Another example of Yelp-in-action; I read Emma-Louise's review of the Triangle vintage fair and, on her mention of the Didsbury fair, I got very excited and arranged a Didsbury Day with Tea Snob Friend and Saintly Friend.
Of course, it is a sorry affair that despite copious signage, we got a liiiiiiiiiitle lost and ended up in the *actual* church, instead of the church *hall* where the fair was being held. Anyway, once we *found* the hall (which was clearly, very clearly, signposted, all was well)
This being Didsbury, the place was packed out with yummy mummies, Indie Cindies and, errr, Trendy Wendies. So packed that it was a little hard for us to move our poor hungover bodies around the place. A £1 cup of tea and a sit down outside later, and the initial hordes had thinned out, affording us the space to breathe and browse.
Stuffed to the rafters with local craftsmen (mainly craftsladies, actually) and vintagerie, the atmosphere in the hall was really lovely, helped along by the faact that they were playing the Human League (heart!!)
Amongst the crafty shizzle, I spotted rainbow buttons arranged on a canvas, lovely felted fascinators and some seriously swish silver jewelry. Of course, where there's treasure, there's trash, so the weird felted rings were a real no-no for me, and made me feel a liiiitle queasy. Still, all in all, a good crafty spread in a hall mainly full o' vintage.
The buzzword right now being 'upcycled', there was a great stall from local upcycling gurus Me & Yu, with seriously cutesy leopard print skirted dresses and a dress so loud I almost went deaf (or blind...whatevs) A stall covered in such trinkets as lucite cigarette cases and diamante'd everything yielded me up a tiiiiiiny duck brooch from the 60s, for £2. Shockingly cheap for such an adorable wee trinket. No, I have no idea when I will ever wear a tiny duck brooch, but are you gonna argue with the crazy American vintage seller who dresses like a cross between your auntie and Iona from Pretty In Pink? No, me either. As well as vintage clothes, there was a good range of vintage homewares on offer, including a beautiful 70s Polosh teaset that I just couldn't justify buying (I drink tea at home maybe once a month) and some classically garish 80s wineglasses that I just missed out on grabbing. Tea Snob Friend grabbed herself a lovely paisley mug for her toothbrush for £2. There was, of course, a lot of jolly lovely vintage fashion, and I had to hold back the tears when a lush silver lurex 60s miniskirt (£10) came up a size too small. Tea Snob Friend had to take me firmly in hand, and informed me that if I were to burst into "skirt tears" in a church hall, I would find myself firmly slapped.
As well as the duck I also picked up a lovely brooch for my present drawer, and a pair of vintage Balmain tights for an incredible £2!!!
I shall certainly be keeping an eye out for the next event, and you should too! read more