Friday 14 January 2011

Help!

Now I'm a girl that tends to go overboard a bit. When I like something, I like it a lot. It tends to become something of an obsession. And I'll admit it, I do have a bit of a 'thing' for ceramic jugs.I collect them. I collect a lot of them. Over the years I've probably collected somewhere between 30 and 40 of them. Old, new, patterned and plain, large, small and some incredibly tiny. There's no method in my madness. I don't buy just from one range. Bridgewater, Nicholas Mosse, Brixton Pottery - I'll have 'em all! I am a woman without control! You might think that today I might be showing you some of my collection. Oh no ladies - I need your help. Mr F. bought me this jug a couple of years ago from a shop in Bishops Castle. It is my very favourite and I would love to buy some more of these gorgeous ceramics. But the shop in Bishops Castle has closed and I don't now where I can buy more.


There is no pottery logo, just a very discreet bell stamped on the base. Everywhere we visit I look out for this lovely, individual range. I've spent hours on the internet looking for a website or supplier without success.



Have you ever seen any? Do you know the maker? Please let me know if you have.



Not that I need any more jugs.



I'd love to know what you can't resist buying and don't forget let me know if you know where I can buy any of this wonderful range

Saturday 1 January 2011

Lovely Leominster


New Years Eve and the first opportunity we have had in weeks to get out and about. There's no snow to hamper us any longer and pretty though it was I'm heartily glad to see the back of it. The rush and responsibilities of Christmas are over and normal life can begin again.

Teenage Boy decided that friends and the local park were much more exciting, so we were free to have a day out without any grumps or groans or 'can we go home now' uttered every five minutes. Mr F. suggested a trip to Leominster. How I love this place. Full of antiques and shops selling vintage it's just the sort of place I love running riot in. Shop fronts are genteel Georgian affairs





and shop windows are filled with goodies that entice me inside followed by a very patient OH. Generally, it's not an expensive place either and wonderful things can be found for pocket money.


One of my faves is The Blue Door, full of vintage and new items that would sit so nicely in my home


and the rambling Zani's with room after room full of such lusciousness I don't know where to look first.


These were my acquisitions from Zani's yesterday. An old metal sign to be fixed to the garden wall


and some gorgeously coloured threads that will be displayed at a later date.



Oh the excitement! Of course everyone has to visit Utter Clutter. But do go on a diet before your visit - space is VERY tight!




By contrast Minster House rambles upstairs and downstairs, into the cellar and out into the garden and has things for sale from a couple of quid into the hundreds.....something for everyone. There's even a roaring open fire in the winter. If only they served tea.




Nevermind, we were able to visit Barber and Manuel for tea and the BEST chocolate brownies ever

sat in front of a fireplace still decorated with Christmas stockings made from vintage fabrics. Oh! I'm so glad to be out and about and back to normal.



Happy New Year everyone.