It's a Line Up

Juanita, Paloma, Rosita, Pancho and Pepito - some of my little horsey friends are off for sale in a lovely shop called Retrospections in Cammeray, Sydney. Along with some Supermarket Chic Bags, and Lord and Lady Bibs, they will be keeping company with some of the best... well, I almost want to say curation, of vintage homewares, books, beautiful accessories, baby items, and general loveliness that I have seen in quite a while.

The shop itself is also gorgeous. A real feast for the eyes.

If you're in the area, it would really be remiss of you not to visit!

Desk Job

So, I have rescued a lovely old desk that was destined for firewood from my workplace. It is lovely and heavy and has the most beautiful grain - the only thing is it needs a bit of love, as you can see on the top surface. The varnish is chipping off and it has some watermarks. From what I can tell by by internet sleuth work, I need to strip it, sand it, and re-varnish it with a very similar if not the same colour varnish. Anyone an expert?

The Tale of Emma and the Lovely Plate

Let me tell you a little story.

One day when Emma was living in Melbourne, she and her boy decided to visit a local vintage and antique shop that she had admired going past on the tram. She was delighted with many of the items for sale but was especially taken with a particular lovely German plate, 1950's, with a geometric pattern and beautiful colours.

Emma really wanted to buy this plate but sadly, she was a little bit short of cash, and a bargain this plate was certainly not.

"Oh dear," she sighed as the boy steered her out of the store, "how I would love to own that lovely plate."

Every day afterwards she sat on the tram and stared wistfully into the shop window, where the plate was not on display, and wondered whose house it was sitting in, and whether its new owner was treating it with love. A little part of her still hoped that it was on display elsewhere in the shop, and she intended to return when she had saved enough cash. If she was lucky, the lovely plate might still be there!

A few months later, Emma and her boy found themselves moving back to Sydney. It had been a very busy time, working, packing, running her Etsy store, and farewelling her Melbourne friends - so much so that she hadn't had a chance to go to the shop. As they were driving out of Melbourne, 4WD full of boxes, plants and clothes, and balancing a fishbowl on her lap, Emma looked out the window a final time at the shop and felt sad that she would not buy the lovely plate, after all.

A few more months past. Emma and her boy settled in to a new life in Sydney. Christmas and New Year came, and with it all the family and friends and social events. Emma forgot about the lovely plate sitting in Melbourne.

Then the day of Emma's birthday arrived. She was excited but a little apprehensive as her family were away on holidays, and her boy had decided to go to the cricket for the day. Not to be disheartened, she had a lovely day shopping in the city and enjoyed a lively dinner at Chinatown with her friends. When they finally got home, Emma said to her boy, "What a great day! I am so tired, I am going straight to bed."

That's when her boy produced a sneaky present from under the bed. He had bought it 5 months ago and had been hiding it in manholes, at work, in his laptop bag, at his parents' house, and finally in the top of our new wardrobe, but somehow it had survived and was now sitting in Emma's lap.

It was the lovely plate.

THE END

The CUTEST vintage fabric ever

I just found this gorgeous piece of vintage fabric. I call it the liquorice allsort. I'm working out a pattern to make the cutest little dress that ever was... I may be tempted to keep it for me though!

Lazy Sunday

...I wish! Today is Designated Packing Day, as we get ready for our journey north to Sydney. For such a little flat we sure have amassed a lot of stuff. Well, I have. Ok, the fabric box has turned into a fabric very-large-bag. I can't help myself! So many cute fabrics crying out to be dresses or shorts. I am very excited about a vintage piece I found last week, which closely resembles a licquorice allsort. Fantastic! I'm still deciding what to make out of it... any ideas?

Meanwhile I have been dreaming of my new kitchen in Sydney (not that I have one yet, but I've heard it's good to visualise. Heehee). This is what I would like in it:

A set of gorgeous Pyrex mixing bowls from atouchofvintage

These to-die-for canisters from BazarBcuz (if the Australian dollar wasn't so sad, they would be MINE!)

Cute cute cute teatowel from Kraken

And what kitchen is complete without a fabulous rolling pin, from sirkus.

The Joys of Meandering

There is nothing I love more (well, maybe some things) than strolling along looking at interesting shops, buildings, streets and towns. It is one of the things that I think are particularly enjoyable and even heightened when you are alone. I have spent a lovely morning with not much to do other than buy fish and a plastic sleeve for my clothing patterns, and so I indulged in a little wandering and letting my thoughts go.

A good friend of mine is getting married so I have been looking with interest at a few bridal shops in my area. Such a big industry, and so much to think about! Being the emotional rag that I am, I was already imagining the scene when I see her in her dress, and was feeling a bit teary until I pulled myself up and reminded myself where I was.

So many beautiful wedding-related things on Etsy!





These gorgeous eyelet lace-inspired letterpress cards by Pistachio Press are to die for. So understated and elegant. I recently bought some other non-wedding related cards from PP and was very impressed.

And while I was trawling I spotted this great photo, as part of the Handmade Wedding Series:

What elegant guests, and such a happy bunch! *Sigh*