London Mummy

Grovestock - Chiswick's very own mini Glastonbury

Apologies for the very poor quality of this shot, quickly taken whilst no-one was at the stall, the wind was somewhat calmer, but under the harsh glare of my white gazebo, but at least for once I actually managed to take a picture of a stall, before my camera started behaving oddly so no photos of the actual stage and the crowd having a great time to show you which is a shame. 

I didn't get an opportunity to take any pictures at all last weekend at Green Days when I had a much larger stall with a wider range.  But hey, I'm not complaining I'd rather be too busy with customers to photograph my goodies :)

These were taken on Saturday at groveSTOCK, which like Green Days, is a fantastic annual event which takes places right here in my neck of the woods.  Chiswick's very own answer to Glastonbury, with fantastic live music all day and a wonderful fun, family atmosphere held in the grounds of the Vicarage - perfect.

As I had decided to only take a small selection of my handmade goodies, some Anne Claire Petit and a few other bits and bobs, we dispensed with the idea of going by car (I gave up a car in London years ago so usually go by taxi to my fairs etc)  bit of a mistake, as a couple of trips were needed and once or twice on the way home afterwards I truly felt like just leaving it all on the pavement and running away - what you can't see in the photo is all the extra stock under the table and the baskets in front filled with more of my cushions etc.

We had a couple of hair-raising moments when the gazebo threatened to take off in the wind and deposit London Mummy goodies all over Chiswick, but at least the threatened rain didn't materialise.  There was a moment of great excitment when a very large crowd suddenly gathered at the stall, wow I thought, aren't we popular, as I'm busily tripping over and nearly blinding myself on one of the guy ropes which supposedly secure the gazebo, to grab a tissue for the mum of a small girl covered in chocolate ice cream, until someone told me that local celeb Ant McPartlin was at my stall being besieged by a horde of young fans!

All in all a great day.  I shall be doing it all again soon as I'm taking part in the Chiswick Summer Fair  on Turnham Green on Saturday 10th July and will be debuting some of my new range.  I hope to be able to give you a bit of a prevew soon but as always, I'm behind on my photography and the website!

Livvy was, as she always is, an absolute star, my very own Junior Apprentice.

Can it really be Summer, finally ....

Well, after a few false starts it looks like summer may well have finally arrived.  The last few days here in London have been gorgeous and as Livvy has been on half term holidays, the good weather has been much appreciated enabling us to meet up with friends at Kew.

This photo was taken a few weeks ago, by Livvy, when I took part in a Handmade Garden Party which was held in the most gorgeous garden here in Chiswick.  Whilst it was all a little last minute on my part, only decided to take part a few days before, we enjoyed it so much as the weather was glorious and we got to meet some new faces as well as familiar friends and neighbours. 

Unlike my usual fairs, we walked around the corner from home, carrying a couple of boxes of a few of my handmade items and set up in literally 10 minutes - bliss :) 

I'm really hoping the lovely weather stays around as next weekend we are taking part in the Bedford Park Festival an annual event which, as well as celebrating arts in our local community, also raises money for local charities.  The Festival kicks off with Green Days which is a 2 day weekend traditional village summer fete and Craft Fair.  London Mummy will be there on the Sunday so do stop by our stall and say hi - it promises to be a great day out for all the family

I've been busy making lots of my handmade goodies, both for the Fete and shop but not had much time to take decent photos, but here's the tip of the iceberg

And more with the ever popular Alexander Handry Petting Zoo fabric

Along with more bibs and burp cloths, appliqued baby onesies and cushions

Some new pouch designs

 
And lots more which I hope to photograph next week, somehow between trade fair, Orthodontist, dentist and parent's evening visits :)

 

A little bit of Thrifty Goodness and a spot of shopping in Spitalfields

What a shame they don't package paints for children like this anymore!

This little tin so reminds me of childhood, afternoons spent painting on a dark rainy day.  I found this set of paints at my local car boot fair and as soon as I laid eyes on it knew it just had to be mine :)  I couldn't believe it when the chap selling it rather warily asked a £1 for it, how could I resist and promptly snapped it up.

It was made in England for W H Smith & Son, I'm guessing sometime around the late 1970's.  It still had the original 25p price sticker on it.

The illustrations are just delightful, my favourite is the Lion I think - it would be wonderful to find out who the original artist was.

Inside it still has most of the little individual tablets of paint with the colour names printed below each one, somewhat muddied by a child's eager painting hand dripping water from their brush no doubt, but still wonderful all the same.  I love the fact that it says "couleur sans danger" inside too :)

Found this little cheerful vintage apron in a treasure trove of a vintage shop just off Brick Lane during a trip to Spitalfields last week with a friend. 

Tiny bit of vintage trim but thought it was just so sweet!

This area is definitely worth a visit but I would recommend going on a Friday or the weekend as a few favourites like Labour and Wait and Shelf in cheshire Street are only open then, unless you want to spend your time like we did, our noses pressed up against the glass willing someone to magically appear!  Sunday is a particularly good day anyway as you can combine it with a trip to the Sunday Up Markets and the Flower market at Columbia Road, if the good weather keeps up for the weekend I shall have to tempt Livvy into a return trip.

Charlotte over at Anknel and Burblets recently posted about her last day at work nearby and has lots of lovely photos of the interesting sites in the area including a fabulous coffee shop.

Right I'm signing off now as I seem to have posting gremlins with Typepad and it is driving me nuts!