Earthquakes, real proper mountains, and how we rocked those shops (shopping in a cold climate part 3)

Maintaining my gonged and zen-like calm, the grand tour moved north to Victoria.  Still crisply chilled, but the frantic pace meant we kept warm, or at least didn't have time to feel the cold. I did invest in some (fake)fur scarves and I must admit I toyed with some vintage fur coats. 

We saw Grace Kelly's dresses, jewellery, handbags, sunglasses, et al, in a splendid exhibition in Bendigo. Fabulous, just fabulous. Loving Daylesford and Bendigo, could return any time and highly recommended, even in winter.

Just love Geelong. 

I checked out their tip shop and unsurprisingly found it leaps and bounds ahead of the local one in Albany. Good opshops, too. My shopping guide found an Escada coat, and Ungaro jacket, Country Road patent boots, and a vintage 1940's pure wool tailored overcoat.  All mint condition and all genuine. 

We saw Napoleon in Melbourne, just brilliant.  We saw great independent shops with interesting, clever, innovative stuff (and bought some).  We went to Dorcas Street in South Melbourne. (say no more!) 

We ate great - and I mean really great - Schezuan food.  We ate lunch in a conservatory in Sassafras. (Book the table next to the Rosella parrots - wow.) There was an earthquake. 
The earth did not move for me, unfortunately.

For Sale : Fridge, freezer, gym, chainsaw, baby. 9-1pm. (shopping in a cold climate - contd.)

I wonder which sold first, the chainsaw or the baby?  Since I needed none of these items, I looked elsewhere.

I didn't buy a deckchair.

Or a taxidermied deer.....

Damn handluggage restrictions.

Still nose-runningly brisk in the mornings and evenings but sunny, sunny, sunny and NO WIND - which is just delightful.  Yesterday, we sat outside in the sun and read for a while and it was lovely.

But I did find the coolest homeware shop in Devonport, (unfortunately bereft of cool homeware shops, on the whole) Mr Wolf.  Full to the brim of new and vintage and upcycled, beautifully displayed and coffee right next door.  A tiny pocket of aesthetic fabulousness in a desert of the mediocre and some who actually aspire to be mediocre. 

I write this is a spirit of zen-like calm, even 3 days after being gonged at the Quiet Cone in Latrobe. I went with a friend for an hour of absolute relaxation.  I sat on the mat wondering what was about to happen but I am now a complete convert and will be returning at every given opportunity. It's high on a hill with the most stunning views and I cannot rave enough.  Go, gong, it's brilliant.

Today we went to the Makers' Market in Burnie, a town where artists and crafters are truly appreciated.  Like Albany, Burnie's main street goes down to the ocean, and they are developing their foreshore alongside the working port.  Hopefully one day Albany will have the same mix of public buildings and boardwalks with public and private art, cafes, views, and  old and stunning modern buildings. From the papermakers, I gathered some handmade paper and some wombat-poo paper envelopes.  I kid you not.

We spent yesterday in Ulverstone, which is developing a real personality of it's own.  A great antiquarian bookshop and several excellent antique and collectible shops and markets, with some really good stuff at reasonable prices.  They too are developing their waterfront ( in this case the river bank) and it will look great.

 I picked up what was described as a candlelit film projector - primarily because I just liked it as an object.  Also, a glass negative frame which I believe will look great with a drawing mounted in it.  I seem to be running on a cine theme, as earlier in the week I picked up two great old cameras, with original cases.  Why two?  I couldn't choose.

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And I went to visit some relatives.

Shopping in a cold climate - day 1

I've learned a lot this week, starting with that I'm too old to stay awake for 36 hours at a time and still be expected to think.  Damn you, midnight horror flights.  I'd planned to sleep but unfortunately Qantas was showing Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law in the delicious Sherlock Holmes II and that took up the majority of the flight.  Sleep is for the weak, I thought.

The second thing I learned is that the sleep deprived have little resistance to retail spending at 5.45 am in the airport, when you have 3 hours to wait for connecting flight #3.  I found myself seriously thinking about buying Pandora beads, because it was that or eat Hungry Jacks for breakfast.  I wasn't hungry but luckily, neither was I cashed up.  I've done this sort of thing before and I'm well aware of certain...character flaws.  Some would say why bother opening at that ridiculous hour, but I can assure you I was not the only one wandering around stretching my legs and browsing.  I napped on flight #3 over Bass Strait.

After a nice cup of tea with the Sister, we adjourned to the local tip shop for a quick browse.  I intend to make more visits because you can, to a tip shop. We located not one but two new op shops - well, new to me, here. I got some knitting needles (can't really take them on the plane, and I'm on holidays in a cold place - emergency knitting may be necessary) - and a Jo Nesbo book for holiday reading.

After 12 hours reasonable sleep - for me - we mooched to Latrobe, where there were some interesting little shops open.  We spent quite a bit of time in Reliqueware - partly because its possible to just go round and round and keep finding more interesting things.  The dolls and repros aren't really my thing but as sheer display they are fantastic. The handmade things were great. The free fudge on entry was a bonus. 

The pop-up shop of my dreams is vacant, in the main street.

Bolstered by the sugar hit, we surged onward to one of the perennial favourites -the Antique Emporium.  Again, the imports and repros don't do it for me but there are always bargains to be had and the owner, like me, is a fan of the rusty and dusty.   The first thing which jumped into my hand was an Australian Monthly magazine - a kind of girly magazine from 1951 - but how can you not buy a mag with an article entitled 'Scientists explode bomb in woman's brain'?  It did not disappoint.

Two bags of steampunk pocketwatch bits, pocketwatch faces, an antique frame,  - oh the excitement.  On the way out I saw some brilliant cameras and illustrations - I shall return with expendable cash.  The Sister bought a lovely old tin car and a vintage Australiana tin - very nice. 

The bonafide antiques were lovely, of course, and the prices are generally pretty reasonable but unlike some I know I don't want to have to ship furniture from one side of the country to the other. But then I've only been here two days.

Out with the old old...

Greetings, earthlings.

I've had a big clean-the-burrow day and am basking in the dustless and tidy surrounds. Tired, but tidy.

I had to have a bit of a cleanout to fit in yet more fabulous new wardrobe finds from the opshop.  The weather has changed, everyone is cleaning out their wardrobes - I love this time of year.  Out with the old old and in with the new old.  Old is, as you know, the new new.

As you can see, even my firewood is tastefully colourful.  I also found some other treasures this week, which have been carefully filed away.   Some cotton ribbon with 12 printed on it and a glass bell jar domey thing (can't remember the proper name just at the moment).

One has to wonder what it was that someone was making in so many size twelves?  Or why they stopped?  What happened to the other sizes?

With the kitchen table visible, I must say I'm wondering what to start on next.  And what to put in the domes. 

Maybe I'll just take it easy for a while before I make another mess.  I really, really hate housework.

Remain Calm.


This week, I went garage saling, and found....nothing.  Zero. Zip. Nada.

Obviously, I'm appalled.  I didn't even see something I would have liked but couldn't afford. Not so much as a book.
Hopefully, this isn't the start of the long, dark, damp winter garage saling void.

I should warn you at this stage that the following contains discussion of women's clothing, knitting and sewing.  I will not be hurt if you wander away now.  I apologise for not having anything to say which includes power tools.  I've tried to include some interesting photos but the words from now on are largely wardrobe and clothing based, although there is a mention of engineering and I may refer to rocket science.

During the week I managed to find some gems at an opshop, just to tide me over.  I found a gorgeous oversized handknit jumper, in what looks and feels to be Jo Sharp pattern and wool, in a very this-season teal colour.  It needed re-blocking but has come up a treat.  There was also an Australian merino wool jumper in a more cropped style, which also benefited greatly from re-blocking.  And some Metalicus socks, which mysteriously matched the jumpers.

While re-blocking and tidying up, I uncovered an interesting 60's skirt in brown, tan and very pale grey, so I re-styled it from maxi to a mid-length and am now seeking chocolate brown tights.  I may be forced to buy brown boots.

I also reblocked and made minor adjustments to a boiled wool jacket in grey and black; adjusted hems on assorted longstanding alterations, dug out my winter scarves and hats; and decided to see if I could make some leggings.

It shouldn't be that hard, I figure, to make them.  Sort of like very tight legged yoga pants.  Can't be that hard, right?  Found a pattern to adapt.  Found an appropriate fabric.   Adapted the pattern. 

I tried to thread the overlocker.  Then I banged my head on the table.  Read the instruction book.  Tried again.  For those unfamiliar with the Pfaff mindbender model of overlocker, you need to be aware that threading this demented machine involves 4 threads, a map in 4 colours and a large pair of tweezers. It's not for the feint hearted or those of nervous disposition.

I took a break to eat and gather my strength but I may have to sleep on it. Or take a short break to gain a doctorate in engineering and possibly rocket science.  And maybe get some bifocals.  I have the technology, I just can't thread it.

While I rest, I'll just check the prices on leggings again on the internet.

Dear Lucy,

I know you're just a little dog but it's an old and hackneyed device to address a letter to someone when you aren't feeling very creative. I've had a big day and I'm pooped.

It's Mothers' Day and all is quiet.  Been a big two weeks and the pace doesn't seem to be slowing at all.  Only 12 working days to holidays, that's got to be a good thing.  Today was really nice and sunny, right up till it wasn't.  Then it was lightningy and thundery and haily, but by then the washing was dry so it was all good.

The white stuff on the grass is called hail.

There was reduced opshopping this week, but I managed to turn up a few bargains, including a new dress, some nice warm jumpers, and a very nice winter tee.  Did I mention the Spencer and Rutherford handbag?  How remiss of me.

 

It was a pretty uninspiring list of garage sales this week, possibly due to coinciding with Mothers' Day.  I did pick up a dear old silver teapot, a kero pump, and an old rolling pin.  I have cunning plans for all.  There was also a shop mannequin for just $5, and I just can't leave them behind. And one of those shelfy things you put across the bath, which fitted my bath perfectly.  I hope my use of technical terms isn't too off-putting for you.

I've been keen to get the sewing machine out - winter = sewing and knitting = love. (I read that in a magazine so it must be true.) I had to wait till I'd done with the jewellery and fishes and the girls for the market, but the machine is out and operational.  I have a pile (literally) of mending, alterations, and new projects to work through.

I don't as a general rule  read junk mail but a coupon on the Spotlight catalogue caught my eye.  It offered $40 off if you spend $100, and on the next page, 1000 threadcount sheets for $80. (They SAY $79.99 but we all know it's $80.)  Long story short, they had the sheets but none of the other fabric I wanted, but I did find some union jack panels which have made some amusing cushions.  And I got everything for $61, which is cheering.  We had a great fabric shop in town before Spotlight loomed over the horizon.  Now, we have seconds, faulty and end of run summer fabric when I'm shopping for winter.  

Hopefully the handmade revival will see a resurgence in the sale of good fabric, because its one of those things you really need to see and touch before you buy.

 I've taken a heap of pics of my jewellery and drawings, but at the moment this is loading photos at the speed of the common or garden snail dragging a pebble in long wet grass, so I'll put those up during the week.

So Lucy, it's probably your bedtime, and by next week I'll be ready to write something original and creative. You, of course, will still be a cute but small dog.