It's time to start using some of my hoarded fabrics, so although my next sale is a few months away, I've started making cushions (which, let's face it, is really the only thing I am capable of making). I have collected lots of roses fabrics, and I love the way they look together. The backing is a plain natural linen from Ikea. I am off to make a few more.
Today I cooked a big roast lunch followed by home made chocolate fudge cake and cherry compote for an early Fathers Day (three fathers in attendance), so a little relaxation is now in order....
My husband was working in Germany recently. He often brings me a home magazine if he's working abroad, as he knows I prefer that to anything else. This magazine was really beautiful, it had a mini magazine attached to the cover with some beautiful garden ideas inside.
From our home grown crop, this month I loved BBC Homes and Antiques. It is my favourite by a county mile. The homes they feature are usually so quirky and interesting, created with love, not money.
I really like this cover and there are some excellent features inside. I get many ideas from this magazine.
I bought a book that was reviewed in here recently. It's a reproduction of a 1938 book, illustrated by one of my favourite artists, Eric Ravilious (published by the V&A). Eric Ravilious was killed in the Second World War, aged only 39.
The book is really a snapshot of a high street of the time, with text about all the different sorts of shops, including the cheesemonger, knife grinder, junk shop and oyster bar. The illustrations are quirky, never twee.
Even back in the 1930s, the author is lamenting the homogenisation of the high street. and the 'standardisation of the shop fronts.' What would he think of it now!?
This is a really special book, one to treasure.
And finally, a couple of new acquisitions. I bought this hanging from Foxtail Lilly at the recent vintage sale.
I have found a spot for it, but I need to find a way of hanging it. It makes me very happy seeing this every day.
And this cute tea cosy came from the car boot on Sunday, priced at £1. Sometimes, it really is the little things....
It's deadline week, so I need to get back to work. Have a good day, one and all.
Today photographer Lesley Anne and I were shooting our July cover. It's a foodie issue for the magazine, as we have a big local food festival taking place, and we were using bread and cheese that are made in our area. Food photography is really tricky in my experience, but we tried to keep things simple, and the ingredients looked so good, they didn't need much styling. These are just my snaps.
Rosemary and walnuts from my garden. Only the apple is an interloper ;)
In the garden, and at the car boot sale...
And the sun shone all day, too.
One of the few advantages of being taxi-mama, is that I drive through some stunning countryside while delivering my 16 year old to various parties. Tonight, we were Rutland-bound, and we drove under the Harringworth Viaduct and through some amazing villages. My son was casting multiple pained glances at his watch as I slowed the car. "Look at that cottage!" or "Look, a round window!" Or: "I love the colour of that summer house!"
But even he had to admit that the viaduct is awesome, and definitely worth a photo stop.
I was up very early this morning taking my eldest son and two friends to the station so they could catch the train to London. It was a working day for me, but I thought I might just look in on a small antiques fair that was advertised. But as I drove towards it, the rain lashing my windscreen and the wind buffeting the car, I wimped out. By late afternoon, I gave in and went to have a peek. The dealers were doing their best with runaway marquees and gale force winds. I found this rabbit, leaking stuffing and with threadbare fur and patchy velveteen ears on a lovely stall full of old board games and carrier bags spilling lace and tablecloths. Rabbit bought, I decided to check the charity shops (not usually very good late on a Friday afternoon) but I was in luck today. Oxfam had just restocked its fabric shelves, and I came away with a bag of remnants, and some lovely books.
And a summer dress (maybe one day it will be sunny again)...
I hope the weather calms down for the weekend and all those fetes and festivals that are taking place.
Have a lovely one.
Sunshine - and peace - descended on Monday. I drove through a tiny hamlet after dropping off my son at a friend's house. I'd never been here before, as it's a bit off the beaten track, but it's beautiful.
Villagers (from all 22 houses) were sitting on the green drinking tea and eating free Jubilee fruit cake. There was a book stall, a plant stall and some bric a brac.
Cottage gardens...
This turned out to belong to someone I know a little, and she kindly let me take some photos, although I haven't done it justice.
So many wooden gates and inviting paths....
And two lovely new additions from the white elephant stall....
Frocks and wellies. That was the theme for yesterday, as it didn't just rain, it absolutely poured, all day without a break. I was very cold in my little marquee with my exhibition, despite a massive puffa jacket, thermal vest, woolly tights and fleece lined boots over my 1950s dress. But people came, and it was fun to sit and chat about past times as the rain hammered down overhead.
Folk brought some lovely exhibits. A little gold brooch with fold out photos of the Queen was a favourite. Marcasite earrings, Parker pens and embroidered handkerchiefs, as well as lots of commemorative china were loaned for the day (the clothes, shoes and books were mine!).
People loved poring over the old parish magazines from 1950 and 1951 (seen in the foreground) which were given to me a few years ago. Spotting names of families who are still in the area, among the reports of school sports days, jumble sales and parish council reports. Alongside was an exhibition from the village school, which caused great interest, too:
And in the evening, it was time for a knees up in the main marquee. A live band and a proper disco, with lights and ear-splitting speakers, and a shiny dance floor at one end. Sitting down at one stage as a conga line snaked past me, I spotted Hunter wellies and Dubarry boots, hiking shoes, sparkly sandals, funky trainers, tiny plimsolls and sensible Clarks lace ups. That said it all, really, a complete cross section of the village had turned out, which is exactly what we wanted.
A day to remember in many ways....
I've been having a very good day. I started with a quick trip to a vintage fair in Stamford (a report on what I bought there another day), and then it was up to the cricket field to help with the preparations for our party in the park on Sunday. The marquee is up:
We spent some time covering tables with red paper and union jacks. There were all sorts of people there, some I know, some I don't. Children playing games, running around, a really lovely atmosphere.
I was just itching to titivate it more, I'd love to put flowers on the tables, but it's a huge marquee and it would be an enormous task so I'm going to have to restrain myself. I came home and started preparing my 1950s memorabilia...I've accumulated some colourful things...
It's forecast torrential rain and cold temperatures for tomorrow, but I'm determined to wear my vintage dress. Wellies and woolly tights it is, then.
