Vintage 'Singer'.

I made a quick visit to my local car boot sale this morning. The air was chilly, so there weren't many sellers braving the elements, but I did find this....

It is an old Singer sewing machine dating from 1925. It is hand cranked, so I am going to use it in the summer months to do my work outside in the garden!! - How cool is that?!! It will be lovely not to have to be stuck in my workroom all day. I missed a lot of the summer last year. No dragging an electrical extension lead outside for me! - I will be able to stitch where I please - can't wait!

PINK!

I've gone pink, what do you think?!

**It was lovely to meet you Louise and thank you so much for the gorgeous flowers! xx**

Thrifting!

In the next village to ours, there is an old lady who lives in what was once a Public House. Everyday she sets a little table outside it with various pieces of old china. She then stands a sign next to it, hand written on a chalkboard 'Things For Sale'. If you stop to see what is on offer, she comes out of her home and invites you inside! Her living room is FULL of china and bric-a-brac that she sells in aid of Charity. Such a sweet lady and she works so hard.

Here is my collection of goodies that I purchased from her yesterday:

Four trios in gorgeous pastel colours with a slightly 50's kitsch style to the roses printed inside.

There was a black set too, but I left those behind.

These wonderfully romantic lustreware Victorian cups. The gold lettering says ' Love the Giver', 'Remember Me' and 'Think of Me'. All so shabby chic in style, I love them.

A collection of small pressed glass creamers....perfect with tea lights in.

And this soft green chamber pot - NOT for the obvious use!! But for my pink Hyacinth bulbs!

I have placed this on my cupboard in the living room.

Here are my latest crafted items too....the Springtime colours seem to fit with my thrifty finds...

(Available on my website.)

Jug Collection

Fiona shared her collection of jugs with us all last week, so I thought I would join her to show you my collection.....
I started collecting enamelware when I first got married almost 22 years ago! At that time, car-boot sales were few and far between, so they were quite difficult to come by. Also I don't think people valued them years ago and just saw them as a utilitarian object.

I have a few blue and white china ones (and yellow!) perfect for everyday and storing kitchen utensils.

Pretty Rose printed china for afternoon tea and flowers!

Teeny-tiny ones for display.....

and just for fun!!

Why don't you join in!? I was amazed how many I had when I started looking!! I didn't realize I had ANOTHER collection!!

All Change!

I felt like a change after the clutter of Christmas - Think I have seen enough red for a while....

BEFORE:

....AND AFTER:

I treated myself to some Spring flowers,

and pinned some vintage flower corsages on my lampshade.

A little over-the-top maybe, but I can easily change the look again, as nothing is permanent. The mirror is one that my daughter has had in her bedroom, but it was no longer required. The frame was gold plastic!! - So I painted it a more subtle grey/blue. I replaced the red eiderdown on the bench seat, for a pale blue quilt. I'm ready to welcome Spring a little early perhaps, but it has given me a lift in spirit.

Vintage Fabric Framed Mirror.

I created this little mirror a few weeks ago. I bought an old dressing table mirror from a junk shop for pennies. The shop owner was quite shocked to be selling it , I think, because she said, 'Sorry, the glass is covered in lots of black dots'. I didn't dare say that was why I loved it!!

The frame however was not to my taste. I took the whole thing to pieces and gave it all a good clean. I thought I would use a scrap of C19th French toile de jouy quilt that I had been saving, to cover the frame.
It was cut to size, then using PVA glue with a paint brush, I carefully stuck it all in place, smoothing any wrinkles. The mirrored glass was then put back inside and it now hangs in my entrance porch.

This little garland of hearts hangs from another mirror in my home. I made these from French toile de jouy too! They are filled with lavender and finished with glass buttons, beads and old chandelier crystals.

Gift Sets

I love putting together these little gift sets for special friends and relatives. I buy old vintage china plates and saucers when ever I see one that appeals. It is good to have a small collection, as you can match the colours on them to other elements of the gift. For instance the powder puffs that I have just finished creating, embellished with vintage millinery flowers, looked so pretty with this rose painted plate. I also added a vintage postcard echoing the colours again for another layer to the gift.

Here a baby theme runs through this gift set. It includes the tiny baby powder puff and French postcard.

I have made other variations in the past, such as a pretty saucer acting as a drip tray to a cream church candle, with a box of matches covered in pretty fabric to co-ordinate.

Or a sewing set of cotton thread, needle case (made from vintage fabric of course!) and colourful buttons on a pretty transfer printed tea plate. The fun is matching all the colours to make a cohesive set. They are a welcome gift too, as they show you have taken time to create something special.

(These sets are available on my website at http://www.nostalgia-stonehouse.co.uk/ ) - Sorry, ALL SOLD. Thanks to all who made a purchase.