29 September 2009

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!

04 September 2009

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?).

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


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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!!