Monday 5 September 2011

Magpie Monday - Lush Linens

I'm back steering the good ship Magpie Monday.

Huge and undying thanks to Molly for keeping her on an even keel in my absence - she did a marvelous job.  Thanks also to all of you who offered to help out - sorry I was so disorganised I didn't even have the time to thank you.  I have slapped myself on the wrist and promise to try harder.

We're still not in our new house, and are now squatting at the in-laws while they're on their hols, but hopefully things have settled down sufficiently for Me and My Shadow to get back on track.

We've just returned from a week on the south coast.  If you haven't visited, I can thoroughly recommend Hastings.  After a bit of exploring, we discovered the Old Town, and what a treat it was to wander up and down the lanes and secret passages.  Full of vintage shops, boutiques, antique stores and galleries - I think you'd love it!  There were old school haberdashers stuffed to the gunnels with ribbons and buttons, bohemian cafes and independent stores - I was in love!

Mooching around St Leonards, Hastings and the neighbouring town of Bexhill on bank holiday Monday, I had high hopes.  I don't know if there's ever been any research on which town has the highest proportion of charity shops per square mile, but I reckon this area is a front-runner!

However, returning a few days later when all the shops were open, I was sorely disappointed.  Gutted in fact.  Most of the shops were full of tat.  I mean, un-buyable tat (for me, that's saying something!)  There were clothes with holes in, broken toys, games with pieces missing... Really, I know it's for charity but this just isn't good enough!

I did eventually manage to track down some treasures.  I spotted this embroidered cushion cover and snaffled it, happily paying the £1.99 asking price.




It was only after getting it back and examining it I even noticed it was only part completed!  Oh well, a little project for me.  I just hope I can track down the silks for it.  I love the Art Nouveau design and it will have pride of place once finished.

I found these pretty handmade place mats in an antique store. £5 for 8 of them.  Some of them are stained, but I'm thinking I can re-use the appliqued flowers in some project or other. I think this must have been some kind of kit as my Mother-in-law has a book bag in an almost identical design, passed down from her mother-in-law.  When I asked if she'd sewn it herself, my mother-in-law spat her tea out and declared that 'granny' couldn't even make a bed!!




Next up, I seized this gorgeous double sheet adorned with pretty yellow tea roses.




I love it!  I suspect it will now mean I re-think the decoration of our new spare room...greys and yellows?

Finally, this piece of fabric which I picked up for £1.50. I love the contrast between the mint green and the scarlet red.  Not sure what I'll use it for yet, but I'm sure it will find a home - just as soon as I do!




I hope you've all been treasure-hunting and you'll link up and join me here.

It's good to be back. x



Me and My Shadow
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15 comments:

  1. Welcome back, what a shame about the tat in the charity shops though - I wouldn't give in a game or jigsaw which had vital pieces missing, and I don't know why the shops put them out. It does no-one any good to be disappointed. I've finally written up my trip to Limerick - now there's a place where the charity shops vary wildly!

    Well done on keeping your buys small and foldable - hopefully it won't be too long before you can be reunited with all your things.

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  2. Thanks Lakota. Mostly they were small and suitcaseable - well, all apart from the small piece of furniture I bought much to the annoyance of the old man! I'll save that for next week. x

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  3. Welcome back m'dear, you've been sorely missed. Hastings sounds right up my alley (will have to add it to the list). Glad you had a good break, I bet you needed it!

    Good to see you found some treasures too - I am particularly jealous of the yellow roses bed linen.

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  4. Lovely to have you back! :-)

    Those placemats are calling my name, but I love the yellow tea roses too!

    Jem xXx

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  5. Love the cushion Liz...and welcome back x

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  6. Great to have you back. I love Hastings or did last time I was there many moons ago.
    Good to see you getting back your buying bargain powers.
    I like how you see something and know you can make it better or build on it in some way

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  7. Welcome back!

    Hastings is definitely on our list of weekend trips - what a shame the charity shops weren't up to much :(

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  8. We'd really love to go back weekend of 17/18th September. There's a food and wine festival on and Thomas is at the Kent & East Sussex Railway! Not sure we can justify another trip so soon though.

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  9. OOh, I love, love, love it all - especially the cushion cover, I'd fight you for it! Glad to have you back, noone does Magpie Monday like you ;) xx

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  10. I agree. That red and green fabric is lovely. I can't tell how big it is but I'd want to show it off by either hemming in and using it as a runner...or a cushion..or even framing it in a dark frame to make the colours pop :D

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  11. welcome back and nice finds :) sounds like you had a lovely trip x

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  12. Welcome back! The red & green fabric is gorgeous! Is it print or stitched? I can just see it as a terrifically opulent tablecloth or a throw.

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  13. Thanks for your lovely comments.

    The red/green fabric is embroidered. It's quite ethnic, maybe clothing fabric? I was hoping to make a table runner, but it's too square and is 'finished' on 2 sides so it wouldn't cut in half and join as a strip. I'm wondering if I can make a roller blind from it. can you get kits to make roller blinds?

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  14. I love finding pretty fabric items in charity shops. The red and green material would be great for the festive season.

    I've just done a quick post about my portable typewriter purchased on eBay and added it to your linky.

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  15. Welcome Back Liz. Love that yellow rose sheet...Gorgeous! x

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