Liz Nicholls meets three creative women who will host a community shopping event on Saturday, October 18

Roll up, roll up! Magdalen Flea Market is back and it’s as much a meeting of minds as a place to shop for vintage gems over a coffee and bacon butty.

The idea has been brought to life by three creative and entrepreneurial mums: Florence Fowler, Chloe Horner and her mum, Sarah Horner.

“All three of us have always loved second-hand ephemera, brick-a-brac and loved the buying and selling element,” says Flo, who owns The Magdalen Arms in Iffley Road, East Oxford, where the event takes place. “This event really satisfies a craving we’ve had for ages. It’s the first time we’ve all worked together but will be great fun.

“We wanted the market to be a brilliant place to come along, bring the kids, have a chat, meet your neighbours and have a good old rummage for interesting buys.”

The market takes place tomorrow, from 9.30am-1pm, and from then on become a monthly community event. All of the outdoor picnic table-style stalls have been snapped up – which is not surprising as sellers are only charged £10 a pop. About a dozen different sellers will arrive with wares including local handmade soap, beautiful flower arrangements grown on Elder Stubbs allotment, vinyl classics and retro light fittings and glassware. There will also be baby buggies and handmade children’s clothes by Little Dumplings of Witney, among other buys for cash-savvy parents. Sarah, Chloe and Flo have six children between them now that Chloe has given birth to her daughter Violet (Sarah has two other daughters Verity and Briony and Flo has Rocco and Ruby), so this will be very much a family affair.

And if there ever were three stylish proponents of how to work an eclectic, vintage look, they are these three. The Magdalen is loved by locals as much for its food as its distinctly Oxford interior look: all rich, dark colours, vintage mirrors and mismatched retro bar chairs.

“Boot sales, skips, you name it – we love vintage,” say the trio, over a coffee in the Magdalen.

“It’s so much more meaningful to have something someone else has loved and doesn’t need any more,” adds Sarah. “You never know what you’re going to fall in love with at a flea market. It can be inspirational for all sorts of reasons and launch a whole look for a room.”

Chloe used to work in the Magdalen kitchen years ago before setting up Oxfork round the corner in Magdalen Road. It was at this popular restaurant where mum Sarah – who has previously worked as an interior designer making over Arkells pubs around Wiltshire and Oxfordshire – used to rustle up alluring window displays. “They were wonderful – it looked like a curiosity shop and you always wanted to take a look,” says Flo.

Sarah adds: “It’s great to mix different styles, not to keep everything to one look.

“I would tell people shopping for vintage not to be afraid of colour. Go with the way you feel – if you really love something, it will really work for you. Vintage shopping is full of surprises.”

Chloe sold Oxfork in the summer to focus on motherhood and cooking, which you can check out on her blog What Chloe Cooked Next by following @chloecookednext on Twitter.

At the next two flea markets (on November 8 and December 6), Chloe will set up stall to sell her homemade preserves and chutney.

“After selling Oxfork and being at home with baby Violet, I was happy but missed the interaction of being super-busy,” says Chloe.

“I really like the idea that this market will build up the great sense of community in this lively bit of Oxford. It will be a warm welcome, rain or shine.”

FOR SALE

Magdalen Flea Market takes place this Saturday (October 18), 9.30am-1pm and then Saturdays November 8 and December 6.
 
Stalls include:
* Sarah’s Home Comforts — retro homewares, small pieces of furniture, standard lamps
* Annabelle’s Basement –  floral design and one-off, hand-crafted design pieces for the home 
* Barebelly Tales from the Wardrobe — vintage autumnal clothes, vinyl, and books – all sold with a handwritten story. 
* Old Made — arty pieces as found in the nextdoor Love Your Plane gallery and shop
* Of Woodstock — locally produced artisan soaps
* Little Dumplings — locally made children’s clothes
* Jewellery, funky ‘junk’ and more
* Follow @magdalenmarket on Twitter, facebook.com/magdalenmarket 
* Email magdalenmarket@gmail.com if you’d like more info about hiring a stall. 
* Follow What Chloe Cooked Next @chloecookednext for the recipe blog

Oxford Mail:

WIN RUST-OLEUM PRODUCTS WORTH £300

Now the nights are getting darker and cold weather is around the corner, it’s time to make sure your house looks warm and cosy for the autumn months.

Thanks to Rust-Oleum paint, DIYers can inject autumnal shades into everything from baskets to lampshades, making the house look snug in no time. 

We’re giving away three bumper packs of Rust-Oleum products with all of the colours you need to create your own autumnal escape. 

Each package contains cans of Painter’s Touch spray in five sumptuous colours, Chalky Furniture Paint in three shades (including pumpkin) and clear furniture wax for finishing off 
your creations.  

To be in with your chance of winning £100 of Rust-Oleum paint, just answer this question: 

* In what season do the leaves change colour?  

Send your answer, together with your contact details, to lnicholls @nqo.com (subject line ‘Rust-Oleum’) before October 15 to be in with a chance of winning a bundle of Rust-Oleum paints and products, perfect for upcycling your vintage gems.

* To find out more about the wide range of Rust-Oleum products, visit www.MakeItYours.co.uk  

* To find a stockist near you, visit www.rustoleum spraypaint.com/stockists/

One entry per household. Usual Newsquest competition rules apply.

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