This fair had a lot of French influence, the traders having come from across the water, like Gaelle who specialises in dyed linen. She has brought together two things, the skill of finding really old French monogrammed linen and her art of dyeing. Gaelle is in the process of moving her showroom and setting up new websites etc. Look out for the name GZ Bad Boys.
These fairs are called "Decorative Home and Salvage" and can also be found at Ripley Castle and Cheshire Showground, for me the perfect combination as I love distressed, battered and chippy things. I found some lovely shutters which I will just use as a wall decoration, they are weather beaten with green paint peeling off and they will stay just that way. I look at them and wonder what building they came from, imagining a cute little farm house in Provence, with chickens outside the door.
If I had a bigger house I would collect glass domes, you can put anything under a glass dome and it looks brilliant. The creepier the better !
Gaelle also sells china from all different periods, so beautiful you would have to put it on show on shelves or dressers.
Here is a photo of the linens, I bought a bed sheet in pink which will either be a table cloth or a throw. My step-daughter also got some gorgeous shepherds smocks to wear as dresses.
Many styles of vintage and antiques are sold here, farmhouse rustic, faded chateaux chic and reclamation from buildings, all displayed with much love and effort. Arthur Swallow have curated a really lovely collection of sellers, many of whom I had a good laugh with, they were such a great bunch.
I picked up cards from the following, if you can't make it along to the fair itself.
Gavin at Aspire Antiques, Lucy Vintage Lifestyle, Grown By Design, Brocante_Antique, brocantedecorative.com, Simon from Antiques & Inspiration Chester, The Old Yard, Jane from French Vintage & Country (Leek market most saturdays). Sawmillvintage Macclesfield, Violetgreydecorative (Violetgrey.co.uk), Insitu_mcr, Bridgemontvintage,
Have a look on Instagram #asfairs and you will track down many more.
Here is Meg wearing one of her linen smocks from Gaelle.
We stayed in the best Air bnb I have ever come across and it deserves it's own blog post, so expect to see that soon.
Happy hunting good people.
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