Story Donated By Amy Seaward

I have recently started the wooden toys collection above, and it is still quite small, but perfectly formed.The Russian dolls at the back, came from Prague and were incredibly cheap, the smallest one has inexplicably disappeared, but will hopefully return home one day.

The sailors came from Ashton-Under-Lyne flea market and were about 50p, I think their facial expressions are great, they don’t look very happy.

Unlike Mr and Mrs Tall, the two red toys who came from Leeds Thursday Market from the Faggy Lady Stall (so nicknamed by me and my friend, Sarah as they smoke all over everything) for 50p, I think. Mr Tall’s head keep falling off and I am forever sticking it back on with superglue.
Amy Seaward

Story Donated By Claire Anderson

I rescued these scales from the flea market in Shipley a couple of years ago. They cost 50p and I had to buy them cos I felt sorry for them. They now live on the top of my cupboards collecting dust.. However, they came in extremely useful a few months ago cos I used them, on several occasions, to weigh my little baby.

Being a second born, I didn’t get around to attending clinic for her regular weigh-in sessions, so whenever I was curious about how much my bundle of joy was growing, I popped her into the handy baby-sized tray, and bob’s your uncle.

They’re now back on top of the cupboards collecting dust.
Claire Anderson

Story Donated By Beate Rohle

I would like to introduce you to Matilde. Matilde is a flower-pot-duck, orange glazed pottery - quite useful if you like that sort of thing. She’s got proper eyes (like an old fashioned teddy bear) and lovely stripes.

My (then) best friend S. bought her at a flea market in Paris, back in 1994. We named her together and, for about a year, Matilde took a place of honour on the windowsill of the small flat we shared in Berlin.

I fell out with S. some time after Matilde and me moved to Leeds, and Matilde is getting rather dusty on a shelf in the kitchen - I could never part with my duck, though!

PS. Having written this, and having dusted off Matilde for the photograph, I think I might just find her a new place of honour!
Beate Rohle

Story Donated By Tina Small

My favourite brooch is from the second hand jewellery stall at Shipley Market. I was with my friend Claire and told her I liked it so she sneaked back and bought it for my birthday.