

Show and tell

I've had such a lovely morning at Peterborough Festival of Antiques. I woke at 6am to the sound of rain beating against the window, but by the time I'd got up and had a mug of tea, the weather was blowing through and the sky was lighter, so I pulled on my wellies and set off. 
Sometimes, not having much to spend is a really good thing. You automatically discount any big items and spend longer sifting through the boxes and bags in and around the stalls. I found lots of lovely fabric, and the jam pots and jars that you can see above were only a couple of pounds each.

I had no shopping list, apart from wanting a few accessories for our Christmas gift shoot for the magazine next week. I was after a few vintage baking items for that, and I found a lovely weathered metal bun tin and a sweet old wooden spoon (£1).
A few pieces here will go to my next sale on October 21st, but I think the marmalade pot and a few pieces of fabric will probably find a home with me.

Quite a few of the dealers remembered that I'd been ill this time last year, and were so sweet asking how I was and telling how much better I was looking (at 8am with no make up and a high wind blowing I think that was quite generous!!). Seriously though, I like the antiques community, it's a small and friendly world. 

This lady's stall is always beautiful, and she has one of the cutest dogs I've ever met. She has a little shop in Hinckley, Leicestershire, called Vintage Treasures. I haven't been, but I a plan to. 

www.vintage-treasures.co.uk 

Finally, at long last, I managed to find some 1970s wallpaper.

It's a complete roll and it didn't involve taking out a second mortgage. I was so pleased with this.

Hope you enjoyed sorting through my treasures with me. Have a lovely weekend. 

Thursday update

I'm really not sure why I find the sight of a fresh new conker peeking out of its green case so appealing: perhaps its a throwback to childhood, when our daily walk to school took us past a horse chestnut tree. We always collected as many conkers as we could fit into our pockets - but it was always a bit of an anti climax when they lost their lovely sheen after a few days. Anyway, autumn seems to have well and truly arrived in these parts. When I saw Prima Christmas Makes in the newsagents today, I knew for sure that the season had changed:

This is the only dedicated Christmas magazine that I buy. I really enjoy it, particularly the fact that the stylist Selena Lake, author of Homespun Home, one of my favourite ever  interiors books, is a contributor. I would recommend it, I've already spotted a few very pretty projects, and I've only had a quick skim so far. 

I thought this robin and nest was very clever. And these dolls, too:

There are some simple projects, too, and loads to browse and be inspired by.

I'm hoping to get up early in the morning for Peterborough Festival of Antiques, only 6 miles from my house (yay). I haven't got much to spend, but I can't resist a browse. I'll pop back tomorrow to report on that. 

As I was going to St Ives....

Today was one of the kind of work days that I like best of all. Just me, my camera and my notebook out and about, chatting to people and exploring somewhere new for the local mag. In this case, it was St Ives, near Cambridge, a pretty little market town, with wide streets and Georgian houses. St Ives stands on the River Ouse, and you keep meeting the waterfront, with the wide river, meadows, and flocks of ducks and swans. 

First things first, though, coffee and a cheese scone at a riverside cafe. Then, on to the Monday market, which takes place in the broad streets. 

Just the usual fruit, veg, plants and household goods, but a really busy, bustling atmosphere, and a few delicacies, too.

Great fabric stall, too. £3 a metre, bargain!

It was a stunning day, so still, and warm. By the time I got to the Norris Museum, the sun was streaming down. It was such a pretty spot, with an adorable garden. And inside, a collection of Huntingdonshire history, including lace making and some old shop signs and pharmacy bottles. 

There were big bunches of grapes on this vine....

And of course, I had to explore the shops for research purposes. 

Not much in here really, but round the back was a yard with lots of cheap furniture.

Let me at it....I had a quick rummage and emerged with a 1950s red formica topped table for £6. It will probably have to be sold, as I have no room, but I'll enjoy having it for a while. I'll show that another day.

A great little town, still with its heart intact.  

Elderberry cordial

I'm on berry alert when ever I walk through the field at the back of my house (which is most days, actually). There has been so much fruit this year, very glossy and plump and inviting. As I've also been coughing and sneezing my way through the entire month, I decided to try and make a hedgerow cordial to ramp up my vitamin C reserves. I came across a recipe for elderberry cordial and decided to give it a go.

I simmered the fruits for half an hour, then added some sugar, fresh ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves and lemon juice. I boiled it all for about another half hour, feeling at this point just a bit like a witch with a cauldron.
Popped in some citric acid, so it will keep, and decanted it into bottles.
It is really rich, a deep, dark purple, and smells so spicy and fruity. Apparently, it's full of vitamin A, C and lots of anti oxidants. 
I'm ignoring the fact that elder was once considered to be the Devil's own wood, and in some areas, if you burn it on the fire, it is said that Lucifer will  come down the chimney  (I found these fascinating facts in my new library book, Foraging, by John Lewis-Stempel which I am really enjoying). 

So, there we have it. A tonic for the winter. Here's hoping...