In it for the long haul?

Hi! I’ve got some more photos to show you of some stuff I’ve bought lately.  There are quite a few things, just to warn you! I’m not sure why I feel the need to photograph everything and put it on here, I just feel compelled to document all my purchases for some reason. So anyway, here they are, all the things I have gathered over the last couple of months…

Knobbly vase

I like the funny shape, but it's hard to photograph!

Sky blue

This funny shaped vase came from the Sheffield Antique Centre, I found it on the floor amongst a load of other random things. Some people keep their space in the antique centre in a very disorganised mess – but I always have to sort through it, incase there’s a gem!  I like the shape of this vase, and the fact that it’s knobbly. I don’t really have any idea about how old it is. It was really grubby when I bought it, but it scrubbed up a treat, and it’s only got one tiny chip. Maybe it’s 50s or 60s? The colours seem quite old fashioned. Ever since I got it I’ve been thinking how there’s something about it that makes me feel a bit weird, but I don’t know what! I took one photo of it, kind of looking down from above and the shape of it sort of reminded me of two big hairy balls, so maybe that’s what it is?! It made me see it in a different light. I’ve deleted the pic now I’m afraid as I’m trying not to think of it that way!

The Big Book of Needle Craft

The spine

Excellent illustrations explaining a variety of embroidery stitches

Child's outfit

I like this drawing, it reminds me of books from when I was little

Sewing machine craft and knitting - I like the owl egg cosy on the right hand page at the top.

Children's mascots made from oddments and scraps, I particularly like the native chief - 'Kanibal Katchum', and his daughter ''Picaninny Prue'. The dog is called 'Frisky' the fearsome poodle!

I found this book in the Mind shop in Bakewell, it was in the window and I went in and got it. My M&D were with me as they were up visiting at the time and my Dad said that my Nan used to have this book when he was little. It is dated 1935 and is by Annie S. Paterson. I bet this book was really useful back then, I mean, it still is now, but I’m imagining a housewife using it during the war years! It’s got detailed instructions on everything you could ever need to know, including sections on dressmaking, stitchery, knitting, crochet and cross-stitch, childrens millinary, weaving, rug making, glove making, leather craft, quilting, and toy making.  I bet it could have been referred to every day for hints and advice on various topics. A lot of the washing and laundering tips are really quaint. There is a section on cleaning straw hats, and instructions on how to make your own soap jelly.  I really want to make something and use this book as a guide. I would ideally like to make a pair of leather gloves by hand, but I seriously doubt I will ever get round to it.

Coconut bag

Close up on the carved coconut

This coconut bag came from the Cancer Research UK shop on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield. I saw a woman holding it and showing it to her friend and saying how lovely the carving was, and for some reason I started willing her to put it back because I got it in my head that I really wanted it. She did put it back, and I got it! Yes! I wonder if I would have even thought about looking at it if that woman hadn’t been holding it? I do wonder sometimes if I notice things more when others are showing an interest in them. The other day, in Oxfam, I saw this thin long mirror, quite old, with a small floral motif painted in the top corner, like a rose or something. I didn’t even pick it up and inspect it or anything, I just saw it in passing, but then 5 minutes later I saw a girl carrying it round with her, and suddenly it was like I really wanted that mirror more than anything in the shop. I was picturing where I would hang it and everything. I kept thinking surely she would change her mind and leave it, but she bought it. Grr…she’s prob looking in it right now smiling and feeling very smug that she got it and I didn’t! So yeh, the coconut bag…I have no idea when I will ever use it, but I really like it and it’s hanging on the back of the chair in the bedroom. The only thing I’m not keen on are the beads. I can see where they’re coming from, but those colours are a bit much for me, I might put some new ones on.

Purple dish

Double bass

This dish came from Oxfam at Nether Edge, Sheffield. I’ve seen these knocking around in charity shops before, well just once before actually. The first one I saw I left, but I got this one, because I was waiting for Rob who was looking at books for ages, and I talked myself into it in the time he was book shopping. It says on the bottom that it’s made in Italy. I want to know more about it but I can’t seem to find anything online. I like the style of the painting, and it obviously looks quite 50s/60s, but I don’t know if that means it is.

Sewing box in YTFC colours

Inside the box - it looks refurbished, I don't think I would have chosen this fabric personally, but I can live with it!

Stuff in the box

I got this sewing box a few weeks back from Heanor Antiques and Collector Centre in Heanor, Derbyshire. If you ever go there, you need a whole day to look round because it’s a big and with several floors. It’s easy to get lost in there. Don’t go really late like we did, because they start turning all the lights off one by one in all the rooms about 1o minutes before they shut, and it’s hard to find your way out in the dark, as I found out when I went back into the labryinth of rooms to get this sewing box near closing time. I’d seen it when we first arrived and decided when we were leaving that I couldn’t go without getting it! I thought I was going to stuck in there over night! I’ve been keeping all my cotton reels and scissors in an IKEA lunch box which looks horrible, so this is just what I’d been looking for. I have seen some other ones like this which have been bigger, a lot more expensive and some have been more beautiful. I saw a lovely red one recently at Elsecar, but it was about £40. This one was only a fiver. When I’ve got loads of money I’m going to buy loads of them and get a collection going.

Old green bag

This came from Oxfam on Fulwood Road, Broomhill. It looks really old, and it’s obviously been used loads and someone has left a biro in the bottom and it’s kind of gone everywhere, but it’s still in good condition, and I like it. I haven’t used it yet, but I will do.

Map of Somersetshire

Close to home

Also from Oxfam at Broomhill, a nice framed print of the county of Somerset.  There were three different ones, this one was at the back. As I started to look through I told myself that if there was a Somerset one I would get it, and there was! It’s a reprint taken from an 1836 map. Not sure where I’m going to hang it yet.

Yellow

Close up on the girl - I will call her Kate

This framed pic came from the Antique Centre at Elsecar. Needless to say, Rob spotted it first, but then we decided we both really liked it. It’s a good pic. How my legs should be. There is a signiture at the bottom but we can’t really read it unfortunately, so I can’t find out much about it, but I think it prob dates from the late 60s or early 70s. I think we’re going to have it up in the front room somewhere!

The back of the mirror

The front of the mirror

Close up on the floral design

This mirror also came from the Antiques centre at Elsecar. Upstairs in there, there’s this one particular dealer that I always go to first as they always have some really cool things. I’m not sure if it has a particular name, but the seller always labels everything and displays it really nicely with a little description and story which I really like. It’s the same place that I got my cat tray and red case a couple of months ago!  Apparently it is one of the most popular sections in the shop, I heard the lady that works there telling someone. I can see why. Anyway, there was a sale going on when we last went and I got this 1940s mirror for the bargain price of £2.50. I’m sure it probably had a brush at one point, maybe it came in a set of four even, but I like it on it’s own, it looks good on my dressing table.

Woven bag

The woven bag came from the antiques fair at Elsecar Heritage Centre. It’s a bit unusual I thought, and I saw it just laying on a table looking like it needed a new home, and I needed a new bag, so it was meant to be! I actually bought the green bag first, but I’ve been using this one every day so far.

Gullys

I was looking for some flying ducks on Ebay the other day, as I do quite often, and I never end up getting any as the real ones are quite expensive, but then last time, I saw these seagulls and I thought they were really cool! They aren’t instead of ducks, I will get ducks, but these are equally as good. They’re metal and there was only two of them, so I’m not sure if there used to be three of if they only came as a pair. They’re going up in the front room over the door I think.

Shelf!

I will sand them down before they go on the wall

I got this small shelf unit from Oxfam at Broomhill. The paint is flaking off a bit, it looks like it’s been re-painted quite a few times in it’s life. I’m going to sand it down and put it up in the kitchen, coz we haven’t really got any shelves in the kitchen.

Circle

On 14th August we went to the closing down sale at Aalto Moderna on Oakbrook Road, Sheffield. It was the last day, the closing down day, and lots of things had already gone, so the shop was quite empty and it was a bit sad. I think it’s a real shame that this shop has shut as it had some lovely vintage things including ceramics, furniture and clothing. Lots of the things were just not in our price range, but I did like looking at everything, so I’m sad to see it go. Good news though because Aalto Moderna are continuing to trade online, so you can still check out all the lovely things on the website. This wall hanging was just inside the door and I saw it from the opposite side of the room and thought it was clock when I was looking from afar! It sort of reminds me of things that were around in people’s houses when I was little, although I can’t remember actually ever seeing anything specifically quite like it. The lady in the shop said she wasn’t sure where it had come from exactly. Maybe it was hand made by somebody? I feel like it probably dates from the 70s. I love the fact that its so bright and colourful. I want to put it on the staircase I think so I see it every time I go up!

The curtain!

Curtain close-up

I love the colours, the design, the look of it and everything about it

I was in this shop on Sharrowvale Road last week, called the X shop, I always go in there for a look when I’m round that way, and at the back they have a section with some clothes and old curtains and pieces of fabric and stuff, and I found this one random curtain on it’s own. It is the perfect size for the window on our landing though, it’s as if it was made for it, I knew it would be perfect when I saw it. I’ve made it into two curtains now, but we haven’t put them up yet. I can’t wait to see them up at the window!

And that’s the end of my spend up for now, think of all that money I’ve spent and most of it has gone to good causes. I’m sure there’ll be more to come soon. If you read through all that and didn’t get bored then well done. I’m off for a few wines now, nighty night! xx

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