Country Living Magazine Spring Fair - Part 2

I didn't take too many photos at the fair just ones that I thought my readers would like.

 I don't think the bike would fare too well over that gravel!

 Inside one of the beach huts/sheds.  Wouldn't this be a lovely place to write/read/stitch or blog?

 I love these chairs!

 A wonderful stall full of the wooden stamps I am so fond of.

I didn't buy too much at the fair.  But I did buy some lovely Swedish clogs, a crinkly cotton blue dress, some wooden stamps and a small handful of Liberty print fabric.  If you are ever coming to London it is worth visiting when the show is on and staying over.  I didn't get a chance to show you all the lovely shops and places to visit around Islington and didn't get time to photograph much around the area today.  That will give me an excuse to go back another time.

Country Living Magazine Spring Fair 2016

I thought I would pop by in case any of you thought I had gone for good!  I've been busy focusing on getting fit and healthy and spending more time out in the fresh air, so not made too much time for blogging.
 
Recently I was lucky enough to be given a couple of tickets for the Country Living Magazine Spring fair and as it is just one hour away from where I live I had no excuse not to go.  It seemed bigger than I remember (last went in 2009) and there was much to see and do.  What was new to me was the Newcomers Market - cash only stalls that are just starting out on their journey's in business.  It was a shame but by the time I had reached them I had already blown my budget on another stall!

Also new to me were the workshops where you could could take a class in needle felting, stamp making and printing or make a Chocolate Easter Bunny among other things.  I decided to do the needle felting workshop but a 40 minute lesson under pressure to produce a needle felted bird that also resembled a needle felted bird would take me a whole afternoon at least!

Although I liked many of the stalls I didn't really see anything that was original to me.  The jewellery was predominately silver or gemstones, the clothing - high end linen or folksy- natural- fibre - earth -mother (I like that look!)  Other stalls included pretty liberty print type fabrics, vintage wares, natural and organic cosmetics, pottery, artisan food and chocolates and beautiful handbags and footwear.  Unfortunately a lot of the goods were way above my budget but there were more affordable offerings too.

One thing struck me as I walked around the floors and that was how many women fair goers were dressed the same.  All smartly dressed - Boden, Saltwater, Joules etc. and carrying Cath Kidston or Orly Kiely bags and virtually everyone had a fine scarf knotted at the neck.  I so wanted to fit this template but with my stretchy trousers and padded purple jacket I was far off the mark.  I did however, have the ubiquitous fine scarf strategically knotted at the decollete which does much to mask my half a century old neck!

I have another day left to spend at the fair and will probably spend some time exploring the streets around the borough of Islington too.