Author Archives: sam

kitchen floor……what a bore!

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In 2008 when we had a major extension and knock-through I decided it would be a good idea to paint the floorboards (all 30 square metres of them) white……yes, I don’t know what possessed me either, especially with 2 cats?! Anyway, they are now a kind of mud white so I thought I would just paint them mud colour and life would be so much easier!

It is going to be a very long job as three layers of chalk paint are required plus two coats of sealer, which needs a sand inbetween coats, oh well it’s not like I have other things I can be getting on with…???!!!  I’m off to Instow in the morning to do their Vintage Fair from 11am -4pm so thankfully not too early.  Sunday will be devoted to Olympic torch celebrations at our local with the kids in tow, silly games and all.  My next fair will be Tavistock Vintage on June 1st followed by Crikey on June 2nd then Shaldon on June 5th by which time I will need a few weeks off to recover & re-stock.  During the week I took another crate of candles to Honeysuckle Homes Interiors, reached 100 likes on my facebook business page, filled up my “roses” and “mandarin & mimosa” crates and managed a run and a swim with my pal Linda….

 

I also did some reading at my daughter’s school, had some acupuncture, bought a new sewing machine, booked a trip to Spain in August to see my mate Sally, had a pedicure, drank too much wine and annoyed PP (poor Pauly)

But PP never looks annoyed which is how he has managed to live with me successfully for the last 16 years! The next photo is me being annoying…………..

 

 

I spy with my little eye…..

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….something that looks like clear blue sky                                                                                                                        

nearly there……

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…..well I have just finished slapping the final coat of paint on to my old kitchen unit – looks a bit different doesn’t it?


It is standing proudly in my studio, full of vintage china, which I need to stop buying as I’m running out of storage space! Topsham was fun on Monday although I managed to spend half of what I took on all the beautiful vintage goodies that were there! I am amassing a huge collection of “Queenie” china to make lots of candles to take to Crikey Queenie it’s Vintage on June 2nd…

Finally, I’ve just learned that I have a stand at Tavistock Vintage Market on Friday June 1st and Instow Vintage Fair on May 19th, must dash now, being taken out for dinner by the Mother-in-law

lots of fun but little sun!

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I have managed to  largely ignore the foul weather we have  been experiencing and have had lots of fun over the last few days! My friend Lou celebrated her birthday last Thursday so we all met up in Shaldon, which has recently undergone a transformation, and now has a lovely little bistro where The Beachcomber used to be (cafe by day & tapas bar by night Thurs – Fri) And the smelly old Clipper (greasy spoon) is now a swanky cafe and restaurant with sea views and open at 8am for coffee, to attract us school run Mums’.  Anyway, while I waited for the others to arrive I stood on the beach, looked over to Teignmouth and marvelled at the view, which I know I’ll never take for granted!

Shaldon on Thursday evening....

On Friday it was my turn to have the girlies round and as I’m so busy with Peagreen I thought I’d cheat and asked everyone to bring a bottle of wine, a lump of cheese and some chocolate. I nipped off to Waitrose and picked up a ton of bread, crackers, pickles etc and you should have seen the spread……the table was bursting with goodies and a drunken, noisy night was had by all (the only downside being that I have all that chocolate to polish off – shame!)

the Sea Pool at Bude.....

On Saturday PP (poor Pauly) and I drove up to Holsworthy to pick up an old 1950’s unit I bought on ebay. In need of some TLC I thought it would be a great project and perfect for candle storage in my studio. While we were up that way we decided to check out Bude as neither of us have ever been and PP was desperate to see the Sea Pool. What a fantastic place! I couldn’t stop taking pictures and looked like a right tourist! I had fish and chips for a fiver (haven’t had that experience in a while) PP the veggie had a wholemeal pasty (yuk) and I even managed to pop into a gorgeous little vintage shop where I found some old enamel bowls and some aluminium jelly moulds – perfect day! Then double session of The Bridge to top it off nicely.

new unit......needs to be "peagreened"

Sunday was Nanny Sunshines 74th birthday. It was so nice snuggled up in front of the log burner at the Thatched Tavern in Maidencombe, we didn’t even notice the vile weather. Then back to ours for some high cal stodge (courtesy of The Hummingbird Bakery cookbook) which consisted of a layer of brownie topped with a layer of cheesecake then a layer of whipped raspberry cream. Of course I didn’t partake as my body is a temple…well maybe just a little bit then…. Another perfect day, finished off with a large glass of red and the penultimate episode of Homeland – yikes, don’t do it Brodie!

Mick, the Landlord at The Thatched Tavern

Boats…..

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I fear that I’ve turned into one of those people who collects things…

I could justify jelly moulds (candles) vintage plates (cakestands) crates (display) fabric (to make things) but my “collections” are becoming more bizarre and less necessary like…boats

These are old lamps that I bought at an auction, I keep meaning to brush the dust off them and get them restored to their former glory but haven’t got around to it yet – it’s on my list

 

This was a birthday present from a talented lady in the village, it’s made from recycled pallets and driftwood that she found on the beach – I love it!

I just bought this wind-up toy from “retro-on-sea” a fantastic ebay shop which specialises in vintage things for beach huts and campervans, great for pressies but think I’ll keep this!


and…..I love old glasses with boats on them!

and….little wooden boats!

the sun will come out tomorrow….

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….well that’s what I’m telling myself anyway, to cheer me up on this dreary Devon day! At least there’s no cooking for me tonight as we are off to The Thatched Tavern to celebrate St George’s Day.

  

This is the view from the beach cafe at Maidencombe on Saturday morning

I found this little chap in a charity shop the other day, I liked his face, so full of expression. It wasn’t until I got him home that my other half told me he was a Torquay United supporter (& a vintage one at that) He is lucky to have been relocated to my warm hall table in front of a radiator, no longer having to endure the cold stands of Plainmoor!

Finally I had to mention the gorgeous vintage mug I bought at South Molton last weekend – I love it so much I can’t even put a candle in it, think I’ll use it for toothbrushes instead!

Portscatho Homespun Fair…

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Yay! I have just found out that I am doing the brilliant Portscatho Homespun Fair in Cornwall (on the Roseland Peninsula) on August 5th. I did it for the first time on Easter Monday and it was a great success, run by two lovely ladies Jane & Gertie, who had arranged an eclectic mix of vintage sellers and crafters in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with really heavy footfall – no mean feat I’m sure…! Not to mention the fab cakes, which had been made by the stall holders to sell on the day for charity and in return the stall holders got free tea, coffee & cake all day! What a great idea. Below is a bunny made by Jane, which I couldn’t resist buying for my daughter’s 11th birthday in August.

Boast not Coast…

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I was reading the latest edition of Coast magazine in bed last night, which is beautifully presented with some fantastic photography. Because I subscribe to Country Living I got talked into some deal whereby you can receive 3 copies of Coast for £3 but for some reason I don’t find it as inspiring as Country Living. I read aloud a few sentences to my partner, all of which shared the common theme of lucky people who have been able to move to the coast, buy a huge plot of land, design and build an amazing house blah,blah,blah…….”that magazine should be called Boast not Coast” he remarked, which I thought was hilarious!

The beautiful "Rosiebud Designs" stall run by Jill Gibbons

I spent the weekend in South Molton, North Devon at Country House Vintage. The fair was run by Fenela Sadler who has a bridal shop in the town and although it was pretty quiet for me, I met some lovely people like Cassie who runs a business called Tabbytha (named after her cat) and Emma who runs Birdy Furniture, Madison Miller who runs a vintage clothes shop in Tavistock and Jill who runs Rosiebud Designs. It was well worth the trip to spend the weekend gossiping with folk who share my passion for vintage and I’m sure I’ll see them all again at Crikey it’s Vintage in Exeter on June 2nd at The Thistle Hotel.

"Birdy Furniture" with Emma

Portscatho Homespun Fair…

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Arrived home yesterday after a wonderful few days in Cornwall with the family, I managed to squeeze in a few luxurious nights sleep at my partners cousin’s beachside house in Downderry, a trip to the Monkey sanctuary (always goes down well with the kids) a nice meal at The Inn on the shore and a stall at the brilliant Portscatho vintage fair on Easter Monday! All in all a successful trip. The Vintage Fair was great, I met some lovely people. Gertie and Jane who organise the fair also sell their wares in a gorgeous little shop in Portscatho called The Sea Garden where you can buy all manner of vintage and handmade goodies. The kind of things that are becoming increasingly difficult to find, what with the current trend towards vintage & upcycling. I’m not complaining – it’s keeping me very busy! The next fair is on August 5th. I’m hoping to do it and I would urge you to go if you are down in Cornwall. I was so busy that I ran out of business cards and nearly ran out of candles. Everyone was asking me if I would be doing the fair in the future, it was a very inspiring day!

My house is smelling of vanilla at the moment as I’m in the process of making Creme Brulee candles for this weekend. I’m doing a two day fair in South Molton called Country House Vintage. Make sure you pop by if you are in the area……..

vintage purchases from Portscatho