Thursday, April 14

liberty and the selvedge fair...

on the saturday morning, the day before i left to cross back over the pond, Our #1 and myself took the train back into London. first stop was TopShop on Oxford Street, we pottled amongst the humongous display of bags. as i stood bedazzled by the array of goods on offer and the young and old pretty ladies rushing around picking up and putting down the goods on display it dawned on me. i was now standing in TopShop on Oxford Street just as i had stood many moons ago aged 19, only this time i had my 19 year old daughter with me and despite a little pang of 'where have the years gone' i felt really rather fortunate for this moment of watching her pick out bags, trying them on, searching to find the exact one to meet all the needs of an art student carrying around her supplies and turning to me, asking for my opinion and when i gave it, listening to it. yes, how fortunate for small moments such as these.


after our bag testing in TopShop we headed to Liberty. i was pretty giddy about this and so i picked up the pace and walked faster. i cannot believe i have never ever been to Liberty before. actually i have stood outside before but never stepped inside its peachy Tudor walls.

we perused every department and i poured over every little thing on display. i have noted i am a 'touchy feely' shopper, everything i am attracted to must be touched, so therefore i did do quite a bit of touching in Liberty, i hoped they did not mind and i did make sure i had clean hands and only did light touching just to get a feel of the material and not a full on big 'rub-e-de-dubby' which would not have been suited to such lovely items on display in Libertys. no sirree, i save my 'rub-e-de-dubby' touchy stuff for the thriftstore where it is most important to get a good feel of things. yes i do know how to behave in public i assure you :)


after a lovely look at the insides of Liberty it was time to grab a light lunch 'el fresco' just off Regent Street. i am not making it up, we did indeed share a panini outside in the beautiful early spring and it was wonderful watching the hustle and bustle of folks in the sunshine. whilst we ate, i do believe i fell in love with London on a spring day.


then we were off to catch a tube to head on over to the Selvedge Fair and meet up with Debbie. upon meeting Debbie at Highgate tube station i was put in charge of directions to the Fair. i marched us off up the high street, after some marching and noting there really did not look like anyone else going to a grand Spring Fair, i halted our marching and poured over the little 'iffy' map printed off the web. i then turned my little 'iffy' map 180 degrees and noted to my two companions who had been marching alongside of me, it would appear we needed to go down the high street and not up.


see right there and then is a classic example dearest readers why i should not be put in charge of such important duties, i am brilliantly brilliant at following and looking out the side windows, whether in a passenger seat of a car or a companion on foot. after a bit of 'sighing and tutting' we were on our way again, arriving at the lovely Selvedge Fair in time for a much enjoyed pottle around and a nice cup of tea before the stall holders packed up and went home.


we caught up with the 'ever so lovely' Emma Lamb and her girls, looking so peachy and perfectly granny-ish. obviously i am talking about Emma's girls looking perfectly granny-ish and not herself, however the 'peachy' bit was about Emma though.

my fabby friend Fran was there too! after so many years of knowing her and her clever arty ways it was a sight for sore eyes to finally get to spend a little moment of snatched 'real life' quality time together.

and then there was my lovely friend Gloria (left of the photo), who so kindly displayed our dottie angel ltd tea towels on her stall and then let me stand behind her stall which truly was most kind.


how grand to have a chance to chin wag about this and that... truly what a peachy way to spend the last few hours of being on a small island... at the Selvedge fair with my lovely cyber buddies Emma, Fran and Gloria. the fair was full of crafty and arty goodness and it was wonderful to see all the stalls and their creative owners.


and then just like before, in the blink of an eye we were riding the evening train back to suburbia to pack up my 'vintage fabric heaven' treasures in my little suitcase and bid England a fond farewell. as i lay in my bed that night going over the whirlwind of the past 10 days, visiting five different counties, the family, the folks and the places i had seen, i could only marvel again at what a peachy trip it had been and best of all, perhaps the besty thing of it all, i got to spend a whole week with Our #1.

she has made old blighty her home now, when i look at her i see an adult standing before me, one who does not read her maps upside down, can train hop like a pro and knows how to be a canny thrifty shopper with her pennies. and as much as i miss not having her living here in our shed i am so positively beaming as i tippity type this post, knowing she is living out in the big world and doing such a brilliantly peachy job of it, far far better than i ever did.


she is particularly liking something in particular ~ Tif

26 comments:

Unknown said...

You certainly made the most of your time. I love Liberty but have not been there in years!The fair looked really good. glad you had a great time!

Selfsewn said...

So glad your daughter has found her roots!

I also have stood outside Libertys and never gone in!

There has been a program on the telly with Liberty in it, I am making a plan to visit for my birthday!!

Did you buy anything in Libertys??

Unknown said...

Hello Tif, I have only just made my way to your beautiful slice of blogland ( terrible I know) I will be sticking around- I just can't beleive how brilliant you are, makes me want to raise the bar on my own creativity. Gratitude. x Jo

Francesca said...

tif. such sweet words, thank you for being so lovely about meeting me. it was pretty amazing to meet you. i was only saying to another blogger today that it was like meeting a celeb and an old friend all rolled into one! your meg seems like she has a wise head on young shoulders. she's lovely. always so good to see someone in their own surroundings - sets your mind at rest. xxx

Sharon Stanley said...

you're such a cutie i'm betting your #1 was loving having her little mum there with her making the crafty and thrifty rounds...your posts are fascinating and seeing these fun places is just amazing!

Emma V said...

Dearest Tif, I cannot say how thrilled I am for you that you had the most wonderful time back in blighty. It is so great to see the photos. Plus I really wanted to see the Selvedge Fair and couldn't go to it. I think Liberty is like golden spiritual home for you although maybe Spitalfield Market really... Anyway what I wanted to say was your email was indeed like an Emily Chalmers moment for me....Thank you.

Donna -Little Tiny Stitches said...

What a lovely post Tif :o)
It's so good to hear your #1 is getting on so well.

Have a great weekend. x

::The Beetle Shack:: said...

wow! Your daughter actually listens to your advice!? You are a blessed woman indeed!

Sounds like a lovely time shopping and lunching. Beautiful pic of you behind the stall too. Glowing!

xx

Donna -Little Tiny Stitches said...

Ps. I do hope you get commission from the fabric heaven shop in your last post Tif :D

xx

Kim said...

Thank you so much for taking me along in London. I really enjoyed your trip! My daughter is 21, and just like yours, has turned into a beautiful, talented woman. We are so lucky.

Shelley in SC said...

It's been such fun journeying along with you through England! Thanks for taking the time to make us feel some of the joy of the trip.

Frances said...

What a marvelous post you've written, full of affection and true appreciation of what you've been fortunate to see, do, know ... and then there is that number one.

Best wishes!

Flower said...

Jealous much!

Deirdre said...

What a sweet and touching post. I must admit, it made me a tiny bit tear-eyed.
It sounds like you had a marvelous trip. Such wonderful things you did!
Thanks so much for sharing.
xo Deirdre

jen said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful time!! Oh how I would like to walk those streets with you!
It is hard when a chick leaves the nest but you have had the chance to see her in a different light. She is creating her mark on the world, and you got to see her in her new environment, not the 'home' of the mossy shed. The fact that she is doing so well does not surprise me, or other readers I am sure, in no small part that is due to you, the love and support that she had growing up and still does now. The fact that you are able to recognise her in a new light as an adult, and that now she not only sees you as her loving mother but also as a friend in one of the best acknowledgements that you have done a wonderful job. Okay cut the violins, sorry about the soppy bits. Glad to see you back in the shed safe and sound.

Erin {pughs' news} said...

Oh! I love Liberty! Was very sad to have missed going there on my last two trips to London. Next time, for sure!

I have many photos of me and my best friend standing outside in that very spot, flowers all around us. Thank you for that memory!

Unknown said...

what a great trip you've had, with beautiful gooddness, family and friends. I love you're bit about the fair. We don't have them enough around here (Holland)..I'm very curious about the creative fairy like lovelys you're gonna make of the vintage fabrics delights !

sue said...

Sounds like you had a grand trip! And how lovely to spend time with your daughter. When I see my girl who lives in 'the north' I just burst with pride and love, which is I guess how you feel about your lovely girl. It's the best feeling in the world isn't it!

Greedy Nan said...

Tif, I wept for your comments about your daughter - it's all testament to your upbringing of her because without that she wouldn't be the person she now is. She's obviously settled and that again is due to you. You should be tremendously proud for letting go.
PS the word veryfication today is fairymom - is that a sign?

Tracy Glover said...

What a fabulous and marvellous time you are having. I hope to preuse bags with my daughter too when she is 19, how cute. It must be hard when they fly the nest but she does sound like a canny girlie to be proud of. Liberty's sounds fab. xxx

Anonymous said...

I am simply delighted by the wonderfulness of your trip and enjoying reading all of the tantalizing details, but just a teensie bit envious.

Rachel at Stitched in Color said...

I so enjoyed the details about you and your daughter. You have much to be proud of! Hoping for such sweet moments with my #1 now. But ready for a long wait as she is just 6. thanks goodness.

dottie angel said...

dearest readers, thank you so kindly for your lovely words, i am so delighted you have enjoyed following along with a few of my pottles around England and indeed my time spent with my daughter.
you always say the kindest of words and i thank you for that :)
have a peachy weekend my lovelies
x

Rubyred said...

Well Tif, that truly was a peachy trip and I have truly enjoyed reading about it all! So pleased your No1 has settled right in and you've had some special girly time together.Got a bit of a lump in my throat as it reminded me of my own No1 who graduates this year, she'll probably be staying in Brighton when she finishes. I knew it would happen, but sometimes a little tear appears when I think about!But I know she has to make her way in the big wide world!
Happy weekend to you!
Rachel x

Anonymous said...

Ahh, I know what you mean by that last bit. Sniff. My #s are in the same boat (not the same country--a little south and east.) It's hard but it's good. I need to book a flight....

cailen ascher said...

what a fun event! and that shop looks so lovely : )