Its Been a Good Year for the Roses...

I had two special visitors to my shop on Saturday - Maria and Sergio, who I have mentioned on my blog before, have once again travelled from Italy on their search for all things vintage and rosey! (They were last in England in April, when they were able to visit the Dairy House Textile Day.) As you can perhaps see from the photo below, the shelves of my dresser were somewhat depleted after Maria had finished shopping! ;-))

Although neither of us speak each others language, we manage to get by with our mutual love of old fashioned roses. And a special gift thrown in makes for a very happy meeting! ;-))

Thank you Maria and Sergio - It was a pleasure to see you both again - and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday. x

After the lovely couple left my shop, I had to quickly rearrange the shop's shelves so that things didn't appear too empty. I found more china to fill the spaces and soon the dresser looked full again...

It was a very warm day, which had brought lots of people out, so the shop had a lovely atmosphere all day...I love days like that when there is a real buzz in the air. My friend Debbie also called in to see me with a huge bouquet of roses, which I shall show you at the end of this post.

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Just jumping around a bit now to Friday - I wanted to show a couple of photos of the market in full swing, which this week had to work around all the BBC activity, as the final touches were being put to the shop fronts.

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I promise to only show one more post of the shop makeovers, as I do get the feeling I may be boring you!...

I'll show them when they are completed later in the week, before the filming starts in earnest...

This is the old Pickwicks, which has had a false wall built to the right hand side, complete with a paneled door.

The painting has been started too, so that one isn't far off completion.

Through the market cross you may be just able to see the old bakery on the right, where an old bread oven has been built inside.

Looking just to the right of my shop is the one that will become a Victorian grocers. Vacuum formed plastic brick panels have been added to the facade for a traditional look...

And lots of dark wood paneling for that authentic Victorian feel.

Just a little more to finish off.

The other little shop is the two storey one which has had ornate pillars put up outside...

Not too sure about the red, but suspect it may be an undercoat?

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Anyway, as promised, here is the beautiful bouquet given to me by Debbie.

I brought it home on Saturday evening, as I wouldn't be at the shop again until Tuesday to enjoy them. This huge bloom smells of sweet peas...go on, take a sniff! ;-))

It has been a fabulous year for the roses this year, hasn't it?...I'm wondering if that 'proper' winter that we had actually did the garden good and put everything back on an even keel?

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Have a fabulous week. I have a busy one preparing for the special market on Sunday. Lots of sewing to get on with, as well as a day at home today sorting out some new vintage stock that I have to take to the shop tomorrow....and I have a cupboard moving marathon to do today as well...which may take some time...

Enjoy the sunshine,

Niki x