Tuesday 11 May 2010

A victorian vintage bargain & some upcycling :)

Good evening from Sunny Suffolk - makes such a change to have blue skies again.

Its been a good weekend so far :)

The charity shops in town were well stocked on Monday morning - I got several items including this set of Cheery Familes cards;
They were a bargain at just £1 - the set is complete & apart from a few scuffs on the box & a tear in the instructions they look like they've not been used.  I was curious to find out more about them - isn't the internet wonderful ;)  They are Victorian and made by a company called delarue who seemed to make lots of cards & games.  This link tells you more about them. I've looked on some auction sites & depending on which one they have sold recently for anything between £5 & £50! I shall be keeping them as they are rather lovely.

I also got a couple more pairs of coloured needles for my ever growing collection - when I added them to the jug - I decided it reminded me of something we've seen rather a lot recently;

The BBC Election logo!!


Lastly for today, I've been busy recycling/upcycling :) Little son volunteered me to finish making a case for a friends brass instrument - the teacher had started but had run out of time/ideas as how to finish it! The main case is made from a vintage wool blanket & an old sheet. I had to add a handle (upcycled 'free' belt from a pair of big sons trousers - not one he wanted), drawstring  (carbooted cotton tape with an upcycled spring clip from an old swimming bag) and lastly hidden inside, a mouthpiece holder (spare piece of felt). My goodness it was a nightmare to sew - had to buy a special leather needle as it was so thick - I stabbed myself several times but eventually got it finished;

Very Tom & Barbara Good ;)

See you soon - I promise next time I'll add a recipe for the Banana bread and hopefully have some swap pics to share too ;)

xxxx Vicki xxxx

12 comments:

elegancemaison said...

Snap! By which I mean the knitting needles BBC election logo - not the pretty playing cards! I was truly puzzled the first time I saw the logo on the BBC website - why on earth had they used knitting needles?! Once I finally 'got it' I thought I would blog my version with some old coloured needles of my own, but couldn't find them and abandoned the idea. So funny that I was not the only one to have the same thought! Well, it won't be long now before the logo disappears as an Important Announcement is due as I type this. BTW - I have a Giveaway on my blog - do visit!

Nearly there Claire said...

Those card look lovely. x

Unknown said...

Oh how funny, I hadn't really paid attention to that logo!

The cards are lovely, what a lucky find.

My Handmadehappiness said...

the card's look great.... looking forward to the banana bread recipe mmmmmm
your fabric arrived today so i shall make a start on the apron tonight.... can't wait to send it to you reckon you'll love it!!!! x

Lisa said...

Hi, I have just found your blog. I volunteer in a charity shop. I'll keep an eye out for coloured knitting needles. Any particular size you'd like?
Lisa x

Unknown said...

Your charity shops seem great. Those cards are wonderful - would look lovely displayed in a frame. I'm quite jealous!!!!
Viv xxxx

Floss said...

Well I am impressed! What great cards - absolute classics. And the upcycled bag is marvellous. I hope your sunshine continues!

Serenata said...

Wonderful cards - what a great find, and a brilliant bargain. Got to love the knitting needles as well.

Very impressed with the upcycled trumpet bag!

Jen Walshaw said...

Love the cards, you have a wealth of cool CS nere by, I am very envious

Mary Poppins said...

Those beautiful cards are adorable well done :0) as as for the case, I am very impressed you clever thing! thanks for lovely comment and good luck for my giveaway :0)

Hugs xx

Kandi said...

Vicki - I giggled when I saw your election logo!! I have emailed you re the CK catalogues I have 2 spare and will gladly post them out for you.
Kandi xx

menopausalmusing said...

Loved the knitting needles, can't get the lovely coloured ones here for love nor money....

Ernest has arrived in Crete: http://cariadincrete.blogspot.com