Clover Yard

Scary bag lady

I nearly had to request a paper bag to breathe into today as I hyperventilated over the gorgeous new Cath Kidston eco-shopping bags at Tesco.  At first I spotted a rather lovely flowery pattern at the end of the aisle and as I went to investigate I saw the Cath Kidston label - gasp! breathe! and then the checkout lady piped up "yeah aren't they great, there are blue spotty ones too".  Gasp again.  Three checkout assistants later, a holler from Sheila at the bottom till and a wave of blue polka dot bag in the air, I happily left with 2 of each design.  Kind of defeats the purpose of it being one bag for life eh?  I have heard that there may be more designs on the way.  At £3.50 each with 50p to Marie Curie Cancer Care and made from recycled plastic bottles, I think it's gonna be eco-bags at dawn ladies.  Get out and grab one while you can!

Treasure trove

As promised, here are some piccies of my recent buys on holiday and some from the internet...

I've loved this red Greengate pattern for ages and picked up this cushion at House of Bruar.  There aren't many shops in Scotland that sell Greengate so I was delighted to be able to have a touch and feel of all their great stuff!

The Russian dolls are from Jail in Dornoch (where Madonna was married, not in the Jail but in the Cathedral nearby!), and it literally is a Jail, the cells have been converted into little boutiques with some great labels.

 

These bright green and pink glass tumblers are from a Danish company and I bought them in Jail's sister shop opposite and I think would look lovely with little summer posies in them.  The candles and the East of India ribbon were from Nutmeg in Dunkeld, a fabulous shop with French inspired country homeware (including Cabbages and Roses cushions and Vanessa Arbuthnott fabrics) and to my delight, some of Lisa's beautiful doorstops from her lovely business Primrose Hill Interiors.  Of course I didn't buy one because I hoped to attend her open studio event last Sunday but was too poorly to go!  Oh well, I will need to get one from her website.

These starry pate/butter dishes I spotted in a tea room in Cromarty that served the best hot scones straight out of the oven.  Think I'll use these as candle holders.

 

An internet buy this time, from Dream Acres a Scottish company.  These gorgeous fabric flowers with vintage buttons, and one of their famous Sleep Sacks filled with their own blend of sleepy herbs.  I also bought a bottle of the oil that can be used to scent the flowers too. Sweet! 

I had seen this needlepoint picture at a car boot sale and loved the shade of aqua used in the background but I'd completely forgot to go back for it before the sale ended.  Two weeks later, I spotted it in a charity shop window 6 miles away.  I couldn't believe it!  Had to be mine.  Not sure if I will paint the frame cream or reframe it altogether.  I kind of like the way the gold frame compliments it.  What do you think?

Finally, I wanted to share this sweet postcard with you that my little boy was sent from France from his Granny and Granpa.  Needless to say, mummy was more impressed with it!

Hope you all have a happy treasure filled week.  I will be back soon with a response to a tag from the lovely Heidi, and some progress on our little ginger bundle of fluff (yet to be named). 

Bargains of the week

This morning I headed off to our village muir for the first car boot of the year.  I am a little inexperienced at these events and still haven't quite mastered the art of haggling.  I spotted this glass jug below just as I'd started going round and had a bit of banter with the seller who promised if it was still there when I went round the second time, he'd knock a pound off it.  So how come I ended up buying it for its original price...hmmm...duh.

But I love, love, love it!  It's quite unusual, with its frosted handle and scalloped rim and is very heavy.  If anyone has seen one like it and can tell me a bit more, I'd love to hear from you.  The seller said it may have been from the 1930's but I'm not so sure it's that old.

On my way home, I dropped into the charity shop and saw this adorable little wool house.  It's made up of sort of plastic cross stitch sheets that are sewn together with wool.  It probably once adorned a loo roll but it certainly won't be near one in my house.  I think Mr Clover Yard might just divorce me over that one.  It does look very sweet on my shelf in the spare room though.

These flowery teacups screamed at me from the window.  They came minus their saucers which I rarely find.  Odd that.  They are quite a squat little cup, so delicate with such a beautiful rose pattern, the shades of pink are really pretty.  I have quite a collection of these now and have yet to decide what to do with them.  My instinct is to fill them with little posies of roses or maybe candle wax.   

Hope you are having a lovely weekend blog friends. x 

My latest craze!

Now, I know these aren't a new concept amongst you uber-creatives, but humour me please as I have another shuffle through my very first moo cards.  Aren't they fab!  For all you moo-virgins out there, the mini cards are about half the width and roughly the same length of a business card and you can get 100 different images printed for a mere £9.99 (I uploaded photos straight from my Flickr pages).  Plus, you can have any info you want printed on the back.  I think I could become addicted.  I feel like my three year old with his Ben 10 top trump cards; I am a little possesive of them and have to take them out of their box every 5 minutes to see if they are all still in order.  I did, however, manage to part with about half of them and send them off to the lovely bride and groom from the wedding on Iona a fortnight ago.  I punched a little hole and threaded through some ribbon to use one of the cards as a gift tag which I must say, was very effective.  Stickers and postcards here I come.  I'm going to moo the world!  (Give it time, it will pass).

Vintage Inspired Jewellery

For some time now I have been looking for a piece of jewellery, a necklace preferably, which would have a connection with my blog.  A google search has produced countless links to clover pendants or charms and while they are all very nice I just felt them a bit run of the mill.  Until, however, I found Eclectic Eccentricity and this...

Isn't it lovely?  Secrets of a Butterfly was one of the first blogs I ever read - so Kat, if you're reading this, I am glad that I will also be reminded of you when I wear my clover necklace with it's little green butterfly! 

The pieces are reworked from old vintage jewellery which I am completely supportive of in our throwaway society.  Have a look at the site, (you can also find them on Etsy), I don't think you "vintage ladies" will be disappointed.  This is one of the bestsellers...

I don't think my first salary payment is going to last very long!

This is where I got the recommendation - http://www.letstalkjewellery.co.uk.  A useful site in itself for keeping up with the latest trends.   

A New Job

Hello again, I've been neglecting you so have decided to post again tonight. 

I actually sat out in the sun today and it was warm enough for a few freckles to pop up...bliss.  Although my joy at the warm weather has been slightly marred by this groggy head of mine and scratchy throat which I hope I manage to shake off soon.

I have started a new job.  Yes, I'm back to that old familiar juggling-a-zillion balls-forgetting-my-keys-and-where-I-parked-the-car-mummy, again.  I have taken on a part-time museum assistant job.  It's local, in a tiny museum but has so much scope that I'm really quite looking forward to it all.  I'm told I will have the freedom to organise themed exhibits and be involved in accessioning which will be handling and numbering items.  Dull to some folks but with my love of vintage I think I'm going to quite enjoy it.  Apparently last year the ladies there decided things were getting a little too stuffy and staged a exhibition of "Bling"  each raiding their attics for vintage costume jewelery. They also had numerous donations from members of the public who brought in treasures such as evening bags from the 1920's.  I have convinced them to set up Bling 2 in the near future!

Speaking of bling, isn't this ring sweet! It's from www.alexmonroe.co.uk.  His designs are pricey but to die for.  Perhaps now that I'm a working girl I will be able to afford a little trinket ;o)

Tomorrow I am off on a tourist information training course (another part of my job) and I'm really looking forward to it as it involves visiting the beautiful Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mum.  What adventures she and her brother David must have had growing up there.

 

Must go and charge up the camera battery.  Bye for now xx

Sunday window shopping

Aren't these beautiful?  I love the turquoise and pink combination.  Think I will have to treat myself.  You can find these along with other beautiful things for the home at Aubergine Home Interiors.  The website alone is worthy of a look for its gorgeous photography.

I frankly couldn't have too many mugs and cups and I really love this fresh birdy pattern and ergonomics of the stackable design.  These are from Dutch by Design.

Dreamy Tweedy Finds

The wonderful, Scottish based Dream Acres are doing an oh so adorable 'Tweedy Pudding', completely handmade with vintage tweeds and velvet with glass berry and millinery leaves and filled with their signature festive herb and spice blend.  I saw them at the Country Living fair in Glasgow last summer and their products are really original and have that lovely homespun feel about them.

Panduro Crafts

These are my fab finds for the morning.  I came across a old favourite, Panduro a Scandinavian company which is a treasure trove of all things crafty.  I think you can get their catalogue at the bigger newsagents, although I haven't come across one yet.  Anyway, I'm loving the rose ribbon and little ribbon clasps which would look great on some fabric covered notepads.

The rose painted baubles are gorgeous.  They are wooden I think and could be used as sweet little gift tags.