XMAS TABLES OVER EIGHT YEARS

I've just started to think about my Christmas table - what colours will I use? What candles on which candleabra? So I thought it would be fun to look back over a few years worth of tables. I'm liking the winter white theme of two years ago. Might be worth trying again. Maybe with a touch of blue.

Xmas 2006 - 1st Xmas in our house

Xmas 2007

Xmas 2008

Xmas 2009

Xmas 2010

Xmas 2011

Xmas 2012

Xmas 2013

DEER HEAD - AT LAST!!

I have been coveting deer heads since I was a child. I finally have one that suits the modest proportions of my house. It's wooden, beautifully made. I'll save the real stag until I get the dream house. Anyway, here it is:

I bought it at my beloved Lynn Antiques in Athlone for €100. I went in to buy a book case (got one!) and came out with this too. Irresistible. Made in Europe, apparently. There was still wood dust from the carving on it when I bought it and I imagined some lovely man in Bavaria whittling away in his Lederhosen...

And while I'm at it, here is the bookcase. At last a replacement for a hideously ancient Atlantic Homecare number:

NAIRN PURCHASES

Oh Scotland, Scotland, how I love you. And your fabulous charity shops. I was in Nairn recently (I litblogged it here) and, naturally, I hit the charity shops. These were my finds:

Charles and Di cup - £1

Filigree brooch - £1.49

Caithness paperweight- £20

Handmade tea cosy by Jill Laurillard - £3

VIENNA FINDS

I am just back from a short story conference in Vienna. It's a posh, upmarket city but I managed a trip to the Saturday flea market and to Humana, a secondhand shop on Alserstrasse, near our lovely airbnb apartment. My purchases were modest, but lovely:

My €4 plastic-nobbled, vintage evening bag,
which I used at our reading night at the Irish Embassy

The Saturday flea at Naschmarkt, Vienna

BEFORE: Last year in Spain I bought a silver ID bracelet for €5
at a market. I got this one 'Albert' at Vienna's flea, also €5

AFTER: 'Albert' after I had given him a rub with a silver cloth.
I dipped him since home and he's even nicer now :)

And though she is not vintage, I bought this little Swarovski lady in a department store. You can't go to Austria and leave without Swarovski. Her name is Vinnie and she is bringing me luck already :)

GLASGOW FIND

A trip to the UK is not complete for me without a dander into the charity shops. Their shops are so well-stocked and the prices are always great. I was in Glasgow last week and, though it was a flying visit, I managed a peek into a few shops.

For this princely sum:

I bought this beautiful watercolour of a cottage:

High Mills near Tain by Janet C. Kennedy

VINTAGE TEA TOWELS - ETSY SHOP

My poor neglected blog. Life is just too full on at the mo for much vintage-purchases blogging. Of course I continue to buy!

Today I bought a pile of vintage Irish tea towels and have put most of them up for sale in my Etsy shop, JunoRetro. I may live in one of the sleepiest places in Ireland but, boy, it has good charity shops!

Duck. Doll. Swan.

I just can't believe the last time I posted here was June - arrggh! Between three trips to the USA and two novels to get to bed, I have been flat out. But I have been photographing and buying and I keep meaning to post my finds here. Anyway, one quick pic to rectify the neglect:

Duck. Doll. Swan.

Three finds from three separate places. Duck egg-cup: 50 cent in an Athlone charity shop. Porcelain doll (stamped Japan on the rear) $9 from an antiques shop in Amherst, Massachusetts. Blue swan, 50 cent from one of the Ballinasloe charity shops.