TODAY I WENT to Margate to give my shelf at ROUGH TRADE a bit of a Christmas makeover.  

While I was waiting for my lift I noticed what a lovely place this area of Margate is.  Known locally as Margate Old Town it is full of beautiful

buildings, charming squares,tiny streets and alleyways.  Situated close to Margate Harbour and the Turner Contemporary every corner hids a new treasure.  And it is here slightly off the 

 beaten track that ROUGH TRADE can be discovered - a collaborative trading area. http://www.roughtrademargate.co.uk/#!

Stalls include  MODS AND ROCKERS (a hairdressers, bespoke silver designs, vintage items, upcycled curios,and various other interesting stalls and items.  A "pop up shop"  way before Mary Portus came to Margate.

 CIGAR BOX BAGS - THREE DIFFERENT DESIGNS, an ALICE BAND with a needle felted flower and some of my LEOPARD PRINT FLUFFY PENS.

 There are a lot of needle felted items here.  SEAHORSES, HEARTS, A BLACK COIN PURSE WITH CHERRIES and my new line of CAT CHARMS. A CAT FOR COMPANY for all of us cat lovers.

A UNION JACK paper mache bag with a London Transport theme, a JAR OF SEAGLASS, SNAIL FRIDGE MAGNETS, and a notebook showing my wonderful cat Bruce sleeping.  

All manner of goodies fridge magnets, Christmas brooches, purses and seahorses.

 A CAT FOR COMPANY currently three designs on sale here at ROUGH TRADE. Marmalade, Perfect Grey and Lucky Black.  There will be more designs to follow.

Just behind the notebook with Bruce is a box of needle felt Christmas brooches. Comets, holly leaves and Christmas Trees.  I keep trying to choose a favourite but haven't managed it yet.  Each brooch is different. 

 AN OVER VIEW OF MY SHELF.  JUST ABOVE IT IS THE ONE SHARED BY MY NIECE AND HER FRIEND.  I think their items are lovely.

LUCKY BLACK CAT

The WHAT'S YOUR POISON BAG has a glittery sheen giving it an unearthly appeal.

The two hearts here were needle felted, then had needle felt flowers and leaves attached to them.  Both have a ribbon loop for hanging. 

One of the Christmas Trees.  This one has bead garlands.  
 

A VINTAGE GEM IN MARGATE

TODAY I WENT TO MARGATE OLD TOWN to check on my shelf at ROUGH TRADE sadly not much has changed since I last checked it but lets face it the weather has been awful.  http://www.roughtrademargate.co.uk/#!

I GOT THERE A LITTLE TOO EARLY as it doesn't open until eleven (I think it might help if this was listed somewhere on the website) so decided to have a look around the other shops.  The bad press Margate has been getting lately does not seem justified in the Old Town area.  Moments from the sea is a bustling place filled with gift shops, cafes, tearooms, vintage shops for clothes and household items, art galleries, museums, and of course ROUGH TRADE.
 There is a feel of the world famous Lanes in Brighton as you wind your way though the streets and squares.  

 BETTY B's in King Street just moments from the Turner Contemporary and the sea.
Bags,scarves, gloves and shoes.







A Halloween window display .winds through vintage vanity cases and other treats

Fab accessories

Shop is open from11am Thursday to Saturday

 
So ignore all the bad press and visit Margate once more.  With an offer on rail tickets (on line bookings PORTAS PILOT TICKET0 starting in November - £10.00 London to Margate - it is worth braving the winter weather and travelling to see what Margate has to offer.
  AND WHILE YOU ARE HERE POP INTO ROUGH TRADE

DREAMTIMEMAKES AT ROUGH TRADE

A NEW ADVENTURE

ON SATURDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER I AM GOING TO TRY A NEW VENTURE.  I am going to rent a shelf at ROUGH TRADERS, this is in Margate Old Town and is one of the shops that has sprung up.  It is possible to rent space to display and sell your goods - from a shelf upwards. 
http://www.roughtrademargate.co.uk/#! 

I have just paid for four weeks worth of shelf.  Now I need to make sure I have enough stock,  make a couple of display stands and get labels made for my goods.  And write a list of the items I am taking to sell.  I showed a sample to the very nice lady who runs the collective.  

I have not been to that part of Margate for some time.  With the rest of Margate getting such a bad press locally and nationally it is good to see even a little corner of the town emerging from the ashes.  Only a few years ago this part of the town was as neglected as the rest of the town but now it is a bustling place with hidden gems around every corner  and just a stones throw from the Turner Contemporary.  

Lots of beautiful Retro and Vintage clothes shops, Galleries and cafes.   Something for everyone. Rough Trade is a little further out than some of the other shops but worth looking for.  Here are a couple of links to a listing of the shops and a small map to help find this little piece of proof that Margate is not beaten yet and will bounce back to become the town it used to be not so many years ago.
http://www.margateoldtown.co.uk/#/shopping-directory/4554276933
http://www.whatsoninkentlocal.com/all/details/22123/