I still haven’t worked out what to do when I grow up! I’m mainly a writer, an artist, and a fairytale dressmaker with various crafty hobbies! Here (and on YouTube) I share bits of my life, thoughts, and what I’m learning along the way. Let’s find magic and inspiration; join me for this creative living adventure!

 

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Vintage shopping at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, Somerset

Yes, I know I have already written about this fair last year, but it’s such a good one, that I think it deserves

another! There were several new stalls this time, and as is the nature of vintage items, the stock on the

Frome  Vintage Bazaar

Frome Vintage Bazaar

regular stalls is always changing anyway so you’re guaranteed a plethora of different stuff to rummage in. In fact I was even more impressed this time around with the the quality of items on offer here and really would recommend this vintage fair if you’re in the area. I also took some lovely photos of some of the stalls, which I’m dying to share with you….

My favourite stall by far was this one, called, Hesta Nesta. It’s the sort of place that makes me imagine

Vintage burlesque costume

Vintage burlesque costume

winning the lottery and living in a huge stately home so I would have space and funds to buy and display everything they had. I do like it when a vintage seller picks a theme because it makes it so much easier for a buyer to pick out the stalls at a fair that are worth having a good look through. This one was a collection of antique stage clothes, once worn as theatre, circus and ballet costumes, and I loved all of them.

Vintage tutu

Vintage tutu

Unfortunately I don’t currently have a lot of use for antique costumes and I don’t think I could bare to cut them up; so I settled for a beautiful Victorian silk satin dress that is falling apart at the seams, but I can salvage some of it for a new wedding dress. I also bought an antique petticoat that I think is linen, and has netting at the hips, suggesting it was used underneath a Georgian costume. I doubt it is actually that old, but I suppose it’s possible as it’s a good strong type of material.

From a stall whose name I can’t remember, I bought a vintage wedding

Vintage silk flowers

Vintage silk flowers

veil from her bargain basket simply because I couldn’t resist it! I am full of ideas to make a pretty bridal headdress to go with it to sell on Oshun Occasions, but who knows when I will have the time for that! I couldn’t just leave it behind though, could I?! She also sold magazines called ‘Loving Brocante’ (French for Loving Flea market) and Jeanne d’Arc Living (French for Joan of Arc Living). These are not cheap magazines, so after I’d been round the whole fair and realised I still had some money left over, I went back and bought them. A little indulgent vintagebazaar-9of me, but I will keep them forever on my bookshelf and flick-through whenever I need a romantic shabby-chic hit. Articles in the first one include ways to decorate your birdcage. You get the idea! The pictures are divine and just my sort of thing, so I’m hoping these magazines really take off in this country so I can buy old copies cheaper on ebay! If I didn’t have a husband to worry about, my house would look like this!

My other purchase was a Woodsware Beryl gravy boat. I bought a tea set when I needed them as a prop for an amateur dramatics play I was in. However they were deemed not posh enough and weren’t used in the end. I liked them regardless and have used the milk jug for gravy for some time now. I thought it would be nice to get a proper gravy boat, but now I’m wondering what I’ll use the milk jug for. I use the teapot to keep the (Tesco’s version of) canderel in. (I think it’s a great idea to pour it out the spout, but my husband hates it (boring sod). The actual cups and saucers have only ever been used as props at my fairs and

Woodsware Beryl gravy boat

Woodsware Beryl gravy boat

festivals to hold hairclips and such-like. Ultimately, I’m really not sure if I’m going to collect Woodsware or not. By the way, you’ll spot them in every other episode of Miss Marple, Morse or Midsomer Murders in a village hall or cafe. They must never get pushed too far back in the ITV crime drama props department.

If you’d like to keep an eye out on these events in Somerset,

Vintage veil, petticoat and wedding dress

Vintage veil, petticoat and wedding dress

then head over to The Washerwoman’s blog. Have you been to any good vintage fairs lately? Picked up any bargains?

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