Vintage treasure hunting

In the past couple of weeks I have had success in my vintage treasure hunting. I am always on the look out, I rummage, I act on hunches, I dig through piles, I grab anything that looks interesting, I examine,I check regularly and I ask. But often, it is just simply a case of being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes you have great success, sometimes you walk away empty handed. I always enjoy the hunt though!

These are from a local charity shop.

Perfect for Kate-Em! They need a clean up and the mounting needs sorting out but I couldn't leave these cross stitch pictures behind. They are Kate Greenaway figures and I already have the K one as my Godmother stitched it for me when I was born!

Charity shops are a fantastic source of buttons, once you have dug through all the little plastic bags of men's shirt buttons and random oddments. I don't know what I will use these on yet so into the button tin they go.

This piece of fabric was hard to photograph as it has a slight sheen to it. It looks a bit like a brocade but I don't think it is. I liked the delicate pattern and there was a decent length of it so I snapped it up.

I collect Stitchcraft magazines so when the lovely Lucy from 1940's style for you was selling some recently I was able to fill a few holes in my collection.

Very glamorous! Wish I looked like that answering the phone. Love the jumper.

Camels! Need I say more!?

Fabulous hat and mittens set.

Great hair, twinset and parrot!

Beautiful. I think I might like a nice fluffy bolero.

The vast majority of this haul I found at the fabulous Hebden Bridge Women's Institute Rag Market. This twice yearly event is run by some members of the WI and is a fantastic place for crafters to go shopping. The hall is packed with stalls piled with craft related goodness; fabric, wool, buttons, thread, patterns, notions, paper, books etc. Some of the stall holders are selling their stash, some are shop owners, some are selling the contents of their granny's attic. Everything is priced reasonably and it is a great place for a rummage. The recent market was so very good that I spent my budget by 9.45 (I was helping set up, it didn't open until 11am), and I had to pay a visit to the bank! It was worth it.

I found some fabric:

Gorgeous colours, heavy weight and a really good length for £2!

Modern John Lewis but looks very Mid Century.

Some small pieces of tweed for a project that is half formed in my mind!

I found some knitting patterns:

Apart from the lovely gloves I love the styling of this one.

I will probably be selling this one on as I am fairly sure I have it. Great hats!

I have to try this and see if it can indeed be knitted in 2 hours.

Intrigued by the peculiar cone hat which can be styled slouched or straight up!

I love the Growing up in Sirdar range for their colours and styling as much as the patterns.

I had to get this as the socks match the yoke of the jumper.

 Just a lovely set.

I found embroidered goodies:

Tablecloth with baskets of flowers in each of the corners.

Tablecloth with garland of flowers in each corner.

An oval cloth for a dressing table.

A really gorgeous tray cloth.

I found books:

I found buttons:

For 1950's Tyrolean knits.

Magnificent!

I found some random bits and pieces:

Boxed embroidered hankies.

Close up.

A marvellous crocheted doily.

Close up. Look how fine that work is.

A lovely cheery tin.

I found Stitchcrafts:

Great jumper and hat set.

I was very happy indeed with all my finds! Lots and lots of projects and ideas to be getting on with!

My 100th post giveaway!

I am very excited to have reached my 100th blog post; it feels like quite a milestone. I am enjoying myself enormously writing this blog, having a place to explore all the things that are of interest to me.What is really lovely is that often they are of interest to other people too. Like every blogger, when I wrote my first few posts I was not sure if they would be read by anyone other than me, or my mum and dad - thanks mum and dad! So it is great to find other people reading and commenting, I am really liking this getting to know people through comments and chats. It turns out that blogging is really rather sociable and I like it! So, as a thank you for sticking around so far, I thought I would have a giveaway and my 100th post seems like the perfect opportunity.

In the background there is a beautifully embroidered vintage tray cloth and on top of that is a pretty floral handkerchief. To the right is a sleep mask.

Here is a close up of the lovely embroidered baskets of flowers and the bunches of flowers on the handkerchief.

The sleep mask is lovingly handmade by me from a 1950's pattern. The reverse of the mask is navy cotton with tiny white polka dots.

I thought that there needed to be a selection of knitting patterns.

Lots of great options here and time to make them before the cold weather comes!

This pretty lacy top and the next three pictures are from the Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazine.

The next two patterns are found in the Woman's Owen knitting booklet for 'you and him'!

This is how you can enter:

1. Leave me a comment at the end of this post.

2. Follow this blog on Bloglovin and leave me a comment at the end of this post to tell me that you have done so.

3. Like my Facebook page and leave me a comment at the end of this post to tell me that you have done so.

You are welcome to do all three things.

The giveaway will close at midnight on the 14th September. I will put all the entries in a hat and draw the winner. I am happy to post worldwide.

Good Luck!