Valentine's Greetings

I hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day, I was very pleased to wake up to a lovely bouquet of roses and lilies. They really cheer the place up on a grey and chilly day. I like to display some of my vintage American Valentine cards around the house, they always make me smile.

Vintage Fair Finds

Yesterday's Vintage Fair in Market Harborough was great, it was even busier than the last one in Market Harborough even though we had sub zero temperatures. On our drive over in the morning the temperature dropped to -15 degrees but the countryside looked stunning with the trees covered in thick frost.

Of course I had to treat myself to a couple of things including this lovely jar with it's bright red lid from Helen Storey. I am not sure what I am going to use it for yet but it will definitely live in the kitchen with my other red bits of kitchenalia.

Other things I found were the blue rose curtains from Wend of Ticking Stripes, two sweet little 1930s glazed cards for a wedding and a birthday from Vicky of Vicky Loves Vintage and a pretty jug and picture from Jo of Lost Property Vintage.

I found the lovely roses tin on Wend's stall. The daffodils are the ones we had on the tea tables in the tea room, they were displayed in vintage coronation mugs. I love using this vintage Kilner jar as a vase for spring flowers.I bought it from Acorn and Will at lat year's Country Living Fair.

I found this little wooden doll with a pink dress on Adrian's stall. She has found a home with my other two with their yellow and blue dresses.

This wonderful assortment of 1930s reading comprehension cards were from Vicky Loves Vintage.

I found this gorgeous piece of fabric on Wend's stall and will definitely turn it in to some pretty cushion covers.

This lovely barbola plaque was another purchase from Vicky loves Vintage.

It has survived in wonderful condition and is beautifully hand painted.

I have been avoiding helping Mr C with the unpacking of bags and boxes today and instead have been faffing with pictures. I have finally replaced my christmas classroom print in the hall with this one of ducks which is one of my favourites.

The chickens have cheered up today as the snow has started to melt. The poor things were totally bamboozled by their first experience of snow, they refused to budge from these plant pots until Mr C had cleared them a path.

Thanks to everyone who came along yesterday and supported the fair, I had a really enjoyable day talking to lots of lovely people. There are photos of the day over on the fair blog.

Market Harborough Vintage Fair

It would be lovely to see you here tomorrow,there will be over 30 fabulous vintage and handmade sellers as well as lovely tea and cakes to keep your energy levels up. I really hope the rather chilly temperatures don't put people off venturing out although I get the feeling most of our vintage loving customers are a hardy lot.

Makeovers

Before Christmas Mr C bought me an old dark wood, glazed cupboard. He could see it's potential and knew I had been looking for something with deep enough shelves for some of my bigger books.

He gave it a coat of Farrow and Ball in 'Lichen' and polished up the old hinges and it has been completely transformed. All I need to do now is fill it !

This very old rustic pine chest was found at the local recycling shop. Mr C has also painted it in Annie Sloan Chalk white, rubbed it back a bit and given it a wax. He will be taking this down to the unit at Brackley Antiques Cellar when it is finished.

This old suitcase also came from the recycling shop and has a lovely blue silk lining.

I recently bought a carrier bag of fabric from a local charity shop for the princely sum of £2. Inside were all sorts of pieces of vintage fabric including an unfinished patchwork bedspread.

At the bottom of the bag were approximately 100 patchwork squares in five different designs. My lovely girl and I are considering having a go at putting them together to make a throw for a bed.

New Year Clear Out

For a very long time the spare bedroom has been a junk room full of 'stuff'. Last weekend I decided enough was enough and spent a couple of days having a good sort out. I got rid of bags of rubbish as well as stuff for the charity shop.

By the time I had finished it still looked like a store room but at least you could get to the bed !

I sorted all my remaining bits and pieces out and put them in the old kitchen cupboard which for now is residing in the bedroom and everything else was hidden away in old hat boxes, suitcases and baskets.

This morning I managed to cram in visits to a small car boot sale and two fairs.

I came away with this cute tea pot and tea cosy and yet another Horlicks mixer,

a very sweet trug, some vintage ribbon , a little deco lady pepper pot and yet another tin!

The knives and the belt buckle were bargains from the boot sale. The buckle was black but it has come up a treat with a bit of a polish.

Finally it feels like Spring isn't far away and I can't wait to get back in to the swing of weekend boot sales and flea markets.

Thankyou

I have been very lucky over the last few days, receiving a number of lovely unexpected surprises. January can be such a miserable month, it has really cheered me up receiving these kind gifts.

First of all I was lucky enough to win the giveaway on Maria's great blog, 'country style living'. I won this fab book that I had been reading about in the latest edition of Homes and Antiques magazine. It is full of great ideas and lovely pictures. I was really excited to win this as I never win anything and have never won anything in a giveaway before, so thank you Maria very much.

Today I received a surprise parcel from my sister in Scotland. She has recently started sewing and crafting and I had sent her my much loved Cath Kidston cardigan that Mr C had unfortunately put through a hot wash. I thought she might find some use for it at her craft group. She has turned it in to this lovely cuddly cushion for me and I love it. The photo really doesn't do it justice and the colour is actually much brighter.

On Saturday my mum left me a bag of bits and pieces that had come from my grandma's house. Amongst the things were lots of pieces of ephemera including the brochure for her old Rolls Rapide twin tub and her copy of ' The Big book Of Needlecraft' which I thought had been lost.

This original Lloyd Loom 'Lusty' linen basket , upholstered in pretty vintage fabric was a present from Mr C after he saw me admiring it at a vintage fair before Christmas.I fell in love with the faded fabric and original worn paint.

Saturday was The vintage Jumble organised by Mr C. It was a great success and amazingly busy considering it is January. It was good fun and really nice to catch up with so many people.

There was an amazing array of goodies on offer but I was incredibly restrained. I did treat myself to this cute egg cup from Jo of Hesta Nesta.

I bought this pretty bolt of fabric from another Jo although I have no idea what I will use it for.

I also found this old wooden scoring board that for some reason appealed to me.

On a sadder note I lost one of my lovely chickens just over a week ago when she suddenly became unwell and died. I had only had her a few months but I had already become quite fond of her. Happily my other two are still as lively and inquisitive as ever and laying lots of lovely eggs.

Vintage Jumble

Hope to see you there.