Tag Archives: Teignmouth

Sick of being sick!

by

AAaarrggghhhh….my busiest time of year and I’m sick of being sick! At least I work at home and have been able to potter around making candles (at a greatly reduced pace though!)

You may remember that I did some candles in unwanted Cath Kidston stuff that I had hanging around the house, well they are back for Christmas by popular demand (more pix on my facebook page) I have been cracking on with my orders….

These are for my postie who knocked with parcels the other day while I was making creme brulee candles…”what are you cooking?” he asked and then ordered four! Bless him.

I have been messing around with candles in 1950’s pottery, as vintage teacup candles seem to be popping up everywhere now and I don’t like to be doing the same as everyone else (unlike some people in Birmingham I could mention!) The trouble with programmes like Kirstie & her vintage home, is that things become more expensive and increasingly difficult to source. I am fortunate to have lots of vintage contacts now though, having been doing the shows for the last few years. They often let me know if they have jelly moulds etc. Don’t think I could survive without them now! Thanks gals!

My lovely friend Emma is organising this Christmas Craft Fair in North Devon on 29th November, it is in the Carriage House of a friends property and sounds lush (haven’t seen it yet) There will be various artists and makers, mulled wine and mince pies plus lots of festive goodies if you want to shop handmade and local this Christmas!

I have just found out that I am doing another local fair on the evening of November 27th, 7pm at The Crab Shack, Teignmouth (on the back beach by The Ship Inn) this is in aid of a fishermans charity. There will be lots of local goodies including driftwood & my candles…more info to follow..

I am in Portscatho on Sunday 10am – 3pm at The Memorial  Hall. This is always a fab day out run by the artist Jane Winton and Gertie, who runs the gorgeous shop “The Sea Garden” in Portscatho village. Free entry, great local crafts, vintage homewares and yummy cakes!

I’m getting quite excited about Christmas now and hoping I’ll be lurgy-free….. I made my Guinness Christmas pud during the week and have my Christmas cake fruit soaking in Cherry Brandy in the fridge – yum! Today I’m making Amaretto candles, the whole house stinks and it’s making me feel extremely hungry. I should be trying to shift a few pounds in the run-up to festive over indulgence but I’m too ill & have already nearly finished the jumbo tin of Celebrations I bought for the hol’s and told the kids to leave alone! Fortunately MadMen 5  dropped through the letter box the other day so I have had Don Draper etc. for company and I’m reading a great book “The Woman Who Went To Bed For A Year” very encouraging, think I may take a leaf out of her book! Can’t wait for The Killing III on Saturday night too but for now I had better go and make some candles x

Crazy days….and Country Living Magazine

by

Portscatho was fab, saw lots of familiar faces and had a stall next to Kirsty Elson who makes beautful little houses and boats from recycled beach finds, slate, driftwood etc. I am now the proud owner of a little white cottage, one of hers of course! She is such good fun & the hours flew by…

The next day we left for London (via Buck’s to catch up with my old friend Shazza, who I haven’t seen for 6 years since moving to Devon). During that time she’s had 2 beautiful children (Gioia & Jack) It was a wonderful day, posh cakes were produced and there were lots of screams, tears, hugs & kisses! That’s her above with my daughter Billie – both looking gorgeous!

Another stop off in the village of Bourne End, where we used to live, to see my friend Jane and drop off a jelly mould candle that one of her friends had ordered (thought I’d save her the P&P) then back in the car to South London finally reaching our destination at 7pm. After a few days of shopping, socialising, drinking and eating too much I was happy to return to the quiet, wet country lanes of Devon on Friday. A pop-up “All things Vintage and lovely” went ahead in Torquay on Saturday & Sunday. I did the one on Saturday which was a bit slow but it’s always a good opportunity for a catch up.

I then spent the next couple of days pondering whether or not it is worth all the time and effort I dedicate to Peagreen (generally how I feel if I’ve had a quiet fair!) only to find an email from Country Living Magazine sitting in my inbox, asking me if I would like to sell my candles on a stall at their Christmas fair in Islington in November!  Well…as you can imagine I was blown away and had to take five before I was calm enough to call the number. “Do you know of Country Living Magazine?” asks Miranda “do I know it? It’s my bible” I wanted to scream back excitedly, as my eyes swept over the enormous pile of them on a shelf in my office – but didn’t, calmly agreeing to have the application form submitted within the next 24 hours, and ignoring the whopping fee, I hit “send” yesterday and decided to cross the next bridge when I came to it.

Off to Teignmouth with the family to meet some friends now – gotta make the most of the sun when it shines! I found these gorgeous Art Deco sundae dishes in a charity shop there yesterday which will make beautiful candles…

One last thing, my partner in crime got back from Spain last night after a month long holiday (how dare she leave me for so long!?!) Obviously I was straight round there this morning, wading through the piles of laundry and ignoring the fact that she had loads of other things to do I had to give her my Country Living news. She sent me this postcard whilst on her travels which made me smile…

… it looks like Poor Pauly don’t you think? Except PP is a lot more smiley and has a lot more stubble!