new in store...vintage French cutlery boxes

 

Whilst we are busy, busy, busy renovating our new store property I still managed to find a little time for my first love, The Drill Hall Emporium.  These vintage French boxes are quite adorable, I think, and have only just arrived in store. 

 

 

The boxes have old cutlery advertising labels on the lids. 

If you are anything like me, you may be thinking that Christmas is in stores way to early.  And it just seems to be getting sooner every year.  A week ago I was in my local supermarket where the counter staff were all wearing red Christmas hats.  And at that time it was 6 weeks to go!  Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, I also like preparing a little earlier these days.  I have a cupboard where I put bits and pieces away as presents for loved ones over the course of the year, it helps to take the pressure off in the final week before the Christmas.  Anyway, forgive me in advance for this suggestion, but wouldn't these boxes make snazzy little gift boxes for Christmas to present antique cutlery?  Or a pair of French tea towels.  I love the thought that these boxes can be used as a unique gift box and then recycled and used to store all sorts of bits and bobs by the lucky recipient. 

On another note, I thought I would share a blog called Iced Vovo by one of local customers.  I am flattered that Jo asked me if I would answer a few of her interview questions to form a post.  You may know our Drill Hall story but if not, click the image for a link to Jo's Iced Vovo blog!

An emporium of dreams…

When I first moved to Tasmania eight years ago I was thrilled and delighted to find the Drill Hall Emporium within walking distance of my ‘new’ heritage home. Being an avid lover of beautiful old objects I was like a Continue reading →

Until next time,

 

our new shop transformation begins!

 

We are finally in our new property and the transformations have officially began!  Here you can see the front room of the store with the exposed brick walls and timber floors.  We had started stripping the mission brown painted floor when this image was taken.  Actually, I must apologise for the poor image quality, I took this photo with my phone!

 



 

The front room has pressed metal ceilings which are original and date to the early 1900s.  There are big fluorescent (arrhhh!) lights over the ceiling which will have to go...

  

 

to be replaced with these industrial European pendant lights which have black enamel shades and caged over frosted glass lamps.

 

 

 

Do you remember I mentioned that the property was once the town bakery, and that the original ovens are still on sight?  Well here is the exterior of the bakery and oven buildings.  We think the ovens may need some restoration, a future project!

 

 

 

Inside the bakery with the doors to the dutch ovens.  We shone a torch in them and they are so big! 

We are pretty busy at the moment with getting the property ready for our new store.  But I am so excited about it and believe that it will look really great after our hard work.   I will give an update in a few weeks.  We hope to be open a few weeks before Christmas, wish us luck!

Until next time,

the world of pinterest! and amazing kitchens

Where have I been living?  Why has it taken me so long to find Pinterest?  This is what I am now asking myself after my recent discovery of this online pinboard where you can organise and share things you love.  I think vaguely I have come across it over the last year.  But not so much that I have put too much time in to scanning all of the amazing images pinned by seemingly like minded interior lovers!

As you may know my kitchen is complete, although I could imagine one day in a few years giving the cupboards a change of colour.  But I still love looking at other kitchens!  And if I were looking for inspiration I would definitely head to Pinterest for a fix.  Look at these industrial kitchens that I found!



I love the over sized pendant lighting in this kitchen, and the brick walls.  How fabulous!  But there is so much more to see on Pinterest then interiors.  I am headed back there now to drool a little more.

And guess what?  The Drill Hall Emporium has been pinned quite a bit!  That makes me feel very special.

Until next time,

our new store coming soon!

I have a confession to make. I have been keeping a little secret from my readers and it is time to let it out.  We have bought a gorgeous little property in our town of New Norfolk to start another store, in addition to The Drill Hall Emporium.  We are going to have 2 shops! 

The property is the one that you see above.  Currently it is the Big Red Box, selling fashion accessories.  Our plan when we getting our hands on it is to give it a face lift but to keep the exposed timber windows as we think they are a nice feature.  I would be interested to know what you think about the timber, actually, as some people have suggested we paint it?  The interior of the store has exposed red brick walls and timber floors, so much character. 

The property was originally the town bakery, as you may be able to make out above the verandah "J E Fuller Baker".  Out the back of the property, the old Scotch ovens are still intact.  Imagine the yummy bread that came out of those long ago!  Well actually, it was still a bakery in the 1970s and had been running since the 19th century to our knowledge.

We will be very busy soon with our renovations to the property, I will keep you informed on progress.  I have been tossing and turning each night with the excitement of it all.  And as to the type of store we will be opening?  Until the time is right, that may have to remain yet another little secret...

a few days in Stanley, Tasmania staying @VDL

 

After the arrival of our latest shipment the store has been very busy.  We are putting pieces out daily and sending other pieces all over the countryside.  So we decided to take a little mini break in Stanley, my favourite coastal town situated on the North West of Tasmania.  It is a good 5 hours drive from Hobart, but very much worth the distance. 

 

Stanley is famous for The Nut an ancient volcanic formation overlooking the historic fishing village (image of The Nut later in this post).  The village was settled in 1826 and even today is home to less than 500 people.  The original settlers were workers from the Van Diemen's Land Company, who were granted land in 1825.  So the most fitting place to stay is @VDL a boutique accommodation in the original stone VDL Company Store.  It was built in 1843 and sits no more than 20 metres from the waters edge and a short walk from the village.  My idea of heaven!



 The architecture is European in style and it is built out of bluestone with colonial winidows.

The grounds are beautifully kept and gives a very welcoming feeling upon arrival. 

The downstairs shared lounge area is inviting and tastefully furnished.  The huon pine trunk is hand made by a local craftsman in the village.  If you fall in love, you can walk up the street and buy one!

 

We got settled in and strolled to the village.

  

 

We stocked up on some supplies at the local providore.  They bake their own bread (coming straight out of the oven as we walked in the door) and have a modest but good selection of cheeses and other goodies. 



 

Next stop was the browndog homewares and gift store, owned I believe by the @VDL managers. 

 

  

 

Comfy and earthy homewares displayed in the browndog store.  I love the big canvas floor cushions.  



 

 

I also fell in love with these little porcelain lamps, perfect for a little person's room. 

 

  

 

They also stock local products such as the Stanley Soap Co soaps, these looked yummy enough to eat. 

 

 

Dinner was at Xanders Brasserie, a local and tourist favourite.  







 The specials board consisted of as many dishes as the menu.  It made it quite hard to choose!  But I settled on the seafood cornucopia, Xander's version of a fisherman's basket.  I managed to fit it all in, but only just! 

 The village consists of many beautiful cottages, such as this one above. This one would date from the late 19th century and sits above the top road of the village with the nut behind. 

The next day was very windy and the chair lift to the top of the nut was not operating for safety reasons.  So it was a morning trek to the top.  But I loved every minute of the hard slog.  Well maybe not loved, but it was certainly a good feeling working off the seafood cornucopia from the night before!  I didn't really enjoy almost blowing off the nut, though.  A walk on the beach in the afternoon was great for taking photos and just enjoying nature.

And then the journey up to Highfield, a historic farm and residence built in the 1830s on the hill overlooking Stanley and the nut.  On the road up to Highfield are these ruins, they look like two entrances from an early building. 

Another ruin on the way to Highfield.  This was actually the original convict quarters and dates to the 1830s.

 

Highfield is built in the Regency style, partly evidenced by the gorgeous verandah.  Highfield is open to visitors.  I have already been through the property a few times so on this occasion I admired it from afar.  I do recommend a tour though if you ever have the opportunity. 

 

I am back home now preparing for the Runnymede antiques fair that begins this coming Friday the 12th October (see previous post).  I will post pictures from the fair early next week. 

 

Have a wonderful week

 

 

 

antiques fair soon at Runnymede in Tasmania!

Runnymede New Town Tasmania National Trust property Photo © KLW NFC Imprint. 2012 from here

Late next week we are lucky enough to be exhibiting at an antiques and decorative arts fair at the historic National Trust property Runnymede in New Town, Tasmania. The event is being organised by Warwick Oakman of Warwick Oakman Antiques and Gemma Webberley, Runnymede's curator. Along with ourselves and Warwick Oakman, other exhibitors include Despard Gallery, Eaglemont Antiques, Evandale Antiques, J.B Hawkins, Leven Antiques, Miles Davis Keilar Antiques, Ricketty Rix Antiqus and Walkers of Richmond. As such, there will be a fantastic and diverse range of antiques, art and objects.

We will be setting up in the kitchen, above. It has a fantastic stone floor and nice simple white walls which will show off our pieces really well. Then it is just a matter of deciding on what pieces to take! We have a gorgeous little Tasmanian huon pine dresser which I think would suit the property. We will also take 19th century garden furniture for the courtyard and gardens, which are really beautiful. I am quite excited, I love planning for fairs!

Four wheeled buggy 1889-1890 Werners Coach Builders at Runnymede New Town TasmaniaCreator(s):Werners Coach BuildersDate: 1890 -Description: Four wheeled buggy constructed between 1889-1890 by Werners Coach Builders Argyle Street Hobart.Photo © KLW NFC Imprint 2012 ARR Image from here

 

There will be antiques exhibited in the stables or coach house, above. Again, a gorgeous stone floor!

Runnymede has a fantastic history. It is a rare 19th century whaling family’s home named after Captain Charles Bayley’s favourite ship, Runnymede. It was the home of members of the family for more than 100 years.

Friday 12th October - Sunday 14th October 10am until 5pm. (10-4 on the Sunday). Entry $10 proceeds of which go to the National Trust of Tasmania. Refreshments available throughout the event.

 

 

At home with May and Axel Vervoordt recipes for every season

 

Isn't this image so very beautiful in its simplicity?  That is what I thought when I opened straight to this page of a gorgeous book that was given to me for my recent birthday.  It is from a book titled At Home with May and Axel Vervoordt, Recipes for Every Season.  You may already be aware that I am one of Axel's biggest fans and whilst this book is more from May's perspective in terms of styling and food, I see Axel's influence throughout the book.  Axel describes his wife's ability to make table settings look like still life paintings and he also admires her respect for ingredients and her creativity with cooking. 

 

And indeed, the front cover could be used for a still life!  I love the grey colours on the rustic table.  

Here is an outdoor table prepared with food.  I did a double take with the green bowl, we have only just had such a bowl with a pouring lip come in to our store! 



 

So now I am wondering whether I share some of May's passion for beautiful earthy serving pieces.  And she describes within the book her weakness for buying baskets and collecting wooden spoons.  I can also relate to this problem...

 



 

 

May also has a fetish for these Georgian English tazzas, I can admit to owning a few myself.  But doesn't it look gorgeous presented with these flaky pumpkin tarts?  She writes "sharing food with friends is a timeless gift that delights the palate and inspires memories".  Beautifully worded. 

 



 

This book is more than just pretty pictures, the pictures are accompanied by recipes such as this wild mushroom dish.  I can't wait to trial a few.

 





I was also given these beautiful gift cards letterpressed by my sister Rachel.  I will have to admit to being thoroughly spoilt!