Today was one of those rare days that I love so much..NO AGENDA!!!
After spending much of the last two weeks working to deadlines and a D.I.Y frenzy.. it was good to wake up to a day of 'footloose & fancy free' pursuits.. and so we took advantage of this by heading off to one of my favourite towns not a million miles away from Bath.
Frome is an interesting town.. it had a thriving wool industry during the 1500 - 1700's and there is much evidence of this throughout this Somerset town with the largest number of Grade I & II listed buildings of any town in the area..
Much of the appeal of this place is the eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary shops.. There is a strong creative spirit here and craft shops sit comfortably alongside vintage emporiums and antique shops... In short.. I love this place.
I was on a bit of a mission today with the intention of spreading the word about our very own Blogger's Vintage & Handmade Fair so I made a bee line for my favourite street .. Catherine Hill.. a steep cobbled street that is packed full of character and individual shops..
First stop was Bea & Evie.. an exquisite emporium of fine vintage fayre specialising in vintage millinery and fashion. 
The lovely proprietor of this gorgeous and unique shop is Tina. She has a finely tuned eye for vintage clothes, hats, corsages, handbags and much much more..
Tina told me that they offer several courses teaching the art of millinery, ribbon corsage amongst others..
If it is too far for you to travel to Frome and visit this beautiful shop for yourself.. then the good news is that Bea & Evie have a website .. just click on the name to take you to the doorstep.
On leaving this shop I espied another vintage style shop on the opposite side of the street..with a charming name.. Fi Fi de Villes..
A shop that I had not seen before caught my eye with it's colourful window display..
I had to take a closer look so stepped inside to discover .. A lovely contemporary collection of fabrics, cushions, buttons galore.
These buttons were totally delicious .. just like bowls of colourful sweeties .. just as tempting.
It was at this precise moment that I made silent pact with myself to learn how to sew..
All these beautiful vibrant fabrics..
Just waiting to be turned into lovely items such as these..
Rachel the owner of Millie Moon..has a lovely fresh and colourful shop which will inspire anyone nifty with a needle and thread. Once again.. if you can't make it to Frome then Millie Moon will come to you through their website..
My last port of call was this shop which sells an eclectic collection of vintage fabrics, furniture and jewellery etc etc...
and these.. my only purchase of the day but one that appeals to the child in me..
Of course what would a day out be without a cup of coffee in this pretty cafe..
Tomorrow we return to the grindstone with more paint, sweat and tears..
Please pray for car boot weather this weekend.. just another job on my endless list!
Friday, 8 August 2008
Buttons and Bows...
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28 comments:
Ooh so envious of your lovely little shopping/eye candy trip. Those buttons and fabrics! - I think I'm heading towards a sewing machine rather speedily too - too much sewing magic and tasty goodies on offer/show in blogland. What a gorgeous little set of shops and I love the name 'Bea and Evie' - House of Elliot! - and full of very apt delicious-looking vintage things too. Thanks for a really welcome bit of escapism!!!
That last photo gives me that holiday feeling...I like what you have bought, I have a collection of mainly german scraps. I think that such a scrappaper can make you happier than a golden ring! I'm off to the shops you have recommended. Have a nice weekend, with beautiful wheather perhaps we can enjoy some of that too! Don't forget to take pictures at the car boot sale!
I hope you remembered to spread the word after so many distractions! I also thought of Bea and Evie in the House of Elliot, I loved that series. I'd be in the vintage shop where you bought Noddy & friends. Those colourful buttons would have caught my eye too, such a simple display idea, but really effective. A great outing Michele, thanks for the tour. x
Fingers crossed indeed for car boot weather, we shall be joining you. It sounds like you had a good day out with Mr Custard, what lovely shops, perfect for a good old rummage. Hope you had some cake with your coffee
Mxxx
I am envious of your lovely independent shops. We have too many chain stores where I am living. Just wondering - did you get your fridge in the end?!
Looks like a great day out (with a good excuse too!). The buttons look amazing - I wish I had space at home to display all mine like that! Hope the fair organising is going ok. I am gutted I won't be able to come - I go on holiday on that very day. Good luck with it all though.
Cathy X
May I push you in my friend Janes' direction, and her blog, Petticoat Lane (in my side bar) If you read her first posting you will realise why!!! The bizarre coincidences continue...
Lovely buttons. Do you think we should go on a sewing course together?!
I hope you took lots of photos of the inside of that cafe for me...? It looks beautiful!x
A great day out! I haven't been to Frome but it looks like a "must visit" for me soon!
Ooh you folk in the west country are so lucky with all these wonderful little places! Great post - window shopping with a guide! Good luck with the sewing plans! t.xx
Hysterical...great minds think alike!!! You were so much braver than me though...With having just entered the 'blogging world' I still feel a little shy about taking pictures inside shops!! I'm so glad you did though to show everyone how lovely these shops are! I even took a picture of the very same cafe!!
Trinny and Suzanna were on 'the hill' a few Saturdays ago, so it must be the place to be! Apparently their friend owns your last port of call.
I too have been totally inspired to learn to sew by Millie Moon. I just loved it.
Thank you for stopping by my blog, it's lovely to know people are reading it.
OMG I just have to put Frome on the list now!! What a fab visit, Michele!!;-)
Oh I want to come along next time! these pretty bowls of buttons look like candy to me!
Now that I what I call a day out, I loved looking at those pictures enviously really I would have to travel miles just to get ONE shop like those, but thanks to you Michele, I now feel like I have had a day out as well.
Hugs Lynn.xx
What lovely stores. I could just smell the materials as I looked at the pictures. :)
Gosh, your shopping trip makes me drool and want to get out to a nearby town that has shops much like those in your pictures! Maybe next weekend! Thanks for sharing!
Sounds like a perfect day to me. I wish I could have been with you. Those fabrics and buttons look good enough to eat :-)
Hi Michelle ~ What a lovely tour of the wonderful shops that you got to visit. Such pretty things!! Yes my dear, you should try sewing. It really is rewarding and you are so uber talented and I know that you will be a natural. BTW, I love the vintage characters...like you, it appeals to my inner child.
hugs to you..sweet friend,
Becky
PS: Give Harry and Pickles a hug from this American gal!!
Oh, that looks such a super place for a day out...I have nowhere like that near me, this county is a veritable desert when it comes to lovely shops. If I'm ever that way on I must visit Frome.
Hope the car boot went well and you didn't spend more than you made!
Deb x
How did you manage to leave with just one thinsg?!
Wow it looks like vintage with those gorgeous shops!
You are so lucky, you would think that in a big city like sheffield we would have shops as lovely as that! I am so envious!
Rosie x
What a wonderful, jolly post Michele. It made me smile - much needed! and the links to those shops very useful.
A lovely day out with your man was just what you needed.
I really must get to visit Frome properly instead of just passing through!
Have wonderful creative day.
Carol xx
Hi Michele,
I'm sure I shall bump into you in Frome one of these days....it is such a fab place, isn't it?
Love your photos of the buttons in the dishes, what a great display.
I have been thinking of signing up for Bea and Evies 'felt flowers' and 'ribbon flowers' courses.... just not sure when I can fit it in....
Good luck with the DIY!
Niki x
The bizarre coincidences continue.....I've just noticed you have a tabby called Pickles! The first cat I owned was called Pickles and also a tabby!!!!!!!!!!!!! How bizarre is that? All my pets were named after Beatrix Potter characters.
Jane
Hi Michele, this looks like heaven to me. Getting excited about the homemade fair already... I think Sal might be joining me to drive down together, in a Thelma & Louise type fashion!!xx
Wow, those buttons!
And here's me thinking I was the only person who knew about bea & evie, also the new Millie Moon shop just across the road.... Oh how I love the buttons & the little shelf of old magazines & hosehold tips.
Please can you tell me more about the Vintage show in November? I'm new to the blog scene so am not up to speed yet.
Thanks muchly
Hi this is Rachel from Millie Moon. Thank you for your lovely write up on our shop. You have encouraged me to set up a blog but I dont know what I do next? can you help? I have put you on the blog.
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