Magpie Monday Carnival Glass

The vintage carnival glass is more popular for its antiquity, and hence would be a priceless item in an antique lover’s collection. Carnival glass is an iridescent coated, pressed glass, due to which the glass has an attractive multicolour presence. During 1900’s, it was used as prizes in carnivals, and hence the name. Though carnival glass is still being manufactured today, and is as attractive as ever, however, the ’original ones’ that belong to the ’original period’ (1908 to 1930) are more preferred for their vintage antiquity value. Lettered carnival glasses, decorated carnival glasses, vases and tumblers were some of the popular carnival glassware made during ’the original period’. The contemporary carnival glassware include a huge variety like toothpick holders, bells, lamps, candlesticks, paperweights, water sets and pitchers etc. Contemporary carnival glass can be viewed under three categories; reissues, new patterns and fakes. Reissues are those that are made form an earlier original mould, new patterns are recently made ones, and fakes are those that are made to look much older and perhaps much more valuable than they actually are. Hence a lot of detailed study is essential while collecting carnival glass for their antique value. Due to its existing multicoloured attractiveness, coupled by its age old antiquity, collecting carnival glass will surely be an interesting hobby that can be maintained by visiting various online stores that deal with such product.


So imagine my surprise when I came across  a piece in my local Charity shop on Friday for the bargain price of 99p.

Beautiful Carnival Glass.

I love the hue of the Carnival Glass.

My Carnival Glass on display

Very Lazy Food Hamper giveaway

My first Rafflecopter giveaway so be gentle with me !

My time in Prison ...... Malmaison Oxford

Yes I have been to prison its not something I openly admit to except  in case it was pure luxury. I was luck enough to win a luxury night stop courtesy of Horse & Hound  at the Malmaison Oxford which is a prison...

 Malmaison hotel, Oxford

This Victorian prison has been converted into the lavish Malmaison hotel. Keeping in touch with its dark past, expect  solid cast iron doors, heavy large bricks, and the ever recognisable prison-like staircases. But, don’t think you’ll be missing an inch out on luxury. Four poster beds, mini cinema system and a host of services at your disposal. You know you’re in for more than a treat.

My prison bedroom at Malmaison Oxford

Luxury bathtime at the Malmaison Oxford

The open gallery at Malmaison oxford

Room with a view a Malmaison Oxford

We then went onto the Blenheim Palace  Horse trials and watched the action ( this was part of the prize ) 

Racing for the finish at Blenheim horse trials

And then of course I got to meet an true olympic champion Mark Todd.

Myself and family meeting Olympic champion Mark Todd

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Other prison hotels you can stay at .....

The lloyd hotel, Amsterdam

This building was originally built as a hotel before being converted into a prison during the second world war. Shortly after it was uses as a work shop for artists, until re-opening in 2004 as a hotel. The quirky contemporary interiors and rich character of this hotel is simply magnificent. And with 117 rooms, ranging from 1-5 stars, you’ll be spoilt for choice whatever your budget. The 5 star rooms are a definite treat, featuring a bed big enough to sleep eight, a huge fibre glass bathtub sitting in the middle of the room, and (no less) a grand piano to rock the jail-house tunes.

 four season, istanbul

This hotel is housed in a gorgeous mustard yellow, neo-classical Turkish prison. Its 65 rooms look out onto a breathtaking courtyard, and every rooms is spacious with a decor fit for royalty. You’ll feel far removed from staying in a prison one step inside these four walls.

 The långholmen hotel, stockholm

For the near prison experience without any discomforts, the Landholmen is where you’re going to get it. Rooms come by single and double cells, and the decor is kept to minimum. They have retained the tiny blue cells door for each rooms, giving you that authentic experience until you’re released.

Magpie Monday... Stepping back in time.

I love bargain and I  do enjoy charity shops so o the rare occasions I do go to town and I am without my child ( and husband) free. I just mooch just , glide around looking at the charity shops . Well last Friday this item caught my eye .

1911 Royal Doulton Coronation cup and saucer.

1911  it so upstairs downstairs  I can just see it sitting in some Ladies parlour, I find it hard to believe this is over a 100 years old. It has a slight hairline crack in the cup but after one hundred years wouldn't you have the odd blemish or too ?

The price just 99p that's  a bargain in my opinion here' hoping it survives another hundred years.

I am not a yummy mummy........but.....

I am not a yummy mummy, I am not rocking the Ugg boots and Barbour jackets which are hiding the Jack wills jumper and I have not managed to squeeze into any  Superdry jeans. Thankfully now I don't have the playground run with eyes looking disapprovingly at my chipped nail vanish .

I still have chipped nail vanish I  should remove it but my days are spend being a teaching assistant but I am having to scrub up next week as I will have to take part in a video promoting something I did recently for my school. So I will have to be smarter and my nail vanish will have to be perfect. after this is done will I slip back into my usual chipped nail vanish state probably . I  really should make more effort with my nails as this  has been one area I have struggled with along with fashion and my weight also.

I am constantly reminded of my weight by sudden people I know and yes it does bother me I am trying  lose weight but the staff room lures me in .. the constant cakes, sweets biscuits . Willpower just walks straight out of the door along with my fashion sense sometimes.

You will find me in black legging and a long top,  stripy socks and Mary Jane shoes but I do sport a really cute Radley bag. See I am not without some fashion sense though I do think the last who stopped me in the Radley Shop at The Bullring last Saturday thought otherwise. This is how some of the  interview went..

"So What brings you to the Radley shop" asked the lady really excitedly.

"Err handbags" I said scanning all the bags around me and looking for Iphones that they might sell on the side.

"So if you were to buy a designer handbag what would it be ?" her hand gesturing towards this very extensive list.

" I wouldn't" I bluntly said.

" Surely one?" She said looking rather perplexed.

"No not unless someone thrust money into my hand and said that 'I must buy one'"

"Oh " She said looking crestfallen she shoved a lottery scratch card in my hand and shuffled off to some other unsuspecting soul.

Want to see my two recent fashion purchases..........

My little cute Radley bag

My Pocket Radley bag

My Radley handbag and my stripey sock.

So you see I really do have style .....