White O'Morn Cottage

Shaggy Dog and Bits and Bobs...

I'm having one of those "nothing to blog about" days ..soooooh here is a hotchpotch of photos I took recently:

This is my neighbours dog, Jack. He followed us when we went for a walk and then followed us home and is seen here pleading to be adopted. You know how it is when a pooch falls in love with you just because you stopped to pat him and give him a treat. Poor Jack...sorry, three females yorkies would give you a dog's life!

 

On the same walk we came across a field of these hay bales. They always remind me of big cheeses!

 

 

 

I was in a homewares shop today and found the merchandise to be bland and uninteresting. I realised then how much I have gone over to vintage stuff. I just find it so much more attractive than today's mass produced dull stuff or the vintage "style" pieces that just can't compare. Here are some of my favourite old pieces I have collected recently.

A Germain porcelein seagull soapdish/ashtray I bought on Ebay

 

This gorgeous linen bag embroidered with shamrocks - it has a name tag of previous owner...Hyral J Thomas. I often wonder who he was and what journey it took to get from him to me....I found this on Ebay

 

This is a delightful 40's peg apron that is just as cute on the reverse! I found this at a car boot sale.

 

 

 

At the same place I found this lacy plate. Not so old but I love the open work and hand painted flowers and it is up on my display shelf in the cottage kitchen.

 

Angie found this fabulous book and I have already made a hatpin cushion from it.

 

This is my favourite Ebay find ever...it is a shop display mannaquin dating from about the 30's ... I use it to store/display my necklaces and frilly nightwear or use it to photograph stock for my vintage website Silver Screen Vintage www.vintageretrolingerie.com

It only cost about 20 dollars or £10/€15 and looks fabulous in my bedroom as well as being practical. A similar, modern copy would cost a fortune in comparission...so why not have the real thing? What stories this could tell.

 

This is a shaving mug I got from charity shop. It resides in my cottage bathroom where it looks at home with my vintage handbasin. Also shown are the wonderful taps which have a lovely old worn patina to them and are dated 1907. This handbasin was sourced on our freecycle site www.jumbletown.ie  Much of the cottage was furnished from this fabulous site where everything is FREE  Yes, you heard me...FREE!

 

Now this beauty is one of the exquisite duos I bought from Kimme, at Irish Cottage Dreams (see sidebar) German porcelein, shown here with my vintage pearls and fresh flowers from the garden.

 

 

From a market in central Dublin comes this lovely copper kettle with ceramic knob and handle. It now resides on top of my new stove in the cottage. Also in the picture are a pair of silver tongs (charity shop) and a chintz pattern three tier cake server and some silver serving cutlery from another charity shop.

 

Well, I thought I had nothing to blog about but once you get started!

Have you a special treasure from the past? I'd love to hear about it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angie Strikes Gold!...Well - Silk... Gold Silk

Angie, my sister (The Old Schoolhouse) see sidebar, is always on the lookout for treasures for me. Some to sell on the websites or just because she knows I would buy it for myself if I was there. Well, last week she struck GOLD!

She was shopping across the border in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland and found in a charity shop...books of gorgeous fabric swatches. Some small 6 inches-ish and some much larger. The best is probably the book of luxury silks. These will keep me crafting  for ages. I love them, Thanks Angie! I'll make you a luxury silk cushion!

She tells me that there were about ten of them but being at the end of her shopping trip (Angie don't shop lightly) and them being very heavy she only bought four. I'll be adding pics of all the lovely things I make from them. What fun.

These are the small ones I have started to stitch together to make a patchwork....eh...eh...I haven't decided yet! I have forty of them and they are six inches square...what do you suggest?        

These are from the same book - still in the book.                                            

 

And these are the larger ones..these included some lovely gold silks (hence my clever title for this post) LOL! ...to quote Kimme "I crack me up!" .

And this is a travel lingerie case I made from the silk. It will be going into the shop. I made myself a reversable silk cushion from the two blue fabrics you see underneath it.

Two sides of the same cushion. I love it! 

Thrifting Challenge

I went to a car boot sale today...well, I would have done -  but could not find it! We had a nice drive all around north county Dublin though. Aren't some hubbies soooooh patient? My Paul is a diamond...now - it's official!

Having been deprived of my treasure fix I had to come up with a plan...and so I did! I have challenged my friend, Kimme, of Irish Cottage Dreams to find me goodies at her regular flea market (She lives in a whole other country...I have never actually met my friend, Kimme, but I know her inside out...that's Blogland for ye') 

 She took on the task with relish!

I have Paypal'd the cash and will keep you informed as to how she gets on. I told her I was looking for some cup and saucer duos to complete a mismatched set of china teacups ...a bit like this...Isn't it gorgeous?

 

...Other than that she has a free hand in what she choses. I'm dying to see how she gets on. This is more fun than doing it yourself! Go Kimme Go!

While I'm here I must show you some of the photos I took during the week. A fabulous sand sculpture. I took this on my way into the city centre of Dublin and when I came back there was a whole litter of puppies! But before we have a look at that...what about this great little tote? I fell in love with it and bought it for...€1.50 yoyo (euro)

It had the store logo on it so I had to the business on it...and I sewed a vintage trim across it and hey Presto! A  cool little tote fit for a queen!

 

Now ...I think it's time I launched an award...to celebrate the launch of my new website www.suchprettyoldthings.com  it will be called..."The Gift of the Gab Award" and here is the picture to go with it. It shows Maureen O'Hara in her weddding dress (the one she wore for the wedding scene in "The Quiet Man" film) and  a pair of hand made vintage gloves that are featured on my site.

It will be awarded to those of you who have..... "The Gift of the Gab".....YOUR KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!. 

Holiday Post...photos added ...and Award Winners Listed.

I have now posted most of the photos I promised. So what have I got for you? well...

We made great progress with the kitchen and here are some photos to prove it!  

We were invaded by a few stray bats...yes, I said bats! ...and I have the pics to prove it. It is now sorted and we can all relax a bit. BE WARNED...I will be posting a photo of said BATS. So if you are squirly/squally about these things then...close your eyes and scroll to next bit.

*How to remove stray bats from the bathroom (now called the Batroom)

Step one..get up at 6 o'clock in the morning for a tinkle. Walk into bathroom and go "AAAGGGHHH!!!"

If you should find that this does not wake up DH say to yourself "Ah, sufferin' heart...I'm on me own here".

 Now get your camera and take a blurry pic of Drac so you can prove how brave you really are.... 6 am? who can focus?

 Drac is hanging from your tab top curtains and measures about 2 inches. Get a bucket and use end of a toothbrush to nudge Drac into said bucket. (Use your husband's toothbrush 'cos he did not come to your aid and if he had, he would have used the end of your's ...right? )

Drac will squeel like a pig - which is unexpected- and will frighten the **** out of you. Don't get psyched out by this - just say to yourself..."Self ..this has to be done for all our sakes"

Once Drac the Invader is in bucket run like a hare to release it into The Wild (which is is located just outside the front door)

Now, ...and this is important...run around in circles going... "Ahh,,oohhh,,ah sufferin' heart - I can't believe I did that..ahh,,,hoo, haa, hoohaaa, oh Gawd. ha hoo" 

Go back to bed with a smug smile on yer' face! You are hereforwith to be known as Buffy...Oh, the joys of country living!

 

Brialliante Blog 2008...BLOG AWARDS!

On a lighter note: I got an award from Sharie at View to the Hill...Thanks so much Sharie!!! I LOVE it....and also from Kimme at Irish Cottage Dreams.Thanks so much...love it!  More details of this lovely award to follow. Sharie's and Kimme's fab blogs are to be found on my list to the right.

So what goes with the award are some rules...Put the award on ones blog...done. Link to the person giving the award...done. Link to he people getting the award from you. ...done. So the wonderful blogs I am passing it on to are..in no particular order...they are all fabulous..

Beadiva Hand-crafted Jewellery

Sweet Repose

Sanity -no longer an option

Ideally Me

Country Cottage Chic

Main Street Memories

The Old Schoolhouse

All are linked in my blog list to the right. Visit and enjoy!

 

 

I took a series of photos while strolling down Main Street, Ballinamore. Just of little things that took my fancy, shop signs, quirky items etc..even litter bins and post boxes which are quite lovely! Come on ...join me for a stroll around beautiful Ballinamore...

When the Light Is Right

Another set of pictures I took I call... "When the Light is Right" These are mostly of items in the deep window sills with the sun streaming over them.

This is one of the free range duck eggs with the farmyard muck still on!

 

 

The one below is a garland that says... Failte which is Irish for Welcome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a couple of the wildflowers that grow in the ditches around here. The bell shaped one is a foxglove and I don't yet know the name of the other one.

A cute pic of Chewy who decided that my gorgeous vintage tray with pristine tray cloth was a good place for a nap!  "Your Dog Is Served" is the title of this one.

I will be adding all the promised photos over this weekend. Cheers for now...

 

Here's one I accidently collected earlier!

I had just painted and hung a shelf unit and could not decide what to display on it. I decided I should collect old teapots from now on. But of course...when I gathered the ones I already had...it was filled!  Who knew I had a collection around me!

I finally finished my hand knitted tea cosy so what better place to show it off!  It is a replica of White O'Morn. Kimme has some gorgeous tea cosies on Irish Cottage Dreams and she is doing a PIF on there at the moment. You'll find it on my sidebar...Will you have a tea cosy? Ah ye' will go on..go on go on....

Tomorrow Angie and I are going to a huge fete in Celbridge to help sort the donations. We are sure to find lots of goodies for ourselves. We'll be showing and telling on here and Angie's blog  - The Old Schoolhouse..see sidebar for the link.                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is the original!

As promised - here is the finished scottie cushion. I used a pink gingham pillowcase, a piece of floral fabric from my collection of fabric and his doggie coat from red gingham fabric from a damaged baby's dress and two large white buttons for the closure from my button jar.

I am going on holidays for a week or so - I'll miss you all. See you soon...

A Grandma's treasure trunk

A lovely woman contacted me this morning through Jumbletown (the freecycle site we have here) to say she had a couple of old things that might be nice in the cottage. She had been cleaning out her grandma's attic and wanted to pass these on to someone who would enjoy them rather than her having to dump them. How exciting to go down to her not knowing what was waiting for me....

First these pretty pieces of vintage linens including a set of new mens linen hankerchiefs that Da will love as he never took to paper tissues. Also some damask tray cloths, pillowcases and pillow ticking fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then this crumbling, dusty, moulding box....what could be tucked in here for decades?....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what I found when I opened it....

A lovely roses china tea set that had never even been unpacked from the box. It is in the dishwasher as I type. Gorgeous!...

(Here is the china used as a prop for this vintage shabby chic tea cosy I have listed on Ebay this week - item no. 170222471232  If it does not sell on Ebay it will be listed on my vintage website www.vintageretrolingerie.com)

 But the best was yet to come..........

........a large antique, dome topped travel chest complete with the old destination labels on it! I love it...thank you Mimi!...and thank you Mimi's grandma.

I will enjoy restoring it and using it in White O'Morn Cottage to store my bedroom linens.

The labels are hard to read but say Dublin, Westland Row (a city train station), and Shannon. I have included some close ups of the antique cobwebs and spiders that came with it. These are the before pictures...I will - of course, be adding afters.

Ah, the simple pleasures of life!

There is nothing simpler or more pleasure-able than having a day off.  I spent mine thrifting and visiting Angie (one of my beloved sisis...(sisters) ) and just lolling with Paul (my beloved hubby)

So - what did we buy? Well, first I found these kitsch vintage prints of guardian angels for 50 cents each...Ahhh, I don't know why...but I like these feckin' prints (feck is not a swear word here in Ireland...ah no! - not at all, at all)

(...and I will be framing them in shabby chic frames and sellin' them for a small fortune ...(but dont' tell me taxman) ...on me shabby chic websiste...wot I haven't got yet but will have when Teeda gets her arse in gear and creates it out of the ethers....) Are ye' with me? '...good....cos I will be askin' questions later.

... another word that sounds bad but is not,  is the word "hoor" Everyone here says things like..." Aren't the weeds a right hoor? The hoorin' weeds are a *&%^"*to get rid of and sure the feckers keep comin' back!... Them feckers just wont stay away...they're a shower of hoors, that's what they are...the lot of them!"

To be perfectly honest we all swear like "hoors" here. It's a national pastime - and we make no apology - as we are Irish and can get away  with anything.

Anyway, I digress, ...here is another vintage print I got for my new website (sis, Teeda is creating it as I speak...she's a right hoor that one) Sorry Teeda, I'm only messin' ...work away girl! Don't mind me.

The next thing we found was a box of toffees in the shape of a cute little Irish cottage....called "Colleen Assortment" Aaaggghhh! guess who is gettin' them? Well, Colleen of Main St.Memories is gettin' one from Angie and Kimme of Irish Cottage Dreams is gettin' one from me!  'Cos when we saw them we said  in unison..."They would be perfect for those hoors in Utah and Germany!"

Then I found a book on Maureen O'Hara - star of my favourite smaltzeee film " The Quiet Man" 

Next treasure was a set of fairy themed stationery that Angie beat me to ...(just as well, 'cos I would have bought it for my beloved, Paul - but Angie beat me to it so she got to pay for it and Paul got it in the end so I win...right?) Ha ha! (one up to me in the sibling rivalry/thrifting war...whooohoo!)

Teeda is coming over here from Canada at the end of May and all four of us sisis, Teeda, Pam,  Catra and Angie are goin' thrifting all day in Dublin city.

Our theme/ mission/ aim is to see who can buy a red hat first! Have you thrifters ever tried this with a bunch of pals?  Nominate a goal and see who finds it first and they get to have lunch paid for by the losers!

Plus we will have a mega givaway at the end of it all 'cos you know we will buy a load of stuff we love but don't need. Whooohoo! All winners...no losers! Watch this space!

Scottie Quilt and Furniture Makeover

Today I was browsing through the quilting book Angie gave me and I found a pattern for a quilt featuring a scottie dog. I've never tried quilting before but this is so appealing and I have some lovely red gingham fabric for the dog jacket.

It said it was for beginners with step by step instructions and I am thinking of trying it on a cushion cover first to give to Catherine (she's our quilting sister) and she'll be mega impressed if I do this....Wish me luck!

...Thanks Angie, just what I needed...something new to obsess about! Guess what ye're getting for Christmas?

 

....and voila! Here is the finished cushion...I didn't actually quilt it just appliqued it as a trial run.....maybe I should try a quilt.  

Furniture Makeover

...and at last I have finished my wicker furniture makeover...I got this three piece suite about a year ago from www.jumbletown.ie one of the freecycle sites, with a view to making it into  shabby chic roses furniture. When I got it all the zips were broken, the wicker was gloomy and dark and the colour of the cushions was very dull. 

I could see the finished look in my mind and I made throw pillows to match from leftover fabric and vintage accordian pleat lace from slips. The fabric I used was bought on Ebay as vintage curtains. I did not even try to match fabrics. Instead I chose two rose prints with similar colours.  So -Roses is the theme and pulls it all together and the colours in the prints work so well that the throw pillows are interchangeable....I don't know why I took so long to complete this project as it only took a few hours in the end! Here is a close up of the throw cushions - I love how they turned out.

Thrift Shop Treasure

As you know I am always on the hunt for attractive storage for my inventory for the website. When I went into my local St Vincent de Paul last Thursday, I spotted these lovely large wicker trunks. They are lined with cotton fabric and look so much better than the gray plastic ones I was using. At only 10 Euro each (approx 14 dollars or 7 sterling) they were a steal!  I added hanging labels to each one with details of what is stored in it.

Then I picked up this beautiful hatbox with great vintage Paris/fleamarket/ dress shop graphics. It now stores my pretty vintage linen doilies and tray cloths waiting to be listed and....

...it also doubles as a prop for my photos of frilly lingerie for listing on the website.