EEEEK it's November....

Next stop, Xmas?

The weather for the weekend was glorious, after a dodgy few wintery wet days. Although I do think I detected the hint of a 'black Easterly', the prevailing Summer scourge here.It was however, nowhere near enough to stop two intrepid seekers of treasure. Equipped with a much bigger car - thank you Col's Mum and Dad - and a map of the garage sales we had to check first the for sale, then the unwanted and tossed out. Although the BOYD (bring out your dead- see last post)doesn't really start till next week, the early birds get the goodies.

Several excellent bargains - a brilliant late model sewing machine for my textillian daughter, because every girl needs to sew. A snip at $35, including case and original instruction books. I probably could have done the beating them down thing but sometimes it's just rude. From the same place, a new garden spade, and a small travelling alarm clock. My travelling companion snapped up a lovely old solid wood side table.

In the back of a dark shed in an unadvertised garage sale ( you have to look out for the signs) I found the most amazing and lovely old garden bench. See, I said we'd need a bigger car.

There was also a strange brass thing, which may have been a clock. I liked it anyway. Perhaps it will be a clock again, or maybe something else.

We eventually found our way to the last for the day, a very nice chap called Peter who was moving house. He has lived for a long time in the cutest little cottage at Middleton Beach and he has the most glorious retro, vintage and antique stuff. Apparently leaving wads of cash home so you don't spend it is not a winning strategy. My trusty travelling companion loaned me some cash, leaving herself enough for some lovely antique books on her religion of choice.

So I scampered (OK, tottered)away with a cute little apprentice cupboard. There were bigger things, also fabulous, but I am squeezed for space. Peter is going to open a shop, I will include some photos when he does.

Down to 35c, we struck out for some verge trawling (the nice sort). We did grab 3 HUGE rolls of wire - chicken and other - mainly new.


Now, where did I put those samples of laminexy stuff? I have a cunning plan for them....

questionable....

Due to the need to get some work done for the upcoming Summer Street indie-market-fair-shopping-extravaganza (November 18-20, Albany Town Hall) there was limited travel and excitement for me over the past few weeks.

Obie and I spent the weekends making, making, sorting, making. Which gave me some time to ponder the really BIG questions, like why do the people in aisle seats on planes rush on before the ones in the window seats? If everyone has checked their baggage on the plane and done the whole seat allocation thing, where do those last two people go? "This is desperately late airlines paging the following passengers: your flight is fully boarded and awaiting immediate departure blah blah blah..." Is there some mysterious black hole just outside the boarding lounge? Have they forgotten why they were at the airport? How hard is it to just wait to get on the plane?

But I digress...

As spring has well and truly sprung people are clearing out and getting ready for Bring Out Your Dead - the annual verge collection which here in Albany brings joy to a girl's heart.

And, it must be admitted, junk to her home. One persons trash, etc etc.

Today's garage sales had doubled in number and it looks as though everyone is preparing for the great chuckout.

Some early birds are already bringing out their treasures , and some urban archaeologists are browsing.

As the police chief said in Jaws "I think we need a bigger [car]."

But on a more serious bent, the great trash exchange is a fabulous illustration of recycling at work. If it still has some use, use it!

I almost put something out today, luckily my 'lots in zero out' policy was preserved by a friend who happily took my stuff, plus two dear old suitcases, back to her house for some craftivity.

Amongst today's gems, a lovely old metal table base, and a brand new tent for $5.














Now somewhere I have a table top to fit that table, just gotta find it.....



I have finally managed to get around to scanning some more drawings, I will make some cards (if I get the time!) The whole working-for-a-living thing really cramps one's productivity.






They are really just bits of silliness but they make me smile....






























This character specialises in extreme housework. She is fearless. Sometimes she turns up in outlandish places, and sometimes things don't go quite as well as could be expected. Sometimes, the suit isn't as flattering as it could be.

I may include some of her adventures in future posts.

Next - finishing some models. Perhaps for next post.

Table legs and charts

The taxidermied emu legs were an absolute steal at $50.

I really, really mean that. The poor seller's wife didn't find them attractive and apparently didn't feel that a small side table with emu legs was a decorating possibility, so he had to sell them. Personally, I thought that they would make a thoughtful addition to my decorating scheme - currently a cross between tip shop and demented hippie.

Alas, insufficient cash reserves....but it may be worthwhile keeping an eye on the tip shop. I got the distinct impression that I may have been their only admirer.



Otherwise, a fantastic made in Australia in the 50's Globite suitcase in mint condition, with perfect pink and cream striped paper lining.

And a huge stack of shipping charts, from as early as the 1930's. I particularly liked the warning on the Karachi chart saying Caution:
submarines operating in this area.



Some will be for working on, they are torn and in too poor a condition for anything else. Some are fragmented but will be frameable.



Which reminded me that I have some lovely old survey maps of rural WA, including the drawings for the water tank at the Quaranup Quarantine Station, signed by Hilton Beasley the Government Architect of the day in 1913.



In the less cerebral corner for the weekend there were some vintage 1970 rollerskates (I know someone going to a fancy dress party as Roller Girl from Boogie Nights), some faux Raybans in the Blues Brothers style ( for my baby girl's sunglasses collection), some manga for my boy, a Terry Pratchett paperback for me, some bits of vintage jewellery for repair and reconstruction, and just enough left over to buy a soft serve icecream to eat on the way home.