Pin it!

This is just a short post to say that you can now follow me on Pinterest! I am actually getting quite addicted to it - I have so many pictures of quirky designs or great antiques saved all over my computer, it is great to be able to put them all in the same place! So, here is my Pinterest page:

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have a Pinterest profile! I always enjoy seeing other people's collections of pictures :)

Ally's Antiques "About" page

Oh, My! I now have an 'About' page on my Etsy shop. It feels a bit egocentric... but well, if you want to check it up, you can see it here:

Don't hesitate to tell me what you think of it! Any suggestion to make it more interesting would be most welcome.


Thank you :-)

New treasury: The Raven and the Girl

I am quite proud of this one! Some beautiful finds here.
It's a bit goth and dark - quite a good reflection of today's weather in Oxford!

Parachute425 $30.00	retropage $15.00	ROSEWORX $35.00	DecouDermy $65.00
tatteredpearls $8.50	LeAtelierPrint... $9.95	Tshirt99 $19.99	moonbeam0999 $78.00
AnneOfManyArts $7.50	dalichic $145.00	zylamaes $16.00	Inklinks $30.00
PoPkO $68.00	ElizaAngelVint... $19.95	PhatDog $2400.00	thephotocube $2.50

British Royal Memorabilia and Commemorative ware

After getting infected by a nasty virus and having to fight with Google and Hotmail for a while, I finally got my account back and can write again on my blog! (victory!!!!)

I know the Jubilee celebrations have ended and it feels a bit late to write a post about British royal memorabilia... but after making this great find, I just couldn't let it go:

Described in a book about British glass as a 'tumbler acid-etched with a portrait of Queen Alexandra, 1902'.

I found this piece in a thrift shop for a ridiculous price - I had to have it! I am not usually a great fan of royal memorabilia, but this tumbler made me realise that older pieces can be quite interesting. 

There are many advantages to collecting royal memorabilia: it is (usually) cheap, it has an obvious historical interest and it is sooo easy to find new pieces. 2012 being the Jubilee year, it is also incredibly trendy. The Queen's profile and the Union Jack seem to be everywhere these days! More than the royal family, collecting these items is a celebration of Britishness. *wink*

Here is a selection of some memorabilia I came across on Etsy. Start your own collection too with these great pieces:

Jubilee wall hanging from 1977 by Muntjacvintage, £10.

 ... So romantic ^^:

Royal Wedding Heart Limited Edition Print by Glynwestdesign, £25.

...An original modern piece that I absolutely love:

Diamond Jubilee Alternative Commemorative Plate by Katiejspragg, £25.

...Because we always enjoy a bit of kitsch:

Clarice Cliff Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Plate by Thymekatchers, $30.

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Commemorative Tea Set by Taffyandcinnamons, £30.

...a Union Jack flag because you can't celebrate Britishness without one:

Antique British Union Jack Parade Flag by SplendidJunk, $65.

...And finally, for a (slightly) more expensive price:

King William IV and Queen Adelaide Coronation Bowl by TabletopTreasure, $1000.

So, what do you think? Did you start your own collection during the Jubilee celebrations or you just want to get rid of the kitsch royal memorabilia your grandma gave you? Let us know what you think in the comments below ;-)

Repurpose Heaven

I hope everybody is enjoying their extended Easter weekend! For me, it is an opportunity to do some DIY and repurposing - not very successfully, I must admit! However, even if my attempts have failed, it has inspired me to take a look at  'proper' repurposing - and I must say, these people are geniuses! These ideas are great and beautiful in their own way:

Beautiful chandelier made of milk plastic crates by Made. Picture from Apartment Therapy. 

 Love the quirkiness of this fish tank fitted in an old tv! Picture from Aquahobby.

Such a gorgeous idea: a desk made of books! Made by the Architecture students at Delft University of Technology. More pictures at Inventorspot.

Grace from Poetic Home gave a new lease of life to this antique horse carriage and the result is stunning!

Unique furniture with a twist: repurposed suitcases by SalvageShack (etsy shop)

Such a simple but pretty idea: using spoons as wall storage hooks! From Country Home.

Love this one: an old dresser turned into a home garden! Instructions by Kate on Shelterness.

And here is a new Etsy treasury I just did with some great other repurposed items! Enjoy ;-)

ElizabethSt $58.00	Artistique $62.00	lightexture $115.00	daimblond $12.00
JeanRameyArt $20.00	reeveswilliam $26.00	SaveTheBarns $42.00	redelephantsto... $9.00
SwedishGuyDesi... $145.00	TheDoorStop $56.00	Artistique $46.00	electricheirlo... $285.00
TRWpainted $26.00	twostringjane $54.00	RusticDuck $100.00	WhiteWeathered... $20.00

What do you think about repurposed items? Have you ever tried yourself? Please share in the comments below ;-)