2 Fun Stuff in the Post!

Since we found out we were moving, I've become a little shop-happy as far as gathering little bits and pieces of memorabilia and items to remind me of our life here- as I'm sure you noticed in my Jubilee pottery post! Today's post arrived with two packages for me and I couldn't wait to share them!

A few months back I found out about a fun little monthly subscription post service called "Not Another Bill." The premise is that, for a small cost, you receive one surprise in the post every month. Last month (July), I received these traditional Chinese scissors- or, as I call them, "stabby Edward-Scissorhands scissors":

Despite their dangerous appearance, they're actually really handy. I have a habit of sitting in the sunshine and cutting my split ends off, (I'm lazy about cutting my hair, and this helps prevent overall damage. It's weird, I know, but I've done it since high school.), and when I don't have fingernail scissors I'll often bite the ends off (No, I do not "eat" my hair- I hold the end and drop it)- but these little scissors are PERFECT for split-end trimming. 

My only issue with them is that they don't have cases... so I think I'll felt them little sleeves for safety!

 Anyway- the other gift (there are often different NABs mailed out) was a reproduction folding map. NAB offers extra items for sale on their website, and I love maps- so I ordered a "country" one (the other option was celestial) and received Modern Rome in 1885.  A friend of mine received a 1971 London one- jealous! Don't get me wrong, though- whenever we finally get to Rome, I'm taking this one along to see how much (or how little!) has changed in the ancient city!

The maps are copies of actual old folding maps- complete with little dings and smudges- mounted on linen for strength. They're perfect for someone like me, who'd love the real thing but just can't afford it.

 I loved my map so much that I went to the company's website and perused their online shop. The Counties of York from 1820 was my first choice- I've kept an eye at our local auction house and at various print shops I've found for a good-condition, large, vintage Yorkshire map- but they're either not what I want or out of my price range. This one covers the historical "Three Ridings", North, East, and West Yorkshire.

It's pretty fun, because Harrogate is listed as "High Harrowgate", Pateley Bridge is "Paitley Bridge", and our old village, Birstwith, is on there, too! While this isn't strange for villages or towns here, most of which were established centuries ago, my American self gets all excited over it!

 There were two great maps of Scotland- one of the country in 1829, and this one from 1714 that included the little pictures of major cities and sites on the sides.  I love it!

Another great feature of the maps is their cases- they come in sturdy folders covered in reproduction 18th century marbled paper- and are quite lovely!

 One of the other great reproduction items I've found here is a metal railway sign. I've wanted a few of them since I first saw them, but I try to be a savvy shopper and I watched our local auction house like a hawk- and finally got this one at a price I was happy with. 

I've kept my eye out for one of the Yorkshire Dales and one of the Yorkshire Coast- but haven't found any for a good price. 

 With that in mind, an online flash-sale site, Dalani, had a boutique of vintage railway reproductions on wood- and, while there wasn't a Dales or general Coast one, there was a Scarborough one- and I love Scarborough!(here, here, and here) I'm really happy with this sign and can't wait to find the perfect place to hang it in our NC house. (That's a lie- I'd rather find the perfect place to hang it here, but we're being upbeat, right?!?!)

Overall, it was a great day in the post for me- and now I've got several bits of Great Britain to surround me in the future!

While we're on the subject of stuff on walls, I thought I'd share one other set I've acquire here. I bought these at our first 1940s weekend in Haworth, as they seemed a fitting remembrance of the day.

(link to our second year at Haworth's 1940s weekend here)

 These three were the original propaganda signs hung around the country for morale during the War. "Keep Calm and Carry On" is of course the most famous- but the "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution" was actually the first printed. 

 "Dig for Victory" wasn't a propaganda sign during the War, but rather the slogan of the "Victory Garden" campaign- a movement to encourage kitchen gardens for food and supplementing the limited ration cards.

I couldn't resist the "Don't Panic" sign, as Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of my favorite books- as Lindsay knows!

This last picture is just to show you why these are so awkward- the signs hang along our stair wall, and it's a really narrow space, not conducive to picture-taking!

Update: I also received the best parcel I've ever gotten in my life. DOG FOOD!