FUN AT THE FAIR

I can't believe that amost a week has gone by since the Spring V&H Fair! I have been meaning to write a blog post & show you my stall since Sunday but as always time just seems to fly by.

So...here goes....it was a lovely day as usual with 40 stalls brimming with wonderful goodies & 800 eager visitors making a beeline for their favoured items. Everything from jewellery & ceramics to vintage toys & fabrics...even a flower bedecked taxidermy 'pink footed goose' made an appearance on Niki's stall! The ladies of Rangeworthy kept everyone plied with endless cups of tea & coffee & delicious cakes which raised almost £300 for charity - well done ladies!

Thanks to all the fabulous stallholders & visitors for making it such an enjoyable day.

My stall.....vintage swans, books & china.

 The vintage toy department.

I even had some boy's toys!

Daffodil teaset.

Bluebird china.

 Little toys.

Doggies.

Dollies.

More toys.

Snowy - a very big dog.

If you'd like to see photos of the fair do pop along to our Facebook album here: Spring V&H 2013

Two Happy Dolls

Well, here are the girls, clean & spruced up in new outfits. I didn't make these - knitting is not my favourite occupation. I have dressed them in knitted clothing as these are the sort of little outfits I used to have for my dolls so I thought they were appropriate replacements for their original clothes.


I have decided that Tearful Cheerful will stay with me to replace my long lost childhood doll, but as I do still have my old Tiny Tears this one will be coming along to the Vintage & Handmade Fair on Saturday, along with a 1970's Silver Cross pram, a Pedigree push along dog & a Scotty friend too!

I am so looking forward to Saturday but am mildly panicking about having everything ready for then so must love & leave you & get back to sorting & pricing stock!!

Two Sad Dolls

"Oh no!", I can hear you cry, "Not another one of her crazy doll stories!"

Well, sort of.....

A while ago I bought two dolls (I'm not going to say "vintage" or "old" because these dolls are the kind of dolls I played with, & I'm just a Spring Chicken I'll have you know!)

One is a 1960's Tearful Cheerful & I did indeed have one of these dolls - my Grandmother gave my sister & I one each for Christmas. My mum has a photo somewhere of us with them....unfortunately I no longer have mine. :-(
Anyhow, this dolly's facial expression changes when you move her arm - down & she cries, up & she smiles.
The other is a 1970's Tiny Tears. Both of them were a little grubby, needed their hair restyling & were naked (eek!).

So I thought it was about time they had a little attention & here is their story in pictures....





Tune in tomorrow for the next exciting episode.....

Toy Museum

Today Mr Cottage & I set off on a jaunt to Stow on the Wold as I wanted to visit the toy museum there & it was well worth the trip. It was stuffed to the rafters with a most delicious selection of dolls, toys & vintage childhood ephemera. I felt quite envious!

I think in this instance pictures speak louder than words, although these were taken with my phone camera, through glass & without a flash so some of them aren't brilliant! Click on the photos & they will enlarge so you can enjoy the details.

It is definitely worth a visit!

Josephine's New Dress

Once upon a time there was a dolly named Josephine. She was born in the 1950's in the well known & very popular Pedigree factory.
Josephine was no ordinary doll - no sitting around just looking pretty for her! She is a walking doll who would happily walk along with her Little Girl, hand in hand, while moving her head from side to side taking in the view & she has very pretty eyes indeed as they also move from side to side in a most flirtatious manner!

Some years later she was given to a new Little Girl called Tracey who looked after her carefully for many years. One day Tracey decided that it was time for Josephine to move on & asked Jayne (who is really just a Little Girl in a Big Girl's body!) if Josephine could come & live with her.
Of course Jayne was delighted to accept & so Josephine waved a fond farewell to Tracey & went home with Jayne.

However, Josephine was a little sad as over the years she had lost her clothing & longed for a new dress. Poor Josephine felt rather cold & exposed with no clothing on!

She did cheer up though when Jayne told her that she had many years design & clothing making experience as well as a large stash of pretty fabrics suitable for dolly dresses & that a new dress would take no time at all to make.

They rummaged through the fabrics - florals & checks & spots - but Josephine really couldn't decide. She whispered to Jayne that her favourite colour was blue & that she really loved puppies.

"Aha!", Jayne exclaimed, "I have just the thing for you!"

Josephine's pretty eyes sparkled "That's just what I want!"

Cath Kidston's Stanley fabric was the perfect choice.



So, out came the tape measure, pins, scissors & trusty sewing machine & with a few snip, snip, snips a new outfit started to take shape.


Firstly, of course, a new pair of panties was in order to cover her modesty....


Jayne also managed to find a supplier of vintage dolly shoes & this bright red pair look rather fetching.....


A pretty co-ordinating ribbon was found for her hair....


Josephine is feeling very happy once again!



Off she goes for a little walk to show off her new dress!