Rediscovering Vintage Treasures!

During my DIY/sorting stint this summer I've unearthed so much stuff packed away that I had even forgotten I had, mmm I think that is a problem called hoarding, anyhoo....

As it's Friday afternoon and I've had a productive back to work week, I thought I'd share a few pics of some of little treasures I unearthed.

First up is a 1940s microphone, I don't remember where we even bought this but I know in our mind we thought we'd be able to use it onstage with the band at the time, I'm sure we must have plugged it in and surprise suprise it didn't work, still it looks good and I won't be parting with it as it's a useless object but reminds me of a part of my life!

Isn't that smart huh?

Next up is not really a vintage treasure in my eyes but in others I guess it is, it's something from my childhood! As I was born in 1966 I guess something from my childhood is now well and truly considered vintage! It's a puppet from The Magic Roundabout, I guess non-UK viewers will think, what? Here's a link to explain more. Of course UK viewers of a certain age will recognise Florence he he!

She now had pride of place on the bookshelf, no longer stuffed in some cupboard somewhere!!

Next up is a really nice metal wall plate we have had forever we just haven't found anywhere yet to put it up in this house, and it's been stored away for a while, I want it to go back up as it's so unusual and so nice, I've never seen another thing like this before, although I'm sure you guys will prove me wrong, I know they're not common at least!

It has such beautiful texture and colouring doesn't it? But no makers mark it's just stamped England on the back!

I also re-arranged my bookshelves and oh the books I found which I'd forgotten all about, I'm going to do a seperate post about some of my favourites, great sources for home style, clothes, and a bunch of other stuff, in fact it will probably be a range of posts in reality as there is a lot to get through!

So this weekend I might make the curtains for my office, but I'm pretty tired and I have a super busy one next weekend so I might just potter about the house! If I make the curtains, I'll make sure I take pics so you can see!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Lots of Stuff!

Hey all, good to see ya!

Sorry I haven't been around for while, all that DIY and trying to get things finished swallows up your time doesn't it? Anyway I'm back - well honestly I never went away but I'm back as in online!

I officially came back to work on Monday, which is weird cos I work for myself but I gave myself some time away the last month, not real time away, you can't do that when you run your own business but I didn't work at it full on as usual but as of Monday, eek I'm back! Of course now I'm back I have sooo much to catch up on, but I also have loads of new ideas for blogs post, however this won't be one of the new idea posts, sorry!

Anyway I had a couple of lucky & cheap finds lately which I want to share.

Remember those lovely sherry glasses I got, you can see them here well I found matching shot glasses for £1, yes a £1 whoo hoo! So of course I bought them, here they are

I'm so happy I have some more of those lovely glasses! Sorry for the bad pic, I'm a bit sleepy! Anyway very interestingly on the shot glasses France is imprinted on the base so I'm assuming they're French. I'm wondering if I can get a whole set now, they are so cute I would love more!

Ok next up, I need to explain. If you've been collecting this stuff forever, you will have also bought and sold forever because unless you're a millionaire you wouldn't have the house room for all the stuff. Why am I telling you this, well as a subject covered before and by other, there are always vintage regrets for me, most of mine have been shoes I've sold, even though I never wore them and probably never would I still regret selling them! Anyway I've regretted selling other stuff too but usually you just think ah well, that was nice, why did I sell it, but I did so what the heck. You rarely get a second chance at these things but guess what I did. Now please don't think I'm crazy but both me and my husband loved this and we don't know why we parted with it and no it's nothing special but we loved it. What is it? A rice holder, but a pretty special one.

It was only a £1 again, and we're super happy we got it again :o)

In other news I got the curtains up in Paul's art room, I wanted to put these ones up because they're arty in a way and they're pretty faded so it doesn't matter if he ends up splashing a bit of paint on them, they are lovely though!

Here's a closer look!

So there you go, some stuff I've been doing, hopefully I'll post more often from now on, although I am preparing for a bit event next weekend at Twinwood, where hopefully I'll do some filming so you can see what it's all about, if I remember to take my camera!

Speak soon!

Sorry I've been AWOL but....

I've been busily trying to finish my DIY to do list before Monday when I officially get back to Notorious Kitsch work. I may be able to do some small stuff over the next couple of months but I wanted to get the big stuff out of the way so this has been a full on week!

I will post pictures at some point, when is it eventually finished, as you can tell it's midday Saturday and I still have lots to do, especially in my office.

How would I like my office to look? Well not quite how it IS going to look as I don't have money to invest in cute furniture. The good news however is that I will have a sewing area, how blumming exciting is that!

So I keep looking at cute 50s kitchen tables on ebay to get for a sewing table, they're pretty cheap so keep your fingers crossed for me!

I've also managed to get my husbands art room almost sorted too, which is very exciting for him as he's been tripping over stuff for ages - which when you are disabled is not an ideal situation to be in eeek!

Anyway here's a sneaky peek of part of his art room, when I finished gutting this room a while ago and painted it, imagine my surprise when I went in one day and found he had started a mad crazy mural on the wall!

Here is it a bit closer!

Yep what goes on in that fellas mind eh? As you can see his style has a very cartoon appearance, he was a great cartoonist before he had his accident and really started getting into painting when he started on the path to recovery.

I will put up some of his artwork at some point, we haven't quite worked out how to photograph it yet, it just doesn't come over at all. He sold some of his paintings for the first time in June, and plans to try to sell more in the future, he has soooo many in the studio!

I found a huge Tiki style one when we were clearing it all out, I haven't taken a picture of it yet, but it might end up in our bedroom!

I will put up a pic of my most favourite character in a painting he's ever done, I don't know if I'll ever be able to part with this one, it's just part of the painting I've photographed but I think the woman is mesmerising!

I will post more of his artwork up when we figure out how to do it justice by photographing it, and I will post more often I've just been busy moving furniture, bookcases, mountains of books etc etc!

Whoo hoo I did it!

Another thing crossed off my renovation to do list for the summer!

The bathroom is done, well nearly, I do have a couple of small projects in it still but mostly it's done.

It needs a few more cute things in there, maybe a plant, more chalkware but pretty much it's done, oh and I think I need to line the curtains now they're up, I really don't want that fabulous fabric to fade!

Here's the pics!

First up the curtains I made, with the blinds that I have had for years and haven't put up til now, plus lovely picture of a Vargas girl

Here's the curtains closed, it's a bit of a dark picture but after it I've put a close up of the fabric, it looks stripey cos the blind is showing through! But how fabulous is it?

Next up a bit more detail of the mirror and the curtains open.

Next up, my nemesis! Yes that is the black cupboard that I tried to put up for over a week and in the end had to ask my mate to help me, I wasn't doing anything wrong, it was simply one screw was too short, if I'd figured that out I could have done it myself, ah well, next time! I know for something that tormented my life for a whole week it doesn't look much does it? Actually it's solid wood, a good size and I got it for 99p on ebay! I painted it black, it needs another coat & I'm going to replace the knobs for something fancier, but I'm pretty pleased with my bargain, it's far nicer than horrible modern bathroom storage!

Next up is a smaller cabinet which is actually a repro but I think it's pretty good for repro and a fab chalkware fish, oh yes I need to paint the door and I have no idea what that plastic thing is on the door!

And here's a closer look at the fish

I'm very happy with my work, it's been frustrating, annoying and tormenting, but it's done!

So that is one more job ticked off my to do list, I can't believe it, you know these projects have been waiting to get done for so long now. That's the kitchen & bathroom now both pretty much done, I won't deny there is still some stuff to do in both but they are looking good!!

Now I'm going to have a rest for the rest of the day, then who know what I'll start tackling tomorrow!

Oh My Lord look what I found!

15 yards/13 metres of 1950's curtain material, like brand new, laying in a charity shop!!

I have to say they did know it's worth, it wasn't cheap, but nevertheless I bought it and I'm going to sell it as I have nowhere right now to put it and honestly I don't need any more material in my stash. I bought it to sell it cos again as I said it wasn't cheap but I wanted someone to own it who would love it and use it, how often do you find mint condition 1950s curtain material. I nearly hyperventilated right there in the shop, I'm surprised an ambulance wasn't called he he! The colours are so vibrant it was like it was made yesterday! I know too many exclamation marks but come on, how good is this?

Here's another shot

Can you believe material survives with such vibrancy?

Anyway as I said I've put it on ebay straight away otherwise I WILL keep it, and it will sit in my stash for 10 years, like the other 2 sets of curtains I've finally made recently! So if you're interested, and let's face it who wouldn't be, click here. I really want this to go to a great home!

I also picked up some other vintage fabric but these were a steal!

First up 1950s Taffeta type material in lilac shot through with silver and 5.5 metres, honestly how I survived this place I do not know.

This didn't photograph so well but use your imagination!

And then this, amazing vintage subtle tropical pattern material, again loads of it!Oh my!

So I am one very amazed person who is now addicted to charity shops all over again ha ha!

Thinking about sweaters, yes already!

It was a bit chilly last night, I mean it's still summer and I'm sure we're still going to have plenty of hot weather to come but it got me to thinking about my favourite time of year Autumn.

I love digging out my cute sweaters and feeling a bit snuggly in them!

I'm very lucky I have a mum who knits, she's copies 40's and 50's patterns for me and so I always have an abundance of sweaters, so I rarely buy but I've been eyeing up Rocket Originals sweaters for some time now. Of course it doesn't help that we are often on a stall next to them at events or share an apartment at events, so I get to see it all and get tempted.

However what I do love is their new cotton mix sweaters, the ones my mum makes are usually wool or acrylic so initially when there's just a slight chill in the air they're just a bit too warm, but these are nice and light so I'm thinking I may have to invest!

I love this one

I particularly love the neckline, how fabulous, and red too, my favourite!

Then there's this one too

oooh I think I need one of these too!

They're a great price at £30, I think that's a bargain! Oh and for all those ladies who read from overseas I know they ship worldwide, so enjoy...

It's time to start getting some new sweaters knit by mum, I just won the above pattern on ebay for 99p again, so I'll be getting that done, but in the meantime, Rocket Originals sweaters might be the way to go!

I can't do it!

But I can't do it :o(

This is not a phrase that utters forth from me very often, I am one of those people that truly believes if you put your mind to something you can do it. I guess I was brought up that way, I rarely come across stuff I can't do and when I do it shocks and annoys the hell out of me!

What is my problem I hear you ask?

Well as you know I'm tackling all the projects that I haven't got around to finishing over the summer and I just tried to do something, and I messed up, and I need help but really don't have anyone who can help, I have a really good friend who helps out sometimes but I hate asking cos he's so busy.

The thing is when it comes to heavy and awkward, it's really hard to do with one person, obviously my husband can't help, so it's down to me and today I found one of my 'can't do' spots. I've already hung one small cupboard in the bathroom, but this bigger heavier one I'm struggling with BIG TIME! Also putting up the blinds in there, oh boy me and my husband had a huge row on Friday over that, I can tell you that cos we rarely row, it was one of those I'm so angry and frustrated at myself cos I can't do it so you buster will have to get it in the neck, he didn't take it laying down he he!

I never concentrate on what I can do, but what I can't do, I've done loads in this house and I'm pretty handy, but grrr when I can't do something it frustrates the hell out of me. I can't afford a handyman, so that's out of the question, so what do you guys do in this situation?

Maybe I just need to calm down and rethink it tomorrow.....