Vintage Treasures found In Stratford upon Avon

I am excited to show you dear Reader, the treasures I found in Stratford upon Avon last weekend.  We were staying there to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary.  You can see from my last post what we did and what a lovely time it was.

 

So, Welcome to Gloriously Vintage today. Let’s have a look at the treasures together.

 

There are a lot of charity shops in Stratford upon Avon which have many items of excellent quality.  We were able to walk into the town centre from our hotel and browse in a leisurely fashion!  There is always a frisson of anticipation about what I will find when shopping!  This hunting out is enormous fun and the pleasure in finding something lovely builds into the item as a happy memory!

 

Do you, dear Reader, relish this hunting out like I do?

Yes, I found a gorgeous silk scarf.  I used all the tips from my post on finding silk scarves in charity shops.  It was displayed in the centre of the shop draped over a handbag.  I asked to see it so I could feel if it was silk and assess the size.

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It is Italian silk and is a large square.  The tones are excellent for S/S and the colours on the flowers will make it possible to wear with a red jacket.  I am looking forward to making some outfits with this scarf when I get out my S/S wardrobe.

I will be posting about the big changeover soon!

 

I could not resist this Phase Eight occasion handbag. It is elaborately beaded and will add to my evening bags collection.  The new labels are still attached.  I was able to buy it for a saving of two thirds the price of new – quite a bargin!

For me the S/S is most marked by wearing my white and cream shoes that come out in May, weather permitting.  This little bag will go with them or be a contrast with blue or possibly red shoes.  It will also go with pearls well.

I found this pretty toilet bag for a couple of pounds in the same shop.  The Phase Eight bag fits inside so it can be stored to protect the beading.

 

 

Collecting brooches is something I enjoy very much.

I bought these two unmarked ones because I thought how good they would look pinned onto a fabric handbag.  This idea is something I am putting into practise more and more.  The red eyes attracted me; however there are a couple of missing stones.  I have a marvellous local Jeweller, to whom I take all my repairs.  These small diamante stones are easily replaced, and render the broach as good as new.  The feather brooch is a lovely bright gold colour and being smooth will sit well with a scarf.

In another shop this brooch appealed greatly because of the combination of pearls and diamante.  It is not too heavy and will definitely work pinned onto an evening bag.

What do you think?  This little bag is very plain and the ruched fabric is good background to set off brooches of various sizes and designs.  I thought these two would go together.

 

There is an interesting Antiques Centre on Ely Street, made up of many different units all selling a myriad of items.  Having a good root around found me a lovely KIGU heart shaped powder compact for my collection.

As it was my Wedding Anniversary weekend it seemed wholly appropriate to have the compact to remember this lovely time!

I was delighted to see the design was called “Cherie”.  The photgraph on the left shows the KIGU mark.  These compacts have a particular feel.  They are slim and fit perfectly into the hand with a sense of balance.  In other words they are just right when you hold one.  I also collect other makes of compacts, but KIGU are very special and are really my favourites.

 

This “set” was bought from two different shops.  It will go with some of the pieces I have in my diamante set featured at the end of this previous post on Creating jewellery sets to make your clothes look wonderful, Part 1.   This bracelet is different to my other stretch diamante ones and I am looking forward to wearing it soon.

 

And now for something completely different!

 

This cobalt blue eyebath from Optrex dating from the 1950’s appealed to me.  They were originally given away with bottles of eyewash solution.  A vintage glass one is nicer to use than a modern plastic one.  My mother has a clear glass, stemmed eyebath that dates from the 1930’s.  It belonged to my Grandmother.

Could this be the start of another collection?  Time will tell.

I was so thrilled to find this oval dressing table tray.

It is moulded glass, but fine enough not to look too heavy and thick.  It has a pie crust fluted edge and is just what I have been searching for.  It is c.1930’s -1950’s.  It will have pride of place on the chest of drawers in our bedroom, and will replace the glass sandwich tray that has been pretending to be a dressing table tray for the last 3 years!

 

We always take some music with us, so I felt happy to buy these two CD’s to add to our weekend choices.  At 60, I have at last discovered Frank Sinatra!  With his centenary celebrations I have watched marvellous programmes about his life and careers both in film and of course singing.  He is now one of my firm favourites.  “Come Fly with Me” is a track I love.

Some seriously great singers on Love for sale.

 

Last, but by no means least, three wonderful named brooches from Razzle-Dazzle a lovely Vintage shop in the courtyard of the Ely Street Antiques Centre.  Angela Paskin has a comprehensive and interesting selection of handbags and jewellery, well worth a visit.

Left, brooch marked Christian Dior 1965, centre, Exquisite pearl and gold tone brooch, possibly made in the Solihull Factory in the 1950’s – 1970’s and right, a Monet brooch.  This link will take you to an interesting history of Monet Costume Jewellery.

This black handbag could take more than one brooch to change it completely.  Brooches are so useful.  They do not have to be worn just on a coat lapel!  Once you start to think creatively there are many possibilities – but that is another story.

 

It’s been great fun showing you these treasures.  If you have had some wonderful finds do get in touch and leave me a comment.

 

Thank you for visiting Gloriously Vintage,

I  hope we can meet again.