Saturday 14 February 2015

Can things get any better in the tunnel of love?


For a while, I've been trying to spend wisely and not accumulate for the sake of it. And for the most part, I've managed to obey my self-imposed diktat.

Alongside my Ebaying, I feel the decks are ever so slightly clearer around here. 
 

But of course, if something catches my eye and it's a bargain, what's a girl to do?

Three 1960s acetate scarves, £1 each
 red dolly shoes, £3.99
 an Artigiano tote bag, from which wafts a very pleasing smell of expensive leather when I dive into it, £1.49 (their larger bags retail at around £150)
and a 1960s cotton pinny which had such a great print, I couldn't resist, £1.


I do so love wild 1970s prints...


and I'd wear these beauties any day of the week.


1960s faux fur and scarf, cardigan and bangles - charity shopped
1970s C&A maxi dress - Ebay
Boots - retail

What else have I found lately?


A chrome folding cake stand, hammered stainless steel (partial) tea set, and 1950s frosted glasses.

I'm not sure about a date for the cake stand; I've seen them described on Ebay as Art Deco, but it looks a bit too frou-frou for that period. The tea set pre-dates 1959, since it has an Olde Hall stamp and they dropped that olde worlde "e" in 1959.

I'm such a bric-a-brac nerd!

The glasses were a complete set of 6, but I discovered them packed at the bottom of a box while I was sorting donations at the charity shop, and one was broken. Sad.


 As a nod to Valentine's Day, I'll leave you with this jaundiced take on romance from 1983.

You're welcome!

xxx

 

44 comments:

Unknown said...

I love the red dolly shoes !
Fun boys three ... its been a while ...
♥♥♥

Fiona said...

Oh! It's the Fun Boy Three, I did wonder to what you were referring. Funny to hear a bottom drawer being mentioned...don't suppose anyone has one of those any more?
You've got some beauts here Curtise.
I particularly like the red shoes (I've got a thing for red shoes) leather handbag, 60's pinny and your folding cake stand. Hope you have a good week...is it half term up there too? xxx

bahnwärterin said...

pretty pretty scarfs and red shoes! and you curtise look like you jumped out of that 70´s ad!
that cake stand is genius - it will take less space when it´s not used. maybe made in north africa or india for the nomads???
now i have that 80´s song as an earworm!!!
happy valentine!!!
xxxxxxx

Porcelina said...

I have that exact folding cake-stand! Glad you've been successful with clearing the decks a bit. I've stalled slightly on that front.

What an amazing print on that pinny, and the bag is such a bargain, you've got a nose for the vintage treasure hunting.

Hope you're having a fab Valentine's x

The Vintage Knitter said...

Those red shoes are gorgeous and I love that novelty print pinny - you're deffo a bargain magnet. As for wild Seventies maxis - you simply can't go wrong!

Ivy Black said...

That's a cracking pair of shoes and the print on the pinny is fabulous. My Great-gran had a folding cake stand and used it for the Battenberg!
The Fun Boy Three...oh yes!
Happy valentine and all that mushy stuff! Loves ya.
xxxxx

Sheila said...

Love those red shoes, and I'm giggling over all the toe in that 70s maxi-skirt picture - is she wearing reinforced toe nylons with sandals and all that toe hanging out? Dear god...

mondoagogo said...

Oooh Terry Hall, what a perfect Valentine's gift (well, that and the box of chocs my mum gave me :) )

I had a pair of red dolly shoes like that, bought from Office about 10yrs ago but yours are nicer (I donated mine!)

Oh, meant to say on your last post with the lurex that I saw some paintings on lurex in the Tate last week :)

Becky said...

The little red shoes are so cute!!! The leather tote looks gorgeous! Good scores!

Suzanne said...

The red shoes are perfect. Glad you didn't walk away from them.

I've never heard of that band before.

You look terribly mod here.

bisous
Suzanne

Miss Piggy Bank said...

Olde Hall was made in my small town :-)

Diane said...

I too have that cake stand - I don't think its Art Deco, possibly 1960's I think. That pinny caught my eye! Love it xxx

Patti said...

That's a yummy skirt, and you look excellent wearing it, Curtise! The cake stand is terrific, and a popular piece, according to the comments. I've gotten a reputation at our thrift shop as a costume jewelry "expert" - not deserved, really, but I enjoy it. I get to un-twine big balls of necklaces and bracelets. xox.

Goody said...

I have a similar cake stand that I'm sure was made in my lifetime, but of you find out anything definitive about it I'd love to know. It is a useful little thing, though it folds away so nicely I sometimes forget I have it. Guess the only thing to do is leave it out, and bake more cake.

You have such a good eye for styling maxis. Love the faux fur and scarf.

Unknown said...

That maxi you're wearing is perfect, and I love the ones in the pic. 70s prints are the best! :)

Melancholy and Menace said...

I look forward to your posts, it's like having a little rummage and coveting absolutely everything!

Most importantly though, those red shoes!! They're gorgeous! xx

Kezzie said...

Hello dear Curtise! Greetings from the m25 at a disgraceful hour!!! Just coming home from swing dance. How funny, I have that exact same cake stand which was also charity shopped, the shop keeper told me it was a good English make. Your 1970s skirts always brighten my day, thank you for inspiring beauty. And also for your lovely comment and your sincerity, I appreciate your friendship. X

Jazzy Jack said...

I can't go past your faux fur and you didn't even focus on it! Maybe I need a hug. Such a gorgeous colour and texture.
Glad the decks feel somewhat cleared. Well done on your self imposed ban...but a person can have only so much self restraint. The trick is in knowing when to give in.
I think you have the balance nicely :-) xo Jazzy Jack

Tami Von Zalez said...

I have tried to be good too with not going overboard with the thrifting but it is hard not to do - so many wonderful items to bring home.

Natalia Lialina said...

I'm glad you indulged yourself! Really sad about the glasses, but even 5 is a good set, love them! I also liked the cake dish very much.

This maxi dress is so gorgeous on you, the colors and print are just beyond words amazing!! The 70s is a feast of colors and prints, I so agree with you on that.

Thank you for the musical education - loved that tango inspired song, and I've never heard of the group before. Have a wonderful weekend! Tons of love to you, dear friend! xxxxx

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Love the shoes and the maxi skirts!
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

Olga Rani said...

You always find worthy stuff, Curtise. Beautiful shoes, glasses, and the pinny - what an amazing print! Your maxi dress with all those gigantic flowers is simply gorgeous.

Melanie said...

"Threw away your life in the Tunnel of Love"? Hahaha. I don't know Fun Boy Three but great song.
I love your new maxi dress and red shoes, of course. I too have a hard time stepping away but I'm getting better at it. The dresses on the cotton pinny are wonderfully Dr. Seuss!

Unknown said...

I'm trying to impose similar rules. I adore the shoes. xx

Melanie said...

Oh my those shoooooes! They are divine! And your other finds are fab too. Love the cake plate. I am at my wits end with my two cake plates, wonky things that they are!
xxx

Vix said...

Old Hall! Walsall's finest! There's some bostin' finds there love, particularly those red dolly shoes. Are they your size, I only ever find them in teeny size 4s!
You've made me all fired up for a chazza shop spree!
Love the green cardi with the poppy print maxi and that jaunty neck scarf and yes, The Fun Boy Three and Terry Hall's sarcasm sum up Valentine's Day perfectly.
Love you! xxxxxxxxx

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Darling Curtise,

One of us can fit into those red shoes........oh, if only we had got there first!They are lovely. So very Dorothy and surely the most cheerful shoes one could possibly wear. They would be guaranteed to put a smile on one's face just by putting them on. Are you sure you want to keep them......?!

Nobody does wild patterned print and faux fur like you do. It is such a winning combination on you. Fabulous!

We love all things which could be loosely termed 'hotel ware' and have a collection of teapots, hot water jugs and the like which we use all the time. They remind us of times in Kardomah cafes drinking coffee and nibbling iced fancies in Betty's. Those were the days!

Miss Magpie said...

My clearing of the decks has most definitely stalled! I love your tea stand, every good house should have one.
I especially love the bottom2 scarves, what a great haul.

joyatri said...

It's a constant battle that I'm quite familiar with -- not wanting to accumulate more, but finding items too cool to pass up.
Your next tea party will be a fancy affair with that cake stand :)
Love your wild 70s print skirt!

thorne garnet said...

beautiful scarves. And 80's boy hair!

kobieta niewidzialna said...

Very nice dress and great stylization. Best

Mrs Bertimus said...

Pinny love! X

Connie said...

What IS a girl to do?? It's unanimous. The red shoes are a winner. 70's prints really are quite wonderful though you could not have convinced me of that in the 80's. I sent all of my printed maxi dresses to the Salvation Army. Maybe one will show up in one of your bins some day. You are, as always, Maxilicious.

at my dressingtable said...

First of all I want to thank you for the lovely comment you left me on my latest blog post, I love your skirt and I am in love with your red doll shoes you do find some lovely things Curtise , have a fab week best wishes xxx

Mother of Reinvention said...

You always find the best things. I like your cake stand. Love the flowery fabulousness and your charity shop haul. You totally rock that dress. Definitely a better class of charity shop where you are. xxxx

Jayne H said...

Lovely finds, particularly like the pinny, the bag and the glasses. Almost given up on the charity shops down here then I found a lovely quilt last week when I popped into a shop on my way home from work. love the bright prints you're wearing xx

Sue said...

OMG Red dolly shoes and a gorgeous border print skirt!!! Sometimes you have to break your own self imposed rules and have a little flutter with the cash. Excellent finds I say.

freckleface said...

Oooh red shoes! How lovely. And they look like you could actually walk in them too. Bonus! I actually think it's a good thing there were only five of those frosted glasses, because you get to keep them. Yes, a massive floral print is a good thing and that one looks fab. Well done on clearing the decks, it feels good doesn't it? Xxxxxxx

Forest City Fashionista said...

Very nice mix of the maxi dress and green cardigan - Spring colours!

The red shoes are very pretty, and I'm a sucker for pretty vintage drinking glasses. I have three lovely sets,in various patterns, which I rarely use (there's only one of me) but I can't bear to part with them!

I'm trying to clear stuff out, but I keep bringing stuff in and it's not balancing out very well.

Angels have Red Hair said...

Love the shoes ... and your amazing knowledge on all things vintage ... I think you should become an expert on Antiques Roadshow pronto ;0)
xx

Peaches McGinty said...

Terry Hall's hair and eyebrows will forever captivate me, and his beautiful voice! now, there's no way you could walk past those divine goodies, red shoes have special powers, a bag and scarves are oxygen, and a pinny protects! you are saving the world! and looking gorgeous doing it, well I'd expect nothing less from you!! x x x

Beth Waltz said...

Nothing smells more luxurious than a good leather bag, Curtise. Well scored!

Those beautiful scarves demand that you add a full length camel-hair wrap coat to the rack of faux furs. Think how nicely they'd set off your hair!

Catherine said...

um how amazing are those shoes!! I love the long skirt you have too! you could fit in well with those two ladies!

Trees said...

I always love you in a 70s maxi - you totally rock them!