Vintage Finds

This little lady arrived this week from the US. I had bought her to add to my little collection and was really pleased when she arrived as she was loads bigger than I expected. I really ought to take notice of measurements but in this case it was a real plus.

This sleepy head is a pretty 1930s print I found in a charity shop .

Mr C and I headed for a boot sale this morning. We haven't really been to any yet this year but decided to give it a go today as the sun was shining and we were up fairly early. I found these sweet couple of books illustrated by Renee Cloke.

This Midwinter sugar sifter is gorgeous although the top is pretty tarnished. The little ladle is really pretty too, not sure what it would have been used for though.

This enormous rosy pitcher was a good find but heavy to carry around !

Both of these paintings are originals. Mr C will paint the frame of the top one. The street scene is local to us in Kettering and is somehow reminiscent of a 1950s Agatha Christie scene.

These are little pair of painted bakelite egg cups.

We found assorted old playing cards and various pieces of pretty china.

I also bought a pile of pretty vintage crocheted blankets.

Mr C also found this lovely old Singer sewing machine at a local auction this week. It seems to be in full working order but looks great for display.

The garden has taken a bit of hammering this last few weeks.

Even so there are some lovely David Austin roses in full bloom.

I bought this lovely rose last week when I was out with my mum at a nursery near her house. It is a new David Austin rose called Princess Alexandra of Kent and is a gorgeous dusky pink with a beautiful scent.

First Car Boot Sale Of The Year

Yesterday we went to the first proper car boot sale of the year. We probably didn't really get there as early as we should have but I still came away with a few treasures. This little lady was my favourite find of the day. I have admired her for months in our local antique centre and was always told she wasn't actually for sale and she wasn't priced. Imagine my amazement when I spotted her nestled on a stall at the boot sale being sold by the dealer at the antiques centre for just £2. I am sure it was meant to be. I know many people will wonder why I would want her with her broken arms but I think she is beautiful as she is.

I also found this cute donkey on wooden wheels. He has no maker's label and I would love to know more about him. He is definitely quite old with a solid body and mohair type fur.

This is an original water colour in a very pretty frame, it must be pre 1930s I would think.

Mr C was busy in the garden last week building a new raised bed and planting it up with salad and vegetables.

Our lovely peony 'Molly The Witch' flowered and after a few days is now gone.We bought her from RHS Wisley years ago and it took her around 6 years to flower.

A Coat Of Paint And A New lease Of Life

You may remember this pretty table as one of my car boot finds a few weeks back. It is quite Arts and Crafts in style and has a little heart detail. It was heavily varnished dark wood but I decided to give it a coat of Farrow and Balls 'Off White'. It took a bit of work in the garden over the weekend needing a couple of coats of primer first to cover the varnish. I like the result and the off white stands out and gives a bit of contrast against the other Farrow and Ball white in the background.

I found the pink and green doilies at a boot sale on sunday and immediately put them to use.

You may also remember the fire screen that I bought at an auction a few weeks ago. It also was a dark wood so I gave it the same treatment as the table and I think it looks a lot fresher and shows the faded colours of the tapestry off better.

Sunday morning was pretty fruitful at the boot sale and I came home with quite a collection of goodies. You will be able to spot coloured knitting needles, pieces of Carlton Ware,a few tins, the usual bits and bobs of crockery and glass ware, another jelly mould and another glass sugar pourer decorated with flowers similar to one I showed in a previous post. I will be listing some of these bits in my Etsy shop later.

This vintage paper parasol was a real find as were the fabric covered coat hangers and the quilt.

This little quilt I think was made for a child's bed. The man I bought it from found it when he was clearing the outbuildings and attic at a large old hall near Uppingham. He dated it to around 1920 or a little earlier. It is really pretty cotton fabric with a thin wadding in the middle and then silk hand stitched on the back. Although I love vintage textiles I know very little about them and would love any advice or information you could give me about this little quilt.

The coat hangers came from the same place and I think the fabrics are possibly 1930s.

After the early start of the boot sale we headed to the Fish Market for the first Vintage and Collectables Fair organised by the Northampton Antiques Centre. It was lovely to browse and enjoy a coffee and catch up with a few friends and fellow sellers. Hopefully these Sunday fairs will become a regular monthly event.

Enjoy the rest of your week, hopefully the sunshine will return in time for the weekend.

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

This Week's Bargain Finds

Yesterday was the monthly antiques market on our historic market square. I treated myself to the little Sylvac dog, I have wanted one of these for ages.

I also popped in to Homesense following a tip off from Zoe at Penny-Blossoms about the Cath Kidston bed linen. I have always liked the 'pastel flowers' design so was really excited to get my hands on a lovely duvet cover. I like to mix and match bed linen with vintage pieces. I bought the pretty hand embroidered pillowcases for a couple of pounds from a lovely lady at the Bay Tree Cottage open day last Saturday . The blue striped pillowcases are also vintage as is the eiderdown.

I found this unusual shelf with the little drawers at the antiques market yesterday. It is hand painted with pretty roses and can be hung on the wall. This will find it's way in to our shop or come along to our next fair.

This morning I was up bright and early and had a quick look round the local hospital car boot. The weather wasn't too inviting and there weren't many booters but I found some cups and saucers in the Indian Tree pattern and a pretty 1930s milk jug and a pile of 1930s plates. My free Cath Kidston shopping bag from this week's Easy Living magazine came in handy.

I spotted this lovely cardigan on Sue's blog Vintage From The Village. It was £11 from Primark and I plan to replace the buttons with vintage glass or mother of pearl ones. It is very cosy and has a soft velvety feel.

Finally Mr C has just got round to framing my 1930s terrier pictures and hanging them for me.

Enjoy the rest of Sunday and have a great week.

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.