Whoa, I'm going Barbados!

I love this song and it reminds me of a simpler time in my lifeI wonder if I thought it was simple back then? Probably not! I was a teenager, full of all the usual angst and hormones...Ahh...it was good though!

For the lovely Emma!!

As this is my blog. I am allowed to write any damn thing I like on it. I just want to say that "I LOVE EMMA OTTERWAY". Yeay...go Emma!! xxx

Black Shell on orange

The lovely and unusual "Coquillage", by Arococ of France. It is actually made of black glass. I love it's high gloss shine! I have almost finished collecting this. Just one more dinner plate and I'm done. I haven't manged to find any desert dishes yet , but, I use some black Crown Lynn "Verona" dishes. They are just as shiny, but, not glass. I will keep looking. I do tend to like things that are unusual as I have said many times before. I think you will agree this is definitely unusual. It took me ages to find out the name of this set as it is not marked at all. Luckily I am a little devil for digging away during my research on the Internet. Once you find out the name it becomes so much easier to see if there are any for sale anywhere else. Don't forget though, for my purposes they must be very affordable (cheap). To be honest I have been known to pay a bit more than op shop prices when I have nearly completed my set, as I become very impatient. For one or two pieces I will justify it, because I am ready to start the next set and want to finish the current one. But, as a purest, it's OK they will come up again in the op shops, just keep looking.

The Vase was a one off buy just because it reminded me of the 1920's. Although it is obscured by the flowers it has a very art deco pattern on it. Also in a VERY high gloss finish, it enhances the whole table! As usual my old favourites the silk flowers with crab apples just to make the effect a bit different! Although this table is black on orange, I can nearly create it with orange on black, as I have a wonderful orange dinner set from Norway, which, I intend to get on here very soon, I did actually take a load of pictures of it, but, then managed to delete them all....I love technology!! (it's just me that's stupid)

So another for you, I think I am getting the hang of this now, there's no stopping me!!! ha ha

More retro fever

MORE RETRO FEVER, I have been out indulging my love of all things retro at the moment. I hope to keep all this stuff as it is very collectible and is increasing in value, both here and the UK. Oh Goody!! This is a few pieces of a 1950's set called "SAVANNAH," by Jessie Tait, for the modern range by Midwinter. I am trying to get Loads more of this before it goes sky high, but sadly I may have missed the boat judging by the prices on ebay!! If anyone should see any of this please, please get it for me. I will gladly pay all the postage costs to NZ!

I really love this look so much. My mate has the whole dinner service of a similar set called "HOMEMAKER". I WOULD KILL FOR IT! It's not quite the same, but, of the same ilk. He had it shipped over from the UK and who can blame him. For something that was sold by the thousands in Woolies, it has become so collectible. I guess anything that becomes synonymous with a certain era, will make it happen. I bet all those who had that set and then threw it away are sick as a parrot now!!

I WOULD BE!

Autumnal table

THE AUTUMNAL TABLE is one which I just threw together for us as a family one night and I was surprised at the positive response that I got from my lot. My husband in particularly liked it. I was quite taken aback by that. He is generally positive, but, he just seemed to be more keen on this one. I am particularly proud of the table cloth. It was actually two tab top curtains, which I took the tabs off and then sewed the two lengths of material together. I just loved the pattern. It's very different from most of the others that I have done.
The Table mats were a recent purchase. I was surprised to find six each of the two colours Green and a sort of burgundy. They were new and so I bought all twelve as I couldn't decide which I liked the most. To be honest I didn't like either of them too much, but, knew that I could make use of them. It did inspire me to get on with the sewing of the two lengths of fabric. To be honest they had just sat there for ages just waiting for me to get on with it!! I wasn't sure which to use with this setting, so I played about with both colours and came up with using them both. You can see what I did in the picture below! One was placed as normal and the other was placed across it with the edge just tipping over the table edge. I do try to find unusual ways of placing my settings, simply because I like breaking with convention. (I'm such a rebel I know!)

The centre piece is an assortment of brass. I have been buying this when ever I have found something that I like and that isn't corroded to a yukky messy blob of what looks like....well corroded metal, what else would it look like? I do have more pieces, but, felt that this table didn't need to much more on it. The flower arrangement is again all my own "brilliant" work (I know that's what YOU were thinking anyway). I just threw it together in the plant pot and it came out quite well. More of my "FAUX FLOWERS". The quality of synthetic flowers today is amazing and they are quite real looking. Well I think so don't you? The tray was a bit harder to find as they are often in quite bad condition. This one shines like the morning sun! The candles again came in as a box full of cheapies, new, but cheap! There is nothing wrong with them at all. I bought several boxes in different colours. I cannot believe how much we are charged for candles. They just should not be the price that they are over here. SHOCKING!! Do you hear me? SHOCKING! So go and find some in the op shops or at the very least warehouse discount stores. I think that they look fine don't you???

THE PINK GLASSES I have been looking for, for absolutely ages and finally managed to get some the other day. They will match several tables that I have. The napkins are just some in the right colour that I found and just liked.Who knew that they would enhance such an autumnal table setting? They are rather plain but when I get the time I will have a go at improving them, one way or another. I do have some dark green ones which will also work very well. If the table has enough people sitting at it then I could alternate them. I quite like that look.

The china is just four plates and bowls which I purchased when hunting for my eclectic set. It is actually Royal Doulton. I think it is very pretty. The cutlery is my antique set, I thought that the bone handles would match the colour of the crockery.

FOR YOU!
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