Good stuff going on

The last wee while has been busy but like everyone across the country we have been enjoying the fab weather!

The top pic is a lovely sunny pic of my mum (She is on the right, complete with flower in her mouth!) on a girls holiday abroad when she was about 17. By its tattered state you can see I love this picture and have kept it in a wee wallet with my other old pics since I left home. Its just such a happy, sunny picture and so totally the essence of my lovely Mum. To celebrate the sunshine this week it is currently residing on my favourite print from Kerry at Seventy Tree, bought for our re-decorated bedroom and so kindly customised for my colours (I have tried to photograph the whole pic but they didn't come out well- will keep trying!). So Kerry thanks again- we really love it.

The second pic is me and the kiddos fab Friday afternoon at a dear old friends house. It was a lovely catch up instigated by my bestie Richard. The kids and I had a ball in the sunny garden, great company, food and maybe a wee bit of wine for the adults!

The last pic well it wouldn't be a post from me without a weekly thrift shot! You know I saw this handsome Wade pair at the start of last week and only bought the wee bowl as my own words  from previous posts echoed in my head and well, like I needed another milk Jug........But I just fell in love with the James Borsay designed Raindrops pattern and by an amazing stroke of luck the wee jug was still there this morning and the two are reunited again! The blue green glaze is unusual and beautiful.

Hope you are having a great weekend,

Jo xx

A small bit of shopping!

So you didn't think I went away for a few days and didn't venture to check out the charity shops did you!!!! I managed to sneak away on my own for an hour and can report that the shops were chock a block with nice stuff in Crieff. The top three pics, although all fab stuff I DID NOT BUY- primarily as I am trying to practice what I preach and not buy anymore of things that I already have lots of. The bottom two pics- a wee set of lovely retro patterned bowls and the flowered tea towel- yes they are now mine!!

Jo xx

{and yes that set of plates in the top pic was £20!!!}

Kaj Franck

Utterly obsessed by this just now. I would so love this- it is mine in my heart!! Believe me if I had more funds it would be mine in a heartbeat! Anyone want to buy it for me???

Jo xx

{Find it here on Ebay}

{pics posted with kind permission from Michael Fisch}

Snack bowls?.....Or Casseroles?

A recent acquisition was this snack set from Etsy seller Tara at Visualizing Vintage. I love the colour and retro pattern and that its called a 'snack set' - love it! It is also quite tough plastic and they stack too!

It got me thinking about the vintage china and kitchen stuff that I buy. I always aim to buy things that I will use- its not just for admiring in this house. And if it doesn't work for its keep its takes a trip back to the thrift shop! When I started buying vintage stuff I was taken up by all the great casserole dishes that you could find, until I realised that I just don't cook, eat and serve that way. In fact I don't think that many of us do now. I'm all about taking away the formality around mealtimes- those formal meals of the past where the woman serves out of a range of dishes, to the menfolk first- well I shiver thinking about it!

To make entertaining more relaxed I do a trick from Nigella- put the plates and cutlery out informally. I often wrap the cutlery in napkins and put it in a lovely Hornsea vase for people to help themselves. And food to share and pass round is much more me.

Two exceptions on the casserole front however are the Figgjo Flint wee casserole dish (third picture above) and the JG Meakin green one (fourth pic). The Figgjo Flint one is the perfect size for my homemade hummus or mackerel pate and the Meakin one was a present from my Aunt. Its good for rice or pasta salad in the summer.

Anyway I digress- snack sets like this one I can use. For dips, chips, kiddo parties, salad- I could go on but you get the idea. I think I could probably make room for some more too!

Do you mainly buy for use or for display? I would LOVE to know?

Oh and thanks fort all your recent comments it makes my day!

Jo x

Small things

A wee purchase last week- its a tiny vase that I Love! Nice pattern, nice shape- whats not too love!

Jx

Vintage dress

I just ordered this from the lovely Anne-Marie at London Vintage on Etsy. I had been uuuhming and aahhing about it for ages and well generally being a pest to Anne-Marie (who has been very patient). Anyways I ordered it eventually for Nevie (when pennies allowed!) and its on its way just now. Recently I have been dressing the wee one in some of my old dresses that my Mum kept and this reminds me of them so much. Pics to follow!

Jx

(pic by Anne-Marie- thank you)