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

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 ...

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!!

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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!

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.