Pasg Hapus! (Happy Easter from the valleys)

Pasg Hapus! Shw mae?*

Hope you're all enjoying some time off with your families - did you miss me? I've had a lovely time down here in South Wales which astoundingly is enjoying the same weather as the rest of the UK. Don't worry, I'll get to the bargain hunting, but first here's a picture of the boys on our favourite Gower beach, Caswell Bay. Isn't it amazing?

Boy2 has achieved flight :-)

Anyway, we did make it to a local carboot sale, which had the odd hidden gem in addition to the 'misshapes' meat stall and stand selling plastic guttering (still with dirt from the houses they'd been taken from). The former was pronounced a 'Tidy Buy!' from the signage. I'm all for a bargain, but I do draw the line at non-specific meat squished together and sold at a boot sale! Despite being no longer 'local' they allowed me to pay my 50p, and I found a few bits and pieces.

Vintage Portmeirion egg holder (large size) £2

I'm going to put bread in this on the table for Easter lunch

Another 60s bud vase

Pottery rabbit belonging to my mum

I also bought a School Friend Annual from 1956, some French glass bottles which I'll put bubble bath in, and two bags of shells. I stumbled across a great bit of driftwood at the beach (literally, it bloody hurt) so I have a plan to make some kind of coastal mobile affair out of that and the shells.

The husband and I also got a chance for an outing without the children, and spent the day in Cowbridge, a small market town not far from Cardiff. It's absolutely lovely there, with antiques shops and markets galore, boutiques and gifty type places, a couple of good charity shops and free parking in the cattle market. What more could you ask for? Well, this sign was an immediate order to investigate:



Vintage, Handmade and Tea-room? We'll be going that way then

Outside Happy Days Vintage Emporium was a selection of plants, outdoor bunting made of oilcloth, vintage clay pots and so on, and inside was a treasure trove of furniture, clothes, homeware, books and ephemera. Prices were on the whole pretty reasonable for a dedicated indoor vintage market, where everything has been handpicked for enthusiasts by enthusiasts.



Traditional Welsh blankets

Hand dyed wool

I want one of these - no room in my kitchen, but still...

Love these chests, but reckon one of us could create something similar for less than £130

Mr Charity Shopping sneaked off and ordered a scone and Earl Grey

I think I'd been a while...

In the end I came away with a traditional Welsh blanket from Ruby Redhead's stall. It's a large one, and the colours are still bright and new looking. My camera hasn't quite got the colours captured, but it's a bright spring green and a light salmon pink - typical 50s shades. There are two tiny moth holes which I can repair, but on finding them the lovely proprietor knocked £8 off the price - so it cost me £30. Similar sized blankets which are woven today by companies like Melin Tregwynt cost £225. That said, their spot patterns are gorgeous modern classics and probably well worth the investment.

Blanket. Headed for the freezer just to make sure there are no living moths!

We took a break for lunch, then continued the shopping frenzy. I almost missed this Red Cross shop thinking it was a boutique (for ladies of a certain age, admittedly). It's next to The Linen Closet - which I know a lot of you would love - full of goodies from Cath K, Emma Bridgewater, Dotcomgiftshop et al.

Charity shop window



50s sputnik eggcups - 50p the pair

Charity shop frame

Friendship Globe bauble

Made by glassblowers at the end of the day out of oddments

I bought various other bits and pieces like a Christening gift for our friends' baby - we went for wooden bookends with a Noah's Ark design rather than the traditional but impractical bangles or rattles - and some great greetings cards, although I haven't photographed them as they won't be funny unless you know Wales. (Mocked up book covers with titles like Cwtch 22)

Finally, it wouldn't be Easter without a bit of baking porn. Look away now if you don't want to see a cock and balls...



You looked, didn't you?

(Traditional Simnal cake - the 11 marzipan balls represent the apostles. Judas doesn't get one)

Lakota x

Linking up as usual to Sophie's Flea Market Finds
Penny Pinching Party
The Penny Worthy Project
Thrift Share Monday
DebbieDoos Newbie Party
Magpie Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
Twice Owned Tuesdays
Thrifty Treasures
Vintage Thingie Thursday
Thrifty Thursdays

*Happy Easter. How are you?