Lucky Finds - Escorial Grun Aviation themed bottle

Today we went to one of my favourite flea markets ... we haven't been in over a year so it was really nice to have a wonder round. Now that we have a house - we can start looking at kitting it out with nice accessories - for example nice vintage coat hooks and stands and other such stuff. We didn't buy any though - it was more of a reconnaissance mission. (We also had the added insentive that the Dommakes were there selling off some of the vintage china and lampshades they had collected for their wedding).

But something I did find - and buy, as it was such a good price - was this vintage Escorial Grun bottle - in an aviation theme! Escorial Grun is a German herbal liquer manufactured by a company called Riemerschmid from Munich and back in the day (60s/70s?) they used to come in these beautiful ceramic bottles. I first came across them here, and have been looking for one ever since. The aviation ones are fairly rare - and being surrounded by aviation enthusiasts, I was really chuffed to have found this ... its BEAUTIFUL :)

And, erm, I also bought a couple of wicker baskets and a suitcase for my selection of sewing/knitting/etc stuff ... I'm starting on a 6 week knitting course (with one half of the Dommakes) in a few weeks and I need a "handbag" to carry my needles and wool ... of course ;)

Lucky Finds - Carlton Ware guards money boxes part 2

I haven't done one of my "lucky finds" posts in a while so here you have a new one... Remember my Carlton Ware guards money boxes from last year? Well, I did manage to find the other two ... See Mr Policeman and Mr Scotsguard. They look really great all together the four of them.

I had planned to display them in Little Wind's nursery when he arrived - but it was not to be. They still live temporarily on a window sill - but hopefully with all the house re-decorating going on, they will find a good spot to be admired from.

Lucky Finds - Hornsea Bird Ashtrays

My two Hornsea bird ashtrays (although sometimes referred to as spoon rests). I absolutely love the simple graphics designed by John Clappison. Clappison did lots of other designs for Hornsea including owl/cat/fish cruet sets and these bird ashtrays. As far as I know, there is one more design that is a chicken. As much as I'd love to have the cruet sets too - I'm restricting myself to the birds (and they have to be in blue!)... for the time being ;)

Lucky Finds - Nymolle Hoyrup Art Faience Dish and Cup

Some of my favourite finds - a vintage limited edition Nymolle of Denmark little dish and matching little cup (slightly larger than a shot glass size) designed by Paul Hoyrup illustrating a lovely little scandinavian habour sceen ... I've not found out much about Hoyrup but all the stuff he did for Nymolle is Adorable!

Lucky Finds - Carlton Ware guards money boxes

I can't remember where I first came across these, but my heart was immediately smitten. A year of hunting has resulted in two of these gorgeous vintage Carlton Ware ceramic money boxes - a Cold Stream Guard and a Beefeater. I would love to find the other two - a policeman (Bobby) and a Scots Guardsman - am still on the lookout for them. Wouldn't they look fab in a kids' room? They currently sit on the window sill behind my desk, protecting my unruly pile of stationary. One day they will have pride of place on their own shelves.