Recent 'Vintage' Finds

I've managed to pick up a few lovely little things recently, at local vintage fairs and antique shops. 

My first lucky buy was a lovely little metal bucket.

It's about half the size of a normal bucket, so I thought it would be perfect for a plant (or two) by the front door, if I ever get round to potting it up...

I say this was a 'lucky buy' because it cost me just £7 from a sweet little antiques/vintage shop in the nearby town of Ilminster; and why is that lucky? Well, just a few days before I had very nearly bought this bucket from a vintage trading centre in Crewkerne for the princely sum of £15. 

Fate was on my side that day when I popped it back on the stand.

Then I went to the Buttercross Vintage Market in Somerton and picked up a few lovelies

These adverts date from the 1950s. I got this one because hubby is a big fan of jelly sweets.

And I couldn't resist this one

because now I know how to solve those housework 'blues'; I shall stop relying on a large mug of coffee and a chocolate bar to see me through.

This letter 'A' is perfect for DC's room. 

You might have spotted it in this post, on top of the chest of drawers.

And finally, a lovely old Ladybird book which should give DC some idea of what his future holds.

I also made a trip to Blandford Forum for the Vintage at the Village pop-up boutique fair; it was a bit of a trek, taking over an hour to get there, but it was a pleasant place for a wander and I also spotted Pearl Lowe in the loo, so that was my claim to fame on Facebook for the day!

This was my only purchase from the fair itself (I picked up a couple of non-vintage things in a charity shop including the latest book by one of my favourite cosy authors for just 99p, so it was almost worth the near-on 3 hour round trip!)

It's nothing 'wow', but I fell in love with this old American drinks carrying 'crate' as soon as I saw it; but I did a deal with myself whereby I looked round the entire fair, then went out and looked round town. The deal was that if it was still there when I went back, I could buy it. And it was, so the Retro/Vintage Fates clearly had it earmarked just for me.

Apologies for this photo being the wrong way round

I have a big love for America and all things American, so the fact that this has come from New Jersey is perfect, as far as I'm concerned.

I've no idea what to use it for - possibly a (rather large) in-tray on my desk where pieces of paper are filed away never to be seen again.

But while I decide what to do with it, I can spend time stroking it (it feels very smooth and almost leather-y even though it's made from some sort of waxed cardboard) and imaging those American chaps delivering their crates of Yoo-Hoo chocolate milk back in the 1950s or 60s (at least I think that's when it dates from.)

I've done a little Googling and found some info that suggests these particular crates are quite hard to find, so perhaps it's worth lots more than the £18 I paid for it. 

This time next year, Rodney, we'll be millionaires!