FIRST BROCANTE OF 2012 - 12TH MAY 2012

Given the return to the soggy climes of last week, I feel incredibly lucky that we had such a fabulously sunny day for the first Brocante of the year on Saturday.  French Living magazine had tweeted just before to encourage people to come and taste a bit of France, which felt hugely encouraging.  Thank you to them.  This seemed to bring lots of people out to browse, buy, run, play rugby and just "hang out" in the beautiful surroundings of Alice Park.  I had some fantastic stallholders.  Returning again were my stalwarts; Steve Weekes from Texworks, (to whom I am eternally grateful to for support and her husband Ivan for transporting my furniture for the day) and Serena Simpson with her stylish antique homewares.      

Attending for the first time was Jacqui Hunt, whoose quirky brocante finds transformed the edge of the cafe into a veritable French feast, (I loved her stunning bamboo cabinet), Chris and Sammy from Old Hat with their stunning vintage clothes, hats and sorts of other curiosities.  My lovely daughter bought me a Super Saints badge that I had admired, and their ladder back chair was admired by many, and bought by a friend.  Also Scrapiana with her fascinating vintage haberdashery, including her china poodle that came from her Mother-in-Law's off licence in Bournemouth with a secret supply of cherry brandy!  Alice Roberton from Homes & Antiques magazine was there selling magazine subscriptions as well as her beautiful vintage homewares.

I was really heartened to hear how much those who came had enjoyed it and especially the couple who booked in to a B&B especially so they could come.  I admire that drive! 

Next month's Brocante on the 9th June, is looking pretty full with about 10 dealers including Rosie Blue, La Petite Jardiniere, RefoundReloved, Albion House Design, Elise M, Old Hat, Texworks, Katherine Gilmore and Puce and Co.  COME ALONG AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS!

I also wanted to thank my family and friends for all their encouragement and Tony from Alice Park Cafe for lettting it happen and his encouragement.

SPRING IS HERE AT LAST!

I love all the spring flowers emerging and the sound of birds excited at the feeling of hope that spring brings.  I even had forty winks with my pigs in the glorious sunshine yesterday!  I seem to have been inspired by anything painted, knitted or woven in primary colours.  I loved the lastest Bath Decorative and Antiques Fair, the variety and the sheer quirkiness of some of the stands.  Particularly exciting were the bright colours and fair ground feeling provided by Doe and Hope with their fabulous vintage fairground ride seats and Victorian paraphernalia.  I was inspired by Piccadilly Antiques too and John explaining about the sampler from Penzance with it's crab claw frame.  OLD had as last year a particularly intriguing and quirky stand with a 1930s lime green sofa, overlooked by metal cabinets painted in primary colours, and the wooden troll like figures in it's small metal fabulous polished metal/glass display cupboard.

Shepton Mallet last week felt very cold, grey and with what felt like considerably fewer stands.  I found myself buying a crotched green square with big red flowers on it and a wonderful mat/wall hanging made with strands of bright coloured wool from one of my favourite stands.  If anyone knows about the latter would love to know more about how it was made/who made it.  It is always a joy to see what Liz van Hassault has been storing up, and I wasn't disappointed.  Other than that it seemed quiet.

Found myself drinking delicious coffee from a stunning vintage cup and saucer in front of a table full of the most delicious cakes, meringues, cookies etc whilst listening to a wonderful pianist on Saturday at a Vintage/Retro fair at Oriel Hall, Larkhall.  Particularly loved the rosepetal cake, as well as all the stalls!  Lovely event.

Things are hotting up for the three Brocantes this year on 12th May, 9th June and 14th July.  Alice Park was looking stunning in the spring sunshine, and I could almost close my eyes and be transported to a pretty French town adorned with fabulous Brocante finds!  BBC Home and Antiques will be taking space, as will Texworks, myself and some new dealers:  Magpie, Old Hat, Heritage Living selling a mixture of vintage clothing, French kitchenalia, decorative antiques.  Beccy Shelton Agar will join us with her fabulous French vintage texties and clothes and other quirky finds.  Refound Reloved and Elise M, Puce and Co will also be coming for the first time.  Am always on the lookout for new and interesting stands, and in particular would love to find some vintage toy dealers.  Please get in touch if you are interested in joining this unique and interesting event.

Vintage weekend in Bath, 28th/29th January 2012

Well it really was a vintage weekend, what with Mrs Stokes's fabulous secret tea party in the Bath Society Meeting Room on Saturday, where we were treated to the delights of being taught some jive and swing by Hoppin' Mad, [see Charleston and Cake film on www.secretteaparty.com ], and utterly delicious and delectable cakes from Dolly's, surrounded by fabulously dressed friends and other women.

Inma from the Pop up Parlour provided very glamorous and unusual 1940s/50s hairstyles.  Mrs Stokes's sister who was helping looked amazing in a red polka dot 1950s dress.  I feel we are definitely gathering impetus for the V&A fashion special fair on 1st April.

Having shed my 1940s dress like Cinderella at midnight! I packed my car up ready for the V&A fair on Sunday.  Despite the arctic conditions there was a great atmosphere and it was lovely to see fellow traders who I now feel I have got to know.  Lyn Lewis with her fabulous kitchenalia and beautiful textiles was there as well as Steve Weekes from Texworks and Tess Chodan with her quirky finds.  BBC Home and Antiques had a stand too with some stunning vintage plates to add to their fabulous magazine (I enjoyed reading that after flopping on my return from fair!).  Having chatted to its editor, Angela Linforth and her magazine Ambassador Alice Roberton, the Brocante got a mention on their website blog http://www.homesandantiques.com/feature/ha-bath-vintage-antiques-market and is soon to appear in its fair listings.  Home & Antiques magazine are aiming to have a strong presence at antiques, collectors, vintage and retro fairs in 2012 and have reserved space at the Brocante.

There are some new stallholders on board for this year's Brocantes:  Chris Garrett, Jacqui Hunt, as well as the original stalwarts, to add interest and fresh stock.  So if there are any Brocanteers, interested, do get in touch to book space.  It is on a first come first served basis and I would hate to disappoint.... 

January's musing

After the delights of Christmas in Cornwall:  carols, frosty beach walks and an abundance of wonderful delicacies at every turn, I feel ready for and excited by the New Year and whatever it has to offer.

I was also delighted to have finished some of the Knitivity and knitted baby Jesus twice as left him at home and had to have one for Christmas Day!  The Shepherds and three Kings will have to come next year, just a longer journey for them.

Managed to find a vintage knitting bag with original vintage Sanderson material and a couple of quirky blue vases in the fabulous Millie's Attic in Wadebridge.  Spotted a sign to this quirky shop and made a detour from my last minute Christmas shopping.  It felt like walking into someone's house filled with interesting finds - beautiful china, vintage books, a great retro kitchen cupboard and some stylish vintage clothes.  Emma who runs it was interested in coming to the Brocante too, so exchanged thoughts and ideas.
 
On to Brocantes and fairs.... feels a long time ago since the last fair I did at the stunning Great Chalfield Manor which felt small and festive, in their incredible great hall with its roaring fire and and stags heads adorning the walls.  

Looking forward to this year's three Brocantes on the second Saturday of May, June and July.  Now it is established in the Alice Park and Bath diary, I feel confident that this year will draw in more stall holders and customers.  Will be expecting to advertise extensively too in both local and national magazines such as Antique Explorer and Vintage Explorer, Local Look and Local Life, as well as the Bath Chronicle.

Please get in touch if you are interested in taking space and I can send details and an application form.

Meanwhile I'm on the wagon for January so looking out for alternative drinks!  Very tempted by  the New Zealand Honey Co's Honey Health drinks, especially the apple cider vinegar (the mother of vinegars) and manuka honey.  

Also looking forward to doing much more making and mending now I have my new Husqvarna sewing machine and some fabulous vintage fabric to create with!

Autumn's inspirations

Have just gone out in the glorious sunshine to give the pigs water, and found them having a siesta against the wall.  Could have curled up and joined them!  Tried to photograph them, but Ginger wisened up, thinking I was bringing food!  The garden feels at the end of it's abundance and we are thankfully coming to the end of the courgettes!  Have harvested our giant pumpkins which the girls are delighted about.  Can't wait to see our garden lit up by halloween faces.

We're eating lots of pumpkin soup, cup cakes and anything else pumpkin related!  If anyone has any other ideas please would you let me know?!  At the same time I've been painting furniture, decoupaging and cushion making at the wonderful Texworks in Melksham.  Getting ready for fairs and sourcing some items for friends.

Talking of fairs I haven't got round to my thoughts about the Vintage and Handmade fair in Chipping Sodbury on 1st October.  This was my first time, having heard so much about it and having sampled the delights of the Vintage Jumble Sale at Rangeworthy as a taster.

 
It was fabulous and very inspiring and found my self still there at 4pm!  From Liz van Hassault's beautiful fabrics, quirky and interesting treasures, to Katie Powell's decoupaged boxes displaying wonderful cups and saucers and baskets of fabric, funky knitted ties and belts.  I loved Cowboy and Custard's dear little toy dogs, could happily have gone home with the little westie.  I came home with some fabulous retro fabric from Edwin Dyson and also 1950s inspired fabric for cushions.  Philippa Bowes supplied me with one of her fabulous dresses, edged with lace and quirky patchwork.  I'm always happy to see Fanny Adams liberty lined cardies too and a luxurious retro shirt lined with beautiful bright green ribbon.

Am now finding new things for V&A at Green Park station, Bath on 27th November and Frome Flea on 4th December, including things for Christmas too.

Brocante - 24th September 2011 - Alice Park, Bath

It was a little more autumnal setting up this time, although once Steve and Ivan Weekes had put up their fantastic army dining tent and they and other stallholders arrived with their fabulous antiques/textiles, the cafe and surroundings came alive with colour, texture and temptations.  A fabulous bust of Marilyn presided over pretty French plates and textiles, quirky prints and mirrors.  Steve and Gabi Wakefield's fabulous textiles including smocks and an unusual crotched blanket and Olivia Hyman's charcoal drawings of Bath (which had incredible atmosphere) were a welcome addition.  As were Helen Roskell's beautiful and eclectic textiles interspersed with bags and other decorative items, including a quirky light green ferret box.  Was very tempted to buy for my husband who used to keep them!

The sun did come out and so did shoppers, including regular customers, picnicers from as far as Cheltenham and a couple of enthusiastic friends from Tetbury.  There were also enquiries from dealers interested in taking space at the next Brocante on Saturday 12th March 2012.  It was great to see Eirlys Penn from Scrapiana for her enthusiasm and advice. Have a look at her fabulous blog for her description of the day.

http://scrapiana.com/2011/09/26/the-bath-brocante/

I look forward to seeing you all at next year's Brocantes, with even more stallholders and variety.  With the possible addition of wine tasting and goats cheese!

Just to whet your appetite for the Brocante tomorrow.....

Just a few pics of what will be available at the Bath Brocante tomorrow!  Come and join us at Alice Park Cafe, Lower Swainswick, Bath from 10am until 4pm and have a delicious steaming cappuccino in Alice Park Cafe whilst enjoying the diverse and interesting range of decorative antiques, textiles and upcyled clothes and bags.  Even the weather promises to be good!