Humming Bird Dunster

Vintage Tins

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:08:08 +0000

Here at Hummingbird we always have a lovely selection of vintage tins in stock, which I know I have talked about before. We are always interested in how people are using the tins they purchase from us, ok I admit it, we are just plain old nosy. I came across this article in the splendid publication, Mollie Makes, and I admit it is a use for old tins that I had never thought about. Perfect for those that are a little to shabby perhaps to display but are still too nice to throw away. It would make a lovely gift for someone.

Old and vintage tins can be used as planters or vases, indoors or out. Obviously leaving them outside in the good old british weather will only increase the shabbiness of the tin so perhaps not for any tins that have any value to you, sentimental or otherwise.

Perhaps the the quirkiest use of an old cake tin we’ve seen, is this beauty. Visit Lilliedale blog to see how to make it.. I can’t help wondering if you can still keep biscuits or cake in it as well, now that really would be perfect!!

Vintage Easter

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:37:33 +0000

Vintage style is a look that continues to be incredibly popular. Mixing vintage furnishings and accessories is an easy way to add character and personality to your home, with the added advantage of often being the less expensive option, which is good news for most of us at the minute. It is also a way of carrying your family past into the present and beyond. For us there is nothing like a good rummage at a Flea Market or Boot Fair to find something unusual, a one off piece with a bit of a story to tell. Here at Humming Bird we have a wide selection of vintage tins which I have discovered often contain hidden treasures. Sewing kit, buttons, baking utensils, christmas decorations, toys, marbles and first aid items have all been found in tins we have bought from markets and fairs. It often touches me as a true family snapshot, I bet most of us can remember Nan’s button tin or something similar.

We stock a range of lovely, original vintage pieces and it always intrigues us as to how people see vintage items differently as to how they will be displayed or used. Only yesterday we had some lovely people in the shop who literally took every vintage jelly mould we had in stock, which was quite a few in varying sizes. They were going to make them into lampshades which is a lovely idea and I’m sure will look stunning.

Where has Spring Gone ?

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:07:38 +0000

What has happened to the weather ? This time last week we were basking in glorious spring sunshine, bearing pasty legs and hunting out the flip flops. What a difference a week makes. In our house the heating has gone back on and we spent yesterday evening huddled up together on the sofa under our winter cuddly blanket after having put the heating back on. However I have just read an article in which scientists claim that gloomy weather such as we are having at the moment, might leave you feeling blue but it”s great for the brain. Apparently their research showed that the negative effect bad weather has on our mood actually sharpens our mind.

“People performed much better on our memory test when the weather was unpleasant and they were in a slightly negative mood,” The New York Daily News quoted Professor Joe Forgas, who quizzed shoppers at a Sydney store over a period of two months, ”On bright, sunny days, when they were more likely to be happy and carefree, they flunked it,” he noted.

I’m not sure this is the case for me, I generally want to curl up and keep warm when the weather is cold, dark winter evenings do not generally inspire me to get up and do anything, whereas on the long light evenings of spring and summer I can often be found pottering about until long after my winter bedtime. Christmas is the time to cocoon, Easter is a time for getting out and about…. but if this weather continues I know where I shall be come Easter Sunday…

Enjoy xxx

Mary Portas for Prime Minister

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:57:28 +0000

Did you see the final episode of Mary’s Bottom Line on television last night ? Oh my goodness, did the final scenes bring a lump to your throat and a tear to your eye… or is that just sentimental old me. I know I have said it before, but I just love Mary Portas and her gusto, I just wish she could bottle her enthusiasm and spread it around a bit. I loved her cheeky pitch to Catherine Middleton, asking her to do her bit for her country and be a brand ambassador for her Kinky knickers. I can’t really see that happening but I imagine it made her chuckle. I hope Mary achieves the required sales of her knickers needed to keep the factory going and all those people featured in the programme in jobs and off benefits. It is surely a no brainer that it is better to pay people to work and earn a decent living wage then pay them to do nothing. If you have been following the programme from the beginning you can’t failed to have noticed the difference having a job has made on those people. We can all do our little bit and support Made in Britain products, I for one will be ordering my kinky knickers.. apparently each pair has a label in them telling you who has made them, it will be a strange feeling being able to put a face to the person who has made the pants. I’ll let you know what they are like and who made my pair… Meanwhile enjoy this fantastic weather we are having

H x

Mary Portas – Marmite

admin — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:28:44 +0000

Mentioning the name Mary Portas to people seems to have the same affect as mentioning marmite, people either love her or hate or. I absolutely love her passion and drive and sometimes sheer bloody mindedness to see a project through. If she wants to do something she goes for it whatever obstacles are put in her way. Her latest project to make knickers in the old factories which have lain idle for years and provide much needed employment for people in the area is inspiring, and maybe politicians and business leaders should take note. When she put the cost of buying British into perspective, the fact that many people spend £3 on a coffee but won’t spend that bit extra on a pair of pants made in England explains a lot of what has gone wrong in this country, and I admit I am guilty of buying on price a lot of the time .. needs must. But the misery of such long term unemployment as shown on her programme is heartbreaking and I for one will be trying harder to buy more Made in Britain from now on. Looking round Humming Bird, I was quite suprised as to how many products made in England we do sell, Emma Bridgewater, Music Gifts, Simon Drew, Littlecote Soap, all great quality products. My son is often coming home from school saying we need to buy more Fair Trade products and rightly so but maybe they should also be teaching them to but British products and support local business. Anyway looking forward to next weeks programme and from a purely shallow, female perspective I love the way Mary dresses !!!

Spring is here !!

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:34:08 +0000

I hope you all enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend, wasn’t it gorgeous ? Amazing how a bit of sunshine can lift the spirits, I felt so grotty all last week and it was just what I needed. We managed to get out and about a bit over the weekend, it was so nice and really helped to blow a few cobwebs away. We have recently acquired a rescue dog and are adjusting to being new ‘parents’, I am definately finding it a challenge but one thing I am loving is the walks and have been suprised as to how sociable dog walking is. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful area. Any tips on house training would be gratefully received though.

Happy Half Term

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:47:57 +0000

I don’t know whether you have just finished or are lucky enough to be starting your half term. Our half term was last week and school returns tomorrow. I love having my boys at home and hate the night before school starts again, but we have been lucky enough to have decent weather (except today when we had hail) and have been able to get out and about. It is nice to see a few more people around in the village and hopefully this will continue. We have lots of lovely new things arriving at Humming Bird and spring seems to be just around the corner. Whatever you are doing have a good week.

Emma Bridgewater Delivery

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:23:24 +0000

I don’t know about you but I’m not a great fan of this cold weather, not so much the coldness but the greyness. However a big delivery of lovely new Emma Bridgewater goodies has provided brightness on the greyest of days. I am keeping warm unwrapping and deciding where to display them. I will also be putting new product onto the website so you can all have a shot of brightness too and think of the lovely warm spring days ahead, not too far in the future we hope.

h x

A Well deserved Christmas Break….

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:50:07 +0000

I hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas and been able to spend some time with family and loved ones. We have just come back from a short break in the beautiful city of Bath and are ready (ish) to undertake the jobs we have planned. Hummingbird is closed until Saturday, January 14th. We aim to use this time to re-decorate the shop and do some well needed organisation… however you can still shop online during this time and if you in Dunster, you can always bang on the big blue door.

However you are spending your new year hope you have a good one

H X

Dunster by Candlelight

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:08:47 +0000

Well if you were among the thousands of people who attended this weekends Dunster by Candlelight, we hope you had a fantastic weekend. As ever there was loads going on and the weather was very kind to us, the rain didn’t show up until Sunday. Congratulations to everyone involved in putting the whole thing together, it takes a lot of hard work, organisation and planning. The entertainment on offer gets better and more varied each year with attractions such as Exmoor Zoo, Morris Dancers, Choirs and Samba Bands performing, surely something for everyone. If you haven’t yet been, make a note in your calendar for next year, the first weekend of December. Heres to the next 25 years !! We love the hustle and bustle of Candlelight here at Hummingbird and lovely christmas atmosphere, not to mention the mulled wine and chocolates. I love the fact that things we have carefully chosen for the shop are bought to give as presents for your nearest and dearest, gives us a nice warm glow !

Hope your preparations are going to plan and the run up to the big day is not too stressful. We are still open 7 days a week and stocked full of lovely things to make your present shopping a doddle.