Monday, June 22, 2009

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

24 comments:

  1. Ohhhh I loved your finds Niki and nice to see so many are for you to keep and use. I had a great day and it was lovely to see you and Deb x

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  2. Oh my didn't you have fun! I especially love the cup with tinker repairs- I have a collection of items I have bought just because they have this staples or whiskers! Theres an amazing turquoise roses fabric hidden a the back there! ooh yum! t.xxx

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  3. 9:30 to 4 pm!! You are a warrior Niki! Lovely treasures, I'm swooning over that velvet ribbon. xo, suzy

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  4. What lovely treasures you found! I especially like the red and white china. It looks quite handsome, displayed on your shelves.

    I'm smitten with your blog's "pink rose garland" background pattern. The color scheme has such a vintage feel.

    Best Wishes,

    Kay

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  5. Super stuff! I love the Kitchen!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  6. Lovely, lovely, lovely finds! The postcards and brooches are gorgeous but that book! I want a book just like it! It's perfect!

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  7. Everything is wonderful and those dishes are incredible! You have a way of arranging things to make them look so interesting! That's why I love visiting your blog! I love your creativity!

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  8. What lovely things you found, i love those postcards.
    Debbie

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  9. Wow, what a haul. I love all your pink and white crockery, its just fits in so well with your kitchen and looks as if it's always lived on those shelves.

    Sue xx

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  10. I dont know where to start Niki, the book, I am going to look for it on Amazon, Pete will love it and your wonderful kitchen, I wish I had more shelves and display, then I could by more!!!! have a lovely week thank you for all those lovely pictures H

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  11. Dear Niki, Again - thanks so much for the stunning Victorian album - LOVE IT! And thanks so much for your gorgeous email - my blog comments appear to be working now - thanks so much for letting me know. I not only have a massive does of Nostalgia Blog Envy - I have an extremely serious case of Flea Market envy! In Australia, in Melbourne anyway brooches something like you have shown are sooooo expensive and rare. Your pics are stunning as usual. Thanks for being a continual inspiration. Suzy ;)

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  12. Thank you for sharing your beautiful kitchen and all of your lovely flea market finds. Cannot wait to see more! :)

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  13. Wow Nik! You really did have a "shop til you drop" day! Wonderful finds!

    I keep meaning to tell you that I have masses of odd saucers if you'd like some for your soap sets. With all the china that I buy there are always poor orphan saucers without cups & I keep them in a box (just in case I think of something to do with them or someone needs an odd saucer).

    Jayne

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  14. Hi Niki

    Lovely to see you and thanks for your purchases! Love the blue rosey vases which have found a home already! Those I could live with!!!!

    When I see what everyone bought at the Flea I wish I'd been able to spend the day shopping instead of selling. Although I managed a quick whizz round before you were all let in it certainly wasn't long enough to do some serious shoppping!

    Sue xx

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  15. I enjoyed your post, the kitchen dishes are a wonderful find I love how they look in your open shelves. Love all the roses too!

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  16. Hi, Such treasures and they look so good in your home! Those postcards are the best bunch I've seen in ages. I can imagine how goog they'd look framed:)
    Lesley X

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  17. What great finds Niki, they are lovely. My friend bought me that book you got when it first came out, I've just had a look on my shelves but I can't find it anywhere, don't know where it's got to, wouldn't it be funny if it's the one that's now in your home!!!
    Kimx

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  18. Hi Niki
    I know that I shouldn't have looked at this post! Green with envy at all the things that I missed out on by not going to the fair on Sunday. I was preparing a Father's day lunch surprise for Alan and his Father so couldn't go. I don't know where to start with the things that I like most. So many that I like such as the box with the girl on, the postcards and those vases!!!! Wonderful selection of buys. Well done on winning the competition. I can see how it won.
    Take care
    Isabelle x

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  19. you have so lovely vintage things on your blog...I`ll be back soon

    ;O)

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  20. Niki, You really hit the jackpot at the sale. You got some amazing treasures. I really love those blue floral vases. Have a great day.
    Jean in Virginia

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  21. Fabulous finds, Niki! Oooh, I LOVE the book and the transferware plates! What a deal!!!!
    Hugs,
    Monicax.

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  22. I adore the French rural style and remember holidays in Provence back in the 1960's when we visited some beautiful rustic homes....
    If I won the lottery.. it would have to be a house in Provence.. a house in Tuscany.. a house in Devon...
    Oh... it's lovely to dream!

    Look forward to seeing you again soon Niki.. so enjoyed your company the other day.
    Michele xx

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  23. So jealous about the pink and white china...where was that hiding!!!!

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  24. Such amazing finds...Those brooches are just stunning...I love all the velvet and fabric you found also...You really are lucky..I'm drooling over here...That teacup is just gorgeous..So is all the china you found...I need to go shopping with you...Hope all is well..
    Stephenie

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Thank you for finding the time to visit me...
Niki xx