SHOP UPDATE

Last week I photographed & listed some lovely new goodies in my shop so I thought I'd post an update here as I haven't done that for a while!
Country Cottage Chic

ETSY

I haven't used Etsy for quite some time but I thought that as part of my New Year's resolution of concentrating more on my online selling again now that I have more free time due to having moved the horses closer to home, I would give it another go.

To this end I have been adding some lovely 1930's school posters to my shop - these were used as classroom aids so it amazes me that they are in such good condition. This is a set that I bought recently that I haven't seen before. The maps are particularly striking.

If you'd like to seethem you can find them here: 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/countrycottagechic

A FLOCK? A FLIGHT? A FANCY?

 Yesterday I was adding lots of little Christmas Fairies & Angels to my online shop when I got to wondering what the collective nouns were for groups of fairies. A Flock? A Flight? A Fancy? A Frolic? A Flutter maybe? I thought any of those would be sweet but I decided to look it up & found that it is a 'herd' of fairies! Now, I don't know about you, but I don't think that fits very well! Horses, sheep & elephants assemble in herds...but fairies? Doesn't sound nearly dainty enough! Suggests a group of fairies clumping around in big boots rather than flittering about in glittery slippers & sprinkled in fairy dust. Which would you choose?

Angels on the other hand are grouped into a Choir, a Host or a Chorus, all of which seem quite appropriate!

Shop Update & Christmas Homes & Antiques

I have just been updating my online shop & adding some pretty goodies to the virtual shelves including the lovely tin workbox above & letter box below.


The sewing department has a lovely workbox & some fabulous vintage issues of Needlewoman & Needlecraft which still have their embroidery transfers.


Issue 12 has a section on crocheted 'Wartime Jewellery' which includes flower corsages & necklaces to make.


Just like the big stores, my Christmas Shop is now open for business too - it is bursting with baubles & reindeer, ribbons, tags & cake decorations (as seen on the cover & inside the December issue of Homes & Antiques!). Do pop in & you may be treated to a mince pie!

All Sorts

I have had rather a busy week or so with one thing & another but I thought it was time I posted a catch up post so you know that I am still around.

The first adventure of the week was another dramatic Chicken Rescue (an idea for a new TV programme perhaps?).
Toby (aka Son of Satan or SoS to his friends) was barking like a crazy dog at the bottom of the garden so I went out to see what all the fuss was about. Yes, you've guessed it, yet another chicken in the pond trying to be a duck. Our house is like Chicken Run in reverse as they try to get in rather than out.

Anyway, I was wondering how I was going to fish her out as she was on the other side of the pond where all the lovely brambles & nettles live when she very calmly SWAM over to me! Who knew that chickens could actually swim?
So, I picked her up & she was a sorry sight - soaking wet, shivering & covered in pond weed.
I wrapped her up in an old sheet to dry her off.


After giving her a rub & a bit of a cuddle we put her into a box with a thick layer of shavings in the bottom & parked her next to a heater for a few hours. We kept her in the house overnight & by the morning she was looking decidedly fluffed up & perky.


We think she was a refugee from the farm who had been living rough since they took the flock away & as I didn't want her being nabbed by a fox or dog I popped her into our chicken pen, much to the consternation of the other ladies. In the evening when it was time for bed she was nowhere to be seen so I thought she had decided to leave us but the next morning she reappeared & has been here ever since - it only took her 2 days to decide to go into the hen house at night.

We have called her Amelia Pond as she is a redhead, was in the pond & disappeared & reappeared (probably in her chicken Tardis). Also, we had been watching Dr Who....

So, here she is - about half the size of our other hens but I bet she'll catch up quick!


Of course the cats couldn't care less....



I popped over to the Gloucester Antiques Centre on Saturday to drop off some new stock including some vintage toys.


I was pleased to see some of my stock (the glassware & scooter) in the outdoor picnic themed window display.


Sunday morning saw all the carpeting being removed from the stairs in preparation for a new carpet - I was surprised to see rather nice wooden stairs & floorboards underneath & contemplated painting them instead, but the "clip, clip, clip" of dog & cat claws & "thump, thump, leap, clunk" of big teenage boy feet is rather annoying so we are sticking with carpet.





Finally, I thought it was time to add some new stock to my online shop which I haven't updated for a while. Items include this unusual Jack Russell ribbon plate...

....cute Pixie cake decoration....

......lovely vintage china terrier.....

.....Rosebud doll.....
(sorry, I'm sold)

.... cat string holder & more.

Of course Michele & I are working on the next V&H Fashion & Textile Fair to be held on the 4th June which necessitated a "breakfast meeting" on Monday - just an excuse to eat bacon rolls & drink lattes really! :-)

PS...just wanted to say sorry to all those that posted a comment that hasn't appeared - it seems Blogger was having issues & lots of the comments have just vanished & I can't retrieve them. Some people's blog posts have also been deleted. This happened on Wednesday & Thursday but they seem to have it sorted out now.