Hey, Big Spender!

I know, I know, we're well into the New Year, but better late than never! I hope you've all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year and escaped any illness ... me and Harry succumbed to the Christmas Lurgy but are over it now, and it's nice to start to get back to 'normal'. As my sub-title is 'a diary of vintage, thrifty adventures' I realised that my posts have been sadly lacking in this department recently, so thought I'd share with you what I've been up to lately.

Some time ago, I saw a cooker made from a bedside table on a load of old tat blog so decided to borrow the idea as my sister was buying a log cabin for her grandchildren for Christmas and it needed furnishing inside.  Steve did all the work and I bossed him around  instructed him, but the cooker was well received ... I only wish I'd known of this idea when my own children were little, instead of spending large amounts of money on plastic rubbish kitchens and the like.

With everyone in the family back at work/school/college yesterday I decided to go thrifting as I hadn't done this since before Christmas, and I was starting to go a bit stir crazy! (There was method in my madness too, as there was no-one to witness my arrival back home with crates full of stuff!) I'm glad I went yesterday or I might have missed this little lot! All these items were purchased for £12 and that included a donation.

Thirty-nine pieces of Wood's ware crockery, including a teapot, milk jug, cups, saucers, side plates and dinner plates all for £3!! They were predominantly in the green Beryl colour, but the lady then found some Iris pieces and said "I'll throw these in too, love, to get rid of them and make some space". To think this crockery has survived almost 70 years shows that it has staying power, so that'll do for me!

A lovely dessert spoon set in leather case ... this looks unused, and I can imagine a young bride receiving it as a wedding present and putting it away 'for best' ... I hope that 'best' arrived and that she did get to use it.

Lovely, shaped standard lampshade.  A bit tatty and not really my colours so requiring a bit of Granny Chic, I think ...

Little Hornsea squirrel to join my growing collection of fauna ...

and a lovely little wooden cow on wheels who just asked to be rescued ... could do with a little tlc and a bit of a polish (but then again, couldn't we all?) ...

This is the best treasure that I've unearthed for a long time, so I hope it's going to be a good year on the thrifty front. I'm trying to have a 'no-spend' January, but this doesn't include thrifting obviously ... you have to speculate to accumulate, after all! I'm only buying necessities, such as food ... and never paying full price for anything, if I can help it.  Just try and have a week of living off what you already have instead of shopping for more stuff you don't really need. Think of the time you'd save trawling around a busy, soulless supermarket, not to mention the money!

This Sadler teapot is my alltime favourite piece of treasure I have ever found! I discovered it in a charity shop before Christmas, which I only go to once a month, when I collect my chicken food, and it was only £3!! I absolutely love it as hearts and flowers are my favourite things, and the two combined on a beautiful china teapot is just perfect.

I advertised on a local site requesting a reasonably priced old, wooden rocking chair and this is what I got ... it too needs a bit of care and attention, but I've got plans! I saw a very similar one in a local 'shabby chic' shop, which had been painted, waxed and distressed and was priced at almost £300! This little beauty was £15 and is definitely a keeper.

I'll just share my lovely red tulips with you ... these are one of my favourite flowers and a reminder that spring is on its way, bursting through the dark, grey days of winter!

I would like to thank you all for visiting and leaving such lovely comments on my last post.  I was overwhelmed by the volume of visitors sharing their stories with me and by the kindness, support and loyalty you all give so freely. I was really touched, so thank you, once again.

See you all soon,  keep warm and carry on!

Love, Claire

xxx