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Followers of this blog will know by now that I have a serious addiction..
to treasure hunting
So much so that my own little business rose out of it like a phoenix from the fire
(hows that for dramatic!)
And it works in well for me
Because to be honest, we wouldn't be able to afford to furnish this big old 1900's house with all new furniture.
So to find a time worn piece at a market, garage sale, estate sale for cheaper than new but with a whole lot more character
well that makes my day
and it fills the house
and it feeds the kids
Because if I bring home something to the house that I like better
then the other one goes off for sale
either at my EBAY STORE
or to people who pop over to Greystanes to pick up other items.
or some of my regular customers who are after that special "treasure"
You can visit my little business over here in EBAY AUSTRALIA
I've been very lucky over the years and met some wonderful people, and helped them carry their new found furniture out to their cars and trailers
Even helped pull a few trailers out of the mud (yes you know who you are sweet people!)
and we really dont mind at all
cause we love to see people happy with our treasures too
it makes me smile, it makes me happy,
and it feeds the kids
and everyone knows that a happy wife makes a happy home
Dont let anyone tell you otherwise

Posted at 08:53 PM in Antiques, Dining Room, Family Room, Front Room (the Great room), Treasure hunting, Vintage finds | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
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On the school holidays..
Kids like to do these sort of things...
Whilst I like to do these sort of things...
With these..
I just love vintage globes, my daughter has a few in her room so I thought it would be nice to have some in the TV room. Then I put one in my ebay store as we do have quite a few
I think they are great little decorating items
And a great little topper for our old green lockers
Enjoy the school holidays those in Victoria Australia, the other states will be catching up soon I hear!
Found some sweet treasures over the weekend ready to go to my ebay store
Gorgeous demi lune table
and sweet deco side table.
Posted at 06:27 PM in Family Room, Treasure hunting, Vintage finds | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)
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The 2011 IKEA catalogue that is ..
And I mean is there nothing better than going with a friend to Ikea Richmond store to suss out all the goodies?
No there isn't...
so don't go with your husband on a Sunday then like I did...
Because not only will he run over your toe with a trolley whilst trying to avoid the hoards of shoppers that conregate en mass on a weekend..
He will also look incredibly bored by leaning on things and rolling his eyes..
Does this sort of husband sound familiar hmmmm?
Not to worry, I still found some goodies whilst limping around with a bruised toe..
Like these amazing French Ticking tea towels for only 49 cents each
(why they cant round it off to a straight 50 cents on the sign I dont know, I mean we havent had one and two cent coins here in Australia for quite some time yeesh)
they are a tad thinnish but you could do lots with them besides just drying dishes
I bought quite a few but there is lots left..
And ~ oh excitement ~ ok I live on a mountain and dont get into town much so bare with me..
WELL the Ektorp range of slip covered sofas have been reduced in price by a fair wack, at least $100 less..
So although my toe still hurts we did have a nice day out..
And he did enjoy the Swedish Meatballs
nuff said..
I've brought more goodies home so out some must go ..
this is a gorgeous old metal chair that I've had for some time..
Its a lovely accent piece
and you can purchase it from my ebay store
(cant post though sorry, you'll have to come get it!)
and how utterly amazing is this gorgeous old old old door set.
Some one has painted it all by hand ~ divine
also in my ebay store !!
Posted at 06:32 PM in Treasure hunting, Vintage finds | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
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Is it just me or are the weeks rushing by?
I haven't had time to blog visit very much or catch up on my emails..
I'm way behind..
Hope you are all are still talking to me..
School holidays next week though
So life may slow down a bit ..
May be able to count the hours
Instead of watching them fly by...
And catch up on those emails, I really havent forgotten about you..
Life is just moving a bit too fast at the moment, and I'm playing catch up!
Oh and aren't those little numbered cups the sweetest things
Made by my favourite Aussie company Robert Gordon Pottery
and cushions by La Petit Coterie
As easy as 1 2 3..

Posted at 11:05 PM in Family Room, Treasure hunting | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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I mean everyone's gotta cut loose a bit sometimes don't they..
Let the inner colourful soul out ...
you see, everyone's been going SO nuts for white white white lately ~ me included...
Felt like I needed a paint can of colour for one brief shining moment..
splash away those whites, neutral, burlap and red pin stripes..
grab that paint can ..
and dash it across the floor..
a Rhapsody of decadence..
Felt like I should have been dancing bare foot, Stevie Nicks style on its velvet plushness..
Bells tinkling on my skirt as it twirls..
A true bohemian Rhapsody of the decadent kind..
with not much white at all, not even a dash of neutrals.
oh yes breath it in ~ that decadent dash of colour...
for tomorrow my burlap pillows await...

You can purchase this Bohemian beauty in my ebay store ~ go on you know you want a bit of colour in your life ;0)
Posted at 10:54 PM in Front Room (the Great room), Treasure hunting, Vintage finds | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)
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Sometimes you need that perfect piece to fit a certain spot..
This one had to be fairly compact but still reasonably tall to put a cuppa on whilst reading the paper or watching a bit of the old idiot box (as my dad used to call it)
It really didn't have to be a table it just needed a flat top and a little bit of industrial metal thrown in ..
So when I found this old high chair at a Melbourne Op shop this week, I could see that it ticked all the boxes...
Loved the original chippy pink, just had to lose the later addition of contact covered tray
and...
I've found my perfect piece.
You see a table doesn't have to be used as a table, just as a high chair doesn't have to be used as a high chair. Step outside the square when decorating ..
Its a lot more fun!

Posted at 04:27 PM in Family Room, Transformations, Treasure hunting, Vintage finds | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
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To those who are considering putting a hedge around their property.
Consider these points..
Be VERY careful about what hedging plant you choose...
For example:
DON'T choose Leyland Cyprus as the previous owners did.
Why?
because they are HUGE and they dont stop getting huge..
and they get more and more HUGE every year, 30 feet or more
AND
it costs a fortune to keep them trimmed at the top..
Also for a bush fire prone area such as this they go up like a match!
So we bit the bullet and brought in the heavy duty tree loppers to trim them down
to a more manageable 6 foot (ish)...
The cost to get this done was HUGE but at least now we will be able to maintain them ourselves.
Before...
After...
Before...
(scuse Box hedge clippings, I decided to trim those as well)
All thanks to these guys...
Personally if it were me choosing a hedge plant it would be ~ drum roll...
Sasanqua camellias.
these make a beautiful hedge, I put in a hedge of them in our last garden ..
And whats more they flower too.
You can't deny that the effect is totally gorgeous
Not as fast growing but certainly 100 times more manageable.
You have been warned..
Leyland Cyprus = No
unless you are a farmer and require a windbreak for your paddocks

ps. now i have more light in the house from having the hedge lopped I was able to photograph more treasures for my ebay store ~
I mean, who doesn't need a beaded gogo top??
Posted at 02:39 PM in Greystanes Gardens | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
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Because although they are terribly efficient
and you can fit them with sliding baskets
and shoe holders
and colour coded what nots...
Built in wardrobes don't in my opinion have that essential element..
Character
Like this...
They dont have those elegant lines, like this..
with those subtle but all important asthetic details..
oh yes they sure knew how to build those free standing wardrobes in the 1940's
and don't even get me started on the dressing tables...
This is why I love old furnture...
So, o.k, I might not fit all my shoes in there but damn they look fine!
and to me that is what counts..
Wardrobe and dressing table currently available for purchase in my ebay store

Posted at 06:36 PM in Antiques, Treasure hunting, Vintage finds | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)
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Oh dear we are not well at Greystanes
Seems that we avoided the flu all winter but it has caught up with us at the start of spring.
Not good timing for a high school girl who has a major roll in her schools musical this weekend
Lots of lemon and honey tea all round...
Have you noticed though that when kids get sick they get to lie around and watch TV during the day..
When mums get sick however
they still have to ..
Clean out bunnies cage because she is wet and cold and she really cant stay inside the house any longer....
Clean up elderly dogs mess inside the house because kids forget to let her out they being too sick and all ~ mind you I am a horrid mum and got middle girl to clean up the last lot..
Discover whilst tidying up outside that there are two big fat brushy tail possoms now living on top of our hot water service ~ explains noises against the wall very early in the morning.
Will be putting possom spikes on top of that tonight once they are out running across our tin roof.... Bet they wont like sleeping on a bed of nails come morning ~ evil laugh ~ that will teach them to be nocturnal...
But whilst cursing all possom kind under my breath and horrid flu bug that finally caught up with us..
I stopped to smell the flowers and appreciate the joys of our little slice of heaven..
Our winter primroses are in full flight...
Our water restrictions have been eased and Melbourne is no longer in full drought
Huge Mountain Ash gum tree has still not fallen on Greystanes (thanks so much for asking everyone, yes we did get through that last storm a ok!) I mean isnt she magnificent really!
So you know its all good, whats a little flu bug in the grand scheme of wonderous things??
Had to share these pictures with you too...
You know what its like when you bring something home and just "plonk" it somewhere thinking you will get back to it later after sorting out kids and animals etc etc??
I was about to get back to these "plonked" items today and then stopped myself.
Cause I liked how they looked where they were "plonked"
What do you think?
This was actually a "triple plonk"
First blackboard, then cabinet on top of little table, then old french wire basket on top of cabinet.
Found this old house number, didnt know where to put it so "plonked" it down in the old plant stand.
Think it can stay here a bit....

Posted at 08:08 PM in Antiques, Greystanes Gardens, Vintage finds | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
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