Car Boot Treasure and General Buttoniness!

Hello there! Just a quickie post - just thought i would do something creative (post a blog) whilst I eat my sandwich, rather than browsing through the new Evans Online - lovely clothes, so tempting, but given I am the shape of a lumpy sack - at best, no amount of lovely clothes hide the fact! Ahhh well - its something to do with my cake addiction I think!

On to Buttons - I've been testing them out, and yes folks - they are all rather lovely and lend a certain cuteness to all crafty projects!

I needed a lamp to put in the summer house, so I found a rather unusual base - £1 at the car boot of course. It is sturdy and rather heavy which is what I wanted, so that it wouldn't get knocked over easily. The shade was just a cheapy thing too - 50p from another stall holder. So I set to and covered it in buttons - and more buttons!

The base is really unusual - its a kind of resin with what look like sweet wrappers inside it - well I liked it. You can tell by the electrical wiring that its quite old. Hubby P tested the electrics and its just fine, so off to the summer house it goes.

I made a similar lampshade a while ago, this one sits by my sewing machine, amongst all the bits and bobs necessary to a sewing/crafting session. Bit like a colourful toadstool!

And having one or two buttons to spare I made a chunky bracelet!

Carboot Treasure - not too much this week, its just getting too wet and cold for people to stand outside selling their goods and chattels - I don't blame them.

I found these lovely little Vintage booklets - a delight to look through.

I saw these patterns for a set of Father and Son underware and immediately thought of my own dear family - curiously enough they declined! And so Very Stylish! I don't know whats the matter with the man! He said something about 'not being seen dead in them'!! He's such a spoilsport - we could have a real old laugh!

These slippers are so cute - remember that time when children were children, and wanted 'bunny' slippers rather than Britney, or Disney Princess!

This last little booklet was issued during the War, a fascinating insight to what women had to do to make their clothes last. Hubby P looked on Ebay - he has a wont of doing this with every treasure I bring home - not one of his most lovable traits I must say. Anyway he says this book has just been published again, no doubt in a more modern fashion.

This original has fascinating paragraphs on the care of your stockings and how it is preferable (if at all possible) to have two corsets and wear them alternately to make the rubber elastic last. And handy hints on how to repair where the bones have pushed through the fabric!

Imagine wearing a boned corset - and stockings everyday, to do your housework, bending, stretching, scrubbing - must have been a nightmare!

This is interesting - the Forward, just thanking 'you all' for the effort put in during Rationing - how very British!

And a bit of Autumn colour in the garden! Hubby P brought home for me the little wire basket - it lends itself well to the cyclamen.


xx Bye for now xx

Buttons! Buttons! Buttons!!! How about a button 'Lucky Dip'?

Hello there! All okay? Goooood!

This weekends treasure trove - Buttons!

What is it about buttons? They are just so irresistible, the way they wink at you as you go by, their bright jewel like colours, their dinky little shapes - and Oh - so lovely to run through your fingers - as you scan them for those 'Special Ones'!

Well - I found a whole suitcase full of them!

It was late in the day, at the carboot and the Lady selling them just wanted to go home I think. She was selling them at 20p a card which was very reasonable - but why - Oh why, did I have to ask about buying the whole case full - Well! what can I say - the buttons - they just winked at me!

Needless to say - with a sigh, and a raising of eyebrows Hubby P could be seen struggling with a suitcase of buttons (whose zip had broken) to the van!

I paid £10 for the lot - and I mean a lot - really and truly -How Many Buttons Does A Girl Need? But there again 'Need' doesn't really come into it does it!

They are all Vintage but 'as new', unused still on their original cards. The cards themselves are so Vintage-y and cute - just nice to display (well I do have lots to use up - somehow!).




And there are a lot of cards of buttons - approx 1000 - and yes I did count them!, Hubby P thinks I am mad (well that's not new - really) but I just 'Need to Know' how many - you know what I mean?

They are all so delightful, I had great fun going through them and sorting them into piles of the different makers (and counting them!). Mind you it was taking such a long time Hubby P decided he would help me - well that's what he said, but you know he was just as enthralled with their colours, shapes and sizes (I dare'snt say prettiness) as any three year old!

Now he is quite an authority on shape, colour, weight and makers name, and indeed place of manufacture - another string to his bow!

You can see in this last photo some of my favorites, the big pink square ones are incredibly sparkly, real fairy pink!

And so my friends! how about a share in this lovely button-y treasure trove?

If you would like to leave me a comment - you know the sort of thing -'My Name Is ------. And I Am A Buttonoholic'................. and next Monday I will pull two names out of a hat and send the lucky two a goody bag of buttons each.

xxx That's all for now Folks xx Take care xxx

Steak pie to make for tea - I promised Hubby P!

Weekend Treasures!!

Hello' hope you are all well today! Its lovely and sunny here! I just thought I would share my weekend finds with you - I had a thrilling time down at the dump (recycling centre!).

Well you know - or perhaps you didn't, but I do - just so love the look and feel of old galvanised buckets, watering cans, dustbins and the like. I like the idea that they were a useful, homely article, used on a daily basis, without thought, but in their own small way - have their own history. I like to plant them up and scatter them throughout the garden - I know what with the chairs from last week an all - you will be thinking my garden is just one big dump - artistic dump though!

In this large tub - I'm not sure what it was used for - it has no handles, but its so tactile with is corrugated sides, I have planted a large Oak tree that I grew from seed. It has to manage it the tub because I have no room in the garden for another tree!

This is an old dustbin type that I have a Golden Willow tree in - again grown from a cutting - no room in the garden for it!

Well! Yesterday we had a good sorting out of the tool shed - it must be said, Hubby P was ruthless!! Lots and lots of boxes of rubbish for the tip - we only just managed to get there before closing time. I like to go - bit of a jaunt for me - I like to have a good old nosy in the skips to see what people have thrown out, and maybe, just maybe - there is something 'useful' to bring home! Recycling you see!!

And this is what I found, it was buried under an old wheelbarrow and other bits - but I could see its corrugated sides. I immediately hailed a promising looking young man, and asked nicely if he could 'just possibly' dig out this treasure. It must be said he was very pleasent, and got it out in a flash - probably use to batty middle aged women!





Its not at all bashed about - as you can see its an old wash tub. It would have had a handle, but that's missing.

And just look at this soap dish - come handle, how cute is that!

The bottom has gone unfortunately, but it wont matter if I am to plant it up.

So as Hubby P unloaded the rubbish from the van, I stood by waiting to put my tub in the back. I was pleasantly surprised - he didn't say a word! Mind you he was very tired from clearing the tool sheds - nasty grubby job, but we are all so tidy and organised now.

Another find at the carboot was this little shoe rack. I've been wanting one for a while, but I didn't want a large pine one - which there seemed to be lots of, I just haven't the room for anything big!

So this is ideal, and rather cute - I think some clever person has made it, I've never seen anything similar.

It needs a good polish really, but I just had to have a play, to see how it would look!

Have you planted your bulbs?

I filled this little old trug with pretty little daffs - Tata tete I think. (the bottoms gone on the trug - seems to be an on going theme ere' - I am sure my bottoms gone too - well went years ago really!!)

xx That's all for now folks! xx Take care xx

Ageing Gracefully - But All of A Do Da!!

Hello there! Hope you're all well, and keeping warm no the weathers turned!

Just a few rambling thoughts about the changes happening in my little world. I was mooching about this morning, it was nice and sunny,a bit of a nip in the air, but nice to be outside. I always spend a few minutes everyday just feeding the chickens, rabbits and sundry wild birds.Its a nice chore - just to mooch about and enjoy the garden. I take a ramble around, looking for whats new in the garden beds and what is fading away ready to have a long sleep and renew ready for the Spring.

Do you remember the three legged chairs I won in an Auction this time last year ( yes well! I just got carried away - Hubby P wasn't impressed that I had bought three chairs with which he couldn't even make one good one!!) They were such lovely old things - so I put them in the garden - as Art! to Age Gracefully! (Hubby P it has to be said - did have a bit of 'difficulty' with this one!) but as the foliage grew around them they looked wonderful! Seats fit for Fairy Princesses no less!

Well here they are - ageing in a most beautiful way - the moss on the seat is perfection, Man could certainly not produce anything so soft fresh and purely magical! I wish you could just rub your finger across it - its lovely!

All the colours of the fading foliage - like jewels scattered across its seat!

And the wooden backs - like pieces of old Gothic sculpture amongst the leaves and last Flowers of the season. That lovely faded, ancient colour that only real wood can achieve.

The seat of this one, its once magnificent brocade faded and threadbare, just the sparkly strands of golden thread, to hint at its past beauty!

Such a wonderful season, a feast for all the senses, the wonderful colours, fresh nip in the air, and that - oh so 'something' that you can smell in the air!

Yes a delightful morning - lots of 'faffing about' outside, Soooooooooo important to 'ones' well being you know!
So I came inside - eventually to do something useful. I had bought a nice coat at the carboot, but really it too small -who was I kidding! So I thought - 'get it put on ebay, get back some of that money you spent on clothes that raelly you knew would be too small etc etc' - this is me giving myself 'motivational' aggro, is it me? or do you too, give yourself lots of nagging?

Anyway this is the scary bit!

I tried the coat on - one last time - no it didn't fit, and no, realistically I am not going to 'slim into it'!
So I sat down at the computer to list it on ebay - felt a funny scratchy something on my hand, looked down - OMG!!!!!!!! A HUGE, I MEAN HUGE SPIDER!!!! on MY HAND!!!

It must be said usually I am not too worried about spiders - but this was HUGE!
She must have been in the coat all this time - hiding in the sleeve!

Of course all the shrieking brought Richard (my son) rushing in, he was really impressed, and told me to stop frightening the poor thing! I don't think he really grasped who was the most afraid!

Just look its HUGE!

Richard picked it up to take it outside, then it started running - going into/up his sleeve - WELL!! this sent me into a real Do Da!! What is it when you think your young ones are threatened - I know! - its only a little spider! but something really rather basic kicks in doesn't it- I started the shrieking thing again!

OMG - I had to have sweet tea for shock!

Once Richard had saved the poor spider from my 'Totally Over The Top' shrieking!

I think I am getting a bit - addled! is that a good word for it? - in my old age! haha!


xx That's all for now folks xx

Hello everyone! Hope you are all hunky dory!

Haven't we had some fabulous weather (well here in the UK we have!) - I do hope you have been making the most of it!

Just look at this lovely blue sky!

Sorry its been a while since my last post, 'life' as they say has 'taken over'!

We've been so busy trying to get ready for winter - I know that sounds a bit dramatic - but I am determined this year to be all sorted out with sound, dry storage for all the stuff we have lying around, by stuff i mean ~

* Tools

* Boxes left with us by the lads - Mums do seem to be the ideal depository for all things from dirty washing, to University books, to old records and cherished childhood toys!

* All manner of bits of old car ~ mostly Morris bits that one day ~ maybe, they will be the very thing (nut bolt or whatever) that we need ~ Hubby P has a very strong 'No Throw' policy about Morris bits!

* And of course the inevitable boxes of stuff that one day we will stand a car boot sale with, and make a few pennies.

Does everyone have all this stuff lying around?

Anyway I decided to get sorted out ~ whilst the weather was good, so I dragged out all the stuff, and piled in the yard and covered it in a tarpaulin.

I had this great idea of buying one of those 'quick and easy to erect' metal sheds! Great idea and cheap ~ shed was on offer at a bargin price, could buy it online, they will deliver next day (no having to go shopping around and mauling bits of shed in and out of the van!) ~ Great!

The yard looked/looks a right old mess - so getting the shed up and running to house the tools was a priority.


Well this is it - we call it the Evil shed - what a palaver to put it up! No wonder they are trying to sell them off cheap ~ I can tell you it is the cause of much domestic disharmony! Not only are the majority of the instructions in French ~ we didn't do engineering terms in School French lessons! but the nuts and bolts are so tiny, and Hubby P's fingers so big and rheumatic-y these days ~ things were a trifle strained to say the least!

You can see the itsy bitsy nuts and bolts, and its so difficult to see when you are doing contortions in a windowless shed ~ in the evening when the light is fading ~ of course Hubby P was going to 'throw it up' in a couple of evenings after work!

The upside for me was spending time (whilst holding nuts, bolts, tools, instructions and giving advice, taking the swearing and general shed abuse in my stride) ~ admiring the Virgina Creeper that is draped over the hedge in the Yard. Such beautiful colours with the evening light giving them a jewel like sheen.

And No the Evil shed is still not finished ~ it needs a floor, then I can move all the 'stuff' back in!


On to more interesting things, just look what I found at the car boot sale at the weekend!

A whole heap of blankets (the photos are in the wrong order I'm afraid!) ~ the lady selling the blankets said she had 'cleared' a Monastery. I got stuck in and dragged them out of an old tin chest, the chest had an old address label saying Fanciscian Monastery, Penmarnmawr, N. Wales.

They were being sold as dog blankets, and the lady said any that were not sold she was going to dump ~ so of course I had to rescue as many as I could carry (or rather that Hubby P could manage!) ~ it wasn't 'That Far' back to the car!

As you can see this one still has the Friars name tag on it! How delightful is that!

I got a whole heap, I rather like the blue stripy ones best. I shall wash hem all and decide which to keep ~ the rest will probably end up on ebay (recoup some pennies for more treasure hunting!)

Oh, and here's a couple of pretty, sunny little flowers for you!

Do you remember this little table I bought for a £1 the other week, well I finally got round to doing something with it.

I gave it a couple of coats of paint ~ the same paint as I used for the fourposter bed, I am hoping to have it as a night stand by the side of the bed.

The top I decoupaged with bits and bobs of vintage paper, in what I call a ragged-y style. When the paint was nice and dry I gave the whole thing a good distressing with some harsh sandpaper, to make it look well and truly bashed about and well used. I gave it a good coat of matt varnish, and its ready to go!

It looks well next to the bed - I will take a photo sometime.

Just a little update on the last of the babies, Smokey here is the last one, all others having found homes. She is doing well!


xx TaTa for now xx Take care xx

Handbags at the ready!!

Hello! Hope you've all been making the most of these last few warm and sunny days - well it has been nice here.

Life has been warm pleasant for me for the last few days - a blessing, I am so lucky, this life can sometimes be so stressful! I send you some healing vibes if you are having difficulties at the moment.

I had a lovely day out last week with my sister, to say she only lives a stones throw away, we don't see enough of each other. We had a trip out to a wonderful garden centre - the sort that have nice cafe's, so Lunch was a must!

Its so much more enjoyable browsing around when you are with someone who is just as obsessed as you about plants - and wants to buy almost everything - swearing there is a corner, a space, where such and such would look just wonderful. She said she just loved shopping with me for plants, because if she held two plants up and asked which one, I would just say 'Well! of course you simply must have them both!'

Of course we spent far too much - but what are Mastercards there for - they call it Mastercard - so I say 'Feel The Force', and treat yourself! We call it therapy, after all it would cost a lot more for a stay at the Priory Therapy Centre!

What did we buy - all sorts - a box full!

I just loved all the Heuchera's they had, I chose this one called Marmalade - such a fantastic colour!

This ruby rich sedum was on Sale - half price! How could a girl resist, I know its a bit leggy, but it will be fine and give some nice colour during the Autumn months. I treated myself (I know - treated myself A LOT!!) to this pretty, pretty Wandflower too - so delicate, it reminds me of Fairies, and 'other worldliness'!

So we had a 'Grand' day, It would just have been really nice if Mum could have been with us, sadly she is no longer with us. I like to think of her deep in the herbaceous boarders of Heaven, seaturs in hand, and battered sun hat on her head!

Weekend saw us at three carboot sales - that's going some for us!

Lots of bargins!

A nice little sexy black bottle of scent - an Avon one I think -a Girl can't have enough sweet smelling stuff!

And Handbags!!!! lots and lots - how could I pass these up. The Dealer who was selling them offered them to me at £2 each! She had a whole heap of Vintage bags so I stood in the middle, had a good scrabble through the pile. I came away with these six!

I know, I know - I cant possibly NEED that many, plus the cupboard full I already have. I will have to have a sort out, maybe - just maybe, some will end up on ebay.

Just look at this dinky little bag, it has little compartments, with a scent bottle, compact and even a cigarette case! How smart is that! Just Love it!

Of all of them I think I like this blue one best - well, this week I like the blue! Mind you it doesn't really matter - I have one for every day of the week!

Hubby P is being very Patient - just totally baffled about this Handbag 'addiction', I said he was just 'darned lucky' that I wasn't into wanting Prada or some such - a truly expensive habit!

Nice box!

Just a little something for me to play with, do up or whatever.

I just loved the way it has worn and aged - I just love the history, the story a thing can hint at through its dents, scratches, and faded colours.

Now enough about me, me, me! I seem to have acquired such a lot of delightfully, interesting bits and bobs. So I looked for something - a book or something to interest Hubby P.

Scanning the heap of stuff unloaded from one of the dealers vans, I noticed a crumpled heap of dirty tarpaulin, thinking maybe there would be old car bits or tools, I picked it up.

Just look what I found!

Its what Hubby P thinks is an old Advertising hoarding, or curtain from a tobacconists kiosk, or shop, the sort you use to get on Railway stations. He was thrilled with his gift - he just loves all the researching, finding out where, when, and what for!

I gave it a soak in the bath - what a lot of muck came out, years worth I suppose, then put it in the washer! Its come up a lot cleaner - goodness knows what he will do with it, if he finds its worth anything it will be on ebay! Hubby P's job is still a bit wobbly, so every penny may be needed!

xx That's all for now folks xx Take care xx