My house is Bare : }

Well after months of culling all my vintage country bits, Im down to the bare essentials.  Although Im kinda sad about it all I am at the same time extremely excited to have a blank canvas to start again.  Ive been trying hard not to shop, op shop, garage sale or ebay.  But it was all getting the better of me and at an opportune moment I took the garage sale option.  And ta da!!!!  Lots of glass ware for under $10.

I must declare that two items in this lot were given to me and are heirlooms to be treasured and kept.  Ohhhhhhhh I sooo cant wait for my new house. Im currently making a scrapbook of Shabby Chic ideas for when Im finally allowed to run free and re decorate.


Bare with me tooooooo!!!!!!!!

Oh where have you been??

I can not believe that it is September : } Thats 3 months since my last post- golly gosh time flies when your on a new adventure.

And thats exactly what its been. Its been a process of deciding and then starting the ball rolling for our up coming house move. But with this house move comes a complete change of style. Yep after more than 10 years of following the American primitive country style I've finally decided I am going to tackle Shabby Chic.

The choice was Shabby Chic or Modern Minimalistic.  Im sooooooo not modern - that Shabby Chic just had to win hands down. I've perused dozens of magazines and still haven't found anything that really inspires me, but I think thats because I haven't moved yet.  Im more than certain that the new house will lend a hand to its decorating character when I get there.

But until that time I will surely source out more info on Shabby Chic and start to practice my painting skills : }  I was given some amazing advice on just what colours to use by a lovely lady I have met through ebay. So Im itching to have a practice on a lonely coffee table.  I shall keep you all updated.

Be blessed Vintage Sister!

Vintage Photo Shopping

I went Vintage Shopping last week and I took my sister, She lives in Perth and I live in Sydney. I hear you saying WHAT?????  Yep I have discovered the joys of the Iphone 4. You shop, you take a photo, you text it with comments and then wait for the response.

First on our shopping expedition was this gorgeous tea set, how could one resist???

Gold Tea Set

Well one did resist!!!  And I shall explain why.  I discovered that as pretty as this tea set is, I knew it would'nt exactly fit the decor of my house.  However I discovered after posting this picture on facebook and declaring what a bargain it was at $15, I felt that I had shared what we all find so exciting about Vintage Shopping!!!  

What is that you ask? - ITS ALL ABOUT FINDING A BARGAIN - It doesnt matter whether we purchased it or not - BUT WE FOUND IT!!!! I wonder if this is some kinda weird female primal thing, like how men enjoy the thrill of the hunt?? MMMmmmmmm all food for thought really.

Anyway next on our treasure hunt was a stop at the second hand book shop, and yes i did purchase the following : }

Ideals Scrap Book

I fell in love with this beautiful book.  It is a collection of Poems and stories from a Magazine Series that was published in the 1960's by the Ideals Publishing Company in Milwaukee. Twas a bargain at $2 and looks gorgeous displayed in amongst the Vintage bits.

A must have Sewing Book

This is the ultimate sewing companion!! Just ask my sister : ]  I cant says sewing is a natural talent of mine but this book covers it all and considering it was published around 1978, its in great vintage condition. For $2 who could leave it behind and of course it would look perfect atop your vintage sewing cabinet.

We did venture further on our shopping expedition and I must say that Iphone Vintage shopping with my sister may just become a regular thing. However the postage costs may interfere with our fun!!!

Go on - Vintage Shop by long distance, you know you want to : }

Vintage Bikes

I have become a collector of Vintage Red Bikes and scooters.  Why - No idea.  I think they're the cutest things, but Im not sure they are the most practical house decoration.  Especially when you have 5 year olds come to visit!!  Thats why I tend to like them really rusty and dodgy.  However my  latest purchase was not quite so rusty but boy it was cute.

Vintage Red Bike

This one cost me $6.80 from the local Op shop. 

BARGAIN!!!!!

My very first purchase

This gorgeous bike I found for $15

at a local junk yard.

And another one

This one was from a Market stall and I

 cant remember how much.

My Vintage Scooter

Then my gorgeous scooter, this one lives in the kitchen at the end of my rustic buffet.  Its sooo cute, I often wonder what child owned this and how much fun they had on it. I guess in some regards that really is the beauty in vintage treasures, the nostalgia that goes with them.

Be a little nostalgic today Vintage girl!!!!

A few of my favourite Vintage things

Vintage Scale

I have a collection of Vintage Kitchen Scales, tucked in all sorts of places : }  This one is filled with old wooden handled kitchen utensils.
                                            

Old Chess Board

I brought this Rocking Horse on Ebay for $50 bucks. Its sooooo cute, it currently does'nt have a home anywhere in particular.

Vintage Rocking Horse

Vintage Cash Register

My Vintage Cash Register is a focal piece in my kitchen. It doesnt work the keys are jammed but I still love it.

My favourite Dolly
What more can I say?

Vintage Womens Weekly Magazines

Soooooo I might have let the boys sleep in on Sunday on purpose, cause I did have a plan for the day. I really wanted to go to Blacktown and have a look at the Markets that are held at the Drive In Cinema. Then the plan would take me just a little further down the road to have a look at Sarah's new work place at the DFO at Homebush.  


Well we found the markets easy and so did about a thousand plus other people - DOH! We did get a park straight away - AWESOME! Then it was fun to battle the people all the way round this gigantic car boot Trash and Treasure Market.


For all our wanderings there was soooo much to see that it was all to hard to take in and decide on what to buy.  Cause of course we was working within our play budget : }


Then on the last turn, the home stretch to the carpark I found them: 

What intrigued me so much other than the price of $2 each for these gorgeous gems from Dec 1970,  Mar 1971 and May 1971 was that they belonged to the mother of the Woman selling them.  Inside several of them were cutout pieces of paper that this lady didnt realise were in them. Obviously her mum had cut articles out from other magazines and newspapers such as recipes, bits and lotto results and had tucked them inside the magazines for safe keeping.  Was sooo cute.  I checked each one before leaving and made sure all bits were left with her : }

One of the magazines has a gorgeous liftout inside on paper dolls, I sooo love paper dolls.  There are so many pages of funky 70"s clothes to dress them in.... How cool!

But for the funniest article in this magazine I just cant go past letting you see what made me laugh:

Okay so you could stroke your face all day and work the wrinkles away or I personally think you could better spend your time treasure hunting and the joy will show on your face instead.

xx

Vintage Clothes Shoppin'

Twas on a recent treasure hunt that I found this gorgeous Jacket. I wasn't really looking for clothes as such when taddaaaaaaa there it was. Its kinda Lady-ish dont ya think?? Or maybe its just the diamon-dy broach button thingy attached to it.

I headed for the checkout with my pretty little treasure and the lady said $2.50 WHAT!!!!! Yep $2.50 wow..........




Its actually not a Vintage Clothing Item but Im smitten with it and am waiting patiently to wear it somewhere Lady-ish  : }  Not quite sure yet where that could be but I'll let you know.  I think Im stalling my wearing cause it really needs some pretty High Heels to go with it!!! Those I haven't found yet.................


Sometimes you never know what you find when your not looking : }


xxx

Vintage Australian Women's Weekly Recipe Card Box

Vintage Australian Women's Weekly Recipe Card Box

I found this Vintage Women's Weekly Recipe Box in an Op Shop for $2, absolute bargain I thought to myself even though I cant cook : }


These card boxes came onto the world stage in the 70/80's and were supposed to make our cooking life a whole lot easier, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgIsz2rwNzM 
      
So after a little while of pondering these recipes I thought I would put my hand to Swiss Milk Toffee. How hard could it be? There are only 4 ingredients and you need only put them in the pot one by one and stir like mad - easy!!!

Now Im giving you a view of the Recipe Card so you can see what they was supposed to look like! All big and fluffy.... 

Mine are just a tad bit smaller and a whole lot chewier!!!!!!!!  I have noticed the kids aren't complaining and are in and out of the fridge often.  I figure my mistake was in the reduced size of the can of Condensed Milk.  I am assuming that the can has shrunk by 45g over time.  Thats my excuse anyway!!!

Okay I must admit I have mastered the Easy-Mix Butter Cake Card and its a hit!! Ladies if you can find yourself one of these boxes in your treasure hunts or on a visit to your mums house - get a hold and have a play!!! They are actually quite easy recipes especially for us non-cooks hhahhahhhaaa






Happy cooking Vintage girl xxxx

Vintage Shoppers

Well today I had $7 in my pocket and a hot water bottle under my wing  to go and find my latest treasure.  So I scoured Op Shop number one, up and down I went and then ran into a beautiful lady with her gorgeous little girl and we stopped for a chat.  We were all in the toy section together : }  Thats my favouritest spot The Toys!!!  


Anyway this shop did not put forward any kinda treasure I was looking for.  So onto the next and whilst wandering the isles, I met David.  He is a lovely older man (68) and in the last two years has just come through a Hip replacement, Prostate Cancer and currently a bad Heart. His desire is to work still, he was once an engineer and he misses that environment but is happy to be working volunteer because of the people he gets to meet.


Onto the third Op Shop and what an absolute treat to see the cutest little old lady wander in from the nursing home down the road.  She comes down for a cup of tea at the shop and just sits amongst the vintage bits to enjoy. What a beautiful picture huh!!


Okay so Shop 1, 2 & 3 did not turn up a treasure so out of desperation I headed for shop 4.  Here I ran into the same lady from shop two again. This time we discussed further our love affair with the Op shops and where the best ones are.  So after little convincing Im planning a trip down the coast to Wollongong to do the rounds. 


What a day spent wandering and meeting some very special people : } With all this said however I still have $5 in my pocket!!  What did I buy with the other $2 I hear you ask?  Well I didn't, Blue Barry Bear took off with it to the model shop next door to buy paint!! So I have no treasure to show physically but I do  
have the treasure of knowing that I got to be apart of somebody else's day and treasure hunt!!!!


Look out for the Vintage Shoppers on your next expedition, you just never know who you will meet : }


xx

My Favourite Magazine

Ohhhhhhhh how could a girl not get excited by the latest Home Tour edition of the Country Sampler Magazine............

So far I have studied each picture as best I can and now its time to start at the beginning again.  Then maybe Ill read the words after that : }

I must be really weird cause I love to look at each room of these peoples houses and then pick out one thing that excites me and decide how can I incorporate that look in my house!!!!!!!  So far its the wall of clocks - that is winning my creative imagination decoration bug thingy!!!

Girls if you need inspiration ...........  buy a House and Garden Magazine, get yourself a cuppa and sit back and dream!

Go Vintage Girlfriend :  - }

Vintage Board Games

Ohhhh what a treasure hunt I had today.  I sooooo love hanging out with my fred and scouring the op shops, he is becoming a much more patient vintage shopper.  Probably because he has seen the benefits not only to his wallet but he has found his own treasures : }  Gotta love it!!!!!!  


Anyway todays hunt unveiled another Vintage Board Game. This one is called Pow and made by Waddingtons 1977.  Ive got to say that it is not the most interesting game of Cowboys Ive seen but its Vintage and cute.

My New Vintage Board Game

So this joins the ranks of my many others of which I have promised to my son. Ive told him that they will be his inheritance and he can sell them all on ebay when Im gone. Bahhahahhhahhaaa

Some of my Collection!!

I definately need a place to display them all, they're currently hiding out in my spare room!  I must share with you one of the Board Games I purchased a few weeks ago. It amuses me greatly............

My Barbie Board Game

Now this game is toooo cute the box reads "Barbie meets Ken in the game of their dreams". My daughter (whom is way to old to play this) wanted to play but I had to inform her that Ken is missing from the box.  Yep thats right there is 6 pretty little Barbie's but no Ken to be seen.  Obviously living in a cardboard box with six women must have done his head in and he took off.

Til next time my Vintage Sisters - Have fun treasure hunting!!

Vintage Recipe Book

Campbells Soup CookBook

How ladies could you go past such a find???  $2 from the Orange Poo Book Shop!  Yes all you need is any can of Campbells soup and you can whip up a meal from soup through to desert.  Would anyone like to come for dinner : ]

Pockets in my house

I'm not sure you could say that a house has pockets but in my case I figure I'm always looking for  a new treasure to put in a particular area.  The word Pocket means - any pouchlike receptacle, compartment, hollow, or cavity.  So clearly this must mean that my house has pockets          : } 


In saying so I wanted to share some favourite pockets of my house!!

I brought this sewing machine from an Antique shop in Windsor about 8 years ago.  It cost me $30 and when I questioned the shop owner why it was so cheap he responded "Its not a Singer". 

I love old suitcases, I don't think I've ever counted how many I have but they sure are great for storage : ]

I love my books and I love my Willow Tree Collection.

I dont think that I really need to fill any of these areas with more stuff, but ofcourse you never know when a treasure may appear that will fit perfectly in that pocket : }

Happy Vintage Shopping xx

99 Cent Rustic Birdcage

This bird cage did not look like this when I picked it up in Leicchardt.  Actually it was really scary!!!  After an hour of cutting off rusty wire and removing the base and top - tadaaaaaa I have a beautiful outdoor candle holder - display - thingy - bird cage : ]


I think I need one of those really big fat round candles : ]




All in a Vintage Sisters Days Work!!!

What is your Bestest Vintage Treasures

My bestest Vintage Treasures

We all have some Vintage favourites that we have either searched out, stumbled across or been given : }

Here goes for my favourites, firstly my best ever ebay purchase and would you believe my first ebay purchase was this Early Kooka. I won it for $80.00, unfortunately this was the start of my ebay career - hehehheheheee

My most treasured Antique Shop find was this gorgeous Buffet that was located in a shop in Windsor.  Not exactly sure what its made out of, but its rustic and I think it fits my decor nicely.

My best and favouritest garage sale buy was a Wooden Ironing Board at $20.00.  I had gone to visit a most beautiful girlfriend and she whooped me across the road to a garage sale that she had already been to.  It wasn't the only thing I had brought from that garage sale : }

I would have to say that this Wooden High Chair would have to be the most treasured item that I have been given.  It has served all my nieces and nephews throughout the years and finally been put into retirement. : }  Or then again it could be re-commissioned for grandchildren.

I cant decide on what is my bestest Vintage Op Shop buy, I think cause I've had too many of them.  Although I am very partial to my vintage board games and most of those have come from op shops!!!  MMMMMMM such a dilema!!!  I'll keep you posted if I choose one : }

Be a  Vintage Chick  today and enjoy!

xx

Cushions Complete for My Vintage Cane Day Bed

My Vintage Cane Day Bed

An afternoon well spent making cushions for my Vintage Cane Day Bed. However I now have polyester beans from one end of my shed to the other but my cushions are complete.

These were the Denim shorts and skirts that I had got from the Op shop yesterday for a buck seventy!  I found some vintage green material in the cupboard and tossed it in too.  The largest cushions at the back are long denim skirts and the funky frilled one at the front was a smaller denim skirt. 

Add a throw rug and the picture is complete for a snuggle in the late afternoon sun : }

xx

Guess what time it is?

My new Original Guess Watch

Yesterday I had a very dear friend drop by for afternoon tea, and as the true blessing she is she gave me a New Guess watch. 

Its sooo delicate and beautiful!!!

It reminds me that time spent with others is also very delicate and beautiful and that we shouldn't take it for granted.

Looking forward to wearing it on my vintage shopping play dates : }

xx

Vintage Tan Leather Bag straight from the 80"s

Okay so I took my boys Op Shopping only cause they were begging me            
     : }


We ventured near and far and each of us had a $5 dollar limit.  Well as a Vintage Dime Sister my goal was to get as much for my money as possible.


First stop I spent $1.70 and got 5 denim skirts/shorts, a pink tshirt and a brand new pair of Khaki Pants with the tags and extra buttons on - in my size (yippeee)  Now the denim skirts/shorts are to make the cushions for my cane day bed, the tshirt was cute and of course the khaki pants, well I'll make them look good.


Then next stop I spent $3 (Yep that was a big purchase)  But how could one resist this Vintage Tan Leather Bag straight outta the 80's.  Its brand new, never been used and made out of genuine Leather - Buffalo.


Yep I got me a Buffalo Bag!!! Sooo cant wait to wear this baby on my hip in Winter!!!!  Everytime I think of the word Buffalo, I cant help but sing this song - check it out on youtube:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv9-WJipYag


I got a Buffalo have you got a Buffalo tooo : }

Our last stop had me purchase an item at 20 cents over my limit.  I brought a 1974 Weight Watchers Recipe Card Box with all the cards in mint condition.  Now what do I want with this you might ask, well all I can say is checkout the prices for these babies on Ebay.  Then you will know why my 50 cent purchase was worthy of spending 20 cents over my limit : ]


Now my boys also made good use of their $5 and are eager to go again - Next Week Boys!!!  Gotta make cushions : }


A Vintage Shopping Day well spent!!


xx

Whats on the side of the Road is FREEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

My Free Vintage Day Bed

VINTAGE DAY BED


I had driven past this gorgeous Vintage Cane Piece for about two weeks.  It had sat on the side of the road just round the corner. And every time I drove by I would declare "thats my chair".  Declaring was good but I really needed to stop and check it out and then figure out how to walk it the 300 metres up the road to my house.  


Thats where a good husband comes in handy - You smile and say just how much you need it and then they bring their healthy biceps and carry it over their head all the way home.


Now the task is to adorn it with some beautiful cushions.  My gorgeous sis has said to visit the opshop for old Jeans and make them into cushions.  The denim in jeans will make the cushions last longer considering its an outside item.


Darn have to go to the Op shop!!!!!  : }  Yipppppeeeeeee!!!!


Stay tuned for the Cushion Makeover!!!


A Vintage Dime Sister is now on the Hunt : }


xx