Sunday, 31 January 2010

Before and after - Lace Lampshade...

I really enjoy vintage lampshades, modern shades don't seem to have the same charm. However it is rare to find one at a car boot or charity shop that isn't in need of some TLC!  But that is the fun part - no? I bought the below table lamp for £2 before Christmas, the lovely seller told me that it was definitely in working order.  Little did he know I was only after the shade and not the functional lamp base.  I have recovered many lampshades for my flat in the past and lace is usually my fabric of choice.  I LOVE lace!  It is one of my favourite fabrics.  The below dusky pink corded lace and tassle trim re-vamped shade was a gift for my wonderful friend Siouxsie and I am pleased to say she loved it!  

Bought and transformed by: Miss J

Before...
During...
After...

Lace Lampshades in my boudoir...

Saturday, 30 January 2010

Saturday 30th January...

There was a fine dusting of snowflakes over London early this morning, but hey what is a little snow between sisters when there are beautiful collectibles to be found!  It was FREEZING though....when we had finished looking at every stall we retreated to the warmth of Miss R's car with numb fingers (myself) and frozen toes (Miss R)!  Here's what I found...

Vintage Underwood Typewriter, £4 (steal!).  I am not sure if it works, I doubt it, but I have always loved the look of old typewriters and intrigued by what might have been composed on them.  Thought it would make a great prop in any case.

Vintage tin to add to my collection - love the chocolate brown and vanilla custard colour combination. £1

Hallmarked Sterling Silver cutlery £5.  These knives and forks are really exquisite close up and are in amazing vintage condition, they have such a great weight which you only get with real silver! The detail of the flowers engraved on them is beautiful and the pearl-esque handles remind me of my Mum's gorgeous cake slice which I lust over every time she cuts a delicious home made cake when we go home.


I was lucky enough to be photographed by Rankin for the RANKIN LIVE exhibition at the Truman Brewery last summer and have been looking for a special frame ever since to display my print.  We see a lot of this style of frame at the car boot but it is rare to find one in such good condition as well as having the original glass, £10 - bargain!

Bought by: Miss J

Saturday, 23 January 2010

Curiousities Shelf...

Again, I have had one of these on my 'car boot wish list' for a while now, and today I found this beauty for £3!!  I am going to use it to display empty Chanel No 5 bottles.  I reckon it won't be long until the sections are more abundant - I seem to go through it like water, well if it was good enough for Marilyn!

Bought by: Miss J

10p Mickey Mouse ears... after

You may remember the mickey mouse ears I bought back in December for 10p!  I had wanted one of these hats for years to transform into the perfect NYE chapeau (sans veil for now - we went out for dinner, so it just would not have been practical)!  It's amazing what a bit of black lace, glitter and ribbon can do!

Transformed by: Miss J

Saturday 23rd January - Bootcar is back

Miss R and I woke early this morning - both excited about what our first car boot of 2010 would hold for us!  We have both been experiencing withdrawal symptoms after lack of car boot action over the Christmas holidays and with all the snow and ice etc etc!  It's crazy how addictive our weekend adventures have become.  The annual January detox is going well and it makes getting up at ridiculous o'clock on a Saturday morning in the hope of finding discarded treasure so much easier when you are not hungover from the night before, or worse - still tipsy!!  On this damp grey morning in London, I found lots of things that made leaving the comfort of my bed worthwhile.  Ok, onto today's finds....

Before...
After...
Vintage Hallmarked Silver Fish Knife and Fork Set £5.  I only really wanted the large serving knife which I will use as a cake slice as I love baking (and am vegetarian) - it is so pretty with the engraving on the knife plate.  I knew they would come up lovely with a bit of silvo, just like Miss R's success with her ever growing vintage cutlery collection (see Saturday 24th October post).

Miss R and I collect these Amaretti Virginia Tins in various designs and sizes,  50p - I will use to house the cutlery above.

These french novels have such beautiful covers and spines, and one is called Bijou! Maybe one day I will be able to read them too? £5

Before... (hideous faux flower arrangement inside glass bell jar) £1
After... delightful new home for my Boudicca WODE paint perfume!
Bought by: Miss J


 

Thursday, 21 January 2010

My new chair...


A month or two ago I mentioned a chair I had bought, which I was planning to paint and re-upholster. Well finally here it is. It was a bit miserable (bottom photo) and in need of some love to brighten it up for a new life but Miss J and I saw the potential. I stripped it, painted it white (this took quite a few coats), then tried to take a pattern from the fabric I removed to cut the new fabric. Not a bad attempt for my first go at reupholstering... Miss J is more of an expert in this department so she advised me along the way. (Thank you!) I really enjoyed it so will be on the lookout for more projects this weekend when we get back to car booting!

Christmas stocking...


I made christmas stockings for Miss J and Mr R this year (this is Mr R's), rather than my usual pillow case stockings I went to town after my re discovered love of sewing on my Grandad's old Singer 507, what do you think? Not being the most skilled operator of the sewing machine, as Miss J would vouch for, I was rather pleased with my felt applique letters.

Happy New Year...

The Christmas decorations are now down. Here is some of the Christmas bunting I made in December for decorating our flat.