Vintage Treasures

My one and only chance to Op-shop was yesterday, and it did not disappoint, with a few lovelies added to my shopping basket.

This English saucer, 10c and pillow case, 50c.

Two Pyrex/Fire King cups, 20c each. I'd never seen any like these before, with an iridescent effect in the light, and for this price they had to come home.

The pretty fabric they are on is actually a dress purchased for $4. It needs a few alterations, so I'll be sure to show you the before and afters in the coming weeks. 

 And three sheets to add to the growing collection, about $1 each.

This week...

has been spent completing the first of four weeks of Uni placement in the Emergency Department, so not much in the way of spare time for sewing, baking and thrifting, unless of course removal of a patients stitches, dispensing of ice-blocks to well behaved children and bribery to those not so well behaved; and having no time to spend during the week can be counted.

Today I was able to partake in a spot of op-shopping and squeeze in a bit of baking, as the duck eggs and a few stalks of rhubarb awaited in the fridge all week ignored.

Stewed rhubarb in a meringue nest, with custard for dessert after potato salad and pork chops for the main...delicious.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

This weeks thrifted bargains...

This weeks finds offer a bit of a variety. First up a couple of children's books including these two, illustrated by Eloise Wilken. After reading Kylie's post on Eloise I was reminded again of her beautiful pictures featuring in many a Golden Book from my childhood. So when I spotted these for 20c each I couldn't leave without them.

Take a look at that wall paper..beautiful.

This book illustrated by Mary Brooks, with poems by Stewart Cowley also features adorable pictures.

One more Pyrex mug makes for a collection totalling two.

Lastly, this old painters ladder with the paint splatters to prove it. I'm still playing around with what to display on it and where exactly to put it, but for $5, this beauty had to come home with us.

Happy Op-shopping for the week ahead.

Goings On

This week I have been enjoying a bit of free time before I get back into Uni work with four weeks of placement starting on Monday with the dreaded 5am alarm clock set once more.

I purchased my first rotary cutter and sew square, and started cutting up the vintage fat quarters from the Vintage Sheet Swap, so many pretty designs.

The broad beans are flowering, so hopefully it wont be too long before harvest time. I haven't grown them before so I'll just have to see how they go.

I used the rhubarb picked fresh from the vegie garden in a rhubarb cobbler, to which I added a few strawberries to the mixture. It didn't last a day so I'll count that recipe as a success.

Sushi for dinner last night, my favourite combination- smoked salmon, avocado and cucumber.

Half a dozen duck eggs awaiting... I'm thinking sponge cake. Anyone had experience baking with duck eggs?

While the fiancé went for a body board I investigated the shore in the lovely morning sunshine.

And displaying a few treasures on a new Op-shop find, note the puppy dog seated on a lap in the photo.

Thrifting Roundup

These 2 Fowlers jars for 50c each. Perfect for storing my growing collection of thread spools and paper stamp cutters.

With the weather warming the vegie patch is calling, so I've been rereading a few of these..all thrifted over the past year or so. I can highly recommend all of these books for those wanting to get into vegie growing and permaculture.

And last night Lassagne was one the menu and I got to put this Corningware dish into action, definitely worth the $4 I paid for it.

And made all the more delicious served on thrifted Johnson plates.

Harvesting and a spot of Baking

Today, during a break in the rain, we headed into the vegie patch for a spot of much needed weeding. The garden beds look a bit on the bare side, but are still yielding despite. The pea plants are covered, and eating peas straight from the pod while perched in amougst the plants is the best and most delicious way to it.
I also picked the first lot of rhubarb after planting a couple of crowns last year; and the ever reliable rocket, spinach, silverbeet, spring onions and garlic chives made their way into the kitchen too.

Today saw more baking, with Apple Pie using this recipe.

Now, as promised yesterday, the Apricot Loaf recipe. I based the recipe off this one for date loaf, making a few modifications and it turned out well.

Apricot Loaf



300g dried apricots, chopped

1 tsp bicarb soda

1 cup boiling water

125g butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 eggs

1/2 cup natural yogurt

1 3/4 cups SR flour

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease two loaf tins.
Place chopped apricots, boiling water and bicarb soda together in a small bowl. Stand for 20 minutes.
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
Stir in yogurt.
Fold in apricot mixture and flour.
Divide between two tins and bake for 35-45 minutes.
Great served the next day, but of course if you cant resist, then get into it straight away.

Now enjoy your weekend. I hope to do a spot of thrifting, baking (involving said rhubarb) and a fair part of just relaxing.

Happenings

Yesterday brought with it more assignment writing. But it wasn't all bad, with the postie delivering 2 parcels in the one day...I love getting mail and you can't get much better than a parcel, and double the goodness with two.
The first was for the Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter swap, 30 lovely FQ's, all ready and waiting to be turned into something beautiful. I'm thinking a quilt, but this might be a bit adventurous as I haven't really done any quilting before..so I'm not sure. Any ideas?

The second parcel was from Red Tractor Designs, from whom I'd ordered a couple of things. Their stationary is so very cute, depicting farm scenes and animals, gardening and baking, all illustrated by Rachael Flynn. I got gift cards, wrapping paper, a notepad and a couple of magnets.
Next comes the hard part of having to give them away.

And today has seen a spot of baking. Apricot loaf to be exact..delicious and moist.

Recipe to follow tomorrow

Wordless Wednesday

Treasures aplenty

For $4 this English cast iron Lauffer dish was a must buy.

More Pyrex, $1 a piece

Shirt with a lovely print, just in time for Spring ($2), silk tie for the 

fiancé found by the fiancé (he sure is getting good at this op-shopping business), and two Country Road belts ($1 each)

Albert Namatjira print ($10), the large suitcase was added to the collection ($8). Perfect for storing fabric and vintage sheets; and two little pottery birds ($2).

And as soon as the camera appears so do these two...

The week that was...

What a week its been..busy busy busy, and somewhat lacking in the blog posting department as a result.

And a wonderful welcome to...

Country Style

My days have been spent with my head buried in text books and journal articles..I know, thrilling. And yesterday I submitted two assignments. So that's three down and four to go, and then that's it forever..hopefully.
And as a reward for all that work I was treated to a bit of Op-shopping yesterday, and yes it was a successful day with some great bargains, which I will show tomorrow.
I bought the current Country Style mag as well and it has provided a bit of variety in the reading department..alot more exciting than that of laryngospasm, theoretical reflectivity and recognition of value judgements.

Pigeon hole storage inspiration

Country Style

More inspiration

Country Style

I also managed to squeeze in a little bit of baking, making a couple of date loaves.

Date Loaf

250g pitted dates, chopped in halves

1 teaspoon bicarb soda

1 1/2 caps boiling water

125g softened butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups SR flour, sifted

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line two loaf tins.
Place dates and bicarb soda in a bowl. Pour over boiling water. Stand for 20 minutes, then lightly mash.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar and vanilla until light and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Fold in date mixture (including liquid) and flour and mix until well combined.
Pour mixture evenly between two loaf tins.
Bake for about 30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.

Delicious eaten warm, and spread with butter. This recipe also turns out great made into muffins, that freeze well.

Enjoy the rest of your Spring Weekend.