Bedrooms and Bluebells

The decorating of our guest room is finished. The furniture has moved in and its ready for its first guest this Friday...

I hope to add some photos of the finished room later this week. My youngest daughter has been an absolute star all day today; helping me move furniture elsewhere in the house, cleaning skirting boards and windows, and generally spending time with her old Mum. A great girly day with lots of giggles and reminiscing about favourite stories, after we decided to move the collection of children's books that the girls had, had whilst growing up, to the other spare bedroom (This room is a work in progress and will become a single bedroom for younger visitors to use.) - We couldn't help having a little read whilst we sorted through them. 'Dogger' was always a firm favourite, as well as Peepo! and Each, Peach, Pear, Plum - I wonder how many times I read each one to them over the years?

**

It's been a busy few days, but very rewarding, as I've achieved a lot. Sunday morning I was up early, for a quick buying trip (I'll show some of my recent purchases at the end of this post). I wanted to be back home by mid-morning, as I needed to get on with lots of gardening...But these guys had other ideas...


I got stuck behind a long convoy of vintage tractors on the way back. It must have been a tractor club, out on a rally. When I finally got home, I was able to take a few photos of the last few remaining vehicles, as they disappeared up the lane opposite our house.

It was such a beautiful day, that I decided the gardening could wait until later in afternoon. Youngest daughter and I thought we'd go for a walk in our local woods, to see if the bluebells were in flower...

Ah yes, sigh...

Just as charming as the bluebells, for me, was watching my daughter take photos for her A level Art port folio.

:) Happy Days.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

**

Back home again, and after planting a tray full of auriculas that I bought in the morning, (I'll have to take some photos of those too, as they are just wonderful...the old fashioned faded colours could easily be mistaken for artificial silk examples from a Victorian bonnet) I needed to sort through my other purchases...

I found the perfect little framed postcard of a bluebell wood!

And this springtime inspired print - A copy of a Vernon Ward painting.

This little Tri-ang cot will have some bedding made for it from vintage fabrics, before I offer it for sale. The china posy will be broken up and added to a mirror.

**

Hope you had a lovely weekend - Have a great week,

Niki x

PS: The shop will be closed this Friday (Good Friday) - Open on Saturday, as usual.

This Week

I've finished re-decorating our guest bedroom. I've painted the ceiling, walls and also the floor in a record time for me...it took me two days! Honestly, I've rediscovered muscles I'd forgotten I had. I've left the floor paint to cure for now, before we move the furniture in, hopefully on Saturday evening. (The little bag below is a clue to the colour I have used on the walls! ;-))

So today, I've been back at work for a rest! ;-))

Not quite true...There's been a few new items hot of the sewing machine this week...

I made a pair of these patchwork cushions...

We're sold - thank you!

And a matching knitting/sewing bag.

A handbag of similar colours, with cute fringe detail.

And a teeny-tiny bag made from a fragment of quilt.

I'm sold - thank you!

Also this week I've bought several panels of vintage fabrics from a dealer friend, and these Deco buckles.

This morning I packaged them up, to offer for sale.

I used original Victorian photographs and some velvet ribbon.

**

That's it for now...

I'll leave you with some recent photos taken in the shop.

*

*

*

*

*

Niki x

Forget-me-Not

As mentioned a few times previous to this post(!), yesterday was the 2nd Annual Vintage Textile and Costume Day at Dairy House, organised by Sue. As you can see from the photos below, Sue organised a very beautiful forget-me-not blue sky for us all day!

This is the front of the old Dairy building that houses a wide selection of vintage and antique goods on three floors. Sue has recently completed a huge move around and now has the main entrance on the right, through the double doors.

The veranda at the front creates the ideal place to hold an event such as the textile day - Doesn't it look pretty with the bunting and inviting stalls underneath? Cars can be driven very close to the entrance, which makes unloading and setting up a lot less work than at some events. Great for the customers too, if they take away lots of shopping bags! ;-))

I snapped a few photos just as we opened for business at 10am. The sun was very bright (not complaining!) which made it difficult to capture a true likeness of the lovely stalls.

My stall had a variety of goods, from my hand made dolls to genuine antique items of costume, haberdashery and accessories.

*

*

Behind my stand was Helen's ('Every Small Stitch'), with a pretty collection of vintage fashion accessories, homewares and hand crafted pieces.

Chloe's beautiful selection of French linens and eiderdowns bleached almost white in this sunny spot.

Tracey's space at the back of the veranda was stocked full to bursting with tempting goodies.

Donna and her Mum were kept busy all day on their stall, which had a beautiful selection of vintage fabrics and haberdashery.

*

And I had to secretly take a photo of this dapper chap, looking quite the part for a spot of vintage shopping.

Thanks to all who came to say hello and who made a purchase from my stall.

Thanks also to Sue for organising this lovely event. (Below is a photo of a small section of Sue's area within the Dairy House Antiques Centre.)

I was very restrained when it came to buying yesterday. This little box, less than a couple of inches across, was an easy impulse buy...

And this naughty-but-nice purchase was my extravagance, justified by the fact that I doubt I shall ever see another like it...A forget-me-not flapper era cloche hat band - It came from Lizzie.

**

And now for the real thing...

The glorious weather has sent our front garden into overdrive...

What was almost bare earth just a few short weeks ago, now looks like this. (Carefully cropped to avoid you seeing the host of dandelion plants also in full flower! ;-))

*

Today I've spent most of my time up a ladder, painting one of our bedrooms. I'm determined to get the redecorating done as soon as I can, so will be working every spare moment (when not at the shop), till I can swipe it from my to-do list. I may be a little scarce for a few days...

Forget-me-not?!

Have a great week,

Niki x