Craft and Vintage delights

Today has been a fabulous, chilled out day.  Lots of new friends made and a chance to catch up with some old ones too.  The very brave Hannah organised the Hednesford Craft and vintage fair in memory of her Grandad and to raise funds for the British Lung Foundation.  

Here is my Button and squeak stall and some of my new stuff.

A steady stream of friendly folk made their way around a variety of handmade craft stalls and a treasure trove of vintage finds.  I had the pleasure of catching up with Made by Emma and her fabulous handmade cushions, bunting, tooth fairy pillows, draft excluders and more.  Emma was at the first fair I every attended and helped show me the ropes and so it was great to catch up over tea and cake.  Her tooth fairy cushions are just so cute.

Many of the Hednesford visitors were drawn to the shabby chic delights of the Sincerely Yours stall.  

The CICF ladies were a pleasure to stand next to.  There Russian dolls were simply splendid.  All for a very worthy cause supporting two projects for homeless children in Russia.

The very lovely Katie from Old Skool Retro Boutique is a fellow Shop in the square stockist.  Fabulous to put a face to the name.  She stocks the coolest stuff I have ever seen!  Check out these lovely cushions and cake stands.

And lots more.  Too many to write about!  Congratulations to everyone involved for raising nearly £300 for a very worthy cause.   

Do check out these pages and show some love.

http://www.facebook.com/MadeByEmmaCushions

http://www.facebook.com/sincerelyyoursfurniture

http://www.facebook.com/ContactCICF

http://www.facebook.com/oldskoolretrokitschboutique 

http://www.facebook.com/meloniejanebespokejewellerysales

A vintage affair

On Sunday I was battling the elements at the Aldridge Vintage fair.  Sadly it was not the pretty sunny afternoon promised but the traditionally English summer weather graced us with its presence.  Fortunately a tarpaulin had been packed to save my stall from being washed away.  There were a few comedy moments when the wind whipped the tarpaulin and it smacked me in the face.  But the hardcore few with outdoor stalls made friends so all was not lost.  I made friends with a fabulous photographer called Eddie Jones and his friend Phil who chatted the dry spell away with me and took some shots of me and my little stall.  I'm really grateful for the pics as I usually don't get any shots with me in - so many thanks to the boys.  

I have new events to prepare for which I am excited about.  Next is the Hednesford vintage and craft fair on the 24th August which is set to be a fantastic event.  Details can be found here http://www.facebook.com/events/169189406587012/
Then its all go for Christmas!  I have the Aldridge and Pelsall vintage fairs and of course the Contemporary craft carnival in Stafford.  The craft carnival is set to be a very exciting event after the success of the last event and I am thrilled to be part of this one.  This is a great chance to get some unique presents that people will treasure. Details can be found here if you would like to pop along http://www.facebook.com/events/220270434789346/  
So here are some photos of some new designs that braved the weather at Aldridge and some of Eddie's photo's too.  

Shropshire afternoon tea

We are half way through the school holidays.  As per usual for a family of teachers we are decorating so the house has been turned upside down.  To escape the utter madness, my wonderful friend Wendy took me to explore the delights of neighboring Shropshire for the day.  We started the day walking in the Staffordshire village of Gnosall.  We meandered over the boardwalk which crosses the wetlands while Rudi and Freddie (our Dog companions for the day) had a good old run. 

We then made our way for tea and cake in Ironbridge.  This is one of my favorite places to be in all the world.  I think the gorge is one of the romantic and beautiful parts of the world, partly because my husband and I had our first kiss in Coalbrookdale.
After a good walk, a rest on a bench and of course a chat we headed to Much Wenlock.  I am ashamed to say I have never been before.  It is such a calm, peaceful little village with its church under restoration, stunning Guildhall and Abbey ruins.  The Much Wenlock visit was rounded off with afternoon tea in the Copper Kettle.  Simply delicious and far too much for two, they even packed up the extra so I could bring it home for my husband who appreciated the left over cake after decorating all day.
A dusk drive home through Newport and back to Stafford for more tea and then home to bed to prepare for the Aldridge Vintage fair.  I certainly slept soundly.