~Vintage Buys~

Yesterday I popped along to the Festival of Vintage at York Racecourse which is now in it's 4th year. Admission for the day was £10 each; I didn't think it was as much as this last year.  It's a bit steep, but I suppose it is a festival-type event rather than a vintage fair. We didn't have much time so just had a quick look round the stalls only but you could easily spend the whole 2 days there if you participated in all the things on offer.
This little trailer caravan was parked outside...

...and was decked in just-my-cup-of tea 50s style...

I also loved this 50s kitchen roomset...

 

 

 

Some of the stalls were extremely pricey. I bought these Salter scales for £19 from a lovely couple who had reasonable priced stuff - the same scales were on a nearby stall for £38.



And I got this barkcloth curtain for £10 - just debating whether to make a skirt out of it, what do you think? There's enough for 2 cushions as well.

See you soon x

~Judy's Vintage Digest~

If you get a chance, please have a look at Issue 2 of the fab online read 'Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair Vintage Digest' here, or click on the link in my sidebar. So happy to have my little blog on Page 33, as the chosen blog for York on the Vintage Bloggers Map...

I was contacted back in January by the very talented group of final year students from the University of Huddersfield working with Judy's to produce the vintage digest for their final year project.  As I'm sure you know, Judy's Affordable Vintage Fairs are held up and down the UK see Judy's website for upcoming events.  
I'm impressed with the content - it's far more informative and well-written than many other vintage magazines I've read.  I love the layout, graphics and I'm smitten by the paper-scrunching sound when you turn the online pages...
I love the article on vintage afternoon teas and also about Glass Onions vintage wholesalers in Barnsley.
The next Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair Leeds date is 22nd March at The Corn Exchange 10.30 - 6pm and the next York date is 23rd March at The Hospitium, Museum Gardens 10.30 - 4.30 (see you there York vintage lovers).

~York Festival of Vintage~

On Sunday we went to the vintage event at York racecourse - a fantastic day out and well worth the £8 entrance fee.  Lots of vintage homewares, furniture and clothes to coo at and covet.  I wish today's cars were as aesthetically pleasing to me as these old Ford Anglias. I could just hop into one with a headscarf and some red lippy on...

I got my fix of eiderdowns...

Of course, as usual at these things, too much loveliness and too little pennies - but I did buy a vintage Butterick blouse sewing pattern for £7, these recycled crocheted flowers for £3...

This linen floral fabric for my standard lampshade project.  A bargain at £4.50 I thought.

Three pairs of sugar tongs...

Daughter: "Do you really need those; you already have some?"

Me: "Yes"   (For my vintage tearoom/B&B of course)

It's also interesting to look at the work of vintage-inspired crafters and designer-makers.

Daughter L loved this memory quilt and took some inspiration from it for her Textiles 'A' level

I also met Kelly Reagon, the designer-maker of 'Martha and Arthur' , vintage-inspired children's wear.  Kelly has used her talents from the fashion industry to create a range of well-made gorgeous garments for children.

Childrens clothes in gorgeous fabrics

Kelly behind her stall,   pinafores and dresses in florals and  plaids

Martha and Arthur are in the process of creating a website, but can be found on Facebook or via the contact details below

Now I am off to carry on cutting out my prototype vintage blouse!

~Stall Photos from Rivers Meet Market~

Stacy @Sostacysews and Lexie @secretthimble and I have had a lovely day at Rivers Meet Market in May. We were pretty quick at setting up our 3-in-1 pop-up shop - all ready with 30 minutes to spare for our flasks of coffee and jubilee chocolate brownies...
I aimed for a red, white and blue theme including some jubilee union jack bunting on the gazebo.

Best-sellers of the day for me were candles, vintage fabric, brooches, vintage knitting patterns and bric-a-brac. Unfortunately my tea cosy, mug warmers, pincushion and bunny didn't sell...

Below - some of Lexie's cushions made from repurposed coffee sacks and embroidery hoops - available on www.etsy.com/shop/secretthimble

Some of Stacy's lovely bags (right of photo) and she had lots of cross-stitched badges and cards that will shortly be for sale at Vintage Rose in Selby, North Yorkshire       http://www.vintageroseselby.co.uk/

It's a shame the warm sun didn't show it's face but thankfully it didn't rain!

~Photos from York Festival of Vintage~

Good job all the stalls at York's Festival of Vintage were tucked inside the race stands as it was a very wet weekend.  I did feel sorry for the owners of the vintage cars outside, who probably didn't get the attention they deserved, because of the rain.
I had a lovely day out with friends old and new, including meeting up with Sally from Poppycock blog (and Bob the bunny, of course.) Here are some photos of the stalls...


I so very nearly bought this pink wool blanket on the left (£12)



Bob The Bunny admires the vintage fabric on Sago Designs stall...
(You can now make your own Bob with one of Sally's lovely kits - see here)



Lovely Jubilee display by Living by Liz - I loved this stall.
Some people get it just right don't they?

This pretty stall had lots to look at too...

including vintage cosmetics, labels and packaging...

Vintage fashion show


There was a good mix of homewares, vintage clothing, reworked vintage, vintage inspired crafts, as well as bands, dancing and the excellent nostalgic collectors hall where it was a pleasure to meet Mrs Day, who is a member of a 1940s living history group called UK Homefront http://www.ukhomefront.co.uk/.  We had a nostalgic sniff of the carbolic soap and she let us in on some vintage and thrifty household cleaning tips.
I also bought some trimmings and buttons from the lovely Cool Crafting stall who had come all the way from Cumbria.  Have a look at their lovely website and blog http://www.coolcrafting.co.uk/
My last purchase was a spontaneous splurge on a gorgeous 1950s dress, which I am just carefully washing and pressing, so I'll share that next time...

~York Festival of Vintage weekend~

Image from http://www.festivalofvintage.co.uk/

It's nearly time for the Festival of Vintage!

I started blogging last May, just after this event and can't believe I now have 92 lovely followers and so many friendly and supportive folks 'out there'.  It's been a revelation to discover that I'm not actually that eccentric; there are lots of us vintage-lovers trying to live prettier, floral, simpler (and cheaper) lives. Thankyou all very much!
I had the most amazing day at this vintage fair last year, and am about to buy advance tickets for this year's event at York Racecourse Sat 28th and Sun 29th April. 

"Get dressed up in favourite vintage attire and step back in time to revel in the glamour and allure of the magical golden era as Festival of Vintage celebrates the sights and the sounds of the 1930’s through to the 1960’s. Visitors can enjoy a full festival of activity featuring Music, Dance, Fashion & Home & More for a true 20th century vintage experience. "

Read more about it here.  If any of you fellow Yorkshire (or nearby!) vintage-addicted bloggers would like to meet up in York, please do get in touch.

~Mirror, mirror on the wall...~

Mirror, mirror on the wall

I would like to own you all

Charity shop, car boot or vintage fair

I cannot bear to leave you there!

Mirrors (along with cashmere cardigans, cups and saucers, utility crockery, vintage linens, fabrics and chairs...) are one of the things I search for at boot sales, charity shops and vintage fairs.  Some of my recent thrifted and vintage finds have been mirrors.  I always marvel how they survive being discarded/thrown out and buy them to bounce the light around my little house! Here are some of my favourite mirrors...

Last week's charity shop find - an old bevelled mirror with chain for £3.  I've hung it in my sewing room.

This 1960s circular mirror has a cream melamine or formica frame.  Very, very heavy! Given to me by my brother S a couple of years ago.

The mirror in my kitchen was a dated orange pine colour before it was painted in F&B New White and rubbed down...

Another recent charity shop find for £4.  This bevelled mirror has a solid wooden back. Just waiting for the OH to hang it above the fireplace!

My favourite is this vintage triple mirror bought at Ilkley Vintage Bazaar last year.  I coveted it for a while at a couple of fairs before I bought it for £25.

Adorned with a string of floral fairy lights - from Yorkshire based company www.lights4fun.co.uk 

...And finally, when you run out of wall space, you can put them in the garden!

Though I reserve this fate for damaged or woodworm-y examples! If they have woodworm I remove the wooden backs, and they are perfectly okay outdoors -they've survived intact outside all Winter.
What's top of your thrifting list? Are you a mirror-addict too?

~Recent vintage buys and thrifty finds~

Apologies firstly for being absent-without -blogging for a while.  I feel overwhelmed and busy at present, there aren't enough hours in the day - plus my mother-in-law has been in hospital (now discharged) and I've been planning some more additions to my tearoom events. Crafty projects have been ignored which doesn't make me feel happy and I really need to sort out the sewing room which is drowning under a sea of paperwork, filing and the increasing ironing pile.
I've done a bit of charity shop rummaging recently in Boston Spa, Tadcaster, Wetherby, Castleford and Selby, albeit very speedy - 'drive-by thrifting' - usually on my way home or via visiting somewhere else. I'm sure it's not healthy to always be in a rush.

This lovely tray reminds me of Cornwall.  I love old trays with the plaited wicker or plastic edging.

This cake plate is pretty, the glaze is a bit crazed but it's not chipped or cracked

A nice reproduction tea dress, I love the floral Liberty-esque fabric.  Currently I look like a milkmaid in it as I need to lose weight, but it will be pretty when I have lost 10 pounds!

This gorgeous Midwinter dish for £2 in a Castleford charity shop. Midwinter is my absolute favourite pottery.

Then L and I went to St Gemma's Vintage Fair in Leeds on Sunday which I've blogged about before here.
A stallholder I know called Jennifer has the most amazing vintage pottery, at reasonable prices, and she had the matching Midwinter sugar bowl for £5...here it is on my kitchen shelf

Another lovely stallholder had a job lot of utility china - Woods ware Beryl and Jasmine and a couple of Grindley green petal bowls, which I bought to add to my collection...

...and this Crinoline lady brooch, which I think is unusual - I've never seen one like it before.

Has anyone else seen one like this before? It was £5 which I think is a good price for something I'll treasure.

~Vintage Fair at Rivers Meet Craft Cafe~

Bbbrrr, it's been a cold weekend here in Yorkshire, the snow has lingered due to the low temperatures.  It was minus 5 on my garden thermometer yesterday morning - and I have to confess I stayed in my PJs and watched a dramatisation of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca starring Charles Dance & Emilia Fox.  I hardly ever do that, so it was a nice treat.
 I loved the feathery ice pattern on the conservatory window on Saturday morning...

Today I went along with Anne from Marmalade & Catmint, and my lovely Mum,  to a Valentine Craft & Vintage Fair here...

Rivers Meet Craft Cafe in Methley, near Leeds.   I remember this building as a pub a few years ago - it was given a new lease of life as a craft and foodie haven when it was reopened by Joanne and Richard as Rivers Meet in Autumn 2011.  It's open 7 days a week for food, and the in-house craft shop has some fantastic fabrics and beads too. There are also sewing, quilting and other craft classes, along with a book group. See other blogs here and here for foodie reviews and more lovely photos of this unique place, which, judging by today's busy cafe, is obviously a very popular hub of the community.

I caught up with Margaret again from Ready Planted  (@MaggyAnne on Twitter) whose stall looked very pretty and Spring-like.  I bought some Hellebores and Mum treated me to my first daffodils of the year at 50p a bunch.

Margaret's son paints the bespoke signs, they really are the nicest I've come across - his contact details are on the sign on the right under 'For Quotes and Orders' ...I'm looking forward to welcoming Margaret to my March afternoon tea event too.

A cup of tea and a slice of cake on pretty vintage china in the cafe ...

Now to more purchases...

Some East of India ribbon and labels from Chicken Shed Gifts who also have an online shop. 

  Some more ribbons and a handmade ditsy corsage from Twisted Vintage, who open their shop in Whitwood, Castleford, next month.

This cute wooden mini bunting from Twisted Vintage...

A couple of fat quarters of this pretty faux patchwork cotton lawn.  I might recover my piano (sewing) stool with this during half-term...Anne bought some fat quarters too, I'm sure she will post about them too - we both had cameras in-hand to take some snaps!

I may be back there for a half-term breakfast treat with the kids this week!