Pink Poodles

Today was meant to be a stay-at-home-and-get-loads-done day, but it was all mundane stuff so I used delaying tactics by popping out for a bit of thrifting. There wasn't much thrift about - serves me right, though I did find this delightful lady with her pink poodles.

Sitting on a shelf crammed with undesirable ornaments, I noticed the poodles first, then I saw they were attached to a pretty owner. They stood out from the crowd, I was surprised no-one had snapped them up before me.

I love the way their fur has been made from spaghetti clay (I don't know if that's a proper term, I just made it up).

I have named them Mitzi and Fifi, quite appropriate I think.

I don't have a name for the lady, but doesn't she have a pretty face? I think I could develop a thing for poodles.

This weekend we have a guest staying with us - of the canine variety - he's a real sweetie. Pip comes to stay occasionally when his owner is away, I love having him around. Cheeky chappie too, every time I leave the room he jumps straight onto my place on the sofa and makes himself at home there.

I didn't get my shop update done last week, but I have put a few Lillipegs in the shop today. More handmade and vintage to follow in the next couple of days. (One-of-a-Kinds updated 7/6/09)

With this rotten weather, I think tomorrow might be another stay at home day. Maybe just the car boot sale as a diversion!

A Dream of a Day

Of course I'm referring to the Vintage and Handmade fair on Saturday, which was nothing less than extraordinary. To quote the bard, it made "breath poor and speech unable". Eagerly anticipated, weeks of preparation, nerves and excitement all rolled into one. A dream of a day I wished not to have ended.

Having arrived early so as to have plenty of time to set up, I suddenly found myself with only seconds to spare before the doors opened. Hence the rather blurry photos taken in the nick of time. I wished I had taken more as I can honestly say the quality of all the stalls was first class, it truly was a vintage and handmade lovers paradise. If you go to Jayne's blog there are links to some great photos and reviews of the day.

I had about 5 minutes to whizz around the stalls before the doors opened, thinking I'd go re-visit them during quiet moments and do some shopping for myself. Ha! No chance - once the doors opened I (and the other stallholders) didn't have a moment to ourselves. In the first 3 hours there was not time even for a cup of tea or a biscuit. Fortunately, Mrs. Snippets came over and very kindly offered to hang around my stall whilst I popped out to the loo, I don't know how I'd have managed otherwise.

At times I was almost overwhelmed and would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made a purchase from me. I feel sad that I wasn't able to acknowledge or chat to many of you, I really wasn't expecting it to be as busy as it turned out.

I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to go round all the stalls and meet my fellow stallholders properly, I know some of you came and purchased from me and I didn't realize at the time who you were. A friend came shopping later in the day and briefly manned my stall while I flew round and made a few purchases, but sadly I didn't have time to linger.

I knew in advance that I was going to buy one of Niki's gorgeous fairy dolls and managed to secure this lovely before they were all gone. I'm so happy to at last be the owner of one.

I also bought a few pretty fabrics and trims which I can't wait to start using.

Jayne and Michele are to be thanked and loved for organising this wonderful event, they pulled out all the stops - look out for the next one as it really is a day not to be missed.

My one disappointment of the day was that I missed out on such a fantastic shopping opportunity because I couldn't leave my stand! I've briefly looked at some pictures out on other blogs today and seen so many things I could have bought. Next time I'm going to bring someone along to help me, so if everyone who came this time would kindly book again I'll be able to do some serious shopping!

(p.s. I didn't sell out completely and hope to list some things in my webshop towards the end of the week.)

Welford Park

The end of a busy week for me and a Bank Holiday (public holiday) plus a week off work to look forward too - yippee! And of course the Vintage and Handmade fair on the 30th. The weekend looks to be just as busy but Mr. Bloom and I are taking off for a couple of days break next week, hopefully a chance to relax a little.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my Pink Saturday post last week, I haven't managed any replies yet but will hopefully remedy that some time. I had some useful hints on care of the dress (which is vintage and was home-made) and also how I could to alter it to fit me, I'll have to think about that, I don't think I could bare to take scissors to it!

Last week I attended the Produce in the Park fair - in the beautiful setting of Welford House near Hungerford.

The fair itself took place on the lawns in front of the house. A great family day with local produce, crafts, dog show, fairground rides and something to do with haystacks which I didn't quite work out what it was.

Not having attended before and having read the literature I think I was expecting something a bit grander really. The craft marquee was at the far end of the lawn, if you enlarge the pic you might see the red circle which denotes where I was. There were about 10 craft stalls in the marquee plus a couple outside with their own gazebos.

My stall was at the entrance to the marquee which I was pleased about as it meant I could spread out a little.

A fair number of people came to the marquee, unfortunately they weren't buying much except home-made jams and chutneys - the stall across from me did a roaring trade all day. For the rest of us it was very slow going. I guess people hadn't come that day with the intention of buying handmade goods. I normally don't take stalls at these kind of charity events, they can be a bit hit and miss, I decided to do this one on impulse, it had sounded promising. Though I did make a profit, it wasn't enough to justify having spent a whole day on the effort. It could have been worse, my mum and dad did a table-top sale locally the same day and made £1! Ah well, c'est la vie.

Unusually for me, I didn't buy anything. I almost did but the lady whose stall it was on (selling bought-in mass-produced goods) subsequently came over to mine and made what I felt was a very rude comment about one of my items - along the lines of "do you sell a lot of those, I've seen them before but I've never really seen the point of them myself.....why would people buy them?" After that I found it very hard to see the point of her!

Anyway, hope you all have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing.

Lucy x

Pink Saturday - A Dream of a Dress

Browsing around in a charity shop recently, not really expecting to find much, I spied it out of the corner of my eye. It was the pink that caught my attention first, then the lace. When I pulled it out of the rack I had one of those moments - one of those " I can't believe I found this" moments.

Stunning pink lace - the colour of strawberry milkshake and just as delicious. Yards and yards of it - the skirt is two full circles.

It might have been a prom dress or a bridesmaid dress, its wearer must have felt like a princess. I would love to have worn a dress like that for my prom - except I didn't have one. We had an end-of-term school disco. I can't remember what I wore but it was the 70s so I can imagine!

Whoever wore this dress had the tiniest of waists, I couldn't do it up at the back on Delphine (the mannequin). No zip, just dozens of hook-and-eyes sewn on by hand.

The pink lace is exquisite, a pink tulle underskirt and organza under that. It needs a wash and an iron but I daren't in case it disintegrates or becomes scorched.

This dress deserves to be worn - alas it won't ever be by me. Even if I could squeeze myself into it (I'd have to reduce in size by at least half), I'm past the age for such dresses.

It deserves to go to another prom, or sweet sixteen, or wedding, to receive admiring glances, to be the belle of the ball. Maybe one day it will, but for now, it's mine to enjoy - and dream...


Visit Beverly's blog for more Saturday Pinkness.

Produce in the Park

I might have bitten off more than I can chew, given I'm doing this at the end of the month, but I have booked a stall at an event called Produce in the Park. It is held annually at Welford Park near Newbury. Welford Park is probably better known in the area for it's displays of snowdrops in January and February for which it opens to the public. I haven't been there before but by all accounts the Produce in the Park fair is a huge event well worth a visit.

It takes place next Saturday 16th May from 12pm and I shall be there with lots of handmade and vintage goodies in one of the marquees.

Whilst I am hoping I do well, I also hope there is enough left to take to the V&H fair, otherwise I shall be very busy for the rest of May.

If you are free next Saturday and in the area, do pop along and say hello, directions here. I'll have my name displayed somewhere on the stall so you'll know it's me!

For the last 3 weeks I have had a mock-up of my stall set up and have been adding things as I make them. The pics are just a taster, there will be lots more. I'll be taking quite a few of these ladies with me.

I do have some to go in my shop too, but I don't think I'll have time to update it in the next week, I may just post a few pics on this blog. I don't have a mailing list at the moment, but if anyone would like me to drop them an email when I do a shop update, just email me and I'll get a list going.

Enjoy the weekend, TTFN,

Lucy x