Latest News
Welcome to the news section of the website. This is where we bring you all the latest on new products and any developments regarding Vintage Bluebird Gifts and Interiors. Please keep looking on here for offers and events that are available to both our online customers and those that visit us in the shop. We can also be followed on Twitter @ vintbluebird and Facebook @ Vintage-Bluebird
27th Dec 2012 30th Apr 2013 Ashbourne: the friendliest town
Before bidding everyone a Happy New Year there is an inevitable time of reflection on the outgoing year. The weather was awful and the economic climate dire but despite this (one way or another) Vintage Bluebird survived and prospered throughout the year and we head into 2013 stronger for the experience.
It is now 15 months since we relocated to Ashbourne and this move has been the making of us. I was asked recently by Derbyshire Life magazine to comment on the town and the first remark that sprang to mind was that Ashbourne is probably the friendliest town in the country. A bold statement based on pure unashamed opinion. But a statement I will intend to stand by for the foreseeable future. Imagine a town where people say ‘hello’ to you in the streets, where people make efforts to shop locally and support the town, where there is a strong voluntary community network and where strangers are treated as friends we have only just had the pleasure of meeting. This is my biased opinion of Ashbourne. Of course there are tensions; but tension can be the glue that binds us as well as the force that threatens to tears us apart.
On this final point Ashbourne in its dim and distant history created a novel solution to resolving any niggling tensions. The whole town congregates each year on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and plays a football match involving around 3,000 or more participants. One half of the town verses the other separated by nothing more than the side of the river Henmore you were born on. There are very few rules except commonsense gamesmanship to keep the match flowing (such as not introducing a fake ball or committing common law murder) but outside of this the game is a no holds barred example of mob football. The excitement is already mounting for this year’s game, the beautiful colourful cork and leather balls are receiving their finishing touches; and scores and vendettas will be settled over the two days of play in this most cathartic of exercises. The town will then be carried forward into another year on the shoulders of the spirit of Shrovetide Football and all talk will be of what happened during this years match.
As for us; we will board up our windows on Saturday night and re-open on Thursday after the match has run its course. Shrovetide Football is not much of a spectator sport or a time to do any business; these two days belong to the players, the people of Ashbourne. And when we re-open we do so safe in the knowledge that everyone shook hands, had a drink and put their tensions and troubles behind them. This years match takes place on 12th and 13th February.
4th Jun 2011 Poppy Treffrey at Vintage Bluebird
We are delighted that we will be selling a range of mugs, teapots, teacosys, teatowels and pictures from Cornish artist Poppy Treffrey. Poppy's distinctive designs are bright and refreshing, and make you feel good. Please take a look in the table wares, home wares and gifts sections of the website where you will find Poppy's products. We hope you love them because we love them.
4th May 2011 PiP Studio at Vintage Bluebird
Vintage Bluebird now stock a range of PiP Studio products. PiP who grew up just outside Amsterdam has the motto ‘Happy products for Happy People’ and you can quickly see why. She works on a simple principle of only making products should would buy and like to own herself. Her work is rapidly gaining fans from within Europe and is spreading into America and Australia. These modern classics will be collectors pieces of the future.
We have an extensive range of mugs, cups, teapots, bowls, and plates from the Floral Porcelain range. The patterns feature vintage style bold flowers and birds in a fantastic selection of pinks, blues, reds and khakli. The range work well as stand alone pieces or a complete service that can be put together in a mix and match style. You can even put elements of the range alongside your existing vintage tableware and it will still look right as an accent piece to breathe new life into your old favorites.
We also stock round and square cushions and bolsters which again feature the same bold flower and bird designs as the porcelain. The cushions are bright and fresh looking and brighten any room. They are a real treat and suit a bedroom or living room where lounging is not only allowed but positively encouraged.
9th Apr 2011 Vintage Bluebird Gifts and Interiors opens its doors
Vintage Bluebird opened the doors to its Draycott Shop on 9th April 2011. This marked the end of a very long road for Gillian and myself (Neil) as we had been planning this venture for a number of years. We now aim to fulfill the most important part of the vision which is to provide for our customers high quality and affordable vintage, retro, quirky and just...different products to help you create a beautiful home.
We love vintage and retro inpired products and the shop we have created is a seemless blend of new gift and interior products set against a background of antique and second-hand furniture. This is all presented in our shop within a grade 2 listed mill building that has been fitted with beautiful handmade shelves using 200 year old reclaimed timber beams. We source our products from mainly UK manufacturers and distributors and aim to provide the means for smaller suppliers to gain a foothold in the market. We consider the ethical and ecological pathways of our products and aim to minimise environmental and social impact wherever possible by sourcing responsibly. We hope that this will help you to buy with confidence.
The online shop is a representative selection of all the different products that we have available in the Draycott shop. We hope you will find what you are looking for on the site and find shopping with us a pleasant experience.
