Dear bloggers, Instagram has stolen my heart...

I am so ashamed to say that it is now over 6 months since my last blog post.  This surely has to be a record.  When I started this blog for our beloved store, I attempted to add a post daily.  I quickly realised it was a huge commitment and one that was not easily kept.  I then went to every other day, before deciding that weekly would be more achievable and practicable.  I then decided a fortnightly post would keep my readers in the loop.  Then monthly, and so on.  I could bore you with excuses, of which there are many.  Ultimately I found Instagram a more favourable platform for posting images and giving small updates on latest happenings at the Drill Hall Emporium.  It is just so visual!  And yes, it also came down to time.  We are a busy store with many comings and goings, even in the dead of a Tasmanian winter we can have a lot going on.  Finding the time to put fingertips to a keyboard has become a real challenge.  Sure, I could "make" the time.  And if I was a dedicated blogger I surely would!  But I now make small snippets of time to add a picture here and there to our Instagram feed.  Here are some examples...

This is a fabulous c.1900 collectors chest which we found on our last overseas buying trip, it is only just been waxed with love and is now out in the store.  It was from a London fossil and mineral museum, and has a few old labels intact.  One of them reads "Sharks Teeth".

This is a little vignette from home, a collection of favourite objects.  I have a particular thing for creamy 18th century vellum books, articulated hands and lenses.

I also like to update our Instagram feed with pictures while on a buying trip, or when our latest shipment has arrived such as above.  You can find us at https://instagram.com/thedrillhallemporium/ (on a computer) or @thedrillhallemporium if you have downloaded Instagram to your phone.

Thank you for your loyal support, and I am sorry if there is any disappointment out there.

I am officially signing off, au revoir.

p.s. Happy Instagramming!

Runnymede Art & Antique Fair starts this Friday!

Wow, it seems like just last week that we exhibited at the art and antiques fair, in the beautiful National Trust house that is Runnymede.  We are busy this week loading up some of our best pieces to show off the kitchen with its flagstone flooring and simple white walls.  We are going for an entirely different look this year, the kitchen may not necessarily look like a kitchen.

I took these sneaky shots this morning inside the now empty house, awaiting to be filled with antiques and art from around Tasmania.  As you can see, it is a gorgeous day here in Hobart, the light was stunning coming through the windows of the music room, above.

The fair starts this coming Friday 17th October 10am and runs right through the weekend 10am until 5pm.  Entry is $10 (proceeds to the National Trust, a fantastic cause!).

I will post pictures of our stand next week.

Until next time,

Antiques shipment arrived!!!

After much anticipation our shipment of antiques has finally arrived!  It seems like an age ago that I hit the ground in England, scouring the country side looking for the most fabulous and interesting antiques.  We are all unloaded and are closed until 10am Saturday the 6th September while we unpack, sort everything and get set up.  We are sure to be overflowing with treasures.

Until next time, 

Antique buying trip, favourite pictures!

As you may have read in my previous posts, I have more recently discovered the delights of Instagram and use this now as my main platform for sharing Drill Hall Emporium discoveries and news.  And since it has been 6 weeks since my last blog post (I am so very ashamed to admit!) I am using all the images that I posted to our Instagram page for you to see what has been happening.  For the last month we have been on an overseas buying trip, which began in the south of England.  I could not help but admire this gorgeous shop front, above.  There is just something about good shop fronts, especially in England.

 Lucky boot fair finds, despite the English drizzle...

 Drawers!!! Saw these in a big warehouse, was so tempted to buy for our sister store Flywheel.

Looking through the rain splattered windscreen at a cute English cottage.

Shiny things at antique trade fair, displayed on the ground waiting for the keen eye of the bowerbird...

Flower shop love, Twig in Tetbury. This has long been one of our favourite shops here in the UK!

Daylesford Farm in the Cotswolds. One of our favourite places in the world!  

19th century garden urn at Daylesford Farm in the courtyard. So wonderful.

Spent the best part of the day yesterday "picking" in this upper levels of this four level industrial building.  Best part about these buying trips? 

The people you meet like the 70 something year old responsible for this trade only treasure trove! Oh, and his dog. 

Perfect vignette in a shop window in Bath. Loving all the white! 

Old crucifixes and aged script go so well together.

French chocolate moulds at a fair, early 20th century in date.

 'Twas 8.30pm at night and stumbled upon this place with an open door. The next morning we were up at 4am for a trade fair... That's how it is sometimes on an antique buying trip.  Take a pick.  Suitcase heaven.

More England shop front love, check out the gorgeous windows!  We are now wrapping up the trip and have lots of goodies coming our way, due into the store in August.  So very exciting!

Until next time, 

Antique and art fair this week in Melbourne!

The Australian Antique & Art Dealer's Association is once again holding an antique fair at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne this week.  I am excited to be assisting Walter & Co of Tasmania with their stand.  Walter & Co is Tasmania's newest most exciting store, which opened around 6 weeks ago in the historic town of Richmond.  But more on this later.

In the mean time, here are the details for the event;

AAADA MELBOURNE ANTIQUES FAIR

8 - 11 May 2014

Gala Charity Preview to benefit UNICEF

Thursday 8th May 6:30pm - 8:30pm

General admission Friday 9th May 11am - 6pm

Saturday 10th May 11am - 6 pm 

Sunday (Mother's Day) 11am - 5pm

Carlton GardensRoyal Exhibition Building

Melbourne, Victoria

Enquiries:

T: 0401 995 501

E: secaada@ozemail.com.au

www.aada.org.au/melbourneshow/ 

If you are too far away or cannot make it to the fair, you can follow our Instagram for pictures during setup and throughout the event.  I am sure I will get a few sneaky breaks along the way.

Until next time,

the Drill Hall Emporium's goodies in Country Style magazine!

I have made no secret over the years writing this blog that I love Country Style magazine.  It is truly one of those magazines that make you feel like making yourself a cuppa and settling down to devour the whole issue cover to cover.  The March issue is no exception to this rule, rating up there as one of my all time favourites.

The March issue is based almost entirely on Tasmania, and is named the Tasmanian issue "Island Dreaming".  The decorating pages are filled with Tasmanian only products including pieces from our very own Drill Hall Emporium.  Our orchard ladder looks right at home against this sandstone wall, above.  And our 19th century chaise longue doesn't look too shabby, either.  No actually, it is meant to be shabby.  It suits perfectly!

Tessa Kavanagh, Melbourne stylist with a unbeatable eye, was responsible for putting these decorating pages together.  She sourced and assembled a beautiful mix of Tasmanian art, woollen blankets, wooden spoons and handmade porcelain pieces among other uniquely Tasmanian products.  She showed how much Tasmanian has so much to offer in terms of quality materials, the handmade and the unique.

Another feature in the March issue is the privately owned Satellite Island upon which sits the most stylish beach (or should I say island?) home.  In fact, you can book to stay on the island when the family are based in Melbourne.  The perfect hideaway!  Some of the pieces including the jars, cafe chairs and trestle table, above, were originally bought from our store.  Who else would love to have a seafood lunch on this deck?

And I would really love to read a book at this setting!  Notice the blue striped grain sack cushion?  Mum will be happy to see that the owners have put it to good use...  To see more on Satellite Island visit their website.

If you are planning a visit to Tasmania the March issue also plans out an itinerary starting in Launceston and heading south through the Midlands and on to the Derwent Valley.  You could base most of you holiday on these few pages alone - where to stay, where to eat and what to do.

And most excitingly, Flywheel, our sister store to The Drill Hall Emporium, is featured over two fantastic pages.  The article tells how and why we started Flywheel and shows some pictures around the store, including a shot of Rachel working the c.1915 Arab platen press!

So if you need any more convincing to go buy a copy and put the kettle on, I really cannot help you...

Until next time,

new in store...handwoven hemp linen place mats!!!

 Our resident sewing and creative genius (aka Mum) has been busy covering her kitchen table with antique linens to make these delightful place mats.  They have been made with handwoven hemp grain sack lengths, bought on our last buying trip to Europe.

The stripe detail adds to the rustic French charm, although I think these would also look great in a more formal setting. 

The hemp is grown on small farms in Europe, without pesticides, and is hand spun.  It is then handwoven on narrow looms.  This fabric would date to the first half of the 20th century.

And the best part of all, they are also available with a single red stripe!  This particular roll of hemp linen had a rough unstitched edge which Mum left for further charm...

I love it when you can SEE the texture, the nubby bits along with the fibres of the hemp.  Are they not the loveliest place mats?  Oh so French...

As usual, these are not pictured on our website yet, as loyal blog readers you see things first!  I would be interested to know, how many of my blog readers are also on Instagram?  As I also like to post newly arrived items on our Instagram page, you can find it here.

Until next time,

Kara Rosenlund's gorgeous vignette masterclass, next week!!!

There are still a few spaces for Kara Rosenlund's Vignette Tasmania class, to be held in our store next Wednesday evening!  Learn how to create wonderful settings along with beautiful images such as this, above.  Do not miss out on this one.

Go to our previous post for more information, or head to Megan Morton's The School to book.

See you there!

Megan Morton, Kara Rosenlund and Miso all coming to our store!

We have some very exciting news for our readers and friends, we will soon be playing host to two of Megan Morton's "The School" classes, later this month!   Megan Morton is perhaps the most well known and respected stylist in Australia.  We are so thrilled that they have picked our beloved Drill Hall Emporium as the setting for their classes.   

The first of the two classes is called "Paper Cut Garlands" and will be taught by the paper artist Miso.  According to Megan, the class will allow students to learn Miso's gentle and meditative trade of paper cutting, to make beautiful garlands such as this beauty, above.  The class also includes whiskey tasting, Miso's favourite drink.  Suits us just fine.  

The second class is taught by the wonderful styling extraordinaire Kara Rosenlund.  You may remember her from the front page of Australian Country Style magazine, around a year ago?  The article featured her little dark blue "travelling wares" caravan, from which she sells vintage home wares.  In the words of Megan, she is the Vignette Queen.  This class will teach participants how to create their own little vignettes, and also how to capture them through a lens.  I will be there with much enthusiasm to learn from the master!  

For more on these exciting classes, visit Megan Morton's "The School".  

Until next time,