First vintage Love

I have mentioned before of my life long love of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies and indeed musicals and movies in general. It was this that led me to my first furniture love affair and the first item of furniture I ever purchased and which I recently mentioned, in a previous blog, that I still have. A few people were curious as to what it was so ..............
here he is......
Yes it was love at first sight for me and this humble trunk. Over the years I may have had some smarter examples, although I still think he is is a beauty, but I cannot part with him. I purchased him from my older brother Chris when I was 12. Chris had 3 stalls in The Paddington Antique Centre, having got addicted himself to the Antiques game as a young man. Chris was more a restorer of big furniture and he could repair and colour match anything so he was happy to off load this trunk on me. I paid him five dollars a week for I don't know how long for this trunk and also put in many hours of sanding at his work shop in my school holidays...ahh young love...But I had to have this trunk.
The clincher for me was the original paper label inside the trunk, sorry about the photo, with its glamorous makers address, on Broadway in New York. My young romantic heart imagined the endless possibilities for Hollywood icons such as Fred or Ginger to have perhaps sat or rested, as in the top photo, on such a trunk..........Needless to say it has developed in me a life long love of travel or steamer trunks.
I use this little fellow as a side table.
This chap is a bedside and would originally have been for hats. I think they are just so romantic and have endless uses..my big fellow also has the added romance for me that Kristen restored and cleaned him for me as a wedding gift. Good old boot polish for the canvas...does wonders. He was one of the first bits of furniture in our first little flat in Bulimba and was our coffee table.

~ I Heart WAC ~

Wow where has a year gone? The Woolloongabba Antique Centre is turning one. To celebrate the lovely Sarah Jane and Megan have given me 10 of the new I heart WAC pins to give away. So if you would like one, be one of the first ten to email me your address and I will pop one in the mail. Email boathome@bigpond.net.au

The centre will be open from 9am to 9pm on Saturday the 17th of July 2010 to celebrate its' birthday. It is sure to be an amazing day....I was told to think glitter and with the WAC girls I don't know whether to be excited or slightly scared...haha. Either way it is sure to be amazing as their is heaps of entertainment planned including circus performances. If you want to be part of the evening performance you can book ahead for $15 a ticket or it is $20 at the door. For more info head to the WAC website.... http://www.woolloongabbaantiquecentre.com/ you may like to also check out their newsletter and blog which keeps everyone up to date with what's happening at the centre...Oh and did I tell you all the WAC is now open 7 days from 9am to 5pm...yey!!

Look again... dual purpose furniture & more STOOL Love

So handy....cutest little fold away step ladder and chair that converts to a step ladder.

More stools we couldn't resist and a nice white cane laundry basket.

The middle stool has the cutest little green socks.

Also wanted to show you this fab 1950's bird bath. Love the bikini !!! All of these items have either headed off or will be heading off to The Cottage Garden Nursery 999 Stanley st East, East Brisbane. To contact please email boathome@bigpond.net.au

Some of the Bric a Brac from Friday's Estate

A sea of newspaper now adorns my dining room floor as I unpacked the bric a brac from yesterday.

Some of the cute cottage teapots.

My favourite, a small fowler milk jug in a fabulous apple green, this one may have to stay with me for a while.

Large Victorian floral afternoon tea set, yet another favourite and I am always a sucker for anodised goblets and drink sets from the 60's. Now it all just has to be cleaned and new homes found.

Hard to enjoy the bay views at this old estate

Solid Silky Oak Files.....love them!

The stairs it all had to come down....narrow and slippery carpet!

Stunning Oak sideboard, love the barley twist legs.

Not missing its drawers...Kristen used them to transport some of the china.

Gold scales...not an item you see everyday, love the case.

To die for French Country Marble top table...amazing proportions, you can lay down on it, it is that big.....not in an inspirational spot on those tiles but would make an amazing preperation table, or garden table in my dream conservatory, emphasis on the dream lol.

Oak extension table...thickest, loveliest legs.

Delicate bookcase with leadlight doors.
The house had wonderful chandeliers throughout.
Kristen and I cleared an old house today at Manly. It was hard to enjoy the bay views as we carried old furniture down a narrow set of stairs. Some of the furniture I have pictured above. Hard work and I am worn out. The marble top table was incredibly heavy. As the marble top came down the narrow stairs, heading for a floor level window, it was more incharge of its descent than we were.

Luckily it is all home safe, save for a few bits Kristen will go back for in the morning. I have my dining room filled with drawers full of wrapped up bric a brac that I am very keen to see as Kristen wrapped it before I got there but I just don't have the energy. It will be takeway for tea tonight. Will show some more soon....computer is fixed yey!!!