Thank you thank you thank you!
For all your happy birthday wishes, and Facebook messages, and cards and gifts.
Truthfully, I was - am - a bit overwhelmed.
But very grateful and appreciative too!
My birthday on Tuesday was a lovely day.
I'm not going to do a look at my gifts post, for fear of sounding like a acquisitive contestant on The Generation Game reciting items from the conveyor belt. And anyway, I didn't get a cuddly toy or a fondue set.
But I can happily show you this beautiful 1960-70s maxi dress, which was a gift from my dear friend Lucy, and which demanded to be worn immediately.
The prairie styling and pretty floral cotton look a lot like late 1960s or early 1970s Laura Ashley, but the dress is in fact by Just Jane, a label about which I can find no information.
No matter. I love it, and wafted about in my garden feeling like a Timotei or Cadbury's Flake girl.
See?
The kids had all made cards for me, but Littlest added an extra note;
Spelling... hmm, not so impressive, but you can't fault the sentiment and the poetic sensibility!
So while I was out with Jo for a birthday cappuccino on Tuesday morning, we saw a poster advertising a charity vintage sale the following day. Needless to say, we returned to see what was on offer, more in hope than expectation.
I found;
a beautiful 1960s Jinty's metallic mini dress (too small for me so destined for Ebay);
two lovely Victorian micromosaic brooches (dated thanks to the Youtube video which Clare shared a while back);
and a mahogany butler's tray with brass corners (don't know the date but I would hazard a guess at 1920-30s maybe?) and a hand-embroidered tray cloth (because it fitted perfectly.)
Now the other items are today's Chesterfield flea market haul.
It looks like that parlour game where you are shown a tray of items to memorise, then one is secretly removed and you have to recall what's missing.
1960s patterns
1960s pressed glass vase (it looks like a Dalek when it's upside down)
1950s New Hall tea bowl
four 1960-70s stainless steel rings (I keep finding them!)
1930s hexagonal Woods Ivory Ware lidded tureen
The vase, tureen and bowl were from Joseph's 3-for-a-quid box.
The rings were £3 for all four (from Joe's Mrs, Wendy).
Patterns - a quid.
I love the fact that I can spend a fiver, and have a little collection of pretty, useful, interesting vintage items. Beats shopping in Primark any day of the week.
I seem destined never to have any decent photos of the Ladies Purse in action.
We performed woefully at the pub quiz last night, but had a huge laugh.
But goodness knows what happened to the pics...
We've gone all blurry and weird; it was a work/school night so honestly, no one was over-indulging. If only - then we could blame our shambolic performance on the booze.
1970s kaftan-style dress (I think it might be a nightie actually) - Ebay
Bangles and necklace - charity shopped and gifts
Hair flowers - retail and gift
Sandals - retail
Mexican woven tie belt - jumble sale ( I know it's Mexican cos my mate Ruth spotted me wearing it and said she had donated it to our last school jumble, and that she bought it while travelling!)
I hope your week has been excellent so far.
What are your plans for the weekend?
xxxx
