Mantlepiece Monday

Mantlepiece Monday has come around again, yay! This week I'll show you my kitchen mantle. Ta da!

As per last weeks mantle, this one is rarely mucked with, if you disregard the spot at the end where a vase of flowers usual perches, as, as far as we are concerned, this is kitchen mantle perfection. It features the husbands collection of kettles and much as our clutter-hoarding overtakes us it is never allowed to sully this lovely corner. Of course being metal they are also safe from the not infrequent cooking fires I have!
Lovely, loved, but not used, just gazed at lovingly, they are from left to right:-
WMF Art Nouveau; Silver American Art Deco; French Art Nouveau; my favourite one which might be Japanese, approx 1900 (usually found to be containing chocolate he is hiding from me, but sadly empty today); Dutch, Jan Eisenloffel, 1900. Dust bunnies and cobwebs-vintage!

See you next week x

op-shop finds of the week

Here is my mixed (carrier) bag of op-shop goodies from this week!

Clauds is really into beads at the mo. Trying to find ones she won't kill herself with if she swallows them turned up these beauties, made from dyed hazelnuts! Now thats a craft I haven't seen blogged about yet!

Sadly they have already been binned as she did decided to eat them and crunched them up into little bits!

I also forgot her nut allergy (bad mummy award contender?). Slight exaggeration as it's more of an intolerance and fortuntatly the chewing incident didn't result in any problems. Phew!

A cute little book with gold edged pages, perfect for book paper folding projects.

I was chuffed when the checkout chick said it was free, hubby pointed out that was because it's a bible. Hmm. Maybe I'll save this one for a Christmas decoration paper book folding exercise.

Hurrah! More mismatched Crown Lynn cups and saucers to add to my fledgling collection.

Orrible picture with a capital O, but box frame with potential for a painty make-over followed by map paper butterfly holding. A bit pricey but crikey they cost a fortune new so in fact a good deal!

We op-shopped in pastures new this week, at the Lincoln Road, Christchurch, Salvo's. Wonderful stuff. The fun staff insisted on throwing Claud in the cuddly toy bin when she began to whinge and then bribed her for silence with biccies-she loved it! To boot it was sooooo cheap-$4 for a big bag of goodies including some amazing vintage Christmas decorations.

And that all folks!

Join in the op-shop show off fun at Sophie Isobels

Liebester blog award

Thank you very much Opshop Mama for nominating me for the Liebster blog award, congratulations on your own and thanks for the blog watching tips. This award is the one which is specifically for blogs with a hundred followers or less, and is given with the request that the recipient nominate some other 'small' blogs to bring them to notice.

So, I went through my blog list and looked for the very smallest in terms of followerdom, that hadn't already been given the nod by O-SM. And without further a-do, here they are:-

1. Digital Natural Parenting- 3 followers. A new blog by a wonderful mum. Essentially opinionated parenting stuff from an attachment parenting angle.

2. An Illustrators Inspiration-5 followers-Don't know much about this blog except I really do like a lot of the art featured.

3. Zaranne Handmade. 13 followers. Very new and very nice. Craft, gardening, opshopping...

4. Thisel and Bean. 14 followers. A beautiful blog full of girly craft and op-shopping with GREAT photos.

5. Bright Lights, Big Cities-14 followers. I'm a francophile and follow several Paris/French blogs. This is a particularly lovely one, in English.

                                                                              Enjoy x

Mantlepiece Mania

Estelle at Forture Favours has started up a mantlepiece Monday's linky...I'm keen as mustard as I have 3 mantlepieces, and though I rarely pimp them, and never dust them, I'm love-em, mine and others, so count me in!

Here is my fave at our place, in the lounge. I like to think it looks rather dramatic, with the spooky Bill Hammond lithograph above (NZ artist, from Lyttelton). I like the red brick as it reminds me of my old red brick primary school back in England!

These are 'sea secrets', rather coral-like ceramic creations by Len Castle, an outstanding NZ potter. Safely out of reach of Claud-hands, and stuck fast with large gobs of quake wax; none of them moved in any of the earthquakes (so far...).

And these antique welsh dragons, or are the griffins...hmm, whichever they are they look terribly grand lit-up at night.

The paper fans are from the 50's, I have millions of them, you can get them from Acorn and Will if you really like them, cheaps as chips and twice as cheery!

We were equally frightened and relieved by a recent inspection by the Earthquake commision, who noticed that this whole mantlepiece/brick edifice had in fact come loose from the wall/chimney during the quakes and could have fallen at any time. Feck!

So we've bolted it to the wall as best we can and the builder thinks it can be saved-hurrah!!!

See you next week with more mantles x

Op-shop finds this week...

We braved the cold and had a waltz round Riccarton Market this morning

Found this...

Not retro, but right up my alley reading wise.

Stocked up on retro maps

The paper and colour quality of these is just fantastic compared with modern versions so perfect for replemishing my map stock after making lots of these, to be box-framed up for a gift

                                             And a chunky royal purple hand-knit for Claud

       and this little number too...

Looking at that grumpy mug I think we better call her matron Claud!

However she wasn't grumpy for long. We're clearing out the front bedroom to turn it into a craft room at the mo so we had what I think the kiwi's call a "dung out". We sold an old fashioned trunk on Trademe, and hilariously a female magician calling herself Melanie Poppins turned up to pick it up. She knew I had a wee one as I'd asked her to pick up before bedtime, and she had brought the Claud an array of balloon creations!

                                                                Get your motor running!!!


Linking up with all the other Wombles at Sophie Isobel's

Une collection Eiffel

Relegated to the guest room because they're just a bit too twee.

This charmer, which houses both a spirit bottle and plays a twinky-twonky "The last time I saw Paris" was my first. Found at a fire-brigade jumble sale in a muddy barn, I felt temporarily transported to a more glamorous world as I squelched back to the car clutching it. It's from the 1960's I think.

You can see how it might inspire a collection aye?

This stoppered glass number may be a decanter, or perhaps it came ready filled with some intoxicating liquid? I'd love to know.

This one, whilst less spectacular, was purchased in the Eiffel Tower by the hubb-ster, for me on our honeymoon. It was made in France which I like, given that most tourist-tat the world over is actually made in China. What I like most about it though was that it was given to me by the husband WHO IS MORTALLY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, who walked up the steps to the second floor with his eyes closed just to keep me company. Bless!

This spinning top, which works brilliantly, came from a cool little shop in some backstreet of Paris. It too was Made in France and has been claimed and lost by Claud a number of times. The cat is also partial to it's spinning madness so it may not be long for this world!

And a teeny-tiny dangly brooch. Fifties maybe?

I hadn't got a new one in ages until the hubby produced this one adorning my anniversary gift last month

Bon Nuit x

Awards Ceremony

Lovely Lakota over there at Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping gave me blog some bling! It does need a bit of a tart up, so thank very much!

                                                    Look here at this combo, aren't they pretty!

 Once I've given 'em a polish I'll be putting them up on the virtual mantlepiece...

Aside from my astonishment, I was excited as I'm nosy and love that the recipient is required to reveal some facts about themselves in additon to suggesting good blogs to check out. Lakota didn't disapoint (Tim Minchin, what a revelation, thanks "Boots" *sniggers*.

Anyway here goes...

Some random facts about me for your delectation:-

1. I used to collect ugly soft toys from charity shops. The ones no one wanted, I gave them a home. When my daughter was born I found them too dirty and wretched and gave them back. I still feel guilty.

2. Prior to motherhood I was a nurse psychotherapist in an Eating Disorders clinic. I loved it, but don't miss it.

3.I use a mooncup. (Heh, sorry if that TMI!)

4.I could once tell almost to the town where in Yorkshire you came from by your accent. Now I can't even distinguish between English and Kiwi accents. It's an inexplicable loss, and one which other (English) people seem to find astonishing.

5.When I first set eyes on my husband, across an expanse of grass I literally heard a voice in my head say "your going to marry him". Cool aye?! Glad the voices promptly shut up though!

6. I love being by myself. I don't think I've ever felt lonely. Longing yes, loneliness no. This has been the most challenging part of motherhood for me, the constant togetherness.

7. I read loads. Only 2-3 books a week now I have a baby toddler tho. I get jumpy and irritable if I don't have a good book on the go. I rarely read novels; I cant see the point, the truth is stranger than fiction and all that. Biography and travelogues are my thing.

8. In my youth I dated a specky Irish bloke. He wrote a song about me. Want to hear it? Funny and kinda cool!

And these are the blogs (aside from some of the wonderful ones Lakota nominated which I would have entusiastically seconded) that I love the most-est:-

Especially lovely blogs...

1. You will always find me-A blog showcasing real-kitchens-with-retro/thriftstyle-appeal. Go on, PLEASE submit your kitchen so my nosiness can have a field day!

2. Tomboy Style-a blog that makes my uniform of jeans and a t-shirt feel like style? Yes please!

3. Lightly Enchanted-Cool mumming!

4. Being of Sound Mind-The blogger I most hope is writing a book. I always come away thinking, often with a lump in my throat...

and...

The Sunshine Award...

5. More of a rainbow than sunshine, a cup of colourful frocks, a pinch of daftness and a glug of booze Ms Helga Von Trollop cooking up a retro-sartorial storm!
6. Christchurch's Li'l Magoolie. Cute free printables, DIY projects galore, and kidsandmums cool stuff heads ups, for those that don't have time to trawl Etsy et al like me.

and...

Before I go I've noticed an influx of new people, no doubt thanks to Lakota's award list. Kia Ora to you all and sorry I haven't been to visit, it's just that blogger, infuriatingly, won't show me who you are x

Op-shop finds of the week

Slim pickings this week in the land of opportunity!

However, this musty old school book will be given a new lease of life though

(apparently a dusting of bicarbonate of soda and a night in a sealed contained will de-smell it?)

Just look at the wonderful Jan Pienkowski illustrations

A flying patchwork quilt

Crazy-about-cats-Claudine is going to love these framed up and on the wall

Hopefully you love this illustrations as much as me or you'll be bored by now!

Ok, last one...

I also picked up this blast-from-the-past

All you pre milk-stealing-Thatcher era Brits will recognise this mini bottle for milk, provided for every school child, in Yorkshire served lukewarm with a custard cream for morning tea!

The op-shop lady told me they never had these bottles in NZ. I love the idea that some nostalgic person couldn't bear to leave this reminder of the old country behind when they emigrated.

And finally...

The first of what I hope will be a new collection-of Crown Lynn single colour tea cups and saucers, this in my fave shade of pale green!

Do come and play along with us all @ Sophie Isobel's place

ps I forgot to draw for the knitted blanket from last weeks op-shopping post-number 6 Hazel and Blue, let me know your details :0)

Matariki Matryoshka unveiled!

Remember my plan to craftify this???

Unveiling....

The Matariki Matryoshka!

I won't go on about what a drama she was to make, for someone with so little skill and patience, because the look on Claud's face when she was handed over was so worth it...

Making your kid happy is the best!

Collections post

I love what op shop mama is doing, taking the op-shop show-off a little further and showing-off her fantastic collections, so I've decided to copy her.

 I was never actually much of a collector, even though I always op-shopped clothes, until I met my now husband who was a big collector of studio pottery, and a total horder. Collection=the stuff he collects that I like; Hord=the stuff he collects that I don't! Mind you when I met him all I owned was a car and a bed so that's not saying much. However, copious dates invoving vintage shop trawls and a collector was born!

I don't collects lots of lots of things, I collect a few of a few things. I have several things I fantasise about collecting, such as paintings by Leo Bensemen. Keep your eyes peeled Helga! Heh! Also I have things I plan on collecting once I find my first piece ie single colour enamel saucepans and casserole dishes-I've been watching The Delicious Miss Dahl, lusting over her kitchenware! My most recent collection was started only yesterday, inspired by a collection of Opshop mama's, about which you will find out more at the Sunday Thrift show off...
I'm not sure I know much about the psychology of collecting in general. If I examine my motivations, mainly it is about nostalgia, not in general, but specific to particular, happy moments in time I've experienced.

The inspiration for my collection was the loom woven cotton striped beach mat I bought in a harbour side shop in Cassis in the South of France on holiday a few years ago. The feel-good associations of that purchase/holiday have remained with me and I've since had a thing for thick, rustic cotton things, mainly table cloths with a woven aspect and faded colour scheme.

My collection is not large, but the ones I have, I love with a passion, and they have all been extremely cheap.

And I do use them; I like spoiling myself with a dainty high tea and half an hour of silence when my little one goes down for her afternoon nap, served against a nice backdrop of one of these.

None of them are pristine, a pale tea stain here, a tiny hole there, but I love them all the more for that. Wabi Sabi I think it's called, finding beauty in age, imperfections.

I have been contemplating asking Naughty Shorts if she could make me a summer frock out of my favourite of all...

Can you imagine one of these, from this?!!! Yes please! Not sure if there is enough fabric though...

One day, when I'm an old-dear, I will have filled that cabinet up with more of these pretties and I'll sit lovingly stroking them instead of a cat!

Ok. I've shown you mine, now show me yours!

This weeks thrifty finds...

A pretty hand-stitched scandi-style cushion cover. Totally my taste, but just doesn't suit our decor. It needs a zip adding, then it will be zipping over to England where I have a friend who will TOTALLY love it!

And have a look at this...

A map hanky!

I do love maps, atlases etc, but haven't got around yet to identifying where this is. All the places/identifiers are in a script. Any one recognise where this is?

A keeper, not just for it's mapness, but also cause I am a granny who actually uses cloth hankies!

I also found this...

     Been looking for a vase to hold (strangely out of season) narcissis (spelling?) from my garden nicely.

This one is still not quite right, but very pretty anyway. Also a keeper.

And...

Interesting granny blanket of the line rather than squares variety.

I couldn't pass it up because it's very cool and was a total bargin but definatly not me. So if you'd like it, just leave a comment that allows me to find you: you don't have to follow and you can be from anywhere: and I'll draw a name next Sunday.

And if you'd like to win a granny-square pillow lookee over here at the beetle shack

Share the op-shop love with everyone here at Sophie Isobel's Place

Happy Matariki!

                                                           (Image by Robert Gendler)

Happy Matariki! The Maori New Year begins with the rise of the Pleidies star cluster in the Southern hemisphere winter night sky alongside the new moon, which this year falls on Saturday June 4^th, or 6^th or 16^th  depending on the source of your information!
Traditionally it’s celebration involved eating, dancing and kite flying. I absolutely love the traditional Maori kites, I think because they remind me of the Angel of the North, except not grounded. You never seem to see them though, except in museums, and though I’d love to have a go at flying one, or even making one I can’t seem to find out much about it at all. 

The Angel of The North , a famous UK sculpture, by Anthony Gormley.

We celebrated Matariki with a special Matariki storytime at the Bishopdale library, Maori tats and Clauds first candle lit dinner.

Claud also went a little more crazed than is probably sensible before bedtime, on her first torch and starlit exploration of the garden. She span and span the torch round giggling and gasping, dashed into the ever moving spotlight, chased the disappearing into the blackness cats with her new tool of put-upon moggy-irritation; was fascinated by the insects-by-night, and all this night dancing to the tune of "ar", "ar", "sar" (star!). Awhh!

 The Southern Cross looked majestic, but the Pleiades were missing? The glow-in-the-dark-star-chart showed the Pleiades low to the horizon so we drove up to the rolling hills at the back of Loburn for a clearer view, but in the 10 minutes that took the cloud came down and the claud went home. Quick to sleep by twinkling fairy lights, and a story of winter (Bramby Hedge; Winter Story, by Jill Barklem,1980) dreaming perhaps of a cat that could be caught.

                Brambly Hedge, a fave from my childhood for the intricate drawings which I spent hours copying.
       (from this great blog http://anillustratorsinspiration.blogspot.com/2011/03/jill-barklem-and-other-animal- %20lovers.html)

Kite flying tommorow (the traditional type), lets hope for wind!