More Vintage

I wanted to get this post on the blog today because not only is it more vintage but it's vintage in my own back yard - so to speak LOL!

Yesterday when Jilly and I were out lunching and enjoying our little town we stopped by this vintage charity store in St John's Street and we were both bowled over by it - in fact I asked the lady if I could take pictures to share.  I had been past this store so many times I've lost track but I just thought it was a reclaimed furniture type store and despite saying I should go in sometime I just never did.

It was only once we were inside that we realised it was actually a charity store!  Clearly I should've been shopping in here ALL ALONG!  Der!!!  I apologise now for the pictures - they simply don't do justice to how lovely this store really looks but I didn't want to push my luck with the nice lady behind the counter.

Jilly wandered around with lots of ooohhing and aahhing and at all the pretties and then saying things like 'oh my mum had one of these' and 'I remember these from when I was a kid'.  See - now that we're both 50 we have all these memories to look back on LOL!

In the back there were vintage and retro wedding dresses, party gowns and other bits and pieces like bags, hats and scarves.  I tend to stay away from vintage clothing - it's not really my thing unless of course it's a vintage apron that I happen to fall in love with.

I was super tempted to buy more wooden spools - they had a few but instead I dug deep and found this lovely vintage fabric instead.  I figured it'd make a nice apron or bag, maybe even a smaller table cloth or something.  There was a fair amount for just £2 so it was my kinda price range but I might think long and hard before cutting into it.

I love the colour combo of red and grey with a splash of yellow and it kinda reminds me of October Afternoon vintage design papers which I happen to love - gee I wonder why? Red happens to be my favourite colour so I'm naturally drawn to anything with red in it.  

One thing's for sure.  Whatever I do I'm definitely making myself something nice with this.  If there was a bit more I could've been seriously tempted to completely revamp my kitchen.  Oh and it would've been fab with the grey and white checked Formica drop leaf kitchen table they had too.  I think I'm going back on Saturday given half a chance just to look some more.  I see retro kitchens on Pinterest and a few blogs I regularly check and this makes me want one myself.  Sadly my creativity doesn't stretch to design interiors.  I see it, I want it, but like most people I can only ever manage to put together bits of it but never the whole look I want.

A girl can dream huh?  That's mostly all I do when I get out my collection of chenille bedspreads, vintage linens and fabrics anyhow.  LOL.

If you're into this kind of thing too then there's a vintage charity store in Peterborough (can't think which one or where exactly but it's on the edge of town centre) and also a couple of really fab ones in Colchester called Emmaus.  You can check out the last one here.   There aren't any pictures of the store as such so you'll just have to take my word for it that it's worth the trip - it's actually two stores - but I think I'm feeling a trip to Colchester coming on real soon too.  Meantime I'm gonna check out Pinterest for some sewing inspiration.

Enjoy

Suezie

Vintage Finds

I meant to share a picture or two of the vintage finds I got whilst hubby and I were on holiday in Dorset but with one thing and another since we've been back I just never got time.

Thankfully we both like trawling through junk shops, antique and charity stores and the like.  This glass pedestal bowl - which by the way is much bigger than it looks here - was about £6.50 but I've always wanted a bowl with a pedestal for trifles, layered desserts and big bowl desserts like Eaton mess - yumm!  It's really chunky too so it's quite sturdy for a piece of glassware and should last like forever LOL!

At the time of taking these photos I had dumped a whole bunch of vintage wooden spools and sewing bits and bobs out of my shopping bag into it.  I found most of these in the same charity store and the rest on a second trip later that week.  Usually I remove the thread - I like to see the wood and then I can reuse them easier too but since I've decided to source a LARGE jar to display and store these in I'm leaving them intact.   I have a space for the jar - I just need to get one but I will - I just have to be vigilant and remember I need one when I see it so I don't miss snapping it up.  These things only come along every now and then so you have to grab em' when you see em'.

Plus I also picked up some vintage/retro napkin rings which reminded me a bit of something you'd see in a Cath Kidston catalogue so yeah I had to have them too.  The jury's still out on these but I kinda like them so I might have to put them to use some time and see how I feel about them.  There are eleven in total so there's enough for a BBQ or dinner outside in the back yard.  Shame there wasn't another red one or I'd use em' when the grand-kids come over.

I have another vintage post that I want to share with you but it will have to keep for a minute whilst I go cook dinner.

Hugs

Suezie

Jilly and I spent the day together today.   We had set a date to go out for a birthday lunch and I knew exactly where I wanted to take her.  We sat outside in one of the two courtyards at the Bushel in St John's Street and I can highly recommend it.   In fact I was there with another friend for lunch last week and I might even be able to go back next week who knows?

Since they have two courtyards they have one for smokers and one for non-smokers which is kinda nice for those of us who don't wish to inhale second hand smoke whilst eating our meal.

And in case you think your eyes are deceiving you - they're not.  The next two photos are in black & white.  Maybe it's an age thing (now that we're both fifty LOL), maybe not but we both get such red faces in photos that I wasn't about to post these pictures until I'd toned us down a bit.

I took her picture first and then she kindly took mine - although we did get the really friendly waitress to take a few of us both later on.

I discovered the Bushel for lunch during an away day for our team at work.  We used the local Quaker Friend's Meeting House just a couple of doors up for a day to work away from the office, the phones and the hustle and bustle of the work day to brainstorm and work through new projects and presentations.  Fourteen of us went to the Bushel for the lunch time special menu - £5.95 for a main, side and a drink and were quite impressed - hence the reason I have been back a few times already!

Today, however, was a special treat so we had to sample the dessert menu - just £5 for two desserts.  Who could possibly argue with that  I ask you?

Jilly had the summer fruit pudding which was brioche (hope I spelled that right) cubed and soaked in the fruit mixture all in a cute Kilner style jar and topped with crème fraiche and a sprig of mint.  I think I will have to try to make this one myself.  We have several different berries coming on at the allotment that would be a perfect mix for this and I just love the idea that I can make these ahead, pop them into the fridge and then top them with cream to serve and with no cooking at all.  Could it get any easier?

I on the other hand had the chocolate, caramel, salty hazelnut duo dessert thingy.  OMW!!!  It was devine!  It had melted chocolate in the very bottom topped with chocolate mousse, topped with hazelnuts, topped with dark caramel sauce, topped with crème fraiche!  NEED I SAY MORE!

Oh but I do, I do - you have sooooooo gotta go try this dessert!  Next time you're in town, stop in at the Bushel just for dessert if nothing else.

I am hoping to meet up with a couple of gals next week and if can talk them into going here - I'm there!  The service is excellent - we had literally just ordered and our lunch was being brought out to us. A couple of times we were checked on by two different members of staff, both of whom were friendly and chatted to us - one sweet gal even gave us a brief history of the place too and the bill was super reasonable to boot.  Jilly and I kinda have a rough budget when we go out - keep it simple, nothing too expensive.  

The only downside I can find is that this place is so good all round I might be the size of a house if I go there too often LOL!  I think I will have to reign it in a bit between visits.  Yeah that's what I'll do cos I still haven't taken hubby there for a treat yet.

What with the tea and cake we had at the Methodist Church earlier, Loom's Lane in town (another place I highly recommend you go on a Wednesday morning - used to go there with my mother when I was younger) and somewhere else I'm introducing everyone else to, I've just had an all round scrumptious day today.  Might have to be salad for dinner tonight then.  Nah!

 Blessings

Suezie