This morning I bought a what-is-it .....

Today was the first truly enjoyable boot of the season:  the sun shone, the ground was dry and I managed to buy some things which make me want to smile in a manner that would make a normal person think twice about getting into a confined space with me.

But first, the what-is-it?  I know that there are many types of what-is-it? and that they come in all shapes and sizes.  My what-is-it? has beading around the front and back, a curved decorative detail on the top together with a handle for carrying and a clip on the side to keep it closed ....

It is beautifully painted on the front ....

and on the back ....

It has shelving inside ....

And a reassuring label ....

So, what-is-it?  The padded lined section at the top (which could have been added later) would indicate a sewing box but it seems a very strange configuration of shelving and why would a sewing box need to be heat resisting?  If anyone has any ideas, I would be delighted to hear them.

I also bought ...

A vintage velvet donkey and another knitted one ....

A wonderful velvet covered chocolate box decorated with what seems to be part of a dead bird....

A glorious velvet covered doll's chair and a knitted sailor doll ...

Embroidered pictures and a box of filthy wooden building bricks and wooden jigsaw bricks.

What a wonderful morning!