Where there's muck there's brass !

17 Oct 2011

I receive many comments about how lovely the items are I find at boot sales and how immaculate they look. In most cases I don't buy them this way, many are overlooked by other buyers because of the condition they are in. Some of my best buys have been buried under layers of dirt,dust and rubbish, just screaming out for a good wash.

Todays haul was no exception. There seems to be an increase in "man with a van" types turning up at my local Sunday morning boot sale, they unload box after box of household items that have clearly been aquired from house clearances. Many probably sitting in attics for years or in the cupboards of the elderly and infirm. This is a double edged sword for me as I often feel a pang of sadness for the life that has been and the fact that many treasured possessions end up this way, but then I feel cheered by the knowledge that hopefully they would be pleased to know I rescue their items and they go onto be loved again.

BEFORE (although you can't really see how filthy the water jugs and cake stand were). See the wire attached to the aqua dishess ! Why would you hang these on the wall ? Most odd.

AFTER

A good long soak in hot soapy water, bit of a wash with bicarbe and how fab do they look.

I might have to keep these aqua plates and dishes for a while, each one has a different flower design painted onto it, I love them !

Beautiful heavy Aqua coloured glass jug (was full of sediment and yuck in the bottom & sides) Hot water, bicarb and a good soak and it looks fab!

Don't be scared to barter the price, the lady initially asked for £5 for this little lot, when I pointed out the condition and the missing saucers I got them all for £3. Washed up a treat, lovely Duchess English Bone China.

Take a moment to pop over to MagpieMonday and see what the other ladies have been upto this week.

Stool Makeover

26 Sept 2011

Hubby and I are spending most evenings painting old furniture and hopefully transforming them to be sold and reloved all over again. We are still new to this and in our eagerness to get working, we often forget to take the necessary "before" pictures. Many apologies that I don't have any for this piece, but take it from me, it was a very sad, unloved piano or bedroom stool with an awful tatty seat cover. I hope you like what I have done with it.

The wood was a very dirty yellow colour, I rubbed it all down and gave it a light coat of white paint, when it was dry I gave it a rub over with light sandpaper. This revealed some of the original yellow paint underneath and also gave the stool a distressed appearance. Once I was happy with the appearance I rubbed in some Annie Sloan clear wax to protect.

I covered the seat in a lovely material remnant purchased from my good friend Helen's ETSY Shop, isn't it just the perfect match !

More items soon. If you are interested this piece is available for sale : ) .

Charity shop hopping

12 Sept 2011

I didn't manage the boot sale this week, partly because hubby was working and partly due to a late night on Saturday at a friends 40th Birthday party. I did though, manage a few trips to the local charity shops last week including the very upmarket one in Topsham (average price of a house there is around £600,000) !

Here is what I found

Two cups, four saucers and 6 side plates in the prettiest pale pink with a lovely turquoise pattern. Unusual combination but think it works really well. Super fine bone china too. A total steal at 10p per item !!!

Following on the pink theme (there was a lot of pink around in the shops last week for some reason) Pretty Rosa J & G Meakin dinner plate. 10p !!

A pretty pink unmarked jug found in Topsham for the very reasonable sum of £2

some more pink china, found five of these Colclough cups for £2 each and the saucers and side plates were in a basket marked 20p in the Topsham shop. I think they go really well together .

I found this beautiful child's real feather down Eiderdown in my local charity shop. It is the most gorgeous Rose Pink colour and is really heavy. Reminded me of childhood, long before duvets were invented and we used to have sheets, blankets and if we were really lucky in the winter (no central heating in our bedrooms) we would borrow a big thick Eiderdown from a relative. I can still remember the weight of these things, they really kept you warm and snug even when you could see your own breath, because your room was so cold.

This would look absolutely stunning on the bed of a little girl in a shabby chic style bedroom,

Whenever I go to Topsham I always make a point of popping into the Quay Antiques Centre its packed full of Vintage wares . Everything you can think off, some of it way out of my price range but also lots of gems. I found these beautiful opaque plates for a total steal. In fact I think the dealer must have forgotten about them, they were tucked away on a bottom shelf, gathering dust. I loved them and was more than happy to pay the asking price especially as when I went further along into the store, I found two other dealers selling the exact same individual plates for the same price I paid for one centre plate and four side plates !

Finally, my favourite charity shop has an extensive book section. I always take a peak to see what's in as I love books with a passion. Last week I found this beautiful, beautiful book entitled Hugh Casson's LONDON. It's an absolute feast of water colour pictures from in and around London. All painted by the Artist Hugh Casson and including memories and information on the places from Hugh himself. It's a Divine book and cost me just £1.

One thing that really touches me when I buy books second hand is if they have personal messages inside the front cover.

why did Pippa give this book away ? Who was Paul ? I adore all things vintage and reloved from charity shops for that alone..... The history, the story ...