Ticking Stripes

This lovely little stone was included in the giveaway which I won from Diane at "Heart-shaped". It was inside a box full of delightful treasures. Look with me...



First a lovely tote bag made by Diane, beautifully embroidered and a lovely useful size and so well finished off inside too! Very impressive!



Then so many bits and pieces I forgot to photograph them all separately I was so busy enjoying the opening of everything. (I'm a December birthday - most of the year is devoid of things to unwrap!)



But look here at all these gifts - a knitted dishcloth, brooches, a jar of Hendersons sauce - still to be tried! Chocolate, ribbon, lovely nostalgic retro cards, beautiful lavender sachets, a Coca Cola glass, and lots and lots of buttons.



Enough buttons to wrap the heart shaped stone in a heart of buttony goodness!



Am I going to have fun deciding where to display all these lovely things. Thank you so much for your generosity Diane. I'm delighted to have been the winner.

I'm always amazed at the generosity of fellow bloggers not only with their giveaways but with the spirit. Reading the comments on others blogs I have been humbled by the caring nature of fellow bloggers particularly when somebody is having a hard time.



Today I've been particularly naughty and have been to both a car boot and then an antiques fair. As usual I managed to find some great bits at the boot - had to wear long sleeves for the first time in weeks as there was a slightly cooler start to the day but apart from that it stayed dry and there were plenty of sellers.



I found a great kitsch set of 6 50s(?) fruit dishes, some fabric with yachts and lighthouses on - probably Ikea(reminiscent of a certain CK fabric), a hand embroidered picture and a pincushion made in the style of the Victorian ones which were decorated with pins and beads.



A box of vintage costume dolls. Funny that I'm buying these - I always wanted one as a child but I didn't know anybody who went abroad in the 60s when I was growing up. Not sure what I'm going to do with them...



I loved these old bottles with glass stoppers - at 50 pence each they were a bargain.
I'm going to have to be realy careful though as one of them is embellished with the scary words "BREAKING OR USING THIS BOTTLE IS ILLEGAL"! Why I wonder? Has the law changed since the bottle was produced? Could somebody really be prosecuted for such a thing? How times have changed... Anyway I intend using it for display - don't tell the bottle police!
Also a cakestand - these are so lovely I keep buying them when I see them. Some may have to come to the Vintage and Homemade Fair on 7th November - see sidebar.

Moving on to the antiques fair, I didn't buy a lot but did pick up a selection of tins for which I'm a bit of a sucker.



This tin was not at all promising but I was amazed when I opened the lid to see this fabulous picture on the inside of the lid



I thought it would be great for dispaying items at the fair.



Then an old Christmas biscuits tin - well worn but still having a (slightly rusty) charm - I have several of these which I use to keep my Christmas decorations in. Its a shame that todays Christmas biscuit tins aren't so nicely illustrated. I cant imagine somebody paying for a plastic Roses tin in 70 years time!



A "Ring travellers" tin. If anyone can thow any light on this at all I'd be greatful. What is a ring traveller?



And last but not least a crinoline lady toffee tin - the sort you hope will be full of buttons. Unfortunately not this time!

Hope you're enjoying your Bank Holiday weekend.

Love Wend