I Passed!!!!!

Yesterday i finally passed my driving test!

After having lessons on and off for a number of years i finally did it!

So now im mobile, i have a whole new world of antiques fairs, car boot sales, collectors fairs etc to visit!

I love these cars and despite just how much i love them, sadly would not fit a double buggy and two baby seats in them. So for me its the estate car.

Oh well a girl can dream!

The Shabby Shed!

The shed transformation is finally finished!!

When we moved into our house there was an enormous shed in the garden that was kitted out with bird cages. Never been used. The electrics were installed and most of the shed was boarded and lined already. We had been using it as storage for Fins outdoor toys and the lawnmower, but felt that it was a little wasted. So CB built a lean to at the side for storage and I claimed the shed as mine!! With a lot of white paint and a little bargain hunting, the shed is now my shabby bungalow/ summerhouse!
The bedroom area is at the back and we got a brand new ikea sofa bed from ebay for £28! The wallpaper was reduced to £5 a roll and a carpet off cut completed the room.
In the sitting room area the furniture was a bargain £5 for all of it from ebay! There was a huge dining table that is too big for the shed, a chest of drawers, bedside cabinet, table and two chairs- £5!!!!! The paint was buy one get one free and the fabric for covering the chairs was from my stash.

The curtains were another ebay bargain. They are original fifties and i got them for £10. They were originally 2 curtains so i cut them and turned them, them hemmed them and im really pleased with them as i have never attempted anything like that before on my machine!

I am so pleased with the transformation. For less than £100 and a bit of hard work we now have room for overnight guests and a lovely area to sit and read or relax. I have put some of my vintage books in there and some vintage postcards but i still have a list as long as my arm of things i need to get. Vintage mirrors, floral lamp, floral rug, floral pictures will all complete the look. Im hoping the weather starts to improve so that i can visit a few boot fairs and start ticking off the list!

Happy thrifting x

My baby turned 3.......... and a sneaky peak!!!

Yesterday my little man turned 3. I cant quite believe that he is 3. Where did the time go.
We had a fantastic day from start to finish.

Waking in the morning to find birthday presents
Playing all day with new toys then a party at the pub. Magician, balloon modelling, pony rides, disco, face painting and bouncy castle. Lots of friends and delicious food.

Amazement at a real rabbit appearing from nowhere!!

Taking part in the magic show

Riding on the pony


Becoming a tiger!

Dressing as Buzz lightyear on more than one occasion through the day!

A birthday success!!!

I was also pleased that i had no clearing up of the party aftermath to do this year!



We have been busy batting on with the shed makeover. The bedroom area is almost complete, just a few vintage treasures to add.

The living area just needs the floor painting and pretties adding and we will be there.

Im actually excited to finish this and im looking forward to spending a night in there!

So here is a little peak at the bedroom area. The sofa bed was an ebay bargain and i have made the cushions that are on there. The bunting was bought on our holiday although im not sure if it will stay in there or perhaps relocate to the vintage caravan once i have made over that. Descisions!!! Hopefully progress will resume this weekend and i will return shortly with pictures of the completed shed.


Happy thrifting!! x

Back to reality

Well we are back from our lovely holiday in very sunny Cornwall. We had beautiful weather and a really fantastic time.


Lots of rockpooling and delight at catching a crab.

Beautiful beaches with white sand and clear blue sea

Delight at finding Cath Kidston, then disappointment that all items on my wishlist are sold out!

Stunning scenery

Beautiful Mevagissey

Fun on the beach

Better luck with the shopping in Joules!

Finding an unexpected car boot sale and finding these fantastic crochet blankets. The multicolour one is huge. A bargain at £2. The smaller ones £1.50. I almost felt guilty buying them at that price, as the wool must have cost more than that. The lady told me that she makes them in the winter when she is bored. The pink one and green one will be finding a new home in the nursery while the other two will be right at home in the vintage caravan.

So now we are rested and ready to continue witht he ever growing list of projects in the fifties household. Progress with the shed / summerhouse has resumed and next week i will hopefully make a start on decorating the inside. I managed to pick up some lovely union jack bunting and an enormous union jack flag on holiday too.

I have also decided on the wallpaper and bedding for the nursery, which we will shortly be making a start on.

We have a certain someones 3rd birthday aproaching fast and so thoughts are now turned to that!

This morning we have woken to thunder and rain. Not good when we have a weekend planned in the caravan at an outdoor proms event. We had planned on a picnic, smart dress and deckchairs in the sun. Now it looks like waterproofs and umbrellas! The good old british summer!

Happy thrifting x

Busy busy..........

The title says it all really! We have been none stop in the past few weeks.

Firstly a little thrifting. Gorgeous vintage linen pillowcases and a vintage candy stripe sheet. I love the colours of the pillowcases and a bargain at £3 for all.

Originally i was going to use the sheet as fabric for a project but i cant bring myself to cut it up! It will now find a home in the shabby beach hut bungalow that our shed is being transformed into!

We have now painted the shed blue......... a sneaky peak!

I am just about ready to start on the interior now,the best bit! Am going to wallpaper the back wall to make a bedroom area and paint the front area in a candy colour.

I have also been trying to decide on a wallpaper for the nursery. I just cant seem to find the right thing. I have an idea in my head but cant find anything at all similar. The quest continues!

I bought some lovely fabric at the weekend from a stall on the local market. A bargain at £1.99 a metre.

I really love the pink with the cats, its really fifties style. Not too sure what im going to make with it yet but im sure that i will think of something.

On Monday we are off here for a week

Sunny Cornwall. Im really looking forward to it, and have already planned a trip to Cath Kidston in St Ives. Im hoping for a little Cornish thrifting too, so if any of you know of any good bootsales etc in the Cornwall area please do let me know!

So the busy theme will contiue for the next couple of days. Im just off to Chesterfield now to take the dog to the vets, in laws visiting tonight, shopping tomorrow, driveway being dug out tomorrow, dropping off budgie at sisters tomorrow night, more driveway work on Sunday, suitcase packing and preholiday cleaning!!! I will sure need a holiday after that!!!!

Oh and fingers crossed for sunny skies!

Take care Happy thrifting! x

Hectic!

Im back gain from my unintentional break! Things have been so busy here at the Fifties household.

The most important news from the last few weeks is that we found out that we are having a girl!! Im really happy and have been clearing the blue from the nursery to make way for lots and lots of pink girlyness!! I have some plans for the nursery and have been collecting wallpaper samples for some inspiration. I had originally planned on the Cath Kidston rose sprig but after having received the sample im now not so sure.

I want a girly room but with a vintage feel. Im looking out for a bookcase and chest of drawers now to paint but at the moment the prices on ebay are ridiculous. At one time you could not giveaway that horrible orange pine furniture but now the prices are going crazy. Could it be something to do with our friend Kirstie i wonder!!??

We have been spending some time away from the caravan at weekends and although i am really missing it,im glad that we have managed to achieve some of those jobs that just keep getting put off.

We have also turned our attention to the garden and have had the fence replaced. CB is now making a roof for the extra space that we have gained at the side of the shed and i couldnt be happier as this means that my enormous shed no longer has to be used for storage. It will now be turned into a shabby summerhouse / retreat/ craft room. I cant wait to fill it with vintage goodies and have already bought some vintage linen for the bed! We are currently painting the outside of it and i have chosen a lovely duck egg blue paint.

I have also been busy on the sewing front making a patchwork quilt for the caravan. I have used the offcuts from the curtains so have made it entirely of scraps. Im really pleased with it so far and just need to sew it all together now. I will save pics for when it is finished.

I must sign off now but i leave you with a pic of Finley helping in the garden!!!

Blog shop

Hope you all had a good bank holiday weekend, we are already looking forward to the next one here in the Fifties household.

I am currently in the process of setting up Fifties Girl The Shop.

I am long overdue a clearout of my overflowing treasure! Please visit the shop via the link on the right above the slideshow.

It will be shortly updated with lovely treasure!!!

Take care

Happy thrifting! x x

Home made Home?

Last night i watched the second episode of Kirsties homemade home on channel 4.

This week it was the turn of the bathroom, and i did have to smile when she bought the yellow suite.

This was the bathroom in our old house. It made us smile lots as it was soooo bright yellow (pictures not very bright!!) and it was always a talking point when we had visitors. Kirstie would have loved it!!!!

Th idea of this programme is great.

Im all for re-using, making over and finding new uses for things otherwise destined for the rubbish tip, but after watching this programme i feel that a lot of us in blogging world have been doing this and appear to be a lot better at it than Kirstie.

Im proud of some of the things that i have made over. My £25 dresser- similar sell for over £1000 in Laura Ashley, my 99p ebay stools that i painted and recovered

I am constantly on the look out for bits and bobs in second hand shops, junk shops and carboot sales. If i need a piece of furniture these days I look on ebay etc and see if there is something that i can make over / reuse, rather than heading to ikea etc.

This week i have painted my wooden garden furniture that was looking very tired. It now has a new lease of life and i will be happy with it for at least this year. Afew years ago i would have thrown it away and bought new.

I also like using my vintage pots and pyrex in daily use. Bargains that i have picked up for as little as a few pence.

Its amazing what you can reuse and makeover to make it desirable again. I am always amazed when i look at other blogs and see the thrifty finds that people have had and then turned them into beautiful pieces!

I have been a little shocked at some of the prices that Kirstie has paid for what she calls 'bargains', but all in all if it encourages people to reuse then it cant be a bad thing. Just hope there are still some bargains left for us long time thrifty girls!!!!!

What are your favourite thrifty finds??

Happy Thrifting! x

Bad blogger!!!!

Yes im a bad bad blogger!!!

After my unintentional break im back. Over the past few weeks i have been so tired that i have had little energy for anything other than the usual everyday chores, and somedays i have not even completed these! This pregnancy really seems to be taking it out of me this time. So i firstly must apologise to all of my blogging friends, thanks for your comments and i apologise for not visiting and leaving comments on all of your lovely blogs. Hopefully i will be back to my old self soon and normal blog visiting will resume!!

While i have been sitting with my feet up i have been determined to crack my crochet problem. I just cant sem to get the hang of it. I have been using the tutorials on Youtube etc online and also following the instructions in my 'happy hooker' crochet book. The result?? Well it kind of resembles something crochet like, but im not sure it deserves the crochet title just yet!!

I am so desperate to be able to crochet, i really want to make some granny squares to be made into baby blankets. Hopefully i will get there soon!

I have also made some bunting for the fifties kitchen

For a first attempt im quite pleased with the result and i have some more triangles cut and ready to sew for Fins new bedroom. He has now moved into the completed cowboy room, as he likes to call it, and im really pleased that he loves it so much. I was a little worried about putting him in a 'big boy bed' but have been pleasantly surprised that once in bed he actually stays in bed! I had visions of him playing with his toys all night but thankfully it has turned out well. I have not yet taken pics of the completed cowboy room but i will do soon.

This of course means that what is going to be the nursery is now a blank canvas. Im waiting on my next scan, when hopefully i will find out whether its going to be painted blue or pink!! I already have some ideas for the room so now just have to wait and see.

The thrifting season has begun and i have had a couple of lucky finds already

This lovely Brexton picnic set was only £2!! Its missing the flasks but i just love the floral plates and the blue cups. Will be great for the vintage caravan!

Im also loving these tins for just 20p each. The collection continues to grow!

I leave you with a picture of Finley with his grandad Col-Col, performing at Col-Cols 50th Birthday party!! A great night had by all, Fin certainly enjoyed being part of the band!!! x x x

Happy Thrifting! x

A flying visit!

Yes i am still here!!

I have been so busy these past couple of weeks leaving me no time to post.

I have a little news since my last visit....................... There is going to be a new baby in the Fifties household in August!!! We found out a couple of weeks ago and im just now waiting for my appointment at the hospital for a scan.

We have explained to Finley that he is going to have a brother or sister and he seems quite excited and happy although he has told me that he has a brother in his tummy called Sam!!

We have already started thinking of names. When we had Finley we knew he was going to be a boy and we spent ages trying to decide on a name. At the time i worked in a school and this put me off a lot of names as there were names that i used to like but after meeting some of the not so desirable kids i swiftly changed my mind!! CB also has the same problem as he cuts the hair of half the population of the town so of course meets lots of children!!

I am convinced that this time we will have a girl. I would love a pretty, perhaps old fashioned name but CB is having none of it. Some of my suggestions that have been answered with a straight 'NO' have included Mable, Violet, Florence and Heidi. I have still not thought of any boys names that i like. I find that boys names are harder to decide on than girls. If Finley had been a girl he would have been Ruby. I still like it although its quite popular now.

Any suggestions for names would be greatly appreciated!!!! Both boys and girls!!! We like unusual but not silly, and of course it has to go with Finley!!!!

I have been busy decorating Finleys new bedroom. Its getting there slowly and im sure in a couple of weeks he will be in there. I just have to find a piece of furniture that i have a picture of in my mind but cannot seem to find anything remotely similar in the shops or online!!

For now i leave you with a pic of Finley. I will return soon with pictures of the new bedroom!!

Happy Thrifting x x

Valentines, thrifting and Cath

Happy Valentines!!

Here are two of my all time favourite vintage postcards that reside on the wall in the fifties kitchen 'gallery'.

The top one is from 1907 and has the address beautifully written on the back. Im not sure of the date on the bottom one as its unclear. I love them though. The fact that they were sent to someone from a loving partner / admirer all of those years ago. I always wonder about the people when i look at them. Did they marry?, Have children? or did nothing ever come of their love? Truly fascinating.

I have managed to do a little thrifting

Roses seem to be a common theme at the moment. The two little rose bud pots £1 for the two, the blue rose cups and saucers are a set of 6 £1.25, and the pretty jug £1.50. CB thinks the cups and saucers are particularly hideous but hey what does he know!!! I love them and am still deciding where to display them.

It has been busy busy in the fifties household this week. I decided that Fin has finally grown out of the smaller bedroom that hes in at the moment and would be better suited in the larger currently spare room. Lots of planning, moving toys etc to follow. I have decided to decorate his new 'big boy' bedroom in the famous Cath Kidston cowboy range.

I intended to paper the whole room in this but as CB kindly pointed out, we spent A LOT of money last year having the room decorated. Luckily its cream. So im going to make some huge framed wall art out of the wallpaper to avoid redecorating the whole room. A new carpet is being fitted on Monday and we are on the hunt for a single bed and a cowboy rug!!! Cowboy curtains and matching duvet set will complete the look along with lots of vintage cowboy stuff!! I love redecorating its fab!!

I also have a little project im working on at the moment, i managed to buy some fantastic fabric on ebay printed with Peter and Jane at the funfair in all their retro glory!! I only bought a FQ so im going to make some small bunting to edge my new shelves. Pics to follow!!

Have a happy Valentines Day,CB is taking me to my favourite turkish restaurant so im looking forward to that!

Happy Thrifting! x