Selina Lake’s book launch and vintage fair for “Pretty Pastel Style” March 2013

I’d had a stall at Selina’s book launch and vintage fair a year ago for ‘Homespun Style’ so I knew that this event would be lovely too and it really was. It was in Kingston Surrey in a beautiful old building called Market House in Market Place surrounded by lovely shops, fruit and veg stalls and hustle and bustle. Selina’s used a few pictures of my house in her new book so I felt quite ‘part of it’ and a bit bowled over actually.

My good friend Jane Clucas came too and we shared a stall as we had also done at the last book launch.  Jane makes the most beautiful purses, make up bags, tiny animals in vintage sleeping bags and other things. She’s been a designer/ maker for about 20 and has sold to Cath Kidston, The Conran Shop, Couverture, among others and currently sells to Paul Smith.

We’ve been good friends for 22 years ( our sons were born on the same day 21 years ago) and it’s such a treat spending the whole day together.

When my children were small they loved her tiny knitted animals in their little sleeping bags.

Little blue painted shelves with vintage mini bunting. I sold these on the same day in my Etsy shop.

Lovely Bambi.

There were lots of lovely stalls there.including Love Lane Vintage  who’s sister sold beautiful flowers from her stand.

I love these paper straws by Peach Blossom . I remember paper straws when I was little. They were a real treat.  Before plastic straws there were only paper ones. We would suck up our drinks,  Nesquik if we were lucky and about half way through our drink the top of the straw would go completely  flat and soggy and close up. Who else remembers that ? I don’t think that paper straws then were treated with anything then. I’m sure they are now.

Mable and Bird were there with lots of cushions and these adorable lavender birds.

Anna Wiscombe  was there with her beautiful handmade wooden birds.

Sesame and Lilly were there with some amazing cushions and other delectables.

There was a queue  of people all day long waiting patiently for Selina to sign there books.

Gorgeous padded coat hangers by Clover’s Closet 

Selina with Debi Treloar photographer extraordinaire, who did the photos for Homespun Style and countless other lifestyle books. Debi’s lovely and I met her when she came to one of my Pop up Shops at home when Selina did a book signing there.  

It was lovely to meet the very well known Vicky Trainor who produces the most amazing work with vintage textiles. She was there with her very good friend Jane Day from Tea with Ruby and they’d driven all the way from Cleveland (up North !) Peels of raucous laughter could be heard coming from their corner stand all day. They must have had aching tummy muscles by the end.

More of Vicky’s beautiful creations.

All day long the stall holders were brought cups of tea in these vintage cups and saucers by friends of Selina who helped her with the event. Chantal from HedegrowHome  brought us refills regularly and tea really really does taste better from vintage china. Something to do with the thin rims I think.

Selina’s friend Laura froms  Cakey Bakes was in the Tea room with the most amazing homemade cakes and lemonade…….

See the yellow and white paper straws ?

She’d made the tallest Victoria sponge I’ve ever seen, I wish I’d measured it………

and she made this !!!!!!!! a cake version of Selina’s book. It was stunning and everyone was taking pictures of it.

I’ve never seen anything like it. It was unbelievable.

Some of my vintage patchwork bunting.

So despite the Arctic weather outside, everyone had a lovely day and went home happy and full of cake.