welcome to my blog!!!!

Thank you for dropping by....i will be blogging about my life in Devon by the sea-side, decorating my 1926 home, vintage treasure hunting from auctions, charity shops , recycling centres and the good old british car booty!! One mans rubbish is another mans treasure! baking, sewing, painting and probably the weather!!!! enjoy!
claireljinks@hotmail.com


Friday 27 August 2010

more treasure

hello been very busy with family and friends visiting so have not had much chance to blog!!!
Went treasure hunting in the pouring summer rain and got very wet ........and this is what I found!!!!!!
A beautiful little salt and pepper pot x x so tiny and cute x

Two more pressed glass plates...
A lovely plate destined for a cake stand.....
A blue Spode covered serving dish.......
A sandwich plate by Royal Albert.....
A 50's rose sandwich plate
Rosie side plates x
Some lovely gold side plates x
An unusual vase............not sure how old this is...........
Found only one cup! A lily of the valley one...there were no saucers to match.....
But I found three of these saucers....teamed with the lily of the valley cup....


And these lily of the valley side plates they make a great mis matched trio.....
And last but not least a Vale cake plate.......
I am busy bleaching up the job lot of china I received from my mum and taking pics so they will be here soon.....hope you enjoyed my latest finds x x

Sunday 22 August 2010

Check This Blog


Hello Every One... My Daughter Poppy Has Started Up Her Own Blog ... Check It Out (:
http://justpopiitbh.blogspot.com/

Saturday 21 August 2010

Pitter Patter!!!!

Guess who is going to be a nanny again!!!!!!!



Madison will provide grandbaby no.7!!!!!!!!!
What a happy day!!!!!!

Anyone for cake!

Finally got my assignment of china from my mother (will show you all my goodies another day). In amongst all the beautiful china was this little box x

Look what was inside!!!! Cake!!!!!
This beautiful set of knitted Bakewell tarts...........

And a selection of adorable cup cakes...........
They will look wonderful displayed on the cake stands on my stall................
And they are the best kind of cake, non fattening!!! And at least they will last longer than five minutes....the average length of time cake lasts in my house!!

Friday 20 August 2010

Another present!!

My daughter and her partner gave me a wonderful present when they arrived for a visit!!
An old Singer treadle sewing machine!!

Its soooo wonderful!!! I can't help thinking of all the amazing things that have been made on it x The wooden top needs a jolly good sanding down and then a re-varnish.......but..........if I have to sand it down anyway.......a quick coat of white egg shell and some porcelain rose handles wouldn't be much more work!!!!! This isn't my exact machine.......but its close enough....,..
As my daughter Poppy is doing a textile course over the next two years, this baby threaded up and ready to go at all times , will come in very handy. And I can imagine the bunting and hearts and quilts that I will sew on her x x x After a quick service I am sure she will be around for another hundred years.....long after the modern ones are residing in a hole in the ground!!!! She came complete with lots of foot attachments.....hemmers and rufflers......if we need anything more sophisticated I can always bring out the modern machine........but how much more delightful to sew on this!!!!!

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Busy Bee!

hello peeps ,
sorry its been a while since my last post but I have visitors, its a very busy time for me, and I still have two lots of visitors left to come.!!! Anyway I have been having lots of fun with this little girl, having lots of nanny cuddles and kisses x x x

Mother sent down two cupcakes for Poppys birthday, so I could have a look at them, and they are cute x x x x I put in a request for some with a knitted cherry on the top.x
They are going to look lovely displayed on my cake stands....can't wait to see the Blackwell tarts on them.x
I had a few odd cups and saucers stacking up and I didn't know what to do with them.......and then I had a bright idea......and made up this totally mis matched set....and I love it!!!!!!
Had a bright idea that I would drag out all the stock for my stall ..........
MMMMM!!!! It was a good idea because I could actually see what I had..........
and it gave me a good idea of what I need to get more of.....namely...tea pots x x x
I am excited but also worried if anyone will actually buy anything!!! And I am having trouble of how to price everything up.....everyone keeps shouting at me because I am pricing everything too cheap!!!!!

The only thing now is that I have to wrap it all back up and put it away!!!
I would like to take this opportunity to reassure all my family and friends, I WILL NOT be selling any of the lovely presents you have given me....I love my china and treasure my presents far to much to part with them....in fact I am finding it hard to let go of some of the things I buy for the stall!!!!! And even though my collection is starting to get out of hand I have found a very legimate excuse to HAVE to purchase more ....I intend to start to hire out china for tea parties....well thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!!! x x x x x x

Thursday 12 August 2010

Birthday cup cakes x x x x

Friday is my daughter Poppy's 14th birthday...where have all the years gone x x
She is having a party on the beach with her friends .....a picnic and a barbq were considered and then dismissed.......so its fish and chips all round!

She took charge of making the cup cakes for her birthday.....................vanilla sponge, cream cheese frosting and sparkles..........

I was chief washer upper!!!!!

She was very proud of her finished cup cakes..................... and she did every single bit herself...I so wanted to jump in and help but I wasn't allowed.

She has commandeered a couple of my cake stands......
They look delicious enough to eat!!!!!
But no tasting allowed until tomorrow x x x x
She went to bed very excited, she has sorted her outfit, after trying on twenty five thousand combinations and packed her beach bag ....lets hope the sun shines x

Happy 14th birthday my beautiful green eyed girl....... ( she's not that grown up that she won't be waking us up by throwing herself on our bed to open her presents, and I hope she never is.......... x x x)

Someone's upped their game!!!!!!!!!!

My daughter came running into the house with some wallpaper samples all excited saying" look at these mum!!!!"

How delish is this!!!!!!!!! Little birds and robins with Union Jacks!!!!
I am putting this in a frame to use as a picture, its quite shabbylishious!!!!
I would have died for this Marylin Monroe wallpaper when I was a teenager...
I had a thing for Marylin when I was younger and I suppose she could be considered "retro"

I was quite taken with this floral too....
And nearly fell over when my daughter told me she got them from B&Q.......yes you heard me right B&Q!!!!!! I can't wait to pop in there and see what else they have there, their wallpaper has changed since I was in there last!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday 11 August 2010

A bevy of cake stands x

Been playing around with the new china I got yesterday x x

I now have quite a few cake stands ready for purchase!!! I love them all!!!
I love this yellow one, its not a colour that I would automatically pick, but when I saw it all together I think its one of the loveliest...just have to glue it now x x
A visitor had their eye on this green one the minute they saw the plates stacked together...
I like the combination of this blue one x x plenty of room for cakes, I have seen the cake stands made with cups in-between but I don't think this leaves enough room for cakes!!!
This is a two tier with a crystal base......
And this is my favourite with a Meakin Rosa serving plate and rosy removable cup, ideal for jam or cream if you are having a cream tea x
I had these tiny dishes/plates and thought they would make lovely little trinket dishes...or sweet dishes...or single cup cake holders...very shabby chic.....one made with a flowery shot glass and one with a tiny spare cup I had.I think they are cute!!!
My daughter is trying to steal one away up to her bedroom to place on her dressing table to display her jewellery.
I think this is a lovely idea x x
The small little ones make excellent brooch or ring holders x
I may keep one for my dressing table... its so much better to keep your vintage brooches on show than locked away in drawer or box.....
A close up of the green one....
Beautiful yellow roses.....
This one I may have to keep for myself.... especially as it was the first one I ever made x
I suppose I should take a few pictures of my cake stands with cakes on!!! I feel a good excuse for a cream tea coming up!!! Scones on the bottom tier, sliced strawberries on the second and jam in the cup.... yummity yum!!!!! They will also look lovely on my stall with my mothers knitted cakes on......x x x x