Saturday 14 January 2012

Perks of the job

Stock-hunting for 'Kiss the Book' is one of my greatest pleasures and I have come across many treasures. They are not always the most valuable but they are the ones that please me most.
Every so often I let myself keep something I have found.
I am afraid I must not be truly spiritual as I cannot say honestly:
 "If I was to loose everything, I wouldn't mind much"
I do have belongings that I would miss, which I find useful and beautiful and give me pleasure every day.
I was enjoying my first cup of tea today and I decided to look around and show you the some of the things I couldn't quite bring myself to sell!

Shelley- Utility Ware from the 1940s and 1950s. The simple lines please me


This plate is a perfect size for two pieces of toast and I love its hand-painted moss roses


I'm fond of green glass am now tempted to start a collection of old glass bulb holders...




The little green pot usually lives on my kitchen window sill and is perfect for holding a bunch of fresh herbs. The primrose is in the picture merely because I bought it today!

My bedroom is full of my favourite things. I collect old eiderdowns and couldn't resist the rich colours of these two. They are so cosy too, on winter nights, I just keep piling them up on my bed.



The painting is from a car boot sale. It's been re-framed and I look at it every morning with pleasure. It dates from the 1960's and is by a fairly minor artist but to my mind it completely captures those sultry late summer days.



And finally, I have to include some books. There are really too many to mention but then I don't consider books a treat, more of a necessity! However, I shouldn't really have kept this set- it is so eminently saleable! It's in full leather, published in 1887 and they are still called Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell on the main title page. How could I resist a set of my beloved Bronte's?


Jane Eyre, my favourite  Bronte novel

Although needing a bit of work, they are still beautiful-


I shall mend them, feed them, read them and love them.

I'm so glad I kept these treasures!

18 comments:

  1. Hello Jane

    You are very wealthy. I love your treasures and those books are just precious.

    I love the painting and to my eye she is a very accomplished artist.

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful home

    Helen xx

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  2. Hello Jane:
    Oh how delightful your collection of treasured possessions are. They are so intriguingly eclectic and yet each piece has a special quality that makes us understand how you would not wish to be parted from it.

    We often find ourselves drawn to furniture and decorative items from the 1930s and 1940s and your utility mug is a gem. As you say, the simplicity of the design is so appealing. Form and function perfectly balanced.

    Although somewhat late, we wish you a joyous New Year!!

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  3. Hello Helen, I'm glad you like my painting. It was in such an ugly old frame I nearly passed it by, I'm so glad I turned back! Jane x

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  4. Hello Jane and Lance, A very Happy New Year to you too. I'm glad you liked my eclectic collection! The mug is my especial favourite and used daily. Jane x

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  5. Thanks for sharing your treasures. These things enrich your life and home. I love the old books, they're just beautiful.

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  6. I hope this doesn't show up twice; had a computer glitch as I commented a few minutes ago. I wanted to say that I love your Bronte books and can see why you are keeping them. I am a librarian, reader and writer and do love books.

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  7. Hello Diane,
    It's always good to hear from you. My Bronte set are so lovely, they are that lovely, rich brown that glows on the shelf. Jane x

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  8. Hello Terra,
    I've just joined your blog followers, the computer gremlins wouldn't let me last time!
    It's always good to 'talk' to other book lovers isn't it?
    Whilst choosing which books to mention, I realsied what wonderful ones I have... I can feel some 'Bookish' posts coming on!
    Jane x

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  9. I would have kept those things too. Love then all! The rose plate is very cute.

    I'm quite protective when it comes to my things too, spiritual - not quite enough - I'm not good at letting go.

    We live in a cold climate, then we need a home even more.

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  10. What great finds!! I wouldn't want to part with them either, especially the books!

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  11. I love the plate, Jane... I love old China and love to buy nice pieces when I see them. We have lots of little and big places, round here, where you can buy all sorts of lovely "bits and pieces!"

    (Not having a good day, today, Jane...)

    Hugs

    ANNA

    XX

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  12. Hi Jane, what lovely treasures! I really love the leather bound books - of course - but also the little rose plate.

    rgds
    Carol

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  13. Jane Eyre.. i adore!
    now i started to read Anna Karenina )

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  14. A very quick hello and thank you for your all comments. Life seems to have caught up with me and now I've written another piece!! I did enjoy looking around my home and sharing my favourite things, it cheered a gloomy January day. Jane xx

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  15. "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, and that too, an old edition .... I wonder how you carry on with this job. If I were in your place, I would never have succeeded in selling these old beauties, instead I would have stacked them in a safe place, away from the prying eyes of others !! Some day, I will get for myself a copy of Jane Eyre; for the moment, I have a copy of "Agnes Grey" authored in 1847 by Anne Bronte, Jane's sister. Lovely novel. And I am sure when I do read Jane Eyre, it is going to be as lovely as the title page and frontispiece that appears in your scan.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ravindra, You have guessed correctly- I do have a house absolutely piled high with books I couldn't resist keeping!
      Do read Jane Eyre if you get the chance, it's very different to Agnes Grey, passionate and unique, my Mother loved it and that may be one of the reasons I'm named 'Jane'!
      Wishing you a Happy New Year- Jane x

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    2. I have wondered for long how you came to be named Jane, and now we have the answer. How charming to be named by mum thus !! On my next visit to a bookstore I will certainly get for myself a copy of Jane Eyre. And a Happy New Year to you and your family....

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    3. Do let me know what you think of Jane Eyre! Jane x

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