Sharron Goodyear Photography

Last September I was invited to have a stall at the Fordcombe Village Fete near Tunbridge Wells in Kent. It is such a beautiful part of the world and this pretty village was the perfect backdrop for the very english tradition of an annual end of summer fete, complete with vintage car display, Punch and Judy, a dog show and some lovely stalls. My kind of event!

The sun was shining and there was a relaxed and happy buzz to the fete. It has been run every year since the 1950's and so there really is something for everyone, including a rather lovely tea tent, with tables groaning under the weight of homemade cakes. Unfortunately for me,it was on the other side of the dog show arena!

It is so exciting when someone comes along and completely falls in love with our vintage style nightwear, which is just what Sharron Goodyear from Lollipops and Little Ones did that afternoon. Lollipops and Little Ones is a family lifestyle blog with all kinds of useful info for Mums and Dads from healthy eating, beauty product reviews, photo, gift and activity ideas for all the family. Sharron is an accomplished, award winning portrait and wedding photographer and she happily offered to take some photos of her three beautiful children in our vintage pyjamas. These are just a few of the images we have used recently on our site. 

This pretty nightdress featuring this sweet little night owl is always one of our best sellers

I love the cheeky expression of her youngest here. He looks so handsome in these transport Pjs. All our Pjs from Powell craft are 100% soft cotton and suitable from age one. I remember being so excited when my boys were old enough to wear a proper pair of big boy pyjamas and left the baby jumpsuit designs behind.

Oh those were the days!

You can see Sharron's wedding photography here http://www.goodyearphotography.co.uk/weddings/

Janne x

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair

I'm so excited to be included in this years Wealden Times Midsummer Fair in June as this is my very favourite type of setting in which to showcase my range of children's cotton nightwear. I think this love of the 'quintessentially English fair' must go back to my childhood. Both sets of my grandparents lived in Devon and many summers were spent holidaying there. I still remember the thrill of dressing up in my summer frock and heading off to the village fete with my holiday pocket money. The sun was always shining and my granny complete with her 'clip clasp' handbag, would guide my sister and I through the crowd, buying a raffle ticket here or a jar of jam there. Sometimes it was the village fair and sometimes the local hospital fete. I remember the wonder of winning an embroidered green cushion when I was about seven, but just so elated that I had a winning ticket and had won something! There was always an ice-cream or a huge slice of cake and of course some homemade treasure such as a lavender bag or a knitted toy to take home.

Well, times were simpler then and things have moved on considerably, but don't we just love the charm of a good old fashioned country fair? The cream teas, the WI homemade preserves with their gingham covers, the wellies, the cooking shows, the smell of the marquees, the fluttering bunting. This fair promises to be jam packed literally with the most beautiful hand-picked array of artisan stalls and vendors selling home and garden wares, fashion, gifts and jewellery. The tea tent will be a highlight and foodies will be in their element with local farmers, producers and wine makers selling delicious products in the food avenue. There will be gardening experts on hand sharing their knowledge of growing flowers and vegetables and top chefs at work in the kitchen theatre. All this will be set within the  grounds of the lovely Hole Park in Rolvedon, Kent.

E tickets for the fair are now on sale and you can claim your exclusive discount code by quoting EXS14 when purchasing tickets on line before midnight on 30th April 2014. This entitles you to 25% off the gate ticket price. The ticket price includes free entry to Hole Park Gardens so this promises to be a fabulous day out for all the family.

I can't wait to tell you all about it in June. And no, I won't be needing my wells because the sun is going to shine!

Janne x

The village fair

I haven't exhibited at many country fairs this year and just as well because what a wash out this Summer has been! However,on Saturday it was The Claygate flower show.This was my very first fair four years ago and I feel a strong sense of fondness and attachment to it. Besides it's virtually on the doorstep and I have lots of local customers popping by to see me and friends stopping for a chat, cups of tea and cake in hand. It's a sociable, family friendly day (and one where my OH will quite happily load up the car and put up my gazebo for me)!

The fair is steeped in tradition and is far more than a flower show. The WI have a cake stall, the scouts and guides run tombolas, the marquees are full of homegrown fruit and vegetables with gardening stalwarts vying for first prize year after year. All age groups can enter any number of competitions from 'best garden in a pot' to 'funniest family photo'. There's a dog show, a vintage car raleigh, a fun fair, morris dancing, marching bands and lots of lovely stalls like mine. There's a fancy dress parade, an animal petting area, BBQ's and teas a plenty. There really is something for everyone. 

Quintessentially English and charming, the Claygate Flower show attracts a huge crowd whatever the weather, but as I unloaded white cotton nighties from the back of the car (in the rain and mud) didn't know whether to admire my stoicism or question my eccentricity! 

My customers, I'm glad to say are equally stoic and despite two downpours and trudging about in slippery mud, brolly in hand, it was a great day. Of course we'll be back the same time next July! 

Janne x