What was in the suitcase????

Please may I take this opportunity of thanking all of you who take time to read my little old  blog and leave very kind comments.  It is lovely to know that there are like minded people out there in the ether that don't mind listening to my ramblings!

You will remember that last week I went to the auction for the first time in ages.  This particular auction house has several rooms with differing quality goods and in the middle room it is the general sale with mostly house clearance items.  I find it so sad that someone's life's possessions end up in dusty boxes unwanted and unloved by their descendents and of course there are the poor souls who have no-one to claim them.  Underneath the tables are boxes full of ornaments, kitchenalia, glassware, china and the ones I like the most are closed boxes, I just have to open them to see what is inside and it is amazing how many auction visitors do not bother.  This large old suitcase was just begging to be opened and I was thrilled to see a collection of old dolls and dolls clothes and even more thrilled when nobody else placed a bid.

The case itself is very interesting .... a vintage Revelation and a few old luggage labels are just about visible .... I am going to use this to store some of my stash but at the moment it is a bit musty ..... some nice fragranced drawer liners are needed I think.

Anyhow, look what was inside .... a collection of dolls mostly dating to the 1960s I should think .... all of their clothes are handmade and we all love handmade don't we.

A lovely handmade golly .... not terribly PC I know but they are loveable and part of our heritage whatever colour our skin is .... he has a handmade shirt, jacket and trousers with little felt shoes which match the pocket on the jacket.

This little lady has a polkadot dress, lacey undies and a blue coat with matching bonnet ... apologies for the unladylike pose but she wouldn't sit up any other way!

This cute trio are all wearing hand knit clothes

This little lady has to be the oldest of the lot ... her clothes are all handmade even down to her pettitcoat and bloomers

I can't make my mind up whether this is an old Sindy or just a lookalike .... she has a light plastic body and again her collection of clothes are all hand made .... here are some more

Two pairs of fabric flairs, a green knitted jumpsuit, Fairisle sweater and matching  hat, another pair of black knitted trousers, jazzy blouse and a very Sergeant Pepper style jacket.

These two girlies in Welsh national costume ... again hand knitted and the larger one is actually a tea cosy

and finally a hand knitted coat and hat

The Auction Part 2 ...

Well I have emptied all the boxes and have been washing and drying all the goodies and there were some nice surprises.  I have sorted everything out and will be taking some to the charity shop, some is priced up ready for a car boot sale, some will be listed for sale on the internet and there are of course some that I am keeping.  I was really surprised that very little was damaged and those that are not fit for use are being Freecycled for anyone who is fundraising and needs broken bits for a china smashing stall.  So nothing is wasted and what another excellent way of recycling and re-using.

Here are two lovely Victorian chamber pots ... the large white dish underneath is from Habitat and that is now in my cupboard

Some mixed glassware ..... champagne glasses, Babycham Glasses, a 60s smoky glass large brandy balloon vase with a twisted stem, a crystal vase, 7 piece dessert set, Luminarc tumblers, wine glasses, a pair of shot glasses with hunting scenes.

Box Brownie cameras .... the brown one dates to 1930-36 and the other to 1946-53 ... they are both in exellent condition

Vintage glass fruit bowls and a pedestal cake stand

A Royal Crown Derby Imari serving fork and a Hammersley Cake Slice

A little carriage clock .... not old but with a new battery it is ticking away nicely

A pair of late 19th century Continental vases with lavender in relief and violets ... there is some damage on one but they are still lovely

A 1908 Cauldon Blue Onion pattern platter which is now in my blue and white collection

Wedgwood Blue Jasper pin dishes ..... two classic scenes, one star sign Capricorn, one commemorative for the wedding of Charles and Diana

Late Victorian Old Foley Tea Plates

A pair of continental pierced border plates (on wires aghhhhh) and an oriental plate

Royal Doulton Collector's Plate ... Christmas 1977

A 19th century blue willow plate, Minton plate but it is sadly very faded and top right is a lovely old Ironstone plate dating to the 1860s

Booths Pompadour soup dishes and plate

A very unusual Spode Copeland Teapot which has me puzzled .... I have never seen decoration like this on a Spode item before and wonder whether it was originally plain and someone has handpainted it later

Some silver plate ... cruet, preserve pots, lovely cake stand with a ballerina holding the dish, bread basket, bon bon dishes, coasters and a platter and a stainless steel egg cup set

Butlins Holiday Camp Souvenir Tin (there are two of these) from the late 1950s/early 60s

Boxed set of two egg cups with matching Irish Linen egg cosies

Gilt trim tea plates and cake/bread & butter plate

Pretty late Victorian tea plates and cake/bread & butter plate

Noritake gilt trim coffee can & saucer

A little keepsake box containing three silver leaf cake decorations, a buttonhole flower, a little cake decoration silver slipper and a pair of white metal buckles

A complete 22 piece Gainsborough Bone China Tea Service

Phew ...... and I haven't started on the toys yet!!!

If anything takes your eye please e-mail me x

This isn't just any old crap ..... it's mine !!!

I love auctions.  They are great places for rummaging around to seek out a bargain or two and for those of us who prefer to thrift rather than waste our money on the high street they make a perfect day out.  Today I went to Tring Market Auction for the first time in ages and I must say I got a little carried away!  The secret of buying at auction is to look carefully at the lots you are interested in and set yourself a limit because it is so easy to keep putting your hand up and also remember that fees and VAT have to be added to the hammer price.  I had a good rummage before the start of the sale and carefully marked down the lots that I was interested in and then took my place. 

My first purchase was this lovely black and white print by Arthur J Elsley called As Good As Ever ... he painted the original in 1912 as an advertisement for Bovril (the original oil painting sold in the USA for $419,200 in 1996).

The next lot on my list was four boxes of mixed china, glass and miscellaneous items ....

Then came a box of mixed silver plate and glass

then a box of mixed including a Royal Crown Derby Imari Serving Fork

and then this non-descript old suitcase which was tucked under a table

just look what was inside and nobody else wanted them so I had to bring them home  ...

and finally I couldn't resist this doll's cot and vintage baby high chair

I'll be back with another post tomorrow when I have had a good sort through and have finished cleaning everything.

Half term Halloween Party

It's half term week and we always like to have a little fun and have a Halloween Party.  The pumpkin is cut and the tealights are lit. 

The table is set and the party food is ready ...... we have ghostly meringues, witches fingers, snot cubes, spooky gingerbread biscuits, swamp slime jelly, eyeballs, bat sandwiches, witches brew

and of course our resident small spooky person all dolled up and ready to party

Now we are all partied out after lots of dancing and games

When Smokey sings ..........

I have had a perfect afternoon.  The minded children left early today leaving just me and my now 3 month old grandson Jack (where did that time go????) .... we settled down on the sofa on a grey afternoon for his 4 o'clock feed and I decided to watch the BBC Electric Proms programme from Sunday with Smokey Robinson.  For someone who hits 70 next year he was fantastic.  His voice is still so mellow and wow what hits from the Motown era .... my favourites My Girl, Tracks of My Tears, Going to a GoGo, Tears of a Clown, Baby Baby and loads more.  I remembered every word and so did the audience at the Round House .... what a night that must have been.

Country Living Christmas Fair London & a Senior Moment

I have been a right pudding !!   I have double booked myself for a Christmas Craft Fair on the same day that I've purchased tickets for the wonderful Country Living Christmas Fair in London on Saturday 14th November.

I therefore now have 2 adult and 1 child (5-16 years) tickets that I need to sell so that I can re-book for the Sunday.  Unfortunately the ticket agents will not exchange them.  So if there are any bloggers out there who would be able to help me out I would be very grateful ..... I could also do a swap as an alternative with anyone who has tickets for the Sunday but would prefer to go on the Saturday (hope that makes sense!)

Please e-mail me on debra.brown11@virginmedia.com if you are interested

Many thanks in advance from a silly semi senile old bat.

The Pumpkin & Apple Gala

There aren't many lovely places to visit in my part of this green and pleasant land but we are privileged to have a stately pile called Luton Hoo and yesterday was the annual Pumpkin & Apple Gala in the walled garden.  It is a lovely traditional event with every pumpkin, squash and apple under the sun on display and for sale, craft displays, activities for the children, a hog roast, Morris dancers and loads more.

Displays of decorated pumpkins from local schools, the one above was the X Factor with Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh at the back!

My favourite was this yellow submarine

Ellie concentrated so hard and created a lovely bunny rabbit pumpkin but sadly her daft Auntie Lala put it on the roof of the car when we were packing up to go home and you guessed it ..... left it there and I drove off oblivious so poor bunny pumpkin lies squashed in a field.

Ellie and Charlie loved the story teller ..... she was so good and the children were mesmerised

The pumpkin field with the old greenhouses and conservatory in the background

and of course I couldn't come away empty handed could I !