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

Wanting......

You know sometimes when you really want something. That ache that you get. Remember when you were small that toy in the toy shop window or when you were a bit bigger, that extravagant outfit or pair of shoes. Well, this week the fifties household has been FULL of wanting. I really wanted Fin to use his potty and fill his reward chart with reward stickers. He really wanted a Diego set that he had seen. We worked together and look what happened!!!

You can gather from the chart the days that we went out. Hes not quite ready for an outing without nappy yet so the days there are few stars are when we have been out. I'm so pleased with him. He was rewarded tonight with his 'want'.

Those of you who have babies will I'm sure, know all about Diego. Apparently, when you are two its the equivalent of a thrifting holy grail::::: Vintage Pyrex, fifties goodies etc...

I rang Clint to remind him to pick this up on his way home and luck have it a bargain, reduced from £25 to £9.99. Clint gave it to Fin and Fin proceeded to tell him for about 15 mins 'Thanks Daddy you are such a good man!!!' I think he liked it!

We start a new chart next week, the reward will be for pulling down pants and trousers and peeing in the potty. Fin has chosen... guess what.. the other Diego set that clips to this one!!!!

We are so proud of you Mr Finley ........... although i am slightly confused.

Conversation approx 3pm Friday:

''Mummy are you from Spain''

''No Finley I'm from England the same as you''

'' If you were Spanish you would live in Spain and speak Spanish. Do you like Spain and Spanish?''

''I love Spain and i would love to speak Spanish''.

FINLEY: ''I will teach you Mummy, don't worry''!!!

This boy is three on July 23rd this year. He amazes (scares) me of what language he understands and knows. BIZARRE!!!!!!!!

Anyhow, here is the object of my desire this week. I cheated. They were an EBay buy but i just had to have them. I love them chips and all

Problem is i have to create a new gallery for these. I am already watching a few on EBay and as i have a little eBay spendo in my 'special account' i feel some 'friends' joining them!!!

I hope you are all OK in the snow, we have about 20 inches here still after 3 days!

Keep warm

Happy Thrifting!!! x x x

A new month, a tag and lots of snow!!

I blinked and think i missed it!! Where did January go?? I seem to have been busy and fitted a lot in to the last few weeks and it seems to have flown by. Im glad though as it means that we are creeping ever closer to spring them summer. Hurraaahhhh!!!

Firstly i have been tagged by the lovely Mary Poppins. The rules of the tag are to post the fourth photo from your fourth file. Here it is... China as a pup.

... Im going to pass on this tag to A thrifty Mrs.

I must of course mention the snow. This time it was real snow. The kind of snow from childhood that you could actually play in. We Awoke yesterday to find a very good covering had arrived overnight. Around 8 - 10 inches maybe a little more. Fin was happy as his Nanna was off work due to the school being closed, and he spent the morning playing barbershop playdoh with her!

He also enjoyed the snowy walk we made later in the evening with our wellies on once CB finally made it home. The shop is about 3.5 miles away from home but it took him an hour and a half to get home lastnight as the roads were so terrible.

As we have been confined to the house i decided to try and push on with the potty training. Fully armed with a reward sticker chart. Fin has been doing fantastically, although he doesnt like wearing the pants, not where he should anyway!

Touch wood we have had no accidents on the floor yet and he is very good at using the potty. Next step is venturing out clothed but with no nappy on!! Wish me luck!

I have promised him a treat if he fills his chart with stickers by the end of the week and the object that he seems to have chosen is a 'Go Diego Go' safari set. Looks like im toy shopping at the weekend!

The schools here have been closed again today so Fin has once again enjoyed his Nannas company and they have been making things this afternoon.

I have enjoyed this snowy weather as it has given me the excuse to snuggle at home reading books. My reading has been somewhat thin on the ground of late as i have been crafting instead, but i have enjoyed reading 3 books since Sunday. I love that feeling; once you have got to know the characters and then you cant wait to pick the book up again to find out what happens to them!

I leave you with a picture of the snow remnants in our back garden!

I feel a little crafting coming on, so hopefully i will return with pics of finished projects... i hope!

Oh i must say that if i have not visited / commented on your blog for a while, ive been a little busy with the potty training. Im looking forward to visiting you all soon though and catching up.

Happy Thrifting x

Looking forward......

I am looking forward to getting rid of this cold that has plagued me for the past week.

Fin had an ear infection last week and now i have it. You know that horrible nagging pain in the ear. The only thing worse must be toothache!! We have been feeling totally bllleeeuuuuuggggghhhhhh.

We are looking forward to spring soooooo much now too. Getting out in the garden and planting seeds and bulbs. Seeing them bloom into beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables. It seems so long since the summer. This year we surely deserve a long hot summer after the last few disappointing rainy ones.

We had a lovely weekend spent at Mamma and Col-Cols house. There was plenty of singing, dancing, guitar playing, lovely food, drinks and laughter. We all had a great time, and i have acquired more treasure which i will post about soon.

I am the lucky recipient of two awards. The first is from the lovely Mary Poppins

The authors say that blogs who receive this award are exceedingly charming. This blog invests in proximity in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be new friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandisement. Our hope is that when ribbons of these awards are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give your kind attention to these writers.This has to be passed on to 8 bloggers who will choose 8 more and include the above cleverley written text to the body of the award.

I now have to pass this on to 8 people.

I hope that none of you have had this before so here goes..........

Vintage Kitten see here http://thevintagekitten.blogspot.com/

Silkie Sue http://silkiesue.blogspot.com/

Lucy Bloom http://lucybloom.blogspot.com/

Raspberry Grace http://raspberrygrace.blogspot.com/

Cloudbusting http://andrea-cloudbusting.blogspot.com/

Ragged Roses http://raggedroses.blogspot.com/

Hen house http://henhousehomemade.blogspot.com/

A thrifty Mrs http://athriftymrs.blogspot.com/

I really like that this award mentions the friendships that are made through blogging. Its so lovely to meet (through a blog) other likeminded people. I also like to have a look at all of your lovely homes and pictures! x

I have also received another award from Taz http://cutitandpinit.blogspot.com/

I have to pass this on but this time i would like to award it to everyone. So please feel free if you visit to award yourself this award!!! I must sign off ,have dinner to cook.

Happy Thrifting x

Birthday weekend!!

I am back from my birthday weekend and its back to reality!!

Friday was a lovely day, visits from friends and a lovely family meal. I had some REALLY lovely presents and felt very SPOILT!!

Some lovely shabby chicness from Sarah and Dean

They also got me the much wanted union jack doormat.

Two lovely cookbooks from Jim and Val and a pretty hat box and fifties scarves from Mamma and ColCol.

I also had some vintage deckchairs from Auntie Alison. They belonged to my mamma so they will be treasured.

I had some gorgeous fabric from my sister Rae. Not sure what im going to make with it yet but probably some bunting for the kitchen..... with my new sewing machine that mum and dad got me as a joint birthday / xmas pressie!!!
I am a very lucky spoilt girl!!

My present from CB was a night away in one of my favourite places. Uppingham. A small town near to Rutland Water.

We stayed in a fantastic hotel called the Lake Isle. Its on the main street surrounded by lovely antique shops. Opposite there is an interior shop that sells Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater and a bit of greengate!! Can you imagine the joy!! It was short lived however as the shop was closed for the duration of our stay!

(I have borrowed this photo from the website and cant seem to get rid of the corks and food!!!)

Here is the link to the hotel http://www.lakeisle.co.uk/ If ever you get the chance to go please do its FANTASTIC!!

We arrived Saturday evening and were shown to our room. It was a kind of cottage. A small beamed sitting room, a winding staircase and upstairs a cosy bedroom and bathroom. Much nicer than staying in the usual run of the mill hotels. It had that quirky feel to it which i like.

I drank champagne in the lounge of our room whilst CB enjoyed the complimentary decanter of Brandy. We then hit the town! We had a lovely meal, i had duck and CB had the Guinea Fowl. It was delicious food. I particularly enjoyed the people watching and designer handbag spotting!! There was an abundance of reunions going on too. There is quite a famous boarding school in uppingham, Stephen Fry and Rick Stein are just a couple of very privileged celebrities to have studied there. The fees are about £90,000 per year plus other expenses so im sure you can imagine the type of people that were meeting up with their teenagers who are boarding at the school!!! It made for very interesting listening indeed!! We visited a number of bars and we thoroughly enjoyed being childfree for a night out.

Sunday we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the hotel then headed off. We of course had to drive through the next village, Riddlington, where CB lived as a child. I was once again was taken on the obligatory drive past their house, the lane, the field they used to ride in etc etc!!

We then stopped off at the Car boot sale at Melton Mowbray on the way home.

CB treated me to some lovely goodies. TG Green, Midwinter Domino plate, Fifties handkerchief bowl, fifties tin, floral jug, and a poole side dish. The hankie bowl has been on my wishlist for an age, one was also featured in this months homes and antiques magazine.

I have had one of the best birthdays ever. Thanks to everyone for my pressies and thanks to CB for taking me to one of my favourite places!

I had a fantastic time.

Oooh before i forget i must show you a house that was for sale that i liked. 2 doors down from the lovely interiors shop and 3 doors away from the antiques centre. I looked through the windows and ooohhhed and aaahhhhed for quite sometime. It was for sale too!! Must be quite cheap i said to CB as it was on the high street. He laughed! On the way home driving past i asked CB to stop to let me take this photo. Not the best as we had to hold up the traffic

An check on the estate agents website later................ the price............. sadly not in my price range!!!!!

Happy thrifting!!! x x

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!!

Yes today is my Birthday!! I have entered the final year of my twenties!

We are having a meal tonight with family and then CB is taking me away tomorrow night. Hopefully this excursion will include nice food, drinks and a spot of thrifting.

I shall post some pics on my return!

Happy thrifting x

Georgie porgie pudding and pie............

...............................................I HATE BIRDS AND I DONT KNOW WHY!!!

Until i met this guy!!! Clinty always had littles budgies etc, i however have always been scared of anything that can fly at you!!!

We bought this guy home today and i must say that my fear of birds is declining, as long as he stays in the cage im fine!!!

Fin, however, loved him and was asked to name him. He chose George because he loves Peppa Pig's sibling!! How funny!!

Anyhoooooow, i once would never have let this bird enter my abode!!! He now lives here. I must be mellowing!!!

TO CLINT: DO NOT LET THIS BIRD OUT OF THE CAGE. EVER. HE CAN LIVE HERE IF HE STAYS WHERE HE IS. NO FLAPPING, CAGE CONFINEMENT AND WE WILL GET ALONG JUST FINE. LOVE FROM Mrs Grinwold x x ( Fiftiesgirl) x

Collecting collections!!!

Someone asked me what i collect. What do i collect? Im not quite sure!!

I dont know what it is but i just cant collect one thing.

I like to buy things that i find beautiful but also useful. This pyrex fits the bill perfectly. Trouble is there are so many designs, then so many variations in colours too.

Recently i picked up two vintage glass candleholders. Then looked what happened.

As soon as i bring something home it seems to be swiftly followed by similar items. I cant just have one of anything. Im sure there must be a name for this problem! Perhaps obsessive collecting disorder??!!! Do any of you suffer from this too???

You may remember that i posted about the huge amount of postcards that i bought. I have now started to sell the ones that are not in the style that i 'collect'. There are 717 in total to sell. I have sold 3 so far and bought 31 more from ebay that i just HAD to have.

In a effort to streamline my collections im now going to draw up a list of what i collect and stick to it!! No more new collections!!

So here goes:

Anything Fifties

Vintage books

Vintage pyrex

Vintage ceramics

Vintage aprons

Vintage tea towels

Vintage tablecloths

Glass candlesticks (vintage)

Vintage tins

Vintage postcards

Vintage posters

Vintage records

Cookbooks (Vintage of course)

Ok. I think we have a common theme here. I collect Vintage things that i like!! It shouldnt be too hard to stick to that should it?????

Distractions......

Just a quick post today as i have a million and one things that i SHOULD be doing. Cleaning, tidying and sorting are the order of the day but i just cant seem to get motivated and keep getting distracted. Pretty blogs to look at, fifties magazines and books in the dresser and my new sewing machine. These things all seem far more attractive to me today than a hoover, polish and duster! I must say that generally i do like cleaning. I like the feeling when everything is in the place where it belongs and the house smells fresh and clean. It makes me feel on edge when things aren't quite right.

So now im off to tackle the house. Ive promised myself a couple of hours on the sewing machine this afternoon if i can get all of my jobs done!

Happy thrifting. x

I forgot to mention................

.................. in my previous post. The very lovely Jim and Val gave CB some genuine 'Jailhouse rock' for his birthday. How cool!!! But how hard to photograph!!! I hope that you can get the idea from the photo. It now takes pride of place in a fifties glass in the dresser. Love it!

Anyhow i must get back to tonights entertainment.

Pink Elvis vinyl on the red record player. Vintage heaven!!! x

Happy thrifting x x

Birthday carpet and pretty things!

I must first say thanks to CB who arranged an early birthday treat in the form of bedroom carpet. Very much needed and appreciated. Thankyou!! After having horrible thin brown carpet in our bedroom for the past 18 months, its such a luxury to have lovely thick cream carpet!!

Im also looking forward to my other birthday treat which is a stay in Uppingham in a nice hotel. Im looking forward to the two of us having a child free meal, a few gin and tonics, a peaceful nights sleep and a leisurely spot of thrifting the following day. Roll on next saturday!!!!

I did a spot of charity shop thrifting yesterday and managed to get these lovely glasses in a box for £2.50. I of course dont need them but such thrifty loveliness cannot be left behind!!

We have had a busy week in fifties household. CB has now created a lovely place for his birthday present from his mum and Colin. Here it is in all of its glory.

Vintage vinyl has been playing in the kitchen since it arrived. We love it so thankyou Mamma and Col-Col, it looks great and sounds great too. Only trouble is you have given me another obsession to thrift for. Vintage records!! Luckily these can be picked up for a few pence!

Remember i mentioned my Christmas present from Mamma that was a carboot in a box?? Here a just a few of the treasures that were in there. A gorgeous Arthur Woods jug

Gorgeous little sugar bowl and eggcup

A very much desired fifties magazine rack.

There was also vintage pyrex, bone handled cutlery, lace tablecloth, retro eggcups and tupperware! I love, love, love it all thankyou sooooo much!!

Only problem is i think that my dresser is full to bursting of all of the new treasures that seem to be appearing week by week. I have arranged and rearranged it on more than one occasion this week. I feel some new storage is required in the fifties kitchen!!

Happy Thrifting! x x