Today’s very quick pit stop at a charity shop yielded a few interesting vintage children’s books: We’d been to the Reddish Vale farm with my friend Emma and her girls; I spotted the Salvation Army shop on our way back so quickly found somewhere to park and persuaded the kids to come for a look….
Tag: Illustration
Fairies, toadstools and pirates…
I’ve always been an avid reader (although, having just written that sentence, I realise that I don’t think I’ve ever used the word ‘avid’ in conjunction with anything else. Avid dancer? No. Avid chef? No. Avid dog-walker? Definitely not. Avid reader: yes). When I was growing up, my absolute favourite books to read were anything…
Christmas Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker
When I was little, I loved the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker. I had a little book that was an alphabet drawn by her: one fairy for each letter and a little poem to go with it. I adored looking at the pictures and would spend hours copying the pictures of the beautiful little…
‘In a Pumpkin Shell’ – Joan Walsh Anglund
We bought this book of ‘In a Pumpkin Shell’ a couple of years ago. I think it came from a charity shop in Southwold, but I’m not one hundred per cent sure… we’ve got that many books, and have bought so many of the years that I can’t keep track of them all. I really loved…
Ladybird Picture Word Book
Last weekend, we had a look around the charity shops of Ashton-Under-Lyne. It’s one of our favourite towns for chazzer hunting as not only does it have lots of charity shops to look round but it also has a couple of fantastic veggie cafes to visit: the incomparable Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cafe and a new one…
Creepy Vintage Easter Cards
In Germany, they make a really big fuss around Easter; many homes hang little Easter eggs in their trees and gardens, and sending cards seems to be the thing to do. I don’t think I’ve ever sent an Easter card before, but it’s an excuse to get creative.Around each holiday or festival day, I love…
Best & Co Holiday and Travel Fashion Adverts: 1958
As we appear to be experiencing what is now becoming the customary January cold snap, why not dream of warmer climates by admiring these adverts from 1958? Featuring the cruise collection by Best & Co, these adverts show off some of the best of New York fashion from 1958; on a background of stylish, mid-century…
Vintage Ladybird Book: Cinderella 1964
Ladybird Book Cinderella 1964 – Front Cover Ladybird Books remind me of some of the happiest times of my childhood. Since an early age, I have been an avid reader; anything I can lay my hands on that can be read will be read. Much of this love of reading undoubtedly comes from the Ladybird…
Coby Whitmore – Mother Is a Movie Queen
I picked this up from the Post Office depot yesterday morning. Found on a fuzzy photograph on Ebay in America and costing me the grand total of seven dollars… it’s one of the stand-out images from Lifestyle Illustrations of the ’60s and I’m just a little bit excited about having my own copy. ‘Mother is a…
Vintage Illustrations: Pleasant Fieldmouse’s Halloween Party
It’s a spectacularly rainy day here in Devon, so we decided to take a trip to Totnes. Unfortunately, the pickings were fairly slim in the town’s charity shops. However, we did find this little gem and after some deliberation (and yummy veggie food at the Willow cafe), I decided to buy it: I got thoroughly…
SM Kriminalroman Book Cover Art
When we were in Germany the last time, we visited this amazing fleamarket in Cologne (I think it was Cologne… it could have been somewhere else…); anyway, it was amazing – bit more expensive but had a fantastic array of mid century design, 60s objects and just generally some impressive looking stuff for us to…
Gerry Fancett: Romantic Illustrations
Before I bring on the beautiful images, I should tell you I’ve really struggled to find any information on Gerry Fancett. I just can’t believe that an artist, a fantastic illustrator, who was so prolific and created such beautiful images can disappear from the public consciousness with half a century. It seems a little strange…
Little Owl Ski 