Creative Lovebird

Sometimes if you're lucky enough, you cross paths with a fellow creative that you just mesh with, sparks fly and you both feel as though you have known each other a lifetime. You go on to discover that you are so much on the same wavelength it's almost creepy! The universe aligns you somehow. Recently that happened to me and I am ever so grateful!

This new creative soul mate of mine and fellow vintage fan dwells a few houses away from me in domestic circumstances and now I am very excited to announce that she has also become my neighbour at the 'Waverley Antiques Bazaar'. Located right next door to the 'Beatnik Flair Vintage' pop up shop YAY! Also a blogger she goes by the name of 'Love & Rummage' so check her out via the link below.

Last week I swung by her pad to get first viewing of, and take a few snaps of some stock she was about to haul to the bazaar. A very crafty lass she is, and has whipped up these gorgeous vintage fabric canvases and doily bunting. (If you go weak for doilies she is your kind of gal!)

I also couldn't resist snapping her cute little succulent display on her back porch, where we often sit and sip wine chatting and dreaming about all the creative projects we plan to collaborate on together!

http://loveandrummage.blogspot.com.au/

www.facebook.com/waverleyantiquebazaar

This Find is a Keeper

Intuition is strangely my best asset when it comes to super special thrifting finds. It's when I'm in tune with this creepily amazing sixth sense that I seem to be lead to the most divinely lovely things. My latest fist pump worthy elating score is of the swapping kind although I am certain this little finder has come across a definite keeper. Well what is it? A super cute little collection of vintage swap cards!

Swap cards originated in the 1800's and came about when the packaging for cigarettes required a cardboard support. This stiffener began as a blank piece of cardboard and was later replaced with a picture printed version. This was the beginning of a collecting trend that has continued on through centuries. Swap cards were inserted into the evolved packaging even though they were not required any longer for practical purposes, but were included due to popularity and as a selling point. Prominent characters were commonly displayed on the cards such as actors, presidents and sports personalities.

This particular collection has a retro feel and is likely to be 1970's circa.

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!

Terrarium Take Two

Since my first Terrarium attempt was a little ah... on the small side, I thought a friends engagement celebration was a good opportunity to create a more adventurous one for a gift. This time round I chose a bigger vessel and a variety of plants with different heights, colours and textures and a few accessories to give it a romantic theme. I also made another for the Baby Beatniks room with a whimsical theme just for fun.

For the first design I crafted a mini chalkboard sign from a rectangle craft wood coaster, a piece of dowel and some chalkboard paint which were all purchased from Bunnings. First I cut the dowel to size, then spray painted the pieces with chalkboard paint and attached the parts together with a hot glue gun. Then I wrote a love related message in line with the romantic theme on the board -'All you need is love'(true and timeless wisdom borrowed from 'The Beatles') These mini chalkboard signs are super easy to make and also ideal for herb and vegie garden plant labels.
Then I followed the same steps to make the Terrarium as in my previous post - using larger stones for good drainage, then added the potting mix and plants along with the addition of Moss and accessories.

The engagement party was held at 'The Social' located in Mornington, a fab venue which has an amazing collection of vintage props and decor, wine and tasty Tapas. A photobooth was also there for the occasion, I just love the fun and nostalic charm depicted in photobooth images!






Completed romantic themed Terrarium

Whimsical themed Terrarium accessorised with toy animals and toadstool purchased from a discount variety shop

http://beatnikflair.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/time-for-terrarium.html

http://www.bunnings.com.au/

http://bayhotel.com.au/thesocial/

http://www.thephotoboothpeople.com.au/

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/

Brown Paper Packages

This afternoon I was greeted by a delightful little brown paper package at my door step from 'Violet and Rose' - Beautific hand poured soy wax candles and wax melts in divine scents, housed in recycled vintage jars/tins and wrapped to perfection. Today's little number is 'Autumn Harvest' a divine combination of  Vanilla , Clove, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cinnamon as well as Mandarin and Lemon. Yummy!

There are lots of other lovely scents from 'Violet and Rose' and the best part is they are made from a non-toxic natural soybean derived product which comes from a renewable plant source, so along with the use of recycled jars it makes a very enviro friendly candle or wax melt!





Gorgeous 'Violet and Rose' candles inside vintage jars

My beautifully wrapped 'Autumn Harvest' wax melts

Recycled vintage tins are another option and charming choice of soy wax candle vessel by 'Violet and Rose'

http://violetandrose.com/

Talking Teacups

Teacups talk to me...they tell stories and send sweet images of tranquil tea drinking times into my thoughts. They tell me to buy them, they tell me that they will get along nicely with my existing collection, and they tell me my friends and I will sip happily from them, indulging in good times with warm tea filled bellies. Trouble is I had to tell my teacups something harsh but necessary the other day and reveal it was time to let a few of them go.

The collection got a bit out of control last year when I was organising a High Tea event for a Cancer fundraiser. All the sudden I needed to increase the quantity of my teacup stash and took on the task quite hastily. During this episode of frantic teacup sourcing a few ugly ducklings made their way into my collection and well they just had to go! I'm sure Mr. Beatnik does not mind one little bit that a few pieces of crockery that are taking over the house have been sent on their way. Me either as it is creating sufficient space

 for more quality teacups that will talk their way into my home in the future!

There's just something truly special about sipping from a beautiful teacup don't you think? It just adds to the peaceful experience of the ritual. Even if I am sporting crazy bed hair, hideous... yet warm bed socks and the Baby Beatniks are biffing cereal at each other at the breakfast table, I possess a sense of calm and carry a ladylike posture prompted by a gorgeous teacup in hand.

Did I just waffle on about teacups for three paragraphs?

Anyway, the High Tea was fun to style and I had a fab time collecting treasures from op shops and elsewhere to team up with my vintage wares for the table setting. There were lots of posies of roses in teapots and other vessels, cakes, sweets and delicious teas from T2. What really was great though, was getting together with the ladies and joining in all their generosity by raising funds for Cancer research.

Chatting to a fellow vintage lover at the 'Waverley Antiques Bazaar' yesterday I learned that there is another being who also has a talking relationship with beautiful, nostalgic and collectable things. So I am not alone in my mental debate and internal conversation with charming vintage objects! Her name is Tamarah and her biz is called 'Shabby Vintage Junk'. Tamarah has a lovely blog and wares to swoon over. I am picking up an antique kitchen cabinet from her this weekend and can't wait to set it up when it arrives.

Another fab biz of the vintage kind which is more teacup related is 'Vintage Lane ~ Crockery and Prop Hire' They have a gorgeous collection of crockery and props for events. I will share a few of their beautifully styled images with you. In a future post I will show off my new cabinet thanks to SVJ and some images of of her wares from Waverley as well. Until then have a squizzo at her blog if you wish or go to the bazaar this weekend and check out all the zillions of delights that are there!

A few keepers from my collection. Second from the top left came from a very special couple that I regarded as Grandparents as a child, that one I will hold on to forever. 

Absolutely gorgeous table setting from 'Vintage Lane ~ Crockery and Prop Hire'

Some of their pretty teacups. They also have a great selection of plates and cutlery.

Cool Cloak Room

Pimms anyone?

Beautifully presented 'Order of Service'

Lovely vintage themed guest book replacement, perfect for writing heartfelt messages to the newly wedded couple.

Yummy homemade favours

Super cute vintage bike display

http://www.cancer.org.au/home.htm 

http://t2tea.com/

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

http://www.vintagelane.co/