Milkchurn Cottage The Shop

Candles & The Dreaded Tax Return

2012-02-03T16:15:00.001-08:00

Hello out there.

I had a very mixed week last week. I spent the first half of the week frantically trying to finish off my tax return before the deadline expired. I am useless at numbers and instead of learning from past years I still leave the vast majority of the paperwork 'til the very last minute. This always stresses me out.

Any sane person would do it monthly. But I don't, and this year was no different. So until Wednesday evening I was not very nice to know. But when I had finished it I was in a very smug mood. Because then could get on with the job I was really looking forward to. I had an order for jam jar candles for a wedding!

How exciting is that? And such a responsibility!

I had already made the candles, rose scented from creamy paraffin wax in a mixture of re-cycled jam jars - some fat, some thin, some short, some taller. I was really pleased with these, they smelt lovely and the mix of jar sizes was just what the bride had specified. So the job I had still to do was the best bit - the decorating.

The bride had decided she wanted all the jam jar candles to be wrapped in hessian. Then she wanted them split into two batches - half to be decorated with cream cotton lace and the other half to be decorated with cream roses and ivy.

This really was a nice job!

The lace wrapped ones looked gorgeous. They had two tiny cream rose buds wrapped around the lip of the jar to just finish them off and I thought they looked great.

The rose and ivy decorated ones took a little longer as each one was slightly different.

Some had tiny flowers on narrow hessian

some had bigger flowers and leaves

and some had just a single rose, but they all looked lovely!

All they needed was a safety sticker underneath

and packaging up!

All done and ready to go - along with 8 x 1 meter tall 5 arm candelara, 4 x 60cm tall 5 arm candelarba, 14 single candle sticks, 148 dinner candles and a 7 tier cup cake stand!

So much more fun than doing my tax return!!

Hope you agree.

Bye for now

Karen xx

Blanket Box Makeover

2011-11-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

Hello out there!

It has been a busy week here. I have been painting like mad and have a finished blanket box to show you. I must admit that I am rather pleased with it.

At the start of the week it looked a bit drab. It is a very nice Victorian pine box, good and solid and a lovely size. But it was a bit dull. It had its original dull brown scrumble glaze on the outsides and had been painted with something tar like on the top which was just hideous. It needed a bit of ooomf putting back into it - a bit like me really!

This is it outside my shop earlier this week.

Can you see what I mean? Its a lovely box that just looks awful.

So I dragged it inside and struggled to heave it onto the table and pondered my colour charts.

I really fancied painting it dark and decided on Aubusson Blue because it is such a deep rich colour, just what the box was missing!

You can see what I mean about it being a good size now it is on the table! It looks huge up there, but it is much easier to paint at that height so it was worth the trouble heaving it up! The inside was full of cobwebs and was a very dirty white. After a quick wash and hoover I painted the inside in Primer Red to cheer it up and the outside had two coats of Aubusson.

It already looked much better but I really fancied a bit of a theme for the top. It has a 3 inch border and then little step down inset for the lid, making it look like a picture frame. The deep blue colour has a circus feel to it and it just so happened that I had an old falling apart book with circus and fair plates so I trimmed a few down and arranged them on the lid.

Actually, it wasn't as easy as that - I initially had the idea of a nautical theme. You know, tall ships, long masts and white sails. Perfect on the blue! But I couldn't find a picture big enough, I can't draw for toffee and my printer doesn't work because I have lost the cable. The Circus theme was plan B - it always helps to have a plan B in life - especially if you're as disorganised as I am.

After rearranging them several times and taking out the pig headed woman picture because it has to be a pig headed man in a dress, surely? And then putting it back in because it is a bit too weird to miss off, and sensible people will realise anyway (that it can't be a woman I mean.) I was finally happy with the arrangement and stuck them down. Firmly.

They look good, I think.

There is an advert for a fair, a 1930s poster for the Circus, a performing horse, a Ring Master in his top hat, skaters on the Thames at the Frozen Fair in the 1700s, the Flying Pieman (honestly) and the pig headed 'Lady', to mention but a few!

The whole lot were sealed with PVA and sealed again, just to be sure, then waxed. The box was waxed all over in clear wax - including the decoupaged top. Then it was rubbed back a bit along the edges and aged with dark wax and Versailles paint mixed in clear wax. This gives it a bit of depth and makes it look like it wasn't painted this week.

Altogether I think it looks a much more interesting box now.

I have also painted the little tin trunk, a tiny table and I have finished one of Maurice's horrid orange chairs, but I haven't taken any pics yet! Maybe tomorrow....

See you soon, Karen x

Treasure

2011-11-08T04:15:00.000-08:00

Ok so it might not look like treasure just yet, but just you wait!

I bought 3 of these chairs on the left from a man called Maurice last week. They are a bit scabby, I admit. The seat fabric is quite dirty and not a little niffy but the dog found it interesting. The wood is a tad orange and they are a bit battered. But they are strong and sturdy and heavy and well made. And they are a nice shape. I think they have potential!

I also aquired a 4th chair from Maurice at the same time. It is similar but it is a different shape, sadly. So I have 4 chairs of equal ugly-ness that don't make a set but but have huge potential.

Once the smelly fabric has been stripped off and the chairs have been smoothed and loved and fussed over and painted and waxed and sanded back and rewaxed they will be real treasure!

That's my work for the next few days! And as if thats not enough I also bought this tin trunk, not from Maurice, from a sale.

I know it looks a bit rough, but it is cute. I might paint this a dark blue, what do you think?

It came with a couple of old suitcases, which I didn't really want, but they were with the trunk and I really wanted that.

And this blanket box

which is a lovely size but not overly pretty, being a very dull brown and full of cobwebs.

And this

which is very heavy.

I had to get help to get it out of the car!

But isn't it ace!

Ok I know it's dirty.

But its got an egg tray

And an enamel work surface!

What more could any modern retro housewife need?

(Please don't mention dishwashers or fab fitted kitchens or warm wonderful Aga's at this point, it just spoils the whole effect.)

It only needs a bit of tlc!

Oh, and a miracle!

If you come back next week for another look you will see that this isn't just a pile of old junk.

It really is treasure, except the suitcases, not too sure about them.

New Ventures and manic days

2011-07-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, sorry it has been so long since my last post. Life just runs away with you sometimes doesn't it? I have been on holiday and although it was only a week it seemed to take several weeks to make sure the shop was well enough stocked before I went and several weeks to restock again afterwards. I think I'm just a bit of a control freak and it worried me that stock orders would be delivered whilst I was away! I imagined the worst, that things would be in the wrong place and nothing would sell. But I am obviously not quite as vital to my business as I believed because nothing fell apart in my absence after all! Either that or my daughter is just as brilliant and perfect as I am.....yes, well, Ok so not really then. Anyway, my lovely daughter Sarah managed very well with help from Fi and Anne and the shop was still functioning when I got home, so many thanks to them and I may just have to go on holiday more often because it was very nice! Perhaps I'll go again tomorrow...

Nice wasn't it? But back to reality; I have news and my most important fantastic and slightly scary news is - der der - I am starting a new business!!!!

As you know running Milkchurn Cottage involves buying china and glass and linens and all sorts of other bits and pieces. Because I am a bit of a hoarder I do sometimes find that some of the things I buy for the shop don't actually get there. I don't know how it happens but sometimes the really pretty plates, the most cutest jugs, the daintiest most delicate glass wares just never quite make it out of my grip. I know I should be putting them out there, but I just can't.

I mean, just look at these. What if I put them in the shop and someone without a soul picked them up and banged them down? I might just have to say something and then they would leave without buying and tell everyone they knew that the lady in that shop in Hawes is really quite nasty and best avoided and this would be the start of the slippery slope ending in my starvation and demise. So best all round if they just come home with me, don't you think??

So now I have too many, far too many. No sane person has this much china. This is just a tiny bit of what I have, in just one cupboard. Some of it is still packed up from my last house move, how bad is that?

So I have decided that I it needs to be used, viewed and gazed upon. But so that I can still own it, touch it and stroke it I have decided that I am going to hire it out for parties, picnics, weddings and events. The best of both worlds I think. Much thought has ben given to this new venture and a name was sought. After much deliberation on the vintage china hire theme nothing was grabbing me. Everything seemed too pedestrian. 'Vintage China Hire' whilst it does what it says on the tin, doesn't conjour up quite the romantic picture I wanted. It wasn't doing it for me at all. 'Vintage Weddings' was already taken and I was getting quite irritated that the exact correct name wouldn't spring to mind. Then my lovely friend Sarah came up with THE name. Just the exact name I was looking for. The new business is to be called

Raindrops on Roses Vintage China Hire

I love the name, it still says what it does but its pretty and evocative and I think it works.

It is still very early days but things are moving forward! A website is on hand, a Facebook page is set up and I am hoping to exhibit at a couple of the big wedding fairs very soon! A proper photographer is taking some photographs and a brochure etc is in the making. Soon there will be something to see!

But in the mean time I have stacks of stuff - tea cup and saucers, side plates, tea plates, dinner plates, dessert plates. Cake stands, milk jugs and sugar bowls, tea pots and tureens, wavy edged glass comports that can be piled with cakes or stacked on top of each other to make a great display. I have pretty vases for flowers and dishes for butter, jams or sweeties. I have huge candelarbra and dainty candle sticks, delicate dishes and dainty glasses, lovely linens and lace, bird cages and bunting, fairy lights and faux flower garlands, picnic hampers and quilts. And I have ideas, lots of ideas about how gorgeous it can all look on your table.

I am ready to go now with the stock, its been here waiting for this for a while. The paperwork (well website, pics, printing etc) is still on its way, but if you want any details please ask. I have them, but in my scribble.....

Its exciting isn't it??

Karen x

A pew and an ottoman

2011-04-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, it is a dismal day here - cold and wet with my view of the fell obscured by dismal dampness (grey mist) so I thought these lovely daffs and tulips might just lift your (mine really) spirits a bit. I love tulips, they arch so elegantly and even droop nicely, and with a few daffs they always make me smile!

The shop has been quite busy all week - up to today - and I have been getting jobs done too, so its been a good and productive week. Do you remember that Art Deco Ottoman I showed you at the end of my last post? It is a lovely solid piece but was a bit nondescript to look at. I finally found some inspiration and got it painted!!

I had a bit of a mental block with this. I was really enthusiastic about painting it when I bought it but just couldn't find my mojo when it came to deciding how to do it. I looked at lots of Art Deco designs and colour ways, paint effects and finishing techniques but nothing jumped out at me.

This is what it looked like last week. It is a lovely box, but very dull. I wanted something that would show off the lovely Deco designs on the front and the detail around the lid edge, but didn't want anything too off the wall. Neutral but striking is what I was after, but I don't think neutral and striking are compatible really. I finally decided bright red and black. Yes, you heard right, bright red and black - very neutral, don't you think? Actually I've not gone mad, or at least I don't think so. I saw a picture of a faux leather box, albeit on a much smaller scale and decided to go for it!

It is very Art Deco now.

First I gave it a base coat of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Emperor's Silk which is a rich red and then a top coat of AS's CP in Graphite, which is almost but not quite black.

When the paint dried I waxed the whole box with a random mix of clear and coloured wax and then lightly sanded it back to let the richness of the Emperor's Silk base coat show through, especially on the highlighted decorative designs and around the edges.

To get the distressed leather look the whole box was given another coat of clear wax to fix the paint so far and then waxed again using a mix of wax and Emperor's Silk paint to give that look you get from well loved leather. A lot of rubbing and buffing went on too, in between coats of wax and at the end, but I was really pleased with the effect.

Finally to finish with a bit of a ta da finale I painted the inside in the same Emperor's Silk so it looks lovely and rich when you open it up.

I really enjoyed doing this. Normally when I paint things to sell I tell myself that the desired result is a sale, obviously. This means that I tend to be a bit restrained and pick colors that will 'fit' most houses. It was really quite liberating to do this. And it is now for sale in the shop, not tripping me up in my kitchen and another job off my list!!

I must have been on a roll this week because another job came off my list when I painted this lovely dinky pew.

I wouldn't normally paint a pew as I think they look lovely in their wooden state, but this one had been badly stained and partially stripped anyway. It took some smoothing out before it was flat enough to paint and I did wonder whether I had taken leave of my senses in buying it at one point.

But it eventually came right and I painted it in AS's Paris Grey, two coats and a coat of clear wax to seal it. It has a lovely little book shelf on the back and is big enough to seat 2 big bums or 3 little ones in comfort.

It now houses my 'grey' cushions and looks calm and restrained after the ottoman. There, you have now seen both sides of my personality, the calm, serene, cool me that I would like to think rules - and the other bit.

Have a lovely week, hope you liked my box and pew.

Karen x

Another busy week in the Dales

2011-03-19T05:53:00.001-07:00

Hello ladies, it has been another busy week for me. I really don't know where the time goes sometimes and this week has just flown by.

As you may know I recently started to sell Annie Sloan's fab chalk paints in the shop. I won't bore you with how great they are because I have already raved on about them, just a bit, well a lot really but.... Anyway I had a lovely phone call this week from a customer who had bought some paints a couple of weeks ago. She phoned to me how fantastic they are so its not just me. She said that her daughter had said they had become her crack cocaine! That is a lovely quote. She did cheer me up - its so nice to get good feedback and when someone is really enthusiastic it makes my day.

This lady bought the Graphite Grey paint (which is almost but not quite black) and the Scandanavian Pink. She had painted a chest in the pink first and then put the grey on top. She waxed them in a mix of colored and clear wax and then rubbed them back in parts to reveal the Scandanavian Pink underneath. She said the two waxes gave the colors a really rich depth. I really like the sound of this and must give it a go. She has promised me photos and I can't wait to see.

The paints are the main reason I have been so busy this week - other than working in my shop, walking the dog, my children (grown ups in age), my grand children (the eldest came to stay for a few days) and life's horrid boring necessities like washing, ironing, cleaning windows, changing the beds.....

I blame Annie Sloan, just look at her laughing above. It is a lovely picture and she is a lovely lady. I have recently become her sort of northern agent and distributer. This means me going to see any new enquiries she gets from northern retailers who want to sell her paints. I am enjoying this far more than I expected. I am not a sales person at all. When people come into my shop I say hello but leave them to browse and if they leave without buying anything I don't trip them up or lock them in 'til they buy their freedom out of desperation. So when Annie asked me to do this I was a bit dubious, but luckily she only wants shops who are really enthusiastic so didn't want a pushy person. So far I have met 4 retailers on her behalf.

The first was the very lovely Glynnis at Scarlett Ribbons in Ambleside and Windemere who will become a stockist next month. I spoke about Glynnis's shop a few weeks ago. She sells vintage crockery, painted furniture and stocks a range of absolutely fantastic clothing.

Then I met Elizabeth Maskell at the Country Home Store in Harrogate. This is a lovely shop but sadly Elizabeth felt she was too close to the Farrow & Ball shop to go with Annie's paints in the end. I thought being close to F&B was a plus for her as their paints are quite different from Annie's in texture and color range and in what they can do, but Elizabeth was the one who had to pay so.... But if you're ever in Harrogate go and look, it is a lovely shop and she has a fab Tea Rooms upstairs.

And this Monday I met Maureen at Theofano Interiors in Whalley, Lancashire and Lynne at The Soft furnisher in Wheelton, Chorley. This was a difficult one for me as there is only half an hour between the two shops and Annie offers exclusivity to her retailers so I knew that unless both waived this exclusivity we would only supply one of them. But on the other hand, both shops might decide it wasn't for them, so I had to see them both.

Theofano Interiors was closest so I saw them first.

I wish I'd taken my camera so I could show you the shops, but I forgot so their web sites are the best I can do, sorry. Theofano's shop is lovely with big wide windows perfect for display and has parking dead opposite. Maureen and her assistant were really nice and it was a pleasure to meet them. The shop is a mix of interior design and gifts and the ladies were really enthusiastic about the paints because they wanted something that other local shops didn't offer. We spoke about the paint courses and their ideas for their window and marketing were really interesting. They made me want to have the paints already there and be able to see the display now. I told them I was going to Chorley, not to push them into a decision, but because I'd want to know and came away thinking that they would def say they wanted to sell the paints.

I had a bit of a mooch around Whalley, which is very nice then set off to Chorley to The Soft Furnisher.

This was a very different shop but equally nice. Again a mix of interior design, painted furniture and gifts but more off the beaten track. Lynne and her assistant were lovely to meet and although Lynne already stocked Farrow & Ball's paints she appreciated the different properties and advantages of Annie's Chalk Paints. I just knew she would also want to sell the paints and I told her that I had also seen Maureen that morning. Both retailers said they would like an exclusivity if they decided to go ahead and I knew I'd have to choose between the two. Not nice. I'll tell you later what they decided!

The next morning I was back in my own shop with some Daffodils from the Spar up the road (£2 for instant Spring in a vase, well worth it) and things were busy, busy.

My order of mirrors, pretty French style furniture and other pretties arrived and needed unpacking. This is one of my most favourite jobs. It's like Christmas! I love unpacking the boxes and oooo ing and ahh ing over the new stuff. I hate getting rid of all the packaging - there's always so much of it - but I love finding homes for all the new stuff in the shop.

This pretty little dressing table is so dinky do, it would fit anywhere! I just love it and I don't normally like new furniture, being a vintage type of girl. I also have two absolutely gorgeous bedside tables to match this. Sooo nice, they are in my window at the moment.

They do look nice in there, maybe I shouldn't sell them, just keep them in there forever.

And just look at this! How can anyone resist this? Its just so fab. And so pink!

On a more sedate note I have also bought more 'normal' mirrors.

This gilt one is a lovely over mantle mirror and also comes in cream (you can see it next to the bedside cabinets in my shop window.) And then continuing the French style theme I have this.

and this

and I already had this free standing swing mirror.

And just so I don't look like a mirror shop I also bought this amazing magnetic notice board.

I love this, the magnets are so pretty and the shape is so scrummy. My photo just doesn't do this justice. It is much nicer than this in real life.

Oh and look at this one...

In Duck Egg with a sort of fade silver detail, this is so slimming!

I did buy other things, but I'll show you another day - or you can look me up on Facebook - except for this because I'd like some input, if you feel up for it?

I bought this blanket box last week. Its an Art Deco Ottoman for the bottom of a bed, very solid and heavy but not very inspiring visually. I keep looking at it but just can't make my mind up what colour to paint it. I want something interesting but still saleable, so not too off the wall. Any help choosing would be much appreciated. Its wasted as it is, it looks insipid and quite boring.

And that's it for today. Except to say that yes, both shops did want to sell Annie's fab paints. I knew they would! I liked both shops and both sets of people, it would have been easier if one of them had been less nice but both were lovely. In the end I went for the one I thought would sell more. It all comes down to economics in the end, so sad! Theofano had the edge because they had such a fantastic location on a busy but not too busy main road in a buzzing location with a huge shop window. But I just hated saying no to The Soft Furnisher, and you never know, things are never rock solid, so it might all change later.

Have a lovely weekend

Karen x

Busy, busy

2011-03-05T04:40:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies, I have had a very busy week. I have been in the shop most of the week. But on my day off I sallied over to Windemere with my friend Sarah (well you have to have some fun don't you) to see a lady called Glynnis who has the most gorgeous shop there - Scarlett Ribbons. She sells lots of vintage stuff and a fantastic range of really gorgeous clothing. It is a bit vintagey in style, but in more modern sizes and really yummy fabrics, stylish and pretty.

I went to see Glynnis because she may be interested in stocking Annie's fab paints to sell in her two shops - her second shop is in Ambleside - just up the road from Windemere. It was a lovely day out. Sarah shopped in Windemere while I went to see Glynnis and she managed to accumulate half a dozen bags in the hour I was away! That girl knows how to shop.

And I have been busy, busy painting furniture for customers and painting stuff for the shop and for me. Oh and making tea cup candles too. I love this job though, everything smells lovely because of the scent and its all warm and cosy while you melt the wax. Its one of my favourite jobs

But back to painting. I have had this 1930's oak cake stand for ages. It was quite dull and I fancied trying something a bit brighter for it. I think it looks ace, it certainly isn't dull now and is attracting attention on my table! I have already sold a pretty plate and a tea cup candle from it's shelves - it's doing well and is for sale itself too.

And I have painted this dinky set of shelves for an empty space at the back of the shop. This is Annie Sloan's lovely Greek Blue and sets off my pretty china beautifully.

I love this delicate Carltonware dish. I am a sucker for pretty china. My mum says that's why I need a shop, not 'cos I'm good at selling - but because I can't resist the buying bit. She's wrong obviously (???)

My next job is to finish this set of 4 chairs. They are really good quality oak Arts & Crafts chairs but were very tired when they came to me.

Don't you think? I love before and after shots.

I have finished two of the chairs but still have two left to do. They are now demanding attention because I have sold a set of 4 chairs that I had around a table at the front of the shop and it now looks a bit bare. I have put the two rejuventated chairs around it, but two around a table for four just looks silly. Must get on with them....

And because I mentioned them earlier I thought I'd just show you my new tea-cup candles.

Hmmm, they look good in a row, but you can't see them very well...

thats better

I love the different variations

pretty floral ones

and jazzy '50's ones

They burn well too.

Well, thats it for today. I need some food and I still have those chairs to finish. Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you again soon - hopefully.

Karen x

Painted 1930's Oak 3 Tier Cake Stand £35

Carltonware Dish £17

Set of 4 Arts & Crafts Oak Dining chairs £175 (all finished)

Vintage Bone China Tea-Cup Candles £12.50

+ P&P at cost

Annie Sloan Paints and a lovely new look

2011-02-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

Well ladies, I am sorry to have been away so long but I have been mega busy. The shop has been closed for 6 weeks - mainly because the weather puts visitors off in January so I don't get many customers. But also because I wanted to re-vamp the shop. I now have a gorgeous new look; a lovely old rose pink in the front part and at the back, and a vibrant Annie Sloan Antibes Green in the middle section of the shop. And I have to say, it looks fab!

I am now going to tell you about something different and new and exciting - or at least I think so - but in between I have put pictures of the new look shop. They are not really relevant, but I want to show you, so I have just put them in anyway. I hope you like them.

The new excitement is this - der der! While I've been closed I have become a stockist of Annie Sloan's paint. I don't know if you've heard of Annie but she was on the latest series of Kirsty's Homemade Home and has been the leading painted furniture specialist for - well, forever. I have been painting furniture for over a decade and started after reading one of Annie's earlier books 'A Painted Furniture Source Book'. In it there are hundreds of photographs to inspire and at the time I didn't have the money for the real thing (nothing much changes really, does it?) so I used her ideas and painted the bits I did have for the 'look'.

I have always used whatever paint as around, not knowing that Annie had formulated her own paints especially for painted furniture. These are chalk paints in a great range of colours, but the very best thing about them is you can just get straight on with painting. You don't need you to spend days sanding down and priming before you start! I have no patience, I am a results girl - I want to see it done now, so when I have so spend a day sanding and priming and undercoating I'm less enthusiastic about the whole thing. These paints are ace, you just paint. Heaven! Anyway, enough waffling on, I now use just Annie's paints myself and stock the full range in the shop.

I will also be running Annie's Painted Furniture courses, starting in March, so if you are interested please let me know. At the moment I have 4 places left on the March course at £125 for the day. The course starts at 10 and finishes around 4.30 with a break of about 45 mins for lunch. I will show 6 basic techniques - single colour painting, 2 colour painting, crackle finish using paint only and using a craquleur , decoupage, gilding and a modern look at stenciling. All the materials you will need for the day are included and the paints and waxes used are Annie's, so you can see them for yourself.

Now was that exciting or what?

Anyway, with the new paint job on the shop, the new paint in the shop and lots of new stock, I re-opened on Saturday. And it snowed! It hasn't snowed all the time I have been closed, but when I opened my curtains on Saturday morning - there it was, a white blanket of snow covering every thing. If I was paranoid I'd think God hated me - snow is very bad for trade. People think the roads will be tricky and stay at home. But all was well and my first day was a success! I sold a pretty 1950's formica table (it was so cute - not normally my era but it was very pretty) a gorgeous sparkling flower lamp and a large Denby diner service. Because it was all right after all, I am at peace with the snow, for now.

Well, that's all I have time for today as my feet are freezing and I need food. But I will be back soon and will show you what I have been doing with Annie's paints. Or you can look me up on Facebook - just search Milkchurn Cottage.

Take care, Karen x

My Favourite Bits from 2010

2010-11-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies.

I hope you are keeping snug and warm in this horrid, yukky weather. Yes, I know its pretty, but you must admit that its too early to be this cold just yet. And I don't really rate white Christmases myself anyway. Personally I'd prefer just one day of snow mid February - and if the weather fairies can manage to send that while I'm on a beach somewhere else, well thats just fine by me.

Anyway, back to business....

I am dedicating this blog post to some of my favourite sales of 2010. I have had some lovely things through the shop this year but these are some of the ones I am fond of because I have brought them back from the brink of disaster, like Kirsty. I am up-cycling apparently. But really I just prefer old stuff!

Do you remember the ugly duckling kitchen cabinet in the first picture?

This 1950's Maidsaver Unit was in a sorry state when I bought it at a farm sale in the early spring. The glass was broken, it had been lived in by chickens and was more than a tad dirty. I admit to wondering whether I had gone mad when I was scrubbing it, it really took some effort to get clean.

But what a transformation! I replaced the glass first, then painted the inside and outside with F&B's cream. This lifted it immediately, it suddenly looked loved. The green handles were original so I had a green mixed to match them and painted the doors and drop down work shelf with this.

It was bought by a lady from Suffolk who was really pleased with it.

This is top of my list despite it not being my usual sort of stuff (more modern, more square, more plain) But, because it was in such a very sorry state so it was very satisfying to bring it back to life - and even better to sell it to someone who loved it!

Number 2 on my list is a set of stuff and shouldn't really be here because I didn't sell them. But they did feature on my blog this year and are one of my faves, so are included for those reasons.

It is my dressing table, chair and mirror.

I just love this set, which isn't a set at all really. The dressing table is a Victorian wash stand bought as part of a mixed lot of furniture at auction. The chair is an Edwardian caned balloon back rescued from a skip and the mirror is a 1980s cheapo car boot find. Together these are the first items of furniture I ever painted. Non of them were attractive as they were, but all of them have such lovely shapes. If the basic shape is pretty you can make anything look fabulous. The chair had been badly painted in a really awful dark blue and looked destined for a bonfire. The washstand was split across the top and the mirror was just incredibly naff. I painted them in a lovely duck egg and lime waxed them gently to soften the colour and to tone down the over bright gilding around the mirror edge. These were painted many years ago now and still look good. I still wouldn't replace them willingly.

Back to stuff I actually sold....

No 3 is this painted pine chiffonier.

I know it looks very plain in chalk white, but this was a hideous dark red stained piece when I bought it. I had a vision of its curves stripped back to the original wood and waxed. I took ages striping it and deliberately left the top to last (its the easiest and I get fed up so leaving the easiest to last means the home run is fast) In this case it was a mistake though, because it had got a huge crack in it which had been filled with white filler and looked awful. It sat in my store for a while while I muttered like Dick Dasterdley's dog about the time I had wasted on it. Then I grew up again and painted it. I loved it white and almost kept it, but it found a new home locally not long after.

Next is another wash stand. I think I have a bit of a problem with wash stands. I just can't seem to resist them.

But how could anyone resist this? Just look at those legs! This sold so quickly that I don't think anyone other than the buyer even saw it! This is not why its on the list tho' (honest), its on the list cos its gorgeous. The legs, the colors, the gilt coming through from underneath. Yes it was originally all gold - can you imagine! But mostly I just love its shabby look. Actually I loved everything about it, but its gone.

Next on my list has to be a Lloyd Loom chair. I am a closet Lloyd Loom fanatic and think everyone should have at least one of their gorgeous chairs.... and an ottoman, and a linen basket and if you can find one, a sofa. I may actually kill one day for a sofa. And a table, oooooh the list goes on. I have sold a fair few of these items over the years (except the sofa - if I ever find one I can afford I'm keeping it) and have scrubbed them, painted them, upholstered them, made cushions for them, you name it, I've done it. I think I have sold a dozen of these chairs this year.

And I don't even have a picture!

And finally, the last thing I rescued and sold was this...

Yet another wash stand. This is an Edwardian one with a black marble top and tiled back. It was very dark when I bought it and you couldn't see the lovely shape of the pretty shelves. Painted in F&B Chalk White again it sold quickly to another local lady and now sits on her landing just outside her bathroom and houses her towels and pretties.

And before you escape for a cuppa, this is what is to be attacked with a paint brush next. I have discovered Annie Sloane's fab range of paints and the colors have inspired me to paint this...

....my fantastic, lovely but actually quite boring huge french style dresser.

This is in the shop and is really useful and I do like it, but it would be much more interesting in a more vibrant color. Or two.

I can't wait to get started....

See you next time

Karen x

Where did September go ???

2010-10-30T02:57:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, I can't believe how long it is since my last blog. I do have an excuse though, I was on holiday in September. I went with my daughter's other family to see some sunshine. We don't get much sun in Hawes and I was starting to panic about the onset of winter 'cos I hadn't seen any sun at all. But like always it seemed to take ages to get everything ready so I could leave the shop and even longer to get used to being back in the cold afterwards. It was lovely, but one weeks holiday took up the whole of September for me.

And then there was October.... but that seems to have disappeared too. I don't have an excuse for October at all and it is over tomorrow. So thank you for bearing with me and may I offer you an early welcome to November? It may be the only early thing you ever get from me so make the most of it!

I have to say that the shop is looking lovely at the moment. I know I'm boasting, but it looks all festive and warm and welcoming. I have been busy putting out all my Christmas stock and tying bows on wicker hearts and balls, decorating pine cones and wreaths, putting fairy lights in twiggy things and just generally letting loose. I love this time of year.

My dresser at the back of the shop is full of cinnamon sticks tied with ribbon, wreaths and apples, berries and baubles.

I have ready made bought in wreaths like these

and these over my fireplace

which looks lovely now its time to light the fire.

And then my own handiwork, which come like this

and with the help of these

and these

become

(if you want to see how there's a quick tutorial on my other blog)

I also have these lovely twiggy balls and hearts

all tied up with ribbon

(I can't get the hang of photos in front of windows, sorry.)

But, when you can see them they are balls with bows on

cushiony hearts with bows on

and open hearts with bows on

I'm having a bit of a bow fetish I think, but it will pass.

They look lush all piled up in baskets

I have a basket problem too, but thats been around a while so is prob staying with me now.

What else is there...

oh there's these

these look ace in pairs either side of a fireplace.

(There's a tutorial for these on my other blog too, really easy these.)

And last but by no means least, look what goodies lovely Fi has come up with

These come in garlands of 5 horizontally or danglies of 4 vertically

I have them as dinky little houses or heart warming hearts.

These are all made by my friend Fiona, the lovely Marmalade Rose here in wonderful Wensleydale.

And that's it for today ladies. I will try very hard to blog again more often in future. As always, if there's anything that catches your interest drop me a line, my details are on the sidebar.

Have a happy November and take care

Love Karen x

My china fest

2010-08-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, I hope you are all well and happy.

It is lovely and sunny here today after what feels like weeks of rain. To make up for it being so wet and dismal here, it is August after all, we should get some sun, even up here in the deepest, hilliest north of Yorkshire. so to make up for the rain I have been on a bit of a china fest! This always cheers me up. I do love buying china.

I have bought china tea services, odd cups and saucers for tea cup candles, dinner services and more dinner services and a full set of Denby blue - tea, dinner and every thing service. This last is a bit of an odd one for me, being not really vintage at all, but it came home with me so I must have bought it. It was on my receipt!

I'm in heaven now that we have sun - china and sunshine.

What more could I pos want!

I have been busy washing, pricing up and putting my purchases in pretty baskets. I love how they look in the shop, all lined up in baskets. They remind me of the markets my grandma used to take me to as a child. I used to love how the china stall holder would gather all the pieces of china together, throwing it all about, up in the air then catching it, talking very fast all the time about 'not just one piece but six and this, that and the other thrown in.' It all ended up neatly stacked in a basket at the end of his speil, with never any broken! It was like a circus for me.

The tea service in the top picture is beautiful, prob my favourite of the tea sets this time. The china is really fine and it dates from the Edwardian era. The colours are so pretty, lovely flowers in pretty eau du nil and russett on a chocolate border. Being such a good photographer, I have managed to place the jug right behind the basket handle, which is a pity because its so cute. Very tall with a tiny waist, just like Edwardian ladies of fashion!

Then there's this!

I just love Flo blue and this is a gorgeous example. I don't know if I'm going to be able to sell this one. It will depend on whether I think the buyer will really, really, really appreciate it, I think. I'm amazed I make a living at this - I bet big stores never vet their customers like this!

But isn't it pretty? I love tureens, and the squared off platters are just fab! It amazes me that something so delicate survives for over 100 years. This one dates from Victoria's time so must have seen some changes, it is for sale, but only to really, really nice people.

This green and cream one is a bit newer, being Edwardian again. But the green is so fresh and the guilding is lovely. This is a great every day set, having loads of plates and dishes as well as two graduated tureens (with lids) and a jug/sauce/gravy boat.

And then there's this one, back in time again, lat Victorian this one, in white with a blue edge and gilding. I like this too, I like all of them. This one is pottery rather than porcelain, so more every day than fine dining, but so useful. I am a great advocate for using all these things. They were made to be used and it is such a shame to have boring plates when in my shop the whole of this lot could be yours for £30. How good is that!

And then bang up to date, I had to buy this fab Denby set. I obviously have a problem with quantity. I just can't resist full sets. The odd piece of Denby doesn't do it for me, but show me a full service, with jugs and tureens and I've had it. This has plates, side plates, dishes and cups and saucers for 8 people + a lidded tureen, milk and sugar, 2 salt and pepper sets and a gravy jug on stand. Oh and a tea pot and a coffee/hot water pot. See? There's loads of it. It just had to come home with me, it was calling me! I think the blue is my favourite of the Denby too.

Back in time again, I bought a couple of tea services.

This one is probably from the 60's. It is bone china, for 4 with delicate blue and green shamrock or clover flowers all over. The cups are a nice shape and it has a bread and butter plate.

This one is a bit later I think, prob 1980s, but very pretty with lots of pink and blue flowers all over. This one is bone china, for 6 with a round bread and butter plate.

I also bought these....

a lovely Wedgewood platter from the 1920s, isn't the blue gorgeous?

And a very pretty flower covered Victorian meat plate.

And a small coffee set for two, very romantic

Royal Albert, so quite current, prob only 10-20 years old tops, but such delicate china, a gorgeous shape and much nicer (in my opinion) than the more vibrant red Country Roses pattern, this one is the same design but in a much softer pink pallet.

And thats it....

Hope you shared a little bit of the enjoyment I got from my china fest!

See you soon, I hope

Karen x

As usual it is all for sale so just drop me an email or phone if there's anything you fancy.

Auction Goodies

2010-07-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, I hope it is warmer where you are today because I think the warm weather has left the dale this week. The farmers have been desperate for rain and someone has listened to them because it has rained here for days and nights and yet more days. And it is just a tad cold - I put the electric blanket on the other day - I can't believe we had a heat wave a week ago!

But less of this weather whaffle, I have been to my fave auction sale again and although it wasn't too inspiring this time I did come back with some goodies. Like this - just look at this amazing Valour Paraffin Stove. Isn't it lovely? And it has its original box! I love anything as cute and off beat as this. And in such good nick too, it has either been really well loved or not loved at all (and so not used) 'cos it really is very tidy. I hope its the first, I don't like to think of it as unloved. And it is such a great colour, all soft sage green. The burner is good and it has the cutest little brass door you can open to check how high the burner is. It all fits so snugly in the box. I love it!

Sorry, I just had to give you a close up!

The door is ace. I really have to grow up.

I bought other things, but I have to confess that this is my favourite this time.

Second on my list is this delicate Royal Cauldron Coffee set, sitting here on the mantle place next to my superiorly snooty Victorian Parian Madonna.

The set has 4 cups and saucers and a lovely shaped coffee pot. I like it because the colors are so pretty and the coffee cans are so dainty, prob from the 30s. It just represents more gentle times, well if you had enough money, praps not if you were the maid, but then in my dreams I am always a lovely slender genteel lady of lots of means.

I also bought a box of mixed brass and other bits, mainly because it has an old fashioned embossing stamp in it. The stamp is for Robert Hirst & Co of London Ltd. I know its not really useful but how ace is that? I would love one of these that had my shop's name on, I would emboss everything that stood still, certainly all my tags and labels, how lovely would that be?

I have used this magic machine to emboss my labels over and over, covering the whole tag. Then I have written my info on top. I must say that it does look rather good.

I may just have to keep it!

In the box with the embossing stamp were a big hammer (!) a very old looking pair of clippers, a warming pan minus its handle, see pic above (I actually like it better like this), a big front of fire trivet stand thing on legs (I am obviously highly technical, being blonde) 2 lots of nut crackers, a broken pair of grape scissors (now in my bin) a long brass heel thing with a horse head handle, 2 copper bowls and an oil lamp base in need of a new glass chimney. You can see why I found it so irresistible now, can't you?

As you can see above, the trivet thing could do with a coat of paint or something - so it was obviously well worth buying this lot at any price!

I still think it was worth it, I love my embossing thing!

On a more business-like note, seeing as I am supposed to be a real shop keeper, one who actually buys things to sell rather than to ooh and ahh over; I bought a pair of mother of pearl opera glasses (I have a weakness for these too, but at least they are bought to sell, not just for me to play with) I'm sorry about the focus in ths pic, its a bit wavy.

And I bought this brass companion set

And (another of my weaknesses) a big box of mixed linens

unfortunately they still need sorting!

And a second box of linens needing sorting, but this time hiding a couple of pretty plates

This one has the magic Carlton Ware name and is very pretty - I will put it in the shop after it has had a wash and I have drooled over it a bit, although thinking about it I should probably drool first, then wash it.

It is to sell after all.

And I bought some pottery cats, who, like cats are wont to do, have now found themselves nice snugly places to live in my window until they are re-homed (to good homes only, I will need proof)

They are not old old these, but I do like cats, so it being my shop I have made an executive decision and included them in my stock. A girl (aged now, but there's still a flutter there occasionally, so still a girl inside) needs some lea-way every so often, don't you agree?

The last one is the most laid back of all, isn't she cute?

Then I bought some door stops

A chicken...

...and a cow.

And because I am really really good and needed to put my bookcases together at home, I bought this.

It is so useful and brand spanking new, still in its box. Its not for sale, sorry, I just wanted to share with you how very good I am sometimes. If you look at my 'normal' blog I will show you what I have done with it - it may not be today though - it takes far more time to blog that I ever expect, so it may be tomorrow, or even the next day, but I will do it, honest...

Well that's it for another day, I hope you have enjoyed it.

Love, Karen x

PS - If there is anything you really can't live without you are more than welcome to ask

My contact details are on the sidebar and it is (almost) all for sale.

Best wishes, Karen x

Special Days

2010-07-03T04:56:00.000-07:00

Hello you lovely ladies, isn't it a gorgeous day?

I can't believe how nice it is here, its like being on holiday. I hope it stays like this - til Christmas would be nice, then snow for a week, then back to summer. I know that's just wishful thinking, but its so nice and up here in the hills it doesn't happen very often!

However, on to business....

Today's post is about my summer open evening, which of course you are all invited to.

All of you.

You can even bring your friends!

This years Summer Open Evening will be held on Friday 9th July at my pretty shop in Hawes

Milkchurn Cottage Interiors & Gifts

Town Foot

Hawes

North Yorkshire

01969 667847

on Friday 9th July

Starting at 6pm

We offer a fab

15% discount

on everything in the shop - except me & Fi - just on the night

Oooh and we ply you with Pimms!

Not to get you drunk, you understand, just to make you welcome!

Please come if you can, we'd love to see you.

It should be good

I have lots of new pretties

Summer dresses and tops from Goose Island

(I digress here, but don't they look nice in this 30s wardrobe lined with vintage fabric ?)

I do love these though, they are quite vintage and girlie, but very now too!

We have gorgeous silk twist scarves in 100s of colours (well almost 100s)

and delicate pastel spot scarves.

I have loads of pretty jewels.....

....costume beads for daytime

More subtle jewels for subtle girls

and lots of glitz for nights out

And real silver for grown up times!

The silver range is new to me - all designed by Caroline Scott of Siren Silver

Gorgeous individual hallmarked silver pieces set with precious gem stones

Amethysts, Turquoise and Rainbow Moonstones.

Its due in this week so I don't have a picture for you just yet, but it really is divine!

I also have a good selection of lovely bags at the moment.

Great ones for day time

Great ones for night time

And I have just a few of the lovely LuLu Australia bags left - reduced by 1/3 so great value, but once they're gone, they're gone, so if they go before the night I'm sorry!

(This one has since sold, but there are 5 left in differing designs & styles, all fab quality)

And just look at these purses, aren't they ace?

They are covered in bright glitzy sequins in pink, lime or blue and really make a statement.

There's lots more - its a bit like Mary Poppins' bag, it just goes on and on...

All this lot is mixed with my 'normal' vintage stock

Currently this includes this gorgeous pine side table, dinky tin trunk and a selection of stools

and another side table, mahogany this time, with ace legs.

This one is laden with a selection of pottery, a copper chocolate pot, a lovely (new) lamp and post card rack and has a woven duet stool underneath.

What else is there????

Oooh, a lovely vintage pic-nic set, a choice of piano stools (I can never resist these, I don't know why because I'm not in the least musical and can't play anything) sets of chairs, an oak 3 tier cake stand....... I could go on, but then there'd be no surprises left if you do manage to come!

And in the more normal contemporary ranges I always have the lovely Jan Constantine stuff

and Greengate, in different designs, this one is the red spot

I think this is really yummy stuff!

And then for something more unique....

....we have fab handmade stuff from the lovely Marmalade Rose (Fiona) who will be helping me on the night. Fiona makes the lovely cupcakes in the photo above, as well as gorgeous handbags and other lovely things. But Fi really is much cleverer than this shows and she creates the most amazing felt pictures which are quite unique and embellished with hand and machine embroidery, ribbons and other things. Take a quick look at Fi's blog to see what I mean, they are a bit special. If I'm lucky I may have a couple to show you on the night if she lets me and if she doesn't sell them first !

So come along, you'll be most welcome!

And if you can't manage it, I'll tell you all about it later.

Have fun

Karen xx

If you want any prices please ask

You can email or phone

I'll be happy to help

Karen

01969 667847

Going back in time

2010-04-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, I hope you have all had a lovely week. I have had a great week here in the Yorkshire Dales. The sun has shone and that always makes me happy. As well as that I seem to have had a week where I have been able to acquire some new bits of old stuff. I love old stuff. I much prefer it to the new really, but have to sell the new to keep everyone happy (and keep me pleasantly plump and sort of solvent!) But this week I had a lovely lady in the shop who wanted to sell some bits that her mother had given her. Some were not quite my thing and some were lovely but not quite right for me to buy. She had a lovely vintage tea set that was hand painted by her mum when she had worked in the potteries as a young woman. Unfortunately it was not worth very much, even though it was very pretty. It is difficult sometimes to say to someone that something they treasure is not worth much in actual hard cash. In this case I was very sympathetic and said that if my mum had painted it I really wouldn't part with it for what I could offer her and she decided to keep it. Fancy having a tea service from the 30s that your own mum had painted! I'd have it on display somewhere and tell every one who even glanced in its general direction that my mum had painted it, herself, with her very own hands. But I did buy somethings from her....

Like this lovely Maling lustre bowl. I love Maling, the colours and the flowers are just fab. This one is on cute little feet with yellow roses all over it.

I also bought another bit of Maling lustre ware, this time bought from a sale though. This one is a dinky little pin dish in blue with lovely Spring flowers around the edge. I'm a sucker for flowers and tulips are amongst my favourites.

This is my last bit of Maling for now - flowers again - on a jug this time.

But back to the lady in my shop. I bought a blue and white dinner/tea service from her, mostly from the 50s I think, its hard to date blue and white from this period. It is nice but not amazing and will sell because it has everything you would need for every day use; 8 dinner plates, 6 bowls, 6 cups, saucers and side plates, a cute milk jug and a lovely lidded sugar bowl and 3 large open serving bowls. It is not all the same company but is close in design and with blue and white this often adds to its interest.

It looks lovely piled in a basket - like you used to see on the market when I was a child!

I also bought this cute cheese dish and cover. Very Clarrice, but not really!

And this faux enamel brush and mirror set, so obviously art deco, aren't they ace? The real enamel ones set in silver surrounds are getting quite expensive these days but these fake ones are still amazingly affordable and so stylish.

It must have been a 30's week because this is from the same date.

And this.

Both are boat shaped flower baskets from the 30s. The green one is quite small, only 6" across, by Wade. The cream one is twice as big and is really lovely. I love the feel of these, they are really smooth to touch. The glaze is very tactile. This would be lovely with over ripe flowers spilling over the edge.

Still in the 30's, this is an ace colour. It is said that 30s designs were a reaction against the dullness of the times and this is certainly not dull. How orange is this! Made by the great Minton factory it screams 30s style.

And to finish my 30s bit for today is a bit of Clarrice - although this isn't really from the 30s at all. It is a Royal Worcester copy made by them sometime in the last 20 years, but still looks great!

I have actually bought a fair bit more this week but time is not on my side today so I must dash!

Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend

Karen x

PS - All the above is for sale in my pretty shop, if there's anything you fancy pls email for prices.

Thanks - Karen

Wallets in close up

2010-04-10T04:23:00.001-07:00

Hello ladies, isn't it a lovely day? The sun is shining and it is so lovely to see after so long! I have actually been able to put baskets of goodies outside the shop in order to entice people in (we shop keepers are a sneaky breed you know.) I haven't been able to put anything other than plants outside for ooooh ages now!

Anyway, on to today's post. This is short little post - a close up of the lovely wallets I showed you last time, especially for Barbara who has requested more info.

I have sold some of the ones shown in my last post so I thought I'd better put new pictures in too. I have the 7 in my first picture in stock now, but if you preferred one of the missing ones from my earlier post I can usually get hold of them within 5 working days.

The designs I have in stock also come in different colour ways.

The top center design in purple/pink is also shown on the next row in red/black, although I should point out that the red has not photographed accurately - it is actually a bit darker, more burgundy. I think the flash has caught it and made it lighter. (All the other colors have photographed well.) I can also get this design in brown/coffee which is very nice.

The blue one design in the second row with the daisy fastening also comes in a nice beige and a deep purple.

And on the bottom row this flower design comes in the lovely green and pink shown but also comes in black.

In this picture the beige one on the left also comes in soft orange and the pink daisy design on the right comes in the pink shown and in blue and in black.

The wallets measure 19cms x 9cms when closed and 19cms x 18cms when open.

The wallets have a press stud type fastening which is also magnetic so closes easily. Inside they have a clear photo bit with slots above this for cards at one side - my picture is sadly upside down, but I'm sure you get the gist.

At the other side there are more slots for cards. Tucked away behind these slots there is a lined pocket and a zipped pocket.

And that's it! I hope I have included everything Barbara wanted to know. The wallets cost £26 each including UK postage.

Thanks for reading me and I'd love to see you again for a more chatty post soon.

Have a lovely sunny afternoon

Karen xx

Kitchen Cupboards, Felted Bags and new goodies

2010-04-02T03:37:00.001-07:00

Hello ladies and Happy Easter!

It is Good Friday here (and everywhere else as well, I expect) and the weather is still dreary but I hope my lovely, lovely finished (yes, finished) kitchen cupboard will wipe out the drizzle and cheer you up. It has cheered me up quite a bit, I have loved painting it. I even enjoyed changing the glass (mainly I s'pose because got someone else to do it, but I did the painting myself, honest!) I decided in the end to paint it green and cream instead of just the cream I had planned and I think it looks fab. The colour was dictated by the original green handles. Personally I wanted to paint the body cream, the top doors pink, the drawers green, the pull down bit pale blue and the bottom doors lemon. I still think it would have looked ace but the cost of paint put me off a bit, and the fact that it may have limited its sale-ability. So I was good and painted it nicely - and it does look good, doesn't it. I haven't priced it yet. I want a bit of time gazing lovingly upon it first - no I'm joking - I have to be grown up. I have put a ticket on, its just very small! But joking aside, I am very pleased with it. Especially the pull down bit.

It looks so good with Marmalade Rose's fabulous cakes and my Shelley Tea Service on it.

And the Shelley matches it exactly, its as if it was made for it!

But take a closer look at this cake!

Isn't Marmalade Rose - the lovely Fi - clever? She makes the cute fabric cupcakes for me all the time, but being the creative sort she relishes a bit of a challenge. At Christmas she made amazing mince pies and a full size Christmas pud instead, the pud came complete with white sauce dripping down it! But just lately she was a bit fed up with cupcakes and the possibility of a wedding cake came up in conversation. She got this wild glint in her eye and I knew she would produce one somehow - especially when I said it might be a bit tricky! She's very sweet but not one to beaten by a tiered cake.

I think the tiers were a tad tricky though!

During the process she insisted it was all my idea, but I think we both came up with it.

She even made the ribbon roses for on the top.

P'raps she's right, p'raps it was all my idea. Its good being an ideas person, all the glory, non of the pain! Isn't she clever tho?

The roses just lift off the top - this pic without them shows the amazing icing.

The cake is made from vintage lace so the texture to the icing is gorgeous. My pictures really don't do this justice. It is unique as I think it may take a lot to persuade Fi to make another - at least for a while. I just love it, but its here to sell, life is hard sometimes. I want to keep everything at first but I get over it quickly.

Oooh, I forgot to show you the cabinet closed. It looks good closed, but I prefer it open with Fi's cakes on show. Can you see her cupcakes on the floor (temporarily - whilst I took the pic.) If you are a regular reader and an observant soul you will note that there are now only 6 left! My poor cupcake stand - see my previous post - doesn't stand a chance, does it? :)

And now for something completely different - Felted Bags. Sarah Carr from Richmond makes these lovely bags, which I sell on her behalf, but because each one is hand knit, then felted before being finished and delivered, I don't get as many as I would like. However I have just had a new bunch and here they are.

Barbara, a lovely lady who has bought one of Sarah's bags from me previously, wanted a look at the new ones. So here they all are. Of these 3 the Olive green one with the cockerel button is my fave, but they are all nice!

The orange one is fab with its spidery flower, its a bit funky.

The bluey/greeny marl is textured with beads on both sides so is very unusual. The beads are wooden so the texture of the bag is still nicely soft, not harsh.

This lovely soft green marl on has a fabric heart and button decoration.

And the pink one is zingy! The black edge and button set it off really well.

And finally the blue has a lovely fluffy faux fur edge.

Sarah's bags are really good quality and each one is different so you will never bump into anyone else with the same bag. Each one is made by hand and takes a while so Sarah says she needs each one to be different so she can enjoy the process. The marled wools are new to me and look really good felted.

As well as locally made bags, I do stock a range of gorgeous bags and purses from Anna Nova. These wallet purses came yesterday and I'm really pleased with them. The work in them is amazing really. They all have either appliqued bits or lovely embossed designs and the colors look really good grouped together so from my point of view they make a great display.

They do these dinky little coin purses too.

And Ab Fab handbags. These all have a phone pocket, an open pocket and a zipped pocket inside and come with a detachable hand strap, as well as a longer shoulder strap and they all come with a dust bag, even the purses. This one comes in taupe and in black and is ace.

The designs are really good and the quality is definitely there!

The red is a lovely design and has a bronzed chain shoulder strap.

The purple one has a group of same colour flowers on and the long strap can be short or lengthened to go across your body if required.

And just for something different, this one is huge. This one is a different company, but is very similar in quality. I have a thing about handbags (your bum never looks big in one does it?) so I like good quality ones. When I first opened I tried a range of bargain bags, but I hated them and they didn't sell well, so I stopped trying to be something I'm not and went back to quality I'm happy with. I like selling things that I would be happy to receive myself. Sometimes I'm quite jealous when someone buys something as a present and I think how nice it will be for the recipient. It gives me a nice glowy warmth.

That's almost it for today, but I can't go without showing you my pretty new jewelry goodies.

These are fab too!

I covert this green one.

And the brooch - obviously a green day for me!

Although I like the purple too.

I have dressed my ladies accordingly! Aren't they lovely and slim, these two? They both wear dresses I used to fit into! I really should hate them, but they do work quite hard, standing there all day long, never going out, not even getting a decent wage. I think I prefer being me, plumply mobile and occasionally in funds!

And really finally, because you must need a sit down after that lot, just push the heart and the hooks onto the floor, get yourself snuggled in the granny blanket and rock your self gently while I get you a nice cup of tea. Where else can you get this sort of service? Shame its only virtual, isn't it? If you ever visit me in person I promise a real one!

Have a lovely Easter ladies, and hopefully I'll see you again soon.

Best wishes, Karen xx

As previously all prices are here, below, just in case you're interested. If not this bit is really easy to ignore. Prices include postage unless it says differently. If postage isn't automatically included I have given two prices, one including delivery and one without.

Prices

1950s/60s Kitchen Unit by Lusty - painted in F&B cream and green

£225 in the shop/collected

£285 delivered (UK, excluding NI & Highlands of Scotland, which may cost a tad more, sorry)

Unique Handmade Vintage Lace Wedding Cake by Marmalade Rose £39.95

1930s Shelley Tea service £145

Sarah Carr Hand Knit Felted Bags £34.50 each

Anna Nova Wallet Purses £26

Anna Nova Coin Purses £9.95

Anna Nova Taupe/Black Bag £56

Red Anna Nova Bag £37.50

Purple Anna Nova Bag £37.50

Huge Tan Bag £57.50

My costume jewelry ranges from £10 to £30 and changes regularly.

The brooches in the pics are £13.95 and the green necklace which also comes in the purple is £29 - it is longer than it looks in the picture, measuring 36" round.

The rings are £9.95 and the bright bracelets are between £13 and £18

Cream Rocking Chair £95 in the shop or £125 posted (sorry)

Wicker Heart £9.95

Hooks £14.50

Granny Blanket £48

If there is anything else you like please ask, I'm happy to help and I always have loads more pics if you want better clarity.

Bye for now, Karen x

Cupcakes (please), Jan Constantine, Chandeliers and Scent Bottles for my mum.

2010-03-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies, it is raining here - that very fine sort of heavy rain that makes you very, very wet, so I thought I would cheer you up with happy, smiley things. Some things just make me smile and this pic of Fiona's cupcakes is very smiley, don't you think? You may have noticed that the stand holds many more cupcakes than I actually have, I have noticed this too. Not that there's any pressure or anything Fi, but it would look so very scrummy full, wouldn't it? I may have to wait though because at the moment Fi is busy conjuring up the most amazing two tiered fabric wedding cake with icing and roses on top.

Watch this space, I can't wait!

I have been out in the very wet rain this morning to take the next picture of my primulas. There is something very happy about primulas. They are another smiley thing.

Aren't they lovely? They add a bit of colour to my dismal rain drenched outside today. The stand is really a kitchen veggie stand but serves the purpose. I did try to plant the primulas in the galvanised tub behind them but the soil was still frozen an inch in so I thought better of it. Poor little primulas!

And my Jan Constantine has finally arrived!

I just love it, all of it.

It is so bright and cheery.

And looks so nice on display, especially the jugs. I love jugs, aren't they a lovely shape?

I also love this huge platter, it stands on a rim so is about an inch and a half tall. I think its the blanket stitching I like so much. It just finishes it all of so well, and on the cups it goes inside as well, as if it were really stitched!

I have tall mugs, squat mugs, lovely cups, bowls, big jugs, smaller jugs and just one of the huge but lovely platters. I like it all but I might just have to have one of the big jugs - its very hard being a shop keeper, I like so many things.

It has been a week of deliveries here, as well as the pretty JC I have also had a new hoard of fancy glass stuffs, including these splendid chandeliers.

I just love these hanging in the window. They fill it so nicely I don't know how happy I will be if someone wants to re home them.

I have quite low ceilings so can't have one myself, which is probably just as well really.

Although I could get away with this last one in the attic; very Miss Havisham I think.

These are lovely quality. I took the pics from outside and looking up so they are not as good as they should be; they look even better in real life.

In the same delivery were lots of scent bottles. My mum has a bit of a thing for scent bottles, especially the faceted ones that catch the light. She knew that these were coming so reserved one for her Mum's Day pressie. So this next bit is so she can choose which one she fancies - its a bit too far for her to pop in in person and she wants an early choice.

So here they are mum.

In the window.

In the cabinet.

Loads to choose from.

Another one.

And the last of them!

I must admit they are not really my thing, but they are very pretty and beautifully made, heavy and cleanly cut, very tactile. And the colors are beautiful in the sun. And my mummy loves them so they must be good - she's very particular my mum, I think I must be a throwback.

And because of the rain outside I have lit the fire. I have managed without it all week, the weather fooled me into believing it was Spring!

I had started to plan filling it with logs and big pine cones for the summer. It looks lovely like that, but this is more me I must admit. I have to force myself not to sit in the Windsor next to it or the customers would think it was self service.

Before I got all settled at my desk I went back out into the cold again to take a pic of this gorgeous mirror.

I really like this, its so girlie without being over the top, and it just fits in this corner of my window. I'm having a bit of cream theme.

This tones in nicely too.

And this, I like cheval mirrors. I wonder why they are called cheval though, they don't look very horsey. Am I missing something?

And finally, I know I showed you this last time but I didn't do it justice so I've moved it and taken a better pic.

It looks better here, nestled in with the hat boxes with the long mirror behind it.

I have had a lovely time showing you all this, I have more but I don't want to send you to sleep. I will list the prices below - I don't like putting them in the post, I just want you to enjoy looking without feeling hassled by constant prices. This way you can look if you want but they're not in your face.

Have a lovely day, Karen x

Prices

Marmalade Rose's individual handmade fabric cupcakes £7.50 each

Jan Constantine

Tall mugs £14.95

Round mugs/big cups £14.95

Small cups £12.95

Lovely, lovely big jug £29.95

Smaller jug £18.95

Large bowl 17cm dia £24.95

Huge platter 34cms £74.95

Chandeliers

Chrome & Crystal 6 branch chandelier £295

Cream & Crystal 4 branch chandelier £175

'Miss Havisham' Silver and Crystal single light chandelier £90

Scent Bottles

These range in price from £24.95 to £55 my stock changes regularly so please ask if you fancy a particular one.

Mirrors

Pretty rectangular one in the window £95

Oval-ish Corsarge Framed Mirror £85

Cheval Mirror £165

Long thin mirror behind pretty wash stand £55

Pretty wash stand with jug, bowl and soap dish £95

All prices include p&p

If there's anything I've missed or if you want a better picture please ask

Karen x

Auction Sale, Kitchen Cabinets and Blue Guitars

2010-03-11T13:39:00.001-08:00

Hello ladies. Today my post is a bit different - it is still about my shop, because although I had a lovely day out it had the added advantage of masquerading as work. I was very busy buying, predominately for the shop so it counts as work, doesn't it?

This Tuesday I decided I was getting a bit low on vintage stock so I closed at lunch time and set off to go to my favorite auction sale. I like going to this sale because there's always something worth going for and because, being a held in a farmers mart, the cafe is very good. After all, a girl can't be expected to concentrate on an empty stomach. I like to get there around 3pm and have a good rumage through the boxed lots in the cattle pens. This section can contain anything and everything so is always worth a look. I have seen some odd things here and this week's lots included an old street light, a box of 24 new axe handles, 4 old and broken scythes (the grim reaper type, huge rusty things which sold for £80 amazingly) and an enormous two seater go cart that my grandsons would have loved.

Generally one lot can consist of anything from one box with one single item in it to a dozen boxes with a hundred items in them, it really is like lucky dip. Sometimes its rubbish and sometimes its really good. I marked an old wooden sledge, a sundial and two pairs of ancient very dirty, paint covered steps.

(Ooo, and an enamel pedal bin, which I fancied for home.)

I didn't bid on the scythes or the axe handles or the go cart, but I watched with interest. However, I did get the sledge (along with a manky old tent and various broken tennis racquets and hockey sticks which I kindly donated to another buyer) for a single, solitary pound. I was really pleased with that, it will look lovely hanging from the ceiling in the shop.

And I got the steps, complete with paint (and 3 war department folding wooden chairs - these were the previous lot but no one bid on them so the auctioneer put the two lots together.) But the sundial was too expensive.

I am very pleased with the steps though.

I know that they don't look much, but I am sure I have seen this type of steps in the glossy mags polished up as display racks, so am going to give it a go. I can just see them on my table in the shop with all my pretties on their 'shelves'. Just wait and see.

And I got the bin for home, so I was very pleased.

After a good rumage in that lot and writing it all down in my little list I went off to look at the furniture. And that is where I found this.....

I soooo wanted this. I was so excited, quietly of course. Bidding at auction is a bit like poker, you never want to attract attention to the object of your desire, so you play it cool..... or at least try to.

It has its original label.....

and the most fantastic enamel pull down work surface

Unfortunately the glass is broken in one of the glass doors, but other than that it is perfect, so it went on the yes please list.

Also in the furniture were two lovely dinky hall chairs, a pine blanket box, a very cute set of pine hanging shelves, another bigger set of hanging shelves which were lotted up with a Victorian folding chair in need of new upholstery, a single pine sleigh bed and a sofa that wouldn't fit in my car, but was very nice. I put it on the list, but not seriously, more for curiosity over the price.

Finally off I went to view the smalls. These are sold in the foyer at 6pm. This is usually a bit more civilised, there are seats and its a bit (not a huge amount, but definitely a bit) warmer. The 'smalls' are all the small items; the pottery, silver, pictures, jewellery, brass..... Again, anything really, but generally in better nick than the boxed lots and this is really what I come for. I had a good mooch here, added a few lots to my list and headed to the cafe for a think, which, as I said earlier, can't be done on an empty tummy.

The only tough thing about this sale for me is that both the furniture and the smalls sales start at 6pm, so it takes some thinking about and logistical organisation. Luckily for me this time I was not alone so I went to sit in comfort in the foyer and my friend went into the cold cattle shed with my furniture wish list.

And look what I bought...

A lovely Masons Regency hot water/coffee pot, jug and pin dish...

A fab repro metal wash stand with jug bowl and soap dish...

it is very pretty.

And this amazing Victorian bag with crewel embroidery on linen, lined in blue with a gorgeous wooden handle and clasp.

Fiona (Marmalade Rose) came for a cuppa earlier today (whilst I was polishing my steps) and really liked this. The handle is so nice, it is very neat and the clasp is just so well made. The linen is a tad dirty but the embroidery is so good, the colours are so nice. It is very wearable today and I really love it. I just had to buy it.

I also bought this pretty dressing table set.

And this lovely sampler picture in a good quality frame, originally bought from Laura Ashley so hardly antique, but very pretty.

And these two 1930s jugs....

this one by Sadler.....

and this one drip glazed in good Art deco colours.

And a blue planter which Fiona bought and took away before I had chance to take a picture.

And these 4 Masons mugs which I bought from a lady in the collection queue. (She bought them in a mixed lot, she wanted the other bits in her lot but not these, I wanted these but not the other bits, so it worked out well.) I may have to make candles for these, I am collecting pretty cups at the moment for just this purpose, unless they sell before I get the time of course.

They look good with the cushion don't they? On the steps...

And because I've given the game away with that picture don't the steps look good?

Just what I had in mind.

(I haven't done the other set yet though.)

And a box of craft books which probably won't all make the shop and which I'll show you later because Fi borrowed a couple.

And these two metal stands...

One for candles and one with shelves

And this gorgeous 1930s glass light shade

It looks amazing when it doesn't have the sun behind it in the photograph (must try harder next time) It is pale and pretty, whites with light blues and yellows and pinks.

And my friend got me the dinky pine shelves and the bigger shelves (with the chair in need of tlc, which I hope to reupholster tomorrow).

And yes, we did get the kitchen cabinet. Yipee! I have been today and ordered new glass for the doors so watch this space and I'll show you the finished product soon.

I hope you enjoyed my day

See you soon, Karen x

Oh, and it is all in the shop so if anything catches your eye.....

Its arrived !!!!

2010-03-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

Ooooo, at last! My Green Gate has arrived. I'm so excited. Its quite pathetic really that a lady of my age can get so excited over two cardboard boxes. But they are big boxes aren't they? And I do know that they are filled with goodies. Not just any old goodies either, but pretty damn gorgeous Green Gate goodies. My shop is relatively new so I am constantly watching my cash flow and adding it all up in my head. This has been on my wish list for soooo long now. I'm really pleased and can't quite believe its actually arrived!

(I hope it sells!)

I wanted to order everything in the catalogue. You know when you look at some catalogues and you think, 'hmm thats nice' or 'yeah, thats OK' or 'my mum would that'? Well it wasn't like that when I got the Green Gate catalogue. I had a budget of £1000 including Danish VAT (a staggering 25%) And carriage (per box from Denmark) And the exchange rate, So much to work out (and me a blonde.)

My first run through the catalogue was heaven, but my list came to just short of £5K. I loved everything! Even the stuff that wasn't top of my list was still yummy. I slept on it and got it down to half that, but it hurt, really hurt. It took me several weeks to decide to just go for the pottery (initially, anyway, when it sells I can buy more, she says, hopefully.) Then I kept getting the catalogue out and scrubbing things off the list to bring the total down. Then getting it out and adding stuff back in the list because I 'needed' it. It was a very messy list. (I hate money, it gets in the way of my Green Gate type lusts.) But finally, I decided that the pottery was too pretty to not buy and (trying to be sensible) it has a use. And maybe things that have a use are more needed, therefore will sell quicker?

Its so hard being grown up. I just want to buy the pretties!

So are you ready for a peep inside the box?

Still not very exciting, is it?

But just look at it on the shelves.

Don't they lovely ?

The red spot was my first choice.

I bought this because it makes me smile, its cheery, very cheery and very pretty too. I'd be happy to wake up to a cup of tea and boiled egg in this. Roll on Mother's Day!

Then I bought the stripy. (Very Lucy, don't you think?)

The colors are lovely. I was really pleased with these, the colors were lovely in the brochure but are just a bit softer in real life and just a bit nicer for it.

And then I ordered the floral. This was my last choice and my least favorite of the 3 when I ordered it, but my absolute favourite when it arrived. My poor friend Fiona (Marmalade Rose) suffered through the many stages of decisions over this lot and she loved the floral (and the paisley, and the spotty, and the beige and.... it was so hard.) But she liked the floral best. And some times I need someone else's input or the whole shop would be too me, which can't be everyone's cup of tea. It needs someone else's favorites too. (As long as their choices are still within my 'nice' range.) Fi said I needed the floral to balance my choices and she was so right. Clever Fi. Aren't friends important? Especially the one's you can rely on to say what they really think.

The tea pot in this range is so pretty, such s lovely shape.

And I also ordered this cutesie pig money box.

Isn't she pretty? Very dainty for a piggie and she looks so at home with the cushion.

She has a really delicate pink nose.

But back to my list...

I ordered some Paisley jugs, because I love paisley, how can you not? Just imagine these with daffodils in and all of a sudden it really is Spring.

And these lovely dinky tiffin tins.

(with more piggies and my door stops from my last post)

Two of Fiona's cupcakes would be perfect in one of these, or have it as a sewing tin, or to hide those nasty toiletries all ladies need from time to time (my grandson flushed a good £3 worth down the loo in one go so they are better hidden) or for buttons, or......

And I ordered glasses cases.....

Very pretty, I might have to have one of these, mine is quite boringly grey.

I know you've just seen this picture, but you might have missed these and they're just too, too nice to miss. And anyway, Fiona's bunny is also here and well worth a look, and my cupcake canvas's. (Is that how you do the plural of canvas? Canvas's, Canvases? Life's too short for spellings.)

And I ordered purses and key rings and toilet bags...... but luckily for my cash flow these last 3 were out of stock.

Doesn't it look good? Go on, scroll back up, you know you want to.

I'm so pleased with it.

Fiona's fabby fabric cupcakes and birthday cake sit very nicely with them, don't you think?

And her lovely lavender bags and my word magnets.

I do like my shop.

(Nice sigh here)

See you soon, Karen x

PS.

Green Gate produce a full fabulous range of pottery, bags, cushions, quilts, aprons, tea towels, tins and lots of other scrummy things. They are based in Denmark and the quality is great. The pottery is a nice weight without being thick, the colors and glazes are soft and silky smooth and its very pretty and very tactile. The quilts are to die for. Just in case you've not got the message yet, I'm in love with it. You can view the full catalogue here and I will be so very happy to quote you for any of it should you lust after it for yourself.

Bye for now, Karen xx

Lots of new lovelies....

2010-02-28T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hello out there. I'm all loved up here this week with lots of new goodies to cheer me up. When the weather is as cold as it has been here lately I think you (well me anyway) need new lovelies to put the smile back in your day. Although some of my new lovelies are not new at all, just new to me. I have found a couple of new suppliers for the shop, one of whom provided this lovely loved up Love cushion. It is nice, I have a weakness for dots so this dotty cotton is right up my street. And just peeping out from under it are two of my stash of new to me vintage crocheted blankets.

I have also ordered some lovely pottery from Green Gate and Jan Constantine which should arrive any day now, so I can't wait for that. One of the nicest things about having a shop is the Christmas feeling I get whenever an order is delivered. I know its to sell and I can't keep it but I still love it when it arrives and I get it all out, look at it, stroke it, put in on the shelves and look at it some more and then - hopefully, anyway, as that's s'posed to be my aim - sell it. The love cushions are £17.50 including the inner and postage and measure 30 x 50 cms.

The blankets are from a bigger stash of quilts, blankets and throws.

I have them on chairs.....

On shelves........

On towel rails......

On more chairs with dollies on top to disguise them .....

I just can't help it. I love old linens, Durham quilts, patchwork quilts, crocheted blankets, eiderdowns. When ladies come into the shop with a man, it is always the man who says 'where are you going to put it?'

I can always find places to put things, my problem is stopping.

Some of them are really lovely, the white throw over the towel rail is Edwardian and is like new. Big enough for a double bed and lovely and heavy. The design is raised, like embossed work, it is fab quality.

You just don't get this sort of stuff today. (I'm starting to sound like my dad, bless him.) I am a great believer in recycling the best of the old and mixing it in with the new.

As a complete contrast I have also bought these wonderful new letters.

Each letter is separate and covered in a different ditsy little floral print and very lightly padded on the front. They stand unsupported or have hooks on the back to hang on a wall. To give you an idea of size the 'o' measures just under 6"

I just love the prints, they are all so pretty. This set of 4 costs £38 including postage.

I had a buying trip the other day, under the guise of visiting my mum who is slowly but nicely recovering from her big heart operation. I bought the lovely LLoyd Loom chair (you can see it with a crocheted blanket over it in an earlier picture) and a gorgeous old hammered brass coal helmet.

Isn't it a great shape?

And a cosy (modern but nice and sturdy) beech rocking chair with a nice generous seat.

Very comfy it is too.

And another coal thing.

I told you it was cold up here.

This one is a Victorian, mahogany coal box with really gorgeous brass hinges, a good strong brass handle and its own little shovel in the back.

And lots of room inside.

One of my customers told me that in America they use these to put wine in.

It must be warmer there.

And what else....

Oh, a 1930's fur coat.

It is really silky soft. There are quite a few WWII enactments around now and this swing coat is perfect. It fits from a 12 to a 16 and gets stroked and tried on quite a bit in the shop. I had a gentleman in today who was quite enamoured by it. He had an embroidered jaket on and a matching little flat hat with a very arty beard, I think it would have suited him. It is for sale at £45 including postage. Sorry, now re-homed.

The coat goes perfectly with the sentiments of my wooden signs - even though there are over 80 years between the dates of their manufacture.

I really like these. They vary in price from £6.95 to £12.50 depending on length.

I have lots more to show you, but my tea is ready, so I'm going to take a short break. I'll be back in a minute. If there is anything you are interested in please ask.

See you soon, Karen x

Hi, again. I have eaten now and would like to show you more. I like all the things I have bought this time so want to share them all. Sometimes, unfortunately, I have to buy things I don't like just because I know that they will sell, but luckily I really do like this lot.

Like this, who could dislike this? Its so cute. The colours are so pleasing and it is very nicely made, I love the button door knob. It is £13.50 in the shop, but I'm afraid I would have to add £4 postage on this item, I usually include the postage but this is ready filled so is quite heavy, so all together in the post it will be £17.50, but it is worth that, its gorgeous. Oh, I should mention that its a door stop and thats why its heavy.

As are these new spring lambs, gorgeous that is, not heavy. Up here in the Dales we are just seeing the first of this years new lambs and soon we will be over run with them, bouncing all over the fields and convincing me that soon it will be warm again. These are £7.50 each including postage, they are lovely and soft and have all their papers saying they are suitable as playthings for little ones.

Back to the vintage again, this is an old brass and embroidered hand mirror, dating from the 1950s. It is in good condition with no wobbles and the glass is perfect.

I like the shape of the handle and the embroidery. I can post this for £9.00

This is another cutie. It is a dinky Union Jack Back Pack in cotton prints suitable for big and little girls. It is a lightweight, shoe bag sized bag in pretty prints and costs £12 posted.

These are dinky little hearts and I have used these to make hanging decs with East of India ribbons. They are £1.95 each, but I'm down to the last 3 now. (Sorry, none left at the moment, but may be getting more shortly.) I always have a selection of the ribbons - if you look at earlier posts there is a picture showing some of them. They range from £2.95 for the cotton ones to £4.75 for the woven ones like the Union Jack ribbon.

I have a large shop window which is quite narrow at the base so I love things I can hang in it so the top doesn't look too bare. I have a couple of fancy glass chandeliers and some wire work lanterns in it at the moment and these fab dangly heart tea light holders.

(Isn't it dull out there today?)

They open at the back for a tea lite to sit inside and cost £8.50 posted.

I also have them in a daisy shape in two sizes at £8.50 & £10.50 posted. The small one is 6" & larger one is 10". (Only the large left at the moment, sorry.) Both designs look lovely lit.

I have a thing about white at the moment and also have these lovely hooks.

They are really good quality with good strong hooks, not flimsy things. You can hang a heay coat on these without fear.

The double hooks are £19.95 and triple hooks are £29.95 posted.

And finally, because I'm getting tired now, I have this lovely 1930s tea set made by Minton.

Not the best picture I have to admit. The bars on my dresser get in the way, but hopefully this gives a better idea of the pattern.

This is fine bone china and consists of 6 cups, saucers and side plates with a lovely shaped bread and butter plate. It is for sale at £42 including postage or £38 if you come to the shop yourself.

I have lots more stuff, new and old, in the shop and am happy to answer questions (almost) anytime. Sorry, now rehomed.

If you do come into the shop in person please let me know you're from blog land. It is lovely to know and I have met some really nice ladies this way.

Bye for now, Karen x

2009-11-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

Hello out there. I have been really busy just lately at the shop. There have been some major changes, and some small but vital ones - like this lovely lovely dresser. At last those horrid old shelves have gone and this pretty dresser sits in their place. Bought from our local sale room it is just what I was looking for. All the linens fit underneath in baskets - the dresser did have 3 double cupboards in the base I took the doors off, which lets me to use it like this for display. It is a very useful piece of furniture and looks so good; all my note books, diaries and other writing type books fit on the first shelf where the clever rail lets them stand up without falling off. It's very difficult to display books so you can see them without them getting scuffed and this does the job. Pretties and teddies sit nicely on the top shelf, under the arches and a garland of berries on top make it look all Christmassy. I'm so pleased with it, can't you tell? And the old shelves were more than a bit basic so I'm really pleased they've gone.

At the same sale I bought this pine shelf unit. Designed to screw to the wall it fits perfectly in the side window at the back of the shop - so perfectly that it looks like it was made for the gap.

I filled it with stuff. I like that bit best. The shelves are now home to Union Jack Mugs, Audrey Hepburn Mugs, East of India ribbons, Cornish Ware Storage Jars and a dinky little tin Milkchurn.

Only a short trip today, sorry, it's a bit hectic at the moment, but hopefully the new web site won't be too long now and things should be smoother.

Take care and thanks for reading.

Karen x

The Milkchurn Cottage Shop Web Site is coming soon....

2009-10-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

A real, proper, all grown up web site for my pretty shop is in the process of being built and should be ready in a couple of weeks. In the mean time all enquiries have been directed here to my blog. It's not ideal, just a stop gap, but if you want anything just phone or email, contact details are on the side bar. The fully grown up web site will show all stock and allow you to shop on line. I hope you come back to see it.

Best wishes and thanks for looking

Karen

A further peep....

2009-10-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hello there, sorry about the wait, there's been a lot happening here and my pretty shop is looking a bit more grown up and is getting ready for Christmas! Yes, I know its early but in shop land you have to start early so I have been having a big move around and making room for my Christmas stuff. Plus my lovely friend Fiona at Marmalade Rose has been over to mine and we had a sewing day, interspersed with tea and cake. It was a lovely way to spend my day off. Fi was busy making me a fantastic Christmas Pudding, complete with Holly and bright red berries (for the shop) and I started on my Christmas stockings (sneak preview left). But before I show you that I shall go a bit further with the shop tour and get you a little bit deeper in. Last time I think we got as far as the soaps and bath stuff. So the next glance left takes you to my lovely pine cupboard which is currently home to this gorgeous 1950s/60s Poole breakfast set in pale blue and soft grey.

This is lovely; tea and coffee pots and lids, water jug and lid, dinky milk jug, sugar bowl, really cute little jam pot and lid, 6 proper sized cups and saucers, 6 side plates, 6 breakfast plates, 6 small and 6 large bowls and a gravy boat and stand. I love Poole pottery, it feels like silk and yet is hard wearing. I have this set in pale green at home (tea and dinner service, I've been collecting it for years) and it gets used every day. This lot here is for sale at £125.00. I don't normally add anything on for postage but unfortunately this is weighty and would need insurance so I'd have to charge £10 towards UK postage, unless of course you wanted to come and collect it yourself when it would be free and I'd give you a nice cup of tea and a lovely welcome.

After feasting your eyes on my pretty Poole then next thing you will see is my gorgeous stone fireplace. This is original to a Dales cottage, is absolutely lush and is waiting for its Christmas make over.

It is a lovely fireplace, but at the moment it is still in its summer garb and its glory is hidden. The big Ian Rawlings pink ladies pic above has now sold so I have a nice blank wall above the fire place and the big vase of poppies is to be relegated to the storeroom until next summer. All the other stuff will be relocated around the shop. When these have gone you can see the beauty of the grate. It has a fold down cooking shelf and two side shelves which are great for display. Instead of covering the front with big poppies I shall fill the grate with big pine cones and plain white fairy lights with a circular copper water bottle and a copper kettle on the side shelves and a fat bottomed copper pan on the cooking shelf. I have a lovely rich green swag to go across the front which I shall hang with red and gold dangly stuff, with a yummy wreath and rich red candles for above. I have just bought an old pine school form (bench) which I shall stand in front with lanterns and great pressies on it and lots of candles on the hearth. I can't wait!

With Fiona's encouragement I got a number of pink and blue Christmas stockings cut out and am spending my evenings decorating them - this is the best bit! These are the first few finished ones. This one is long with an lovely old fashioned rose print top and yo-yos.

The two at the top of this post are both pink felt with rose print tops and toes and deep red 'boot' buttons, one full size and one Christmas tree sized.

Then there's a dinky Union Jack tree sized stocking.

Isn't it cute?

I have to do a full sized version of this!

And finally (well for now at least) there's this blue one with traditional Christmas pressie print top, toe and heel.

The stockings are £3 for the tree size and £7.50 for the full sized versions, this includes UK postage.

Gosh, its late again and I have to work tomorrow as Kay has family commitments and can't make it. I may just get the fire place sorted.

More soon, I promise, but if you want a sneak preview of the Christmas Pud, look on Fi's blog where she took proud pics before she delivered it to me.

See you soon, Karen x

Lovely, lovely hand knit and felted handbags

2009-09-27T09:43:00.001-07:00

Just look at these lovely bags. (Click on the picture to enlarge.) These are made locally by a lady called Sarah and I have been getting quite panic stricken lately because I only had one solitary blue bag left out of the last lot she brought in. Sarah works as a designer by day and knits these lovely bags in her spare time, which means I can't just phone up and order more to suit me. But its worth it because I know I'm selling something special and unique. Each bag is different. Sarah says she doesn't really enjoy doing the same one over again and as she does this for relaxation she chooses different colours and embellishments each time.

This is one of my favorites from this bunch. I love the flower with its pretty button center. Sarah has made this so it pins on from the inside so you can take it off and maybe wear it as a matching brooch instead.

Sorry this one (above) is now sold.

This one is very Channel-ish, the rich buttery cream is very classy and suits the style of the bag perfectly. It has a nice deep button with a slightly concave top.

This one is a rich british Racing Green and has a soft fluffy wool trim which looks like a faux fur edging. It is lovely and soft to touch.

This picture shows three of Sarah's bags from the previous lot she brought me. The blue one at the bottom is the last remaining bag from this lot, the top two are now sold. I thought I'd got a picture of it alone, but I stuffed up and this is the only one I've got for now, but I will take one tomorrow and post it asap. It is very similar to the green one above, with the same fluffy faux fur wool trim, but in this lovely mid blue.

And this one is my favourite of all. I just love the black and grey. It is lovely and would suit any occasion from a little black dress to t-shirt and jeans.

All Sarah's bags are really well made. They are hand knitted from 100% wool and then felted by Sarah at home. Each one has her hand stitched logo inside. The bags are strong without being stiff and classic in their styling. Each one is £34.50 inc UK postage. If you would like to buy one of these lovely bags my contact details are on my sidebar. Items are posted the same working day as payment clears so should reach you quickly. And if by some fluke you should be unhappy with it you can return it for a full refund of its sale price as long as it reaches me within 7 days and is in good condition. And they are lovely.

Take care, Karen x

A quick tour of the shop, part 1

2009-09-22T14:20:00.001-07:00

Hi again, thanks for looking at my pretty shop. Today I'd like to give you a bit of a tour. My big picture shows you how the shop looks from outside but this is the inside story. When you look through the door of Milkchurn Cottage this huge pine kitchen table is what you will see first. I usually load things on top of it and I use the underneath to display baskets where they can be seen without tripping people up. The table top is usually full of yummy handmade soaps displayed in an old paper drawer and lots of different flavoured bath bombs displayed in baskets and enamel buckets so you can help yourself and have a good sniff. I sell soaps, bath bombs, bath potions and sea salts either in pretty ribbon tied twists or in recycled glass jars with pretty fabric lids and gorgeous bows. Plus pretty wooden based brushes, soap dishes in wood and sandstone and cotton wash mitts, all wrapped up in pretty ribbons and glass paper so they look great. Everyone says how nice the shop smells as you walk in so I think this table is in the right position, even though it ended up here by accident rather than design (it is very heavy.)

Bath Bombs are £1.20 each and come in coconut, chocolate, rose, strawberry, dewberry, lavender, honey & oats and linen fresh flavours. They come bare or wrapped in glass paper and tied with ribbon or raffia.

The soaps are £2.40 a slice, each slice is a min of 200g. The soaps come to me in loaves and I slice them in house and then put them back together in the paper tray so people can help themselves.

The soaps are handmade in Yorkshire and come in honey, rose & oats; mango & shea butter; lavender; lavender & chamomile; heather & rose and almond, oats & honey. They come naked or with a raffia or ribbon bow.

The bath potions and sea salts are my favourite.

I wrap these in a twist which does about 3 baths and cost £3 each or I put them in recycled glass jars with pretty fabric tops like the one above which looks a bit like old fashioned jam. I finish these with raffia or ribbon. They vary in price depending on the jar size from £4.25 to £5.95. I do Passion Potion which is Ylang Ylang, Tea Tree and Ginger; Total Detox Bath Potion which is Orange & Lemon and Yasmine & Peach Blossom Sea Salts.

Well, I haven't got very far, but its getting late so I'd best go to bed and I'll take you a bit further in tomorrow.

Night, night, Karen x

Milkchurn Cottage Interiors & Gifts

2009-09-21T08:43:00.001-07:00

Hello, thank you for calling by at my pretty shop Milkchurn Cottage Interiors and Gifts in the pretty Wensleydale town of Hawes, North Yorkshire.

At Milkchurn cottage I sell a mix of antique furniture and smaller pretty vintage and antique items, alongside new items like lamps, cushions, mirrors, pictures and quilts. I also sell a lovely selection of gifts; yummy handbags for adults and children, jewelry to tempt, children's stuff from Echchums including fab wicker doll's prams, Yorkshire Handmade Soaps and Bath Bombs which smell divine and locally homemade amazing jams, pickles and chutneys. These are made by my friend Julia in her gorgeous country kitchen and are proper old fashioned preserves; jams made of fruit not sugar, jellies so clear they look like jewels and chutneys which cause discussion in the shop because you just don't see them in any other shop.

The picture above sort of epitomises what I do. It shows a bunch of new crocheted flowers (£1.25 each) in an Edwardian Toothbrush Holder (£8) a fantastic vintage bone china tea service by Royal Worcester (part showing, £150 for 10 cups and saucers & 6 of each of 4 sizes plates plus 2 cake/B&B plates) and a modern glass cake dome with mirrored base (£35) containing a selection of handmade fabric cup cakes by the lovely Marmalade Rose (£7.50 each.) Hiding behind all this lot is an ancient towel rail displaying a range of vintage linens. I always have a good selection of 'granny linens' as I have a weakness for them and I sell Marmalade Rose's lovely up-cycled bunnies and her unique patchwork cushions which are made from the best bits of the un-saleable ones.

Some times the linens are a bit tired; maybe the edges are a bit raggedy, or there are marks or rust stains on them that won't come out but can be cut around. They have been around a while, after all. But these are perfect for up-cycling and just look at the results. I have 3 of these larger bunnies in at the moment, they are around 12" tall and cost £23.50 each. Each one is unique as the linens are all different. I also stock Marmalade Rose's fab cushions, again made from vintage linens. These are £28.50 each including the feather pads and UK postage. There are pics on the sidebar of the ones in stock today. I love this stuff, it is everything I think is good, it is different, it uses traditional skills and good quality basics. I am a great believer in keeping traditional skills going and am lucky to stock such lovely items. Another local craftsperson, Sarah Carr, makes me a beautiful range of all wool felted handbags. These are hand knitted and felted by Sarah who is a designer by day and does this to relax. Each one is made to her own design and again, each one is unique. These are £34.50 each inc UK postage. Pictures are will soon be available on my sidebar.

Occasionally I get something in which is really nostalgic, like a traditional rocking horse. When I was little I always wanted a rocking horse and this one is so sweet. I'm not sure if it is an old horse which has been repainted and given a hairdo and new tack or if it is a newer horse made from very old wood. The reason I say this is that if you look underneath the wood has the colour, texture and feel of period oak, but the rockers are new, the mane and tail are traditional real horse hair, but new and the tack is new leather. The paint work is matt and he still has all his own teeth. He is £295.00 and would look lovely in a bay window or a nice landing. He rocks nicely and I have lots more pics if anyone wants to offer him a nice home.

This post is just a taster of what I have on offer in my pretty shop. Next time I hope to give you a guided tour. I'd love you to join me, there is never any obligation to buy, looking is free and all are welcome. I'd also love to hear from anyone who has anything really special that they make and would like to sell. Unfortunately I can't sell food stuffs; I was very lucky with my friend Julia as she sells her produce through the Country Markets scheme so her kitchen has all the certifications and insurances the law requires. But I am interested in traditionally handmade items that are fab quality and that I think I could sell.

Thanks for reading, Karen x