Hobnobbing with the boss

We need a dining table. How can I be a proppah wifey if I can't invite my husband's boss over for Coq au Vin and Bombe Alaska?

I've been looking for some of these since moving into our new place. We have two that I found in an ope shope when we first arrived in Canberra at the kitchen table.

That's our kitchen table. In very bad lighting. (I have a new camera and am still learning to drive.)

I found the four Hobnobs at the tip shop for $15! They have a different base to the kitchen chairs, but we can live with that.

I'm really after one of these.

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And I'm blithely optimistic that I will find one. I'd accept a white one. Or, and most probably, a Sebel rip off. Or just a round table. Or an oval table. See? I'm not that particular. Wish me luck.

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Saskia helped me clean the new chairs. (And I have a new camera! I mentioned that already...)

Dining chairs you can hose down!! Our dinner parties can get pretty crayayzeeee.

Now I just need to wash that table.

'Wass huns.'

Playing along with Sophie.

retro renovation

I have discovered a wonderful blog and website caled retrorenovation.com, possibly the only interior design blog that urges you to hold onto your 1950s and 1960s pink sinks, tiles and bathtubs, and not replace them!


The host of the blog takes you through her own renovation, pointing out was found in op shops and similar. It's inspiring and has made me rethink whether we should completely rip out our 1962 liver-pink coloured nightmare. Perhaps it can be 'tweaked'....?

More from Mitchell

Salvos Mitchell is having a book sale until Saturday, with tables filled with books priced from $2.00 to $4.00 each.

I may or may not have staggered out with a rather large pile after my visit this afternoon...

Vinnies Mitchell reopens!

That's the good news: The woman behind the counter explained it's like the factory outlet of op shops: the stuff that doesn't get sold comes here and what doesn't sell is compacted and sent overseas to sell.
( It was weird being back there)
The bad news?
At this stage they're only open during the week...

Beady eyed

A quick trip to Vinnies Dickson on the way home from the Post Office this afternoon to check out their craft sale.

A $1 bag of large wooden beads. Makes a perfect stash of miniature lamp bases!

From the latest issue of BRW

Charity begins at the stores: "The Salvation Army's shops have gone from cluttered to classy. The cheak and now chic Salvos stores have had a professional revamp and it's worked."

Canberra Craft Market

While doing my usual rounds at Trash and Treasure last weekend, a lovely stall holder brought to my attention the Canberra Craft Market which was currently happening. Unfortunately I didn't make it to the Convention Centre to check out the market, but the stall holder did inform me that it's a regular occurrence and is definitely worth checking out! Full of handmade anything and everything (clothing, jewellery, stationery, homewares etc), I will be sure to make it to the next market on the 5th of May (which is a fashion only special event). Below is the website where you can check out times/locations/what's on

http://www.handmademarket.com.au/home.html

See you there

Mimi x

Poplarves to offload stuff

I found these placemats at the tip shop. We had the exact same ones when I was growing up. They remind me of brussels sprouts being covertly concealed in napkins. Aaah, nostalgia.

And this sweet little pot. I found that in an op shop.

My father brought some figs around and I'm going to make this which I saw over at chez MMMC. And I have to copy everything she does.

This wall hanging was retrieved from father's garage. It used to hang in my childhood kitchen. I love it. For many reasons.

And this! This was also retrieved from puppah's garage. (Note the crepuscular light in this shot.)

It (and the two armchairs) will require new foam and fabric. I have no idea what kind of fabric. Maybe I'll sew some child smear-hardy calico just for the interim. From what I've seen people reupholstering Fler suites tend to remain faithful to the era's muted hues - greys, greens, blues.


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But I'm tempted to go for something bold. Husbandido has suggested cerise. (I know! Who knew?) Any other suggestions?

Autumn in onkytown is rather stunning. The light, the turning leaves, the sunshiny days. There are quite a lot of poplars in these here parts. I love poplars.

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And my mind is turning, as it does at this time of year, to cashmere and US ebay.

I think I may buy these:

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Can you think of anything more luxurious and snoogly than cashmere knickers?

And socks. Some cashmere socks.

Playing along with Sophie

Just in time to stock up on winter clothing...

(Particularly useful as autumn seems to have disappeared off the calendar)

The Zonta sale is this weekend:
(Thanks to Maria)

And reader Cindy emailed us today to pass on details of the next Vinnies Monster Warehouse Sale, which is on 15, 16, 17 March, 9.00 to 4.00 pm each day. For those going for the first time, Vinnies is at 10 Buckland Street in Mitchell. Eftpos and Cash Sales only.

Cindy points out that the sale overlaps with the Lifeline Book Fair by a couple of days. Smart thinking Vinnies!

Lunchtime finds in Braddon

Another city worker here, I planned a city op-shop visit for last Friday with a co-worker. So in the pouring rain we visited the ADRA Shop in Braddon and Brain Injury Foundation Shop.

All my purchases were from the ADRA shop, the sewing pattern and Little Golden book were both only 50 cents, and the bag of lace and trimmings was $1.50. There is a lot of women's black suit jackets in stock.

No purchases in the Brain Injury shop, they did have a rack of BNWT, plus size clothing suitable for travelling - all in black and all knits.