Well, what a difference a day makes. Yesterday my friend Pam and I headed off to Malvern at first Sparrow's fa*t. We are taking it in turns to be the driver, so went in her car and I got to look at the scenery for a change. We separated when we got there as she wanted to have a slow walk round looking for things she needed for her bungalow as she is planning redecorating and revamping several rooms - and she knows I like to whizz round, looking for bargains. It worked well.
Loved this (and it's a look I could recreate myself here at home) - it would save £799 anyway! A shame I haven't got room for one.
There's always some Taxidermy . . .
Two tables of a fabulous array of old horse brasses, some on martingales, some not. I loved the brass-front breeching strap at the back. I've not seen one of those before. I did actually buy a couple of small martingales and old brasses from another stall, to hang in the hall on the stable partition, and some crotal bells from this stall. Photo to follow.
I fell in love with this. I have often shown you pieces from the Country Style stand in the past. They are generally in the barns, but in the summer months he said he does better outside. This old barn door has been wonderfully repurposed and I would love it in my kitchen! Not for everyone I'm sure, but it spoke to me.
This was a sensible price and is JUST what we could put in our kitchen to replace three glazed panels where they have used squared-pattern glass. It's meant to let light through from the Utility, which it does, but we had been thinking about putting stained glass stick-on panels over the glass to make it look prettier. This window would be much nicer, and we can have one painted to our designs. He has a couple of sash windows this size left but I think it's too narrow. I am now wondering if we could just replace the glazing with painted panels which he could do for us? I have his card so will get him to measure up, as we will do here, and then discuss things. Just one problem - I would like a design similar to this - perhaps with wildflowers though - but Keith wants Saint George and the Dragon!!! A mixture of the two would not be a good marriage :) Discussions needed . . .
Pam modelling a Victorian children's (invalid?) carriage. What a rare find.
I loved this little watercolour, which was on an entire table full of folios of drawings and lesser art. They were marked £6. I'll treat myself I thought, and picked it up. All of a sudden THIS piece was £85 -he shouldn't have put it over there as it was confusing. Well, needless to say, he still has it. Do I have MUG written across my forehead?
What a very useful piece, but price too rich for me and again, no room at the inn for it here. A price to make you wince too.
There were quite a few Samplers at this Fair, but this was by far and away the largest - poor Eva M Clarke must have despaired of EVER finishing this. My goodness, a yard of Sampler to sew and all that bare fabric must have been so daunting at the start and she didn't get to sew some fun things until the very last couple of lines.
I bought a painted piece like this (whose purpose was to cover an empty summer fireplace) with tulips on. This was more detailed and prettier, but was £75 (and mine was not!)
So, a great time was had and Pam found just the things she was looking for including a neutral palette rug approaching half an acre in size and just what she needed to cover the green carpet she dislikes, a lovely hall table, cushions etc. at car boot prices too.
Tomorrow I will share St Margaret's Church with you. OH WHAT an amazing little church, just so beautiful with an amazing rood screen. I've now got Pam hooked on old churches too!
Your window would certainly look lovely with one of those painted glass panels instead of what you have - like the St George and the Dragon idea.
ReplyDeleteOh that poor 12 year old - all that stitching - makes the small one Idid look really pathetic. You spotted some really good things this time
There were a lot fewer folk standing - I only clocked up 17K steps - last time it was 25K. All the stupidly-priced stalls had gone elsewhere and prices were pretty reasonable.
DeleteI did feel sorry for that little girl. I wonder if she ever picked up a needle again?
Still deliberating about the window - I must phone him and get measurements and that's at least a start.
A big NO from me for the taxidermy and horse brasses, I have never liked either, but a massive YES for that glorious cockerel painted on the door and the Home Sweet Home window both right up my street. It would make a lovely replacement for your plainer windows.
ReplyDeleteIt' horses for courses isn't it? I like them because in my ancestry, I have Carters handling heavy horses, so it's a link for me. Taxidermy I can pass on! We shall see about the window but I am pretty sure as it is it's too small for the gap, unless we have it partly filled in.
DeleteI remember my day taking out the individual panels in their sash windows and replacing it with a single pane such was the stile back in the 1950/60's. Taking the glass out is not hard to fitting wood panels so how is your putty work, mine is a little rusty it has been so long. I ceiling rose looks interesting and rood screen but is there a loft. BTW he caught it
ReplyDeleteIf we change the window/glass we'd get the chap who fitted the kitchen out to do it. He's a master carpenter by trade, but does building work too.
DeleteSorry your son found out the hard way that being young doesn't mean you can escape this nasty virus.
Rood screen with a hefty beam behind it (from looking up) though there would have been a loft in the past as there are a doorway and steps up.
I would love to come flea marketing or car booting with you BB. Instead after my haircut this morning I made do with the Oxfam charity shop where I bought a sweet little earthenware teapot from Gwili pottery for £1.99. Just right for my fresh mint tea and with a lovely feather decoration to the natural brown glaze. Having an ordinary cuppa now and a Welsh cake after a very speedy cycle. I picked salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber and basil, watered the greenhouse and as it’s leftover aubergine lasagne for supper that is me done for the day. Have a lovely evening and I think a prettier window would look lovely above the settle. How about a river scene - the painter could take his inspiration from one of your lovely photographs of the river Cothi? Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, we'd have a belter of a day together Sarah! Didn't you do well with your Gwili pottery teapot? I bought a Gwili pottery Jazz fruit bowl at the right price yesterday, so snap!
DeleteI had my first tiny cherry tomatoes from the polytunnel today (would that there were lots more of them but more flowers coming now) - oh the flavour - so intense and sweet. SO unlike "boughten" ones.
I have leftovers if I can face chicken and vegetable curry for the 3rd night in a row, but think I may have something fishy instead. Keith is having fish in beer batter and peas from the garden.
Now - the River Cothi would be a brilliant topic for the window-between - thankyou! I have plenty of photos of that in its many moods. I will see what Himself thinks although I still think he's in dragon mode!
That sounds like a fun day out. You needed it! I've just caught up with some posts, and so glad to read that Keith seems to be responding well to meds at last.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I really DID need a proper day off. The meds don't seem to last the clock round, but perhaps it's just early days yet.
DeleteOh I love your flea market posts! How fun. That blue cupboard thing would be so very useful and the sampler is lovely. Imagine laboring away at that age 12. I wonder how many years it took. Al l the tables of loose textiles look intriguing too. I'm so inspired, must try to get back to the flea this Fall.
ReplyDeletelizzy x
Glad you enjoy these posts Lizzy. I reckon that must have been two or even three years of sewing if she only worked on it once a week but perhaps if it was winter evenings it would have come along a bit quicker.
DeleteThe textiles on that stall - the lady is there every time - she hangs quilts and blankets over the nearby rails, and has clothes and textiles of every hue.
I imagine the child would have a set routine of daily sewing year round as it would have been part of her education, at least an hour every day.. But yes, years. Sewing of all sorts, and patience to do it acceptably, were such crucial skills for women back then. Immagine having to hand sew every garment. Tough on close inspection I see that sampler dates post invention of the sewing =machine and is relatively modern..1893 I have a berlin work sampler dated 1878 I think, supposedly sewed by an ancestor as she traveled to America on an ocean liner / ship. So that only took what 6 days? lol.
DeleteThat window would be perfect fixed up with painted glass panels.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great many interesting things to look at and a great way to spend a day out.
God bless.
We had a chat about designs last night, so will work something out soon.
DeleteIt was a great day out, I have to say.
I'd guess poor Eva was 12 when she finished. How old was she when she started this work? Looks like an awful lot of work to finish in a year.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she was 10 then? Still pretty young to start such a dedicated long-term piece of sewing.
DeleteI'd looove to come Flea market fossicking with you - such a shame I'm on the other side of the world, and living in a 'young' country that doesn't run to much over a hundred years old - so Flea markets here are very much second hand junk! I loved the old trunk - you're right, you could do that yourself most successfully! Getting the right sized glass decorated for your window would be a lovely touch in your home. As long as St George isn't being too gory!! Suck a lovely day I had accompanying you - thank you. And I do hope Keith continues to improve.
ReplyDeleteJust a tad too far for a day out I reckon! You would be overwhelmed by Fairs like Malvern - there are plenty of others across the country, but it's a pretty big one.
DeleteWe are thinking about designs we both like now - perhaps based around our old home and the beautiful river valley below it.
Keith having a less good day today, but that's the way of such things.
I had a window like that in the small cottage, we got rid of it but finding some stained glass, or even getting someone to make a picture for you sounds a good idea. It outstands me the selection of 'stuff' you can find at fairs, I like the door with the cockerel best.
ReplyDeleteThe window definitely needs improving, one way or another. Will give the chap a call tonight and tell him our dimensions and see how big his window is (too small I reckon).
DeleteALL sorts turns up at Fairs. A lot of it downright rubbish which would have rightfully gone to the tip not THAT long ago.
Years ago I learned to do decorative painting such as on the door and the paneled dresser. I was taught to work from a pattern, in oils. I think most artists today use acrylics. I haven't done any such in decades--always intended to do a piece of furniture, but by the time I was rehabbing cupboards, tables and such I was out of the decorative painting supplies and practice.
ReplyDelete