Monday 11 May 2009

Weekend Finds

Sigh, is it really Monday again? How was your weekend? My cold is diminishing and yesterday after some discussion, we headed off for the day, with a picnic packed and a game plan for the day ahead.

Firstly, there was a yard sale in a little village north of here. We went last year and a friend scored an amazing drum kit for her brother's birthday. So I had high hopes! It wasn't anywhere near as good though sadly, but we did get some groovy sun loungers for the garden and for use on forthcoming camping trips this summer. I'll post some photos soon.

We stopped off at a nature reserve for an al fresco lunch in a buttercup-strewn meadow, which was a delightful lull in the day. Then onto the carboot sale, which was huge (overwhelmingly so) and busy too. But I found a few special things - shall we have a look?

This is a beautiful Wedgwood plate of Hans Christian Andersen's tale, The Little Mermaid, from 1975.



The woman selling it had another five, all boxed, in perfect condition, given to her by her grandmother. She said she was selling them because she didn't have any children to leave them to. I should've bought them all but it was late in the day and my budget of £10 was shrinking, so I just bought one, and now, of course, I wish I had bought them all...




Included in the box, is a leaflet, telling the story and unfolding to this line drawing which they suggest,
'children can compare the illustration on the inside fold with the illustration on the plate and spot twelve objects which have been left out in the paper illustration. The missing objects can then be drawn in and the picture coloured with water colours or crayons.' How sweet!




Another regret from yesterday, was a huge pile of Dr Suess books, spotted on the way out, all from the late 1960s and early 1970s. I only had enough to buy three, Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go NOW!, Are You My Mother? and The Digging-est Dog. Iris does love them so, and they're so much fun to read aloud so now I am really kicking myself that I didn't ask for the seller's number or something. Gah!



A few other nice books - have you read The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl? I loved it as a child, and the illustrations in this copy are so perfect.



Look at these three! They remind me of Pulp!



And this is a great look don't you think? Purrrrrrrrr!



We're reading a lot of Mr Men books at the moment. Iris is talking a great deal about going to the butchers, after reading Mr Clumsy who on his visit to the butcher ends up in a tangle of sausages. Very funny.





Another future read for Iris



What to look for in Spring



This is what May is supposed to look like, and it does! It does!



A tiny pelican



Vintage clothes hangers, all with names of hotels on them. Elegant, no?



Also for me, a black and gold bangle. The most toddler-friendly of jewellery I find.



Back with a few more bits and pieces shortly... £10 can go a looooooong way!

6 comments:

Artemis Russell said...

Amazing finds! that budget thing never works with me, when i set a budget, then its the day that eveything I've been looking for suddenly appears! or maybe its just psycological?
Your plates & books...they'll be worth a fortune one day!!!

Jane O Sullivan said...

yes ! cinderella shall go to the carboot sale , lovely ,lovely finds ,glad you feel better

M* (Melanie) said...

Gorgeous finds! I love the plate and you bought the digging-est dog! That was one of my favourite books when I was a kid.

erin@designcrisis said...

You must have a truly amazing book collection!

LOVE the bangle.

KERRY said...

More wonderful finds...that plate...what a gem! That version of 'The Magic Finger' brings back memories...I had the same version and used to love gazing at the cover. Don't have it anymore sadly. Boo.

Lynne said...

What great car boot sale finds - I especially love the hangers!