Busy Weekend and Deb's New Venture

I seem to have a crammed in a lot this weekend. Saturday started bright and early with a walk around the Edwardian reservoir at our local country park. The old water tower can be seen in the picture. Josh would have loved it but he is terrified of going in the car, one of the problems we have found when taking on a rescue dog. Once home it was back out again to the local park with Josh so he didn't miss out.

Next stop was a flying visit to the monthly Bicycle Basket Bazaar at the fish market hall. I found these pretty embroidered pillowcases and also the Cornwall book from Caroline who is one of the sellers at our vintage fair.

Then Mr C and I headed for the beautiful Cottesbrooke Hall and the annual Plant Finders Fair

Before we started a bit of sustenance was required in the form of home made scones with clotted cream and strawberries and a drop of rose wine.

The gardens at Cottesbrooke are lovely and well worth a visit

I was very taken with these old shepherds huts as an alternative to the traditional garden shed

Amongst the lovely plants we came home with was my particular favourite, a coral pink peony. The colour really hasn't come out in the picture, it is a delicate coral that changes shade over time.

This morning was another early start for the boot sale. The picture at the top shows some of my finds including a rabbit jelly mould, a 1950s jug and frosted glasses, a pretty soap dish, a couple of perfume bottles, a petit point vanity set in original box and a vintage Coronation picture. They are all on a little table that I found and plan to paint. It has a very pretty heart detail cut out of it.

I also found another pastel frosted vase this time in green.

I bought the vintage suitcase from a man who was selling off some wonderful railway memorabilia. It has original railway stickers on the side.

This afternoon was a visit to the Northampton Antiques Centre just down the road from me. As mentioned in my previous post my friend Deb has just taken on a unit there and today she was setting up all of her lovely vintage treasures.

I took a few snaps as she was setting up, if you are local pop down and have a look there are loads of lovely bits and pieces to tempt you.

I didn't leave empty handed, I bought this scrummy raspberry coloured flowery eiderdown from Carol of 'Pure Country' who also is one of the sellers at our vintage fair. I have had my eye on it for a while and took advantage of the beautiful weather once I got it home to give it a quick wash and put it out to dry in the sun.

Of course the day was supposed to end on a high note but sadly a certain game was a bit of an anticlimax.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already done so, still a few more days to go.

First Giveaway-Kaffe Fassett and Cath Kidston

First of all let me apologise, this post should have happened yesterday but things happen sometimes and things don't go to plan. Anyway yesterday was my first blogiversary and it also coincides with me having 100 lovely followers. I am amazed by both things, I never dreamed a year ago that I would still be here a year later and certainly not with 100 people actually reading my blog. The last year of blogging has been amazing with it's up and downs but I have become 'virtual' friends with some wonderful people and have met a few of them in person which has been a real bonus. Thank you to everyone who reads my blog and thank you for taking the trouble to leave a comment and offer support and encouragement, it is truly appreciated.

As I am celebrating my first year of blogging as well as having 100 followers I thought it only fair I offer a choice of two giveaway prizes.

First of all is the 'Vintage' giveaway......

This giveaway wouldn't be complete without a little bit of Cath so I have included a set of her latest postcards and a little mirror. Of course there has to be some real 'vintage' so there is a pretty embroidered brooch, a hand painted slightly 'shabby' deco powder pot and sweet little crocheted doily.I have also included a great notebook I bought from the Bodleian Library shop in Oxford on Sunday. The cover shows different vintage book covers.

The second giveaway is the 'Crafty' giveaway.....

This includes a copy of 'Kaffe Fassett At The V&A- Knitting And Needlepoint'. This book has beautiful photographs as well as the needlepoint and knitting patterns. It was published in 1988 so is obviously quite old but I think it is still beautiful and full of inspiring ideas.

Also included is a pretty, vintage Huntley And Palmers biscuit tin. It is decorated with pink and blue anemones and is in great condition. The tin will come filled with haberdashery bits and pieces, old lace, buttons,wooden Sylko bobbins and ribbon. There is also a sweet little vintage needle book embroidered with flowers and a pair of Laura Ashley crocheted doilies.

I have photographed some of the lovely pictures in the Kaffe Fassett book just to give you an idea of what's inside.

If you want to join in the giveaway just leave a comment on this post. Please say which giveaway prize you would like, either 'Vintage' or 'Crafty'. If you want to enter twice for a chance of winning both prizes that's fine but please give my giveaway a mention on your blog or link back to it.

Many Thanks and Good Luck.

Names will be drawn from a hat on Thursday 1st July and the giveaway closes at midnight on Wed 30th June.

Heart Or Head ?

Before I share my latest finds I wanted to tell you about my new venture that very nearly happened. For a long time my friend Deb from 'home thoughts from vintage wants' and I had dreamed about our hobby becoming more serious. For some time we have sold a few of our vintage bits and pieces to make space for even more ! It has been fun and a nice diversion from work and other pressures but no more than a hobby. Recently the local antiques centre has changed hands and has really started to take off. We decided to take the plunge and step up from a hobby to having our own little booth. We have both been really excited about it but I had a niggling doubt. Anyway after much thought , I decided that I had to listen to my head for once rather than my heart. I work full time in a demanding job and my spare time is precious. I enjoy searching out my vintage bits and pieces as a way of relaxing and switching off. I realised that if it became more serious it would just become another pressure and may not be as fun anymore. Also spending time with my family is precious and I want to spend as much time with my lovely girl as I can before she flies the nest. So from a time point of view and to a lesser extent from a financial and business point of the view the new venture made no sense for me.

However for Deb things are different, she is in a different point in her life and career and has more time to spare. She has decided to go it alone with my full support and as much practical help as I can manage. From next Sunday her little area at the Northampton Antiques Centre will be open so please pop along and show her your support.

Anyway back to my latest finds. Today we had a lovely day in Oxford and of course I found a couple of little bits and bobs to bring home. The cheeky chap above was spotted in the window of 'Antiques On High' and couldn't be left behind. My dog collection seems to be expanding rapidly.

I was so excited when I saw a display of Pip Studio in the window of Boswell & Co dept store. I treated myself to the towel and pretty bird cup and saucer.

After a browse around 'Antiques On High' we popped next door to the gorgeous 'Grand Cafe' for a pot of my favourite Earl Grey. It has a wonderfully opulent interior with mirrors and marble and gilt and reassuringly heavy, Liberty Arts and Crafts style tea pots and milk jugs. It is supposed to be the site of the first coffee house in England according to the diary of Samuel Pepys.

Oxford as usual was beautiful and busy with tourists enjoying the sunshine.

We spent some time in Blackwells, our favourite shop in Oxford. It is so easy to completely lose track of time when you are engrossed in browsing all the latest books.

I loved the moulding on this doorway, there are so many beautiful architectural details everywhere.

Yesterday was a first for me. Mr C and I went along to our local auction rooms. Mr C had called in the day before to the viewing and picked up the list for me. He had spotted the tapestry fire screen and thought I would like it. Anyway we went along and I made a successful bid for it. I have never bid at an auction before so was very pleased to secure it for a bargain price. My plan is to paint it in a nice Farrow and Ball shade but haven't quite decided .

Earlier in the morning was a mini boot sale at a nursing home round the corner. I found the pretty hat pin holder and glass knife rests.

I also bought a present for Mr C, these stained glass panels. He loves stained glass and over the years has added pieces to our house to complement the original glass.

As mentioned in my last post I am planning my first ever giveaway next week. On Tuesday it will be my first blogiversary and this coincides with me having 100 lovely followers. Please pop back on Tuesday and join in the giveaway.

Boot Sale Booty

I thought I would give you a quick update on my boot sale finds from Sunday but first I thought I would show you a close up of the pretty vintage felt brooch I found last week. A few people spotted it in the background of a previous post photo and I felt it deserved a photo of it's own. It reminds me of the Cath Kidston felt brooches and hair accessories that have been around recently.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early for the boot sale but we very nearly didn't go because it was so gloomy and drizzling with rain. In the end we went as we were up and ready. When we got to our usual boot sale we were disappointed to see only about a third of the usual sellers. A quick look round in the drizzle yielded just two things that took my fancy. The glass cream jug with the blue lid and the Crown Devon little sauce jug both came home with me. The little Crown Devon piece was found a spot straight away with the rest of my collection. The little pharmacy bottle was found later on.

Anyway after a rather disappointing start we bumped in to some neighbours who told us about another boot sale about ten minutes away . We decided we had nothing to lose and set off and we were so glad we did. As soon as we arrived Mr C found the Vernon Ward print which looks great on our landing with our Vernon Ward seagull print.

We then split up for a while to wander round and when I found Mr C again he took me to a stall he had found with things he knew I would like. The first thing he had spotted was the little cross stitch cottage picture. He really is getting to be very good at finding things for me, not so long ago he was hopeless. He used to be drawn to things that only a man could like, ugly, dark coloured objects with no hint of prettiness. I guess that is a bit of an unfair generalisation about men but after a little bit of training and education he now has quite a good eye.

On the same stall were piles of vintage books, games and jigsaws.

There were old annuals, Enid Blytons and a lovely copy of The Water Babies illustrated by Anne Anderson. I already have a copy illustrated by Mabel Lucie Attwell and it is lovely to compare the illustrations.

I also found the lovely , soft crocheted blanket and a pile of linens. These look a little crumpled as they had just come in from blowing on the line and are waiting to be pressed.

Finally I found the Father Christmas jug. These were produced by Bird's Custard in the 1950s as a special Christmas edition for your custard to go with your Christmas pud. I already have one of these that I bring out every year so this one will make an appearance in my shop nearer to Christmas.

I hope you are all having a good week and enjoying the sunshine. I feel a bit of a giveaway coming on but more news on that at the weekend. x