Last sunday we decided was going to be the day for starting to clear out granny's attic....and as the rain had set in for the day it seemed like a good decision.......my lovely mother in law died a few years ago, and my father in law a few years before, but my hb's auntie has been living in the house since then and only recently has moved to a suitable flat.....so now the sorting out has begun for us.......
.......so many memories..... i bought a special box last week to store the letters and cards that we want to keep and to treasure....on sunday we found lots of wonderful old toys ....mr p was delighted to revisit his childhood memories though some of the toys are older than him so must have been passed on through family or friends...
....i love the patterns and illustrations on these tin toys.....the spinning top, the sweetie tin, a little tank which rolls over and over when wound up, and a wind up musical box ......i really love all these!
..........there are lots of pieces of china too, like the rosy ones in the top picture which look nice on my dresser along with my new ck set , they all blend in so well.....my mother in law was a really sweet and kind person, everyone loved her and lots of the old letters show that too....she loved people, animals (especially dogs), and flowers...lots and lots of flowers....she liked to put tiny posies around the house and i like to do the same.....
....clearing out a house of our parents' generation usually means finding a lot of cutlery, especially sets of fish knives and forks....every one had them in those days.....along with lots of other unidentifiable items of cutlery...a piece for every possible use it seems....i have had the silvo out to polish some of them up, and will share them out with our girls to keep and use if they'd like to..........lots of pretty embroidered napkins too :)..........
.............there were so many wonderful vintage and retro cards that as a designer of surface patterns it was quite a treasure trove for me......below is a classic rose card.....but when opened up.............
......it has a whole paper engineered 3d bouquet of roses looking so bright and fresh still..........
..........we are about half way through getting the attic cleared out, so still lots to do next weekend........
.......i had a look in the farmer's wife quilt blocks to see if i had anything to fit in with today's theme of granny's attic....and i found this one....it's called attic windows :)
..........thank you for calling in to see me here today, it's lovely to see you, and thank you to my lovely new followers too...........i hope you have a wonderful week and that the sun comes out for you :) back soon xxxxx
54 comments:
so many lovely treasures and precious memories xxx
What beautiful finds - such gorgeous things for you to treasure xx
It's great that these beautiful things will continue to be used and loved. XX
What wonderful treasures and memories for you and you family.
Victoria xx
A poignant post filled with such pretty treasures. How beautiful is that card?
Hx
What lovely things, they must bring back so many memories for your family,
Helenxx
What wonderful treasures. I remember a similar spinning top I had in the 60's. xx
How lovely to find all those treasures and to bring back so many happy memories Helen. Your MIL sounded a very special lady, as mine was. The sun finally came out here this afternoon..let's hope it lasts. Have a great week,
Jane x
Мы становимся старше,некоторые эпизоды из детства забываются,а вот такие вещи возращают нас в далекое детство и мы снова становимся счастливыми,как в те далекие дни!Какие прекрасные находки!Поздравляю!
Such gorgeous treasures & such a touching post x x
lovely post Helen. Those toys are such a visual treat! I 'inherited' a full cutlery set from my Mum recently - it's amazing, knives for every occasion! (literally)
Nicer day round these parts today wasn't it? bout time!
fee x
Such an event tugs at my heart. I hope that when those I love are going through my belongings, they will treasure and cherish them as you have done so. :o) You have such pretty additions to your home that will be enjoyed for many years to come. :o)
Wonderful treasures, I wonder what stories they tell?
Julie xxxxxxxxx
What lovely things you have inherited!...to be appreciated,loved and treasured now,and in the years to come.Thank you for sharing.
Love Bellaboo X
Brought back memories for me too ... the spinning top was very like one I had. Hope that doesn't make me as old as that sounds! I think it says a lot about the blocks that they seem to reflect life so well!
ahh what a lovely post and so full of wonderful treasures and memories. Those little toys are delightful and the crockery so pretty and girly. She sounds like a lovely lady and her memory will live in your hearts for ever, dee x
Such lovely treasures Helen, I especially love the china. The little pink dish is very pretty!
I too have a box of cutlery that belonged to my parents and they did have knives, forks and spoons for every occasion, didn't they!!
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Vivienne x
Hello sweet Helen! I always love visiting you and seeing your beautiful, cheerful photos and projects! The creamer full of posies is so pretty. I love roses and flowers! I am so sorry to hear your mother in law and father in law passed away. How wonderful you were able to go through and sort out all her wonderful treasures. I can imagine the happy memories associated with each item. The box you purchased to store the letters and cards in is perfect and the toys are truly amazing! The illustrations and graphics are so charming and something that sadly, is not seen today. I am so glad you have these, as I know you treasure them and will enjoy having them displayed in your beautiful home! I love all of the gorgeous rosy china! Your mother in law sounds like such a lovely and kind person. I think you and her have a lot in common dear Helen! The cutlery and napkins are wonderful and the cards are stunning! I am so happy you have these pretties to remember her by and to enjoy. Your attic windows quilt block is so sweet and sewn perfectly! It fits right in with "granny's attic!" Thank you for sharing all these vintage pretties and for your very lovely comment! You are so sweet! I hope you have a wonderful week and the sun will come out soon. I wish I could send you some! Love, Paula xo
Helen, I can tell what a sweet person she was by her collections, such tenderness there. How lovely that you will watch over them for her.....
xx
julie
Those tin toys are gorgeous Helen. I have a few I've collected but nothing as wonderful as those. Sadly my grandparents were more inclined to give stuff away than store it and my parents are the same. I doubt there will be any treasures to find when they pass on. Enjoy the memories x
The 'clearing of the attic' is almost a rite of passage for our generation isn’t it? I have quite a few of those lovely cards from one parent top the other. My parents are in their 90s but as I blog about their memories quite a lot, the cards occasionally appear in the posts. That sweetioe tin a has a familiarity about it; I’m sure I had a similar one - any clue on the bottom as to what it contained?
Hi Helen!! What beautiful treasures to have and cherish!! I love the tin toys, and beautiful rose card!! Have a wonderful week, too!! xo Heather
What wonderful toys and treasures! I'm glad that you are planning to keep a lot of these things in your family. I was the only one interested in getting my grandparents things when they died and I cherish all of it!
You can tell that such lovely treasures belonged to a special person. You are blessed to have known such a sweet lady, and lucky to have inherited such personal treasures! xoxo Debbie
Oh wow, Helen.. how fun to find such bright and fun treasures! It's like shopping in an antique store! Thanks for sharing them with us, and I'm sure your daughters will enjoy the family heirlooms you'll share with them. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
I adore your finds. What a treasure trove of an attic.
Sx
Hai trovato dei veri tesori, i giochi e tutto il resto, sono splendidi.
Maddalena
its lovely to sort through and remember happy times throughout their lives and keeping keepsakes to remember them by...i love the vintage toys- the colours and brights of them are joyful. my gramps died a few years back and my mother sorted out all nannys treasures...she was a tailor before the war started then worked in a factory to help with war stuff to be packaged. My twinny was given her singer sewing machine on original table and i was given her beautiful wooden 3 tier sewing box...my mother also sorted through her vast collection of china and kitchen wares. I have a lot of her pretty china wares and love them as we always had tea in a cup and saucer...happy memories ;0)xxxx
What lovely treasures, those old toys are fabulous! Lots of memories for you and Mr P but it must be a little comfort to know that her things will be loved and used and remembered for years to come. That rose card is wonderful - I love the 3d bouquet inside, and the colours are still so vivid! Have a nice rest of the week, Jenny x
So many wonderful treasures Helen...The memory box is perfect to save your cards and letters and the toys are fabulous...they just don't make them like this anymore, do they?
Your china finds are beautiful and the vintage cards so pretty and inspiring for your work...
Hope you are having a happy week and the sun is shining...we finally are having a sunny morning here!
Susan x
What lovely finds....though it's always sad clearing out homes, it's like reading the last chapter of the book.
Hope you have a happy week.
Fleur xx
Hello Sweet Helen, What lovely and memorable treasures you found in the ATTIC. They are all so charming and such keepsakes. You are really lucky she keep them all! It always amazed me that toys from the past were tin. Now we all worry about the kids falling and getting hurt or cut on such things. Of course now we have plastic!! Love the window square!!
xoRobin❤
Good morning Helen, and thank you for letting us have a peek at the gems that were stored in that attic. Of course, the tin toys are very appealing and seem to be in very fine condition.
Your "attic window" quilt block is a perfect companion!
I think that I have missed seeing the anniversary copy of the CrossStitcher magazine that you'd mentioned. It's often tricky to figure out when UK magazines actually show up at our NYC Barnes&Nobles shops, and sometimes they sell out quickly.
Anyhow, last weekend I was browsing the Crafts area of a B&N magazine dept and came across a sort of book called CrossStitcher Home, that was filled with many interesting ideas. It even had Christmas-related projects. I am curious to know if you might have had a hand it its creation. (I did get out my reading glasses and give the book a scan looking for your name.)
xo
What better home than yours for all these wonderful things to live.
My parents too had fish knives & forks (given as wedding presents I believe)and I had a tin cooker which ran on methylated spirit before health & safety had been invented! Happy days & a lovely post to share - thank you.
Such beautiful treasures to be found. It is so bittersweet to go through boxes of loved ones things. She sounds like a special lady who would love that you are displaying those items and enjoying them. I am your newest follower. Blessings!
Dear Helen,
It must be so strange emptying your ants/mother in laws attic. So many happy memories, but the sadness for the person you lost too.
You found some beautiful treasures! My house is full treasures from family members too: prints from my grandparents house, a dressing table that was once my grandmothers, a mirror once owned by my very stylish great aunt and a huge collection of cards and letters. Of all the furniture and things I have in my house, the items with a memory attached to it are the most special!
Wish you lots of happy memories & lovely evening.
Madelief x
Oh my....what beautiful things. The toys look like they were never played with they are in such good shape. What treasures! I have nothing from my childhood, not even pictures. It must so wonderful to book back on wonderful memories like that. She sounds like she was a treasure herself.
I've never heard of "attic windows" but what a great name for a quilt block. P.S. I got my backing fabric! Thank you so much for your info! I have to save more money before I get the rest! LOL! My Mother loved roses and she's passed but I'm making the quilt for her room anyway....she's still here in spirit. Thank you again for sharing your colorful world.
What an amazing collection - full of wonderful memories and love.
And YOU are the one
seeing all of this
on your own unique way .
I think your experience
is blessed by all of this .
Thank you for sharing this !
PS. A sewing friend & her husband called to see me yesterday (unexpectedly)en route from Surrey to Chester where they live - and fell in love with my 'Bunny Cuddles' - and your book!
It must be like a treaure trove in the attic not knowing what you will find next! I love all the tin toys too! x
Goodness, what treasures you found, Helen. Those toys are so very precious and I'm currently fascinated by old cutlery. I love knives with bone handles.
I hope for sun for you too. Each week that comes along is another chance we'll get a sunny snippet of Spring. All my fingers are crossed!
What gorgeous treasures & what a lovely lady. Blessings and sweet memories to you xx
Lots of lovely and special treasures here along with the memories - the best kind of vintage treasures as they come from a loved one.
Have a lovely weekend Helen!
Gill xx
Cleaning out other people's memories requires some hard decisions but some wonderful treasures
Hello Helen - I always look forward to your posts & pics...such a lovely read for a Friday afternoon :) Your MIL had beautiful things, thanks for sharing :)
Smiles, DianeM
P.S. - I love your newest quilt square as well.
Helen I adore your blog, I do stop by often but sadly never usually have enough time to leave words.
Just had to comment on the "attic window" block, it's so lovely! If I ever get around to making a quilt, I think I would definitely have to make it out of attic window blocks!
Mind you, your simple squares quilt from the previous post is adorable too, I am hugely inspired to make 2012 the year of the Attic24 quilt.
♥
What wonderful treasures and happy memories you found up there.
Happy weekend, Helen!
Carly
x
You're having so wonderful days down to memory lane, Helen, and the treasury trunk will be full at the end! Beautiful finds, I especially love the old toys, precious!
Happy clearing, and sunshine to your May!
Yours,
Mia
Such a lot of beautiful memories. I love the toys so much but the cutlery reminds me of my mother .. she has a hoard of bone handled cutlery, including the fish knives and forks (never used today, how times have changed).
Enjoy your memories, Helen and have a happy weekend.
Kate xx
Dear Helen, how lovely to see all those beautiful old things! It is amazing time trip to find treasures from an attic! I love those old toys and your quilt blocks are so beautiful! x Teje
Such precious treasures...Lovely keepsakes from a very special person!
It's clear that your Mom-in-love was sentimental in such a sweet way...quilt blocks, little ones toys, greeting cards...Each item is so heartwarming!
Thanks for sharing!
Carolynn
Hi Helen,
What a beautiful array of colours and fabrics and TALENT!! You take me back to sweet and innocent times. Simply charming.
Poppy
Your energy and creativity know no bounds! What a lovely celebration this jubilee will be at your home! :-)
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