Something to make you smile...

I just had to share this with you if you haven't already seen it.. It brightened up a very dull and wet day and made me smile... lots!

It's been a while ...

Box frame by Jane Winton

It certainly has been a while since I approached my blog without some apprehension as my ability to string words together these days is a bit of a challenge. Where I once prided myself on my multi-tasking abilities, for example ironing a pile of shirts, whilst cooking up a two course supper and talking to the cat about the state of the economy, I now find the simplest tasks, focus all of my concentration and take ten times longer. Why is that I wonder? Is it the fact that as I grow older, greyer of hair (thank you Clairol for your subterfuge) and longer in the tooth, that the grey matter inside my head doesn't function as well; or is it that life is getting more frenetic ..  read that as frantic?  I do admit that the last 10 months have been mostly absorbed with our attempts to move house and all that it entails. As anyone, who has been through this 'Top ten most stressful life event' will know that it does require nerves of steel, super human reserves of patience and a jolly good hoover. Our house has been preened and dusted, tweaked and adjusted to try and please the slow stream of anonymous visitors through our door since last June when we innocently put our house on the market thinking that we would be packing our tea chests a few weeks later. Wrong!!! The housing market and process of buying and selling has fallen into black hole since we last sold and bought and using the usual cliches.. it has been as painful as pulling teeth and as frustrating as pushing jelly up a hill.  BUT...  on March 13th we had, not one.. but two, offers on our house... totally out of the blue.
Rather like a pregnancy, I have been reluctant and most superstitious in announcing this news as until the ink has dried on the contracts... anything could happen. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter by the day and we hope.. pray.. that we are able to start packing boxes with gusto.. in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted!

Other news..

Last month I had the pleasure of a day trip to London to visit the Selvedge Fair and say hello to a few familiar faces and good friends. This small jewel of a fair was packed with an abundance of original works from far flung and not so far flung places..
I was smitten with the work of Claire Fletcher from Made in Hastings and her adorable paintings and illustrative works and had to give this little bunny a home..

He asked me to take him home with me.. honestly!

I also had the pleasure of finally meeting lovely Emma from Silver Pebble who had a fabulous display of her dainty silver jewellery pieces..

sorry Emma .. borrowed this image from your blog!

There were was a wealth of talent packed into the hall from  designer/makers showcasing their work including these lovely cards ..

and needle felted birds..

The icing on the cake for me was to visit my friend Viv with her delicious display of embroidered bunnies, brooches, bags and more..

After feasting my eyes and setting my heart a flutter at the fair we then hot footed it into the heart of the metropolis and pounded the pavements, doing rather a lot of window licking on the way and finally ending up at Liberty & Co. where I was keen to see Cowboys & Custard cards in situ and have a snapshot for the scrap book... 

 

Now I shall attempt to publish this post which in itself will probably take a while as Blogger has helpfully changed all the settings, format, widgets etc etc in my absence.

Signing off but hopefully for not too long!

Easter Greetings

I would like to wish all my blog readers and visitors a

Very Happy Easter

Hopefully I will return with a basket full of news for you soon..

Jumble Fever

Just a quick reminder that The Vintage & Handmade Jumble Sale is on THIS Saturday.. March 24th at Rangeworthy Village Hall. 10 .30 a.m. - 2.00 p.m Free Admission and scrumptious cakes by the lovely W.I ladies!

Be there.. or be very disappointed that you didn't come and join in the scrum for some of the South West's finest vintage bargains!!

Buzzzz....

With all good intentions I should have posted this days ago and I fear I may be the last out of the blocks to tell you about the splendid day that took place last Saturday in the pretty town of Chipping Sodbury Gloucestershire.

The Town Hall of Chipping Sodbury was simply a buzz of activity from the moment our ladies rolled up in their wagons at 8.00 a.m until we closed the doors at 3.00 p.m with weary feet and happy hearts. The Vintage & Handmade Textile Fair was blessed with a beautiful Spring day when the sun brought visitors from all over the land to bustle and browse, chatter and shop amongst the fine collection of stalls. As always our ladies and gentlemen provided a stunning display of vintage and hand crafted wares... and here is proof of that below..
My photos were the usual snatched affair as I raced around before the doors opened and the stampede began..

Louise Taylor Bowen

Gertie - Treutmade

Donna Flower Haberdashery

Hen's Teeth

Homes & Antiques Magazine

Daisy Darling Millinery

Niki ~ Nostalgia at the Stonehouse

We welcomed several exciting new additions to this fair .. the first being the new tea room team 'Billy's Buns' who kept the thirsty folk fed and watered with lovely cakes and gallons of tea...

Billy's Buns Tea Stall

Nicole and Sarah from Pretty Nostalgic were launching their fresh off the press book.. Pretty Nostalgic Home .. a gorgeous publication which would appeal to any lover of vintage lifestyle...

Lastly .. it was good to have Mr Custard at the fair who manned the door and acted as a bouncer.. not that we needed one for the genteel folk who visit our fairs.

I also had the pleasure of meeting a dear and very talented lady, Fi of Chipper Nelly .. a fellow blogger and tortoise owner along with her lovely friend Cuckoo, another fellow blogger. It was a real treat to meet Fi after discovering her delightful blog last year and loving her style and zest for life!

The icing on the cake was to discover that we had well over 850 visitors on the day which is quite a gathering and just as well they didn't all arrive at once!

Show and Tell...

Here we are, almost in the middle of February and the days are trundling on and there is just the merest whiff of Spring in the air already.. Primroses have been spotted in the garden, the bird song is subtly changing to a chirpier tune and a frog has returned to our little pond to frolic alone until a mate comes along. This morning we have returned to winter with a thin veil of snow which, although only centimetres deep, can cause havoc and mayhem to our small corner of Bath. If you have ever visited the beautiful city of Bath, you will know that you cannot escape the hills and hills + snow = some pretty eventful journeys.. be it on foot or wheels.

I am hoping... nay.. praying that this white stuff will move on and allow the balmier days in, especially with the Vintage & Handmade Textile Fair in two weeks time. Our hardy band of ladies and gents have battled through the elements before to make it to Chipping Sodbury to attend the V & H fairs so I am sure a little dusting of ice will not prevent them. We will be welcoming some lovely new members to the fair such as Nicole from Pretty Nostalgic, Mona from La Jolie Robe and Alice will be flying the flag from BBC Homes & Antiques Magazine. Many of our familiar folk will be in attendance too.. Donna Flower with her mouth watering display of textiles and sewing notions, Viv from Hen's Teeth with her super duper embroidered gems, Lizzie The Washerwoman with her fabulous fabrics and Brocante, Clare - Daisy Darling with her wonderfully crafted millinery, Stephanie from Festoon with her beautifully embellished jackets..Niki from Nostalgia at the Stone House with her beautifully crafted items, oh the list goes on.. and on. Last but not least, we will be welcoming an exciting new 'Tea Room' team for this event .. a man in a pinny with some delicious home baked fayre! Not to be missed !! I do hope you will be able to join us on 25th February.. put the date in your diary!


Beyond the textile fair we also have the Vintage & Handmade Spring Fair on 26th May to look forward to. I got my box of ephemera out the other day and designed this new flyer for the fair.. I hope it sums up all things vintagey and Spring like!

There goes another one....

With the minutes ticking by and another year drawing to an end... what hopes do you have for the next one?
I do not wish to make rash resolutions that will fall by the wayside, like the many that have gone before.. but I would like to think that I will make better use of my time next year...starting with a good long walk on New Year's Day which may bring some inspiration as it did on January 1st 2007 when the idea for 'Cowboys & Custard' came to me on such a walk. Let's wait and see... Expect the unexpected!
Wishing a Happy New Year to you all and may it bring you happiness and new adventures!

Not even a mouse....

Well... not a whole one.
After deciding it was high time I started to inject some Christmas sparkle into this week, with time running out, I decorated the tree with a little help from the tabby terror who insisted on placing the decorations elsewhere.. ie.. on the ground!
With the tree finally decorated and remaining upright.. despite the attempts of Sir Edmund Hilary aka Pickles the cat... to climb it and usurp the Christmas fairy .. I stood back.. and began to feel ever so slightly Christmassy. I always think of one of my favourite films at this time of year.. The Grinch who Stole Christmas.. when his tiny heart starts to flicker and twitch into life.. so did my Christmas spirit after decorating the tree.

All that remains to be done is a date with the Sellotape and wrapping paper, some pressies to wrap, aided by a few glasses of Sloe gin.. home made of course. Kirstie would be proud!
Pickles has already placed his gift to us under the tree.. discovered this morning .. not gift wrapped but perfectly placed amongst the gifts already there. One half chewed mouse! Nice!
Not one I can take back after Christmas to exchange for a whole one!
On that rather gruesome note.. may I wish you all.. a truly happy and peaceful Christmas with lots of happy days to come in 2012.
See you on the other side!
Michele xx

Ode to the Movember Moustache..

Today Mr Custard will ceremoniously shave off his moustache as promised to the children of his primary school. I must say that I have grown rather fond of this hairy creature growing upon his top lip and will lament the passing of this hirsute exercise.

In reverence to his participation in the Movember charity fund raising... he has written a poem...

Ode to the Moustache

The hair that blossoms on the lip,

Is rarely cool and never hip.

So shave it off and get a grip;

You know you look an utter drip.

It’s growing for a noble cause,

But do not linger for applause;

You’d look less daft in grandma’s drawers;

Some “L’Oreal tinted” Santa Clause!

So shave it off! Do it today!

Don’t defer it; don’t delay.

The execution must not stay;

The balder lip is the modern way.

November it is almost past;

Advent it is here at last.

No need to ponder or to fast;

Just have a shave - you look an ass!

Can you spot the difference between Jason King and Mr Custard?

A healthy distraction...

While the house matter continues to rumble on with no news as yet.. I have been finding a healthy distraction with gathering my stock for the next Vintage & Handmade Christmas Fair which is taking place this weekend at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.

So if you have an hour or two to spare.. put on your skates...

Or saddle up your horse...

... and make your way to the lovely little Cotswold town of Chipping Sodbury to join the happy shoppers at the fair.. there are over 48 stalls offering a fabulous cornucopia of vintage goods.
We look forward to welcoming old friends and new.. Hope to see you there!