Sunday 23 May 2010

French sofa & Textiles in Devon


A NEW ARRIVAL IN OUR HOME - A FRENCH SOFA:

In my previous post (thank you for all the lovely comments!), I mentioned that we had just acquired a piece of furniture for our lounge. Well this is it, a French sofa.


The French Sofa comes from Niki's beautiful shop, Nostalgia at No 1 in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. We have not yet decided if it will stay where it is now or if it should go by the window opposite. It is will need to be countryfied a bit to blend in better with my existing style. I will show you what I mean in a future post.
There is also another sofa to fit in the room, a two seater. That one will be the more "practical" one.

TEXTILES IN DEVON - DONNA FLOWER'S OPEN DAYS EVENT:
Yesterday, Alan and I went to North Devon for the day.

Donna was having an open day event at her beautiful house in Abbotsham. It was a glorious day, it felt like summer. Lovely blue skies and it felt very hot!




Railway sign on the gate that leads to the house and garden


We arrived in the afternoon and it was clear that much of Donna's stock had been bought over the past three days. Although there was still plenty to look at and buy.


Donna gave us a lovely warm welcome and showed us around the rooms filled with textiles, clothes, shoes etc... Alan went off to take photos whilst I got stuck in to the business of looking for things to take back home with me.


























Gorgeous kitchen!









Anyone for refreshments in the garden?


A peak at what I bought



I had to have this pretty little pinny!


After leaving Donna's house, we drove to Clovelly which isn't far from Abbotsham. We had both been there before some time ago. Our first stop was at Clovelly Court Gardens. I was so enchanted by these gardens! More about that in my next post.

I hope that you are all having a great weekend!


A bientôt!

Isabelle X

54 comments:

harmony and rosie said...

Such fabulousness, I imagine you were like a child in a sweet shop, I know I would have been. I just love that large floral piece you picked up and look forward to hearing about what you'll do with that. As for the French sofa - oh the joy of it, it is perfect!

Kate x

It's me said...

Ooooo Isabella what a amazing pictures !! i really enjoy your post today...............what a beatiful open day by Donna!!!

Have a happy sunny day........this day !!......hugs from me ......enjoy !!!

Tina said...

Hi Isabelle,
What lovely goodies you got! It seems that you had a lovely day!
xx

Marigold Jam said...

What wouldn't I give for those glass fronted drawers! And what a lovely storage idea thos crates piled on top of each other are. Looks like a house full of lovely things - I'd never have been able to choose I don't think!

Jane

Unknown said...

well, looks like you had a great day yesterday, like me(look at my post from yesterday!!).....together with the wonderfull weather I love open days like that!!!!

Enjoy your day!

Lynda

ELLEMELL said...

Hello:)

beautiful blog!
Thank you for becoming a follower on my blog! (and i am terrible at writing english...:)

hug Ellemell

Lululiz said...

Thats my idea of a fabulous day out!

Dogwood said...

Oh, my what a fun day. That place is over-the-top beautiful. Wow. I want to go there! But, I am in California so it would be a long trip. I will just sit here and enjoy all the great photos. I see lots of things that I love.

Enjoy...Dogwood

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Fabulous Sofa!!!!
and the textiles were like eye candy overload for my senses!!!!
How inspirational all the colors,
makes me want to head for the studio and create something!!!
Happy Sunday`
xoxo~Kathy@
Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Cielo Azul Jewelry said...

LOVELY photos=0)

xoxo,
Carol

KC'sCourt! said...

Somewhere on my list to visit!
Julie xxxxxxx

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

I would just be in heaven if I was surrounded by all that gorgeous fabric!

Anonymous said...

wow what a lovely day you had browsing round that beautiful place I have thoroughly enjoyed looking at your photos

Serenata said...

Now that would be a fabulous day out and I can see why you enjoyed it. Hmmm...I wonder if I could ever convince my hubby to take me somewhere like that? Such deliciousness.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

I'm not surprised Donna has such a fabulous home!

Victoria x

the pig lady said...

What a beautiful place and such perfect weather, it's been a lovely afternoon catching up with all your news - I love the reading corner under the stairs, my idea of heaven! hugs Debs xx

Country Cottage Chic said...

It's a lovely sofa Isabelle! What a fabulous selection at Donna's - wish I could have come too!

Jayne

Sylvia said...

Oh Isabelle, your French sofa is gorgeous !
I think you had a great time at Donna's open day, I see a lot of lovely things.
We also have them in Belgium, I always enjoy those open days !
Nice week,
Sylvia

♥ Welkom bij "het Zolderluik" op Nr.5 ♥ said...

Hello!! Like your new "old" sofa, it's beatyfull. Donna's house... it's like paradise, looks lovely!
I think you had a great day ;-))
Thanks for your comment on my blog.
Hope you understand my writing, my english isn't really good ;-)

Warm wishes, Hilde

petals and vintage said...

Such a wonderful visual feast Isabelle. I would not have known where to start. Pam x

A Room For Everyone said...

What a treasure trove! If only there were something like that around here.. I look forward to seeing the Clovelly Court Gardens too..Rachaelxx

Lori said...

oh, that sofa!!! i think my heart stopped for a moment when i saw it...what a wonderful, beautiful find!!!

Vicki said...

Hello, Isabelle,
Oooh, la, la, love your gorgeous French sofa. I am sure you will find the perfect spot for it. Donna looks like she was having a wonderful sale. So many pretty textiles and antiques to look at. I know you must have enjoyed your day immensely. Have a beautiful week, dear friend~ Vicki

Beth said...

Wow...what a shoppers paradise! Thank you for sharing!!! I love your new French sofa...beautiful!
xoxo Beth

Mary Ann said...

wow, that is a great piece of french furniture you got! have a great week ahead..verbena cottage

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

Hello Isabelle, Donna's house is sooooooo beautiful. Our entire house might fit into her kitchen. And I love your skirt/dress you were wearing. Love the pinny you bought. I look forward to your garden post and seeing what magic you work upon your French sofa.
Have a lovely day. xx

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Your pinny is the cutest. That cupboard filled with all those pretty fabrics... sigh... makes me want to dive right in there. The box with the polkadot ribbons is a wanna-take-with-me.
Wishing you a wonderful new week, Isabelle! xx

Niki Fretwell said...

Thanks for the mention Isabelle - look forward to seeing the sofa countryfied!

Glad you had fun at Donna's last week...I couldn't get away on the days she was open...but maybe one day I will...

Have a great week,
Niki x

Flaviana said...

Isabelle!!
the sofa is gorgeous.. I already imagining it duly "countryfied"..mmmm..lovely!!
And what about that shop?! All those beautiful ,colored fabric are making my head spin! Lovely, adorable place. I wish you could take me with you next time you go..!
I lOVE your posts, full stop!
have a great monday
with love, Flaviana

debra@dustjacket said...

Ooo I was so excited just looking at this post and you got to go there and buy things...lucky girl.

I just adore your french sofa, it's beautiful.
xxx

Kellie Collis said...

What a darling sofa!~ xx

Ingrid said...

What a beautiful post,all love all of it Isabelle

have a beautiful day

Ingrid

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

How delightful, Isabelle!

Muggensteekjes said...

Hello Isabelle,
thank you for your visit to me and leaving me a comment. I think I will visit you some more because I really like your blog too. Love your new sofa and I think you have had a lovely day.
Have a nice and sunny week, Ingrid.

Louise said...

How beautiful everything looks I really enjoyed it ! I also really like your skirt, great colours
Louise xx

love lives in the kitchen said...

i love your blog and i'm happy to follow you :)
have a sweet day,
justyna

Jess said...

That is indeed a gorgeous french sofa! I love to visit creative people's homes, it's so inspiring and adds to the things you buy too doesn't it? I have some vintage fabrics, maybe I should sell them....hmmmm...just a thought! xx

Sewn With Grace said...

Oh how I wish we had beautiful things like this in the U.S. I love it all!

Hesta Nesta said...

Hi Isabelle
How wonderful - what a fabulous day out, I would have wanted everything!
Jo xx

Mumxie said...

What a lovely sofa - can't wait to see it transformed. I visited Donna the same day as you and just missed you!!! Didn't the trampoline look sweet with the lawn edging around it. Hint hint.

°Maria° said...

Hi Isabelle!
Your blog is very nice!
I write to you from Italy, we often encounter in England!
I can not see 3D images that we advice you ... we use three-dimensional glasses, but to no avail.
I know you recommend the place to buy, the next time we visit your beautiful country, the right glasses to see your pictures?
A dear greeting, Maria.
(with translator)

Reading Tea Leaves said...

Oh this post is full of gorgeousness Isabelle! I love Donna's kitchen and her front door and, well everything really. What a great idea having an open day. I must click on the link and have a look around her blog.

Your French sofa has me sighing - I look forward to seeing how you make it look more 'country'. Also love your new-look reading corner - I'm sure I would sit there for hours and not get anything done!

Jeanne
x

The fabric of my life said...

It was so lovely to see you and Alan. I love Alan's photos, they are far better than my sad little collection that I took! That sofa is beautiful and I look forward to seeing it transformed with your gorgeous taste.

I'm glad you got to Clovelly,it's a magical place.

Helena, The Swenglish Home said...

Chère Isabelle,

Thank you so much for your kind comment on my blog today. I am so glad I thereby found my way to your beautiful blog, where I have not only admired a lot of gorgeous textiles, vintage furniture and accessories, but also got some top tips on vintage fairs etc that I did not know about. As I live just outside Bath, in Wiltshire, many of the fairs you write about are actually within reach... ;-D

I do not know where in Belgium you would call "home", but I am very fond of Belgium and have worked in Brussels for a few months, about then years ago. When I now go there to visit friends, I go a bit crazy in the antiques quarters and enjoy the flea market if I am there on the right day...

Kind regards,
Helena, The Swenglish Home

Poppies and Sunshine said...

I just adore that French sofa!! It is gorgeous.

Deb said...

Love your beautiful french sofa, so lucky!!!

Cornflakes and Honey said...

Wow what a fantastic post. I LOVE your French sofa you have amazing taste :-)

And those vintage fabrics look divine all stacked up! What an amazing day out! x

Andi's English Attic said...

What a great trip around a fabulous house. I think I'd have had to be thrown out at the end of the day! I especially love, love, love the glass drawers. xx

ilovemyhouse said...

Hi Isabelle,thnks for becoming my follower. Just got back from vacation and try to read some of your old posts. xx

Little Emma English Home said...

Oh I love this place!!! This is wonderland!!! I miss so much England, it's so nice there!!!

Love the sofa, a good choice!
Hugs xx

Marga said...

Hello Isabelle.
First my english is not so best, but I hope you understand me.
You have a beautiful blog!!! The pictures are very very nice.
And I'm suprised you follow my blog. Thank you.
I m going to follow your blog.
Greetings Marga

x vInTaGe VioLeT x said...

oh my goodness - i actually just swooned at the photo of those haberdashery cabinets!!! This is actually just a ten minute drive from me how come i've never heard about this?!!!!

Jill said...

Hi
What a lovely day you had - I live not very far from Abbotsham and so sorry that I didn't realise that Donna had an open day it looked lovely. I have just come across your blog and will now be an avid reader.
Jill

maría cecilia said...

Wow!!! This is an absolutely perfect sofa!!!!! Completely wonderful all around!!! And Dona Flower`s open days is such a great place, I would love to be there hanging around through all those beautiful treasures!! I would take all the enamelware I see over the big hutch!!!!
Cariños,
Maria Cecilia