In the deep midwinter...

Bird table

Cold nights and dark days.  Time to feed the neighbours - meaning of  course the birds. There's already a feeder up in the pear tree that's getting plenty of attention from the local tits add sparrows but I thought it would be good to complement it with a table. Hence this afternoon's project. 

The shape is based on one I got when I joined the RSPB many years ago. The size and construction are more based on the material to hand....

Now it just needs some line to suspend it out of cat's way ;-)

Post it

After a century of good service it turns out my letterbox is too small for the modern letter.  Time to upgrade.

The apartment building has builders in who said they can do it for around 200 quid.  ... for a hole and six screws.... So cheapskate to the last I bought a new old box off the web and (after due pause) set to. 

After many years I finally discovered a use for the saw attachment to my sander, which proved really good at cutting the slot out.  A quick sand, a slap of paint, and all screwed up. Done.

...except I need a couple more brass screws... Two extra holes in the new model!

New toy

Going cheap for a tenner. Couldn't resist

Sewing kit

Thanks to the wonders of the web I now have my spare parts sorted for my new (old) Elna series 1 sewing machine. I was hoping to find spares in Europe but buying from the US turned out to be as easy as pie. :-)

Alpha and Omega

At the weekend I was at the antiques fair and came away with this... a nice looking pocket watch - no bargain but not breaking the bank either.

Inside its marked as Louis Brandt & Frere S.A. and MORA Grand Prix Paris 1900.  which when you look it up turns out to be an early Omega. Omega became part of the company name in 1904 which dates it pretty well to the very early years of the 20th century.

Nice.

Budvaser

A pair of vases.  Elegant form. Very light in weight and an irregularity  e.g. In the fluted edge that suggests hand made?  Beyond that I'm struggling to put a date on them, though I saw a similar type described as 'mid-century'. 

Any ideas?

A stitch from time

I've been thinking of getting a sewing machine for some time.  Nothing fancy but something that would be useful when sewing by hand is a bit too much.

After passing it by in the window for several weeks I eventually went in and bought this Elna series 1 machine - a little piece of history. 

First made in 1940, this was the first domestic 'free arm' machine (you can take your material under the sewing bed). It was made in three different versions until 1952.  This one's the middle version and dates from 1946.

Having got it home it seems to run well, but there are no bobbins with it and the rubber drive belt is split and needs replacing - so I'm currently searching for spares...  (there's a place in US but I've not found anyplace closer)

Decanter

Another from the local charity shop, a decanter. Barrel shaped with three triple neck-rings. As far as I can tell its early to mid 19th century... but I'm no expert. The only sad part is the stopper- very similar in style but not a very snug fit so probably not the original?

Artistic rubbish

Seen on Hornsgatan...

Drawers

A natty small chest of drawers from the local charity shop _ inexpensive, but a bit tired and scratched.  A light sand on the top and a good rub in with teak oil and it's good to give away to it's new home...