It’s been a busy couple of weeks at Peagreen HQ. Every gap in my schedule has been spent doing the kitchen floor – my aim was to have it completed by Saturday morning (when I’m off to The Bedruthan Steps Hotel in Cornwall for a girlie weekend) but as I have a box of candles to deliver in Teignmouth tomorrow, a friend popping round to buy some candles tomorrow afternoon, I’m off out tonight and going for a run and a swim in the morning it no longer seems to be an achievable goal. Oh well, there’s always next week…but next week I have to make candles for my friends wedding on June 30th and get ready for The Craft Hub Fair on July 1st in Topsham…..

I also need to stock up for my four day stall in the craft marquee at the Exeter Cathedral Flower Festival which runs from July 11th – 14th. I haven’t done this before and it only runs every three years so I’m quite excited about doing something completely different for a few days. I’m in two places at once on Saturday 14th July as I have a Vintage Fair in Trull Hall near Taunton as well. I haven’t quite worked that one out yet but I’m sure it’ll be fine….aargghhh!

A dear friend of mine came round with a box of old china the other day that she had cleared out from her Nan’s belongings which have been in storage for sometime. What did I find beneath all the dust and grime? A gorgeous set of vintage hand-painted Aynsley bone china, crying out to be upcycled into beautiful candles…

And I haven’t even mentioned the weather…

I have this gigantic hosta that lives in a pot outside my back door. It always fascinates me that over winter it dies down to nothing and with no feeding or attention without fail, every May, green spikes appear and unravel into the most amazing leaves that make you smile even when it’s raining, as they look so beautiful sprinkled with droplets of water….

I’m exhausted today having spent Friday at Tavistock Vintage, Saturday at Crikey it’s Vintage, Sunday at a BBQ, Monday at the barn dance and picnic on the green outside The Thatched Tavern and yesterday in Teignmouth for lunch. We’ve had various friends and children overnight, no long lazy lie-ins and too much red wine…..all which makes for a grumpy Sam!

I didn’t even attempt to go to the Jubilee Street Market in Shaldon yesterday, what with the rain pouring down and no gazebo,  lunch with friends seemed a much nicer option, so we all snuggled up in The Beachcomber Cafe in Teignmouth with lasagne & chips and watched the waves crashing onto the beach then fed our two pence pieces into the machines on the pier before our lovely friends headed back up country, to Beaconsfield.

Today was supposed to be spent packing for a camping trip to Bude tomorrow but I’ve had to reschedule due to the rain! Although the sun has decided to poke through the clouds this afternoon, Thursday & Friday aren’t looking good…..some home cooking, a few DVD’s & a comfortable bed is my recipe for rain!

I have just received an email about a Vintage Interior Design Fair in Plymouth on September 1st which sounds exciting, I’m always up for a new opportunity to sell my candles and as I’ve yet to do anything in Plymouth I think I might try it. “All things Vintage & Lovely…” will also be taking place in Plymouth Guildhall on September 29th so WATCH OUT PLYMOUTH here I come….

Finally, I found this gorgeous 1970’s set of china the other day….what d’you think? It will have been transormed into beautiful candles by the time July 1st comes along, which is my next fair in Topsham, run by The Craft Hub, see you there….xxx

Couldn’t resist this pair of 1950’s kittens I spotted at a Vintage Fair the other day – especially as I also have two black cats which are equally as cute (but make more mess!)

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…………..

….something that looks like clear blue sky                                                                                                                        

…..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

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

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

…..to all you lovely lot who made the weekend so busy and exciting! I kicked off the 2012 craft season with a vintage fair at The Imperial Hotel, Torquay on Saturday, swiftly followed by the Craft Hubs amazing Birdsong & Blossom Fair yesterday in Topsham. Both were well organised, well attended and good fun. I would not have survived either without my loyal pal Helene who kept me smiling throughout, even though I was feeling pretty rotten having had a stinky cold for a week! Thank you sweetie.

So now a few days to go until the second Exminster Market on Sat 7th April 9.30-12.30, then down to Cornwall for The Portscatho Homespun Fair on Easter Monday 10am – 3pm then a few days off before the 2 day Vintage Fair in South Molton on April 14th & 15th, 10am – 4pm! It’s very exciting being so busy. I have also just been contacted by the Rowcroft Hospice to get involved in a charity event in Torquay on May 3rd and also by one of the ladies organising the Exeter Cathedral Flower Festival in July, who thinks my candles would compliment the flowers on display beautifully – yippee! Better get cracking…..