pretty thing of the week

I’m a bit rubbish about buying cards online.

I have to admit that, even when the occasion I am buying for involves those closest to me, I am apt to forget all about a card (and usually giftwrap too) until it’s time to actually write the thing.

At which point I find that I have absolutely nothing suitable in the house. And by which time it’s too late to order online.

But I am trying to improve. It is on my list. Along with sorting out my driving and painting the spare bedroom floor.

If I weren’t so rubbish, I would definitely have bought some cards from Jolijou by now.

Not that I imagine either lad or his dad (my primary card-recipients) would fully appreciate them.

But so much the better…

I might just get to keep them for my wall instead!

p.s. Check out Jolijou’s mugs too – they’re lovely!

p.p.s. The broken English descriptions of the goods in the shop are so sweet!

e.g. “These cards are much too good to be used as a map, make plugged also great eye-catcher on your wall, or on your wall if framed, dangling with a Clothespin on a leash, you will hopefully enjoy it”.

See what I mean?

blue is the colour

Once again I have embarked upon a love affair with Scandi ceramics.

Isn’t this design just perfect?

That deep, deep blue against the white is just wonderful.

This pattern is Mon Amie (French for “my friend”) and was designed by Marianne Westman for Rörstrand.

Would you believe that something so fresh-looking was actually created back in the 1950s?  I have to admit, even I was surprised.

The good news is that despite it’s vintage provenance, Mon Amie is not just a thing of the past.

Instead of trawling ebay endlessly for the odd damaged example of this lovely china, it is still in production so you can actually buy the design from a UK supplier!

If the name Marianne Westman seems familiar, it’s probably because she is also responsible for a number of other iconic designs, including one of my favourite-ever fabrics, the gorgeous Belle Amie:

Hmmm… I wonder if I can justify buying enough to make a summer frock?

Then perhaps I can colour-co-ordinate myself with a teacup to match!

hello saucy – reprise

Just a quick post to let you know that the search is over.

Yes folks, this is the little beauty that will be taking pride of place atop our table, filled to the brim with a plethora, nay a cornucopia even, of yet-to-be-decided varieties of tasty sauce to accompany our future meals.

A thoroughly life-enhancing purchase, I hope you’ll agree.

And for £4.99 plus postage, an undeniable bargain!

The design is Springtime by Jessie Tait for Midwinter. I’m not sure of the date, but it certainly has that certain “je ne sais quoi” of the 1960s about it.

So you can all stop scouring the interweb for sauce boats, jugs and gravy pourers now, and carry on about your business.

Me, I’m off to make some custard.

hello saucy!

There is something lacking from our household at the moment.

No, it is not our joie de vivre (though we could all do with a bit more of that).

We are very partial to homemade sauces and gravy in our family. Be it creamy leek and mushroom sauce, rich red wine gravy, or even traditional custard, we love ‘em.

But… having broken the nasty glass jug we used to serve them in, we are reduced to ladling them out straight from the pan.

No good at all.

So, we are in dire need of a sauce boat. Vintage, naturally.

But which to choose?

So many gravy boats and jugs… so much indecision…

I love them all, but just can’t make up my mind!

If any of you retro fans out there can find me any other beauties worth considering (cheap, mind!) please do let me know.

Because I think we all need to bring a bit of sauce into our lives.

And onto our table.

pretty thing of the week

Just had to post about this as it’s currently top of my wish list.

The new Fable range of tableware designed by Karolin Schnoor for Royal Doulton is so folky-pretty!

I want it for my wall.

Well, it’s just too nice to put food on!

tip top

Yesterday my sister introduced me to the delights of the local tip shop.

Next to the tip, a big tin shed magically transformed itself into an Aladdin’s cave of delights upon stepping inside.

Row upon row of mismatched shelving, heaving with stuff people had thrown away.

Bliss!

Like a modern-day Bagpuss, the tip people – or Community Recycling Workers, as they are properly known; jolly, fluorescent-nylon-clad, mulleted and mucky men – have gathered up the treasures of the tip and stacked them up ready for the likes of us to buy, for next to nothing.

We only had a few minutes (there was ice cream in the car in grave danger of melting!) but this trinket caught my eye.

I seem to have a bit of a thing for bald ladies.

I rather like her wonkily-applied lipstick. Or is she just sneering a bit?

She has holes in the back of her shiny pink head – originally, I imagine, for pot pourri.

The holes may help facilitate a floral barnet at some point.

The red fabric she is sitting on was my other purchase. A little bit Hawaiian, a little bit 1950s, there is enough to make a skirt. Or possibly even a simple frock. For a dollar.

Did I mention that I have resolved to master making clothes when I get home?

Which won’t be too long now…