Bisley Rag Market ,amazing

Aladdin's Cave , well John Gillows actually!!
Bisley Rag market is in the picturesque Cotswold village of Bisley. The village hall is a delightful wooden building with everything you could want for an event like this and the impression when you walked through the door was so full of promise.
Lizzie and I set up the night before after a fraught journey with Freidatoo threatening to pack up all the way.
Sigh of relief we made it! we were lucky to have our lovely friend Polly to stay with and had a great evening with some wonderful food cooked on the aga and for us a relaxed start next morning .
I could not resist the wonderful exotic heaps on John's stall, I don't think there has been a a occasion when we have been at the same venue that I have not bought. I filled a bag with these lovely things and a few lucky people will be getting a special Christmas presssie !
There were quite a number of us that regularly stand together a various fairs and a good number of for us new faces so shopping was definitely a must.
There were throngs of enthusiastic buyers and what an interesting and lovely crowd they were ,the whole day gave you a warm glow,
The girls who did the food produced the most delicious selection and were lovely.
What more can I say it was just perfect.
Anf the car ?? that was another story lets just say we got home courtesy of the big yellow lorry with the generous support of my David who turned out to help

Welcome to my " Office"

I am not sure whether my office is in my wardrobe or my wardrobe is in my office!!
The little boxroom of our tiny house contains both. It is really cosy and David has fitted shelves and desk for me so it is a bit like my days of living on a boat ..compact I think is the word.
As you can see lots of my favorite "sillies" scattered about,it looks over the garden and the two lovely Georgian houses which back onto us ,I can see the park between the two houses and the lovely chestnut trees , not bad for a town house.
This is where I blog and twitter and work on my Web site. I enjoy the interaction with textile dealers all over the world , my goodness you can spend some time reading interesting blogs!
Anyway do come for a coffee is you are passing just give me a ring 07976980543

Small and beautiful

I love the way things can just turn up in the most surprising places . This is all hand painted and the actual picture I think is on velum . I think it is rather beautiful and a little exotic not signed though.
The horsemen are only about an inch high so that gives you an idea of the scale .
Anyone out there know anything about this sort of art ? Middle Eastern I would imagine

The joy of living near the sea

I never get tired of being near the sea ,I was born five miles from the North East coast and am now about the same distance from the South coast.
Today we were having coffee with friends overlooking the harbour , we went to see the results of the stone carving classes in a quarry on Portland. We think he did rather well with this relief in Portland stone.
It was a perfect excuse for a trip to one of my favorite places and the surf was pounding in! I love that sound. There was a stiff breeze so we got a good spray of salt with the fresh sea air. I managed to collect a few more bits of driftwood for another Christmas tree but I think the cove is popular for beachcombers and one of the few local places you can find any

Turn of the century Girls Realm magazines

I have 18 of these magazines stacked next to my bed and it is just the most amazing trip into life at the time!
This magazine was started in 1900 and I have issues from 1900 to 1903 . the advertisements are just fantastic reading.
They are the size and thickness of National Geographic so quite a good read.
Wonderful articles on how to conduct oneself in various situations , some travel stories, fiction,features on famous people and craft items. I have to keep reminding myself that this was of that time and not just stories.
I loved the account of a motor trip through France . I have the Coronation number for Edward v11.
As you see at 6d in 1900 .....not for everyone's pocket !

Christmas at Bridport

Caroline Bushell's phone number should read 01404 45901

Hand made felt buttons

I have been experimenting with a variety of layered fabrics, ticking, felts etc to make interesting buttons for various projects. My quilted flowers were the start and I have done some lovely red and white layered mattress buttons, I love those old mattress buttons especially the old French ones, they have been my inspiration.
I have been long pondering how to" dress up" my patchwork wool throws when I remembered some layered felt I made at Eileen Sarup's felting workshop.....perfect ! because it is multi-layered I can part the layers and get a really good effect.
I think it lifts the whole thing ?