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.

I've been so lucky this week :o)

Hello folks!

Hope everyone is okay and enjoying the lovely weather we have been having.

Firstly, I have to thank you on behalf of Vicky who sends hers sincere thanks for the lovely birthday wishes :o)  Then, secondly I have to welcome two new followers to the fold - thank you for joining me.

Most of you will have heard of Freecycle, but there is also another similar group in the UK known as Freegle.  Last Thursday evening I happened to log-on to my local group just after a lovely lady had posted some free fabrics, as Vicky makes such a lot of things I thought of her and applied for them.  I was lucky enough to be chosen as the recipient and collected the fabrics on Friday morning from a village about 8 miles from here. 

Here is the first one..

Such a sweet pattern with butterflies, dragonflies, birds and fans.  100% cotton about 5 yards of it.

Then there was this one which will definitely find a use here :o)

Beautiful heavy Laura Ashley linen, again about 5 yards - I LOVE it!

Then of course I have been paying visits to my local charity shops, where I have found some more bits 'n bobs.

With Easter not far away I thought these three items may come in useful....

A large, cute 'bunny' tray, with a painted wooden framework in lovely condition just sitting there waiting for me to walk in ;o) and a bit of a bargain for £1.50

This chocolate brown bunny sits about 8" high, and cost just £3, on the same shelf there was also nestled -

Two baby bunnies, such a sweet pair :o) also costing £3.

The next time I 'popped in' to see what was on offer, the manager (who by now knows my taste), called me into the back room saying she had 'something to show me'  I was knocked out to see this GORGEOUS large vegetable tureen and cover

There are no back-stamps at all, but is is very old and in superb condition.  The pattern is similar to Asiatic Pheasant.  The inside of the base is so lovely...

no chips or crazing at all.  The cost?  £6.50 :o)))

The same day I 'discovered' a lovely old pair of 4"crystal knife rests

I'm pretty sure they are Edwardian.  £3.50 the pair.

Then, on another visit I found this -

Kirstie Allsopp cake server complete with it's pretty presentation box

It's delightful china handle :o)  It's great price £3.50!  (I think they're about £12 new)

Now, back to 'old stuff' ;o)

I love this stoneware glazed preserve jar, standing about 8"and only 75p

Lastly, there were some small stoneware bottles, this one was the smallest at only 3" tall

50p.

Hope you like some of my latest hoard, please leave a comment and let me know.

Sending my very best wishes to all you lovely folk.