Renovations have come to a grinding halt Chez Stitches.
My poor cousin/builder has had a grim time of it recently. Firstly the tenants in his house absolutely destroyed it before they were, finally, evicted. Understandably his number one priority is cleaning up a godawful mess and repairing the damage.
Then he managed to drop his motorbike at speed. Thankfully he was thrown clear before the bike wrapped itself around a tree. Small mercies and all that.
He’s fine but obviously otherwise engaged for a little while.
So on Saturday, as it was sunny, I figured it was time we started to tackle the weeds in the front garden. They were threatening some sort of military coup on the actual plants. The Little Shop of Horrors wanted Audrey Jr back.
The husband had other ideas. He wanted to go antiquing for tables for the sitting room.
Hmmmmmm….tough call! 😉
Grubbing around in the dirt…..or lunch and antiques.
You know which one won. This is what we scored.
First up, a vintage mixing bowl. My old one of these had developed a nasty crack so needed to be replaced. If you buy these in the fancy vintage shops they can cost you upwards of £45, but GB Antiques in Lancaster has a kitchenalia stall that always has a great selection at reasonable prices. This is a big one and only cost £14. Result!
Next a little telephone table that will sit on one side of the big sofa.
This is great little piece that needs just a little TLC – hello chalk paint – to really bring it to life.
And last but by no means least is the piece that set my heart beating just a little faster and which Hubby wouldn’t let me leave behind. Love that man!
This beautiful table just begged to be brought home. She now sits on the other side of the sofa from the wee table above, and is just the perfect piece for the sitting room. She makes me very happy indeed.
We are so close to having this room done. I’m ordering the bookcases this week, need to remake the roman blind (the interlining has shrunk and pulled it all out of shape), paint the mirror to tone down the garish gold, and hang some picture.
It’s going to be lovely!
Apologies for the slightly blurry photos. Mr was insisting I hurry so he could get the furniture in place before we had to dash out to collect the kids! Not an unreasonable request, I suppose. 😉
Great finds, especially the Singer table!
I LOVE the Singer table. It’s just wonderful. And makes me ridiculously happy. 😀
oh, that has brought back memories. Mum had a mixing bowl like that, it used to have it’s own special sound, lol. Love that table too
You’re right…those bowls do sound different! I love them.
Lots of gorgeous finds! I have an old bowl like that too, it seems to mix better cakes 🙂 I bought some chlak paint just before we headed to Spain so am looking forward to using it when we get back. We can compare projects!
These bowls make the best cakes. I think it’s to do with how happy you are baking with them. If I’m not happy my cooking/baking is disastrous.
I’ve yet to try chalk paint. I’ve got a piano stool that needs paint/upholstery so that will be my first project. It’s giving me a baleful eye as I type. It’s been waiting for it’s new clothes for a while now. 😉
WOW! These finds are awesome – each one. You had the antiques goddess on your side 🙂 And best to your cousin. I hope he’s well again soon…
He’s fine now, thanks…just a bit stiff. He’s got previous for bike accidents. You’d think by now (he’s 55) he’d have given it up, but no. Sigh.
It was a very good day for antiques. To be fair we usually find some little gem or other when we venture forth. 😀
My Mum also has a bowl like that. It has a green star inside. It is very special as it was her Mum’s. I have made a LOT of cakes in that bowl. Loving your two tables. Chalk paint is lovely. They will be really fabulous, especially the Singer. Hope your cousin wasn’t too badly hurt. Falls are not kind to bikers. Xxxx
He got off quite lightly with a couple of broken ribs and a torn shoulder ligament. That sounds quite blasé but he’s had much worse crashes and if he’d hit the tree…I dread to think.
This bowls are so evocative. My grandmother had one and I still remember her making jam thumbprint biscuits. Ah…good memories.
Oh, wow! What gorgeous pieces! I can’t wait to see that little telephone table all prettied up. And your Mr is a wise man, you’d have been pining for that converted treadle otherwise!
I really hope your cousin is doing OK, that sounds like a lot of stress and scary to deal with all at once. But as you say, small mercies as far as the bike goes!
Hope you all have a great half term and have some fun, even if the renovations are on a temporary hold.
You’re right…I’d really have regretted leaving the treadle table behind. And it was a ridiculously low price too. I’m really happy with it.
We’ve got a lovely half term planned…just need the weather to improve a little! Hope you have fun too!