THIS'N'THAT - TOTNES

Just one more day ....

2012-01-27T23:43:00.003+01:00

Well, it's almost over but if I dwell upon that I'll end up very down. So, it's the new opportunities that the extra freedom will bring which I need to focus upon.
No danger of me turning into a domestic goddess which is sad for Paul but there we are. Lots more time for blogging and lots more news of Nostalgic Mix 4 to come soon. meanwhile, a big thank you to all blog followers, This'n'That customers, regular shop browsers, buyers and sellers at Nostalgic Mix. XXXX

Getting ready to take This'n'that on the road this year.

2012-01-23T23:57:00.005+01:00

Only five more days left until the shop closes. I'm really sad and yet also looking forward to having time to be off out and about buying and selling. I've really enjoyed my time in the shop and will always remember it fondly but my real passion is retro/vintage and much as I enjoyed sourcing the brand new lines for the shop they were only there to help to cover the overheads.
So, freedom calls!
Have been taking a few photographs for the next Nostalgic Mix fair (March 31st) publicity. Not finished yet but looks as though green and yellow are emerging early this spring!
At the moment I am sorting bookings for Nm4 in March so do contact me if you are interested to know more.
lesleyloach@btopenworld.com

A last look at This'n'That?

2012-01-19T05:11:00.004+01:00

Not long now until the shop closes on Saturday, January 28th. It has been a great experience and such fun . If you have time come along for a last visit. We are open Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sats. Lots of reductions including all greetings cards at £1 each or 6 for £5 .... going fast!

Plans are well under way for the next Nostalgic Mix Fair which will be held in Totnes Civic Hall on Saturday, March 31st. More news, about the sellers, soon.

One of my favourite artists!

2012-01-18T02:02:00.006+01:00

Have you seen the recent coverage of David Hockney's new exhibition at the Royal Academy? Hope he will forgive me for pasting this pic into the blog to advertise it ... there's a great book too (cheapest on Amazon).

January card sale!

2012-01-11T21:06:00.002+01:00

The sale of all of our regular greeting card stock started today. They are all at £1 each or buy 6 for £5!!
Never before and never again so make haste!

closed on Thursday
open on Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Saturdays until we close on Saturday January 28th.
Lots of fittings being sold too but they are going fast.
All a bit odd really but too busy to think much at the moment.

XXX

Happy New Year!! Counting down to midnight .... if we can stay awake .....

2011-12-31T20:18:00.005+01:00

May 2012 bring solutions to your problems, good health to you and yours and prosperity in this age of uncertainty!!
Lots of love from Lesley & Paul

PS hope that you can pop into the shop before we close at the end of January (lots of bargains!) and that we will see you at the next Nostalgic Mix fair at the end of March .... yes the booking forms will be out very soon!! XXX

This'n'That .... what next?

2011-12-22T20:22:00.007+01:00

Seven years ago Paul and I signed the lease for the shop. Since then it has evolved from (what was intended to be)an 'Antiques and Collectables' shop into it's current 'Nostalgic Mix of old and new'.
We've had such fun and made lots of new friends.
We have added greetings cards and wrap, assorted gift lines and the ever popular stocking fillers for grown ups.
In 2010 I started up Nostalgic Mix Fairs with one in 2010, two in 2011 and already have two planned for 2012 when there will be two more Nostalgic Mix vintage fairs.
Paul and I have decided not to renew the lease and will be closing at the end of January. It took us a while to come to the decision but it's the right one for us.
I will, at long last, have time to really concentrate on the blog plus some selling on line.
Also, in addition to our own fairs I hope to be able to book in for others. This'n'That will be at Lizzie's Vintage Rag Market in Frome at the end of June and hopefully we will be at the Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury in December.
I hope that you will continue to follow the blog and that your patience will, at long last, be rewarded with regular posts!! Yes Helen really!!
Hopefully many of our friends will be able to call in before we close.
There will be a sale in the shop in January and lots of our gift and card lines are already discounted.
(Booking forms for the 2012 fairs will be winging their way out after Christmas.)

News from Totnes!

2011-11-13T17:58:00.006+01:00

Hi there, Sorry it's been so long since I posted on the blog. I used to joke that I could fit everything into each day if I gave up some sleep ... you know, the posted ramblings of an insomniac?! Well, thta's no longer true, I just about get half of my stuff done and whimper quietly over my long 'Things to do" list for the next day.
Anyway, I thought that I should remind you to pop these dates onto your calendar for December.
Totnes Christmas Festival:
late night opening with street market on ...
Tuesdays December 6th, 13th & 20th.
For parking info look at
http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/totnes/

Apologies and Thanks!

2011-10-03T12:32:00.002+02:00

Hi there, have lots of pics and thanks to post re the third Nostalgic Mix Fair held a week ago. At the moment I'm having a few days away and find my internet connection not working so, apologies will catch up when I get home later in the week. (Have a few borrowed mins on the office PC where I am staying)
Many, many thanks to all sellers, helpers, browsers and buyers at NM3.
See recent blog for 2012 dates. just use the email link if you want to book.
Lesley XX

Dates for 2012

2011-08-21T22:15:00.004+02:00

At last I have some dates pencilled in for 2012! The Town Council office said that I had to wait whilst they fitted in their regulars so wait I did and here we are!!

NM4 Sat March 31st
Nm5 Sat October 13th

Today is Sunday. It is raining ....

2011-08-07T19:19:00.005+02:00

AGAIN!!

Who remembers the 'weather board'at infant school? The start of day ritual was to establish the day, sometimes the date too and .... the weather!

How did we find out about the weather? Well, we either looked out of the window (very scientific) or even stood outside.

Well, what I'm leading up to is to ask why the Met Office (only 'down the road' at Exeter) can't do the same? So often lately we are told that it will be raining for much of the day, consequently Totnes is a bit quieter than it might otherwise be ... but ..... the sun shines! Conversely, especially at weekends it rains when we had been told perhaps early showers and a fine afternoon.

However, I suppose that I can't blame them for today, they forecast rain and rain it did .... in what my Gran would have referred to as stair rods!!

Should you wish to do the 'Blue Peter' thing and make your own weather board ... perhaps not using the ever popular Fairy Liquid bottle... a Google search for weather symbols was most productive :)

Great days out for August 13th & 14th!!

2011-08-07T19:02:00.007+02:00

Every year the Suttons seed trial grounds situated behind Fermoy's Garden Centre on the Newton Abbot - Totnes road are open for just two days.
I have tracked down a report and can recommend that all keen gardeners go along. The posted photos are from our visit last year.
Info below from a web page:

Which seeds make it through to the shelves? And why? Find out at Suttons Seeds Trials Grounds open days on August 13 and 14, 10am - 4pm. Experts will be on hand to answer questions. Trials Ground Open Weekend at Suttons Trials Ground, behind Fermoys Garden Centre, Totnes Road, Ipplepen, Newton Abbot TQ12 5TN. Free entry. Contact: Francijn Suermondt on 01803 696364 or email francijn.suermondt@suttons.co.uk.

Town with Nicholas Crane

2011-07-27T02:11:00.001+02:00

Hi, Just a quick message to fans of Totnes.
A new, four part series starts this Thursday, 28th on BBC 2 and will feature four towns over four episodes. This week it's lovely Ludlow and then Totnes has it's own episode later in the series along with Perth and Scarborough.
I remember them filming in the early spring outside This'n'That so I'm hoping for another 3 seconds of fame (last 3 seconds were on Countryfile!!)
I will try to find more pics etc to add to the blog later on.

Nostalgic Mix September 24th 2011

2011-07-21T23:45:00.003+02:00

I'm starting to sort bookings this week. The sad side of the fair's success is that I now have many more people interested in selling than I have tables to allocate.
At the time of posting this blog I have contacted a number of previous sellers from NM1 &2 to check whether or not they are coming along and then I will check interest with others before allocating what space is left.
The whole event will be managed online. I have tried to do some bookings by taking papers to folk but to be practical I am too short of time to do that properly. So, it's emailed messages back and forth. Then application forms and cheques posted to me after which all communications are by emails.
You will find an email me link in the right column of the blog.
If anyone wants to cut and paste the above picture for their blog that's a great help or, if you would like me to send publicity material by post for you to pass to others I can sort that.
Thanks XX Watch this space for regular (yes, regular, I have reformed) updates. :)

Long time no blog ... so sorry :(

2011-07-21T21:28:00.006+02:00

It's been a hectic time for us at home and at the shop over the past few months and I'm afraid that time sitting at the PC has been minimal or non existant since Easter.

Mum has visited several times which is lovely and has made us make the effort to go off to some of the lovely spots in our part of Devon.

We have now got a holiday place (they call it a lodge but really it's a big caravan!) in Cornwall and have been trying to get used to leaving a little space on the calendar to fit in the odd visit. I'd never realised how hard that would be but, as the teacher says, "There is room for improvement".
This is the little bit of Cornish coast which we can gaze out upon whatever the weather. In fact, storm watching ihas been great!

Our favourite beach is Trebarwith Strand which has a great pub to sit outside and watch the sun set.
By day it's an interesting beach with some busy spots but quiet stretches of sand too. We're looking forward to exploring a bit more of the Cornish coast.

The shop has been pretty busy as has Totnes most days of the week. I think that we are lucky to be trading in a town which has regular shoppers, market day shoppers and tourists.

Last week was my "holiday at home week" with a trip to the Ways With Words festival at Dartington. I had a rover pass for the week which was a great treat although I seemed to spend more time queueing than in talks some days and ended up limping by the end of the week. (Sad old bat I know but it's something to do with my hip and needs an X ray so fingers and hips crossed for that!

I still managed to spend some time enjoying the grounds at Dartington and wondering why I don't make time to do that more often!

Our garden is looking better than it deserves to considering the neglect. Maybe I should declare it a Site of Special Scientific Interest and get a grant for it!!

I've been waiting for the roses around our arch to bloom for two years and at last, presumably having sensibly put down roots first, here they are!

So, there you have a very abbreviated version of life at This'n'That and home and away. More soon :)

Also, I have the long promised giveaway ready to photograph. Hope to post that on Sunday.

Proud to be in Totnes!!

2011-04-11T19:24:00.003+02:00

As shown (for a second!) on this week's episode of BBC Countryfile. They were comparing Totnes with Yeovil and said that we were fortunate that our supermarkets (Morrisons and Co-op) were within the town and not on an out of town site drawing business away from the High Street.
Not sure that I would ever have put fortunate and supermarket in the same feature myself but I can see what they mean.
Have a look for yourself by clicking for the link to BBC i Player

NM2 pics at last!

2011-04-07T23:20:00.006+02:00

(Thanks to Liz for this view of the hall.)

Many thanks to Sal for saving the day and sending her flicker pics of the second Nostalgic Mix Fair! My camera had a nasty encounter on the day with some water .. say no more!

We'll be there!

2011-04-07T01:20:00.004+02:00

THIS'N'THAT WILL BE SELLING AT THIS WEEKEND'S VINTAGE AND HANDMADE FAIR IN CHIPPING SODBURY. IT'S THE ORIGINAL V & H ... AN INSPIRATION TO ALL!! ...AND WELL WORTH THE TRIP ... GO ON HAVE A DAY OUT!!

Red Letter Day!!

2011-03-27T23:39:00.006+02:00

Well, what a weekend! The Nostalgic Mix Fair (no photos yet I'm afraid) was just lovely. The hall was packed with nostalgic and handmade delights, so many prosepective buyers poured in ... it was busy for most of the day.

Take a look at salssnippets blog for a great write up. Thanks Sal! Tell Mr Snippets (who was our bouncer)that a google search for bouncer uniforms brings up an Ebay section with 213 items of doorman uniforms!!

To my delight Saturday's edition of Western Morning News did a big feature on the fair and now .... my happiness is complete ...

Red letter day ... the blog now has one hundred followers so I'll be sorting my first giveaway upon our return from a week in Cornwall It's hard to slow down my mind (so many ideas) but my feet have given up so it's feet up reading books for a couple of days and then some walking :)

Cats with opposable thumbs!! Have you seen this? .

2011-03-23T22:58:00.006+01:00

Click on the title to view youtube video! It's a must see!!

More Tea Vicar!

2011-03-22T10:20:00.003+01:00

Sneak preview! This time the catering at the Nostalgic Mix Fair will be organised by Avril (lovely lady and longstanding This'n'that customer) who trades as "More tea please vicar". There will be soup and rolls as well as typically English tea party items ... coffee too. See you there XX

Nostalgic Mix - Guys' Stuff

2011-03-19T12:09:00.003+01:00

As heralded this week in Sal's blog (www.salssnippets.blogspot.com) ...... a first for us ..........GUYS' STUFF .........courtesy of my beloved Mr Fixit!! Never let it be said that the fellas get left out.

There will be tools, books, toys, maps, gadgets and ....................stuff on Saturday 26th March at the second Totnes Nostalgic Mix Fair.

OK, so I know that a prolonged period of mourning will follow once certain items sell but as we all know, the secret is that once we have sold something, then, oh bliss, oh joy we get to buy more:)

Weekend of the Nostalgic Mix Fair

2011-03-10T14:33:00.006+01:00

If you are making a weekend of it and staying in Totnes when visiting the Nostalgic Mix Fair on March 26th, why not go along to the South Devon Railway's special weekend event on the Sunday?
www.southdevonrailway.co.uk

Heading for a century!!

2011-01-29T00:52:00.003+01:00

Soon after opening This'n'That I discovered the joys of the 'Vistaprint' online printing services and have never looked back. I've lost count of how many different business cards, tags and giveaway postcard designs have been created in those years.

Some have been reprinted again and again whilst others were one batch wonders!

I've been trying to set aside a few spares from each batch since I began blogging with the intention of using them as part of a giveaway. Apologies to those of you who may recall my plan to do that last Spring.

However, this time I am resolute ... once I get to 100 followers (almost there) .. I will sort out a giveaway which will include some of these cards.

I realise that I may be wrong in flattering myself that folks want them but I seem to get regular customers in the shop asking for whichever is the latest or sometimes requesting 'back issues' to fill their collections.

Maybe I should be planning a folder like those partwork magazines where you had to collect all 96 editions to get a free file?! Somehow I don't think I'll reach such heady numbers:)

The picture above (used for the Nostalgic Mix 2 invitation cards) is from an early 1950's bus timetable which I scanned and changed the colours from red, white and blue to my favourite turquoise.

Time for a 'virtual visit' to This'n'That!

2011-01-13T15:44:00.004+01:00

Now that Christmas is over lots more vintage stock creeping back in and most of the remaining 'gift' lines are reduced, though I wouldn't actually call it a sale!

Enid Blyton continues to be a favourite! We have the usual stock of her books, school posters and some Enid Blyton Magazines and school reading books.

Wonderful old girls' annuals for 'old girls' like me!

Also, old annuals and books for 'old boys' like Mr Fixit!

I'll be off searching for more early Penguin and Puffin books. They sold well and I'm in need of 'top-up' stock. The shop also sells the Penguin and Puffin book cover postcards at 50p each or just £14.99 for a box of 100 .... great value!

When buying old books in quantity I often find some with missing pages, scribble or just too ragged to sell. We save these and have then made into novelty bunting to sell.

I'm still having to limit the vintage book shelves. Otherwise, This'n'That would rapidly become a bookshop and lines like the 'gardener gifts' would be squezeed out.

We try to maintain collections of sailing, gardening and cricket books too so I'm off hunting for stock to keep the shelves topped up through the summer.

I recently bought a lovelt collection of music, The artwork on the covers is just great!

Rosey Reed's shell and driftwood pieces bring a bit of the coast into the shop. She lives in Somerset and collects all of her own driftwood and beachcombings.

The old pine dresser gets regularly replenished. Vintage jelly moulds have become increasingly popular since recipe books featuring great jellies (with alcohol) for grown ups!! .... a little hint ... the vegetarian jellies just don't work that well. They turn out and then ... GLOOP ....its all collapsed!!

So pleased when I was able to add a collection of 'herry B' glasses alongside our usual Babycham glasses. We've even got 'Pony' and 'Britvic' too.

The little blue armchair is a pipe stand.

The contents of the shelves in the back of the shop chop and change regularly and are always worth browsing through. I try to keep breakables high up and then parents with little children can relax a bit:)

William!!

2010-12-31T00:54:00.004+01:00

Hope that many of you will have seen the first episodes of BBC's new 'William' production. It's been broadcast at an odd time though ... 12.30pm but luckily we spotted it and recorded it. all the better to freeze the frames and check out the 'stuff' on the kitchen shelves ... sad I know but I just love the BBC period productions for the scenery.
Lots of lovely school posters to be seen. I have some in stock. The doggy acting rivals that of the young and older stars!
Definitely a series for retro enthusiasts to wallow in.

Catch up on BBC I-Player :)

Happy Christmas!

2010-12-26T17:53:00.002+01:00

Hi there, just wanted to wish all of our customers and blog followers a Happy Christmas! Oh bliss oh joy ... I have a new version of Photoshop to tackle as well as a recently purchased new camera and a mysteriously arrived update to my HP scanner (which has changed its screens beyond recognition) ... am I thrilled? Well, actually no!
The fact is that my techy knowledge and skills have evolved very, very slowly and now I'm struggling to adjust ... sad but true (probably ungrateful too).
It's been a bit like trying to learn to think in another language having spent my whole life thinking in English.
Anyway, less of that, I'm sure I'll lurch into the 21st century eventually.
Many thanks to everyone who has visited the shop, visited the first Nostalgic Mix fair, taken a table at the fair and/or followed the blog. XXXX

December opening times!!

2010-11-27T08:47:00.003+01:00

During December, until Christmas This'n'That will be open Monday to Saturday (including Thursday which is usually a closing day).
We'll also be open late (until at least 9.00pm on Tuesday, December 7th, 14th and 21st.
On Christmas Eve the shop will stay open until 2.30pm (or later if the town is still busy).

Vintage & handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury on Sunday 28th November!!

2010-11-25T16:20:00.003+01:00

We have visited before and loved every minute of it! Better still this time ... Paul (aka Mr Fixit) and I will be there selling vintage and handmade goodies from This'n'That. See you there?
XX

Nostalgic Mix .. the sequel!!

2010-10-27T23:12:00.003+02:00

Many thanks to everyone who has sent messages or called into the shop to say how they enjoyed the fair
.
There will be another (hopefully many more!!). I have provisionally reserved the hall for Saturday, March 26th 2011. There's a bit of sorting out of numbers of tables and how best to use the space bearing in mind lessons learned from the first fair, but if you would like to go onto my mailing list when bookings are being taken then please use the email me link and head your message 'Nostalgic Mix 2' ... Thanks.

As before, I'm telling bloggers first.

Apologies for the delay in putting on the last batch of pics. and sending off feedback forms (coming soon) to stallholders ... but ..... how about this for mitigating thingies?... my PC died, the router died, the new hub threw a hissy fit and ignored my laptop and then the laptop ground to a halt and finally, the printer (not to be outdone) refused to find anything and sat in a self-absorbed silence.

Black clouds hung above my desk and thoughts of hurling the unco-operative things through the window swirled through the red mist!!

Nostalgic Mix

2010-10-14T12:14:00.008+02:00

Well, October 9th came and went in a flurry of stalls and a crowd of visitors asthe first ever (and not the last!) Nostalgic Mix Fair took place in the Civic Hall in Totnes.

A very big thank you to all of the stallholders and their helpers and also to our hundreds of visitors!

So sorry that it's taken until today to get some pictures posted but my PC died, the router threw a hissy fit and my elderly laptop refused to recognise a new home hub!!

Oh well, they say that these things come in threes. Thanks to a very nice lady in the call centre (Delhi I think) all is fairly well now and the laptop and hub are on speaking terms whilst the old PC sits in the corner being shunned!! I know that doesn't help but it makes me feel better.

I plan to put all of the pictures (including a lot more of the busy part of the day) onto the Nostalgic Mix blog which I will link to this.
More soon.....
XXX

THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9th IN TOTNES CIVIC HALL ... LESS THAN A WEEK TO GO NOW ...!! click on this text to link to the list of stallholders

2010-10-03T23:28:00.007+02:00

Well, it all seemed like a good idea at the time ... and such a long way off!! Not long now though, I hope that lots of bloggers will be able to come along and enjoy the Nostalgic Mix Fair, our Saturday Totnes Market and our shops and cafes :)

Admission to the fair is free and there will be a tea shop.

My blogs seem to have become a bit like London buses ... none for ages then several come along at once!!

2010-09-18T05:25:00.008+02:00

Ah, boys' toys! Leo had a great time checking out all of the 'trove' from a recent buying trip! Lately it's become more difficult to find good 'stuff' at the sort of price I need if the shop is to remain relatively inexpensive ... that day was the exception though! Paul and I had a great time and have lots more goodies to bring in for sale in the shop and at 'Nostalgic Mix'. Mustn't forget the Vintage and Handmade Fair in November either. We'll be having a table there for the first time and we're really looking forward to it :)

As a retired teacher I feel able to describe my 'boy' Leo as having "a lively and enquiring mind." Maybe I'll find a few more miniature bits and pieces and take pictures of our 'giant' cat!

All of these pieces of 'trove' have disappeared into Paul's workshop for tlc ... and maybe the odd trip down memory lane?

However, when a lad's favourite sunbathing spot is filled with 'trove' it all gets a bit much!

Happy Days! ... Yes, before the unwanted and foolish efforts to turn Noddy and Big-Ears into some pc shadow of their former selves .. I could go on but best that I spare you more ranting about that!!!

... and now for a long overdue 'virtual visit to This'n'That ...

2010-09-17T13:07:00.006+02:00

We always have a mix of plates, jugs etc for your shelves and dressers. In this picture you can also see our 'emergency Scrabble alphabet' ... so many customers have asked to buy ceratin words/letters having seen our labels around the shop. One gentleman came in on Feb. 13th and bought the letters YRAREMM

Babycham glasses are as popular as ever as well as Pony, Cherry B, Britvic, and so on. I often have long conversations with customers (of a certain age) about those early alco-pops!

As winter draws on ... the collection of pure new wool blankets and merino wool baby blankets grows .. more due soon!

The collection of vintage school posters has expanded to include some from 1930's ones as well as the ever poular Enid Blyton Nature Plates.

It's alwats a joy to have an original, vintage picnic box or hamper in the shop. This one even has it's original Brexton china and cutlery plus bakelite topped jars and pots. I always have some in stock but in the winter they are tucked away in our storage.

The swimming cozzie is a very slender "Slix" one from 1960's I guess. It is ruched and boned ... very elegant!!

The flowery li-lo is brand new but just like the ones from 1950's ... it even smells all rubbery like the old ones did! I have them with big roses and spots on the reverse and another design with small roses on one side and stripes on the reverse. They come from Denmark and are one of my favourite summer lines. No doubt I'll stock them again next year :)

I've started to sell china as 'trios' (cup, saucer, plate sets) so that the customers collecting to mismatch sets can build up a varied collection quite easily.

We've also been selling 'Tea for Two' sets with two cups, saucers and plates plus a two tier cake stand and sometimes cream and sugar too!

I'm so please that china is becoming popular again. When the shop first opened in 2004 we sold lots of sets and then suddenly it all slowed down.

Love Ragdoll cats!!

2010-09-17T12:50:00.004+02:00

So, so sorry that it's been so long with no new posts for This'n'That. Summer has passed in a blur of visitors at home, busy High Street in Totnes (wonderful!) and preparations for the first Nostagic Mix Fair.
More of that later .... must share this with you (hope the link works).
www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2010/sep/08/ikea-cats-ad
As followers already know I love my ragdoll cats. This handsome guy is Leo (you'll see him creeping around in the background of some of the 'stock' shots done in the garden at home.)
Well ... there I was watching goodness knows what on TV and suddenly it's the dreaded ads again but the screen fills with beautiful kitties, mostly raggies ... so sweet!

Preview of Lidi's picture for the 'Nostalgic Mix Fair' publicity!

2010-07-27T23:48:00.003+02:00

Time for a virtual visit to the This'n'That shop!

2010-07-10T21:19:00.008+02:00

Lots more vintage school posters all mounted and wrapped ready for you to frame (& a great reduction negotiated with the local framer for This'n'That customers!!)

Enid Blyton, Ladybird, Rupert etc. still This'n'That favourites!

Some great new embroidered cushions ... from £8.50!

Lots more china coming in daily (from my secret china hoard which has been growing over the winter. I'm having such fun unpacking it since usually I've forgotten what I packed away so at the moment every day is loke Christmas Day!!)

Lashings of ginger beer kits to make your own brew for those Blyton adventures!

Just can't resist books. Originally I intended to limit myself to just two shelves in the big bookcase but now they are threatening to take over!

Bliss, Oh joy! Now they are making little notebooks just like the Peter Rabbit books with a beautiful picture on the cover, usual front/back pages, marker ribbon and a colour printed page (all the rest are blank for you to write upon).

The garden corner of the window is still popular and filled with gift ideas.

The bookcase with those famous guinea pig egg cups and other bits and pieces of this and that!

Also, more posters on offer. I have sorted out some of the Enid Blyton nature plates which are not quite good enough for me to pay to have them mounted and wrapped but great bargains for you to frame at home.

Oh bliss! Oh joy!! I'm off to Ways With Words

2010-07-08T21:52:00.008+02:00

It's that time of year again!! I call it my 'holiday at home' and have a 10 day rover ticket; friends to help with the shop and only roll home to sleep!! ... love it :)

Have alook at their web pages (click to link) and come along if you can. It would be lovely to meet some bloggers for a cuppa and a 'catch-up'. ( 07799 897514 - my mobile)

Lidi (from This'n'That) now has her own blog!

2010-07-08T13:41:00.005+02:00

Hi there, Once again apologies for not posting for a while. However, I have some shop pics and more news of the Nostalgic Mix fair to put on soon. Meanwhile, have a look at Lidi's blog, launched today.

She sells her beautiful photographic cards in the shop and will soon be selling on-line too. If you've visited This'n'That you may well have already met her since we share the week with Lidi in charge for a couple of days a week.

She will be at the Nostalgic Mix fair so you'll have another opportunity to meet her there.

Update on the Nostalgic Mix Fair

2010-06-16T01:15:00.002+02:00

I have sent the message below to everyone (I hope) who enquired when I first mentioned my plans. If you would like to receive booking information just send me your email address :)

Hi there,
Thank you for everyone's patience regarding booking info for 'Nostalgic Mix'! I'm always trying to fit in more than the week allows. However, I've just created a mailing list for the fair and everyone with an email address who has shown an interest should be receiving this message. (If you know of anyone who hasn't or of any newly interested folks please ask them to contact me).
If you haven't confirmed and should wish to reserve a place just email me and booking info will follow very soon.
I have reached an agreement with Ness and Martin from The Tangerine Tree Cafe in Totnes that they will run the "Tea Shop" (providing all of the refreshments) and also that there will be a concession on cuppas for stall holders!
I still have a few details to sort before I finalise the price but I'll keep it to the best value possible.
I am also negotiating with Ness and Martin to hire the Tangerine Tree for the evening so tha we can have "A Bit of a Do"!! I would have a cash bar (pay for your own drinks) and a fixed price buffet which they would provide and you would purchase a ticket for (again the best value that I can get). Then, after the fair is over we can all enjoy a bit of down time to catch up on things (or 'network' as the corporate world would call it!!)

I will put together a blog for the fair and would be happy to post a picture with a link for each stallholder. More info with that elusive booking form soon
More news soon.

Love Lesley

"Nostalgic Mix Fair" Totnes, October 9th in the Civic Hall, High Street, Totnes

2010-05-12T20:04:00.008+02:00

Introducing the "Nostalgic Mix" fair ... featuring a mix of vintage, retro and handmade delights!

Since starting blogging I have been inspired by the posts detailing all of the lovely vintage fairs and by my visits to the Vintage and Handmade fair in Chipping Sodbury and so ...... after much deliberation and helpful conversations with friends ..... Totnes is to have its own fair arranged by This'n'That!

It will be in the Civic Hall on Saturday, October 9th. That is the hall which spans our open market so it's really handy for the centre of town, exploring the market stalls and shops, enjoying the town's great foodie places and it is just across the way from the main car parks.

I will be sorting a plan and table prices early next week and fortunately already have some names on a provisional list. If you would like to receive details and/or go onto the list please email me on the link on right column of my blog.

I am going to set up a linked blog with info on the event, places to stay etc. once I've got the booking paperwork sorted.

I know that so many Totnes folk go all over the place to buy or sell at vintage fairs and I thought it about time that we had one of our own :-)

Totnes away day at V&H, Chipping Sodbury!

2010-05-02T19:19:00.005+02:00

Saturday was one of those lovely days which you spend ages looking forward to and then turns out to be every bit as much fun as you had hoped!

Mr Fixit and I accompanied by Lidi (who helps me in the shop) and her partner travelled up the M5 leaving Devon clouds and showers behind and arriving to find Gloucestershire sunshine ... all as planned.

What an enlightened council ... Chipping Sodbury has plentiful free, yes free parking!! Even on a busy Saturday it was easy to park. Thank you Chipping Sodbury:)

The town hall was filled, in equal measures, with vintage and handmade goodies, familiar faces and wonderful cakes! So pleased that my latest diet (a fruit & veg. detox) wasn't due to start until today. Even then I had to give Mr Fixit three quarters of my choc. cake which he nobly munched (the things they do for love)! Our joint congratulations to the maker of that tall, squidgy, death by chocolatey cake. Gold medal to you:)

Anyway, as usual, I digress. We both bought lots of lovely treats and I had the opportunity to catch up with friends. Sad to say, I was having a bit of camera trouble and the usual 'flash free' pics weren't turning out well and the flash was a bit dazzling for folk. Apologies to Jane for dazzling her. Anyway, here's nine OK shots of goodies and apologies to anyone I've missed.

Devon Nine Pins or Skittles for summer fetes or fun in the garden!

2010-04-25T15:29:00.011+02:00

More trove from last week's shed clear out! I've been doing a bit of research on an old set of (what I always called) skittles. As you can see in the picture above, they are wooden, quite fat and have roughly turned bowling balls to go with them. There are nine in all, so they are 'nine pins' and one of the nine is much taller, 15" against 12" for the other eight. That's the 'king pin'.

I grew up in Worcestershire and recall that my Dad had a set of wooden skittles which were dusted off and brought out each summer for the church fete (held on the rectory lawn and grass tennis court). They also had an annual airing at the local flower show which was a highlight of the year. That lasted for two days and a scoreboard recorded the names and results with a prize (maybe a duck - to roam your garden or to go in the pot) after what might be an exciting final round!

I've done some research and it seems that this set is typical Devon Nine Pins or Skittles because of the sizes and fat shape.

They are for sale but I doubt if I have space for them in the shop. (£38 but must be collected from shop or home).

You can find out more about the history of the game at http://www.tradgames.org.uk/ as I did.

This picture is 'borrowed' from the website to show you how they might be set up:)

Sunshine, (fairly) blue skies and vintage china!

2010-04-22T16:07:00.006+02:00

After Sunday's big shed clear out (see last but one blog), the kitchen is now VERY full of china! As usual, I am in total denial about the need to sell most of it. I think that I need to find a few more cups but on the whole I'm pretty pleased with what we've found.

It's also given me a few ideas for future projects ... more on that in due course:)

The second picture features a small hoverfly who shall be known as Eric. He turns up whenever we are at the garden table, seems to have a very keen interest in old china and manages to be constantly positioned just behind Mr Fixit no matter how fast he turns around! all very strange ... maybe Eric is really an Early Reconniassance Intergalactic Craft!! Yes, I know too much china and too much sun are leading to an overactive imagination!

Enid Blyton Nature Plates (posters) SALE!!

2010-04-21T12:20:00.005+02:00

Since opening the shop I have worked hard to build up my collection of vintage school posters. Most of the ones sold at the moment are by the artist Eileen Soper who did them for Enid Blyton's Nature Series which was commisioned by the publisher Macmillan.

Enid Blyton wrote sixty nature lessons, sixty fairy tales and published 30 school 'readers' each containing two stories for children to read themselves. Eileen Soper painted the 60 'nature plates' to accompany the scheme.

I am frequently asked if they are photocopies or pages torn out of books ... the answer is

"No. They are original posters from classrooms dating from 1949 through the fifties."

I have the best of the collection mounted in card ready for framing and cellophane wrapped. The local framers who do this for me offer This'n'That customers a special deal on the framing of the prints.

There are other posters for sale in This'n'That from the forties and fifties. Some are published by Macmillan but are by other artists. I also have a selection of Nursery Rhyme posters from the 'Gay Way' reading series which I guess is from early 1960's.

SALE

I have decided to have a bit of a clear out at home and will be offering some posters which are perhaps not in such good condition as the ones which I have mounted and wrapped but are still great nostalgic treats.

Prices will be from £2 to £6 each with the offer starting on Friday 23rd April!

So, if you are able to visit the shop over the next week or so there are goodies to be found :)

The wonders of ... 'the shed' ... and blue sky!

2010-04-21T11:33:00.008+02:00

Sunday dawned bright and blue (sorry for those folk who were stuck overseas but the brilliant blue of the skies was amazing!). Should we go off to the car boot or not? The decision was to stay at home and to tidy out my shed. Yes, we have his and hers sheds and both are jammed full! Mine is (was) the worst with stuff at the back which hasn't seen the light of day in years.

We didn't take a 'before' shot (too horrible) but above is the 'almost done' shot.

Everything was spread out in the garden, sorted and then lots of stuff washed and cleaned whilst three car loads went off to the tip.

These broken crocks (accidentally not hurled I promise), are the result of years of saving little bits for a mosaic idea which has been festering around since I saw Gaudi's work in Barcelona. No, it won't be a monumental building .. just a garden table with all of the colours of the rainbow picked out in vintage china.

Do you recall the mnemonic used in school to remind us of the order of the colours of the rainbow?

"Richard of York gave battle in vain". Maybe you used a different one?

As the day wore on the sky became more blue and the garden more full!

Then, the kitchen filled up as the trove was washed and spread out. Much better than a morning at the car boot. I'd forgotten most of this stuff and found it wrapped in 2004 newspaper!

I'm especially please to have found several honeypots and quite a selection of old plates and 50's tumblers.

The pixie mug on the right is my favourite and so I went through the usual inner wrestling with "to sell or not to sell" but the shop won and it's sitting there along with the others as I blog!

The cottage tea pot and biscuit barrel were a complete revelation! I can't even recall when I bought them. My guess is that they were made mid 20th century or maybe earlier. Note the daisies on our lawn which is more like a salad than the striped green glory which Mr Fixit aspires to own!

Finally, a glimpse of Pegasus. He was sculpted by Totnes artist Richard Dawson Hewitt. Richard only uses 'found' materials for his work and made this large Pegasus in 2003 from recycled frezer baskets! We freshen him up (Pegasus not Richard!) with a coat of white paint each spring. Then, he will sit on his stand behind some shrubs looking as though he is leaping over the hedge.

I often have smaller pieces of Richard's work for sale in the shop. You will also see them (at much higher prices) at the Dartington Cider Press Centre. I'll try to do a feature blog on them soon.

More cards in the pipeline ....

2010-04-13T23:39:00.004+02:00

I just seem to be 'on a roll' with the cards this week (see previous blog). There are lots of other jobs to be done, including the dreaded end of year paperwork but I continue to happily while away the evenings with what I believe is termed a 'displacement activity' (being busy with something other than what really needs to be done) ... twas ever thus!! :)
Hope you like them. They will be included in the late Spring giveaway and will turn up in the shop in a couple of months.

New This'n'That 'collector cards coming soon!

2010-04-08T23:14:00.007+02:00

At the moment, customers are offered one of the beach hut cards which were introduced in late summer 2009.

Soon I'll have an updated version of the 'Donkey on the Beach' card. (First available in 2006 if I remember correctly).

Then there is a new card with this delightful picture such as may have been featured in one of those early 20th century schoolgirl stories. I imagine the girls having wonderfully old fashioned names ... all suggestions welcomed!

Last but not least is this picture taken from a 19th century colouring book. The little girl behind the breakwater looks all set to fly at any minute!

The new giveaway cards will be available later in April when they come back from the printer. However, I'll only be using one at a time to pop into bags with purchases so subsequent visits to the shop will give you different cards. I know that some bloggers can't get there so I'll be saving some for a giveaway later in the Spring.

Time to blog and to 'boot' once more

2010-04-04T20:26:00.013+02:00

I am sorry to have been absent from the blogging world for so long. Many thanks to any followers who are still out there to see the return of the prodigal ... well I have been pretty busy but also having a good time:)

In January we went away to the Caribbean on a two week cruise. It was amazing! We only recently started to take hols abroad. I never dreamt that there was somewhere so filled with all shades of blue and where my achy bones stopped aching ... heaven. So, instead of it being a holiday of a lifetime, as in once only, we have just booked for next January and so a serious saving campaign has begun:)

Then, in March, it was Paul's (aka Mr Fixit, This'n'That's unsung and unpaid hero, my husband) 65th birthday so we went off to Herefordshire to be close to friends and family for a week of celebrating. Didn't take many pics but here's one of the sunset from the farm cottage which we stayed in. It's a lovely place called Hidelow House with barn conversions and cottages to let. We have stayed there lots of times over the years and I heartily recommend it. I will try to put a link to their website in the right margin.

Anyway, I am filled with resolve to do more blogging in the coming weeks and months. I've really missed keeping in touch with everyone and have been so pleased to see some bloggers in the shop! Thank you:)

Today we went to the flea market at Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Haven't done that for ages. It was great fun and, as you will see from the pics .... very productive (if equally muddy!) with lots of new 'trove' lined up for the shop.

Last but not least ... how many bloggers recall these old style Brownie uniforms with the ties which were, for me anyway, rocket science to tie?!! I seem to recall that they were supposed to double up as a sling if you met up with someone who had a broken arm whilst wearing your uniform ... never happened to me ... what about you?

Happy Easter from Lesley & Lidi at This'n'That !

2010-04-04T20:17:00.006+02:00

These lovely Easter pics are Lidi's work! It's great to have a 'resident' photographer at This'n'That. The first two have been on sale as Easter cards (I love the 'tribute to Anthony Gormley' style chics!) The other two pics are of some of our Easter stock. Sorry that they are small but I've not yet mastered the art of taking an emailed jpeg and 'puffing it up' .... it's on my things to do list though:)

Some new Macmillan school posters from 1950's !!

2010-01-08T20:13:00.004+01:00

The usual Enid Blyton Nature Plates are still in stock along with some Gay Way Nursery Posters. They are now joined by these lovely wildlife posters ... all originals from school classrooms.

The world has gone mad!

2010-01-07T21:42:00.006+01:00

Hi, Long time no blog but I thought that this exceptional weather shouldn't pass without mention. Haven't been out with my camera so looked at BBC Devon's website to see if there were any local pics to share and celebrate and came across this news.
You can click on the title to get to the story.
So sad, we can't cope with leaves on the line or the wrong sort of snow and then this ... so sad that our hardworking farmers have to suffer in this way. Time we had proper snow clearance equipment fo all roads including those to our all important farms!
Do take time to look at the other pics on BBC Devon website ... so beautiful:)

Leo's duvet day!

2009-11-30T23:52:00.003+01:00

Recent explorations into our airing cupboard (to the back where supposedly extinct dinosaurs roam), revealed a lovely old, forgotten Laura Ashley quilt from the eighties. So, here it is, freshly laundered with Leo wriggled inside it to get away from Sunday's wet and windy weather. Guess he sort of reversed in like a little hermit crab! He holds me personally responsible for the weather so it was good to see him with thoughts on other things!

Bloggy pics by Lidi ... as promised :)

2009-11-22T18:19:00.004+01:00

The Babycham glasses and other promotional stuff continue to be popular. You can still buy the packs of four little bottles in many supermarkets and put with a pair of vintage glasses they make a great gift.

As soon as I have space there's a beautiful old cocktail cabinet to come in for sale. Will post a pic asap.

These retro styled stacking blocks and alphabet cards have been real favourites over the past month but I have a feeling that they are going as decorative items for retro minded grown -ups rather than as toys for children ... and why not?!

One of my favourite pieces of shop furniture ... the 50's cabinet is for sale but somehow I won't be sad if it's slow to sell!!

Knitted cakes made by my friend Sue. She lives in France but knits cakes for me when she visits. She even knitted one for my tom cat Leo (see earlier blogs for his stunning good looks and conical shape!) since he kept running off with the finished stock. The card is one of Lidi's photo cards and is for sale in the shop too.

As usual there's a tumble of stuff outside the shop. I suppose that its meant to show passers by what a mix of things they'll find in the shop. However, the other day I seemed to have picked all garden gifts and a passing vistor came in expecting a garden centre!

These lovely button badges are made for me by 'Sumptuosity' and are part of the growing range of cracker /stocking fillers for the 'grown - ups priced under a fiver! (£3.95 for these small ones).

Time to blog once more! Introducing Lidi :)

2009-11-22T17:50:00.006+01:00

Sorry that I've not ben blogging lately. Not quite sure where the time goes but it's been a really busy summer and autumn at home and in the shop.

At the moment I still open for five days each week with Thursday and Sunday as closing days. My friend Lidi now takes charge of the shop for a couple of days each week. The days vary but I'm often in town on Lidi's days too, dashing around with new stock to unload and of course, having the odd cup of coffee in The Tangerine Tree!

You may have seen the apple picker in an earlier blog ... well, here it is again with Lidi! Thought I should introduce her. She's helped a lot over the years since This'n'That opened but now it's a regular arrangement and she knows just about as much about all of our lines as I do :)

Fortunately, she is a really good photographer and so we now stock some of her images as greetings cards and you will also see a lot of her work represented in the bloggy pics of the shop! When Lidi's website is finished I'll pop in a link so that you can see her work and maybe even pass it on to anyone in search of a photographer (look out for the pics which she took for Langage ... their lovely dairy cows looked even more fetching than usual!!)

They've arrived!! Nov. 09

2009-09-02T20:53:00.006+02:00

I've ordered these wonderful little tin bird brooches to be in stock by the second week in October. Can't wait and can't decide which one I want ... such are the joys of having a shop and getting too attached to the stock ... I'm sure that we've got a therapy somewhere in Totnes to help me to be more businesslike:)

They will sell for £26 each and are handmade by Melanie Tomlinson who is based in the Midlands. You may have seen one of the birds in a recent Country Living but can't recall which one and my copy has gone to ground in the chaos which is our home!

PS. The birds vary in size from 6.5 to 8.9cm long. Thanks for reminding me Floss:)

Apple Time

2009-08-29T13:57:00.005+02:00

Not quite the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness yet but the early mornings are certainly a bit cooler. There are a few 'apple' items coming into the shop.

More of the popular enamelled buckets Usually £22 now reduced to £18

Also a new line, a wicker apple picker (about 3 feet long) at a great price of just £7.50!

I hope that last year's best selling wrapping paper with pictures of dozens of varieties will be arriving soon. I already have the sheets of 'apple names' wrap and will try to scan some of it to add to this post soon.

Remember Dan Dare?!

2009-08-24T19:42:00.004+02:00

I was just messing around on-line (as you do) looking for a new source of nostalgic greeting cards and I came across this guy, from a different time-space continuum (as they say on Star Trek ... oops ... mixing my sci-fi).
I've put in a link to a page with lots of old art work & down loads. Still need to find the cards but thought it about time that I started blogging again :)
I recall that my comic was Girl magazine which was a bit tame by comparison. The boy next door but one took Eagle and got home from school later than me, So .... every Wednesday I was off round there to read it before he returned to a new (but well thumbed) copy of Eagle!

A timely reminder for South West gardeners

2009-07-26T23:59:00.005+02:00

Thought I'd share news of one of my favourite local events (which has usually come and gone before I can get there!) ...

Suttons Seeds have a trial ground adjacent to Fermoy's Garden Centre on the Totnes to Newton Abbot road. Their annual open days when the public can stroll around and enjoy the otherwise private site, are a treat not to be missed. It's a basket of delights and this year, there's an additional day for family fun too.

Family Growing Day August 1st 10.00am - 4.00pm

Open Weekend August 8th & 9th

Suttons have a blog with links which will give you more information
http://www.growyourownclub.co.uk/

LONG TIME NO BLOG! Sorry:(

2009-07-22T00:00:00.003+02:00

Sorry it's been so long since I posted a new blog. I've been away from the shop for a week or so enjoying my 'holiday at home' at the Ways With Words festival of literature at Dartington Hall just outside Totnes. (festival pics just as soon as I can find my camera in the chaos of our preparations for home improvements ... have packed just about everything except the cats, Mr Fixit and my PC!!)
Meanwhile, I have been saving this bit of literature to share with you. It's an extract from a Janet and John reading book where John and his father go off in an aeroplane for a ride with a pilot who just happens to land nearby and invite them on board! Not quite 'on message' for today's advice of not going off with strangers ... how times change. However, it is reassuring to read that Mother and the puppy have more sense.

Introducing Pegasus!!

2009-07-03T22:11:00.005+02:00

Thought it was time to introduce you to this legendary guy who lives in our garden. He is a (very) large wire sculpture by a local artist. I regularly sell smaller pieces by him in the shop. The interesting thing is that Richard only uses 'found' materials and so some of his projects can take some time to complete whilst he searches for what is required.

A little journey through some of my vintage images ...

2009-07-02T02:37:00.009+02:00

Sorry I've not posted anything for a while. Thought that I'd share a few of my vintage images.

So ... let's go for a walk on a summer's day ...

... and maybe catch a coach when our legs get tired ...

... to take us to the beach where the huts are being built ... leaving the men to saw wood and the women and children to play ...

... maybe fishing in the rock pools or digging in the sand ...

... then, perhaps a trip to the fair ...

... and before long it's time for the little ones to go home for jellies and cream ...

... whilst maybe we end the day with a night under the stars around a camp fire?

Which is all a lot better than cleaning the windows! :)

Recent trove!! As yet not polished up and restored but thought you'd like to see what I've found!

2009-06-23T19:33:00.007+02:00

Couldn't resist this lovely book. Don't know anyone off to Ireland at the moment so it's for sale in the shop. It's brand new and beautifully illustrated on thick, quality paper! Love it!!

Lots of other books below to come into the shop. I'm especially pleased that there are more natural history/gardening ones. The old penguin ones on fruit are by Mr. Bush!

Below: a mottley collection all awaiting This'n'That's brand of TLC from Mr. Fixit!! Funny how things seem to appear in batches! This week's batch would appear to be little brown cases. As you can see the largest has drawers! Now I have to wrestle with the options of whether to keep it (and perhaps line it with paper or fabric) or to sell it for someone else to do the TLC stuff!

I used to be indecisive but now I'm not too sure:)

The cash boxes make great treaure boxes and have trays with little compartments inside. One is being polished up as I type this and once gleaming they will go into the shop.

The milk bottles are an interesting collection. They are popular as 'kitchen windowsill vases' and look great with a bunch of buttercups or suchlike.

Ironically, one had a picture of a milkfloat and a message which read "Don't let your milkman become a thing of the past", and here I am selling the bottle as a collectable!

This book was something of a 'wildcard' for me since I sell very few new books. It's all about the postcard as artwork - very funky and modern looking.

More maps .... lovely miniature shears (can't say childsize since the health & safety thought police would get me!)

The ceramic bowl with a shiny metal rim is a curious thing. It has a flowery print (very olde worlde) and then painted over it (and glazed and fired) is Clarice Cliff style angular, orange, red and black design. I can only think that it was used as an developmental or training piece as styles changed in the 30's.

Pimms bunting ... well do I need to say more? Even without the bunting we all deserve a little tipple and a few mins of tennis on TV. The cocktail shaker is a penguin with a bow tie. Every home should have one:)

I'm so pleased with the miniature insulated tea pot and the egg cups but ... yes ... I will be brave and sell them ... honestly!

The season for summer picnics seems to be upon us and so I will be bringing them in over the next few weeks.

Finally ... Fred! Lovely boy:)

Ways With Words July 10th to 19th 2009

2009-06-22T23:19:00.003+02:00

Once more I've decided that I deserve a week's 'holiday at home' and I've booked a rover ticket for the Ways With Words festival at Dartington Hall. Thanks to good friends the shop will open as usual but I will be enjoying a change of surroundings and listening to the many and varied talks at the festival. (click for link if you want info.)

Remember Jane of Ladybird fame?!

2009-06-18T10:32:00.003+02:00

Well, in those days the Mums and daughters did all of the housework whilst Peter and his Dad did the manly stuff like mowing the lawn and playing with the dog!
I admit that she's looking in need of being ironed (must be all of the chores giving her wrinkles) but I just had to take a pic. as soon as I unpacked her.
'She' is a teatowel which I sell for £5.95. If any bloggers would like one I could find out postage which I doubt would be much. It comes in a cello pack with a 'ladybird' card top.

Creative Torbay Arts Market in Paignton on Sunday 14th June

2009-06-15T21:47:00.004+02:00

Spent a busy weekend visiting two markets and four carboots!! I promise you that our normal pace of life is much slower but we're having work done at home (decorating, plumbing etc.) and it's easier to be out of the way!
Then, by way of relaxation, we went along to the Creative Torbay Arts Market in the Palace Gardens at Paignton. 5* to Paignton for such a lovely venue and event (although the litter in the surrounding streets was a bit of a disappointment).
Our friend Jo Stewart from Art Rooms opposite the shop had a lovely, colourful stall (sorry Jo no good pic. to post). The stilt walkers were brilliant and the musicians, artists and craftspeople all made it great fun and so colourful.
I've put in a link to show you the rest of the Creative Torbay events :)

Some belated thanks for my lovely purchases!

2009-06-07T20:49:00.004+02:00

As you can see I had a little bit of a self-indulgent shopping spree at the Vintage and Handmade Fair last weekend!

Thanks to all of the sellers for such a great event.