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 10 February 2012

I Love Swaps!

Hello everyone...this cold weather makes one more likely to stay indoors and blog!
I have been wrapping up  warm and must confess to a few more pajama days than normal. 



 Snuggled up under the quilt in front of the open fire......is one of the reasons I love the winter, the feeling of being all warm and cosy with a cat on your lap and a tray of tea x



So its lovely to get a swap box arrive with the post man to cheer up a wintry day!

This one contained a lovely vintage pinny appliqued with radishes. 


Its so pretty and crisp and white.



Two pairs of ear rings pretty black roses and vibrant daisies.



A teeny tiny floral sugar bowl...



A Royal Albert September cup which I was so pleased with as September is my birthday month.

And lastly a wonderful shabby chic bracelet that enchanted me with charms of a singer sewing machine, a tea pot and a lovely Keep Calm and Carry-on charm. It was such along time ago that I sent off my swap box I can't really remember what I put in it..I do remember it contained a vintage trio (most of my swap boxes do funnily enough!) a pair of sugar tongs, some embroidered doileys and a selection of teas but I really can't remember the rest!



 Here are the latest additions to my china tea cup collection.I am a sucker for floral cups with gold on...I just adore this one.....




My friend Margaret gave me this poppy trio, its so very delicate and I love poppies  so much its what I called my youngest daughter!
 This Royal Albert cup is called Primrose Hill and there is so much going on..its so detailed.


A delicate rose cup, heavily decorated inside with mint green accents.


This Paragon trio has such a pretty name...Bridal Rose...wouldn't it be lovely on the top table of a wedding for the bride to sip her tea from .



 A delicate pink Tuscan trio with lots of gilding...so pretty especially with pink tea//raspberry is my favourite at the moment
 And last but not least a Royal Albert December trio.......I now have three months...September, October and this one, I shall be keeping my eyes out for others..hopefully I will all twelve one day.

Well I am off to do some more embroidery...sweet peas this time...see you soon x

Tuesday 7 February 2012

projects


Hello again, hope you are all keeping warm and toasty in this extremely cold weather.
Here's what I have been up to lately...
I found this old cupboard for £2.50!!!
Although it looks a nice duck egg blue in this photograph it was a bit more like electric blue.






 After a bit of a sand down and a new rosy handle this is what it now looks like.....needs waxing but I couldn't wait to get it up on the wall.....

 Its just right for holding all my mugs and freeing up some valuable cupboard space.
 I got my Christmas present off of my mother at long last, she was supposed to spend Christmas with us but couldn't travel down due to catching the flu! She bought me a huge bundle of vintage sewing things....
 Here is my first effort...a simple tea tray liner...
 I have now moved on to a small tablecloth....in the first corner I have embroidered violets...mothers favourites.

 And then it was pansies..........

 Here are the first two corners completed...I have found it very relaxing but know I still have lots to learn, but my work is steadily improving......
 Mother also gave me this gorgeous green floral tea pot and tea cup......

Just right for a warming cuppa............I hope to see you all again soon and will hopefully have some sweet pea embroiderer to show you. x x