Vintage Fashion Fair

Yesterday was the vintage fashion fair in Exeter. Organised by Blind Lemon Vintage, this event is a must for vintage fashion fans and I was glad to see lots of familiar faces and meet new vintage-loving friends. Lizzie was there with Bronia and an old school friend of Lizzie's, Aline, who had a stall

Lizzie and Aline in front of Aline's stall

Here I am with the stunning Shabby Chick, Amanda and the lovely Lizzie. My hair looked pants as I was just off to Toni and Guy for highlights and hadn't washed my hair that morning!


The lady on the left of this photo is the glamorous GOW aka my Mum who was pulling along my trolley. I bought this for £3 at a bootsale, it is originally from Ikea but as our nearest Ikea is a 2 hour drive away I didn't ever see them in store. It was the subject of much trolley envy among the ladies at the fair!

These are some of my purchases

Vintage children's patterns

One with the unPC title 'adaptable for chubbies'!

A lovely couple of Polish dolls

Great fabrics

Toffee tin for storing buttons

French fabric drawers

and some wonderful children's fabrics

Including my favourite, a piece of fabric from Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree

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Miss Elizabeth

My littlest one, aged three and a half, has always been known as Lizzy (Lou Lou by me sometimes and Poopie by her Daddy). She announced last week that she is no longer to be called Lizzy but Elizabeth, for that is her name. When she went into pre school she told them this. They have their names printed and stuck on a board for them to identify and pick out so she said she would like that changed please.

Her best friend is a little boy called Joel (whose father looks like James Blunt but we won't hold that against him!). When he went home from pre school he told his Mummy that, 'we musn't call Lizzy 'Lizzy' any more Mummy, we have to call her Elizabeth', 'Oh is that right?' his Mummy said, 'Yes', replied Joel, 'and I want to be called John'!

Aren't little ones precious? Pin It

Sunny Shepton Mallet

As you may have already heard, Shepton Mallet held a great Antiques Fair over 3 days last weekend. The wonderful weather helped to make it a great one. The sun was shining and with all the outside stalls, many of them having just returned from buying trips in France, it felt as though we were abroad in the best French Flea Market. There was such an array of stuff on offer from beautiful furniture, antique textiles, vintage bric a brac and clothes. I had a great time buying. I could not find my camera before I left so I have no photos of while I was there but below are some of the things I came home with.

Vintage children's fabrics and novelties

Vintage floral fabrics

Gorgeous vintage patchwork curtains (from Lizzie) and quilt

French antique fabrics

More florals (well you know me!)

Pretty rosey curtains from Amanda

Vintage kitchen shelf edging

Vintage French buttons, braids and magazines

And this lovely vintage French fabric box

First seen on Niki's blog, now a home for my vintage ribbons and trims

and I couldn't resist this 1950's dress for myself

what better to go with it than these 2 pairs of 1950's shoes?

The shoes came from a stall full of vintage hats, bags and shoes and the seller said that they belonged to the once Lady Mayoress of Weston Super Mare, who is now in her 90's. She had a fine wardrobe and one of the pairs of shoes I bought were unworn. Not a bad buy at £9 for the 2 pairs!!

I saw lots of lovely friends and stallholders there and got to meet the lovely Posy, and her lovely husband, at last. We found we were kindred spirits in all things fabric (but I knew that anyway). I wanted to give her a big hug as she was all teary due to having just dropped off her first born at University. It's like having your baby start school all over again, but worse, as this time you don't pick them up at the end of the day but leave them in their digs. I have to say I am glad that Jasmine is taking a gap. I don't think I am ready to let my baby go just yet.

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Thank you for your lovely and encouraging comments about my new website. I thought I would just explain a little why I changed it, it was more than just a facelift.

The name of my website Country House Antique textiles had been so named as I lived in a country house (and of course I sold antique textiles). Back in March last year when I was still selling this house, a very turbulent time for me, I wondered where I would be living and it occurred to me that I may not live in a country house next time. I was also aware that some people were slightly misled by this name and thought that all I sold was country house florals. Friends advised me that I should be using my name, as it is such an apt one. but I was reluctant. I said 'it's not about me it's about the fabrics', 'No Donna', they said, 'it IS about you in the same way that Stella McCartney, Orla Kiely, Donna Karan and Cath Kidston use their names, you should be using yours'. So rather reluctantly I started making enquiries about changing my website, had meetings with my website designers back in April and the wheels were put into motion to change from Country House Antique Textiles and become Donnaflower.com. Claire was commissioned to design me a logo and she did a brilliant job. I love Claire's work and knew she was the right girl for the job. I adore my logo and my business cards are so delicious!

It is rather scary to come out from behind my fabrics and show my face but, well, here I am, wish me luck. Pin It

Donna Flower goes live!

I have been dying to tell you all and now at last I can.

Click here, tell me what you think! Pin It

Autumn Sale

Despite the weather being against me and the numbers being down on the Spring Sale, the Autumn Open House was a great success. I was amazed at how many braved the ridiculous amounts of rain we had to get to the sale. Many came from a long way off. One of the wonderful things about having an open house is meeting lovely creative people and so many of them came to the sale, like Joy from the Isle of Wight who came with her husband. Just check out those gorgeous bags and cushions! I also got to meet Daniella who makes beautiful things for her website and Kathy, a very talented jeweller (both Daniella and Kathy will have stalls at the Country Living Christmas Fair).

On Saturday I got to meet up with Sue and Pauley, which is always a great pleasure. I also got to meet up again with Louise Critchlow and I even got to help a lady choose the fabric, pattern, buttons and buckle for her vintage 1950's wedding dress she is having made.

Oh I just LOVE my job!

It takes a lot of preparation to set up and get the sale ready so I won't be having another one until Spring but I am already looking forward to it.

Here are some photos from the sale, enjoy!

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The Textile Blog

I just wanted to alert you to a brilliant blog that I have found called The Textile Blog. John Hopper who writes it has an extensive knowledge of textiles and focuses on the history of interiors and interior furnishings over the last three centuries. It has been a great source of reference to me and will be to any of you fellow textile lovers out there. I found him whilst researching the piece of fabric shown above, which was designed by Duncan Grant of the Bloomsbury set. I was lucky enough to find a piece which had been reproduced for Laura Ashley in the 1980's and is now rare itself. I think I am going to have my piece stretched (professionally) onto canvas and hung in the house. I can't bear to part with it! Anyway pop over to John's blog, it makes for a very interesting read.
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Soggy Sunday

Because the weather has been so awfully wet this summer many of the bootsales I usually attend have been cancelled. This happened today, despite the fact that today was actually sunny but I think the field was too wet to use. I hate it when I drive past the field and see no cars in it, it makes me very sad. Mum and I drove past today fully expecting to see it being set up but when it wasn't we decided to go to the recycling centre to cheer ourselves up. I always find some interesting things there and today was no exception. For £5 I picked up a 1950's leatherette chair (very comfortable) and a vintage cash register! It has a cheery bell that rings each time you ring up a purchase and will be great for using at my sale in a few week's time.

So all's well that ends well and I spent a whole lot less than I usually do on a Sunday!



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The sun ain't shining no more

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Sale Preview part 2

Just a few more things to share with you!

Bags of fabric scraps, always popular.

More bolts of fabric

Children's quilts

Shabby roses

Vintage French gingham bias trim

Vintage tins

and gorgeous 20's French fashion magazines

Thanks for the many emails I have had enquiring about the prices of things in the last post. I have been super busy for the past few days but will get back to you all soon. Pin It

Sale Preview

I have started the great sort out for my sale. There seems to be so much stock!

Like this huge amount of vintage sewing baskets.

Vintage drawers and fabric boxes.

Boxes, buttons and drawers

Old wooden cotton reels.

Pretty vintage quilting fabrics.

Pretty bundles of vintage quilt pieces.

Bolts of fabrics.

And bags and bags of stuff!!!!!

And still my room is stuffed to the gills!!!

I know many of you are frustrated that you will not be able to attend as you are so far away so if you see anything here that you simply cannot live without just email me and let me know.

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Due to the success of the first Open House Sale in April, I am holding another one in September. If you would like to come, please contact me for a invitation. I have a HUGE amount of goodies on sale and many bargains! I hope to see many of you there. Pin It

Who's that girl?

I love Agyness Deyn, she's so cool, but I can't help feeling I've seen that look before somewhere. She reminds me of someone.


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Sad

I heard the saddest news last week. My friend and fellow blogger, Woo, telephoned to tell me that her lovely partner, Alan, had died unexpectedly of an asthma attack a few days before. I met him when they both came to my sale in April and he was the kind of man you wish all men were like. He was interested and interesting, just great company and he clearly adored Woo, as she did him. They were just delightful to be around. So my heart is breaking for her and the pain she is going through at this time. Life is so unfair sometimes. Pin It

Press

I have a lovely article in this month's Sewing World. It was written by Kate Hopper, a lovely young journalist who came with her husband to my sale. She writes for several sewing magazines and has a fondness for vintage fabrics. I am collaborating with her on another article she is writing and have become her 'vintage fashion expert'.

(click on photos to enlarge)




I also had a mention in Wallpaper Magazine. They sent a photographer out to photograph my nautical fabrics and wanted 'nothing country, nothing twee'. Hmmm, a bit hard that. She had her work cut out. Although the mention is great I don't like the 'dizzy florals' comment much. This is the second time I have been criticized for having too many florals on my website. I make no apology for having them. I love florals, I sell bucketloads of florals and there will always be a huge amount of florals on my website, so there!




I have a mention in this Saturday's Express Magazine too, wonder what they will say? Pin It

Janet Bolton

For the past 4 years I have been lucky enough to go to Janet Bolton's course at the Cowslip Workshops. She makes the most exquisite naive applique pictures and is just the most delightful lady. I always enjoy hearing her speak about how she came to do what she does and tales of her life as a young girl growing up in Lancashire. Her work is just beautiful, unmistakeably hers. I usually do 2 days but this year I got to do all 3 blissful days. I meet up with Pennie and Janet who come from East Sussex and Oxford so it is only at these events that we get to see each other even though we email each other all year. We sit at the same table and immerse ourselves in the loveliness that is Cowslip. 3 wonderful days. I have booked up for next year already!





I haven't finished my piece yet so I am not going to show you it until it is done but I am very pleased with it. I will show you one that Janet made that is now mine. I treated myself to JB original! I had to have it as it contains some fabric that I gave to Janet. It's still at the exhibition and I can't wait to bring it home.

Here's a bad photo of it (my camera battery ran out)



And here's Janet showing my 4 pieces from each of the workshops.





Last year's piece was hard for me to do. My partner and I had just decided to separate and I was with his mother who I introduced to Cowslip. It was such a hard weekend for me, I felt blocked and unhappy. Consequently the piece never got finished and I just didn't like it. One year on, things are very different. Paul and I are staying together. The enforced confinement as we tried to sell the house has made us reconcile the major differences that were driving us apart. My work this year had a different feel to it I had a different feel to me.

This past year has been a very hard one, not one I would want to go through again but it has had some good things come out of it. It has made me reevaluate life, love, family relationships, friendships and priorities. I have the people around me that I feel happiest with and I am happier with my life now than I was. Pin It

House 2

Our house sale fell through today. Our buyer's buyers pulled out. I am relieved. I think we may take our beautiful house off the market and start living again! Pin It