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?
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!
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!
ReplyDeleteLovely stuff. I'm always on the lookout for church fetes, but never seem to find any.
ReplyDeleteThose 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.
Great finds Hun.
ReplyDeleteX x
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
ReplyDeleteNice finds, liking the fish, would make a brill jelly in that :)
ReplyDeleteLovely jewellery! Em xx
ReplyDeleteGreat finds - the forks are very cute! x
ReplyDeleteMy 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.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Del
Great finds! I love the fish, in face we have a couple just like him hanging in the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteI 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!
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.
ReplyDeleteLove 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteNo tips from me re swap share but I've finally got mine all packed and ready to post x
WE're not only freaky arm twins but Little Fork twins, too! x
ReplyDeleteMy 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!).
ReplyDeleteSt. Swithum's curse seems still to be in action - v. soggy here :(
I'm pretty sure it is Loo who collects the red handled things - I'm sure she'll be thrilled with the unidentified object!
ReplyDeleteArtie 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.
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.
ReplyDeletexx Susan
I own a spooky hand too! Was a cs buy for ages ago. Love the jewellery jem made - beautiful. Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteoh 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 :)
ReplyDeletexx Susan
Love the jewellery arm - very 50s!
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
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.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to beat the old Observers Books for pocket sized field guides.
Oh god I'm so useless. I still haven't sorted my swap out (I'm currently slapping myself on the wrist).
ReplyDeleteGreat buys, love the little forks. Would make the most lustful pickled onion scoffing look dainty.
Definitely using my creepy skinny arm to hold a photo as well as my bracelets now!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteWhy 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!
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).
ReplyDeleteI 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.
great finds the books look lovely :)
ReplyDeleteEeek, 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!
ReplyDeleteLove 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.
Oh I love your skinny arm! Not sppoky at all - very elegant in fact! x
ReplyDeleteI 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
ReplyDeleteooooh! I love the spooky skinny arm!! What a fun way to display bracelets and photographs!
ReplyDeleteso 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 !
ReplyDeletelovely finds, really love the forks and fish. The nature books are beautiful too :)
ReplyDeletefun finds!
ReplyDeletefantastic finds amor!
ReplyDeleteI 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)
Great hand - very Addams family ;)
ReplyDeleteMust get my swap wrapped and sent!
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.
ReplyDeleteI had a nightmare about the spindly-fingered hand. I still love it though.
ReplyDeletereally love your finds :) especially the little forks are so cute
ReplyDeleteSweet little forks.
ReplyDeleteAnd Artie is very dashing - Belle doesn't look too impressed though!
Thanks for organising the recent swap- Pene and I have just got our act together and I have had the loveliest parcel this morning!
ReplyDeleteMy Mum had little cocktail forks like that, wonder where they went?!
blessings x
Loving the kitchen stuff in particular this week and those books
ReplyDeleteThose books look a really good find .
ReplyDeleteA 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
ReplyDeleteSo loving those really cool Forks, great to discover you,
ReplyDeleteBecca