Red, White and Blue, It was a right Royal Do !

You would have to have been from another planet not know about the Royal Wedding on Friday.  It was a glorious example of Britain at its best and I cried and laughed my way through it.  I gasped when I caught sight of the dress (Grace Kelly couldn't have done it better ).  I cried when Jerusalem was sung (forever in my mind the anthem of England), I cried for the loss of Princess Diana and how proud I am sure she would have been of her wonderful son.  I laughed at Prince William's expressions, both to his wife and his brother. 

A truly wonderful day to celebrate a marriage between two people who are so obviously in love.

This week's MagpieMonday post is a red, white and blue tribute to being British and  actually how proud I am to be English, regardless of all the problems our country faces at this time, we are still a pretty cool nation and we certainly rock when it comes to putting on a celebration.

Its also picnic season and not for me the shop bough sandwiches in a carrier back.  I love the romance of real china and pretty accessories.  I found most of these items last week during my trip to the charity shops in the neighbouring town of Topsham.

A pretty alternative to a picnic hamper or backpack.  This red, white an blue flower patchwork satchel has a plastic wipeable pockets inside making it ideal to carry food items.  It cost me £1 and is immaculate and looks unused.

In the same shop I found the gorgeous hand embroidered linen bread roll holder, again in immaculate unused condition and a steal at 50p !

Further along, I came across 4 double handled soup bowls with matching saucers (white of course) for £2, no marks, I think they are probably a recent vintage. They would be ideal for desserts on a picnic or if you are really posh how about a Gazpacho !  The large blue and white bowls are Beacon Hill by Hostess Tableware of staffordshire again quite new but really pretty and at 10p each I couldn't resist snapping the two of them up.  The small blue bowls I found with a collection of cups and saucers a while back in my regular charity shop, again 10p each. I bought the whole lot for the princely sum of about £1.20 !

I couldn't pay tribute to the royal wedding without showing you the guardsman I found a few weeks ago in my regular charity shop.  He is wooden and comes apart (child's puzzle thingy)  Doesn't he look smart !  He cost me £1 and guards the toys in the twins bedroom.  He cost £1.

How gorgeous is my Union Jack butterfly ?  I purchased this card off etsy along with several others about a year ago and made them into pictures using cheap frames from The Range.  All machine embroidered on dupone silk, far too nice to give as cards.   

My tribute to Will and Kate may you have a long and happy marriage.  

Please take a moment to pop over and see the other entries in this weeks MagpieMonday and I am also taking part in ApronThriftGirl

I miss my flowers

One of the things I miss most around my home is all the flowers I used to buy when we were "living the dream" .  After the bubble burst one of the first things I had to give up was the extravagance of buying flowers.  I was spending about £50 a month on them, obviously when times are tough this was first to go, along with trips to the hairdresser, new clothes etc.

Since moving to this house with its established garden I wait for this beautiful  Weigela to flower and my goodness it never disappoints me.  It only stays around for a short while so I make the very most of its beautiful blooms.

An invitation from the Master of Vintage Clothing & Magpie Monday

To my shock and delight an invitation popped into my inbox from the true Vintage Clothing King - William Banks-Blaney who is holding an event at the V & A Museum to mark the wedding of William and Kate Next Friday.    Sadly I will be attending a not so prestigious party at my next door neighbours house, otherwise I might just have popped on my Manolo's and jumped on a train to London. 

This did get me thinking though about my own love of vintage and thrifted clothes and accessories.  Bargains have been few and far between for this week's Magpie Monday so here are some of the beautiful designer items I have collected over the years and although most don't now fit, I just can't bring myself to be parted from them.

Emporio Armani Ladies dressing gown, purchased off Etsy and THE most gorgeous mink coloured silk.    I love the detail on the back.

Ralph Lauren Tweed jacket, totally too die for tayloring and wonderful buttons.  I adore Ralph Lauren and snap up jackets whenever I can from Ebay. 

Another Ebay 100% Silk Ralph Lauren Jacket in a beautiful soft cream, I wear this with wide legged trousers or the Silk Skirt below.  Only when there are not any children about though !

Devine Ralph Lauren softest of soft fluid sik skirt again another Ebay find and as new !

Palest Pink Silk Ralph Lauren.  This was advertised as a dress, but it is totally sheer and you would need nerves of steel and a figure like Kate Moss to get away with it.  I wore it as a nightdress on a few occasions! Sadly it no longer fits.

What girl doesn't want to own a killer pair of Carrie Bradshaw Manolo Blahnik shoes !  These are my totally gorgeous, too die for Sneaklo Porc Velour Rose Mules as worn by Carrie in Sex in the City.  Purchased prior to the birth of the twins they are rarely worn now as you can see but I take them out from time to time, just to look and stroke !

Finally, a PUCCI Bag again off Ebay and a total steal, appears brand new with all the tags included and the dust bag.  The lady who sold it must have been distraught at the price I won it for but bless her she still sent it to me, not so sure I would have been able to part with it if it had been the other way around.

A selection of some of the beautiful clothes I have managed to buy thanks to Ebay, Etsy and other internet sites.  As I have always maintained you really don't need a bank full of money to buy quality designer pieces, they last for years and if you stick to classic styles you can wear them again and again year in and year out.  Please pop over and see the other MagpieMonday entries.