Lovely bits...

I found the item above at a charity shop at the beginning of the year and bought it because I loved the fabric and the price wasn't bad either. I was thrilled to bits when I saw the midwives wearing them on "Call the Midwife". I've particularly enjoyed looking and seeing all the things that made me say - I've got one of those! Mirrors, tins, radio etc, etc.

Some of you will remember that I took on a vintage cabinet before Christmas on a trial basis. Well I'm happy to report that things have been going so well I have taken on a unit and things are now going even better. Almost too well - I can't keep up with the sourcing of new items to sell! Perhaps I'm too cheap! I have to spend my weekends runining around antiques fairs, auctions and car boots! My idea of heaven! Always on the look out for for barkcloth and lovely old linens ...

Recently found this fella at a car boot - can't decide whether he is cute or nasty! He spends his days just hanging around amongst the pinnies. Do you like the green one with the black smocking? I love it - beauty in a pinny. I just can't decide what would possess anyone to smock a pinny. Life's just too short!

Oh and I thought I would share my birthday present from Niobe - (a bit late I know). A gorgeous Marshall and Snelgrove hat box. Why don't our boxes and tins look as lovely as this today? This week I have thrown away a dozen chocolate tins at the office. I would have liked to have thought twice about these as the possible collectables of the future but they weren't attractive. Quality Street and Roses used to be in such pretty tins (that will be another post!) but I couldn't bring myself to hang onto those we get today for another 50 years!

I'm sure some of our young designers would relish the opportunity to design for the big companies to bring some life and interest into today's packaging but I suppose they (the companies) are too wedded to their branding!

Have a great weekend!

Love Wend

Ticking 'n tweed

On Sunday I took off for a much anticipated workshop at Hope and Elvis. This one was called Tweed Bags. I've blogged about Louise's workshops before and always have a great time. I always take along my basket loaded with vintage bits and pieces that I've collected to incorporate somehow.
We were able to choose from a selection of styles.



Not restricted to tweed you could use any of a whole shelf full of fabrics to make any of these beauties...



As usual I had the problem of having to make too many decisions - which fabric, which lining, long or short handles, to embellish or not etc, etc...



Louise provides the fabrics, trimmings, equipment etc but it's always lovely to use some of your own bits.



Was I going to be able to turn these fabrics into anything resembling any of these lovely bags?



I chose a charcoal grey suit jacket which I thought would coordinate nicely with a piece of my ticking stripes and perhaps a piece of barkcloth. I'd also taken with me an old Tootal scarf to use. Normally that would be sacrilege but I'd managed to set the tassels on fire when cooking a while back so couldn't wear it anymore. Several hours later - this...



This picture shows the front bottom of a jacket with pocket as one side of the bag



with the reverse being a breast pocket. As it was a breast pocket I used a piece of vintage fabric to masquerade as a pocket handerchief. The lining was the remains of the Tootal scarf with the label being used to embellish the other side. Ticking was incorporated where I didn't have sufficient fabric/or for contrast with barkcloth being added to the handles.

The day was particularly lovely as I met Diane from heartshaped



Diane was so sweet and thoughtful - she had bought her blogging buddies gifts and mine included a bottle of sea glass which she knows I've never maaged to find on the east coast. I was really touched that somebody had bothered to do this for me!

I also met Lyn from everyday life, Nik - Diane's 'lurker' friend, and Debs from Two bones and a bagle. Debs helps Louise at the workshops - what a great job - surrounded by all that loveliness!



I can never resist taking pictures of the studio where Louise sells some of her lovely finds





and will confess to picking up a couple of pieces of Pink Utility - oh and a piece of yellow. Well - just look at the picture in my side bar - I obviously needed more didn't I?

Now looking forward to the Vintage and Handmade fair in Northampton on Saturday - hope to see some of you there!

Love Wend

Meet Colin - keeper of the cottons!

One or two of you have asked to see what i bought at the Vintage and Handmade last week. - so here we go... Firstly I have no idea what Viv (Hensteeth) calls these little guys but this one really appealed to me so he had to come home.



He's sitting on a vintage hat box also from Viv with some gorgeous millinery flowers and two ticking striped pillowcases



A little bundle of fabrics and a pincushion from Niki (Nostalgia at the Stonehouse)



and this is one of several lovely cards from The Sea House. I also bought some lovely buttons and yet more cards from the lovely Sue at Vintage to Victorian. There are some things which just have to be bought aren't there!

Below - Colin - Keeper of the Cottons in his new home - I think he looks quite cosy there!



Hope you're getting some sunshine where you are!

Love Wend

A bit of yesteryear...

Guess what I had to buy when I saw it...



It was covered with "Ticking stripes" - (so the dealer was half way there given my penchant for almost anything made from ticking!)



A wooden end bit...



A flat iron



Yes you've got it! A brand new old ironing board. I had one of these when I left my parents home 30 years ago but over the years had been persuaded to dispense with it with a view to accepting that I was part of the twentieth century. But I've pined and pined for my old board and finally I decided that next time I saw one I liked I'd have it. I had hoped to get one and cover it myself but when I saw this I caved in. It's worried me slightly as I have just realised that I have recently bought an old wooden clothes airer, and that I have several of the old wooden advertising coat hangers and a peg beg made from mangle cloth. When I visited my special friend M yesterday and told her what I had done she presented me with these! I remember my mum having these too for removing hot washing from the tub.



I also have a wooden airer to hang from the ceiling waiting. I'm ok as long as I don't fall for an old mangle or a dolly tub! I'm not so old fashioned I want to give up my washing machine! (Although a house with a utility room would be good)



Enjoy your ironing - in the late summer sunshine?

Love Wend