Enamelware Goodies

While my husband and I were busy all weekend painting the porch, my mum was off at garage sales. As we are busy painting, my mum calls, my husband answers and tells me she wants to speak to me. As busy as I was, I am glad I took the call. She was at a garage sale where the woman was getting rid of all her enamelware. I quickly shot over (after telling my husband, "My mother needs me") and got these lovely pieces. A white bucket for planting flowers, a white jug and the soon to be favourite, baby blue teapot/coffee pot. It truly is baby blue. Not this colour my camera has chosen to show.

Really, it is blue.

And a few other treasures I have picked up along the way. A charming jam pot already low on jam! A lovely refrigerator box and these adorable plates.


I love the rosy trim with the blue. So delightful, I just wish there had been more, I only found 3 of them.

The little white lantern was picked up as well. Blimey! Who can pass up $1.99 with the candle too? (Even if you already have too many to count, they are great to have)

Oh and the wicker sale. Just kidding. This is the porch furniture waiting to go back as soon as the floor dries. Please ignore the major construction going on next door. Speaking of which, would you be angry if you constantly had strangers up your driveway almost in your back garden at least once a day? This gets me mad. People checking out the renovation next door. No problem. But not on my property, please! My youngest is eleven and I really do not need strangers in my back garden especially if my daughter is playing back there. Do you think I should put a PRIVATE PROPERTY sign out? I really don't think it will stop them. Do you know I have had one man get mad at me for telling him to move? Just a little venting, thank you. Moving right along...

My little rosy mat for the porch. And a peek at my very bright blue toenail polish.

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Believe me there is much more going on in my life but I feel I can only give you little tidbits, lest you nod off in your cuppa...

Happy Monday, girlies!

More Sad and Shabby News

Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic fame has filed for Bankruptcy Protection categorised as Chapter 11 in the United States. How sad. You can read her blog entry here. I do not know if this is just for her stores or for the merchandise she sells at Target as well.

I know during these tough economic times there really isn't any company that is safe but I thought there was a real resurgence going on with that kind of decorating and style. I wonder though, as her Shabby Home products were terribly expensive. Perhaps that has bearing on it.

We shall see how much her items increase in value on ebay.


PS I am without my desktop for a few days while it is in for repair. Posts may be sporadic. But I am reading all of you on my daughter's laptop.

Lisa xo

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Ladies, please tell me your secret

Really, how do you get things done? How do you not fall behind on housework, ironing, laundry, the list goes on.

I am perpetually behind. I know I get lost on bloglines (144 and counting), and I sit and stare into flowers in a jug or breezing through magazines and books but I can't be wasting that much time can I? I did have a few appointments this week, the dentist and the doctor (another sinus infection) but I should not be this far behind in everything.

On the way home from the doctor I slipped in to the charity shop and picked up a few items. (See how I try and coordinate my time and errands?) A pretty old painting with peonies.

Oh, and the lampshade as well. This was 5.99 with the price tag still on it. Can you believe it was selling for 119.00 in the store?

And the pillow with the original rose ticking.


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I am now going to clean.


PS When I get my kitchen cupboards painted you all will be the first to see my kitchen

And then there were none...

We are down to our last camera. And it doesn't seem like it is long for this world. It kept shutting off while I was trying to take these pictures. Oh, boy. Who was talking about this kind of stuff happening in threes? Someone in blogland. Well, I dropped the iron today. I don't mean a gentle slip from the ironing board on to the carpet. I mean a "what the heck is stuck to the bloody ironing board, why isn't coming with me?" Yank, pull, ooops. It ricocheted off the dryer before it bounced on the concrete floor. Now that still works. This little spot in the family room/kitchen got a little makeover. Well, not really a makeover just a new table. Okay, new to me. Mother gave it to me and I painted it. It was a deep Chinese red. Really red. Super red. I feel calmer with it white. Above is the lovely print my parents got me for my birthday last year. Remember I just happened to have an antique frame the exact size hidden under my bed?

Moving on. A cute jug I found while I was away. $1.99 well spent, I must say. The hydrangeas are from the garden. They are lovely shades of purple, mauve, blue and blue/green.

Elderberry Syrup. That's what this will be in another half hour. Elizabeth gave me a great idea. Finally, the bane of my existence may somehow be beneficial. I say this because the bleedin' bush is so enormous now it has crept into the neighbours yard and is beginning to take over there as well. They may make me start paying rent. It is humongous, so it better start paying its way.

I Lied

I know I said I would post yesterday but problems ensued. We have been without phone service for a week and a half (Bell Canada I hate you) and the new guy (Rogers Home Phone I love you) came yesterday. Well it took much longer than anticipated and the day kind of went to hell in a handbasket if you want the truth. But enough about me.

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Let's talk about the lovely Leisa. I won a contest from her blog and didn't she send me the prettiest goodies? The cutest candle cupcake, a charming heart and from the Queen of all Good Things, Cath Kidston tissues. Many, many thanks, Leisa, to send me all this loveliness all the way from Australia.

And a few bits and bobs I picked up on vacation. A Limoges saucer, another rosy saucer, a candle with, what else, roses, a duck egg coloured pot and some pillow ticking that is ages old but adorable. There were pillowslips as well, but they are already ironed and on beds.

Next, my favourite ladies, I have a challenge for you. Specifically those across the pond. I had a reader email me asking where she can purchase some sticky back paper in the UK. She loved the ones I showed you from the laundry room, however, she cannot seem to find it anywhere over there. Here we call it MacTac. That is a brand name that actually is no longer produced anymore. I do not have the packaging from these ones and am not sure who the manufacturer was and if it was Canadian or American. In the UK I believe you refer to it as ?Fablon? If you know where to get this or similar could you let me know? Thanks a bunch.

I still have so much more to tell you. I have had pictures stored on the computer to show you, more vacations pictures, websites I have come across that I know you will love and so many other things but this life thing is just getting in the way. I will be back shortly, and have I told you lately?

Thanks for taking the time to visit, your comments always make my day a little better.

Saturday

Sad ~ because it is almost 40 degrees with the humidity and too hot to sit in my favourite spot in the garden
Overwhelmed ~ because my mother picked this up for me at a church sale and only paid 50 cents for it

Happy ~ because the ripple blanket is so beautiful and tranquil to crochet and so very pleased with the yarn

Giddy ~ because things are really starting to bloom, finally

Happy Weekend!

Vintage Linens

We all know how low I was on blankets, so Saturday I rushed out to the Christie's Sale and searched high and low for vintage quilts, comforters and eiderdowns. Thank goodness I found some. What would we have done without them? Especially since today should be a chilly 27 degrees Celsius. What was I thinking?
Seriously, did I need more blankets? I am so addicted it's not funny. And I just could not pass them up. The top one was just so gorgeous with the satin inset and the pattern on the second one with the roses and the greens and blues, well what can I say? It was $20, once told that there was no going back. There is no rhyme or reason, just beauty. They are all washed, clothesline dried and fluffed from the dryer.

The wicker rocker was picked up at a garage sale on the way home. Again, who can pass up deals? I have no idea where its permanent home will be but blimey, it was $15. We also stopped at Hortico on the way back and what a wonderful nursery. I finally picked up the rose I wanted so terribly and spent yesterday doing more planting and moving about. Now I want the temperature to drop so I can sit in the garden with a cup of tea, my new rocker and one of these gorgeous blankets.

Elegant vs. Shabby Vintage

This is my little family room that is actually just a big kitchen but this is what we call it. As a result the sofa is sat on quite a bit as the moment someone comes into this room they sit on the sofa. There is a kitchen table to the left of this, literally just four or five feet away. But people (my kids) feel the need to sit here to eat their snacks, goop and all around messy stuff. So I pretend that life is all velvet, roses and non staining white wine while I clean and tidy up and then back to reality.
So I always have to have some kind of covering on it. This is what it looks like in real life. At the moment I am using the most beautiful chenille bedspread in a duck eggy kind of blue. The sofa is almost the same colour. This makes me cheery. It also gives me some kind of insurance against the inevitable "spill". But most often it is covered in a white matelasse coverlet. I was going to sell this chenille one on ebay but I just couldn't.

Two charming platters I picked up at a garage sale last weekend. I actually used them so many times already, what in heaven's name did I do without them before?

And a sweet little tablecloth that I plan to make into pillows for the iron bench outside.

The contest will be extended til Tuesday as I totally forgot this was the holiday weekend here and will be entertaining pretty much all three days. So if you haven't commented, while why the heck not?

Have a lovely, peaceful and serene weekend.

See you on Tuesday!

Pinking Fears

Is it possible to have too much pink? Too many flowers? My quest to beautify this home seems to lead to roses, pinks and overall femininity. Do I sometimes forget there is a man in this home that happily cohabitates with four females? Should I be concerned? My latest purchases seem to obliterate the fact that there is testosterone that floats around this home. But the need for vintage florals and roses is just too strong to ignore.
As you can see between Spring rummage sales and awesome deals on ebay the beautification continues. The plate (I know, I do think I have one very similar), the creamer and the jam pot were found at a church sale on the weekend. The sugar pot is an ebay find that replaces the exact one DN2 broke at Easter at Mum's. She looooved this sugar pot that was found at a Quebec farmhouse about 20 years ago with cement mixed inside of it. I just know I paid more for it than she did! The basket was found for 2.00 and has a top on it that folds over with a dowel inside to keep dust off? The lovely ticking fabric is another ebay find. How can you give up 5 yards of Laura Ashley for 8.00? Wouldn't it make a great tablecloth? Not sure yet what to do with it. But it is delightful.

The adorable linen tea towel was 10 cents.

And, of course, tulips. Our outdoor ones are barely peeking above the soil. Spring has not quite sprung yet but the temperatures are starting to rise. Thank Goodness. Did anyone see the snow that fell on London a few days ago? Wouldn't that have been more welcome about 5 months ago?

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I am trying to organise the blogs I read on my sidebar, so if you are missing, you needn't worry, you'll be back! Thanks for visiting I do love all your comments, they never fail to put a smile on my face ;)

Estate Sale

Some little thrifty deals I have picked up in the last week or two. A sewing manual by Reader's Digest, the most beautiful edition of "Cider with Rosie", a square plate with blossoms, an enamel bowl with a delightful floral motif, another Cath Kidstonish pillowslip and some vases. The green one on the left is a hyacinth vase.

Isn't the spotty cover adorable? I just love the illustrations in this book. They are divine. You simply must read this book. So endearing. The author is Laurie Lee and his writing is captivating.

And a picture of a rug I picked up for the girl's bathroom. Soft pastel blues and greens.



Oh, and just in case anyone was interested in moving, Skeffington House is for sale. This home belonged to my ancestors at one time and is now available for the princely sum of 1.95 million pounds. All offers will be considered.

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Have a great weekend! And thanks for stopping by.

Too Many Gifts for Me

Yesterday, I decided to take a bit of me time and go shopping. There is a lovely little "village" not far from where I live that has wonderful shops, bakeries and delicatessens. I love shopping there especially if the weather is not inclement. While browsing a funny little floral shop, I found this charming hand painted wooden tray. It looks perfect with the needlepoint cushions on the sofa (which I didn't photograph, seriously, who am I kidding, will I ever get this photography thing or what?) Pretend the deep pink tulips there have already bloomed. Cute or what?
So mother came for tea today. As I greet her at the door, I notice a package sticking out of the post box. Jeez, doesn't that adorable little bird look familiar? Why yes, I do know that bird, it is a parcel from Claire Louise Milne, illustrator extraordinaire. Claire won a little giveaway I had a few months back and doesn't she mail me something. How sweet is that. Certainly unnecessary but completely appreciated. In case you cannot see (and aren't nosy enough like me and click on the picture to get a better view of blog pics), there is the most darling ribbon, delightful buttons, fabric in pinks and greens (how well does this woman know me?) and a thoroughly enjoyable copy of Canadian Home and Country which, by the way, is full of pinks and greens.


Thank you so very much, Claire.

I Need More Time

Don't you just love Blogger? You are never quite sure where your uploaded photos will end up. Big, small, here, there, it's like a game, actually. Anyhow, here are a couple of goodies I have found recently. A beautiful green tole tray, a brass french horn lamp and about 3 yards of the most softest green velvet.



I also thought I would give you a shot of my oversize poinsetta my father brought me today. It is so large the only spot it will fit and look decent is in the corner of my diningroom. I tried it on the table but it takes up over half of it.


And here is the tree. Decorated, with presents. I still need more time. I can't understand how all these other ladies do it. They are sending orders out, baking, decorating... I'm lucky if I can still serve a hot meal for dinner.

By the way, did I mention we got over 25cm of snow on Sunday? I am so hoping it will stay for the big day. Makes things awfully cosy feeling here.

Vintage Roses

I seem to be collecting quite a few pieces with roses. Have we noticed that? The cake plate and server are James Kent Old Foley and it is magnificent. I think I will be putting it on ebay as I have so many cake plates already. But this is pristine. And to have the server, well that's just too beautiful. The teapot is also James Kent but I am keeping that. It holds two cups of tea and that is perfect when it is just me in the house having tea. The little creamer was too cute to pass up, with its little tiny rosebuds.
Look at the detail on the server. Oooooh I am so tempted to keep this!

On to other interesting little tidbits of my life. Do you know what the definition is for "magpie"? It is "a person who collects or hoards things".
Can I tell you how happy I am that I found The Vintage Magpie? And how delighted I am that she collects and hoards things? Like lovely buttons, charming fabric and delightful trimmmings?
I received this package in the mail today with my new bag made by Nicola. She also made me a wonderful tissue holder I boldly asked her to make to go with the bag.

Thank you so much, Nicola.