Crazy for Kempton

I've been trying to get to Kempton antiques market for years. There's always been something stopping me until yesterday when I finally went for the first time. I cannot believe that I've been missing out on this for so long. Hundreds of stalls - 700 to be precise- of people selling antiques, furniture, jewels, taxidermy, old glass. Anything and everything. I could have filled the whole house from top to bottom. If i'd been wearing my clever hat I'd have taken a massive van with me and stocked up on bargain furniture. Instead I went in my tiny car already full with baby car seats, suitcases, creme eggs... No room in the inn.

Anyway Ned and I did very well nonetheless. Antique mirrors and huge glass jars filled with cotton spools being the order of the day. I'd be so happy just to go and potter even if I wasn't hunting for any specific. I love the atmosphere of huge markets like that. The early early start - we were there at 6.30am, the eccentric sellers, the sausage and bacon baps.... It feels a bit like being on holiday.

I'm making it my mission to go at least once a month from now on. At least until I'm too fat to get behind the wheel. But then I guess I'll be in a van so there'll be more than enough space for me too.

www.kemptonantiques.com

Lillie Road Antiques

I dont want to jinx things by talking about it but we got one step closer to selling our house today. Major cause for celebration so I headed up to Lillie Road to do a spot of perusing the antiques shops. I fell in love with something in every shop. A Swedish, turquoise and white painted folding dining table in one. A rust coloured, painted French chest in another. We're not quite ready to be buying big pieces of furniture yet so I made do with some beautiful, antique silk spools instead.

I also fell for these divine old jars filled with coloured dyes

If you're planning a visit to Lillie Road, maybe wait until September as lots of the sellers have shut up shop for August.

www.lillieroad.co.uk

Love from Wales

We came up to Wales on Friday night and first thing on Saturday morning went rummaging in Welshpool for treasure. Ned was hunting for goodies for his business Not Another Bill.com and I was just looking for anything pretty really. Rather selfishly I've always tried to keep it a bit of a secret but I think it's about time I shared. After all, sharing is caring and it is mother's day. My secret is the magical Ashman's on Welshpool high street. The owner, Diane, has two wonderful shops next door to each other. The first is full of vintage clothes, bags, jewels and lace, while the other is a dream of welsh blankets, Durham quilts, ladylike cups and saucers and antique linens. Basically life style bits and pieces. 90% of my summer wardrobe is from here. She is my go-to for Edwardian slips, floaty white dresses and impractical but divine cotton lawn and lace bits. I love going into swanky London vintage shops and finding identical pieces that cost ten times what I paid for mine. Makes me very smug.

vintage bandages

antique table cloths, napkins and sheets

Ned fell in love with this little seal

Loved these vintage name tapes, such a pretty pink box

Vintage Style is another wonderful shop in Welshpool and I can never leave without paying it a quick visit. A tiny treasure trove full of French painted tables and shelves, antique enamel jugs and beautiful cushions.

enamel colander and jug from Vintage Style

www.ashmansvintage.com

'Vintage Style'.Hopkins Passage. Welshpool