The green one (bottom left) was given to me by one of my sisters when I was about 12/13 years old I think. It is precious to me and worth more than anything made of gold. Sister Sue always gave me something old/second hand for birthdays and Christmas and I have kept all but one of those presents. One year (approx. 16th birthday) I was given a pair of BEAUTIFUL 1940s Church's (I come from Northamptonshire - the home of the boot and shoes industry so I appreciated them for their fineness) leather brogues - they were the most wonderous shoes. I cannot describe their wonderment. No one but no one I knew would have appreciated those shoes (this would be the 1970s) but me. Everybody else was wearing platforms. I was (still am) an oddball. I loved those shoes and though they were a little big I created a pad to put in the heel so that I could wear them. I kept them under my bed. When I left home I left them behind by mistake....they got thrown away....I have been searching for another pair ever since....
The puzzle brooches story - a couple of years ago an elderly gentleman was selling some of his things at a car boot. 'Oh could you not give this to someone in your family' I said. He had no family...this wooden puzzle clock was 20p - heartbreaking really. Half the pieces were missing (judicious photography here) so eventually I decided to make the removable pieces into brooches - one for a different time of the day and different seasons (I am quite busy 'brooch changing') !!! Today I will be wearing the 'beach' brooch!
Just dug out the older photos of previous incarnations that this cake stand has been used for!
Bronte purloined most of these badges to sew on to a top
The house is in a constant state of flux!
I have also used bits of old wooden Galt puzzles and made them into fridge magnets - I have a few old Galt puzzles...and a few old puzzles......another day perhaps...
Your house sounds a bit like mine!
ReplyDeleteI love those embroidered brooches -I have a two!
Julie xxxxxxxx
Sounds lovely Julie - I would love to see those brooches.
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
Aha now I know what you meant! I've not seen little mini garden brooches and yes you were quite right, I do need one to carry my garden around with me!
ReplyDeleteHow fabulous... and a great idea with the puzzles they look great and a good memory aid too...
I do like a brooch or two myself another thing to keep my eyes out for, a garden and I'd rather like an allotment one!
Oooo an allotment one sounds just super - I have some old 'blank' brooches that are waiting for an embroidery. Goodness me those stitches would need to be tiny. Lovely idea
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
Love those embroidered brooches. The clock puzzle pieces are just lovely!
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
Many thanks Liz - a use for tablecloth scraps too perhaps?
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
I have that clock puzzle complete - was rescued from my parents attic the other year when they had a good clear out. Love the idea of using incomplete puzzle pieces as brooches though but my puzzle is staying safely away from the glue gun!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed - glue gun not wanted if all is intact. I have become quiet steely over the years and but I would not break up something that was perfectly usable just as it was. It is a lovely puzzle indeed
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
Beautiful brooches and beautiful blog ... lovely to have found you ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteWelcome Bee - I will be popping round soon
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
I can remember Churches shoes - they were considered the next best thing to having bespoke shoes made as they didn't just have width fittings but also ankle fittings - I have feet like a duck - they are about as broad as any foot can get but when I was younger I had a very narrow ankle..I almost bought a pair of Churches in the 1980's and I can remember how they felt like a second skin.....sadly these days no one goes to that much detail.
ReplyDeleteI like the image of children making pretty tape...although in my mental image it doesn't end well.....ha haha
Sniff, sniff - oh those shoes....I had a look on Ebay after posting this and saw the cost of those shoes today!!! Goodness me they have gone up in price a bit! I too have extra wide feet (good for stability but useless for shoe fitting) - I always say to the children that I have to have shoes that are shaped like boats in order to accommodate...
DeleteHave a good day
Jenny
I have a bakelite box full of buckles - some vintage bakelite, others metal , others plastic. Any inspiration about projects for using some of them up?
ReplyDeleteDear Angela - I have made a little post with ideas and will post that soon. Hang on to them!
DeleteI think you should catalogue the 'entire' contents of your cupboards into a book...it would be a serious thrifters paradise! {and a hefty book to boot ;~)}
ReplyDeleteI love it all
Nicky
x
Aww rthank you Nicky - some cupboards are a sight to behold (you can interpret that a number of ways of course) - favourite being The Christmas Cupboard (in fact an old wardrobe), one or two bits in there...
DeleteI will be canvassing some publishers today and keep you posted ho ho!
Best wishes
Jenny
I love those old badges - I have loads on my guide Camp Blanket and put some French ones onto a handbag last year - lots of fun! It was the embroidered brooches that really caught my eye, though. I met a lady at my dad's church last Sunday who was wearing one and I complimented her on it. She told me a friend had bought it for her in Australia! It was black silk with flowers, in an ornate silver setting. Really lovely...
ReplyDeleteThat is really sweet Floss - I wish that I had a Camp Blanket, sounds delicious. The brooch sounds a real wonderment - I shall keep an eye out for one with a black background as I do think that black is a good setting for colour.
DeleteBest wishes Jenny
What a lovely collection, and such sweet stories! You really are a magpie aren't you! Your Sister knows you so well! Ada :)
ReplyDeleteMoi - Magpie!! I always thought that I was a careful curator of collectables...aka Magpie...
DeleteMany thanks Ada
Best wishes
Jenny
I have to say I have never seen embroidered brooches such as yours but perhaps I have been looking in the wrong places. They are certainly lovely. I am always buying brooches so I shall have to look out for these. The jigsaw piece brooches are a great idea.
ReplyDeleteMy sister gave me a present that I really loved too. It was my first training bra, size 30AAA!!!!!! Oh I loved it with its pretty turquoise flowers but I had to stuff it with tissues until I finally grew into it. Goodness knows where that memory came from! Philippa xx
Oh Philippa this made me roar with laughter - thank you for your bra tale. I think that this is what second hand, 'vintage' is all about don't you - just memories and 'ooo I remember that' type stuff. Happy bra memories!
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
Your brooches are so pretty, I love the jigsaw too
ReplyDeleteThea x
Welcome and many thanks Thea
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
All the embroidered brooches are so pretty - love the jigsaw ones too :)
ReplyDeletex
Lovely to meet you here Barbara - thank you again for your kind supportive words
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
I often see those old puzzles what a great idea to make them into brooches, I've never seen those embroidered brooches before thanks for sharing, Lucey x
ReplyDeleteOr fridge magnets can be good Lucey - I had too many of them so had to give some away in order to open the door! Ho ho! Will do a little posting on other uses eventually
DeleteBest wishes
Jenny
I feel strange when I read that Lemodade Kitty or other blog friends don't have any of those embroiredered brooches... I'm French (they're totally unknown here) and very proud that I have about 30 or 40. All bought on Ebay about 10 years ago... They are so cute pieces of past; and at the begining, I did not realised that some of them where not really hand embroidered but filled with Kensitas flowers... So it made me get interested in Kensitas silk woven flowers also... A nice add to any cartonnage or embroidered creation...
ReplyDeleteI sign for a B&B journey to Jenny's treasure chests!
Joyeux dimanche!
Amicalement,
Anne-Sophie
Goodness me that is a collection and a half Anne-Sophie!! I too love those Kensitas silk flowers - only last week a woman in front of me bagged a nice little collection of them for 3.99. I did not mind.....much!!!
DeleteThank you as always
Best wishes
Jenny