N is for… New

"N is for... New" blog post banner

collection of fabric doorstops / bookends handmade by Sarah Nicol

green fabric doorstop / bookend handmade by Sarah Nicol green fabric doorstop / bookend handmade by Sarah Nicol

We’re known for vintage here at H is for Home

collection of greeting cards by artist Gail Kelly featuring British trees, all taken from original linocuts hand-printed onto Irish linen

greeting card by artist Gail Kelly featuring an apple tree, taken from an original linocut hand-printed onto Irish linen

…but we also like to stock a smattering of new items too.

washing line display of 100% cotton hopsack tea towels designed and hand screen printed by Skinny laMinx in Cape Town, South Africa

100% cotton hopsack tea towel designed and hand screen printed by Skinny laMinx in Cape Town, South Africa. This design is entitled Borrowed Spoons

Things that we think sit well – contemporary products with a vintage or folk art feel.

vintage coffee set with cafetiere cosy handmade and embroidered by Janie (Knitted Textiles)

cafetiere cosy handmade and embroidered by Janie (Knitted Textiles)

We look for a handmade aspect too. These are a few examples – all currently available on our website.

M is for… Market

'M is for... Market' blog post banner

Todmorden Market stall | H is for Home

We live in Todmorden – and run our website from here too.

It’s a small market town in the Pennine hills on the border between Lancashire & Yorkshire. Todmorden Market is one of its major assets.

Olives for sale on Todmorden outdoor market

Thursday is flea market day, with a mix of regular traders & one off stall holders having a clear out or raising money for charity.

Free cakes with the bric-a-brac on Todmorden Outdoor Market

We try to get there most weeks, trawling stalls for potential H is for Home stock. We’ve picked up all manner of things over the years – from 200 year old chairs to 1960s lamps.

Bric-a-brac for sale on Todmorden Flea Market

Some traders know what we like now and draw our attention to things they’ve got or will be getting hold of soon.

Bric-a-brac for sale on Todmorden Flea Market

After the second-hand stalls have been scoured, there’s a great place to stop for coffee – it has an unbelievable choice of teas & coffees all on display on their shelves… with home-made cakes and doughnuts to boot!

Exchange Coffee Co on Todmorden Indoor Market | H is for Home

Florist on Todmorden Indoor Market | H is for Home

Jams for sale on Todmorden Indoor Market | H is for Home

Also on the inside market are a florist, greengrocer, cheese stall, biscuit seller, haberdasher, butchers, bakers, but alas, no candlestick maker! Having said that, there’s Dawson’s – a great, traditional hardware stall that never fails to have that little brush or screw that no one else seems to stock. They, no doubt, have candlesticks… and the candles that go in them too!

Dawson's Hardware on Todmorden Indoor MArket | H is for Home

The market has at least 4 different butchers – everyone has their own regular or favourite. Ours is Paul Standsfield whose stall greets you as you enter through the main doors. He’s Fudge’s firm favourite too as he’ll always throw in a big, tasty beef or venison bone for him.

Standsfield Butchers on Todmorden Indoor Market | H is for Home

On other days of the week, the outside market has the usual range of food, clothing and homeware stalls.

Todmorden Outdoor Market | H is for Home

Cheese for sale on Todmorden Flea Market | H is for Home

Fruit & veg for sale on Todmorden Outdoor Market | H is for Home

Special mention has to go to Alexander Gourmet Med, a Mediterranean food specialist who’s usually there on a Saturday. Alex is extremely passionate & knowledgeable about everything he sells. He knows where it was made, which family made it, the methods they used and what makes it unique. We buy great olives & other antipasti, honey, chocolate, coffee, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. He’s an endless source of birthday & Christmas presents for friends & family!

Alexander Gourmet Med Mediterranean stall on Todmorden Outdoor Market | H is for Home

We hope you get the chance to visit one day!

C is for… Coffee

'C is for... coffee' blog post banner

Vintage espresso maker, pottery cup and chocolate bar | H is for Home

What makes that perfect coffee break? Well designed machines to brew it in…

Vintage orange Rowenta coffee machine Vintage orange Rowenta coffee machine

Striking pots to serve it from…

group of vintage pottery coffee pots

Vintage Denby Arabesque coffee pot Vintage Pontessa coffee pot Vintage Meakin Aztec coffee pot

Beautiful cups to drink it out of…

group of hand thrown pottery mugs

Vintage Thomas porcelain trio Vintage Staffordshire trio

Vintage Hornsea Bronte trio Vintage Stavangarflint June trio

Vintage Elizabethan Portobello cup and saucer Vintage Studio Meakin cup and saucer

And not forgetting… cosies to keep it warm!

collection of hand knitted mug cosies

hand knitted mug cosy hand knitted mug cosy

Coffee time @ H is for Home

B is for… Baxter

'B is for... Baxter' blog post banner

Group of tangerine vintage Whitefriars glass vases designed by Geoffrey Baxter | H is for Home

Geoffrey Baxter joined James Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) in 1954 where he initially worked as Assistant Designer to William Wilson. Baxter’s contemporary work soon began to filter into the Whitefriars output.

Scandinavian design was a strong influence during the 1950s & 60s, but under the direction of Baxter, an individual, strong, distinctive look evolved for Whitefriars and British glass in general. New shapes, colours and textures were developed. The main photograph above shows pieces from the textured range first produced in 1967. Actual tree bark was used in the moulds!

Tangerine Whitefriars nail head vase designed by Geoffrey baxter Tangerine Whitefriars nail head vase designed by Geoffrey Baxter

We have this piece known as a nail head vase in the tangerine colour way – along with other Whitefriars items – available for sale in the H is for Home web shop.
They look fantastic in groupings or as stand alone pieces.

bedroom setting with Whitefriars vase designed by Geoffrey Baxter on a bedside table

They provide that initial flash of colour, but also give a wonderfully tactile experience on closer inspection.

Bookshelf display with a collection of tangerine Whitefriars glass designed by Geoffrey Baxter

If you’d like to find out more about Geoffrey Baxter and Whitefriars Glass, this book is invaluable: