We’ve moved the H is for Home Harbinger blog to www.hisforhomeblog.com.

Subscribing to the new feed is easy – just go to http://feeds.feedburner.com/hisforhomeblog

Looking forward to seeing at our new home!

: : : : : : : : : : : :

We bought this lovely vintage cream-coloured telephone yesterday. It was in a bit of a state when we got it – but it’s cleaned up beautifully.

This particular model is the BT 746 which was manufactured in the 1970s.

We’re always on the lookout for nice telephones…

…they’re functional items – and they’re also great for adding a vintage touch to home or office.

Phones have proved popular in our shop – we’ve had a variety of shapes and colours…

…even a fantastic leather clad model.

If you’re interested in finding out more about vintage phones, this book is a great place to start – Design Icons: The Telephone

: : : : : : : : : : : :

Our berry picking has started early this year. We were out gathering bilberries at the weekend. They love acid soil and are found on low-growing bushes in the surrounding area. The berries are small and picking them is quite time consuming – but, be patient, they’re well worth the effort!

We put some in the freezer for future jam making and used the rest of our crop to make this bilberry custard tart. Here’s the recipe:

You’ll need to collect about 225g/8oz bilberries. Remove stalks and stray leaves and rinse in a sieve. Dry carefully on some kitchen towel (Don’t use a tea towel unless you don’t mind it getting stained purple).

Shortcrust pastry
125g/4oz plain flour
pinch of salt
55g/2oz butter, cubed
30-45ml/2-3 tbsp cold water
(or you can buy a pack of ready-made in the chilled section of most supermarkets)

• Put the flour and salt in a large bowl and add the cubes of butter
• Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until you have a mixture that resembles coarse breadcrumbs with no large lumps of butter remaining
• using a knife, stir in just enough of the cold water to bind the dough together
• wrap the pastry in clingfilm and chill for 10-15 minutes before rolling out
• flour the table and roll out the pastry to about 1/2cm thick and 25cm/10inches in diameter (or large enough to fit over the dish you’re using)
• carefully lift the pastry and lay it over your dish, moulding it to the bottom & sides
• cut off any excess bits using a sharp knife
• pour in the fresh bilberries

Custard
4 eggs
2 egg yolks
475ml/1pt milk
55g/2oz caster sugar

• heat the milk gently in a pan
• whisk the eggs & egg yolks
• slowly add the milk to the egg mixture whisking continuously (make sure the milk’s not too hot or the eggs will scramble!)
• pour the mixture carefully through a sieve on to the bilberries in the dish

Preheat the oven to 175ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4. Cook the flan for 45 minutes or until the top begins to brown nicely. When cool sprinkle a tablespoon of caster sugar over the top.

The tart looks fabulous with the deep purple juice seeping into the creamy custard…

…and it tasted good too!

: : : : : : : : : : : :

We bought a huge pile of vintage Ladybird books this week. They’re fabulous little books, designed to educate & entertain children of all ages.

We really enjoyed having a browse through them all. Having grown up with them it’s been a very nostalgic trip.

They cover an amazing variety of subjects…

…science & nature…

…careers & occupations…

…fairytales etc, etc, etc.

The wonderful illustrations have a distinctive “Ladybird” look despite being produced by a variety of artists.

Names such as John Berry, Roland Green and C F Tunnicliffe to name but three.

It’s not surprising that there’s a keen collectors’ market amongst adults too.

For more things Ladybird check out these websites:

The Wee Web
Vintage Ladybird
Official Ladybird website
Easy on the Eye
Fly Away Home

We’ve added the books to other items of stock that we’re accumulating for a new section on our website.

It’s going to be called Child’s Play, and as the name suggests, it will consist of lots of kids-related items.

In addition to books, there’ll be vintage toys & games…

…money boxes & tins…

…and bits & pieces to decorate nurseries, play rooms & bedrooms.

We should have gathered enough stuff to add the new section in the autumn – so watch this space!

: : : : : : : : : : : :

Elderflower blossom is in full bloom at the moment. Not only do they smell gorgeous, they’re easily made into the perfect summer drink. So here’s the recipe for elderflower cordial that has been requested by some of our friends on Twitter.

Ingredients

• 20 elderflower heads
• 1.8 kilos sugar
• 1.2 litres water
• 2 unwaxed lemons
• 75g citric acid (available at pharmacies or health food shops)

1. Carefully shake each flower head to remove any insects and put them in a large bowl (one with a pouring lip would be ideal)
2. Put the sugar & water into a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved
3. Peel the lemons and add this zest to the bowl of elderflowers
4. Slice the zested lemons and also add these to the bowl
5. Pour the boiling sugar syrup into the bowl and stir in the citric acid
6. Cover with a cloth / tea towel and leave at room temperature for 24 hours
7. Strain the cordial through a fine sieve or muslin and pour into sterilised glass or plastic bottles. Screw on the lids and refrigerate or store in a cool cupboard. You can also 3/4-fill plastic bottles and freeze

Dilute the cordial approximately 1:4 with sparkling mineral water – or try adding a dash to gin & vodka cocktails, white wine spritzers or champagne!

Serving suggestion:

Hot sunny day

Tall glass

Lots of ice

Deck chair

: : : : : : : : : : : :

We often feature mid-twentieth century items in our blogs, but we also have a real passion for old country furniture.

We picked up this wonderful piece of rustic kitchenalia – we think it’s a potato masher.

Perhaps Irish in origin, although we’re not sure at this stage… a bit more research is required.  It’s a very unusual piece.

BLOG UPDATE: 22nd  June.  We now think that the object in question is actually a cheese press. The wet cheese, contained within a cloth is pressed by the wooden block, the excess liquid draining through the holes. We’re still not sure about the country of origin. British/Irish is still likely, although continental Europe is a possibility – and we were also sent pictures of a very similarly designed piece which was in a U.S. auction of farm machinery. (Thanks to Erik Schepers).

If you like cottage interiors or country furniture, these books are well worth a look:

Irish Country Furniture (Amazon UK)
Irish Country Furniture (Amazon US)

English Cottage Interiors (Amazon UK) English Country Furniture (Amazon UK)
English Cottage Interiors (Amazon US) English Country Furniture (Amazon US)

: : : : : : : : : : : :

We bought a small pile of vintage Country Fair magazines last week.

It was their covers that caught our eye. They feature wonderful illustrations of birds, animals, insects etc representing the particular month of publication.

They’re illustrated by John Hanna, an Australian artist who worked in London in the 1950s & 60s.

Inside are photos & articles about gardening, farming, cooking and country pursuits… from a slower-paced, simpler time.

As with many many magazines from this era, the adverts are also well worth a look.

We love the simple, stylised graphics of this one for holidays in Switzerland…

…or how about this one for a fabulous 50s fitted kitchen…

…and nature guides – very reminiscent of early Ladybird books.

If we’ve pricked your interest, and you’d like to find out more, a compendium of the best issues from the ’50s is available from Amazon.

Country Fair (Amazon UK)
Country Fair (Amazon US)

: : : : : : : : : : : :

A new cake has been made for the tin by the kettle – a rather nice chocolate sponge with a coconut chocolate topping.

The recipe is taken from ‘Delia Smith’s Cookery Course Part Two‘ book. It’s based on her quick & easy ‘All-in-one sponge’ recipe:

• 4 oz/110 g self raising flour, sifted
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 4 oz/110 g soft margarine, at room temperature
• 4 oz/110 g caster sugar
• 2 tbs cocoa powder
• 2 large eggs
• 2-3 drops vanilla essence

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3/325ºF/170ºC

Lightly grease a 7-inch/18 cm sponge tin and line its base with greaseproof paper (also greased) or silicone paper.

Take a large roomy mixing bowl, and sift flour and baking powder into it, holding the sieve high to give the flour a good airing. Then simply add all the other ingredients to the bowl, and whisk them – preferably with an electric hand whisk – till thoroughly combined. If the mixture doesn’t drop off a wooden spoon easily when tapped on the side of the bowl, then add 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls of tap-warm water, and whisk again.

Add to the prepared tin, level off and bake on the centre shelf of the oven for about 30 minutes. When cooked leave it in the tin for only about 30 seconds, then loosen the edge by sliding a palette knife all round and turn it out onto a wire cooling rack.

To finish:

Melt 100 g milk chocolate in a bowl over hot water (bain marie). Add 1 tbs dessicated coconut to the chocolate and spread over the top. Finish with a further sprinkle.

It can be tweeked with all kinds of other flavours, fillings & toppings – vanilla, ginger, dried fruit etc. We also like the look of this new version that Delia has on her own website

If you prefer a thicker cake with a middle layer of butter cream, jam etc, just double the quantities, and use two tins.

It’s delicious – give it a go next time you have a few minutes to spare – and enjoy it with a nice cuppa!

: : : : : : : : : : : :

We bought this great money box last week – made by Dendan Ware in the late 1950s or early 1960s…

…featuring a hip young girl saving her pennies for life’s essentials – holidays, clothes, handbags, socialising.

It followed hot on the heels of another recent money box find. We posted this one on Flickr & it’s proved very popular – people just love owls! We’re going to add it to the website soon.

It’s going to join our family of Arthur Wood pigs who are already enjoying an idyllic free-range life there.

We love this elephant money box designed by Luigi Colani for Dresdsner Bank in 1963. It’s made from hard, moulded plastic and comes in various sizes & colours.

Back to owls – this vintage money box is from a range produced by Carltonware Pottery in the 1960s. The range features an eclectic mix of subjects including pigs, princesses & pirates – here are just a few!

If you’ve got pennies to save, these certainly beat an old jam jar!

: : : : : : : : : : : :

We were out & about in Huddersfield the other day and took some photos of these amazing tiled mosaics.

They’re situated in a 1960s-built precinct development in the town centre- they really capture the era.

On the subject of tiles, we recently put this image on Flickr. It’s a 1960s tile by Platt depicting a prince on horseback with a hunting falcon – we absolutely love it! We’re planning on having it framed.

We got this vintage bird tile ready-framed which is very effective. We think it was made by Maw & Co. It reminds us of Lisa Larson in style. We bought it from Wowie Zowie in Chorlton. This shop is well worth a visit if you’re in Manchester – they have some lovely stuff, imaginatively displayed.

This large tile/plaque is indeed by Lisa Larson – she’s a real favourite of ours! It was designed for Gustavsberg of Sweden in the 1960s.

Here it is in its usual home on a shelf in our lounge.

Here’s another one of our vintage tiles in situ – this one’s Italian – it sits happily on our bathroom shelf. Here it is in close up.

The most recent addition to our little collection was picked up yesterday. It’s quite different to the others in the fact that it represents a real place – it depicts the Euromast in Rotterdam designed in the 1950s – we really like the modernist feel to it.

The final item in our burgeoning tile collection is by Kenneth Townsend. We featured it before in our Z is for… Zoo blog post.

The lion is an early piece from his Menagerie range. Hopefully we’ll be able to find some of his other animals to fill our shelves!

: : : : : : : : : : : :