kitchen goodies and more

I've been in flea-market heaven for the last few weeks...and still am!
The situation couldn't be more perfect: having moved into an entirely empty flat with very little material possessions in a town full of flea-markets and junk shops. Do I have to say more?

Well, it's like a dream come true for me - we are on a shoe-string budget and had two weeks to make the flat liveable and get the basics. So we've been paying daily visits to all of the local second-hand places to reel in the bargains and boy, did we get lucky.

I'm pleased to say that my man turns out to be an equally savvy flea-market shopper with a very good eye, so we've had a blast going on the hunt together.

This post is the first installment of a series showing off all our finds.

I'm so stoked to have found a couple of not overpriced enamel mugs - the white one is looking after my coloured pencils now, while the mint green one is gracing the kitchen as a utensils pot.

I picked up lots of practically new wooden kitchen utensils, for mere cents a-piece... My favourites are the wooden whisk (above) and the fruit tree wood butter knife (below).

I've been wanting a good vintage non-steam iron for a long while now - they turn up quite a lot, but it's hard to find one in decent condition. Most of the time the bottom plate is scratched or the wire connection is dodgy.

Not on this one! This beauty is in near mint condition, and irons like a dream. My man spotted it, and it was a bargain at €2.50.
The same junk shop had a very sturdy vintage ironing board as well as a sleeve board in the basement, so I came away from there fully equipped for pressing and very happy.

I have a soft spot for whistling kettles. This Italian one caught my eye - it has the most wonderful odd green colour, a lovely modern but classic design and the price sticker said €1.50.

It's been whistling for many lovely cups of teas ever since I brought it home.

A vintage pepper mill was on our definitive wishlist and my boyfriend came across this small barrel shaped one. We tried it out there and then - it had a few old rose pepper corns in it and they still had a lovely aroma. At home we emptied it and cleaned it - it works just perfect, and for €1.50 it was a steal.

I really would like to start a collection of vintage Pyrex ware - well here's the first one in line. No lid, but I like the pattern a lot.
We also picked up a couple of vintage wooden floor samples for a few cents - I thought they make  perfect potholders.

There's something about chunky smoky glassware that I appeals to me a lot - luckily my boyfriend feels the same way too! The carafe was my find, the salad bowl was his. Both were a couple of euros each.

And finally, I've managed to happen upon a big hollow plastic animal - remember this post with its smaller precursors? This guy will be subjected to some transformation soon to make a planter < edit 04/07/2013: I don't have the heart! To transform him would call for cutting a big chunk out of his back and cram some poor plant in there that would probably dye soon after from lack of drainage... so he remains as is, yawning with his toothy gaping mouth, with his back intact >, but in the meantime it's standing by the kitchen sink being useful as a ring holder.