A Little Bird Told Me . . .

"Thank you," to all my new visitors who have been counted (but not identified) on Blogger's statistics since the Little Birds Market at St Andrews.

This has to be a very quick post, as I am rushing out shortly. Vicki did a great job of drawing in the public - 397 people in 4 hours - but many were browsing, rather than buying. For a first time visit to the town and the venue, Vicki wisely priced the pitches accordingly and I have nothing but praise for the way she and her team organised and publicised the event and would add praise to the staff of the Vic, for their co-operation and thanks to those of the staff who purchased from the stalls.

As usual, one of the pleasures of the day was meeting new-to-me traders, including Steph of Abetwix, above in one her own sweat shirts.

This imaginative driftwood stall was my neighbour on the other side, with yet another nice lady at the helm.

This stall with a wide range of hand crafted cards, jewellery and pin cushions had crafts to suit every pocket - I saw £1 price tickets!

These quirky crochets made everyone smile - the green, caterpillar striped bag in the bottom right is a cocoon for a little baby. I seriously liked that, but luckily, I don't have a little baby to put in it.

Little Birchwood and Cherry Red Vintage had their usual selection of comic book bunting and 1970s psychedelic prints.

Recycled records on this stand completed the 'wing' of the Little Bird's Market in which my stall and rail were set up.

I didn't have time to look round the 'big room' properly, but I liked the look of this stall which I think was a joint effort of a needleworker and wood crafter.

I met this lovely family - with a pretty stall - and vice versa. Mum is missing here, because she was eyeing up - and bought - a vintage 'TV set' - cup and saucer/ plate combined - designed to let the new TV fan leave the table! to watch telly with saucer / plate in one hand and cup in the other. Presumably the cup was returned to the saucer and cake removed from the plate with the 'cup hand'.

Speaking of cake, these ladies set up in a small bar area with a chocolatier? alongside.

Since the market, one lady has expressed an interest in one of the tea sets above, posted on FB by - Little Bird's Market OR The Vic, not sure which, but 'thank you' both. A visitor who admired the stock on display at the market has ordered something from pix of the stock that stayed at home and I hope to deliver it to him Very Soon!

"Thank You" to buyers, potential buyers, visitors, traders, the Vic staff and all the Little Birds who worked to make it an enjoyable day.  

P.S. Follow-on sales worth almost double what I sold on the day, have nearly tripled my total takings and made an undoubted financial success of my day at Little Birds debut in St Andrews.  

Spring into Vintage Life

With the worst - all? - of winter behind us, the 'fair' season is under way again.After a local Spring Fair at Memus in Angus last week, this weekend was busy.

On Saturday I was at Aboyne, on Royal Deeside. It was great to see my pals amongst the Aberdeenshire traders, for the first time this year and to meet new ones like the very talented Nicole Smith on the right (above) who made beautiful handmade 'word art' cards and canvases and her equally lovely sister Kayleigh.

The past few weeks have been fraught for me, but as I turned into the car park and saw Magda of Mydecorideas, Arlene Allsorts, Anne Marie of Restore and Evelyn Treasure Finder, my heart lifted, and by the end of the day I realised how much I had enjoyed myself. A friend turned up in the afternoon and added to the general good humoured atmosphere.

This event was a new one for me, Vintage Aberdeenshire's Vintage and Antique Market. The venue was good, and I had a great neighbour at her first fair.

(I have 'shared' this pic from Vintage Aberdeenshire's FB page, thanks Krista)

Lesley of Tweazle's Treasures was lots of fun and we both enjoyed ourselves. Footfall was light, on the holiday weekend, but the feet belonged to some very nice people, and late in the afternoon, I sold three tea sets which transformed the day for me!

(I sold both the 21 piece sets and another, smaller set, I still have the pink one on the left)

I stayed in Aberdeen overnight and headed south to Edzell, in Angus next day. The Vintage Bazaar organised by Paul and Carol of Fancy That? is one of the busiest and best vintage fairs in the North East of Scotland and I had my best ever day, there.

A reprobate, Damian of Blairgowrie Antiques, has moved into my cosy corner  . . . (and he's pinched my marketing strategy - the basket of £1 crockery!!)

but I found a new niche - in both senses of the word- if a little cramped, and at times crowded with customers,

but that's what we are there for and the Fancies - Carol, Paul and Spillers Flour man Fred have worked hard to bring buyers from throughout the North East and beyond. Again, a good neighbour, Anne Marie, whose left eye is just visible through the crowd (above).

The Bazaar has a great mix of quality curios from jewellery, silver, glass and books to fashion survivors representing any period, from Victorian, forward through the 20th Century, to the death throes of the century in 1980s shoulder pads and 1990s inflation in clothes as in life, and elegant classics of any age like the Nicely Eclectic dress above or (formerly) my trouser suit now looking stunning on a figure worthy of the garment.

While I am merely clearing out my wardrobe - and house - Gladrags Doreen is a serious fashionista, looking amazing here - even from the back. 

Fine quality again, in Mydecorideas reupholstered and painted furniture augmented with some handmade creations, always in beautiful fabrics of the highest quality.

This picture seems to sum up the day for me, the girl on the right was a very contented customer at my stall and apparently at 'Dave from Forfar Antique Shop's (sorry I don't have a link). He looks archetype of grizzled antique dealer and is explaining to the schoolgirl shopper the history and background of the item which I gather she had already bought. Her questions were wide ranging and searching but Dave was equal to the task. I think she'll wear the 1980s M&S oversized ski jumper she bought from me, but I'm sure she'll treasure her antique purchase from Dave.

As always, a great event, I'd go as far as to say a vintage edition of the Vintage Bazaar! A busy day for me, satisfied customers, good company of other stallholders and most important for me - I went home with a lighter load than that with which I arrived.

'Thank you' to everyone who contributed to a worry free weekend.

PS Icing on the cake; when I got back to my house I was hugely relieved to discover that my neighbour had not found it necessary to take a mini digger into my garden to look at his drains, which had been very much on the cards when I left to head North on Thursday.