The Week So Far

This week I have some time off work and so far it has been pretty exhausting but good fun. At the weekend my sister and her husband and three young children came to visit. They live in Scotland so we don't get to see each other very often. We had a great time and made the most of the sunshine by eating in the garden.They were due to break their journey home with a couple of nights in Leeds but I suggested they head off on their own and leave the children with us for a couple of nights. They didn't need to be asked twice and were out the door pretty swiftly ! We have had a couple of days of paddling pools, parks, baking, lego making and ice cream eating and now the house seems very empty.

My lovely sister returned from Leeds with presents for me, these gorgeous cup cake bath melts that look good enough to eat. They are from a great shop called Rose and Co, check out their website and pictures of their beautiful apothecary style shop which apparently also says vintage dresses and other lovely things.

She also bought me another pretty Pip Studio cup and saucer to match my blue one and the sweet yellow rose. The little rosy pot in the background was a charity shop find along with the violets hat pin holder and are about to go in to my Etsy shop.

After they had all gone home Mr C took me to check out the new Recycle shop in town. This is where things that usually get taken the tip are being sold. Sadly gone are the days of rummaging on the trestle tables at the tip but the new shop is a much more civilised affair. Just as I arrived a lady was paying for the most amazing set up Cath Kidston style wooden kitchen chairs , I was very jealous ! However I found some nice old children's books so didn't come away empty handed.

This also arrived this week, a pretty vintage fabric, shoe holder. I am not sure what I will use it for yet but I don't think it will be for shoes.

Finally, please humour me while I show you pictures of my loo and bathroom ! I have waited so long for this ! Mr C has finally tiled the loo floor with blue/grey tiles from Fired Earth.These have been stacked up in the bedroom for ages and I have lost count of the times I have stubbed my toe. He has also painted the bathroom in a great shade by Farrow and Ball called Green Blue. The flooring still needs to be laid in the bathroom but it's a start. It also gave me an excuse to re-arrange my little shelf . The bathroom isn't pretty as such but I love it. The house is 1920s and the bathroom has the original tiles on the walls and we re-fitted the original deco chrome heated towel rail. The new wall colour seems very keeping with the period and I love the way it changes colour in different types of light.

Enjoy the rest of the week, I am off out now for coffee and cake with Mr C.

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.