Friday, 30 November 2012

Getting ready for the Vintage and Handmade Fair

 As I said in my last post, I am going to have a stall at the Vintage and Handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall this Sat 1st Dec.  I have never ventured to the Cotswolds as a seller so I'm not too sure what to take with me. I will be taking my usual mixture of french faded loveliness plus a few new bits that I've found on my travels.  I have noticed that I've had a different buying head on now for some time and am no longer looking for things just for me.  I'm trying to see and hear what the buyers want too and whilst I still love everything I've bought, I may not have previously bought it.

Below are some finds that I bought a couple of weeks ago and which will becoming with me tomorrow.  My favourite is definitely the old shooting game.  I love the colours, the style, everything!

lots of lovely things!
Love this!
Old shooting game
Although I do quite like the 1920s skittles too

Old skittles with original ball and box
Old skittles



and the boudoir cushions

French boudoir cushions
In fact, why don't I just say I like it all!

Little cat to add to my collection
French bloomers with gorgeous trims
Sweet little baby clothes which were hard to resist
 I also went out a couple of Sundays ago to the boot sale and came back with some really pretty items but I think I will be keeping them until next year as they are very 'springlike' and don't really fit in with the Christmas theme!

1950s hat and forget-me-not bowl and jug
Peg doll book to go in my Florence Upton Collection





This next item I actually got from France and it is a lace making cushion.  The thing I love about it is the fact that it comes in its original box with the original pins, bobbins and lace patterns.  It needs a bit of restoration but I think its really fab.


Lace making cushion
Original pins and bobbins
Original box
We then have a vintage pink scooter made in Germany.  I bought this in the summer but just don't have the room for it anymore so sadly it will have to go.  I thought it fitted in very well with these other items so I will be saving them all for the spring fairs.
Vintage pink German scooter
Vintage pink German scooter
Finally something that I thought were really interesting are these 1930s, handpainted lampshade designs, all original on vellum paper.  I've never seen anything like them and I just thought they were charming.
Handpainted 1930s lampshade designs
Handpainted 1930s lampshade designs
Handpainted 1930s lampshade designs
The hardest thing about this job is parting with things.  I always seem to become very attached and find it hard to part with the items.  I think its because I buy what I love and i know that I probably won't find another like it.  I'm just glad I started this blog so I can have a quiet moment looking at the photos and enjoying them all over again!

Have a great weekend everyone and I hope I see you tomorrow from 10am at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall for the Vintage and Handmade Fair. xx












Monday, 26 November 2012

Hello again!

I can't believe its been a month since I last posted.  I have had a serious case of writers block that just hasn't wanted to be unblocked!  I'm back now though and hoping that the words flow as easily as they seem to flow from my lips ;)

I have had a busy month with one thing and another but one of the highlights was the Village-Vintage Fair at Plumpton.  This time round I was on my own as Mark had rather conveniently got a prior engagement.  Never mind I thought, I'll be fine and you know what, I was!  I had a brilliant day, my friends Pat and Eve came along for moral support and we had so much fun, I don't think I stopped laughing!  I saw lots of previous customers which was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with them plus I was able to see and speak to a few of the other stallholders that I had previously met.  I really feel at home now at these fairs and remembering how I felt at the last Village-Vintage in July seems a lifetime ago.  There was no way I would have ever done that fair on my own but here I am, 4 months later, driving, unloading, setting up and selling on my own.  I missed Mark but I feel that doing these things on my own has allowed me to gain confidence and allowed me to have something just for me and I love it!

My stall at Plumpton, sweet vintage skittles and miniature watering can
Gorgeous printers drawers and lots of french fabric boxes
Old jam pans, 1920s woolly socks
On the Sunday I did it all over again at the Upper Beeding Vintage Rummage Sale.  I have to admit that when I woke up on the Sunday I was wondering why I was doing it to myself but I'm so glad I did.  I had a lovely day at a new venue and enjoyed talking to some stallholders I hadn't met before.  I even treated myself to a little something...............

Vintage fairy dolls
...........although I'm not entirely sure Mark was impressed when he got home, there is no way these are going on top of our Christmas tree this year and in fact I really feel that I need to cover the doll on the right with a blanket at night like you do with budgies, she's almost demonic and has eyes that could turn you to stone!

As long as I promise not to buy anymore demonic dolls, I am going to be doing the next rummage sale at the Village Hall in Upper Beeding on 16th December from 12.30pm.  Its a great place to do some last minute pressie buying as everything is really reasonably priced.

In December which I will have a stall at 3 fairs including the Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury on 1st Dec.


I am v.v excited about this fair as it is such a departure for me location wise.  I have always wanted to go as a buyer but have never been able to justify the journey, now I can!  Mark has been given strict instructions for the day, he is in charge of the heavy lifting whilst I make the stall look good, then I'm allowed to go off, have a wander round, chat and look for Christmas presents (for me) whilst Mark mans the table.  I've also got to fit in taking photos of all the other stalls AND try and sell a few things myself.  I am so looking forward to it that I can't wait for Saturday to come, I know I'll be up at the crack of dawn, organising (dictating) Mark and getting so over excited that I'll wear myself out and won't have the energy to buy anything (highly unlikely).  Can you tell I'm a bit excited!

If any of my readers are going to be at the Vintage and Handmade Fair then please do come and say hello, I love meeting fellow enthusiasts and hearing your stories.  You won't be able to miss us as I will be the woman with the husband who looks like he wants to strangle me after all my helpful organisation (dictating) tips on where to put the stuff, what photos to take etc etc!

Still from Dead of Night - film from 1945
Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday! xxx