Thank you

Just a quickie to thank you all for your messages of support and condolences after the death of my Nan.  It is lovely to think that I have so many caring friends out in blog land, some of you I have met, some of you I have yet to meet.  Your kind words have really helped me and my family through some very dark days.  I have unfortunately come down with a dreadful cold so sadly couldn't attend Nan's funeral in Devon, but we are going to scatter her ashes back in High Wycombe where we all hail from at a later date so I can say my goodbye's then.  Once again thank you all for being so kind.

Love

Jo xx

A Special Nan

Sadly my lovely Nan passed away on Sunday at the ripe old age of 91.  We are utterly devastated but realise that her quality of life wasn't good anymore and it was her time to go.  I will remember her generosity and kindness and toilet sense of humour...always brought out at the dinner table much to the despair of my Mum!  

This is her and my Grandad when they married in 1942, he was in the RAF.  He sadly died at the age of seventy back in 1988.  I remember fantastic holidays with them when I was a child.  I lived with her for a while before I started my nurses training as I was working back in High Wycombe at the time and I remember many laughter filled evenings and nights..she would read the rude bits of her Mills and Boon books out loud to me and we would be in hysterics!  I will miss her but do realise that I am very lucky to be in my forties and have had a Grandparent for so long and that she was also a Great Grandparent to my son and my Brothers three children.  My brother and I will be lost without her as we were very close to her.  I am so glad we both saw her just before she died.  I will always remember what she used to tell me 'You'll never be a lady as long as you've got a hole in your bum, and you'll always have one of those'!! Thank you Nan for many wonderful memories and lots of laughs.

Mrs Jean May Evans 1920 - 2011.

Jo xx

Fabulous Fair & No 21!

We attended the V&H Textile and Fashion Fair in Chipping Sodbury yesterday.  It was an absolutely boiling hot day and the heat literally was like walking into a wall when we ventured outside after the fair...the weather seems very strange...not that I'm complaining.  We have just purchased yet another full size mannequin...and here  is Gloria in all her glory..no pun intended! This does indeed make 21 mannequins downstairs in various guises...yes, there are more upstairs!

We purchased her from Liz The Washerwoman and we reckon she dates to the 1930's/40's.  I actually was meant to pick her up last week in Totnes but we couldn't get her in the van.

She is sporting my satin 1920's/30's dress and shoes and a vintage hat with ostrich feathers.

I do apologise but Tristan still has no trousers though thankfully he is like Action Man in that department!!

The shoes are another recent purchase for my collection, they are kid leather wedding shoes and date from 1918.  The beautiful 20's appliques at the front came from Ali (Betty & Violet).

A gorgeous little Art Nouveau Appliqué that has been made into a brooch many moons ago, also came from Ali.

These exquisite late 20's early 30's shoes I also bought from Ali yesterday, I couldn't resist them, just look at the little ribbon roses on each one...wish I was a size 4!  The ostrich feathers also came from Ali (I think I single handedly emptied her stand).

Yet more Ostrich feathers!

This beautiful beaded satin wedding bag also came from Ali, it is so beautiful and goes perfectly with my antique wedding dress.

My final purchase from Ali was this 20's flapper necklace although she thinks it may have also been used as a belt as it is very long...Gloria is now wearing it.

This exquisite 1930's bag came from Helen.

Just look at the detail on the inside!

Gorgeous French fabric box from Clare (Daisy Darling).

These sweet little wooden clogs were very folk art and I bought them from Heather at Hellish Designs to go with my antique Decoy Ducks.

Hubby purchased these flight of drawers from Caroline Zoob, he is in the process of distressing them and I will take them to the fairs to display my haberdashery in.   The standard of the fair was fabulous as usual and there was a great mix of stands with something for everyone, it really was a great day spent with great people and I would like to thank everyone who visited my stand and made a purchase.  I would also like to thank Michele and Jayne for all their hard work in making the fair such a success. We had a wonderful day and spent too much so the emphasis must be on making money this month rather than spending it!! Hope you all enjoyed the weekend and the sunshine whatever you were doing.

Jo xx  

Just Had To Blog These!

Just a quickie!  I have been busy making a couple of last minute things ready for the fair tomorrow.  The conservatory is like a greenhouse and with the Aga on in the kitchen it is like a blast furnace downstairs.  However I did endeavour to make a couple of grain sack cushions for the V&H Textile and fashion fair in Chipping Sodbury tomorrow.

I bought a gorgeous grain sack from Liz (The Washerwoman's) hubby last weekend in Totnes.  I managed to salvage two panels to make one medium and one large cushion.

The larger of the two, nice and plump with feather pads.

The smaller of the two, both backed in vintage linen and feather filled.  I also have two small pieces that came from the bottom of both sacks with writing on which I will make into smaller cushions at some stage.  Trouble is I want to keep them!!  Have a wonderful weekend, and lets hope the sun keeps shining.

Jo xx

Ps.  Nan is still holding her own, and eating a little at last!  Thank you for your kind wishes.

PPs.  I have a new manni coming home with me tomorrow, that will make 21 downstairs!!

Thank you & The V&H Textile & Fashion Fair this weekend!!

Firstly you will all be pleased to know that my 91 year old Nan is sort of on the mend.  We were all getting ready for bad news after last weekend but she has made some improvement.  My Nan is a real fighter and certainly made of strong stuff.  She is very stubborn and has been refusing treatment but is slowly coming round to the fact that everyone just wants to see her better and eating something!!  She is by no means out of the woods and may still deteriorate so we are not getting our hopes up just yet.  Thank you for all the lovely comments you left on my last post, I came back from Devon totally bereft that I may lose my Nan and they were a great comfort to me..so thank you.  Now I can return to a bit of normality after the traumatic events of last week I have been busy getting ready for the V&H Textile and Fashion Fair this coming Saturday.  I have had to be a little inventive as I have only got a single table and I always take too much!!

A small sample of what is coming with me.

This beauty has been a recent purchase and somewhat bizarrely arrived half an hour ago by courier.  It is a late 19th century, early 20th century needlepoint rug done in the Gothic style which is a style we absolutely adore...just need an Edwin Lutyens house and my life would be complete (with a Gertrude Jekyll garden of course)!!  

Hours must have gone into this rug, I cannot begin to imagine how long it took to make.  There are some areas of wear which adds to it's charm but apart from that it is in fabulous condition.  

It has been worked in the finest needlepoint and the panels then joined.  We are going to give it pride of place on the wall in the dining room as it will fit in rather snugly with the Gothic Sanctuary lamp and antique wall lights we have...we do have a penchant for Gothic.  Does anyone have any idea how to hang a rug like this as a wall hanging please...we don't know where to start?  Have a great weekend and see you at the V&H Textile and Fashion fair if you can make it.

Jo xx

Weekend in Devon

I have just returned from a wonderful and slightly emotional weekend in Devon.  Mum and I both had stands at the Nostalgic Mix fair in Totnes on Saturday.  Lesley had organised yet another fantastic fair and it was very busy all day long.  There was a lovely mix of stands all selling vintage and home made treasures, all very different so something to suit everyone.  

I bought this beautiful black Victorian lace shawl amongst other things (too numerous to mention!).

I also bought this gorgeous and ethereal 1920's bridal veil and head dress from my friend Ros who owns a lovely shop called 'The Snug' in Ashburton.  Some of you will be familiar with her shop and for those of you who have never visited I can recommend a visit if you are ever down in the South West.  Ashburton has lots of lovely antique and vintage shops.

If you look closely you will see it still has some of the confetti stitched into the hem of the veil.

This beautiful French picture frame came from Liz The Washerwoman.  I also bought some beautiful linen from her hubby.  I can never resist their stand as they always have so many little treasures to ooh and aah over, and I never come away empty handed.  

After an exhausting day, Mum and I returned home to find that my Nan had been taken ill.  Her carer was very concerned as she was sleepy and not eating and drinking.  The Doctor visited and I managed to convince her to go to hospital.  To cut a long story short she is very poorly, and we all realise that this may be the beginning of the end.  My brother drove down from Cambridge yesterday as I had to come back home so he is there to support Mum and John.  We are all absolutely devastated but we do realise that she is 91 and her quality of life is not going to improve.  It has hit me very hard because I am very close to her and she is my last Grandparent, but I do realise that I am lucky to be in my forties and have my Nan.  I am just dreading the phone ringing now.

I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend, and have a great week.

Jo xx

Off To Totnes

Have had a busy week, getting ready for NM3 in Totnes this Saturday as well as recovering from a bad back, a legacy left over from my nursing days, either that or I am getting old!  Totnes is a long way for me to travel but I get to see my family, especially my 91 year old Nan who has had a couple of bad falls lately so I feel it is especially important this time.  I do feel very lucky to be in my forties and still have a Grandparent alive and   Louis to have a Great Nan.  I was lucky to know both sets of Grandparents and also to have two sets of Great Grandparents.  Mum also has a stand at NM3 and she has also been busy this week packing and pricing.

A small selection of what I am taking.  I still have some things to pack.

The beautiful Confit pot was a great find this week.  We have a little antiques centre not far from us and I found a couple of little gems hidden amongst the usual rubbish that is usually for sale there!

I also found this beautiful hand embroidered Chinese panel that had been crudely framed and literally had the edges taped as it was too big for the frame....sacrilege!!  Andy very painstakingly removed it from the frame and the offending tape and it will be coming with me to Totnes.

Lastly I will leave you with a picture of what our pear tree produced this year.  I will be taking some down for Mum along with some windfall apples and newly laid eggs from our chickens.  Hopefully see you on Saturday if you are able to make it.  Have a great weekend.

Jo xx