Wednesday 30 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#40

Hi everyone,
Chinese snuff bottles,I've picked up many of these over the years and have ended up selling them.
However this little collection has hung around a little longer.these snuff bottles have been hand painted on the inside of the bottle which I'm guessing would be near impossible.

My favourite of course is the last one on the right it has a beautiful cherry blossom in pink.
Do you have any snuff bottles.?
Cheers Lyn

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #39

Hi Everyone,
Half dolls ,these lady's have come to me over the years from many different places .
The lady dressed in a blue hat on the left belonged to my granmother while the other lady's have come to me via estates ,garage sales and opp shops.
Some have at some point had little skirts attached and have been used as food covers which I'm shure was there original use.
If any one knows anymore about them I would love to hear.
Cheers Lyn

Monday 28 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#38

Hi Everyone,
Teddy bears. No I don't collect teddy bears!
I don't even like soft toys!
 However my partner Michael loves teddy bears. The fellow on the right is his childhood bear given to him by his sister his name is Nelson.
He  has a 1970s paw repairs and a knitted vest and is very much loved.
The other two chaps are estate and opp shop finds,but are loved just the same.
Our daughter Miss Grace takes them on picnics occasionally and chats to them often,I think I may be softening towards them also.
Do you have a teddy you still love?
Cheers Lyn

Sunday 27 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #37

Hi Everyone,
Ric rac,a great Australian favourite!
Solves most problems of how can I make this more colourful .

I use it in my sewing projects as much as I can,and I look for different packaging whenever I am at opp shops or garage sales.
I remember as a child my grandmother who was a sewer made beautiful aprons for her church fete all with rik rak embellishments .
Do you have a favourite thing with rick rack on it ?
Cheers Lyn.

Saturday 26 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #36

Hi Everyone,
Chinese embroidery,I only have a few of these pieces and they came from an estate of a man who had lived in china at the early part of the 20 th century as a liaison officer between the Chinese and Australians and he had been given these beautiful pieces of linen all hand embroidered with dragons ,butterfly's and Chinese symbolism
The photo doesn't do them justice but the embroidery is really beautiful and all in shades of willow pattern blue.
Cheers Lyn

Thursday 24 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #35

Hi Everyone,
Clothes pegs or clothes pins what ever you call them we all have used them sometime and currently I still am !
These guys are only for display nowadays in my laundry,and have been collected over a number of years in some interesting places.
Some are actually off clothes lines or in forgotton laundrys and old cane baskets.
I love that some have design patents and names printed on them.
Of ourselves there patia and age adds to there charm.
Are you a wooden or plastic peg person?
Cheers Lyn.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#34

Hi Everyone,
Quilts I love quilts these three are just a few of my collection found in some unusual places.
 The red and white one called Turkey work ,is American and has all of the presidents up until the 1940s hand sewn on it .
I found her in an opp shop and I put her into auction and luckily it didn't sell ,so I decided that She wanted to stay with me !
The quilt on the top left is a beautiful example of crazy quilting and I believe this one was made in the depression as it is made from old clothes pieced together.
The bottom one is a hand stiched Kantha quilt I bought in Western Australia last time I was over insisting my brother.
A full picture of the American quilt is back on my blog on July 2013 if ou want to have another look at it.
Are you a quilt person ?
Cheers Lyn

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #33

Hi Everyone,
Vintage children's books
I am a big book lover,these little jems have been collected from estates,garage sales and opp shops.
The one on the top left is a really quite cute Dutch or German one found at an estate with really beautiful illustrations .Playmates in the middle was a staple in primary schools back in my day late 1960s early 1970s along with John and Betty (could not find my copy when photos being shot)

And the others well there just nice old favourites some my favourites and others just because there nice.
Do you still have your childhood books? Or like me are you just re living found copy's?
Cheers Lyn

Monday 21 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #32

Hi Everyone,
Vintage lace pieces.
I have a huge collection of lace pieces which most of the time I use to make many and varied things ,such as lace dresses ,bunting ,curtains and many other bits and bobs some times to be sold and sometimes for my home or friends.
I have a real love and respect for lace,particularly hand made lace.
The round doyleys on the right are beautiful hand painted Victorian silk with pretty wild flowers and lovely lace the rest are large lace pieces and trims .
Are you a lace lover?
Cheers Lyn

Sunday 20 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #31

Hi Everyone,

Cameos, they go in and out of fashion I think they are really quite beautiful ,most of these are hand carved from shell or in the case of the black one Jet.
They seem to be typically pictures of women,in silloette .
Most of these have been found at opp shops,and I can't seem to pass them by.
Do you have a family cameo?
Cheers Lyn.

Saturday 19 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #30

Hi Everyone,
Miss graces Japanese doll collection.
I admit I have collected these for Miss Grace and I guess she is sometimes more interested in my little ponys and monster high dolls (yuk), but she is very happy when a new doll comes to stay.
Clearly these have no age and probably even less value,but they make a little girl happy and starts her collecting bug for the future that maybe one day could be of value.

And hey there cute as buttons!
Cheers lyn

Friday 18 April 2014

Collection every couple of days # 29

Hi everyone,

Ok more brooches, sorry about that,but I do love them ,this lot is a collection of old and new from many and varied places.
Top left the butterfly is an actual Lea stein bought back from France by my friends Phil and Heidy,the cat is an Erstweilder, third brooch is made by my friend Megan from Emgee who has made this one from vintage cutlery.
The croc is from an estate and was nearly thrown away till I gave it a clean and found it was silver!
The next one is an American timber bear,from an opp shop.
Then some modern repro birds,that had a previous life as a headband which I added a pin ar the back.
Then a Bakelite silhouette picture frame that I added a pin to (I do that a lot clearly).
Next is a green Bakelite brooch found at a market.
And last but not least,a modern lobster brooch .
A bit of an eclectic mix.
Cheers Lyn

Thursday 17 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#28

Hi everyone
Toy cars,when you know you can't afford the real thing,these are fun to look at.
These belong half to me and half to my Mr FV&C 

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The big black tin toy car I found when in a previous life I managed an opp shop and the others were found at an estate on a window sill forgotten,but not missed.
My brother collects model cars and they remind me of him,as he lives in Western Australia I don't get to see him to often.
Do you have any model cars?
Cheers Lyn.

Wednesday 16 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #27

Hi Everyone,
The truth be known, I really love brooches,I'm not a big jewellery wearer,and I hate having things around my neck!

These are an Australian maker by the name of Erstwilder based on The French Lea stein brooches they add a bit of brightness to any outfit vintage or contemporary.I keep my my eyes open for them at all the usual places and have found a few at the Waverley Bazaar at fairly reasonable prices.
Are you a brooch wearer?
Cheers Lyn .

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #26

Hi Everyone
Hand painted velum ladies
These lady's vary in age and they are hand painted in miniature on a substance called velum.
This is a type of skin mainly baby calf which has no hair follicles ( yep I know yuk) and many were painted with water colour or oil ,were commissioned to do portraits of people as a keepsake prior to photography.
I do not know the precise age of this collection,but the brooch on the right belonged to a famous opera singer of the 1950s. The others have been found at estates,opp shops and garage sales.
The lady on the right was picked up in a box of frames for $1.
And the Marie antonette box was found at an opp shop for $20 .
So there's still lots out ther if you just keep looking.
Cheers Lyn

Monday 14 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #25

Hi Everyone,
An unusual collection of bags,these are just a few of my favourites
The gold basket weave one on the right is a Dorst Rex fifth avenue a classic Lucite bag,picked up in An antique centre in country Victoria.
There is a hand tooled leather one at the back with a beautiful Japanese scene and Bakelite clasp.
The black velvet one in front of it has an amazing fairy/ dragonfly clasp made from Ivorine .
The little floral one is a jazz bag from the 1920s with a little makeup mirror and is as pretty inside as it is out
At the front right is a sterling silver Victorian bag with a compact attached in the clasp.
And the last one is just plain pretty with a nice gilt and pearl clasp.
I'm not the best historian in bags but I do try and research the more interesting ones that come my way,and when a new one comes into the collection an old one makes its way to either the Waverley Bazaar or the Vintage emporium  to find a new someone to love it.
Cheers Lyn

Sunday 13 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #24

Hi Everyone,
After yesterday's hat pins I thought I would show some of my hat collection! This is just a few of the pretty coloured ones of the 1950s era.
I love the flowers on them the pretty pastel colours and soft tule.
I also have a lot of black velvet ones but I will save that or another post.

I also have lots for sale at both The Waverley Bazaar and the Vintage Emporium, however these ones may take a little longer to leave home ,there sort of favourites!
Cheers Lyn

Saturday 12 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #23

Hi Everyone,
Ok this is not the best picture but I'm guessing you get the drift, hat pins not very common place today but back in their time they were a nessisary evil.
Women wore hats always when they left the home and mostly so did men.
I can remember my grandmother telling me about a man who tried to accost her on a tram and she pulled her trusty hat pin out and stuck it into his hand ,that stopped him fairly quickly!
Now days when I get dressed up in my vintage gear it's great to have a hat pin to secure the hair load.
Do you like to wear hats?
cheers Lyn

Friday 11 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #22

Hi Everyone,
Silver and crystal bottles .
What can I say these are really quite beautiful ! They came to me from lots of different places estates,garage sales and opp shops.
Many of them are Victorian with names or initials from their original owners,I think this makes them more interesting like they have their own story to tell.
Most would have been on a dressing table with powders or perfume or beauty creams.
Do you have pretty jars for your cosmetics?
Cheers Lyn

Thursday 10 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #21

Hi Everyone!
Bangles,yep everyone has a jewellery collection boring you say! Well it's quite an interesting collection when you realise there all opp shop finds ! Except one !
The gold slave bangle belonged to my grandmother it was given to her by her then fiancé my grandfather.
He had it engraved with their names in beautiful copperplate script and the date 1926. The others don't have such a romantic heritage but each in there own way is really quite unique and beautiful.

There is a collection of ivory carved bracelets on the bottom left and on the bottom right are vintage plastic carved with roses,you see a lot  ones now ,but these are the original.
Up the top are tortoise shell,Bakelite, diamanté and some modern ones .
I don't wear a lot of jewellery except bangles ,brooches and earrings .
What do you like to wear.
Cheers Lyn

Wednesday 9 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#20

Hi Everyone,
Coat hangers, can breed when left in dark places ! However these guys have been hand picked over many years I tend to choose pale pinks ,greens,yellows and blues.most of the collection are pretty chippy wooden ones but a few hand covered vintage numbers have made there way in too.

One day I would like to hang my special vintage underwear collection on them ,but I only have a small house and that's another story!
Cheers Lyn

Tuesday 8 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#19

Hi Everyone,
Vintage flowers
So usefull I sew them on dresses, hats use them to decorate and wear them in my hair.
 I keep a lot in this container that was bought for my 46th birthday by my beloved, it's original use was in a chemistry lab but it keeps them safe and the dust off them .
The bulk are stored in a big plastic storage box in my sewing room.
When they start looking a bit tired ,I put them over a boiling kettle and steam them this brings them right back to life.
Do you wear flowers in your hair?
Cheers Lyn

Monday 7 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #18

Hi Everyone,
Pretty boxes! Don't ya just love them so incredibly usefull , I use mine for all sorts of storage solutions from junk jewellery to embroidery cottons. My collection grows fairly regularly as I find them at estates and opp shops.I love there patina  and their pretty patterns but I am particularly fond of ones with flowers.

Many of them started their lives as chocolate boxes,and they were kept by their owners,for storage solutions just as I use them,do you have a collection of boxes?
Cheers Lyn

Sunday 6 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#17

Hi Everyone,
Thimbles, never been able to use them I end up all thumbs,however every time I get,one I hang on to it hence two jars full!
Yep now I spread them out there is quite a lot!
So I started out with a couple from my grandmothers sewing box, then I found some amazing advertising ones at the opp shop .
Then my sister bought my the little egg shaped holder home from a trip to New Zealand and then they just seemed to find me !
Now they always turn up at deceased estates in drawers and sewing boxes,so clearly the owner has left them for me!
Cheers Lyn

Saturday 5 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #16

Hi everyone,
It's raining, which makes photographing outside a little difficult!
So these sewing books are on my wall in the sewing room,under glass.i have been collecting these forever!
The first couple came from my grandmother who was a keen sewer all her life and when she passed away I was studying Fashion design at university and all her sewing bits and pieces were gifted to me, her sewing machine which was given to my sister which she promptly lost  in a move from Sydney to Melbourne .

So most of these were used for advertising purposes 
Cheers Lyn

Thursday 3 April 2014

Collection every couple of days # 14

Hi everyone,
Don't you just love things that sparkle! Yep like a bower bird I love a sparkle,because in this life I don't think I'm going to be showered in diamonds ,I can handle a bit of paste!
There buckles have been found in lots of places mainly along with buttons in sewing kits.
Again some are quite old but not necessarily valuable just pretty.
A lot of these are from the 1920s and1930s where thin buckles were worn on evening frocks many in the 20s worn on the hip and in the 30s at the waist.
I still haven't figured out what to do with them so I will  just enjoy them for a while!
Cheers Lyn

Wednesday 2 April 2014

Collection every couple of days #13

Hi everyone,
Yes I have a slight advertising obsession ! I just love the Graphics and designs of these Vintage perfume bottles.
Many of these are from diseased estates found on people's bedroom tables or long lost bathroom cabinets ,some still have their original scent inside them .
One of my favourites is the Jean Patou advertising samples which was found by my Michael and gifted to me.
Many of the others are in larger bottles clearly meant for the bathroom.

It's quite strange that I collect these as I'm not a big perfume wearer as it makes me sneeze! But I do have two favourites that are worn some times .
Are you a perfume collector ?
Cheers Lyn
Cheers Lyn.

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Collection every couple of days#15

 Hi  Everyone,
This collection I one of two, and the other collection is safely put away somewhere safe,which means,it may take some time to find it!

This collection has been going since I was a teenager and had my first pocket money and started to go to opp shops to buy something for nothing! Back then there was so much to find as people didn't really buy second hand goods as it was only for people who were really poor or in difficulties.
I remember my mother being a little embarrassed by my finds and that I was wearing second hand clothes. Some of these beauties are Victorian  Hair combs and are a little worse for wear.
Do you have hair ornaments you like to wear?
Cheers Lyn.

Collection every couple of days #12

Hi Everyone!

1920s figurines,I started collecting these around 1o years ago my first was the lovely lady reclining on the sea shell at the back right .I picked her up at a Savers store for 99 cents and I was hooked .the rest have come to me from various estates,markets ,opp shops and one rescued from a skip.
She was second flapper lady on the left,she was thrown out because she was dirty! She was duly rescued and lovingly cleaned(by me!) and added to the collection.
I also loved the turtle girl another opp shop find, again dirty!
Some are broken but again that adds to there charm!
I hope one day Miss Grace will appreciate these things,and not throw them out!
Cheers Lyn