Last autumn, a dealer friend Keith and I knew well, was impressed with my stand at the Autumn Antiques Fair. He has a shop in the next county, and said he wished some of his lesser dealers would leave, and then he could offer me a Unit, but . . . Anyway, I've seen him recently at the small fair I do, and he said nothing about a Unit. Then this last Builth Fair, another dealer with a shop approached me and wanted me to have Unit again. He is half an hour's drive away, and I was giving it some thought but went to check out the Shop and was shocked. Keith and I had a Unit there when I was running my little business pre-Covid. I am sure much of the stock that was there then - especially the bits hanging from the ceiling! - had bred - there was double the amount of "stuff" in the shop, and it reminded me of the first time Keith and I went into ToysRUs and had to come out as we were SO overwhelmed by the pile it high stock in there.
Pignut.
I thought long and hard about it, and then decided there was nothing to lose from phoning my other dealer friend and seeing if there was a Unit available . . . Well, I spoke to his business partner and she said he was looking to get in touch with me as a dealer was leaving and space would come available at the end of June. We had a lovely chat and I am going over next Tuesday, with some recent stock photos, and hopefully I will be in. Which means restarting my old business again, having some fresh business cards printed, and carrying on with my fossicking around Fleamarkets!
I am absolutely thrilled to bits and hope it comes to pass... I really wasn't happy about the other offer as it would mean working a couple of days a month in the shop to reduce the Unit rent too and I hated doing that first time round!
Probably Common Ramping fumitory (they all seem much of a muchness!).
Crosswort (Cruciata laevipes).
Cut-leaved Cranesbill. (Geranium dissectum.)
Ground Ivy. (Glechoma hederacea).
How lovely for you to be offered a Unit with a dealer you like and who seems to know the business. Keith must have been looking down on you and sending good fortune your way. The hedgerows are beginning to look lovely and I enjoy pointing out the different ones to Iris on the walk home from school. Xx
ReplyDeleteI think he was. This Unit has literally just become available and my name was on it! Keith would be pleased. Good for you teaching Iris about wild flowers. I will be doing the same with Rosie soon.
DeleteThat's exciting news! It sounds like you will be having a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy seeing your photographs. I like wild flowers too and can generally identify things in a broad sense (that's some kind of wild geranium, that's some kind of bistort etc) but I struggle to identify exactly what I am looking at without going home and getting my botanical wildflower books out. How do you do it? Do you have a lot of accrued wildflower i.d. knowledge? Do you take photos and then look the plants up online? I'd be interested if you could tell me.
I blew the dust off my wild flower books for a couple of these. I have been interested in wild flowers since I was 6, and got my dad to buy me the Observer's Book of Wild Flowers. Some I know instinctively, others I know the genus but have to check out the exact type. I don't often look them up online. I prefer my books. Marjorey Blamey takes some beating.
Deletecranesbill yes..or Herb Robert..the origin of the geranium.
ReplyDeleteHaving a unit should be less work..or at least more enjoyable!!
I have SO much Herb Robert around the garden and have to harden my heart and pull up young plants now. A Unit is a good base to work from and my experience in furniture when Keith and I first got together, with all the antiques he restored, has given me an eye for a good piece.
DeleteHow exciting for you. I hope the unit works out for you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
SO do I, it's NOT local, but I think worth the journey each month.
DeleteA new beginning for you, I hope it works out. Picking wild food for the animals we acquire over the years reminds me of having to dig worms for the frogs my son kept. Also the rabbits loved the fresh greens at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteYes, though I shall do the little Fair as so many friends there, and the big ones for the moment, until it gets too much physically.
DeleteThat sounds like just the job for your business side of life. Lovely photos
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
It gives my stuff a bigger regular audience - not just two days spring and autumn.
DeleteWell, May is a month of new beginnings, and looking as if you have a new beginning!
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed :)
Deletelove the wildflowers! Best of luck with your new venture, hope it all works well for you. JennyP
ReplyDelete