Betty and Violet in Hungerford

Last Saturday the Blooms took a trip out to Hungerford. It's one of my favourtie places to pop out to around here, and I usually try to plan a trip to co-incide with the Antiques Fair at the town hall.

Not that I very often buy there - it's a 'proper' antiques fair if you know what I mean, and prices are generally out of my range. It's nice to have a browse though.

I probably only go to the antiques fair once or twice a year, which I probably why I've never come across this delightful stall before.

All these delights belong to a lovely lady called Alison of the Tales from Betty and Violet website and blog. I went back about 3 times for another look - pure eye candy - and of course I bought something.

My pictures don't do it justice, as well as selling buttons, trimmings, fabrics, bags, pictures and ephemera and more, Alison makes the most beautiful lavender hearts and pillows from vintage french fabrics.

So, on to my purchases...

A set of vintage chocolate-box drawers and a sweet pincushion doll. The gorgeous lavender heart was from Alison's stall.

As was this sweet french booklet of love poems - it has the prettiest illustrations.

Then it was off for a cup of tea and a quick mooch around the charity shops where I picked up a copy of Routledge's Complete Letter Writer for Ladies and Gentlemen. I'm glad I did as now, if I ever need to write a 'formal invitation to a stranger to meet a mutual friend at the writer's house' I'll know exactly what to say!

Shop Update

I have updated my shop today with a few handmade items - mindfull of Valentine's day soon, many have a heart theme.

For those who have asked, I haven't managed to make any more Lillipeg dolls yet, it's a case of juggling too many balls at the moment, but my fingers are itching to make some so I will try to have some available very soon. In the meantime here's a picture of a Lillipeg bride I made for a customer request last year.

A new and exciting event will be taking place later this year, organised by Lizzie and Clare, in which I hope to be taking part! You've probably read about The Vintage Bazaar already, but if you haven't there's more info here.

Today

I don't know about you but since Christmas I have found it difficult to get back in the swing of things. I have much to do but find myself not being able to make a start on anything.

But today I:

Picked up these lovelies on the way home from work

(biscuit barrel)

(poodle and fabric)

(rose jug)

(petit point bag)

Installed my new BT Home Hub (finally!!!)

Installed crucial software on my new (1 month old) laptop and went wireless (easier than I'd thought, don't know why I put it off for so long!)

Took some pictures of items to go into my webshop soon

Played cat-and-mouse with the sun - which kept disappearing at the crucial moments I wanted to take photographs.

Made curry for dinner

(the lowlight of the day - I don't much like cooking and I don't much care for curry - but Mr. Bloom does)

Wrote this post (of course!) and I still have time left to

watch the new series of Desperate Housewives.

Considered a good day!

Once-upon-a-shelf

Once-upon-a-time I had a shelf filled with pink glass which I posted about it when I first started my blog.

It did look pretty but over time the shelf became a bit of an overflow area for things that had no home and started to look rather unco-ordinated and over-crowded.
E.G.

This weekend my task was to re-organise my little craft room. This was a displacement activity for intalling my new wireless router (which I still haven't done). But since the prospect was equally unappetizing, I instead spent the morning re-arranging the shelf (I justified this by saying that it needed dusting). First everything was removed - it's amazing how much can be squeezed into a small space.

The blank canvas, which I decided would benefit a bit of a makeover.

I had some pretty vintage wallpaper which would be ideal. The shelves do not have a back and I didn't want to paste the wallpaper to the wall, so I cut a piece just a bit larger than the space and tucked it behind top and bottom shelves, with some strategically placed blobs of blue-tac to make sure it stayed put.

As the shelves were a bit wider than the wallpaper, I tacked a length of lace either side as a border. I placed the floral pattern near the top as this would be the part visible once the shelf was filled.

Then came the part we all love, putting things back. I wanted a more substantial look this time and to introduce some colours other than pink. I kept just one pink glass vase - for sentimental reasons ;-)
Ta-da!

I included a few blue items to pick up the blue leaves in the wallpaper.

Plus generally a mix of subtle colours. Not everything was put back as it would have looked overcrowded again.

This tiny baby doll has a dolly of her own, the little stick doll is tiny, only 2cm tall - someone with very nimble fingers must have made her.

Beneath the shelf is a small cupboard which was given a re-arrange too - that's for the next post. Meantime there's the small matter of 'what do I do with all this lot!?"

Ah, who cares - let's just enjoy the view!

A thrifty week

Just when we thought we'd seen the last of it - it's back -drat! Not that I don't like it, just it's settling as a horrible slush, by the time I walked home from work today my shoes and socks were soaked. As for taking photos - hopeless. Of course, when it was sunny yesterday I was busy doing something else! But enough of moaning.

Well, not quite. Last Monday I was bemoaning the fact that having visited all the charity shops in town, I had managed to find only one thing.

Rather a lovely thing, I'll admit, but just the one. 'It's rubbish', I moaned, there's nothing to be had!' But by the end of the week I was eating my words. Having revisited the same shops plus a few more, I had gathered together quite an assortment - mostly for stock but I will be keeping one or two items.

TUESDAY - this gorgeouse paisley eiderdown - my eyes popped out on stalks - plus a striped sheet and cotton eiderdown cover. You can't really see in the pic, but it's one of those that has a huge diamond cut out in the middle, so you can see the design on the eiderdown. I remember having those as a child and always wondering why there was a hole in the middle!

WEDNESDAY - pretty rosebud jug, glass bottle, praying figures and fantastic 70s pink paisley wallpaper - I found two rolls of this in mint condition - enough for a small feature wall or chimney breast.



The wallpaper will be for sale, if anyone is interested please email me for more info.

THURSDAY - two wooden trugs and a wooden box, for makeovers, plus this darling raffia hat - I love the shape and might keep it for use as a sun-hat in the summer (for gardening only!)

FRIDAY - two pretty brooches and a russian doll.

SATURDAY - two mirrors, one wrought iron, painted with pretty metal flowers. The other a bevel-edged painted with a crinoline lady garden scene. Unusually, both are in excellent condition, the painted ones especially are often found with most of the picture worn away. Very difficult to photograph though!

SUNDAY - I had a rest! But all in all a good thrifty week.

Today's task that I have been putting off is to install a new router for my internet connection. I hope it all goes smoothly, but if I don't answer emails immediately, you'll know why. Hope to be back soon!