Victorian Patchwork

I was very lucky yesterday to buy a gorgeous Victorian Hexagon Patchwork quilt from a lovely lady I buy from regularly.  She usually has the most gorgeous eiderdowns for sale but this time I came away with this beautiful hexagon patchwork....and three eiderdowns...well I couldn't leave them behind now could I?

It is just exquisite, and fairly large.

It must have taken hours of painstaking work with all those little hexagons to piece together.

There is only slight damage to a couple of the hexagons otherwise it has weathered well, obviously being stored away safely.  I love how people were so thrifty making beautiful quilts out of all their little scraps of fabric.

It will probably being staying awhile to be coveted and then I may part with it if I can bear to!

  I am busy updating the website today and also have two fairs to get ready for, Northampton Vintage fair on the 17th of September and Totnes Nostalgic Mix 3 on the 24th of September.  Hope you are all having a great week.

Jo xx

Sunday Antiques Hunt

Hubby and I took an impromptu trip this morning to Brackley Antique Cellar, in Brackley Northamptonshire/Oxfordshire area.  This lovely antiques centre holds many dealers with a good turn over of stock and there is always something interesting as the stands are so varied.

This gorgeous large vintage floral fabric box was the first find of the day.

Covered in the scrummiest of vintage fabrics and in a very large size...possibly staying!

5 1/2 yards of the most gorgeous beaded 20's trim and in such good unused condition.  I was lucky to find it in such a large quantity and it will be coming to Totnes Nostalgic Mix 3 with me.

I was really thrilled to find an antique milliners hat block as I recently sold my own.  I have wanted one in this shape for ages.

I am about to wax it to bring out the shine.  It is such a lovely, tactile object and was an very good price also which pleased hubby who in turn didn't mind parting with the contents of his wallet!  We also met Debbie (Home thoughts from Vintage Wants) and her hubby.  They have a stand at Brackley.  It really is a fantastic place and you will need a good couple of hours to nose round as there is so much to look at...well worth the trip.  Have a wonderful week.

Jo xx

Little Textile Treasures

I have been having a rummage through the cupboard in our spare bedroom where I knew I had squirrelled away some little bits and pieces that I purchased many moons ago.  I uncovered some little antique dolls dresses that I had bought in a lovely antique shop in Honiton when we lived in Devon.  Sadly this gorgeous shop is no longer there.  The lady who ran the shop with her hubby always had the most delicious little antique dolls and dolls clothes for sale.  I always enjoyed rummaging through them to find something for my Victorian doll to wear.

I will be honest I am not really a doll person, my thing is antique bears, but I couldn't resist her when I saw her in an antique shop many moons ago.  For all you doll experts out there she certainly isn't the finest of antique dolls but I love her.

She is so pretty and I bought the silk bonnet and fine lawn dress from this lady in Honiton.

Yes, she even has pants (bloomers) on...I always check, do you?

This little assortment of dolls dresses and an apron also came from Honiton.  The little apron is too small for my doll so I think I will be selling this little group at my next fair.

The apron is made from the finest lawn cotton and edged with beautiful handmade lace.  I am sure some of these clothes would have been made by the children who owned the dolls.  I own a 1930's Steiff bear who is dressed in a blue velvet hand made ensemble.

During my rummage I also came across these two little vintage children's coat hangers.

A little vintage children's Chinese jacket.

From dolls clothes to this beautiful late 19th early 20th century wedding dress.  I cannot believe that someone actually wore this it is so tiny.

The boned bodice doesn't actually fit on my mannequin (who isn't large) so I have to display it separately.  It is also very fragile so I wouldn't want to pull it around too much.  Even with a corset on can you believe people were that tiny.....this would fit a child now!

It does make a lovely display though don't you think?  I am going to carry on my rummaging and see what else I can find.  Enjoy the rest of the week, and I hope you haven't been blown away with the gale force winds!!

Jo xx

Shades Of Autumn

Well here in Derbyshire it is certainly turning very Autumnal.  The whole week is forecast gale force winds and rain....Mmmm just what we all need!  However there is a nicer side to Autumn, I love the colours of the trees as they turn (I don't like the mess they make) and I love battening down the hatches indoors ready for the onset of the colder weather.  I am in the throes of getting out winter quilts and Welsh blankets in readiness.

I also had a lucky find yesterday, from Freecycle of all places.  We were listing some bits and pieces unearthed in the garage (Hubby has been very busy tidying up the bomb site that was our garage) when eagle eyed me spotted a large picnic basket on offer.  I emailed the lady and last evening went to pick it up.

I know, a bit late in the season but I couldn't resist especially as it is a lovely large vintage basket.  As you can see it has had a bit of a makeover with the ticking fabric holding the wonky lids together and a Toile lavender heart.

The front garden has also had a bit of a tidy up in readiness for the cooler weather.  Hubby spent ages weeding the knot garden (or what will eventually become one) and we replanted the window boxes with evergreens and heathers.

It is a lot tidier now and makes the front of the cottage look better.

I even got on the step ladder and cleaned down the front porch and oiled the Oak front door.  Of course it had to have a heart hanging from it...suitably rustic of course.

One of the cast iron window boxes..they weigh a tonne!

Our lovely old apple tree is laden with apples once more ready to be picked this weekend.  It is reputed to be over 100 years old!  Our lovely neighbour has lived next door for 56 years and it was an old tree then she tells me.  It is lovely because she can remember how the cottage looked when it was still two dwellings.  We have managed to trace it back to at least 1850-1860  so very early Victorian and I have a picture of how one side looked in 1930!

The garden is still very green at the moment but that will all change in the coming weeks.  We have another apple tree and two pear trees that are laden with fruit so I think it's going to be shared with the neighbours with some left over for cooking.

A little bit more Autumnal colour, just to get us in the mood.  Have a wonderful week whatever you are doing.  Thank you for all the lovely uplifting comments and hello to all my new followers.

Jo xx

I Have Wings!!

We are coming back to earth with a bump after a very busy couple of days!  It all started on Friday...first the Beast had to go in for a service and MOT (very expensive) in between getting ready for the Cotswolds Vintage Fair.  Firstly the most gorgeous and eagerly anticipated parcel arrived for me.

The most gorgeous antique feather angel wings all the way from Denmark!

I have long coveted a pair of these extraordinary things.  I found them through the Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine purchased from Ali's website Betty and Violet.  Looking through the back pages there are many Danish antique dealers and Interior stylists.  I picked out one called Butik Sophie.  Her website is stunning and the array of unusual antiques really appealed to me.  I decided to take a chance and contact Lene to see if she would ship to the UK and I am pleased to say one bank transfer and two days later they arrived...very quickly I might add.

The wings were beautifully packaged and Lene also sent me the most beautiful sepia photograph, an antique calling card and a card with a letter 'J' on it...how thoughtful.

My little French man was just the right size for them.


Yesterday was the Cotswolds Vintage Fair.  We had packed the van in readiness on the Friday and left early Saturday morning.  There was hardly any time to look around and once the doors were opened at 10am the crowds poured in.  I don't think I have ever been to such a busy fair, it was jam packed for most of the day.  Lots of other bloggers were there with the most amazing stalls but we really had very little time to catch up with one another.  Alison did an absolutely fantastic job of organising the fair down to the last meticulous detail.  There were flowers in the entrance hall and lovely jugs of country flowers on each of the outside tables for people to sit and enjoy a cup of tea and the wonderful views. I also got to meet Lauren a friend of mine who works for interiors magazine 'Period Ideas'.  She was en route, with husband to be Rob, to see family in our neck of the woods, and it was great to finally meet them both.  Ali's family were also on hand and did a wonderful job of helping out so a big thank you to all of them and to Alison especially who really went that extra mile to make it such a special day for everybody. Also a big thank you to all the lovely customers who visited my stand and made a purchase.

Now I couldn't come away empty handed, now could I?  Lovely tiny gold 1920's shoes from Alison.  They are so tiny and absolutely exquisite and in such wonderful condition.

A pair of handblown antique glass bell jars from Chloe.

Andy actually purchased these.  You can see all the little imperfections in them as they are hand made and surprisingly very light...stunning! Chloe deals in the most exquisite and decorative antiques.

A gorgeous little EPNS purse also from Ali.

I can never resist ostrich feathers.

The most exquisite glass beaded fringing dating from the 1920's...also bought from Ali.  The problem is when I buy anything like this I can never part with it.

The last purchase of the day was the most beautiful coffee table book I have ever bought.  Ali managed to get her hands on some copies in English text and they have now sold out on her website although she is hoping to try and get some more because the demand was so great...and I can see why.  The book is called 'French Atmospheres' and is by the same people responsible for the Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine.  It is by far the most expensive book I have ever purchased but it is worth every penny...I can guarantee you will want to paint your house white inside and buy into the whole ethereal look.  I am certainly a convert to the Nordic/French look.....I can promise you will not be disappointed.  So after a very busy couple of days I am going to enjoy a lovely glass of wine later and devour this gorgeous book...well, once all the dreaded housework is finished!  Have a fab Bank Holiday.
Jo xx
PS Please click on the photo stream link to view photographs of the day.

On My Travels Again

The van is being packed as we speak in readiness for The Cotswold Vintage Fair tomorrow in the lovely village of Toddington.

I have the usual selection of lovelies to take with me.  Huge Vintage French Ticking cushions as well as two rather lovely grain sack bench seat cushions...I have even made the feather pads to go inside from the huge bale of down feathers we bought ages ago and stored in the garage.

I love monogrammed linen.

I am rather in love with this little blue linen number and Louis wants it for his room if it doesn't sell!

Just some of the goodies coming with me.

My beautiful antique cherub mirror with sconces which is very hard to part with but I can't justify keeping it as I've nowhere to hang it so it needs to go to a new home.  I have also bought something rather beautiful for my own collection which I will do my next post on so I've got to make some money back!  Have a wonderful weekend and try and pop along to see us in Toddington if you are able.  There are going to be some wonderful sellers with some gorgeous goodies on offer so I've got to go round with my blinkers on!

Jo xx

The Indestructible Pug Bed!

At last we have discovered a dog bed that the Pugs cannot destroy!  The are very clever at picking open seams and digging holes in fabric!  

It came from a fantastic company in Axminster, Devon called The Reefer Sail Company.  They recycle and upcycle sail cloth into all manner of great products.

We chose the vintage tan sail dog bed.  They even personalise it with whatever name you want.  It comes flat so that you can fill it with old blankets or pillows, and it is easy to wash which is essential in this household with Elvis sprinkling on things! Another great thing about it, is that it is designed and made in the UK.
I am now busy getting ready and making things for the Cotswold Vintage Fair next Saturday, hope to see you there if you can make it.
Have a lovely weekend.
Jo xx