My Little Empire

I've been shop swooning again.

Well how couldn't I, when this little treasure trove of pretties bursting with colour and beautific things appeared right before me?!

 My Little Empire stocks stunning home wares, supports local Artists and is a friendly little pod of fun and amazingness located at 245 Charman Rd. Cheltenham. Which is where a nice little pocket of opshops and a fresh flower supplier also happen to be situated. How WILL I keep myself away??? 

New Harvest Produce

The littlest 'Baby Beatnik' and I just devoured a delicious smoothie from an organic Greengrocer I keep driving past and meaning to check out. It's called New Harvest Produce and I'm so glad I finally had a looksy as it's full of yummy organic goodness - fruit, veggies, eggs, bread, coffee and heaps more.

They are hosting a New Harvest Food Swap tomorrow so if you live close by and have an abundance of homegrown you would like to trade off, I highly recommend checking it out.

I certainly will be popping in more, and driving by less now I have seen what's on offer!

New Harvest Produce

Organic Greengrocer

 37 Armstrongs Rd

Seaford

Vic 3198

  

Rifle Paper Co.

Images of Anna Bond's work of Rifle Paper Co. get me all giddy every time. I just lOve the whimsy of her designs. Another plus is the Eco friendly efforts put into their production such as the use of FSC card stock and enviro friendly inks. Her stationary and floral prints are just sOoo beautific!

They also do custom designs including invitations.

I heart Rifle Paper Co.

It's all in the Mynd

A little while back, thanks to The Design Files, I discovered that the most amazing homeware store had just opened right under my nose. Mynd Interiors.

Mynd has stunning artworks, designer homewares, and lots of inspiring reads. An interior styling swoon! Mynd Interiors source local and global designer wares to die for, including one of my all time faves the The Family Love Tree. Oh I do heart a Peacock chair.


Mynd Interiors
82 Balcombe rd
Mentone
Vic 3194

Shop Stalking

As I have previously mentioned I am a big fan of Emily from North St Flowers  design work. So of course I was excited to hear of the opening of her new shop in Thornbury and very eager to get a look in! Earlier in the year a couple of my flower school pals who are also fans, and I, headed out for coffee, chit chats and some 'North St' stickybeaking. The shop is just as I expected - stunning and bursting with all the super cool character and signature style of the 'North St' kind. Pop by and see it in the flesh if you get the chance, it's a swooner. 

776 High St Thornbury

Good Green Things!

During a little holiday in sunny Queensland we had the fab experience of attending The Eumundi Markets. Eumundi is a charmer of a town with an amazing market full of yummy food, stunning artworks, natural therapies and loads of gorgwaa boho things!



Another impressive element of the market is the communities commitment to reducing their impact on the environment and creating a sustainable shopping experience. They have a well promoted recycling system, are plastic bag free and stallholders use compostable packaging. They even have a worm farm managed by the local school to deal with all the waste of the many market goers and tourists that trapes through this divine place.

Go Eumundi you good green things!

'CLARENCE'

Who's met CLARENCE ? Or even better who's met 'Bobilee Shahine'? A sister in the hood of bloom loving doing it for herself! During last years flower school day trip out to the 'Gerb' farm yes I've uttered the 'G' word again, we stopped by 'Clarence'. A deliciously unique florist in Healesville that gets me all giddy with excitment just reminiscing about it! Clarence has a mix of amazing blooms, unique arrangements and gifts combined with vintage finds - insert elated opera sung aAAAaaah here! Owner 'Bobilee' is a a great example of the type of floral designer I like. Fab taste, full of personality and kicking commercial blah to the curb! Total shop crush!

The images below are of the shop front and some of their stunning wedding work. Swoonalicious!

Ticks and Tens for 'Naughts and Crosses'

I am a sucker for kiddo curios. I love colour and cutesy things for little people and there is an itty bitty little store hidden away in an laneway of Elwood full of it! It goes by the name of  Naughts and Crosses and it's a total swoon bulging with beautific things for little ones!
Whilst goo and gaaing with childlike glee over all those beautific things, I got chatting to Louise one of the sweetest shop owners going around! As I pointed out her gorgeous props I learnt she had bought a few display pieces from the Waverley Antiques Bazaar and that she knows people I know, we both like this, and we love that, and all that vintage Jazz talk. During our nice little chit chat I loaded up the counter with a pile gifts for the 'Baby Beatniks' ...aka 'Santa' stash.. (shhh)and Louise wrapped them with a rainbow of tissue paper finished with coloured confetti, ribbons and bells. Cute! Now that's a few less presents 'Santa' will have to wrap and more wine time Christmas Eve watching Carols. Nice!
Supporting local biz for 'Silly Season Shopping' is way better than boring old mass produced blahhh! So that's ticks and tens, not naughts and crosses for this little winner of a shop!

Vintage Connection

One of the many things I love about being in the world of vintage is all the gorgwa people I am constantly meeting and coming into contact with! It seems that lovers of old things are generally super amazing people, full of character, kindness, and with a wealth of information.

A couple of the many lovely people I have met within my vintage lifestyle are Tamarah from  Shabby Vintage Junk and Lisa from Vintage Influence. Both have a style and wares to die for! Recently they held a 'Vintage Showcase' and lucky for me I got to see a preview of their collaboration before the big event!

Tamarah and Lisa set up an open house vintage sale and invited selected buyers, merchandisers and stylists for an exclusive shopping feast. Tamarah and Lisa make a great team and did an amazing job of displaying their beautiful wares. The following photos are just a taste of what was on offer and do not reflect the outstanding job they did enough.

I probably should of taken my pics before dusk on that balmy night, but the offer of a cold brewski and chit chat with fellow vintage fans was a way to tempting distraction upon my arrival!

Booom! This flower has bombed!

So super duper trilled that I got the chance to 'Flower Bomb' with fellow bloom lover 'Holly Hipwell' last Friday! It was Carnation Carnage at 'Nyary 604' - an amazing treasure trove of antiques and gorgeous home wares. I joined a crew of floral enthusiasts in an afternoon of quirky Holly chat, flower arranging and lolly chomping. It was sooo very lurvely.

It amazes me that this character oozing and very successful florist has never, ever, been to flower school! I am loving her untamed bravery, passion and unconformist attitude to floral art. It is in line with my evolving motto "Say NO to commercial blaaaaaah!"

 As I explore more and more styles of floral design, I'm constantly drawn to artists that are breaking the rules and moving away from the commercial styles we have all been subjected to over the years and feeling very inspired!!! Don't get me wrong traditional techniques and designs have their place and I totally respect their beauty. It's just that it's so refreshing to see some really talented designers out there changing things up a bit and breaking the mould.

At the beginning of the workshop I viewed a few eager yet nervous faces and heard a couple of self doubting comments from some mouths re capabilities. By the end though, were some seriously chuffed expressions and truly amazing bombs!

Miss Holly is one to watch if you're not already and 'Nyary 604' is a total swoon. The little birdy herself told the class that it's likely she will return to Melbourne later in the year. So look out for updates if you're keen to join the 'F Bomb' club. Bombs aside though her other creations are stunningly beautific and equally deserving of credit.

Carnation Carnage...in a good way

Holly and I with my 'Flower Bomb'

Holly engaging in one of her fave pastimes - 'Flower Bomb' face stroking

Beautiful light fittings from 'Nyary 604'. Jenny globe trots sourcing lots of amazing pieces for her stunning store

'Nyary' is so gorgeously cosy, bulging with beautiful textures and colourful objects 

I want this wall!

A fellow bombers creation about to hit the streets home on her bike

My very first 'Flower Bomb'!

http://theflowerdrum.blogspot.com.au/

http://www.nyary604.com.au/

Vintage Fest!

My blog is on the back burner, it has been neglected and pushed aside because of a variety of reasons. The most enjoyment filled excuse is I have been super focused on treasure hunting and gathering, rummaging and collecting, sourcing and picking a hoard of beautific things for the vintage fest of the year! I've been digging deep, getting down and dirty with old wares and doing some super excited air fist pumps of treasure acquiring success.

Yee-hah! Giddy up vintage lurvers and get yourself to the Collingwood Masonic Temple, 141 Gibbs St, Abbotsford tomorrow and Saturday for the 'Odd Echo' odd vintage wares pop up market.

There are few early bird limited entry tickets still available at ten bux a pop for first dibbs at all the amazing stock on offer, which is between 12pm and 1pm tomorrow. Get your skates on and email Kat Tidcombe for one if your keen for first looksy.(kjtiddy@yahoo.com) Otherwise it's free entry and trading from 1pm until 7pm tomorrow and 10am until 6pm Saturday.

The 'Beatnik Flair Vintage' pop up shop will be there along with a whole crew of other amazing treasure hunters and traders. Such as Trish Hunter Finds, Shabby Vintage Junk, Milk Bar Vintage, Interior Hunter, Vintage Influence and loads more vINTAGE vINTAGE vINTAAAGE!

Today was spent styling the space and there was some seriously drool worthy wares arriving! Something for every fan of old things - rustic, reclaimed, shabby chic, retro, industrial the list goes on. 

So now off I must go to continue stock wrangling! Hope to see you there!

Show and Tell

Time to share a few 'Shabby Vintage Junk' aka 'SVJ' related pics to gaa gaa over. Life is busy at the the moment, it's crazy with creativity and surrounded by people, times are good. Creativity + positive peeps around = good times in my world! The blogging is getting a little neglect however as I've been up to my ears in flowers, family and friends, work, study and vintage finds. So a quick 'Show and Tell' of the NEW 'old' kitchen cabinet from 'SVJ' which Mr.Beatnik is attempting to convince me requires restoration. I on the other hand quite like it's weathered charm. The official opening of the 'SVJ' store rocked the 'Waverley Antiques Bazaar' last week. Lovely trader Tamarah out did herself with the shops amazing contents and beautiful merchandising.

 The new addition to the household

Oozing with weathered charm and complete with antique handles

The SVJ store

Super cool trophies and measuring tapes

Lots of quirky knick knacks

Love a globe or two!

Gorgeous vintage wallpaper lined crates and antique clock collection

http://www.facebook.com/waverleyantiquebazaar

http://shabbyvintagejunk.blogspot.com.au/