Let's Go On a Picnic!

Yesterday, I wrote that I would post some pics of my new Shabbified picnic basket and the silver, glass and linens that I had "shopped" the house for. Below you will see a closeup of the silver ware that I purchased at the St Vincent de Paul Store. It is made by Rogers and the pattern is Magnolia. I scooped these up for 50 cents each. I bought two dinner knives, two teaspoons, two dinner forks and two soup spoons for $4.00!! They were black with tarnish, but are sparkling after a good polish with Silvo. The glasses are pink swirl tumblers by Arcoroc. I received them as a shower gift from my dear friend Muriel, twenty-seven years ago!!

Here are the plates etc. ready to be packed. The plates are J&G Meakin "Bridal Bouquet". I started collecting this pattern a few years ago. I have eight luncheon plates, two cups and saucers, a platter and a large milk jug. I'm using the plates for the basket because the lavender coloured flowers is similar in colour to the lavender in the fabric. The linens I picked up a few years ago on one of my thrifting jaunts. There is a small tablecloth and four matching napkins and four other napkins all in a lovely, faded pink. They are made of linen. I paid probably $2. for all of it, so I am not afraid to throw it in the washer. I iron it when it is wet until it is dry. This gives the linen a lovely look and feel.

See the hand crocheted tablecloth???!! I paid a dollar for it in a joblot at an auction about a month ago. SCORE!!! There is a white linen tablecloth underneath it which I bought at another local thrift store....price?....$1.00.

I love picnics. I can remember going on picnics when I was a toddler in France (I am an Air Force Brat!). Here I have assembled a bottle of Perrier, an (opened!) bottle of roseh (LOL) wine (had to have a glass last evening on the porch!), a luscious ripe tomato, a piece of medium aged cheddar, some olives, a hunk of polish sausage, a piece of baguette, two pinkaliscious apples and a sharp paring knife.

I packed everything into the basket. I suggest that if the food will not be eaten within an hour, that you pop in a small freezer pack to keep the perishables cold until you do eat them.

I was at Value Village a few weeks ago and saw this beautiful Ikea wool plaid blanket. I thought at the time that it would be a great picnic blanket, but I talked myself out of buying it. The day after I bought the basket I went back to VV and the blanket was still there!!! I brought it home this time!!! Now it is ready for our picnic! Hop in the car!!! We will find a pretty field just down the road!!!

Hugs, Laura

Revamping an old Wicker Picnic Basket.

A week ago my hubby drove me to Toronto to see the surgeon for followup on my shoulder surgery. My shoulder is coming along wonderfully. I'm hoping to be back to work sometime in August.
On the way home we stopped in Cobourg where we know of a fabulous pub, The Cat and the Fiddle, where we can get great fish and chips. On the same street, Covert Street, there are five (count 'em!) 5 thrift stores. Tim dropped me off while he found a parking spot and then went to the pub to get himself a beer. I started at the west end of the street and checked out three of the stores, but didn't find anything. After lunch we went into the last two stores where I found six saucers to match six cups I already had. Tim found the picnic basket (above) and thought that we should buy it. I hmmmmed and hawed for a few seconds and then agreed that it would be fun to fix up a bit.

The first thing I did was to remove the lining and the foam cushioning inside as well as the pieces of very thin plywood that you see which were used on each side of the lid. Next came a bubble bath in cool water with Tide and liquid bleach. I used an old denture brush and scrubbed away at the wicker and removed some grime that had accumulated. Then I rinsed it well in cool water and set it outside to dry in the warm air.

The next day I cut some white prequilted fabric to fit the bottom and sides. I glued it in with my hot glue gun.

I sewed a new lining from some Mary Rose fabric that I had in my stash and then glued it into place also. (see below).

And TaaDaa here is the finished basket below. I have gathered some vintage linen napkins, a small matching table cloth, two vintage luncheon plates, two pink glass tumblers and two sets of silverplated cutlery. I will take pics of the linen etc in the morning so you can see what it all looks like together. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. What do you think of my new shabby rose chic picnic basket??

I love fixing up old stuff!!!

Now that I have figured out that I have to load pics first, then add the text, I will be posting new blogs more frequently. This has been a long learning curve for me!!!LOL!!!
Hugs, Laura