The Hare & The Hen opens today at Dalegate Market.

It’s the new home for the pottery studio and craft shop of Philippa lee, who I’ve worked next door to for the last 16 years (the poor gal, must be for her sins)

The shop offers a feast of pots, ceramics, textiles, art, photography, metalware, baskets, glass, natural history books and the odd surprise.

I’m coveting the gorgeous Karen Atherley mugs at the moment, and Phil’s dishes for fish(es) are fab……but if I make one more joke about jugs…..I think she’ll slap me.

See website for details philippaleepottery

Update time…..deep breath….

Silverservice is all in stock now….wings, skulls, keys, cute hummingbirds….the lot.

…….new style Golunski wallets are also here (the Union flags and George’s crosses are proving very popular…the World Cup effect I always call it, just you wait, it’ll be flags agogo by Summer I tell you! Trust me, I’m a….I’m a?…seller of shiny, shiny things)

……….the Helen Rochfort bags landed safely and are gracing a new window display.

…….and finally, bunches and bunches of flowers have arrived in the form of a Shrieking Violet shipment. Have gone more colourful this time (well it is Spring…ish) following the huge popularity of the existing range, by expanding into mixed species pieces….and heart shaped too, how cute……love, love, love it.

 Just a quick note to say I’ve had a little windfall of new leaves from “Blowing In The Wind” so all species, sizes and finishes are well represented. Once again the iridescent finish is proving to be an eye-catcher.

   “Golunski” has also arrived, so we’ve got a few more bits for the boys in the form of VW camper van and flag emblazoned leather wallets. Pictures are to follow for those.

  Next week will also the arrival of some gorgeous little bags from designer Helen Rochfort who’s fab pieces jumped out at me at Pure London last month……see pic for teaser of the cute as, Brit designed and finished treasures featuring Union flags, fairy tales, ice creams and cup-cakes!

I loved Alice In Wonderland when I was a kid, truth be told I still do, so I was very pleased to see her popping up at the Pure show in London. No doubt it’s all down to the soon to be released Tim Burton film which I for one am looking forward to seeing, either way it was fun to see the modern Alice and company on licenced bags, purses and shirts, as well as images of the blonde, headband wearing Disney version. I have to say what caught my eye most were the more subtle hints at the traditional story and imagery, like “eat me” and “drink me” details, and card suit logos. Even some of the exhibitors dressed their displays in the style. Very ”Queen of Hearts”…..I loved it.

  Tattoo art and Rockabilly were still well represented (including an amazing range of glittery zombie shoes which I fell madly for by a company called Iron Fist……but that’s a whole other story) so there were lots of anchors, cherries, skulls, daggers and hearts to be seen…..I have my eye on a range for the coming months so watch this space.

  I finally caved in to my cuter, kitsch side and ordered a range from “No Tail” called “Big baby” it’s all bright resin and flowers….images to follow, but the piccie to the right should give you an idea (I’ll let you know when in lands in store)

  The range includes headbands, cuffs, rings, pendants and brooches….all equally colourful…all equally girly…..all equally cute.

  As for the chains, I mentioned last time bunches of pendants and charms are popular this year. So there were lots of chatelaine like collections making good use of the popular key shapes. Hung on layers of different coloured metals (cobber, brass, silver, gold) giving the impression the pieces had been collected and put together over the years, almost like a sentimental heirloom…..and that’s a subject for another day.

Well, I enjoyed Spring Fair, I thought it was a good show this year, and I found some interesting eye candy to boot.

English whimsy still seems to rule the day (think tea parties, old fashioned sentimentality, cabbage roses, bunting and union flag designs) and the jewellery halls were like a charm bead war zone. All the major UK known players were fighting for supremacy, and numerous (and I mean REALLY numerous) ranges that are, shall we say “inspired by” the originals, were following in their wake.

Following on from the popularity of charm beads is the continuing trend for DIY jewellery…now, i don’t mean you have to actually go out and make your own, it’s all about making up your own combinations from a selection of components which easily fit together.

Stackable rings are on the increase, like the “Tower rings” range we stock at Relish, and stacking bangle ranges are appearing now too. Old school charm bracelets are creeping back again (the ones we’re used to in the UK, where the charms hang from a chain, like a pendant, rather like threading on like a bead) for that I’m thankful as I get so many requests for charms.

The idea of stringing together mixed pendants on one chain is getting into the main stream again, there were even  pre-selected combinations available!! (though i know we’ve all been doing it for years, and “pre-selected” isn’t really what it’s all about, is it?)

 So, with this in mind, on it’s way is a range from “Silver Service” which is ideal fodder for mixing and matching. Keys, wings, tusks, hearts and skulls cover cute and sentimental through to punk and rockabilly edged styles. I personally am coverting the keys, so expect to see a bunch of them bouncing about on my chest for the Summer!….this is a range i’m really looking forward to getting….so i may be pouncing on poor postie every time i see him with a parcel until it arrives.

This weekend is Pure London….I’ve never been before, it’s a fashion trade show….all sounds a bit scary really and I’ve no idea what to wear or what to expect….as I was telling one of my suppliers at Spring fair who was surprised i’d not attended before “I’m a Pure virgin”…..doh!…nice one Jules, maybe one day I’ll put my brain in gear before my mouth is in action….

Well am happy to say the new “Dandy” and “Paper Plane” goodies have landed….it was well worth bagging them (’scuse the pun!) before everyone else saw them at the shows, as they landed way, way earlier than I had hoped. The purses are cute as, the overnighter and weekender look huge enough to fit a good few spare pairs of shoes in them…..and the wallets…..well they smell just lovely!

I’ve packed off a few of my ”Littlearth” handbags for a fashion photo shoot this week too….will be interesting to see if they pop up in print next month. “Littlearth” are an American brand of recycled (yes, really, even though they are probably THE most non recycled looking things I’ve seen….could be all the Swarovski they’ve got on them) handbags and belts. They’re made from funky old car number plates, tyres and soda caps…..though at a glance, you wouldn’t think it.

I’m trying to think of Spring, really I am….parasols…fans for the “heatwave” that is promised nearly every year these days…toe rings and belly rings, for when people realise they still have bellies and toes to adorn after long Winter months under wraps…..but it’s still snowing…

It’s the season for getting out to trade events to see what’s new, for finding new suppliers, and catching up with old ones!

One range I’ll be checking out is called “Dandy”, to compliment the “Paper Plane” purses I already have in store, you seem to love them and hopefully you’ll like “Dandy” just as much.

I’ll let you know when they arrive (fingers crossed the waiting list isn’t too long!)

Nearly all my little red roses have been snapped up, are you all far more romantic than I thought? Or really, really super prepared for Valentine’s Day next year?

It’s more likely that they’re just really sweet little gifts. There are more on the way, hopefully for the weekend  (and I’ve got some other species of flower coming this time too, including poppies and tiny forget me nots) awww am a big softy after all.

After a few late nights, we got there and Relish opened it’s door on the 5th of December for the Deepdale Xmas fair.

Well it was this moning, now its 12 hours !!

We’re just about there, so we’re going to lock up and head off home for some kip.