Saturday 26 March 2011

A magpie's eye

As the great Patsy Stone once said, you can never have too many hats, gloves and shoes. Edina pointed out that she meant accessories, and I'm inclined to agree, although I'd go for jewellery, bags and possibly tights.

Apologies that I've been quiet the last week - March is always a hectic month for me. Just had smallest boy's birthday - a pirate cake of course - and every weekend has been busy. As I believe I've mentioned before, some bloggers clearly just never sleep (or possibly drug their children - do you use Medised?). Anyway,  back to business - here are my most recent thrifty accessory finds.



back - safety pin bracelet and zip corsage - home made
3rd row - charity shop brooches to be used in hair
2nd row - rings from museum shop and Ideal Home Show £1/£2 each
Front - Various earrings £1.95 a pair



Very Molly Ringwald.


Not sure what occasion calls for purple pansy earrings.
 But they are one of my favourite flowers.


I got love for you, if you were born in the 80's, the 80's...


These are great - the earring back has two strands attached so
it looks like the whole earring goes through your ear.
  
How does everyone feel about second-hand earrings? If you google, you'll discover a lot of hysteria on the subject, but I'm inclined to think that this comes from the same sort of people who are squeamish about second-hand clothes. Now I'm not a complete idiot, and did clean the pairs I've shown you thoroughly (boiling water if the material allows, and anti-bacterial spray), but given that the majority of blood-bourne pathogens only survive outside the body for a few hours, earrings that have probably sat in a charity shop/antique shop for weeks are highly unlikely to present any risk to your health. Also, my piercings are completely healed and have been for many years. That said, I wouldn't take any risks with getting a piercing and would only ever use brand new jewellery for the actual procedure.



A lovely beachy ring for the Summer, made of bits of shell and beads.



I got loads of these beaded rings, as they were only £1 each.
Hope some poor child in Bangladesh didn't make these [guilt]
Nail varnish by Nails inc.

I bought the rings from the Ideal Home Show - for once not coming home with some kind of 'miracle' cleaning product which sits in a cupboard, or a vicious 'multi bladed cutting solution'. I went with my Mum, and in addition to sampling lots of chocolate and booze, we entered all the competitions we could find. It's possible I may have won a front door worth £1,000 - but I don't know for sure. I had to roll six dice and spell the word 'SPRING' which I did first time (approx 1:66 chance), so whilst they seemed to suggest I was a definite winner, on reading the small print it appears I merely enter 'the winners draw'. I will do a post on my 'comping' exploits soon, but it will be more impressive if this win is confirmed. I really need a new front door too - mine is hideous and I hate it - so please keep your fingers crossed!

My remaining recent accessory finds are two pairs of shoes which I found in the Fara Charity Shop in Battersea. Prices are high for a charity shop, but they know their merchandise and were especially strong on footwear when I went in.



Versace shoes £20 - Fara
Ok, not £2, but Versace darling! How much new?


Jones the Bootmaker slingbacks - Fara

I have clothes to show too, but a) hate photographs of myself and b) only have time in the evening when there is no light. Until I resolve this dilemma, I shall remain faceless (aside from my ear, you've all seen that now - is there no mystery?).

XOXO. Gossip Girl.

Linked up to Thrifty Thursdays at Born Again Crafter.

Linking up to The Pennyworthy Project, Flea Market Finds .
Also the newbie party and Thrift Share Monday, along with Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays and Twice Owned Tuesdays

48 comments:

  1. I love safety pin bracelets - did you make yours yourself, it's a gorgeous colour! :-) I'm not what occasion calls for purple pansy earrings but they're fabulous so you should wear them whenever the mood strikes! :-D

    Jem xXx

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  2. So much loveliness here that more poor tired head can't take it all in (well it is my bedtime!). LOve the jewellery especially the rings (I've got a gold one). I'm with you on the earrings too. The shoes are fab. Night night Lakota.

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  3. Your Keep Calm "rip off" really strikes a chord with me Lakota and I love your earings especially the 80's ones...

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  4. Love the jewellery finds,the versace shoes are fab too
    x

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  5. Welcome back!!! First off I am green - yes GREEN with envy for those Versace shoes!! Pah to people moaning about second hand earings - i bet if they were diamond encrusted they would soon he changing their minds! Although I am yet to find any precious stones in my finds ahhhh well. Have a happy Sunday :o) Scarlett x

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  6. I'm drooling here! loving the brooches and pins, the earrings are my fave as well as the rings, i cant pick which is my fave, all of them are gorgeous and for those prices? I think you hit the jackpot! I hope you'll win the front door worth £1000, i'm also the same, my front door needs a new one, it's super ugly! i hate it so much *sigh*, onto the versace for £20???? Seriously envious here! Have a lovely sunday! x Susan

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  7. Yes a big pah to the whingers! Jolly good finds!!!!

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  8. i adore brooches. and the shoes...oh my!
    xx

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  9. Welcome back! I love the big bead and shell ring.
    I have lots of second-hand earrings, doesn't worry me one iota.
    Good luck with the front door.xxx

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  10. Love the rings very nice oh and the shoes lol.

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  11. I'm all for second hand earrings, like Scarlett says would people turn their nose up at diamond ones!!!

    Victoria xxx

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  12. Those floral earings are so delicate and pretty! I have 6 of those huge bead rings - aren't they fabby!

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  13. That safety pin bracelet is GREAT! Beautiful treasures, all. Thanks for sharing. I loved your comments about mommy bloggers and sleep! Too funny.

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  14. Hi there-Such lovely earrings and I love your Versace shoes too, a real good find xx

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  15. If I came to your house I'd be like a little kid wanting to dress up! I don't give a damn about second hand anything, wet wipes are all I use. I even bought something the other day which was so beautifully washed and pressed I put it straight into my wardrobe (shock! horror!) Charity shops don't smell half as bad now as they did when I was a kid. I do draw the line at second hand knickers though, you'll be pleased to know...

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  16. Those cute little flower earrings are darling. Love your nail polish too with the ring. Thanks so much for joining my newbie party.

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  17. Visiting from the Newbie Party. I agree you can never have to many do-dads. I am the queen of gaudy jewelry. Love the $1 rings, what a great bargain.

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  18. I love that zipper brooch! So pretty yet edgy! And I'm with you on second hand earrings (and secondhand everything else too)there's nothing that can't be disinfected!!

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  19. i've never wondered before, but those pansy earrings do look amazing... fairy like.

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  20. You have so many great finds! I love your beaded rings, and the earrings from the 80's. They are all just really fun!

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  21. Oooh lovely jewerelly! I love the silver strand earrings, and the sea shell ring. I would love one of those! Bx

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  22. hey I've been buying 2nd hand earings for years and years and my ears have not fallen off yet!! Sure a bit of a wash, wipe over with an antiseptic handwipe or a cotton ball dipped in Detol..... and on they go! I love your 1980s ones, cause I'm old enough to have worn very similar ones, first time round.

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  23. Dahling. I will be back to comment properly on your divine finds, but rushing out.

    PLEASE can you DM me - you've won the craft book comp on my blog :0)

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  24. WOW! What a treasure trove lot of finds. As for those 80 earrings !!! I still have an exact same pair in my jewellery box! ha.
    Love the shell ring and as for the Versace shoes! OMG! £20 WOOP! Great shops you have.

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  25. Pretty finds.
    Well done you.
    I like the rings best.
    My finds are at http://gigglingatitall.blogspot.com

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  26. Right! I'm back!

    Thanks for your address sweetie.

    Had to return to say how much I love those flower earrings and the shell ring. So gorgeous.

    Second-hand earring's don't bother me either. Bung 'em in boiling water and a wipe with surgical spirit if I'm feeling fussy :0)

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  27. Fabulous finds! And yes, I am a child of the 80's. I graduated high school in '88. Love your references to that time!!
    xxDaniella

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  28. lovely finds i really like the safety pin bracelet :)

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  29. Hello! I've been so utterly silent too. Secondhand earrings - up there with forks in restaurants and glasses in bars. You have to get on with it to have fun and fabulousness! I do love your earring purchases. Great nail colour too xxx

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  30. Fabulous bargains all, but I particularly love those rings - gorgeous! x

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  31. Oh so many lovely things, I simply love the 80's style earrings, they are so me! x

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  32. Wow, what fabulous finds!!!! I'm gobsmacked!! Gorgeous!!

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  33. Need pictures of pirate cake!!! mwah x

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  34. hiya visiting form debbies newbie party and i am you r100th follower yay for you x i love your recent finds and especially the zip corsage x i will be back to visit again hope you might stop by mine too x tfs
    xmaggiex

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  35. Oh you are a girl after my own heart. I found you at the Newbie party. Great blog!

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  36. Wow, such loot, I don't know where to begin...love, love, love vintage brooches at the moment as I do make them into tiaras and headdresses. The beaded rings are great but I'd probably have someones eye out {probably my own...}. Well done with the shoes, Versace for £20? Bargain! x

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  37. Lovely finds! I especially love the brooches. I don't wear earrings much any more, so I guess I don't have an opinion on the earring subject. Your blog is fun to read! (chocolate and booze!)

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  38. Your "about me" description is wonderful...I especially like (and identify with) the bit about getting inappropriate crushes on fictional characters!

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  39. Very nice finds! I never did drug my kiddos but I have to admit I came CLOSE!!! LOL

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  40. Great buys, love the shoes especially!

    Shirl x

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  41. I have the purple ones myself. I inherited them and the matching pin from my grandmother. I have found them in one other color and two other styles. Happy hunting!--thissideofgaudy

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  42. You got some great deals! The accessories were too cute! I have been meaning to make one of those zipper flowers!

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  43. Love you Jones sling backs! And the deco style earrings are great! By the way I used to work in body piercing and most metals like that are very easily sterilised, you only have to be careful with stuff like horn or wood which is porus but you only really get those if you stretch your ears-dont do it kids unless you want ears that look like cats bum holes when you get bored of them.

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  44. I love Fara shops! I'll never forget how much I regret not picking up a lovely sand coloured classic burberry mac in there, thinking it was a bit steep at £35! I like the shoes you bought!

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  45. HI, I stumbled here, go figure (always looking for more blogs) I can see the purpleish braclet is somewhat made of safety pins, fabric & ??? any clues ? thanks.

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  46. Hi Auntie Joy - the bracelet is safety pins with tiny seed beads threaded onto them, strung on elastic.

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