Some more bargains!

I've had a better haul over the last ten days or so, and mostly from my favourite local charity shop.  Maybe there's something that would have appealed to you too?  I'd settle down with a cuppa for this post as there's quite a few things LOL!

Firstly, I love cookery books and have a collection of over 250 that was started in my early teens, and when the charity shops charge as little as £1 each who else can resist?  They are much cheaper than a magazine!

I found both of these on the same visit.  Good old Rick Stein and the ultra posh Harrods one....both have some great recipes.

If you have read some of my earlier posts you will know that I collect some of the Poole Pottery range. This lovely pale spring green toast rack was just 75pence! I could hardly believe it, I've never seen one like it before - but it has the same satin like glaze and is very tactile.

Now, I can hardly believe that I bought this lidded jar myself, but after reading some of the lovely blogs from 'Over the pond' I realise just how useful they are when filled with favourite things or used in 'vingnettes'.....I'd really like a glass cloche or two, but sadly they are not the sort of thing that turns up in the UK without paying an extortionate amount for them off ebay.  (Something I'm just not in the habit of doing!)  Oh, I nearly forgot it was only 75 pence.

Here I found an 'architectural wall plaque' which quite took my fancy and will look a treat in our guest room, and here's the best....it was only £1.50.

This is one of my favourite pieces from this 'haul'.  A beautiful lead crystal candle stick, it's really heavy and stands about 14 inches tall.  Sadly my photographic skills do not do it justice.  It has stunning refraction when the sunlight or candlelight is bouncing off it, and can you believe it was only £2.75.  Why would anyone send it off to a charity shop?

Here I found a cute set of boxed and unused wine glass markers made by 'Pier' for just a £1.  (Click on any of  the photos to get a better look).

These are a couple of old pie funnels that caught my eye, they were 75 pence each.  I wonder how many wonderful home made pies they've had a supporting roll in over the years.  (Yes, I know I collect some pretty strange things, but after all these are quite easy to store and are a little different...Like me?)

These are two lovely large damask dinner napkins that cost 50p for the pair.  They were from a different shop - and when I took them to the counter to pay the assistant told me there had been a set of six which they had separated into pairs and another customer had purchased the other four!  I must admit to feeling more than a little disappointed with this news.  I couldn't understand why anyone would only have bought four at that price, and frustrated that I hadn't got there earlier and snapped up the six of them.  Oh well, you win some, you loose some :o(

Some more blue glass for the collection.  The candlesticks are just about 3 inches high and then there's the pair of cute elephants, total cost for all four pieces was £1.25.  Would you have resisted?

Now what about these then?

Another favourite :o)  A set of six, perfect Willow Pattern, Burleigh transfer ware dinner plates.  Now believe me I really don't NEED anymore dinner plates, but how could I resist these as they are such an unusual shape and cost the princely sum of £3.50 for the lot!  It beginning to look like when I redecorate the dining room this year I'm putting up a plate shelf around the top of the walls to show off some more plates!

Now, you know I love dragons?  I found a nest of them complete with their boxes (Myth & Magic ones) all priced at £2.50 each.  So okay, I went a little overboard with these and got four of them!

(Sorry, the a couple of them are a little out of focus).  They are all about 3 inches high and very detailed.  I would imagine they'd have cost £30 plus each originally.

This is a lovely old Shelley china jelly mould I got today, (now didn't you just know I'd have some old jelly moulds!) along with....

This lovely large Masons 'Vista' pattern bowl. (I've just checked the backstamp - it's for 1940's)  It measures about 12 inches across  The first ever piece of red transfer ware I've ever bought! (Though I think I may have a plan for this dish...)  The two lovely pieces cost a total of £3. Yes, I can hardly believe it myself!

(Post script about this Masons Dish - I've just gone to put it away and it has a chip on one of the corners (top left hand side - just visible on photo)...sob!  That'll teach me to give them the 'tap test' and make sure it 'rings' before buying..)

And finally......

Now if you've read my profile you know I admit to liking the weird and wacky.  Well I really do like Martin Brothers birds - http://www.ceramicstoday.com/potw/martin_bros.htm but I'm afraid they would be way out of my price range. 

 So when I found this little bird I'm afraid I took a fancy to it!  Kinda reminded me of the Martin Brothers ones..

And all for £1!  Well it makes me smile anyway.

Thank you so much for visiting me, and sticking with this rather long post!  I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoy reading your comments :o)  Please leave a comment, then I know you've visited here, and you are more than welcome to join in as a follower, the more the merrier you know.

My very best wishes to you all.