Located in the beautiful Derwent Valley, Tasmania



Thursday, April 29, 2010

Find it in our antiques store!

Whilst pouring over a BBC Homes and Antiques magazine recently, I was amazed by how many items featured within its pages can be found in our antiques store...

Wonderfully informal dining room...mirror made from a reclaimed window. BBC Homes & Antiques February 2010, page 53

Victorian pine arched mirror, also from a reclaimed window. At the moment this mirror is in the garden room in our store, my favourite room!

Beautiful bedroom! Love the silk cushions. Check out the vellum suitcases in background, great to stack and for storage. I have some Asprey ones at home stacked on my chest of drawers.
BBC Homes & Antiques February 2010, page 48

Stack of vellum suitcases in our store, vellum hatboxes are particularly hard to find. The french ladder is now at home in kitchen - couldn't resist!
French glass cloche and mother of pearl opera glasses BBC Homes & Antiques February 2010 , page 42

French glass cloches in our store with found objects - coral, shell and deer antlers. The cloche at the back is huge.
The magazine also had riding boots with wooden trees, mule chests, large storage jars, jelly moulds and fruitwood bench seats. Of course, it does help that we travel overseas to find our goodies and particularly look out for the quirky and aesthetically pleasing objects. We leave for our next buying trip in a few weeks. We plan to post some photos as we go.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Opening of Gallery 54, Launceston, Tasmania

Here are some pictures of jewellery designer Katherine Brunacci's jewellery gallery, Gallery 54. We were fortunate enough to be invited to the grand opening evening of her beautiful gallery on the 8th April. And we couldn't resist buying some of her unique hand-made pieces. I now have a beautiful pair of semi-baroque south sea pearl drop ear-rings and Donna fell in love with a chunky sterling silver cross necklace, the heaviest and most detailed we have ever seen! Even my little sister, Rachel scored a silver and enamel Art Nouveau style pendant necklace. All pieces hand made by the designer herself, Katherine Brunacci. We wish her every success with her gallery.
Gallery 54, 54 St John Street, Launceston

Monday, April 19, 2010

French Fruitwood Buffet de Corps c.1780

This piece is one of our favourite furniture finds on our latest buying trip overseas. It has the most beautiful colour and is also very useful - you can fit so much in! Who needs ugly built in furniture when you can find something that is both beautiful and functional? It sold very quickly and will stay in Tasmania.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Cutest Wheelbarrow in the World?

I am not sure if I am entirely justified in calling this child's wheelbarrow the cutest in the world, but it has to be pretty close to it. We found it in the Nottinghamshire area of England on our latest buying trip and couldn't resist it for our shop. It most likely belonged to a very fortunate child in the late 1800s on an English estate. When it sells, we will be very sad indeed. But it will start a search for another one!
Just to make sure that this little garden delight is as cute as I believe, I started some online searching for others. These Victorian examples are available for prop hire (you can't even buy them!) in West London...
Sure, not bad. But still not as cute!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

French Iron Garden Table, Cast in Arras, c1900

I couldn't resist buying this table for myself, I was worried someone else was going to buy it first! It will take pride of place in my lounge room. And I won't have to be precious about it, being metal and worn already. We love garden furniture in our store. We have another French garden table, which is lovely also.

It has a zinc top, very practical indeed!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Searching for antiques in France

Here are some images from our latest buying trip in France. We found this brocante by chance. Beautiful murano glass, perfume bottles, chic furniture - everything was covered!

The Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School - Desserts to Die For Masterclass

I recently had a most amazing day at The Agrarian Kitchen cooking school. It is situated in Lachlan, 10 minutes from my antiques store. The class was led by Alistair Wise, ex-Gordan Ramsay pastry chef, who has recently returned to Tasmania to share his pastry and dessert enthusiasm. The class was also overseen by Rodney Dunn who owns and runs The Agrarian Kitchen together with his wife, Severine. We made Alistair's trademark souffle in the woodfired oven and assembled the most amazing chocolate dessert, among other desserts. I can't wait to practice my new skills at home! And to impress at my next dinner party...

http://www.theagrariankitchen.com/

Quirky Birdcages

Very in love with birdcages at moment, the more unusual the better. No bird required, of course!