Vintage and Handmade Textile Fair - Preview

I was quite relieved to see the rain today because I had earmarked this day to do a mock up of my stall for this weekend.  I am finding it very hard to be indoors in this wonderful weather so the drizzle was perfect (although the sun was out again in the afternoon).

The venue is a new one for all of us and the space I have is different, being 2 tables in an L shape so I thought it best to practise how  to set it up.  I find it a good idea to have a dummy run a few days beforehand rather than try and make it work at 7.30am on the day!!!

It also helps me to see if there are any 'holes' in my stock and what, if anything, I need to add to make the stall look nice.

So, for your eyes only, a little preview.

As well as my usual fabrics and haberdashery I shall be taking a rail of vintage clothes along too.

The weather forecast is for sunny weather so there will be teas out in the courtyard with more stalls.  Pop on a summer frock and come along. Pin It

Vintage and Handmade Textile Fair

Just to remind you all that the next event I shall be stalling at is the Vintage and Handmade Textile Fair in Chipping Sodbury on Saturday 3rd July.

There are going to be some wonderful sellers there and if you haven't done so already I recommend popping over to the website to check out the illustrious list.

I am praying that this weather holds and that I see lots of you there!

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Daddy's Day

We are so lucky to live where we do.

Daddy's Day was spent at Clovelly, which was positively Mediterranean yesterday.

Sun, sea, seafood platter, boat trip, ice creams. Perfect!

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Beautiful Fabrics

Here are this week's fabulous fabrics being listed on the website today and tomorrow.  Lots of beautiful 1940's crepes from France, some gorgeous abstracts and a few children's fabrics.

Click to enlarge and enjoy!

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Bovey Tracy Contemporary Craft Fair

Loved this fair.  The day was beautiful and sunny, the exhibits were stunning, the talent breathtaking.

Sadly I couldn't take that many photos. Some people were not happy having their work photographed so I put my camera away and forgot to get it out again!

I bought some wonderful pieces of artwork from Penny Leaver Green  and Rachel Eardley.

Both of which are now in with the framers.

Whilst waiting for Laura to select some jewellery from Emily Nixon's beautiful collection, a ring slipped on to my left thumb and felt so comfortable that I had to have it!

I bought this beautiful brooch made by the talented and lovely Vicky Lindo.  I received lots of compliments on it as I wandered around the Fair.  Have you noticed, it's in  my new favourite colour of yellow?

A gorgeous tea towel, that I may just use as a piece of fabric, from Fiona Howard who had a lovely range of textiles and ceramics.

and lastly, these feet, which were made by an art student. I think they may just live outside with some plant or other growing out of  them. What do you think?

Wandering around the fair was a rather dashing young man.  Could it possibly be?  Surely not?  Johnny Depp?!!  In Devon?!!

Lizzy was rather taken with him!

After we had finished at the fair we popped over to The Mill for a cup of tea and slice of cake.  A perfect end to a perfect day.

I bumped into people that I knew, met customers who had used my fabrics in their work and met, for the first time, people that  I had only spoken to over the internet.





Blogging is such a wonderful medium. I love the way it has brought into my life wonderful like minded people who I would never have met otherwise.  I am so grateful for the blogs that I read that uplift me, inspire me and touch me.  I have a blogaversary in 34 days. I have been blogging, continuously, for 5 years.  I shall have to think of a way to celebrate it with you all, because, without you all I would just be talking to myself! Pin It

Fabrics Ahoy!

With the preparations for my Open House followed swiftly by half term my website has been a little neglected. Apart from adding the ribbons I have not added anything new for  a while.  This week I shall be adding lots of beautiful fabrics to fill those virtual shelves up once more. 

Just look at these delicious prints!

(click on image to enlarge)

Already added are the long awaited Liberty bias bindings which come on a wooden spool, fresh from Clothkits which have been selling out fast!  Yet more deliciousness!

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I'm just mad about Saffron

I have never really been attracted to yellow in the past, if asked it would not be one of my favourite colours, but lately I have noticed it creeping into my life.

Firstly, around the house

and now in my wardrobe. My new (old) summer dresses are distinctly lemon this season!

Oh yes, I am definitely liking this mellow yellow! Pin It

Ribbons from The Big Apple

These beautiful ribbons have arrived  from New York.  12 feet, nearly 4 metres, on each spool, they look good enough just displayed.  Would you dare to use  them?

Pretty polka dots or sumptuous velvets in every colour imaginable!  I shall be adding these delights to the website next week.  They are £5 per spool and I only have a limited number of them.

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Vintage and Handmade

The Vintage and Handmade Fair was held today and was another great event.  The brainchild of Jayne and Michele, this was the 4th fair and it has become very popular with queues of eager shoppers waiting to get in.  Sadly this time I forgot my camera but 10 minutes before the crowds poured in I remembered my phone and took a few photos of my stall and the stalls just next to me.

There was the lovely Lizzie  who had her usual mix of delicious fabrics, vintage treasures and gorgeous clothes.

Next to her was Amanda Shabby Chick who was far from her home town, Totnes, with her lovely Mum.

Opposite Amanda was Daniella from Acorn and Will with her beautiful, colourful, vintage treasures and handmade goodies.

Unfortunately these are the only photos I took, and they are not very good quality,  because then it got busy and stayed busy until late in the afternoon.  Luckily there are many other bloggers who took photos so no doubt there will be some great shots posted in the next few days.

I always love to buy at these fairs but this time I was quite controlled (for me) but I will share the treasures I got.

This lovely plastic bag came home with me via the lovely Amanda.

I bought some beautiful Heals fabrics which were brought to me by a sweet customer of mine.

I also purchased this pretty eiderdown from her.

I couldn't resist this  tea towel from Claire.  I love her  elf and toadstool illustrations and she is my favourite designer being the creator of my logo!

I treated myself to this beautiful brooch made by the very talented and lovely Viv.

These delicious candy coloured cups with their contrasting floral saucers and plates were on Lucy's stall and I knew they would be perfect for my Open House teas.

One of the things I love about doing the fairs is getting to meet people that I have had contact with either on the phone or online as they buy from my website or read my blog. It is so nice to put a face to a name.  I had many people buy from me and at the end of the transaction shyly say how much they love my blog. This made me so happy  as there are times when I wonder if anyone will find it interesting!  A sweet couple over from Italy on holiday managed to tell me, in faltering English, that they always read my blog.  So for all of you lovely readers, who never leave a comment but enjoy my blog anyway, a big hello, and thank you for being here!

There were so many beautifully dressed women at the fair both customers and stallholders. On more than one occasion I had to have a stroke of someone's dress due to the gorgeous fabric and there were more Cath Kidston bags than you could shake a stick at!

A funny thing happened.  Jayne, Lizzie and I turned up in vintage dresses and coloured plimsoles.  We hadn't discussed this beforehand but it seemed to be the uniform of the day!  This is a great photo, borrowed from Jayne, taken by her husband.

 

There are some wonderful new and exciting books around and I always want to buy them.  Luckily I had a birthday recently so was treated to this gorgeous book

 

I am really looking forward to the exhibition later this year and when I go I will be wearing my Horrockses dress.

Another book that I really loved, but couldn't justify buying, was this one .

 

So imagine how pleased I was to find out that I was mentioned in the back as a supplier of fabric for anyone doing up a vintage caravan, (thanks to Sairer for the tip off).  Suddenly I could justify buying it and very glad I did too, it's a beautiful book and I want a vintage caravan now! Pin It