Cafe Coat Rack Love...

When I found the old chap he was a bit the worse for wear,

once a crisp dapper looking fellow, he had fallen on hard times and I can only imagine he had sat unloved in a corner, forgotten about, growing pale and uninteresting.

After a good wash and sanding he was ready for a his new attire...

he is now once again a dashing fellow, sporting a rather lovely orange tan!

He is fun, hardworking and good looking...

the perfect chap to have around the Home or Crafty Space

No longer to sit unloved, unused or unnoticed in a corner.

Beaconsfield Fair May...

Well hello!

The first time that we have had a dry day for the Beaconsfield Village Market...I even spotted a few rays of sunshine.

This lovely little mirror found a new home today

So, so pretty!

And a few snaps of the day...

These lovely little trios were 'Stars and Stripes', gorgeous fine bone china and they were bought as a wedding gift and will be heading to the United States for a July wedding!  Perfect.

This trio of trios and cake/sandwich plate have a very sweet and dainty  English Rose pattern...

Super shaped wicker basket, possibly French?

And you really cannot have a Vintage Fair without a selection of old jelly moulds...

Still LOTS to pack up for next week though...and Im wondering if I can find time to give the shelves a fresh Spring paintover?

A Peek at Progress...

The 'easier' cabinet is finished!! 

Yay!

The light has been so poor though that I haven't taken a photo without all the masking tape but I did want to give you a sneaky peek.

I've injected a splash of pastel colour and it works so very well...

I've left it un-waxed so it can be painted over if someone isn't keen on it {although I don't see how you can't like it!}

It looks very pretty, the glass has cleaned up beautifully and the two internal shelves are in perfect condition.

I'll be taking Priddy Priddy to the Beaconsfield Vintage, Retro and Craft Fair tomorrow and will try to get a couple of photos on Sunday {fingers crossed for a spot of sun!}...

and will be taking this with me next weekend to the BIG MK Handmade and Vintage Extravaganza!

Busy painting...

So...not what I promised or hoped but a snap just to prove that I am doing 'something'!

As is the case with many of these older pieces the years of wear and old wood stain have not just washed off and a primer coat is needed on both pieces.  

I wonder if when people look at the stuff I take to the fair they realise the time, effort and care that go into the finished item.  Sometimes, I get quite cross when Im being bartered down as I feel I offer pretty damned good value to start with.  I rarely factor in accurately the man hours I put into each piece.

Still I waffle and that's my problem not yours!

So...

here they are

 The one on the table was the obvious choice, it has minor damage {a few bits of veneer have come away} and is hopefully a fairly straight forward paintover {ah but what colour shall I do this?}

The one on the floor is the one that is causing me a few problems, {which is why the back is missing - long story!} and will I think take a bit longer to sort...lets put it this way paint colour choice is the least of my worries.  

Eyes bigger than my belly mentality going on here!

Hoping tomorrow to crack on with the easy one, I SO want one of these for me...but all that glass and a house full of football mad kiddos?...

Oh I do make myself chuckle!!

***

Almost time for a little Ta-Dah...

But

The Frilly Frou Frou knicker lampshade is taking longer than I thought to finish.  

Granted a horrible bout of tonsillitis has knocked me off my feet this past week but...

The Charleston trim came, went on and is slightly whiter than I had thought it would be, not major just not what I had hoped or expected!  

When I finally stopped sulking about that long enough to actually pin it onto the shade it turns out that the colour isn't as bad as I had first thought...but once it was pinned it was clear that something else was needed and I think after a little potter about today I may have solved that dilemma!!

But when I will find time to attach the trim and finish Im not sure.  

For I have 2, yes you heard me right, 2 lovely little china display cabinets...already taken back to the bare bones, washed and primed they are looking quite yummy already.

Like buses I waited aaages for 1, then in 2 days I find 2!?  

I still hold that what's meant to be will be so I knew I just had to keep my eyes and mind open...then 1 would find me.

1 of them was an obvious choice, but the other was looking a lot more shabby than chic and took a leap of imagination as to what a good wash could do.

However I waffle...

So not to tease or bore the pants of you I will stop this waffle, apologise for the lack of before photos on the cabinets {I get so excited I start stripping down and washing as soon as they get out the car} and apologise for the no Ta-Dah today...

but...

Cross my heart that I will get myself along for yet even more Broderie Anglaise for the shade and finish it!

However

*I can not be held responsible if we have sunshine this week and I am forced to take said cabinets outside and paint them*

***

PS 

just wanted to add that the dressing table was sold this week to a lovely lady who does the MOST amazing cakes!  

Lillibet Bakes on facebook for any cake lovers out there...

Be still my beating heart...

When I spotted this, it was looking more than a bit sad.  Sat under a tarp trying to avoid the rain, wood-stain as dark as the rain laden skies.

But 

I recognised straight away that she was a lady no less, who had  once been quite fine but had sadly seen herself fallen on hard times.  

Whispering 'oh my goodness what a treasure' words I loaded 'her' into the car and bought her home for a spot of TLC.
My eldest son is partially responsible too, I spotted her earlier and wanted a second opinion...he agreed that it could be a thing of beauty.

Sugar soaped and handles removed she was looking forlorn and I think possibly questioning my wisdom.

However a coat of Annie Sloan later and she came back inside, looking happier, cleaner and on the road to recovery/renovation!

Others passed by her, making appreciative noises.  Some ran their hands along the lines, others smiled as they mentally found a spot to re-house her.

And here she is...

barely recognisable from how I found her.  

Paint was mixed, the right colour befitting this fine old gal...

I uhmmed and ahhhed {as I tend to do} over handles, then decided to keep her original ones which are really quite lovely.

A light wash over the handles just to pick up the detail.

So what do you think?

***

Sold
thank you
x

Dabbling with Paint...

in the sunshine!

Oh what glorious weather; sun is shining with only cotton wool clouds passing by.

Yesterday I got brave and climbed the ladder to paint the landing and stairwell.  No-where near as tricky as I thought it was going to be and has made me wish I had gotten on with the job years ago.  Problem is that now the wall are looking all spick and span that the woodwork and carpet are now looking shabby.  Woodwork will be simple to sort, but the carpet is in need of a professional clean or replacement.  {no budget to replace so getting quotes to clean - any recommendations?}

We took full advantage of the hottest day so far this year last night by having a bit of an impromptu BBQ.  My sister and niece popped around and H's girlfriend.  It was lovely.  One of those things just naturally evolve, relaxed, funny, happy and chilled.

We made a pot of tea once the sun went down and spent the last bit of light watching the kiddos having a kick about on what's left of our chicken ravaged garden!

No further progress on the frilly knickers, fru fru lampshade.  After all that I was totally pooped last night and vegetated in front of the lap-top, catching up on news from bloggy friends.

Today I did a second coat on the stairwell whilst my youngest was at nursery and found a bit of time to give this another coat...

I think I have finally decided to settle on this now as I'm finally happy with it! {3 shades later!}

Just a bit of gold on the trim to compliment the handles it came with and job done.

A mix of Annie Sloan 'Original and Country Grey'

It's amazing what a bit of sun can do for productivity here at Priddy Priddy HQ!

***

Silence...

is Golden...

as it means that I am busy with the paints!

The kiddos have been playing tag with various viral bugs, coughs and colds.  

That has meant that I have been more 'house bound' than usual and whilst they rest I've popped on the old Roberts radio and quietly worked away.

{Just as they all seem to be on the mend we will have the Easter break with us; which will mean that the paints and old treasures will be safely put away for the next couple of weeks.}

So for now I'll wave a chirpy cheerio

if the weather is kind to us we will hopefully have had a chance to have a good old rummy around the boot sales,

and will fingers crossed have a few lovely little treasures to 'show n tell'

Happy Easter

see you all in a couple of weeks...

xxx

The best of...

MK Handmade and Vintage

Priddy Priddy 

Vintage & Inspired

We had the absolutely BEST of times over the weekend!!

Where to start?

Photos?

Come on then...

There was a last minute cancellation of the stall behind us and the event organiser {very kindly} let us have use of it, so this time around we had a double fronted stall!

The back of the stall

The front of the stall

And a few of my own favourite pieces...

Who hasn't got a soft spot for a few Vintage Linens? 

This surprisingly came home with me, it is uber comfy.  

I had one very similar when I was a kiddo, same colour but mine didn't have the gap in the sides.

Large hamper also came home with us, but is heading out to the Beaconsfield Vintage Fair with me on the 23rd March!

These 2 lovely bedside cabinets went a lovely lady with the most well behaved little lad!  He was too cute with a gap tooth cheeky smile.

They are 'This is Lebus Furniture' and were quite a find to get a pair together with very little needing doing to them apart from a lick of paint.  Original handles....teeny tiny cute-ness.

Both the bureau and mirror came home and are being re-homed here!

Jelly moulds and cake domes....always a firm favourite with our elderly customers who we are lucky to have a chat with about days gone by.

Vintage Mirrors...

A couple of the ones we took with us; set on solid teak back boards they were certainly made to last and I swear the glass gives a nicer reflection?  Maybe it's the process used back then to make them or just the ageing process on them?!

I absolutely love these little ceramic spoons!

They really finish of a gift of home-made jam and our kiddos use them to hoick the marshmallows out of their hot-chocolates!

We were so busy I didn't get a chance to take photo's after our initial set up.  

After almost 100 customers on the Saturday, we were a bit worried we wouldn't have enough left for the Sunday; but a bit of re-jigging and hey presto we were ready to go!

We came home seriously empty, which is the perfect excuse for a spot of bargain hunting, which then gives me the reason to get the paints out!  

Seriously I ABSOLUTELY LOVE what I do

I managed a quick scoot around the stalls and picked myself up a lovely large enamel tea pot, even bigger than the last one! {HUGE}

A couple of little tins came home ready to get a good clean and go onto Etsy.  

Already photographed, they are extremely sweet...

***

and finally just for my lovely sister...

'It's science luv, not wishy washy woo, there's only so much we can do'

xxx

I hold my hands up...I have been far too quiet.  Ok you might be happier without my ramblings but I have missed sharing the latest finds and revivals.

After being dropped over the years more times than I care to remember our little laptop finally gave up the ghost; hinges broken, wireless wires hanging loose and just generally being very used and abused.  A trip to the repair shop {yay for warranties} and we have what looks like a new laptop!!

So....

A new little Vintage & Handmade Fair has popped up, local to us in Beaconsfield Old Town and we were lucky enough to have a stall there today.

The fair runs on the same date as the local Farmers Market so lots of goodness for the soul with the 

Vintage and a tad more yumminess for the tummy!

Once again we managed to fit a LOT into a small space

I don't think the photos do our little space justice, we did utilise the floor space to the front with mirrors once I'd remembered we had them with us!

The lovely little Model 28k Singer sewing machine,  I didn't get a photo of the engraving {DOH!}

hard to think that so much effort and detail was put into them all the way back in 1922

I've a soft spot for yellow roses, hadn't realised it until I looked through old stock photos, I blame it on my parents playing 'The Yellow Rose of Texas' on the old gramaphone when I was a kiddo

The lovely 'Sadler England' tea pot is really, really gorgeous, perfect condition and the gold is just enough to set it off.

Finally a couple of photos of the old frame with its mirror!  

The photo's hand on heart do not do it justice, in real life it is just so much more nicer...

The mirror is up-cycled from another frame and although it's not perfect the wear on it fit the frame perfectly!

The French cake plate and dome...*sigh*...what can I say?! 

 I love it

it's huge, plenty of  room for a generous serving of cupcakes, the most chocolatey of chocolate cakes would look happy {for the brief time before I'd eat it of course}and there is even enough space under the dome to hold a large cheese!

Despite the freezing weather { -4 with windchill } we had a lovely day

***

The fair will be held in the United Reformed Church, in Aylesbury End, Beaconsfield, from 9am to 2pm and will run alongside the farmers’ market, which is held in the Old Town on the same day.

Teasing...

As I've got no photo's to show you {yet}

the pink mirror is now a version of pinky/white.

A brush on, wipe off, flick with the brush again gave it a very pleasing result...

...and is now getting harder and harder to part with this!

Also the prettiest Vintage Singer sewing machine, dating from around the 1930's with the prettiest engraving on a couple of panels, honestly it really is genuinely priddy...

and to round it off a sweet vintage bevel edged, frame-less mirror

*sigh*

this is what a good day feels like

if we get a sunny patch I promise to show you what it looks like

Think Pink...

I love Blue, there I've said it...

Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue!

Pink

is not my default colour

and Im finding it very hard to think this is the best color for this lovely frame;

mainly as it will be coming along to the Vintage Fair in March and I don't want to narrow my buyers market.

The Pink I've used is in actual fact a mix of Henrietta & Original 

{not Antoinette}

Henrietta is quite a bluey pink 

{probably what drew me to it in the first place}

In fairness the light today is poor, think heavy snowy clouds lack of light poor

In one room with lack of natural light it looks like this

and in the other with big patio doors and lots of natural light it looks a bit like this

The true colour is somewhere between the two!

I think for re-sale purposes it will get painted Original or possibly Pure {both Annie Sloan}

Safe to say that this isn't the final colour

Off to the glaziers this week to see how much it would cost to make it into a mirror...