Salvo Fair 2013 - Knebworth House

Salvo 2013 took place at Knebworth House. The grounds were taken over by magnificent dogs, architectural salvage, reclaimed building materials, antiques, retro items, garden ornaments and quirky pieces!

Authentic post boxes restored to their former glory and a hymn board salvaged from a demolished church (which will now become my "photo display" board!) I bought the board from "Antique Church Furnishings", who specialise in religious artefacts and furnishings.

Ornate antique bathroom fittings reclaimed from houses in France



Original stained glass doors and windows made from salvaged glass

Fixtures and fittings to create a vintage office!

Industrial light fittings and shades and Singer sewing machine table legs - probably from an old factory. 



Wonderful! An old Belfast sink unit, splattered with years of paint, from an art studio!

   



I love architectural drawings filing cabinets & shoe lasts made into coat hooks!

 

    

Loved it!

For further details about future Salvo fairs, please click here to see their website.

Soho Flea Market 2013

This was the second annual Soho Flea Market, held on Dean Street, London. A delightful collection of about 30 stalls selling crafts, upcycled paraphernalia, jewellery, stationery, ceramics (Melody Rose) and fashion. Home made treats served by Meringue Girls and their pink flamingos, eco friendly lampshades (The Baobab Tree), lush chairs (Velvet Eccentrics) and sassy shoes (Valentini Argyropoulou) 

One of my favourite stalls selling quirky china - Jimbobart!

Passionate plates and ceramics! by Melody Rose

Eco-friendly home furnishings by The Baobab Tree - really liked these simple and pretty shades!

The market supported the work of Kids Company charity. For more details about future events please see www. Cityshowcase.co.uk
 

   

Pitfield London

 

On Pitfield Street, in the Old Street area of London, is a beautiful place...

...a quirky emporium and café selling cakes, vintage, retro, designer homeware and eclectic finds!

Wallpaper or scrapwood? I love this paper by Piet Hein Eek

Oversized designer cushions and designer lamp shades....

part of the first exhibition of 2013 with Designersblock in the gallery...including appliances made from reclaimed wood by sculptor Camilla Barnard

The front of the shop is a sea of flowers

My special purchase - an old fashioned shovel!

When you've finished browsing...there's a beautiful café to enjoy too!

The Vintage Home Show, Chiswick

The venue for this show was ideal; the lovely Chiswick Town Hall which is a listed building with ornate stained glass windows, overlooking Turnham Green. Considering it was a Sunday morning, the traders were lively and there was a nice atmosphere in the air....there was even a vintage tea room serving refreshments in old tea sets!

There was a refreshingly different selection of stallholders from similar fairs that I have been to recently. I really liked the presence of old glass, vintage textiles, pottery and several robust typewriters! I came away with a tea-cup and saucer!

There was a £4 entry fee to this show - something I am never keen on - being charged to shop! Perhaps this could have been reduced to £2. How ever the prices inside were reasonable. Future shows planned in Manchester and Birmingham. For a full calendar, please see www.vintagehomeshow.co.uk 

 

Brixton Retro and Vintage Market



On the 3rd Saturday of every month, alongside the more traditional food, homeware and clothes, Brixton market on Station Road specalises in vintage and retro goodies. I thought this was a beautiful way to display old jewellery in an antique printing block tray.

Many stalls sold just vintage clothes, reasonably priced

I love anything old & haberdashery - so this sewing basket with antique cotton reels caught my eye and I bought some china from this stall - pretty plates, cups and saucers from only 50p!

Lovely, old fashioned knick nacks and spliffing good prices at the local carpet shop below!!

The choice and scents of different delicacies on display and being cooked was divine!
I loved this caravan!

 A lively and colourful market!

Wonderful Wood Street Market, Walthamstow!

I've read a lot about this newly opened market, so was excited to be finally visiting today! Located in an old cinema close to Walthamstow village, it has a lovely vibe and is well worth a trip!

The market has over 50 stalls selling all sorts; handmade and vintage clothing, second hand furniture, vinyl, arts and crafts...

...unique curios and lighting accessories, whether on printed t-shirts or old lampshades.

I loved the antiques and collectables. I bought this Edwardian hymn book shelf for bedtime reading!

This stall was overflowing with retro goodies

"The Old Box"; full of collectable bric-a-brac and fine jewellery run by a lovely, Maria Tyler

A whole corridor wasa devoted to vinyls

Although the market is open daily, some stalls shut during the week. There is a late night opening on the first Thursday night of every month, but stall holders open later that day, so avoid Thursday mornings. I would recommend visiting on a Saturday when most of the stalls are open.

Vintage bubbles!

I love collecting old decanters and always keep an eye out for them in charity shops, car boot sales and flea markets. I have filled some with bubble bath! I feel very decadent soaking in "vintage bubbles"!!

Vintage Village

I went to the delightful Vintage Village in Stockport today which is held on the 2nd Sunday of every month in the beautiful Victorian market hall.

I love haberdashery! So was happy to see such a large selection of stalls devoted to antique sewing and knitting patterns, retro buttons, pin cushions and magazines!

With Jubilee street parties looming, the village is a perfect place to source old fashioned bunting!

Vintage tes-sets perfect for more Jubilee celebrations!

"Parrot in the Pantry" stall, complete with a trader dressing up to get in the spirit of the event. Touches like these, along with low prices, made the fayre really enjoyable!

An old chopper!

My loot! A Shamrock "bun-warmer" and an old glas decanter to add to my growing collection!

For more information, please see http://www.thevintagevillage.co.uk/

The "Pimlico charity shop triangle"

I've only recently discovered this cluster of well-stocked charity shops in fashionable Pimlico! The outlets are conveniently located close together in a triangle - perfect for a quick rummage!     

Each shop is full of good as new designer labels, high street and vintage pieces at baragain prices! The Trinity Hospice shop on Wilton Road also sells new wool. I opted for a Monsoon linen jacket for £4 which looks brand new! The shop is hosting its next special vintage evening on 31 May 2012.

This FARA Retromania is a gem of a shop round the corner on Upper Tatchbrook Street. Stocking purely vintage fashion from Vivien Westwood to 1920's ball gowns and a basement packed full of home ware and other tempting retro goodies...

...I was good and only bought an old fashioned soap bowl! Retromanias sister shop on Warwick way feels like a stylish boutique, stocking designer labels. I saw a pair of pretty Miu Miu shoes waiting to be snatched up....

....but I decided to pass on designer labels and indulged in this delicate pink, spanish lace detail 1960s bed jacket that I'll wear with my jeans. A snip at £3!

There was a very funky atmosphere in The Crusaid shop on Charlwood Street. They stock a huge selection of books and LPs at the back of the shop and play tunes whilst you browse. Nice bitses are also on sale - I almost bought another glass decanter for my bubble bath, but my hands were full with my chicken kebab (An added bonus - I had to walk through the gorgeous food market on Tachbrook street to reach this shop!) Although a few minutes outside the "triangle", The Cardinal Hume Charity shop on Horseferry street is worth a visit too - some nice glass was on sale the day I was there.

All of these shops are on Warwick way. I only bought a card from Oxfam, but was nearly seduced in the basement downstairs by some lovely fabric and frames and loved their hamper basket upstairs with neatly folded mens ties for £3! Hospices of Hope sold new items also and some second hand furniture - I was very fond of an old captains wooden chair - but just a little too big to carry home with me on this trip! I also spied a brand new pair of Hobbs ballet pumps but not my size unfortunately! Sue Ryder had a lovely selection of well laundered clothes donated by stylish Pimlico folk.

"The Pimlico-charity-triangle" is a top destination for anyone who loves
 rummaging for vinatge and second hand bargains!