Vintage Pleasure

Displaying

I have lots of collections.As you all probably know.I collect things for many reasons but most of the time it's because I find them pretty to look at or they make me smile. So it seems silly for them to be stored away. I am trying to find ways to display my collections in a way that we can all live with.

My vintage aprons so far have been folded in a wicker basket and I only had a few on display in the kitchen which I rotate every now and then. Not anymore.

I edited my collection.Now I have my 12 favourites displayed on the cellar stairwell.The others I will sell.Honest.There are still a few in use in the kitchen too. I still need to paint the hooks.. and the walls.. and the pipes.. and maybe put up some wallpaper.But I am very happy with this little display solution.

 

Now I get to see fabrics like this...

...and this...

...and this...

...and just incase you missed it this!

I love that folksy ric-rac combination.

I love the little things that make me smile.Somedays I need that.The little things.

Cupboard love

Do you all remember this cupboard? Well it needed some extra shelves.We had them made from MDF which mean they are very practical and strong.I store at lot of stuff.Suprising I know.It also means that they didn't look too pretty. So while surfing around I came across this website  and couldn't resist the rose aqua oilcloth.

As soon as it arrived I started covering the shelves.Because obviously I had nothing better to do!

It's a kind of his and hers cupboard.My side is full of Pyrex,tea-cups and cake plates.

And his side is full of stuff for making cocktails. That ummm.... he makes for me.So maybe  it's a her/her cupboard really!

I know you all love having a nosey so here's a few close-ups.

A few of my vintage tea-cups, and yes I do use them.

Vintage cocktail shakers and ice bucket.

I keep going opening the cupboard just to have a peek! I  love how unexpected the flash of colour is in contrast to the dark wood of the outside.I hope it makes me keep the cupboard tidier too!

Must go and pop to the shops before tea.We have had a busy but quiet day.I declared today a no TV day for the older girls after they had a very nasty spat before bed last night.So they have been beavering away in their bedrooms.Teenage girls does anyone have a solution?!

Vintage Tea Time

I was checking my fabric stash the other day and I seem to be developing a collection of vintage kitchen prints.I am not entirely sure why as I have no intended use for them as yet.I just find them so cheerful and love that people used to put so much effort into their kitchens.I suppose it's because years ago women spent an awful lot more time in the kitchen and wanted something pretty to look at.

Most of my vintage fabrics are bargain finds from ebay or charity shops.I am a bit of a stinge and don't like to pay more a metre than I would do new.Picking up the odd metre or so here and there.Costing me a few pounds at a time. My latest addition though cost me a little more.Not because the price per metre was high but because there were a whole 12 metres!

I think the name of the fabric had me straight away 'Tea Time' but as soon as I saw the cuckoo clock...

...and the tea caddy...

..I just had to bid,only the starting price, and then I sat back and waited. The wait was definitely worth it! I've washed and dried myself a metre and am pondering what to do with it (and the rest!)

Batticus

It's been a good week.A wet week but still a good week.The big girls have been away at camp since last sunday.In tents, in this weather, poor loves.They come home today and from their texts are really looking forward to some home cooking followed by McDonalds and a curry!Not all in one day. The house has been strangely quiet and well ordered without them.Two girls are so mush easier to look after than 4 and my referreeing skills haven't really been called upon.I have some fun stuff share that we have been upto but I just remembered that I never shared this fella with you.

This is Batticus and was made by Lily for Emily as part of a swap.A very, very late on our part swap.I have no idea how we drew it out so long but Emily was very patient.I need to photograph the beautiful rabbit that Emily made for Lily too.I love how these blogs are inspiring creativity in a new generation of crafters.

Lily tried to theme the swap with locally inspired items.She had been making lots of sock monkeys inspired by this book. We don't have monkeys nearby.Well except from Josie but she doesn't count.We do have Pipistral bats however.We think that they have a roost under our eaves.They don't actually come into the roof but use the slates as a shelter.At night time if we leave the bathroom light on they swoop into the yard attracted by the insects.They are so graceful to watch and quite mesmerising really.

A couple of summers ago we actually found a heat exhausted bat in the yard.Yep summers used to be hot! After a week at a bat sanctury being fed up he was returned.When he was released all his family and friends came to welcome him back and flew around him in big circle for a good few minutes.It was really beautiful to watch and listen to.The rescue centre brought a receiver with them so we could hear the noises they make which are out of our normal hearing range.The bats sounded like they were almost singing to him.Then they all flew off together.

We haven't seen them so much this year, with the weather being so wet, but hopefully we might get a few nice weeks before the summer is over.Hopefully.

Break In The Clouds

Every now and then we get a break in the clouds.The rain stops and we all crave the fresh air.Unfortunately our garden is clay based and the rain takes an age to drain away.No good for those hour or so breaks in the rain.Fortunately we have a lovely big park just across the road that we can use as an extension to our garden.

We like to go when everyone else has gone home.It feels more 'ours' that way. So we have been going in the early evening for impromptu picnic teas. The space gives the girls a chance to run off all that inside built up tension. 5 girls inside all day.Do I have to say?!

I love to see them run...

...and climb trees.

Can you belive that in a recent survey 80% of uk parents said they wouldn't let their kids climb trees?! they were scared  they'd get hurt.Well Maisie has been climbing trees for about 11 years since just after she could walk. She hasn't fallen yet.

Think we will be off to the park again today.We might even take the pram.

It's great for carrying the picnic stuff. Just incase you were wondering Lily was there too.

Don't you think she's looking very grown up or is that just me?

Red Makes Me Gladioli

 I'm a cheap date.99p and I'm happy.

A little red always makes me happy.

Go on tell me that this doesn't make you smile?

That last photo reminds me I must get the electrician back to change the socket.

The Happy House Children

No so long ago I picked up yet another hardback vintage childrens book.I can never resist them when their covers are just so of the time.I really wish I had enough room to display them all with their beautiful fronts showing but for now most are tucked up on bookshelves. Just their spines giving a glimpse of that beauty.

I thought this one was perfect for displaying in the playroom.The title sums up how I would like my girls to remember their childhood and this house.Happy. Part of that, to me, includes wonderful summer times frolicking in the garden.Like the children on the cover.Unfortunately this year we have spent more time indoors than out.The view from our window looking like this most days.

Wet,wet,wet.Sure there have been days that have lulled us into a false sense of security.The mornings that were spent washing baby clothes and hanging them on the line to dry.Still in our PJ's.

Only to race round later and save them from the showers.Then re-hang them the next morning.Again still in our PJs!

Ah well back to indoor referee-ing it's a full time job.I blame Charlotte.She was wishing for rain last week!

Weddings and Birthdays

Well it's been a busy old week.My sister's wedding on saturday was amazing.We loved every minute.The weather was glorious,the bride beautiful and the venue just perfect.

I even found a purple necklace,not a pendant but still nice, and some unexpected purple shoes.

The children all behaved impeccably.All 12 cousins.

My sister was the most beautiful bride who's dad couldn't have been prouder.

There were plenty of beautiful little girls in their element and...

...growing boys looking more handsome by the day.

Bitty little girls enjoying the space and...

...older cousin's shoes!

Then two young ladies looking scarily grown up.

I'm not going to think too hard about how that happened! Talking of growing up this little lady was 8 yesterday.

Kitty is the sweetest and most beautiful little person you could ever wish to meet. 

They did us proud those girls of ours.Even if I do say so myself.Love ya.

Edinburgh

So tomorrow my baby sister gets married and we are all swept up in the pre wedding frenzy of finding the right shoes and sorting out the perfect hair do.As you can imagine with 4 very opinionated young ladies to deal with this has been interesting.Luckily for us my sister is very sweet and obliging so everyone is getting what they want within a range of colours and styles.

I still have to find the perfect necklace.It has to be a pendant and it has to be purple.I thought it would be easy.It is not! I have the dress and the shoes. Just need the necklace.I should have checked out etsy much sooner.Ah well.I'm sure all eyes will be on the bride not on my bare neck.

Before I bore you all next week with photos of my gorgeous sister and her gorgeous bridesmaids (four of whom I made) I thought I'd share a few photos of the hen-do.We had two actually.One was a BBQ at ours for about 30 people and the other was a trip to Edinburgh for just 3.My sister Julie,our cousin Lindsey and myself.

In true hen-do style there was plenty of pole dancing (at the castle!)

Even a bit of lying flat on your back-eh Lindsey?!

But seriously being with a couple of almost teetotalers is was a very refined affair.Lots of shopping and sightseeing and even a trip to the theatre to see this which we found much funnier than I think it was supposed to be.

Edinburgh is seriously beautiful.I can tell it will become a place we visit time and time again.I've even picked out my street.Abercrombie Street.

Love Edinburgh just love it.

Hamish and Matilda

You may remember when we lost our beautiful cat Sampson last year? Well a few months ago unfortunately another of out cats Todd was run over and killed.This was just after our 2 old girl cats Daisy and Jazz had both died of old age.Leaving us with just one cat Stanley. The house felt very empty.

That was until these two cuties came to live with us. I did go for one kitten but seriously could you have decided between these two?

The girls knew nothing about them until I brought them home.You can imagine the excitement.They are from a local stables and have settled in really well to house life.Their characters are so different.Hamish is a big softie and just loves cuddles.Matilda is a little more independant and 'talks' non-stop a typical girl!