Sunday 17 July 2011

Church Fete Finds...

Just a quick post today to finally show a few retro kitchen bits and pieces I've picked up recently, some bargain books and a couple of pieces of jewellery sent to me by the lovely Jem of Beautiful Clutter. I popped to a church fete a few weekends ago, and in addition to winning half their tombola prizes I had a quick look at the bric-a-brac stall and spotted this vintage 'Nutbrown' rotary herb chopper. [At least that's what is according to ebay. The woman who sold it to me for 10p seemed to think it was an egg slicer]. I think I bought it remembering that someone collects red-handled kitchen implements - is it you Loo? And if so, do you want it?


Metal fish mould, mini forks for pickles and h'or d'oeuvres and an erm, implement.


Early 80s Readers Digest British nature books

The book stall was worth a rummage too. As well as a few paperbacks for 20p each, I found these beautifully illustrated guides to birds, flowers and trees of Britain. They were a bargain at 50p each, but I'm not sure about the wisdom of using them as 'Field Guides', a trio of hardbacks would be rather a hindrance to any country walking I might be inclined to do. Perhaps proper ramblers think nothing of filling their rucksacks with several kilograms of encyclopaedia.

Finally I found this 'spooky skinny arm' (as Mr FHCS refers to it) in a charity shop in central Croydon. It's currently displaying a trio of bracelets made from a broken vintage necklace (restrung by Jem) and a brooch with a white cabochon stone and marcasite sparkles. Thanks so much Jem. [Do check out her blog, she has beautiful photographs and some lovely finds.] The picture is one from my stash of family photos - and shows Artie and Belle posing together in 1929. I'm not sure exactly how we're related, but I do think Artie is a fantastically dapper chap, I'm loving the hankie and pocket-watch chain, and he is rocking that moustache, eh ladies?



Bella and Edward
Belle and Artie
I've managed to resist the lure of the laptop a little better this week so haven't done quite as much blog visiting as usual, but normal service will no doubt be resumed soon. After all, St Swithun has decreed we're in for another 40 days of rain, so doesn't look like any of us in the UK will be getting out much. I think I'm finally ready to send my swap parcel to the very patient Amy at Blighty Boutique, so I will at least have to brave a trip to the post office. Someone suggested that I try and do a linky post so everyone can share their swaps, so  if anyone has any tips on how to set that up please let me know!

Lakota x

Linking to Flea Market Finds
Magpie Monday

43 comments:

  1. Lovely finds but I'm SO laughing at your 'field guides', because we have some of them, and have used them for years, and I've always cursed Ben when he's got all gung-ho and put them into a rucksack for a walk. I'm now looking out phone-apps with similar info - surely that has got to be the 21st century way to cut down on wildlife books when on the move!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely stuff. I'm always on the lookout for church fetes, but never seem to find any.
    Those little forks are cute, I almost bought a box the other day, but realised I was fooling myself if I thought they'd stop me eating olives straight from the tin.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Goodness isn't Artie's hair cury bless him i love seeing old family photo's. Great finds i really like those little forks so cute. I still haven't sent my swap off yet im hoping to do it this week, dee x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice finds, liking the fish, would make a brill jelly in that :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great finds - the forks are very cute! x

    ReplyDelete
  6. My mom was just sharing about St Swithun's day this past Friday. My mom has one of those herb cutters. My dad bought one years ago...he was very much into gadgets. I believe she still has it, but it isn't a red handled one. I really like the usage of your "super skinny arm" to hold the bracelets, brooch, and especially the old family photo.
    Cheers!
    Del

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great finds! I love the fish, in face we have a couple just like him hanging in the kitchen!

    I also love your photograph of the spooky skinny arm! What a great way to display a neat old family photo and some great jewelry!

    p.s. I got quite a laugh out of the crossed out caption under Belle and Artie!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love those Little Forks! They're adorable. I think my fave find here is that spooky skinny arm - it's awesome. As an admirer of mustaches, I must agree - that is one very admirable mustache.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love your finds, I remember my Grandmother having those same forks. Your implement is a herb cutter, sometimes used to cut freshly made pasta into strips.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your black arm/hand Lakota...it's not spooky at all. I think it's beautiful and elegant-perfect for displaying all your jewels...those pale blue beads from lovely Jem compliment it beautifully.
    No tips from me re swap share but I've finally got mine all packed and ready to post x

    ReplyDelete
  11. WE're not only freaky arm twins but Little Fork twins, too! x

    ReplyDelete
  12. My mum still makes mint sauce with a mint roller like above & it crushes up the leaves nicely (although it was probably a bit sharper 59 years ago when she first set up home!).

    St. Swithum's curse seems still to be in action - v. soggy here :(

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm pretty sure it is Loo who collects the red handled things - I'm sure she'll be thrilled with the unidentified object!

    Artie is super dashing. What a fab photo.

    I don't have a spooky skinny arm thing but I do have what I assume is a child sized dummy torso that I pin my brooches on. I found it in a pile of rubbish at work and promptly nabbed it. Can be a bit disconcerting when you glance at it sideways sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  14. oooh Jem Rocks! lovely jewellery she sent you and I do love the colorful mini forks you bought as well as the fish mould, it looks heavy! I must say i sometimes try to resist myself on buying books when i go charity shopping as i don't like carrying it back home but those paperbacks have beautiful illustrations. errr why do i get the image when Mr FHCS says spooky skinny arm that it will come alive at night and move the fingers? hahaha artie's moustache is just darling hahaha.

    xx Susan

    ReplyDelete
  15. I own a spooky hand too! Was a cs buy for ages ago. Love the jewellery jem made - beautiful. Scarlett x

    ReplyDelete
  16. oh by the way, about linky posts for the swap, im not saying i know alot but i think there are two types of linky posts that are free and easy to use, but you have to register first (for free), one type is just for people to submit their links and it only shows the URL you can get it here http://www.blenza.com/linkies/index.php and if u want example here: http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/2011/07/tea-time-tuesday.html and the second type is image link where everyone can submit their link and will show their post's images, the link is here http://www.inlinkz.com/ and if they have a blog on how to set up here http://blog.inlinkz.com/2010/01/creating-a-collection-and-adding-it-to-blogger/ and you can see the sample here http://www.marthasfavorites.com/2011/07/dont-worry-be-happy-it-is-tea-cup.html (both will give you a code to copy and paste in the bottom of your post, i believe) i hope it helps :)

    xx Susan

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love the jewellery arm - very 50s!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

    ReplyDelete
  18. Some great finds! We still have some of those Readers Digest natural history books. My parents used to give then to each other at birthdays and at Christmas during the 1970`s/80`s.

    It is hard to beat the old Observers Books for pocket sized field guides.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh god I'm so useless. I still haven't sorted my swap out (I'm currently slapping myself on the wrist).

    Great buys, love the little forks. Would make the most lustful pickled onion scoffing look dainty.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Definitely using my creepy skinny arm to hold a photo as well as my bracelets now!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I haven't made it to a church fete this year and I love them. Great finds, especially the little forks. I would use them at a children's party for pineapple and cheese if I didn't think they'd try to skewer each other's eyeballs.

    Why is it all men of that era had that kind of wave in their hair and a 'tache. I've seen old photos of my grandad and uncle as young men with the same look. Dapper though as you say!

    ReplyDelete
  22. No church fetes here - more’s the pity. I do remember the anticipation as a little girl though, and trotting off with my spending money - straight to the book stall! In those days it was books, home-made jam, plants and bric-a-brac (and you tried to avoid the vicar).

    I love that skinny arm; I woder if you could use it as a backscratcher. No, probably not, the idea is pretty gross. Much better for display purposes- which you have demonstrated perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
  23. great finds the books look lovely :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Eeek, me, me, me! You're right, Lakota, I do collect wooden handled kitchen utensils (any colour fyi!). If you really don't want it, I'd love to add it to my collection. You've got my address, my lovely!

    Love the skinny hand and I saw those forks in a charity shop recently at a reasonable price. I fingered them but didn't buy. Bah! Regretting it now, of course.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh I love your skinny arm! Not sppoky at all - very elegant in fact! x

    ReplyDelete
  26. I agree with you, Jem has a lovely blog. The black woman's jewellery arm is beautiful and looks great with pearls hanging off it! Please please do a Linky! I couldn't think of a better person to do a charity/thrifty link thing than you! Let me know if you want any help or ideas? Bx

    ReplyDelete
  27. ooooh! I love the spooky skinny arm!! What a fun way to display bracelets and photographs!

    ReplyDelete
  28. so look forward to your posts. You always make me laugh. Love those forks, can just imagine myself as Margo from the good life, delicately prodding my olives !

    ReplyDelete
  29. lovely finds, really love the forks and fish. The nature books are beautiful too :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. fantastic finds amor!
    I am in love with your cute forks too.I have a mini spooky hand, I need to find me a black creepy hand now.
    cutest couple ever, he sure is rocking that bigote (moustache)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great hand - very Addams family ;)

    Must get my swap wrapped and sent!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I so need a spooky arm. I have some ash trays I put my rings in. I didnt realize they were mexican ash trays till my boyfriend told me. I said no, they arent and he pointed to the place you rest your cigarette and was like yes they are! boo.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I had a nightmare about the spindly-fingered hand. I still love it though.

    ReplyDelete
  34. really love your finds :) especially the little forks are so cute

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sweet little forks.
    And Artie is very dashing - Belle doesn't look too impressed though!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for organising the recent swap- Pene and I have just got our act together and I have had the loveliest parcel this morning!

    My Mum had little cocktail forks like that, wonder where they went?!

    blessings x

    ReplyDelete
  37. Loving the kitchen stuff in particular this week and those books

    ReplyDelete
  38. Those books look a really good find .

    ReplyDelete
  39. A church fete is so hard to resist - I love the skinny arm and the idea that someone collects old red-handled kitchen utensils is fabulous:)) 40 days of rain? Heck, better build an ark love! xo

    ReplyDelete
  40. So loving those really cool Forks, great to discover you,
    Becca

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comment - it's no fun unless I know what you think!

If you ask a question others might want answering too I'll reply here in the comments - if it's personal, I'll reply directly by email if you're set up.