COWBOYS & CUSTARD

Leave of absence ..

2009-11-28T19:16:00.024+01:00

There is a saying that one never forgets how to ride a bicycle.. I wonder if the same applies to writing a blog, as I seem to have forgotten how. Having neglected my own blog for some months, just nipping in to give a news flash and quickie update, I am now finding it a real struggle to put one word in front of the other. Where do I begin to pick up the threads..?

This year has been eventful in so many ways..and at times I feel as though I am being swept along on a rip tide of high waves.. and then to end up in the doldrums.spot the cat...Someone else keeping a low profile

It is a little premature maybe to start reminiscing about the year before it is out.. but with Christmas looming, one cannot forget that a new year is on the horizon. I will never cease to be amazed by how the years fly by, as if in the blink of an eye, and yet when I think of all that has happened this year.. I wonder how I have managed to cram it all in to 365 days.
So.. what have I been doing in my protracted absences.. well.. rather like those exercises at school that we were given each term..'What I did in my hols' .. I will attempt to thrill (read bore) you with the day to day minutiae of my life..
For all regular visitors to Cowboys & Custard.. you cannot escape the fact that we have just held our third Vintage & Handmade Fair.. a wonderful day.. planned for six months..over in a matter of hours... but leaving a good feeling that will carry me through to the next in May. Straight after the fair I managed to come down with a nasty cold virus that headed straight for my chest and has been sat there for the last 1o days. It has become a tradition for me to have a chesty cold in November, if I think back to years past, it always arrives in the run up to the festive season and is as traditional as Easter or Christmas.. the annual 'Hack' is up there with the rest.I have been honing the art of wrapping parcels in brown paper, tissue and string, as Milly & Dottie's Emporium has seen a steady flow of customers through the door, and I am fast wearing a path to the local post box to intercept our local postie at 5.00 p.m every evening, who obligingly takes all my parcels.. thus saving me a trek to stand in line with the good citizens of Bath, at the only surviving post office in town.
Today I ventured out to get some air.. having been incarcerated in a warm but hermetically sealed cave, since my lurgy struck. Mr Custard kindly took me on a drive to a local farm shop where my eyes grew as large as saucers at the sight of all the sparkly, sugary Christmas treats on display. There I bought my son and heir a delightful numbered selection of chocolate bars for his advent calendar and hid it in our ice-box.. otherwise known as the conservatory. I hope his chocolate radar will not sniff it out before the 1st of December.
Then on to a garden centre.. where I managed to scrape together 10 tulip bulbs from their remaining stock of bulbs. I have left it woefully late to start my Spring garden planting plans..in fact I haven't set foot in our garden for weeks.. work, weather and now cold have conspired to keep me from giving my plot a good nip and tuck! I am not sure what I will discover when I finally venture out to the bottom of our garden. We had several visitations of badgers during October, evident by their unmistakable calling cards... i.e Badger latrines. I am wondering what other beasties might be lurking in the darker corners. I feel very privileged to have these fine creatures in our neighbourhood... even if they do use our garden a their privie. I only wish I could catch sight of them.. especially as they loved to dig up our neighbours carefully manicured lawn and each morning after their visits.. I would see the neighbour at dawn.. rush out in nightie and all.. to repair the damage.
This week.. I joined some other designers at Lasso the Moon.. and took up residence alongside another of our blogging comrades.. Nicky from Vintage Magpie.. and her amazing menagerie of beautifully crafted animals. I am really thrilled to be part of this collection of designers and hope that this new string on my bow.. will play all the right tunes!The other night I thought there was a siege going on in the city below us.. loudspeakers could be heard, a helicopter hovered voyeuristically overhead.. and a male voice could be heard booming out a message to a cheering crowd. Was this the locals uprising against the shocking business rates in Bath..no.. it was one of my, secret, or not so.. heartthrobs.. Mr Nicholas Cage.. switching on the Christmas lights to a crowd of starstruck shoppers..and sightseers. I would have been there myself, elbowing my way to the front with stars in my eyes.. had it not been for the fact that it was cold outside and my stomach was more intent on eating supper. Sorry Mr Cage.. I hope I will have the pleasure of bumping in to you one day in Waitrose .. but please warn me if you are popping out for groceries, so I can put my lippy on first.

So.. dear blog friends.. you can see that life is ticking along nicely.. peppered with some spicy moments here and there... but never, ever dull.

All is calm... all is bright!

2009-11-15T20:36:00.006+01:00

Hardly seems possible that six months of planning and waiting since the last Vintage & Handmade Fair in May, has been and gone in the blink of an eye... or so it feels.
Much has already been said about yesterday's event .. from the fabulous folk who braved the elements and queued in the rain patiently for our doors to open. The dedicated and professional stall holders, bloggers, friends and family..
I had a whale of a time.. meeting up with our ladies.. who travelled from all corners of the country to bring their finest wares to the fair.. and make it something special.. and certainly a day that many remember for all kinds of reasons.. but..mainly.. for the warmth and feel good factor that bind our team together.
Gratitude to all who made it a date that is etched in my diary as one very hard to beat.

Photos courtesy of Sal's camera.. Guess who forgot hers again!

To see the day from start to finish.. in glorious technicolour.. please visit our webpage at Vintage & Handmade Fair Mr Country Cottage Chic.. took some great shots .. Every picture tells a story.
The countdown to the next fair on May 1st 2010.. has already begun !

Fair Weather Friends...

2009-11-13T09:10:00.008+01:00

click on photo to enlarge
Ironing board and iron are not included in sale

This time tomorrow I will be in a state of flux.. the doors to the hall will be opened for all the stallholders at the Vintage & Handmade Fair, to flood in to the hall to set up their stalls. Flood is a word I am using with caution as the weather report is not good..but us Brits are made of stern stuff and Jayne and I hope that you will don your galoshes and souwesters, inflate your life rafts, to make your way to the third Vintage & Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury, south Gloucestershire.
It promises to be our biggest and hopefully our best.. and whatever the weather.. all will be welcomed with open arms and a cup of tea and finest homemade cake...
Can't wait to see old friends and meet new friends and share some wonderful camaraderie amongst our beautiful blogging folk..
Hope to see you there..

F is for ...

2009-10-30T21:04:00.020+01:00

Friday.. the end of a frantic week..and time to take a walk in one of our local National Trust favourites .. the gardens at Holt Wiltshire..Firey fronds and foliage dominate the landscape ..Clusters of fine berries ...Ginko Bilboa.. good for mental fuzziness ..Fire on the water ...A leafy frame to peer through ..A flutterby ... Foliage on fire ...Pretty frothy flowers ..Falling leaves...
Frilly lace caps...Fronds on fire ...A fine harvest...Finally.. my fella ..Before I say farewell.. Milly and I would like to bring your attention to our new Christmas Grotto.. full of finery and fun finds .. for the festive season.. We would also like to bring your attention to some features about our Emporium, to be found in various glossies this month.. Homes & Gardens, Sew Hip and Homes & Antiques..
Not forgetting.. the famous Vintage & Handmade Fair.. only a fortnight to go before we welcome our friends, family and folk from far and wide to come and shop in our third fair..
Fun for all.. hope to see you there!

Downhill run ...

2009-10-21T09:16:00.012+02:00

These last few weeks have left me feeling like I am competing in some kind of ski event.. the momentum and pace has increased day by day.. and I must admit.. I can't wait for the apres ski to begin.. but there are many things to do before that is allowed.
I did however find time to leave the slopes and have a grand day out with Mr Custard to visit an event I had been looking forward to for some weeks.
With small brown suitcase in hand we had one stop to make en route to the event.. and our first port of call was this delightful emporium in Cirencester.. Lexi Loves. Now the whole world of cyber networking has brought me many many fortunes.. in the way of friendships and acquaintances.. and yes... I must admit business matters too. I do have a small confession to make.. for those of you who do not already know.. I have joined the nest of Twitter and have bunked off to join in the daily twitterings amongst this hugely popular network.
It is through this feathered fraternity.. that I made the connection with this lovely shop in Cirencester owned by the equally lovely Lexi.. Lexi's emporium in Cricklade Street, is a sight for tired eyes (as mine have been of late) and on entering the shop... one is immediately aware of the spectrum of colours from all the enticing items for sale.. from floral fabric alphabet letters arranged along a shelf..to the cheery bunting and assortment of gorgeous vintagey cushions with plenty more besides... so much to tempt with perfect stocking filler finds for Christmas.
I am delighted to say that Lexi Loves now stocks Cowboys & Custard Greeting cards... so I hope to visit this pretty emporium again soon.
On our way back to the car park.. we nipped in to the New Brewery Arts Centre to see the latest exhibition of Cleo Mussi's work. If you are not familiar with this lasses incredible talent with mosaics.. then I urge you to go.
It took two years in the making to create these, and many more, fabulous china mosaics that combine Cleo's wit and talent to transform broken china in to these..This photo really doesn't do justice to the detail and scale of these ceramic creatures. Having taken part in one of Cleo's mosaic workshops some years ago.. I am only too aware of how skillful it is to cut a piece of china to just the right size and shape with a pair of tile cutters. My efforts ended up on the other side of the room on the floor.. It takes great precision and practice.
These animals were virtually life size so they must have required hours in the making.. no.. make that months..We are BIG fans of Cleo's work in this household and are lucky enough to own a few of her pieces.. but there is plenty more wall space to accommodate a few more!
Back in the old jalopy and on to Stroud..where we were to visit this very exciting exhibition..
Having several of my favourite artists exhibit under one roof for the same exhibition was quite a lot for my little heart to take.. and my pace quickened as we found our way through the streets of Stroud to Sustain ...Once again Cleo Mussi's work was on display and Cleo herself was there to chat too..Edwina Bridgeman.. another much admired artist and friend had some pieces of work on display..and lastly..our very own Annie from Little Wren House.. or her blog a Saucerful of Secrets.. was there with these extraordinary felted characters... I couldn't take my eyes of this fabulous Pug dog.. marvelling at the detail in the face all created from wisps of needle felted wool.We are very proud to have Annie and her felted friends at the Vintage & Handmade Fair.. coming soon!!!
And on that note.. I have finally woken up to the fact that it is only 24..24 days until the fair and my mountain of boxes and vintage finds will have to be sorted, priced and packed.
I am busy making some of these Quite a few of these will be coming along too..Things in the Milly & Dottie's Emporium are getting rather frenzied too.. and Milly and I have been working like Santa's little helpers to stock the shelves for a new Christmas Department.. opening very soon.. so watch this space.

Going to the Dogs..

2009-10-11T14:45:00.005+02:00

Is there such a thing as Blogger's Block? I have been suffering from a complete lack of focus for the last few weeks and the idea of writing a blog post was akin to the days when I had to hand in an English essay on a Monday morning.
I would postpone this task until the 11th hour and then hand in some crumpled, grubby and illegible piece of work and wince when I saw a big red C+.. could do better scrawled over my efforts. I hope this very belated blog post gets a better mark!

It has been a while since I have managed to clear a space in my mind to give thought to the blogging world and I hardly dare look at all the blog posts of yours I have missed.. Will I ever catch up? Then answer to that is a resounding NO.. not until the current projects have been painted and glued, packaged and priced for the next Vintage & Handmade Fair and some tasty little vintage goodies placed upon the shelves in the Emporium. Spinning plates madly here and dropping quite a few along the way!
I am prone to mild obsessions..harmless enough I think, despite what Mr Custard and son say, I still have all my marbles..o.k one or two might be missing..but on the whole, my little fixations are all for a good cause I feel.
The latest of these obsessions is more than a passing interest in all things vintage, mohair, straw-filled and moth eaten..sometimes with wonky eyes or dodgy limbs..the more chewed the better!
I would like to introduce my new friends.. meet the gang..
First in the pound today is Winston.. Winston is true rough diamond but with a heart of gold and a bit of a dubious past.. Some rumour of him doing time in Battersea Dogs Home for digging up some prize petunias!
Next on the 'dogwalk' is Terence.. Terence has gone to a new home

A retired air steward for Dan Dare airlines... traveled the world and then some ..He enjoys reading Mutt Monthly and ballroom dancing.
Jock is a very fine pedigree pooch.. He is a veteran model for a pyjama case manufacturer.. made by Merrythought. Jock loves nothing more than to lie around all day and strike a pose! Currently, he can be found lounging in the nursery department at Milly & Dottie's..
I know I shouldn't have favourites.. it is a bone of contention amongst the other hounds.. but I am rather fond of dear old Angus.. Who could resist his jaunty legs and sharp nose... I wonder if I could train him for the odd bit of truffle snuffling ?! Angus along with some other muttley crew will be joining me at the Vintage & Handmade Fair and any offers of adoption will seriously be considered. They are costing me a fortune in Bonios!
Well.. I think this blog post proves that I have lost the plot.. totally barking some might say.

P.s Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts and commiserations about my old tooth problem. Much better now thank you and getting my gnashers well and truly stuck in to some projects for the festive season.
Wishing you all the best of Sundays.

Abscess makes the heart grow fonder....

2009-09-21T19:56:00.008+02:00

Rag heart courtesy of Ragged Roses

Well.. I have to admit that last Friday's milestone of being another step closer to my bus pass.. was a strange mixture of denial.. and elation.. the elation brought on by a colourful little penicillin pill washed down by a large glass of rather nice fizz..The denial of course was the getting older bit and realising that the glint of silver running through my hair.. probably amounted to 99% sterling, under the veil of Clairol hair dye!
The day started off with a rendition of Happy Birthday from beloved ..heard through groggy ears and head as I reluctantly gained consciousness at 5.30 am, having spent several hours awake during the night, trying to hide from nagging toothache..Nowhere to run nor hide when it's in your head!
As soon as the awaited hour arrived..i.e opening time at the dental surgery, I rang to see if I could get an emergency appointment.. to be told..if I could reach the surgery in 10 minutes then I could have a date with my dentist. Never have I walked, rolled .. tripped down the hill in to town so fast and arrived in a breathless .. sweaty heap at the reception desk to be told.." It's OK.. you'll be lying down soon.. you can get your breath back".. oh such words of comfort !
To cut a long, dull story short.. after X rays and a prescription for penicillin.. I was wished a "Happy Birthday" by my dentist and his smiling assistant.. and I left to face the remains of the day..
The best possible medicine was from all your lovely comments which really buoyed me along.. it is STILL such a wonder to me that so much goodwill can be gathered from the folk in blog land.. So Thank you so so much.. for your lovely comments and wishes on the day.. I unwrapped each one with much gratitude and a lopsided smile !

Once more with feeling....

2009-09-18T07:54:00.003+02:00

If you aren't all partied out already.. please put on your finest and come join me for one last cup of tea and a slice of best.. for today is my Birthday and I intend to celebrate with lots of this..
I will return once I have emerged from all the wrapping paper to share my goodies with you..
Do excuse me.. just have to go and find the polyfilla... I have a few cracks to fill!

The Return of Happy Returns ..

2009-09-16T07:33:00.004+02:00

Birthdays are like buses.... nothing for days.. then WHAM... 4 in a row!!
As promised.. I am here again to wish another good friend very many happy returns of the day..
SO fill up your tea cup.. and cut yourself another slice of cake.. and please come and celebrate dear Carol's Birthday today.... Many many many Happy Birthday's to you my lovely friend xxx

Birthday Bonanza...

2009-09-15T07:09:00.006+02:00

This week is a very special one on the calendar.... lots of days with big circles around them..
First there was Lizzie... celebrating in 1960's style with jelly and ice-cream (how else)!
Today is the Birthday of a very dear friend of mine.. not only a friend but a partner in crime.. so please raise your cup of tea, or whatever tipple you have to hand.. and wish dear Kim aka Milly.. a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.... celebrate and indulge my friend!!!

As you can see.. I have my best red party shoes on for the occasion!
P.s Do pop back tomorrow for more cake and jelly when we celebrate another!

Twitter..

2009-09-13T07:43:00.009+02:00

Sitting up in bed this morning at 5.30 a.m.. after listening to the orchestra of thoughts playing in my mind for the last hour.. I abandoned all hope of sleep and turned instead to the Saturday papers that had lain untouched next to the bed...Grabbing the allure of the glossy supplement I turned to an article about migrating birds.. something that has fascinated me, almost subconsciously, since my childhood. I waxed lyrical about Autumn in my last blog post.. as this is a season that I have felt most at home, at peace with, ever since I can remember... and I do remember certain days, years and years ago.. running out in to the dew on the garden lawn and smelling the 'rust' in the air whilst hearing the haunting cry of migrating geese flying over the house.. This sound stirs up strong emotions in me..a sad farewell kind of sound..and one to this day that fills my heart with a reassuring melancholy.

The article that I refer to is in the Telegraph Magazine.. and tucked in between the ads for age defying body lotions and exotic travel.. is a piece of poetry.. a beautifully eloquent homage to these extraordinary creatures... the migratory bird.
The article ' Rites of Passge' is written my Tim Dee who travels on a pilgrimage to Fair Isle ( land of much loved woollen apparel ) where he witnesses the miracle of migration and the arrival of thousands.. nay millions possibly, of these fragile, yet tungsten steel creatures as they stop off on their mammoth journey to warmer climes.. The line that stole my heart was this.. " On a particular day, say September 3, there will be 45 million swallows in the air on their way out of Europe. We are in the middle of it, they fly right through us, but we hardly notice."

We are off for a walk today to savour the last moments of summer as it gently bleeds in to autumn.. I shall turn my head to the skies and say a fond farewell to our feathered friends as they head off for their winter vacation.

It's Hip to be Cool..

2009-09-04T15:53:00.016+02:00

I came to the conclusion this summer.. that I am not one to worship the sun.. not as I used to in my youth.. basting myself in suntan oil and cooking to a crisp on some sun baked beach. I am definitely a cold weather person.. relishing the first nip in the air and lagging myself with layers of clothes against the elements of colder seasons.
Yesterday.. there was a taste of autumn in the air. The subtle shift in the way the light played on the trees and the earlier evening sun, glowed with a faint bronze tint. September for me, has always been my favourite month. I love the arrival of that drop in the mercury, the scent of wood smoke from the first bonfires of the season and the mellow colours of the turning leaves..
There is also something immensely satisfying about harvesting your own produce.. however modest the crop..and this year our small strip of garden has rewarded us with many fruits.
The sturdy little apple tree has groaned under the weight of all the fruit and such sweet and crispy apples they are.. The garden I adored from my childhood, was an old apple orchard that gave such a plentiful harvest each year, far more than we could cope with.. 21 cooking apple trees would keep us supplied with stewed apple for most of the year.. much to my disgust. I was not a fan and preferred the cinnamon apple pies or blackberry and apple crumble that were a welcome departure. One year my mother dabbled in making apple wine.. only to discover on returning from our holiday in the half term hols in October, that the cellarage had been raided by my older brother, who had taken a shine to this new beverage!
The colours of autumn are naturally fiery and red.. All the better to warm the cockles..and these are no exception.. lethal if you rub your eyes after picking and not washing the hands first.. as I found out recently...The discovery of an unwelcome bramble growing up through our hedge earlier this year, had me threatening it with some secateurs.. until of course these tasty treats arrived, now it is most welcome.. There is something quite primeval about the desire to make the cave cosy and tempting for daddy bear to come home to .. and the best way is through the stomach with some good old carbs .. most effective insulation!Out with the salads.. in with the cauliflower cheese!
Lighting the fire for the first time is quite an occasion and one I am so looking forward to.. It will announce the official arrival of autumn... and that's something I relish!
There are only 4 months to go before my new year resolution expires.. learning how to crochet.. Haven't picked up the book let alone bought the wool..but there's still time and what better way to while away the hours of an evening in front of the fire.. other than acquiring chilblains.
I also have a stack of unread books next to the bed.. so the longer evenings will provide some time to catch up with another rip roaring read..
Am I alone with this preference for colder climes..? Not everyone welcomes the passing of summer..
For those of you who share my love of autumn, enjoy your foraging for the fruits of nature and all that this season brings..

Poster for sale in Milly & Dottie's Emporium

I hope your baskets brimmeth over!

Dorset Delights

2009-08-31T10:33:00.013+02:00

Mr Custard announced at breakfast.. put your walking boots on.. we are off on a 'Jolly' today. Who was I to object and so clambered into the 'mighty Honda' having just scraped through it's M.O.T, to be driven to unknown destination. How I love an adventure.. truly. I would like to think I was one of the 'Famous Five' in a previous incarnation.. never happier than embarking on journey to unknown pastures and discovering treasures.
The treasure I was taken to in the folds of the Dorset hills, is a real jewel.. bright and shiny (the sun did just about manage to emerge) and rare.. particularly as we were just about the only visitors.
The place I talk of is Mapperton House.. a very special place in my heart.. discovered on one of our past rambles to this corner of Dorset. Without a need for 'Charmiane' our opiniated Sat Nav, our motor seemed instinctively to know which turning to take, along winding lanes until we arrived at the impressive entrance to the house ...What a beautiful house it is too.. though sadly we had missed the date for entrance to the house but were very content to wander around the gardens as these had made a great impression on our first visit a few years ago.Notice the small alcoves carved in to the gate posts.. I suppose these were for footmen to rest as they certainly provided a comfy seat in which to tarry a while..
On to the garden.. a masterpiece of landscaping and design.. I hardly know where to begin this tour.. so I first I will tempt you with some flowering abundance.. Japanese Anemones..There are so many little nooks and crannies in the garden..little corners to sit in seclusion To take tea... Or just to admire the stunning vista..What I love so much about this garden is the romance of it.. It would be the perfect place for a party of decadence and frivolity.. I can just see the ladies in their silk flapper dresses perched demurely on the stone benches, of which there are many, whilst being wooed by men in sharp dark suits and pencil thin moustaches.. What a fertile imagination.. as fertile as this gorgeous terraced garden.. Herbaceous border..Imagine sipping cocktails in the Orangery.. dressed in your finery...I would have to take a pair of secateurs in my little beaded bag to snip away at the plentiful topiary.. It was getting a little unruly in places..There is very much an air of 'The Draughtsman's Contract' about this place.. lots of places to conjure up clandestine trysts..Not too sure I could cope with those cobwebs..The more I think about it... I suspect that I was a woman of a certain repute (!) in a former life.. much less of a wholesome Enid Blyton character..
This place brings out the devil in me..Just as well I had Mr Custard with me to keep me in check!

Whimpers and Wishes..

2009-08-23T22:20:00.018+02:00

With one week to go, these summer hols will have passed in the blink of an eye.. or so it feels. It really doesn't seem credible that 8 weeks ago I accompanied my son to his end of term service in Bath Abbey..and watched as the pupils poured out after the service wearing broad smiles and a sense of freedom in their hearts. The hols had begun..So where have all those days in-between gone?
I suppose we have trundled gently along, keeping to some kind of routine but allowing ourselves some 'escape time' to head off to all points of the compass.. North to visit Hereford, Hay on Wye and Tetbury, Jayne for a morning of coffee, friendship and much needed chat about the V & H Fair to come.. South to Branscombe and 24 hours of sea breezes, sun and sand between our toes. East to our local supermarket, didn't get very far in that direction other than a few short walks around the hills of Bath..Heading West to a place I have grown to love so dearly and long to return to at every opportunity, one day for good I hope .. Devon, Drewsteignton to be precise and the banks of the river Teign. So beautiful in all seasons.Finally all the fun of the fair in Portscatho in Cornwall for the much anticipated Home Spun Fair and Friday last, which was a day of much laughter and fine friendship courtesy of Niki in her fabulous home and some girly time.. so badly needed!Why oh why did I not take more photos of her exquisite home!?

We haven't really ventured that far and yet I feel we have had some great adventures and have brought home the best kind of souvenirs of many happy memories.
Our last little jaunt was to a place we head for frequently.. being only half an hour from home..
The pretty town of Tetbury in the south of the Cotswolds.. A place stuffed to the gills with antique shops .. but one in particular that I make a bee-line to with quickening steps.. Lorford's.. A shop of the most enticing kind. As I step through the doors into this cave of delights.. I love to play my favourite game of.."If I won the lottery.. I would buy...." and this is why..
I will lead you through the rooms and I am sure you will lose your head and heart to something in this extraordinary place..I could happily ride that little horse home..
When can I move in to this des res..Now that is what I call a plate rack...I'll take the lot please.. no need to wrap anything.What do you fancy?
Love that chair..Mirror mirror on the wall..Such beautiful colours..These little blue bottles make an attractive collection..
I will end that eye watering tour on a sigh.. and something I spotted on leaving Tetbury outside the deli.. Spot the deliberate mistake!Now the hols are drawing to a close, I can almost smell autumn upon the air.. and look forward to days of golden sun on bronzed leaves, foraging for berries to make jam with and lighting that first fire of the season. Getting down and cosy.
There is of course one other shop that I am rather fond of.. and that is Milly & Dottie's Emporium.
Milly and I have been bustling around filling the shelves with some lovely new items. Take for example Billy the boss- eyed pooch.. How much is that doggy in the window? You'll have to visit the emporium to find out!

Back from Beyond...

2009-08-16T09:09:00.023+02:00

I am back on the wagon again after having fallen off for a few weeks..Not in the drink sense I hasten to add.. more in the 'taking time out' sense. Time that has been spent switching off from the normal routine and taking stock of life.. and a escaping to a few favourite haunts.
The Custard clan have done a fair bit of mileage over the last two weeks..first to the wild west of Devon and Cornwall then back home again for family matters.. off again for a mad dash to Branscombe to dip our toes.. and in my case.. whole body (shock horror) in the beautiful briny sea. Followed by a short foray 'oop north' said in my best Yorkshire accent.. though we didn't go to Yorkshire and I haven't got a Yorkshire accent but I do love the sound of that gutsy dialect! The north I refer to is .. north of Bath, a bit.. to the heart of Wales and border country.. Hereford and Hay on Wye.. a gorgeously eccentric place chock full of book shops, that has been on my list of 'must go' places for 20 years at least.. since my mother once told me, one could buy books by the yard there.Our first happy trail was two weeks ago today.. Mr Custard and I set off at the crack of dawn.. tiptoeing out of our B + B at Drewsteignton, as quietly as we could, whilst also loading up a car full of assorted vintage toys and paraphernalia to take to the Home Spun Fair in Portscatho. A much anticipated event that was a perfect antidote to all the difficulties of the days prior to our escape.
We hit the highway on a beautiful bright morning, the journey being a breeze, roads not being particularly busy at 6.a.m. I was sure we would be sitting outside Portscatho memorial hall twiddling our thumbs waiting for the doors to open as we were in good time.. until that is.. we took the wrong turning at Truro for The Roseland Peninsula. Finding that we were the wrong side of the River Fal and the King Harry Ferry didn't sail until 9 a.m.. we back-tracked to Truro and then started to navigate with the help (or not) of Charmiane..our faithful sat nav. Dear Charmiane..got very confused, as did we, as she steered us through a farmyard up to a five bar gate, urging us to continue. At this point, I disconnected Charmiane and we asked a local jogger the way.. much quicker and more accurate!
Well.. what can I say about the Home Spun Fair.. lots actually.
It was a lovely day from start to finish.. the hall being a perfect venue for such a vintagey style event.. The room was decked with bunting and a friendly hum of ladies setting up their stalls.. Despite my sleep deprivation of the night before.. I managed to arrange just about everything in some coherent manner on my table I was then able to sit back... or rather stroll around and meet up with some of my favourite blogging chums.. dear Viv.. a fabulous lady, so talented and with a mutual love of vintage dolls was there, Sue with her amazing emporium of vintage textiles ..and much more besides.. Nicky and her gorgeous menagerie of animals.. teddies, rabbits and an adorable dog that I badly badly wanted to adopt.. Clare and her elegant handmade hats beautifully displayed.. Leonore and her extraordinary display of vintage goods.. too many to mention and last but not least Jane and her lovely array of handmade boats, dolls, framed collages and more..There was a happy and healthy stream of visitors from the minute the doors opened and I was delighted to meet Sarah who came and introduced herself to me..and Maureen who I had 'met' through the Vintage & Handmade Fair.. Such an unexpected pleasure to meet new faces.. and make new friends.. dear Helen who with her husband entertained Mr Custard and I throughout the day.. Let's play I Spy...see if you can spot Viv & Sue.

There was a lot to bring away from this day.. memories of a happy day , a very successful event organised by Jane & Christine and new friendships that iced the occasion.
Even Mr Custard lasted the distance.. and enjoyed being amongst the throng of lovely ladies ..well which man wouldn't !?

This summer has been a strange affair.. good times.. very good times.. some bad times too... but the autumn is approaching and I have so much to look forward to.
New products to design for Cowboys & Custard, new stock to fill the shelves in Milly & Dottie's Emporium and a Vintage & Handmade fair to organise .. so there is no time to lose.. much to do and much to occupy the mind.I hope to add to this list some regular blogging.. I have been out of sync in this dept but hope to get properly back on track soon..

A bientot !

I would like to thank you all for your very kind condolences on our recent bereavement. We do appreciate your kindness and empathy..

Departures..

2009-07-31T16:48:00.003+02:00

It has been a turbulent time recently.. highs, lows and sudden plummets that knock the wind out of your sails. The highs have been most rewarding.. and this came in the launching of Milly & Dottie's Emporium. a project that had been shared over the last year with my dear friend Kim and her alter ego Milly.. and one that finally came to fruition last weekend. We are both so grateful to all of you who have supported this new enterprise both with your generous comments and visits to the emporium.. it is very reassuring to know that there is still space out there for one more of these vintage shops and you have been so kind to welcome us in the spirit that you have.
Sadly the excitement has also been tempered by a bereavement in my family.. my beloved father in law passed away last weekend. He was a fine gentleman and will be sorely missed by his loving family. As one door closes.. another one opens...
I have been a woman of few words in recent weeks and will continue to be so for a while longer as I disappear off to the wilds of Cornwall to attend the Home Spun Fair. I am so looking forward to meeting up with fellow blogging friends and putting some of the last few weeks behind us.
Do drop in to the emporium if you are passing... we are re-stocking the shelves frequently so you might find something you missed on your last visit.
A bientot..
Michele x

Open for business ...

2009-07-24T21:42:00.033+02:00

An awfully long time ago two bloggers started writing to each other and discovered that they had much in common. A very special friendship blossomed and much fun and mischief has been had along the way. Dreams were shared and plans were hatched … after months and months of giggling, worrying, dithering and much custard cream eating, they finally get to

“play shops”.

Milly and Dottie (for they are our alter egos) would love you to come and take a peep around. We’ve polished our shoes, starched our aprons and swept away the biscuit crumbs and are hiding away in our stockroom.... why don’t you come and join us?

Dottie x

Please visit us at Milly & Dottie's Emporium

Somewhere over the rainbow ..

2009-07-17T07:53:00.008+02:00

I hope you find your pot of gold ..

Life imitating art... or vice versa..

2009-07-12T18:38:00.025+02:00

Today I found myself in a queue outside of Bristol University.. a queue that took two hours to reach it's destination.... but with no hint of impatience about it.. only a gentle animated buzz from young and old...
Birthday Boy and Mr Custard.. chatted with eager anticipation.. whilst I wished that I had worn something a little cooler.. the day turning out to be a tad warmer than forecast !
Three bottles of mineral water and a grumbling sciatic nerve .. later.. we arrived at the entrance to this hallowed event... one that I had heard much about from other visitors and on the local news.. This is the best thing that has happened to Bristol City Museum for many a year... in fact probably the first and only time that queues of this constancy and length have been seen outside of this popular Bristol venue..
We were on a mission to visit the works of BANKSY .. (click on his name to find out more )
a local hero.. an urban artist 'made good' ..
I cannot imagine that many households have not heard of this modern day genius.. for a genius he is.. in my eyes at least...

His earlier works of graffiti are legendary around Bristol and have become protected landmarks... One of his more famous works, I have seen many times on my visit to Park Street, is mind boggling.. How on earth did this man manage to create something, obviously in a hurry... half way up a wall!?

His work speaks volumes about the society we live in today.. about the paradoxes of politics and social decay...the greed and ugliness of our world.. but portrayed through his work with great profundity.

Angel of the North

Each piece that we witnessed today.. was witty, poignant .. painfully at times.. see the laboratory rabbit filing her paws and the Leopard skin fur coat, sitting in the branch of a tree..
It was all very thought provoking and scratch the surface and you found much more beneath...
There was something here for everyone to relate to on whatever level or depth one chose to..
I LOVED it.. it made me laugh, wince.. and THINK... and if that isn't good art then I don't know what is..

It might not be every one's cup of tea or tin of paint... but Banksy has made his mark for me..
See what you think.. I would love to hear your thoughts.. and if you live close to Bristol .. I would urge you to go ..
My man has a boredom threshold of 3 minutes and he thought is was worth every agonising minute of queueing!
I bring you Banksy Vs the Bristol Museum.

I love the wit of these two.. well in fact of all of them..
This has to be one of my favourites...I think it was called Agency Workers.. or similar.
This character was so lifelike.. rocking back and forth on a mechanical fairground horse.. It was hard to believe it was a dummy..

Very clever!
Raised a lot of smiles..
Damien Hirst meets Banksy..
When I was at Art College in the 1970's.. we would often go on trips to the Tate in London or the Oxford galleries.. Ashmolean..
I cannot remember much about the exhibitions we saw.. but this one will live on in my memory for a long time...
I so admire the ingenuity of this elusive man who lives for the best part under a cloak of anonymity... though his work is revered world wide now..Thomas the Tank Engine as you have never seen him before..CCTV features large in a few pieces..
This genuine Romany caravan even had a wheel clamp ..!
I really giggled at this one.. such puerile humour... love it!

Hmmm... this piece is very topical right now..!

I do hope you enjoyed the show...I have only shared a fraction of the exhibits with you.. there was so much to take in.. so do go along if you can.. it is so much better in the flesh!

P.s... I can see from your comments so far that you approve of his work..
If you are going along.. may I suggest you get there early.. I think the museum opens at 10 a.m and we arrived at 1.p.m.. and finally entered the museum at 2.45 p.m...
Last entry is 3.30 p.m so allow plenty of time! The exhibition finishes on the 31st August.
It is free admission and yes.. you are allowed to take photos.. without a flash!
Enjoy!!

0 - 15

2009-07-10T20:11:00.007+02:00

Is it really 15 years ago?
At 3.16 p.m on the hottest day of the year on July 10th 1994.. my beautiful boy was born... Here we are fifteen years later..in just a blink of an eye ...it seems..Happy Birthday my beautiful boy..
I am so proud of you
Mum xx

Recipe for happiness....

2009-07-02T20:52:00.004+02:00

Take one fine day.. preferably with blue skies and wispy clouds...

Add one river location on the outskirts of Bath fair city..Mix with two glasses of Pimms and a good plate of anti-pasti......and a healthy sprinkling of friendship supplied by Jayne..Stir well ..and bake in hot sun for two hours..Result.... one happy day to be shared with a friend..

24 Carrot Love.....

2009-06-29T14:53:00.007+02:00

I love my boy when he offers to unpack the shopping.... actually.. I love him all the time.. just more so!

Country matters ....

2009-06-23T16:53:00.008+02:00

I have been on the verge of writing a blog post for days.. but each time losing the momentum and slipping back in to a lazy fug.
As the days get longer.. I have become more distracted and my heart and head have yearned for leafy landscapes and wide open spaces. We are blessed to live in a 'city in the country' .. Evident of the lush skyline wrapped around the hollow of Bath urban life.. but deep down I really feel I belong in the country.. I am a 'welly' girl at heart and would love nothing more than to live in a stone cottage tucked down a winding lane with open vistas across fields ... A Country Girl.. just like the characters in one of my favourite old books by Edna O'Brien..There is something deeply romantic about rural life.. though I am sure those of you who live in the greener pastures of our fine land might disagree with me... 'What about the constant ferrying of offspring to their various pursuits, treks to the shops.... muddy lanes and the cacophony of nature that shatters the peaceful rural idyll...?
I would still trade in my neighbourhood noises... car alarms, screeching ambulance sirens.. the nocturnal sing song of an inebriated pedestrian or two.... and the living cheek by jowl with numerous earthlings....
Mr Custard and I took the opportunity to drive out to a village a few miles from Bath, to walk along a stretch of river.. unexplored territory.. and magnificent at this time of year.. with the abundant flora and fauna...The pale blue field of Linseed shimmered like mercury....Leafy, lovely, lush and oh so peaceful....Having decided some years ago that I was never going to be a driver.. despite passing my driving test.. I might find the 'Good Life' a little challenging.. without wheels... but there are bonuses..
Endless walks and the opportunity to finally own one of these.. or two even...Though in order to get some real exercise... it would be preferable to own the real thing.. and today I fell hook line and sinker for this little girl...She really stole my heart and made me more determined to up sticks one day and head for the hills... and own my very own Border Terrier.. who I will name Miffy.. Sigh!

A rabbit in the headlights..

2009-06-09T07:38:00.028+02:00

The last week has been a busy one.. most surprising as I was sure that the 'post Fair' blues would settle in and I would be twiddling my thumbs for a while..
Far from it... I have been firmly glued to my trusty pooter .. tapping out emails to all and sundry and batting enquiries about the next Fair.. in November. It has tied up a lot of my creative time but I do so love chatting to people and finding out more about them.. so.. it seems that the tables have turned and this morning when checking my emails.. (something I do at 5.30 a.m every morning when I am brutally awoken my beloved snorting and sneezing.. chronic hayfever sufferer.. poor love) I find I have been tagged by one of the lovely people I met at the V & H ...Sarah from Hardaker & Pope..
I spend a fair amount of time ducking and diving and running from these things.. but I must admit to being quite pleased about this tag.. the questions are some that I can relate to instantly..
I am not sure you will find my answers particularly riveting... but here goes...

Q. What's your favourite colour?
A. Not a straight forward answer.. I love colours in relation to others... an acid green Alchamilla Mollis in the garden next to a plummy Allium.. beautiful...! But I would have to say blue is my favourite.. as long as it isn't the blue of a bruise... more the blue of an azure sky..Q. What's your favourite clothing in your wardrobe?
A. This should be an easy one.. Anything that fits!! I have put on a lot of unwelcome pounds over the last few years and my wardrobe has become more of a costume museum.. a shrine to dresses that belong to a smaller woman. I would have to say though.. my Boden Tea Dress.. comes out of the mothballs every summer.Q.What's your dream job?
A. I think to some degree I already have a dream job... working from home and being creative.
Collecting vintage toys and spreading sweet nostalgia on to others... but.. in my heart.. I would love love love my own little shop..a Curiosity Shop meets Chocolat!Q. What's the last thing you bought?
A. Well to be honest .. it was a 1000 blank cards and envelopes to re-stock my greeting card business.. but that is boring so.. the last thing I bought for me.....not something I do often these days.. is my gorgeous kitschy shell frame from Lizzie at the V & H Fair.. I love it and it sits happily alongside my collection of shell frames in the bathroom..Q. What are you listening to right now..?
A. The drone of distant traffic from my lofty boudoir.. and the sound of my son scrabbling around trying to locate his discarded school uniform from the night before..

Q.What's your favourite ice-cream?
A. My mother used to make a vanilla ice-cream with hot chocolate sauce and crushed hazelnuts.. scrumptious!

Q.What's your favourite fruit?
A. Dried apricots.. non dried.. tomatoes.

Q.What inspires you?
A. Oh.. so much and so many..
Those who have the ability to think outside the box and follow their convictions.. last but not least.. my mother. She was an icon to me..Q.What's on the walls of your bedroom?
A. Some of my favourite peices from artists such as Edwina Bridgeman... and Cleo Mussi.. oh and a few cobwebs..Q.Who is your favourite designer?
A. I find this a difficult one to answer.. there are so many wonderful designers.. I think Terence Conran is a bit of a god in that department and my fave designer right now.. am I allowed two...
Viv from Hen's Teeth... she has oodles of style!

Q. Do you admire anyone's style?
A. Oh all the time.... I am forever seeing people in the street that have a flair with the way they dress..anybody who doesn't follow the masses!

Q.Describe your personal style?
A. Nanny McPhee on a bad day... Widow Twanky on a good day!

Q.What language would you like to learn?
A. French.. my mother's native tongue and learnt badly by me at school.

Q.What is your favourite quote for now?
A. 'Never give up' as my father would often say.

Q.What is your favourite magazine?
A. Selvedge... a classy and beautiful publication.

Q.If you had £100 what would you spend it on?
A. One of Sarah's lovely paisley or polka dot bags, some anti-wrinkle cream ( oh how I need some) and a sticky bun.

Q. What is your current obsession?
A. Vintage mercury glass and celluloid reindeer....

Q.What are you wearing today?
A. My beloved's dressing gown.. for now at least.

Q.What's for dinner?
A. A Thai chicken curry.. if I can find the lemongrass.

Q.What would you eat for your last meal?
A. Singapore noodles washed down with a lovely glass of Dom Pérignon.

Q.What do you think of the person who tagged you?
A. I think she has a great talent and a sweet nature.

Q.If you could have a house paid for and furnished, anywhere in the world where would it be?
A. Tuscany.. Chianti hillsQ. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour.. where would it be?
A. A walk along the river Teign in Devon at Fingle BridgeQ. What are you going to do after this?
A. Get dressed and stagger in to town with some parcels to post.

Q.What are your favourite movies?
A. Can't possibly list them all.. but The Railway Children is all time fave.. Far from the Madding Crowd...Draughtsman's Contract..ad infinitum.

Q.What's your favourite book?
A. My address book... all my friends in one place

Q.Do you collect something?
A. Far too much.. vintage tin toys, vintage rabbit toys, vintage bisque penny dolls, wooden shoe lasts, Victorian shell pictures, hearts.... dust.. plastic carrier bags etc etc..

Q.What's the most important rule of life?
A. Do unto others.....

I would like to pass this on to five others.. to be completed at your leisure or not at all....

Lizzie

Jane

Lili M

Viv

Kim ( sorry!)

June is bustin' out all over..

2009-06-04T07:38:00.015+02:00

I have had that song dancing around my head since Monday.. along with the Steeleye Span song.. 'Didn't we have a lovely time... the day we went to the V & H Fair'... slightly altered lyrics of course!
Thank you to everyone, for all the tremendous feedback we have had about the fair..
It is very comforting to know that those of you who did visit, had a good time.. even if your purses didn't!
The icing on the cake is knowing that so many of you enjoyed your day out amongst fellow bloggers whilst shopping for vintage and handmade goodies... the best of both worlds.

As the dust gently settles on the last fair.. the mind is firmly set upon the next fair in November.. the 14th to be precise.. and though I wouldn't want to wish away the summer months .. I really can't wait to start the whole process of plotting and planning and gathering items for the next...

To offer up some distraction.. the garden has put on a dazzling show of colour to tempt me out of doors.. Hence the song.. June is bustin' out all over...May and June are the 'main act' in most gardens as flowers put on their best frocks and compete with each other with colour and growth..I must confess that I wasn't a particular devotee of roses before I had my own garden.. but the variety and character of these plants have seduced me and I have collected a few ..This stripy rose.. yet to open up... is my favourite... though the name escapes me.. it is an old fashioned English rose with a heavenly scent..
I think the green fly would agree with me... oops!The foxgloves have done me proud this year and self seeded freely around the garden.. one can never have too many.. and so good for the bees! This little statuesque lady.. is affectionately known as Flora.. she was named by my son when he was a very small boy and he would wrap his arms around her neck and plant kisses on her stony cheek..I am hoping that our modest crop of strawberries will ripen in time for a strawberry cream tea this weekend.. though judging by the weather report on Metcheck.. a weather site that I visit daily.. the signs were for a dramatic dip in the old mercury in these parts on Saturday and can you believe ..sleet was forecast..
Time to get those woollies out again!