North Street treasure

Here's my latest vintage finds, I recently discovered the joy of vintage pyrex on Pinterest after researching pattern ideas so was really happy discover some at Rachel's second hand shop on North Street. I would so love to work there (except it probably wouldn 't be a good idea as I'd spend all my wages there!).

Lovely 1950s sugar dispensers

Austrian saucepans!

Snowflake pyrex serving dish

Paper Village Resin Jewellery Workshop

Last week I went to a fantastic resin jewellery workshop at Paper Village on North Street (Bristol). Here's a picture of all of us learning from Vicky about different types of resin and what we can do with it. 

We tried out two different types of resin on the course - a really gorgeous clear resin for embedding objects and images, and a glazing resin which we used for glazing paper images. You can see me using a pipette to pick up resin from a jug and place it on card. 

Not surprisingly, the resin part of the workshop took a small amount of time i.e. mixing and pouring. Most of the time was much more focused on what images to use, preparing them to size, arranging them etc. It was really great to see how everyone brought their own ideas to the workshop and used resin in different ways e.g. collage, sweets, buttons, packs of cards etc. 

Vicky was a great tutor, and very patient with us all, especially when I poured the wrong liquids into our jug! Anyway, here are the photos showing the results of the workshop. I'm really pleased with them. I learned loads, and know what to do and what not to do next time!

Second diorama created and given as a gift

 I made another similar pocket watch diorama for my sister-in-law's birthday. She asked us where we got it from! She was a bit amazed when I said I made it. :-)

So where next?

I have no more old pocket watches left. I've been thinking of making diorama frames out of clay at my ceramics class which starts soon, a simple frame with a bit at the top to put a nail through. I can't think what else I can use as a frame - it would be good to use a byproduct of something else that's not needed, as I like giving objects a new life.

Bath Flea Market visit - want versus need!

Ellis, Errol and I went to Bath Flea Market for the day on Sunday, lots of gorgeous stuff. And here's some of the treasure we found. In the competition of want versus need, want won hands down!!!

1. Box of ever smaller houses - WANT!
2. 1960s fitted dress - WANT!
3. 1970s crocheted hat - WANT!
4. 1950s crocheted suit - WANT!
5. Pirate binoculars for Ellis - WANT!
6. Green cap - WANT!

Flea markets are dangerous places for us as a couple. We keep finding unique items that we know we'll never find again, which seems to totally justify having to buy it.

Vintage tuk tuk

We bought this little tuk tuk toy for Ellis at the first Ashton Gate vintage fair we went to. Just goes to show that even little boys' toy cars can be things of joy!

Ellis is watching The Snowman at the moment so am having five minutes of relaxation and blog surfing. :-)

Clifton Hill Antique Costume and Textiles news!!!

Oh wow, what a find today at the Bristol Ashton Gate Flea & Vintage market. I got talking to a lady called Jenny ( think it was Jenny from what I recall) who has taken over the Clifton Hill Antique Costume & Textiles shop in Clifton - which is reopening in the Summer of 2012. I am so excited!!! The one and only time I visited the shop was around ten years ago and I've never forgotten the experience. The shop seemed to be held together at the seams by reams and reams of vintage clothes, haberdashery and all sorts of treasure just waiting to be found. When I left Bristol to live in London, the shop got locked away in my memory, and it was only today that the whole experience came flooding back when talking to Jenny. I'm so excited that a young woman now has the opportunity to take Gillian's legacy and restore all this beautiful treasure into its full glory with the new shop opening. I can't wait! And I hope I may be able to help out with sorting stock if I get the opportunity!

Duvet cover toddler trousers

Here's the second pair of trousers from Dana's make-it pattern. Made from a duvet cover I got from a Bristol freecycle event. Thankfully, Ellis isn't fussy yet about what he wears. :-)

Vintage books - Tick Tock around the Clock

As I love vintage children's books I thought I'd include them as a thing of love to share. Here's one called Tick-tock All Around The Clock that I found at Whitchurch carboot sale. I'm always rummaging in boxes for finds like this! I don't think it's worth anything as I've only seen it once on Ebay being sold in the States. But anyway, Ellis likes it, especially the bit where the children feed sugar to the bird. I like the picture with the mum carrying in a casserole (below) as it looks like the vintage Midwinter range that we use around the kitchen, check out our similar vintage coffee pot!

Sunday morning cooked breakfast and picnic

Ellis and I made a picnic for the playmobile family this morning on their little roof, with gingerbread men for cat, cake and sandwiches for the kids and cooked breakfast and jam tarts for daddy.  Happy Sunday morning. :-) Picture below of Ellis tasting his miniature cup of tea!

Bristol Flea Market dress

Errol spotted this dress which we got for £5 as part of three things I bought (including a little green jumper - green must be my theme of the month as everything seems to be green at the mo!, and a lacey circle top). The flea market at Ashton Gate Stadium was pretty good actually. £2 to get in and loads of stalls, good prices and a range of things to buy. Errol bought a chintzy china mug which reminds him of his grandma. We got Ellis a two little toy cars so he was happy too.

Vintage green velour sofa - gorgeous!

We're so happy! We found a beautiful sofa on Ebay for £100. The photo on Ebay wasn't great so we thought we'd go check it out before we bid, and I'm so glad we paid a visit as it turned out to be a great buy, and no one else bid on it. Iridescent moss green (the photo I've taken doesn't do it justice either!), and the start of transforming our lounge into a special little hovel for us to get cosy in.

Here's another pocket I made in my pocket obsession, this time for remote controls. It's a tweed fabric that holds itself well on the velour.

My Sindy cooker

My mum found my old sindy cooker from my childhood in the attic stored away - I was so excited. I switched it on but it didn't work. So I brought it back to Bristol and put it in Ellis's bedroom until one day I thought, if I just change the batteries again I wonder if.... and it worked. The sounds brought back so many memories. We've been making food with the cooker for the last couple of days as a toddler activity, and it's been great!! The kettle whistles and gets higher until you take it off the hob. the frying pan fries, and the saucepan bubbles. There's a light in the grill, and the timer rings in the cooker after a little while of cooking. Brilliant toddler and mum activity!