Yes, MORE Flea Finds to Report!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

I won't bore you with my Saturday antics, as it was basically a day of catching up with housework and a spot of painting...walls, that is....not the clever artistic stuff!

Sunday however, was a lot more fun. The regular flea market beckoned and after a long time queuing to get in, I started rummaging amongst the vintage and antique treasures on the outside stands. I have a mixed bag of goodies to show you - it really was vast this month and almost too many stalls to get round properly in one day...but I think my friend and I actually visited every stall. (Well, we were there for 9.30am opening and left bang on 4pm as everyone was packing away! - VERY tiring!)

The lovely apple green in the background is a length of soft vintage velvet. There were so many pretty brooches this time, I could have bought hundreds (if funds allowed). In the end I had to stop looking through them, as it is so time consuming, checking for missing stones or faulty pin backs etc. I'm pleased with this small selection of sparkles though. And the crown pins and cap badges are destined to be pinned to the chests of some patriotic dolls I have begun working on.

Chocolate boxy country cottage postcards a plenty...I think some of these deserve to be framed.

Ticking cottons will be fashioned into doll's bloomers! And checks, rosey prints and patchwork scraps await recycling.

Do you see the 'pretty boy' hiding amongst the roses on this 20's fabric?

A whole roll of palest pink Swiss velvet ribbon, aptly named 'vieux-rose'.

c1930's plates, ideal for my soap gift sets and a dainty rose topped barbola mirror.

A hand crocheted cot blanket in delicate pastel tones.

And a large flu-cover featuring a romantic Greek couple in a garden.

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I found a whole set of 6 of these unusual antique French coffee cups and saucers. They have been hand painted in Florence, on fine porcelain with trailing roses and a green lustre finish. The amazing interiors are lined in rich gilding.

One has been carefully repaired sometime in its lifetime using metal staples. This was obviously a much-loved set in its day, to have been given this treatment so as to keep the set complete - I love that about it - not a fault at all...

More roses appear on a selection of English Victorian china pieces.

My favourites are this pair of bud vases with blushed matt glaze over their surface.

They've found a home already on top of my dresser.

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I was also pleased to find this book entitled 'Really Rural, Authentic French Country Interiors' by Marie-France Boyer, which was published in 1997. For some reason, this book escaped me at the time, but I am so glad to have discovered it now.

Throughout the book the photographs reveal the authentic interiors of some of the poorer, elderly people of France. Their homes are very simple, containing only those items which are actually needed from day to day...

Utilitarian textiles.

Everyday stoneware and porcelain, much of which is very sort after at flea markets today, by those looking to create a somewhat pastiche reflection of rural France in their homes...me included.

This home, high up in the Hautes-Alps contains a mishmash of objects special to Augustine.

The stove, fuelled by wood, gas or coal, is the heart of rural family life.

I'm looking forward to sitting down and reading this book, which is a far cry from the contrived interior books that I normally purchase - it should be a breath of fresh air and hopefully will put a few things in perspective.

Continuing with my purchases from the flea market: This huge haul of red and white china, which I'm guessing was someones collection over several years, had an auction lot number on when I found it. They're already mis-matched, which suits our style, and we'll use them everyday.

I gave them all a good wash (we don't have one of those machines that does it for you ;-))

I counted 39 pieces. For £10, that's not bad...

I rejigged the kitchen shelves and they've found a home in the alcove, making them easily accessible for everyday use.

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A little tweaking here and there...

And I think they look very much at home...

Yes, in my totally contrived pastiche of a rural French home!! (Including a microwave!)

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After running errands all day today, I stopped this evening to give a quick makeover to the little bamboo table that I mentioned I purchased recently. I managed to prise-off the bamboo strips from the edges of the table top. I was then able to simply staple some oilcloth over the top, securing underneath. The bamboo strips were then hammered back on to give a neat finish.

I used a lovely apple green oilcloth by Moda fabrics, which I was able to buy in my local haberdashery shop.

Finally, I was thrilled to discover that I had won a photography competition on Saturday, organised by Kelly on her blog. I included my favourite anemone tin that I purchased from her website a few years ago, along with various red and blue pieces of china.

Thank you Kelly - I can't wait for the lovely prize to arrive! And congratulations too, to Julie and Alexandra.

I have a busy week ahead with lots of family stuff going on, more painting to try and fit in, as well as sewing to get down to. Hope you all have a lovely week,

Niki x