Tuesday 10 May 2016

Throw those curtains wide

We definitely topped up our Vitamin D levels last weekend, making the most of the summery weather by doing outdoorsy things both on Saturday and on Sunday.

On Saturday, we packed a picnic and drove the 20 kilometer or so to our first outdoor flea market of the year.




I wore a coral dress in Diolen fabric, bought at the soon to be defunct Vintage Styling in last summer’s sales. The dress has a pattern of leaves and some kind of strange fruit in blue and green. It did not come with a belt, so I added a blue belt with fabric covered buckle from another dress, and accessorized it with a string of blue beads bought at Belgian haberdashery and accessories chain Veritas. Much as I love those beads – I have them in many colours – the strings break on me one after the other, scattering beads everywhere, and at the most inconvenient of times. Sure enough, this one gave up the ghost only minutes after this photo was taken. I’m sure Phoebe will keep finding loose beads for days to come.



That said, it’s back to Saturday’s flea market. Knowing from experience that it is hard to find a nearby parking spot, we parked our car just under a kilometer from the flea market’s entrance, just to be on the safe side.


Upon entering the flea market, we were a little disappointed to see that there were fewer stalls than usual. We attribute this to the fact that it was now a two-day event instead of just the one, and we suspect that Sunday would have been busier.

I started out well by taking some photos, but was soon distracted by browsing the stalls, so you will have to make do with just a few photos. I really need to be a better blogger in that respect …



It took us a while to make our first purchase: this lot of three brooches, which were going really cheaply. How could I leave behind the cute twosome of cats and the leaping deer?



Next up were these new-to-me shoes, which will be perfect for work and play alike. I didn’t have a nice pair of navy shoes yet and they’re comfortable too (and believe me: I haven't got the easiest of feet!). I already wore them to work and no blisters: a true miracle!



In the next field, we stumbled upon this wooden mirror and comb rack, adorned with art nouveau style decorations in a tarnished metal, which we thought was brass but now aren’t too sure anymore. Although I tried to clean them up with some Brasso, the built-up tarnish did not come off completely, but it is fine like that. Jos put some brown shoe polish on the edges where the top layer of wood had come off and now it’s already hanging up in our hallway. You can see it on my left in the outfit photo at the start of this post. 



After this, it was time for our picnic. We forgot to take cups and had to drink coffee straight from our thermos flask.








Saturday’s last find was not one but two gorgeous tapestry covered handbags, which made me a very happy bunny indeed!







Now, which one shall I use first?















On Sunday, the weather was even warmer so we decided on another nature walk. Again, I wore a Diolen dress. The label says Françoise de France, so I’ve got an inkling it’s French. I really couldn't resist its cheery print, although it is a little worse for wear, with lots of pilling going on. This makes it a perfect dress to wear when out walking, though.










We started our walk in the pretty village of Klein Willebroek, picturesquely situated along the banks of the river Rupel and at both sides of a wide canal complete with locks. There's a chapel built in 1842, dedicated to the Protection of Shippers and Seamen.

From the village, there is easy access to not one but two nature reserves comprising ponds, lakes and marshy areas, where birds of all plumage rule. .


All in all, a very satisfactory weekend. Bring on the next one, I'd say. It's going to be an extended one here in Belgium, but unfortunately the weather forecast is not good.

Here's to hoping they got it wrong again!


27 comments:

  1. Those tapestry covered bags are really gorgeous, it won't be an easy task choose the first one!!
    And your new blue shoes are delightful! I often prefer block heels as I find them more comfortable ... a good pick!
    Bad forecast here too ... :-(

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    1. Thanks Dan. I prefer block heels too. Pity about the weather forecast. Are you having an extended weekend as well? xxx

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  2. Love both your dresses, Ann! You've got such a great eye for colour. If I didn't already know you I'd approach you in the street to tell you have fabulous you look!
    Love the cat brooches and the navy shoes - fantastic finds!
    Your weekend weather looks as gorgeous as ours was said to be (I was inside working for all of it!) xxx
    PS Love Guy Garvey! xxxx

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    1. Aw, you've made me blush now, Vix! Guy Garvey's songs have a knack of lodging themselves in your head. Whenever you or Lynn mention Stockport Vintage Village, a little tape starts in my head: Stockport supporters club kindly provided a choir ... xxx

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  3. I may have just toppled out of my chair over those incredibly gorgeous stitchery adorned handbags (super love!). :) What an awesome array of finds and absolutely terrific way to spend a sunny day. It's great that you made out so nicely and had a lot of fun in the process.

    Big hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

    *PS* Very pretty outfit - coral/salmon hues and blue an incredible together!

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    1. I still can't get over the fact that I found those two handbags, and can you believe they were only 3 euro each? I'm surprised at how well the coral and blue worked together. xxx

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  4. I love how colourful your posts are :) Those shoes are fabulous and the handbags so pretty xx

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    1. What a nice compliment Melanie. Making colourful posts was actually one of my aims, and I'm glad it's being appreciated. xxx

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  5. What a fantastic weekend you've had. The shoes and bags are gorgeous. I've got a purse like the white one. Email me your address and I will send it you, then you will be really posh.
    Lynn xx

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    1. Aw Lynn, what can I say? That is so sweet of you! Email has been sent, but I'll be wanting your address in return, of course. xxx

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  6. Aw wow, what a great haul - I thought the shoes were great, but then you show us those bags. You got some fab finds, despite the flea market being disappointing at first.

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    1. Thanks Mim. I'd been on the lookout for such a bag for some time, so I was very happy to find two of them, and at the same stall too. xxx

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  7. i fear the weater WILL be "bad" - this days are the "eisheiligen" - around here we can be happy if we´d not have frost! but i welcome the rain - its very dry here.....
    wonderful flea market finds! that bags are marvelous - they look brand new! as the navy shoes do too - hurray for no blisters!
    i think the strange fruits on your dress are "stachelbeeren" - actually very yummy :-) love that grass green of your walking dress - with the flowers on it it looks like a spring meadow :-)
    xxxxx

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    1. It's interesting to see how much our two languages are alike, Beate. We too have "ijsheiligen", only spelled differently, and those fruits may indeed be "stekelbessen"! xxx

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  8. Another fabulous haul! I love those shoes and those bags are just gorgeous. Whenever I find ones like that they seem to be really expensive :( xx

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    1. Thanks Cate. Indeed, those bags are usually far more expensive. They were not priced and I hardly dared to ask, so was pleasantly surprised they were only 3 euro each. xxx

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  9. Both gorgeous dresses and the bags r lovely

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  10. Oooh, the brooches are gorgeous especially the coloured cat ones! Great dress for your walk!!x

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    1. Thanks Kezzie, I knew you'd appreciate the cat brooch. It is actually one brooch, with two cheeky cats! xxx

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  11. You have the most amazing wardrobe, full of real treasures. I love both the dresses on you and the tapestry bags are amazing. I love the black one best. I really enjoyed wandering round the flea market with you. As far as I'm concerned a picnic is always a winner xxxx

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    1. Thanks Tania! I'm lucky that there are quite a few reasonably priced vintage shops around here, so my wardrobe just grows and grows. Need a bigger house soon ... xxx

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  12. Fantastic shoes!
    You look lovely in coral-it is a great colour for you.

    What an incredible find those bags were. Perhpas you can just embrace your inner eccentric and carry them both? I would.

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  13. Thank you Goody! The dress is the only coral item in my wardrobe as I never really considered it my colour. Maybe I should think again ... With the stuff I usually carry around, it wouldn't be a bad idea to carry both handbags. xxx

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  14. Love, love LOVE the tapestry bags what a great find!

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    1. I knew those bags would be your cup of tea, Gisela. xxx

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