Sunday 3 June 2012

One O'Clock Half Struck


Old keys. Such simple objects when you look at them frankly; but to my eyes they are keepers of mystery, intrigue, and romance. A humble clock case key long forgotten and fallen out of use could really be that of a secret box beneath a creaky floorboard, patiently eavesdropping on the world above while holding safe it's cache of memories. 

The Secret Garden is partially to blame for my flights of fancy but I am not alone, it has imprinted curiosity and snared the attention of children for a handful of generations now. When I see a particularly lovely copy I pick it up without hesitation; my latest is all the better for being a vintage Puffin edition. The same second hand book shop yielded another childhood favourite - Alice in Wonderland, also a vintage Puffin edition - I think I had a dose of book luck that day!

Someone clearly took a liking to the Cadbury's advert on the milk bottle and decided to keep it, I'm glad they did because I love it too! Do any of you still have milk delivered to your door each morning? I don't think I have since I was 14 or so when my family moved from a village to a place down a bone shaking track that would have a milkman on the edge of a meltdown and bankruptcy due to breakages.

T's Dad Nick was quite surprised to see our growing collection of vintage cameras last time he visited; especially as T has a great DSLR and arsenal of lenses, I ended up banging on enthusiastically about how beautiful they are as objects and how much I was enjoying playing with film photography. A few weeks later Nick kindly sent me a very well kept 1950s Box Brownie which quickly found a home on my bookshelf, apparently it's possible to use 120 film with a Brownie so I'm looking forward to trying that! 



Linking to: Flea Market Finds

41 comments :

  1. Lovely post, I have a set of old keys from my high school; who knows what secrets they hold that I don't know about/may never discover?

    Sara x
    branchesofthought.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh wow! I am jelous of your lovely finds! I did not find anything today, but it was still fun. Lovely lovely!

    Smiles,
    The Joyful Thrifter

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  3. That's a lovely collection of items you have there. I have one favorite skeleton key that I love. I put it on a chain and wear it as a necklace. And Through The Looking Glass is one my all-time favorites.

    <3 Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting
    http://LetsGoThrifting.blogspot.com

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  4. Absolutely agree with you about the romance of old keys. They're also quite beautiful, I think. And, a Brownie!!

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  5. Ooh i love those keys! When i first worked in new zealand it was in an old scool psychiatric hospital and i was given the most ancient huge key that locked all the ward doors, on a gigantic bunch that locked everthing else. I always felt like a jailor at wormwood scrubs circa 1880 with them swinging on my belt but they were just too huge to stuff in my pocket!

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  6. I love the old keys (so much prettier then the new ones now a days). The Secret Garden and Alice in Wonderland were among my favourite books growing up (I also adored the films).
    Lovely Items!
    Magie x

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  7. I love all these things! I've always had a fascination with old skeleton keys, probably due in part to the Secret Garden! I hope you do take lots of photos with that lovely old camera and share them with us, I've never used a camera so old and it think it would be so much fun!

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  8. Oh wow, how I've wanted a collection of old keys like that, perfect.

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  9. Such lovely things!
    I also find it hard to leave a Brownie behind. Before the advent of Instagram and retro photo editing tools I could sometime be found with my Brownie, a loo roll and my digital camera taking Through The Viewfinder photos.

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  10. Love the old keys - you are right, there is something about them that makes you wonder about their past!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  11. Hi Jem! Love all these images of yours. I remember reading The Secret Garden when I was little and enjoying it so much, it's nice to have a copy like that though! And the only that would be better about that Cadbury bottle is if it was full!

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  12. I love lal your old books - I'd be particularly partial myself to the Secret Garden - has to be one of my all time favourite stories.

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  13. You have some lovely things here - the milk bottle is my favourite.

    Penny Dreadful Vintage

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  14. Absolutely charming, Jem! We get our milk delivered which I just love, I don't think there's anywhere back home in Canada that still does it. I never had delivery growing up, but I remember the milk box that my grandparents had built into the house in the back, you didn't have to go outside to get the milk, you just opened the little door! When we signed up to it our bottles were plain, and then they started coming in with ads on them and my heart sunk. But they're not local and some look of the ads look very retro, I've been meaning to enquire with our milk man to see if he knows if they're old.

    Fun fact - Sting's brother Phil is a milkman in our area! His dad was as well, it's a family business.

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  15. My favorites: the books and the Cadbury bottle. So fun!

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  16. I have a thing for old keys as well :) oh Secret Garden!!! I love this book! Definitely my reference too!

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  17. i love that copy of the secret garden, how pretty!

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  18. Oh Jem, such stunning finds! I love The Secret Garden (and of course Alice), these look like beautiful editions! I have an old camera that looks similar but I haven't been brave enough to try it out yet.. xx

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  19. I love old books too, there's something special about those covers and the way the books smell.

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  20. Amazing finds! I can't pass up old cameras or books!

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  21. Amazing finds! I can't pass up old cameras or books!

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  22. you know, i have an obsession with old keys -- i've been meaning to start a little collection.
    right now i collect old glass bottles tins. don't know why, but i love them.

    -alexandra
    http://alexisinodak.blogspot.com/

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  23. I have quite a few Brownies. They're all over my apartment and used primarily as decoration. It's been a long time, but I have successfully shot with 120 film in them. Totally possible.

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  24. Jem! I just love your collection of lovely little things. Like those keys; amazing! I need to start looking for old keys! And that milk bottle! That's pretty awesome too! :)

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  25. Wonderful finds! I love the keys, the books, and the "Cadbury Drinking Chocolate" bottle - so very cool :)

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  26. I love this pretty post! I adore small keys! I have one on a silver chain & its the only necklace I wear everyday! & I LOVE that milk jar! Would look the part in my shop ;) xx

    {Satin&Souffles}

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  27. Ohhhhhh....I love all those old keys, I think for me my obsession with keys started with a pair of Clarks Magic Steps! But love the books and the milk bottle too...you've definitely had a good week of finds!

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  28. I've been after an advertising milk bottle for a while, not sure why, there's just something about them. I see you've been having the ear of the thrifting gods again!
    xx

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  29. These pictures are so beautiful! I love the cameras x
    http://www.tigerlillyquinn.blogspot.com

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  30. I remember those old milk bottles :)

    Nina x

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  31. The keys are my favorite! Great pix.
    Hope all is well in your world.

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  32. I think i have died and gone to heaven. Your blog is a dream! I too am a bit of a clutter bug, picking up useless but beautiful things for my local op-shop. Such an addictive pass time!
    Anna
    http://opshopaholic.blogspot.co.nz/

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  33. I just found your blog and it is inspiring! I love the way you write; this post in particular is very beautiful. Every picture used gives off an antique-y, romantic feeling. Love it! :-)

    xoxo,
    Erin

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  34. My parents still have milk delivered by the milkman! I love the orange juice that comes from them.

    Have a great weekend,

    Victoria xx

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  35. i love old keys, so much so that i have one tattoo'd!

    just discovered your blog, i love all the photos. definitely following!

    from helen @ www.thelovecatsinc.com // @thelovecatsinc

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  36. Jem this pretty much confirms our shared love of all things whimsical. I love both of those books, such well loved classics and the covers are beautiful. Old keys always manage to enchant me, and you know that Cadbury milk bottle sure is a keeper xxx

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  37. i love the milk bottle so so much!!!

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  38. I love old keys!
    My dad's a milkman though so the milk bottle is less of a novelty to me ;D

    xo

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