clocks, linen, tureens and more to be sold at the Shabby Market tomorrow!

 

You may remember last year we had a little stall at the Shabby Market in Lenah Valley?  It was a huge success for us, we nearly sold out of everything we took!  It is on again so I have spent the day going through our storeroom looking for goodies to take.

 

 

 Most of which has never made it into the shop, including this late 19th Century alabaster and gilt metal clock.  Here is a little snap shot of what I have found and what will be for sale tomorrow at the Shabby Market...

 

Cute little cruet set, made by Carltonware c.1930.

Pretty china and useful silver wares. 

A stack of vintage linen, available per piece, all freshly laundered and ironed.

English china teapot dating to c.1930.

 

 

Two blue and white English china tureens, dating to the late 19th century.  This is only a very small selection of what I have found and I am still looking! 



So come along and take a look at the Lenah Valley Community Hall, Creek Road, Lenah Valley 9am until 2pm.  You can also visit the Shabby Market Facebook page for more information. 

Until next time,

shabby market this Saturday! sneak peek of goodies we are taking...

 

This week I am tapping into my inner shabby self and finding loads of goodies in our store room to take to the Shabby Market on this coming Saturday!  In fact, it is the day before Mother's day which will make it perfect timing to find a little special something for loved mums.  I thought I would give a little sneak peek of the kinds of things we will be taking along...

Vintage mohair blankets in gorgeous soft pink colours.

A shabby gilded stool which dates from the 19th century.  And some pretty floral cups and saucers.

More vintage wares, all shabby of course!  I think I will need baskets to pile all our bits and pieces in!

This French watering can which has been painted in gorgeous peach tones. 

 

And French buttons on cards, along with jars of buttons for the crafty.  My tables will be overflowing with goodies, I assure you, there will be something for everyone!  I can't wait to see what all the other stallholders bring along.  Here are the essential details...

 

Check out the Shabby Market Facebook page for more information and to tap into your inner shabby self. Or better yet, come along on Saturday and say hi to me!

Until next time,

new in store...an antique puppet theatre!

 

I have been sorting out in the back store room of The Drill Hall Emporium this week.  Scary job!  But fun, also, as I find all sorts of wonderful items that have not made it into the store until now.  And look what I uncovered yesterday, an early 20th century puppet theatre!   

It is named the Theatre Royal in gilded lettering.  We found this piece in England a few years ago at a trade fair near the Welsh border.  At the time I thought it funny as we have a Theatre Royal here in Hobart...

Image from here

Which is quite regal inside, I think with the red velvet seating and raised galleries.

Image from here

 

The Theatre Royal in Hobart opened in 1837 and was built from convict carved sandstone among the public houses, brothels, factories and tiny workers’ cottages in Campbell Street. The gallery was added in the 1850s and the theatre was redecorated in the 1890s. 

 

Back to our small scale Theatre...look at the lovely painted detail to the wooden sides.  I am wondering perhaps this piece was perhaps made during the wartime where money was scarce for shop bought toys and one was more inclined to make imaginative entertainment?  It comes complete with a red velvet curtain which has faded nicely over time to a soft rose colour. 

 

 

It comes complete with 4 miniature stage lights to light up the stage!  They are all wired in although I am not sure if they still work, they will need miniature bulbs I am sure. 

 



This would still be a fabulous piece today for the child with imagination, but for some reason I feel as if sock puppets would not really be to standard?  I will have to try and hunt down some proper antique puppets. 

Until next time,



new in store...amazing copper bowl, ex Hobart jam factory!

This copper bowl is definitely the largest piece of copper we have had in the store, in nearly 20 years of dealing!  We had to literally turn it on its side to get in through our front door.  I knew we would have trouble finding a spot for it in the store, and sure enough it caused major shuffling of other pieces.  It is presently on the long French farmhouse table, but it is even too wide for this.  

I believe the bowl to date to the late 19th century and it is reputedly from the Hobart IXL jam factory situated on Hobart's wharf.

Image from here

According to Wikipedia the IXL was first established by Henry Jones in 1891, initially named H.Jones & Company.  The IXL brand "I excel in everything I do" was Henry Jones's personal motto. If this bowl is indeed from his jam factory, he definitely excelled in commissioning the most amazing commercial sized copper bowl!  If any one can confirm that this bowl is indeed from the IXL jam factory, we would really appreciate hearing from you.

You may recall in a previous post my rave about a French copper patisserie bowl from our latest buying trip?  I bragged about its size, and how we have not had a bowl as big before.  Well, here is that said bowl within our newest jam factory bowl! A little lost perhaps?

I now wonder about the future for this piece, it would be truly wonderful if it could be put to its original purpose of making jam.  We may just need to find a bigger spoon!

Alternatively, I can't help but imagine it as a unique feature in a garden.  Can anyone else see this?

Until next time,

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.

 

 

new gourmet food and produce store in Hobart! welcome the aproneers...

Image from here

As an Eastern shore resident I am over the moon, or should I say under the rainbow with the arrival of The Aproneers, a new gourmet and produce food store on the East Derwent Highway, Lindisfarne.  I literally could not contain my excitement after my first visit to the store, I came home raving for the next few hours as I prepared a meal with ingredients sourced entirely from The Aproneers.  I discovered the store on its very first low key opening day, a week before it's grand opening on May 26th May, above.  Despite nearing the end of its first day, the staff were far from tired but were instead on a natural high from the positive feedback from locals throughout the day. 

From the outset I was impressed by the range, which I noted was mostly from local producers.  I gravitated towards the dairy section with a great selection of goats milk and cheese products.  Whilst I was shopping I had several staff members assist me and fill me in on their main food mantra - "sustainability".   In a nutshell, they have a food rating system which grades each food product in terms of sustainability e.g. local produce has a higher sustainability rating compared with imported food. Simple concept, but I like it!

Image from here

Kylie Kwong helped to officially open The Aproneers at the jam packed community grand opening.  And customers were given bags of local Tasmanian apples throughout the day.  

Image from here

On The Aproneers' website your can find recipes made from ingredients to be found in store, such as this sticky fig and ginger cake.  I am already addicted to this exciting and refreshing concept store, lucky it is in walking distance!

new French style bakery cafe in Hobart...Daci & Daci

I am very excited with the new bakery cafe that has only just opened in the last few weeks, right near Salamanca Place in Murray Street. It is called Daci & Daci, the names of the passionate duo who are currently baking their hearts out to deliver artisan breads and patisserie items to meet Hobart's demands. I called in this afternoon and bought some fig and walnut bread, green olive bread and their grainy bread, too! I didn't know which to try first...And the bread is all displayed on a 19th century French iron baker's stand. The bread has been selling out quickly, as you can see. You may recognise the baker's stand from our store. We were pretty sad to see it leave, we all loved it so much. But now I get to visit it in its new home. And the best part is it is now being used for its original purpose - to display bread!

The antique Gothic style counter has inset marble for the French style sweet pastries. I bought a traditional French escargot pastry to bring back memories of Paris.

The asparagus and gruyere tart had all but sold out. The savoury pastries and fresh sandwiches are displayed on these French style cheese boards.

Other baked items available for purchase, such as vanilla marshmallows, toasted muesli, Christmas cakes along with many other goodies, all made on site. In fact, the building was originally a bakery. There is a photo of the 19th century bakery within the cafe.

You can sit out on the deck on a nice day on these vintage French cafe chairs at original French bistro tables.

It is because of passionate people such as Daci & Daci that makes me love living in Hobart. I am pretty sure I will become a frequent visitor of Daci & Daci...did I mention that they make a great coffee?

weekend foraging at Hobart's Salamanca market, bottega rotolo and pigeon hole cafe

Saturday morning I visited the famous Salamanca market in Hobart in order to gather goodies for a special birthday dinner party I was to host that evening. Firstly I picked up a few bunches of one of my favourite flowers, tulips. I love the simplicity of tulips, the fact that you can just pop them in a simple jug or vase and they instantly look great... The menu was planned during the week. A good friend is responsible for the dessert and birthday cake, the Gateau Opera. Thank goodness! As I wouldn't have a clue how to make such a complicated layered cake. But this particular friend just so happens to have completed the "Tortes and Gateaux" masterclass at the Agrarian Kitchen cooking school. In this class she learned pastry tricks from Sweet Envy's Alistair Wise. Lucky gal!

At Salamanca market I also bought some fresh vegetables including rocket, garlic, pinkeye potatoes and green beans.

Look at the vibrant colour of these carrots!

Next stop was the recently opened Bottega Rotolo, located in Bathurst Street. It has its very own cheese room in which we bought some French cheese for the entree, twice cooked gruyere cheese souffle. They do not stock gruyere and we were supplied with comte cheese, the French equivalent instead. Sounds fine to me.

A bike at the entrance to Bottega Rotolo conjures images of Italian food markets and sunny days. Well, it does for me, anyway. Anyone else?

Look at the neat shelves! And at the range of yummy supplies. I spied bags of dried mixed forest mushrooms, perfect for winter soups as well as authentic Italian pasta, olive oils and sauces. And much more. We left with more than just cheese!

As it was nearing lunch time and we were after a guaranteed delicious meal, we headed to the Pigeon Hole next. We also bought some of Jay's now famous Pigeon Hole bread for dinner, to serve with the souffle. The fruit and seed sourdough is a special bread, it is only available on Tuesdays and Saturdays...I love it with a little bit of honey but is great with a nice cheese too.

Back home I started sorting the kitchen out to prepare for cooking. I found these vintage scoops at Salamanca market and was tempted to keep them for myself but I think they will make great pieces for prop hire available at The Drill Hall Emporium. I am drawn to their simple function and form.

The large soup tureen is French and I have only just unpacked it since its arrival in our latest shipment. It will keep my small French soupiere company on the bench. It is no secret that I am quite partial to white French porcelain.

Which is why I also bought this large French cake stand on my last buying trip. It has only just been unwrapped too! It goes perfectly with my French glass cloche that I already owned. On my next free day I will make some muffins or friands to place under the cloche.

I potted some hyacinth for the dinner table, an alternative to flowers and low enough not to block vision between diners across the table.

And a potted hyacinth for the birthday girl! In an antique French terracotta pot, of course...