Next fair ....

Fairy furniture - who knew it needed doing?

I decided a few days ago that my knitted fairies would be better presented sitting down, so I went to the internet and discovered a sub-culture of makers of fairy furniture.  Who knew?  House furnishing for mythical creatures is not part of the general fabric of life but it's going on, unreported, under the noses of an unsuspecting public. Selflessly, these people spend hours glueing and binding together twigs;  they adorn their creations with flowers, beads, moss and jewels;  they arrange them enticingly in gardens and bowers in the hope that tiny, imaginary beings can sit more comfortably.  I decided that I could not let them continue this arduous work alone and that I too would try to ensure that beings who do not exist can enjoy their non-lives more happily.  Reader, I wish I could tell you that my labours were unselfish and dedicated only to the betterment of others, but really it was just an excuse to get the hot glue gun out again!

However, after some sticky moments, I discovered that glueing sticks together is not as easy as it looks or sounds and I resorted to buying some furniture at the car boot sale and decorating it.  It was a cheat, but the results were an improvement on my chair construction efforts ....

I took them, and one or two other pretty things, to Farnham Maltings on Saturday.  I didn't sell very much vintage but the fairies fairly flew:  must be nearly Christmas.  There, I said it!

It's all done with mirrors........

July Shepton Flea is almost upon us so stock sorting needed to be done.  I chose a lovely, sunny, calm, quiet afternoon to do this and, as so often happens, the Air Traffic Controllers said 'Oh look, she's out in the garden.  Quick, reroute the 'planes'.  And to the pilots they said, 'Pelt down runway 2 just as fast as ever you can.  Follow the A4 to Maidenhead Bridge.  You'll be at about 3,000 feet.  Take a sharp right hand turn,  follow the river up to Boulters Lock and, where ever in the world you're going, it's straight on from there'. Ok, I exaggerate, but sometimes that's what it feels (and sounds) like!

Anyway, here are some of the things which are going to Shepton with me ....

Sometimes, things come in bunches such as these pretty mirrors.  I've recently had a few barbola mirrors and, my thought processes being what they are with one thing leading to another and ending up in a completely different place, the wooden swing mirror at the back got a make over with some knitted and crocheted flowers and the famous glue gun.

And yesterday I bought this lovely lady who will also be going with me.  She's a wooden cut out and stands about 2 feet high.  I wish I had somewhere in the house to keep her, but sadly she will have to go ....

Stop by and see us if you are in the neighbourhood of the Royal Bath and West Showground on 19th July!

Long, long time, no blog ...

Yes, well, it's a long time since I sat down to write a post but that's because I've had very little interesting to say.  'Hasn't stopped you in the past' I can almost hear Northern Man and the offspring muttering.  Much has changed since I last wrote:  we now have 4 degrees, 5 driving licences and 4 cars in the family.  Only Son tells me that he will shortly be making a return to academia (his last attempt ended after only a week) so he should be leaving us in September.   When I tell people that he will be in Durham, they reply 'That's a long way away' and I can only smile and say 'Yes!'.

Today was the first really enjoyable boot of the season (which is almost half way through already!) so I thought I would show you some of the purchases.  Bear with me: I'm using my Christmas-present ipad to do the photos for the first time so it may be a little confused.  The camera is currently in Ho Chi Minh City in the possesion of Big Girl and Youngest Child who are 'doing' the far east tour.  They have been to Dubai and Thailand and are now touring Vietnam.  Next on the list is Cambodia and I heard a rumour that Bali might be the last stop.  They are very good about emailing so that we know they are ok and, when we don't hear anything, Northern Man is stalking them on Facebook. 

Anyway, back to the purchases. First, this jolly wooden toy rabbit on his swing ...

Well, that went alright so I'll try again.  A family of Japanese Matryoshka dolls:  the little ones are so tiny they are almost impossible to pick up ...

Think I've got the hang of this!  A splendid carved wooden swan with a jointed neck and a little vintage velvet covered box ....

And lastly a card full of vintage chenille pipecleaner birds ....

I spent yesterday late afternoon enjoying the sun and sorting out for next Sunday when I, and the Aged Parent, will be at Salisbury Racecourse Antique Fair.  I found a few things to take which I don't believe I showed you so here goes ...

I will try to leave it so long next time!

Love in a cold climate ......

I am doing a craft fair at our local arts centre today.  It makes a lovely change not to have to get up in the dark, drive for miles to get to a venue, then walk a considerable distance to unpack the car.  This fair is an 8 minute drive, I can park right outside to unload and it starts at 11 o'clock - how civilised!

I'm going pale for this fair - lots of cream, fawn and beige .....

Irish crochet flower posies adorn the top of these fabric covered Ikea boxes (hot glue gun came in useful again!).

These lovely felt wreaths were bought at a boot in the summer, passed over by others because it was the wrong season.  I did think I might put one up on our front door this year but then I went to John Lewis and fell in love .....

I've never been good with sums .....

Yesterday I did a fair in Marlow and it was not good:  one of those not good fairs where it costs more to sit there for the day than it makes and everything you sell would fit into the large Cath Kidston mug you brought with you for your coffee but didn't use because you left the thermos flask sitting on the kitchen surface.  And I had such pretty things too ....

The stall looked attractive .....

Lots of not expensive things to buy ....

But no one came in to look!

It did give me time to muse on the buying process and I came to the conclusion that it comes down to arithmetic.   I think the sum is something like this ....

Cost of item x likely profit 

Weight/shape x ease of selling

Well, that is the theory.  Of course, it seldom works like mathematics.  Take this, for instance ....

If I had been following the rules, I would never have bought this magnificent, flamboyant, cloak-swinging figure.  It was fairly expensive (much lower profit margin), it is badly damaged (so difficult to sell), heavy and an awkward shape (hard to transport and store).  But I couldn't resist him:  Charles I with his head literally glued back on!

These little chaps do follow the buying formula ....

Cheap(ish) and easy to pack and carry and they will also look lovely on the stall, if I have them that long .....
 

Getting ready for Kempton Antiques Fair ....

Months ago, during May half term, I thought ahead and visited Kempton Antiques Fair.  I bought myself a ticket for 29th July - ticket no 1 so it shows how far-thinking I was being.   I have been looking forward to it ever since, buying, repairing, painting and improving.  This morning I decided to view the fruits of my labours and sort out the pretties that I will be taking with me. I started early;  in the current gloriously hot weather, if something doesn't get done by 12 noon, then it doesn't get done at all.

I've already shown you many of the things which will be coming with me but here are a few you haven't yet seen .....

Pretty boxes, fabric covered and painted ....

 Vintage tins ....

 and still more vintage tins ....

A very sad looking toy cat - the heat maybe a little too much for him.

If you are passing Kempton Park Racecourse on Tuesday, do pop in a say 'hello'!