Charity Cool Vintage Home Finds

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Some little gems..too good not too shout about...


I must confess that I love to hoard and I love old items from bygone days. I realised that I could merge the too with a bit of charity shop shopping. No waiting around at car boots or auction houses with the antique collectors but a few visits to the shops on the high street to find some lovely finds.

When I was planning the mood boards for our wedding day, I realised that I could find a lot of pieces at not much cash in charity shops. The theme was timeless, vintage and simple. A few trips to the charity shops and I came home with china cups, cut glass and some great vases.

So this is just a snap shot of my home finds. I do have a tolerant husband.


Cut Glass

To get the look I  (we) wanted for our Wedding, I started trawling the local charity shops and was amazed how much old but cool items people gave away.

These carafes cost a couple of pounds and I used them in the reception venue, filled with Spring flowers no-one knew that they cost me less than a tenner. I love the way that the light falls through them . I get them out when I have lots of flowers to display. I really love them as they have a past and were part of our Wedding day too. Similar designs in Laura Ashley cost about £60!

 

Vintage China


 
I love Vintage China, people actually throw this out!

Over a month I managed to collect thirty pieces for my baby's Christening tea party on top of my Wedding stash. I have a passion for this now; finding some beautiful old china cups and maybe a serving plate and sugar bowl with a wonderful design on and a great stamp on the bottom. I collected enough for the party all for £18, one set came in a retro 1960's vanity case and some super cool pillowcases as well. That glut cost me a fiver!

I didn't really need to search far, maybe I was lucky. I think the secret is to go to a charity shop in an area of posh and older houses (charities do house clearances), they seem to chuck out the posh stuff but it isn't expensive.

Table Linen



Old fashioned table linen is a joy to collect but again look out for the quality of your finds and check for holes, sun bleaching and ageing fabrics.

 I love old lace and it is getting very rare. Again, I have used for tablecloths old cotton embroidered bed sheets. They are huge and thick and drape really well. No-one will know that it isn't a tablecloth.

A good quality tablecloth will set you back over £60. I seem to only use tablecloths these days when it's a special occasion so why waste your money on tablecloths when you can pick up old ones and hand embroidered ones at a fraction of the price.


So here is a few of my household charity vintage tips -

* Check a china set before buying, the display cup may look great but the others may be chipped.

*Check for hair line cracks in china, go outside the shop if the store light is bad.

*Ask if they will expect in more of the same dinner service, sometimes pieces are common or they need to open a few boxes from a house clearance in the back of the shop.

* Always ask if what you have isn't in the shop, it might be next week!

* I always clean, clean and clean anything when it has come from a charity shop. You don't know it's past but once clean you can give it a good home. I always keep in soda crystals and soak all old china overnight to the instructions on the packet.

Don't get dis-hearted if you don't pick up some good finds on your first trip. I would love to hear your stories!
 






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