Welcome to new followers ....

I have two new followers!  I'm still new enough to blogging to find this both thrilling and very flattering so a warm welcome to Sue and Vintage Jane.

Shepton Flea - the craic and the downpour ....

Yesterday was Shepton Mallet Flea Market which is held at the Royal Bath and West Showground.  It is not a sophisticated place:  the grass is rutted, the roads are potholed, the gravel tracks are pitted and dangerous to the suspension of cars, the buildings are enormous sheds lacking light, ventilation or efficient heating.  And yet, strangely, thousands of us converge on this unpromising venue every time there is a flea market there because we love buying and selling antiques, vintage and retro.  We love to pick things up, turn them over, look inside them, feel them,  argue about the age, quality, damage and price.  Unfortunately, yesterday as in July, the rain pelted down and the outside stands were unable to set up until midday.  There were rivers of mud running over the stall holders' car park which joined up to make small, treacherous lakes and the buyers' car park was more sponge than solid ground.  But did we have a lovely time?  Of course we did.  Here are some of the things which went off to other homes ....

 

and this green jug went off to live with Niki.  Roll on 9th October for the next one!

Garlands and gables .....

Northern Man and I had a few days in Amsterdam this week.  RRs must think that we do nothing but travel and we certainly do seem to have been away a lot this year.  At Christmas 2010 Northern Man took two weeks off thinking lots of golf, gym, visiting the holy city of Newcastle to see the Toon play, maybe fitting in some time with the family if that could be managed.  And then disaster struck!  The country was snow-bound for a week and, to compound his misery, we all came down with the 'flu that felled so many strong men and women last Christmas.  So, of course, he was very bored and he relieved this by planning as many breaks as he could get in during 2011.   I have been the lucky beneficiary of his efforts and it is still only August! 

Amsterdam, as we all know, is a very bike-friendly city.  There are thousands of them being riden and even more attached to bike racks, railings and lamp posts.  Many of them are derelict and haven't been riden for years but others are carefully looked after, loved and garlanded with flowers ....

Then there was wildlife ....

Lots of lovely gables ....

Splendid shopping including these wonderful crocheted dogs ...

and this one ....

We had a day trip to Haarlem where I found these knitted beauties covering the ubiquitious bollards outside one shop ....

All very enjoyable.

The pretty and the practical .....

First, the pretty ....

And more pretty .....

And then the practical ....

Ok, that lump of carved wood is not practical (think of the dusting), but it is pretty.

And yet more practical.   I love these guys but I can't help feeling that it would be more appropriate for the posh chap in the top hat to have the corkscrew!  As you can see, I've been sorting through my stock for lovely things to take to Shepton Flea on 28th August.  I find things that time forgot at the back of my garage so it's always an exciting voyage of rediscovery. 

This weekend's car booting .....

This weekend's walk round a crowded field turned up some pretty things for me to show you.  First, some trios ....

Then I came across a house clearance, with all of an old lady's belongings up for sale and her treasured possessions and memories spread out for anyone to see.  I always feel slightly uncomfortable when I find a stall like this - it seems so very intrusive. Anyway, she was obviously a knitter and among her things were these very unusual knitting needles which have a half loop at the end.  I can only imagine that they were designed to hold a large number of stitches without the needle being of an unmanageable length.  If anyone knows if this is the case, I'd love to hear from you.

Also, some crinoline lady heads for tea cosies and powder puffs, bone crochet hooks and knitting gauges.   I've laid them out on this lovely crochet table cloth that I also bought today.  At the bottom of the box of knitting needles was a pair of gold earrings, which were an unexpected bonus!

And some glass vases.  The lovely Murano glass one in the centre is staying in my house for a while as so many things do.....

A magic trick .....

We were back from Scotland in time for me to do the full round of car boot sales this last weekend.  Oh, what happiness!  I had a lovely time buying things in the sunshine and one of the things I came home with was this rather drab and unloved little bedside cabinet ....

Not very inspiring, I'm sure you'll agree.  But, remove the handles and sand it down a little ...

Base coat it in cream and add a few splodges of pva glue to make crackles .....

Add some flowers and replace the handles ....

Add some 'antiquing' to the corners and round the handles. 

Did you see how it was done?  Eat your heart out Paul Daniels.

Today is a special day ....

Happy Birthday Youngest Child!