Hello

I'm Seaside Tracie, I've always loved making 'stuff' and finding 'stuff', this blog will be filled with 'stuff' that inspires me.....and anything I love enough to share. Along the way I'll include 'stuff' I've made that you'll be able to buy.....

Thursday 3 May 2012

Blimey...has it really been that long?

I've just realised it's been over a month since I posted on here.....I've been so busy I've been 'meaning to' but never quite got around to it. The house is nearly finished, not quite but nearly and I've been hanging pictures, putting up bunting and generally prettying things up. I haven't been doing many markets....the weather is just too bloody awful. Hopefully the weather will start to pick up soon....is it really May? Feels more like winter's on it's way today, horrible drizzley rain....either rain properly or bugger off!
Anyway, I'm pleased to say my cat's have finally settled....took a while, was beginning to think they's abandoned us. Dave's just kind of taking it all in his stride, he's really far too cool to make a fuss! Ralph on the other hand is totally the opposite....I think the phrase 'Scaredy cat' was made for him. He can be fast asleep and hear a noise, something totally normal, like a drawer opening, and there he is up on his feet, fully alert, looking like he's ready for a full on attack from the neighbourhood 'Cat murderers'!
So.....here's some pics of various 'stuff' ........Ralph.....clearly NOT on full alert :)

Thursday 29 March 2012

Cards for Margate Bazaar, Easter Sunday :)



I'm doing a stall at Margate Bazaar on Easter Sunday in the Old Town......selling loads of 'stuff'.....lot's of vintage handmade loveliness. I made a few cards last night to add to the 'stuff' :)

Broadstairs, this morning....getting ready for Easter :)





I love this time of year, especially living at the 'Seaside'
This morning I sat on the seafront with my takeaway coffee from Morelli's.
The seafront was a hive of activity....gardeners were sprucing up the seafront, painters were making the bandstand and clock tower look pretty and......the Giraffe is back!! He must be the best made/most durable bouncy castle ever made, he's been re-appearing every summer for at least the last 20 years!!

Sunday 25 March 2012

The Suitcase Sale




last month I was asked to take part in a 'Suitcase Sale' in Rough Trade in Margate's old Town. You turn up with a suitcase, open it up and away you sell! You have to be inventive though, think 'Mary Poppins' and 'Inspector Gadget' ....everything has to be contained in,or hanging off the suitcase...not as easy as it sounds believe me!! Here's a pic of my suitcase......and other 'stuff' for sale at the fabulous venue :)

Blimey...has it really been that long?

I keep meaning to post but somehow something always gets in the way.....life/builders/kids...or just plain old procrastination.Anyway here I am tucked away in my little haven right at the top of the house whilst downstairs there's a photoshoot going on and builders 'building'! The house is finally taking shape.....and although I wasn't expecting builders today, hence the photoshoot going on, I'm not going to complain. Makes things a tad more complicated ....but hey....never mind :)
I'm busy making 'stuff' for my market stall on easter sunday in Margate Old Town. I'm making birds out of a 1960's mini skirt at the moment....all with their own individual personality :) and little life story.
I'll post pics when they're done.
But in the meantime here's some random pics I want to share with you :)
This is sunny Broadstairs yesterday.


Saturday 18 February 2012

Friday 13 January 2012

Our New Home........

We went to see our new home today to see how things were progressing. At the beginning of the week it looked like we would be moving in on monday with no water or heating :O
Well, it resembled an episode of DIY SOS......I've never seen so many builders in a house at one time!
Carpets all laid on top two floors, though my bedroom has a toilet smack bang in the middle of it waiting to go into the en-suite....the plumber is working all over the weekend so hopefully by monday it'll be in it's proper place.
We've been asked if we want any of the curtains that used to hang at the windows when the house was a hotel, I have no idea what they are like but as I've been a little concerned about what to do about the windows as they are so huge.....curtains? blinds? Definitely NO nets curtains....so, we'll see what the curtains are like, they'll 'do' for now....would be lovely if they are nice vintage florals.....although they may be chintsy with swags!! :O

Anyway, we're surrounded by packing boxes....and it seems never ending...where does all the 'stuff' come from?

Oh and we met the neighbours...one of whom is a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator.......

P.S. Hello number one stalker, nice to see you ;) (you know who you are :)xx

Monday 9 January 2012

Just when you think......

your life is going pear shaped and there is so much stressing you out.....and you're getting REALLY fed up, life seems to have a way of telling you "Ha, so you think your life is stressfull ....you think you're having a tough time eh?" and shows you that really....it's not so bad.
This morning, on my usual 'papers and coffee' run I was walking along the seafront feeling a little bit stressed and overwhelmed thinking about my very imminent house move....and all the 'stuff' I still have to do....and to be honest,feeling a bit sorry for myself.
I spotted a lady I've worked with on occasion at the Tourist Information Kiosk....I do voluntary work there once a week in the summer. She was having a coffee on the balcony of a seafront hotel, anyway, she called me over asking me if I had a moment to chat.
Over a coffee and ciggie she told me that last week she'd had a fire at her house and her and her husband were living at the hotel until the insurance company sorted them suitable accomodation whilst the house was being sorted.
She was wearing borrowed clothes, and had lost everything....apart from a Calender Girls style calender her husband had had made for her for Christmas with pics of him!!
I went home and bagged up all the clothes I don't need/wear and dropped them off at the hotel .......

It certainly put my worries into perspective.........


Day 8....Today's Photo

Bianca xx

Friday 6 January 2012

Thursday 5 January 2012

Isn't it funny.....

Well, not funny really but interesting I suppose you could say, how when things turn pear shaped you really find out who your friends are....and who you're friends aren't!
Recently things have gone a little pear shaped for me and my crew.....a forced house move (we really thought we'd be here in this house for along, long time and were very sad at first to have to leave....but now we're over the moon to be moving and have found a fab place to live....funny how things work out) and an unplanned hospital stay for B, my daughter......we knew her pacemaker would need replacing but didn't expect it to be until sometime in 2012....as it happened we went in hospital on the 11th of December with very little notice.
During this unexpected stressful few weeks a, what I thought, very close friend, suddenly dropped off our radar....completely. No explanation, no harsh words, no nothing...hmmmm very hurtful, and very sad.
On the other hand, others, who I wouldn't have described as being 'besties' have been absolutely wonderful :)
These people have restored my faith a little....well actually a lot....and I'm very grateful to have them in our lives. I'm still hurting a little and miss the 'friend who is no more' but, well, there's not much I can do about it really, so onwards and upwards as they say (who ever 'they'may be....'they' seem to know what they're talking about!

Day 5 Today's photo :)

Introducing Dave......he doesn't mess about with silly water bowls, he's a straight from the tap kinda cat :)

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Moving day......:)

Well moving day has been confirmed.....and it's less than two weeks away :O
Now we've actually got a date we've sprung into action, well, I say we but actually mean me....everyone else is telling me to calm down we apparently have 'plenty of time'. Hmmm actually, no we haven't!
We've lived in this house for nearly seven years and have a LOT of 'stuff', so the boxes are being filled, slowly I admit, because as I'm sorting I'm finding 'stuff' I've totally forgotten about....especially books, I have far too many. I'm trying to fill one box at least for the charity shop but it's hard to part with a book I might just feel the need to read again....who knows when I may urgently need it!
And as for my making 'stuff' I'm not going to be able to chuck any of that away...perish the thought :O

Another thing that has occured to me is the new house is a lot bigger, we have an extra bedroom and oh joy of joys, a study! I'll be able to spread my making 'stuff' out on my desk......and leave it there without Ralph and Dave, my cats who love to sleep on 'stuff', disrupting (and by that I mean stretching out and knocking it all off the desk) the whole lot......my desk is at present in my bedroom and the door to my room doesn't close properly so they can come and go as they please. Woo Hoo! my own cat free room!!

So as of.....less than two weeks....I'll be trawling the vintage, second hand, charity shops looking for lovely 'stuff' to fill our lovely new home. I'm really looking forward to finding some treasures.....now I'll have the space I want a huge kitchen table and lot's of mismatched chairs to paint in different colours. I know just the place to look too, we have a fabulous 'shop'....well it's more like a huge space called Ron Scotts that is as absolute treasure trove of 'stuff'....in the basement there is what I call the chair graveyard full of ermmmmm chairs (!)......I'm planning to rescue eight or maybe more and cheer them up with a coat or too of brightly coloured paint.

Ok, enough of the waffling....I'm off to pack some more boxes......



Day 4....today's photo :)

Sunrise this morning at Broadstairs Beach....I love living here!

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Day 3....introducing Rico

Today's photo.....day 3 :) 
This is 'Rico'. When I had my stall last summer on the pier, next to my stall was the shell stall. The girls who ran the stall showed me Rico, we discussed at length what an undignified end for a poor blow fish to suffer....immortalised for ever playing the bongo's....in a very dodgy hat...and one eye looking at ya, one eye looking for ya. 
One day the 'shell girls' thought I was looking a bit miserable, so gave me Rico to cheer me up :O 
So.... Rico resides with us.....and is much loved....with his dodgy hat, dodgy eyes, forever bonging his bongos...........

Monday 2 January 2012

Day 2 ....today's photo :)

This, I wish for all my friends and family :) Taken this morning in Broadstairs.....my favourite shop, Arrowsmiths, window. I was on my way home after getting the papers and my morning take away coffee from Morelli's. I am such a creature of habit!

Sunday 1 January 2012

New starts......


Happy New Year!
Well here we are, it's 2012......I'm pretty glad to see the back of 2011 to be honest, it's not been the best of years for me and my lot, soooo I'm feeling positive about 2012.
What is it about this 'new start' business? It's really just another day isn't it? Why do we feel like we can 'start over' and have these feeling of a fresh start?Or is that just me?!
My first new project for 2012 is going to be 'A photo a day'.......above is the first one....it's of the annual New Years Day Dip at Broadstairs beach :)

So, happy 2012 to everyone :)