A quick 'Hello'

"Hello," to some lovely people who made Banchory a good day. I will have pix of tartan silk and pretty china to show you in the next few days, but tonight I have to round up some sheepdog news and get on with work.

Busy, Busy, Busy

A great weekend - but busy!

First - "Hello," to all the people I met at two very different events and "Thank you," to those who have already been here - my viewing statistics rose dramatically on Sunday night! I will contact some people individually, but if you look up the screen from this post, the tab Old Crocks leads to pix of vintage crockery for those who like that sort of thing. I will be updating that with items for specific individuals  over the next day or two. 

Days Ahead in the left hand sidebar will be updated too. 

The Weekend - The  Gin in Teacups gals came up trumps as usual, finding a gorgeous venue for the Dundee sale - note the stained glass panels and Arts & Crafts era lampshades. The exterior of the building is a classic too, in Albert Square across from the McManus Gallery. There was a good mix of stalls, with an emphasis on the handmade, recycled and artistic. Good stuff and a very friendly atmosphere.

I met lots of new people I hope to see at future events. I have finally managed to establish a free standing Facebook page for the stall, independent of my family photos of babies and great grandparents - my own profile pic is my great grandparents at the tea table, with my Grandma and great auntie. The new page is called Rural Reads and the profile pic is of aprons on a washing line, it is listed as a person, which was my attempt to give it all the FB freedoms to like etc. Please go there and befriend RR to keep up to date with vintage & handmade fairs in the North East of Scotland.

The Gin gals have posted some of their own pix of the day and Rural Reads has some of them on the Fb page.

A high proportion of the public and traders already knew each other and a number were at art school together.

The new venue, Chamber East is in the Chamber of Commerce building, a stone's throw from the Wellgate and across from the McManus - the perfect intersection of the retail with the creative. A Grand  Day Out - Oh, yes, I almost forgot about the tea room with home baked cakes of monumental proportions - I took two home with me.

The Antique & Vintage sale at Banchory Town Hall was different; it is still has to establish its following, but with monthly sales scheduled throughout the summer and autumn, it has a lot going for it. In a small town, anyone on the High Street should realise it's on and if the prospect of antique, vintage or collectable appeals, it's a short walk up the street to investigate.

There was a good mix - classic, elegant old crockery, 50s and 60s blue and white striped Cornish ware, quirky Carlton, and lustrous Maling on some tables, old bank notes, coins and small silver pieces on others.

Vintage clothing, handbags and jewellery.

Some more modern, remade or upcycled pieces on others.

The sale has a good basis of diverse stalls with great potential for growth. Customers appreciated the quality on offer and it was encouraging to see shoppers looking for everyday crockery from vintage supplies rather than chain store shelves. As usual, other traders bought from my stall, a regular recommendation that I have lovely things at reasonable prices.

If traders and shoppers spread the word, it'll start to spread itself. Banchory Town Hall is a cosy venue, easily accessible, with a friendly and helpful hall keeper, handy parking, cafes nearby; on the day, an enterprising Church coffee morning directing shoppers onwards for spiritual and nutritional refreshment. Looking forward to next time!

Quickie

 

A very quick 'Hello!' to anyone I met at recent fairs, and although I don't have many photographs, "THANK YOU!" to Mike and Doreen of Gladrags Vintage Clothing for the use of this pic which Mike took of my stall at the Funk Fair in Dundee.

(Here's a pic of a corner of Gladrags' rather more sophisticated stall, taken at St Andrews, last year.)
These that follow were taken at Eassie plant sale last week.

I took craft materials and books - recipe, crafts and gardening related - to the two local sales, Memus Spring Fair and  Eassie Plant Sale in ENKCA Hall at Balkeerie, and did well with that.

The Funk Fair in Dundee - sadly, the last at the excellent Queen's Hotel - was excellent, well attended, with lovely customers. Delilah and some Samsons were there and Delilah's Mum is now 'clothed by Rural Reads & thReads'. Delilah's little sister and pals, Maude, Nicole and Alanasette took charge of my stall when I went out to the car for fresh stock and Robbie, the smartest of the Samsons, extended his stunning wardrobe. Is there as competition for 'Best Dressed Man in Dundee, by any chance? Would it help the City of Culture bid? I'll nominate Robbie the Samson for a start.

My house emptying goes on apace and I am gearing up for Banchory Antique and Vintage Fair on Saturday 18th and Gin in Teacups' new venue at Panmure Chamber East in Dundee on Sunday, 19th.

The Joys of Spring

Lots of news. 

First up, a great day with a lovely friendly atmosphere at Memus & the Glens hall outside Kirriemuir, in the glens of Angus. Too busy to take pix, but here is a pic of my glamorous assistants, Rachel and Iona  Leslie, trying out some vintage jewellery for size. These girls go for quality in quantity! 

I bought lots of cake and some useful bits and pieces.

I was encouraged to meet young mums interested in sewing and looking for fabrics - I have two double wardrobes full of fabric, more than I can sew and wear or furnish a house with, so I'm more than happy to pass on some. Hazel, Sarah & co, I will have more, including some recycled vintage fabrics in pretty prints that are just right for summer dresses at the Plant Sale at Eassie Hall, at Balkeerie, just past Glamis. 

The following week is the Funk Fair, 12th May, in the Queen's Hotel, Dundee, a great venue which I love, for all sorts of reason, not least of which is ease of parking and unloading, as well as a very comfortable interior.

Next week again, on 19th May, in a new Dundee venue, Gin in Teacups has a vintage fashion & craft market in Chamber East, in Panmure Street. I think this used to be called 'Panmure Chambers' and is on the street that leads from Albert Square to Victoria Road, - but follow the post code DD1 1EP, to be sure.

 On Saturday 18th May, I am due to have a stall at an Antique and Vintage Fair in Banchory Town Hall. I don't have a poster for it, but I looked in at the April one and took a picture of Anne Marie Bain's Re-Store stall. It will be a task to pack up from Banchory, unpack and repacked for Dundee next day, because I have noticed the two areas have very different tastes.

That's a quick catch up. I'll post some pix as I unearth the goodies over the next few weeks.
Phewee!