Calico Angels

6 Jul 2011

So many talented people around. Take a look at the work of a lovely lady called Penny, she is one of the mum's at No1 son's school who regularly comes along to help with the school fete. I am amazed by her talent and have said she should be selling her beautiful creations. She seems oblivious to how wonderful her items are so I offered to pop a few of them on my blog, in my Etsy shop and to also take some along with me to The Exeter Vintage and Handmade Event I am selling at on the 16th July. I am certain people will buy. Penny very generously gave me an offer price for my readers, so if you would like anything featured here, please buy before the 16th July.

Traditional English Ragdolls, completely hand crafted. The attention to detail is wonderful, from the "rouge" cheeks to the tiny buttons sewn onto the boots. Penny tries where possible to use vintage materials for the clothes and also has a wonderful "vintaged paint effect" for the stockings and boots. Each one is different. Penny can even make you a personalised doll, if you send her a photograph she will make a doll with the same colour and style of hair, matching eye colour and will even try to match an outfit for you !

Standard Ragdolls - the four on the lower two steps are available to my readers for £19.50 !!! a total steal for the amount of love and craftsmanship that has gone into them. Normal price will be £39.50.

The Ppersonalised Ragdoll - largest on the top step is on offer to my readers for £35. Normal price will be £60.

Penny decided to bring along a selection of these pretty little birds to the summer fete and they were all snapped up immediatelyy (she seemed totally overwhelmed and surprised)! I managed to grab this one out of the hands of the headmistress! Well my need was greater. All her own design, they have lovely hand stitched detail with gorgeous beads and graduated hearts. She can make them in any colour combination you like. Special offer price to my readers of just £10 !

These Calico hearts are sure to be a best seller I am convinced! Each one is hand painted with an original design and then Penny uses "vintage distressing" to give a wonderful soft effect to the design. Softest pastel colours and each one an individual work of art.

Available for £5 for my readers - normal price will be £8.50

If you are interested in buying any of the items above, please let me know in the comments below and I will be in touch.

THANK YOU

I've discovered a secret weapon !

4 Jul 2011

This weekend we thought it was about time we sold at the boot sale rather than buy. I spent a few hours on Saturday opening cupboards and sorting out clothes. I put together a respectable selection of bits and bobs, nothing to set the world alight but probably make us about £50 I thought.

We were up bright and VERY early at 5.00am, waking the twins (oh what a pleasure that was to turn the tables on them for a change ) . Seems the World and his dog decided to sell at Exeter cattle market this week. It took us over half an hour to get in. We unpacked and were immediately set upon, the early morning rush began in earnest, women pulling clothes off the rails and out of boxes "How much ! How much ? for this and this and this. " My poor hubby, not used to this kind of female frenzy decided to take the twins for a little "walk" . I knew what he was upto, he wanted to mooch the other stalls. Off he went leaving me to deal with the hoards. An hour or so later he emerged, Jarvis had acquired one of those horrific plastic, battery operated guitars and Milo a bag full of lego. By this time I was bursting for the loo and desperate to take a look around myself. I made my excuses, gave hubby vague instructions on our prices and wandered off with a casual remark to call me on my mobile if he got stuck. I didn't expect much from him but as trade was slack, he was not likely to do too much damage.

Within a few paces I found this beauty

Gorgeous cast iron well, "iron" I love it, rust and all, its really heavy, perfect for holding open the door. Bit pricey at £3 but I figured I had sold a few bits so why not.

A little further along I happened upon this tray full of cutlery !

A quick google when we got home revealed they are a varied selection of EPNS varying in date from the 1920's to 1960's. In need of a good clean but I loved the shapes, initials and weight of them all. A total steal for £5 including the tray !

This little lot was a bit weighty so as I was only a minute from our pitch I decided to pop back to hubby and drop them off. Wow! He was doing a roaring trade, surrounded by women all giggling and laughing "oh really" "that's a good price" "your boys are gorgeous" natter, natter, natter. ! Hhhmm! I bet he's selling all my precious stuff off for pennies . Not so, he had doubled the prices I had given him and the women were falling over themselves to buy the stuff ! I HAVE A SECRET WEAPON! WooP ! What a winner, not only can I sell at the boot sale, I can leave my hubby to sell too whilst I go shop ! RESULT!

I dropped off my treasure and popped off for a bit more retail therapy.

The chap selling these serving dishes was so desperate to pack up and go home he almost begged me to take them. "I really don't want to take them home again, they belonged to my gran, you can have all of the for £1.50"!

They are in need of a tiny bit of TLC but the glass Pyrex serving dishes are in perfect condition.

What about this gorgeous quilt, it was well hidden under some old sheets and covers, but one look at the kind of things the lady was selling made me investigate further. I was so glad I did. Its handmade and more than covers a standard double bed. As soon as I got home I popped it in the washing machine and hung it out to dry in the glorious sunshine. Apologies for the photographs, I was unable to get the whole quilt in the pics and it was blowing a bit, but I am sure you will agree its a beauty of a quilt for £8!

I am always on the lookout for lampshades, especially these gathered material type. The pink one is Laura Ashley and really well made, the White one is quite old and has an old style fixing but hubby assures me we can get the necessary widget to make it fit either a lamp or hanging fitting. The pale pink one was £3 and the white one just 50p ! again, the lady just wanted rid, and as I had hesitated because of the fitting she said "please take it for 50p" ! Ho could I refuse, it still has its original cellophane wrapping.

Finally, this little trio of royal standard fine bone china pretty cups. No saucers but a steal for 50p each.

All in all not a bad day at all. When I got back to our pitch hubby had done a roaring trade, so not only was I able to have an unexpected shopping spree but we also came home with a lot more pennies in the purse than we expected.

RESULT !

Please pop over to Lizzie's MagpieMonday to see what the other ladies have found this week xx

Another Project to add to the list

16 Jun 2011

I was thrilled to bits when hubby won this unit on Ebay. He has taken to bidding on items that are collection only within a 25 mile radius of our home. It is proving very lucrative, we won this item for £21. Its in a sorry state and needs lots of love and care, but I just know once we have given it "the White Approach" treatment it will be a lovely piece of furniture. We plan to pop it in one of the alcoves on one side of the fireplace in our living room. Hubby is building a custom computer unit with a bookcase above in the alcove on the otherside of the fireplace. So this lovely piece will balance it out beautifully.

I have no idea when we will find the time to renovate it, but will be sure to show you all when its complete. Along with the living room makeover which is the last room to be completed in our home. Just need to find somebody to make me loose covers for the sofa and new curtains and we will be done.

AGZB8NYXCY5U

Rain ! Rain! Rain!

13 Jun 2011

Rain! Rain! go away,

come back, but not on a boot sale day !

Sadly I was unable to go to my beloved boot sale this week due to the non stop rain, but also because it was No 1 son's 16th Birthday and Grandma came to stay. We have been very busy, I did have a few hours while Grandma entertained the boys to get my Vintage China business up and running, please pop over and like my facebook page. I am really pleased with the welcome page The White Approach.

Here are some pieces I have picked up on previous bargain hunts.

Totally immaculate bright sunny yellow metal scales. Purchased, well I say purchased he sold them to me for £1 !! about a month ago. TIP : If you see a young lad selling off his grannies items, pounce on him. He will have no idea of their Thrifty, vintage value.

In my favourite charity shop in the world, tucked way out in the back. They have a shelf where they pop candle votives, marked 10p ! Its the place I look second, after the china shelf. I have so far managed to pick up about 10 glass candle holders. You can never have enough pretty candles scattered around your home. From the dining table to the bathroom. I adore candles .

Along from the glass shelf are the boxes that hold the cups and saucers. 50p per cup and 50p per saucer. I scoop them up on a regular basis. Whether I can find matching sets or not. These are rarely the gorgeous English bone china ones that I covert, but occasionally a gem surfaces.