The Vintage Bothy

deckchair rescue

2012-01-28T13:03:00.001Z

Take two very tired and tatty vintage deckchairs, paint them & wax finish, new floral slings and cushions, and ready for a trip to the Nostalgic Mix Fair in Totnes Saturday 31st March.

My stall is emerging with a nautical, seaside floral garden look, it will be wonderful to be back there again, will you be visiting?

An imaginative walk

2012-01-27T16:31:00.000Z

We took a longer walk today, and although we could hear traffic in the far distance we pretended that it was the sound of the sea whooshing up onto a pebble beach. It was lovely and sunny with a slight chill in the air, what a lovely afternoon to be walking along Slapton sands.

Mum, I think that it’s time to go, could we meet M for cake and hot choc?

or perhaps an ice cream?

or even meet him in the pub for supper?

Sorry Flo, wake up, we have to go home.

Handpainted beauty on a dreary day

2012-01-23T14:50:00.000Z

All pictures from the Royal Palace Jaipur. (built between 1732-1890).

George the Vintage Sealyham Terrier

2012-01-19T12:19:00.000Z

I can’t resist an old mutt, as you may have realised, (sorry Flo), and when I saw George last week, he had to come home.

He is a lovely old chap, with worn patches, embroidered eyes and a very battered but waggily tail.

He is looking for a comfortable home with regular meals and is hoping to find a new companion at one of the upcoming fairs that we will be travelling to.

(I have listed them on the side-bar and hope to see you soon).

nesting time.

2012-01-18T19:30:00.000Z

I saw this nesting “box” at the Malvern Spring garden show a few years ago, so if you have a handy man and an old teapot, how about giving a home to one of our feathered friends?

velvet beauty re-vamped.

2012-01-15T17:57:00.000Z

Do you remember this velvet beauty, I have a collection of kilim cushions and Turkish rugs, leather Chesterfield and leather armchairs, most of which has been inherited. Although I would like to have a fashionably grey, minimalist interior, it just doesn’t seem to happen for me.

Back to the velvet beauty, she is a good height and very sturdy and the upholstery is well packed, the lovely green velvet is damaged. I love kilim upholstered furniture and decided to give her a new look.

She is standing on a lovely old & very worn, holey carpet that I have had for ages, I have used it as a backdrop for my stall in the van. Apparently it was owned by a ballerina, which may or may not be true, but another reason why I couldn’t part with it.

So inspired by the likes of Niki, I decided to give them both a makeover

Unfortunately I had been working on the carpet and hadn’t hoovered before I took the pic, but I did want you to see her.

The Old Pill Factory today

2012-01-13T17:48:00.000Z

Today, not many words as I have lots of pictures. The light was bright, making reflections very unhelpful (especially the one of me!)

Inside the shop, lots of new things to look at,

Emma’s brilliant prints,

We both had thoughts of Valentines day, love cushions, love stories,

Velvet roses, heart design lace on pillow cases, a 1950’s silk scarf with foreign languages all saying “I love you”,

more florals, beautiful silk hankies, lace hankies, a long length of pale faded pink hand embroidered oriental silk,

an unusual shape barbola frame with lovely bevelled mirror.

This unit is Steve’s, if you didn’t know would you have guessed?

I ventured out into the courtyard, plenty of lovely things waiting for a new garden home….

I hope that you enjoyed your visit.

Real women

2012-01-11T15:01:00.000Z

I have a folder full of Life Magazine & Picture Post glamour pictures, all from mid 1950’s. I like to think that they were collected by a young lady who not only aspired to be a starlet but also appreciated the beautiful clothes.

My personal favourite, very “West side Story”, actually looking at this pic I am going to see if I can have my hair cut like this next time.

Aren’t the dresses stunning

I do want to sell them but how do you display them in a unit or at a fair, any ideas would be gratefully received, I do not want to go to the expense of framing them, or should I?

History on a plate

2012-01-10T15:56:00.000Z

First published in 1965, this vintage cookery book is full of good advice and recipes, as you might expect from The Sunday Telegraph. I thought that you might like to see some of the photographs and well drawn illustrations, certainly of their time. Being of a certain age I grew up with kitchens like these, and I can’t stand them, however I do have a friend who will go gaga when she sees these illustrations – she knows who she is!

the photos are styled in that certain way, although I do think that the egg shot is very current, almost a Jamie or Nigella shot.

and how else would you display a trotter?

My gran, a vary good cook, used to use an “hostess” trolley on Sundays when she would heat it up and put all of the veg into the glass bowls, sliding the lid across until it was time for lunch.

Many Sundays were spent going out in the car to visit gardens or go to a steam fair. We used to park on the side of the road and get the table and chairs from the boot, the picnic hamper always had a flask of tea and the food was generally egg sandwiches, more hard boiled eggs (and salt) lettuce leaves and tomatoes, perhaps some porkpie and victoria sponge. If we camped at a steam fair we had a set up similar to this.

The content of the book seems to be not only interesting but entertaining as well, I intend to read it and then report back to you, for instance a paragraph on puddings;

“No amount of sophisticated propaganda in favour of the continental habit of ending a meal with fruit and cheese will wean either the English man or English young from puddings. The popularity of ponderous puddings dates back to the Victorian era when the German influence at the Court affected appetites. Some heavy, some rich and all fattening, the pudding section of a contemporary cook book reads like a guest list for Osborne House, Prince Albert, Queens, Baden-Baden, Saxe-Gotha, Kaiser, Savoy, Cabinet. Far more pleasing to our palates, and more suitable for modern menus are the lighter confections of the 18th century, creams, fools,ices and custards.”

Has this come full circle, do your loved ones prefer a fool over a suet pud??

Not in this house!!

I have the blues…..

2012-01-08T12:34:00.000Z

It’s strange how somedays you seem to unintentionally home in on a certain colour, today it was shades of blue, from an Edwardian seagreen velvet armchair to a bottle green velvet long footstool, a blue & white Coalport meat plate, spongeware bowl and a pile of flags, and a lovely stripey cook book.

Unfortunately the idea is to buy to sell, however I love the chair, my Mum has spotted the stool, I collect spongeware & I love stripes, so maybe the only profit will be in the Coalport & flags.

Oh well I suppose it beats going to the high street sales and buying the same as everyone else!!

flower power

2012-01-03T13:53:00.000Z

The bouquet of lime green, acid yellow and orange flowers that M bought for me for Christmas, some of my favourite colours, has been cut down and tidied up.

However today in Morrison’s they were unpacking potted hyacinths at £1.25 for 3 bulbs. I always buy loads, for home and displays in the shop or at fairs, and then plant them out later.

so put into beautiful bowls they will be taken to the shop tomorrow

not so much of a bargain, but on this dreary, windy, rainy day I had to didn’t I?

So with my spring flowers, first February magazine that hopefully is fresh and over the festive period, a bowl of homemade celery soup, Flo and I will mainly be staying in this afternoon.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T18:42:00.002Z

Happy New Year to my Friends, Followers & Family,

hurray let’s get on with it!!

The Old Pill Factory–spruce up!

2011-12-28T17:50:00.000Z

I thought it would take more than today, so I didn’t take my camera, so phone pics & poor light today, also non of the shop, sorry, but I hope that you like the new look.

Florence’s exciting days

2011-12-26T18:38:00.001Z

Dressed in her best red satin bow, Florence was eagerly waiting for the customary unwrapping, “is there a parcel for me Mum?”

Not only a bag of treats from Gran, but also a hamper

what a lucky girl!

“What are we doing tomorrow Mum?”

“We are going to walk through the woods to the top of a Welsh Mountain Florence”

Past the wind damaged trees and galvanised wire, look back to the coast in the distance,

onwards old lady, to the top,

Breiddon Hill is an extinct volcanic hill on the border of Shropshire & Powys, at 1199ft. which by definition makes it a mountain. On route to the summit there are ruins of an Iron Age Hill fort, which may have been the site of the last stand of Caractacus, the British chieftan who lead the revolt against the Romans. At the summit is a monument, Admiral Rodney’s Pillar, built by the Gentlemen of Montgomeryshire who supplied the oak wood that was shipped down the Severn to Bristol to where Admiral Rodney's fleet was built.

So not only did Flo have a lovely walk with spectacular views, she learnt some history.

What a lucky girl.

Christmas Dinner Family Style

2011-12-23T13:36:00.000Z

This fantastic photo is I think from late 19th/early20th century, taken in Bridge Street Evesham, not only do I think that it is a wonderful historical record, it was my families business, could this be a link to Tom training to be a Game Keeper, could you say

“it’s in the blood!”

looking back/looking forward

2011-12-18T09:10:00.001Z

I suppose that people read blogs to be inspired by lovely things, so if that is the case do not read on.

I am very lucky. I live in a lovely place, we are all healthy, I have a very faithful old dog, I have a lovely lifestyle (on a budget), I have people around me that love me, I am free to come and go as I please. So why is it at this time of year I do not enjoy the festivities? About two weeks ago I had had enough, I want it all to be over and the New Year to be here.

Perhaps I shouldn’t think of people that are no longer here, my Grampy & Gran (with my Mum), are mentioned by us probably each day, Trixie has been gone for 18 years, I was expecting “our Tommy” as she called him, but she never got to see him, in fact I am now crying as I write this. My Grampy, who I spent a lot of time with as a child, going to Steam Fairs, farm sales, car auctions…..He did get to meet Tom and loved him dearly, an only great grandson of an only granddaughter of an only daughter.

Don’t misunderstand me, I have found a partner who has changed me and finally I am happy and content, we are a very small family and very close and none of us are lonely, I love being me.

So as soon as boxing day comes and I take Tom off to the wilds of North Wales, the new me starts. Some of my inspiration has come from Tom, he has turned his troubles around and is on the last leg at college and is a very confident young man now with dreams and aspirations. My Mum doesn’t interfere but gives me good advice when she can see that I am flailing, and Michael stands by me and encourages me, and inspires confidence in me.

After dropping Tom off, Michael, Flo and myself will carry onto the coast, probably Aberdovey for a lovely walk and then home ready for the next day as I am stripping out my unit at The Old Pill Factory. I am hoping to do more fairs next year having plucked up the courage to start networking with people.

Thank you to my family past & present

A new year, new look, new attitude!

Icing inspiration……

2011-12-15T16:48:00.001Z

Icing Russian style.

Decorations and a new home for Tweedy–Woo

2011-12-10T15:20:00.001Z

Yes I know that I am not fond of pink, but my rose scented candles inspired this arrangement. The silver plate tray was for sale, however the scalloped shell edges spoke to me…….pale pink roses and vintage baubles complete the look.

Mum, Florence and I have been foraging and found these lichen covered fruitwood branches, hey presto a decorative tree, and who has decided to roost in a new spot? Look closely and it’s Tweedy-Woo…..

Tweedy is a dear little chap handmade and given to me by my amazingly artistic friend Woo http://www.thedevilmakeswork.co.uk/ click and have a look at the lovely things that she creates.

I finally managed to find some “crown” lights in Tesco and make this decoration for my Mum to have on her mantlepiece, she will have it on to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Finally my kitchen has some deer and a reindeer antlers. I do have an outside decoration but it isn’t fiinished yet as the in-house electrician hasn’t wired an outside plug yet!

Burne-Jones @ Winchester Cathedral

2011-12-06T18:25:00.000Z

For some time now I have been travelling to Winchester but haven’t managed to visit the Cathedral. One of the reasons that I wanted to go is to see the Gormley sculpture “Sound II” in the crypt, which was closed today due to a funeral.

HOWEVER, what I didn’t know is that there is a small chapel off the main nave which has four stained glass windows, designed by Edward Burne-Jones and crafted in William Morris’s workshop, they are absolutely beautiful. The colours are so vivid and the foliage design throws a gorgeous green hue into the chapel.

My pictures do not do justice to the colours so please make the effort to go, the Cathedral is beautiful & these windows are the icing on the cake.

New finds…..

2011-12-04T17:33:00.000Z

Mum and I went for a day out this week, and I found these lovelies.

All vintage

a long piece of pale pink embroidered silk

Sanderson hunting scene

and the most fabulous 50’s panel, South of France, Venice?

Even though there is too much red in this for me I may have to keep the smaller panel for a huge cushion, it is just so happy and sunny.

Lastly I found this lovely off white Edwardian garland, the lady told me that it was a bridal waist corsage. It is very small and I can wear it as a headband or neckpiece. Should I keep it, sell it or split it down for individual flowers?

The Old Pill Factory today

2011-12-02T19:18:00.000Z

Our lovely Scandinavian style window

The Old Pill Factory is now providing an upholstery service, the sofa & chairs are covered in the new range of fabric from Annie Sloan

Father Christmas I would love this desk and the large jar at the back

beautiful vintage Aquascutum winter coat

I hope you enjoyed your visit today

Colourful rural Russia

2011-11-29T11:53:00.000Z

On our visit to Russia, travelling from St Petersburg in the North to Rostov on Don in the South we saw many styles of architecture, Baroque, Art Deco, Constructivism, Communist………however being a lover of shabby paint, I thought that I would show you one little village of painted wooden houses & ordinary self sufficient gardens.

Something different from the normal photos of Russia, I hope that you like them.

I do have many more to follow!

The Old Pill Factory today

2011-11-22T19:17:00.000Z

Firstly today I spotted these lovely old patchwork pieces, lovely soft chintz, and at £5 each, a bargain! Polly also has a fabulous roll of unused Sanderson.

Firstly my unit,

and then the rest of the shop, lots of pics and no comments.

I hope that you enjoyed your visit……

Hey, is it November?

2011-11-20T15:36:00.002Z

Today I took a few photos of my Mum’s garden, just how she has things, a gang of watering cans, china in a log wall,

I then came across, roses flowering?!

We don’t sit on benches here, mirrors under, brick gardens on top,

lovely rusty iron and old leather dog collars,

rusty chickens and a herd of elephants,

an elephant welcome on the doorstep,

primroses and cowslips,

roses & arums.

I think that it is a forewarning for a harsh winter, if and when it arrives, what do you think?

Sanderson beauty

2011-11-10T16:46:00.000Z

Today I had a lovely email from Clare, an interesting lady who I met at the last Dairy House Textile Fair.

Clare produces the most beautiful bags, and bought a bolt of Sanderson screen printed floral from me, explaining that alongside her seasonal range of totes and shoppers she likes to have a range, limited in numbers that incorporate vintage fabric, which she sells at trade fairs.

I am so pleased to be able to show you the floral Sanderson tote that has been trimmed in soft nappa leather and which sold out at the “Spirit of Christmas” fair in Olympia last week.

Find these lovely creations at http://www.clareallen.com/

Nursery & Mid-Century iconic fabric for sale.

2011-11-09T14:17:00.000Z

Vintage Sanderson cotton “Hippity – Hoppity” 1.5m L x 1.24m W, beautifully detailed illustrations. £48. Good condition.

Fantastic 50’s French “poodle” cotton fabric, 2 pieces available, 109cm L x 76cm W £29. & 117cm L x 76cm W £29. excellent condition.

Vintage cotton/soft flannel back nice pale pink “bunnies & kitties” 240 cm L x 80cm W £68. Very good condition.

Vintage cotton “Flowerpots” 108cm L x 106cm W £28 very good condition.

Vintage cotton “Noddy” fabric, 112cm W x 192cm L, Good condition £48

Vintage Moygashel “Old Woman that lived in the shoe” cotton fabric, 5 pieces available, 150cm L x 120cm W £30 each. Very good condition.

Cranston Print Works USA, vintage cotton “Easter bunnies” print 115cm L x 115cm W £18.

Vintage cotton “Beatice Potter” characters by Warne & Co, 145 cm L x 122cm W £35 each, 2 available.

Lovely vintage 30’s/40’s “ducklings & lambs” pale pink background fabric. 122cm W x 184cm L. A few small holes at edges and some staining, which may come out with a few washes, but is hardly noticeable. £85

Vibrant 50’s barkcloth, (the colours are brighter & background is a much brighter yellow than the picture shows) 120cm W x 136cm L, a few small marks but nothing noticeable. Really fun fabric. 2 pieces available £50 each.

Heavy cotton 70’s vintage “Magic Roundabout”, 2m L x 80cm W, 2 available £30 each.

Vintage Disney cotton “Winnie the Pooh” fabric, 16cm W x 150cm L £28.

Fantastic, unused Edinburgh Weavers iconic Eames/Conran era barkcloth fabric. Tree design in the most lovely lime green. approximately 10m in original condition. This is fantastic.

If you are interested in any of these fabrics please feel free to email me at traceyjoy.66@hotmail.com

Off to the Old Pill Factory…

2011-11-06T12:54:00.001Z

Cushions made from an early 20thC Union flag, backed in vintage European linen.

A hand stitched patchwork and a hand embroidered & smocked slubby linen dress

Christmas decorations??

2011-11-05T11:08:00.001Z

If you are a regular follower, you have probably realised that I like decorative items and enjoy using them in unusual ways. This mornings buys all have a decorative Christmas theme to them (unintentionally, but these things happen).

The battered 50’s ice bucket speaks for itself, the vintage Balinese puppet is more lovely than the pictures show and I think would be lovely sitting on a mantlepiece.

A pair of Victorian prints of angels in tatty gilt frames, when I looked closer at the subject, I think they are Guardian angels. Again I can see them standing on a dresser base either side of a potted Christmas tree with lights and candles glittering.

and lastly, just lovely for a gift, a Bessie Pease Cutmann print, “On dreamlands border”

To Debbie who left a comment below, if you can email me I can reply to your queries.Thank you.

Works of art

2011-11-02T16:06:00.000Z

We all love shoes, the question is, if you could have a pair of couture, bespoke, beautifully embroidered shoes, would you wear them or just keep them under a glass dome to look at?

These beauties are from www.carolinegroves.co.uk

Bramble @ The Vintage Bazaar

2011-10-30T14:28:00.000Z

I have had a stand at all 3 Vintage Bazaars and this lovely lady has visited me each time.

Bramble is the most beautiful 15 year old Jack Russell, since I last saw her she has been quite poorly but has made a great recovery.

She visits the VB with her Mum & Dad, who always carries her perched on his arm, (as usual I forgot to ask Dad’s name). So hello Bramble, Mum & Dad, lovely to see you again

I didn’t manage to take any pictures of the stalls, but would like to say that the fair looked fabulous and I think that business was good. We had lots of lovely customers, some of whom complimented me on the stand looked, sometimes it is these comments that make it all worthwhile.

Well done to Clare & Liz the organisers.

Apologies & The Vintage Bazaar

2011-10-27T15:09:00.000+01:00

Firstly, apologies to you all for not having blogged recently, most of October has passed me by, the first three weeks were spent travelling through Russia from St.Petersburg to Rostov on Don, via Kazan, Volgograd & Astrakhan to name a few. Unfortunately the re-circulated air on the boat was the cause of illness and I have spent the last week with very little energy, HOWEVER, I have today transformed my kitchen into a practice area for Saturdays Vintage Bazaar in Frome.

The space that is allocated to me is a horseshoe space, so imagine if you will, two tables either side of my lighting & bling table, if I have enough time and am not over run with customers as soon as we open I will try to take pictures of the finished stand, but usually at Frome we are busy as soon as the doors open and I have little time to get my stand ready so I may not.

I will blog about my amazing trip soon, I have some wonderful photos.

Thanks for staying with me.

A quick shufty….

2011-09-29T14:34:00.000+01:00

just a quick shufty at the back of the van & stall at Kempton this week. The fair itself was wonderful with nearly every stall having lots of unusual and decorative stock. If you are able to go it is not too big to wander round and because it starts so early you don’t get caught in the traffic!

I just had to

2011-09-23T18:47:00.000+01:00

I haven’t been yet, but I do love the way that Anthropologie display their goods. I just had to post this one!

P.S. Hello to my new Followers, Thank you, and to all of my friends whose blogs I usually comment on, I can't at the moment!, the lovely Miss Bunny has told me how to remedy it, but I haven't got myself into gear yet, but I am still avidly reading.

Look what happens

2011-09-22T19:30:00.000+01:00

Look what happens when you do get out of bed on a Thursday morning.

This year I haven’t been going to this particular car booty because “I can’t be bothered”, under protest, last week I went, and I bought a cup of tea and some runner beans! For some strange reason I was wide awake early today so off I went. Trudging round I came across the very heavy silver plate tray, quickly followed by the b&w tureen & matching ladle (I have been collecting small lidded tureens for a very special fair in November). I haven’t seen a flycatcher glass shade like this one before and a copy of “Black Beauty” with the most lovely cover and illustrations.

As I wasn’t far from an M&S, I nipped in for a few goodies, and took myself a box of…………...

So whilst I waited for M to come home this afternoon to go and view an auction, a couple of these (4) and a mug of tea & “House of Eliott”. M was running behind so we rushed out and didn’t consider the “Pie Snatcher”.

When I came back, on the coffee table, a tea mug knocked over and the remaining four chocs gone, the second layer was uneaten, but only because FLORENCE hasn’t worked out how to open the packet!

Here’s one I forgot earlier…….

2011-09-18T15:29:00.000+01:00

Black or white ? Which ever I think that this is really pretty.

Business as usual……

2011-09-17T10:08:00.000+01:00

In Whitstable there are many pretty shop fronts, this deli was my favourite, and the little Portugese style custard tarts,oooooooh!

Even though it was supposed to be a “no buying/work holiday”, I never switch off. Quite a lot of the clothes shops were using vintage furniture & fabrics for their displays, I can’t go past a WhiteStuff without looking in to see if any of my stock is displayed.

No we didn’t go in for a pint (I can’t stand this chain), however how fantastic that the Art Deco cinema is alive and busy.

We did however go into this shop. My favourite in the town, I wanted to buy nearly all of the furniture for our house as the old wood, sand blasted metal, rusty metal, shabby paint on the sets of drawers and cupboards……….I love cupboards!

As we only went in the car we couldn’t fit anything big in,(although I did find the side of a fishing boat on the beach and managed to wedge that into the car), I could only buy some fabric and a massive bag, repurposed very cleverly from a Sanderson sofa cushion cover.

Oh and on a Saturday there is a wonderful Farmers market, this young man came out with this beautiful bunch of garden flowers (lime green, my fave colour), fragrant with fennel.

Oh how kind!

“We’re on the road to nowhere”

2011-09-14T18:05:00.000+01:00

Well it felt like it as we drove across endless reclaimed treeless marshland and when we got there we were in the most desolate place.

The end of the world maybe?

But strangely appealing

The more that you look, the more that you see…

seaside gardens

and the reason that we came, this little black wooden fishermans cottage

not your conventional shots of a garden, but as I have mentioned before I prefer to look for shape and colour, the old galvanised dolly wash tubs are right up my street, even more so filled with driftwood, yes I will be copying this idea as I have the tubs at home and a large collection of driftwood.

I loved Jarman’s hut and garden, but the other gardens which are much less “constructed”, possibly some may think “abandoned or filled with junk”, but chippy paint, weathered wood & rusty metal, what’s not to like?

After an hour of wandering around tis desolate place I actually decided that it is industrial, remote and lonely but also very contemplative and beautiful.

Dungeness, not on the road to nowhere.

Traipsing with Trixie & Florence…

2011-09-08T16:25:00.000+01:00

A quick blog today, we were up early and on the road, so that we could get to our destination for brekkie!

“Oh my! did I really order a cream tea for breakfast – NO surely not!”

M with his trad FEB!

So we have been to Battle, Winchelsea & are now resting in Rye. Tomorrow we will be moving onto Whitstable via Dungeness, guess whose garden we will be visiting?!

Oh and as we have a cuppa in our hotel room, whose mug is whose? (If Only)

PS I am having trouble with blogger at the mo, I am reading them but can’t make comments.

The Old Pill Factory today….

2011-09-06T19:47:00.000+01:00

Lots of pictures for you today, the only thing that I shall say is that despite the rain & wind the light was really bright thus the reflections in the windows! You may just be able to see the “Office” look, with my fab shelves and M’s Anglepoise lamps.

Beauty beauty everywhere….

2011-09-05T18:05:00.000+01:00

I am lucky enough to be off on my travels again soon, these are a few pictures from the last time that I was in this particular country.

Beauty in the valuable marble & gilt wooden carvings, in the Roman mosaics, and also in the chippy paint and abandoned church.

Any ideas?

perception…….

2011-09-03T18:27:00.001+01:00

I am sure you are asking “what is she going on about”?

The common perception of this building is that it is white, but far from it.

The marble is inlaid with the most beautiful floral designs in semi-precious stones & script from the Koran.

Any ideas ??

Did you guess?

Practice makes perfect

2011-08-30T19:51:00.000+01:00

Well maybe not perfect, but practice certainly helps if you are standing at a fair that you haven’t done before, so this was my job on Monday. I decided to try and cut down on props so have used the back of the van as a table rather than some where for the staff to sit!…….Tuesday after a 3am start and a 1 3/4 hour drive we arrived at Kempton, Sunbury on Thames.

After unloading quickly my lovely salesman was ready to go…..

What is handy is that as trading starts at 6.30am it is mostly finished by lunchtime, which means that our M3/M25/A40….journey home is not at 5-6pm.

folded on this rail is the most beautiful linen cover, single bed size or double bed top, or large table, it is hand embroidered with beautifully faded styalised flowers and birds in silk, probably by a memsahib in turn of the century India, and handed down through the family.

the WW1 campaign bed caused much interest but alas came home, at one point I thought that it may have been off to Japan!

Oh and of course lots of fabrics.

Vintage vs High Street

2011-08-28T20:24:00.001+01:00

original vintage 1960's armchairs (pair) £345 vs. one new High Street chain store £439 (for one)

mmmmmm!!!!

ps I would like to apologise for my lack of posts recently, I do hope to be able to get back into the swing of things this week, and have some eye candy lined up for a post on Tues/Weds.

The Old Pill Factory today

2011-08-17T19:49:00.000+01:00

In the window today my vintage cushions and an old bench and stool painted in Annie Sloan.

In my unit I have moved things around and have added 2 chandeliers and the 2 beautiful crystal table lamps.

Sorry, phone photos again! Although I think you get the picture!

The Old Pill Factory today

2011-08-13T17:17:00.000+01:00

The shop was packed with customers today so I just took a couple of pics to show you a few new pieces in my unit, the lovely formica topped table is pale yellow with a black flower design and 70’s teak lamp with original shade.

beautiful little dressing table with pale pink/stripe/floral curtains,pelmet & top under glass, very pale wood underneath, 3 fold good quality mirrors.

What do you do with your tea cosy?

2011-08-11T19:11:00.000+01:00

With a freshly washed tea cosy, what else would I do with it than put it on Flo!

I think that it’s made for her!

(When Tom was a toddler and Mum and I used to take him to the fairs in the snow and cold, there were occasions when he ended up wearing a teacosy!)

Remember this?

2011-08-08T10:58:00.000+01:00

Poor Flo remembers last winter, at some times the ice balls that collected on her legs were so large that at times she was walking as though she was wearing four splints.

After such exhausting exercise she would come back and dream of warmer times…

cream teas and exploring

ice creams and boating (car ferry)

rock climbing and paddling

sunbathing and snoozing

Flo’s dreams have inspired me and although she is off to Whitstable soon, and I will then be off to travel through Russia, I think that M deserves a holiday in January again, so I have my thinking cap on, I bet you can’t imagine where I am dreaming of???

Lammas Day

2011-07-31T18:59:00.000+01:00

Lammas is a Neo-Pagan holiday, often called Lughnasadh, celebrating the first harvest and the reaping of grain. It is a cross-quarter holiday halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumnal Equinox (Mabon). In the northern hemisphere, Lammas takes place around August 1 with the Sun near the midpoint of Leo in the tropical zodiac, while in the southern hemisphere Lammas is celebrated around February 1 with the Sun near the midpoint of Aquarius.

In some English-speaking countries in the Northern Hemisphere, August 1 is Lammas Day (loaf-mass day), the festival of the wheat harvest, and is the first harvest festival of the year. On this day it was customary to bring to church a loaf made from the new crop. In many parts of England, tenants were bound to present freshly harvested wheat to their landlords on or before the first day of August.

Lughnasadh (pronouced loo'nass'ah) comes at the beginning of August. It is one of the Pagan festivals of Celtic origin which split the year into four.

The reason for this info, because I was born on Lammas day!

Thank you Wiki, for the info!

The Old Pill Factory today, a quick visit….

2011-07-30T20:35:00.000+01:00

the sun was very bright today and I only had my phone, so the window pics are not the greatest! The cushions in the chair are my creations!

starting my late summer-autumn look with a pair of lovely oak “Everest”, grey tweedy armchairs.

Lovely drawers, tiny metal feet and some very tactile old brushes.

Just a quick visit today.

what no flowers?

2011-07-28T08:59:00.001+01:00

Quite often I take pictures in an abstract sort of way, I find that I am drawn to form and texture rather than a panoramic scene.

What do you think of these garden pictures with not a flower in sight??

and for you ladies that have your own “girl sheds”, what about this beautiful pavillion??

Gardens: Bourton Hill House & Mill Dene, Glos.

p.s. hello to my new followers, I have gained 3 in a day, I hope you enjoy.........

dah–ling!

2011-07-24T20:17:00.000+01:00

the first three pictures are of a bunch of locally picked flowers £3, the second a lovely bunch given to me by my Mum from her garden.

As I was discussing with Fiona at the Old pill Factory the other day, I would like to have a home with muted palettes, sort of Scandi-French, but I gravitate towards jewel colours, so am more English Country Eccentric, and when there are colours like this, that could be described as clashing, if Mother nature puts them together then why not? If it’s good enough for her………..