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!

Last weeks bargains, oh and an unexpected prize!

Sorry, a day late posting :o(

Anyway, back to the post in hand.  I do have a few bargains to show you, but I'm certainly 'slowing down' with the buys - wonder if it's something subconscious as I've been trying to sort out 'stuff' at home?  I've also been homing in curtains and fabric for our lovely daughter who has just taken over the lease on a three story Victorian house.  Much decorating and sorting to do, but we were there all day Saturday filling holes and cracks and generally preparing for decorating.  Sorry, I had got her two pairs of curtains and miles of voile and heavy fabric for more window coverings but I forgot to take pictures before I took them over there.
I HAVE been keeping to taking stuff into the charity shop on most visits, and have also been leaving empty handed!  Quite a change for me ;o)

I'll start with an item I forgot to show you from a couple of weeks ago when we went to Dagfields

This stainless Royal Daulton ladle costing just £5 - to use

  with my Spode blue Italian soup tureen, I've searched all over and can't get one.

It'll do until I can find one :o)

Now a quick question for you good photographers out there...I've got a point and shoot Kodak Easy share camera, when I set it to close-up the photos are sometimes out of focus...why?

Here's a point in case!

2" Peter Fagin 'Happy Birthday' bear 40p

and sitting next to him....

4" Peter Fagin reading bear 60p (photo taken on the same setting)

I have quite a few small bears - I'll have to show you some of them one day.

A dozen hanging Easter eggs (hens egg size) £1

Now, when I spotted these beauties my heart skipped a beat!

A lovely (two cup size) tea set.  £5.50

I fell for the beautiful birds...

The petite size and lovely shape, and the bonus I didn't realise..

Made by WADE.

It has been used,which I think adds to it's charm :o)

But, it's in perfect condition

I think the little lids have such unusual knobs too!

Did I mention I love it!

Now on to my unexpected prize.  I only subscribe to one magazine - Period Home, and as a member I enter prize draws on the internet.  I received this email on Saturday....

"You recently entered a Period Living website competition to win a pair of chintzy floral porcelain dog bookends from Alexander & Pearl.  Congratulations! Your name has been selected as the lucky winner."

:o)

Today a parcel arrived.....

  

Sorry, the sun was streaming through the window at this point

£100 worth of 7" high Chintzy Pug Dog Bookends!

The tassels and stringing are made of ormalu

and from the back..

Ah, clearer now the sun has gone behind a cloud.  That's better!

Hubby's just come home and said they're 'puggin' ugly :o(  he has no taste, honestly,  how dare he rain on my parade!

I think I'll find a spot for them in our guest room as I always try to put appropriate reading matter in there when we have guests - they'll look SO much better between these bookends :o)

Hope you have a great week, look forward to reading your comments as always - I do read everyone.

Best wishes

Taking a walk

I have been with out my car this week, so I've been using Shank's pony to get about! 
This morning I had an appointment at the doctors  for my regular blood test and walked the 'scenic route' there, which involved taking a short cut through our local  (ancient) grave yard.  As I'd already walked through there earlier in the week I remembered to take my camera with me.....

Aren't the snowdrops and crocuses amazing?

Then I spotted the bluebells in another area getting ready for their show too...

The modern extension to the grave yard was opened a couple of years ago

The powers that be (local council, not 'im upstairs) have added a pond and seating near the entrance over looking the fields and farmland

another view of the pond and seating.  The doctors surgery medical centre is the building in the background. 

I'm really not being morbid, but my family have their instructions - this is where my place of rest will be, but I'm more than happy to enjoy the peace and views for a good many years yet!

We're off to Nottingham tommorrow to help our daughter with some decorating, so I'll post again with a few bargains on Sunday.

Have a great weekend!

Oh!  Nearly forgot, I'm astounded to see another two followers bringing the total up to 51.

Thank you so much for joining me here, and welcome.  I really appreciate your support :o)

How to brighten a dreary day.

It's a dull dreary day here.  I'm not normally at home during the day on Tuesday but since the weekend I've felt a little under the weather - though I certainly feel much better than I did :o)  So, here I was thinking I'd really like to brighten things up a bit around here.  I remembered something I've had tucked away in a cupboard for about five years. (Car boot find, can't remember exactly how much but certainly under £5)

A bright and breezy daffodil tea set!

Then I dug out a favourite table cloth beautifully embroidered with spring flowers..

(charity shop a few years ago which was under £4)

Then I got two pots of Tete a tete from the garden and squeezed placed them

in my 60p basket from a few weeks ago..

Added the tea/coffee pot I got the other week,

(£1.50 charity shop)

'found' some long forgotten lovely (hand emroidered with sweet spring flowers)

 linen napkins

Ta-dah!  A smiling Spring table :o)

Then, still being a little bored (!) I thought I'll re-dress the dresser

I haven't seen so little on it for at least a couple of years - other than on cleaning day ;o)

My tea set plus another favourite sandwich plate that I've had for

more years than I care to remember, purchased for about 50p

from a car boot sale.

(What makes you think I LOVE daffodils?)

I've had this 1940's Burlington vase for just as many years, I'm pretty sure it was

from a Car boot sale too...certainly not more than £1

There's always a drawback to moving stuff round though....

What on earth am I going to do with this lot now?

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week everyone

Best wishes to all

Another day at Dagfields :o)

I've had a really great day out with two dear friends at Dagfields Antique and Craft Emporium.

They picked me up from home at about 9.30 am and we set off on a cold and miserable damp day for Cheshire a journey of about 35 miles.  We arrived ready for a days mooching and buying!


Then the fun began...there's the shabby chic look

the lovely, but to my eyes overcrowded look

(where does the bed begin and the cushions start?)

The classy furniture...

Loved this unit :o)

Vintage accessories - dig those golden shoes!

The clear, clean layouts.

Another vintage frock and some Victorian pussy cats.

A truly AWFUL porcelain statue..(shudder)

A lovely Victorian ewer and bowl in blue and white, of course!

Swarowski crystal do-dahs.

Jewellery, I can't believe I actually took this photo and didn't 'see' the blue glass heart!

Chucks 'n chicks!

We stopped for a sit down and some lunch...and then started again :o)

Looking at more -

Trinkets and teasmades.

Lovely lamps and magical mirrors.

Super sized hurricanes on crazed glass tables.

And the mirror I fell in love with!  (sadly, no where to hang it)

What did I buy? 

A 'spare' small meat plate just in case I break the one from my 'special' set

which are the identical make, colour and pattern....see on my dresser!

It is only the second piece I've EVER found and a bargain £3.

then from the leather shop

Sheepskin gloves - reduced to £5,

and something I really did need :o)

And a pair of these sheepskin boots...reduced from £88 to £60

We called in at Slaters Craft Village for a quick look round but no purchases as they were just closing for the day - and I left my camera in the car :-(

Then home again, skint and exhausted!

All in all a great day, lots of laughs in fabulous company.

Hope you've enjoyed a visit to Dagfields with me,  see you all soon,  Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Best wishes to all