This and that....

I have had a fairly busy few weeks so far this month. Last Saturday I attended the Vintage Bazaar in Devizes with Mr C for company. We had a very pleasant day with quite a number of my treasures going off to new homes including the lovely 1950's Mobo 'Prairie King' rocking horse. As you know, I am rather fond of rocking horses and have several dotted around my home. Unfortunately I can't keep them all as they do take up rather a lot of space so Mr C is always pleased when they canter off to pastures new!
Click on the pictures for a closer peek.

I have also been updating my stock at the Gloucester Antique Centre. They always do a great job with their themed window displays & this month it is a nursery window & there I spied my lovely vintage Silver Cross doll's pram which comes complete with cover & a fringed sun canopy. I had one of these as a child which provided hours of fun with my dolls so I am rather partial to them.

A job which I have been meaning to do for a long time is to have our headboard recovered as I fancied a change of colour scheme in our bedroom. Some time ago I bought a roll of this beautiful 'Doves' linen fabric when Lewis & Wood  had a sale. I finally had it done & it was returned this week looking so fresh & pretty. I think the upholsterer did a great job of placing the birds to their best advantage. I have plenty more fabric so curtains are the next project.

I have just realised that this Mother's Day will be the very first in 25 years that I have had without one of my children at home....The Boy is away at university & The Girl has gone off on a jolly to Edinburgh.....the joys of your children growing up!

This week will see me gathering together some vintagey bargains to take along to the next Vintage Jumble in Rangeworthy on Saturday 21st March which runs from 10am to 1pm.

It is held in the village hall (BS37 7LZ), entrance & parking are free & there are always lots of lovely goodies to be found at bargain prices, not to mention the delicious cakes served by the WI in aid of the senior citizen's annual village party.

Why not come along & join in the fun?

November

Time does fly and I've just realised how long it has been since I last wrote a post. I don't even know if anyone is still reading my blog after all this time! My time seems to be taken up mainly with hunting out vintage treasures, keeping my unit at Gloucester Antique Centre stocked, organising the V&H Fairs with Michele and looking after animals. The garden has been tidied up for winter, the chickens are moulting so we don't have any eggs, I have made chutney for Christmas with the last of my tomatoes and my neighbours excess apples.

 I thought I'd share some photos to highlight what has been going on in my life instead of writing reams of text for you to read as there is a bit of catching up to do!

I surprised myself by winning a cup at the village show for my flower arrangement (a vintage cup of course!).

Dylan had a bath...yes, that is newsworthy!

I bought a new car - another Mini (my third so far!)

The Boy started university in Wales ....when did he grow up??

We held our V&H Textile & Fashion Fair in October.

We have had a wonderful feature about the Christmas Fair in the December issue of Homes & Antiques Magazine - out now!

The Girl & I made some new cushions for the winter.

 

We had a fun family trip to Gifford Circus in Bath.

Toby hurt his paw....don't worry, he is fine now!

The Girl & Balli have had lots of fun.

And Dylan got new pyjamas!

FACEBOOK

Just thought I'd mention that I have a couple of Facebook pages that you may be interested in....

First is the Country Cottage Chic page where I post updates of stock, latest finds & so on, including photos of my unit at the Gloucester Antiques Centre. I have just decked it out for Christmas as you can see in the photo below.
You can find it here:

https://www.facebook.com/CountryCottageChic

 

 

 

 

Then, of course, there is the Vintage & Handmade Fair blog where you can read the latest news & see photos from the fair:

https://www.facebook.com/vintageandhandmadefair

 (Candles for the V&H Christmas Fair)

Finally, I have a brand new page for those of us who love Vintage Christmas - please do join & share your photos, finds, events & Christmassy ideas!
https://www.facebook.com/VerilyVintageChristmas 
 

(Vintage haberdashery stocking fillers for the Christmas V&H Fair)

Gloucester

As you already know, I have a unit at the Gloucester Antiques Centre. This is situated at the Gloucester docks in an old warehouse which has been beautifully renovated & offers a lovely bright, light space to display my vintage treasures.

Usually I go straight there, unload & arrange my stock, grab a cup of coffee & then go home. 

Last week, as Mr C was with me, we decided to go for a wander. It's quite funny how you overlook the places you go to regularly isn't it? They just get taken for granted. While I was there I took some photos of the interesting things I saw & thought I'd share them here with you.

A beautiful building right in the middle of the shopping area.

A prettified bicycle outside a vintage shop which I discovered down an alley - it used to be a pub!

An amazing clock above a shop. It has moving figures which animate & ding their bells on the hour.

Finally, two photos of the docks themselves - this is just outside the antique centre. I loved the little 'garden' area next to the canal boats. 

Besides the antique centre there is the Gloucester Quays outlet centre, a number of cafes & various shops & it is just a short walk to the pedestrianised shopping area. There are a couple of museums in the dock area & you can go for a boat ride along the canals too. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Gloucester Antiques Centre

I popped into the centre on Monday to take in some new stock - I haven't been for a couple of weeks as I haven't had much time to spare, so it was looking a little empty. Happily, it is filled up again & the table has a yellow theme this week. I was pleased to find the yellow roses items, all at different places, but they go together so well.

Gloucester Antiques Centre

A Three Horse Race

I popped into Gloucester Antiques Centre this morning to take a new display shelving unit & imagine my surprise when I saw the front window.

In celebration of the Cheltenham Festival (horse racing), the centre had put on their very own version. As I am the only dealer with my own "stable" all the runners are mine (good odds for a win then?)

They look so cute with their teddy bear jockeys & surrounded by horse & race day related goodies.


As you can see, the favorite, Mobo's Prairie King is in the lead with plucky little Mobo's Pony Walker coming up on the inside while Triang's Red, White & Blue is bringing up the rear (probably had too much hay for breakfast!)


They are all after the big gold cup! Who is your favourite?

Gloucester Antiques Centre

I have been meaning to post these photos for ages - in fact it was supposed to be my Valentine's display! I went there yesterday & added new stock & changed the display, so this one is history already.....

A Vintage Giveaway

I have been to Gloucester Antiques Centre again to add some new stock & a small set of shelves for more display space. They were just boring old pine so I painted them my favourite duck egg blue which I think sets off vintage items beautifully.



I rearranged the display on my little table - I use this as my "shop window" & change the display every time I go. This seems to work well as it brings different items to the attention of the customers & I always sell items from there. This week it is a bit of a tea party theme with china & glass.


Now for the giveaway.....as I have 299 followers & it's my birthday on Wednesday so I thought I'd have a giveaway to thank you all for your support & friendship.

Until I started blogging I didn't realise how many like minded folk there were out there. Without the blogging world so much of what I have done in the last few years wouldn't have happened.....particularly the Vintage & Handmade Fairs which has exceeded all my expectations. I would never have met my partner in crime, Michele, or all of the lovely ladies that read my blog or exhibit at & attend the fairs & who I now call friends....so thank you once again!

The giveaway will be a surprise box of vintage goodies - all you have to do is to leave a comment here & I will do the draw on my birthday - the 2nd February.

And speaking of fairs - don't forget about the Vintage Jumble on the 5th March - it's going to be great fun!!