What a find...other people's craft

I have more recently found great appreciation for the craft and hard work of other people. As my own work diversifies and I settle happily into this genre, I have noticed the discarded works of our neighbors priced at a £1 for an easy sale in charity shops and the like. 
Craft takes time, the name implies the hours of shaping, whittling, sanding, painting, varnishing, stitching, baking, weaving etc and that these home-spun projects have little value outside of the four walls they were made is a sad state of affairs. More value is placed on the plasti-formed coffee percolator and collectible bank animal they sit beside.
As such, I have enjoyed the harvest- and it is that. The place where trend and taste meet this quality available adorns my walls and I benefit from the hard-work and love of another for the object they held and the place it was to decorate in their own home. Surely the best sort of re-use- for it's intended purpose for another who was unknown at the time of production.


These images are if such finds in our home- some industrial crafts that 'had their time', some front-room preoccupations, a vase that looks gallery-worthy but no-doubt was a bulk b&b buy, and a few styling tips in addition.

Clockwise from left:  1 Floral tapestry, (£1 in frame) the candy-colours become contemporary with the frame painted matt dark grey; 2 this antiques centre clock was more expensive but a rare colour, lovely figures and gold hands it adds quality and colour (& loud ticking) to other items. Placed above the triptych there is a traditional format to these more contemporary images; 3 frames do not have to match- pricey items such as these should match in colour but materials and sometimes size can add to the talking point, broad white wood gives a gallery impression; 4 the vase (£1) struck me as a likely find at the new design fairs in London, the transferred design Anglo-Dutch applied on an incline, and the size of the vase are very contemporary and fun for the dressing the kitchen-table more traditionally; 5 the tablecloth (same price) has been cross-stitched with flowers and border- a time-consuming task probably for 'best' family use and I benefit here bridging the Scandinavian furniture gap with a little fifties suburbia; 6 the deer marquetry (£1) is I feel a man's contributing to my 'found craft', although not proven. I imagine a kit gifted and pursued as a diversion from the jigsaw puzzle of the time. It is lovely and gives a good 'lodge' feel in the winter months.

You will note a pricing theme, PLEASE re-home crafts, they offer value for money as much as clothing and books from the same shops because 20hrs work is far more time than the factory spends on accessories and you have beauty to discuss.

Late addition: just had a request for a close-up pic of the vase for some stitch-inspiration, here you go>