Home again after our few days in France. We were greeted wtih lots and lots of snow and freezing temperatures. -10 . Quite chilly to say the least but the air was still. A wind would have made it unbearable. Our road trip from the Ferry port at Caen to our friends passed without incident and we were glad to get there unscathed and be by the fireside in the warm.
It was difficult to know if we would be able to get out and about to do the shopping we had come for, but the French farmers do a stirling job and they had cleared the roads of the first fall of snow so driving was not a problem on the main roads.
It was difficult to know if we would be able to get out and about to do the shopping we had come for, but the French farmers do a stirling job and they had cleared the roads of the first fall of snow so driving was not a problem on the main roads.
We went out looking on Saturday and managed to find a few things at a Vide Grenier a few miles away, and struck really lucky at the Emmaus which was having an all day sale which included their linen. Sometimes they don't put it all out but save it for special linen days. 
Here is Pepita waiting for a carrot. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a baby. Both the horses went to a stallion last year. Rosie is definitely pregnant but Pepita is not showing yet as she is such a big horse. Lets hope she is. The babies are due at the end of April which is when Linda are due to go again so we will keep our fingers crossed. We are working again at another Puces de Couturiers, this time near St. Lo. We were approached by a lady about doing another one in Brittany at Morbihan but we are quite busy in May and I have Dorset Arts Weeks to think about so probably won't be able to participate in this one. It is good fun and the french ladies seem to like our stuff. But before then we have to set our sights on Ardingly which is looming on the horizon at the beginning of March. It is great to know that we have lot of lovely new stock to take.
Just back from Ardingly where we have been working since Monday. As always it was full of weird and wonderful things. The ' male model' shown above, just one of them. We were lucky with the weather this time and had two windless and one sunny day. It does make such a difference. Our claim to fame this time was that we sold some fabrics to a couple of girls working on a new 'Bridget Jones' film. Can't wait. I love those films and watch them over and over.
The chap on this stand which was next to us also sold to the film girls. From here they bought a huge metal butterfly which is destined for Bridget Jones' flat.
That's it on the work travel front for the moment. Next away trip is on February 9th when we go to France to take part in a Dressmaker's Fleamarket. In the meantime it is sorting and pricing in easily recognisable numbers for the French mesdames. Our French textiles continue to sell well here in England and we sold a lot at Ardingly so we will be searching out new goodies to bring back. For myself I bought a couple of cream linen Mangle clothes from a Belgian lady. I have to start thinking about what I am going to produce for Dorset Arts Weeks in June, and these will be great for some screen printing projects I have in mind.
it's all over now and back in the old routine though I did take time out to go to Portland Bill with my husband to look at the sea during the recent gale force winds. It was spectacular and very difficult to stand upright to take photos. My spectacles got covered with sea spray and I was afraid they would be blown away.
The batteries in my camera ran out and I was only able to take these three photos though I did manage to capture some more on my phone. I love my Blackberry but the camera is not up to much and that is my only complaint. I can pick up my emails wherever I am at no extra cost. I am not tempted by the iPhone as I don't like the touch screen. Just as well as I am not likely to get one!!!