I have a couple of nursery prints in my Etsy shop by an artist named Anne Anderson.

I am particularly interested in her because Anne Anderson just so happens to be my sisters maiden name. Not that my sister would call herself an artist.

Anne Anderson was born in 1874 and was a prolific Scottish illustrator known for her art nouveau children's book illustrations and her greeting cards. She used watercolour to produce her nursery prints which were particularly popular in the 1920s.

I have two Anne Anderson prints in my Etsy shop and will be adding more in the next few days.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/printsandpastimes?ref=search_shop_redirect

Back To Blogging

I'm back to blogging !!!  Wow!  Its been seven years and very little has changed in my life - apart that is from being seven years older and having some of the health problems old age brings.

 Also back to selling vintage prints on Etsy but more about that later.

I recently came across an old well loved book with details of  some of the Scottish clans and tartans. Being Scottish myself of course I had to have it.

My maiden name is Anderson and  after some research on line it appears that as well as the Anderson tartan  I can also wear the clan Macdonald tartan.

 Macdonald Clan Tartan and History

Well after more research it seems I am not the only name entitled to wear the Macdonald tartan. Here are a list of a few others -

• ALLISTER
• ANDERSON
• BALLACH
• BALLOCH
• BEATH
• BEATON
• BETHUNE
• BOWIE
• BRODIE
• BUDGE
• BUIE
• BULLOCH
• CAMBRIDE
• CATHAL
• CATHIL
• COCHRAN
• COCHRANE
• COLL
• COLSON
• CONN
• CONNAL
• CONNELL
• COOK
• COOKE
• COULL
• COULSON
• CRIRIE
• CROMB
• CROMBIE
• CROOM
• CRUM
• DANIEL
• DANIELS
• DARRACH
• DARROCH
• PATON
• PATTON
• MCHUTCHISON
• HUTCHEON
• 
  
• HUTCHIN
• HUTCHESON
• HUTCHINSON
• HUTCHISON
• HUTCHON
• HUSTON
• MACHUGH
• MACHUTCHEN
• MACHUTCHEON
• MCDONALD

If  any of you are interested in your Scottish ancestry I matted some of the prints of clans and tartan which are  now available for sale on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/printsandpastimes?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=26215167

Tax Return!

Well its the end of the tax year and I spent most of yesterday sorting out all the paperwork to complete my tax return.
I vow every year to get it done in April but I just keep putting it off and putting it off.
Boy do I wish I was earning enough to afford an accountant! Then all I would have to do would be to hand over my carrier bag of receipts and they would sort it all out for me.
I know I am not the only last minute Larry because I rang the Tax Office earlier today with a query and the young man at the other end of the phone informed me that he was working overtime tomorrow to help other confused souls like me who were struggling with their self-assessment.
Oh well back to those bits of paper.

New Year New Beginnings

Well it's been a while since I last blogged and reading this back it feels a bit like being in the confessional! I have made a promise to myself that I will try to add something to my blog a minimum of twice a week. But please don't hold me to it!

I am happy to say both my Etsy shops are still ticking over and Christmas saw the print shop in particular doing well http://www.etsy.com/shop/printsandpastimes?ref=si_shop

There has been a lot of interest in the prints I have for sale by Warwick Goble. The soft colours and artistry are charming.

Warwick Goble (1862-1943) was an illustrator of childrens books who specialised in Indian and Japanese themes. He illustrated a number of books including Charles Kingsley's - The Water Babies and Japanese Fairy Tales and I have prints from both those books in my shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84076057/vintage-1910-the-water-babies-childrens
http://www.etsy.com/listing/89303323/vintage-warwick-goble-1923-japanese

I am hoping to add more Warwick Goble prints to my shop later today so please look out for them.

Dress clips were fashionable from the 1920's to the 1950's. They were usually worn in pairs to add interest to the neckline of a sweater or dress or to glam up a plain pair of shoes. Some dress clips were fastened together in a purpose built frame to be used as a brooch.

As a piece of vintage collectable costume jewellery dress clips can still be used to add a touch of sparkle to an outfit.

Try them-

• clipped to a ribbon and used as a choker.
• worn on the collar, lapel or pockets of a dress, sweater or jacket.
• attached to an evening bag or a belt buckle
• on a hairband, beret or hat

The dress clip I am about to list on The Duke Street Duchess shop on Etsy is made from silvertone metal and rhinestones and would give some vintage glamour to any outfit.

Miracle Flintlock Pistol Brooch

Miracle are a British company famous for making Celtic, Scottish and Irish jewellery.

This flintlock pistol brooch was manufactured by Miracle in about the 1960/70s. Made from silvertone metal and with coloured glass stones made to resemble agate set in the handle and barrel of the pistol this brooch is certainly an unusual design.

This brooch is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Stratton Pocket / Handbag Ashtray

Just added a Stratton handbag / pocket ashtray to The Duke Street Duchess shop on Etsy. Although smoking is for most people not politically correct this is a very collectable item for those collectors of Stratton and /or smoking accessories.

Made from godtone metal and with a blue enamel lid this item was made in around the 1950s/60s.

Inside the cigarette rest swings out to reveal the ashtray. Although there is a little damage to the inside as would be expected of an item used for this purpose, priced at £12 this would make an ideal gift for smokers or collectors