Spring Into Summer Goes And Bits & Bobs From A Car Boot

The Fairs & Flowers Of Summer

I have been busy preparing the posters for the 'summer' season of fairs and gathered these flowers from some shrubs to decorate my 'office' in the garden. Summer must surely be upon us as I also ventured out to the Wicksteed Park car boot sale this morning (something I would not not do if there was the merest hint of wind or rain).

There are Eight Fairs Up To The End Of July

The car boot did not start well and at first I thought I wasn't going to find anything at all but keeping in mind some old saying along the lines of 'if ye look then ye will find' I persevered and was rewarded with some nice finds.

Pretty Paragon China From The 1930s & 1950s

The cups are very pretty and perhaps not the sort of thing one might expect to find in a field on a Sunday morning.

The Car Boot Haul

I will share the posters for the forthcoming fairs along with some photos of recent finds and of some pieces I have been working on.

Six Days To Go!

Spring ends and summer begins on Saturday when the fair returns to St Matthews in Northampton. The will be two rooms of stalls, an 'old style' tea-room and if the weather is good a vintage market out side on the lawn. Bring a picnic and I will do my best to conjure up the sun.

 Retro Drawers

I enjoyed painting this set of drawers, they cost a couple of pounds from a local second hand shop and the things on top are finds from the Stratford Fair back in March (more about this later).

An Additional Date Due To The Success Of
The Olney Fair In April

After Northampton the fair will visit Olney and there will be stalls inside the small hall and once again outside on the forecourt. This worked very well when we did this for the first time at the Olney Fair on 5th April and we will hopefully be able to do this again if the weather is kind.

Green, White & Violet

In between fairs I taught myself how to make basic use of our sewing machine and made some lengths of bunting to use at the fairs. I owe three cups of tea to the three people who identified the significance of the colours I used, it is of course in recognition of the brave fight for womens' suffrage. 

Our First Visit Of The Year To Stamford

May ends with the Stamford Fair before we cross the shires for the Leamington Fair on Sunday 8th June. The yellow table and kitchenalia were finds from the last Leamington Fair, the table is from Blighty Bazaar (a lovely emporium in Regent Street, Leamington Spa) and all the things on top are from Teddy & Mavis who brought some lovely things along to the fair.

Lovely Finds In Leamington Spa

I also found a yellow and black gramophone needle tins at Leamington to add to my small collection and many thanks to the 'pack of vintage dogs' who helped with publicity. I am always looking for old 78 records and would love find something by Bessie Smith or Scott Joplin.

Vintage Doggies

The 'Dogs on Wheels' gathered together to have a natter about their plans for Easter.

Who Let This Lot Out?

The Leamington Fair always looks lovely so I went back to the golden age of cinema for inspiration for the poster for our visit in June. 

Sunday 8th June

I also found a lovely scrapbook at the Leamington Fair, it is full of snippings from the 1930s and I will write about it in more detail one rainy afternoon perhaps.

1930s Decor - Scrapbook Style

June continues with the Market Harborough Vintage Fair which will be taking place in our new home - The Methodist Church on Northampton Road. There will be an 'old style' tea-room and home made cakes by Les, George & Family who have made the cakes at the Northampton Fair for the last four years - many thanks.

The Harborough Fair Has A New Home

We are looking forward to seeing everyone who enjoyed the fair at The Three Swans.

Crinoline Ladies

This pretty crumb brush is perfect for clearing away after tea and scones (the best scones are always  crumbly). There will be some lovely cakes along with some great vintage bargains when we return to St Matthew's in Northampton for the July Jumble.

Summer Bargains

It is one of our most popular events and if the weather the good there will be lots of stalls outside on the lawn.

Vintage Books 

I have been collecting quite a few books for children from the 1930s, the covers are colourful and sometimes there are some great illustrations inside. They are also inexpensive, especially when found at car boot sales!

A Lovely 1920s Watercolour

I found the picture when I visited Brackley Antique Cellar, I liked it because stylistically it is very 20s/30s and is of Berrynarbor which is a small village in North Devon. It is a place we have passed by many times on our way from Combe Martin to Barnstaple and beyond.

Which Frederick Leighton?

I did for a moment just think it might be by the illustrious Frederick Lord Leighton but with some assistance from a very helpful gentleman in Bonham's 19th Century Fine Art Dept it was identified as the work of a second Frederick Leighton who was based in Streatham in London, he exhibited at the RA in 1926.

Remember These?

I found this lovely set of brushes at the monthly small Antiques fair which take place in Abington Church Rooms, originally it would one have hung in an old post office or corner shop, I can remember similar things displaying different grade of pencil when I was a child.

Summer In Sunny Stratford

The fair will be returning to the lovely Town Hall in Stratford in July. The image on the poster is of the High Street in Stratford, it shows the famous Garrick Inn on the right hand side and the Town Hall can be seen on the left. David Garrick commissioned a statue of Shakespeare which was one mounted outside the Town Hall.

One Of The Stalls - Stratford Fair March 2014

The stalls are set out on wonderfully old wide oak desks from the 1930s and the numerous windows open onto the busy streets of Stratford, the sounds of the 1940s drift out on the same breeze that draws the fine voile drapes into the light.

Leamington Artist - Terence Sinclair

Terence Sinclair has joined us at recent fairs and his work portraying some iconic British images has been received well. Terence's work will be on display at all of the summer fairs except Olney on 24th May.

Our Last Fair Of The Summer

The summer season will end in Olney on 19th July (just as our last fair of the year will be the Olney Christmas vintage Fair in December). Weather permitting there will be stalls outside too.

Best wishes for the summer and hope to see you at the fair.