I've had a few bargains....

Hi folks, hope all is well in blogland.  

I realise that I haven't posted any finds, so to put thing right here's a few.

Hubs didn't quite know what to make of this one ;o)

From memory I think it was £1.25.

Just this week I found this glorious double Welsh woollen blanket.

It just needed a careful wash.  In perfect condition. 

£3 - yes, £3.  Even I was amazed at the price!

This wasn't actually a bargain find, I won it at the Hedgehog Rescue fundraiser day last month, but thought you'd like to see it.

(Sorry about the reflection)

I also bought this little felted beauty home.

Isn't he delightful?

(It's making me want to try felting....)

* * *

I've kept seeing a neglected old stone trough (full of weeds) outside the back entrance of one of our local businesses, and I finally plucked the courage to ask if they wanted to sell it.  The lady I asked got in touch with the owners and they asked if I'd like to 'make them an offer', if it was acceptable they'd donate it to the local Air ambulance.  I offered £20 which was accepted :o)

Dimensions 21.5" x 16.5" x 8" deep.

Even though it's seen a little life and had a crude repair I'm delighted with it, and am looking forward to finding it's 'forever home*' in the garden and planting it up.

(* It's just too flamin' heavy to keep moving around!)

* * *

Hedgehog catch-up

During the week I cleaned out the four hog boxes in the garden to ready them for any over-Wintering visitors.  Box 2 appeared to be empty when I started removing the hay, but nestled up a corner was a hog :o)  I took him out to weigh and mark him and was amazed to find he weighed 850 grammes - wot a whoppa!  (At this time of year hedgehogs need to be a minimum of 600 grammes to safely hibernate through the Winter months.)  I didn't have the camera handy, so sorry there's no pictures of him.  Though because of it's weight I'm pretty sure it's either  Otto or Archie as they were both huge.  He's now sporting an 'X' on his head and christened X-man.

Over the last few weeks there's been less and less spiky visitors to the garden, which I'm finding a little worrying as these dear little creatures should be fattening up.  I'm just hoping they've found another good food supply somewhere.  I shall still continue to leave a good supply of crushed peanuts, sunflower hearts, sultanas and dried mealworm out for them.  (Whole peanuts would lodge in their mouths and could choke them or prevent them from eating.)  I have tried over the years leaving both wet and dried cat food out but it's ignored in favour of the mealworm.

Mmmm!  Mealworms!

Best wishes to all

x x

Part two of the catch up.

Hello folks!  

Thank you all for your lovely comments, you ARE a super bunch :o)

As promised I'm back with more catching up.  I have of course been out and about bargain hunting, here's a few of the things I found.  (Photo heavy post)

This delightful little Masons Cathay trinket box caught my eye amidst a shelf-full of boxes.  It stood out as quality and cost £6.  It seems to be a modern piece.

Then I found this linen Autumnal doily, around 5" square.  I loved the sweet acorns and oak leaves.

Can you believe it was only 20p?

A stoneware 'Dripping' lidded jar.

Made by Moira Pottery, who were established in 1922 and sadly closed in 1972.  £1.50.
I've only 'discovered' how much I like Stoneware fairly recently and have found it to be very useful in the kitchen.

The colour of this Royal Norfolk jug is a beautiful cobalt blue, sadly the light was not very good today and it looks almost black.  I think it will hold around 2 pints and its cost?  £1.75.

I spotted the next up last week.

This beautiful crystal handled cake knife and server, obviously made for the happy couple to cut the wedding cake was on offer for £3.  I just cannot imagine why you'd want to get rid of them after the wedding...maybe it didn't work out as happy ever after?

Then I found these two pieces of Arcadian crested ware for £1 each

If this had of been made by Goss it would have bee SO much dearer...

I have a few pieces of crested ware I will share with you another time.

I have finally found and affordable cloche, that I have got a bit carried away with!  So here are some photos of some Autumnal vignettes I've had a play with.  Most of the items I already had stashed away  Oh, the cloche is a bell shape and cost £12.

First a close up of my cloche.  Approx 9" high.

I got the cast iron squirrel on the same day for £6, oh and the single antler at the front £5.

(I just love the oak and acorn plate.)

There's always plenty of spiders about ;o)

Then I had another play around.

We had a dear friend visiting last weekend, who very kindly bought me the gorgeous Spode Chinese Rose platter as a gift :o)

Thank you Reg x  A very beautiful and thoughtful gift.

Conkers (horse chestnuts) oak leaves and another new addition, a cast iron hedgehog :o)

£3.50

A cheese dome with Mom and children hedgehogs (All made by Wade)

The Autumn leaves were kindly donated by my dinky little peach tree.

An Irish Bog Oak cauldron that was always a fascination for me as a child.

And the last arrangement I made.

A bit spooky for Halloween.  Tiny pumpkins, a spooky black cat, and the antler that looks like a magic wand!

And finally, you just knew there's be news on hedgehogs.

As you know I rescued Octavia, who is now happily putting on weight at West Midland Hedgehog rescue.  I thought that she was the last visiting hedgehog, but how wrong I was...

please meet Olivia :o) another juvenile

Found in my garden on the 25th October.  Here, I've just met up with Joan on the vets car park to pass her on to WMHR.

Sooo cute.  She too is well underweight to survive the Winter hibernation.

Then, would you believe on the 27th October I found...

Otto, a very sweet, friendly young man seen here perching on my (gloved) hand at the rescue centre.

(Just in case you're wondering all names beginning with 'O' as it's October.)

It appears that these three sweethearts are all from the same litter, as they are all around the same size.  All three have been quite friendly, opening up from their curled (VERY spiky) balls quickly on my hand.

I've had long discussions with Joan about the little dears and we are both convinced that they open up easily as my gloves smell of other hedgehogs.  Once they're relaxed they seem to enjoy being stroked immensely, once the spines flatten down they feel lovely and smooth and don't hurt your bare hand at all.

 I'm a sucker for their beautiful, moist noses.  Who couldn't fall in love with a face like that?

Thank you all for putting up with such a long post.  Hope you see something you like - please leave a comment and let me know.

Happy Halloween Everyone.

Just a quick post.

Hi all :o)  Just a very quick post as I'm a little up to my neck with loads of jobs to catch up on as I've been really busy in the garden so the housework has slipped....

After speaking to our dear daughter one of the nights she mentioned she needed a pair of bedside tables for her guest room, and as luck had it I stumbled on a pair yesterday!

And here they are :o)
Click on photo's to expand

Solid pine with a white 'wash' finish

23.5" high x 16.5" deep x 20.5" wide

for only £8 each....

I had also found a pair of satin finish table lamp bases 12.5" tall x 5" base on Saturday for £1 each.

How's that then?  £18 total :o)  Just hope she likes them.

(Looks like a trip to Nottingham to deliver them coming up!)

Best wishes to all, have a great week.

I think I've still got my 'eye' in...

Thank you for your lovely comments and best wishes.  Happily my back is feeling MUCH better and I've even made a few charity shop visits ;o)  Here's the proof.....

I found this table runner with lively silver embroidery for £2

Our beautiful daughter loves pewter goblets - these are for her 5.5" tall at 50p each.

I like the detail on the stems.

I think she may also end up with this handy gadget too £1.99 just the think to store and touch up paint scuffs.

The box was slightly battered, but the contents are complete and unused.

Spode Blue Italian 8.75" dish 1.5" deep.  It's a modern one (who cares?) Wow, just £2.

George Jones 'Abbey' pattern sandwich plate 11.5" x 6"

The back stamp dates it to about 1891 - and with it was..

Five matching 6" side plates, and the lot was only £1.95

I'm certain to find another plate to complete the set :o)

Last, but certainly not least my 'special'

This beautiful J. Heath 'Pomona' tureen 4.5"tall x 7"wide

Made at the Newfield Pottery Stoke on Trent between

1845 and 1853.  Not surprisingly there is no lid but, otherwise is excellent condition

and costing a whole £1.  I spotted it just seconds before another lady picked it up, I was willing her to put it down - as she did she commented to her husband "Ugh, that's too old".

Her loss don't you think?

Aaah, loves young dream - he's giving her flowers :o)

Best wishes to everyone!

Phew! Manic week or so - now it's back to blogging ;o)

Firstly, I know I haven't posted but my thoughts are with the families in Japan after the terrible devastation and losses they have suffered.

I've been everso busy, health check-ups always seem to be crowded into the same couple of weeks.  I've also been hunting for stuff for our dear daughter Vicky's house - the big move is coming up at the weekend.  She asked me to get mirrors..
(Before you view, you know I'm no photographer and mirrors are awful to snap!)

This is a lovely bevel edged one, solid wood frame approx 24" x 20" £10

I do not expect it to stay in dark wood finish though!

This birch framed beauty 18" X  20" £4

This silver framed one is roughly the same size as the birch frame - £5

I suspect they may all end up silver coloured.

Vicky also asked me to look for curtains - for tall Victorian windows..

The colour is actually cream, 86" wide x 88" Drop fully lined £6.50

I think they will end up either in her guest room or craft room.  I also go a pair of brand new curtain linings for £3 for some other curtains she already has.

(I can't promise photos from her new home - I've missed the befores and I'm not too certain she'll be struck on me posting finished rooms - but, you never know.)

Now, on to my bargains.

A pair of boxed Prices Willow Pattern candles - certainly vintage pre 15 February 1971

as they have a price written on the back of the box 2/6, they cost me £1

Woods Ware jug, I love the unususal shape £2.75 I'll probably use it for mint sauce :o)

4" Burleigh 'Arden' pattern dish £1

Now, this WAS a perfect little toille trinket box for my dressing table

£1.50 but, the lid had been taped on to save breakage...but they hadn't counted on me removing the tape!

I pulled it off, the lid took flight and landed in two pieces on the floor :o( - Oh well, never mind.  I've glued it and without close inspection it looks fine!

It's blue and white, it's a duck money box, it was £1.

I like it anyway!

These autumn leaves...

2 x orange (first photo is true colour) and 2x yellow drifted down into my hand for 50p the lot.

Then I saw this lovely Debenhams plate

I liked the gold highlighting,  was a snip at 25p

I've put them away for an Autumn vignette.

I hope you've all been enjoying the lovely Spring weather, and maybe like me have also been busy in the garden.

Best wishes to all!