Sinbad the Sailor

I went walking with a friend yesterday and came across this old 60's 45 R.P.M. extended play record "Sinbad the Sailor" sitting on the nature-strip. The record cover caught my eye but the blue vinyl record inside was a fantastic bonus ..... its such a great colour!

Kangaroo Paw

Happy Australia Day

Kangaroo Paw's are one of my favorite Australian Native Plants making today the perfect day to post this photo of a Yellow Kangaroo Paw taken in the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens...

Travel by Road

There are only two colour illustrations in this book "Travel by Road through the ages" written by R J Unstead and published in 1960, but they are both quite lovely.... The illustrations were done by J.C.B. Knight, and along with its two colour illustrations the book is filled with fantastic black and white drawings....

I couldn't resist buying this book due to its great cover - complete with matching dust jacket!!

Bought it along with Black Beauty (see previous post titled Black Beauty), at the Vinnies Ringwood book sale earlier this year.

Another Great Jug

Another great New Zealand Op Shop find - this jug doesn't have a makers mark but I just love the shape, handle, and pattern...

Cobalt Blue

This cobalt blue coffee pot & glass bottle were given to me by a lovely friend - the bottle now lives on a windowsill, and brightens the room when the light shines through...... Such a great colour!

24 Thrones

It's inspiring finding people doing what they truly enjoy and Stylist Sam Moiler is no exception. A lifetime of Op shopping, collecting, and an understanding of all things vintage has lead to an inspiring business called 24 Thrones - an online prop hire company specializing in retro 60's & 70's items... they are constantly sourcing and collecting new props so are always adding to their already extensive collection...

I really like their website, which looks great and is easy to follow. The fantastic photographs were taken by photographer Peter Mac and really show the props off at their best

I'm loving this 60's red transistor radio complete with vinyl cover and handle - hopefully Phillips will replicate this radio with an ipod connection!!

Check out their website

www.24thrones.com

'Clatter' by Lucia Usmiani

Lucia Usmiani's work Clatter was part of an Exhibition (2005 / 2006) at the Heide Museum of Modern Art called IMAGINE...the creativity shaping our culture.....

Clatter was a fantastic sculpture, and the sound the bottles made with a slight breeze was quite lovely...

Lucia's installation of hundreds of PET Bottles on bamboo stakes helped inspire my Sprite Bottle series of images, which will be at the Monash Gallery of Art in the Ramp gallery from the 28th of January 2012 to the 25th of March 2012

Monash Gallery of Art

860 Ferntree Gully Road

Wheelers Hill VIC 3150

Telephone +61 3 8544 0500

www.mga.org.au

Black Beauty

Illustrations in old books are often quite beautiful and the illustrations in this classic novel Black Beauty written by Anna Sewell are fantastic... I can't remember reading Black Beauty and recently found this beautifully worn copy at Vinnies Ringwood - in a half price book sale.

Black Beauty was written by English author Anna Sewell in 1877 and was her only novel. She died 5 months after it was published, but got to see Black Beauty become a success... this copy published in 1950 was illustrated by George Santos...

..

Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

Decorations by George Santos

Desert Spoons

I've had these Rodd Desert spoons for years - I think the tarnish adds to their character but I would need to get out the silvo for guests !!!!! The spoons were a gift from an Aunt who has a wonderful knack of buying gifts which stand the test of time........

Letterboxes

While out walking - not that long ago - I took these photo's of old letterboxes which have since been replaced by shiny new ones....with not nearly as much character!!!!!

They reminded me of the aerograms and letters my Aunt used to send from Italy (I recently found a bundle in an old shoe box). Aerograms had such a lovely texture and were a treat to receive - I loved the way they folded up into thirds creating their own envelope....

Wooden Knitting Needles

I was really happy when I came across these old wooden knitting needles in an Op shop in New Zealand - they are great to knit with and I'm looking forward to using them again.... now I just have to figure out what to knit next!!!!

November Quote

Orange Jug

This jug came from the nature strip and looks fabulous filled with flowers. Its a Grays Pottery hand-painted Jug made in Stoke-On-Trent England, and I just love the color combinations. It also has a wonderful shaped handle and I love using it as a vase.

Albert Edward Gray established Gray's Pottery in Stoke-On-Trent in 1907 and employed many well known designers. Gray's Pottery built a reputation for using bold and stylish colour.

Retro Sleeping Bag

Buying this retro sleeping bag in an Op Shop in New Zealand is one of my All Time Great Op Shop Finds - I saw it sitting rolled up in the "Items to be Priced" bin and knew instantly I had to have it.. The fabric is amazing and I would have paid a lot more than the steal I got it for.

Queen Anne

This Queen Anne fine bone china tea cup, saucer, and plate set were sitting set up ready for "high tea" on the nature strip.... so lovely to use and are perfectly mismatched with the Burleigh Calico Staffordshire serving plate bought at the Camberwell Market.

Cute Jug

I love Op Shopping and found this cute 'Wood & Sons' jug at Savers (330 Sydney Road, Brunswick, VIC, 3056) - the shape and detail are fantastic, and its a great size for sauces....

Wood & Sons was formed in 1865 by Thomas Francis Wood. Marks on Wood & Sons ware from 1950 onwards sometimes bear the description "Potters for 200 Years" which this jug has...

Karen Hinde Photography

These red take-away coffee mugs are great for growing seedlings and make great props.... they are easy and don't really cost anything.......

Colander

I really needed a new colander and this was a bargin at 50c ... Its great to use and looks wonderful filled with this Italian Parsley.....

January Quote

There is a lot to be said about being bold, dreaming and starting something new - I got some great advice recently about starting a blog - "don't get too caught up in what it looks like initially, just start posting" - "all the great blogs started with one post and developed from there".

"Begin it.....Begin it now" what a great new years resolution.........