Stormy Weather ...

Happy August, my lovelies ... how on earth did that happen already?

Well, my garden sale was an absolutely fabulous event made so by the wonderful people who dropped in ... it was a meeting place for old and new customers alike and also of course, friends and family. £130 was also raised for NW Air Ambulance, just from donations in lieu of an admittance fee, so thank you all so much.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, so I got up early and started lugging furniture around ... I had several big pieces: 3 dressing tables; a Dutch Dresser and plate rack, as well as the usual smaller items of chairs, side tables, etc.

Once the furniture was in place I was able to do my favourite thing ...  tittivate!

Even Dotty got a makeover and she was decorated with vintage teasets, old board games and annuals (anyone else remember Princess Tina?) ... there wasn't a moment in the day when there wasn't someone in there, oohing and aahing over everything and singing along to the LP's being played on Millie's vintage record player.

On Sunday, it was a bit cloudy, but I got on with it and it was a bit easier as everything that had been packed away related to a certain area of the garden.  At ten o'clock on the dot, I stood back and surveyed the scene ... I thought it looked even better than the day before ... I opened the gate ready for the visitors and the heavens opened! It was coming down so heavily I couldn't even attempt to bring anything in until it calmed down a bit.

On cue, my lovely friend Ruth arrived, and we swabbed everything down with old towels and wrung out the upholstery on my chair seats.  The rain came periodically throughout the day, and whilst not as busy as Saturday was still a good day with more lovely people coming through the gate, and some returning for a second visit! I'm sorry I haven't taken any pictures of the customers ... it was so busy I really didn't have the time and all my photos are taken beforehand.

We also had the pleasure of the company of the amazing Miss Becki Fishwick, who serenaded the shoppers on Sunday afternoon. Such a shame we didn't have the beachgoers passing by as we had the day before ...

My stock is now at an all time low, so a great excuse to go treasure-hunting once more! I can actually move in the house, and when Steve returns to work next week, I'm going to give the house a bit of a Spring Clean (well better late than never!) and revamp. Last week I took it easy after all the excitement, and as Steve is off work we've just been pottering about, doing jobs that need doing, and Steve's birthday was on Friday so I made him a cake that I'd been itching to try out after seeing it on t'internet. Didn't turn out quite as imagined but it tasted delicious, which is all that matters really!

Anyway, I'll love you and leave you my lovelies, until next time! Thanks for dropping in, you're always welcome ...

Love, Claire xxx

PS: I really need to get a wriggle on ... Betty the Wood Fairy's swap is due in soon ... will reveal all in due course xxx

Everything in the garden's lovely ...

Good morning my lovelies! My house looks like a furniture warehouse (this place is like Ozzie Wood's ... as my Mam used to say) ... with pieces waiting to be magically transformed for my own event.  Ooh, I'm excited. but there's a lot of work to be done. I've consulted the long-term weather forecast and hopefully it's going to be a nice weekend ... sunshine would be wonderful, but as long as it's not raining it will be fine.

I trial-runned this sale last year, and it was the hottest, sunniest day of the year ... this year I'm going to do the whole weekend, so need loads of stock.  When I go to fairs, I'm obviously limited by how far away the venue is, and what I can fit in my car, but by doing this I can sell larger items, such as dressers, wardrobes and dressing tables, etc.  (I just hope that I sell them, I dread to think where they will go, if not!)

So if you've got a couple of hours free and don't live too far away, it would be absolutely wonderful to meet you!

I'm trying to catch up with all your posts, by looking at ten a day ... the trouble is, more keep appearing!

Well, I'll love you and leave you, as my paintbrush is calling me ... (I have a fair this weekend too), and I hope you all have a wonderful week and that the sun shines on you ...

Much love, Claire xxx

PS: I've spelt Dotty's name wrong on the flyer ... I can't change it as Steve had to set up pjf, or jpd's or something or other, and I daren't ask him to do it all again!

All is quiet ... on New Year's Day

Happy New Year, my lovelies, and I hope you've all had a lovely time? We don't really 'do' New Year's Eve here at Thriftwood, so after a festive bowl of ice-cream, laced with the last of the Bailey's off we went to bed at about 10.30.  Harry thoughtfully brought the New Year in noisily at about 4am, but thanks to my industrial strength earplugs, I slept through it ...

Looking back over the year, it's not been a bad one ... a lovely summer, with lots of sunshine and al fresco dining, one or two mishaps that are not worth dwelling on any longer, but best of all, my family were all safely gathered in for Christmas, and for this alone I feel very lucky.

It was Christmas Day in the Workhouse ...

Christmas has now almost completely been removed; although I love preparing for it, and enjoy the rituals that go with it, for me, once it's over ... it's over.  The trees are down, the baubles wrapped and packed away, but usually there is always a little something, lurking somewhere, that I've completely forgotten about, that will make itself known in the middle of January ...

I don't know about you, but this year I'm not going to make long lists of resolutions that are unachievable, and will just make me feel bad when they fail ... this year I am taking for myself one word ...

SIMPLIFY

I am going to try to simplify my life ... not in one great sweep but in small ways.  I am going to take each day as it comes, and try to simplify something each day.  For a start I want to stop making mountains out molehills, one of my major faults! Rome wasn't built in a day, but if I try to turn a negative into a positive, it will be a step in the right direction.

I am going to cut down on spending (even more!), simplify the way we shop, cook and eat. I want to simplify my surroundings and I want to rid myself of things that clutter up my head with unnecessary thoughts and not give them a moment of my time. If I need something new, I want to first make sure I haven't already got it, or something that will fit the purpose.

This year, when asked what I wanted for Christmas, instead of saying I didn't mind, I asked for things that I need and use all the time.  My favourite shower gel, moisturiser, make up etc, were all given to me and now I have drawersful of my favourite things which I won't have to go out and replace when I run low. 

From my lovely husband, among other things, I received a voucher for 6 sessions of sewing lessons at one of my favourite shops, Suzie B's ... I can't wait to start in the New Year and will keep you posted of my progress! Each session something different is made, a cushion, bag, doll ... I can't actually imagine being able to do this, but have wanted to for ages so this is my chance ...

Now the decorations are down, I'm filling the bare spaces with bowls of Spring bulbs, which brighten up the dullest corner with colour and scent.  It's just a tiny reminder that this bleak, wet and windy Winter weather won't last forever, and that Spring is in fact, just round the corner ... Not wanting to wish my life away though, I'm going to use this time to plan for the year ahead ... family time, finances, home, garden and Thriftwood Vintage ... although no longer contained in a shop, still my passion! I'm looking forward to this year's fairs, my second garden sale in the summer, and meeting lots of lovely people in the process. 

So how about you? Do you want to join me in simplifying our lives or are your lives as simple as can be? Maybe you love the hustle and bustle of a busy life and can't think of anything worse than living simply? 

I'd love to know ...

Love, Claire xxx

My crazy busy life ...

Phew, what a week that was! I'm a bit glad it's over and done with, I couldn't cope with all that malarkey for very long, I don't think ... I got the keys for my little shop, Thriftwood Vintage, 11 days ago ... and opened 7 days later! That week was spent lugging furniture, stock and all manner of things to the shop at the crack of dawn (before the hairdressers below started work, because I didn't want to be jeopardising their customers) and after tea, late into the night. But I did it ...

I bought a bright orange pine plate rack from a furniture warehouse, and after we had been delayed by half a day by a very inconvenient power cut, Steve drilled it to the wall for me ... and that was my starting point.  I then painted it very quickly with Annie Sloan Country Grey, and filled it with vintage loveliness and fairy lights.  The decor in Thriftwood Vintage is a bit gloomy, and with no time to paint I decided that 'mood' lighting was a must! So lamps and fairy lights have made a big appearance ... my home is looking very sparse now!

 

A Christmas corner has been created, complete with tree, ice skates, stockings and a pile of vintage toys and games under the tree.

I have had to be inventive in maximising display opportunities ...

The green garden bench has also been giving a new home for the time being! 

Mince pies, carrots and a message for Santa ...

But best of all were all the lovely customers, friends and family, who dropped in to say hello ... thank you so much for all your good wishes, they mean so much to me!  Everything happened so quickly that I didn't have time to think and now my old friend Doubt is creeping in ... I know I've done the right thing because this chance will never happen again, and I would have always had regrets if I hadn't taken the plunge and forever wondered "what if?", but I wouldn't be me if I didn't worry ... really I have nothing to lose at this stage, and if I do decide it isn't working, I can just pack it all up again ...  I really hope that doesn't happen though.

As if that wasn't enough excitement for one week, me and Millie set off on Friday to Harrogate to The Country Living Fair.  I have a new phone that I haven't quite got the gist of yet, so am just using it for Facebook on the run, and taking photos ... I think I've managed to download one so for now that's all you're getting, my lovelies!

Rachelle & Tracy

For the second time I met blogging royalty Rachelle from Ted & Agnes blog and Tracy from Olive and Harry blog (combined, their stall was called Olive and Agnes).  We had arrived there too late to book onto their Liberty wreath making session, but when they'd finished we found their delightful stall, full of their unique bits and pieces. We had a lovely chat about crocheting, sewing, dogs,  my new shop (Rachelle had seen me mention it on Facebook!) Rachelle's new book, and of course, her last book ...

Thank you Amazon! 

It really was like chatting to old friends, they were so lovely, even though I was a little starstruck and giddy, and when we walked away, Millie said "that's made your day hasn't it?" and do you know, I think it had ...

I really need to get back to earth with a big bump, and start sorting out Christmas ... I hope you all have a quiet, peaceful week, and don't forget, if you're in the area, there'll always be a big welcome at Thriftwood Vintage!

Thriftwood Vintage

221 Rawlinson Street

(above Hairport)

Barrow-in-Furness

Cumbria LA14 1DW

Opening Times

WEDNESDAY 9.30-3PM

FRIDAY 10-4.30PM

SATURDAY 10-4.30PM

Have a wonderful, peaceful week, my lovelies ... looking forward to catching up with you all!

Love, Claire xxx

Dreams can come true ...

Hello my lovelies! It's really nice to be back ... but very briefly, for now.  Just to let you know that all is on the up with my family ... we all needed to help each other, and it's all a big improvement to how things were only 2 weeks ago ...

I'd just like to thank you all for your lovely comments ... I was completely overwhelmed by them, and felt that I had been enveloped in a warm, loving hug by you all ... in fact I was moved to tears that you had taken the time to wish us well, so thank you so much, it really meant a lot.  I promise that I will try very soon to catch up with you all, as I've missed this little corner of my world, called Blogland.

For the coming week though, I am going to be extremely busy ... I haven't even thought about Christmas yet! My amazing news is that I am going to open my very own shop! This has been my dream for so long, and now it's come true, thanks to 2 lovely ladies, who knew about my dream and have offered me the chance of making it come true.  My hairdresser and her business partner had often said that the rooms above the salon would make a good shop for me, but it was rented out for the long foreseeable future.  A few weeks ago it became vacant, but because of what was going on in my family, I didn't pay much attention.  On Tuesday evening, they offered me the chance to fill their empty rooms with a vintage Christmas shop ... if I like it and think I can make a go of it, it can be mine afterwards too! I didn't even hesitate, because I knew that if I didn't grab this chance, I would forever regret it, and wonder if it would have turned out ... only one way to find out!

I'm hoping to open this coming Thursday, and I promise I'll keep you posted and takes lots of pictures.  I really must go though, I have a loaded car waiting ...

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll catch up soon!

Love Claire xxx

PS: The name of my little shop ... Thriftwood Vintage! xx