WILLOW VALLEY STORE

Paragon. Lilac.

Check out what my MIL found for me for Christmas...

a gorgeous milk/cream jug and sugar bowl. Adorable shape and design huh!

It is sssoo sweet - isnt she way too good to me!

The label had us all intrigued. It reads

Paragon. By Appointment. H.M.Queen's H.M. Queen Mary. Fine China. England. Reg'd Lilac (serial no.)

so I googled it and found these links which I found interesting reading and some lovely pics to enjoy too of more china from this era...

Wiki

Classy Option

Xo Catherine - who loves it when family members find awesome treats for me at second hand shops!!!!!!!!

PS I really love sketching flowers and whimsical "weeds" in vintage containers....

here is Serendipity....

 

Vintage books...

You never know what turns up when you holiday in Victoria's birth place....there's so much history and so many wonderful vintagey collectables to enjoy...

I had a wonderful afternoon admiring these and many many more.....

 

these horsey books are great. They always have the same theme. Do you know it?

Shell May I thought of you when I found this one....

Some have very dear dedications and dates in the front of them.

just adored these sweet children playing in the woods with bunnies, squirrels, butterflies, daisies, toadstools and birdies

children sure did have short shorts and dresses then...

and they all happily drank plain milk with mommy

xo Catherine

Glen Waverley Antique Centre

I heard about this one from Alicia

and so one day last week I went and checked it out for myself

and I LOVED IT!

If you feel right at home foraging around in a large open warehouse and visiting multiple stalls for your vintage goodies - at fantastic prices - this is for you. 

Daphne @ Tangerine Vintage has a stall there too - and also Tamara @ Shabby Vintage Junk

With the antique centre at Mornington closed - I am pretty pleased the  new epicentre for all things collectable has moved a whole lot closer to my home - just 15 mins away.

I scored a cute vintage seersucker red ric rac apron for moi -  $7 . Dead cute.

I have already bought 2 Christmas pressies.  I am so thrilled knowing the recipients will love them. I hate hate hate spending any time at the mall...especially at Christmas time. It seems to suck your happiness and you feel stressed pressured and spend too much on mediocre desperate items. I really hate the atmosphere...and the repetitive  music...meh!

The Glen Waverley Antique Centre has only been open for 2 weeks - and so over the next few its gonna grow plenty - the manager told me that he's had about 70 enquiries from potential stall holders.

Really well located near the Monash Freeway - great range - 7 days trading - good prices - and a coffee shop opening soon - definately one to check out regularly.

See you there maybe?!
xo Cath

PS silly me - forgot to tell you where it is - Artistoc Road off Waverley Road - you will see the signs on the left. Dont park on the street - head down the driveway.

Op Shopping in Melbourne

In my commute to the city this week I picked up a City Weekly - its a free mag with stuff about Melb in it -  usually handed out at Flinders St station.

This edition had a great article about op shopping in Melbourne and a blog link to check out.

I op therefore I am.

There are maps and lists to download that will make the hunt easier and even where to shop on Sundays....I am going to print them off and keep them in my car glovebox....cos I LOVE OP SHOPPING!!!

  Op shopping is addictive because you

• $ save lots and lots of money $
• contribute to charities
• live sustainably - recycling and upcycling is better for the planet
• find unexpected treasure
• become unique - develop your own style
• never know what you will find - the thrill of the hunt!
• can brag about how flukey/smart you are to your op shop buddies and bathe in their admiration
• come across unusual and vintage items that inspire creatively and artistically

Here is a recent "score that I adore".

A Boo Radley skirt for $6. Its brand new. They retail for about $130. I wear this a lot on weekends. I  really like the multi hems of tulle and raggyness of it. It is beautifully made with lots of gathers tucks and embellishments.

Goes well with leggings, my long boots,  layered tops, lacey thingy - steam punk watch pendant and weekend scruffy hair ;-)

Happy hunting....

xo Catherine

PS my op shop adventures can be found under the Categories to the right VINTAGE INSPIRATION and YESTERYEAR

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza - my goodies

Here are my treats....(the fabric items came from Patchwork on Central Park where we went after the extravaganza)

An old purple glass French perfume bottle, some mustard fabric with script on it, white and cream stripey linen, 25 of these small doyley centres (just $5) - lots of potential with them - bags, quilts , decs, cards etc etc and a large square of fabric with Melbourne locations printed on it - good for cushion or bag project - and my favourite item....

the rolling pin!!! I am a crap cook so as usual its for display purposes LOL! Both ends unscrew. One end is for cold water to keep the pastry cool in hot weather...and the other end that I have removed in the photo acts as a flour scoop and has holes in it - for sifting the flour out onto the pastry board. Are you thinking that the middle of this rolling pin must be a gluey problem??? Not at all - seperate compartments! Too smart!

xox Cath

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza - The pics!

 

Had the best morning with Jen!

Here are the pics of the Extravaganza. LOVED IT!

Havent the vendors excelled creating their stalls!!!

They were all so friendly and it was such a privilege to meet them...especially Tamarah and Alicia...

We purchased some lovely goodies - I'II show you tomorrow - then went onto Patchwork on Central Park and then coffee and home again.

I feel so refreshed and inspired. Now I can happily face washing/ironing and dinner prep!

xo Cath

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza

Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza (vintage furniture & homewares show)

Ashburton Scout Hall, 337 High St Ashburton (melways 60 E10) on Friday 3rd June 1pm - 6pm and Saturday 4th June 8am - 4pm

entry fee $5.00.

I am going! Race you to the good stuff....

xo Cath

Got the perfect skirt to wear to it today from my 2nd fav Op Shop. Its Boo Radley ( YUM! ) for $6 - get outta town!!! Fitted waist and flarey - lots of tulle, raw edges and applique. Makes me feel like Cinderella before the bling hit from the fairy.

xo Cathy.

Happy things that are red and green....

Thanks for your bunny hugs everyone - I am getting through responding to your comments personally and gradually.

For now please know that I really really appreciate your kind words!

I am somehow into red and green this week....

check out what I found today....

another one of these "nana's biscuit" jars to go in my collection - now numbering 3 . Love these. The glass is thick and those serrated edges are so tactile.

Nana always had home made yo-yo's in hers for us kids to help ourselves.

I cant be bothered baking much - so mine have sewing stuff in them, more likely to have yo-yo's of the fabric kind here!! Non fattening so very good for you!

I also found this really neat old vintage cane basket. Couldn't resist - it was sssooo cheap and in such good condition. Cute handle with the red and green alternating like that....

And by request from several people who attended the Monbulk Quilt Show and missed seeing the finished version of my button card design (it was displayed prominently in the doorway!)  - that was a freebie design included in the first 100 showbags  (and did I say already that it will be in a quilt this year!?!?  Yes you did Cath - stop chatting and get stitching -  pretty excited about that!!)

here it is....

hhmmm more of that red and green happening - with some pink for interest....

Have you stitched your button card yet?

What thread colours have you stitched yours in?

Whats your fav place to find old buttons?

xo Catherine

PS more random stuff collected today...2 pink buttons...1 red button...1 magnum of red wine...3 pink nerrines.....

Quality Vintage in the Melbourne CBD.

Can you guess what I am looking at?    Do you know where I am?   

Aren't these just the most gorgeous french doors. Isnt it interesting how the thick bevelled glass makes a distorted view of the outside world.

Have you worked it out yet?

I am gazing at beautiful St Pauls Cathedral and I am @ L'uccello!

The reason I want you to see and remember this photo is so that you will ALWAYS be able to find L'uccello. Even if you havent got the address!! If you KNOW when you are IN  L'uccello you can spy St Pauls across the road - surely you will find it by working backwards!

Enter via the Cathedral Arcade - (which is opposite St Pauls on the Swanston St side) - and L'uccello is on the 2nd floor.  Easy!

Inside L'uccello you will find incredible architecture - such a fitting backdrop to all the wonderful vintage treats that Kim constantly sources from around the world.

 let's wander around.....

see anything you like?...I sure do

lots of baskets and drawers to poke around in....

Kim is delightful and her shop specializing in Quality Vintage just gets better and better every time I go there. You might be thinking - hhmmm looks expensive....NOT AT ALL!  (and you know what a thrifty shopper I am LOL!)

Its a real treat for me to have this little slice of heaven to drop into on my way home from work. I am ALWAYS inspired and enjoy buying  goodies to treasure - at great prices.  Thanks Kim!

Visit Kim@  L'uccello

xo Catherine

Trash N Treasure N Drive-In Theatres

Long long time ago in the land of Oz we had drive in theatres. 

Lots of them.

You paid cash cos there was no other way.

You parked your car next to a pole - unwound the drivers side window (yes - using the muscles in your arm !)  reached out and grabbed a heavy grey metal speaker. It had a big hook on the back of it and you hung it on the window and then wound the window up  (using those arm muscles again !)

It was poor sound. It crackled and popped. Too loud for the driver who had it right next to their ear and not loud enough for anyone else in the car.  

And yet we loved it. It was a huge treat to go to the drive in theatre.

As kids you went in your PJ's. The really cool people had panel vans - parked them backwards - and laid out in luxury on their 'beds' surrounded by food and drinks.

It was always funny when people forgot at the end of the movies to return the speaker to the pole and drove off with it still hanging there in their window. BANG!!!!!!!! Just about took your door off!

These days there arent too many drive in theatres.

In some places the remnants of those simple times remain. A few of the local drive in theatres now operate as Trash N Treasure markets on Sundays.

As I walk the uneven purpose built sloping lanes that curve around the concrete supports - that are all that remain of those once massive hi tech screens - I cant help but remember the days of the drive in theatre with a smile.

We get to Wantirna Trash N Treasure several times throughout the year...located at one of those left over drive in theatre waste lands. Camberwell market is great - but I cant beat Wantirna for close to home proximity and vintage bargains!

Here are my latest acquisitions

$2 for this Royal Winton cup and saucer! How sweet is the rose bud handle.

$1 for this repro Arnotts tin - nice one!

best buy

$6 for this really awesome NALLYWARE cannister which is HUGE and in perfect nic!! Often they are pretty knocked around. I have a small coffee one in the same design. Now on the look out for some to go in the middle. I wonder what they could be. Tapioca? Sago? (" I once knew a guy who worked in a sago mine"  that saying just always cracks me up good one Pa hehehe)

so thats not bad huh....$9 for 3 great items.

If you have some drive in theatre memories - or maybe you've picked up a vintage treasure for mere coins recently at an old drive in theatre Sunday market - I would love to hear your story!!! Please share!

xoxo Catherine

PS Dandenong Lunar Theatre is still in operation. You will enjoy these stories and images if your birthdate is pre 70's   LOL!!!