On My Travels

The little mohair dog on the right is my latest addition to my collection, he was in the bottom of a mixed box of junk at our local auction.

The last couple of weeks have been really hectic so not much time for blogging or reading all my favourite blogs. I have been busy helping Mr C source new stock for our stall at Brackley Antiques Cellar as well as having a few days out with my lovely girl and of course working full time too. We have managed to fit in a trip to see Calendar Girls with my mum which was good fun and a shopping trip to Birmingham.My lovely girl wanted to check out the new Forever 21 shop just opened in the Bullring having loved it when we were in New York last December. I didn't object too much as it was a good excuse to go to Cath Kidston in Selfridges.

I bought some Christmas goodies including a Christmas stocking and Christmas tea towel in a tin not in the photo. The paper chains are really sweet , I just have to make them now !

The little kissing boy and girl are salt and pepper pots that I found in a junk shop , they are now safely installed on my dresser shelf.

The kitchen table covered in treasures from our trips including some lovely china and glass candlesticks from the gorgeous Rags and Roses shop in Nuneaton where my mum lives. Please give Sue and Chris a visit if you are anywhere nearby as you will receive a very warm welcome. Sue makes beautiful hand made cushions and bunting and Chris makes gorgeous mosaics from broken vintage china. Hopefully they will be making an appearance at our next Northampton Vintage and Home made Fair in the Spring.

Mr C found the lovely Deco tea set on his travels and sadly it has now had to go to our little stall in Brackley. I can't keep everything !

I bought these cute Christmas decorations from Wilkinsons for 80p each having spotted them on Annie's blog (The Felt Fairy).

This lovely tray was also from Rags and Roses and will probably find it's way to our Brackley stall.

Mr C painted an old frame and framed my Christmas classroom poster. This is now up on our wall, the first nod to Christmas so far in the house.

Finally this is the gorgeous snugly blanket my mum bought me from her local Dunelm shop. I saw it on Bellas Country blog and thought it would be just right for snuggling on the sofa in this chilly weather.

Faded Floral Fabrics , Furry Friend and Fresh Flowers

Yesterday, Mr C and I had a little trip over to the beautiful Stamford to check out the 'Discover Vintage' Fair. I was not disappointed and by far the star of the show was HestaNesta's stall. Jo was lovely and was selling beautiful eiderdowns , hand made vintage fabric cushions and lots of other wonderfully tempting goodies. Her stall looked amazing and I made a bee line for it. I didn't come away empty handed of course, the lavender filled eiderdown fabric bag being one of my purchases. I also found the jug on the left on another stall , it goes really well with my Coronet Ware jug.

The fair was held in the glamorous ball room at the Arts Centre.

Outside the weather was sunny and warm and the church next door was preparing for a wedding.

I love this 1930s chalk ware anemone wall vase, it went straight on the wall as soon as I got home.

Mr C bought a number of prints from Jo. They were all supplements in the 1934 'Amateur Gardening' magazine . The first two he framed in some pretty vintage frames and hung on the stairs . The others are awaiting the right sized frames.

I bought some remnants of pretty vintage fabrics to put away for a future project, maybe some more lavender bags when I harvest the lavender from the garden in the summer.

Here is my new furry friend, a vintage mohair nightdress case. Josh wasn't too impressed when I took him out of the bag and I think would have chewed him up if I hadn't put him safely out of doggy reach. The fabric covered box was another purchase from Jo,

as was the lovely 1930s fabric bag.

These vintage hat boxes really were my bargain of the day. I spotted them being used for display in the Oxfam shop in Stamford. First of all I thought they must be modern reproductions until I looked at them closely and realised they were lovely old boxes covered with faded roses. I have put them to good use as storage already and have stacked them on top of my old suitcases. The butterfly fabric covered knitting needle case was also from Jo and is probably the only one of my purchases which may find it's way in to my shop.

On the way home we stopped off at a lovely tea room at the side of the road. It was an old village shop with a thatched roof and a pretty tea garden so we were able to sit outside.The blossom petals were like confetti on the ground and the air was heavy with the scent of stocks.

At home the garden is coming to life at last. Our yellow peony 'Molly The Witch' is in flower and all the different coloured lilacs are out. I love this time of year in the garden , there are some lovely scents in the air and lots of lovely pastel colours.

The weather is looking good for the week ahead so make the most of the sunshine, we can't be sure how long it might last. Whatever you are doing , have a lovely week.