Viva Vintage

I'd been looking forward to today for ages...the promise of the Vintage and Handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury turned me into an over excitable being as soon as I read it was happening!

Driving through South Gloucestershire, Mr Treasure and I kept commenting on how French it all looked (the sun streaming through the car windows and the smell of suntan lotion probably added to the holiday feel). Even the Fair's venue - the Town Hall - was flying the French flag! 

So many gorgeous stalls, but I made a beeline for The Vintage Magpie as soon as I arrived. Mr Treasure bought me the best present ever - another bunny to join the little gang I have at home...we chose Agnes. 

I love Nicky's wonderful bears, bunnies and elephants. It was fabulous to see them face-to-face and to meet their talented creator too!

The little blue elephant eggcup from Cowboys and Custard just had to come home with me...

There were gorgeous bags aplenty at The Sea Garden (one of my favourite stalls).

I loved the buttons and stamps on these boxes (I can't remember the name of this stall - oops, apologies!)

Brightly coloured fabric made into all sorts of  things caught my eye at Hen House.

Niki's Nostalgia at the Stonehouse stall was filled with lots of textile treasure...I fell in love with one of her pillow designs and just couldn't go home without it (it's in the last photo below...)

As soon as we got home, I rushed outside to hang up the bunting I'd bought from Shabby Chick. I'm thrilled with it!

Even Agnes couldn't resist getting out in the sun!

What a brilliant day! It was fabulous to meet so many of the faces behind the blogs I love reading. There were several instances of "It's you" and "I thought I recognised you from your blog photos"! It was like meeting old friends, even though all we've ever shared is each other's posts and not actually ever met before.

The Fair was a complete triumph (hoorah for everyone involved in it!)...roll on the next one, I can't wait!

Hip, Hip, Hip Hooray!

The sun has definitely had his hat on today! How glorious to have had a whole day of sunshine...and it be the weekend so we could enjoy it. Mr Treasure and I have been making the most of the weather and spent all afternoon sitting in the garden. We were joined by our fluffy friends, who were very pleased to see us outside!

You go inside for two minutes, leave the garden table unattended and look what happens! I think the sun brings out Phoebe's cheeky side!

When she's not chasing a ping pong ball, Tinker likes to peruse the borders.

Definitely the weather for tea in the garden.

My copy of British Patchwork & Quilting arrived yesterday...complete with the article I wrote all about Amy Butler. I was really pleased with how it's turned out. As you know, I'm a huge fan of Amy, so it was rather exciting to interview her for the piece. Not only does she create fabulous fabrics (amongst other things), she's also really lovely. She'll be at this year's Festival of Quilts at the N.E.C...I for one will certainly be there!

The Fabulous Forties

I'm having a 1940s moment! There's something about this decade that I've always loved. I'm fascinated by the Home Front and fashion on the ration in particular, as well as being rather partial to listening to Glenn Miller and watching films like 'Brief Encounter' and 'Mrs Miniver'. 

It's come to the time in my City and Guilds Embroidery course when we all have to start thinking about our textiles projects (we've been working on design modules since last September and I've been rediscovering my love of 'cutting and sticking'!) "We're going to start with a panel", my tutor announced last week, "start thinking about ideas and what your inspirations and themes could be". Well, I had no difficulty at all! 'Make Do and Mend' jumped into my head immediately and ever since then I've been collecting all sorts of bits and bobs for inspiration. Here are just some of the things I've gathered so far...

This was my Grandma's brooch. I love the colours. There's a safety pin on the back that's been attached with wonderfully wobbly hand sewn stitches. I often think I'd like to have a go at making a brooch of my own with felt flowers. I'll have to dig out my 1930's sewing book that has instructions on how to make different sorts of flowers and give it a go!

This is an original WWII Vogue pattern. Making clothes was a way of life then...no popping on to the high street every time a new outfit was needed! It was all coupons, restrictions and austerity...but recycling, re-using and eco-ness at its best.

There's something wonderful about 1940's fabric. The colours and designs really appeal to me. These glorious examples are from Donna Flower. 

I can't help but let out a whoop of delight when I find something with the Utility mark on it...there's just something about that little symbol! This label is inside a pair of rayon cami-knickers.

I think my next step in the name of research will be to re-watch 'Foyle's War'...with a nice cup of tea and some chocolate. Very tickety-boo!

From Stroud to Devon...via Meadowgate

This weekend has been filled with of textile loveliness...I'm still smiling about it all! 

Friday night saw Mum and I off to the opening of the Stroud International Textiles Festival 2009 at Museum in the Park in Stroud. Not only was there a fabulous jazz band and wine and nibbles, the work on display was rather good too! We saw Michael Brennand-Wood and Matthew Harris milling around...just two of the artists who are exhibiting work at the Festival this year. The Festival's well worth a visit if you're in the area and it's certainly a great opportunity to see pieces by a bevvy of well-known contemporary textile artists.

My favourite pieces were by Matthew Harris... I love his use of colour and line. 

I was really drawn to these canvasses by Dawn Dupree. I love colours. 

The highlight of the weekend was definitely our trip to Devon to Donna's fabulous Spring Open House Sale. As ever, there were plenty of treasures to look through...and I came home with some too!  We even went for a drive after the sale and found Meadowgate, from Kirstie's Homemade Home. It's in the most beautiful secluded location. 

So many glorious vintage treasures to look through. I came home with some lovely Sylko threads on wooden reels with glorious names like 'Lido Blue' and 'Fiesta Pink'; a jar of the most fabulous buttons (which I've tipped out to look at numerous times since bringing them home!); a chunky red necklace and a 1950's dress, which will be perfect for our friends' wedding that we're going to next month.

There were tempting textiles draped everywhere! If only I could have thought of somewhere to put them all in our house!

I just love Donna's kitchen dresser. It's jam-packed with a mix of old and new pieces. Grouping things together in colours is definitely the way forward and I'm inspired to give this philosophy a try in our new kitchen (when it's been built!).

As if rummaging for goodies wasn't enough, Donna always has the best cakes waiting for hungry sale-goers in her big farmhouse kitchen. 

This is me having a 1950's moment in the dress I bought at Donna's sale! I'm also modelling my new chunky red necklace. I feel the urge to wear my new dress everyday (but will make do with saving it for special occasions for now)!