Catherine Durr

If I ever find myself at Les Puces du Canal in Villeurbanne, Lyon, I shall be sure to make a beeline for the stand of designer Catherine Durr...

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My husband said I should call this "Buying at Brimfield with my Husband's Money" (bloody cheek)

Quite a few people have asked me what I bought at Brimfield, and the truthful answer is... not a whole lot. Our house is heaving with material possessions, so I really need to re-edit first, before further acquisition. HOWEVER, one simply cannot leave Brim without some sort of trophy, no matter how trifling...

The three prints below were SUCH a bargain - prices in the single digits!! Each with titles like "Organic Remains of the Niagara Group".

I shall admit it, I am a Crock Tart...

I absolutely adored the wafer-thin copper plates with monogram cut-outs...

And these vintage gambling chips would make great bracelet charms.

Close-up of the crown on the 15 gallon crock...

Sailor buttons (also for charms)..

Centerpiece-charm for a necklace...

Brimfield, MA III

It would not have surprised me if I had spotted Noah's Ark (or the architectural remnants of it) at Brimfield this year. One practically did need a boat, and thigh-high galoshes to navigate the rice paddy-like conditions. Not only had Brimfield endured a devastating tornado in June, but it (and the dealers) also had to contend with a severe dumping of rain during the show. What added to the mix of good times, though, were my two intrepid companions who never quit as long as there were extraordinary things to marvel at. We terrified our unassuming 'porter-for-hire', by vowing we would abuse him (gently) for the hour we had him to ferry our flotilla of purchases. He asked me if I was afraid of tigers when I went home to Africa for holidays!!! I said I was more afraid of tigers in America. Then back at our motel room in the evening, the abundance of dinky bottles of Gin and Southern Comfort were most effective sleep aids. After all, re-energizing our flippers was absolutely essential for the following day's hunting...

Mia trying on hats for size

Liz

Wanted the giant ball of braided yarn

We weren't too sure if he was real for a second

All photos by Philippa Berrington-Blew