Wednesday 21 October 2009

Downhill run ...

These last few weeks have left me feeling like I am competing in some kind of ski event.. the momentum and pace has increased day by day.. and I must admit.. I can't wait for the apres ski to begin.. but there are many things to do before that is allowed.
I did however find time to leave the slopes and have a grand day out with Mr Custard to visit an event I had been looking forward to for some weeks.
With small brown suitcase in hand we had one stop to make en route to the event.. and our first port of call was this delightful emporium in Cirencester.. Lexi Loves. Now the whole world of cyber networking has brought me many many fortunes.. in the way of friendships and acquaintances.. and yes... I must admit business matters too. I do have a small confession to make.. for those of you who do not already know.. I have joined the nest of Twitter and have bunked off to join in the daily twitterings amongst this hugely popular network.
It is through this feathered fraternity.. that I made the connection with this lovely shop in Cirencester owned by the equally lovely Lexi.. Lexi's emporium in Cricklade Street, is a sight for tired eyes (as mine have been of late) and on entering the shop... one is immediately aware of the spectrum of colours from all the enticing items for sale.. from floral fabric alphabet letters arranged along a shelf..to the cheery bunting and assortment of gorgeous vintagey cushions with plenty more besides... so much to tempt with perfect stocking filler finds for Christmas.
I am delighted to say that Lexi Loves now stocks Cowboys & Custard Greeting cards... so I hope to visit this pretty emporium again soon.
On our way back to the car park.. we nipped in to the New Brewery Arts Centre to see the latest exhibition of Cleo Mussi's work. If you are not familiar with this lasses incredible talent with mosaics.. then I urge you to go.
It took two years in the making to create these, and many more, fabulous china mosaics that combine Cleo's wit and talent to transform broken china in to these..This photo really doesn't do justice to the detail and scale of these ceramic creatures. Having taken part in one of Cleo's mosaic workshops some years ago.. I am only too aware of how skillful it is to cut a piece of china to just the right size and shape with a pair of tile cutters. My efforts ended up on the other side of the room on the floor.. It takes great precision and practice.
These animals were virtually life size so they must have required hours in the making.. no.. make that months..We are BIG fans of Cleo's work in this household and are lucky enough to own a few of her pieces.. but there is plenty more wall space to accommodate a few more!
Back in the old jalopy and on to Stroud..where we were to visit this very exciting exhibition..
Having several of my favourite artists exhibit under one roof for the same exhibition was quite a lot for my little heart to take.. and my pace quickened as we found our way through the streets of Stroud to Sustain ...Once again Cleo Mussi's work was on display and Cleo herself was there to chat too..Edwina Bridgeman.. another much admired artist and friend had some pieces of work on display..and lastly..our very own Annie from Little Wren House.. or her blog a Saucerful of Secrets.. was there with these extraordinary felted characters... I couldn't take my eyes of this fabulous Pug dog.. marvelling at the detail in the face all created from wisps of needle felted wool.We are very proud to have Annie and her felted friends at the Vintage & Handmade Fair.. coming soon!!!
And on that note.. I have finally woken up to the fact that it is only 24..24 days until the fair and my mountain of boxes and vintage finds will have to be sorted, priced and packed.
I am busy making some of these Quite a few of these will be coming along too..Things in the Milly & Dottie's Emporium are getting rather frenzied too.. and Milly and I have been working like Santa's little helpers to stock the shelves for a new Christmas Department.. opening very soon.. so watch this space.

25 comments:

Unknown said...

Crikey Dottie, let's go off piste and enjoy some apres ski right now, bit of a slalom, heltery skeltery few weeks behind and ahead of you. Bring your fondue sticks...
Mx
Love Cleo Mussi;s work & Julie Arkell's of course xxx

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Wow Michele,

What a lovely bumper post! I did enjoy your description of a lovely day.

Lexi is exactly the way I imagine my shop will look one day! Full of colour and pattern and loveliness.

I absoloutely adored the felted characters by Annie, I am off to check out her blog next! They remind me of the beautiful puppets they made for the Fantastic Mr.Fox which rather disappointingly was voiced by American actors. ( Surely Bogus, Bunce and Bean should have been Ray Winstone, Johnny Vegas and Jack Dee..... sorry I digress...)

Your sneak preview of some Christmassy wares was soooo tantalising, I adore the skier in pink scarf and the baby deer is lovely too.............aaahhh

Its beginning to look a lot like *********!

Love Sarah x

Thanks for your lovely comment x

Ragged Roses said...

Oops what happened there!? Wrong ID came up for me then, no Mr Roses hasn't taken up blogging as far as I know...
Mx

hens teeth said...

Michele...I did enjoy this post. Such beautiful pieces to soothe mind, body and soul.
I think there is a frisson of excitement in blogland....a very special day to look forward to X
Who needs sleep !

Patchwork Harmony said...

hi Michele,

thanks for your giveaway entry!
I'm gutted that I can't make the V&H fair this time... the last time we borrowed a car from my boyfriends dad and on the way back to london something went wrong with it, and its still not fixed! :(
getting our own car soon hopefully, so there'll be no excuse!
I hope the fair is a roaring success again - and that pug doll totally brightened up my day! x

Country Cottage Chic said...

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
I think I'm joining you on the downhill run!

;-)
Jayne

lemonade kitty said...

You are a busy bee, love the christmas cards and I can't wait for the xmas dept to open Love Lucey x

Kickcan & Conkers said...

Great post, really enjoyed reading it. you've also mentioned some interesting links to artists - thanks!

A Saucerful Of Secrets said...

Hi Sweetie!
thank you for all the kind words, I'm really flattered ...it was great to see you at the exhibition, short but very sweet :)Looking forward to the BIG day.
Take Care,
Annie x

Sal said...

Hi Michele!

24 days eh? I am busy trying to build up my energy for the big day.
It's hard to believe that it was almost a year ago when we first got together!

Glad you enjoyed your day in Cirencester!
;-)

A time to dance said...

I would love to have goe to that exhibition...it looks wonderful, I spied Julie Arkel...I love her work..you dont have any large vintage xmas trees in your stock do you? I need one for my stall and then sweet P's snug...love H

Teena Vallerine said...

oh my what a day trip! perfect recuperation you lucky thing! wish I had been able to smuggle myself into the jalopy's boot to tag along too! t.xx

Rubyred said...

What a lovely post!Try not to get too frenzied! I'm sure all your treasures will be wonderful!
Love your Christmas cards, just gorgeous!
Rachel x

Clare said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time. can't wait till the fair...busy busy at the moment preparing!

Garden Girl said...

How funny, I was in Lexi Loves last week with R, it's my favourite shop in Cirencester. We often go over there on days off. I managed to part with a fair bit of cash on my visit, as she sells fabric by the quarter metre, perfect for quilt making.
It really is a treasure trove of fabulous stuff!
Glad all is well, take it easy Custardo xxx

Bobo Bun said...

How perfectly civilised. Hope it's made your head spin less with all those plates whizzing up above.

Now that Pug - fabulous. I've had a look at Mr Alfie Blue beside me snoring and farting and he doesn't look quite such a well mannered Pug.

Mrs Bun

Frances said...

Writing from New York, I cannot tell you how much I wish I could get to that upcoming Vintage Handmade Fair.

This is a city full of stores, but not many have much that really attracts the eye. That fair will be full of such attractions. Best wishes to all involved.

xo

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Michele,
Well I'm exhausted just reading all that...but glad to hear that you and Mr.C enjoyed a day out together, doing what you love...

The lovely shop that you have discovered looks like the perfect place for your handmade cards...I shall have to try to get there one day....

**
Not long now...exciting!!
See you there,
Niki xx

Ticking stripes said...

What a fabulous time - a surfeit of treasures! Love Julie Arkell and Cleo. Thanks for introducing the other artists!

Vintage Fairy Tales Rebecka said...

Oh, I really really wish that I was living in England!
I would have visited that exhibition that´s for sure!
I´m showing some dolls from the" Julie Arkell workshop in France", in my blog right now if you want to pay a visit!
Kindest regards
Rebecka

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

I just wanted to leave you a comment to say that I was shopping with my mum at the weekend in a local shop and she picked up and admired a card... I said I recognise that and proudly annouced you as a blogger i'd read in the past!

It was great to see your cards close to home!

Victoria xx

Unknown said...

I have been skulking around your blog for a while and I now have the courage to comment.

I love the fact that I learn so much about the south west which I had no idea about.

Hope the skiing gets easier.

Katie said...

Brilliant post, I really enjoyed reading it! Cirencester's such a lovely place for a mooch about. I love Lexi Loves too...I could happily spend all day in there perusing the shelves! I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the V&H Fair...see you in 15 days! Katie x

Libby Buttons said...

Fabulous stuff! Do look me up on Twitter... DarLy Dolittle is my pen name

Busy Lizzie said...

Hi michele, thank you for visiting my dollshouse blog, so which Triang did you have in the 60's? Lizzie xx
PS WHERE did you find that skiing doll? I WANT her!!!