via arabella ramsey

the weekend: made and bought

This weekend I went wandering..

I window shopped and shopped in many lovely stores, here and here and here.

I found inspiration at the Fabric Shop; my purchases should keep me preoccupied for a while.

I finished a couple of cushions, although they're not looking so crisp and new - some one road tested before I had a chance to snap them. Funny, I've never been much a pink person but they I think they'll go nicely with the greys and inky blues ones still come.

finders keepers

tara donne via design is mine

Some pottering about the house.

Replaced some more lights - what a difference a simple pendant and shade makes. We removed the dusty broken heater from the dining room and cleared out the fireplace. Now to place perfectly cut logs of wood or nestle candles decoratively - as you do when it's Spring... Well, I guess when winter rolls around we'll be set!

JD bought me a squeaky old blue bike on ebay.

He has visions of buying two or three knock about ones for us and friends "cruise down" to the beach.

On Sunday, I snuck off to the Finders Keepers market. I dragged a friend out of bed to come along (thanks SW). None of my own pics of the market to share but check out The Design Files wrap up - too many talented people, cuteness overload.

elk accessories

image via Elk

Lovely styling by Elk Accessories. How much do I adore these timber shadow boxes? I really need to pop by their store some time soon.

so do I, emma..

image via emma loves retro

Gorgeous cushions by Emma loves Retro.

Melbournites for your vintage fabric fix head to Flashback Fabrics, in Westgarth Village Northcote.

love: plaid dresses

Spring/Summer 09/10 Amy Keahne via Fat

this weekend...

No house stuff done whatever so ever... and I'm not feel guilty.

I spent most of the weekend hanging out, eating, browsing and catching up with friends.

Saturday night, great night in at friends place stuffing ourselves silly with amazing Indian take out. They're off to Paris and Italy for 4 weeks on Monday - jealous.

Today I caught up with another friend and went for a late brekky at Tusk. I highly recommend the poached eggs, smoked salmon, wilted spinach on potato roesti stacks and hollandaise sauce... Ooooooh my gosh, delicious. We were waited on by Lucy, made famous the Satorialist.

We wandered around around Windsor, both on a mission to buy some vintage boots (yes, at the end of winter - go figure) but with no success. Went into Tarlo & Graham and I noticed my big glass bottle selling for $140 which I found op-shopping for $5!

Tarlo & Graham - images via The Design Files

I'll be spending the evening on the couch I think. I may consider going for a walk and work off that hollandaise sauce... But don't hold me to that.

kikki.k - staying in

image via Kikki.K

My gorgeous friend Juz sent me the latest Kikki.K catalogue, her timing was quite fitting given my recent home office revamp. Thank you sweets!

My retail shopping fixes have been limited to Bunnings and Ikea recently.. In fact I'm such a Ikea pro now I know all the short cuts! No messin' about, no dilly dawdling down the designated paths for me!

Note to Ms Law, I too love the project on page 10 - if only going through all my digital photo's and getting them printed wasn't such an arduous process!

more mark tuckey

I posted about Mark Tuckey's home & contents auction back in May.

More lovely pieces from his store in Johnson Street, Fitzroy. I love the simple floral displays in every shot.

Simple floral arrangement in scientific glass beakers

Lovely birch table legs

images via Mark Tuckey

swedish hasbeens

I particularly love the mustard ones

Last summer I was eying off these clogs by Swedish Hasbeens at Gorman. So umm, wouldn't you know it, I'm still thinking about them. Surprisingly, they were incredibly comfy... I wonder if they're still there?

Loitering about the town..

I decided to head to the Melbourne Design Market at Fed Square today. It was crazy busy! Most of the exhibitors/stall holders I have seen at the Life Instyle Fairs but I made some cool new discoveries. I bought some cute fabric from Ink & Spindle which I think I'll frame or make a cushion with.

From there I went Lost & Found Market on Smith St and drooled over this danish dining table & chairs in the window.

The chair upholstery was a lovely neutral soft wool

Sorry about the crap camera phone photos

Also stopped by Industria on Gertrude St where I contemplated buying some super cute mini chairs for the children I am yet to have. I came close to convincing myself that maybe I can find another use for them in the interim.. Step aerobics?

Next Dimmey's in Richmond, which to much sadness is closing after 150 years. I bought a couple of meters of this plastic faux crochet table runner which I may it use for gift wrapping, or some weird suspended installation thing when Christmas creeps up again.. Or perhaps just use it for its intended purpose..

Plastic fantastic!

For lunch I dragged my hung over friend out of bed to meet me for coffee and light lunch at Bosistos in Bridge Rd, Richmond.

Images via The Design Files

It was a lovely way to spend a lazy Sunday.

Velo Rouge

As previously mentioned, here's Tori Dixon-Whittle & David Bromley's Velo Rouge children's wear store located in A Day On Earth, 280 Chapel Street, Prahran.

Original letter blocks with cute illustrations behind

Kettle cable pendants looped around the ceiling

This antique dressing table is teeny tiny and stands about 80cm high 

Remember the cardboard picture blocks as a child? Giant ones are replicated

My photo's don't really do the space justice, there's lots more vintage vignettes that I didn't capture. I suppose it can borderline eerie for some, but for me it's quaint and nostalgic.

The A Day on Earth website has just been updated, you can check out the amazing photography by Jeremy Blincoe and the studio spaces. 

Here's an interesting article from The Age (Melbourne) Magazine that I came across.

Last 3 images by Jeremy Blincoe via A Day on Earth

My Day on Earth

My gorgeous friend (who gave me the hot tip on Mark Tuckey's apartment & furniture auction), recently started work at David Bromley's A Day on Earth store in Prahran. I popped in to visit her yesterday before a catch up dinner.

I've been in there several times before but I'm always too shy to ask if I can take photo's, so I normally go into sensory overload and quietly gush over everything. I got a little star struck when she introduced me to David, but he was very warm and super friendly.

So off I went snapping away...

I loved the all business card designs, so I greedily had to collect them all

Quotes painted onto the ceilings

I love these cable kettle pendant lights hung and looped all over the store. 

Back wall mural

SOLD! This adorable tricycle

Traditional Japanese Bath House Timber Lockers

Each locker had a numbered wooden key to open - Super cool!

Antique Japanese card drawers

Apothecary jars & scientific beakers

And this was only the rear of the store! I could have continued snapping away but I had to contain myself from looking like an eager tourist in front of a foreign landmark.

I took a tour of the basement, where a stunning hand painted patterned timber floors lead you into another amazing little room with more visual delights.

David's partner Tori, has a stunning children's clothing label called Velo Rouge which is beautifully displayed in yet another room - I took photo's but I think that's a separate post all together.

How amazing to work in an store where so many different people; young and old and all walks of life getting such enjoyment out of this storybook like space and it's delightful inhabitants!