This is the latest, vintage tin added to my website. This one has a really nice folk-style design on it, with a raised oval of flowers on the lid, and lots of folky, retro flowers, leaves and vines decorating the sides. The colours are really vibrant, and the gold is a really deep, rich gold. It's a lovely thing.

Made for Carr's of Carlisle, I can date this to pre-1972 as Carr's were taken over by United Biscuits then, and there is no mention of United Biscuits on this tin.

The hinged lid has a nice, tight fit, so I think this tin would make a great seed packet storage tin because it would definitely keep the moisture out.

This time, the detective work was on this really great retro tea caddy. The design is of a gramophone, with swirls of shells, flowers, and musical notes. The colours, and style of design, are very evocative of the 60's, but there is no date on the tin. There is a sticker for the retailer on the bottom, which has an address, but no postcode. A bit of research and I've found out that Croydon, which is where the company were based, first started using postcodes in 1967, so I'm pretty sure the tin dates to before then. And with the design, and colours, I would guess at early to mid 60's.

Whatever the exact date, it's a really nice tin, in really good vintage condition

I found this tin at the weekend, and I picked it up for my shop straight away. It's so nice. The butterfly and flowers on the lid are metallic, while the background is matt. The gradient of colour in the background, from dark to light, highlights the metallic design even more, and the colours used on the whole tin are a really nice palette. The electric blue is so vibrant, the butterfly is in a lovely combination of pink and peach, and the flowers are in shades of turquoise blue and purple.

I believe the date could be 20's or 30's. The condition is good for the age that it is, and it would work perfectly as a storage tin. It would make a really nice pen tin for a desk, or for keeping plant labels in for the garden.

I just listed a large Raspberry Red and Aqua bauble which is the latest design in my Christmas range. It was only when it was listed that I realised where I'd got the colour combination, and design, from.

The item next to the bauble was this vintage ribbon that I listed a few days ago. The colours are nearly exactly the same. I think I must have even though of the holly design from this ribbon pattern too.

Funny how things influence you without you really realising it. It just goes to show how mood boards, and Pinterest can help visually inspire you with colour pallettes.

With that in mind, I've been adding a few items to the vintage office section. I am on the lookout for nice storage items, and useful desk accessories. There is this lovely tin with an 'embroidered' design on the lid.

And I have found a couple of brilliant large, brass, double-sided paper clips, which could also be used as paperweights because of the weight of them.

All these things would brighten your desk up. I've read that if you are surrounded by things that you like in your home, it makes you feel good. That must work in a double-good way if the things are where you are creative. So keep an eye on my site and you might see something you'd like on your desk.

This Vogue Vanities compact has a very vibrant floral design on the top. The colours are still really bright against the cream background, and it's highlighted with a lovely, deep metallic gold. There's no damage to the design at all, that I can see.

I can date this to the 1950's because Vogue Vanites stopped making compacts during the war years, and started up again in 1946. In the 50's they started making a larger size compact which was 9.5cm diameter, which this one is. The sifter is present, and the mirror is in perfect condition. Considering it's age this compact is in really good condition, and is still very useable today.