French Leave

Twice a year Penny and I raid the £2 coin slush fund and book into our favorite little Hotel in Normandy .It is right on the sea front and looks straight out to Jersey. We always have the same room on the top floor , long hike but worth it. We get two windows looking out to sea and sleep to the sound of the waves.
We have three whole days as we are going overnight tomorrow. After doing four events in one week I so need the break.
However I will of course be doing some buying between seeing friends and having good lunches, we have even managed to find a big Vide to go to Sunday. I still get a thrill every time I book a trip

Washed out!

Thank goodness for a sunny day! Lizzie and I had a rather disastrous Shepton Flea yesterday. We were well prepared with gazebo and new large tarpaulin and were fine until the wind got up !
Our gazebo was tied to Freidatoo at the back but the front rose into the air and we had to quickly get the tarp off which was acting as a balloon. The gazebo now bent to thingy had to be turned on its back and the lovely security men dismantled it and carted it off ...thank you boys.
It was a really misseling wet rain which soaks everything , we were soaked through and now have cartloads of washing and ironing and drying out to do .
insult to injury! the dress rail fell in the mud
silver lining two ladies had been before the disaster and bought all our heavy coats !!
So as I am want to say " worse things happen at sea " and they do, it still remains we have a lot of work to do .
fortunately the next fair Talent for Textiles at Ilminster is November 4th so we have some time and after 4 fairs in one week a much needed break
Lovely to see all our Friends at Shepton and some faces from way back too

Flower power

I was inspired to use some bits of indigo 19th cent. quilt that are so wrecked it had to be something small to use them. I love these prints and the quilts so much every piece is precious to me.
I was thinking about fabric mattress buttons which I am about to make from ticking when I got this idea and this is the result, what do you think?

Driftwood fun

As a result of the lovely afternoon beachcombing with a couple of friends I was able to complete my first Dritwood Christmas tree. I had a little construction help with my resident " engineer " who did not want to be left out.
I bought this gorgeous rustic snowman in Oslo and he looks well at home on my tree , there a few finishing touches to do but I could not resist showing you a sneak preview.
I hope it will decorate my stall at the various Christmas events we are doing this year.
The wind was so wild last night I think another visit to the cove is called for

Living History on our doorstep

Our friend Natalie at camp with the English regiments



The French go through their paces
Breakfast at encampment
Our stall all decked out in period. Lizzie set up Sat while I was in Chagford and I joined her today. We met some enthusiastic people and will hope to do more of these events
Good morning!

Napoleonic living History at Dorchester

Lizzie had excelled herself in setting up the stall

Well done Sheila !

The Chagford Rag Mkt was the talk of the town ! and a lovely place it is too.
Sheila had excelled herself and we were packed out all day with happy shoppers. When I went down to the shops they were all raving about it so can't wait for the next one.
It was such fun too with lots of enthusiastic, interesting customers . The little group of card tables where you could sit and have a cup of tea was lovely and people stayed for ages .
Thank you Sheila