Coming Home ...

Usually I listen to Radio 4 as I make the 40-minute journey to Dairy House 4 days a week, but recently I've transferred alliegance to Radio 2 for the outward journey, but return to Radio 4 on my way home.

I've never been a particularly great Terry Wogan fan, but do enjoy singing along to the songs of my youth - hopefully no-one notices!

Yesterday morning I set off as usual and drove the first couple of miles with tears streaming down my face as this was playing


Did any of you see them on the Evening of Remembrance on BBC1 on 7 November? I think I need to add their debut album onto my Christmas list.

Bridport Christmas Market: Saturday 28 November

I should have mentioned this before, but those of you in the vicinity of Bridport, the south coast, Dorset or Somerset this weekend are in for a treat. Not only is there the usual street market on Saturday but also the Bridport Christmas Market in St Mary's Hall - full of wonderful textiles and other goodies to help you build up your stash of Christmas gifts!

I'll be there, along with The Washerwoman, Lindiblog, Vintage Lizzie and the other West Country textile dealers of Talent for Textiles fame. It promises to be a jolly day and the hall will be packed to the gunnels with linens and textiles and all sorts of other treats. Do come and see us if you can - and perhaps you'd like to bring fine weather with you!!

Christmas is coming ...

Just a taster from the new post on the Dairy House blog!

Vintage & Handmade Fair - a few photos

By now you will have read everyone else's blogs regarding the Fair. Most were quicker off the mark than I, but this is the first opportunity I've had to upload my (blurred) photos. Thankfully a few are OK!

I'm so glad I travelled up as far as Almondsbury on the Friday afternoon, to stay in the same hotel as Donna and her lovely Mum. We were greeted with a fair amount of blue sky when we set off on our 20-minute journey to Chipping Sodbury, and were all incredibly lucky to be able to unload our cars before the rains came.

Here's lovely Viv, aka Hens Teeth. Her work is superb and I'm hoping to commission her for a special something sometime in 2010.

And here are Jane (Jane and the Happy Crow) and Christine (The Sea Garden) - who were opposite me.

Sadly, no other photos of other people's stands came out well enough to post, and these are the best 2 photos of mine.

Our customers didn't desert us, despite the squally weather during the day, although the conditions were too bad for some. Such a shame, but very sensible not to travel long distances with such wind and rain.

Everyone worked so hard to make the day a success and certainly a jolly day was had by all.

I had a little suitcase of knitting and sewing patterns, together with some 1940s Woman and Woman's Own magazines. This knitting pattern caused quite a stir ... one lady purchased it for a knitting friend. I'd love to see the expression on her face when she opened her gift!

We all know by now that everyone had a lovely day, and so here's to May 2010 and every success to the Vintage & Handmade Fair No 4.

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!