Saturday, December 15, 2012

HOPE

I honestly do not know what to say at this time....I believe in my heart there IS only ONE WAY & HOPE for a better future.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Christmas at Waverley Bazaar....


Reuse
Rethink
Repurpose

Will you be one of 'the many' standing in line at the Shopping Mall this year waiting to pay for poorly made, mass produced, overly expensive, ill thought of last minute made in China barcoded crappity crap....

Or....

Will you think long & hard about the person you're buying for....Consider their likes, hobbies & passions & go about finding them a UNIQUE gift that says....I KNOWyou....I CARE about you & think you are one heck of a Friend, Lover or Family member....

If you belong to the latter group, grab your Friends & Family & come on down to the Waverley Bazaar at:

11a Aristoc Road, Glen Waverley

Saturday 15th December & HUNT out that very special something for that very special someone among one of the 180 stalls in the center....!!!!!

Open from 10am - 5pm, a number of Vendors will be manning their stalls throughout the day & will be on hand to assist you with your purchases....!!!!!

Christmas Nibblies & drinks will be offered throughout the venue at various stalls & I have it on good advice that Santa will be making a visit to ensure his 'Naughty & Nice' lists are up to date....!!!!!

I'll be in the Shabby Vintage Junk Shop with my kettle for anyone who'd like to pop in for a NICE cup of plunger coffee & will have an abundance of YUMMY mince pies to help keep your 'shopping stamina' up....**wink**....!!!!!

I'll also have my Paypal Here device at hand & will be able to accept credit card, Paypal & cash payments....!!

So what are you waiting for....Filofax it, post-it note  a reminder to yourself NOW....!!!!!

If for some reason you can't make it to the Waverley Bazaar on the 15th, make an effort to shop locally....Support small businesses & keep way from barcodes.....Bleckkkkk.....!!!!!


Cheers for now,
Tamarah  :o)

PS:  Hope to be back soon with an update re the Vntage Showcase which was a WONDERFUL success for Lisa & I....Just waiting on pics....!!!!!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Flat out like a lizard drinking....

WOOHOO Vintage Friends....It's Friday....Can you BELIEVE it....??!!!

I hope you all have a fun & relaxing weekend planned....Me....Well I managed to 'waylay' myself quite a bit this week so I have a bit of catching up to do....It'll be head down, bum up for me I'm afraid....!!

Speaking of 'waylaying'....Yesterday, with numerous tasks requiring my attention....I took myself 'off' for a while & lost myself in a very pleasant activity....

I've seen some LOVELY large Wall Rosaries around about & I know Rachel has a DIVINE example over at Shabby Chic Couture ....What better way to shirk my responsibilities than by immersing myself in the pleasant task of creating my very own Wall Rosary....

Spent WAY too much time picking the PERFECT piece of wood to use....
Mind you I spent WAY more time choosing the bead combo.... 
Oh & deciding HOW to hang it....Let's just say a tad more of my time was 'whiled' away.... 
Just as well I'm HAPPY with the end result....**wink**....!

Take care & have a WONDERFUL weekend....Now I gotta get back to work....!

Cheers,
Tamarah  :o)



Sunday, November 11, 2012

5 x Tickets left....

5 x Tickets left....

If you'd been thinking of attending the Vintage Showcase being held on the 28th November from 12noon - 3pm but thought you had missed out on a ticket, today's your LUCKY DAY....!!!!!

Lisa & I have been doing our best to contact 5 x Vintage Friends who registered their interest however, have not responded to our follow up emails. 

With a number of time consuming details to keep us busy right up until the BIG DAY, we need to move forward so we can concentrate on the tasks at hand....!!!!!

If you would like to attend the Vintage Showcase which is an INVITATION only event NOT open to the general public, all you need to do is pop into our EmailMeForm & register your details:

We will contact you with payment details etc.

Tickets are $15.00 per person....This includes a YUMMY High Tea....One of lucky Guests will also be the recipient of a FABULOUS Door Prize courtesy of one of our WONDERFUL Sponsors, RUNDLE & Co....Oh & lets not forget the GORGEOUS prizes hidden throughout the venue....!!!!!

*** The Vintage Showcase is being held near Burwood / Camberwell (Melbourne, Australia). ***

Cheers,
Tamarah

NB: NO PRE-SALES....Items shown in pics advertising the Vintage Showcase will NOT BE SOLD prior to the event on the 28th November.


Between us Lisa & I will be offering approx 450+ items....! 
From our OWN personal collections....
Treasures we've ADORED for MANY years.... 
As well as items sourced internationally.... 
This is one of SEVERAL Vintage Mannequins on offer during the day.... 
Oh & it WOULDN'T be a Christmas Vintage Showcase WITHOUT a healthy helping of Vintage Christmas....!!!!!
Cheers,
Tamarah

Our fabulous event sponsors:


*** NB: Pictures are the property of individual sponsors. ***


Thursday, November 8, 2012

I should ALWAYS listen to those....

Hello Vintage Friends....I hope this post finds you well & looking forward to a FABULOUS weekend....!
Yesterday was a CALAMOTOUS day here at Casa de SVJ....One of those days where you look back & say to yourself...."Yep....Should ALWAYS listen to those....
Busy getting ready for the Vintage Showcase on the 28th Novemeber I've been putting the finishing touches on several projects....And yesterday was blackboard day.... 
I bought this DIVINE 1930's blackboard that came from an old Catholic girls college earlier this year....It was in a sad state of affairs & needed to be pulled apart & re-glued....A job I left for Mr SVJ as it required the use of large heavy clamps which I find a tad unwieldy & my last big 'gluing project' ended up out of level.... 
Anyways....Mr SVJ did a BRIILIANT job of putting her back together however, when I went to clean the blackboard itself the old surface was so badly decayed it fell off in strips....Add to that the fact the board was quite warped meant we had to replace the whole thing.... 
So a new piece of ply was inserted & I repainted using TURPS based blackboard paint....Yeah yeah....I KNOW I could use the acrylic stuff but I just don't like it....It doesn't wear as well or as long & I prefer the 'look'....Trust me....Do enough blackboards & you'll notice the diff....!!
And this is where the little voices come in...."Put the drop cloth down"...."Don't balance the can on the edge of the table (with no top)"...."Put Hartley inside (Furbaby)"....

Alas....I listened NOT....Just after I finished the very last STROKE, on turning around I upended the bloody can of TURPS based blackboard paint ALL OVER THE DECK....**sigh**....Now if Mr SVJ was on top of his chores this wouldn't have been such an issue however, he's not so instead of the paint falling on a stained deck it fell on a deck badly in need of a staining (just NOT with TURPS based balckboard paint) & the moment it hit it started to soak in.... 
I flew inside for rags, turps & sugarsoap & after mopping up as much as I could I got the sugarsoap into it & started to lather it up....Only for Yarra Valley Water to cut the water off to EVERY house in my neighbourhood....This was at 6.15pm in the evening....CRIKEY....

It was at THAT moment I looked inside our floor to ceiling windows to see little Hartley licking blackboard paint off her left flank....She had paint all over her mouth....I forget all about the stupid deck, grabbed my phone & rang our Vet & told them Hartley had injested TURPS based paint & I was bringing her up.... 
I snapped her up & put her in the cage & was making my way to the car when Mr SVJ arrived home from work....I opened my mouth to speak but all that came out was, "I've done a BAD THING" before I broke into tears.... 
He made all the right noises & told me things like this happen to the best of parents & we shouldn't worry until after we see the Vet....

I'm SO HAPPY to say ALL's WELL THAT ENDS well....**smile**....Aside from an AWFUL haircut & some missing whiskers, Hartley is AOK & I think you'll agree the blackboard looks FANFREAKINFABULOUS....Alas....The deck looks like CRAP but hey....

Two out three aint bad....**wink**....!!!!!

HAPPY WEEKEND everyone....!!

Cheers,
Tamarah  :o)

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Save The Date: A Final Reminder


Save The Date:  A Final Reminder



Just a quick reminder to all our wonderful Vintage Friends in Melbourne....

Lisa & I are in the process of finalising numbers for our fabulous Vintage Showcase being held Wednesday 28th November at 12noon.

We must emphasise this is an exclusive invitation only event which will not be open to the general public.

In order to attend on the day you need to have completed our online expression of interest form here at EmailMeForm . Tickets are $15, which includes a delicious High Tea.

Our fabulous event sponsors:

*** NB: Pictures are the property of individual sponsors. ***

….have generously donated product for our Gift Bags & delicious High Tea ensuring our Guests enjoy a wonderfully pampered vintage experience.

Lisa & I are incredibly excited about this venture and cannot wait to share our amazing Vintage Treasures with you in what promises to be an exciting, unique and beautiful setting!!!

For general vintage inquiries please contact:

or

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

200+ Pieces of Vintage Clothing & Accessories up for grabs....*** SOLD *** ....!

Hello Keepers Of The Past....!

While Lisa & I are working overtime to get ready for the Vintage Showcase, I'm clearing the decks here at home to make way for the latest shipment of Vintage Furniture & Homewares from the US....Over on Facebook I've just uploaded 45 x photos of my Vintage Clothing Collection (200+ pieces) which I'm selling in order to clear my office & make some room....!!

If you LOVE Vintage Clothing & would like to take advantage of a collection of items (clothing sized between 10 - 14....vintage sizing that is) & accessories....Head on over for a look....!!!!!


And don't forget if you're in Melbourne, Australia & would like to come to the Vintage Showcase don't forget to register....!!!!!

Cheers for now, Tamarah :o)

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Shabby Vintage Junk & Vintage Influence present....


Save The Date


ATTENTION Interior Designers, Stylists, Merchandisers, Retailers, & Vintage Enthusiasts……..

Shabby Vintage Junk and Vintage Influence have teamed up to host the fabulous Vintage Showcase just in time for Summer, featuring an amazing collection of Christmas, Furniture & Homewares on Wednesday 28th of November, from 12 – 3pm.

We are busy styling our new stock direct from the latest US & European shipments as well as those from our vintage vaults and private collections. Everything you see on the day will be for sale!

This opportunity is not to be missed as it is an exclusive invitation only event which will not be open to the general public.

The location & size of the venue means this will be an ‘intimate affair’ in Burwood / VIC - Australia (near Camberwell), and we are limited to 50 dedicated lovers of vintage, with our coveted goodie bags for the first 25 people. 

Register Now!
To be included in our ticket ballot, please complete our expression of interest form on our EmailMeForm . Tickets are $15, which includes a delicious high tea.   


For general Vintage related inquiries please contact Tamarah at shabbyvintagejunk@hotmail.com or Lisa at Vintageinfluence@gmail.c om

Monday, October 15, 2012

Do you LOVE Etsy like I LOVE Etsy....

Morning Treasure Hunters....!

I hope everyone's week's off to a FABULOUS start....!

I've been as busy as a bee & I was just sitting here preparing the Agenda for tomorrows Monthly Business Support Meeting when I thought I'd take a quick break & share my LOVE of Etsy with you....

Firstly though....Have you all heard about Etsy....?  If not you're in for a treat....

Etsy, was originally developed by it's founder Rob Kalin as an on-line market place for hand crafted wares & has evolved into a Vintage Lovers paradise....There's a GREAT interview here in the Wall Street Journal....!!

Anyways....On ANY given day for me, Etsy is THE GO TO place for vintage, inspiration & smiles....Yep....BEFORE eBay....BEFORE Pinterest....I log into Etsy, visit with my FAVE Sellers & wonder at the TALENT of Esty's Artisans....

As an Etsian myself, I LOVE being able to share my Treasures with a worldwide audience & ENJOY being able to express myself through my listings....!!!

A few other 'standouts' of the Etsy site I'd like to share with you....Etsians (Esty Shop Owners) spend a lot of time & put a lot of effort into their Shops....From their photography through to their Customer Service they run rings around MANY of your every day retail outlets....For both Customers & Etsians alike Etsy is EXTREMELY user friendly & there's an AMAZING SUPPORT SYSTEM in place for those who BUY & SELL....Webinars, newsletters, tools & so much more....!

Etsy is not an Auction site (YAYYYYYYY)....Our wares are offered at a set price & sit in our Shops waiting for the right Customer to come along & fall in love....Then it's simply a matter of the Customer proceeding through Checkout & paying for their item(s)....!!

I could go on & on but I'm probably a tad biased so I'll leave you to go & explore on your own....If you have any questions though PLEASE come back & ask in the comments section....I'm HAPPY to help & if I don't have the answer I'll find it for you....!!!!!

I would like to mention one more thing though before I go back to tomorrows Agenda Notes....While Etsy is a US based site, it's Etsians are from all over the world & although Australia has a considerably smaller number of Vintage Etsy Stores compared to other participating countries, our numbers are increasing regularly....I've included pics at the bottom of two of my FAVE Vintage Friends (Merchants) here in Melbourne who have recently opened Etsy Shops....The LOVELY Bec (former Vintage Girl) now of Little Flea Vintage & GORGEOUS Nicole (Glen Waverley Bazaar's Milkbar Vintage) at Washington Elephant....I know they'd be TICKLED PINK if you popped in & visited with them & saved them to your FAVOURITE list....!!





The TALENTED Bec from Little Flea Vintage

CLEVER Nicole from Washington Elephant (aka Milkbar Vintage)

Ok....Now I MUST get back to those notes....!!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)

PS: I'll be back tomorrow with some EXCITING news so STAY TUNED....!!!!!

Friday, October 5, 2012

This blog is all about ME....ME....ME....ME....M.E....!!!!!


Well actually....STRICTLY speaking that's not true AT ALL....

Hey Vintage Lovers EVERYWHERE....!

I've just returned from a buying trip & before I get back into the swing of things, I thought I'd take a moment to talk about my blog....WHY I blog & it's CONTENT....!

Why bother you might ask....Well it seems from feedback received, there are those of you who come here for INSPIRATION & are finding it somewhat disappointing that I don't seem to blog about anything other than my business, how much of a STRUGGLE it is as a small business owner to GROW my business & my obsession with my Filofax....

Well folks....Here it is from the horses mouth....Plain & simple....

The Shabby Vintage Junk blog is a BUSINESS based blog....It is NOT a blog about my personal life, my personal struggles, my personal beliefs....Be they those of a religious or political nature....!!!!!

The Shabby Vintage Junk blog is about my business, Shabby Vintage Junk....Stating the facts as I see them....The highs....The LOWS associated with running a small business....I will also discuss the financial 'issues', the time involved in running a small business & my BLOODY Filofax which I find to be an invaluable tool....!

If you are NOT interested in reading about these things....If you are ONLY interested in ZONING out for the few PRECIOUS MOMENTS you have to yourself each day....Visit PINTEREST & lose yourself there....!!!!!

The Shabby Vintage Junk blog is NOT fluff & pretty pictures....It is about what I do....My HOPES & DREAMS for MY business....It's NOT about what you want....YEP....I'm SELFISH like that....**wink**....That being said....If there are business related topics you would like to see me explore by all means, let me know & we might be able to work through the issue TOGETHER....!!

There are some areas within my business I consider off limits....Generally speaking these will be what I would consider work product i.e. WHERE I source a lot of my stock or specific information about the income derived from my business....That one's pretty much a no brainer though, I WILL let you know when times are TOUGH & discuss the ways in which I juggle finances to cover my overheads....!!!!!

There are times I may feel frustrated with aspects of my business....Theft, administration, keeping my business SEPARATE from my home etc....And I will use the Shabby Vintage Junk blog as a means to express my disappointments in these areas....Case in point below....

A GLUT of stock....Pay for extra storage until it's processed or risk 'shutting down' on a creative level because I can't cope with the chaos....??

I created the Shabby Vintage Junk blog as a means to reach out to LIKE MINDED people....If you are NOT a like minded person....You need to find yourself another blog to visit....While I enjoy the exchange of ideas derived through your comments I do not enjoy personal attacks made by small minded people who offer them under the guise of an Anonymous comment....A tact employed by Cyber Trolls who don't have the KOHUNAS to sign in under their own ID & leave their names....

For this reason, the Shabby Vintage Junk blog will no longer allow comments by Anonymous individuals....HOWEVER, if you do NOT have a blog & feel you would like to participate in the discussion, you are WELCOME to contact me at shabbyvintagejunk (at) hotmail (dot) com & I will include your comment....Provided of course you haven't contacted me to advise of your embarrassment that I'm posting content on my BUSINESS blog about my business....!!!!!

Well now that's out of the way I must FLY....Daylights a wasting & I have a MOUNTAIN of work to do....!!

Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy a FAB weekend filled with Treasures too NUMEROUS to count & laughter that makes your face & belly hurt....!!!!!

Cheers,
Tamarah  :o)

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A FEW Treasures just for me....**wink**....!

Hey Vintage Lovers EVERYWHERE....!!

It's been a BUSY Treasure Hunting month for me & Casa du SVJ is BURSTING at the seams....I've just spent the day processing the last of a MASSIVE haul & thought I'd show you the Treasures I've set aside for myself....I mean....A Junkers gotta have some 'blang' right....hahahahaSNORT....!!

** Pertyyyyyyyyy **

The FIRST Tea Chest I've EVER found in condition I'd be happy to have in my home....!  

Dated 1976 it has GREAT typography....!

When I saw this BEAUTY I was smitten....I immediately started to calculate the price I would attach to it after cleaning & a possible visit with Poly....Then....The lady I got it off looked at me & said...."Are you going to do it up....?"

I replied...."No, it's PERFECT as it is....I'll clean it & maybe seal it so it stays that way forever...!"

And then she said...."It was mine when I was a little girl...."  She had that look as she spoke of someone who was parting with something that meant a great deal to her....

And that SEALED it for me....This GORGEOUS tricycle will live here at Casa du SVJ with us....  :o) !!!!!

PS:  As I was driving off I looked in my rear view mirror & her Husband was cuddling her....They were chest to chest in their driveway just standing there....His hand caressing her head....so YES....This tricycle aint goin' anywhere....!!!!!!!!!!

Gone....But NOT forgotten....!

Those who know me well KNOW I'm a suitcase HO....I have 27 x odd in my personal collection....The MAJORITY of which house my Vintage Christmas Collection....I've NEVER seen a small two tone suitcase before so this little SWEETIE's staying put....!!

It's been forEVER since I found this style of suitcase....Love....LOVE....L.O.V.E cream canvase leather trimmed pieces....**sigh**....

I was so HAPPY to found this HUGE glass jar....They make PERFECT display pieces when it comes to corralling smalls....!! 

The PATINA of this wooden SLADES box is TO DIE FOR....The wood is weathered & smooth & just so SEXY....**wink**....

West German pot plant doodad....happy HAPPY....JOY....JOY....!!!!!

LOVE this Willow tin....

And this casket inspired tin with it's enameled finish is DIVINE....This chippy blue pot plant doodad is just TOO CUTE....I have a green one at The Vintage Shed which hasn't sold so I'm gonna grab it on Thursday & put it with this one....!!!!!

YUMMY galvinised hardware piece....L.O.V.E IT....!!!!!

Vintage Christmas....Yep....I think I may have peed my pants a little....Well it's been a while....!!

How did Hartley get in there....NAUGHTY GIRL....We ADORE her....Even though she's the NAUGHTIEST Fur Friend I've / we've ever known....eVER....!!!!!

I am SO INTO these at the moment....I'd like to do a WHOLE wall with them....!!

OK so that's it for the time being....I hope you're all having a FABULOUS week....!!

OH....Before I go though I would LIKE to apologise for not responding to the last couple of posts comments....Please KNOW that I read each & every one & LOVE....LOVE....LOVE that you take the time to pop in....Mr SVJ & I are getting ready to go away in a couple of weeks & I am under the pump....I P.R.O.M.I.S.E I'll be making my way around shortly....!!!!!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)

Thursday, August 30, 2012

FINALLY....My NEW Malden Filofax is here....!!!!!

Hello Filo Friends & Junk Peeps....!

When the doorbell rang at 6.47am this morning I jumped out of bed omitting a shriek of pure childlike JOY 'cause I knew when I flung open the door, an Aussie Post Courier was going to be standing there wanting me to sign for my new personal sized Malden Filofax in Ochre....And I was not disappointed....**insert big STUPID grin here**....!!!!!

And how did I know....?  Yesterday after clicking my UPS tracking doodad for what must have been the THOUSANDTH time over the last FOUR weeks since the GORGEOUS Margo forwarded my BEAUTY on to me, the tracking info displayed FINALLY said processed in AUSTRALIA....Yep I was BESIDE myself last night when I went to bed....Surely it would arrived TOMORROW I hoped as I drifted off to sleep....Thanks Heavens it did other wise I would have had to wait until MONDAY....BUGGER that....!!!!!

I didn't linger....I tore the wrapping open to reveal the Filofax box TOOT SWEET....

And the ANGELS sang as I pushed aside the tissue paper to reveal this SEXY piece of leather beneath....**sigh**....

There's an eBay Seller in the US who refers to this particular style of Filofax as 'The Tom Selleck'....Oh YEAH....**wink**....

Here he is with my crimson pocket sized Malden I use as a wallet....

GorGEOUS....

A month or so ago I discovered the DIVINE Ms enjoyette on YouTube who did a series of videos on her own Malden personal setup which appealed to IMMENSELY....I LOVE how she was able to make such a practical tool both functional & FUN at the same time....!!

So when you open 'Tom' up there are four credit card size pockets which I've popped some of my SVJ business cards in & a small notebook from Typo that I found in an Op-Shop....The pages are perforated making it a very handy little item....!


This plastic sleeve has an opening at the top that I can stow larger pieces of paper, lists etc for future filing...

Next up are two pages filled with Smash Pockets by K&Company though, you can also get similar ones here in Melbourne from Typo....PERFECT for stashing bits of TAT....

Horizontal year planner....

Quick ref yearly calendars....

My week on two pages....Colour coded....green is BUSINESS, blue is HEALTH & FITNESS & orange relates to SOCIAL activities...Appointment times are noted at the top of the day using an erasable pen (as appointment times can change) & I use the appropriate colour pen to indicate which appointment it relates to....Once an appt. or task has been completed I draw a line through it in red....

TO DO lists are filed under the appropriate month for quick reference....

My project section is colour coded with four individual dividers....

A ruler leads me to my SPARE NOTE pages....

This is TODAYS TO DO list which sits in between my week on two pages....

After my PROJECT section I have a map of the world followed by two pages of credit card pockets....

....Where I stow specific business cards & stickers....The pocket on the back has a few stickers & some emergency money....shhhhhhh.....DON'T tell anyone....**wink**....!!

DELICIOUSLY....

ORGANISED....

**smile**

I hope you all enjoy a FABULOUSLY relaxing weekend....!

I'm off to play with Tom....Mwhahahahaha....SNORT....!!!!!

Cheers,
Tamarah :o)