Friday 7 October 2011

Toot and tat. A mammoth post.

Right, here goes. I have just taken 44 photo's. Luckily for you I won't put them all in one post. In an effort to be organised, today I am going to do 'Recent Purchases.' 'WIPs' can wait till another day.
Ahem, ready, paying attention at the back?
Firstly, the freebie.
The stuff I took from outside the posh shop in Leigh On Sea that was destined for the bin men. (Turns out, the bloke remembers me because Teenage Daughter #1 bought me a present from said shop in the week and asked the man and he said yes he did remember me and laughed. Very loudly.)
Surprisingly they are still sitting in the exact spot where I put them when I got them home about four weeks ago. 'You could put cutlery in them! You could put napkins in them!' I cried upon bringing them through the house. I will. But not today.
As I felt a bit of a pranny taking the stuff I thought I ought to go in and actually spend a pound note in this shop so I bought these.
Obviously the two cheapest things in the shop, and even whilst making a mercy purchase I couldn't just keep it at one item. The ribbons will come in handy for all my craft projects. (HA HA HA.)And I liked the little tin anyway.
Next up, Pyrex. Now I really don't want to become a collector of any one thing, I love toot in general and am scared of having too much of one thing in case I start behaving like those mentallers who have walls full of shelves built to house their beer mats, but I have found that I do like a bit of Pyrex. I am being picky, (to a degree) I won't buy something I already have and I have to like it. So, here's the latest bits. (I think, I've rather lost track.)
Really liked the fish on this and almost did a little tiny jump for joy. Ten years ago I would have laughed you off the planet for liking this stuff but I think it's the kitschness of it and also it feels a bit comforting. (See, I am turning into a mentaller.)
Had to have this because it actually had a lid. When I saw it I almost broke into a run.
Found this little one in my Mum's cupboard and sort of nicked it. It's probably been there donkey's years. I am looking at my mum's toot with a new eye, believe me. I will never make enough casseroles to use all these will I?
Right, Pyrex done, let's move on. Utility china next. Please be warned that I have left taking these photo's until the darkest day this year so the flash came on and they came out a bit pants, but you'll get the general idea.
First up, plates. Blue, very lovely, bought at the boot fair up the road for pennies. I can't remember how many pennies but it wasn't more than about 200.
Nice 'aint they?
Next, jugs.
Excuse the tap, I wasn't in the mood for moving things about and making them pose. Very happy with these, all bought on the same day at the boot fair, same day as the plates. Good job I had my Tesco Orla Keilly bag with me. I danced all the way back to my car with this little lot I can tell you.
Oops forgot a bit of Pyrex, hold on.
Loved these but I know I will never use them.
Now onto odds and ends.
Flipping love this and felt like keeping it in my handbag so I could look at it whenever I wanted.
Little sugar shaker (another thing I am trying not to collect.) this lives in French Corner. The pretend armoire that is really a kid's bookcase from Ikea reclaimed from Teenager #2's bedroom. ( I say bedroom... )
Little baby tin, very pretty indeed. I also bought a big tin in the same chazza but it was so filthy I soaked it and it is left with a white bloom all over it so not worthy in a place in the line up. On the green one, I did the scratch myself. It has lasted all those years unscathed and after two minutes in my house it is damaged. Soppy mare.
Jubilee things. I know, I'm beginning to look suspiciously like a mentaller here. I promise I won't turn into a 'collector.'
I feel sorry for things and have to buy them.
Big grey thing from TK Maxx. I love that shop. I'd marry it. Every time I go in there I buy something. This grey thing is on another little bookshelfy thing adjacent to French Corner. Grey grabs me, I love it.
Ladybird Love now.
I don't know which of these is new but I am picking them up all over the place. Once I bought some in a second hand bookshop in Rochester and paid probably a bit over the odds for them, but you know those days when you haven't bought anything and are in danger of going home empty handed? Well it was one of them and I didn't want to let the side down so I had to buy some.
This is my favourite, bought from a little lady at the boot sale last week.
How utterly fantastic and fitting! I had a warm glow that morning after finding this.
Right, Fabric Friday.
Curtains. Beautifully made, lined, made out of a heavy linen and all for £7 from a chazza in Chatham. The only window they fit in the house is Teenage Daughter's bedroom. After much pleading, some crying and a smidgeon of hysteria, she gave me a firm talking to and said that under no circumstances was she going to allow them into her room. Disappointed though I was, I decided I will cut them up and 'make' something out of them. On Sunday we are getting the sewing machine out of the garage, getting the rules out to familiarise myself with how it works and commence with all this 'making.' Probably.
Nice cushion cover that I bought weeks ago for about three bob and have just had to pick up from the utility room floor because it hasn't quite made it into the washing machine yet. I had to fight my sister for this so I am a tad ashamed of myself.
Lastly, a bed shot. Mainly for Cuckoo, who has mentioned before that she has a crush on my bedlinen. I saw this little lot in a magazine and then on the very last day that the Teenager was working in Tesco so had 10% off I saw it and bought it. It was dirt cheap, I think it was about £17 for the King Size and I know from experience that most Tesco bedding washes up a treat and usually doesn't need ironing. (Make that never. I only iron bedding if someone posh is staying.)
Anyway, the crocheting is going pretty well, not bored with it yet, but perhaps not as manic about it as I have been. I've realised it's not a race and the wool won't run away if I don't use it up straight away. I will do a crochet post later in the week most likely.
Happy weekend, girlies!
xx

Wednesday 5 October 2011

Time and the lack of it.

Hello chicks!
Wanted to say thanks for all your lovely comments and hello to the new followers. So thanks and hello! It's nice to know someone is actually reading this load of waffle.
I also wanted to ask a question... how do people get time to keep up with this blogging caper? What with work, maffs courses, trying to keep the house looking a little bit clean and tidy, cooking dinner, dashing over to Kent to see my mum, keeping up with family and friends on the phone, checking out all the blogs I like reading and commenting on, I never seem to have a spare minute. I know I'm making a minute now but there are no photos and this post is as boring as arse.
It amazes me that some of you are finding time to make stuff, take photos of said stuff (good ones too) and then write entertaining blog posts about it too. You have my admiration, laydeez.
Anyway, I have quite a lot of charity shop and boot sale finds and if I find time on Friday, my day off, I am intending to get them on here for an airing. Mind you, I have to run to Boots for the 3 for 2 offer on the decent moisturisers (according to my sister) and I have just bought two tins of tile paint for the kitchen... wish me luck.
Laters, ladies. Have to dish dinner up and sort out my clobber for work tomorrow.
xx
PS Was well chuffed that Jo won The Great British Bake Off.