A Successful Shopping Spree

I am pleased to be able to report that after last week's post I have managed to chiné some trucs that are not made of metal.  I haven't broken this trend completely as the Poêles Nanquette Trivet seen below will attest...

Some advertising material from this wood burning stove company

... however, some of my other buys were a real departure from the norm and none more so that this gorgeous antique Mounted Ostrich Egg (OK so the base is metal but you've go to admit that eggshell is an unusual material). 

I was also pleased to find a couple of wooden items for a change...

... this Little Corker (no, it really is literally a corker... for wine bottles!)...

... and a wonderful vintage Table Croquet Set (the nearest I'll ever get to the gentile game especially as I no longer have a lawn).

I even ventured into buying glassware in the form of this stunning Blue Liquor Set.

But I would be lying if I didn't mention another of my buys which, you've guessed it, was of the metal variety...

... but I'm sure you can appreciate why I couldn't leave this adorable little Safe Money Box behind.

I'm very happy with my acquisitions from last weekend and against all my instincts as a trader I'm kind of hoping my ostrich egg doesn't sell as I love the silly thing already.  At least I can enjoy it for now as it has found pride of place on the mantlepiece of my office alongside my much loved BYRRH sign.

Any Old Iron!

I have noticed a trend in my buying lately that around 90% of my stock is made of metal. I seem to be drawn to silver, silver plate, copper, tin, enamelled metal, brass and iron. Even when I make a conscious effort to buy something wooden, glass or ceramic I still find myself rushing towards something large, often rusty and nearly always incredibly heavy.  

Luckily I have to keep the weight down on my Etsy shop items otherwise my postage fees would be ridiculous.  Without this constraint I do believe we would have a house and yard full of scrap metal and anyone who's watched the vintage series Steptoe & Son will know that this is not a good thing.

Take last week for example I came away with some lovely buys for my shop but all but one of them (a pretty English teapot) was made from some form of metal.  

I found this super 'Foie gras' set in silver plate

I also bought this gorgeous 'Lu' biscuit display tin from the Belle Epoque era but have decided I can't bear to part with it so it's mine, mine, mine!!!

I did manage to stray from the metal by buying this lovely glass lamp but again it's mine, mine, mine (well it does match my bedside lamp perfectly!)

This money box is a new purchase from my ever growing range of tins

 And this tin I just couldn't ignore because it's so BIG!

These lovely Art Deco knife rests are once again silver plated

And this 1930s Mirror and brush set is a mixture of guilloche enamel and metal so that's kind of departure... isn't it???

This beautiful lantern is made of brass (and a bit of glass!)

And finally, I couldn't pass by this rusty old vintage advertising sign (which was very nearly a keeper but I am resisting... for now!) for the French aperitif 'Byrrh' (please don't ask me to pronounce it).

So I'm afraid that as much as I try to tell myself to stay away from the hard stuff it can be so varied and interesting I honestly can't make any promises!

Homage to Lady Day

I think my interest in all things vintage was born from having grown up with a love of old movies and music so I couldn't let this coming Tuesday pass without comment as it will be the 100th anniversary of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday's birth.   

Like Edith Piaf, another of my favourite singers from the 2nd half of the twentieth century, Billie Holiday is perhaps not everyone's truc but if she is I do hope you enjoy listening to a few of her songs sung in her unmistakable voice.

Known for wearing gardenias in her hair, her troubled life and humble beginnings it would be sad if Billie Holiday's genius for song writing and her fearless heartbreaking renditions of the popular songs of the time were to be forgotten.

Many people would recognise the song "God Bless the Child" perhaps without knowing that Billie Holiday herself penned it.  She is also accredited with co-writing one of her most famous and moving songs "Strange Fruit" although this has since been disputed.

So do enjoy this tiny selection of songs sung by the great lady that are ideal for curling up on the couch with a glass of wine or two when you're feeling blue or let down and fancy a little wallow - "Lover Man" ,"For All We Know" and "Don't Explain" and to cheer yourself up when you're ready to face the world again I'd recommend "Me Myself and I".

I hope that this week's post just touching on some of the songs that Billie Holiday sang in her all too short life has either reminded you of this wonderful artist or even better introduced you to her and started a life long love of her remarkable voice.