The wait is over!

Our container arrived on Thursday and we have been very, very busy. Firstly we had to unload the container, then we had to fit it all in to the shop (which was not easy) and now we are unwrapping and sorting. Our new shop counter is in situ and we love it. We have had to do a bit of rearranging to fit it in.

We are aiming to be reopen Sunday the 29th August. We definitely have some work ahead of us, as you can see from the photos. But alas, Donna made some friands for afternoon tea, that may help.

In flower...

This magnificent Magnolia tree in my neighbourhood inspired me to go get one of my own (below). Whilst it is very young it is already coming out in flower and I can't wait to plant it into the ground. One of my camelia plants is also beginning to flower. As is my dwarf peach tree that I have in a large glazed pot in the centre of my vegetable garden. The pink buds are really quite vivid. I wouldn't think I will get much fruit in its first season, very cute though. Even my brocolli is coming into flower! I bought these adorable French herb pots on the weekend. I love French glaze in this colour.

Dreamy French Daybeds

I can just imagine curling up on this day bed with a favourite book. Not sure if I would get much reading done though... We recently delivered this folding French day bed to a beautiful country home in Tasmania. It went up into a large loft area and looked fabulous! This day bed is actually English. I love the deep buttoning and the neutral linen. It looks very comfortable. (Image from http://www.brownrigg-interiors.co.uk/).

You can actually stay in this room in Paris - le Turenne, a beautiful apartment available for rent in the Place des Vosges district of Marais (Image from http://www.bellefrancaiseinteriors.blogspot.com/).

This chaise longue has a wonderful regency shape.

This day bed is in the French Directoire style (Image from http://www.alhambraantiques.com/). We bought a very similar day bed very early on in our buying trip. Our container is due at our door this week. We will then be closed for a period of time, busily unpacking, sorting and arranging. We will post details at the time when we close and re-open.

Christmas in July Christmas Pudding Challenge - Results

I came in a close second! Admittedly there were only 4 challengers in total, but I am proud of my pudding. Donna was crowned the family champion Christmas pudding maker. It was then that we announced she will have to make the Christmas pudding for years and years to come! (So I am not sure if she really won...). Her pudding was superb, I have to concede.

Christmas in July Christmas Pudding Challenge

Our inaugural family Christmas pudding challenge took place in July this year. Earlier in the year I proposed a challenge to my fellow family members to make our own Christmas puddings, to be consumed at our Christmas in July meal. The non-cooking members of the family were to be the (blindfolded) judges and score each pudding. The winner of the challenge would win the duty of preparing this year's Christmas pudding and bragging rights. I spent a long time in April researching pudding recipes and combined what I believed to be the best elements from each to create my own recipe. I even took meticulous notes in case I won and had to replicate the same pudding. I made the pudding early May as I was about to leave for our buying trip. So I cut dates (and heaps of other fruits, including dried fig)...and soaked them overnight in stout and other liquids. Ground my spices...in my antique mortar and pestle, of course! Made the pudding mixture in my English TG Green bowl. And mixed it all together before placing in an old pudding basin (I love these). My biggest dilemma was the size of my mixing bowl - it wasn't big enough! As such, I am thinking next time I will need a pancheon to mix it in. These are pancheons - they are huge antique pottery bowls with the loveliest glaze. The results to our Christmas in July Christmas Pudding Challenge will be posted soon!

French baker's stands, tables and baskets

We were lucky enough to find this French baker's stand on our antiques buying trip. It is original 19th century and is stamped 'Paris'. We can't wait for it to arrive along with all our other goodies. It was one of the very last pieces that went into the container so it will be the first item to greet us when we open the doors. How exciting. Wouldn't this French baguette basket look great on the baker's stand? As far as I know, the curved areas at the ends of the baker's stand were to hold the baguettes. (Photo from http://www.1stdibbs.com/). I have always wanted a French pastry or baker's tables like the one above (photo from http://www.1stdibbs.com/). I am not sure where I would put it when I find one, but I believe if you love something enough you will always find a place for it. Look how good this one looks! I love the lighter grey colour and the French glass cloches on top (photo from http://www.insidehomepage.com/). I might take another look at the French glass cloches in our store at the moment (above) and add to my collection.

Blossoms...spring is on its way!

Spring blossoms in a French storage jar in our store. Ok, they are not quite out in flower yet, but they are still beautiful and a reminder that Spring is just around the corner... I am taking some inspiration from these beautiful outdoor settings. And I am looking around the store at what has recently come in, including vintage glass cake stands and this delightful English cup and saucer - perfect for a Spring afternoon tea...now for some baking!

French Oak Flooring Installation - Day 1

Our French oak flooring officially began its life as a feature in our living room and kitchen today. And I unexpectantly got my hands dirty helping the builder lay the first few lines of timber. Above is a picture of French oak wideboard planks installed in a Wahroonga residence. This is our living room with the planks lined up ready to be laid along the builders line (the pink string). It is crucial to get the first line of planks exactly right - straight and level.

Here is a close-up image of the type of finish we chose - Smoked Limewash which is different to the Natural Limewash, the finish in the first photo above. Both finishes are beautiful, it was actually really hard to choose!

Inspiring Living Spaces

As I am sitting in my living room, stripped bare right down to the concrete floor (we are awaiting our French oak flooring installation) I can't help but feel excited about the prospect of a new living space to decorate. My first point of call is to flick through my favourite interiors book by Belgium antiques dealer and designer, Axel Vervoordt, "Timeless Interiors". And timeless it must be as his rooms always look very 'now'... I love his use of slip covered chairs and the ottomans with cushions atop. It all looks so comfortable.

And he is never afraid to have a long sofa in a room, often paired with single slip-covered armchairs in contrasting linens. And the coffee table in this Belgium home is constructed from concrete blocks and a plank of timber.

This room is not by Vervoordt but how gorgeous is that French settee? And the garden table works well, which is good for me because I plan to put mine in our newly renovated living room. Maybe not in the middle like this, but at the end of the sofa as it will be a good height.

The parquet floor is divine as is the potted plant. Note the French walnut arm chair to the right...we bought one very similar on our last buying trip but it was one of the items that didn't fit into the container. We are very sorry indeed. It will be in our next load, though.

I really like the soft coloured floor rug in this living room. I will post a before and after photo upon completion of our room. I am not sure when that will be, hopefully sooner rather than later!

Store Interior Views

For all those who live too far away to visit our store, here are some current images. It is a beautiful sunny day here in the Derwent Valley, the sun is streaming through our high windows almost blinding the people wandering around our antiques and wares. Sundays are a popular day for locals from Hobart to look around the numerous antique shops in New Norfolk.