I don't remember ever being so pleased to see the sunshine! Finally March has arrived and brought a flash of spring with it. I don't care now if it snows again, rains or anything - at least it'll be spring snow or rain and that means the flowers, birds and time outside can't really be that far off now.
And thinking of being outside a bit more means picnic time for us. Car picnics, woodland picnics, picnics on the beach; we do them all. Until now though our sandwiches, salads, fruit and snacks have been rammed into rucksacks and cool bags (not needed one of those for a while!) but look what I found today.
On one of my favourite stalls at the flea market there were five beautiful 1950s hampers and I had to really calm myself down when I saw them. I've been hankering after one for ages but they go for a fortune on ebay (plus huge postage) and didn't think I had a chance of owning one. But this beauty was just £8, cheaper than a new wicker version. It took me ages to decide which one (I really fancied a neat little blue version with floral cups but there wouldn't have been much room for the food, which is sort of the point I think).
There are four dinky plates and saucers, some vintage plastic cutlery and the metal sets, plus two intact thermos (one for coffee, one for hot chocolate - is it just me who thinks thermos tea tastes a bit odd?) and a little glass storage jar. It's in really good nick and looks like it's hardly been used.
Sadly there's only one cup but I might add a few vintage floral mugs and beakers to brighten it up. There's a roomy sandwich box, some teeny salt and pepper holders and room for a little cake tin I think.
Oh I love, love, love it! All I need is one of these lovely things to pootle around in, finding the perfect picnc spot. Well, a girl can dream...
36 comments:
Aww £8 - absoloute bargin! I am constantly dreaming over little picnic hampers, theyre always so expensive though!
It is truley scrumptious! x
very cool picnic basket!!! aaahh it feels good to think about being outside in the sunshine and knowing it's not too far away now, doesn't it?!
The car would match your flask beautifully
Rachel x
perfect match - pity you couldn't get one of those little cars for £8
Lovely picnic set!
I'd love one of those cars.....so cute!x
Hope you get to use that lovely picnic basket soon! I have a whicker one and I sadly broke one of the plates so now I have a search on to find one that matches!
Bellaboo :o)
love the hamper.. its perfect..the colour is goregeous
that is my fave car.. someone around were i live has one and i get v jelous as i walk past!!!
What a wonderful find, really retro. Looking forward to some picnic photos now.
Luv Sophie xxx
What a lovely post! The sheets on the line, the snowdrops and the thought of a picnic (with sweet primroses) - ah!
Spring IS so hopeful.
Love, Katy
What a perfect little set - I hope you have many lovely picnics using it. Great find!
Its all delightful but you know what i like best? Your enthusiasm!
Oh my goodness! I was just poking around your blog again (you know, inch by inch ...) and on your June 2, 2009 post, I saw THE most AMAZING thing! There is a VIntage Christmas Carol book there that I grew up with and absolutely LOVED. It was just part of Christmas for me. Somehow, when I moved out East, it was lost - I don't know if it was by me or back at home because it was left and neglected. I've been looking for it for over a decade! Would it be possible (if you can put your hands on it) to give me some information about it (i.e. publisher or anything)? I not only miss the perfect four part traditional harmonies but those beautiful illustrations. You can probably imagine how they would imprint on a young girls mind. Actually, remembering them has inspired me when I'm in charge of decorating our little country church-with-the-stained-glass-windows for Christmas.
Thanks for the pick me up. I wound up on a beautiful but darkly brooding site and needed to dispel, well, the spell. Thanks for your sunshine, AGAIN! Katy
What a fab picnic set and what a bargain! I've always dreamed about owning a whicker picnic basket, but I also worry about fitting all the food in. There just never seems to be enough room. We always end up taking two enormous cool bags ... but they're not very pretty!
Can't wait for picnics again!!!!
Love Kathy xxx
Oh Steph, what a fantastic find, and only £8 for all of it! If only a figaro cost £8 too!
I've always longed for a figaro too, but in baby blue.
Here's to Spring!
Jess x
What a bargain you did well there. xxx Pixie xxx
love the old thermos flasks,and you're right,tea just doesn't taste right out of one!
It's gorgeous Steph. Well done you for finding it at such a bargain price. We love our picnics here and have a hamper style rucksack which seems to hold masses, but I do love proper hampers best of all. By the way, I have trouble getting the fat to set on the bird feeders and do put them in the fridge to harden. They still seem to crumble though. Hmm, I will investigate. Always thionk of you when I am watching them - a fellow twitcher!!!! xx
Ah, the vision was beautiful and then you reuined it with a hideous figaro at that end! LOL, You need an MG for one of those. They used to come with picnic hampers like those:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2517178608_558f95d70a.jpg?v=0
I always say things come to those who wait.......... Anything made up in flasks tastes yukky, it's the milk it goes off! I just take hot water in ours that way the flasks doesn't get dirty or stained, I only drink tea or hot chocolate and my husband drinks them and coffee, and you also have water if needed in an emergency like mopping up grazed knees - let is cool first PLEASE
Wow what a bargain - well worth the £8.
I'm after one too but find ebay far too expensive - hoping carboot season might come up trumps this year.
My friend Lisa has that car... her blog is Ridgeon Designs.... I love your hamper what a fantastic price... you are a lucky lady!
I have so enjoyed the lovely sun these past 2 days I am hopeful that the sunn will burn through these clouds and visit again today...
I can fully understand why the early britons paid homage to the sun and the seasons its like a gift when the sun and warmth comes back... how wonderful that must have been when the best thing in your life was feeling and seeing the sun after a long cold winter...
x Alex
What a great find!
I wouldn't mind one of those cars, either.
woweee thats a great find! such a lovely vintage hamper- looks hardly used over the years! ;0)
spring is lovely all the new shoots of flowers begin and blossom on the wirey tree's and new green grass beneath your feet and the fresh sun air on your face- such a happy time ;0) enjoy!x
What a bargain! Hope we soon get some lovely weather so you can take it on a picnic.
I would've squealed with joy at such a find! This is beautiful. Please take some more photos when it's filled with tasty picnic treats! :)
How lovely ... really whets your appetite for summer.
Tea in a flask - most strange, but I've never tried it. Am quite curious now. Coffee from a flask, however, just wonderful!
Hx
Your clothesline photo makes me extremely excited for spring.
I adore your hamper! xxx
That's an absolute bargain - I love, love love it and perfect for all those upcoming picnics.
Your so right, even if the sun doesn't last Spring surely must only be just around the corner now - there are little signs every day.
take care
Nina xx
ps. I love figaro's too and there are quite a few whizzing around down here, but if I could have anything...... it would have to me a moggy minor! Nxx
Your blog fills me full of cheer.
What a bargain!!!!! And what a great way to picnic!
So much better than fast food!
You posh picnickers Steph. Good you got that great find. I have images of me in a Figaro or Moggy whizzing along all singing our song, Albeit with our knees under our chins in the Figaro. Dreams are sometimes best.
Have a great weekend.
Lisa x
GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!! I LOVE those Figaro's too-there is one that drives past work every morning and I stand and sigh and covet it.
Tea DOES taste very odd in a flask. I take a flask of boiling water up to the allotment now, and the milk and teabags seperately, but it still tastes of flask (just not as bad) it's a very odd taste isn't it?!
x
Thermos tea is definitely not a nice experience - unlike finding that fantastic hamper. Wow, such a bargain, if they're there again next time you should grab the others and flog them for a song on ebay!!
OOooh a Nissan Figaro...one of my favourite cars!! They come in such pretty sugary colours too, you would think they are genuinely vintage wouldnt you! They must have been designed by a girl for a girl!
Oh and I know just what you mean about Thermos tea! The hamper is fabulous.
xx
Reading this nodding enthusiastically... yes, spring is so welcome this year, YES, your picnic hamper is perfection and I'm oh-so-jealous and then... there's my car! I drive an emerald Figaro exactly like the one in my picture! :D She's called Bunny. Maybe your picnic hamper and my car should get together and take us for a picnic sometime? :D xxx
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