Birthday Weekend ( Part Two)

On Friday I had a day's holiday from work and Mr C and I drove down to Hertfordshire to explore. We headed for Berkhamsted, somewhere we hadn't visited before. First stop was this lovely shop, 'Home and Colonial'. Four floors of beautifully displayed antique and vintage items as well as lovely shabby chic home wares and gifts.

The 'Attic Cafe' on the top floor was wonderful. The setting was amazing, enormous floor to ceiling sash windows overlooking the street, high vaulted ceilings, vintage furniture and advertising pictures. Oh and the food was delicious too !

The top picture was an enormous and beautiful advertising poster, and the Zebo poster was also a large original displayed above the window.

Further down the street we found another little antique centre full of quirky pieces.A few of my purchases are propped up outside. I found a pretty basket, a dainty sugar pink clothes airer, and a yellow handled rolling pin amongst other things. We then headed off and explored Hemel Hemstead Old Town and found more antique shops before finally heading home with some lovely purchases.

This pretty vintage American rose postcard was amongst one of my finds last week I also purchased this pretty rose and heart hankerchief. It appears to be a vintage one from the fabric and has no label on it. However it is so Cath Kidston in style I am wondering if it is one of her designs, if you recognise it please tell me.

I have picked up a few old glass apothecary jars over time, one of which I decorated with vintage sailing yacht decals last year. These two have finally had the same treatment using vintage American rose decals too. They make great storage for lotions and potions in the bathroom.

Midweek Projects

I have had these two lovely American pin up prints for ages and I have finally found a couple of gilt type frames for them in a charity shop. I don't usually go for fancy frames but I think these look right for such glamorous ladies. These are now ready to be hung in a little spot I saved for them on the landing.

I found the old glass sweet jar and apothecary jar at a boot sale and gave them both a good clean. I had some old 1940s American decals and used these to decorate them. I love the yachts and think the apothecary jar would look lovely in a bathroom, holding bath oil.

The little bookcase was stained with dark varnish and it took a good coat of primer and a couple of coats of Farrow and Ball's Pointing to freshen it up. I used the same on the heavy pine cupboard I had had stored in the cellar for some time. I used the Cath Kidston Bluebell drawer liners I found a few months ago in a charity shop to line the shelves. The shelves will be used for display purposes for the new venture Deb and I are planning. I am going to keep the little cupboard to use as bedside table.