Vintage & Handmade Countdown ...

Looking through my photo archives I've found something else which I plan to take to the V&H. One of these is sold, the other isn't. Whichever one isn't (I can't remember) will be coming with me ...

Plus a few bits and pieces like this ...


Did I tell you about the box of interesting bits I lost about 2 years ago? I found it last week and these will be making an appearance ...

As will plenty of this ...

And possibly this ...


I did wonder whether I should take some of this ...

but decided that I really didn't want to carry too much heavy stuff. Fabrics are heavy enough, but that has the added bonus of being unbreakable! Maybe the Toni Raymond pottery will have an outing at the May 2010 Vintage & Handmade Fair. I can't imagine I shall have sold it all by then!

I'm hoping someone will take a fancy to these ...

or possibly this gorgeous fabric which is, in fact, a pair of fairly short curtains. If they're too small for your window then perhaps the fabric should be given a new lease of life as a group of cushions ...

This South American apron along with a number of vintage printed pinnies are hoping they'll be packed in a bag as they'd quite like to find new homes ...

As always I shall be taking too much, but Gillie is coming with me this time, so I hope she'll be ready to flex her muscles and join in the melée - the long corridor between the carpark and the hall seemed incredibly long at the last Fair!! I hope it's grown shorter in the last 6 months!!

Needless to say, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There will be plenty of this ...

and plenty of these ...

in all colours, shapes and sizes!

And these are just the items already photographed. The rest will be a surprise!

Words to live by ...

I'm displacing again, and doing some computer housekeeping. It seemed like a good idea at the time ...

I found the following, entitled 'Words to live by' filed away in 'My Documents'. Not sure when I received it, nor from whom, but thanks to whoever it was. I don't think I've breached copyright by blogging it - it was probably extracted from one of those silly round robin things that we all receive from well-meaning friends from time to time!!! Some are a wee bit silly, but a couple of them may cause a smile!

Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
and some days you're the statue.

Always keep your words soft and sweet,
just in case you have to eat them.

If you can't be kind, at least have the
decency to be vague.

Never put both feet in your mouth at the
same time, because then you don’t
have a leg to stand on.

Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier than the people
who have to wait for them?

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't
more people happy?

You may be only one person in the world,
but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun
to only make once.

Don't cry because it's over;
smile because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty, some
are dull, some have weird names, and
all are different colors but they all
have to learn to live in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who can
enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Happiness comes through doors you
didn't even know you left open.

Did I ever show you these photos? I'm guessing 1956 and 1960 but can't be certain! Long enough ago for it not to matter, even if it does seem like yesterday ...

After that little reminisce it's time to get on with what I was supposed to be doing before I got sidetracked ... sorting out the office in order to move around some furniture. I have to say I've more or less wasted my day off. It's been relaxing, but there was so much I needed to get done today ... including scrambling into the shed/studio while the weather was fine to find some specific items for the Vintage and Handmade Fair in two weeks' time. I think today was the last fine day, so the things I had in mind might just have to wait until the next V&H in May 2010

I've been itching to do some sewing again but until the office is sorted, and I have found a new home for my sewing machine, I'll have to contain myself. However, I finally picked up a crochet hook the other day, after popping along to the new bead/stitch shop at Semley which sells Debbie Bliss and Rowan yarns among other things. The shop is housed in a beatifully-converted barn and is less than a mile from Dairy House. I notice on their website that as well as their usual Monday-Saturday opening they are open this Sunday, 1 November. I'm not sure if this is a new thing for every Sunday or a one-off. Maybe they're going to see what Sunday opening is like in the run up to Christmas. If Sunday visitors to Dairy House are anything to go by I imagine it will certainly be worth their while. Yesterday in a quiet couple of hours at the end of the day a friend came to spend some time with me at Dairy House so that I could teach her to crochet! We have such plans ... I'm not sure that they'll come to fruition this side of Christmas, but there's always next year ... it'll be such fun to be creative again

Have a jolly weekend, one and all. I imagine it will be trick or treat for many. Not for me though, thank you very much!

Riding off into the sunset ...

On the way home from Dairy House last week ...

A selection of goodies which may be making their way to the Vintage & Handmade Fair on 14 November ...

Plenty of photos added to the Dairy House blog yesterday. See you there!

Mission Impossible ... and a little displacing ...

My daughter and her lovely hubby are coming for supper on Friday (although we're only an hour away it's difficult for us to meet up as we all work such long hours). My mission yesterday was to clear the sitting room floor and all other flat surfaces of stock, stock and more stock.


Needless to say the mission continues today as I got somewhat sidetracked yesterday. Because the old eiderdown I'd been unpicking was still needing to be emptied of feathers, Pauley and I attempted that for a change of activity. Many sneezes later that job was done.


The obvious next step as I was passing was to empty the car after the Giant Flea Market at Shepton on Sunday. Obvious because the contents of the sitting room (and by this time the kitchen, too!!) has to go somewhere and the studio is still awaiting a good clear out to make room for all these other things. It was such a lovely sunny day that it was far more important that I should be outside savouring the sun rather than inside squinting as the sun shone through the window don't you think?






In between all this I needed to sort some buttons into drawers and boxes. Have I ever mentioned I like drawers?? And buttons??

Another displacement activity was soon needed, so I sorted out the pile of recently acquired table linens, which had also found their way to the sitting room, into more piles. I'd cleared a space by removing the eiderdown and emptying a box, so there was room to make more piles! These fell into the categories of needing to be washed, just needing ironing, charity shop, polishing cloths for one of my DH dealers, keep for 'projects' and finally those beyond redemption. As luck would have it a Help the Aged worker dropped off a sack whilst I was emptying the cary. He's more than happy to take as much as I can leave outside for him tomorrow. Great ... that meant move on to attack the garage and find the 2 boxes and a bag of charity shop stuff that has been making its way further and further towards the back as other things have piled in!

So far this morning I have displaced admirably ... I've taken some photographs, and sat writing this post. Soon I shall have to be brave and put my sorting head on again in an attempt to reach the finishing post. I must finish today as Dairy House beckons tomorrow and Thursday, leaving Friday to food shop, take Mum to the garden centre before preparing for our visitors!



If I get a move on I could empty everything that remains in the sitting room out into the garden. It's another lovely day so maybe if I got that far I could then empty the shed and refill it ... and whilst I'm doing that I could begin to sort things into piles for the Vintage & Handmade Fair on 14 November and the Christmas Market in Bridport on 21 November. Now there's a good displacement activity! At least if I've emptied the house Pauley could stay inside and lock and bolt the doors so that nothing can creep back in (until Saturday)!



My vintage mannequins are breeding again. There are currently 2 in the hall, one in the car, one in the studio (plus the little wicker one I used to use for display at DH, and that scary one from way back with the wooden arms) and 2 at Dairy House. Prices range from £100 to around £350.

Moving on to blogland topics, Niki dropped off my calendar order at Shepton Flea on Sunday. Like this year's calendar, 2010 offers a vintage feast for your eyes every month, and each colour-themed photo has a backdrop of Scheurer fabric. I believe they will be available at the Vintage & Handmade Fair.



Last evening, when I'd finally escaped tidying mode, I caught up with a few blogs and, starting with Treefall saw that several bloggers have been making their own scarves. This prompted me (at midnight) to search out the scarf I made in 1978. It's a wool tartan and I'm delighted to say that those wool nibblers haven't found it in 31 years and it's (as we speak) moth-free. I've worn it every year, bar 2008, but it will become part of my 'keep warm at Dairy House' wardrobe any day now!

This particular scarf is over 5 feet long (64" width fabric) and the first one I made. That year there were many wool tartans and check fabrics available in the shops and I made and sold endless scarves by simply stitching along the sides and ends, and fraying up to the stitching. At the sides I stitched a mere ¼" in, to has as little fraying as possible, but I left a couple of inches each end to make a decent frayed edge. Such a quick and easy method. I used to do the sewing when I got home from work while Hannah played. We would then drive to collect Pauley from work and I would fray the edges while we sat in the car waiting for him. Gillie's then husband worked at the same place and we would park our cars side by side and chat while I frayed. I'd forgotten this, but when Gillie came back into our lives in 2002 (by visiting rather than just Christmas letters and cards) she reminded me, and said that whenever she thought of those Northampton days she thought of my scarves!!! Fame, had I but known it

So ... the time has come. I can't put off the evil moment any longer ... shower, dress, attack ... I may be gone for a while ...

Update: I've received an email request from Hannah for baked ham, mashed potato and gravy! As the clearing has progressed reasonably well so far I thought I could spare a moment or two to look through this ...

I now know how I must lay the table ...

and how to cook the meal ...

Catching Up ...

Well ... catching up with what? Catching up first of all with family for a very special 90th birthday party at the weekend. Mum's sister-in-law, my aunt, had a wonderful party at her home in Northamptonshire - Stoke Bruerne, to be precise. Those of you who enjoy narrow boat holidays, live in Northamptonshire or have an interest in the waterways of Britain will have heard of Stoke Bruerne, I'm sure.

We stayed on the farm again for 2 nights, and I'm pleased to say that the whole weekend was full of sunshine. There were about 90 guests at the party and it was great to catch up with cousins - I think it was almost a full compliment - aunts and uncles, and to say hello to people Paul and I hadn't seen seen for several years. I haven't asked permission, so won't post a photo of the birthday girl, but here's a piccie of the very tasty cake!

Secondly, Mum and I spent a windy day in Dorset last Tuesday - Burton Bradstock to be precise. This is our favourite place for a day by the sea, and although it was a wee bit chilly we had a lovely sea blow, followed by lunch at the Hive Café where we chatted with a lovely elderly lady from Lancashire who now lives in Bridport. She was such fun to chat to whilst we ate our lunch. Here's Mum setting off in the direction of West Bay (not that we walked that far!).

We had a quick look at Chesil Beach but didn't fancy trying to walk along the shingle so decided the quick look was enough.

Even more of a catch-up are my purchases from the 3-day Antiques Fair at Shepton Mallet the weekend before last. This fabulous printer's tray full of letters and punctuation is delightful. The letters are loose, so I'm not sure yet whether to sell the complete package or whether to sell the letters individually. I think I shall probably hold out for selling the lot as a whole. I have some loose ones which I'll try selling separately and see how they go.

And what do you think of this little collection? A pint-sized ironing board, clothes airer and mangle. All purchased at Shepton Mallet and destined for the Vintage & Handmade Fair on 14 November.

I've just looked out of the window. I hope you've all noticed the beginnings of yet another glorious sunset. Haven't we been lucky this last week? Mind you, those gardeners and farmers amongst us are desperate for rain!

As for the rest of September, I seem to have been inundated with paperwork, phone calls, customers at Dairy House (not complaining) and the month has flown by even faster than August.

October starts with a trip to see Donna. She is holding her Autumn Open House Sale on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Gillie and I are off to see her on Friday when I think we shall be meeting up with Liz and a few other textile/vintage dealers. Gillie and I plan to smell the sea at Appledore before travelling home and I'm led to believe, by the person we're visiting there, that a new shop has opened there, selling ... CHOCOLATE! It would be rude not to go, wouldn't it!!

In case October sets off at a cracking pace and I have to run to catch up, have a lovely start to Autumn, and hopefully I'll manage to post again before Halloween!

COD - Chest of Drawers ... or ... Compulsive Obsessive Disorder ... You Choose!

As you know, I don't seem to be able to pass a bank of drawers without coveting and/or buying. Well, these beauties are now in situ at DH and I'm hoping to fill them over the weekend.


I dusted them thoroughly yesterday, and they are now sitting patiently waiting to be fed!



You could perhaps say that they hit you in the face as you walk through the door, but I love them! All that acreage of drawer space in which to hide everything for my customers to rummage through. You, of all people, will know that drawers are designed for rummaging, so I'm just pandering to you, really, and their acquisition has nothing to do with my obsession at all ... and if you believe that ...


The Scheurer fabrics have been out on display since I put them in the shop, but I think they should be stored safely in the drawers for a while. They are still available for sale, but are safer tucked away where they won't get dusty. I still have the glass-fronted drawers, but these have been shifted to the other wall. They have been housing table linens etc for several months, but I think I may have a complete drawer-change.






You may remember the 2 sets of small drawers (one showing in the above pics) which I filled with haberdashery bits and pieces, buttons, lace etc. Well one of these sets is now for sale, being superfluous to requirements (can I really mean that?).

***

Before you go, have a look at the Dairy House blog!


***

Today is my day at home (the first one in weeks) and I'm trying to organise/clear/attack the shed/studio to create space for the pile of stock which has been on display in the middle of our sitting room floor for the past x weeks. Pauley has been incredibly accommodating and has ignored it but I can't stand it any longer. I'm hoping that by the end of the day I shall have found the floor ... until the next time!

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EDIT:
I have a quantity of (probably discontinued) ZOFFANY WALLPAPER. There are at least 12 rolls of each of the following designs:
Bay Garland from the Hilliard Collection (primrose yellow background with pale blue leaves and ochre trellis pattern)
Obelisk Toile from the Hilliard Collection (primrose yellow background, ochre and shades of blue)
Seed Pearl from the Hilliard Collection (powder blue background with pale yellow)
Nostel Sprig from the Hilliard Collection (paprika background with cream)
Florentine Lily from the Black Book Collection (brick red/terracotta background with darker fleur de lys style pattern)
Clarendon from the Black Book Collection (pale and darker cream stripes)
Lennel from the Black Book Collection (dark blue background with black and gold)

If anyone is interested please email and I'll forward photos etc. Obviously postage would be high but if you live anywhere near Somerset or Dorset (or Northamptonshire as I'll be visiting at the end of September) then collection would be a possibility. I would be happy to sell the rolls at £5 each. They came as part of a job lot from an interior designer clearing her store!!

Fabulous Fabric ...

One of our dealers went to Kempton yesterday to buy at the fortnightly Fair and came back to Dairy House with the most amazing 4-fold screen. It's quite damaged in that the fabric is past its best in places, but she didn't get it through the door before I'd snapped it up. If anyone can shed any light on these 2 fabrics - one on the front, one on the back - then I'd be delighted to know your thoughts.

One item that slipped through my net last week, and is for sale in her room (was tempted but I am enjoying it when on duty at Dairy House instead of buying!) is this charming Victorian push-along wooden horse. Isn't he beautiful? She came back with another horse on wheels yesterday, and I'll take photos when he finally comes in the shop.

Finally, I took down the scaffold tower yesterday, which can mean only one thing ... the Cheese Room painting is finished! The floor will be cleaned this afternoon and dealers are moving in from tomorrow (Thursday) so that we're all set for 1st September (closed BH Monday). Photos on the Dairy House blog shortly.