Wednesday 15 August 2012

vintage treats...

Helloooo, how are you today? I've had a busy few days, making the most of the weather to get out with F and the boys - hurrah for the sunshine!  

We all went to a car boot sale at the weekend, we haven't been for ages because M always gets carried away and we end up bringing a load of plastic tat home. But I fancied a rummage in the sunshine so off we went, and in fact the boys were great, each choosing something small and then getting engrossed with playing with their new toys.  Meanwhile I scanned the tables, looking for that elusive treasure...and then....

well, I do like tins, though I usually go for a bolder design, but it's pretty...


the designs around the sides are a bit more my style... R likes the 'funny dancing boy'...


I love the crazy pointy beards...


how much was it? £5 with the contents - I don't usually spend that much on one thing for myself at a boot sale, it doesn't really feel like a bargain price, but I could hardly say no! 


Most of the reels are wooden, and apart from their obvious use they are just beautiful objects. 

These 3 are proper strong button thread, the blue and brown are linen...



these 3 are the smoothest and shiniest cotton thread I've ever seen...



and this one you don't find in every sewing kit!



I never used to haggle at boot sales but I tend to pick up a little extra something and see if I can get it thrown in...in this case, I think I did quite well...


3 rather gorgeous pairs of knitting needles.  I don't really knit - my Grandmother taught me a bit when I was little but I could never remember how to cast on or off!  But I'd love to learn properly someday...

I found the background fabric on holiday, in a little vintage shop in St Ives called Beatengreen Boutique (I don't think their website's been updated in a while, but I always like to provide a link where possible).  It's a very bright and psychedelic pattern, here's a close-up:


If you like it I'm going to be listing a cushion-cover sized bit of it on Ebay soon, along with a few other favourite bits of fabric; I'll let you have a sneak peek at them soon!

Before I go I must just welcome my newest follower; I had an odd thing happen the other day when 6 followers just disappeared - did I lose them down the back of the sofa?! maybe they didn't like photos of flowers?! - but having the super talented Jane of teawagontales more than makes up for that little mishap!  If you've never perused her lovely blog or Etsy shop I recommend it, especially if this applies to you too...



Isn't that just perfect?  I so need that somewhere on my wall!

I hope you're enjoying your week , 

Rachel x

24 comments:

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    1. Thanks Ada, I thought it would be up your street! x

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  2. Ah I wouldn't worry about followers going missing.. it happens all the time to me. LOVE that tin full of cotton reels.. they are beautiful! xx

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    1. I'm glad to hear that Lou - I'm sure I've lost one or two before, but this was 6 in one go - weird! Yes I'm very pleased with my car boot booty! xx

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  3. Your tin is a great find. I also love the illustrations along the sides! I used to get quite embarrassed about haggling at flea markets but now I do it all the time. x

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    1. I'm definitely getting more confident about haggling too, though for some reason it feels less cheeky to ask for extra stuff than to try to beat the price down - maybe that's just me though! x

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  4. What lovely treasure you found in your tin box ... I love the sides too ... very French retro ... Jane's shop is great ... I just recently bought the material girl print ... very cute ... Bee xx

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    1. Hi Bee, yes it was like opening a treasure chest! The sides are my favourite bit of the tin, apart from the contents of course! I love Jane's shop, must treat myself to a print one day. xx

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  5. I love, love, love the tin and filled with all those gorgeous spools - that would be my haul ideal.

    Have a lovely day,

    Nina x

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    1. Ah, thanks Nina, glad you like it - I did feel very lucky when I found it! Hope you've had a great day. xx

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  6. Love the tin and contents! Great pics- Love Jane too! Jo xx

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    1. Thanks Jo! Glad you like my find, I was very pleased. xx

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  7. Wow, I dream about finding a tin full of goodies like that! Good car boot hunting. x

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    1. I was so happy when I opened that tin and saw all those lovely wooden reels! I'd rather have one good find like that than lots of little bits of tat - we left after that so that the kids didn't start looking for more toys! xx

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  8. Hello Rachel, just noticed you on my 'followers' list...lovely to have you aboard, as they say! I've been noticing recently a lovely practice among bloggers, which is to welcome and mention new followers in their posts - I think this is quite a recent thing, and as such I haven't been doing it. But it is a great thing to do so I will mention you next post, I promise, and continue to do so...should I get any more followers!

    My favourite photo is the one of the close up sun flower....that would make a wonderful journal doodle! I must have a go......

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    1. Hi Lynne, I found your blog while 'blog-hopping', funny you should mention the 'introducing new followers' thing because this is the first time I've done it! But yes I think it's lovely - please don't feel you have to mention me, but it's sweet of you to do so.

      I love that fabric, it's very similar to a lot of my doodles, which are often floral type images. I'd love to see what you do with it...Rachel x

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  9. I love the psychedelic yellow flower...that's right up my street so I will keep an eye out in your etsy shop.

    How wierd that you lost 6 followers all at once. They've obviously got no taste ;)

    I am desperately seeking followers, so if anyone fancies a bit of vintage, music, vw campervan travels, family crafts etc please pay me a visit and I will give you a very warm welcome and a personal mention :)

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    1. I'll let you know when I list the fabric Mama, I can always 'reserve' it for you if you want some! Thanks for the lovely comment about missing followers -it was odd, especially as I just can't figure out what could be offensive about pictures of flowers!

      My only tips for getting followers is to post regularly and leave lots of comments on other blogs that you like, it seems to be working for me though I don't always post as often as I'd like to! Rachel x

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  10. That tin is wonderful - as are the contents. Super duper find!!

    Isn't it just great to open a tin and find something like that inside? I once picked up a large, pretty tin at a boot sale, just because it was lovely. I opened it and Lo! it was jammed FULL of embroidery floss - maybe over a hundred skeins, in loads of colours, all for only £1. For me, that was the find of the year. I could not believe my luck. I think the two men who were selling - house clearance chaps, I'd say - had no idea what treasure it was.

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    1. Thanks Wendz, yes I do think the tin was a very special find - you've just reminded me I had a similar experience at a local junk shop a couple of years ago - I picked up a pretty tin and it was FULL of vintage buttons - and they only wanted £2 for it! Oh happy day. xx

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  11. Oh me! Oh my! What's this I spy? You lucky lady!! What a find RM. Funnily enough, I've just been locked in a bidding war over a delicious vintage tin of old sewing stuffs, unfortunately I didn't win this time, hey ho! Hope you enjoy your goodies hun love RM xx

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    1. Hi RM! I'm sorry to hear you didn't win the tin, those bidding wars can be disappointing - it's happened to me many times! Hopefully there's a better tin full of better stuff waiting for you round the corner....xx

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  12. Wow! That tin was some find. I am *never* that lucky!

    The naming new followers thing is new, I started a month or two ago and I'd only seen it a few places before that. I love to do it, and link to folk who comment for the first time too.

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  13. Oooo - some very lovely and deliciouso finds indeed - all the better for a bargain price - extra deliciousness

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