Pearl the swan, plus more

Hello…this blog entry is going to be another update on all the things I’ve recently found in charity shops, antique fairs and on Ebay. It’s my favourite obsession! I love getting random stuff for the house, and I feel like I’ve been on a bit of a spree these last few weeks. Wherever I’ve been, I seem to have kept finding stuff which I just cannot live without. I feel like I go through phases where I either don’t see anything that takes my fancy at all, or, I see loads of stuff all at once! I like to document it all on here as you may or may not know, that is how obsessed I have become!

The first thing is this cushion which I got from Ebay a few weeks back. According to the listing, it was hand-knitted in the 60s, following a 50s pattern. I like the handmade look, the homely feel and the fact it’s a bit unusual.  It reminds me of something you’d see in old peoples houses when you were little.

Vintage knitted circle

Also from Ebay is this string holder by Arthur Wood. I feel like I want to get a collection of string holders going since I got the cat one before! This dog one actually arrived with some string and scissors included which I was very impressed with. Whenever I’ve seen these in antique places they’ve always been more expensive than if you get one from Ebay.

'Barking'

I’ve been keeping an eye out for some old picture frames in charity shops as I’ve got some photos and a print I need to frame. We went into St. Lukes Hospice charity shop on Abbeydale Road a few weeks back, and there were loads of different frames I liked, but unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I really liked all the pictures in them aswell! We ended up getting 5 framed pictures, plus a random painting, and only one empty frame which I will actually use for one of my photos.

Rosier d'Amour and Rosier Turbine sans epines - grannyish pics

Two birds by 'Saron'

Pig eating apples

'The age of Innocence' by Vernon Ward - I love this one the most I think

I’ve got no idea who this next painting is by. It’s an original painting on a canvas board, and we were both really drawn to it because it’s so random! Look how cheerful it is! I wonder who painted it, and who the man is? I’d love to know!

Mystery man

We splashed out on a rug. It wasn’t essential that we bought a rug as we have one which is perfectly ok. But this rug had been at the Antique Centre for ages, folded up on the floor and kind of dumped in a corner. We’d seen it loads of times, and I’d even briefly looked at it a couple of times in passing. And then one day, we decided to unfold it and look at it properly and we thought it was really cool. I don’t understand why, in these places, they display stuff in such a rubbish way. They would have sold the rug ages ago if people could have seen it. I don’t know how old it is but it’s clean and in good condition except for some thin patches. I’m glad we’ve given it a new home. I think it looks good in the front room.

The rug

Floral pattern

Also from the Sheffield Antique Centre came this small plate. I love plates. This one says ‘Heathcote China’ on the back. I love yellow, and I like the black edging. It looks really old fashioned. I’m not sure how old it is. There were a whole set of these for sale, there were about 10 of them and they were being sold individually, so if you’re quite jealous now and feel desperate to get one, then you could if you wanted.

Best bone

This glass bowl came from the Barnsley Hospice shop on The Arcade. It was in the window when I spied it.

An old lady's trifle bowl

I feel it’s the kind of bowl that old people would use for a homemade trifle. I can imagine it being brought out at Christmas and at parties over the years – every time with a trifle in it.

Textured glass

Think of all the trifles

A couple of weekends ago I went back home (Yeovil) for a couple of days to visit my parents, and while I was there, a tour of the charity shops was top priority! There are many in Yeovil, and if I’d had time I would’ve liked to have visited the ones in surrounding areas aswell, but this will have to wait till the next visit. Last time I went back, I don’t think I ended up finding anything I liked, but this time was a different matter altogether.

I saw these 4 mugs in The British Heart Foundation shop on Middle Street, and decided to get them. I see odd ones here and there really often. They remind me of being at University, I’m sure we had some of these in our kitchen at one point. Anyway I decided to get them…I think there are others in the set, which I might get if I see.

Common soup cups

Also from the British Heart Foundation came this hand-painted wooden wall plaque.

Wall plaque

In Oxfam, I found this nice tray. It isn’t glass, it’s hard plastic, with printed fruits. The tray has little handles and ball feet. I’ve no idea how old it is or anything, but since I’ve been back in Sheffield, I’ve been in the Broomhill Oxfam and seen one exactly the same, but with a vintage motorcar design. I will use it purely for decorative purposes only.

Oxfam fruit tray

The tray - again

Cherry

Peach

This small Withernsea Fauna vase also came from Oxfam. There are usually quite a few of these about on Ebay and in antique places. Some of them are Hornsea, and some are Withernsea. The Fauna range was originally produced by Hornsea potteries during the 50s, and continued as Fauna Royal during the 60s. Then in the late 60s, Hornsea ceased producing Fauna Royal in order to concentrate on the production of tableware. At that point, a smaller company called Withernsea potteries, of Eastgate, bought the Fauna moulds and continued to mass produce the vases. They also produced some moulds of their own, so from what I’ve read, the quality of Eastgate produced vases can vary a lot. I think the vase from Oxfam was produced on an ex-Hornsea mould.

Withernsea Fauna fawn

There’s something about the fawn that reminds me of stuff I used to see in people’s houses when I was little. I think that’s why I like it. It’s going on the landing windowsill. Also, this is top secret, but I got it for a reduced price, because the lady on the till in Oxfam did not deem it to be as valuable as the price it was marked at! She gave me £2.00 off! Wow! Is that bad that I accepted when the money is going to charity?

Eastgate potteries, Withernsea – more info on the Eastgate ‘Fauna’ range.

In the PDSA shop, I couldn’t believe it when I saw these three Luminarc bird glasses! Last time I was home, I found one single one in a shop in South Petherton and I was really happy with it, but now I’ve got four of them I’m even happier!

My favourite bird glasses

I only need to find two more glasses and the jug now to get the whole set!

Glasses in the kitchen

At the Clic Sargent shop on Princes Street I saw this teapot, and liked the shape and pattern. It’s a Sadler one, and it’s very hard to photograph. I couldn’t get a good photo!

Sadler teapot

I’m collecting random drinking glasses, aswell as bird glasses. I liked this one in the Brainwave shop,  and it was only 25p.

Daisy glass

Here is one of my most favourite things I’ve found lately. It is a pearlised swan flower holder! It came from the Age UK shop, and I love everything about it. The pearl glaze, they way the beak and eye have been painted, the way the wing has been painted – it’s a beauty! I can’t even tell you how happy I am with it!

The swan

I don’t know how old it is, there are no markings anywhere, but it looks like the sort of thing that’s been about for years. Like the sort of thing you’d see on an old lady’s windowsill. The style of painting looks a bit Czechoslovakian, but I’ve really no idea where it’s actually from.

Top swan

I won’t use it for flowers, it will be ornamental only. I’ve been looking on Ebay and I’ve seen other swans that are nowhere as near as beautiful as this one. Every time I look at this swan I feel so glad that I found it. I’m so sad aren’t I!!?

'Pearl'

In St. Margaret’s Somerset Hospice I saw this circular plaque hanging on the wall and loved it straight away. It’s made out of plaster, and has been hand-painted. It’s got a windmill scene, with a cottage, a woman and a horse. I like the old plaster wall plaques you can get, I’d like to get some more. I’ve seen some on Ebay really similar to this one. I’ve no idea how old it is, maybe 50s at a guess – it could be older.

Plaque

Lady in red

I saw these two embroideries on the first day we went round the Yeovil charity shops and I really liked them, but didn’t get them, and then I went back for them on the last morning before we drove back!

Embroidery

Out of the two, it was the embroidery of the house that I initially liked, but the two of them were framed exactly the same and although they were priced individually, they obviously belonged together so I got them both. I really like the frames aswell. They came from the Marie Curie shop on Westminster Street.

Lovely guest

Back in Sheff, I found this 60s Avalon dressing table in Oxfam at Broomhill. I love the shape of it, it’s really simple but has a definite early 60s style, with the screw legs, and it also came with the stool. I don’t know if they originally came as a set but they look lush together. I already had a really lovely dressing table (which I also got from Broomhill Oxfam a couple of years back) but I’m way more interested in 50s/60s furniture now than I was then, which is why I decided to get this one. It’s also a bit smaller than the one I’ve got, making the room feel bigger, but there’s still with plenty of storage space (haha trying to justify my purchase).

Avalon!

At the Sheffield Antique Emporium on Clyde Street, I’d seen this amazing vintage glass cabinet the last few times we’ve been. I’d kept looking at it, and thinking how much I wanted it, but thought there was no way we could squeeze it into the front room anywhere. However, as I dwelled on it more and more, I worked out a way in my head to change the room round so we could fit it in. It was a well stressful evening moving everything (maybe because I decided to do it at about 10.30 one night!) and it’s meant we’ve had to lose a table and chairs from the kitchen, but it’s all been worth it, because I think the room looks even better now, and this cabinet is my new favourite thing! Even though one of the legs is longer than the others. It’s amazing! Its got two sliding glass doors with a floral print, and it’s been backed with wallpaper by the previous owners. I love it.

The cabinet of cabinets

Obviously I will be filling it with loads of stuff, but I took this when we’d just finished rearranging the room!

Another one of my favourite things I’ve found recently is this jug, which I found in the St. Lukes Hospice shop on Abbeydale Road last weekend. It’s a Crown Devon one with an Art Deco design, dating from the 30s. I love it so much and I can’t believe I found it. Not that I’d been looking for it, because I hadn’t, I had no idea about it until I saw it. I’ve been Googling and found some pictures of other pieces from this set, and I really want the cups and saucers and the teapot now too! Anyway, the thing I like about the jug is the fact it’s obviously been well used over the years, it’s a bit faded and had probably been in somebody’s home all their life. It’s got a history to it.

The amazing jug

www.potteryhistories.com – more info on Crown Devon Fielding’s

And some more pix of items from the same black and yellow set, which I’ve found online and put on Pinterest – Cups & saucers, cheese dish and teapot. I want them all!

Yesterday we went to the local Scouts jumble sale which is legendary and held twice a year. We always go, and always seem to find something nice, the prices are crazy and there’s always some genuine bargains, but the atmosphere is totally mental, and I always seem to end up losing my temper and have to go and wait outside to calm down!! People seem to forget themselves, going wild…clothes are piled up, curtains, tea towels, toys all over the floor, it’s a jumble in the truest sense of the word and just to witness the scene in the main hall is kind of frightening. It’s so intense. It always starts at 2.30pm, and even if you arrive 5 minutes late, you will see people already coming out with lampshades, guitars, deckchairs, allsorts! They grab whatever they can – for the carboot on Sunday no doubt! I’ve never arrived dead on half two, but I bet some people queue at the doors and sprint in when they open, like the jumble version of the first day of the sales at Selfridges!

Anyway, as always it was worth braving the crowds for as we found the following things…

A vintage glass. I’ve seen these at both Langtons Antiques and the Emporium before, and I always liked them.

Tall vintage glass - only 30p - in green and gold

We liked this plate, it’s a Queen’s China ‘Cut for Coffee’ teaplate, with a playing card theme.

Playing card plate

And last, for now, but never least, this yellow folding chair. A good old sturdy chair! I like the fact it folds, so I’ll be able to store it somewhere if it’s getting in the way. I think it will stay in the kitchen as a spare chair. Two quid for a chair, that’s the jumble plus-point.

Folding chair

Am going to try and reign it in for a bit with my spending now, for as long as I can anyway, which might not be long. I have already resisted 2 framed illustrations of scotty dogs this week, so I’m doing ok. If you made it through to the end of this blog entry, thanks for reading! X