the old boathouse

Sunshine on a Rainy Day at The Cottage Garden Nursery

2012-01-27T17:22:00.001+10:00

Even when it is such a rainy day, as today is here in Brisbane, things always seem sunny at the wonderful Cottage Garden Nursery. I have lots to show you so today's post will be heavy on the photos.

Kitchen table and miss matched painted chairs.

I love the rustic country finish of the table.

Singer Sewing Machine. The treadle base is hidden behind the door.

Mr Camel and his friend Mr Horse. These actually seem larger in real life. I thought they were fun and could look really amazing in the right home. The finish and colours are so rich, you just want to stroke them.

Lots of lovely silver, glass and crystal.

When I was a child a silver candelabra such as this one was a sign of real opulence and class.

unusual green Carlton ware vase

Child's happy green deck chair.

Lion's Head, I didn't clean this one up too much as I like the aged green mossy look. I just have to show you a few snaps of the flowers. We get so used to the amazing blooms at the nursery that dare I say it, we can tend to take them for granted, and look at them.....just amazing and this is just a few snaps.

Nurseryman Paul and his lovely wife Kerry recently started stocking these amazing hollow logs which can be used as decorations or planters....I love their rustic naturalness.

And fountains....check these out. Just a few of Paul's creations. Pop in and chat to him about creating one of these stunning features in your garden.

But back to the treasures....a late arrival today was this amazing Italian Samovar. As many of you know I love to know a bit about where the treasures we come across come from and also stories of the people who owned them.

The lady who owned this Samovar was married to a chap who worked in Australian consulates. The son told me his Mum used to love to entertain the wives of other government officials and often had grand luncheons. The samovar was filled with tea and formed the centre of many lavish gatherings. This one was purchased while in Italy and indeed has an Italian stamp on its' base.

For a young boy fresh from "Country town" Brisbane in the 1950's Italy, the son said, was a magical place filled with glamorous women and what felt like a film set on every second corner.

I started to take photos of the, as always, amazing cakes at Gillian's Garden Cafe located within the nursery. I have to try to resist these every time I go to the nursery!!! But I decided to video them for you for a change so I could better capture their wonderfulness and also to show you the amazing way flies are kept off the cakes. The cakes are displayed the old fashioned way and are all laid out on the side of dining area, Underneath them is refrigerated to keep them cool, but above they are open. The devices really work too, not a fly insight....check it out below.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Good on ya sport!

2012-01-24T12:56:00.001+10:00

I have some great old Australian sporting items going up on ebay tonight.

I have 8 old original photographs taken from frames that show Queensland Rugby League teams from the 1920's.

Is interesting to look closely at the old pictures and see the shape of people faces. Several of the teams seem to have young children as Mascots. So very cute.

Another interesting feature is that an awful lot of these young men seem to have ears that stick out, way more than seems the case today.

I love the old adds the programmes have.

People complain about all the adds in magazines today, but it seems to have always been the case.

I also have some 1956 Olympic badges going up on ebay tonight.

Theoldboathouse ready for the weekend

2012-01-21T12:03:00.000+10:00

At five to 5, yesterday afternoon, just before the WAC closed, I finally felt I had my spaces full and ready for the weekend. I have left in late in the day before but never that late.

Here are a some pictures from my spots at the WAC.

deco lamp

Meadmore chair

pennants

Plus here are some pictures from the Garden Centre

Original Seagrass table

Silky Oak rocker

Have a great weekend !

Better late than never...Happy new Year treasures at the WAC

2012-01-14T13:37:00.000+10:00

As the saying goes.....better late than never...so I will begin this post with a big Happy New Year wish to everyone and also a big thank -you for all your continued support and kindness particularly late last year. After a longer than expected break from the computer I am so looking forward to catching up with everyone in the wonderful blogging world and reading what you have all been up to.

And although a break has been had from blogging we are excited to have still been kept busy by our spaces at the WAC and Cottage Garden and the new treasures we have uncovered, fun fun!!!

Don't you just LOVE this long bench ? I know I do...

It originally came from a science lab at the University of Queensland. The photo really doesn't show off just how long it is. But perhaps if you take into account that the "thing" on top of it is a 1960's twirly metal day bed than that will better help put it in perspective. I love the day bed too. If I had a larger, flatter garden I think it would be perfect for the lounging I plan to do more of this year. To be honest I don't think I have ever had a nicer day bed. Granted it does need restoration but don't you just think it, like the bench, is a diamond in the rough?

But the treasures, to my eye at least, don't end there, check out this locker below.

Is it just me or does anyone else find it super sexy ? It is super heavy, because it is metal and is one of two I have. Because of this chaps weight and the length of the work bench, I got a couple of strong removal guys to move them to the WAC for me....which was HEAVEN...just heaven..... I plan to do more watching and directing and less lifting this year...I cannot describe the joy in watching two big guys pick these treasures up like they weigh nothing.

So that is a peek at one of our spaces at the WAC. I hope 2012 has started well for everyone.

Front yard finally clear of old stuff Ready for Christmas day

2011-12-24T14:27:00.002+10:00

The front yard is finally clear of any old furniture waiting to be sold. (Those of you who know my yard will know this is not always an easy achievement a bit like having a clear dining table)

Frankie's famous chairs have found a new table.

and even Arnie is getting into the theme of the season.

Tonight we will be listing some auctions on eBay to help clear a bit of the 2011 surplus of goodies and to make room for the New Year's haul, finger's crossed.

And I just couldn't resist showing these recent mid century finds of Kristen's (now at the WAC) which included this stylish sideboard

and Don Rex extension Table and six chairs.

Thank -you to everyone for another wonderful year of trading. You will be pleased to know Lotte and I returned from hospital and despite a middle of the night ambulance trip back to the Mater only last night, we are once again home and looking forward to a New Year. Apologies to everyone for the lack of posts and commenting recently and a big, big, thank -you to the handsome and talented Kristen for holding the fort not only on the business front but on the home front as well.

Merry Christmas and a Happy, safe and Healthy New Year to all xxx.

Full CLEAN table

2011-12-08T15:47:00.001+10:00

Since Katherine and Lottie have given themselves over earlier this week to the tender mercys of the lovely folk at the Mater Children's, our dining table has filled up again.

Sadly life does not stop, so estates still come along.

Happily I guess from our point of view, after all as Simba's dad would say 'it is the great circle of life.'

So here are a few of the more interesting things I found this week from 3 different old Brisbane Homes.

Art glass wall vase.

Huge 60's deer vase, next to two MCP Bambi's

Two tall brass cats

Old Hydrometer that the family had brought with them when they sold up there grandads pub in Gympie

Back in the day.

Cheeky Scottie Dog.

This Crown Ducal vase looks very much like Christmas

Trench art Quoits set

My favourite a Ushers Whisky Boer War Match Striker with Kipling's verse 'The Absent Minded Beggar'

Luckily for Katherine the table is not only full for when she and Lot come home, it has also all been cleaned.

Modesty prevents me from mentioning by who.

A few of our recent retro finds

2011-12-07T18:41:00.001+10:00

Ercol nest of elm pebble tables.

Original retro posters

canisters

bakelite speaker

PS Katherine says to say thanks for all your kind wishes it really cheers her up.

That is one guilty looking dog

2011-12-06T21:15:00.001+10:00

Thinking that Katherine might see this photo, initially Asteroid can't look at the camera

But finally he is just happy, to be the dog he has always wanted to be.

Since Katherine and Lottie have been away Asteroid has taken to spending all his time on the spare couch in the boys game area. Never before has he done anything like this.

Who says animals cannot quickly adapt to a change in conditions.

But be aware Asteroid.

"WINTER IS COMING"

Katherine will be home soon and she will not put up with this example of boys being boys

Things Katherine saw on the way to Noosa

2011-12-05T20:05:00.001+10:00

First off , I must say sorry to Katherine's blog readers and indeed Katherine.

Katherine asked me to take over postings on the blog as Lottie has not be well for a week or more and has had to go to hospital.
She trusted me to keep up with regular postings but alas ............. what can I say, I am very good a being a typical husband...
In any case a few weeks ago we went off for a few days up the coast.
Instead of going via the gateway we had an errand to run in the city so I got a chance to show Katherine a couple of interesting sights I had discovered just north of the city in Herston and Windsor.
What else do you do on a long drive to the beech ?

Here are some of the pictures Katherine took.

This is a fence in front of a old Queenslander in Herston

It is in Fagan st. So the fence seems to fit the Dickens name of the Street.

It is a dead end street, so I wonder how many people have seen it and yet,it must be one of the best old fences in Brisbane.

It is not in front of that grander a house, but I think it is original to the house.

Speaking of not very grand homes, this tiny house is in Windsor one suburb along from Herston

It looks like not much bigger than a bedroom a verandah and a kitchen.

I think it might have once been the old signal box for the train station.

It's beginning to look alot like CHRISTMAS ~ at the Cottage Garden Nursery

2011-11-25T10:13:00.001+10:00

This week I got in the Christmas spirit at The Cottage Garden Nursery and set up this fun Christmas table.

I used this great Trestle Table that was already painted a nice Shabby white and paired it with some odd Kitchen chairs. instead of one tree I got a bit excited and did four. The decorations are all from my vintage collection of course.

With the addition of some pretty china,

and the some gold and silver too

a few bon bons and candles,

it now looks like Christmas at the Nursery.

These stars that I have hung from my ladder are new but I couldn't resist them.

There are lots of new, old things at the Nursery too

Kristen got this Edwardian Chest of Drawers only this morning.

It has been fully restored not long ago.

I can never resist split cane and these pair are child size.

This is an Antique book binding instrument, for sewing book pages and spines together.

I am about to head over to the WAC with some great treasures I can't wait to show you. Frankie, my eldest said.." Mum there is NO way that all that stuff is going to fit in your car"...Ahh but it has yey, even if I have to drive with my knees squashed up to the dash and a spear dangerously close to my neck..ha. I hope you have a great weekend. I am super excited ONE MORE SLEEP till DOLLY PARTON....can't wait...it's Dolly Parton people...such a star, such a legend!!!

Mid week at the WAC

2011-11-23T18:57:00.001+10:00

Lots of new goodies went over to the WAC today and I hope to get more there tomorrow. Below is a few pictures of some of my favourite new things.

Hope you are all having a good week.

Saturday Omnibus ~ A week of Panic, Relaxation and treasure finding

2011-11-19T10:42:00.001+10:00

So big news for me this week, my youngest, Lotte, went on camp. That's nice you say, no big deal you think...well for me it caused a minor panic and all round near meltdown ha.There were lots of big boys saying "Calm down Mum" and bigger still boys saying, "Just relax honey". But those who know me know I am not great at doing either, where Lotte is concerned, and for the days leading up to camp I had that feeling like someone had punched me in the stomach and then decided to reach in and pull out my heart....

Here is Lotte looking super excited, ( NOT ), moments before she left on the camp bus. Lotte, unlike her mother, is always relaxed, so relaxed she is very good at nodding off during moments of high chaos and commotion. She doesn't travel light and below is just the tip of the iceberg of gear she took with her for her two nights away.

My panic extended to panic purchases...she suddenly had to have new shoes for camp, new haircut, new outfits. Everything was labelled ...a huge 12 page booklet on everything her carers needed to know, about everything Lotte, had to be written. Thank goodness Kristen had a plan for me to ease my extreme anxiety and severe separation complex while Lotte was on camp.

But I was in PANIC mode so this plan led initially to panic food shopping. Notice all the instant and ready to heat meals.

Panic stocking of the WAC and garden centre...including this retro TV

coffee table

Unusual Art Deco style cupboard/dresser. But I am sure you will be pleased to know as soon as I saw this ...

I stopped panicing....Very soon, if asked, I would have said..."Children ? What Children?"

Kristen took me to the Sheraton Noosa while Lotte was on camp...what a super husband! That's why I had to shop up on the instant meals, as we left Frankie and Chauncy home to look after the house etc....(the etc is code for... have heaps of friends over when Mum and Dad aren't around and have free use of Mum's car. )

Our room was at the end of the longest corridor...it reminded me of some kind of movie set.

I drank way too many cocktails and the time went too fast. We have been home now for under 24 hours and already my dining room table, which was empty before we left, looks like this....

Thank goodness Nan is here and she can help me clean and organise. I hope you all had a great week too.

Today at the WAC and the Garden Centre

2011-11-11T13:40:00.001+10:00

New things at the WAC and the Cottage Garden Nursery today.

Super Groovy coffee table with pull out poufes.

Old Radio

Loved the cantilever suitcase. Perfect for crafters to keep all their goodies in style

Super groovy retro speakers.

The matador and Bull area...

Groovy Bar Stools

Perfectly aged kitchen chair, just the right amount of wear to give it a genuine shabby look.

Matching pair of Italian ornate lamps. I really like the colour and shape of the shades.

At the Garden Centre

Twinkly chandelier lamp...these used to be super popular back when I used to do heaps of eBay. I could pack these beauties in my sleep, if I do say so myself. Mind you I could think of a thousand things I'd rather do...

Sweet rocking horse.

And look at these iceberg roses...

...so stunning and they smell wonderful.

I also love these hydrangeas.

I can't help myself I always have to check out the cakes Gillian has on offer in the cafe. I imagine which one I would choose out of the to die for collection. Today it would be the Carrot Cake...check out how thick that icing is.

And look it's sparkly...YUM! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Busy cleaning for guilt free Play Time

2011-11-09T19:14:00.002+10:00

Today I have been rushing around, moving furniture at the WAC, at the Garden Centre...at home and cleaning stuff...cleaning stuff and cleaning stuff...but I have an ulterior motive. Tomorrow I am going to play with some very lovely bloggy people...AND I CAN'T WAIT !!! ( I have probably jinxed myself now and someone or some child etc will be sick...don't even think that Katherine aargh!!!) So below are some photos of what I have been cleaning.

This is an amazing old turf roller from the turn of the last century. Yes that is one solid bit of tree. It weighs a tone. But is really a unique find...I think it is great.

Fabulous mid century patio chairs...very groovy and surprisingly comfortable.

This side table I grabbed to clean stupidly thinking...this one will be an easy quick clean....silly girl.

I discovered it needed a little clamp.

And it needed all this stuff to get the blasted thing clean.

But I do like the Asian influence on it's corner. I am a very lucky blogger though because the nature of what I do means I get to meet so many lovely bloggers, and lurking readers. Like Linda, a very savvy WAC shopper and blog reader I bumped into again today at the WAC... hi Linda. Oh and the other day I met Little Miss Air Gap...who is just as groovy as you would all think. And while I am unashamably name dropping away, look where I went the other weekend. You probably already know because I am the slackest one of the crew that lunched and they have all done fabulous blog posts.

We sat and chatted....and chatted and chatted here.

Ate and drank our fill of the yummiest food here.

This one...well what can I say, so beautiful and so talented and so generous....

Someone else rocked up in this groover....Have you guessed where I went yet ?

Yes it was the home of the beautiful, sweet and talented Pammie of Bayside Rose and we were joined by Linda of I see the Bridge, Mrs Tiff and Simone of Beach Vintage. Thanks Linda for taking these fab photos that I have copied...I told you I would pinch some ha.

SO onto tomorrow....where are we going ? Well this place will be on the list of must visits.

The devine ES Traders who now have a stunning blog

pop on over and visit I want EVERYTHING on it.

Heaven.....one more sleep!!!

Sweet and Sour and breeding lockers.

2011-11-07T18:53:00.001+10:00

Everyday there is something I am organising or cleaning that makes me stop and go ...."Oh that is so sweet!"

Like when I was cleaning this suitcase and I found the key's inside with a tag that reads "Key's for Betty's Port". Who was Betty ? I love the name Betty and Nan has a favourite childhood doll with this name, so naturally this little tag made me nostalgic.

Then I stumbled upon these post cards.... They look sweet,

but are definitely not so sweet.

They are from a series called "Please Miss Give me Heaven" and the first reads:

Papa I am so lonely sobbed a tearful little child. Since dear Mamma's gone to Heaven, Papa you've not smiled. I will speak to her and tell her that we want her to come home. Just you listen and I'll call her through the telephone. "
I know...I couldn't believe it when I read them...so morbid, so sad...who would you send them too? Why would you collect them ? But wait there is another one....

"If you please Miss give me heaven, for my Mamma's there. You will find her with the angels on the golden stair. She'll be glad it's me who's speaking, call her, won't you please?

For I want to surely tell her we're so lonely here".......

Just so dreadful aren't they ? I tell you oldies go on about the good old days but please they were a morbid bunch. So in totally unrelated matters I'll show you the lockers and metal storage cupboards that are taking up my driveway. I have plans to give them a face lift. But like with all plans they may or may not happen.

These ones above are not that old but with a repaint I think could look really good in a kid's room or
a sports room etc.

These ones I do love they are much older and I think I want to keep some of the rust look but make them a bit cleaner looking...you know how I have a thing for rust.

They don't look much in the photos but wait for it...

Te dah!! Look at the cute storage inside. It would be perfect for shoes or in an office...what about as a TV stand with room for DVD's...so many uses.

Some one left their marbles behind...something else for me to find sweet.

Oh and I cleaned this office chair. It along with some other goodies will be heading over to the WAC and Garden Centre in the morning. I love the industrial feel it has.

Yesterday at the WAC and Cottage Garden Nursery...

2011-11-05T15:39:00.000+10:00

Hold on to your hats everyone there is going to be a lot of pictures to follow. Why so many? Well it has been so long since I posted I feel guilty so have included lots of pictures of the wonderful WAC and the Cottage Garden Nursery. First the WAC.

More signs.

Heaps of boxes and metal crates.

Stools of all shapes and sizes.

Wonderful Maple suite.

With groovy leopard print and

carved backs.

Stylish lamps.

Trunks, and luggage.

My fav is this one on the bottom.

Marble and brass side table.

Laundry hampers.

Restocked the suitcases and

the ladders.

Too cute tiny dragster bikes.

The super groovy and always stylish Kimmie holding her Lynch print titled "Nymph" she snapped up from me before I had even put it on the wall. Don't you love the frame.

Glassware and Canadian mounty keeping guard. Took this pic for you Deb...he he.

Onto the Cottage Garden Nursery.

Elegant Edwardian chair.

Cedar and Pine Drawers.

Pots and more pots.

Beachy coffee table.

Finally after many months...well actually since the nursery nearly went under in the floods, linen and doilies make a return.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Some of the bric a brac items from this week.....

2011-10-28T15:54:00.000+10:00

Another busy week that has just zoomed by. All of these items on the blog today I meant to show you earlier in the week before they went to the WAC and garden centre but time has got the better of me and they are all now over at the centres. They all came from the same Kenmore home.

The timeless stripes of T. G Green. (Available at the Cottage Garden Nursery)

Cutest little egg cups. I so get why people collect these, they are so fun and make we want to boil eggs and make soldier toast. (Available at the WAC)

Old mantle clock. (Available at the WAC)

Glassware and other bits and bobs including

a Harry Memmott bowl. (Available at the WAC)

Delicious West German and Italian pottery...yes the West German stayed with me but I was good and swapped out some others.

Loved this little trinket box, it has a few love bites (chips) but it doesn't matter to me as it is just a sign that it was a favourite by its' previous owner. (Available at the WAC)

Another favourite was this lovely Norwegian china. The pattern name is "Lotte".

All available at the WAC

This was so loved by the lady who owned it she used it every day....if you don't believe me here is proof below...

The name of this china is the same as my beautiful daughter, Lotte who did this painting for her Art show that was on at her school during the week. Good job Lotte. xx

Hope you have a lovely weekend xxx

Just in....

2011-10-22T15:33:00.000+10:00

Firstly at the WAC,

This wonderful picnic set, which is complete, made by Nally and is such great colours. Perfect for a Melbourne Cup track side picnic I say.

Note it has two thermoses. Often people try to pass these sets off as complete if they have only one Thermos.

Green Rocker and more poufes.

I like the simple button detail.

Baskets of all shapes and sizes.

This clown not only makes me think of Tam, at A treasured Past. But it kind of freaks me out. Whenever we get something that does this Kristen takes great delight in leaving it in various locations around the house so that when I come upon it I get a fright. So he has been on my bed, on the kids beds, in the laundry and even on my car seat before he finally made it over to the WAC. He, and Kristen, owe me some hair dye for the extra greys they have given me.

Trunks are so popular and we always try to have a few different ones to choose from.

Heavy old sticky tape dispenser.
So on to the Cottage Garden Nursery.

Big old Chest of Drawers.

Great pair of heavy Art Deco inspired 1960's pots.

Great size desk.

Dressing Table.

I put an apron on the mannequin for fun and it made her look topless. So I improvised a top out of tea towels. I have since covered them with vintage costume brooches, a few you can see here.

My chandelier was quickly nabbed to display in Gillian's Garden Cafe, within the nursery. The photo doesn't do it justice it. It is perfect for the spot.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

I've been at IT again....

2011-10-20T15:00:00.000+10:00

....~~hoarding~~ keeping stuff I should be selling. BUT IT IS SO HARD SOMETIMES...aargh! So you remember this chair below ? Well it's in the house now and if you look closely it is surrounded by some West German friends one of which is new.

Lovely vasey goodness. Son number two said to me "Mum don't you think you have enough of those vases, they are kind of every where?" So I told him what they retail for and how he will inherit them., he he. But yes I am the German vase equivalent of a crazy cat lady.

There is new things in the ~~no man's land~~ entance. The front used to be an open verandah which like a lot of Queenslander houses has been closed in. This means we now have a lot of useless space in the middle of the house.

So it is perfect for this sweet little parlour suite I nabbed moments before it was supposed to go to the WAC. I love these and it fulfills my need to own more chairs that no one sits on. I like this set because it was complete, consisting of the two seater, two ladies chairs and two gents.

The hallway has some new things too.

I love this vase sooooo much. It came from the same house as the suite above.

Even its back is fabbo in my eyes.

I recently purchased these frames for some post cards I have....actually I have a thing about post cards, but that's for another post. The frames are not old but I liked them and they were reasonably priced and fun. Do you recognize the print above ? Yes it was done by the lovely Kerri from Driftwood Interiors.

This post card is one of my favs. It's an old one that I had in another frame but the frame broke, some time ago, so finally it has a new home and I can enjoy it again.

Now you probably think this picture shows a new German lovely. But...

it's the fan that is new to this corner. Ready for summer. Vintage ones are so much nicer don't you think?

I know more vases...you see why son number two has a point and I am in some serious denial. But it is the poster that is new. I have actually had it for a while but only recently framed it for the Retro room.

Below is a taste of a couple of things I took over to the Cottage Garden nursery yesterday.

I thought the chandelier looked so romantic even hanging in the doorway to under my house. Hope you all are having a good week.

Some of my ebay auctions this week

2011-10-18T20:13:00.000+10:00

Silky oak

Cedar

Don Rex

Leadlight

Art Deco

Desk

Shogun Samurai

I'm in LOVE with a DONKEY......

2011-10-13T13:17:00.000+10:00

and it's not Kristen, he he or should I say he haw. As I followed along behind Kristen's ute on our way to the Cottage Garden Nursery his crooked grin tormented my heart,

And again as he waited his turn to be carried into our space I nearly succumbed and

brought him home with me.

The darling lady I got him from, who insisited I sit with her in the shade under her home and chat for a while, said she had had a huge one large enough for children to ride on. Sadly it was stolen from her front yard.

But this smaller chap is just so WONDERFUL...sigh!!!!!

Look at that face....

and the painted details with just the right amount of wear.

His wonderful little cart with painted interior. He would not live outside if he was at my house. I can see him on a sideboard or big old kitchen table as a fruit bowl. I know whoever purchases him will love him as much as me and the lady who I purchased him from.

I have been restocking the cement pots I have on offer at the nursery and I have some great ones available.

We also have retro plant stands available as well.

This fun old shoe pot came from the same house as the donkey.

It is hard to find this size of 1960's cement pot and we got four the same which was exciting.

We also got this fabulous mushroom.

As well as two fabulous but extremely heavy planter pots in lovely rough cement. Yesterday when I was cleaning all these pots I found myself feeling a tad jealous of nurseryman Paul's pots that arrive at the nursery all clean, via a truck, and securely wrapped. Unlike me that has to track them down (pry them out of the arms of old ladies...JUST JOKING HA) spend ages scrubbing and bleaching them before pricing and taking them to the nursery.

We also got these wonderful large Retro tyre pots below. I am yet to clean them and they are still waiting at home. So excited to get a pair.

Hope you are all having a good week.

Vintage Sign LOVE

2011-10-06T16:29:00.000+10:00

We got these great old metal Real Estate and traffic signs from the Bulimba Estate we went to earlier in the week. I have taken them over to the WAC. Signs can look so fun on a wall, as you can see in the few inspiration pictures below.

Retrophenia

Shelterness

lovehome.co.uk

Today's Bulimba Estate, Recent Shell Finds, and Inevitable Change.

2011-10-04T12:19:00.000+10:00

This morning we went to this old home in Bulimba and purchased some furniture, bric a brac and other interesting collectables, some of which is pictured in its state of transit below. I will show you more soon. ( As a side note I always feel sorry for old furniture when it is moved. It has been sitting in a house for years and years and then suddenly it is picked up, moved and put in a new location. Yes I know it is furniture and has no feelings but still, if it did have, it must be a shock.)

The estate was literally doors away from this house, pictured below.

It is a large old Queenslander on a corner block.

Kristen and I helped the previous owners some time ago and we fondly remember the house as "The House of Shells", as we purchased hundreds and hundreds, and that is no exaggeration, of shells from it. We had trunks full of them.

This is what it used to look like. If you compare the photos you can see that the verandah has been opened up. The enclosed verandah was where the majority of shells were in the house, some of which you can see below.

Coincidentally I had only taken a picture last week of the last of the shells from this house when I took them over to the WAC. It is funny how things go.

And keeping on the Shell theme, below is a picture of a recent clam shell find. It is a nice fruit bowl sized one as you can see from the orange I have pictured with it.

But to use ~~Indiana Jones'~~ Crocodile Dundee words..." that's not a Clam Shell

THIS IS A CLAM SHELL" You can see the difference in size...yes it is the same orange.

It took some effort to move but what a beauty!!

Lazy Omnibus from a slack blogger

2011-10-02T18:51:00.000+10:00

First off thanks for all the emails. No, I am not dead, just been lazy with my blogging due to school holidays (Not really, but it sounds like a good excuse). I have thought of several things I wanted to blog about but to continue on with my general overall lassitude, I am just going to post some pictures of my antique spots at the WAC and the garden centre. (I have been motivated enough to take some pictures)

We got this lovely carved retro lady, it reminds me of a certain blogger's avatar. Can you guess who I am thinking of ?

Pair of old English chairs available at the Garden Centre.

These are old horse's brasses. My lovely customer Amanda, (Hi Amanda) has already purchased a couple and I am looking forward to seeing how she uses them.

Two lovely pumpkins ready for the Halloween month.

Amazing tapestry hangings. One still available at The Cottage Garden Nursery.

I loved this stool. It sold on Friday and is headed to be in the film version of Eddie Mabo's life.

This amazing old chair is available at the WAC. The people we got it off called it the "Witches Chair".

The windows at the WAC at the moment have the most amazing large Thongs in the window displays.

Shabby white chest and table at the WAC

Retro Coffee tables

My latest work bench revamp

I am looking forward to getting back into things and visiting you all soon.

One on P's, One on L's ~

2011-09-19T19:50:00.000+10:00

Today was an exciting day in our house. Frankie got his P's, ( P plates) and Chauncy got his L's ( Learner's plates)

So as we breath a sigh of relief with one son that we no longer have to drive him round the neighborhood , the task begins again with son number two. These days you are required to do a minimum of 100 hours driving before you can go for your licence. For parents these 100 hours seem to take forever. As soon as the boy's got home they were borrowing the car keys and off to the video shop on their own. It will be great that they can do these simple things together without Mum or Dad. It was a strange feeling for Kristen and I though and I couldn't help thinking of the famous Cat Steven's song...."what I really want Dad is to borrow the car keys, see you later can I have them please."

New Member of The Cottage Garden Family

2011-09-15T18:08:00.001+10:00

There is a new family member at The Cottage Garden Nursery. He is very cute, very chirpy and very yellow. He is yet to be named although some suggestions are "Elvis", "Tweety" and "Saffron".

In the video he is in his temporary cage, as he kept escaping from his flashy cage. But today when I got to the nursery he was in his new cage, thanks to a few modifications from Paul.

His new cage, minus birdy.

I don't know what it is but with animals and small children but I obviously develop a sing songy voice. Birdy has been a big hit with the small (children) visitors to the nursery.

Some of the FURNITURE Auctions on ebay this week

2011-09-14T16:42:00.000+10:00

Here are pictures of some of the furniture auctions I will be listing on ebay tonight.

The photo doesn't really show how tall this guy is. Would be great as a filing cabinet or cd/dvd storage.

This chap would have started life out in a hospital. Has a super feel with its office style drawer.

Old window hoods off a Queenslander house.

This one is solid silky oak save for the shutter panels, which would not be original. Would have been a black board I would think, but now could be a divider or screen.

The one on the left highlights the crimes committed during the late 1980's against furniture...painted mosiacs in tuscan colours...hmmm never a good idea. They are both dying for a 2011 makeover.

Elegant cane chair awaiting a refurb. The elegance of this design means it could suit many styles of home.

I really like the shape of these pair.

To view these items on ebay please click here.

They will be listed 7.30 pm tonight.

Some of my ebay Auctions for this week

2011-09-13T18:15:00.000+10:00

This week we will be putting up some furniture auctions on ebay but we also are putting up a few mail auctions tonight. Click on the pictures to get a good look.

Diana Greyhounds

Wembley Ware Wall vase

Wembley Ware Fish plate

Grace Seccombe Penguin

Carltonware Spider Plate

And my favourite, I. A. Crisp Kookaburra Plate. To view these items on ebay please click here.

They will be listed 7.30 pm tonight.

Snelling ~alicious ~ Should I Keep ?

2011-09-10T15:26:00.000+10:00

So surprisingly I have kept my promise to you and here is the chair Kristen got yesterday....I heart him (the chair, and Kristen too I guess...I mean he did get this chair, ha) soooo much!

The chair was designed by Douglas B. Snelling and manufactured by Functional Products at their factory in St Peters, Sydney in the 1950's. The design is based on American and Scandinavian models which Douglas Snelling saw while working in the USA

I want to keep it !!! Should I ? Kristen says we have too many chairs no one sits on and I am too FAT to sit on it and I would break it for sure, and we don't need more chairs no one sits on...Aargh!!!

I do see his point...it may seem harsh but the man does speak the truth !!

Perhaps I could see it as my "Diet chair" and when I eventually am slim, sexy and svelte (cough, splatter, laugh) I could take a picture of myself to celebrate in this chair ha....What do you think ?

It will need a good clean...very grubby, normally these chairs are in poor condition when you get them and need a lot of work. This one is in surprisingly good condition and once given a good clean will come up a treat I know. BUT I won't ever hear the end of it if it breaks...decisions, decisions.

Bric a Brac From Today's Estate ~

2011-09-09T17:29:00.000+10:00

It seems like ages since I have done a dining table post of the days bric a brac finds. It doesn't seem like ages though since the dining table was empty so I must have just been slack in showing you.

Today Kristen went to an inner city house on the Northside. Due to a large storm at lunch time he called me over to move the bric a brac as it is much easier in my car than the ute in rainy weather. The only down side of this is my car will smell dusty and musty for days after. The truth is I don't mind when it means we have this lot of treasures to sort through.

I am loving this large lamp.

Foo Dogs

Close up of the nice layer of dust on the Foo Dogs. The magic of china though is it will all clean off and their beauty will be revealed again.

Le Creuset casserole dishes. We got quite a few and a saucepan too.

I love the colour of these 60's lamps. The bases are marble and are therefore quite heavy.

Unusual set of stainless steel bowls. The trim is fantastic and very 1970's.

Cantilever sewing box. Quite large and on wheels.

Lastly I love this large bottle. I dare not keep it as I know it would start a large bottle obsession but I do love it so. Kristen also got a fabulous chair from the house aswell. I know what you are thinking...a chair big deal....but I will show it to you tomorrow, pinky promise, as I am too slack to walk downstairs and photograph it now. I know some of you will ADORE it as much as me. Hope you all have a good weekend.

Vitalogy ~ A Real Pearler

2011-09-08T15:59:00.001+10:00

Vitalogy is probably best known nowadays as the third Album of the American band Pearl Jam released on November 22, 1994 through Epic Records. Vitalogy, the album, was packaged in a booklet that replicated material from a early medical book of the same name. We recently purchased a copy of the medical book from an Estate. It is a fascinating old book.

Wonderful illustrations.

Important information every family should know....like how a home should look.

Fascinating chapter titles like the one above.

And glorious details, that you only find in vintage books that were made with care. Like the spider web embossed paper that protects the illustrations. A bit of Pearl Jam below from the Album Vitalogy. Of course to my children they too are Retro/vintage.

New Mid Century Dee- lights at the WAC Today

2011-09-06T17:16:00.000+10:00

Well as promised here is the rest of the fab mid century furniture I purchased late last week. It has made its way over to the WAC along with a lovely mannequin that Kristen purchased only this morning.

Dining table and chairs

Note the lovely shape to the table and chair legs.

Coffee Table. Again a lovely shape, nice and solid and also a good size.

It is sitting on the work bench you may remember from a recent make over post. The work bench has found an owner and is awaiting pick up to take it to its new home.

Pair of bedside Tables.

Lovely mannequin, with desirable timber base. (One of two the other will go to The Cottage Garden Nursery soon.)

Hookey game....classic fun!! I think they also make for quirky art too.

Finally this fabulous day bed couch. The back folds down into a bed. This one arrived at the WAC at lunch time and Dave quickly remembered a customer who had come in looking for one just like it who was lunching in the cafe. (Thanks Dave !!) It has already gone off to its new home.

The fabric was in fabulous condition and was a soft wool knit in mustard and brown. The photo makes it look a bit yellow. Hope you are all having a good start to the week.

Thank - you stranger ~ plus a few of the goodies from the week

2011-09-02T18:00:00.000+10:00

Today I wanted to say thank -you to the person that lives in this house. I don't know this person and no doubt never will but they have given me pleasure for years as I zip past their house, nowadays most commonly on my way to Carindale Shopping Centre, but in the past to Little Athletics and cricket practice. Can you see why...look closely ?

Every day they arrange hibiscus flowers from their garden under the letterbox, a simple but loving display I always think. It has become habit for me to look for them as I drive past. It is a simple post war house and I would think from the garden and so on the owner would perhaps be an older person.

It occurred to me today that perhaps one day they may no longer be there for me to gain pleasure from. I know I will have to drive a different way when this happens as it will be sad. But today I wanted to just say thank -you stranger, I love seeing your flowers they always make me feel happy.

I thought I would also just throw in a few pictures of some of the things we have purchased this week and have made their way over to the WAC. Firstly this mid century camphor blanket box.

Large White Horse Whisky Advertising horses. These came from a hotel and are about 35 cm high.

Huge novelty beer stein, to give an idea of how large you can see the smaller ones to the right on top of the files.

Mid century sideboard. We also got other furniture which I will show you soon.

I liked the shape of this stool, and you know how I like stools....

We got this lovely kitchen dresser on Wednesday and it was cleaned and sold by Thursday, before I even had a chance to show you, but I liked it so much I thought I would show you all anyway.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Oranges and Lemons Omnibus and don't forget to check out the skips

2011-08-29T15:47:00.004+10:00

I took these Giant clam shells to the garden centre on Saturday, I thought they looked great with lemons and oranges in them. The one with the lemons in them sold yesterday so in future all I will buy is two bags of lemons for display rather than a bag each of lemons and oranges for variety.

Retro metal phone table and patio setting that came from the same groovy, retro, house as a bar I have pictures of below.

I love old typewriters...

and old books.

On to the WAC.....

Super groovy bar with lots of fab features,

like the tea towel holder and cupboards,

like this fab pull out drinks tray.

Recliner mid century chairs, pictured is one of three pairs.

The windows at the WAC suited last weeks weather....full of umbrellas. So clever but hard to photograph.

We went to a house last week that already had two full skips in the driveway. Always remember to ask the people if you can look at what they have thrown away just incase you can use what they have thrown away.

This was the first piece that caught my eye, fortunately this old art deco gal had no chips from being thrown away.

This beswick horse saldy was not so lucky and had to be put down.

Also remember (but for some you would have to be a hard core vintage lover like me to attempt ha) to check the bins when you see full skips, as folks often fill them up at the same time when clearing an old house.

This is how I found this bin when I opened the lid.

The treasure trove went all the way through (yes this meant I had my head in a bin...not for the faint hearted) it was like they moved the black bins into the lounge room and emptied the china cabinets straight into them.

Here is just some of the items I salvaged.

While a lot was broken, from just being thrown in, it was amazing what survived intact

Of course you cannot break old collectable tea towels

Hope you all have a good week.

Happy Customer ~ Pod/ Egg Chair finds the Home it was always meant to have!

2011-08-26T19:25:00.003+10:00

Remember the fantastic Pod chair below that we purchased and it headed to the WAC ?

You might remember it didn't find someone to love it at the WAC and it came home and went on Ebay. Well that is not entirely true. The truth is it did find someone that LOVED, ADORED, DESIRED and DREAMT about owning this chair whilst it was at the WAC. And the wonderful end to this love affair is .....

SHE GOT HER CHAIR!!!! YEY!

Meet Tess..one of the sweetest, kindest and grooviest chics around. (She is also my neighbour at the WAC, having the stall next to mine with her friend Ali. ) SHE WON !! Here it is in her home.

A couple of her happy brood in the chair, which now takes pride of place in her lounge room. (Which is pretty groovy place don't you think? ) Behind the pod chair is a cupboard Tess also purchased from theoldboathouse and you can just see her coffee table which was her first ever oldboathouse purchase, many many years ago now, also through ebay.

I am so excited Tess got her chair....some things are just meant to be I say. I had been feeling a little guilty as I had forgotten to tell Tess I had brought it home and put it on ebay. It wasn't until the final seconds of the auction that I saw her name appear in the bidding and I am sure my neighbours could hear me scream...GO TESS !!!

Even better her husband (also a ~~Frankie~~ Franky) loves it too !!! Hope you all have a great weekend. I have been having a little break from blogging this past week. But all should be back to normal now and I have heaps to show you.

Work Bench Makeover number Two

2011-08-17T14:41:00.000+10:00

Over the last couple of days I have been working on another work bench makeover. This one is quite simple and classic so I have painted the base and sanded and estapoled the top to give it a bit of a farmhouse, french or even beachouse shabby look...hey its important to cover all the markets in the furniture game he he. But the result I think is that it could sit nicely in many styles of home or be great in an indoor outdoor area as a preperation table.

BEFORE

AFTER

Below are some more before shots. But they were taken after I had degreased the top, an important but very messy job.

Below are more after shots.

Hope you are all having a lovely week. We have a holiday today here in Brissie for our show or EKKA (Exhibition) as we call it so I am finding it hard to motivate myself.

My ebay auctions this week

2011-08-16T18:34:00.000+10:00

Full cedar table

it has lovely carved legs.

another old table

Old retro bike the "ROCKY" in great original condition.

Grace Seccombe figure

Moorcroft Vase

Old Sandgate bottle

Egg chair you may have seen on the blog before.

I have not been able to sell him so it is off to ebay with a .99 cent start

Saturday Omnibus ~ Where did the week go?

2011-08-13T13:50:00.002+10:00

Okay are you ready ? This week has zoomed by yet again so this weeks omnibus is a super biggie but I have so much to show you that it is just going to all get piled in.

This week we have been busy trying to clear all the goodies in the dining room and restocking the WAC and Garden Centre till they are almost bursting with vintage wonderfulness.

We picked up this cute little cupboard,

and fabulous rocking chair.

I have restocked the fabric ,

and sewing treasures, new, old buttons,

patterns

threads, handbag handles....you know the cane and timber ones where you make the bag bit.

Scarves

Too cute and very groovy cane occasional tables of different shapes.

Costume jewellery plus heaps more.

But what's this you say ? Another full dining table ? Yes, believe it or not this room was empty when I left yesterday to head to the WAC and when I returned....yes it was full again.

I love this clock...

and a great touch that is has Brisbane on it's face.

I have been on the look out for a large pinky trimmed bowl for a good friend who I gave a stunning Victorian, water jug to, that didn't have a bowl, a few years back now....so much fun when you get something you know someone is going to LOVE and totally go crazy over when she sees.

More jewels

Sarah B look away now....he he...tiny stuffed crocodile...hmmmm

HUGE clam shells. Need a good clean but these will certainly make a statement in someone's home.

And meet the lovely Ajanta. Some of you who are regular visitors to the WAC may already know her as she is one of the fabulous shop girls there. Ajanta is my new WAC neighbour. Her shop is called "Little 33" which I think is very cool. In this photo she is showing off some of her undergarments...yes you read that right. Among other lovely goodies Ajanta will be selling these amazing knickers...

Soooo cute !!

Very cool boy's ones too.

This is how her stall looked when I left the WAC yesterday and she was still setting up.

By today it looked like this.....ta da...very groovy!!

On the home front someone had a birthday and look what he got. Here he is playing with his present.

My latest keeper and family member. Proof that I keep the most ridiculous things out of all the goodies we get. But I just adored him. He is all wobbly a bit like a puppet. He reminds me of another famous blogging horse... This guy could be his Grandfather I guess.

Finally to end on, my geraniums in my window box are blooming and adding a spark of loveliness to my otherwise desert like garden. Seems strange for a Brisbanite to say but it would be great to get some rain.

Hope you all have had a lovely week.

Pictures of some of the items I am selling on ebay this week

2011-08-09T19:27:00.001+10:00

We have had a really good break from ebay, nearly 6 weeks I think. But the time has come due to a overflow of stock, to list some pieces that Kristen and I cannot hope to paint and or restore. It feels really good to sell some things that don't need, cleaning or nailing or sanding or painting or a combination of all those tasks and more.
Below are some pictures of some of the dozen and a half items we have for no reserve auction this week on ebay.

Work Bench makeover number one

2011-08-08T16:57:00.000+10:00

You may remember this was my favourite of the work benches we recently got. I have had fun bringing it back to life and transforming it into an interesting industrial piece of furniture.

Before shots

We removed all the handles as they were miss matched and some were a bit worse for wear, and we sanded all the drawers.

We also sanded the top.

Here it is at the WAC all restored. I painted the metal base black, estapoled the top and Kristen gave the drawers and the top a wax and added the new, old, matching handles.

We also added a shelf on the side.

I love old rustic timber like this particularly after it has had a good wax and is lovely and soft.

I think it would be great in a kitchen.

Saturday Omnibus ~ This weeks Estate Goodies

2011-08-06T11:17:00.002+10:00

Another week spent chasing my tail so apologies again for no blogging. My dining room is filling up and this week the dining table has spilled over onto the floor. Here are some of the favourites of the bric a brac from the estates we have been to this week. There are so many goodies so don't forget to click on the photos to enlarge, if you want to have a closer look.

Didn't even realise until I took this photo that there is a West German vase hidden in the old sieve on the side. You can just see the touch of red.

Darling little perfume bottle.

Can you guess what these are ? They are dentists mirrors.

Darling little glove clip.

There are little goodies tucked in everywhere on the table.

Art Deco Sterling Silver compact.

Love the look of this old fan. I had to unscrew him off a wall which is sometimes a challenge but it was worth it.

Dainty food cover and I love the shape of the copper pot.

Hope you have a lovely weekend. It is an absolutely glorious winter's day here in Brissie.

A Weight of Work Benches

2011-07-31T20:21:00.001+10:00

Kristen came home with three different work benches yesterday to add to the one we already had in our driveway. And as you may have seen in our last post we had just taken a workbench, we got a couple of days ago, over to the WAC. Believe it or not we even have another work bench under the house that I can't picture as it is packed away. It ~~will be,~~ should be a subject of a blog post by itself as it is such a cracker, if I do say so myself. (It came from a science lab of the University of Queensland back in the 1930's)

But all these work benches got me to thinking that there should be a name for a multiple number of work benches.

Just as you have a "murder of crows" or a "brace of pistols" or a "gaggle of geese" I thought perhaps a "whack of work benches" a "worry of work benches" or a "wide of work benches" would suit. But after moving this many work benches this week I decided a "weight of work Benches" would be most apt.

This one is my favourite.

Friday Omnibus ~ All Aboard.

2011-07-29T18:44:00.002+10:00

Okay, so this week blogging just hasn't happened but I have been taking lots of pictures with the best of intentions to do a this and that different blog posts. Honest. So today I just thought blow it. I will just do one GIANT post and show you some of the new things at the Garden Centre and the WAC, along with the journey of a fantastic old work bench we got below.

Here it is when it came in.

It has an unusual metal top. The metal is attached over the timber top and you can see the lines of the timber planks in the metal from years of the top being pushed and bashed etc.

It was a bit grubby to say the least.

But here it is all restored in my stall space at the WAC.

I love the patina of the metal top it is smooth and almost soft to touch.

Set of five classic aluminium canisters we I purchased during the week.

Oh we Kristen got this one on Wednesday. It will probably go up on eBay some time as it needs a bit of TLC. I think it would be good flipped and trimmed with the sides becoming the base and top.

The Garden Centre is looking lovely this time of year.The florist is full of jonquils and daffodils and the nursery is full of orchids and daises.

Here are a few pictures of some of the new items.

The cutest wheelbarrow!!

This one is an old feed bin. But I think it looks great as a planter. See the arms on the back that are hooked over the timber. I think you could hook it over a fence or a balcony perhaps.

If you look closely you can see these funny hanging wire planters we got. They are round and you would put a pot in the middle. Pictured are two but we have three.

And on to the WAC. We have had lots of boxes.

Manilla cane style coffee table with glass top.

Unusual little cane fellow. I think it would make a cute little mini bar.

Jugs, jugs and more jugs.

Are you still there at the end of all that ? Hope you all have a lovely weekend. Can't wait to get around ands see what you all have been up too.

Slowly Going RETRO

2011-07-26T10:43:00.001+10:00

When you do what we do and have an amazing volume of furniture and vintage homewares passing through your hands all the time it is hard to stick to a style or pick a style that feels just right in your own home. The upside of this of course is that you can muck around, pick and choose and change your style easily and cheaply. I have spoken before of my love of mid century and how my lounge is slowly going RETRO.

This week I decided to change up my coffee table. I must have had heaps of the original, Noguchi designed, ones but for whatever reason it was this reproduction that I have decided to keep for now. The proportions of this one is slightly larger than the originals and better suited for a family. I desperately need a new rug now.

There are still few older items in this room like my faithful trunk,

one of our many clocks, this one is still keeping good time, even though it would probably be around 150 years old

convex glass framed pic, one of a pair.

And my cedar map drawers which I LOVE, but they just don't suit big teles. I want to get a sideboard for here but am yet to get one that I like enough to keep. I don't want it to be too big. I also know that when I find a replacement I have no where in my house to fit these drawers and they will have to go which I will be sad about. So until I find replacement items the other items will stay in this room and add to the shimozzle that is my decorating style.

To Market, to Market....The Best Jam Stall in Brissie

2011-07-22T15:39:00.000+10:00

Below is Nan, dressed to impress, a few years ago now at The St Paul's Anglican Church Market Day. That year it was a Heritage theme. Each Year Nan is the convener of "The Jam Stall". A role Nan takes very seriously and this year she has been rounding up her crew of Jam, Pickle, Marmalade and Chutney cooks and busily sourcing fruit from anyone with a lemon, orange or any fruit for that matter, tree in their backyards.

NAN

MIRIAM, NORMA, JOHN, NANCY and SANDRA

And here are her faithful mates at the craft stall, no pun intended ha. This band of ladies and gents work so hard to raise funds and the Market Day at St. Paul's with it's old fashioned fun and stalls and new fangled trendy coffee van has become a "must do" on the Wynnum / Manly calender.

So for those of you who are partial to baked goods,hand made crafts, white elephant and book stands, not to mention looking at amazing floral displays and getting lucky with a raffle or two mark this day on your Calender, Saturday the 30 th July.

St Paul's is in Ernest St Manly right next to the Manly State School. Be sure to look out for Nan on the Jam Stall and try some of her speciality, Chilli Jam.

Before and after Cupboard ~ Chipped Tooth and all

2011-07-19T18:13:00.004+10:00

I purchased this cupboard recently and to be honest it turned out to not be as good as I first thought when I saw it at 5 am in the half light under an old house at a recent garage sale. I left Kristen to pull it out with the old guy who owned the house so I could race on to the next sale as we had purchased quite a bit of stuff. Not only was the cupboard in a poor state but when Kristen moved it, the old fellow said "Watch your head" and then pushed the cupboard jerkly forward and up at the same time so it hit Kristen in the mouth, giving him a fat lip, chipping his tooth and jolting his head so that he hit his head anyway...Hmmm I was not Ms Popular. But Kristen being Kristen thought the sad old cupboard still had a bit of life left in it and he was also keen to get his revenge and recoup some Dentist costs ha.

This is the story of the transformation of this cupboard from crappy to happy and chic! The photo above is of one side which had lots of holes and wear.

You can also see that the top had to be taken off and put back as one side had been cut off to fit into a space and had no overhang like the other side.

You can see it looks much more even.

We used these old feet to give some height and also so the doors could be opened more easily.

And here is the completed cupboard outside the WAC. Given a fresh white makeover with new, old feet that look like they have always been there. If I do say so myself. I gave the edges the shabby treatment and it is now a really functional piece perfect for so many spots.

Of course the saga of this not quite over, as Kristen has not yet been to the dentist.

The Garden Centre ready for the weekend + an apology

2011-07-15T19:20:00.001+10:00

First off let me apologise for the quality of the last two posts.
No excuses. THEY WERE BOTH SHOCKINGLY POOR !
................Just joking ............. HA.............. I have to admit that Kristen's 2 posts were ok........................ I guess...... HA HA Yes they were very good darling...............

To be serious let me also thank everyone who emailed and commented with their best wishes for Lotte. We have been home since yesterday afternoon and she seems to be improving all the time. To such an extent that Krsiten has been ~~happily~~ watching the CBEEBIES with her all afternoon while I have been getting our centre spots ready for the weekend. Here are some photos of our space at

the Cottage Garden Nursery ~

Lovely little bench seat

Shabby style, ornate coffee table

Old Kitchen Dresser, cleaned by Nan while Lotte and I were away ~ Thanks Nan

Lovely leadlight doors.

Maple trinket drawer dressing table.

Something about the pokerwork like details on these old dressing tables that I am always drawn to. Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Who you going to believe 'people' or your of your own eyes

2011-07-13T09:16:00.003+10:00

When ever Katherine and I go to a house we have to always remember to ask if anything is under the house or backshed that folks might want to sell. Last week when I asked someone if there was anything under the house. The response was "nothing under there you would want". I asked if we could have a quick look in anycase.
So Katherine disappeared under the house and did not surface for what seemed ages. Among the many goodies she found was not
ONE

NOT TWO

BUT THREE HUGE OLD BOOK PRESSES

It just shows that not only have you always got to ask, but you also have to look.
Ps Thanks for all the comments and emails about Lotte, things seem to be improving somewhat if a little slowly.The doctors want to be sure that Lotte can eat and drink successfully before they release her. So she and Katherine may have a few more days more at the hospital yet. So more takeway and precooked bought meals for me and the boys for a while yet.

Catfish POD CHAIR

2011-07-11T19:29:00.001+10:00

We found this great retro chair on the weekend.

and have taken it over to the WAC

The catfish are a later addition to the chair and are the work of a well known Graffiti artist.

Frankie-James was a great help today taking this chair and some other bits of furniture with me to the WAC.

The me in question is Kristen, Katherine's husband. Katherine has left me in charge of the blog while she stays with our daughter Lotte who had to go to hospital over the weekend. So any poor posting and or spelling mistakes are mine,though the ideas are hers. Indeed she keeps texting me with different ideas for postings on the blog every few hours. I will see how I go.

The WAC ~ Ready for the weekend

2011-07-08T10:26:00.000+10:00

Some new pictures of some of the furniture in my spaces at The Woolloongabba Antique Centre.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

More Lovely Ugly Keepers

2011-07-06T16:52:00.000+10:00

Yes, yet another post about one of my favourite things, West German goodness. You may remember when I first confessed to my addiction in this post. The tall brown one at the back above and his lovely friend in the front are two of my latest.

I love the touch of red on this one.

The chap at the back is also a recent find. Lovely orange and super lava texture.

This one was on my dining table recently in an earlier post. I used to have a rule about the colours I keep so as to keep my collection under control but I have devised a way to keep a few greeny ones I love by putting them in another part of the house. I know what you are thinking..."she is out of control" and you are probably right but I did say this is an addiction.

My hallway is new West German virgin territory and will be home to a few green chaps. This guy is now on top of my linen cupboard. If only the hallway was bigger but thank goodness for high ceilings.

Ready to Go....Today's items for the WAC and The Cottage Garden Nursery

2011-07-04T16:05:00.000+10:00

I am very excited to be featured this week on Decorating Forum so if you have come to visit theoldboathouse today via the forum, hello and thanks so much for stopping by. Those who are regular visitors to this blog know I am a bit of a whinger when it comes to the cleaning of the goodies we find. So it was exciting today that the items I have been preparing to take over to The Cottage Garden Nursery and the Woolloongabba Antique Centre just needed a bit of a hose to knock the dust off.

This old wire garden bench chair and lovely shiny old coppers are loaded onto the ute ready to head off to the Nursery.

These old coppers started life out as the inserts of old boiler washing machines. They now look great as dramatic planters. Can't you just see them filled with palms ?

The old wire seat has a bit of an industrial feel to me.

As the items today didn't need too much done to them I thought it was a good chance to test out my new toy "Mr Gerni", pictured above. I am sure he and I are going to become close friends. I can't believe it has taken me so long to introduce myself to him. I mean I have only been cleaning stuff for 19 years ha. The items below have made there way over to the WAC.

Groovy Bar stools.

I really like the shape of the back

Old ladders. The green of the front one seems just perfect to me.

Below are a set of matching chairs.

Singer Sewing Machine Box. These ones are getting hard to find so I was excited when we came across it. But not as excited as I was to find the chap bellow. Industrial lovers get ready to drool......

Isn't he just heaven ? He has two things which make my heart sing, firstly he is wire and secondly he has all the pigeon holes...YUM!

At the back of him one of the previous owners has attached chicken wire. I thought about taking it off but it sort of went with the piece and it was attached so well it would have taken ages to take off so it has stayed.

Here he is at the WAC loaded with goodies. But what is that you say ? That's not my stall....Good noticing, you are right it's not. My lovely industrial wire pigeon hole chap didn't even make it into my stall. My lovely friend and fellow WAC seller Lisa from Industrial Revolution nabbed them before they hit the floor. I should have taken a photo of Lisa and I hugging them. Sigh!

Lots of Silver & Brass from an old Coorparoo Home

2011-07-01T09:15:00.000+10:00

Hi Everyone, Firstly thanks for all your kind comments on my last post. Lotte is much better and after a short trip to the hospital is back home. So now its on to the good stuff. We recently purchased a lot of vintage Brass and silver.

Antique Siam silver set, tray is old but not original to the set.

Cute elephant lids

Glorious original Art Nouveau Frame

Delightful butterflies

and Bee details.

Large deer and sleigh. This guy was used by the family we purchased him from at Christmas and formed the centrepiece of their Christmas table.

Note the cupid on the back.

Candle sticks

Tiny brass doll's table and chair set.

Ornate ginger Jar

Huge Siam silver Jardiniere. I hope you have all had a good week.

WARNING ~ Road Kill or Vintage Fashion ?

2011-06-26T15:16:00.000+10:00

Of all the many and varied items we get it is vintage furs that people, including myself, always have on one side the most horror about and on the other the most fun. You may remember another chap I blogged about here.

I just couldn't help but think "Road Kill" with these guys though, particularly the one at the front.

With his little arms and legs still attached he reminds me of a cartoon character that has been steam rolled over.

Look at that little face.

The other guy is another story. I am still trying to figure out exactly what creature he is or rather was. He seems a mixture of goat/sheep/dog ??? I am not sure either if his brown tips are original or dyed.

They have both made their way over to The Woolloongabba Antique Centre. When I took them over every person that passed them by stopped to laugh or try them on with their friends and do a bit of a fashion show. One mother spent ages explaining to her wide eyed children how they had once been... "little animals...see there little legs and look there is his little ears...and ladies would wear them like this." She draped it around her shoulders. I am not sure if the children were traumatised or intrigued by her explanation and modelling but their eyes were as big as saucers and they stood transfixed, on the spot.

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend. Sorry I have been a bit slack on visiting everyone, my youngest trouble maker is not well, still deciding if a hospital visit is on the cards, fingers crossed for me and her that it's not.

Seeing WHITE everywhere at the Cottage Garden Nursery East Brisbane

2011-06-24T15:40:00.001+10:00

Sometimes without meaning to my shops take on a colour theme. Today I was seeing white everywhere at The Cottage Garden Nursery.

Pair of beachy white garden or patio chairs

Large Split cane table

Stools

Beachy white chest of drawers.

Cast Metal jardinere

Little shoe shine stool, with a slash of red on the drawer.

Poole Lamp

Even my shirt is white. Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Some of my items up for auction this week on ebay

2011-06-22T17:51:00.000+10:00

Set of six mid century chairs

Pair of long Pews

Set of large French doors, more below.

Old windows. Some lovely colours.
To see all my ebay auctions for this week please click here