Lawsons Menzies auction this Sunday

The Kensington fine interiors auction

The Kensington fine interiors auction

Last night I went to a special preview screening of the Lawsons auction taking place at 12pm this Sunday at 12 Todman Ave, Kensington. It’s not an el-cheapo auction but there are some top finds here.

My picks? The Tim Storrier piece on the wall above and the zebra skin rug (I know, I know, but he’s long dead… better to be appreciated, otherwise that would be a complete waste) as well as the Paul Smith-esque striped parlour chairs, a rather fetching gilt bedhead that could do with a re-upholster, and any of the original vintage French advertising posters, amongst others.

For some canny auction house tips, click here.

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R.I.P.

Alexander McQueen snakeskin print dress

Alexander McQueen snakeskin print frock

The man was a genius, no doubt about it – it’s always sad to see such talent extinguished.

Items available on Net-a-Porter.

Silver skull sandals

Alexander McQueen silver skull sandals

Alexander McQueen denim-effect leather biker jacket

Alexander McQueen denim-effect leather biker jacket

More excellent vintage posters

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Here’s another great place to source vintage posters – allposters.com. J’adore the one above, and check out some other favourites below.

Click here for an earlier post on Galerie Montmartre.

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I do like to be beside the seaside

I do like to be beside the seaside

Lark Handmade

Knitted teaset from Lark Handmade

Knitted teaset from Lark Handmade

Love this site, both for its super-cute, well chosen items and total ethos supporting handmade and ethical products. And they deliver in no time at all, too.

Knit me a cake or two

Knit me a cake or two

Rare finds from Duck Egg Blue

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I saw this vintage lightbox below for Lanvin’s ‘My Sin’ perfume just before Christmas in Rozelle’s Duck Egg Blue Quintessential, but what with all the other gifts to buy I didn’t purchase it on the spot. And now I’m gutted because it’s s-o-l-d.

Duck Egg Blue’s great for those rare finds you don’t see all over the place, like beautifully crafted shoe lasts and beaten-up old lockers and plush leather armchairs. And the boutique for clothing, jewellery, books and other items such as my favourite Nesti Dante soap and the new stationery range from Poppies for Grace is brilliant also, way down the other end of Darling St in Balmain. Not your ordinary average.

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More Castle & Things

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A while back I mentioned I was off to the Orson & Blake exhibition to buy one of Rachel Castle’s cool, colourful pieces. Well, this is what I bought and gave to James for Christmas. And he gave me the Castle & Things yellow polka dotted sheet set I’ve been pining for – here they are:

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And yesterday I handed in the final pages for my next book, The Crafty Kid, which I have to say is a great relief. Now I just have to sit tight and wait (not easy for impatient minxes, to be sure)!

Paper art

Greeting card from Paper2

Greeting card from Paper2

I’m a wee bit obsessed with paper play at the moment. I might be suffering withdrawals after all those collage cards I made over christmas, and then some (in advance for 2010 birthdays). I had a grand old time playing with scissors, paper, stickers and this fab Japanese masking tape Rebecca & I ordered a while back.

Check out this card I picked up from Paper2 in Surry Hills, with Parisian skyskape on the front and pop-up Eiffel Tower inside.

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Rob Ryan's 'We had everything'

Rob Ryan's 'We had everything'

And one of Rob Ryan’s poetic paper cutouts above. Such intricate beauty. Next time I’m in London I’m making a beeline to his store, Ryantown.

I’m simply in awe of his talent – look at this dress he made for Vogue:

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Ryantown

Ryantown

Victoria Mason jewellery

'Take a seat' necklace by Victoria Mason

'Take a seat' necklace by Victoria Mason

Happy new year! I think I’m going to love you, 2010.

This is my new favourite necklace, purchased from Reclaim in Summer Hill. Check out Victoria’s site for more gorgeous creations. J’adore the pencil shaving. Cute, huh?

Plus, a crafty heart pendant for you below:

I love you this much

I love you this much

New Amy Butler designs

I’m loving these two new Amy Butler fabrics, both available from Duckcloth. Gorgeous for quilts, bags or sunhats:

Tumble Roses in Tangerine

Tumble Roses in Tangerine

Water Bouquet in Mint

Water Bouquet in Mint

I’m jealous, Hobart

Divine threads

Rainbow threads

On my tour to Tassie last week for more workshops, fellow Crafty Minx Belinda Gobbey kindly took me to The Quilted Crow, owned by partners Leonie & Deirdre… I fell in love, in raptures over the delicious range of fabrics. Very jealous of all those Hobart people living in such close proximity to this beautiful store, when I’m so far away. Deirdre’s son works at one of Hobart’s popular tip shops and sources all the second-hand furniture, which I love also.

Award-winning quilter Helen Stubbings came along to the workshop at Fullers Bookshop and I couldn’t help gushing over her quilt, shown here below. I bought a few half-metre lengths of Rosalie Quinlan fabric (love love love this – it even has a tea set design), hand-dyed felt in bright red, blue and yellow and some sweet rusted heart and star decorations for the xmas tree this year. Heaven is.

Fab chintzy prints and polka dots

Fab chintzy prints and polka dots

Gorgeous Helen Stubbings quilt & doll house

Helen Stubbings quilt & doll house

Covetable fat squares

Fat squares

Every corner a delight

Cute corners

Cute tea cosy and lovely striped bias binding

Tea cosy and lovely striped bias binding

Another delicious quilt

Another delicious quilt

And more... gorgeous

And more...

Hand-dyed wool felt

Hand-dyed wool felt

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