I started writing the draft of this post about two weeks ago, then got sidetracked with a million other things, so these are actually my latest-but-one thrifty finds – my first purchase of the day actually wasn’t even thrifted, but was from seconds homeware emporium TKMaxx. I do buy second-hand and vintage where and when possible, but I just love the quirky little things you can find there that you don’t actually realise you need until you see. Like a mirror with a patchwork fabric covered frame, or a garden stool with a butterfly stenciled on the top….
Sadly, I felt that £25 was a touch too pricey for a footstool I didn’t need, and I like to make my own cushion covers, so I was just about to leave (after taking some sneaky photos when the assistants weren’t looking), when I stumbled across a tea towel in a print I had been looking for ever since we were in our wonderful hotel on honeymoon in Brighton.
I literally couldn’t believe it – I’d been absolutely in love with the stamp artwork as soon as I saw it, so to find some fabric in almost the same print was the best surprise ever. It’s a weird, almost silky kind of fabric, which seems an odd choice considering it was marketed as a tea towel – it doesn’t matter to me, though, as I’m going to get a couple of cushion covers out of it!
My thrifty finds were tip top as well – an orange flour shaker, a small tapestry sewing box (both of which were immediately homed on the shelves with my blossoming camera collection) and a beaded necklace for a mere £1. Happy days.
I also found two tea towels for £1.50 that look just like they’ve been embroidered, but actually it’s just a print. Obviously, stitches would have been good, but for £1.50, I wasn’t going to say no – the detail on them was too much too turn down!
My best finds, though, were without a doubt, the Dorma curtains from the Barnardo’s furniture shop that were a fiver. A fiver! I didn’t know anything about Dorma, but my Mum informed me that they were a really expensive brand, and would have cost a small fortune. I originally picked them up to line a cape that I’m (slowly) making, but once I realised how big they were, and that they would cover our bedroom window quite nicely, thank you very much, I decided that there was no way on this earth that I was going to be taking the scissors to them anytime soon. Luckily, I found a second pair for £3.99 that were miles too small for any of our windows, so the cape plans are still on.
They’re utterly wonderful, and every time I pull them, I thank the Gods of thrifting that I just happened to wander in there that day. All we had in there before was a horrid old metal venetian blind that was slowly rusting itself to death (note to self: replace it when we eventually leave), so to have curtains is a little bit of happiness on a track. (You’ve probably actually seen snippets of these in other photos on recent posts, but I got my drafts all out of order, doh.)
The weather was beautiful all day, too, and the blossoms were out, and the flowers in our communal garden were blooming. It was just one of those days where you think ‘this is the best day ever‘.
Oooh my parents' room was totally kitted out in that flowery pattern of your new curtains- they had the duvet cover, wallpaper, even a tissue box cover, in a bit of an over-the-the-top mid 80s kind of way! It's only in retrospect that I look at it now and see how very pretty the pattern is. As far as I recall it's based on the drawings in a book called something like 'country diary of an edwardian lady'. Off to check on google now! x
I can imagine how the overkill might have put you off of it, though! I'd love the know where the pattern came from – that book sounds like it might be right up my street! x
Here you go http://www.amazon.co.uk/Country-Diary-Edwardian-Lady/dp/1846660149yours is based on the honeysuckle pictures. Funny the random things you remember from your childhood!
Wow, you sure did find some great things! I especially love the stamp print "tea towel!" Also, your bedroom is lovely!
Thanks for the link, that's amazing!Thanks Libby, it's such weird fabric though, I don't think you'd be able to dry many dishes with it! x
Hi VickyI think my mother in law has the second pair of curtains on her stair windows – though hers would have been bought new back in the day!
What a lovely home. I am going to take inspiration of you – shows that a rented flat can still have personal touches that make it look like yours.
My Mum used to have those curtains too! Their whole room was kitted out in it; bedspread, wallpaper and everything. total overkill, but seeing it again now I can appreciate what a pretty pattern it is. I wonder if Mum still has them lurking in her airing cupboard…Also, I LOVE that patchwork mirror! Did you buy it?