Sunday, January 27, 2013

Busy January

lovely garden statue vignette
inside Old Lucketts Store
It's been a crazy fast start to the year already.  I am currently on a work travel.  But also busy advancing plans for a new ventures in our personal life.  More on that in weeks to come !

So what to do to use time when highly jet lagged over a weekend.  Two weekends ago I was in the UK, then last weekend unexpectedly in Washington DC area.  Was supposed to be on my way towards home, but a few days delayed.  So a weekend there too.  In UK I visited Oxford again, and enjoyed that a lot.  Various shopping and looking around.  Annie Sloan Interiors where I got a (signed copy !) of her Workbook and also some more of her paint brushes.  A call in to Cath Kidston, a fave place to get a few things.  Stopped at Objects of Use, to buy black pig bristle paint brushes with stainless steel ferrules, made in Britain. There found also some amazing french made tailors measuring tapes and got pink and blue.  And a navy blue leather British satchel bag.  For dinner I stopped at Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant and enjoyed a wonderful meal and great wine and service too.   Then Sunday, a visit to The Packhouse antique centre near Farnham in Surrey.  Found there some vintage linens.  And saw great statues and things outside, but too big to send home !
Old Lucketts Store











staircase in Old Lucketts Store
In Washington DC, I decided to do a short day trip to Frederick to check out Stylish Patina's monthly barn sale.  A nice drive once I escaped the concrete jungle path called the Beltway and I-270.  Lovely country scenery, though a bit stark in winter.  Old barns and farms on hillsides.  I found the Barn sale and it was a popular outing apparently, lots of people there and the car park full.  Lovely things inside and furniture, old bits, and pretty decorating ideas too.  Good prices.

Great mirrors with frames made of not-sure-what.  Love it !
winter sunshine streaming
through window,
french linens on armchair
old copper lightning rods,
with fluted glass balls
From there I drove 20 minutes down the road to Lucketts.  To visit the Lucketts Store.  Recommended as a fantastic place to find vintage and antiques.  And correct in that, gorgeous and charming.  Picked to the gills with interesting finds.  I found lots of things, but bought only things I can lug back in allowed checked baggage.  1940s grain sacks, 30s-50s era tablecloths and embroidered textiles, several rolls of NOS ribbons, grosgrain and satin.  Unused Vintage stickers from Germany, featuring angels and children.  And some very cool signs from a racecourse, complete with magnets on back to display them.  Seen were old lead light windows, old cabinets, and even these great copper lightning rods with aqua glass insulator balls on them.  The ladies at Lucketts store were first rate.  I'll be back next time I'm here and have a free day !
Great old freight trolley,
but would not fit in my checked bags.
Maybe next time !