Friday 11 May 2012

The Decorative Living Fair

 It may have been a little wet and wild yesterday but at Eridge Park, East Sussex a slice of perfect Englishness was served up by Caroline Zoob and Hetty Purbrick. 
Now on its 7th annual outing The Decorative Living Fair is my favourite of them all! I think I have been to them all bar 1! The organisation was great...I went in wellies expecting a mud bath courtesy of this delightful English weather and I didn't need them! All the stalls were undercover and there were runners underfoot everywhere...brilliant planning girls! The quality of the stall holders was excellent once again, this is what really makes the Fair stand out for me, so many beautiful pieces and wonderful breadth of choice...come and see...
 Once again the catering was provided by The Blackbird Cafe...unfortunately it was so gusty and wet the marquee was closed this year, as ordinarily the views across the Weald are stunning through the open end. There are long scrubbed wooden trestles with tea-lights twinkling in cut-glass, posy's of garden flowers dotted throughout along with miles of bunting festooned on all sides.As you probably saw, I recently visited the Cornish Spring Flower Show where the food was lovely but the service chaotic ~ none of that here, the team were very efficient and friendly. As for the food...Y-U-M!
 I also had the great pleasure of catching up with the gorgeous Viv from Hens Teeth at her stall ~ just look at the treasures I bought! The broach is for Magpie, isn't it sweet? So good to see you Viv -x-
 Yes they are real sweet peas! Locally grown and now in pride of place in the kitchen with some lilac from the garden.
 
 Now a real thrill for me was to discover that Lucy, the creator of Love Lane Vintage had a stall! I recognised her immediately from an article I had scrap~booked from Country Homes and Interiors and in my usual over enthusiastic way I bounced over to her full of admiration, luckily she knew the very article I was babbling on about...phew! As it turns out Lucy is hosting a Fair, VillageVintage on 7th July in Cuckfield. I shall definitely be there!
Even in the miserable wet weather the house is stunning...
 
Bye for now...I''ll be back soon,

Sarah
-x-
ps I bought a beautiful vintage quilt, a stone swan planted up with white geraniums, gilt blue birds and other little treasures more of these soon...

pps Thanks to my beautiful partner in crime, the lovely Leila from Coco Cuscino

pps Found these images  I took at the Fair in 2007 and 2010 respectively thought you might like to see them
-x-

19 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures! Looks like it was a fabulous day out ... Wish I lived near. Look forward to seeing your purchases! Have a great weekend, Claire xxx

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  2. Oh this looks like fun! I think the food, the flowers and all of the beautiful items are a wonderful way to spend the day!

    I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

    Elizabeth

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  3. lovely pictures - looks right up my street! You know I am a massive fan of Viv and her work...and such a lovely lady!
    Have a gorgeous weekend
    fee x

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  4. What a fantastic day, all my favourite things
    together. Love going home and examamining your
    purchases!

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  5. Hi Sarah, I was there too!!!
    First time for me and definetly won't be the last!
    I can't help wondering what quilt you bought! I saw an absoluteley gorgeous one in one of the outdoor stalls, stuffed in a wire basket under a table, and I would have loved to have bought it, so gorgeous but I had already spent enough!
    It was a great event and I cant wait til next year!
    Thanks for sharing all the photos, and about the Fair in July - I shall try to make that.
    Gill xx

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  6. Wow that fair certainly brightens things despite the weather! Your sweetpeas look lovely and what a treat to have them so early.I picked some cow parsley the other day and thought of you.
    Sarah x

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  7. Anonymous11 May, 2012

    Will definitely put 7th July in my diary only a few miles from me....think I know exactly the article you are referring to too! nikki

    Lifeathollycottage.wordpress.com

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  8. I would loved to have spent the day with you, it looks like my kind of day out. Have a great weekend.

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  9. Glad we were able to offer sustenance - great day, sadly couldn't leave the kitchen to get round the amazing stalls! Caroline did a great job true British spirit - come and see us at the Wealden Times Fair in June - thanks for comments - Georgina, Blackbird Catering

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  10. This sounds exactly the kind of thing I would love to go to. Why is everything like this always at the other end of the country! I've seen and loved Caroline Zoob's stands at Country Living Fairs in London but this looks a much better event.

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  11. Just your kind of day out!
    I love Viv's work, one day I shall treat myself to one of her pieces.
    Lisa x

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  12. I think I must have been taking photos roughly the same time as you as I'm sure some of the people in the cafe look familiar.
    It was my first visit to the fair and I throughly enjoyed myself and also met Viv - but by the time I saw her she didn't have much of her stall left.
    I treated myself to a lovely piece of Mulberry linen and a few reels of braid from Caroline Zoob.

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  13. Aww such a lovely day out! Enjoyed my stay with your blog! Maria x

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  14. I love the way you describe things, the atmosphere and pictures. Thank you for sharing this great day with us !

    Hasta muy luego xx,

    Francisca www.franciscamatteoli.com/blog/

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  15. Fantastic photos of a brilliant fair. Yours are much better than mine.... have put a few on the blog this morning! Lizzie

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  16. It was a great day and so well organsied. I had a stand there for the first time. Two of your photos show my stand(the fabric close up and the one above). I will also be at Village Vintage in July, which is set to be a great fair.

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  17. It looks SO amazing! I'm gutted that I don't live closer - perhaps next year I'll try to orchestrate a little 'mini-break' to coincide with it. Your photographs capture the atmosphere so beautifully - really lovely!
    Paula x

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  18. I was there to and so loved it, especially Love Lane Vintage where I bought a beautiful bed cover from her. Hope to see you at Cuckfield as I will have a stall there.
    Please introduce yourself to me.
    Jillx

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  19. What a beautiful Fair, everything looks so pretty! :O)

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