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I know those of you in the UK can probably hear Harry Hill in your head when reading the title (I can hear it myself!) but it did seem right under the circumstances!
As you may know, if you have been reading my blog for a while, I have a thing for tins - I love tins, old & new, & Mr C says I'd buy anything if it was in a tin!
I love that in days gone by the tin was just as important as the contents & remember those special biscuit, chocolate & toffee tins that we would get at Christmas.
Nowadays, it seems they are mostly generic with just a picture of the contents on the lid....all except good old M&S, who come up with some fabulous tins every Christmas so I am always tempted to buy them. I have noticed that they seem to be having 'specials' every week, selling a particular tin of biscuits at half price, so how could I resist?
Two weeks ago I bought the Gingerbread Man tin below which is filled with mini Gingerbread men.
Last week it was this super musical Woodland biscuit tin - it winds up underneath & the inside layer moves around while playing a tune - it is filled with mini white chocolate chip cookies.
I thought I'd let you all know as I'm sure lots of you would like these too - I wonder which tin is half price this week? I have my eye on a rather lovely one in the shape of a shelf of vintage children's books.....will keep you up to date!!
A bit of retail therapy certainly does you good & I have to admit to feeling quite pleased with my latest purchases so I thought I'd share them with you here. Don't you just love the red polka dot cardigan? From Tesco of all places!
Last weekend Mr Cottage & I attended our favourite giant flea market & came home with a desk! We have quite a large lounge & sometimes a large room can be difficult to arrange in a cosy fashion, so even though we have 3 sofas, two display cupboards, a tallboy, a coffee table & 3 side tables, plus the TV, we have an empty space between the sofa & the front window. I have always thought that it was the perfect spot for a desk so have been on the lookout for one for years - not actively searching, just looking until the right one came along which it did on Sunday!
It is made of oak & probably from the 1930's & what I love is that it has a label inserted into the back informing us that it was the property of the Essex Education Dept. So, it's an old school teacher's desk - it is solidly build - wood all the way around, and has signs of years of use including scratches & dings in the wood & ink stains in the drawers. The dealer we bought it from was from Cornwall so it's certainly travelled around! It looks perfect tucked under the window & I have the perfect chair for it which I've owned for about 25 years but needs a little TLC....
will have to get around to that now.
Of course a desk needs a bit of stationary & I have to admit to being slightly addicted to notebooks - how many notes I think I need to make I have no idea, but I just love them & my latest addition is the charming Ladybird one - just right for me don't you think? 
I fear Mr Cottage is going all retro-kitsch on me - look what he fell in love with & bought at the same fair......
Of course, if one is going to do a bit of retail therapy & one sews, then crafty supplies must be on the agenda - I couldn't resist these bells from Paperchase - perfect for Christmas.....
Plus a few more fat quarters to add to my ever growing stash (please don't remind me that some of the fabrics in my stash have been there for 20 years & I've not used them yet!)
Another few recent treasures are this cute tin - ideal for pins - and the Union Jack pincushion from Cath Kidston - the reds look good together don't they? The little flag you can see was discovered in a bag of old sewing goodies.
And finally, I wanted to introduce a few doggy friends who will be accompanying me to the Vintage & Handmade Fair in just a few weeks time!
I think I'd better hide my purse & credit card away for a few weeks now!
I just couldn't resist these lovely patchworky shoes when I saw them! I have to admit to having a "thing" for shoes, but not usually ones with heels - I like to be comfortable! I also love boots & probably have far too many of them.
Miss Cottage is a handbag girl & seems to have a million or two draped all around her bedroom. I tend to stick to one good leather one (I don't want to keep swapping purses & things over) & have a variety of shopping tote bags & baskets that I take out with me as well.
So, are you a shoe girl or a bag girl? Or both?
I thought I'd let you all know as I'm sure lots of you would like these too - I wonder which tin is half price this week? I have my eye on a rather lovely one in the shape of a shelf of vintage children's books.....will keep you up to date!!
