That car booty feeling is coming on .....

I am lucky in that there is a car boot sale near to me every Sunday morning apart from Christmas Day .... it is under cover in a market so come rain or shine there is always someone there though have to say some days in the winter there are some desperate souls trying to flog even more desperate goods.

Easter weekend can't come soon enough for me, I am ashamed to say not for religious reasons, for my three favourite boots start so let the serious bargain hunting begin!

Ellie and I did pop down to another small one this morning at the Watermill in Barton and we both managed to grab a few goodies.  Ellie spotted a box of Baby Born clothes (I'd missed them so I am quite proud that she is learning fast and she is grasping that she can make her money go much further by spending wisely) and a recorder book.  She has been learning to play at school and on Friday the two classes in her year performed a short concert .... I must admit I was expecting a bit of a racket but they were absolutely marvellous.  They had obviously been practising very hard and hit every note in the right place and all looked very smart and focused.

My goodies were

These little cuties were tucked in the box in the photo below and I didn't realise what they were at first ..... the seller thought they were from the 1930s but although they are dressed in the crinoline lady style I am not convinced that the yarn is that old.  I am thinking more 1950s.  The little dolls all have moving eyes.

From the same seller was this hand made milk jug cover

Fine hand crochet table mat with little cotton circle inserts that have been embroidered

This little crochet dressing table mat has pale pink flowers around the edge

and these two gorgeous little baskets are crocheted in the finest cotton ..... with a little sugar starching they will sit as freestanding decorations

A vintage 1976 Blow Football game ..... only one ball is missing

and some of my favourite Art Deco glass from the 1930s ..... a carnival glass salad bowl

A Sowerby frosted green glass dish in ivy leaf stand

This time next week I will be another year older !    It will be a busy weekend as my daughter is taking me to Hampton Court Palace for the day on Saturday and on Sunday it is the first Buckingham Vintage & Handmade Fair organised by Ann & Trevor. 

Do come along if you are in the area ..... there will be a wonderful array of vintage loveliness on offer from some extremely friendly sellers and of course the event wouldn't be complete without tea and homemade cakes.

I am busy making and popped to the Cath Kidston factory shop at St Neots yesterday for some fabric retail therapy .... much bargains there too as the two floral prints were only £6 per metre

One more week of school and then I have a break until the 10th April ..... much needed I must say.

Don't forget to change your clocks tonight ..... Spring is most definitely here xx

Back to life .... back to reality

Well that's the festive season over and done with for another year .... all packed away till next time.

The children were back to school on Wednesday and husband back to work to be given the wonderful news that he will be on a three day week again from 16th January .... he does get paid at basic rate so mustn't grumble but then will have to pay back the time on a Saturday when it suits the company of course.  They seem to be gradually working towards an 'on demand' workforce that they can pick up and drop when the fancy takes them .... the permanent workforce is dwindling and being replaced with contractors at a much cheaper rate (no surprise there!)

Good job I sneaked a visit to the Cath Kidston factory shop at St Neots last weekend ..... or Kid Caffrey as Ellie is calling it ..... she is getting to be quite a CK officianado having visited the St Pancras store last week too.  She really needed a new school bag and pencil case apparently so soft touch nanny got caught again!

We had just stepped in the door and who should we bump into ..... Tilly Rose ..... also having a bit of Cath retail therapy.  It was nice to have a chat and a little catch up and I really must get along to her new venture this year .... I just ran out of time towards the end of 2011.

They had a good range of fabric and I also treated myself to a little spring loaded tape measure and a glasses case.

New Year ..... new start ..... I am going to concentrate this year on the Vintage & Handmade Fairs run by Ann & Trevor and my little outlet at Country Matters in Hexton.   Unsold Christmas stock has been retrieved from Hexton and I am pleased to say that there wasn't a lot left and I will be joining the Vintage & Handmade Jumble in Northampton on Saturday 14th January with lots of clearance items including fabric, textiles, books, ceramics and some handmade items.

Do please come along to this great event if you can.

I have been stashing away blue fabrics for ages in the hope that I could get around to making a blue & white themed quilt for myself and this week made a start on cutting out the squares for the first blocks.

There is a mix of modern prints together with vintage Laura Ashley and other vintage cottons. 

The first little bargain find of 2012 ..... a green leaf design Carlton Ware cup from the charity shop for one whole pound



and finally a little collage of my previous quilt makes

Happy New Year all x

The 2nd Olney Vintage & Handmade Fair

On a chilly Saturday morning we set off for Olney in Buckinghamshire to take part in the 2nd Olney Vintage & Handmade Fair organised by Ann & Trevor .... Ann was sadly absent and I missed our catch up chat especially as she has recently acquired some chooks and was patiently waiting for her first egg.

A lovely mix of sellers including some regulars like Sharon of Shabby Polkadots & Clover Cottage and Wend of Ticking Stripes were there and some new faces too and I'm not sure if they are fellow bloggers too ..... put your hand up and give us a shout if you are please !

Starting time was midday and there was a good queue forming with some peeps trying to sneak in early and once the doors opened it was all go.  Word had obviously spread about the event and there was a wonderful buzz in the room .... it's great to see young and old alike coming to these events and thoroughly enjoying themselves.  Deb over at Home Thoughts from Vintage Wants was next to me which did get confusing at times when 'Deb' was called out and we both looked up. Her sister did a magnificent job in the tea room and her cakes are to die for ..... chocolate, coffee, lemon drizzle ...... are you drooling yet???

I've told you previously about my grand entrance to the first ever fair that I did with these lovely people (arriving fashionably late with around 20 mins to set up) and since then I ensure that we arrive in plenty of time to set up and also to have a mooch around at all the lovely stalls before the public come in.  My lovely blocks from Lajoni at Painting New Memories had their maiden outing and took pride of place in the centre of my table.

I was even asked if I was selling them though I have no idea what use they would be to anyone else !

We had a very good day sales wise so treated ourselves .... on the stall opposite sat this

Now who could resist them ?????

I certainly couldn't .... they are Sealyham Terriers by Mabel Gear

When I was googling for some information on her I came across this on a well known auction site and before I knew it I had pressed the bid now button ....

Mr Lala's birthday is in a couple of weeks and as a keeper of canaries and master to a naughty black cocker spaniel by the name of Ruby I thought it would make the perfect present.

She's been to the dog groomer today for a haircut, wash & brush up and now smells divine.

All the fun of the fair

Yesterday was the 6th Northampton Vintage and Handmade Fair arranged by Annie & Trevor of Vintage at the Corner House  .... it was a roaring success as always with hundreds of people flocking through the doors despite some heavy rain showers.  There were a couple of last minute stall cancellations and I do hope Amy of Blighty Boutique and Jo of Hesta & the Pugs are feeling better this morning ... you were missed ladies and of course Amy's lovely mum Annie the Felt Fairy.

All the stalls looked lush .... would you like to look at some of them?

Of course you would!

Sharon of Shabby Polkadots with some lovely china & glassware and her hand painted tea trolley

This was the stall opposite me with a clever way of displaying lovely handmade bags

 Then there was this Lalabibaby woman ;-)

who spied this platter in her most favourite blue & white transferware on Sharon's stall ..... Sharon was off taking some photos and having a natter before the fair opened so I shoplifted it when she wasn't looking

It's a real beauty and now I just have to find some shelf space for it!

I also purchased a gorgeous needle case made in vintage embroidered fabric from Suzanne of Hearts N Kisses  .......... Suzanne doesn't have a blog but this link is to her website and Etsy shop .... do take a look it is beautiful and I am kicking myself now for not taking a photo of her stand.

My last purchase was a vintage velour throw

No new Lilian Rowles or Bessie Pease Guttmann to add to my collection this week but I was lucky to find this luscious fabric on Ebay this week

I was telling Debbie of Vintage Wants Not Needs about this find as I'd purchased a Bessie Pease print from her at a previous fair.   I'll be thinking of you tomorrow Debs x

Finally these pretty postcards were found at Hitchin Flea Market this week ... I can see this becoming another addiction

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend xx

It's a cat's life ......

I've always maintained that I'm coming back in the next life as a tom cat ..... what a life he does lead eating and sleeping then more eating and sleeping ....

Oliver conked out in the heat this afternoon

I've been a bit of a slack blogger again and although I have been reading everyone's posts and leaving the odd comment here and there I just haven't found the motivation to post myself.  Is it just me or do you find that real life gets in the way sometimes and there just aren't enough hours in the day?

We've been trying to spruce up the hall, stairs and landing a bit with a coat of paint but that has to be restricted to the weekends when there are no little people here ... the emulsion is all done and I'm trying to keep up with the glossing but with 6 doors and a wooden staircase it's a long job.  The smell of the paint this weekend mixed with the heat was unbearable.  I found some Jack Vettriano prints in the charity shop some time back but the frames were ugly so they have been given a simple spray of black paint and now they have a new home on the stair well.

Crafting has been continuing and I've been finishing some orders received through my Folksy shop and via the recent V & H fairs that I have been part of .... here are some finished pieces

A blue themed single patchwork quilt in a mix of vintage Laura Ashley fabrics matched with some contemporary cottons from Patch Fabric & Haberdashery

alphabet letter cushion for a Christening gift

 hand stitched hexagon patchwork quilt to take to the next Vintage & Handmade Fair in Olney

to decorate a new born's bedroom

some peg bags for a special lady who has embarked on a new venture here

The first batch of Gooseberry Jam has been made ..... my gooseberry bushes were transferred from my dad's allotment to the bottom of my garden some 15 years ago when he had to give it up following a stroke.  They still bear some lovely fruit every year (apart from the time my OH was let loose with some secateurs that is)

A smidgeon of bargain hunting has been going on but my car booting forays have been cut short by babysitting duties and the lousy weather we were experiencing up till yesterday.  I did manage to find these ....

The cutest miniature sewing machine ...... it has been handmade and is actually musical and when wound it plays a tune, the little treddle goes up and down and the little cotton reel turns ...... how could I resist???  It only stands around 6 inches high and the detail is just perfect.

A vintage hexagon sewing box containing vintage hexagons that someone had started to work on .... maybe I'll get around to finishing them.

Back to the fairs ..... on 9th July at a new venue in Olney, Ann & Trevor are organising another of their fantastic vintage & handmade fairs.  If you are in the area please do pop along ... there will be loads of vintage goodies on sale, some lovely sellers (most of whom as lovely bloggers too) and naturally oodles of tea and homemade cakes.  Olney itelf is a lovely market town with lots of history, shopping & antiques.