I can't sleep. Having been awake for 2 hours I thought I would come down and clear my head as it is still walking round and round Malvern, and concentrating driving there in the pitch black (not appreciably lighter until I'd gotten through Hereford) and then beetling home again.
The outside pitches were almost without exception all house clearance chaps - which is ok up to a point (they are normally cheap and sometimes don't know the value of what they have) but there was an awful lot of dross there. Some of it was so bad I wouldn't waste the fuel taking it to the Tip!!
I got a bag full of bits and bobs, spending carefully. Some daft things - but they'll sell as they are appealing - a silly sheep, some piggy wind chimes, a wrought-iron cottagey door knocker (that was only £1!!), a lovely late Georgian? Wedgewood jelly mould, a little scratch-built child's boat, a and other bits and bobs. I got Keith a most unusual antique carved horn (absolutely enormous - from an African Ankole cow I think). It is brass bound and once held probably a drink of some kind. It just "had his name" on it, being rather bizarre and definitely a one-off in these parts.
Scenes from around the Fair. The French Quarter . . .
A few more photos tomorrow. I am tired this morning and I'm looking after the little one today and tomorrow. She's as good as gold though, and we are doing baking later and a walk. Keith's not at his best as I forgot to take his pills up so he could take them when he woke, so we have to wait for them to kick in. Right, my bed stripped, washing to do and yet more stuff to hang up (D is of course working).
so happy you had a lovely day out, you deserved it. I really like the tiny jester on a stick {is there a proper name for that toy?} The quilt is pretty, but the central block is something else indeed.
ReplyDeleteI often think of you and wonder what you and your fellow dealers think of the Bargain Hunters and their cheekily low offers.
Hope Keith is back on as even a keel as he can be by now.
Didn't I deserve it just?!! Though dragging myself out of bed before 5 a.m. was a struggle as I'd slept badly the night before. I hate driving after dark too, as I do little of it.
DeleteThe jester on the stick is cute isn't it? Fairly rare these days.
I think any shop owner/dealer who takes a loss on his item(s) selling to Bargain Hunt, thinks that the free TV advertising he's getting in return is worth while. When I've sold them stuff, I was still making a worthwhile profit!!
Keith still up and down but cheered up this morning by advising and helping putting Danish Oil on Emma's lovely chest of drawers. He really misses woodwork and restoring antique furniture.
I love that little quilt but even more, I love the little chest of drawers that are stood on the edge of it, now that would have HAD to come home with me. The painted window with the poppies is right up my street too, I would build a shed around that ... or maybe a house!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a nice day out, and I agree buying some cheaper bits for your stall is always a good idea. Sometimes people are desperate to spend something on anything, and a few pretty, cottagey cheap bits go down very well.
I didn't ask the price, for fear temptation might step in! The little Apprentice piece chest of drawers should sell well. Those painted windows are gorgeous - trying to work out how to paint flowers reverse way round - e.g. highlights, then main part of flower, then foliage behind it . . . umm, that would take a lot of practice!
DeleteThe shopping was done mostly by weight! I didn't want to be dragging my camping trolley round in the wet part of the showground so took a big shopping bag round first. Mind you, the things had to take my eye in a selling way and be attractive (and cheap!!) No room to store ANYTHING here now, so nothing big.
What fun! Tho not at 5 a m . I see so many treasures---the little quilt is lovely---1930s?, and those tiny dolls. The jester on the stick, the "Seeds" painted cupboard, and so much more. I'd need a shipping container to bring it all home.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got out and enjoyed yourself. If you can, pls show us your buys?
Good day w little "I"! My little friend of similar age visited me yesterday---we love to color and she enjoys playing with Mo the pug. Then she has her iPad, sadly, instead of loving books. But it does keep her engrossed.
lizzy x
I thought it 1930s. That particularly strong blue was used in houses at that time too - the hall at Ynyswen had been painted a very similar strong blue around that time. I'm glad you enjoyed looking at the treasures - such lovely things turn up - best stuff was all in the livestock sheds though, rather than outdoors.
DeleteWill take some photos later. Glad you had a little visitor too. "I" likes books but would prefer looking at things on tv or iPad. They bought her a little iPad thingy which you can draw on and she likes that.
So pleased you had a day out. I would have happily tramped around with you. Markets are much much better in the UK than western Canada. Same thing goes for me when shopping when I'm over your side of the pond, it all has to fit into a suitcase. There are two things I covet at my father's house, some beautiful hand painted bone china dishes passed down through many generations and a writing desk. I can't see it being feasible to get the desk back to my place but I think of all his descendants I would treasure it most. Perhaps I should buy a little house in the UK to keep my treasures-har har har, dream on. PS hope saying this doesn't sound macrabe, Dad is 98, as he has got this far would like to make it to a 100 and is cheerfully unperturbed about what happens later.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been nice to have company :) I know there are couriers who deal with overseas shipments as the auction houses use them (SO much stuff being repatriated to China these days). The cost would be the limiting factor but I expect they have consignments to particular places and then it's sent on by local courier. Your dad's reached a great age. Hope he makes his centenary.
DeleteDespite the journey in the dark, it sounds as though you had a successful time; I am glad. It is a great feeling going out on the hunt and coming home with some swag! Thanks to years of experience and knowledge and that something extra, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteI confess that I wouldn't know where to start with antiques - books are a different matter, I have some sort of inbuilt antenna which I can't explain, it just works.
Driving on narrow dark country roads isn't much fun but the lighter mornings (and evenings) are coming. The swag had to be on the small side due to the "slight" storage problems here - still have some of Tam's clothes, shoes, all her cookery books and others, and some furniture too!
DeleteAh, we learned "on the hoof" - went to our first auction as a first sort of "date" though I knew Keith already from the pub, and bought several things at Stinsford House which had become a school. Right next door to where Thomas Hardy's heart is buried.
Having a book antenna is GOOD!
I had forgotten that you hoped for a trip to Malvern so was concerned when I didn't see a post over the weekend. How wonderful that you were able to go and not have the worry of Keith alone at home.
ReplyDeleteIts encouraging to hear that 'I' is a well-behaved child--so many today are not taught respect and manners. Little ones do get tired and cross--over-stimulated--just as we adults do. Learning to be 'settled' with a book or curling up for a rest is a habit that can be instilled early on. [Instead of being 'parked' with a device to entertain!]
Helping/advising on the refurbishment of Emma's dresser must have been a delight for Keith. I daresay he could have created great you tube videos on different aspects of woodworking.
Sorry, life gets a bit busy here on and off and I should have put up a quick "don't worry" note. I will in future.
Delete"I" has her moments, but loves doing things with me - even washing up! She got over-tired yesterday after baking in the morning and gardening in the afternoon, and cried when told it was bed-time but Danny took her up and she settled straight away. He has got her into a good routine - when poor Emma was trying to work all hours and buy in child-care or get her mum to help, things were a bit more haphazard, but not through choice.
Keith is going to do another polish on the chest of drawers today. It cheered him up no end to be doing what he used to do often in his restorations.
I LOVE those painted glass cupboards. Jenny, I am so glad to some balance returning to your life.
ReplyDeleteIf I had room . . . one might just have come home with me! Balance is GOOD.
DeleteThe only show I have ever been to at Malvern was a quilt show an age ago...very odd as dad was the warden at Malvern Wells YH and I used to go and stay with him, mid 1980s
ReplyDeleteI go to the Quilt Show there too. Makes my efforts look VERY feeble though. You will be able to envisage it all I'm sure.
DeleteWhat a lovely day out you had. My that quilt and those painted cupboard/windows are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Great day out and some nice things to look at, apart from the lesser items!!
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