1960's Style Circular Rugs

Nice alternative to a long rug down a narrow hallway.
There were two of these rugs here when we moved in, I've added a few more.
You can find these at Ikea, can't remember the exact price, but definitely under £15 each or I wouldn't have bought them.

Music Box Chalet Mansion

I bought a slightly larger version of the Swiss chalet souvenir music boxes, pictured in the centre of the 'village'.

Car boot sale find this time. It has the air of nouveau-rich moving into my little wooden town and building a huge big, ugly version of the existing houses.
Maybe I'm thinking about it too much.

Two Taxidermied Birds

A wonky duck & I think the guy at the Market said the other one is a pheasant or partridge?

Bought at a very good price, as the man said,
"Two birds going cheap cheap".

Genuine Taxidermy Piranha Fish

This scary monster arrived from Malta today. The teeth are fake I think, and the eyes most certainly are, but the rest is real.

I love taxidermy, although I acknowledge it's not to everyone's taste. This again was a legal piece which came with it's EU import papers.
It would be quite the conversation starter if my house wasn't already so bizarre.

Anthropomorphic taxidermy Boxing Squirrels

Delighted to see this set in real life today at Castle Ward, Northern Ireland.

Wildlife Collage Stag Print Vest

It's not often I post clothing, but I love this deer print vest I bought from Very.co.uk
They are a mainstream fashion online retailer, but this quirky number caught my eye from their new collection.

Creepily Small, Creepy Children Coasters by Dallas Simpson

Dallas Simpson is a pretty mysterious lady or fella. I've had several people contact me through the blog asking did I have information on Dallas, but all I know is they seem to specialise in gypsy children with big, haunting eyes. Over the years I've amounted a little Dallas Simpson print collection. There's an urban legend about this style of artwork being responsible for spooky housefires, maybe my lucky taxidermied fox head cancels all the bad vibes out!

Today's kitsch find is a pair of Dallas Simpson coasters. I got them from eBay, and they are delightfully gross. They are also rimmed in such a way that all you could fit onto each would be a tiny glass.
Maybe Dallas was a sherry drinker.

The Sickeningly Twee Trend of Grow-Your-Own

About five years back all the posh periodicals decided that growing your own veg wasn't just for grannies & muddy outdoor types. Suddenly weekend magazines included tips on carrots & marrows a few pages after the latest on high street Botox.

I think the whole fad was deeply effected by article writers' memories of the completely fictional world of the British sitcom The Good Life.

With the recession yet another wave of grow-your-ownism hit the media, when in actual fact the time you have to put into the pastime is not economic at all. That's why we have farmers & Tescos, right?

Looking after vegetables requires work & that's why it's little old ladies who potter in their gardens, and not stockbrokers with a patch of broad beans on the go.

Anyway, it's a fun hobby to try out & this year I have grown from seed tomato (green pots with flamingoes) pea (not pictured) and courgettes (yellow flowered plants).
I've spent about 50 hours in total over the months potting, repotting, watering, tying them, and so far not ONE vegetable or fruit.

Anyway, in my little Poundstretcher greenhouse I've just planted corn, lettuce, watermelon & strawberry. Late in the season for planting, but wanted to give them a go anyway.

Sickeningly twee.