Revamping a dresser with chalk paint and my collection of vintage ceramics

Back in May of last year I blogged about the bargain dresser we bought on ebay & my discovery of chalk paint. Giving the dresser a new lease of life was a real family affair with Magoo getting stuck in with this transformation project. Annie Sloan chalk paint is completely non-toxic, so I have no problems with letting my daughter lend a hand with a paintbrush. I wanted to share the finished project with you. My collection of vintage ceramics finally has a new home & I love the results.

The pieces featured in this collection are from Hornsea, Meakin and Taunton Vale. All of them have been thrifted by me over the years. I've always wanted a proper place to display them & I think this dresser fits the bill perfectly. By using chalk paint, we revamped a dresser made from dark, dull wood into something light & airy...and all for less than £100.



I'm linking up with the Vintage Inspiration Party over on knickoftime.net
I'm also linking up with Vintage Bliss Tuesdays on www.womaninreallife.com

If you'd like to see more retro goodies, head on over to my "Vintage Finds" board over on Pinterest...

Follow Pouch : blogging + craft's board My Vintage Finds on Pinterest.

Vintage love: Taunton Vale Ceramics

I can't believe it has taken me this long to get around to blogging about my beloved Taunton Vale ceramic storage jars. I bought them about eight years ago at a jumble sale and I absolutely love them. They cost me £1 for all three which I think by anyone's standards is a bargain.

I think I love them because they have the most quintessential retro pattern on them, big, bold flowers in bright colours, I can't get enough of them. They are also really tactile with lovely bulbous lids which I love to take on and off (vintage geek that I am).

They sit pride of place in my kitchen. I don't use them for storage, just for display. I like to think of them as my retirement fund and hope they will have increased in value from £1 to who knows how much in a few years time...

If you'd like to see more retro goodies, head on over to my "Vintage Finds" board over on Pinterest...

Follow Pouch : blogging + craft's board My Vintage Finds on Pinterest.

Vintage love: Hornsea Pottery

A new charity shop has opened in my local area. Never one to miss an opportunity to check out a new thrifting venue, I paid the shop a visit. The minute I walked through the door I saw this little beauty - a piece of vintage Hornsea Pottery ceramic lovliness.



It was marked in the shop as a 'sugar pot', but a quick Google search tells me it is a 'lidded jam pot'. For all you ceramic geeks out there, here are a few facts:

"Hornsea Pottery Saffron was produced from about 1970 until 1992. It was designed by John Clappison and this popular pattern was sold in very large quantities. It has now become very difficult to obtain items of Saffron in good condition"



Every time I look at it, I fall in love with it a little bit more. I love the pattern, I think it has to be my favourite Hornsea motif. It is a quintessential vintage floral pattern, bold and simple. Less is more as they say...



I'm so glad this new charity shop opened, they have fantastic furniture for sale including an Ercol table and set of 'Refectory Style' dining chairs (which look like this). I have yet to convince the other half that we desperately need to buy them. He's not convinced. I guess I will have to be satisfied with my 'lidded jam pot'. For now.

Vintage love: Alfred Meakin ceramics and vintage fabric

We spent a few days in Cornwall at the end of May, we had such a lovely time, I wanted to share some images of our stay. It's taken me almost a month to blog about them, but with a young baby, all blogging plans go out the window most of the time!

Whilst we were in Cornwall we visited the quaint village of Polperro. I spotted a sign for 'bric a brac sale' at the side of the road. Never one to turn down the opportunity to rummage through bric a brac, I took a quick look. To my surprise amongst the CDs and books was a table covered in vintage ceramics. I could've bought the lot, but I was very restrained and just bought a sugar bowl and jug made by Alfred Meakin.



I love the simple design and lovely cobalt blue flower detail. And at £1 each, an absolute bargain.





I also had my 'vintage fabric' antenna in full working order when I spotted two vintage sheets plus pillowcases at the sale.



I have already cut some peg bags out of this fabric and I may make some belts with it too. There's plenty to use and I love the fresh colours and design, it's in fantastic condition.



We also made a few other 'finds' on our holiday, but not of the vintage variety. First up was Sams on the Beach at Polkerris. Based just a stones throw away from Menabilly, the beloved home of the novelist Daphne du Maurier.

It is apparently one of the best places to eat seafood in that area. It was very chilled, reasonable priced and in a location to die for. We will definitely be going back again!



Next, we took a trip to the Hidden Valley Gardens at Treesmill, Near Par.



It was such a lovely, secluded place. Complete with large Summerhouse where you could make your own pot of tea and buy a homemade cake, our money went in an 'honesty box'. All proceeds go to charity as part of the National Garden Scheme







All in all, we packed quite a bit into four days, we found some stunning homegrown places to eat and visit, plus I came away with some vintage mementos which always makes me a happy traveller!

vintage find: Jersey Pottery

I love retro ceramics, especially from the 1960s and 1970s. It ties in with my love of vintage fabric. I just love the bold patterns and colours found in vintage items.
I found this little Jersey Pottery pomander in a local charity shop and was really taken by the smooth brown and taupe loops on an off-white background.
I was even more taken by the price, £9.99 reduced to £1.99. Bargain!