A Talent for Textiles & Brocante - Dorchester

This is the advertising poster for "A Talent for Textiles & Brocante" which is run by the "T4T" or "Talent for Textiles" team of antique and vintage textile dealers in the West Country. This particular Fair is the furthest east so may well be near enough for more of you to visit.

Click to enlarge to see the full details.

If you need further information contact Linda and say I sent you!

I hope to be there (not selling) and I expect more bloggers will be there, so it'll be another good opportunity for us all to meet up. Let me know if you think you'll be able to go!

Three Ds ...

... Dresser, Dairy House Antiques and Dealers ...

'D is for Dresser' - a super little dresser which, I am reliably informed, was made by a grandfather in the 1950s for his grand-daughter. I forgot to measure it, but I don't think I'd be misleading you if I said it is roughly 18-20 inches wide and stands about 3 feet high. It's gorgeously chippy green and comes in 2 sections. Photos 1, 2 and 3 are the nearest to the shade. The drawers and doors open and there are cup hooks on the fronts of the shelves, together with beading to ensure that plates and saucers standing up against the back don't slip forward on the shelves. I love it and can't believe I nearly walked away from it. Niki, Helen and I saw it on Friday in Wells, and I ummed and ah-ed for about 10 minutes. It wasn't cheap, but I knew it would sell at Dairy House or at Shepton so made my decision. I was so pleased when I got to Dairy House with it yesterday and was told to put a higher price on it than I had thought. I won't worry if it doesn't sell immediately. Just look at how well the little teaset displays on it. I've had the teaset for a while and this is the best it's looked! The green leaves tone beautifully with the green of the dresser. So I'm happy. I shall probably add this to the website after the next Shepton (21-23 March) if it hasn't sold by then.

'D is for Dairy House'. I went over there yesterday as Semley Auctioneers (a couple of hundred yards away) were holding their monthly Auction and I knew the place would be buzzing with dealers and customers. I chose not to bid for anything at the auction - need to hang on to as much money as possible over the next few weeks in view of the imminent 'take over'! We had quite a busy day - lots of small items sold, and I was pleased to see that one of my eiderdowns, along with a Marsella bedspread, had sold the day before.




Finally 'D is for Dealers'. I met a prospective new dealer at DH yesterday and she has confirmed she wants the space. I also met another dealer at the auction who had expressed an interest in renting a cabinet. These dealers have been 'signed up' and I have now let all the floor space. I have one cabinet left available to rent, although I may acquire a couple more before the beginning of April, and I need to contact the picture dealer who is thinking of renting the staircase walls. And that's it. All sorted. The Streamline card machine is being set up next week (a month early, but that's fine - I should know what I'm doing by 1 April!), and a locksmith is coming to fit a new lock on a door which has had no key for about 6 years! Soon it will be a case of 'D' for 'Decorating', but not just yet!




Finally, one of the current dealers has just put this fabulous 50s/60s kitchen unit into DH. It's in superb used condition and looks exactly as it should - no new painting, touching up or titivating. I wish I could justify putting it in our kitchen but I don't think I can at the moment!

Have a jolly Sunday afternoon. I'm being taken out for lunch in about half an hour, so I'd better get a move on!

Nature Table ... and a Tag ...

First of all - the Nature Table! There was an article in this month's Country Living about bringing back the Nature Table into our schools. Sal at Sal's Snippets wrote a post about it here and it was also mentioned on Cherry Menlove's Forum, where I commented that I still have the photo album I won as a prize for my entry in the school Nature Table competition somewhere around 1960 - and that somewhere I had a photograph ... Well, I've found it (and I was right, I had written 1960 on the reverse), scanned it, and here it is!

There's Shirley Kingston, Jacqueline Arnold, me, Wendy Bray, Ann Warren, can't remember, Marilyn Gelsthorpe, Catherine Brown and Rosemary Ellis. Are you in the photo? Or do you know any of them? It's such a small world that nothing would surprise me! The lady standing at the back was, I think, the wife of Northampton's Deputy Mayor, and I believe she was the grandmother of one of the girls in the photo - although that may be one of those stories I've lived with for nearly 40 years which is totally incorrect! I tried Googling for her name (I think it was Mrs V J H Harris - as I felt very grown up at the time remembering all the initials!) and came across the Wikipedia entry for Northampton. I was amazed to see how many 'celebrities' the town has bred, or has been home to. I knew of several - Judy Carne (her younger cousin was in my class and junior school), Des O'Connor and Lesley Joseph - but I didn't know about Joan Hickson (Miss Marple), Peter Purves, Alan Carr or Nanette Newman. Historically, I knew of John Clare, the poet - there is (or was) a Clare Street, and practically every school in the town had a Clare house or team. There are many more that I didn't realise were Northamptonians, so I've learned quite a lot today! And did you know that Northampton was the town used in "Keeping Up Appearances"? So - which famous people has your town or city bred?

***

I've been tagged by Sal at Sal's Snippets - a blogger I've only recently come across. She has some great tales to tell and lives in Glorious Devon, lucky girl!

The tag is for the Archive Meme where we have to list the 5 favourite blog posts we've written - but it's not quite as simple as that because ...

Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are … what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose.

Post 5 links and then tag 5 other people. At least 2 of the people must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better … and don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!

So, here goes!

Link 1 - about family must, of course, be Hannah's wedding last May - where has the last 9 months gone? http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2007/05/day-to-remember.html

Link 2 - about friends. I think this one needs to be a dedication to my best friend Iz (Isobel) who sadly lost her fight 20 years ago last week. We met when I was 8 and she was 9 on the school bus. All free time was spent at our house, every weekend she came to my uncle's farm with us, came on nearly every holiday with me and my parents and from that moment for the rest of my childhood and beyond I had a sister. I haven't written much about her in this post, but there are a couple of photos. I think the rest of the post relates more to the next link, but I'll find something else for that one! http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2007/09/rockin-bloggin-and-nice-matters.html

Link 3 - about me and who I am. I think this is a case of "pick a post - any post" as they are all me (but see comment in Link 2)! This post is probably the best one for background information - more related to the past than the present. http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2006/11/memories.html

Link 4 - something I love. I love gardening but, for reasons too varied to go into, have done hardly any for the past 5 years, and have consequently written no posts about it. So, all work and no play means this link should be related to my other passion of dealing in vintage textiles and antiques. http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2006/09/car-boots-and-auctions.html

Link 5 - anything at all! This one needs to be about my friend Gillie. Many of you have already 'met' her in my blog posts and some of you have met her in person. We've known one another since 1971 and she's a friend in need and deed. Unless her Northampton house sale falls through (fingers crossed all will be fine) she will be coming to stay with us from 29 February 'for as long as it takes' to find a home in the West Country. Over the years Pauley and I have had several friends live with us in the transition between an old life and a new one. Izzie 1978/79; Boz 1995; Liz 1998/99 and now Gillie in 2008. We've quite enjoyed it really, and as long as whoever is living with us doesn't expect to be waited on (and Gillie has stayed with us so often that she knows the score!!!!), everyone muddles along quite nicely! Of course, if they care to wait on us we can cope with that!! http://vintagetovictorian.blogspot.com/2007/09/winner-takes-it-all.html

Well, that turned into a marathon - there's absolutely no reason for anyone I tag to feel the need to write an essay relating to each Link. I'm obviously in chatty mode this morning (which I see is now afternoon).

If I tag you and you don't have the time or inclination I won't be in the least offended!

So, you lucky bloggers - I would like to tag ...

Serendipity Loves New York

56dustbunny

Lili M

Periwinkle

The Homely Year

Although the rules states that 2 blogs should be newer acquaintances, I decided to make all mine 'new'. I certainly haven't tagged any of them before!

Time for lunch now - doesn't time fly when you sit in front of the computer! Enjoy the rest of Sunday, folks!

Some Dairy House goodies ...

I took these photos when I was at DH on Thursday. These are a few of the items currently for sale. Thought you might like to see them.

I'm practising here on the blog before adding more photos to the Dairy House website. At least on here I know you'll tell me if the photos are rubbish before I ruin DH's reputation before I've even started!

At last, after 2+ weeks I'm beginning to feel more like doing something. I was quite energetic yesterday which was a treat, but I'm taking things a bit slower today, although I'm still feeling, thankfully, much brighter. P on the other hand isn't.

I had a lovely time last evening sorting through all my old photographs of gardens past. They are from pre-digital days so will need to be scanned if any of them are ever going to make it onto the blog, and I don't think I have time for that just at the moment. They brought back some lovely memories though, and made me even more determined to get cracking on this garden as soon as possible. In between doing everything else of course ...

It's another lovely sunny day today - do you think this is spring? Have a jolly day!

Selling for a friend ... and other stories

I have been asked by a friend to assist in the selling of these fabulous curtains. They were purchased for my friend's friend's daughter (keep up!) but were sadly not right for the house. Consequently they need to be sold.

They are immaculate and unused. Made of a beautiful silk they are fully lined and interlined, with an 84" (approx 213 cm) drop. The pleated top of each curtain measures 74" (approx 188 cm), thus fitting a curtain track of 148" (approx 376 cm) . If you work in feet and inches, this means an overall width of 12'4" x 7' drop - perfect for a sweeping bay window perhaps. (Cick to go into slide.com if you want to see a closer image)

The quality is superb and they originally cost £800. They are for sale now at £250 which to my mind is an absolute bargain. If you think these might be just what you are looking for or need further information then please email me. I am merely the 'go-between' in this instance and will pass on your enquiry.

I wish our windows were large enough. I'd have them like a shot!

***

Isn't it a glorious sunny day again today. Barely a cloud in this Somerset sky ... and still we're coughing and spluttering. I've had enough now. I want to be fit and healthy and rushing around like the spring chicken I once was. Admittedly I haven't felt like one for a few years, but one can dream!!! I'd just like some energy - time to hit the Lucozade I think. It worked for me through all my childish ailments and throughout my adult life when I've reached exhaustion pitch!

Did anyone see the programme on BBC2 last evening about retired people setting up businesses? I found it fascinating and the thought-processes and reasoning behind some of the decisions to go into business echoed my own.

My decision to take over Dairy House Antiques was very much determined by the realisation that P and I had already had "the first day of the rest of our lives". Hannah is married and has her own full life, Mum is safe living next door and this is it. We either stagnate (for want of a better term) with no 'wow' factor on the horizon, or take on a challenge that could open so many new windows and doors! I've received a multitude of good wishes and enthusiastic responses from the people I meet on a daily basis when they hear my plans, and all of you, my blogging friends, have been incredibly generous with your support.

My mind is ticking over quite busily during this planning stage and lots of unexpected ideas are popping up. As Gillie always says: "Think outside the box"! Friends and colleagues have suggested ways of promoting DH including Linda Clift's idea of it becoming the venue for a small textile fair, exhibitions etc. It is so exciting and I hope you will continue to walk (or run) along with me on this new journey. My online shop has had to take a back seat for a while, but it is another route by which people are finding the Dairy House website. I have enough stock to create a huge online shop but, for the time being, not enough hours in the day. The better weather is at least conducive to better photographing, so with a little luck ...

***

Another BBC2 programme I enjoyed last night was "The Choir". Did you see it? I watched the first series and was so pleased to see that Gareth Malone, the choirmaster, was going into another school. I think it's the journey that I enjoy watching. The striving for achievement. I like to see other people succeed, sometimes against all odds. Drive and enthusiasm. We all thrive on that; we just don't always realise it!

Have a lovely sunny weekend. I'm off in search of some energy!

Decision Made ... and the small world that is Ebay!

... we're staying put. No lunches for us this week. After beginning to feel brighter yesterday we both got up this morning wishing we didn't have to. I had a visitor this afternoon with some papers for me to sign relating to Dairy House, but other than that we're keeping ourselves to ourselves. This seems to be one of those bugs that pretends to go and then sneaks back in the door when you're not looking.


But what do you think of this ...


Remember I said about winning a mannequin on Ebay from a seller in Northampton. Well I wrote saying I probably wouldn't be able to collect it myself after all, but that Gillie would, and the seller replied saying he lived only about 5 miles from Gillie so would deliver it and gave his name and phone number. A name which rang a bell but I decided it couldn't be this person. So, when Gillie phoned him yesterday to arrange collection/delivery he asked if her friend was Mrs Paul Meager. Yes, said Gillie - it's Bob, isn't it. Yes, he replied!


Paul and I started working at Anglia Building Society (now Nationwide), within a few weeks of one another at the end of 1970, in different buildings and not knowing each other at the time. My Ebay seller was already working there and I met him almost immediately. Paul obviously knew him too as this was in the days when the Head Office of the Building Society totalled about 300 staff and we were names, not numbers. Everyone knew everyone else by name and generally speaking we were one big happy family; some years later Paul transferred to the same department as Bob. We moved to Bath 20 years ago and apart from the inevitable grapevine/jungle telegraph snippets and pensioners' magazine information we have basically lost touch with all the people who used to be a major part of our lives. We still do the Christmas card thing with a few which adds to the mix, but Bob wasn't in the same circle of friends and didn't know we had moved to Somerset. We've now emailed and caught up with each other's lives and he delivered the mannequin to Gillie earlier today. Her ex hubby was also in the Anglia family so Bob knows her, too. How's that for small worldliness! And it was just by chance that I thought I'd look to see if there were any mannequins for sale last week!! So Serendipity has been at it again!


He sent me his website - he plays and teaches guitar and still plays in a group called the Mantas who, when I was in my late teens, were THE local live group (probably the ONLY one). They played at all the Young Farmers dances, Dinner Dances (showing my age here) etc - no such thing as discos in those days, let alone nightclubs and whatever there is today - and were hero-worshipped by most of the teenage fraternity of Northampton. I'd completely forgotten the group, and the fact that Bob was part of it, until I saw it mentioned on his website. So I've had a real blast from the past 24 hours reminiscing about all sorts of things that I won't go into in blogland!! The scary thing is I'm talking about 40 years ago and I'm reliving it now as if it was yesterday. Eeek!!! Which reminds me, with all the fun and games of the wedding last May I missed the 40th anniversary of passing my driving test!!



This evening I'm loving quilts ...

and eiderdowns ...

... with apologies for the quality of the photos. You'll appreciate why these haven't reached the website yet. Not only do I need to take better photos, but also they're so nice to look at that I'm having a problem letting go!

Atishoo ... atishoo ... we all fall down ...

Well, I don't think I've felt so pathetic for so long for years! And just when I'm beginning to feel like getting up, getting dressed and getting the house in order .... yep, Pauley's coughing and spluttering and hot and cold and equally pathetic. Now, strictly speaking I should be rushing round administering to the sick, but I'm all for treating like with like as the saying goes! If he really needs something then I'll get it for him, but if he doesn't I'll let him a) get it himself, b) go without or c) tell him he looks rough. Don't worry, I won't let him starve, and this is all very tongue in cheek (I'm sure you knew that)!

I'm loving blankets this week - and a hottie and an eiderdown and a quilt. I've been as snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug so to speak!! I got myself comfy in the spare bedroom with a double bed all to myself and still P managed to catch the lurgy!

I really need him to be fit as we're supposed to be popping up to Northampton again this week - lunch with friends, staying with Gillie, pensioners lunch (he's the pensioner, not me!!), another night with Gillie and then back home, after collecting a mannequin I've just won on Ebay. But somehow I have a feeling we won't be going, which is a shame. I was looking forward to both lunches. The first because it's with old friends who we haven't seen for several years and the second because it's the Northampton Nationwide pensioners lunch. I know as many of them as P does as I worked there, too, in the 1970s, and it would have been so good to catch up with everyone again. Perhaps I could go anyway, even if it is P who is the official pensioner.

My lovely parcel arrived from Lucy Bloom the other day but I'm afraid I didn't think about blog photos until everything was unwrapped. Trust me - it was a beautifully wrapped pink and green package, even down to the green outer wrapping and pink tissue inside! Lucy already knows how thrilled I was to receive it.


I must get back into the habit of blog photo taking - there was a classic before and after moment earlier today. I spent most of the afternoon (yes, really) clearing the pile (sorry, piles) of papers off my desk. It was so bad I was beginning to lose the bottom of my screen. It was my intention to find the sitting room floor (again) but instead I found the top of my desk. At least I found something, so does it really matter whether it was what I was looking for? No, I don't think so!


I've also been sorting my stocks of lace and notions in readiness for a website upload. There's no need to race over there just yet though, as in my inimitable fashion it could be another couple of weeks before I finally get them listed. If there was a 'Mr Men' 'Little Miss Good Intentions' then I'd claim to be she - I'm full of them. They just take a while to come to fruition.


I think I've rambled enough, especially as there's only one measly photo as light relief. Apologies, but have a jolly week everyone, and I'll let you know (maybe in pictures) whether we get where we're supposed to be going this week.

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef ...

... We met Pip and Squeak yesterday when we went to H&R's for lunch (roast beef - she's such a good cook! All that pretending to be Delia Smith as a child paid dividends). That's Rob giving Squeak (I think) a good scratch! Haven't they grown ... (Do enlarge the second photo in particular!)

We were at my cousin's daughter's wedding on Saturday at this venue. The ceremony was conducted in the tiny Island Church which is lit by candlelight alone. The bride and groom (ex Somerset) both live in Australia now and are doctors. It would have been interesting to call out 'is there a doctor in the house?' as there were in fact SEVENTEEN in attendance! The majority of the guests stayed overnight, us included, and then after a hearty breakfast we wandered slowly on to Bradford on Avon for our lovely lunch.

The weekend was rounded off nicely with me suddenly sneezing and ending up with one of the worst colds I've had for years, aching limbs and red eyes. Not a pretty sight, so I've temporarily 'taken to my bed' with a hottie and a book which I've managed to read in between snoozes! I knew it would get me in the end. I've been staving it off for a couple of weeks!

However, it was great to get home, check my emails and find that I had won Lucy Bloom's Pink and Green Giveaway. Thank you so much Lucy, it was a lovely surprise!

Have a good week, everyone. I'll be back with a vengeance as soon as I'm fit and able!

Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair - Trade Day

Well, it's come round quickly and I finally filled the car (and a large corner of Liz's van) with stock. It was almost dry for unloading - just some of that fine drizzly rain which thankfully didn't do any damage. Certainly not the downpour we thought might happen.

Remember THOSE GIRLS from numerous previous posts? Well Liz vH and Bronia's double pitch was opposite Liz and me, so there was quite a lot of laughter throughout the day, after the rather worrying sounds of stress emanating from our side of the aisle up until lunchtime because the painted bed that Liz had brought would NOT fit together. As it is the first Fair where we have shared a pitch we actually did quite well and despite being two rather bossy people (I know I am, you don't need to tell me) we ended up still friends and no pistols at dawn.

It was lovely to meet Ruth and her friend Jane. Ruth had emailed me to say they would be coming. I introduced them to Liz and also to Liz and Bronia and the inevitable blog photocall ensued (Ruth's camera so you'll have to visit her blog for the results). I tried to hide behind Ruth as I was still feeling the effects of the bed episode and getting hot and bothered trying to unpack everything before the one o'clock deadline when the trade buyers are allowed in. But I don't think I managed it. It was fun though, and I hope to see Ruth and Jane again before too long as they plan to visit Dairy House. Exciting!

I had just one 'star item' on my stand today which was a wonderful hand-stitched 19th century patchwork quilt made up of hexagons. I was delighted when it sold and even more delighted when I found out who had bought it, although I don't think I should say on here who it was. That probably sounds intriguing but I don't think it's prudent to reveal big names. Some of my lovely regular customers came too. It's always nice to see them and whilst they don't always buy, I love seeing them and catching up with all their news. The Antiques Fairs are great social occasions if you 'stop to smell the roses'. If you get caught up in everything and moan about the weather or the lack of customers or the size of the pitch or the lack of this that and the other then you're not going to enjoy it. I received a lovely comment from a return visitor today. She told her friend that I'm a lovely lady and so friendly, and that I'm still friendly, even if they don't buy. She added that so many dealers can be miserable but that if someone is friendly and helpful she will always return and buy whenever she can. I felt quite humbled. I must be doing something right!

Time I went to bed I think. I want to get there by about 7.30 tomorrow morning so I can whizz round all the other buildings and stallholders to see what's around. I'm trying not to buy as I need all my cash reserves for April, but you can't just ignore what's going on around you, can you ...

Enjoy your weekend everyone and hopefully it won't be too wet for any of us!

Time Waits For No Man ... or Woman ...

... and we're almost 11 days into January already ... and I seem to have achieved nowhere near as much as I'd intended in this last week and a bit.

The next 3-day Shepton Mallet antiques fair is from 18-20 January (so no birthday party for Mum on the 20th I'm afraid!) and what with one thing and another, I have only 4 free days during which to sort and pack stock. And I have no idea what to take this time. I have one rather lovely Victorian hexagonal patchwork quilt which I need to iron before it goes on display and that is the only exciting item I can think of. I'm obviously not in the right frame of mind yet, because the shed is full to brimming and there MUST be plenty there that I can take, and the sitting room floor is once again lost to piles of stock which P and I brought out from the storage unit the other day. We have finally got rid of the large unit and crammed everything into one less than half the size. So what a lot of money we've wasted this year in storage costs. Ridiculous. I just MUST NOT buy anything until everything else is sold. Can you see a flaw in that thought process? I most certainly can!

I still have a couple of mannequins for sale, and of course miles of lace trim, mountains of buttons, yards of fabric and enough eiderdowns and quilts to create a full life-size Princess and the Pea story. But ... is any of this what the visitors to Shepton want in January? Who can say? A new year might well mean a totally new breed of customer wanting totally different goods from the customers who came in 2007. I wonder if they might like blanket coats. I've made a few in the last week or so - perhaps I could take them. I still have the amazing wedding dress I mentioned in a post some weeks ago, but it's so voluminous that it will fill half my pitch - and half the car space too. Not a viable item I don't think.

This time I have booked a double pitch and Liz (who is at Dairy House with me) is taking half. We've booked it for the whole year. Liz sells furniture among other things, so as we're planning on combining the two pitches things could look quite different this time. We could also get quite confused because the other Liz (you'll remember her - she gets around the blogs quite well) has booked to do Shepton and her pitch is exactly opposite me. I wonder how many times the wrong one will answer if I call out their name! I'm looking forward to this fair as it will, as a consequence, have quite a different feel.

Thank you all for your wonderful and encouraging comments about the Dairy House Antiques venture. I think I've replied to most of you, but if I've missed you, or you can't be contacted (I know a couple of you can't), then please accept my thanks. Rest assured I read all your comments and please keep them coming! I've added the photos to the DHA website now, and a list of towns and villages within a 50-mile radius for those of you planning a trip to the Wiltshire/Dorset area! I shall be adding more photos and information as time goes on with, hopefully, the opportunity to buy from the website too. I didn't go there today as we've just spent a couple of days up in Northamptonshire at a sad family occasion. However, to balance things out we shall be attending a family wedding in a couple of weeks' time and yesterday heard of a couple of summertime babies in the offing.

To round off this post I'll change to a farming theme ... you might like to know that Han and Rob are now the proud owners of 2 Gloucester Old Spot piglets named Pip and Squeak! They were a Christmas present from Rob's parents - and very much a surprise! Here's a photo although it's not very clear.

I must also tell you that I now have a jamjar of hay ... yes, hay ... on my desk. My farmer uncle gave me a bag of it on Tuesday. I have mentioned the farm before, and you may recall that I spent many childhood holidays there helping with haymaking, milking etc. Well, whenever some really good, sweet-smelling hay is made my uncle thinks of me, bless him! He presented me with a good-sized bag of it - which my cousin is selling for rabbits in her farm shop. He knew what my reaction would be - I couldn't get the bag open quick enough to put my nose in and take a deep breath. It's a better fix than chocolate, so that's saying something! About 10 years ago in my typesetting days, when I sat all day every day at my desk I had a similar jar of a handful of equally good hay. I used to sit down, switch on the computer, unscrew the jar, have a good sniff of the hay, put the lid back on and get on with my work. Many of you will by now have switched off your machines or clicked away from Vintage to Victorian vowing never to return to read of the exploits of this mad woman, but those of you who have smelled the freshest, sweetest newmown hay will hopefully stay with me every step of the way. You will understand ... and will appreciate the fact that this is September hay. Remember that good sunny spell we had in September after all that foul weather during normal haymaking season? Well, September turned up trumps and produced the sweetest hay ever! Do you think I should make some hay sleep pillows? Perhaps not pillows - hanging sachets might be preferable!! Hmmm ... food for thought there. Perhaps hay could be the new lavender?

New Year ... New Beginnings ...

Firstly, I should like to thank everyone for their comments during 2007. It has been such fun living life with blogland ever present in the background. This oversized family which we have become has been such a joy, with plenty of laughter along the way. There have been a few stressful times too, when you have lent your support with such wonderful comments. Your support of the Vintage to Victorian website has also been much appreciated. I haven't really kept up with it as I intended, but life being what it is in the fast lane (aka the sleepy town of Somerton), time has frequently run out to fit everything in ... or if not time, then my camera battery has similarly run out of steam!

But now 2007 is drawing to a close. Changes are afoot and 2008 is to be a year of "new beginnings".

As you may recall, I mentioned recently that I had made a huge decision. You will also have seen some shots of Dairy House Antiques which I posted earlier this month. Dairy House is an antiques centre/shop currently home to 10 dealers (soon to be more). From April 2008 it will be under new ownership. This may sound a long way off but, believe me, it will arrive quicker than we think.

Have you guessed yet?
Yes ... it's me!!!

As of 6 April the new proprietor of Dairy House Antiques, Semley, near Shaftesbury will be Mrs S M Meager ... and she very much hopes you will all be with her every step of the way. She will be very much in need of tea, sympathy, pats on the back, a stiff G&T at regular intervals, chocolate (equally frequently), knock-out drops, encouragement and, above all, someone to say "you're doing the right thing". Do you fancy coming along for the ride? She does hope so! (And I promise I will write no more than one post per week which begins with the expletive "Aaaaaaaaargh!!!") Wish me luck!

And to you

Dear Readers

I wish ...

the best of good fortune ...

the happiest of years ...

the energy to continue to write your wonderful posts ...

and health and prosperity throughout the coming year!

Happy New Year

to One and All

Sue x

So Here It Is ...

Merry Christmas

Wishing You All a Very Happy Christmas

and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

I took photos of our tree but despite two attempts and about 30 photos, not one is blogworthy. They were all blurred and out of focus. Sorry!

But that doesn't stop me wishing you

everything you would wish for yourselves this Christmas

and here's to a jolly blogging 2008 to us all ...

Dairy Selection ...

I actually remembered to take my camera with me yesterday so was able to take some photos at Dairy House Antiques. I took them with a view to adding them on to the DHA website which is currently just a front page saying where we are. However, as there are a lot of you out there who are interested in antiques generally I thought I'd list them here, too. It will also give you an idea of where I spend my Thursdays!

A fuse blew when I turned on one of the lights yesterday morning, so for an hour or two we were in semi-darkness in what happens to be the darkest room of the building. The walls are painted a dark green and there is very little daylight coming in, so it was rather tomb-like for a while. But at least it was warm as that's the room with a huge woodburner which I soon had roaring away and giving out plenty of heat on a chilly day.

Currently, there are ten dealers renting space but more are anticipated in the spring and I've made a monumental decision which I'll post about after Christmas. Meantime, if you are in the region of the Dorset/Wiltshire border any time soon, do pop in and see us.

I'm taking Mum to the garden centre in Yeovil which Pauley and I found the other day. Their Christmas area has been set out beautifully, and P and I stood for ages grinning like children at the amazing train set with carriages not unlike the Pullman Express travelling round a snowy track. It all looked wonderful and I know Mum will love it. She'll probably remind me of the winter of 1947 when they had to dig their way along the A5/Watling Street in Northamptonshire (with photos to prove it!). But I shall laugh and say "I expected you'd say that!" They also have hundreds of large toy animals, presumably battery operated, that 'breathe', furry penguins which flap their wings, a dog lying in front of a hearth which lifts its head and rests it on one paw and then the other. Such fun. I don't think I've been so excited about a shop's Christmas display ... ever!

Time to get on ...

Packed My Bags and I'm Ready To Go ...

... to the Giant Flea tomorrow morning ... leaving home at 7.00 am! Hopefully the weather forecast stating there could be 80 mph winds in the West Country got it wrong. Niki, complete with cold, Clare ditto, and other regulars are hoping to come, so I hope for their sakes that it's not too wild and woolly but I have a feeling it will be. On the plus side, provided people come, I could do well as I doubt if there will be too many braving outside pitches.

I've just been looking at where my blog visitors come from, and where they go after they've visited me. I'm always interested when it shows someone from Northampton has looked as I wonder if I know them ... perhaps we were at school together ... or caught the same bus ... I love this small world we bloggers live in. Sadly, unless they leave a comment I'll never know who they are. Sitemeter gives the location, but never the address, wisely I'm sure, but I'm too curious, and always check how they got to me and who they decided to visit next.

No photos today, but there could be a few next week ... all being well!

Have a jolly, and not too chilly, weekend!

Update: Monday evening
What a wet day it was, with fewer visitors than normal (but more than expected)! It turned out to be a reasonably good day from the sales point of view, with one or two large items selling which added nicely to the total. Thank you all for your good wishes. That's it now until January. No more loading up the car for a few weeks ... and Christmas? .... I think I might have time to write cards, plan prezzies, fill the fridge and freezer and write my letter to Santa! Who knows, I might even manage to add a few items to the website!

Dates for 2008 - Shepton Mallet Fairs

I've just correlated the dates for the DMG Antiques Fair and the Giant Flea Market and have listed them at the bottom of the sidebar.

I can't believe how they've messed up their dates for 2008. In 2007 DMG decided to cancel the January Fair but many stallholders complained as, believe it or not, it is a good Fair. As a result DMG reinstated it but cancelled the July Fair which seemed to suit everyone as it's usually quite a poor Fair at the start of the holiday season. Meanwhile, Sue Ede had taken up the offer of a January date for the Giant Flea Market. Not ideal having them both in the same month, but we lived with it!

The ridiculous thing is they've done it again for 2008, but if you check the listing you'll see that for 2 months the Fairs are on consecutive weekends. How daft is that? So, in January we have 2 Fairs (2 weekends in a row); there's nothing in February; 2 Fairs (3 weeks apart) in March; nothing in April; 2 Fairs (2 weekends in a row again) in May and then, the most ridiculous thing, absolutely nothing from the 9-11 May date until 31 AUGUST, leaving 3½ months with no Fairs at all. Thankfully they get their act together thereafter, and there is a Fair a month from September to December. The Fairs were always staged in alternate months and we all knew where we were, and could anticipate some earnings every month. Admittedly many dealers do other Fairs in between, but some of us only do Shepton and it has rather messed things up. From April 2008 my weekends are going to be taken up with another project that I'll be able to tell you about in the New Year and so travelling to other Fairs isn't going to be an option. I'm a bit miffed. Can you tell? I'll get over it, but it's a worse scenario than I had realised until I marked them all on the calendar.

Rant over ...

I hope to take some photos of stock today and really, really want to get items added to the Shop. You are all so good to keep looking and I feel I'm not keeping to my side of the bargain at all. I promise to do better in the New Year. I have plans to organise my life a bit better ... hee hee. Watch this space, but please, please don't hold your breath!

Have a jolly Sunday afternoon.

Sortings and Findings ...

What a lovely sunny day! Yesterday was bitterly cold in Somerset, but I spent the day snug-as-a-bug sorting the studio to make room for the jumbled contents of the spare bedroom which, as you know, is mostly stock! (And no, I haven't bought anything since I promised not to buy for at least a week)

Today I'm in the spare bedroom sorting the piles of things on top of piles of things on top of ... you know exactly what I mean, I'm sure. Well, some of you might! Anyway, I've just found a super cookery book which I'd forgotten about, entitled Court Favourites which is a collection of recipes from Royal Kitchens. The last chapter is entitled "From Royal Stillrooms" and I thought you might enjoy the following:

TO MAKE HAIR GROW (circa 1653)
Beat three tablespoonfuls of honey well with a handful of vine springs that twist like wire. Strain the juice into the honey. Anoint the bald places therewith.

CURE FOR SHINGLES (circa 1700)
Take juice of garden herbs, mints, grass of each a like quantity, put to it sallett oyle, not so much as to make it appear green, and put thereto as much white wyne and vinegar as of juice and oyle, a handful of dry salt beaten small, and with a feather annoint ye shingles morning and evening.

RULES FOR PRESERVING THE HEALTH OF THE BODY
'Which if diseased or ill-conditioned affects the indwelling soul.' Victoria, June, 1835
Never sit up late. Never stay in bed late in the morning. Sponge the entire body every morning with cold spring water. This should be done at once upon rising. Dry with a rough towel and continue to friction the skin of the whole person for not less than fifteen minutes every day.
Drink four large half pint tumblers of clear cold, or very hot water each day upon an empty stomach. That is to say, upon rising, at about 11 am, at 2.30 pm and at bedtime.
Take a corrective digestive dose of medicine once in each week.
Sleep with the window open at the top - even in wet or cold weather.
Keep the head cool by washing it frequently in cold water and avoid nervousness by resting often.

So now we know! I'm not sure which of Queen Victoria's recommendations I'll be copying. How about you?

I knew I had hundreds of buttons, some of which still need sorting, but I hadn't realised that for 'hundreds' I should think in terms of 'thousands'. Woops ... don't need to buy any more of those for a while. Once I'm sorted I'll maybe add some tins or jars of buttons on the Vintage to Victorian online shop. I could perhaps take this opportunity to apologise to anyone to regularly checks for updates on the site. I can only say that there are so many things happening here at the moment, that there is just no time for photographing, writing and uploading, and whilst the mind is willing, the flesh is weak (well, not weak, but pulled in too many directions). I hope you'll bear with me and not give up on the website. I promise that once I have some semblance of order in my life there WILL be regular updates. I'm just not too sure when that will be.

I need to find a particular book on embroidery which seems to have disappeared temporarily. I'm sure it's here somewhere ... so ... must press on as they say!

Have a jolly Sunday/week ...

Auctionitis ... and Anne of the Thousand Days ...

... So, yesterday I wasn't able to attend an auction where there were quite a few interesting-sounding Lots. Forget it ... that's what you're supposed to do. Move on ... there'll be another one soon ... and do you really need more stock?

... So, yesterday late afternoon I phoned the auction house to see what the Lots sold for ... and most of the ones I was interested in didn't sell.

... So, today Pauley and I drove up to Cheltenham to view the unsold Lots and came back with a loaded car. Did I really need it? I doubt it. But as you know there's a very fine line between need and want.

This box of linen should bring in a nice return.

These bobbins weren't the best buy in the world when I really looked at them carefully when I got home, but they'll be OK. But if there's someone out there learning to make lace, looking for a lace-making table on a stand and some books to go with the bobbins, then they could have a bargain!

And look at these 2 beautiful hand-made lace cushions.

The threads are interesting and I have no doubt they will sell in due course and the ribbons and braid are good, too.

But this ... well, I haven't taken it out of the box since we brought it home but I'll enjoy looking at it tomorrow while I'm at Dairy House. This is a 1969/70 wedding dress made by Harrods (in its original Harrods box) and it's a copy of the dress worn by Anne Boleyn (actress Geneviève Bujold) in the 1969 film Anne of the Thousand Days which also starred Richard Burton. Has anyone seen the film? I don't think I have. There is a matching headdress as you can see, and at the bottom of the box is a bridesmaid's dress and headdress, which was made at the time for a 14-year-old. An interesting Lot which didn't sell, mainly because it was added to the sale after the catalogues were printed.

... So I now have my hands tied behind my back, and you heard it here first ... I'm not buying anything else for at least a week!!!!

Antiques Fair, Friends and a Surprise ... Now with (some) Piccies ...

I'm not too sure where the last week has gone but the weekend was taken up with the regular DMG Antiques Fair at Shepton Mallet. No photos as I didn't take my camera this time, and because it's pouring with rain I haven't unloaded the car yet - so can't show you any of the goodies I bought!

I'm happy to say that I did 'reasonably' well. Not up to my target figure, but not my worst fair by any means. So thank you to everyone who bought from me over the 3 days. I made a determined effort not to overspend this time as I have a lot of expenditure coming up soon (which I hope to be able to tell you about in the new year) and also, if I'm honest, I really don't need to buy any more stock for at least 12 months!!

However ... I did buy a beautiful 1920s fabric-covered box, which without measuring I guess is probably about 24" long, 12" wide and at least 6" deep. When I can extricate it from the car I'll let you know how close to the actual measurements my estimate is and will update this post with a photo. I also bought a collection of lace collars and other lace - about 75 pieces in total. My other purchase was a set of 2 French silky-soft linen monogrammed sheets and pillowcases together with matching plain sheets and pillowcases. However, they are unfortunately too narrow for a normal-size single bed, so I have already sold the plain sheets separately for sewing projects and envisage that the monogrammed pair would make fabulous curtains or could maybe be used for other projects. Similarly, the pillowcases are not a standard English pillow size but are nevertheless of lovely quality. Oh yes, I nearly forgot ... 20 mainly crepe de chine hankies and 25 linen napkins ... but I think that's the sum total ... or is it? I may find something else when I sort the car contents!

It was lovely to see Niki on Saturday although I didn't get much opportunity to chat to her as I was quite busy both times she came by. However, she brought a beautiful bag she'd made for me from the fabulous fabric she displayed in a blog post last week and I did make sure I had time to thank her and pay!! Saturday also brought Clare and Mike. Clare kindly allowed me to go off for half-an-hour or so (it could have been longer ... time flies, doesn't it). I was exceedingly grateful, as always, because at a busy Fair (when people are elbowing their way along the rows) it's impossible to leave your stand however desperately you might need to escape!!! Several other regular customers came by - it's always good to see them and over the years they have all become people it's nice to pass the time of day with. The weather was good on Saturday, despite the forecast earlier in the week saying that Saturday would be wet and Sunday would be fine. By Friday the forecast had reversed the weather for those 2 days and poor Kelly had to endure a very rainy Sunday. It was super to see her, with Paul (complete with cold) and Georgia. I think Georgia was quite pleased that I had a bag of Maltesers in my pocket!

The surprise came from Pauley. When the garden studio/shed was erected our electrician had hurt his back and was unable to connect the electricity. I've been using an extension reel plugged into a socket in the garage when necessary and had no idea when Garry would be likely to come to do the work. When I got home on Saturday evening Pauley met me at the door and told me to get out of the car and shut my eyes. Odd, but heyho, what had I got to lose? He disappeared into the house, came back, turned me round a couple of times and then told me to open my eyes. And there it was ... my studio ... in glorious technicolour ... that's what it seemed like at any rate! Garry had been, connected the electricity to the fusebox and thus the sockets and light that were built into the studio design, and everything is go, go, go ... soooooo exciting, and such a lovely surprise. Bless him ... he's not such a bad hubby after all!!!!!!

Sorry there are no photos to break up this long screed, but I'll update later when I've taken some, and add 'Now with Piccies' to the title!

Have a lovely week all, despite it being a wet one!

The measurements of the box are 22" x 11" x 5" so I wasn't too far out, was I! The photos of the lace show just some of it. There are another 3 photos, but I thought they were enough to give you an idea of what I bought. The other photo is a lovely sewing basket which realistically needs new fabric, but I rather like it as it is and will probably leave the new owner to change the fabric if they wish.

I'm not sure when I'll have time to get these on the website, so if anything appeals to you please ask and I can give you more details. I haven't unearthed the other goodies, but I'll do a new post later to show you what I bought today (Wednesday)! Please excuse unedited photos. I'm trying to do 101 things here, and unfortunately cropping photos isn't one of them!

Poppies ...

... mean a lot to me.

My grandfather was in WWI. He came home. Aunts and uncles were in the forces in WWII. They survived. My dad helped to liberate France, went on in to Belgium and Holland, and his Regiment was one of the first in to Belsen. He came home. My brother-in-law was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal after the Falklands War. My dad died 34 years ago tomorrow, 12 November. It was a Monday, the day after Remembrance Sunday. Two days before Princess Anne's first marriage, six months before my daughter was born.

Poppies ... mean a lot to me ...

It's Arrived ...

... and I might soon, once again, see the sitting room floor, and be able to invite Gillie to stay and sleep in a bed ...

Here it is ...

Not the best photo, but the slideshows below will show how quickly it was erected, and what a glorious day it was. Weren't we lucky! To think we had a blue, cloudless sky on just the day in November that we needed it - perfect! It would be nice if you can last through the slideshows (there had to be 2 because there are so many photos), but I'll quite understand if you have to go off and make a cuppa.

I have to say that the Booths Garden Studio team was a fantastic trio and despite setting off from Corby in the very early hours this morning, and having a tyre blowout on the motorway, they set to as soon as they arrived just after 9.00 am. They had finished and left for home just after 4.00 pm and other than stopping just long enough to down the odd cuppa, they worked solidly throughout the day. A happier bunch you couldn't wish for.

I've already started to fill the studio, thus creating a wee bitty space in the garage. Finding the sitting room floor and the spare bedroom will take a little longer, but as you'll see, there will be plenty of space to store all the linen and textiles and other stock. I even plan to have a space for my sewing machine, just in case I have time to use it!

The studio is predominantly for storage, but it is also intended as a place where I can sort all the textiles etc without creating a fabric mountain in the house. It will be a treat to be able to see what I have and plan what to take to the Fairs without tripping over everything. It'll take a while to get it just how I want it, but I have a feeling it's going to be fun!


We've also had a jolly weekend. If you read Clare's post the other day you'll know she was expecting visitors on Saturday! Clare and Mike are THE perfect stop-off en route from Somerset to Northampton, and they offer a very good lunch! What's more visitors get to view the Clock House in all it's glory. The photos on Clare's blog are lovely, but the CH is even better when you see it for real. We spent a relaxed couple of hours enjoying lunch, a good gossip and lots of oohs and aahs when we inspected the Clock House. Sorry, no photos! We then carried on our way, calling on my aunt and uncle before ending up at Gillie's in the evening. Plenty more gossiping, eating and imbibing before the day was over, to get in practise for lunch on Sunday!


We made the trip to Northampton to help celebrate the 60th birthday of a friend who we have known for half his life! I worked with his wife at Manns Brewery in the 1970s and am godmother to their elder daughter. Although we thought we were just joining the lunch party, because we were staying over until Monday morning we were able to prolong the day and go back to their home for fireworks and nibbles. It was a super day, and we met up with a few people we hadn't seen for over 20 years.



Before leaving Northampton we drove past Mum's old house to see if work had started on it. When she sold she was told the purchaser was a developer who intended to extend and convert the house into at least 2 flats. Work had definitely started, the garden was non-existent, the back of the house was gone. I lived there for a few months in between marriages in the 70s but it was never my home as such. Despite that it was quite upsetting. I wish now that I had insisted that we had dug up more plants to bring down here when Mum moved. They had said we could, and had we realised just how much desecration there would be then I think we would have. I haven't told Mum, nor did I take photos. She had been very happy in her little house for over 30 years and I think it would upset her to see it in its current state.



Anyway, we had a good journey home, coming back via Bath to collect some draft minutes for the British Legion which I type up every year.


This coming weekend there's a French Market in Somerton and I'm sharing a stall with another Somerton dealer. Hopefully the weather will stay fine as we're under a gazebo in the Market Square. Could be fun!


Enjoy the rest of the week!

It seems that slide.com wants you all to join my fanlist again - aaaargh - and blogger has decided not to give this missive any paragraph breaks. If you've stayed to the end give yourselves a pat on the back! ... It would seem I lie - there ARE paragraph breaks now. Just a little something to make you laugh ... remember the buttons I sorted and photographed a week or so ago? I tipped the box upside down today and had to do it all again. Wasn't best pleased, as you can imagine!