A change is as good as a rest!

I thought that this week would give me chance to catch my breath and unwind but it doesn't seem to be working out like that! Still it has been lovely spending some time with my daughter (when she hasn't been writing essays!). Yesterday we ventured into our town centre and discovered this new shop. With a name like this I thought it had to be worth a look!



The windows were intriguing : wire mannequins draped with scarves,



an astronaut helmet TV - (all the rage after the moon landings years ago!)and lots of 60s pieces of furniture,



an old typewriter and lots of albums,



a sixties mirror and more.



I had to smile when I saw the price tag on the mirror - £75! I picked up one of these at the car boot a couple of weeks ago for £1 and it's now hanging on my wall! (below)



But I digress. Tucked in several of the vignettes were shoes. Old shoes, new shoes and upside down shoes? I'd love a pair of these for sitting in a ladylike style with my legs crossed just so that anyone looking could admire my soles!



We went in and I was intrigued at the collection of items for sale. I really like the eclectic mixture of items and felt the whole place had really made an effort to be different. I'm so tired of city centres all having the same shops on them that it really made a pleasant change to see the shoes being sold amongst vintage pieces of furniture, old musical instruments and album covers - there were some great chests of drawers for less than the price that people might spend at IKEA but they were real conversation pieces. I'm afraid I didn't buy anything. I've got rather too used to car boot prices for my bits of vintage and I was probably 30 years too old to be wearing any of the shoes, but I know I'll be drawn back!



Later, thoughts turned to the Vintage and Homemade fair in Northampton on 7th November where I shall be standing. I was really pleased when Annie (Vintage at the Corner House) set this up as it's much closer to me than the fair at Chipping Sodbury which I'd also love to go to. There seems to be lots of vintage activity in the South West but little up here in the East Midlands... For more details check out Annie's blog - see side bar. Hope some of you will be able to make it!



I'm a Kaffe Fassett and Liberty fabric lover as you can see from my stash pictures. I've been assembling some of the things I'll take to the fair ready for pricing and packing.



Lots of my covered coat hangers, vintage tins,



pincushions,



I know repetitive pictures but please indulge me - I've made a lot of these over the years and I always cover the hooks and despite still using some I made in 1982 the binding hasn't unravelled! My gorgeous girl even asked for a lesson on making them last night and was really pleased with herself when she completed her first Cath Kidston fabric hanger!



More assembling of lovely china duos and trios, cake stands, buttons, hankies, butter and cheese dishes, preserve pots and some lovely kitsch 50s pinnies.



You may remember that I bought this eiderdown cover at Swinderby in the summer. This was one of my more expensive purchases but I love the fabric and need to make it go a long way!



I decided to cover some buttons in this fabric and add them to one of my thrifted cashmere cardigans. I refuse to pay full price but I do have a weakness for cashmere. Several of the buttons had got lost so the cardigan was languishing in the back of the wardrobe. It now has a complete set of thrifted eiderdown buttons and I'm quite pleased with the way it's turned out. The pinks match better than it appears in the photo!




Hope that you're having a good week and for those who have half term next week - it's not long now! I'm loving this "time off" thing!
Love Wend

Would you like to come to an antiques fair? Jackets and big boots in case the weather is as bad as predicted!

Today was Swinderby Antiques and Homes Fair, near Newark. I decided a day off work was absolutely necessary and was there for 7.30. This is a huge event with over 3000 stalls so plenty of energy and determination is necessary. Brace yourselves ladies - we're going in!



It seems to be an event where there is little heed paid to presentation on most stalls with much of the stock strewn around the ground! I did like this little grouping of apparently inconsequential bits and pieces.



Wooden cotton reels - £1 each! I'd be rich if I sold mine!



Patchwork quilts and crocheted blankets. I was hoping for lots of textile stalls but they were few and far between. Even the textile stall holders were disappointed.



Its always nice to get a bit of inspiration - I liked this idea of a patchwork of eiderdown scraps under the glass of a Lloyd Loom table.



Hang on - we're being watched.



Oh look - now a stall to stop me in my tracks - eiderdowns and quilts and lovely stuff...Loving that rosy pink one - might have to have that.



Some flaggy colour.



Oh - I see grain sacks - must check those out...I recently paid (well lets just say too much) for one of these to put on my garden bench. But these were £5 which, compared with others I saw, was really good value. Yummy - some are even monogrammed!



Stool anyone? There's probably enough for us all to have a sit down!



Loving these little fellas...



and someone's made a lovely little vignette...



Ooh -globes. Mmm - maybe a bit bright?



Ah - my favourite stall for presentation - I loved these vintage linen night shirts. These were great but I couldn't find the stall again when I went back to buy one. Apparently they look great over jeans or for lounging in with a pair of leggings - perhaps not for the office.

So, the moment of truth. What did I buy? Well it had to be the rosy coloured eiderdown, a defeathered eiderdown in a black design - I've wanted one of these for ages...



and some grain sacks...



So now all I'm good for is a long sit sown in a deck chair with a glass of Pimms. Not sure who's going to sit in that grey one in the middle! Oh, but the sun isn't shining. Never mind, it's not raining either.



Love Wend