Autumn Chores and Happy Halloween!

Many of the autumn jobs I had planned have been crossed from my list this week.

I've made another Christmas cake, this time with extra cherries and no lemon or orange peel...my daughters will be pleased! ;-))

I decided just a few of the antique books from my daughter's wedding would look nice on the mantelpiece, which will be there as a lovely reminder for us.

I'm trying to decide if I should dye the linen slip cover on our old arm chair (below) a soft dusty red colour, to match the sofas in this room...You know what its like(?)...once dyed, there is no going back...

I've filled up the painted apple crate with logs, which are all prunings from our garden this year and have been drying in our log store outside. All ready for the colder evenings. 

A little visitor came to stay again for a few hours and we had fun playing in the leaves.

Lots of tidying still yet to do.

I've been getting lots of stock ready for the V&H Vintage Jumble Sale that takes place on Saturday. 

I've got bags filled with old linens, ideal for re-purposing...

And lots of vintage clothes and various other vintage goodies such as china and books. Hope to see you there if you can make it along - There are always some great bargains. 
Just to say, my shop will be open as usual, as hubby has volunteered his services as shopkeeper for the day.

I've also put together a new Nostalgia calendar for 2013. I've ordered one copy as a proof, and if all is OK, I shall order more to offer for sale, on-line, at fairs and at my shop. 

These are some of the photos that didn't quite make it...

**

Finally I'd like to wish you all a Happy Halloween.

A pumpkin carved by my youngest daughter. 

Gruesome! ;-))

Have a lovely evening,
Niki x

So Far This Week...

As I said in my previous post, I've been in an 'achieving mood' so I thought I'd just update my blog with a few of the things I've been up to so far (ignoring the supermarket shopping and boring things like that that we all have to do... :)
A recent purchase was this old wooden mirror/shelf thingy. 

It had been previously painted, but not that well, so I set-to with my paintbrush and some 'milk white' paint that we had in the cupboard. I'd like it to go on the wall in our hall, so when hubby next has some time to do this, I'll show it in its new place.

I've done some more vintage buying...the little hand embroidered tea cosy, napkin and tray cloth will be for the shop. The album of cards are for my friend for Christmas, who loves anything garden related.

LOVE these two painting books by Raphael Tuck....I think the cottage printed one needs to be a keeper.

Inside there are printed pages to paint and also some blank pages for sketching. I love that a child drew a picture of their radio (below)...really dates the book! 

These craft pages (probably from the 30's/40's) are wonderful and full of inspiration... 

A pouffe made from fabric covered tin cans!

I had a large quantity of lace from another recent buying trip, that I've laundered...
which inevitably meant there was a lot of ironing to follow...

But it does seem more satisfying somehow to press lovely antique laces than it does my hubby's shirts!

I completed a little craft project yesterday too. I bought this rather jazzy turquoise glass lamp base which was without a shade. The plain shade came from a charity shop, which I decided to cover.

I used a vintage floral fabric, which I bonded onto the shade with PVA glue. I finished it with hand crocheted lace.

The padded coat hangers, which had been a WIP, are now complete. I added lace bows to the hooks and a vintage costume brooch to the front.



Flowers from my daughters wedding - the pink roses are artificial, but the fresh hydrangea heads have now dried nicely.

I had quite a few props left after the wedding. These antique books were used as decoration on the guest tables. I wanted to keep a few of them...

...And considered arranging some along the mantelpiece in our living room...but against the white walls, they looked a little dark and too prominent. I'll hang on to a few for a while and see if I can come up with something...the rest will head to my shop on Thursday.

Another corner of our home...just because.

The large glazed cupboard that I mentioned was going to be put up on our landing wall is now in position. Its quite a large cabinet and holds my antique shoe collection and other goodies.

It sparked a thought in my mind and I am now working on a new photographic calendar for 2013, (as seen in previous years) which will feature some of my collections in this and my other cabinets. I'll let you know if it works out OK.

So that's it for now...today I plan to make another Christmas cake, finish getting my stock ready for the vintage jumble sale on Saturday and start making some festive goodies for the other upcoming Xmas fairs.

Have a lovely day,
Niki x