Ahoy me hearties!

Despite being a five minute stroll from our gate ... it's been a while since I ventured to the Esk Market. The man gets a little overwhemed by the wafty deep fryers. So glad I did... this was waiting patiently for me. I love a bit of vintage nautical. I'm just partial to maritime really. I think it might like to keep this print company.

...and now let the thrifting begin

I have to admit - I have been meaning to post about all my little finds ...but I just keep forgetting to take photos. So today after a fine impromptu outing with this lovely lady to the local Mission Shop- to show our daughters the thriftin' life, I got all inspired... I got a few highlights on location and did a shoot, so to speak. Above is the lovely linen table cloth I picked up today.

...and then there's these lovelies from my favourite stall at the Esk Market. I'd been eyeing them off for a while, then this Sunday gone I pounced -on one- I'm on a budget. But the lovely stallholder threw the other one in too - so stoked. They are old cadbury tins the size of a medium bucket...
...and this awesome vintage fleece - just part of a gifted, rather than thrifted stash from the lovely Bec. She makes lovely screen printed t-shirts for kids. We sat next together at the Mother's Market way back in far last December. She visited me at the market- Hobart and dropped off all this fabric - so spoilt, so lovely.Which brings me to this little beauty. Part of a family of six - they are the spoils of my first ever auction ... being a bit green and having to drop Dunc off at the airport... I dropped Loz off at the auction so she could raise her hand on my behalf. When I got back an hour or so later she informed me my lot hadn't come up ... and then they broke for lunch. To cut a long story short - come 4 hours later and a whole lot of stress thinking that we were placing bids by touching our hair or blinking (not realising it was the group of dealers bidding behind us) I bid furiously against one other and won ... it was one of the last items - we were there all day! But wasn't it worth it?? Which brings me to my next three photos... Spoils of garage sale warfare which have lasting scars...One sale so little time...

Two of these gorgeous flying duck serving plates...

Plus a set of 10 cups and saucers ... some a little mismatched but with cake plates too ... for crafty nights, you know? (and they got a workout at our Easter Brunch)
...and then this - and where my wretched neurosis begins. I found an odd plate or two and then enquired if there were any others. She said she had 'a few more boxes inside'. I had to go drop Dunc off at Uni so I said I would return - she held some stuff and said 'I will see what I can find'. I returned and she had found a few more pieces - 1 dinner plate, 5 saucers, 2 cups, 3 bowls, 2 side plates - but she told me she HAD THE WHOLE SET - it was just too much for her to get the other boxes. I tried to say I would come back later -blocked- I asked if I could come back next week -rejected- I tried using my daughter as collateral -no cigar - I mean it was a garage sale ...why tantalise me with just a few pieces! and I just couldn't leave them there, all alone, so I took the motley crew home...so now I have to walk, or drive past her house DAILY and all I can think of is that the rest of the set is in there waiting for me - my little NZ Ironstone ware speaks to me 'help me, Gemma. I miss the rest of my family' and I am helpless. So now I am just waiting for the next garage sale...it is a weekend ritual to just check... a few times...just incase she slept in...

...if this makes you salivate then you need to get amongst this giveaway over at willywagtail's blog ... it will make you wet your pants!

May grey make your day

Guess what ... I'm an Aunty! I have a nephew. My sister-in-law has baby number one. Many say I can't be trusted in such a position but I did get so excited I made these bibs and a matching blanket. The blanket didn't photograph so well ... but it was backed with fleecy cotton and edged in ric rac and I was pretty darn pleased with myself. The bibs are made small ... for little ones. She said she was over the baby blue thing so when I saw this fabric I thought it may be a winner. I was excited. I made them weeks ago (Loz finished up the bibs) but couldn't put them here in case the secret got out. But they were posted off and now received so all's well.

I do have a thing for grey ... so I was stoked when I found this guy at the Mission Shop. He was sans saucer but I found one which I think was made for him. Complete again.

and continuing on the grey theme ... I was 'commissioned' (that's a posh way of saying 'asked nicely') to make an 'Event Belt'... you know ... somewhere to pop your phone, keys, notebook and pennies when you are on the job but not at your desk. Hope it worked - I was very nervous about it ... but was pretty happy with the result ... just a new spin on my kiddies aprons.

and in light of the pure delight I gleen from witty graffiti, may I leave you with this morsel of food for thought...