The 1st V&H Textile Fair

Ooh! What's that?
"Vintage & Handmade Textile Fair"?
Follow the bunting to a world of vintage delights!

Yesterday was the launch of our very first Textiles Fair & what a lovely day it was!
After arriving at 7.30 am to set up the tables, all the stallholders from far & wide piled in & we worked on transforming the Old Grammar School Rooms into a veritable delight of Vintage & Handmade treasures.

At 10am sharp I opened the doors to the public & the queue ran all the way from the door, down the alley way & onto the pavement outside!

I am happy to say that it was a very well attended event & thoroughly enjoyed by the stallholders & visitors alike - we received so many wonderful compliments that Michele & I were barely able to squeeze our heads through the kitchen door where we were serving teas. At 4pm when we closed the doors we still had shoppers making last minute purchases!

Anyway, enough rambling - I'm sure you'd rather see for yourself, so compliments of our official photographer (aka Mr Cottage) here are all the photos:
V&H Textile Fair 2010

Thanks to all for making it such a success!

Textile Fair Tomorrow!

Well, it's almost here - our new venture....the Vintage & Handmade Textile Fair !

I'm hoping that lots of you will be able to make it as it promises to be a fabulous event & the weather forecast is for a lovely day too.

Of course we'll be having our tea room too, so we have been baking yummy treats including these cup cakes...........

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Garden Creatures

I found this rather interesting looking creature in the polytunnel today - it is a lovely pink & green colour & I have identified it as an Elephant Hawk-Moth. After taking it's photo I gently evicted it as I don't want it laying eggs on my veg! Apparently they enjoy the nectar of honeysuckles which is probably what attracted it as we have a large old honeysuckle by the back door.

As for this creature ....he was caught red-pawed stealing strawberries!!
If you click on the photo to enlarge it you can just see the strawberry between his teeth!

Home Sweet Home

Our house has been in need of a fresh coat of paint & in the last few weeks it has had a lovely spruce up in Cornish Cream & Duck Egg Blue, so I had to post a few photos to show you our 1930's farm cottage in all her simple glory - she is not a pretty chocolate box cottage but she is ours!

She started off life as a 3 bedroom cottage but was extended about 30 years ago so is about twice her original size & a nice family home. We bought the house 8 years ago & this is the second time we've had to paint the exterior.

The older part of the house still has some original features such as picture rails & panelled doors with bakelite handles. Sadly the old leaded windows were rotten so we had to replace them all when we bought the house, as well as the kitchen, bathrooms, carpets, floors etc etc as everything had been neglected, but we are in a wonderful position at the end of a lane which doesn't go anywhere & backing onto the farm that she used to belong to & with only 5 houses down here it is quiet & peaceful. Plus the rooms are spacious & plentiful so we overlooked her problems & bought her anyway!

Shop Update

I haven't updated my shop in a while & thought it was about time I added some new goodies before my house bursts at the seams!

The cruet set above (in Kitchenalia) is just adorable with it's 50's polka dots!

I've added quite a few things in Kitchenalia including this set of shell shaped jelly or ice cream spoons (as seen in Homes & Antiques magazine!)

A ginger kitty string holder.....

A glass bunny jelly mould...

A set of "Harlequin" tea or coffee spoons....

Linen & Textiles has this fabulous tablecloth & napkins set.

Snap up this "tweet" set of two birds in Bits & Bobs

This games compendium in Second Childhood is just the thing for lazy summer days.

Hope you'll pop in for a browse!

Elderflower Cordial

As the hedge is bursting with frothy elderflower heads I decided it was time to make some elderflower cordial - my very favourite summer drink.
If you'd like to have a go I'll tell you how - it's very easy & delicious!


First of all, pick about 10 elderflower heads (or, if you are me, get Tamzin & Jack to do it!)




Bring 600ml of water to the boil in a stainless steel saucepan.


Add 900g white sugar (sounds a lot but as it's diluted later it isn't too bad)

Stir until dissolved & then remove from heat & leave to stand for 10 minutes.

Now add the grated zest & juice of one lemon.



And 45g citric acid



Now add the elderflowers & stir



Cover & leave to stand overnight to infuse the flavours


Next day, strain the mixture (I use a jelly making bag) & pour into sterilised bottles.
It turns out a lovely light green colour.
As it is quite concentrated you only need a small amount, then dilute with still or sparking water.

My First Strawberry

The first strawberry from my giant strawberry plants! Deeeeelicious!

You will notice that the splint is OFF my finger! I still have to wear it at night for another 6 weeks & can't lift anything heavy or ride yet. It is very stiff but that should improve with physio. Can you believe I broke it in January? The hand doctor said that it takes much longer for the tendon to re-attach than it takes for the bone to heal.

It actually feels quite weird without it on, but I'm happy!