Just Around the Corner

Not far from my Mum's house is a very useful rank of small shops.  I remember when there was a small supermarket there (a Gateway supermarket - forerunner of Somerfield - and the place I had my first job as a Saturday girl) as well as a greengrocers, bakers, chemist, hairdresser, newsagents etc etc.  These days the choice is not so big as the supermarket is now a newsagents / corner shop type establishment and there are two takeaways where the newsagents and the greengrocers used to be.  Amazingly enough the chemist continues to survive (and is very very useful) and what used to be the bakers is an art shop which sells artists supplies and also offers art lessons.

When the art shop opened I don't think any of us thought it would last too long but many years later it is still doing well.  They usually have a table outside with second-hand books for sale at very reasonable prices.  I've never seen art books for sale but yesterday my eye was drawn to a stack of cookery books - 50p each.

I was very restrained and only bought this one - primarily with the idea of selling it on Amazon - but now I have had a good look through it I think it may be a keeper.  The lovely selection of salad dressing recipes would make it worth keeping alone (I'm still hoping the summer will be wonderfully hot and sunny so we'll be wanting salads for our evening meal every night.)  On my way out from the shop I noticed they had a really good selection of greetings cards so Mum popped in to have a perusal.  She was in there ages and ages (I was waiting in the queue in the fish and chip shop at this point) and came out looking mighty pleased with herself. 

As luck would have it Mum had been using one of my handmade bags - the first one I ever made - and the owner of the art shop had commented on how unusual and nice it was.  Mum had said her daughter had made it and it had been a present etc etc.  All of which got me to thinking that when I'm back down in Bristol in a couple of weeks I might bring a few of my pillowcase totes back with me and see if the art shop would be at all interested in stocking them as they would be a very useful size for carrying brushes, paper and watercolour paints in.  Nothing ventured and all that, you know.

Comments

[Shazza]

Hi Elizabeth.

I have a dairy book of Home Cookery although I think it's a later edition than the one you picked up. It's a wonderful book and the photography in it is fab. I also have the Dairy Book of Home Management from about 1980 ish. If you ever find that book (I once saw a copy in a junk shop), do pick it up as it is invaluable! Full of loads of hints and tips and some very dated but groovy photos!
My mum bought these from our local milkman when I was a kid and, to be honest, I loved looking at them then too!
Good luck with selling the totes - I'm sure they will love them.

[Catherine]

You go for it! Great idea, especially if you get really quick at making them.
That book takes me back to my childhood - my mum still uses hers!
x x x

[Frugal Trenches]

That book looks delightful!I think it is a brilliant idea! Good Luck!

[gill]

I remember having that book years ago, I bought it from the milkman in the days when that was how we all got our milk :). It's full of nice recipes and tips,I'm sure you'll find it useful. Good luck with the bag idea, you go for it.