Three things that made me SMILE out loud today....

Hooley DOOLEY....What a day....!

I walked out the back this morning at 6.20am to begin the mammoth task of processing the stock I've gathered over the last 4 days....It's now 6.32pm & I've just downed tools (sugar soap, eucalyptus oil & various scrubbing implements) for the day & walked inside....Unfortunately, I still have around 3 hours worth of cleaning to go but that will have to wait until tomorrow 'cause I'm B.E.A.T....!!!!!

Throughout the day I've popped inside for one reason or another & passed by the three items you see below & every time my eyes lighted on these recently acquired Treasures my HEART SMILED....O.U.T LOUD....

Three vintage pieces with absolutely nothing in common other than the fact I found them in the Hard Rubbish....

This 1960's artwork is so STRIKING....Everything about it says TOUCH ME....!

SEXY organic Mid century simplicity....!!

And I ADORE this small English made dart board....

A.D.O.R.E it....!!!!!

And this little SWEETIE is simply TO DIE FOR....

I have three larger light fittings & was THRILLED to find the smallest version....I hope one day to use them in our FOREVER house....!!

So GLAD I had these three Treasures to keep me company today....Without them I may not have cracked a smile all day....!!!!!

I hope you all had a little something to make YOU smile today....!!!!!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)

Can anyone HELP me identify my SEXY Pottery Lamp....Bitossi....??

I should be FIVE SOMEWHERE ELSES....But with the opening of the Shabby Vintage Junk Shop next Thursday I'm finding ways to deal with the stress shirk my duties & find myself fixating on....OTHER things....!!

Take this STUNNING green pottery lamp for example....I found it a few weeks ago & it's been standing about in the living area ever since....Well with everything going on at the moment, TODAY is the day my mind's decided to FIXATE on it & I've just spent the last two hours trying to identify it....I mean....I'm pretty sure it's a Bitossi but I've not seen this particular colour & design before & need to know so I can....Get out of bed get some bloody work done....!!!!!

It's a WHOPPER standing well over 1 1/2 ft tall.... 

Deep impressed design which I thought might be the 'Spagnola' pattern this fellow was talking about over at the retropolitan blog but I wasn't able to locate any further info after that... 

The AWESOME green colour is TO DIE FOR.... 

And I LOVE the uneven texture of both the pottery & the glaze.... 

I found some info here re Bitossi markings but I was confused as I'm pretty sure there's no 'B' in Italy & I don't think this relates to the 'B' noted here....

....hmmmmm.... 

Gorgeous....GORGEOUS GREEN.... 

And although I've always enjoyed the rimini blue pieces....This piece has grown on me....ESPECIALLY so this morning it would seem....!!!!! 

If you're able to help me identify this BEAUTY I'd really appreciate it....I'll OWE you big time for sure....!!!

Now don't forget....If you're coming to the Grand Opening of the SVJ Shop at Waverley Antiques & Collectibles Bazaar on the 14th to drop me a line at shabbyvintagejunk@hotmail.com so we can make sure we have sufficient helpers, staff, coffee & food on hand to accommodate you....!!!!!

Cheers for now,

Tamarah  :o)

Wordless Monday....**wink**....!!

My new FAVE Treasure....At least for now....hahahahaha....**wink**....!!

Hello Junk Lovers EVERYWHERE....!

I hope wherever you are you are enjoying FABULOUS weather like we are here in Melbourne....!!  It seems Spring MAY have come early as we're enjoying our FOURTH consecutive day of GLORIOUSLY mild weather for which I am ABUNDANTLY grateful....Bring on Summer I say....!!!!!

I'm at home today working on some pieces to take to The Vintage Shed tomorrow morning so I can't stay for long....I just wanted to pop in & show you a piece I rescued from the HR last week....I LOVE it to bits....It has the PERFECT patina....I can use it in EVERY room & it was FREE....Well....Aside from the 6 hour stint behind the wheel & the $30.00 worth of fuel my van guzzled as we pottered through the streets that is....!!!!!

A utilitarian piece with an industrial vibe, this piece was originally a drawer from a workbench & at a guess, due to the pitting evident  inside the pigeon holes, it was used to store nails....

So PERTY.... 

It's now a coffee & tea station on my kitchen bench....! 

Mason jars filled with JOE & special tea blends sit on top.... 

While my collection of THRIFTED glazed coffee mugs from the 70's reside inside....! 

**sigh**....It REALLY doesn't take much to make me happy.....! 

....Not REALLY....!

Well I must get back to it & out into the sunshine....!!

Cheers for now,

Tamarah  :o)

A very SWEET reminder as to WHY I do some of the things I do....!!

Hello Seekers of the Past....!

I trust this post finds your week off to a FANTASTIC start....As always, I'm running around like a headless chook but have stopped for a sec to share a little something with you that made me smile out loud on the weekend....!!

On Sundays when I do the Market, my day starts shortly after 3am to the sound of 'angry crickets'....(Iphone alarm sound)....More often than not, as Saturdays are pretty much the BUSIEST day of the week for me I don't get into bed until around 12-1am so after two hours sleep I'm not really at my best....Anyways....At the sound of the aggro crickets, I awake disoriented....Hardly knowing who I am let alone what day it is....Bones & muscles aching from hauling furniture about the day before & at the back of my very FOGGY mind swirls the question....WHY....??.

After I've unloaded my van at the Market & moved it over into the vendor car park I run around for a couple of hours searching for a Treasure....Just one....One little thing to reward myself for the effort....Sometimes I find something though, there are some Sundays where I don't find a single thing & as I stand at my stall working very hard at selling my junk, the question of WHY returns....

If I'm very LUCKY, one of my GORGEOUSLY creative Customers will come by & remind me EXACTLY why I do what I do....Case in point....The LOVELY Lara Cameron from Kirin Notebook Blog stopped by & purchased a little 1950's stool from me & showed me a pic of the last piece she'd bought from my stall a few weeks back....It was a sweet set of 1960's plastic drink cups in a tarnished wire stand which she had CLEVERLY transformed into a MAGIC succulent garden....!!!!!

I can't tell you how this ONE interaction on Sunday warmed my heart....It literally validated the WHOLE day for me....The pic below was taken by Lara herself who often blogs about the transformation of her Treasures....Please be sure & pop in for a visit as this is one very CLEVER & INSPIRATIONAL 'Keeper Of The Past'....!

** sigh **

Well Friends I must fly....I need to unload the van & get back out on the road....!!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)

Isn't she LOVELY....Isn't she WONDERFUL....Isn't she PRECIOUS....

Dear Fellow THRIFTERS & GLEANERS everywhere....!!

While the title of my post pays homage to the EVER FABULOUS Stevie Wonder....I'm NOT gushing about a new born babe....No siree....I'm talking about the MOST DIVINE Wedding Cake Topper I found yesterday in an Op-Shop....I need to back track briefly though....

Yesterday I took my LOVELY Friend Sophie out into the Hard Rubbish for a look see....Alas....Treasures were light on the ground so we intermingled our time in the HR with visits to Op-Shops in the area....We found some NEAT stuff & at around 1.30pm headed home so Sophie could relieve her MIL from baby sitting duties....!!

With several hours left in what is generally one of my BUSIEST sourcing days, I headed back out armed with my cup of coffee to hit a few Op-Shops in & around the Oakleigh area & THIS is where I found my NEW (to me) BEAUTY....TWENTY of the BEST dollars I have EVER spent I reckon....!!!!!

Exquisite.... 

Ethereal.... 

PERFECT in EVERY way.... 

Paper flowers, MERCURY glass bell which tinkles MAGICALLY.... 

***sigh*** And now I have THREE....  :o) !!

Mr SVJ asked when I showed him, "Why did you get another one?"  To which I responded, "Because when you FINALLY BLOODY WELL ask me I'm gonna have a cake the size of our house....!! 

This one was my FIRST....I was very fortunate to WIN it from the GORGEOUS Alicia over at Time Worn Style MANY moons ago on eBay....!! 

And this DIVINE topper  was purchased from the ADORABLE Gina over at Vintage Junk In My Trunk when she FIRST opened her Etsy Shop....I was her FIRST Customer....LUCKY me....  :o) !!

Well now I've shared my little bit of HAPPY with you I MUST away....I HOPE to be back later to share a WHOLE LOT OF HAPPY in the form of one of my FAVE blogs....!!!!!

Cheers for now,

Tamarah  :o)

Flea Market Style Magazine available in Australia here at Shabby Vintage Junk....!!

Greetings Keepers of the Past....!

I am OVER THE MOON excited to be quite possibly, the FIRST person here in Australia to clap eyes on the SECOND instalment of Flea Market Style Magazine created by the Queen of Junk herself, Ki Nassauer & the FABULOUS team over at the Flea Market Style Blog.

I sat ABSORBED, mouth open....Drool falling Homer like down my chin as I perused this STUNNING magazine earlier this morning after the Courier arrived....And I can HONESTLY say, WITHOUT A DOUBT....While I did not think it possible....This edition is even BETTER than the first....The pictures, editorial & layout are CREDIT to Ki & her Team & I am THRILLED I ordered EXTRA copies to share with my Aussie blog mates....!

I have 18 x copies sitting on my dining room table waiting to be sent to the first 18 x Aussie readers who send me their email details....The cost per copy is $25.00 which includes postage....!

I'm currently at home, outside cleaning Treasures but will be monitoring my emails throughout the afternoon.  As soon as you've left your details I'll send you an invoice via Paypal & if you get back to me before 5pm TODAY I'll whizz down to the Post Office & get your copy out to you....With any luck you'll be able to read it FIRST THING Monday when the Postie arrives....!

Now....Back to those grubby Treasures....!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah  :o)

PS: As of 5.30pm I have 15 x copies of this FAB magazine available....If any Aussie readers comment this evening I will send an invoice through to you & post your magazine off tomorrow morning....!!!!!

Leather Suitcases.... ** sigh ** ....!

Hello Vintage Enthusiastes & Keepers of The Past....!

As always I hope this post finds you all WELL & HAPPY....! 

I've had this post in my draft file for a while & while I'm ITCHING to share my BIG NEWS with you, I'm a little under the weather so I thought I'd set this one free into the blogisphere & come back with my news when I'm feeling more like my old self....

Today I thought I'd share with you my LOVE of Vintage Leather Suitcases....!

I have vintage suitcases stashed ALL over the place....All styles & sizes ranging from the BEAUTIES you see below, to brown cardboard Globites, hard creamy canvas ones with stripes right through to retro vinyl overnight bags....I think my FAVES though would have to be my leather ones....There is just somethin' SERIOUSLY SEXY about their battered exteriors that I can relate to....hahahahaha....

This SWEETIE is a recent Hard Rubbish find....Isn't he GORGEOUS....  :o)

This HANDSOME fella was also a HR find from a couple of years ago....!

This AWESOME piece is a French suitcase & was a gift from Mr SVJ last Christmas....!

This little fella was a gift from a vendor at the market who wouldn't take any money for it 'cause the latches wouldn't catch....??

And this precious guy was also found in the HR around a year ago....!

Together....They form a tower of DELICIOUSNESS that makes my heart SING whenever my eyes rest upon them....!!!!!

Each one tells a story of hopes & dreams & distant lands once travelled....The scuffs & stains whisper to me of another life lived....I LOVE the way the old leather smells....I ADORE each & every one & could NEVER imagine parting with ANY of them....!!!!!

Do you have a leather suitcase collection....?  I'd LOVE to see them if you do....?

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing....I hope you're having a FAB day....!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)

3 WONDERFUL surprises that made me SMILE OUT LOUD today....! (Post# 99)

Hello Junkers near & far.... :o) !

I arrived home a short while ago from a TIRESOME day at 'the pesky day job' to find not one but THREE parcels waiting for me....And boy did I SMILE....OUT LOUD....!!

Don't they look D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S....!

These DIVINE lavender sachets are from the ADORABLE Amy over at Into Vintage who has TWO FABULOUS Etsy Shops....Vintage Home for things she makes & Peppermint Bark for things she finds.

As if the sachets weren't ADORABLE enough, Amy included this GORGEOUS tissue cover INCLUDING a packet of tissues....!  I URGE you to visit Amy's blog & Etsy Shops....You'll be GLAD you did....!!

The next package contained this Victoria Bliss Magazine I'd hunted down for an article it had on Antique Week in Texas....And you KNOW how I LOVE Texas AND Antique Week....!!

*** sigh ***

And last but by no means least is this EXQUISITE Victorian coin purse....I won it from a LOVELY eBay Seller in the UK - forneth.  GORGEOUS Anne included a farthing along with a little note.

I'm OVER THE MOON HAPPY with this sweet piece & intend on reworking it into a necklace.  If you like unusual eclectic Treasures & AWESOME service from your eBay Sellers, pop Anne's eBay ID - forneth on your watch list....

THANK YOU to Amy & Anne for turning a BLAH day into a W-A-H-O-O day....!!

Now talking of WAHOO days, don't forget Gina & my COMBINED 100th post GIVEAWAY will happen with our VERY NEXT POSTS....It's gonna be BIG....!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah  :o)

I'm PROUD to announce SVJ has WON an award....WOOHOO :o) !!

Hello Junker Friends....!

I'm pleased....NO....CHUFFED....Ahh....No...PROUD AS PUNCH to advise the GORGEOUS Angela over at the incredibly FUNKY Bounty Huntress has bestowed upon this little ole blog of mine the "This Blog is Charming" award....WOOHOO....!!

If you haven't had the pleasure of 'falling into' Angela's blog before PLEASE do yourself a favour & pop in for a visit....I so look forward to seeing a new post from this WONDERFUL blogger & reading her Treasure Hunting stories makes me SMILE out loud....!!  Angela even has a YUMMY Etsy shop where she GENEROUSLY shares her Treasures with her readers so if you're after a special piece, you might just find it at the Bounty Huntress....!!

Now the rules are I have to share a few things about myself so BUCKLE UP Junkers for I have NO SHAME....hahahahahahaSNORT....JARST kidding....  :o) !!

Ok ok....So you already know I have a big CRUSH on Stephen Dorf, suffer from a rare form of OCD (of the peg & cracks in pavement & straight pictures variety), was a gymnast in my younger years, have SCARY hiccups & sneezes, snort when I laugh, ADORE Elvis, LOATHE winter, I've been to France but NOT to Paris, Skydived my youth away, am FANATICAL about my early morning exercise, boogers make me dry retch AND I'm going to THE JUNK BONANZA for the FIRST time THIS September....But I bet you didn't know....

1/   My almost FAVOURITE food in the world is....Biscuits & Gravy....I KID YOU NOT....I reckon the BEST place to indulge in this REMARKABLE meal is ANY IHOP you can find....Love love LOVE their coffee too....!!

NB: After returning from my last visit to the US, Mr SVJ surprised me by producing an ALMOST perfect Biscuit & Gravy breakfast for me....He was in the 'good books' for close on to a week after that effort....hahahahahaha....!!

2/  While we're talkin' calories....My ALL TIME FAVE meal (of the dinner variety) can be found at the Cracker Barrel:  Southern fried chicken steak, fried okra, mashed spuds, white gravy & CORN BREAD....** sigh **

3/  I lived in Texas for 6 months back in 1995 & have a GINORMOUS soft spot for the Lone Star state....!!  This is where I developed my fondness for numbers 1 & 2....  :o) !!

4/  I fantasize regularly about buying run down homes in the country & renovating them 'gently' into the 21st century....I'd furnish them tastefully with my Treasures & rent them out to city folk wanting to experience country life albeit, in short bursts....The aforementioned Treasures would be available for sale so if my visitors wanted a memento of their stay, they could take their FAVE piece home with them....  :o) !!

5/  I am a HUGE Star Trek fan....Trekker please....NO Trekkies here....hahahahaha....My loyalties lie with the Next Generation though which in turn introduced me to the original movies....My FAVE character is Jean Luc Picard....Or maybe that's because I have a BIG CRUSH on Patrick Stewart....I mean....Have you LISTENED ot that mans voice....** purrrrrrrrrr **....hahahahahahaSNORT....!!

Ok....Funs over & I need to pass this award on to two CHARMING BLOGS....I'd LOVE it if you could take a moment to pop in & say hi to these SWEET Aussie blog Friends....!!

Tamara over at A Treasured Past is a girl after my own heart....Tamara started her blog on the 12th July & had me at, "We are slowly renovating our 1920's home....."  Her eclectic Treasures have me looking forward to each new post & I'm itching to go to the Queanbeyan Swap Meet with her NEXT year....!!!

Alison from Hill & Vale Designs has not long returned with her family to Melbourne from Perth....Her GORGEOUS girls will melt your heart & her passion for vintage & crafts will keep you coming back for more....We BOTH love vintage sheets & crafts of the knitted & crotched variety....I think Alison's tastes are a little more refined than mine though....!!

Well I must away....'See' you soon....!!!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah  :o)

Isn't the TRANSFORMATION a little elbow grease can bring about so REWARDING....?!

Hello Everyone....!

I hope this post finds you ready to launch into the weekend in a BIG WAY....I have my change purse ready ALREADY, popped my $25- worth of fuel in the van (checked the oil, water & tyres) & have my early morning 'junking chores' ready to get out of the way WELL before 7.30am....!!

Before I come back with my Saturday Finds & Sunday Wrap Up though I wanted to share this AWESOME find with you plucked STRAIGHT out of the Hard Rubbish....Now I have gone a little overboard with the pics but I REALLY want to show what could be achieved with a little 'follow through'....Trust me though....An HOUR into this clean up, I was thinking about setting it aside so I could engage in something a little more....Well....FUN....hahahahahaha....!!

I am at LONG LAST the proud owner of my very FIRST Le Crueset frypan....It weighs a tonne & when Mr SVJ picked it up I looked at him & smiled....Ever so slyly....mwahahahahaha....

It was raining outside when I took my pics so the 'marks' you see on the base are just moisture related....Trust me....This frypan is in SCHMICK nick....NOW....!

But it WASN'T always the case....It had YEARS of baked on grime over the entire surface with the exception of the handle....This pic was taken on DAY 2 after TWO coats of Mr Muscle....Just quietly....Mr Muscle is a PUSSY....I should have remembered my own words....NEVER let a man do for you what  you can so EASILY do for yourself....hahahahahahaSNORT....!

Thick BAKED on blargggghhhhhh.....

Making headway....

OK....Lets bring out the bloody paint scraper & see how we go with that....Ooh it's coming off BIG TIME....!

SO close & yet....

2.15hours & I'm done....!

** sigh **

Purrrrrrfection....

I do LOVE a good junking challenge....How about you....??

Well there it is....The Le Crueset frypan I felt deserved it's VERY own post....I like to think someone else may have picked this up out of the HR but all things being equal, I don't think that was on the cards....!!

I hope wherever you are you're having an AWESOME week....!!  

Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)

PS:  Mr SVJ & I are just back from work & I'm organising dinner....As soon as we're done I'm heading back out to an INTERESTING pile of HR I spied in the dark on our way home.....hahahahahaha....WISH ME LUCK....!!!!

PPS:  Alas....My imagination must have been working overtime as Mr SVJ & I drove home through the HR tonight 'cause when I went back to investigate....The chair I saw was PLASTIC, cracked & broken & the table I spied was riddled with borer....** sigh ** Oh well....The weekend is but a heart beat away....!!!