Carnaby St Andrews

A good day spent in the very enjoyable company of fellow stall holders Fiona and Katy.

An interesting mix of customers - one attending a vintage event at Goodwood, another an admirer of high quality, luxury fashion who fell for an Yves St Laurent leather handbag, a student of Scottish history and culture and a lady who thought a 'nondescript coloured' Jaeger jacket to be 'just right' for work.

Stalls were a mixture of the new - like these cute seaside pics and models made from painted driftwood -

and the familiar. Nicky, who, together with her mum, produces lovely, handmade (and now, printed) goodies, which evolve over time and event.

This familiar gent with his eclectic mix of lovely ceramics from Victorian crockery to 1960's pieces, classic, good quality ladies' and gents' clothing and these funky plastic 'deck chairs'; Very Comfy - I tried one.

Finally, my 'new best friends' Fiona and Katy who made the day thoroughly good fun.

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.

Mid Century Modern

After torrential rain this afternoon, the sun came out so I took some pix of the things I am taking to Inchbare Hall, between Edzell and Brechin, on St Patrick's Day. I hope everyone can see and admire the splayed legs - very modern. 

The azaleas on this lovely, neat little table, are a mother's day present to me from my Jack Russell, Tilly. She stayed with my neighbours while I was at the Funk Fair last week and when I picked her up, it turned out she had asked the neighbours to take her shopping for a present for me . . .

The cross bars on this stool are the reason the stool is still stable after 50 years or so, while the legs of modern ones go skeewiff after a couple of years.

This little stool is so-o-o 1960s and astonishingly, the woven cane seat is still in perfect condition. Maybe it's not so astonishing at all, just an other example of the quality of vintage furniture and one of the reasons it appeals to people.

This nursing chair is a perfect piece of untouched mid century modern. The springs are good, the moquette is clean with very slight signs of wear.

 Apologies to serious vintage lovers, now, but this is a response to a request for pink lace.

 This looks too orangey - the effect of the sun setting in the west.

This is a better representation of the real shade of pink.

Just the weather to relax outside with a good book - and a thick jumper! Looking forward to the Vintage Fair at Inchbare. . .  Seeya there!