Vintage Memories

It was a huge week for me in Auckland last week, plenty of poignant moments. I offered to do my bit to help the family clear out the family home after Dad moved into a retirement village with care last week. More on that later though.

I flew over and stayed at the family home for two nights on my own, with no phone, no mobile (and I didn't take my charger to NZ of course!), no TV and no internet. A little bit scary at first.

I didn't think I could do it but I did. It was so eerily quiet and mess everywhere where sorting had already begun. How many things can you hoard in your kitchen Dad?  He had taken all that he needed with him, so I began the sorting process in the kitchen. I found the egg cups we used as kids, the retro green and brown flour sifter I always thought was pretty cool. Royal Albert retro china, Meakin plates and heavily tarnished silver spoons we had always used for special occasions throughout my childhood.

My job was to clear out all the cupboards, wardrobes and rooms and sort everything into piles in the garage. I found my self on a carousel of vivid family memories whichever way I turned. Mountains of photos, books and sewing patterns covered the sitting room floor as I ploughed my way through them, sorting them into family piles. Reminiscing.

I found even more solitude in the garden. So many memories...

I picked some of Dad's strawberries.

Took him in a bunch of his roses.

Then I found some of Mum's old linens in the linen press.

Some of her cherished china...

..and after a hugely emotional but cathartic week with my sister, brothers and Dad, I have brought home some special treasures to cherish.

Before I left, I looked in the garage and asked myself, 'is this what my life is going to come down to?' A heap of quality possessions hardly used in a big pile ready to be carted of to charity? I have learned a big lesson from all of this, just keep the things I really love, the things that matter to me and pass on the rest. Live more simply and just be happy.

That is what I am going to try and do.

Pam x

Vintage Finds today.

A stunning and rare piece of vintage barkcloth...

...not a huge piece, but enough to make some smaller pillows...

... a vintage English cake plate with a handpainted centre...

...green plate with a matching green handle...

...and a gorgeous tea cup trio...

...'Duchess' and roses...

..a few snaps around the garden...

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Pam x



Romantic Roses

The days are slipping by so quickly but I always, always, always, try to find the time to appreciate the beautiful and the simple things in life. So.....I am just loving these gorgeous soft pink romantic roses picked up at the markets today. The petals are so delicate yet the roses themselves are so huge and blowsy...(if there is such a word!).

If you have been reading my blog for a while you will know I sort have a passion...or well an obsession some may say, for photographing flowers and vintage china.

 I really cannot believe it is Monday tomorrow. The start of another week already. Where does the time go?

Have a lovely week anyway.

Pam xx

Attachment to Vintage China

A very old piece of Japanese china has travelled a lot of miles with me as I have moved around over the years. It has been packed away in storage, left at my parents house and even lived in a few countries. It has been in Australia for quite some time now and here to stay. It's cracked and has been glued back together a long time ago and the glue is now discolouring... but I can't bear to part with it.

You see, my father bought this jam pot for his mother (my most favourite nana) for her birthday when he was 5 years old, that was 80 years ago now! Any wonder I am emotionally attached to individual pieces of china I own that have a certain family history and a lovely story. !! Hoping you would agree here...?

I have kept my eye out over the years for additional pieces, they do crop up occasionally and when I see them I just can't help myself. I found a perfect jam jar years ago.

Then a few under-plates in the same pattern.

Snapped a beautifully crazed and discoloured gravy boat ...

...then all of a sudden before I knew it a small collection was well and tuly born.

All of these pieces were found years ago and I haven't seen any since. I don't know how popular this Japanese anemone-ware was back in the thirties.

The anemone-ware sits quite nicely next to the peony-ware pieces I have collected.....I won't tell you what is next to them!!! I don't use these pieces on a daily basis as they are very old and do not like being washed in hot water too much. They are proudly displayed in my china cabinet.

The blue floral linen tablecloth was one of my op-shop finds this week.



Do you have an attachment to vintage china story?

Vintage Valentine Tea Party at Lilly Cottage.

At Linda and Tim's Vintage Valentine Tea Party yesterday, we were surrounded by so many handmade goodies and other gorgeous items from their store Lilly Cottage. on Bribie Island..... Not to mention endless cups of tea in vintage china and home-made scrumptiousness.

The red velvet cake was truly special...as was Tims's footwear!

Very Cool!

Very Dapper Tim.

Great to catch up with some bloggy friends too!

Thank you so much Linda and Tim (and your three children) for hosting a really lovely afternoon.

Can't wait for the next one!

Thrifty China Finds this Week

I have owned just one piece of china in the classic blue and white Calico pattern.

One side plate to be precise...

...bought from an op shop a while ago just for a couple of dollars.

It always blends in well with other blues and whites and this pattern is one of my favourites, let alone the colour.

Now, because I love English china and I really do not need anymore, (Who said that I wonder?) this collection has miraculously expanded...

Ready to be jealous???

 I could not believe my eyes when I saw this set at the local Salvos Thrift Store.

$16 for seventeen pieces including the salt and pepper shakers!

Four dinner plates
Four entree plates
Four side plates
Two saucers

 Of course there was a 20% discount on the day as well.

I had only just told someone that this particular store was not that great. I really, really, really take that back now!

It was my lucky day in that store, for sure!

I always get swept away in the moment when I see English china in our thrift stores here.

 Unlike searching the UK Charity stores, good quality vintage English china is harder to find in our local thrift stores

These deep blue cobalt plates are definitely going to a good home and will be utilised every day, along with the other blue and white pieces that we use.

 

Do you like the vintage rose tablecloth that was given to me by a lovely blogging friend on the weekend? It is just plain gorgeous.

Conditions are that I have to make it into something.

Ummm.... I feel a stunning cushion cover coming on...maybe?

I will keep you updated on my progress there! 

Just loving this Burleighware  and still can't believe my luck.

Right place, right time I guess.

Pam x

Break the Rules!

I cannot believe the prolific blooming of these sweet peas.

They are glorious and just going on forever.

I have never planted them before because I always missed the deadline for planting in March.

How silly is that really, considering the temperate Brisbane climate?

For all of the Brisbane gardeners out there, I broke the rules and planted a couple of punnets of seedlings in the middle of May! 

 Now I feel I have missed out on these beauties for all of these years! 

....but, I am really enjoying them now.

Pam x