Sunday 19 June 2011

Books, crockery, frockery...

It's been a little while since I posted any of my charity shop buys and flea market finds, so just a quick post to show a couple of recent purchases. The charming Enid Blyton book is full of very improving stories, demonstrating amongst others the danger of procrastination, and the virtue of spending your shillings on Christmas presents for your parents as opposed to sweets. I picked it up because of the lovely cover, but I'm sure I could stand to be improved! The Wind in the Willows is an old favourite to force my eldest to read.


Vintage children's books



  Duchess bone china cup and saucer with sweet-peas
Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows (1959 edition)
Enid Blyton - The Sunshine Book (1965)


Lord Nelson Pottery Jug

All the above were a pound each, which is pretty reasonable and getting rarer in London charity shops. I picked up the little girl's dress with appliquéd parrots for £2. [For a niece. Pretty as boy2 is with his golden curls, I think he'd draw the line at a frock].

No labels inside - handmade? 

Also coming home with me was this amazingly crazy evening dress by Sara Bernshaw, as I couldn't leave it languishing in the charity shop. Sadly this piece of 80s awesomeness is too small for my voodoo enhanced booty, so it will be heading to Ebay or a yet to be established Etsy shop. It claims to be a UK12, but I would judge it as more an 8/10.  The ruffles at the back are boosted by layers of net and it has a cabbage sized corsage, just so there's no danger of blending into the background at parties.

1980s Bernshaw dress


How did this escape Carrie Bradshaw's closet?


Shame

Edit: Two people have now told me that the child's dress is an example of Mola reverse appliqué work by the Kuna indians of Panama. How fascinating, I thought it was handmade. Thanks so much for the info Gini and Esther, it's very unlikely I'd have found that out myself!


I'm linking up to Flea Market Finds

62 comments:

  1. Love the vintage books!

    That dress is amazing, what a great find :)

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  2. I have one month to starve myself into that dress for a wedding in July, name your price! It's so flamboyant and dramatic, you'd have a lot to live up to in it. Very cute dress, very rare there are no labels/signs of label being cut out (even cloth kits clothes have a label?). Nice to see you're still getting out and shopping, not just trawling Ebay for magic spells and hell-raising dolls, I was getting worried.

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  3. the dress is so 80's - fabulous. you need to have a cocktail in club tropicana when wearing! love the books. xx

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  4. Just love the dress...pity I am to Voodoo enhanced.. and enhanced again I shouldn't wonder!
    Thanks for your 'welcome back' commment.

    Vicky x

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  5. Ohh Lakota, I'm absolutely LOVING the vintage books! Enid Blyton books were firm favourites with me growing up :-) You're right - your eldest must get through Wind in the Willows - absolute classic.

    Such pretty Duchess china too - I'd have snapped it up!

    Jem xXx

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  6. Great finds, Lakota.
    That dress is just utter 1980's madness, but in a good way. I bet it would look utterly wonderful on. I love that embroidered kid's dress, too. What a shame it's a child's, I'd wear that in an instant.
    That Sunshine Book is very familiar. xxx
    PS Barry M's Cyan hastily applied over Blueberry Ice.

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  7. Lot's of lovely vintageness in your space. Loved Wind in the Willows. Kept my old paperback childhood copy so one day the kids can read it. I used to love the 80's series on tv. Gorgeous pottery too.

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  8. I think I have those books also. Must start reading the Wind in the Willows to the girls.

    That dress is soooo amazing.

    Fab finds.

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  9. Brilliant dress. There is a TV presenter here in Oz who would love that. Here name is Kery-anne Kennelly, or KAK. SHe never moved out of the eighties and I am sure that now the eighties are back, that she is recycling her wardrobe.

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  10. The sunshine book along with the adventures of Pip were my favorite Enid Blyton books when i was growing up i have a copy of them both now as mine from a child sadly got lost along the way. I get so excited when i find her books they really take you back. That dress deserves a WOW how bold and pretty is that ;-)) dee x

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  11. Oh this dress deserves to party!! How fabulous x

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  12. Great finds! Love the jug and the dress needs some serious BIG hair!

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  13. Love your books and that jug is beautiful. I'm sure you'll get a lot of use from it.

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  14. Oh, I love everything you found, especially the books!!

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  15. the kids dress reminds me of tivaevae, handmade quilts from the cook islands and round abouts-that 80's number is very flamenco, makes me think of matt bianco and kid creole, god i'm old!

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  16. Wow, that dress would make quite a statement!

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  17. I love old books, I *love* posts about charity/bootfair finds. I enjoy seeing what loot people hauled home! x

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  18. Used to love Enid Blyton books when I was young. Your books look great!
    Liz

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  19. That dress is incredible! I wonder if I could buy if off you and wear it for Cybermummy?? P'raps not...

    The sweet pea tea cup is gorgeous too. x

    @missielizzieb

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  20. Great buys, especially the Enid Blyton book (brings back memories)and the cup and saucer. That is one crazy 80s dress, all it needs is a pair of fuschia stilettos to go with it (and the handbag to dance around!).

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  21. Yay Lakota - loving seeing your finds! The jug would have come home with me and that is seriously a dress to stand out it! Love the shape of it, im sure if you get it on ebay sharpish and list it for Prom that it will go really well. I once bought a silver 50s puffball dress from a booty for £1 and listed it in prom season and it went for £30. The school leavers are getting seriously into the vintage vibe which is awesome. Scarlett x

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  22. There's always room in my house for some Enid Blyton and I adore that sweet pea cup and saucer (tempted to fill it will a fragranced candle??).

    That dress is amazing - I bet you could definitely get some interest on ebay or y'know hang it on the wall like art or something??!!

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  23. the dress is awesome. Enid Blyton are my childhood favorites, I used to devour one a day. Nice finds.


    love~mongs
    mythriftycloset.blogspot.com

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  24. My parents bought my youngest back exactly the same dress from a trip to Panama if that helps? It is hand-made and although I really don't like it, I can appreciate the work that has gone into it xxx

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  25. Blimey Lakota, that dress has distracted me so much I've had to scroll up again to have a look at your other buys. Love the books, I'm a big fan of Enid Blyton.

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  26. I Love the books...Fab! And the dress is beautiful! My Teen would love that for a wedding we are attending in september. We have been searching high & low for a dress that she is happy with.
    Could I be super duper cheeky and ask for your ebay username so we can bid for it? My email is mamasyder@yahoo.co.uk
    (Of course I completely understand if you would rather not give it out x)

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  27. Great finds Lakota!

    I am almost certain the little dress is handmade by the kuna indians in Panama. Check out their mola art. Exactly the same.
    That teacup is one of the cutest I've seen in a while!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  28. Love the books, Enis Blyton books, are a passion of mine, would love some more, YES great cover too!
    @gidders1 theanamumdiary

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  29. Awesome finds Lakota. Love the books.(I just started reading a book about Enid Blyton's life) The teacup is a pretty pattern. That 80's dress is definately not for a wallflower!

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  30. lovely books Lakota and that child's dress is stunning.

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  31. Lovely old books - vintage book covers, like sewing and knitting patterns, always make me smile.

    And you should definitely get that amazing dress on Ebay sharpish, it's fabulous and I'm sure would sell - if you're sure you can't squeeze into it?

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  32. Can I borrow that Enid Blyton after you!? Think I need help with my procrastination (which is almost at Olympic level currently) and spending my money on unnecessary crap! x

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  33. Love and am envious of the vintage books and I too need improvement!
    The Eighties dress is fab and I hope its new owner totally loves it. I really like how we can learn from each other through the power of blog hops
    My try is over at http://celebratingmums.wordpress.com

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  34. I am not sure about voodoo enhanced but there is some dark magic at play with my body changes lately. I would have rocked that dress in high school though!

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  35. Hi my dear-wow, lovely finds indeed, the 80s dress is fabulous and I do love the childrens dress, very intricate and well crafted xx

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  36. OMG! well done on the Enid Blyton book and the other vintage books, I adore her!

    I get my spray paint from B&Q, got it in a sale a few months ago.

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

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  37. Fabbers dress, very Carrie indeed! And loving your vintage china and book finds - always winners! xxxxx

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  38. Oh do I love that book about sunshine!!! its so happy! I love happy things!! I am going to keep my eyes open for my own copy!

    Smiles,
    The Joyful Thrifter

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  39. Lovely finds. The Enid Blyton book took me back to my childhood. Those dresses are gorgeous, so vibrant. xxx

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  40. I love the teacup, can't resist a bit of floral china. The child's dress is really cute and how nice to know more about it.
    Love the 80s dress, you're right, surely Carrie will be missing it?!

    Have a good day x

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  41. Cool finds, that dress is ammmaaazing!

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  42. I don't usually like 80's things but that is gorgeous! The colours make me think of Matthew Williamson! I love Enid Blyton's sunshine book!!!

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  43. lovely finds, we really love reading enid blyton books here :)

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  44. Holy hell, that 80s dress is one of the most beautiful ones I've EVER SEEN...I couldn't squeeze my ample curves into that tiny sheath either, but oh, such beauty...have to scroll up and admire...


    All excellent finds from you, as always :)

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  45. Excellent finds - particularly love the Sunshine book - I'd like to take that on holiday! xxx

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  46. Excellent finds - particularly love the Sunshine book - I'd like to take that on holiday! xxx

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  47. Ah. The Enid Blyton Sunshine Book!!! Nice haul!

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  48. dont u just loveee the vintage books, Enid Blyton's books always have interesting cover, love them and the frock looks so adorable! i'm sure your niece would love it and looks super cute in it! and the dress looks sooo fun, the colors are cheerful!! what a great finds, Lakota! xx Susan

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  49. What a fabulous dress! You sure found some great old books. Thanks for sharing your treasures.

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  50. That dress is a statement! I love it. I don't know that I could ever wear it, but I could dream about wearing it!

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  51. Love the books, all children should read them! The dress is fantastic, think my left leg would fit! Sarah xo

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  52. wow, all your goodies are amazing. What a dress...pure 80's fashion at its best!!

    I have lots of old books too, they are hard to resist for me, especially childrens books.

    Happy VTT!

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  53. Love the vintage books - the cover on the Bly book is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing1

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  54. Enjoyed visiting and seeing all your vintage treasures.

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  55. Carrie Bradshaw's closet is surely the poorer for not including that dress! Thanks for sharing!

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  56. Kerrr-rist that dress is fecking gorgeous - one I'm sure Pat Field would like to get her greedy mitts on! I picked up a couple of those "teach your kid to dob on their mates" books too recently - I love them:)). Thanks so much for your lovely comment. I'm so glad we've "met" xoxo

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  57. Awesome finds, that dress is crazy! Loving the girl's dress, so pretty :)

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  58. great finds amor, I love the 80's colorful dress. handmade parrot dress, you know I would wear. funny I thought I had comment on this post.. weird.

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  59. LOVING that dress, although that shape plus length on me makes me look like I'm a drag queen. It is very awesome though. ps. I will now forever know my pretty 40s dress as 'the spliff dress'. If you can see the back of your parrot embroidery (of even feel it if covered) if uneven stitched it will be handmade for sure-you will know!

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  60. Oh, I LOVE ALL THE VINTAGE TREASURES YOU SHOWED US! And as soon as I saw that dress I thought of Carrie Bradshaw too! How funny! Thank you for joining TTF (I am so late visiting...sorry!) I hope you are having a great week!

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