vintage swap No.2

This is my second attempt at trying to find vintage alternatives to new, chain-store or high-street finds. 

This time I've chosen a large glass vase by Bloomingville, reminiscent of vintage hand-blown bottles. It is a cool blue, 25cm high, 18cm diameter and available at John Lewis for £61. Phew!

My alternatives are both vintage, both on Etsy and both cheaper! They are green glass rather than blue, but they are the real thing! First, is a French Demi-john with a height of 26cm, from Chezvivianne on Etsy. It costs £25 and even with postage costs of £12.25 to UK, it is still a cheaper option. Larger still at 33cm high, this pale green Italian Demijohn from Rusticitalia on Etsy is £35 plus £18 postage to UK, so only slightly cheaper but it is bigger... and vintage!

(By the way, I decided to call this post vintage swap as "Don't buy this..." is a bit harsh!)

Happy vintage-hunting!

Latest vintage finds

I had a good weekend in terms of vintage hunting. I found these lovely big green glass vessels. Are they demijohns or carboys? There seems to be confusion online as to the difference but I think either will do. I have been on the look out for something like this for years, to display fairy lights in at Christmas and I was lucky enough to find two! They are made by Viresa in Italy during the 1960's. The glass has that dimpled, hand-blown quality to it and they just need a little clean. I do love old glass, which I never realised before but I do seem to keep buying old bottles and vases in different colours, preferably in vibrant colours and with wobbly bits!

I also bought a collection of brass bits. Something else that I am unexpectedly drawn to. I even managed to get in the shed ("studio" if I'm feeling cocky) and take some half decent photos and get some listed on Etsy:

I thought these brass cherub candle sconces a while ago and decided they were a bit too yellow looking. So I painted them with layers of Annie Sloan Chalk paint - Old White and Florence. I distressed the paint and then added some dark wax in the details before sealing with clear wax. 

I wanted a weathered look of old paint and verdigris. I think it has worked...! All available in my Etsy shop now.