Always a happy day when there are pretty teacups on the shelves ♥ If you're anything like me {avid seeker of vintage china} you'll know that little hoards of them in charity shops are rare now that teacups feature in every other magazine and more people have wised up to their loveliness. The revival of tea taking which has swept the land in a wave of sugar lumps and chintz is a fantastic thing, the best sort of nostalgia. My only sadness is the scarcity of finds and the often heftier price tag of what is on offer. But . . . . dark, wintry Saturday afternoons with suspect skies and high winds seem to be the ideal stalking conditions - £3 for the lot.
Earlier this week I did that classic thing of judging a book by it's cover and quirky title; this time I'm glad. I haven't read anything quite like it before - 30 pages in and there are no character names, people are only identified by their physical characteristics and the description is so vivid that I fall into the book as I read. This is prose poetry rather than a novel and is definitely unconventional, £1 well spent.
The china fairies struck a second time; an old blue and white dinner plate with horses on it for £1!? Sold.
Here's where the wheels came off the thrifty self control wagon and the inner magpie came out to play. Sparkly vintage brooches, about 20 of them, all grouped together and twinkling at me from a display cabinet. It'd have been easier to share a Boost bar {and you'd take your life in your hands suggesting that to me} than walk away empty handed but I kept it to these 5.
The curious find. A very old, very battered ring holder in dire need of a wash before it sets up camp on my chest of drawers - T gave me his 'What is THAT?' look - I blame the little birdie and the pretty colours for drawing me in.
Going to attempt knocking charity shopping on the head between now and Christmas - we'll see how that goes! Anybody else completely underprepared this year? I'm yet to even buy Christmas cards, ribbon and wrap - must get on that.
Hope you lovelies are all having a great weekend, whatever you're up to!
For other thrifty bits: Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures and Magpie Monday, Thrift Share Monday
I so would have bought that ring holder. Its wonderful. Just needs a bit of soap and water, and will be good as new!
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
The Joyful Thrifter
The ring holder is a real winner. So very vintage.
ReplyDelete-Joy
The rabbit brooch is so sweet, nice finds.
ReplyDeletegreat finds! if only i could find some lovely tea cups cheap - all the ones i seem to stumble upon are way over priced! the book sounds interesting :)
ReplyDeleteOh my what a lovely time you have had! I think that given you collected lots of blue things that you might have bower bird tendencies as well!
ReplyDeletex
sue
Love the teaset, plate & ring holder. My sorts of stuff! Great finds. You had a great day!
ReplyDeleteRuth
I absolutely love that sweet little birdy ring stand Jem. Pretty and practical, I think Mr T should be happy you've bought something useful.
ReplyDeleteThe brooches you chose are all beautiful. How lovely they would look atop Christmas presents (if you could bare to part with them...)
The same goes for tea cups here...a little while ago my daughter wanted to make some tea cup candles, do you think we could find any pretty ones? Nope. Those we did find were for too pricey. I remember when they were the one thing you'd be guaranteed to see at your local oppy...and cheap too x
Those tea cups are gorgeous. I love collecting vintage tumblers but good ones are so hard to find these days. I have a thing for brooches too, you were very restrained hehe love the gold feather.
ReplyDeleteWhat great finds. I love the pretty vintage brooches, I am a sucker for anything with a bit of sparkle :) Lovely ring holder, the little bird on it is just darling!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful finds Jem! I would fall for the birdie stand so cute and the tea things of course!! :D
ReplyDeleteWell, you did do well indeed! I particularly like the teacup and the sparkly brooches....but then you would probably be able to guess that!
ReplyDeleteI've not done anything yet either, but am awaiting payday on friday, so thats my excuse! I'm fully intending to break a spendaholic habit of a lifetime and venture into charity shops to try and keep costs down, and just because I'm increasingly realising that having previously ignored them mostly, I'm missing out! Maybe if I do some shopping in them, that will balance out you not going in them? Like in Friends where Joey doesnt eat meat so Phoebe can? Balance the thrifting karma out a little?
But yeah, great post as always!
You have done very well! Those brooches are gorgeous, I keep adding to my collection but am lazy at wearing them. That little ring holder is so sweet a great addition to a dresser.
ReplyDeleteLoving the buys, I can't even pick a favourite!!
ReplyDeleteI've done ok with the Christmas shopping, there's a few bits and peices I still need to get but I really can't face the shops xxx
Love the teacups - great colours. Blue and white plate is fab. Totally agree about these things getting scarce and pricier!
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
I want to go shopping with you! You found amazing things and I love each and everyone of your items. The ring holder is my favorite.❤
ReplyDeleteWow! You always seem to find such beautiful treasures!
ReplyDeleteI like that rabbit (or is it a hare?) brooch.
ReplyDeleteGreat finds! I love the rabbit and feather brooches! Lovely! :D
ReplyDeleteoh i know what you mean about china in charity shops, i think it depends on who is putting the prices on out the back as i have had some real bargains, but a lot of them are wise and mark the prices up more than they used to :(
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about teacups being EVERYWHERE and so impossible to find now, car boots this summer were the only place I got anything decent! These are lovely :) xx
ReplyDeleteYou have such a good eye,a true magpie. I'm unprepared, as usual, for Christmas. I thrive on chaos.
ReplyDeleteYou showed great restraint in getting just five of those brooches; if the others were as lovely, great restraint indeed! I love the colors and the pattern in your tea cups and plates. I've not seen that pattern before; it's very nice. I also really like the blue and white plate; I would have picked that up in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteWhat great finds! I especially love the cups, ring thing and brooches. I too, need to reign in my charity shopping - trying to treat Advent like Lent, and be frugal. I have got most of my Christmas gifts now - just a few more, and mostly that's down to me and my sewing machine now!
ReplyDeleteyou're not alone on the unprepared christmas! and i hear you on the rare on finding teacups/china in charity shop, sometimes i did the crazy thing on buying it when i see it eventhough the price made me shudder a lil bit :) but i loveeee the brooches especially the cute rabbit one! and the china plate for £1??!the cute bird on the ring holder is adorable but yes that is a curios find! x susan
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I love the teacups!! That book sounds really interesting too, I might give it a read when I get a little more time back on my hands :) xx
ReplyDeleteThat ringholder is so purrty. And I love the horsey plate!
ReplyDeletePretty much everything you snapped up I would have as well!! And you are so right about how rare good china is - the situation is actually the same here in perth - makes for a good challenge!! I don't think I've ever had a cup of tea out of a genuine, vintage cup and I'm on the look out for the perfect one for me to sip my Lady Grey from! Favorite object - the old ring holder...... sigh! I think objects have their own energy and I love the aura and energy that one seems to have. Also, I have found some splendid Christmas cards from the Salvation Army, they are just without envelopes sometimes. Love it, love it, love it! Just out of interest - what make is the tea set? Noritake?
ReplyDeleteGreat finds! The ring holder is just beautiful, I could use one of those!
ReplyDeleteI like that dinner plate - what a good buy. and the brooches are stonking. You have such an eye for these things.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the "No charity shopping" plan - I've tried and it's almost impossible to stick to it. :)
These are some amazing finds. You've made me realise I haven't even checked out our local charity shops since we moved here about 4 months ago! Must get that sorted pronto.
ReplyDeleteWonderful buys, love the brooches, so pretty :)
ReplyDeleteBee happy x
Have a delicious day!
That china is the bees knees, good finding.
ReplyDeleteI have read this book, it continues to be one of the most breathtaking books i think I have ever read.
Beautiful crockery finds, and love the sparkley brooches. x
ReplyDeleteWow Jem, you really found the mosy amazing things this week. My fave is the ring holder - fabulous! Im trying to curb the CS shopping until christmas - infact ive even been donating to them like a mad thing in my end of year declutter. Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteSuch fabulous finds. There is nothing wrong with being a magpie when it comes to knowing how to spot a real bargain. Coming from a fellow magpie it's only natural to stumble upon something that fills you with such joy.
ReplyDeleteI love the tea set, the detailing is beautiful. The ring holder would have easily captured me too. You have such great taste in vintage and second-hand xxx