Updates and a few lucky finds.

Hi there folks.  Hope the weather has been better than here....I'm truly fed-up of the rain :o(

I thought I'd start off by thanking you for such lovely comments, I really do appreciate them.

The hedgehogs are still visiting the garden and filling up on free food, and the little field mice are still here too despite Sid's best efforts.

I went out with my friend Ann for lunch on Wednesday to a garden centre and a small craft centre (Sorry, I've been a naughty blogger - no photos of the garden centre or the crafts, though there was only one outlet open that day.)  But on the way back through Cannock Chase we looked for deer. 

Managed to get a few photos through the car windows of some young roe deer on the outskirts of 'the Chase', if you look closely at the background you can see how near to the houses they were.

Ain't they cute?

Hubby and I have been looking out for a smallish dining table for the garden, and a few weeks ago I passed a restaurant that had closed down to be 'converted' to a Bistro.  They'd placed a chunky, solid pine dining table outside with a notice on saying they'd more inside For Sale.  Of course they were closed at the time, so I made a note of the phone number to give them a ring later.  I tried for a couple of days with no luck and thought I'd give them one last try, this time they replied.  I asked if they still had the tables, he said yes, how many did I want?  Just one I replied!   How much are they?  He told me that they had fifteen 3' square ones and just one that was 4ft 6 by 3 ft, the smaller ones were £15 and the largest £20.  We went along and immediately paid for the largest table.  Hubby dismantled it to get it in the car and I chatted to the new owners, they asked if I wanted any artwork from a pile in the corner as it was all bound for the dump.  Obviously I went through it ;o) and chose four pieces for the frames :o)
Then I noticed a small occasional table under one of the other dining ones, it's 15" high and the top 10" x 12" - just what I've been looking for as an occasional table to pop next to a seat when serving drinks or snacks, when I asked if it was for sale they told me to take it free of charge!  Sorry, no pictures of the large table yet as it's still dismantled in the garage awaiting some decent weather to be sanded down, the frames are now in the loft - I forgot to photograph them, but here's the small table.  Still cannot decide weather to paint it or not though, but it's been really useful already :o)

It slides neatly under the coffee table out of the way, made to measure in fact. 

Then, on my usual visits to the local charity shops I found a few things.

First there was this paperweight - by now you know I'm a sucker for a nice paperweight!

3" diameter, the colour doesn't show too well here, but it's centre is mostly amethyst glass.

I visited Newport, Shropshire a few weeks ago, one of my favourite haunts and not surprisingly went into the charity shops there, and there IS quite a few!  I found this box there, it's contents caught my eye immediately.

THE most gorgeous 'ginko leaf' trivet!

It was from 'Oxfam' and as you probably know they are very price savvy, so when I saw the £8 price tag I winced and looked around the shop a little more.  Then I realised that I had NEVER seen anything like it before and it was unlikely I'd see one again.  'Nuff said, it came home with me :o)

Then, last Thursday I went to my 'local' and saw this...

It's missing the lid, and I really cannot decide weather it's old or not, but it's hand painted with lovely, pretty flowers.

It is a (Victorian style) toothbrush holder, but I guess it'll be just go on on the desk as a pretty pen dish.  £1.

This is the backstamp, and I've seen it before but cannot find anything about it, anyone know?

Lastly, some weeks ago I found this cream corseted bodice, obviously it was made for a bride.

It is encrusted back and front in pearl and crystal beading,

all hand done.

Isn't it gorgeous?  It's actually large enough to fit me!

(Though I doubt I'd ever wear it) 

The cost?  Well, when it was new I'm quite certain it would have been a few hundred pounds, but the price tag said £4.  I just couldn't leave it there. 

 I've carefully washed it and now I'll store it in acid free paper.

Well, this has been a bit of a mixed bag.  Hope you found something you liked too.

See you all soon, and hopefully the rain will stay away for a week (or two)!

Best wishes to all.