And it is!
EDIT: It seems you all like the table and phone. It's a wall decal that I bought at a cheap junky shop for $3. I've had to use invisible tape to keep it on the wall, but it looks pretty good!
Showing posts with label Curious Objects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curious Objects. Show all posts
19.4.10
Beautiful Objects
23.3.10
On my desk
I am often asked where I got this bag, and where it can be purchased. It is quite special so I thought I'd show you some detailed shots.My brother bought it for me on his travels at a market in Florence, Italy. I believe it ended up costing me the unbelievable sum of $80AUS. It's leather, I don't think that it's real ostrich skin but who would know.
I'd bought this bag quite possibly from the same market when I was there in 2006 so when I heard he was visiting I implored him to drop EVERYTHING and find me another bag. He did and I was thrilled to find out that the prices had barely changed.
I look at these little tins every day as they sit on my desk so I thought it was apt that I share pictures also.
As I've mentioned before I buy my flowers from the florist at Flinders St station, generally when I am on my way home from somewhere. I have flowers every week in the house, they make me so happy.
The colour combination was purely subconscious but as I am pedantic about colours matching I'm not entirely surprised they have ended up in a little cluster.
I posted about the French pastilles at Christmas, they are from Cote Provence in Rathdown St and the flavour is 'Violette.' Just gorgeous.
My other little trinkets are Magnolia Eau de Toilette from L'Occitane, MOR Lip Delight in 'Violetta' (clearly I like violets!) and Perfumeria Gal balm in 'Fraise.' I have it in violet flavour, just not sitting on my desk.
2.3.10
Beautiful imagery: Zetta Florence
It's not something I shout from the rooftops, but I love paper products, stationary and books. With that in mind I was shopping today for new thank-you cards and notepaper, but ended up buying this de-lovely print from Zetta Florence.I'm putting together a 'wall' at the moment of prints, illustrations and kitschy paintings I've been collecting. Not that I have a spare wall, so everything is sitting in a pile until I find the right spot for it all.
If there are any illustrators of note you think I should check out let me know, or anything else that might sit nicely in a wall of paintings and mirrors. I was twittering today about where to find gorgeous stationary so thank you kindly for your suggestions, looks like I have plenty of happy shopping hours ahead of me!
Vintage silk blouse: I honestly can't remember where I bought it....sorry!
Leather skirt: Value City Savers
Heels: Verali
Cuffs: Made by me except for the spikes, that is from Bugis St market in Singapore
Watch: His Lordships.....ssssshhhhhh!
28.1.10
Little treasures from Adelaide
Chilling on Rundle St
Whilst I was in Adelaide last week I visited Bauhaus on Rundle St. It's a sort of a home wares, jewellery, art and general stuff-for-the-home kind of store with a bit of a twist. At the moment they had plenty of stuff from Mexico (very Frida Kahlo), Indian pashmina's, bright and huge canvas pop art prints, and of course plenty of kitsch. I gasped out loud when I saw these figurines because a/ I love dogs b/I love black and white c/ I love kitsch and d/ I love figurines. I could see the look of defeat of H.L's face the minute I had spotted them, a sort of 'Oh sh*t, she's seen more stuff we don't need but she wants to clutter up the house.'
He did end up buying them for me so underneath it all I think he likes them as much as I do ;)
Bauhaus sadly don't have a website, the lovely gals working there told me they have such a high turnover of stock that it can't be facilitated. So just like in the dark ages pre-internet(gasp) you'll just have to do things the old fashioned way and call or make a visit in person. Worth it.
257 Rundle St
Adelaide
SA 5000
T (61 8) 8215 0003
16.1.10
More things that make me happy....
I haven't written about the little clusters of porcelain and china figurines that I have dotted around the house since Feb last year. I'm not exactly sure why because like the crystal I talked about yesterday, I am forever bringing home kitsch things to dot around the place.
I bought this little clog ashtray to go with the troupe that sits next to my bed. I move things around a lot but I thought it would go with the whole blue, white and grey theme.
22.12.09
My Christmas Tree
We don't really have a traditional sense of a 'tree' at the manor, I love cherry blossoms so I just decorate them.7.12.09
Camberwell Sunday Market
I love Camberwell market, it's a great place to shop in Melbourne, or just visit if you'd like to see where the locals shop.
You can buy almost anything but the main focus is clothes, jewellery, antiques and home wares. Over the years I've picked up some amazing accessories, only yesterday I saw an original YSL handbag from the 1970s on sale for $35.
Next week is the last market for the year if you are thinking about visiting, it will then start up again in the new year.
I bought this print for 10c.
I bought this little trinket box, I thought it would be perfect for kris kringle. The bracelet is by a Melbourne label and I met one of the designers, Kara who was selling them only at Camberwell.
They are all semi-precious stones with either gold or silver trinkets, but the sweetest part is that they are all of $18. She will be there next week, or you can email fambrod@optusnet.com.au for all other enquiries.
You can't tell in the light, but this silk top is a really pale peach colour. It is so soft and feminine, perfect addition to my summer wardrobe. The painting in the background was $5 and I LOVE it!. His Lordship has banished it to the basement, but as you know I love all things kitsch and am planning a wall of kitschy paintings, this being the first edition.
I really love 70's glass wear, it reminds me of my childhood and how I used to visit our neighbours, Beat and Brian. She would let my brother and I choose from what seems like a cavernous tin of Arnotts Family Assorted, and naturally we always chose the choc ripple.
Then she would give us some cordial in glasses just like these. I loved the champagne ones too.
I took a friend from the States with me who is really into health and fitness. She was HORRIFIED that I was going to devour this bratwurst(devour I did) and insisted on taking a photo. Nothing can stand between me and a bratwurst.
28.4.09
My favourite things....
Here are a few of my favourite things around the place, I'll be spending more and more time indoors now that the cold weather is upon us!
1. Hand knitted jumpers
2. Dr.Jones(best friend, archaeologist, general pin-up) made this for me for my birthday. I LOVE it.
3. Flowers.
4. My prints. This one came from London, Lord Melbourne(brother) sent it to me, also for my birthday.
5. Old furniture
6. My $2 cuckoo clock
7. Little pieces of thoughtful jewellery. And while I'm at all things thoughtful, World Vision contacted me about helping them to promote a collaborative effort between them, In Style Magazine and Romance Was Born.
Here's the spin:
'InStyle and World Vision are proudly offering this gorgeous designer T-shirt as a special gift to the first 500 readers who sponsor a child as part of the World Vision Family Challenge. This casual yet stylish long-sleeved T-shirt has been exclusively designed by emerging design duo Romance Was Born.
Call 1300 320 092 to become a child sponsor and receive this exclusive gift.Complete a new Child Sponsorship payment with a valid credit card. Please note that this phone number will be manned between the hours of 9.30am and 6.45pm Monday to Friday, AEST during the promotional period.'
Call 1300 320 092 to become a child sponsor and receive this exclusive gift.Complete a new Child Sponsorship payment with a valid credit card. Please note that this phone number will be manned between the hours of 9.30am and 6.45pm Monday to Friday, AEST during the promotional period.'
T-shirt measurements
Size: One size fits allChest (2cm below armhole): 53cmBack Length (from centre back neck to centre back hem): 71cmSleeve length (from shoulder point to sleeve opening): 65.5cm
A worthy cause if ever I saw one.
LM
x
15.6.08
The Way We Wear: Vintage Fashion Fair
Well dear readers, I was so excited by the events of today I actually had to take a nap to come down from the clothes I had been privy to.
Today I had the pleasure of attending The Way We Wear Vintage: Fashion and Textile Fair at Williamstown Town Hall and it lived up to all my expectations of what a fair like this should be like. Lace, vintage patterns, textiles, dresses, gloves, shoes, hats, vanity sets, bags- every thing you could possible imagine in your wildest dreams compiled in one room by some of the best vintage dealers Australia has to offer.
The fair is run by Fiona and Keith Baverstock who organize them Australia wide while they are not busy with their vintage clothing business ‘Seams Old.’
They describe themselves as ‘purveyors of fine antique and vintage clothing, fashion accessories, textiles and fashion art on papter from the eighteenth to the twentieth century,’ and it couldn’t be more accurate.Their collection of true vintage clothing blew me out of the water for its quality, detail and comprehensive coverage of Victorian and Edwardian clothing.These wonderful people are serious about the stories, history and cultural association that clothes hold in society, and I am proud to present to you the following interview with Fiona herself:
LM: Your collection seems extensive, tell me what you mainly look for.
Fiona: Everything from mid 18th Century- Victorian era, through to about 1950. Anything beyond that we wouldn’t really class as true vintage, it would be retro.
LM: Where do you source the clothes from, some of them look very old.
Fiona: We do try to buy from overseas a lot. Most of the very old pieces we have come from overseas because the problem we have with vintage Australian clothes is our climate- they just don’t keep very well. I do have a dress from the first fleet to Australia though which is really special.This dress for example, is a satin and Brussels lace wedding gown from around 1899-1900. It came from a family in Rushworth which is gold mining country, and would explain why you would find such an expensive gown in rural, turn of the century Australia. The condition and detailing is superb.
Fiona: We do try to buy from overseas a lot. Most of the very old pieces we have come from overseas because the problem we have with vintage Australian clothes is our climate- they just don’t keep very well. I do have a dress from the first fleet to Australia though which is really special.This dress for example, is a satin and Brussels lace wedding gown from around 1899-1900. It came from a family in Rushworth which is gold mining country, and would explain why you would find such an expensive gown in rural, turn of the century Australia. The condition and detailing is superb.
Fiona: We do, if there is a story that goes with it all the better. Collectors and dealers love to know the history of a garment, and we think it is important to know who wore the piece and when.Because we understand so much about social history we can understand and decipher a story when there isn’t always one known. For example, we can tell by the cut and quality of the fabric how wealthy the owner may have been, from the detailing and stichting where it was made, which in turn tells us a lot about the social standing that it's owner may have had. You have to have historical awareness of events throughout the 18th and 19th century when you are looking at clothes that old.
Victorian Scottish bodice, circa 1900
LM: Given that some of your collection is up to 200 years old, do you do any restorative work?
Fiona: No, we don’t do restorations so that when someone purchases a garment it comes complete and intact. Museums for example will not buy restored items, and many collectors want the clothes as close to the original standard as possible.What is interesting to note though, is that you sometimes find repairs and darning on the vey old pieces that would have once been done by its owner. That for instance just adds to the garment's history, and helps us pinpoint just how old something is. There is a lot you can tell from stitching and thread.
You would think I was exhausted after having a chat with one of Australias leading experts on vintage clothing and accessories, but there was shopping to be done and I wouldn’t be a professional if I hadn’t bought something to show you would I?
Spurred on by Fiona's words and informative chat about what constitutes real vintage- (‘You just don’t find real vintage pieces at the Salvos’ she told me)- I was quite determined to purchase something I could walk away with feeling satisfied. Searching though a box of mis-matched and damaged pieces, I found this lovely silk gorgette blouse that the lady who sold it to me told me was Edwardian. I don’t know much about Edwardian period clothing, but given that it fitted me, was a very good price and I had already fallen in love; I purchased. The gloves were in a box marked $5, as they were all damaged in some way. As these had so many holes in them she threw them in for free, and who was I to refuse! I’m planning on restoring them to their former glory, so watch this space for their resurrection.
And lastly, this is what I wore.
Tomorow brings part II: interview with Peter Jago and Vintage Shoe showcase.
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