Haynes Lane Market, SE19

I had a quick snoop around a handy little market up in Crystal Palace today. The Haynes Lane Market sells all manner of vintage wares and is perfect for a rummage on a rainy day.

It spans two floors of stalls with (my) highlights including collectables of anything and everything you could ever need (vintage sewing kit accessories anyone?), books - loads of them, perfect if you are a second hand book fan and of course great old crockery too. But what I mainly love is its eclectic mix...you never know what is going to be around the next corner.

And it is open Tuesdays, Fridays Saturdays and Sundays, which is most useful.

A little jolly bunting makes even the gloomyist of Saturdays bearable.

Sewing collectables on view in the most fabulously decorated glass cabinet.

I liked the holiday feel to this stand, it's channelling a bit of Hawaii

Oh so much glassware and...

chinaware...I came across a whole crop of dainty teacups. Including lovely Poole sets and with a very good price for a teatime treat.

But if you also like a mix of new with your vintage (don't we all?) just across the road from the market is another fab shop Glitter & Twisted - with a range inside that lives up to the amazing name - great homeware gifts and colourful kitchenware.

South London snippits

My South London adventures continued today...but I found out that Bank Holiday Monday isn't apparently the best day to explore lovely independent interiors shops (fool that I am - I will remember next time).

Yet I still managed to press my face up to the window of a couple of Herne Hill's finest vintage and antiques shops and even found my to way into a delight in Crystal Palace too. (Hint for non-bank holiday visitors: Crystal Palace's Church Road has a growing selection of mighty fine 20th Century antiques shops - full report to follow soon no doubt.)

First face presser...the rather fabulous Bleu Furniture in Herne Hill. Elegant mid century furniture and accessories spied right under the rail bridge...I particularly fell for these dining chairs (1950s Italian on their website).

I have also not yet made it in to The Good Companion (more face pressing) furniture and arts shop with in-shop cosy café. It looks like the perfect spot for a good cuppa, with a novel and time to browse the eclectic selection of great looking art and furniture.

Finally up the hill at Crystal Palace I had a chance drop into Cartwright's, a great contemporary furniture shop on Church Road.
Could this pair of G-Plan tables at Cartwright's could put an end to my coffee table quest? Maybe, but I'm having far too much fun looking to give up just yet!