thrifting in france

And I'm back! It's been a busy summer, not least because of all the weddings I've attended. Having never been to a wedding before, three of my friends got married this year! All were lovely, of course, but the most glamorous took place last weekend in France.

And it wouldn't be a typical weekend for me without one little thrifting trip. I had been keeping my eye out for signs for brocantes or vide grenier, but not expecting too much (particularly as we didn't have too much spare time). And then I came across this...

Which led to this...

Most of it was your usual junk, but I did manage to find one item - another tin, of course. If you are headed to France, this website, Brocabrac, looks quite helpful for finding flea markets.

And the wedding? It was fabulous of course. We stayed in this lovely house in the centre of town, which had been converted into hostel-style rooms.

And it was a short stroll to the chateau for the reception, with cocktails on the lawn (the view is of the reception venue from the hotel)...

(linking to Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures and Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrify Groove)

from italy to africa

A lovely surprise in the bottom of a thrifted scrabble game, these postcards were sent to Joan Gorse in 1964. Joan lived in Kampala, Uganda, and it seems her friends were well-travelled folks too. 

Eastern Cataracts, Victoria Falls

Sat. 21st Dec.
Had a very pleasat trip. It is stinking hot here. Met Ann Fletcher and Rose Watson yesterday evening. We saw them off in the train to Billawayo after dinner last night. Hope Reg arrived, and that a happy time is had by all at Kabale.
Love Mirry

Firenze, Duomo and batistery

Dear Joan, here we are in Florence after a run of about 250 miles from Rome. Arrived about 3.30 and we have been for a walk to the Cathedral. Although it is Good Friday all shops open and it is like Xmas Eve here. Car running well but broke a headlamp with a piece of wood thrown up. Had 500 mile service in Rome yesterday. Hope to make Venice tomorrow. Getting colder as we go north. Cheerio from Kathleen, Les and Terry.

Jadini Hotel, P.O. Ukunda, Kenya

4/3/64
Dear Joan. We are all roasted nicely and now ready once more to resume our wandering and boarding the ship tomorrow. Very hot here and all we can do is eat swim and try to sleep. The food here is excellent. Our quarters are the ground floor of the smaller building, all self contained and very nice. We have not been into Mombasa but hope to have a look around tomorrow when we have settled aboard. We went to see a record sized shark which was caught along here, 650 lbs. Pleased it didn't catch me!
Love from us all. Les

Have you found any gems hidden in thrifted items?

Linking to Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures.

blooming marvellous

While in Dorset, we just missed the knitted garden and Blooming Marvellous exhibition at Bridport Arts Centre.

The website describes is as 'an intergenerational community knitting/crochet project culminating in a 3D garden which climbed, creeped, blossomed over three floors of Bournemouth Library.' It is now on tour across the country.

(photos from Blooming Marvellous)

i heart camping

I survived my first camping trip! We spent last week in sunny Dorset, testing out the new tent. It was surprisingly fun, albeit a bit chilly the first few nights.

Our campsite was in a lovely spot, with the Swanage steam railway chugging through it - can you see it in the photo?

And we managed to have cream teas every day. The best was from Downhouse Farm - hard to find but oh, so worth it, with fresh clotted cream made on the farm.

What have you been up to?

(I Tent Camping sign from Jeremy Anderson, cream tea photo by S)

some favourite things

A round up of the best things I have found on the internet in the last few weeks...
The best advice:

• How to care for vintage pyrex (from High Plains Thrifter).
• My pet peeve sold - how to hang your art at the correct height (from AB Chao).
• How to give good compliments (by the inspiring Already Pretty).
• Ten tips for shopping at car boot sales (by A Thrifty Mrs)

Beautiful driftwood sculptures by Ella Robinson (via the red thread).

Are you always running late? Accept your fate with this temporary tattoo (via A Cup of Jo).

Turn your iPhone into a Polaroid camera (via Kyla Roma).

And finally... Jim Henson and Bert (via 24 Free Dinners).

the thrifting itch

I've been itching to get out to the charity shops recently. I've been far to busy during the week, and haven't even been to the car boot sale for the past two weeks. I miss it! So on Thursday I took myself off to my favourite shops, and picked up some bits and pieces. Nothing too exciting, but it can't always be amazing.

My favourite find was The Husband and Wife's Handbook from 1924. I've been on the lookout for little presents for a friend's forthcoming hen do (batchelorette party), and this booklet seemed perfect. Now I read it, it's far ruder than I realised!

Next up is a stack of Motorcycle Sport magazines from the 1970s - not my cup of tea, they will be making their way to eBay at some point. But they absolutely stink, I think of mothballs - does anyone have any tips on making them a bit more palatable?

Two Tupperware egg cups, with handy lids, which again are going on eBay. They don't sell for big bucks, but were only 10p.

I got a stack of these plates and mugs, in preparation for out first camping trip. Unfortunately the previous owner had written her name on the bottom of all of them in nail varnish - thanks very much Jennifer, who ever you are.

And what would one of these round ups be without another tin. This Butlin's biscuit barrel is great fun.

Linking with Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures and Thrift Share Monday at Apron Thrift Girl.

The Festival of Britain

During our day out in London the other week, we stopped in to see the Festival of Britain exhibition at the Southbank Centre.

Planned as 'a tonic to the nation' after the dark days of the war, the exhibition took place in 1951 and showcased the best new British design.

Although fairly small, the exhibition has a great collection of items from the festival. One of the highlights is a quilt with patches representing each of the hundred years that had passed since the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Centre stage is the 1950s living room, put together by Homes & Antiques magazine. So many classic pieces, that remain just as covetable today. (Pictures from Homes & Antiques magazine.)

And, lo and behold, what did I find in the charity shop the next week. A little souvenir Festival of Britain shot glass. I've never come across anything from the festival before, so it was a shock to find this little thing for 25p.

Linking to Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures.