Spring greens

I don't know about where you are but the weather is distinctly gloomy in my neck of the woods at the moment and has been for days. It's wet and cold and the sky looks like it's fallen in. Not exactly Spring-like!

Still, the bulbs are well on their way up in the garden, although not as far on as these that Mr TVL kindly bought for me when he popped out for a pint of milk.

They are currently cheering up my kitchen and hallway. We recently found ourselves re-decorating the hallway after replacing our sofa and chair. The old sofa was so big we had trouble getting it out of the living room and ended up scraping the wallpaper and catching the woodwork in several places while trying to manoeuvre it through the doorway and down the hall.  My intention was certainly not to re-do the whole lot but the yellow and terracotta colour scheme was looking tired and a bit dingy so although I was forced in to it I'm kind of glad really as it did need freshening up.

 

The hallway is one 'room' I've always struggled a bit with. It's a very narrow L-shape, typical of a bungalow of this era and with very little natural light. We had new doors hung when we moved in (yes, the Sapele ones had to go!) and we had half glazed ones where we could (not a good idea for the bathroom obviously...) but still, most of the time it's gloomy. Hence, the yellow although I don't think it really helped much.

So this time I was going to paint the whole lot white but when it came to buying the paint I chickened out! Although I love the idea of all white walls I find them a bit scary at the same time.

So I compromised with Antique White on the Anaglypta and a soft green I mixed myself above the dado.

All 37 inches of it!

While I was at it, I took the opportunity to *cough* tone down the 'stuff' and have only put back...wait for it...ONE mirror and TWO pictures!

 

 

I used to have this Barbola mirror in the bedroom (along with about three others...) until IT was purged a while ago too. It's too pretty to be stuck up in the loft and I thought the pinky-red roses would look lovely against the green. I have to admit, I'm moving slightly away from the florals; they won't disappear altogether but I'm trying to mix some other things in there now.

 

 

I'm still undecided about whether to keep the Anglepoise lamp here or swap it for something with a fabric shade. I'm also framing a picture that I may replace the large floral print with on the opposite wall and it's NOT flowers. Quelle horreur!! But otherwise job done. And to say I had no intention of doing it I'm actually quite pleased with how it turned out. Now, I really have to turn my attentions to the bathroom...
As I was doing this post I realised I should have shown a 'before' pic but oddly I could only find one on my computer which I'm sure can't be right but here it is anyway. Lots of cottage prints, family portraits and other assorted pictures on every portion of wall space!

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In other news! If you've recently visited the website you may have noticed we've had a bit of a facelift. That's all I'm going to say about that. Moving on...

February marked the sixth anniversary?/birthday? of This Vintage Life. How time does fly. That's quite a long time and having given a lot of thought generally to things over the winter I've decided that there will be no more big uploads of stock, at least for the forseeable future anyway. I'll be adding one or two items weekly or as and when I acquire something interesting.

Therefore I won't be sending out New Stock emails to the mailing list anymore. I think you'd soon get fed up if I dropped you an email whenever I added one item to the site! So, I'm going to add an update to Facebook every time there's a new product added as it's quicker and simpler that way.

 I'll try and mention it on the blog too although that may just be a link in the sidebar. I might add something to the home page of the website too so if you drop in regularly, you should know that way. So please, if you want to be kept updated about stock you'll need to visit us on Facebook and 'like' us or whatever it is you have to do to get updates (I'm so un-techie!!)

Things that make me go oooh...

Nice treats and little things that cheer me up on dreary winter days...

Another recently acquired piece of uber-chippy furniture in my favourite shade of green...

My recent discovery, Lanolips. It's fantastic beacause it's cruelty free and you can use it for so many things. I'm keen on products like that, aren't you? I'm just about to treat myself to one of the lip colours too. Naughty!

You can buy it from here and also at Boots although it always seems to be out of stock there.

Letterpress love...I'm obsessed and have to stop myself from buying prints! I can indulge by buying cards for other people though. My Mum got this for her birthday last year and A's Valentine card is winging it's way here as I type.
I freely admit it's a complete change of direction for me. I'd never have believed I could let something so, gasp! modern and eek! non-vintage through my front door! But change is good, yes? And as long as I'm careful, I can choose things that will fit in with all the vintagey stuff.
I have a long wishlist of letterpress {and screenprinted!} goodies which I may share with you another time. Just take a look at Etsy.

The lemon print was a birthday present for A last year. I loved it, knew he'd 'get it' and I had the perfect spot for it in the kitchen and well, we're fond of a G & T in this house. Thankfully, he loved it.

A lovely bargain cardi from Ness...less than half price in the sale and ...

I also couldn't resist the tartan corsage while I was there. I've had to visit York three times in a month {long story, won't bore you with the details} but suffice to say that is not good for the bank balance {Ness just one of MANY gorgeous shops} or waistline {morning tea at Bettys with hot buttered pikelets each time. Yes, really!}

I smile every time I walk into the room and see this sweet cushion that A bought me for Christmas. It's from here. Again, something new and not vintage!

It's almost the next best thing to having a real whippet/greyhound and looks exactly like my Tara {see sidebar} used to look when curled up in front of the fire.

I do enjoy a nice cuppa but can't shake my reliance on the horrid white stuff {or in my case brown, but no better for you!} so I'm very taken with these teas from Teapigs. The caramel tea has to be tasted to be believed.

It's February. Things are starting to appear in the garden. It's a short month with a Valentine's Day treat in the middle and then it's March and that's Spring!

By the way, I seem to have lost my usual font colours. Not sure how that happened. The links are there, just not showing up!

Picture perfect

I thought it was time I shared a few thrifty finds with you and realised as I was looking through my photos that I seem to have found a lot of pictures lately and most of them share the same theme...
This tiny embroidery was just 50p at the Car Boot sale.

This one was a boot sale find too but a tad dearer at £2.50. It has a lovely tortoiseshell frame.

The pair below were £3.00 (for both) I'd like to think this will be me in my dotage but somehow probably not!

There is a cottage in this one. It's just to the left of centre beyond the lake and all those lovely bluebells.

I've hung a couple up next to my other cottage-y pictures and so it looks like a new collection is starting...

I do think pictures with a similar theme look striking when grouped en masse, don't you?

And still with cottages I found this charming butter dish in an antique centre for £1.50. The chap behind the counter thought the (handwritten) price was £7.50. I insisted £1.50 but when I got home I started to think it could have been £11.50!! Either way, a bargain.
The little sign says 'Fox and Hounds' (and look...there's a hound in the garden!) so it's actually meant to be an Inn but...

...the other side is indeed a cottage with (what else?) red roses 'round the door.

Back to pictures and this lovely Victorian print was £3.00 at another boot sale. It was absolutely filthy but a good clean of the glass and some wax on the frame and it's come up a treat.

It's called 'Young Dreams' and is all original. I've hung it over my fireplace as a change from the mirror that's usually there. It really seems to have warmed the room up.

This afghan was purchased for the website but somehow it's found a spot in my living room and seems firmly stuck there!

Aren't those colours just wonderful?

This little beaded Bluebell was 50p...

...as was this leaf arrangement which is strung with thread.

As part of my present this last Christmas A gave me this lead farmers wife (as I like to think of her!) and her little flock of chickens. At a recent boot sale we found the sheep and goat for 50p...I suspect that was a bit less than A had to pay!

I love the way they're all rubbed because they've been so well played with.

This crochet book is brand new and was a few pence because I can never have too much help! I've actually started knitting again which is something I have done before (unlike crochet) but I hadn't had a go for years and years; since I was at school. I'm always coming across cheap second hand needles on my travels and the house is quickly filling up with yarn so it seemed silly not to. It does mean that the crochet is on the back burner for a bit though while I rediscover the joys of knitting.

And finally, the first vintage children's book I've bought for myself in MONTHS! I couldn't say no to one with such gorgeous pictures, could I?

Just look at that 'phone! I have one like it but in black. I do know where I could lay my hands on a green one just like that picture but it's several hundred pounds...gulp!

I've put some new items in the Vintage Value category on the website today and a new upload of other stock will be coming in the not too distant future.

Bit's and doing's

Judging by everybody's posts over the last couple of days, I think I've been shortchanged regarding this decidedly wintry weather most of the country seems to be experiencing. Here in Lincolnshire we had a nice dusting, not unlike a powdery coating of icing sugar!

(edited Thursday...we're making up for it today!! This is the scene first thing this morning)




The next day, it was if it had never happened. The sun's shining though and Aconites are poking through the earth with their cheerful yellow heads so Spring can't be too far away, can it?

Oh,when I think how much there is to do in the garden...but it's far too cold for all that. I do love my garden and enjoy working in it but I just can't get enthusiastic about being out there when my fingers are so numb from the cold they're no use anyway! So, I'm staying in and keeping cosy. The heating's been on all day for so long, I'm afraid to look at the oil tank in case it needs topping up again.

I found this little embroidery at the weekend and spent a while painting the frame black as it was an unattractive dark brown, very scratched. The dealer was having a half price, closing down sale so it only cost £1.50!

It's marked on the back Mrs. A. B 1956. I think Mrs. A. B must have been very proud of her handiwork...probably executed whilst listening to the wireless of an evening, don't you think? Enough to have it professionally framed anyway. Now, with a bit of paint and a couple of blobs of glue, it can be enjoyed for many more years. Don't you just love vintage!!

I couldn't believe my luck when I found this coffee table so snapped it up at the same time. Now, I've never owned a coffee table...I've always considered our living rooms to be too much on the snug side. But this one is just the right size, quite narrow. There's nothing more frustrating than having nowhere to put your remote control/cross stitch/book/newspaper etc...apart from the floor and that's not a good idea when you've got a cat and dog wandering about especially if it happens to be a glass of water/wine/cuppa.

It's wasn't expensive and it's nothing special but it's changed my life! Honestly! Nice and chippy too...uber-distressed!
The only downside is it's not as comfy as my squashy footstool for popping my feet on of an evening. But at last I have somewhere to park my library books rather than having them cluttering up the dining table or floating about the house until the time comes to return them and I have to rush around trying to locate them all. The library...now there's a nice, warm place to while away a few hours and be surrounded by books...heaven!

Out with the old

I hope 2009 is treating you well thus far?

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Not me. I've made too many in the past that never even get off the starting block so to speak. I do make a sort of mental to-do list though, split into two. Things I need to do and things I want to do. The latter should be easier to acheive but for some reason never is. I suppose it's because it consists of things I would like to see/make/read/do/visit as opposed to neccessary things such as 'paint utility room wall/finish lagging loft' etc...Time management it appears, is not my greatest skill and therefore hobbies and the like always get pushed aside until 'jobs' such as these are done. I somehow feel I don't deserve time off to do things I enjoy until the nasties are out of the way. Maybe that's something I should work on this year!

The new year is always a good time for a clear out or a change around though so I've been doing that...swapping some bit's of furniture from one room to another and outing others altogether, changing curtains etc...

Over the Christmas break I found this...here... a favourite hunting ground. It's a CWS (Co Op) Numaid, dated on the back 1938 and in my most favourite colours. Having said that, red and cream was my top choice as a foil for all the cream and green I already have but I'm not complaining. It still has it's original enamel surface on the back of the drop down door...great for pastry making.

It's always been high up on my 'most wanted' list so when I saw it (at a very reasonable price I might add...they want £300 at Newark!!) I pounced. Did it deter me one iota that I hadn't reeeeally got a home for it (you've heard this before, I know!) Nah! I always squeeze things in somewhere. I do sometimes wish I had a husband who would say "No. Absolutely not. We don't need it. We've no space for it etc..." so I blame him..he does encourage me by not discouraging me, if you see what I mean. He's not one for putting his foot down. This is what he regularly says..."Oh, get it if you want it".

That's no help is it? Anyway, I digress.


This is how we spent New Years day. A kitchen in chaos.

I'd have been quite happy with it in the dining room where the most trouble we'd have to go to would be to remove a shelf or take down a picture or two but A once again made work for himself by suggesting we put it in the kitchen (admittedly where it should reside) Unfortunately this entailed moving a very heavy pine wall cupboard about 2" to the left, not to mention spending £15 on bolts to hang it because you can't reuse the ones already up there.

But all came right in the end. It needs a little tlc and a right good clean (not dirt just baking remains...it has a strong smell of flour and butter!) but I'll do that outside when the weather warms up. I found some super red polka dot sticky back plastic for the shelves and then it's good to go! Another step closer to my (completely) un-fitted kitchen. It won't be in this house though.

Something that's been occupying far too much of my time this last week is my new DSLR. I've long hankered after one and finally took the plunge and Oh...What a joy! We have an old style SLR so I'm not a complete novice but add to that the ease of digital and it's out of this world. I hated my last compact but it was a quick, cheap(ish) replacement for a fantastic Panasonic Lumix that I loved but which I broke. In fact, I broke two Lumix. And another sort. I have a problem you see... I drop cameras.

I stand need to be taking on a new hobby (see first paragraph!) but it's something I'm determined to improve upon. I guess the sewing will get put on the back burner again.

Needless to say I've been playing around a lot and I was so pleased to take these shots of Flo. In all the the years we've had her, I've only been able to get a few good pictures of her. Being the colour she is, she tends to come out as a featureless black splat when in fact she's a very pretty little thing, save for the one eye!

She's thirteen now, so it's about time I had a nice shot or two of her. Don't expect anything too David Bailey-esque just yet...it's going to be a 'wip' for some time.

That word again...time. Never enough of it. I'm another one of those bloggers who feels the need to cut down on posting/reading/commenting. I thought when I started it would take a couple of hours of my time a week whereas in reality it takes more than that a day. Is that constructive use of my time? Not always. Do I enjoy it? Mostly. So it comes down to where I draw the line. I started this blog to run alongside my website keeping people posted on what was going on and sharing my love of all things vintage. But as time has gone on, I find I'm spending far too much time reading blogs when I should be doing other things and while this is enjoyable, it interferes with other aspects of my life and well...something's got to give. I'm the sort of person that has to reciprocate where bloggings concerned. It comes down to manners really. I wouldn't dream of not visiting the blog of someone who's taken the time and trouble to not only read my blog but comment as well. There are millions of blogs out there and if someone has chosen to comment on mine, I think the least this deserves is a 'thank you'. But this, coupled with trying to keep up with my favourites and my lovely regular visitors is such a drain on my time. I still hope to post...after all, my customers tell me they enjoy the blog and they're the ones that really matter. I do it for them. But I've also 'met' a lot of nice people that otherwise, I would never have known. So...(deep breath) I'm toying with turning off comments for the forseeable future (after todays post that is) I do feel awful about resorting to this as well as a bit sad but I would rather take a breather like this than stop blogging all together. I'm going to be very busy over the next few weeks and I just won't have the time to dedicate to visiting and commenting like I usually do. I hope everybody will understand!

I'll try and find some time to drop in and see what everybody's up to...I''ll just be here in the background.

In the near future I'll be back with some news regarding This Vintage Life and hopefully, a giveaway.

I'll leave you with a picture of poor old Betty, mid-moult.

Needless to say, she isn't sitting down at the moment...ouch! xx