Going for a song ...

Happy Monday, my lovelies ... I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend, and for those of you overseas who have celebrated Mother's Day, I hope you've all been well and truly spoilt!

 I always try to use song titles or lyrics from songs in my post title, and while searching for Jumble Sale (without much hope I may add) I found this charming ditty by Jake Thackeray ... you can view it here.  I don't think there was romance in the air at the sale I attended on Saturday, among the bric a brac and Nana's nicknacks, but you never know!

I had a little trip to Ulverston on Friday, to do a spot of thrifting and visit Violet's, and I'm so glad I did, otherwise I'd have missed the sign saying there was a Jumble Sale at a village hall the very next day! My second son, Jacob, called them Jungle Sales when he was small ... so of course, I still do too. Well I arrived fifteen minutes early, in the pouring rain, only to find it had opened early. Like a demented dervish I rushed in, thinking everything would be gone, but what a sight met my eyes! Lots and lots of tables and stalls very well set out and PILED HIGH with treasure! I bought the wooden lamp stand (ripe for a spot of upocycling), vintage shade and a lovely straw hat for 50p for all three ... then I spied the linen stall, devoid of customers ... so no jostling or being poked in the eye with an errant basket or elbow.  Utter bliss ... I had the stall to myself for a few minutes ... the most well spent moments of my life (apart from getting married and giving birth of course!) ...

Underneath the teetering piles of curtains and tablecloths, I struck gold ... numerous coloured doilies and traycloths, scarves and pretty embroidered hankies! I scrabbled through, selecting what I wanted, and was charged the same amount that I would have been asked for one doily at a local charity shop!

This little beauty was still tacked to its tissue paper ... I wonder why it was never released and made use of? The hours of work that must have been spent to create this beautiful piece of work, so intricate, delicate as a spider's web, and the exact colour of a bluebell glade.

I also bought a sweet little basket, some books and a bag ... I spent less than £7 in total! The jumble sale is an annual one, that's why there was so much of everything ... I'm going to have to mark it on my calendar ... definitely one not to miss!

Some of the traycloths had tears and stains on them, so I've been busy upcycling them, using the embroidery hoops I've been collecting.

I need to find some more of these, but as with anything, as soon as the charity shops realise something is popular, the prices are suddenly as much as you would pay in a sewing shop!

I think I'll take these to a fair I'm having a stall at in June ... I already have a commission from a friend!

I really enjoyed doing them, watching Sunday night tv, glass of Baileys, and threads, buttons, lace and ribbon spread out in front of me ... I really know how to live life in the fast lane, you know ...

I've been spending lots of time in my little workroom lately, I absolutely love it, and when everyone leaves for work/school/college in the morning, I head there with my breakfast, and sit at the window planning my day ...

It's that time now, so here I am! Harry and Millie have A Levels and GCSE's today, so a bit subdued ... Good Luck!

 These pictures are a bit misleading ... it looks a lot more lived-in and 'used' now! Please notice Oonagh in the corner, a lovely gift from Gilly ... please check out her blog, Gilly makes beautiful things and provides lots of inspiration ... and is a very lovely lady too!

My workbench ... I now have an old high stool which is great for sitting at the bench, painting and making.
The lace curtain hides a multitude of sins ... all my vintage fair stock finally has a home, and isn't dotted all over the house ... on a fair day it's much easier to pack the car up as it's all in one place...

I've had a great time tittivating this room ... my family think I'm eccentric enough without all this ... but who wants to be the same as everyone else? This is the reason I love blogging so much ... I'm not the only one who gets excited about a pile of smelly doilies!

Think it's time for another pot ...

I'm off on a jolly on Friday ... a real treat ... to London, to celebrate the 'big' birthday of one of my best friends.  There are 6 of us going, staying in Mayfair, going for champagne afternoon tea, seeing a show and sightseeing ... will share with you next week, so until then my lovelies,

Have a wonderful week ...

Love, Claire xxx