Saturday 20 December 2008

HOW ABOUT SOME JUDY FOR CHRISTMAS?

It was Auction Day Again!

What are We like!! There were just so many wonderful Vintage things, all with their own stories to tell - I wanted to bring lots home, but I was restrained, besides, the huge 7 foot four poster bed with swags of vintage fabric wouldn't fit in my tiny bedroom - I did take the tape measure to it to check! ( I carry a tape in my bag - you never know what you may come accross!)


Anyway we were having a good day - we had looked at everything and noted in the catalogue, Lots we were interested in. I had had the little discussion with Hubby P about us 'Just Not having the room at home for any more furniture'! Yes Yes! I said.


He had bid and won some boxes with books and things in, one of the boxes had these old records in - shame I thought, someones collection the will never again be played - a collection which has been compiled over the years and treasured. There were handwritten (in beautiful copperplate) notes on the record sleeves.



One of the records was -

Judy Garland - a live recording Oct 16 1951 at the Palace, Broadway! How wonderful. This is truley a piece of social history captured on this little black disc.


Shortly after the boxes were sold HubbyP went outside for a constitutional - Well what was I to do - this next Lot was next - a wonderful 1950s Radiogram! I had loved it when I viewed it, but dismissed the idea (We had had the 'disscussion' about No furniture!) - But it would have been a sin - No one wanted it - I got it for a fiver! Yes! Just £5


Hubby p's face was a picture, but he was secretly delighted - I could tell! - And the deed was done!








This is what it looks like, rather smart piece of furniture - I just need to sort out some nice 50,s photo frames to stand on it. In this photo its just sort of been plonked down.









When the doors are open you can see the radio and record player , and you know what the record player worked straight away! And we had records to play!


What fun we had listening to all the old records - Judy Garland, Gracie Fields, Gene Kelly, Dean Martin, and host of others!

It transported me to another time, another era, it was like all those old black and white films playing in my mind - I could 'see' the fashions the hair, the clothes - hats lipstick! What a nice evening we had. So of course we are on the look out for interesting old vinyl now!





Hubby P treated himself to this - something for him to tinker with, far easier on the eye than some of this modern plastic and metal stero stuff.





I found these chair back covers in one of the boxes - on top of the records I think.






This larger one has some damage that someone has darned in the past - what happened there do you think? Did the Lady of the house spend time and effort embroidering these pretty things, and then the cat clawed at them, did her little terrier drag them on the floor and have a chew? We will never know - but they have a safe home now. That industrious little Lady will live on in her handiwork!
Ta ta for now xx







Tuesday 16 December 2008

CHRISTMAS HAS COME - SORT OF! TO THE ALLSORTS!

I thought I had better get myself organised, and get a bit Festive - make some sort of effort! You all put me to shame with your lovely Christmas trees and whatnot.
Now I have a 'thing' about Christmas trees - I do like to have a real tree, if I am to have one ( I think its a childhood hang up - must be a real one, although because we lived in a caravan - a very small one!) However I can't bring myself to buy one that's been cut down - a dead/dying one! So I used to get one rooted - alive in a pot, when the children were small.
The last few years I have resorted to what Hubby P refers to as - ' dragging in an ol' bush and throwin' a few baubles on it'!
I like to think its a bit more artistic, holistic and eco friendly than that.
I like to think I am bringing in my 'friends' - shrubs and small trees I have grown and nurtured, to share our festivities!
No tree was harmed during the making of our Christmas!


So this year we have Mr Bay tree - stands in a pot quite happily by our front door, grown from a cutting given to me from my Mum a few years ago!



With the minimum of fuss (I don't like tinsel either - it somewhat offends my eye! - I know 'Funny Woman'!) Mr Bay is dressed with small hand painted Vintage baubles and a few other bits.
Can you see Twiggys little Christmas bauble peeping out!



Twiggy is such a love, she sent me a lovely little Christmas package - no batteries for the camera on the day of course. Needless to say it was full of pretty things, the handcrafted bauble above, the lovely blue china set, one of her crafted cards and other goodies.




I have my blue set just handy - I use it to hold my vintage lipsticks and hat pins, and other jewelry and bits and bobs that I use daily. Its near where I stand in front of the mirror and put on my make up - Yes! I am one of those who wears it every day - feel naked without it! Is it a Generation thing - do you think? Do many younger women wear make up every day - even in the house ? Or maybe its just me!


Talking about me - I've been on Ebay again - that bit where you click on Vintage Accessories!
(I have banned myself for the next few weeks - won't even 'just look' - I have spent Soooo much!)
Anyway there was this delicious Vintage purple felt hat, a bit of a beret type - needless to say I had to have it - its on its way from France - how posh is that!
So - on Sunday (at the Car Boot sale) I saw these - the very thing! to go with my hat!


Now I know the stall holder - he's a regular at the Car Boots, and I think its perfectly acceptable in the pursuit of Vintage bargains to be - well - a bit familiar and friendly, and even perhaps a bit of mild flirtation is necessary. You know what a lot of men are like, their egos are easily massaged with a flutter of the eyelashes and a nice smile!
(Goodness what with this and the daily make up - feminists will give me up as a lost cause!)
Still it bagged me this little lot!


Just as I was saying to the stall holder (ever so sweetly - like you do!) I think I would like the purple gloves - hoping he would say £1-2 , He swept the whole lot - gloves, pretty silk scarves, hand stitched handkerchief's, and my purple gloves, into a bag and said ' seeing as its you, and I know you will use them, have them all for £1'! Such a nice man!
Hubby P was with me and he said ' can't believe he just said that'!
Well - I just thanked him ever-so sweetly, like you do!
Ta ta for now! xxxxx going to wash and sort my bag of gloves and whatnot!








Tuesday 9 December 2008

Three bags full - and no sign of a lamb chop!

Yes! in 'ranty' mode again!
I just had to show you this - not even three full bags of shopping and £40!
Is it me? or are prices still creeping up and up! - I can remember not that long ago, when I could just about fill a trolley at Lidls for £40.
This was just a very basic shop - no meat, wine or fancy bits, I really feel for those of you with a big family to feed. Its not like we can just avoid buying - we have to eat.
Enough, enough, enough of the rant!
The Credit Crunch is with us Big Time! Any hints on a cheaper Christmas - what you all doing for Christmas dinner? Porks a bit dodgy now with this Irish pork having Dioxins or whatever in it. There is always something, isn't there! Perhaps we should all go back to rearing our own pig at the bottom of the garden, at least we would know how it was treated, and what went into it!
Just a bit of a grovelling apology now, to all of you who have tagged me and been kind enough to give me Awards and things. I know I am hopeless at responding to these things. I have totally lost track - I think I will just draw a line under them and start again! Try and promise to be a better Blogger!




How about this? Anyone remember Dallas and all those wonderful shoulder pads the women wore!
Well I found this and presented it to Hubby P ( well any Man who was anyone in the 80's was wearing it!) he just gave me a scathing look - and said 'You are joking!!**?'
Guess I will just have to find an appreciative bloke on Ebay - a J R fan.



Up date on the Hat stands I have made - they have their pretty covers on them now. I must say they do the job just fine!



My collection is growing - and I do wear them all. I am trying not to get into the habit of collecting just for the sake of it, I want them to be wearable - if only in the garden.




This is the latest - very flowery, ideal for the Church bazaar or similar stuffy occasion! Should turn heads - its only the brave people who make a comment!





Anyway - I am supposed to be writing my Christmas cards, and wrapping Hubby Ps Birthday present - he is Very Old tomorrow !!!!!!

Ta Ta for now xxxx





Monday 1 December 2008

HOPE YOU'RE ALL WRAPPED UP WARM!

The Winter Sun is shining brightly through the trees!





And it looks lovely and sunny through the windows!





But its just so cold! We haven't seen any snow here -yet. Plenty on the tops of the mountains - we live near the Snowdonia Mountain range (North Wales for those of you in far off places!). It looks beautiful, as if some one has been out there with a large icing sugar dredger, and sprinkled them liberally with soft sparkly sugar!


The good news is - Hubby P is back in full time work, it seems work is dribbling back in, so fingers crossed it keeps up!

It was a good 'real life' lesson, or test - we often talk about what if !!!xy and z happens, well it did for a while, and we coped well enough. Of course lots of people are in difficulties, and it must be very worrying for those with little children, no job, and Christmas coming - we are lucky, we chose a long time ago to live a simple life - and stepping 'back' a little more, making more sever savings wasn't so hard.

All we can do is do what we can for each other, look to the elderly and vulnerable.


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On the Crafty/sort of front!

My thing with the hats is becoming a bit of an addiction - I won another last night on Ebay! I can't help it I just think - well one/opening bid wont harm! then of course I get sucked in! _ is this how Gamblers feel?*!

Any way its no good just having the hats and putting them in a drawer - I have to display them. I have been looking at Vintage hat stands - but they are so few, and expensive (says she who happily buys hats by the score - and how many heads have I to wear them).

So - I decided to have a go at making my own.









I found these two odd wooden candle sticks, and bought these pottery pomanders - they were the right size and shape (50p each).





I attached the pomanders to the tops of the candle sticks and papier mache'd over them to give more stability.




I let them dry and then covered them in a slightly padded coat of white felt. This is as far as I have got - this evening I will find some pretty fabric to cover the felt and perhaps add a ribbon or something. Then the idea is they will hold my hats and I can stick my hat pins in them.

I have also been looking at Vintage hat pin holders - you wouldn't believe the price they go for on Ebay!! - its a scandal! And the only one I could find at the Car Boot sale was £15! - it wasn't even a nice one - can you tell I am becoming a little obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I suppose with other people its shoes!

I will show you the finished hat stands when I have prettied them up!


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A couple of finds!


The two cushions for a £1 - how could a girl refuse!

The photos not too good, but they have been made from gingham, and kind of folded ans sewn to give this cubed effect. They were very dirty and faded, I think they had been used outside (there was bird poo on one - is that lucky?) I washed them by hand but they haven't come up too well - I might try again in the washer. Still I like their shabby, lived in look.





This great rubbishy box was a good find at the Car boot sale, £2.50 and it was full to the top with Vintage sewing stuff. No one was looking at it because the box was so tatty, but a little tentative rummage brought up all sorts of goodies!






All sorts pins, silk embroidery threads,embroidery patterns, sewing books, tapes, ribbons, darning wool, buttons and lots more.





There must be at least two dozen reels of thread, on the nice old wooden reels (my old sewing machine prefers the wooden reels.





So I am busy sorting through it all, I will keep a good deal of it - can't have too much sewing thread! After all there will come the day when you will not be able to find thread on wooden reels. I know they don't manufacture wooden reels any more, but you can find them at car boots and what not - but for how long! Do we care? - well Yes! Some of us do, I hate this 'all plastic' world, its so cold and clinical - and not very Green to boot!

(enough of the rant!)


Goin to rummage in my box some more!


Have a look on my Ebay for items from the box needing a new home!









Wednesday 19 November 2008

WE HAD A TICKLE ON THE LOTTERY!!!!

Yes! Fortune smiled on us this week! How lucky are we!
Not a fortune (although that would have been nice) but almost enough to cover the cost of the van we had to buy last week. I just couldn't believe our luck - we never win anything!
Just wish it was enough to share with everyone.


But still back to thee jobs in hand - this week I started having a good old clear out of my Mothers Attic/loft thingy. We lost Mum in 2004, and its only now I feel I can sort things out.
Years ago when we were moving and whatnot, lots of boxes and oddments were pushed up in the loft out of sight - and I am sure they have been breeding!
I've found all sorts!
Just look at this cuteness! - its a photo of my Boys, I think we were on our way to a Playgroup fancy dress party. This has got to be out on display now, much to the growls from the 'Much Bigger Boys' now!



And I found this!
I vaguely remember Mum saying someone had given her a spinning wheel, she used it for some WI display or something when she lived in Yorkshire.
Anyone know anything about spinning wheels? I think its the real thing - it seems to work properly. I think its made of oak or beech - a heavy wood anyway!!
I thought I might re-home it through Ebay - I shall never use it, and I have nowhere to properly display it - imagine how much dust it will attract!!

Attics are amazing places - they hold the whole History of families in them, simply because we are too lazy to sort though and throw away things, or put things away for later - then promptly forget all about them!
On the crafting front - not a great deal really.
I found these two little denim skirts at a car boot sale, the smaller one is tiny and so cute!
Not great photos - sorry!


As you can see I have started decorating them (well I have the bigger one) with felt flowers, lace, beads and embroidery. I shall make them into bags - put a carry strap on and line them, and perhaps a zip to fasten. The larger one will be ideal - I need a bigger one to cart around all the necessary - notebook, tape measure, glasses, spare bags and the usual when I go to the Car Boot Sales!



I like a nice bright funky bag!

I had an urge! - not always a good thing I know, but this was a harmless urge - and it didn't cost me anything. One Christmas my lovely sister bought me a whole set of inks! what a delight! Every now and then they come out of the cupboard, and I have a play! Not that I am any good at pen and ink drawing, but I love to mess, and to be honest I can do a mean picture (for Birthday Cards and whatnot) by tracing the outline of something pretty.

The thing is its addictive and I want to sit and draw and do little else!





And its Credit Crunch things like this, that I should be getting on with!




I always make a big batch of this Marmalade - its so easy and I have found, if I pour a good dollop of whisky in the pan just as its about done, it makes it all the more yummy!
When Mum died she left behind Robert, her husband of just 2 years, they had met and married late in life, and didn't have very long together. We still see much of Robert and look after each other. We share the Marmalade it keeps him supplied over the winter, he saves me the jars and I 'fill um up'!
Lets hope we can afford butter as well as marmalade this winter, I went shopping last night, and it seemed prices had gone up again!
And on that miserable note I will bid you Bye for now!
Thank you to all those who have given me Awards and Tagged me. I will get around to doing something about them soon - promise. It so nice you are thinking of me!


XXXX



Monday 10 November 2008

ODD PHOTOS AND RANDOM MUSINGS!!!

Home is where the heart is! How true!
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Today just a few odd photos - oddments I have found stashed away, you may have seen them before - I can't remember!
We've had a hectic, expensive, but fun week - and Hubby P has had a days work today! Wow - dare we hope things are picking up on the work front?



I just love candlelight and warm colourful shades on my lights, especially during these long cold evenings!



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The Fun bit - we went to the Household Auction, where we bought a (literally) car full of boxes of goodies - more about that at a later post, when I can get to use the camera!

The expensive bit - Our car engine blew up - head gasket went in spectacular style - it died! We just about hobbled into the Auction! - 'well! what now!' I said to Hubby P - and he said -' we might as well go to the Auction and sort the car later!' So we did - then rang the garage for advice, managed to get going again (with a fully loaded car full of Auction goodies) and limped to the garage.
The thought of hunting for another car made me eel sick - I just hate all that trailing around huming and ahring at all sorts of shapes ans sizes, and degrees of rust!
At the garage they - Hubby P and 'Brian the Garage' were uming and ahring at our dead car, and discussing buying another - I said, 'Well! what we really could do with is a Van, if we are going to do more carboot sales'
'Come with Me' says Brian - and what did he have in the garage but a really good Astra car/van thingy, at a really good price! We know our garage man really well, so were happy to look no further! - How relieved was I!

So now Hubby P is 'White Van Man' !!!!




Just some trinkets!
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Can you see Alice's feet!! Ha ha!
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So A bit of a hectic week - we also had to sort through all the boxes we bought at the Auction - absolutely fascinating - a little sad but so interesting! A lot of the boxes came from an old ladies house and we discovered she must have had a passion for Ballet dance, there were lots of notebooks with dance exercises and examination pieces written in them. Ballet magazines, lovely pictures and ornaments. All sorts! a real insight into a well travelled, cultured Lady.
Hopefully some more up -to date, topical photo's next post!
Ta ta for now xxxx









Wednesday 5 November 2008

A NEW LIFE!! ~ AND ITS ALL GO!!!!!!

Hi everyone!
Just a little catch up! Life has been so busy - the inevitable has happened and Hubby has had to go through the long and frustrating process of applying for Job Seekers Allowance/Benefit or whatever its called! A steep learning curve for us - what a faff! Its not something we have had to do before - I suppose we've been very fortunate. Anyway hopefully we are sorted out, so life goes on. A bit strange having him around all day - all week! Mind you we have been so busy rearranging our life - time to do all those little jobs we had put on the back burner, finding sources of free firewood, and other money saving/making little projects.
Thermal undies (even sexy little long johns that Hubby P says make him look like Max Wall!) have been donned, and carboot sales sought in the pursuit of a few extra pennies.
We are seeing another side of life for sure, but I must say it is nice to have all this time together - to mooch about carboots and have our little adventures!
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Our own little Woodsman (son Will) came today to sort out some logs for us - keep the old folks warm! It was nice to see him and catch up - why is it University life seems to be just one big party! Its Reading week this week - no lectures, so he has managed to get some work, he is a qualified Tree surgeon so we may be lucky and get some more wood! We are trying our best to fill the enormous wood shed that Hubby P built earlier this year.

Pretty Three Cornered Leeks!


Just look at these little old boots! they are some of my old walking/gardening boots that I nestled in a comfy spot in the garden, and planted up! They have grown a nice covering of moss - it looks and feels like fur - a real pixie, fairy little corner of the garden!
They are sprouting a nice clump of Three Cornered Leeks.



I transplanted one of my 'baby' larger Oak trees into some of the galvanised ware that I bought a couple of weeks ago. It seems quite happy in there!





I just love the Autumn colours!
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Having a good sort out!



With all that's been going on, and thinking of a life that maybe a little different - hopefully only for a short while, but none the less, it makes a person re-assess all around them.
I have taken the plunge and started to have a major sort out and down size my sewing stash! It really is a sin, I have found stuff I didn't know I had!
Fabric, buttons, trims, and stacks of books.
So keep a look out on Ebay - possibly half my house!!!!
I mean - really!!

How many buckles does a girl need! They should be out there! - adorning lovely Handcrafted bags and whatnot!
Any way - that's about all for now! Early to bed tonight its the Household Auction tomorrow - very exciting!! Getting bidding fever already!
Oh! - and a Chicken for Gary!!!

Ta ra for now xxxxx









Monday 27 October 2008

GOD MUST BE A WOMAN *!!!!

God must be a Woman! who else would think of putting such wonderfully pink! pink! pink! beans inside the pods of my somewhat boring runner beans.
I let the beans 'grow on' a bit for the beans to develop, so we would have some nice fat juicy beans for our thick, warming soups in the winter.
What riches we found on harvesting them! Such beautiful jewel colours!
We got quite a few,and bagged them up for the freezer - just in the odd handfuls, ready to throw in the soups.



Frugality is the order of the day here! Nothing new news really, but we had bad news on Friday - Hubby P has been 'Laid Off' work until further notice, like many across the country I suppose.
He's quite upbeat about it and full of plans to supplement our income. Quite fancies getting into House Removals, and Clearance, doing a bit selling here and there. He had his first 'deal' this weekend - emptying a 'Pigsty' of all things! Not that it had housed pigs for a long time - a neighbour had used it as a store for all sorts of interesting things!
Unfortunately the sty was only 5ft tall so Hubby P having had to stoop to empty it now had a stiff sore back - good start! \Hubby hobblin about!
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Just a few little bits and bobs you might like, little Car Booty finds!!



Nice little (well not so little really!) Vintage St Michael's vinyl bag, really sturdy for all those organic veggies down at the Farmers Market!



This is really pretty, its one of those perpetual calenders. So pretty and pink!



And this just charmed me! Took me right back to my Childhood!
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And then Yesterday ~ BOOM!! ~
The cooker blew up! Thus One dead cooker!
Just when we are on a tight budget - but isn't that always the case!
I shall put a Post on Freecycle, ask if anyone has an old thing that will 'put us on', as they say.


Thank goodness for the slow cooker!
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And I have been busy !! - making Little Welsh Angels!



Just little things made of felt and ace, something I can do snuggled up by the fire watching the TV.


This is Hope

This is Joy

This is Ivy

This is Holly

And Hope.
I thought I might just pop these on Ebay - nothing seems to be moving on Etsy.If I put them on at £2.99 postage 50p maybe I will sell one or two, just helps replenish the coffers for more goodies! Of course if any of you fancy a Little Welsh Angel, just email me, and I can soon pop one in the post.
My Ebay can be reached by http://shop.ebay.co.uk.merchant/anglesey_allsorts I am going to try and link it at the top of the side bar then you can have a regular nosey at the nice vintage goodies I find! Sometimes its nice just to browse, and get ideas!
Anyway off to grovel on Freecycle for a cooker.
Have a nice week ~ its gonna be cold ~ wrap up warm!
xx Vicky xx