A Hello and a Catch up...

Firstly, I must thank you all for your lovely comments about my bicycle.

I have such super feedback and admiring glances when I use it that I know I'm a really lucky girl to be given such a wonderful gift from Mr B.

(And yes, Mrs C I really need to look for a way to attach the vintage picnic hamper to the back as it does look so perfect!).

I have changed my mind yet again about how to decorate the kitchen - instead of a feature wall (after buying 3 different wallpapers - luckily none of them expensive), I am just going with all plain painted walls. The reason is this...

the most gorgeous fabric that I have found for the roman blinds.

I love birds but I don't love making blinds or curtains, I think though, with such beautiful fabric it's going to be a real labour of love this time.

 

I have been doing some research for a project I've been thinking about doing for a long time, my work colleague has convinced me to give it a go sooner rather than later - I'll keep you posted (it's going to be a steep learning curve)!

 

Earlier today I popped into town to have lunch with a couple of friends and came back with these

 

  I don't ever wear my hair up but whilst reading this book

I came across a tip to use elastic hair bands as closures, one of those things that seem so obvious that I wonder why I've not thought of it!

Our annual holiday is coming up soon and I want a portable project to take with me, inspired by an earlier project of mine (above) I have been preparing to make some mini patchwork pieces to then embroider or applique a picture on  (see here for the original post) so I'm off to cut out templates etc.

OOh, I almost forgot to show you my little charity shop haul today...

all of this for under £5 - I'm very happy!

Hope you are all having a fab week so far, what's the weather like with you? Here it is drab and grey but dry - good for getting things done!!



The Wanderer Returns ....yet again!

Oh yes, you can't get rid of me that easily, I keep popping up!!

I have a good reason for being absent...really, here's a clue...

the dreaded decorating!

It's still not quite finished but we're nearly there.

We have an old house and several things cropped up that needed fixing so it's taken longer than anticipated, you know what it's like...

Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea of where we're going

wallpaper

 

pictures ready for framing.

 I LOVE these!

Mr B and myself both work in libraries, these are printed on old dictionary pages so, as well as being gorgeous they also seemed appropriate. I got them from here and the only problem was choosing as I loved everything!

I'll be going back for more.

 

We did have a break from the decorating when our next door neighbours held a garden party as part of the Big Lunch event. Sadly, us (including Youngest Boy) and one other couple were the only ones to turn up. It was a lovely spread (all the more for us) and M had worked so hard.

Here is our contribution

 

Yesterday, I popped in to town to meet a couple of friends that I don't see enough of. After a lovely lunch I had a look around the charity shops and here is my little haul

a jelly mould, I'm collecting them to make 'Kitchen Candles' to sell at the craft fairs, the sugar tongs and little teapot are also for the CF, we're collecting vintage china for the tea room. The tiny candelabra is just the right size for birthday cake candles, I'm planning to spray paint it and use it on birthday cakes. Only two of the cotton reels are wooden but great value anyway as I get through a lot of thread.

Then I popped into M&S to say a quick 'hello' to a friend who works there, saw this cardigan and bought it on impulse.

It's got to be the perfect summer cardigan, surely. Stripes, dots and bunting!! However, I'm not 100% sure I'm keeping it because A) I have many, many cardigans and B) I'm hoping for a summer where cardigans won't be necessary!

Finally, I must show you these

that I found here.

I had planned to give these away with a cupcake from a recently opened bakery a few minutes away from us, for birthdays etc. As soon as I saw them I knew I wouldn't be doing that, they are just too lovely to part with and I do always eat my cake with a cake fork...

 

I hope you are all having the super weather we are here.

I'm off to work shortly and the garden doors will be open for sure!

Just time to catch up on a few of your blogs...

 

Thrifty Thursday

I had to pop to the local shops this morning and thought I'd have a quick snoop in the Charity Shops. Managed to find a few nice bits, and left some for other people (only slightly regretting that!)

Found this dinky tray, only about 5" x 3", it is really sweet.

On the advice of Helen, some jewellery to use as embellishments for Altered Art/Stamping.

Some vintage bag handles, let's see how long it takes me to use them shall we?!

I have rather an ugly breeze block wall next to one of my seating areas in the garden, it's the side of next door's garage. Over the years I've tried to disguise it as much as possible.

It does look better in the summer with all the flowering plants, but it's still not the most attractive space. I was rather taken with this idea, seen in this months Making magazine so I've been collecting plates, this morning I found the birdy one.

I also found this engraving of a woodpecker on slate that I thought would look good in the garden.

I'm really excited about the summer and decorating the garden. We eat out there a fair bit in the nice weather.

Do you see your garden as another room to decorate, or is your garden more practical?

If my garden was bigger I'd love a veggie patch!

I'd like to end this post by welcoming all my followers, thanks so much and thank you to everyone else who takes the time to read my blog and comment.

Thanks for visiting me

(come back Monday for next weeks giveaway!)

xXx

Thrifty Finds

For weeks now (since before Christmas really) I've had no luck with my charity shop shopping. This week it all changed though! I've had some great finds. I'd like to share them with you, if you don't mind.

I found this hamper in a charity shop in my home town of Broadwater, it has no age to it but I like the colour and hampers are so useful for storage. At the same time I found this old cardboard suitcase. Unfortunately, I've had to give it to my youngest son as I promised I'd look out for one for him. His room is very modern so it was a bit of a surprise that he wanted one at all!

It looks a lot shabbier in this picture than it actually is (but it is shabby and rusty).

I've found quite a lot of glass this week and here is what I've bought.

Vanity jars that I believe are Victorian. The silver plate has worn off the lids but they are still very pretty. I'm planning to put them in our bathroom when it's redecorated, we had a leak and then had to have the shower replaced so it's a big mess at the moment.

I will add the jelly mould to the others I have and I am intending to fill them with candle wax one day. The screw top bottle is a nice shape, I don't have any definite plans as yet but I'm sure it will come in useful and it was only 25p! The perfume bottle was also 25p and I just think it's a pretty design. My favourite find of the week is the huge screw top jar, I can't wait to fill it with buttons (what else?!)

Here are the rest of this weeks finds. A Ladybird book to add to what is becoming a collection, I originally bought them to cut up for papercrafts but haven't been able to bring myself to. I will paint the mirror frame and either put it in our bedroom or the bathroom, although I am collecting round mirrors to go in there....The picture is hand painted and will probably go in our bedroom, I may paint the frame. I will definitely paint the other frame and have an idea for what to display in it. The hoop will probably be used to display favourite fabric and I couldn't come home without the mother of pearl buttons.

( The light fitting reflected in the mirror still has Christmas decorations hung from it. I couldn't bear to take them down! They are shiny owls and garden birds)

Have you had much luck this week? I'd love to know what your favourite charity shop find of all time is.

Please tell!