The ghost of Christmas past ...

My mind has been wandering down memory lane once again, and as I carry out my Christmas rituals I remember the way things were done when I were a lass ...

Thank you Google! xx

The build up to Christmas was always so exciting, at school there would be end of term competitions, guessing the number of sweets in a jar, raffles and of course The Christmas Party.  A new dress and shoes would always be bought, these would be worn for every special occasion over the Christmas period ... we didn't have drawerfuls of clothes then, and with four of us to clothe it was an expensive time for my parents. On the last day of school it was 'toy day' and I always took my favourite doll, Patricia. My Mam would make her a new dress specially for the occasion and I would wash her and do her hair the night before so that she looked beautiful.

Putting up the decorations was always a big event, and we would ooh and aah over the bubble lights which I so wish I still had ... we would get straw and set up the crib with the figures which my Mam had since she was a child and make paper chains to hang from the ceiling.

Spot the deliberate grammatical error! Grrr ...

On Christmas Eve, when my Dad was collecting The Turkey, my Mam would clean the house while me and my sister and brothers were becoming frantic with excitement ... I would help her to make the trifle and loved crumbling the Cadbury's Flake on top of the cream ... I still make my trifle exactly as my Mam did all those years ago. We would go to bed after putting out the mince pie for Father Christmas, and hope that sleep would come ....

The excitement of waking up and realising that it was Christmas Day ...

One of my best Christmas presents was a Tressy doll ... You pressed her belly button and her hair grew, wound her up with a key in her back and it was short again ... I can remember unwrapping her on Christmas morning, and she came with a wardrobe of hand knitted clothes, a pink and navy skating suit, jumper and skirt and a turquoise lurex evening gown with matching stole.  My Mam will have made these when i went to bed, and hidden them away. I played with her endlessly ... when you see what children get nowadays, Tressy would probably be just another stocking filler, but she was my best present.  

From Google - thanks so much! xx

We would each get a main present, usually a doll for me, a selection box, 2 annuals, and maybe 2 or 3 other bits and pieces. Probably a carrier bag full ... always with the Pretty Peach bubble bath from Avon sticking out of the top.  My Aunty always gave me a Bronnley gift set, soap, bath cubes and body lotion ... this made me feel very grown up, I remember.

So this year, once again as I prepare for the Big Day, my mind goes back to those carefree days, not so long ago, when Christmas was more about sharing and a time for families to get together, than the feast of consumerism it has become, where we all worship at the great God, Tesco ... It was a proper holiday, shops were shut for days, and the January sales were a big event, not starting until after 12th night ...

Along with the traditional favourites, new things are tried ... Peppermint Bark, yum yum!!

But Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a tin of these, now would it?

Whether you are traditional or modern, at home or away, I'll be raising a glass to you, and wishing you the very best Christmas you've ever had!

(and so does Ruby)

Have a fabulous time my lovelies, and looking forward to hearing all about it!

Love Claire xxx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Hello my lovelies, and Season's Greetings to you all!

Since my last post, lots has happened ... my little pop-up shop, Thriftwood Vintage was underway ... a wonderful experience, albeit a bit of a roller-coaster one! It all happened so quickly, I hardly had time to draw breath ... lots of lovely friends popped in, it was the sort of place you could just park yourself and chat over a cup of tea, and I really loved that aspect of it ... what I didn't love was the allergic reaction I had to the products used in the Salon, in particular, the hairspray! It was making me feel quite ill, so I made the decision to quit while I was ahead, and so I have now packed it all up and put it away, although I have come home with considerably less than I went with, which is always good ...

But, despite the fact that it only lasted three weeks, I will always have fond memories and no regrets, because I tried, and nothing ventured nothing gained. In hindsight, more advertising is needed before opening, as people really need to know where you are, especially if you aren't visible from the street.  I have always, always, always wanted my own shop, and now I really don't any more, whereas if I hadn't taken up the offer of this little taster, I would still be hankering after my own place, whereas I closed the door behind me not with sadness, but positivity and a little relief. I also found the quiet times very boring ... sitting there, thinking about what I could be doing at home, especially at this busy time of year.

I have worked in a shop before, but at least if you are employed, you are being paid for doing nothing, whereas when it's your own, there is always the worry that costs won't be met.  I have really had my eyes opened to the plight of new small businesses, and I take my hat off to them because of the overheads that they have ... mine were minimal compared to some and I made a nice little pot of money for Christmas, but in these days of rising prices it must be a constant struggle.

Now I'm at home once more, and life is settling back into its routine (I have my boy Harry back from Uni, and Jacob is due back on Christmas Eve, so life is good) and Christmas is slowly getting itself together, I am looking forward to catching up with you all (it seems so long, and I've really missed you).  Thank you for all your good wishes, they really buoyed me up, you are all so very kind and thoughtful ... and please, don't be sorry for me as  I am really happy with the way things have turned out, and just look on the 3 weeks as a longer than usual vintage fair! I have lots of plans for the time ahead and am really looking forward to the new challenges of 2014.

Take care, my lovelies ...

Love Claire

My crazy busy life ...

Phew, what a week that was! I'm a bit glad it's over and done with, I couldn't cope with all that malarkey for very long, I don't think ... I got the keys for my little shop, Thriftwood Vintage, 11 days ago ... and opened 7 days later! That week was spent lugging furniture, stock and all manner of things to the shop at the crack of dawn (before the hairdressers below started work, because I didn't want to be jeopardising their customers) and after tea, late into the night. But I did it ...

I bought a bright orange pine plate rack from a furniture warehouse, and after we had been delayed by half a day by a very inconvenient power cut, Steve drilled it to the wall for me ... and that was my starting point.  I then painted it very quickly with Annie Sloan Country Grey, and filled it with vintage loveliness and fairy lights.  The decor in Thriftwood Vintage is a bit gloomy, and with no time to paint I decided that 'mood' lighting was a must! So lamps and fairy lights have made a big appearance ... my home is looking very sparse now!

 

A Christmas corner has been created, complete with tree, ice skates, stockings and a pile of vintage toys and games under the tree.

I have had to be inventive in maximising display opportunities ...

The green garden bench has also been giving a new home for the time being! 

Mince pies, carrots and a message for Santa ...

But best of all were all the lovely customers, friends and family, who dropped in to say hello ... thank you so much for all your good wishes, they mean so much to me!  Everything happened so quickly that I didn't have time to think and now my old friend Doubt is creeping in ... I know I've done the right thing because this chance will never happen again, and I would have always had regrets if I hadn't taken the plunge and forever wondered "what if?", but I wouldn't be me if I didn't worry ... really I have nothing to lose at this stage, and if I do decide it isn't working, I can just pack it all up again ...  I really hope that doesn't happen though.

As if that wasn't enough excitement for one week, me and Millie set off on Friday to Harrogate to The Country Living Fair.  I have a new phone that I haven't quite got the gist of yet, so am just using it for Facebook on the run, and taking photos ... I think I've managed to download one so for now that's all you're getting, my lovelies!

Rachelle & Tracy

For the second time I met blogging royalty Rachelle from Ted & Agnes blog and Tracy from Olive and Harry blog (combined, their stall was called Olive and Agnes).  We had arrived there too late to book onto their Liberty wreath making session, but when they'd finished we found their delightful stall, full of their unique bits and pieces. We had a lovely chat about crocheting, sewing, dogs,  my new shop (Rachelle had seen me mention it on Facebook!) Rachelle's new book, and of course, her last book ...

Thank you Amazon! 

It really was like chatting to old friends, they were so lovely, even though I was a little starstruck and giddy, and when we walked away, Millie said "that's made your day hasn't it?" and do you know, I think it had ...

I really need to get back to earth with a big bump, and start sorting out Christmas ... I hope you all have a quiet, peaceful week, and don't forget, if you're in the area, there'll always be a big welcome at Thriftwood Vintage!

Thriftwood Vintage

221 Rawlinson Street

(above Hairport)

Barrow-in-Furness

Cumbria LA14 1DW

Opening Times

WEDNESDAY 9.30-3PM

FRIDAY 10-4.30PM

SATURDAY 10-4.30PM

Have a wonderful, peaceful week, my lovelies ... looking forward to catching up with you all!

Love, Claire xxx

Dreams can come true ...

Hello my lovelies! It's really nice to be back ... but very briefly, for now.  Just to let you know that all is on the up with my family ... we all needed to help each other, and it's all a big improvement to how things were only 2 weeks ago ...

I'd just like to thank you all for your lovely comments ... I was completely overwhelmed by them, and felt that I had been enveloped in a warm, loving hug by you all ... in fact I was moved to tears that you had taken the time to wish us well, so thank you so much, it really meant a lot.  I promise that I will try very soon to catch up with you all, as I've missed this little corner of my world, called Blogland.

For the coming week though, I am going to be extremely busy ... I haven't even thought about Christmas yet! My amazing news is that I am going to open my very own shop! This has been my dream for so long, and now it's come true, thanks to 2 lovely ladies, who knew about my dream and have offered me the chance of making it come true.  My hairdresser and her business partner had often said that the rooms above the salon would make a good shop for me, but it was rented out for the long foreseeable future.  A few weeks ago it became vacant, but because of what was going on in my family, I didn't pay much attention.  On Tuesday evening, they offered me the chance to fill their empty rooms with a vintage Christmas shop ... if I like it and think I can make a go of it, it can be mine afterwards too! I didn't even hesitate, because I knew that if I didn't grab this chance, I would forever regret it, and wonder if it would have turned out ... only one way to find out!

I'm hoping to open this coming Thursday, and I promise I'll keep you posted and takes lots of pictures.  I really must go though, I have a loaded car waiting ...

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll catch up soon!

Love Claire xxx

PS: The name of my little shop ... Thriftwood Vintage! xx

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

Hello my lovelies,

A few curved balls have been dealt to my little family recently, so it's with regret that I'm closing the lid of my laptop, and placing it firmly in the back of the cupboard, while we help each other back on track.

Hopefully it won't be long before I'm catching up with you all again, and you'll have to put up with my inane witterings and rants once more!

Take care,

Love Claire xxx

The North wind doth blow ....

Happy Monday, my lovelies! Brrrr! it's been a bit cold this weekend hasn't it? On Friday night I went to a party at my dear friend Julie's house ... it was her daughter Nicole's 21st Birthday ... I've been feeling a little bit delicate ever since, for some reason, so have battened down the hatches and done a little pottering ...

Adding twinkly little lights to my shelves (isn't Poundland fabulous?) ...

and making little lacy lanterns ...

the shadows these create are really atmospheric ... and so simple to achieve!

The big event of last week was, of course, Halloween ... the worst night of the year, weather-wise, for little witches, wizards and hobgoblins to be leaving their calling card ...

We only had two visits this year ...

Would have been a shame to waste this little lot ...

Even Rooby-doo joined in the fun ... #notimpressed ...

and Millie made an impressive 11th Doctor ...

We've been tidying the garden, ready for its long winter sleep ...

planting bright flowers to cheer up dark corners ...

and making newly found treasures feel right at home ...

Getting ready for the big event of the year ...

If you get the chance, please do pay us a visit! Me and Millie will be there, along with lots of other stallholders, selling the most amazing true vintage items ... and lots of lovely craftiness too!

Would like to share a little before ... (boy, this was so dirty it made the dog sneeze!)

and an amazing after! Thank you Kath for your upholstery help, I couldn't have done it without you!

and if all that isn't enough, I've won a lovely Giveaway on Instagram which will really get me in the Christmas mood ... thank you @ainttooshabbydevon, I'm really looking forward to this lovely parcel!

Next Sunday is Remembrance Day, so I'd just like to leave this verse for you ...

WE MUST NEVER FORGET

Looking forward to catching up with you all ... what have you been up to?

With love, from Claire xxx

Those were the days, my friend ...

I've been having a bit of a wander down memory lane this week.  Looking on other blogs, I often see things from my childhood that I had quite forgotten about and they trigger a torrent of memories.

www.flickriver.com

The other day, I saw a tray that we had in the seventies, but then I remembered that there were matching coasters too.  The coasters were taped to the top of a jar of something or other as a free gift, and the tray was probably an offer, that you saved coupons for and sent away.  I remember persuading my Mam to buy a jar of Sun Pat peanut butter, and as we'd never had it before she was a bit dubious, but big, round pop star badges were stuck to the lid ... there were 3 David Cassidy ones, and I got them all! Peanut butter lost it's exotic allure for a while though, as I had to eat it until it was gone ...

Thank you, Google!

My Mam was the Queen of Special Offers ... avidly collecting coupons from magazines and newspapers, saving wrappers, cutting out tokens, you name it, my Mam did it to get a free gift! Every time we walked into town, we would be urged in a hissed whisper "quick, there's a Twix wrapper, I only need one, then we'll get a Twix-a-skip".  The wrapper would be dusted off, then put under the pillow of my baby brother's pram along with the multitude of various other wrappings from the Great British confectionery cupboard. 

Similar to a Twix-a-Skip - Google

 The postman would arrive most days with exciting parcels ... Toys, games, drinking glasses, mugs, bowls ... trial offers of food, washing powder and soap.  Every now and then we'd have a Green Shield stamp evening ... Sitting round the kitchen table, licking sheets of stamps collected from Tesco ... because every little helps! The catalogue would be perused, and the order sent off.  In those days you allowed 28 days for delivery, so we'd probably forgotten what we sent for, and had a nice surprise when it eventually arrived. 

From Google - many thanks!

When I went to my Nana's, I would help her count her cigarette coupons, and we'd look through the Embassy catalogue together.  Very un-PC, being rewarded for smoking yourself to death! The amount of money my lovely Nana would have saved if she had stopped smoking, she would probably have been able to buy everything in the book ...

Google with thanks!

Perhaps I get my thriftiness from my Mam ... she was a great recycler, and armed with her Singer, would turn old towels into bath mats, and on one memorable occasion, night time nappies for my brother, with press stud fastenings ... she was ahead of her time on that one! Old jumpers and woollens would be unpicked and unravelled, the wool soaked and rolled into new balls.  Socks, past their best, would be cut up and fashioned into dresses for my Sindy doll, or made into sock puppets. 

I broke off from writing this post to go to the Sunday car boot sale at the Cattle Auction Mart, and something very strange happened ... this week I was collecting my sister, who has never been before but is on the hunt for vintage loveliness for her daughter Rosie's wedding (there'll be handbags at dawn, we'll be scrapping in the cattle stalls!).

On the way in the car, I was telling her that I was writing a nostalgic post about our Mam, and told her that the one thing I really wanted to find was a little white pyrex bowl with roses on  ... it was another of Mam's free gifts, and I had my cereal in it every morning when I was a child, that was my Holy Grail ... I had been scanning the shelves fruitlessly for ages ... I described it to her, but she couldn't really remember ...

These are the treasures I unearthed, and can you see what Helen found for me at the bottom right? Would I have found it myself  and if I hadn't mentioned it to Helen she would definitely not have noticed it ... these are the things we will never know ... thank you, Helen!

Have a lovely Sunday, and hope you have fun treasure hunting too!

Love, Claire xxx

PS : Sorry about the font, I don't know what's happened, but I'm always a bit scared in case I delete everything by messing about! I'll just leave it like this for now ...