Bertie’s Birthday Frame

Sorry, only one post this week ......... it's been a busy Easter break and other things just got in the way ....... I think I'll just keep to one post a week for the next little while, be it crafting or charity shop finds until I get my mojo back!

It’s become tradition that I make Bertie a sort of shadow box for his birthday that reflects his interest(s) at the time  ………

……. this my effort for his 6th birthday, to go with his interest in tea, …… he’s a strange child, he’s even got his own Tea Team website ……….

https://wwwteateamcouk.mailchimpsites.com/

Below is the permanent little table in his bedroom where he comes up with all manner of tea based concoctions.

I bought these plastic frames in large quantities about three/four years ago from Poundland, the best was when they were reduced to 25p each, when I cleared the shelves, I think I may now be down to my last three, but occassionally they still turn up on my travels in one or two stores.

I simply removed the back and covered over the backing picture with a scrap of stripy blue/grey patterned paper.

The MDF teapot, cup and saucer and spoon set came from eBay, I really wanted to paint them keeping the lines, but the paint just soaked into the the MDF and roughened up the surface/finish, so in the end I simply covered the pot and cup and saucers with Ranger Glossy Accents, as the Sharpie pens I had were too dark for the look I wanted.

However, a silver Sharpie pen did work on the spoon, which I then covered with more Glossy Accents.

The wooden letters (from The Works) also got the same treatment, pen, followed by Accents.

All I had to do then was fiddle fart with all the pieces to make them look balanced before gluing them down.  It’s a pity the camera hasn’t picked up the glossiness of the pieces, as they look rather drab and flat in the pictures.

To bring everything together I added a scattering of gold stars and clusters of three black dots (using a fine liner pen).

I think it’s turned out pretty OK and am sure the little man himself will be pleased with it, hanging it along side all his other frames at the end of his bed. 

Happy days.

Malvern Flea

One post this week ........

A few pictures today of some of the things that caught my eye at The Malvern Flea, which Lu and I visited the Three Counties Showground on Easter Monday. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 18 months since we were there last, although it seems like only yesterday. Last year, 2022,  we didn’t manage to get there at all because we always seemed to have something else booked whenever it was on.  However it was still just £5 each to get in (including car parking) and for us it’s one of the the best £5 worth of entertainment ever, even when (occassionally) we don’t actually buy anything.

Due to the weather the fields were a little muddy under foot and I reckon, because it was early on in the year, there weren’t as many stalls as we’d hoped. Usually it takes us a good 5 to 6 hours to get around, but this time we did it in about 3.

I have a collection of small pieces of this gold/enamel, bohemian type of glass on the shelves in my shower room. I have only paid between £1 to £3 for my bits, but I have noticed that even charity shop prices are now creeping up!

I am pretty sure I’ve photographed this erm ……. monstrosity, before, so I guess it’s taking a while to sell ……. very much an acquired taste!

I bought this plaque, it was £2, however, I will admit to putting it on eBay, because once I got home I wasn’t so sure, however, if it doesn’t sell, it will definitely come out for Halloween and put amongst my other decorative bits.

There is no real age to this large, emerald jewelled cross, the picture doesn’t really do it justice. It was only £1 with all stones present, so I am now on the look out for a suitable, deep, gothic/ornate frame to put it in and then maybe, give it as a present to someone whose “thing” it is.

How I wished this box of china flower brooches had been a bargain job lot! I have wanted to decorate a mirror with these forever, but it would take anything between 50 – 100, depending on the size of the mirror, preferably heart shaped.  They wouldn’t have to perfect, chips wouldn't hurt, but I rarely see them on my travels, even at £1 a pop, it would take forever to amass enough, as well as costing a fortune!

This was my very favourite stall, where I couldn’t afford a flipping single thing.

I think most of the pieces was French, but as per usual, it was the Marriage Domes that I “lusted” after, but sadly well out of my budget.

As you know I love a religious statue or two, especially a Mary, and there were more than I can ever remembered seeing before throughout the stalls.  Again, they were pretty expensive, even though many are made of a chalky material and so a lot are chipped.  My best hunting grounds for these are charity shops, however whenever we are at the Flea I always tell Lu that my quarry is a St Bernadette/Lourdes souvenir, I found a Fatima one this time, but sadly no Lourdes, but I do enjoy a quest.

Lu and I do have a penchant for a cocktail trolley, however, where the purse may be willing, the space in our homes is not, but we still enjoy a good oooooo and ahhhhhhhh!

As for this little bed, well, when I win the lottery and buy an old Edwardian house ……. this would be in Iris’s sleepover bedroom, with beautiful broderie anglais bedding!

As for this Italian, cherry liquor drink bottle, I’d had something very similar pop up on one of my Facebook feeds during that week, it’s pretty awful, but in a weird sort of way, I also quite liked the artist with his lenticular naughty lady in a frame.  I paid £2.50 for it …… it’ll be on my shelf for a while, and then when it doesn’t make me smile as much, again, it might go on to be a birthday present for someone who I know will very much appreciate it.

And finally to the 50p box of unbridled pleasure …….. six, awful, brown EPNS spoons, which turned out to be pretty OK after a good soak and polish and will be used on picnics etc.

….. the cherub plate, goodness only knows why, but I am thinking it may end up in either Marc or Rick’s festive tut sacks …… with a silly message about our love children!

……. and finally a pressed glass, Queen Victoria, 1887 jubilee compote, which I adore and is perfect for my grapes! Happy, happy days!  Hope we can get back a couple more times this year.

http://www.b2bevents.info/malvern_flea.html

The Works Wooden House Revised

Sorry, only one post this week ......... I am completely out of ideas!!!!!!

Remember this Works little, wooden house drawer (below) that I wasn’t 100% with last week, thinking the bird and branches on the front and back looked a little out of proportion ……

…… well, I’ve had a little play and this is what I eventually came up with ……

I managed to remove the bird etc. pretty easily and after a bit of sanding to remove all the glue I replaced them with three butterflies on the front with a little foliage, to which I think I may also add some really tiny fimo flowers and then another three butterflies on the back……….

I think the proportions look much better now and the butterflies and space make the house feel fresher. This was a one off experiment but I reckon either Iris and Bertie will lay claims to it over the Easter holiday.

As I have a few more of the drawers squirrelled away I’ll be playing again, thinking perhaps a gingerbread house next time, we shall see……..

Easter Bonnet Favours

Please note - This is not my idea, I found it while perusing Pinterest as is my want and just had to try it ………

However, the first hurdle was finding plain, foil wrapped chocolate cup sweets which was nigh on impossible, in the end I  resorted to using Reese Peanut Butter Miniature Cups, which explains my use of yellow and orange materials in an effort to minimise and detract from the logos.

I cut the bottom of the hats using my ancient Stampin’ Up scallop edged punch, with a small daisy flower to decorate/disguise the top.  If I had found plain, foiled sweets I don’t think I would have needed to do this, but hey ho.  I wished I’d also got a few more of the orange pre-tied bows, but out of my big box I just had one!

I put an adhesive foam pad on the bottom of each cup and then stuck them in the middle of each scalloped circle, followed by a flower on the top.

As this was just an experiment, I wasn’t too precious with my Sharpie pen dots round the brim, if I were to repeat the idea again I would be more careful and precise with the dots or might even replace them with a few flat backed gems or tiny Fimo nail art flowers on something extra special.

However, in the long run, I think they work

Now ……..  if I continue to look and find any said elusive plain, foil wrapped chocolates on my travels, I could perhaps turn them into sunhats for end of summer term fairing gifts for the staff at Iris and Bertie’s school ……. all eyes peeled then!