HIBERNIAN ANTIQUES FAIR BUY(S)

We went to the Hibernian Antiques Fair in Tullamore on Sunday. I was in lousy form - a combi of sinus infection and book stress. I was searching for certain things, but no one had what I wanted and it all seemed a bit overpriced anyway. I passed by something sweet I might have ordinarily bought, but the humour wasn't on me.

I did spy these two blue and white cats, though. And the lovely man sold them to me for €4 the pair (probably the cheapest thing there...). They are not pretty, bless them, and they are not marked. I did wonder why I bothered, but since I put them on the dresser, they're really growing on me :)

A CHINESE POT

I was in Shanghai last month but the only markets I saw sold mass-produced tat. I managed to buy a blue and white ceramic pot full of tea leaves at the airport on the way home (while very wobbly with food poisoning) but otherwise, not much. But why go to China when you can go to your local charity shop?? This wee pot showing fishing baby buddhas was €2 today in my hometown. Sweet :)

And here it is with a buddha from a Lisbon
flea market who sits beside my bed.

THE STOREYARD - AGAIN!

I blogged about The Storeyard before, a great antiques and vintage shop in Portlaoise. We stopped by there yesterday on the way to visit friends in lovely Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford. It's as fabulously eclectic as ever. And as pricey. We wanted to go to the café but it was closed - waaaaah. Still it meant we discovered somewhere new in Portlaoise - The Pantry. Fab choc chip scones. Fab pear and vanilla scones. Yum.

This is new: a lucky dip table for charity.
You pop money in the box and take your pick...

...my pick: a Japanese plate. The most 'me' thing there:
it's blue, red and it has a bird. Love it. 

Juno found it cold so I shawled her into my scarf

Half of each: choc chip & pear and vanilla scones. In The Pantry, Portlaoise.

Beautiful Tinnabearna Strand in Wexford

XMAS TABLE 2015

We have a new dining space - a sunroom extension built onto our kitchen. It's light and bright and we loved eating our dinner there today, it gave a new dimension to the festivities. I couldn't resist blue, white and silver again this year, but with a touch of yellow and brass.

My blue is a chinoiserie tablecloth I bought in Boston in April as well as some Carrigaline striped plates and saucers bought in the local charity shops here in Ballinasloe. The brass napkin rings were six for €3 in the VdeP this week, the napkins are from Aldi (or Lidl?) and the cocktail peacocks are from Penneys. The glass candle holders on the saucers were €1 each in Angie's Attic.

Placeholders were a Christmas pressie today from my big sis, Maeve - perfect!

THIS YEAR'S XMAS TABLE

I did a post on eight years of Xmas tables in November when trying to decide on this year's look. I went with the blue and white in the end, as you can see. I bought some new blue tealight holders in Dunnes Stores, Penneys and the Euro 2 shop; I used two old blue Mason jars I already own. Some fake snow, pine cones and a new runner with bird embroidery from TK Maxx. I have the EPNS tray yonks. The huge plates were a great Athlone charity shop purchase some years ago. I was happy with how it all turned out.

SALE-OF-WORK PURCHASES

There is a sale-of-work on today and tomorrow in the local boys' secondary school, Garbally College, which has the most beautiful grounds - secluded, rolling parkland and ancient trees.

I didn't buy much. A DVD for my youngest and these two lovely bits pictured below,a bowl and a brooch. Two of my favourite things: blue and white ceramics and vintage costume jewelry (in red!!).

I HAVE THE BLUES

I keep meaning to do a blue and white post. I am obsessed with blue and white china, porcelain, pottery and glass. I will pretty much hoover up anything that is blue and white. This is a long-standing love inspired by my parents who have always collected blue and white, especially Cornishware and its Irish sister, Carrigaline.

To be honest there needs to be no white involved for me to buy something. If it's not red in my house, it is generally blue.

I've said before about the monster bargains to be had in the charity shops where I live. I got the Wade Irish Porcelain jug and sugar bowl (jug pictured left) for 50 cent each today. The blue plate they are standing on cost €1 (English Petal Ware) - also found today. It goes nicely with the Johnson Bros jug and bowl bought previously. The gold rimmed jug is Polish and I picked it up in a charity shop in Westmeath ages ago. The blue Mason jar behind was a swap with my mother - she gave me two jars for a vase I had. The advantage of being related to collectors...

Every so often I say, 'Enough is enough!' - the walls are closing in here - but then I get back out there and start buying again. Like I say, obsessed. I blame the parents.