It's The Little Things

It's not just finding flamboyant frocks and rare vintage pieces that make secondhand shopping so thrilling, it's the everyday items that might not be exactly exciting but to prove to be hero pieces, the perfect thing to pull an outfit together or which tick off the must try and look for one of those list forever growing in my head.

This 1970s Alpnani number, which I wore yesterday, is pretty special already but the silver plated torque I found on eBay (£4.99 including postage) proved to be the perfect length for the kaftan's neckline and looks a damned sight better than the old leather shoelace I usually thread my Indian pendants through.

It's given my entire collection a whole new lease of life.

These are the second pair from Clarks' Orinoco range of boots I've scored in just over a month, absurdly comfy as the previous owner has gone to the trouble of wearing them in and, at less than a tenth of the current retail price, an irresistible bargain. 

I know I could get loads more in my wardrobe if I used velvet hangers but prefer pretty vintage padded coat hangers, they're kinder on delicate fabrics and they stop me trying to cram too much in my wardrobe allowing plenty of space between dresses, so my clothes don't get creased in between wears. These three, painstakingly sewn by hand, were £1 from the charity clearance shop.

Now, if like me, you're a fan of see-thru' gauzy cotton dresses, a flesh coloured slip is pretty much the Holy Grail of charity shop finds and what better than a vintage version to go under my vintage frocks? This 1960s nylon number is by St Michael (Marks and Spencer's in-house label, phased out in the 1990s) and not only does it fit perfectly but also eliminates the need for a bra - £1 well spent!

Here's what I wore today, one of a growing collection of vintage Afghan dresses, my 1960s Go-Go boots and the plum fedora I bought recently. Liz gave me the silver Hindu goddess belt buckle for my birthday a few years ago but I rarely wore it as I didn't have the right belt. Now I do! It was originally part of a Brownie uniform (the original owner's name is written inside) and is the perfect width to accommodate the buckle. 50p from the charity clearance shop.

Here's an item I ticked off the imaginary must try and look out for one those list, a butter dish.
 We've been using a cracked Melamine butter dish for years, no way would either of us contemplate going to a shop and buying something new knowing the right thing would turn up eventually. For £3 I couldn't leave this slightly ridiculous piece behind. It's by Beswick (formed in 1894 just up the road from us in Stoke-on-Trent) and from their 1950s Dancing Days collection. After a Google when I got home I discovered a cracked one listed on Etsy for sale at £35! While I'm not a fan of 1950s fashion I do have a weakness for the kitschy ceramics of the period.

I didn't really need another 1960s genie bottle but I've collected them for years and when they're under a fiver I never say no. I've found both the grey and the amber one in the last fortnight (£3.50 and £2 respectively).

 I didn't need a V&A Museum 1000 piece jigsaw featuring a Victorian doll's house either, but I bought it anyway!

Other small things making me happy this week...

The vet was pleased with Frank's progress when we took him for a check-up and yesterday, for the first time in a month, he was allowed a supervised trip into the garden.

As always, under the watchful eye of Stonecroft's alpha male, 15 year-old Stephen (aka Squirrel).

 Taking Frank into the garden was like introducing a kitten to the wonders of the outside world for the first time, he had to sniff everything and growled at Jon when he picked him up and brought him in after his allotted time.

Now he's had a taste for outdoors he's like a cat possessed. He's sitting next to me while I'm writing this blog post, staring at me and crying so pitifully I've had to play Michael Kiwanuka at full blast (no bad thing) to drown him out.

Not such a small thing either. After almost ten days of hand feeding his appetite's returned with avengeance and as well as a liberal sprinkling of prawns he's eating his way through cooked ham and three sachets of Felix a day. Already a big cat at 5.5kg, he'll be the size of a horse at this rate! 

They drive me daft when they insist on getting me up at 6am but I do love my boys!

Wednesday evenings are the best - rum, cola and The Apprentice. I think that Thomas might be my all-time favourite contestant. 

See you soon and Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!