YELLOW BIRD PLATE

It's got a bird; a yellow bird. It's a plate. Maybe Italian? I couldn't resist. €2 in the VdeP in Athlone :)

The painting was an eBay find that I had framed locally.
I love its lush brightness, it makes me happy.

TOAST RACK

Latest Athlone find: a heavy, silver-plated toast rack. €1.

Before

After a little polish-up with a silver cloth

ATHLONE CHARITY SHOP

I know I always say it, but we have the best charity shops in the Midlands - a great variety of stuff, genuinely old and vintage and pretty objects, along with handcrafted things. And they are cheap.

If you haven't already gathered, blue, yellow and red are my favourite colours. Here are two recent blue and yellow Athlone finds:

Hand knitted tea-cosy - €2

Iceland mug - 50c

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: