Through the Keyhole

I'm a magpie, a hoarder and a collector of gorgeous things. I can't walk passed a charity shop, flea market or junk shop without having a rummage round. Needless to say I come away with the odd 'bargain' or two.



Over the years my beautiful collection of oddities has grown, filled the house and eventually the attic. According to my OH 'junk' is taking over the house.

I beg to differ...beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I'm presently 'clearing' the attic, well shuffling things into neater piles  and I've had to come to terms with the fact that actually the attic IS somewhat overcrowded as now I find it difficult to make a path way inbetween everything.



So this week I've been ruthless (well ruthless for me) and made 3 piles labelled - FOR THE TIP, CHARITY SHOP, TO KEEP. You can guess which pile is the biggest.

The tip pile went on Saturday and I came away with a sinking feeling thinking that maybe I'd got rid of things I should have kept.
The charity pile is now residing in the garage. I'm still thinking about whether certain things might be useful or could be sold on Ebay or maybe even returned to the attic?

I adore moving things around in the house and having little displays that are changed on a whim.

I LOVE these things so I'm sharing some of them with you - a bit like 'Through the Keyhole' - maybe they will give clues as to my personality or maybe they'll just say,
'She's a hoarder of junk.'

I'll let you decide.

I adore this beautifully framed, handpainted and handwritten quote. It's ancient and cost a mere 50p.

A pair of framed pastel drawings - £2.50 from my local Oxfam

Lampshade from IKEA Bargain Basement - £1

Oooh - I love this corner of the hallway!

Mirror -£2 garage sale, Vintage VW Beetle - 99p, Jug 50p, sea glass - free from the shores of Britian!

Fabulous print by John Raynes - cut from a gallery brochure. Adore his work but can't afford it so this is the next best thing! 

Can you believe this exquisite handmade and handpainted bowl was only £1 in  a local charity shop?

Take a look at the fabulous detail and the fluidity of the potter's brush strokes!

Vintage 1950's pond yacht - one of my more expensive purchases at £8!

I love Cornishware pots and I'm not bothered if the lids don't match. Ebay finds!

I love this miniature oil painting -discovered at the bottom of  a 'bargain box'  in a street market.

I rescued this pair of  framed watercolours from a chap in a flea market for £5. It was pouring with rain and they were in an open box soaked through!  

More junk shop finds - bought for a song.

My late grandfather's old wooden ruler. I keep it out on display and every now and again, when it catches my eye, I'm transported back to my childhood when I sat on an old wooden stool watching him make things in his shed. 

Something Old Something New

In my last post I said I'd DEFINITELY post more on my blog.
I lied.
Sorry.
Failed miserably.
Best laid plans of mice and men...etc. etc.

Where do people get the time to blog, run a business, design, make things, sell creations, run a home, shop, sleep... It's a juggling act, too many balls in the air I fear.

The shed got too much for me (again) so I've gutted it, put up more shelves and started all over.
I've been nicknamed Gadget Girl by the family and am the proud owner of a  proper tool box with every gadget and tool you could possibly require. The only tool Mr Jujuandbubba bought was an adjustable spanner from Ludlow Market whilst on our honeymoon many years ago.

I don't know if you're like me but I'm always inquisitive (let's be honest - nosey) as to what other designers studios look like.
Anyway for what it's worth here's a tour of mine post re-jig. It hasn't been this tidy for months. I'd be too embarrassed to let you see it messy ...well, not until we get to know each other.

My trusty tool is this Makita drill on my work table.. TWO drills in one box -Heaven for someone like me.



Noddy on a new shelf -he's in charge of the sharp pointy things

I've put up some new shelves using the wood left over from building the shed a few years ago and I told Mr Jujuandbubba that one day it would come in handy and was worth storing in the garage - at the time he was unconvinced but wearily complied. He knows that I'm a hoarderholic so there's no point in putting up a fight.

Set of glass shelves from the attic -kept for when they 'might come in useful' - now installed in the shed.

The vintage alarm clock was a bargain from VINTAGE in Shrewsbury. It's got the loudest tick I've ever heard and I'm afraid it's been banished to the shed. Apparently it could be heard above a Captain Beefheart Album!

New shelves filled with all my knick-knacks - you can never have too many lovely things around you.

I know, I do like a basket or two or three and I'm collecting old mirrors.

The brown anglepoise lamp is an original - also rescued from the attic!

Comfy chairs for the odd visitor or two and for when I need to count to ten after the machine thread has broken for the umpteenth time! And I LOVE my 1950's wicker  basket bought for 50p in a charity shop on the Norfolk coast.

1950's plates at 50p!

And finally a beautiful handthrown jug bought at VINTAGE in Shrewsbury for a fiver!

The  pair of fabulous double-sided curtains at the french window cost a mere £3 from a charity shop in Bishops Castle.

I do love a bargain!