This is a taster of the dozens of photographs I took in the Pharmacy building. All beautifully hand sewn by a band (100 strong) of embroiderers who volunteer here. Close ups and more photo to come when they load faster than one an hour . . .
I have hardened my heart and put out some of my collection of Torquay pottery - though I needn't have bothered, as folk aren't really collecting it these days. The big copper Gothic ash tray was picked up time and time again, but no one was tempted to buy it.
I don't have a set speciality for my stock - I buy what interests and delights me. Eclectic is the word, I think.
My Military Advisor's side, and a couple of bits of furniture we managed to squeeze into our space. As you can see, we have the most amazing setting - though it was a little on the chilly side as it is meant to be winter for the plants in the big dome (they are plants of the Mediterranean Climate Zone).
Glad your day was better than the antique fair I went to - can't imagine the traders did much trade at all. I didn't find a thing
ReplyDeleteThis is a big and popular Fair, and people coming to the Gardens just pay for the Fair admission and not the £10 a head to get in normally (which I think is a bit steep). That said, we did less than half as well as we did at this same Fair a year ago.
DeleteI saw some Torquay pottery at The showground on Sunday and thought of you and wondered if you had sold any.
DeleteI took a good few pieces of mine, but there isn't any interest. People don't seem to collect these days - the Ikea effect.
DeleteThere has to be an immense amount of work involved in packing, unpacking, setting up, repacking for one of these fairs. How do you transport the breakables?
ReplyDeleteIs very physical - lots of walking from the vehicle and back, laden with stock. The breakables are kept, well wrapped in bubble-wrap, in heavyweight black storage boxes. It keeps us fit, if nothing else!
ReplyDeleteAt least you were indoors surrounded by plants. Marie Kondo has a lot to answer for. I took two boxes of mostly children's stuff to the charity shop yesterday (I bought a good amateur watercolour of Leatherhead water meadows for sentiment which hopefully will make up for the frankly terrible pair of watercolours I donated which came from my in-laws) and followed that up with two boxes of books to the secondhand bookshop at Polesden Lacey. I'm declutering a bit in advance of our move although we are upsizing our house quite considerably. Not in the number of rooms, just bigger all round. So all four bedrooms will be doubles (two singles, two doubles currently) and swapping my 9x15 kitchen for one that is 17x21. Not to mention a greenhouse, a chicken run which will become my kitchen garden, a small paddock which will become a blossom wood and woodland that slopes down to the disused railway line. I am starting to get a little bit excited. The current owners are from New York (they are returning) and inside it is all huge brown leather sofas, chunky modern furniture, few soft furnishings, no paintings, no books, no objets d'art so my mission will be to clutter it up usefully and beautifully. I do wish you lived nearer BB.
ReplyDeleteI wish we lived closer too, as I could sell you LOTS of goodies for your new house. (You'll have to pop in next time you're in Usk!) It is sounding more delightful every time I hear about it, and bigger rooms is good. I want a lot fewer rooms, but ones of the same proportions as we have now (I'll be lucky!) A greenhouse is always good, and a kitchen garden. Will you plant some fruit trees in your blossom wood?
DeleteYour watercolour of Leatherhead sounds a very good replacement for the donated ones!
Is Torquay pottery the same as (or a more general term for) Aller Vale Pottery?
ReplyDeleteViola - there were a number of potteries in the Torquay area making very similar designs and motto ware. Aller Vale was one of them. Babbacombe another, Watcombe, Daison, Devon Tors, Long Park etc.
DeleteI really like your new decorative designs! it's so beautiful so much.
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