Weekend Treasure

This weekend has been very rewarding in terms of bargains and treasure. Saturday morning started with a jumble sale and a box full of cups and saucers for pennies to be put away for the tea room at our next Vintage Fair. After that it was time for the Bicycle Basket Bazaar at the Fish Market. This was a chance to catch up with lots of the friendly sellers who also had stalls at the Vintage Fair just before Easter. Of course there were some bargains to be had too as well as yummy bacon sandwiches and coffee.

This morning we set the alarm and were up bright and early for the big car boot sale. Armed with flasks of coffee and croissants we set off only for it to start pouring with rain. Undeterred Mr C agreed to carry on in the hope that it was just a shower. Half an hour later we arrived in the drizzling rain. Mr C decided to sit it out in the car and read the papers whilst I had a quick whizz round in the wet. Within a few minutes the rain had stopped but a lot of the car booters had packed up and some things had been ruined in the rain. However there was still treasure to be found. First of all this lovely floral feather eiderdown which had survived the rain because the lady had only just remembered it and was getting it out of her boot as I arrived. I haven't seen one like this before and in wonderful condition. As soon as I got home it went straight in the wash and on the line.

I found an assortment of 1930s egg cups, an old tin biscuit barrel, various pieces of jewelery and some very pretty tea cups.

I love this Royal Venton plate with the cottage design and the pretty Limoges finger plate.

I also found a pink Rose Dawn teapot and a pile of Celeste soup bowls to add to my collection of Utility wear. as well as this cheeky chappy.

Yesterday I found this set of 1960s 'Carnaby' coffee cups in a charity shop.

And finally I bought this pretty 1950s hand bag , brooches and book from Caroline at the Basket Bazaar. Lots of my weekend finds will be appearing in my Etsy shop over the next few weeks so pop in and have a look. Clair at Etsy Midlanders has put together a lovely posting on our team blog of vintage items from some us vintage sellers.

Next month Debbie and I are having a bike at the Bicycle Basket Bazaar. It is 12-4 on Sat 30th May at the Fishmarket. Hopefully we will see some familiar faces.

Next Saturday we are having a stall selling our vintage treasures at the Bay Tree Cottage open day in Farthingstone. Come along for an assortment of stalls, delicious home made cakes and coffee and a browse around the plant nursery. It is in the village hall from 10-4 on Sat 1st May.

A Wicked Week

I have had a lovely week off work even if the first part was mainly spent catching up on housework. There are some jobs that just couldn't be ignored any longer such as cleaning all the crockery on display in the kitchen that seems to attract grease and dirt. I find it strangely relaxing doing housework if I am in the right mood, there is something nice about doing something that doesn't take much thinking about.

Later in the week it was my lovely girl's 16th birthday and we had a bit of a family party catching up with relatives we rarely see.

These are a few more of my scrapbook pictures.

Then it was off to London for a birthday treat. My lovely girl loves London and we decided to treat ourselves to a night away. We went to see Wicked which was absolutely Wicked ! I would highly recommend it, I have seen a few musicals in the West End and I really enjoyed this one.

I managed to squeeze in a visit to Liberty. The poster is advertising their new budget range for Target which is definitely worth checking out on their website if you can't get to the shop.

This was quite a bizarre window display in Harrods. The red haired lady is lying down in her retro apron looking up at red roses suspended from the ceiling.

We finished our trip basking in the sun and enjoying a drink on the banks of the Thames at Richmond.

I didn't come home empty handed, I found the Cath Kidston skirt in a charity shop in Kensington, more expensive than I would pay in my local charity shop but still a bargain.

And this is a gorgeous piece of Liberty fabric. I was immediately drawn to the design and colour but have no idea yet what I going to make with it.

Back to normality tomorrow, school and work and fast approaching dreaded GCSEs.

Boot Sale Treasure And A few More Scraps

First of all a few more scraps from my 1930s scrapbook, all with a theme of childhood. I especially like the one below and also the children in the bath tub.

At the weekend I managed to squeeze in a trip to the antiques market on our market square. I met up with Debbie for coffee and we had a good browse and managed to find a few bits and pieces including the red domino cruet set and Grindley jug.

On Sunday I went to my first car boot sale of year and was well rewarded.I found these two butter dishes. I knew they were likely to be American depression glass but not much more. After a quick bit of research I found they are Hazel Atlas Royal Lace butter dishes and quite rare, as butter dishes often didn't survive with both the lid and base and also people usually only bought one of these whereas plates and cups and saucers people had multiples of.

I finally got round to listing some more things in my online shop Vintage Wants I share with Deb. This 1920s vanity set is gorgeous and comes in it's original matching floral box.

I listed a few more things in my Etsy shop as I hadn't added anything new for months. This 1950s cruet set looks great with my other red bits in my kitchen but I really don't have room so it's now in my shop.

The Grindley Peach Leaf Petal jug is staying with me though to add to my small collection of utility wear. I have a pile of blue Meakin Glamour Celeste tea plates which I found in a charity shop ages ago and still use everyday.

The little pond yacht fits perfectly on the windowsill. the sails need a bit of adjustment. I already have a large green Northern Star pond yacht that I love. It was found in a charity shop a few years ago. Ever since I have been on the look out for a smaller one to fit on my windowsill in the bathroom to go with the seaside theme. I found this one at the boot sale for 50p !

Other treasures include the pretty papier mache heart box and very Cath Kidston floral pin box along with a great 1930s perpetual calendar with a pretty design of an English country cottage. These have all found their way in to my Etsy shop. The lovely French jet and crystal beads and paste buckles will be added at some point when I find the time to get them photographed. All in all I had a good weekend and the sun came out too !