A Little Bird House For My Soul!

Hello there!

Sorry its been a while - what can I say? sometimes Life just takes over!

August always is the silly summer month for us - we have lots of family visiting, lots going on. Hopefully things have quietened down now and I can get back to my sewing machine - I do miss having my crafty 'fix'. At the moment its buried under a pile of fabric that's just waiting to me transformed into something nice and pretty.

We have been out and about a bit - Treasure Hunting!

Just look what I found at the Household Auctions !!! I was so thrilled to win the bidding - just £18 and mine to take home!

Hubby P did have a bit of a 'Wobbler' - whispering in a frenetic fashion (whilst the bidding was going on!) - something about where on earth/put the **** thing/no room - that sort of thing - but hey! it just had to be brought home to our little hovel. Fits in well with our - erm - 'eclectic' furnishings.

Just take a peek at the lovely woodwork and knobbly feet!

Its a 1920's 3 piece suite, all dandy woodwork and leatherette. Of course the cushions had seen better days, a lot better days - they had to be replaced. I managed to find some big, big cushions at the carboot sale and cut them down to fit, not perfectly, but hey - they will do well enough for me - cheap and cheerful. The original cushions were a lovely chocolate brown, real heavy cotton velvet - it must have looked stunning, I can just imagine the odd skinny Flapper Girl sat - cigarette holder in one hand, G & T in the other!

There was no way I could afford such opulence, no posh heavy velvet for me - so I looked at what I had. I really liked the grey vintage curtains I found the other week, and after having a sort of measure up I decided they would just about fit, and make four cushion covers.

I'm quite happy with them, they will do for us.
Although the suite does need some work still, it needs some new strapping underneath, and one side of the settee needs the leatherette replacing, but no doubt I will find what I need - everything turns up at the carboot eventually!




You see my little lamp matches the cherry blossom on the cushions, and on with the 'pinky' theme, I found a table and dinky inky stool and painted them ( Farrow and Ball paint found - you guessed it - at the carboot!) - the colour is called Dead Salmon, how cool is that! Just love this pinky colour!
Colour and design just fits in well with the new suite - don't ask where we have put all the old furniture! Shall we just say it was 'fun' fitting it all in this tiny house!

This weeks fun project - a pretty little bird house - Shabby Vintage Birdy Lodgings!





I should have taken 'before pic's' but - well - I forgot, and our posh new camera has died on us (not that there is ANY PRESSURE on Rob to get it fixed!!!) but needless to say once you are use to using something rather good - to go back to the old steam driven - almost - camera, its a bit rubbish!
So here we have the finished Birdy house/cage.

As you will have guessed I found it - or rather Hubby P did, at the carboot, just a sad scruffy unloved little house.




So I prettied it up with a bit of Dead Salmon paint (just love that word - who thinks up names for paint - what a good job!) and a bit of flower-y/rose-y paper - a touch of shabbying and - there you have it!

Pretty little thing - what for - well that's up to you, maybe to display your treasures, or maybe a nice trailing Ivy plant. I am sure it will lend itself to something pretty.

Its looking for a home (we cant possibly fit another teaspoon into our rooms, we have one or two chairs too many as it is!) - so little Birdy Lodge may end up in the Emporium.

Must go to bed now - you know when you are so tired your legs are all jittery!! :(

xxx Take care xxx Bye for now xxx

Just Had To Share - A Lovely Lady!

Life has become frantically busy - but such fun - much 'out and abouting' since Hubby P has been off work. Well it was what the Dr ordered!

'Go' he said - 'rest and enjoy your life, take some time - relax', so we took him at his word!

So busy, busy - but nice times and lots of treasure hunting!

Just had to share this lovely Lady with you!

Isn't she just Fab!

She was obviously 'slumming' it a bit at the carboot on Tuesday.

Luckily a friendly chap had rescued her from - well who knows what fate! - its enough to make a girl blush!!

My Man of a Tuesday and his hardworking team - they bring forth three vans full of 'Treasure' every week to the carboot - all sorts of everything to be found, and this week this lovely lady.

As you can see she is dressed in some style - her body is made of pottery or china maybe - I don't know a lot about dolls. The dress is wonderfully trimmed with lace and ribbon - what a 'doll'!

And if we dare lift her skirts!!

How great is that - she's a lamp!

I think she's probably from about the 1950's, the lamp still has the old Bakelite fitting, the sort that plugs into a light socket. Amazingly it still works - she lights up a treat. Although just to be on the safe side Hubby P will rewire the lamp - I don't think she will thank us for her underside going up in smoke!

Of course with all the pretty skirts and whatnot she does give off a very pink glow - Hubby P had his own description of the kind of establishment she came from - just so uncharitable! I'm sure shes a 'nice' girl.

Stuart Tuesday and his gang have lots goodies most weeks, and as you can see have an eye for interesting items, I just know you wish you too could have a delve in the boxes that come out of the vans. They do put one or two interesting things on their ebay site - redsky951 - I would hate you to think I didn't share some of the Treasure Hunting opportunities with you, so have a peek on ebay!

More goodies - how sweet is this bit of fabric.

I found a fairly biggish piece so again, as usual I shall keep a piece for me and put a bit on ebay - got to fund my fabric addiction!


All this outing and abouting is okay - but we've been eating out of the picnic box - and of course chips!
How sick was I of this snacking - it seemed ages since I had eaten proper veg;



So I raided the fridge tonight - dragged out all the bits and bobs of veg to concoct something fresh and colourful.

How nice it was to chop and cook, and catch up with Richard - he always hovers in the kitchen to chat.

Although of course he has to work - tasty home made pizza type things, with - because he was making them, mountains of cheese!


I even managed to jam a few strawberries.

There is a lady that has a fruit and veg stall at the carboot and she was selling off the strawberries for 80p a punnet - so I bought four, 3/4lb of fruit by the time I had de-stalked and whatnot. Not as cheap as growing your own, but I did just fancy some strawberry jam!

I used the sugar with the pectin in it - so very easy.

It made some good big jars full - not very glamorous jars but functional! And the jam tastes wonderful - just so summery!

Although I don't know where the summer has gone! Its been so cold the last couple of days - I'm sat here with the wood burner blazing away!

That's all for now - must be bed time xxx take care xxxx

Car Boot-y Finds - just A Quick Few Pics!

Good evening friends!

Just a quickie post - mostly pic's - just a little something for you to look at - bit of prettiness and everyday stuff!

Some nice car boot-y treasures, pretty fabrics I couldn't resist.

How about this for a pretty pair of curtains - and all in good order too, I just love the grey and

pink together.

This is one huge length of unused fabric - fabulously floral!

Real Miss Marple era!

Someone must have bought it to cover that favorite armchair or settee even - its such a big piece, or perhaps some nice bright curtains? - anyway - they never got around to it - its been stashed in a cupboard. Such a pretty lump of fabric.

What is it about blue and white? Got a bundle of this - good sized, nicely faded, shabby vintage, salvaged remnants - Ohhhhh what to make? My fingers are itching to sew!

A nice big set of unusual curtains - unfortunately they are damaged at the sides, as often happens with vintage curtains the sunlight catches the edges weakens the fabric and it rots away. The middle portion of the curtains are just fine - they will have to be reclaimed pieces of fabric, nice big pieces ideal for - well almost anything - certainly an unusual design.

You can see the holes down the edges, I shall cut all that away.

Who remembers this type of old desk - who has sat and stuck chewing gum to the underside - yes! you know who you are!

Hubby P found this - in a bit of a mucky state - hes been spending time in the nice fresh air sanding it down and whatnot. Its done him a power of good - 'just messing'- its not often he makes the time to do anything sort of creative - if you know what I mean!

I think he needs some nice beeswax to finish it off - I just love that beeswax-y smell.

Just look at this Oregano, its growing in the window box - and it has both purple flowers and white flowers - I'm sure its the same plant.

Here it is nestled amongst the nasturtiums and whatnot - gives a lovely scent when you brush past - and tasty too in salads and pasta.

I've started saving the seed from the nasturtiums - I just put them on a saucer on the windowsill to dry, ready for next years pretty flowers.

I do believe you can pickle nasturtium seeds - they taste peppery - a bit like capers (mind you I've never tried capers - so I don't know!). I pickled some once - just to try - its not something we really took to - but if you like capers?

Made the jam this afternoon (gooseberry, apple, black currant, and rhubarb - all I had in the freezer jam!) - It tastes just fine, nice and fruity - just the job for my toast!

And chocolate crispy cakes - I haven't made these for years. I just fancied some rice crispies for a change, and saw they had chocolate at a good price in Asda - so I made a few for some 'littlies'. All little children should have the pleasure of a rice crispie cake now and again !

xxx That's all for now folk's xxx Take care xxx

A Little Emporium! and Allsorts!

Sorry its been a while! I feel I have neglected you woefully!!

Even my Sister rang me to see if I was still alive - thinking - no blog - something must be amiss!

Well all is fine here, just busy busy!

These trusty boots have become Standard Carboot Issue! As you can see it was a bit muddy today - after the 'monsoon' that was Friday - the rain just never stopped all day.

We have been doing as many car boot sales as we can - boy have we got some stuff packed away! I've turned out all those nooks and crannies - bottoms of wardrobes, backs of cupboards, its amazing what I've found!

So here we are all packed ready to go!

Hubby P has become an expert packer, this little van can hold so much.

We pack everything in suitcases ( well we do have one or two suitcases here) - then we or rather Hubby P - simply lifts them out of the van, arranges them on the grass and opens them up. We can spread the contents out a bit - putting items in/on the lid. It seems to work quite well and people like to look at the old suitcases.

I found myself a nice old shabby vase/plant container. Here it is waiting for a suitable, pretty plant or something. I had to rather smuggle it home - as Hubby P keeps reminding me, we are supposed to be selling things to a make home less cluttered and easier to manage - can't see it happening myself - 'My name is Vicky and I'm a car boot Addict' !!!

Talking of clutter - a REALLY exciting little project - I've got myself 'A Little Emporium'!

We have 'taken' as they say, a storage -big - storage container - mostly to store all the stuff/er Vintage Collectables we had stacked in the house. The containers have been installed in the lockable/secure grounds of the carboot sale premises - so not only is it ideal storage, but on carboot sale days we can open up the doors and sell from it.

But what a job sorting it all out - mind you it will be fun - its like playing shop!

It has been taking up a lot of our time - and its still not just as I would like it - well frankly its a tip - stuff everywhere! No doubt we will get it sorted soon.

Its always nice to meet like-minded people - and if we can make it welcoming
hopefully they will come and browse.
Only this weekend we were talking to a couple who did WW2 re-enactments, they were looking for items they could use, items of Uniform and Vintage dress. It all sounded so interesting - its amazing the lives people lead.

And of course no self respecting Emporium would be complete without a touch of Bunting!

More photos when its a bit more organised!

On the Home Front!

The apples keep falling off the tree - its a huge crop, I can see us looking like an apple this winter - we will have so many to eat!

Still - An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor at Away!!

They are always good to put in the jams, jellies and chutneys.

Friends and family keep dropping off fruit and veg - it seems every ones garden is producing lots of lovely goodies - just need to make the time to 'deal' with it all. I do need to make some Jumble Jelly - its what one of my American friends calls mixed fruit jam - isn't it such a cute name!?
Surprisingly we are on our last jar - we must eat it by the ton.

All this standing out in a blustery - er - somewhat cold and wet fields - requires hearty carbooting food!

We've just eaten 'hearty' pie (made with all the nice veg a friend left on the doorstep - fresh from the allotment), and a coffee and walnut cake, made with nice fresh eggs from our chickens.

Don't look at the burnt bit on top of the cake - it was going to be iced - but needs must - I couldn't wait/was too tired to mess with the icing!

I just don't want to get the 'Hearty' ruddy cheeks that seem to be the 'look' of outdoors-y people - I'm hardly fragile and waif like as it is, Yes -I can definitely do without the ruddy cheeks!

Enough nonsense!

xxx Must be time for bed! xxx Take care for now xxxx

Sorry its been so long!!

All a bit upside down here - the usual Summer 'full house' with family and guests and Hubby P being rather unwell - enough for the Dr to say he needs a break from work. Nice to have him home, but of course that means less money coming into the home - so as with many of you a further tightening of the purse strings!

And the RAIN!!!!!

We have had so much of it I thought we would be washed away!

At least the apple tree is loving it - all this rain is making the apples grow large and plump!

Hopefully lots to harvest for puddings and jam, maybe even some chutney.

The garden has taken a battering, but this large stand of Elcampane just loves the damp and is thriving

Elcampane I suppose is a bit unusual in a garden - it is usually found in the wild, I bought my cutting from a specialist nursery, having never seen it in the wild (although I have found some since, growing on some rough ground). I like to gather the unusual - well I did end up with Hubby P!

Elcampane is a very tall plant - easily reach 6ft and huge leaves - it needs a big space - it is a rather striking 'full on' plant.

It was used inn the 'olden days' to make a cough medicine, and was said to be especially good for curing Bronchitis. I think they dug up some of the roots mashed them and boiled them up, then made a syrup with the liqueur.

I love to explore all the old receipts and 'cures' - it amazes me what they made from everyday plants growing in the hedgerows, no wonder they called the old women with the knowledge 'Hedgewitches'.

And of course the flowers are so sunshiny and pretty!

Onwards and upwards with the thrifting - and now of course thinking of all and everything to make a few more pennies, so many of my recent finds will have go on ebay to help things along, and we may do a carboot or two if the weather brightens.

Do you recognise 'Julie's' ironing board - I covered it in some of the pretty pink and blue fabric, it looks so sweet. I found the little pink push along trolley today at the carboot - the cheery pink colour attracted me - and how about the Hobby Horse! Who remembers? Who had a Hobby Horse as a child? Hands up!!!!

Found these today too!

Delightfully vintage and shabby! Just the thing to sit under with your G &T - if it ever stops with the RAIN thing!!

A little collection of dusty leather bags, I've had these a while - just took me a while to gather the enthusiasm to get the polish out and deploy a bit of elbow grease!

They came up really quite well - I just love the shabby leather look!

Of course I want to keep them all - I have two already that I use - they are really very shabby, but all the better for that.

It wasn't that long ago, I was in B & Q and a complete stranger - lady of a certain age - stopped me and asked where I had got my 'wonderful' shabby bag from. She couldn't believe I had found it at a carboot and preceded to offer me larger and larger amounts of money for my bag!
Stood there - right in the middle of B & Q!

Of course I said no - it is a very nice bag - and valuable too - or so it seems!

I can never go into B & Q now without thinking of the 'Bag episode' as Hubby P calls it - of course he thought she was completely Bonkers!

The new ones have come up quite well with a bit of polish and plenty of effort - bit boring though - polishing!

Pity I can't find the B &Q lady now - I wonder if I hung around B & Q touting shabby handbags !!?

xxx Must be bedtime! xxx Take care! xxx

Weekend Treasure and Thrifty Snippets!

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

We had a nice time - we had a car boot stall both Saturday and Sunday - exhausting! Mind you I think its more of a social occasion than anything - we saw so many friends and spent a lot of the time chatting to interesting people.

Saturday afternoon we called in a little village - Menai Bridge - and stopped by a rather lovely Antique shop - lots of lovely, lovely things!

Hubby P treated me to a very old and very lovely garden trowel - it is just such a lovely thing - and Yes - I do intend to use it.

I have even put an old oily rag in my tool bucket so that I will give the trowel a wipe over once I have finished using it.

Lots of nice finds this weekend - I did get to have a mooch about, seeking out interesting things to show you.

How about this for a pretty Vintage dress?

I think its from the 1960's and in wonderful condition, the fabric has that 'new' feel to it - as if its not been worn or washed - you know, still kind of starchy.

It is just so pretty - real Boho Chic!

This fabric intrigues me - I feel its a bit, well may be designed by one of the well known designers of the day - Heal's or someone.

Such a striking print - anyone know anything about it? any ideas?

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A quick Thrifty Snippet!

Lots of courgettes here - I have only two plants but they are going great guns - there are only so many we can eat in one week!

So I am doing as I did with the peppers - chopping them freezing them on a tray (flat) and then bagging them up. I should then be able to just get a handful out when needed, be nice to have courgettes in the colder months once the fresh courgettes have finished. I try not to buy out of season fresh veg - its always a bit expensive (and so it should be - the amount of precious resources that are used to produce it).

Spotted this little child's ironing board at the carboot sale.

So dinky and sweet!

It was Julie's ironing board.

Well it has Julie written on it - so forever it shall now be known as Julies ironing board!

I shall find some nice fabric to recover the board, give it a new lease of life.

Another quick Snippet!

I find lots of lengths of good useful fabric in the guise of unwanted
curtains etc.

I found this pretty cotton - it was a made into a blind, a bit grubby and unwanted - I bought it for a few pennies.

All you need is a zip stitch-y tool or a pair of scissors and a few spare minutes - I just keep it by my chair, and when I sit down for a cup of tea I do a bit of unpicking. I took off all the curtain header tape and unpicked the seams - gave it a good wash and iron, and ended up with some good big useful bits of fabric.
Fabric is so expensive to buy, for my bits and bobs of crafting these reclaimed lengths are just fine - and I find some nice unusual and/or vintage prints.

I think I may use some of this pretty cotton to recover Julie's ironing board - the blue in the fabric matches the blue paintwork on the ironing board.

Must be bedtime now - been a busy weekend!

xxx Take care xxx