Translate

Monday 1 October 2012

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness ...

Courtesy of Google
Hello everyone, as I said in my previous burbled post, I've had a busy weekend what with one thing and another. Jacob has come home for a few days after his travels around Europe and is very tired, so haven't seen a lot of him really, as I was at a new Vintage Fair all day yesterday.

I can't believe we're now into October ... where has this year gone? Summer's definitely over ... not that it ever really happened in the frozen north anyway! The trees in my garden are losing their leaves, the flowers are all dying back and when I get a dry, fine day I need 'to put the garden to bed' for the winter.

Just thought I'd give you a few before and afters of some Annie Sloan makeovers I've done recently ...


This dated, grubby cupboard became this little beauty ...


A lick of Annie Sloan Antoinette, new wooden knob, a touch of dotty paper tape and a basket  filled with Cath Kidston goodies, a cyclamen planted in a pretty cup and saucer and a bath melt cupcake complete with candle, this was my little sisters birthday surprise! That's Lottie in the background ...


This tangoed cupboard became this ...


Annie Sloan Old Ochre, distressed with dark wax, new ceramic knob, lined with dotty sticky-backed-plastic, a basket and wooden heart ...


Orange pine side table ...


Again painted with Antoinette (my favourite colour this week!), a new ceramic knob and basket ...


Cupboard with drawer, chipped and unloved ...


Painted with AS Paloma, a basket added and the drawer interior painted in AS Primer Red (not really keen on this one, might have to get the Antoinette out again)

And on to the Vintage Fair! This is a brand new fair located near to the Coast Road where I took you several posts ago.  I didn't really know what to expect, but loaded the car with a heavy heart, as it was teeming it down and not a nice day to go out on a jaunt really.  The sort of day that customers would rather stay indoors, curled up by the fire with a good book, rather than trudge along to a village hall and get wet in the process.  But it was fabulous! Hordes of people came including some old friends and the other stallholders were a lovely lot too!


My stall filled fit to burst ...


I sold lots and my poor little Micra went home a lot lighter!


Squirrel Nutkin greeting visitors at the door ... strange, but true! The fair was a huge success and is hopefully going to become a monthly event which is great news as it's not too far away to take my poor overloaded little car.  There was a lovely tea room serving home-made soups, bread, cakes and scones ... a pefect day!


I drove into my front garden and found this little lot being where they shouldn't be! Rumbled ...


Realising they've been caught in the act of destroying my garden and legging it back to their own patch!


Hope you've all had a lovely weekend, and can't wait to hear about it!

Love, Claire xxx








53 comments:

  1. Glad you had a succesful day makes all your hard work worthwhile :-) I managed to get to my first vintage fair yesterday at Burton and had a fab time bought lots of exclusive things and made a brooch at the coolcrafting workshop{v proud of my effort!!} absolutely loving this vintage revival ..!!! and enjoy reading your very inspiring blogs. Will definitely try to get to Bardsea next time it sounds fab but for now like you time to batten down the hatches and get ready for another wet windy {always!!} walney winter.!! Enjoy catching up with Jacob love Su x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Su, can see you're well and truly catching the Vintage Bug! Pop down for a coffee anytime, love to see you!

      Claire xxx

      Delete
  2. Hello Mrs..
    soo pleased for you Claire!
    Glad lots of peeps ventured out on 'such a wet day'.
    Your little painted cupboards are a treat and I too love the Antoinette colour, its like a candy pink!
    No wonder Helen loved it!!
    Glad Jacob is home and well!
    Have a week full of fun.
    loVe Maria x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maria, had a lovely day and looking forward to seeing you next week!

      Love Claire xxx

      Delete
  3. Gosh you have had a busy weekend Claire! Loving your furniture makeovers, the antoinette paint is a gorgeous shade! The fair looked fabulous too!
    Victoria xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Victoria, love that shade, it's a lovely old rose colour. Thanks for popping In!

      Love Claire xxx

      Delete
  4. Ooh, LOVE all your gorgeous makeovers! I'm actually heading down to London tomorrow to do an Annie Sloan paint course, so now I'm even more excited, having read your post & seeing your lovely pics. Glad you enjoyed the Fair - it sounds lovely too.
    Happy Monday,
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How exciting Gilly ... Can't wait to see your lovely makeovers!

      Love Claire xxx

      Delete
  5. Claire, I'm so glad things went well for you! Do you think you need to see someone about your bedside cabinet addiction! It's amazing how paint, and a bit of love, can give new life to something! Ada :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ada, think I'll follow in your footsteps and rename my blog Vintage Bedside Cabinet Addict! Doesn't have a good ring to it though, does it?

      I just keep finding them, they're easy to transform, and transport, and each one s different. They can be used for all sorts of things too ... Telephone tables, bathroom cupboards ... Even bedside tables! The possibilities are endless!

      Love Claire xxx

      Delete
  6. I'm glad you had a fabulous time at the Vintage Fair and welcome home Jacob. It's so exciting to see my gorgeous bedside cabinet featuring on your blog along with the lovely Lottie. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Glad you like it Chuck! Hope Lottie's enjoying her new-found fame xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Claire
    Well you have been a busy bee! your cupboards are fabulous and your stall looked packed with treasures
    Glad you had a good weekend
    Thea x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Thea!

      Thank you for your lovely comments and I promise I'll post your prize tomorrow! Been unpacking my car today and trying to find a home for everything xxx

      Delete
  9. Your cabinet make-overs are fantastic! I'd wonderful what a lick of paint and a new handle can do to an unloved piece of furniture. I love seeing the before and after photos. Gillian x

    ReplyDelete

  10. Oh thanks Gillian! The paint is wonderful, it's very easy to transform things with it. I found a little ceramic handle I liked for £3.99 ... I needed a few so ummed and aahed a bit, then I noticed a pack of 6 identical knobs for £7.99!

    Have a lovely week, Claire xxx

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a lovely post full of eye candy, Claire!! I love AS paint and am often slopping it about. In fact I've got a pile of little bits and bobs waiting to be painted. Glad you had a good time at the vintage fair, sounds like a lovely day. I reckon your sister was pleased and punch to receive her birthday gift! Gorgeous indeed. Love Katie xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Aww thanks Katie ... Lovely of you to drop in! xxx

      Delete
  12. Goodness gracious me you are a busy bee (rhyming not intentional!) - how do you find the time to fit it all in Claire. You have created some lovely makeovers - well done to you. Well done too with your fair - double good for you!
    Stay warm
    Best wishes
    Jenny

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Jenny, have been a bit manic this past week ... Need a rest now! Hope you're ok xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your make-overs overs are so lovely and I love the colours you have painted them. Where do you get all your baskets from? I'm so glad you had such a successful time despite the weather. If you are doing a monthly market those ugly bedside tables in your area will have watch out!
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Sarah, thank you! I didn't buy the baskets specially, they were old ones lying around the house, but luckily there was one to fit each cupboard ... I'll have to invest I new ones for future projects though!

      Love Claire xxx

      Delete
  15. Hi Claire,

    I am happy to hear your day at the fair was such a success! Your stall looks lovely. You have some beautiful things for sale.

    Your new cupboards look really nice. What a lick of paint can do!!!

    Happy new week!

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hello Madelief, thanks for popping in ... Lovely to see you and thanks for your lovely comments xxx

      Delete
  16. Love the furniture makeovers. And I know who to ask about anything chooky when we get our chickens! Elaina xo

    ReplyDelete

  17. Hello Elaina, think you'd be better off getting advice from someone whose chickens don't misbehave! Have a lovely week xxx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Claire, love your cupboards, wish we could get that paint down here!! Laughed at your girls being rumbled, it's amazing how they know when they are being naughty even though they have the smallest of brains!! S:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Sally, thank you very much and hopefully you'll get a stockist soon! Where I get it from isn't really convenient, it's nearly an hour away, but worth the trip!

      The chickens are really funny and I think they are quite clever really ... they come running if they hear the rustle of a bread bag from miles away ... and if there is a cat in the garden they do their guard dog noise to alert you!

      xxx

      Delete
  19. Oh I wish I could go and wander around a vintage fair, sounds blissful, I would definitely love your stall :) You've been so busy, definitely an addiction going on there, lol, but one wholeheartedly approved of by all I'm sure. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww thanks Cheryl ... you need toorganise your very own vintage fair ... if there aren't any where you live, it would be very popular! All you need is a hall for the day, lots of vintage ladies with goodies to sell ... oh and miles and miles of bunting!

      xxx

      Delete
  20. Glad the fair was good for you. Loving your make overs :) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for popping in Joe, always lovely to see you! xxx

      Delete
  21. Wow, you sure have been busy with the cupboard makeovers..they all look great! The Antoinette colour is just lovely :)
    I am pleased to hear that the vintage fair went well..I would have loved to have gone if I lived nearby. Your stall looks packed with lots of fab goodies!
    Have a nice day today (yes it sure is feeling like Autumn now here..though never really had that much summer weather here neither :P haha).
    Magie x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Magie and thank you! I hope you had a lovely birthday weekend and would have been fab if you had come to the fair!

      Very windy and rainy here today, but am staying in doing a bit of sewing and might get my paintbrush out too. Enjoy your day, Claire xxx

      Delete
  22. Hi Claire,

    Fun post and sounds like you had a busy weekend.
    Love all the Annie Sloan paintwork you did. So glad that you had a successful time at the Vintage Fair and your stall looked great. Oops... about your chickens getting into the garden and neat that they could make the way back to their patch.

    Have a happy week
    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello Carolyn, lovely of you to pop in! It's very autumnal here today, hope Spring has well and truly sprung where you are ... chickens are in their run today, otherwise they might just blow away!

    Enjoy your day, Claire xxx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your furniture redecorating is so clever, Claire. I can imagine each piece being admired and used! I am so glad that you had good sales at the fair. My first attempts at selling at a craft fair were not successful last fall, but I had a wonderful time visiting with friends, and I bought a few things that I am still enjoying (: xx from Gracie

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hello Gracie,

    Fairs can be very unpredictable ... just don't give up, and try again! They are a great way of meeting up with friends, as you say,and finding things for yourself, so making money is an added bonus!

    Lovely of you to drop in xxx

    ReplyDelete
  26. It always breath air and sweet
    here with you Mary and I transmit peace
    with your post, thanks
    Love Susy x

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hello Susy, thank you, you'e very kind and you're always welcome here ...

    Claire xxx

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love your blog, oh those naughty chickens made me smile! The cabinets look fab. Catherine x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Catherine, and a very big welcome to Thriftwood! Thanks for dropping in xxx

      Delete
  29. Hi Claire
    Your painted cupboards are beautiful. I'm glad to hear the vintage fair went so well. Your stall looks really pretty, lots of lovely goodies. I had to laugh that your hens knew they were in trouble when you arrived home and decided to do a runner. Have a lovely week.
    Ali x

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Ali, I love your nice comments, you're very kind! The chucks are hilarious, they seem to 'egg' each other on! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  31. Well done on your great sales. Your makeovers are very inspiring, and I have you to thank for the pot of Annie paint in my cupboard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you and thanks for dropping in, have just read your latest post ... Very lovely! xxx

      Delete
  32. Hello Jooles, really don't know how I fit t all in my car ... Our noses are touching the windscreen! The chickens are very naughty when they get the chance ... If i''m cooking in the kitchen, there are four feathered faces looking through the frosted glass door begging to be let in!

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sorry Jooles, your reply is below, I missed it up somehow! xx

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Claire

    What a lovely blog. Really like those cabinets. Started painting up a few things myself and love it.

    Kelly x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Kelly, and welcome to Thriftwood!

      Love Claire xxx

      Delete
  35. hehehe oh those naughty hens !! I love all your painted cupboards you do such a lovely job of them Claire ! Gail x

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Gail, thanks from your kind comments ... Just paid a visit to you too! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh wow ... this is so inspiring!! I have wanted to do a vintage stall for so long ... I love the cupboards, I have been doing up a few chairs recently!!

    Mellie
    xxx

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx