All the Fun of the Fair

I've been feeling like a child waiting for Christmas over the last few weeks, but finally the day of the Christmas Vintage and Handmade Fair arrived...and what a day it was! It's such a glorious event, with stalls bursting with vintage treasure, nostalgic music, lovely people, a wonderful atmosphere and tea and cakes aplenty, served up on vintage china.

I couldn't help but get into the festive spirit, especially when I saw all of the lovely Christmassy things on Michele's stall.

Michele's stall was also bursting with vintage toys that I could easily have given a home to!

One of the things I love most about the Fair is the chance to meet the people's whose blogs I read and whose work I admire. I was thrilled to meet Viv (who I featured in my Sewing World article all about the wonderful world of blogging). The pieces she makes are absolutely wonderful.

A trip to the Fair wouldn't be the same without Nicky's vintage bunnies. They're so adorable!

These dolls from The Little Wren House Factory made me smile. There were the most wonderful needle felted animals on this stall too...

...I thought Millie was rather wonderful (the needle felting is so clever).

As ever, Niki's stall was filled with the most wonderful array of vintage loveliness...

...from buttons and toys...

...to her gorgeous rag dolls. I admire them each and every time I see them. Perhaps one day I might have to give into temptation and give one a new home!

There's always so much treasure to look through on Sue's stall, from buckles and fabric, to gorgeous vintage pieces such as this pretty doll.

It was fabulous to see Donna at the Fair (and her mum too!) So many gorgeous fabrics to choose from!

I think the best bit of the day had to be meeting Denise (a.k.a. Mrs Bun). I was having a cup of tea before going around the fair for the third time (!), when a lovely, bubbly lady came and introduced herself! I was so thrilled she did...it was Denise, who've I've become friends with through Blogland. We were partners in her recent letter swap and enjoyed it so much, we're planning to write some more! I could have chatted to Denise (and the lovely Mr Bun) all day. It just goes to show, you never know who'll you might bump into at the Vintage and Handmade Fair!

Mr Treasure treated me to this wonderful purse by the very talented Viv. I'm so thrilled with it!

Amongst the bits and pieces I bought were these vintage shop stamps. They're so evocative of times gone by!

On the way home we popped into Cirencester and went to see the 'Cut and Fold' exhibition at the Brewery Arts Centre. It's well worth a visit if you're passing. I loved these butterflies (by Tracey Bush).

This piece is made of lots of pieces of rolled paper, in what reminds me of a window frame. It casts the most amazing shadows on the wall.

It was only when I stood back from Beatrice Coron's silhouettes, that I could see the overall effect. They were absolutely stunning and full of tiny details. They must have taken ages to create!

It's difficult to see the tiny details in this piece...it's filled with people all doing different things. These silhouettes were big and must have needed steady hands and nerves of steel to make!

It really was a fabulous Saturday. Only 6 months to go until the next Vintage and Handmade Fair. Hoorah!