A Good Day Out ...

What a lovely day we all had yesterday. Niki, Debbie (Niki's friend), Donna and I all met at the Ilminster Textile Fair - a super Fair for anyone interested in textiles and a yummy lunch! This is what Niki ate to keep her strength up!

Having told myself I wasn't going to buy much, bearing in mind the wedding is imminent, I ended up with 3 large bags full, and not being one to say 'no more' very often, I added another bag of goodies to my stash when we toured Ilminster's charity shops.


The first 2 photos are of the beautiful embroidery on a kimono that I couldn't resist. The third one is silk on silk embroidery. Superb workmanship and an amazing piece altogether. I'm guessing it measures about 3ft x 5ft. I must measure it tomorrow. These 3 photos look super enlarged.

The crinoline lady is a tea cosy although there is no padded liner. The reversable quilt was a last-minute purchase after I'd thought I'd spent out! How wrong can a girl be!!

Niki and Donna have posted photos from Niki's camera. Here are mine. Debbie is in the middle of the first one.

Thanks go to Donna for showing me how to use the macro button on my camera (must find the instructions!). What a difference it makes!! This is an alstromeria from a bouquet sent to Mum a couple of weeks ago - still thriving. Do enlarge it - it really is fabulous close up.

It's been a busy week so I haven't had a chance to write a post about Shepton Antiques Fair last weekend. I was quite pleased, although Sunday was a poor day. However, once again I bought a few goodies - mainly fabric. I've taken some photos but I'll show you those another day.

I'm contemplating doing a carboot sale on Sunday. There's a local one that starts again this weekend and takes place every Sunday until the end of September. I've never been to it but I understand it's a good one. I tend to be a fair weather carbooter, so it will all depend on the weather. But I have a lot of stock to clear. When I buy 'job lots' at auction I often end up with a quantity of china, glass or linen that isn't really good enough to display at Dairy House or the 3-day Fair. I tend to stockpile it and then take a good load to a carboot. Hubby will be delighted if some of it disappears this weekend!!

Exciting Moments ...

... well I think so ...

Today I'm 21 again ... again ... again ... again ... again ... and postie is just walking down the drive with a bundle of envelopes (although they may all be wedding invitation replies of course). The sun is shining and everything in my little world is good today.

On Saturday the bride-to-be and I went to Bath to look for my outfit and for her to have a fitting. We bought the only things I tried on but weren't 100% convinced. There was a jacket, skirt and camisole which was the most likely, but there was a dress which went with the jacket, too, which I liked (because it fitted) but H wasn't too keen. I liked the skirt but could envisage seeing nothing but creases across the front of it in the photos, so wasn't too happy with that. Consequently I bought it all for P to see on the proviso that it could go back. All but the jacket are going back! Because ... the wonderful lady making H's dress is going to make one for me to go with the jacket. Between us we decided the other dress was too 'mumsy' and the skirt was too busy with the jacket. I'm busy enough as it is, without having to wear busy as well!! So, I'm off the hook ... no more traipsing round shops searching for the perfect outfit. All sorted (apart from shoes (and hat?))! And the wedding dress is going to be wonderful. I'm beginning to allow myself to get excited now!

On Sunday I had a phone call from Dairy House to say a shipper/dealer was in from Tasmania and he wanted loads (and loads) of my enamelware and other items and what were my best prices. His purchases have boosted the bank balance to a healthy degree which is very exciting (especially as he comes over twice a year).

The carpet fitters started laying new carpet throughout Mum's house yesterday and she's delighted with their work so far, is really settling in next door and is happy. So that's more excitement (and relief on our part).

But best of all ... I've lost 10lbs. How amazing is that. I feel so much fitter already, and have been shifting Mum's furniture like a removal man instead of struggling. I'm amazed at the extra energy, although I had to admit defeat last night and was in bed by 9 o'clock! It's working out at about one pound every couple of days, so in theory I could almost lose the 2 stone I was planning on losing a year ago! At least I won't have time to put it all back on until after the wedding! How exciting is that ...

I needed to share all that with you! Have a happy day everyone ... and why not let me know your exciting moments of the week ...

The photos I promised ...

Here are the photos of the nursery rhyme pictures I bought the other day. The shading is all due to the position of the pictures (on the floor) and the clouds passing by the sun at incredible speed this morning. Not good photos at all, but at least this rounds off the previous post! The glass in one picture is broken, unfortunately, but the rest are fine although the frames could perhaps do with a facelift. I may take them to Shepton next weekend, unless anyone here feels they can't live without them (email). I intend to price them at £10 each, or £35 for the 4 (plus postage).

My Unintentional Shopping + A Little Bit of Spring

This is the result of my trip to the bank the other day - you see, I'm easily led and it was so easy to call into the antiques centre to see what a new dealer was selling. Really I was only going in to collect some post that had been addressed to me there ...

Without measuring accurately I guess the picture book is about 14" x 18" in super condition with a 1951 inscription to "Dear Susan" (so I had to have it, didn't I! It could so easily have been a gift for my first birthday!!).

And what about the tin rabbit toilet roll holder ... I don't know if Shepton Antiques Fair is ready for that, but it will go over to Dairy House Antiques tomorrow, unless anyone else feels they must have it (£5.00 + p&p).

The two oil on glass paintings are pretty, too. The pansies are in better condition than the chrysanths, but they're both nice.

The Jane Churchill fabrics are the result of two separate ebay purchases. Not sure yet whether to sell them on or get out the sewing machine.

Behind the fabric is a tall stool which completed my purchases. Oh no it didn't - I've just remembered a set of French watercolour fairy tale pictures still in the car. I'll have to show you those later.

And look what I found in the garden this morning.

Plum blossom and violets.

The violets had a close shave as P cut the grass yesterday!

Update Thursday evening: Please email direct if you are interested in any of the above items.

A Couple of Photos ...

...I'm in decorating mode so this is just a quick post. Thought you might like to see tonight's sunset in Somerton. I'm not sure that the colour is true but it gives you an idea of what the sky was like about 10 minutes ago.

I took this other photo last week when I visited the Bath Antiques and Decorative Fair. I was suddenly aware of all the different sizes and shapes of chimney pot on these properties in North Parade. I can't believe that I'd never noticed them before, especially having lived in Bath for 10 years, but obviously it was a day for noticing things last Wednesday. I hope they enlarge this time.

If I have time later I'll post some more photos - having decided I needed no more stock for about a year I shopped this afternoon on my way back from the bank!

A Good Day ...

... am I really naughty to pray for torrential rain for the next Giant Flea Market at Shepton? The weather was so awful yesterday that there very few outdoor pitches and everyone made straight for the huge hall where I always stand. I think we all had a brilliant day and I for one had the best ever sales.

Because it is so vast people normally 'do' the outside pitches first and then, having spent most of their money, wander into the Showering Pavilion much later. I arrive at 7.30 in order to get a space in the limited undercover parking (always good for carting linen and eiderdowns in and out), the public is allowed in to the showground at 9.30 but don't get to us until towards 11.30. I find I do all my selling in about 2 hours and then have a slow couple of hours before beginning the packing up process.

But yesterday the crowds (yes, despite the rain there were crowds) were in with us by 9.30 am and the selling started and carried on at a steady pace for most of the day. It was a treat to see shoppers with money instead of shoppers struggling in with bags containing articles of all shapes and sizes and empty purses! There was certainly a happy buzz in the hall yesterday!

Niki and Clare came to see me and I'm looking foward to seeing what Niki makes from the fabric she bought! Thank you both for your purchases. I'm sure you'll do well with your goodies!

So, if you see someone doing a rain dance in Somerset prior to Easter Sunday (the next Giant Flea Market) you'll know the reason. I know some of you will be hoping for beautiful sunshine for Easter Egg hunts and happy family days, but I'd like some rain please!! Could you just make do with a scorching hot Easter Monday? I'll be forever in your debt!

More Goodies

Last night I started sorting through the pile of linen and textiles I brought out of the other Centre and found all sorts of items I'd forgotten about!

Awful photos, but 2 pairs of children's curtains - the farmyard pair look in tiptop condition but I'm not sure of the date (probably 1970s fabric), but the other pair have the sort of wear you would expect from a pair of early 1960s used curtains. I can't decide whether to use the fabric for another project (when?) or sell them as they are. Meanwhile I'll find a space for them at the Dairy House.

Then there's this lovely set of an embroidered tablecloth, large traycloth, napkins and teacosy. It looks really pretty, but there is a fair-sized pink colour-run mark on the cloth.

And finally a pair of Sanderson screen print single bedspreads. Again, do I sell as is (not perfect) or make some wonderful items with the fabric. Decisions, decisions. Still, I won't be doing anything with any of it today. Too much to do ... too little time!

Have a jolly weekend.

Toni Raymond

Two posts in one day - anyone would think I had nothing else to do!

I picked up a copy of the new antiquexplorer magazine today and it looks as if I shall have some good bedtime reading. It is full of kitchenalia articles! And from a quick browse I know what I'll be displaying at the next Shepton 3-day Antiques Fair on 23-25 March. (Unfortunately, I don't have time to sort through it all in time for this weekend's Giant Flea)

Apologies for the flash and shadow on the paper!

Those of you who have followed my blog from its inception in September last year may remember that I was lucky enough to purchase the complete kitchenalia stock of a dealer who was changing direction. I still have so much in store that hasn't yet been catalogued, dusted/washed or priced, including quite a substantial amount of Toni Raymond pottery. It would seem it may be due for a come-back. I certainly hope so!

Does anyone have a collection? If not, don't hesitate to let me know if you want to begin one. I'm sure I can start you off!!!!

Fuzzy Jumble

I've created another blog, mainly because of yesterday's post and the phrase "fuzzy jumble" which I thought would be a good name. I've given my maiden speech, but whether I ever post to it again will depend on any number of things - not least you, dear reader!

The Blue Room - and Where Did All This Come From?

If I can keep my eyes open I'll finish this post and upload the photos of "what I did today". Having taken a carload of stock to the Dairy House on Tuesday and thinking I had plenty of room, I got there this morning to find Liz (moved from Somerton as a new dealer for the Dairy House) had dropped off the rest of my stuff from Somerton yesterday afternoon and all I could do was stand and stare. Where had it all come from? Thinking about it seriously for a moment I realise that I had so many built-in shelves as well as free-standing ones in my unit at Somerton that things were able to hide in corners and appear invisible.

So, by 4 o'clock this afternoon we were in hysterics - not quite rolling about the floor but definitely tears streaming down our faces and doubled up with stitch from laughing so much. Don't ask me why - I haven't a clue. But then they're usually the best laughs aren't they. Exhaustion might have had something to do with it, or maybe the fact that everything in my little room upstairs was still there and hadn't been brought down, and it was quite apparent that we needed to take over the whole shop rather than what, a week ago, had seemed like a massive room that we would never be able to fill. If you could have seen me standing in the hall catching the eiderdowns Liz was throwing down to me from my room upstairs ... thankfully I managed to stop her throwing one of the really heavy quilts. Aren't the therapeutic qualities of hysterical laughter just what you need when you really feel you just want to sit down and put your feet up!!

Liz left at 5.00 but I still had too much tidying up to do before I could leave. I took these photos just before I left at 6.30 to show you how much I've done (the room was empty on Tuesday morning) and how much I still have to do. Two walls are pegboard which is useful for hanging up a lot of the enamel, but all I've done so far is hang things to get them off the floor. Please be assured that what you are about to see is not a display. It is panic tidying and there is an absolute chasm between the two. I need the stepladder in order to make full use of the pegboarding, remove the paintings belonging to one of the other dealers and make a good display. As you can see this is just the kitchenalia. The linen is piled on two sets of free-standing shelves behind me and most definitely couldn't be photographed. The eiderdowns and quilts are lurking in Liz's pitch off to the left behind the pegboarding. Some are in a French iron cot and some are piled haphazardly in her wardrobe. We're not talking colour-coordination here, but I'm hoping to pop over on Saturday to make everything look a little more respectable and to load up for Shepton.

You may prefer to look with only one eye. The room is painted in a colour that can only be described as VERY BLUE. The pegboard covers a window (DHA owner isn't keen on daylight!) and consequently something quite drastic will need to be done. Once I sort out the fabrics, curtains and linen, I'm sure that with some clever draping and hanging the effect will be quite eyecatching rather than a fuzzy jumble. (Don't you think that's a good name for a blog? Fuzzy Jumble? I might have to set up a second one!)

So here we are. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is still a full garage and half a storage unit of stock waiting to be let loose. If anyone sees anything they feel they can't live without then please let me know. I'll be more than delighted to sell it to you!! Enjoy ...

I don't know whether it's just my computer, but I'm unable to enlarge these photos.

Postscript, Friday: Following Clare's suggestion I deleted the photos and uploaded them again and I can now enlarge them. Thanks Clare!

Progress ...

... on all fronts.

Bath or shower? I don't know about you, but I'm a shower person and this last 8 months showerless has been purgatory. But yesterday everything was connected and I was in my element. The rest of the bathroom is functioning as it should - bath, basin, loo and heated towel rail - and we're pleased with the tiling.

However, the plumber has to come back to fiddle about under the bath and put the panel on, but wants to wait until we've sorted out the flooring. Rain is coming in through the window frame where the dividing wall was knocked down so that needs to be made watertight, and the end of the ugly old overflow pipe has been left sticking out of the wall in the bathroom. Not a pretty sight, but obviously one job too many for the plumber. So we'll have to contemplate that for a week or two and decide how best to remove the offending item. I'm not overly confident about the basin taps as they seem a bit wobbly, so when he returns I'll get him to check them.

My website is progressing, too. I've seen the front page today and I like it. If I can find enough hours in the coming weeks to photograph everything and write up the descriptions it should be up and running by the end of March.

Further progress this week is the removal of all my stock from Somerton Antiques Centre. This has all gone to Dairy House Antiques. I spent several hours there yesterday unpacking boxes, and shall be there all day tomorrow sorting out the vanload that was dropped off for me today! I knew I had a lot of stock, but I'm amazed at actually how much there is. Once I've unpacked it all I shall be re-packing some of it to take to Shepton's Giant Flea Market on Sunday.

A new association has just been formed - launch date 28 March - for antique dealers in the West Country, and Dairy House has become a member. WEADA - the West of England Antique Dealers' Association - covers the whole of the south-west. They are producing an informative booklet giving the names of all the member dealers, totalling in excess of 70. Further information can be obtained from their website (currently under construction).

And finally ... the wedding invitations have gone out and the first reply is back.

I've just noticed the time - it's 1.17am and realise I'll never be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning if I don't switch off this machine NOW!

Too Much Monkey Business ...

Our family is mad - it's official!

Somehow, about 25 years ago, P became known as 'Monkey' to Han and her 2 best friends. If he's not being addressed as Pauley, he's Monkey. Consequently, there have been numerous monkey gifts dropped at his feet over the years.

But today the postman delivered a humungous box for the birthday boy. It came from here. Isn't it great?

I'm not sure what is the most worrying - the gifts, or the fact that P currently has them lined up and has recently given 3 of them names! Monkey binoculars (I-spy monkey), a little squidgy blue one (Space Monkey), a supersoft long-armed one (Cuddly Monkey) and finally Stripey Monkey who's a ventriloquist. Press him tummy to hear Han's recorded Father's Day message. You can't see his lips move - he's so clever. And all this from a boy who's 63 today!

(Do I include this as 'A corner of my home'? Preferably not as it's a 'to do' area!)

Aren't I lucky to be surrounded by family who refuse to behave like grownups every day of the week. (They do sometimes, though, and that can be a bit tough!)

H has to of course, because she has a grownup job here. Before that she worked at Castle Combe and her first 'proper' job was here. How the other half lives!

No plumber today (no basin for 2 days, but at least the bath is functioning), so we're off to hit the high spots of Yeovil to find the birthday present I didn't buy on Monday!

A New Game ...

I was blog browsing this morning and came across Twinkle Pink's clever photo and thought it would be fun to 'have a go' myself. So, with no further ado, as the saying goes, please enjoy this bundle of clouds and sunsets. I know you've seen some of them before, but they were the easiest to put together for this experiment.

I'd really appreciate some constructive criticism as to whether the slide show is too long, too short, too boring, easy on the eye or otherwise, etc as this is a whole new world for me. I've just noticed that you can speed it up if you wish, which might not be a bad thing!

Meanwhile, I spent most of yesterday emulsioning the hall, stairs and landing. Just a little bit to finish off and then I can start on the next room!! Decisions, decisions ... sitting room (cluttered), our bedroom (even more cluttered), spare bedroom (don't go there). And as for bed 3/the office/this place where I spend too much time ... it's a non-starter until the electrician has done his stuff. My desk/corner/life has to be removed to enable him to get wiring up through the floorboards from the meter downstairs, up into the roof, across the roofspace to the other side of the house and down into the bathroom for the shower and towel rail. Oh joy ... where will I be put? And will I ever find anything again?

I worry about me sometimes ... I've just offered to get the paintbrush out at Mum's before her new carpets are laid (that gives me about 3 weeks). So I can't stay chatting. That's now 2 houses to decorate before the wedding. I might just have to be the first mother-of-the-bride who turns up in designer paint-slatter. I'll soon be in panic mode as I think the next few weeks are going to be some of the busiest I've experienced in several years!In 10 days' time I'll be emptying all my stock from Somerton Antiques Centre and transporting it (not sure how yet - you've seen the size of my car) to Dairy House Antiques at Semley (30 miles away).

Bathroom's taking shape by the way. The plumber achieved and will be back to achieve even greater things tomorrow (with a bit of luck and a fair wind). And I must go shopping ... I'm running out of time. It's hubby's birthday on Wednesday (he'll be 63, but don't tell anyone!) and I only have tomorrow free. I knew his birthday was soon, but I didn't appreciate quite HOW soon as I have one of those lives where day-to-day living doesn't often require knowledge of actual dates. I must address this as the pre-wedding days are ticking away rapidly and if I'm not careful we shall be into post-wedding days and I'll still be chasing my tail.

I'll keep you posted!

PS I've just counted up all the blogs that I've listed in my favourites (rather than having them all on my sidebar. I have 110 - so if you think I'm ignoring you I'm probably not. You could well be part of my daily blog fix! Have a jolly day!

Flushed with Pride ...

... we have a new loo!

And the bath is fitted and is apparently safe to use. The basin is another matter entirely as we now realise our plumber is a "why make things easy when you can make it really difficult" type of chap. A born pessimist which is a shame. I have a feeling that we could still be living in anticipation by this time next week, but looking on the bright side I am telling myself that all will be fine and the tiling, basin, shower and towel rail will all be done in time for the wedding!!!

And with my trusty 1" brush I might even have emulsioned every wall in the house. Mind you, as time goes by I might decide I need to do SERIOUS DECORATING and use a proper brush and crack on. I'm not too sure that Paul realises just what I intend getting done between now and 5 May, but as long as he keeps his head down and lies low he might survive the onslaught.

I mentioned a rude word yesterday ... CARPET ... which sent him off in a fit of apoplexy. And that was before we'd been out to buy the tiles today. But what's a husband of 29 years, 10 months and 2 weeks for, if not to whip out a piece of plastic at the tills in Topps Tiles, Wickes and Focus. I think he's been let off quite lightly really ... I might have decided we needed hand-cut tiles, 22ct gold taps and shag pile up to his armpits. As it is I've been very restrained and we have a basic white suite, a shower which I hope will give a good downpour rather than a drizzle, standard chrome taps and the plain tiles rather than the mosaics. The plumber took one look at the mosaics and came up with 101 reasons why we shouldn't have them without stopping for breath! As for the carpet I'll do some furtive measuring to see just what sort of acreage we're talking about to do the whole house in one fell swoop. It may sound extravagant, but put yourself in my position ... when a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do ...

Sorry there are no photos today, but maybe tomorrow. That's all for tonight, folks!

What A Difference A Day Makes ...

We have a blocked off doorway, new plaster, wiring for a heated towel rail and I now have a vision of what the bathroom might look like. Paul has taken to offering up a tile to various walls (believe me, this is a good and positive sign). The builder is coming again tomorrow, the electrician will come if needed and the bathroom suite is being delivered. Hopefully the plumber will arrive on Thursday and replace some of the old with some of the new. I understand Thursday is bath day, which hopefully means Friday will be loo and basin day. Not sure about the shower, but TIME WILL TELL ... which is the norm as far as plumbers are concerned ...

My vision includes the tiles I've now decided ARE what I'd like, and I can see a peg rail where little vintage fabric bags containing bathroom bits hang happily. I've got to work on the rest of the vision ... haven't quite got it all yet!!

Meanwhile, no sooner had I posted last evening's blog than I picked up a tin of Crown Solo Honey Cream matt emulsion (used in our last cottage to very good effect) and tested it in each room to see whether it would look OK throughout the house. When I got to the kitchen with my little 1" brush in one hand and a G&T in the other I decided to keep going. I must admit I changed to a slightly larger brush, but not a full size emulsion brush as I was only playing, and NOT DOING SERIOUS DECORATING. I achieved so much and it looked fine this morning. So that is the colour for the kitchen, and I'll probably finish it later tonight.

So, today has been a good day! I've spent the day in the Antiques Centre and now that it's beginning to filter through to the other dealers that I'm leaving I've been quite touched by their good wishes and requests to stay. However, I'm looking forward to making more of my space at Semley and feel I'm doing the right thing.

I Need to Share This ...

Day 1 of "The Bathroom Transformation"

This ...

is everywhere !

Black dust. All over the house, clinging to the walls, in fact clinging to every vertical as well as horizontal surface. The carpets lost their swirls, the anaglypta took on a shadow effect and I daren't show you the cobwebs which had been lurking unnoticed! And all because of ...

The dividing wall between the bathroom and the loo was built of concrete block and we are now breathing black air. Oh joy ... Don't you just love the orange walls we found when we removed the old tiles? All good fun ... if you don't weaken ... which I won't!!! (The builder has gone home for a shower, sensible man!) The yellow cloth is lying on top of the tiles I think I might like in the new bathroom, although I'm not yet convinced, and the sidelong glances I'm getting from Paul make me wonder whether I've lost the plot. But I don't think I have ... it will all tie in beautifully ... eventually!!

I now can't wait for it to be finished of course, and then let the decorating commence ... the whole house in one fell swoop. It could be a way of losing that weight I'd hoped to shed before the wedding!

OK, I've had my five minutes R&R. Time to put my Mrs Mop outfit on again. I feel better having offloaded this onto you! Thank you, fellow bloggers!

This and That ...

A bit of an odd day today. Nothing specifically achieved, but progress nevertheless.

I collected another carpet sample for Mum and it's perfect, so on Monday we'll be asking them to measure up and getting the carpet ordered. Meanwhile, I brought the other samples home and I think we may have found the right one for our house - once the bathroom work has been done next week. At last everyone is synchronised and the plumber, the builder and the electrician are all ready for action. Lets hope they still are on Monday morning!

I took a few photos for you but the colours won't be true as they were taken in artificial light this evening. The eiderdown is new today, bought from another dealer. I've had my eye on it for a week or so and was so pleased today to find it hadn't sold!!

These chenille curtains are a wonderful rich raspberry/strawberry colour in daylight (difficult to imagine maybe, but it's definitely somewhere between the two). They have never been used and one still has the original label stapled at the bottom.

The tied quilt is probably a cutter as it is very faded on one side, has loose edges and a few thin areas. I just felt it needed a good home when I saw it. I'll inspect it thoroughly again and decide whether it could be repaired sufficiently well to be usable or whether it will end up as bags and cushions!

I also bought a beautiful vintage pair of floral linen union double-width x 7'6" long curtains. I was going to show you those as well, but I took them round to show Mum and would you believe it - the colours are absolutely perfect with the proposed new carpet, her table lamp and shade, the carpet and blinds in the conservatory and her suite. They really tie everything in together and we at last have a vision of what her sitting room will look like once it's finished. I may need to shorten them by a couple of inches, but otherwise they're fine.

Finally here's a vaguely and accidentally co-ordinated little corner of our home.

The curtains are hanging to get rid of some of the creases as they've been in the armoire for months. (They will eventually be for sale as I'm informed they're too dark for our house!) The hatbox is a recent acquisition and doesn't yet have a proper home, but it blends quite well with the curtains, the 1980s M&S silk flowers and cushion cover. Luckily I've managed to hide the very unco-ordinated mustard coloured 1960s swirly patterned carpet. The Edwardian salon chair is there because there's nowhere else for it.

I'll be soooo glad when the bathroom work is done so that we can start decorating, carpeting, rearranging furniture and making this house a proper home. It really isn't a pretty sight at the moment, and I'm beginning to feel the need for some sort of order and tranquillity!

Snowless in Somerton and Semley ...

... but I stopped on the way to Dairy House Antiques this morning to take this photo. If you enlarge it you can see the snow drifting across the hills. It was a bit bleak, but the layby where I took the photo was the nearest the snow got to the A303 on my journey. And it transpires that Somerton was basking in sunshine all morning!

Not a particularly well-placed blue selection, but I took this one in a hurry thinking it looked better than it does; I thought the chequered theme worked quite well though and if I'd thought sooner I could have placed them on some blue fabric that was in the car (but that might have been check overload).

For my final "study in blue" here's a blue painted dresser for sale at Dairy House Antiques, with blue and white china displayed on its shelves. The dealer it belongs to wasn't sure about the blue on blue, but I thought it looked really good.

That's all for now. Hope you're not all snowed in ...

Where Were You?

My apologies for the bad photo but you know when you HAVE to do something and you have to do it NOW. Well this is one of those moments. I've just noticed this teatowel in the utility room, waiting to be ironed and photographed properly. It's been there about a month ... and I just had to take the photo of it now, unironed, in bad light with no supporting cast. (I see my birthday was on a Sunday.)

Mum and I came across it when we were packing up her house and I thought you might like to reminisce (if you're old enough, that is!). I'm not sure where it came from but I think it was a present from Mum's French penfriend. To this day Mum still writes (in French) to her penfriend from her school days. They became penpals in 1935 and did the exchange thing even then. Mum has photos of Thérèse and her family visiting England, Mum and her sister staying in France, Dad managing to visit Thérèse and her parents during the War and so on.

In 1961 I sat the 11+ and went to 'the grammar'. I'm not sure how much good it did me, as I don't think I worked particularly hard. I had a wonderful surprise present when I passed - my own record player. The first record I bought with my saved up pocket money was "Wheels" (can't remember who recorded it) followed by "Bobby's Girl" (Susan Maughan), "Stranger on the Shore" (Acker Bilk). Then there were The Everley Brothers, The Allisons, Helen Shapiro, Dusty Springfield ... I've obviously got the dates out of order, but without the records in front of me I can't quite remember.

I expect the summer of 1961 was a long, bright, sunny one. They all were in those days, weren't they? We went for picnics in the fields when my uncle was haymaking, picked primroses and bluebells in the woods (you were allowed to then), and went to the Lleyn Penninsula in North Wales for our summer holiday. We stayed in a little village called Rhiw in a cottage rented out by Mr and Mrs Williams who had a little girl with lovely blonde ringlets, called Denise. We went to some sheep dog trials and went up Snowdon (on the train) and walked down again after standing on the foggy summit for a few minutes!

The first day of term at my new school was scary, until I met Susan Warner who giggled a lot. I think we sat next to one another for a while. We drank warm milk (why did they always leave it by the radiators or heating pipes?) through waxed straws which flattened long before you'd got to the end of the one-third pint. And we were introduced to Physics ... and Chemistry ... and Algebra ... and stuff I didn't understand. But I did OK in French ... because I had a calendar teatowel to help me!

So what were YOU doing in 1961?

Children's teaset

I bought this lovely little teaset a few years ago and have had it on display for sale ever since in the various shops and centres I've been in during that time but it's had no takers. I have to say I've been quite pleased because it is so gorgeous that I shall miss it if it ever sells.

I used to sell quite a lot of children's china a few years ago but the market seems to have gone quiet now. This particular one has no marks but according to Doris Lechler's book (if you collect children's china you'll have heard of her) the pattern shape was used by several potteries including Minton and Longton. I'm fairly sure it isn't Minton so it may be attributed to the Longton pottery. It's certainly of English origin.

Do enlarge the photo so that you can see the pretty design - there are dogrose-like flowers on one side of each piece and daisy-like flowers on the other. Apart from two A/F (damaged) cups it is in perfect condition. There is no wear to the gilding and no scratches or marks to the extent that it looks unused. One cup has a hairline crack and I really don't know what to say about the other one. It's quite peculiar. The handle isn't right, the whole thing looks as if it's been cooked and the best place for it is probably the bin, but ...

I can't decide whether to keep the teaset or (say it quietly) put it on my website (when and if it ever gets launched)!

I've just spent half an hour looking for a photo of another teaset which sold but I don't seem to have one, which is a shame. It was a Ridgeways polychrome Cinderella and in tip-top condition. It had a different picture from the story on each item, complete with a mouse running up the spout of the teapot. I think you would have liked it.

Shopping!

Here are the photos I promised!

Vintage French Wallpaper ...

French Quilt ...

1920s Silk Embroidered Tablecover/Shawl ...

Another one ...

1940s/50s Smocking

That's all for now, but of course tomorrow is another day ...

One Week On ...

... and Mum's house is beginning to look like a home. We've all been busy in various ways and Mum says she's feeling very at home there, although she's still coming back here for an evening meal and to sleep. I think her plan is to have a sleepover practice run at the weekend!!

Meanwhile I've made a huge decision - to leave the Antiques Centre at Somerton and move my stock to a larger room at Dairy House Antiques at Semley. It may seem odd, bearing in mind we came to live in Somerton seven months ago, but for various reasons it is the right thing to do and will all be happening at the beginning of March. It will seem very strange initially, but I'm really looking forward to it and have lots of ideas on how to utilise the extra space. I shall still be doing the Shepton fairs and with my new website (for "imminent" mentioned in a recent post, now read "in due course"!) as well, I hope I'll be able to get the balance right.

I've bought some nice items in the last week or so but I'm afraid photos will have to wait until (a) I have more time, (b) I think of taking them during daylight hours, or (c) a combination of the above! My latest purchases are two 1920s embroidered silk tablecovers/shawls, two smocked dresses and a smocked romper suit, probably dating from the early 1950s. There's an ecru banqueting cloth about 16 feet long with 14 napkins and a linen drawnthread bedspread. Oh, and an early 20th century French quilt and some vintage French wallpaper.

I might need to refer to Niki's tutorial to cover a set of drawers with the paper!

You may notice I've added a new link to "Friends' Websites" today. If any of you are thinking of visiting Somerset (or an overnight stay in order to visit the Shepton Antiques Fairs), then do look at Liz's B&B site. Mike the Sign is, as many of you know, Clare's husband. You'll get to see some of the amazing work they do if you click on the link to his site.

Photos soon, I promise! And do you remember way back in September I said we were having the bathroom and loo knocked into one? The work starts a week on Monday ...