Home Again....

Hi everyone,

Well I have been home for a week now, have already done one market & have two more to go this weekend!!  Our trip was so wonderful & if you want to see some of my photos pop on over to my Bears and Old Lace facebook page.  After this weekend I will post some more of my trip photos.

There were so many gorgeous little florist shops everywhere!

These are the old bears I picked up from various markets.  Ok I had better get back to the sewing machine lol!

Pincushions.....

Here's a few of the sweet little pincushions I have been making lately!  I love the round one with the vintage tape measure around it.  I have used an old tin for the bottom (it's great as I won't damage myself with pins & needles coming out the bottom)! 

I hope you are all having a lovely Monday!

New Collage & A Holiday....

This is my latest collage.  I'm really enjoying creating them & it's so much fun using up all my old laces & bits & pieces.

I'm really excited to be able to tell you that my husband & I will be travelling to France & England in the not too distant future!  I'm even learning French but I'm thinking it's a good thing my husband speaks it as I'm having a hard job retaining it at the moment!  I can't wait to hit the markets & find lots of treasures.  I've heard things are quite expensive at some of these markets so I will definitely have to bring out all my bargaining skills!

Have a lovely week everyone!

Bear & Friend

These two are one of my entries for a local show I have in a weeks time.  Oops just remembered Annie needs shoes painted on & maybe a paper hat for the li'l sailor boy??

New Collage

This is what I have been working on in the last few days.  I love the old photo postcard.  The photo was taken on Vera's 3rd birthday & her brother Roger was 4 1/2.  The photo was taken in 1917.  I just love old photos.

Have a wonderful weekend wherever in the world you are.  It's a bit breezy here today in Brisbane.

Joolz x

Wow it's a busy time!

Wow it feels like I am running this week!  Collectorama is on again at Nambours Showgrounds tomorrow.  Thank goodness for my good friend Pam (Nest In The Attic) who helped me pack & is coming with me today for the set-up!

Sunday Pam & I are heading to the city on Sunday to sell at the Suitcase Rummage at Redacliffe Place.  It starts at 12pm and finishes at 5pm. 

Have a lovely weekend wherever in the world you may be!

Photos from the Suitcase Rummage & Collectorama On Again!

The suitcase rummage in the park turned out to be a lovely day!  A lovely lady by the name of Christine was out with her Urban Art Group & asked if she could sketch my bears & ellies.  If you would like to see the finished sketches pop over to my FB page at Bears & Old Lace.  Laura from Billy Angel (pictured) dropped by for a visit as did the lovely Tatyana.

I am so busy this week sorting through all my goodies as Collectorama will be on again this Saturday at Nambour, (at the showgrounds from 7.30 - 2pm).

I have a lot of incentive to get as much stuff there as possible as my hubby & I are travelling to Paris in November!!  Can't wait to hit those fleamarkets!!

Hope your week is going well!

Finally Finished Cute Dog & New Market

Hi everyone hope you've all had a fantastic week!  Meet Lilly my new li'l pug dog.  She's created from an old jacket.  Just have to grubby her up a bit & then I'll take her to my new market tomorrow.  For everyone living in Brisbane it's called the Suitcase Rummage Home Festival.  It's on at Raymond Park, Kangaroo Point (behind the Pineapple Hotel).  It's supposed to be selling like Grandma did, out of a suitcase, no tables or gazebos allowed & definitely no mass produced products, all handmade, recycled etc as well as some vintage goodies.

It's on from 11am till 4pm.  If you come please come & say hello, would love to meet you!

For everyone else have a great weekend.
Julie x

New Lace Journals

These are a couple of journals that I have been working on lately.  I love being able to give new life to some of my special pieces of old lace. 

This picture was taken up at CottonTree where we were lucky enough to spend the weekend.  My husband's boss kindly lent us his holiday unit for the weekend.  It was just so beautiful & the weather although still cool was just lovely!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Woohoo The Rain Stayed Away!

Finally a market where the rain stayed away, believe me lots of prayers for dry weather were made.  The weather report was still forecasting rain & even driving there it didn't look great but thankfully it didn't happen. 

Three of my elephants & one giraffe found new homes.  None of my my journals sold, oh well just means I have more to list on etsy!

Here's my good friend Pam (Nest in the Attic) with some of her creations.  We always share a stall, so much nicer than doing it on my own!

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend.

Look What I Found Over The Back Fence....

Last week I happened to look over my back fence & spot this little guy at the bottom of a tree.  I ran back into the house & grabbed my camera but by the time I'd made it out to the park he was up this Eucalyptus tree.  He stayed there for about five minutes for a chat (I did the chatting) before climbing further up.  We are lucky enough to back onto a nature reserve so it's lovely to sit out the back & hear the native birds of a morning.

This past week I have been sewing up a storm for the BrisStyle Market on this Saturday at Hamilton at St Augustines Church.  This is one of the bags I have just finished.  I'm using recycled hessian & old coffee bags & finishing them off with vintage & antique laces etc, this one is embellished with a removable tulle & silk flower with a bit of bling in the middle and it has calico ruffles.

Have a great week everyone, my sewing machine is calling!!

Home Sweet Home....

What a wonderful nine days I had in New Zealand visiting family & friends.  I was lucky enough to have two trips to the snow.  The first photo is St Arnaud Lake (Nelson district).  The snow on the second trip was right up to the edge of the lake.  The second photo is of  Blake & myself.  He's the reason for the trip back as it was his first birthday.  Kiera my four year old grand-daughter is the other photo.  She was out of the car & into the snow before her Mum could get her dressed in her snow gear.  She didn't seem to feel the cold, mind you her feet looked a bit frost bitten after we emptied the water out of her gumboots!

I hope you've all been staying warm wherever you are!  I am surprised to find it cold back here in Brisbane.  I thought I would find it a lot warmer after coming from the snow & frosts in New Zealand!

Show's Over....Time For A Holiday!

Phew the Show is over for another year.  Here's a piccy of Lisa (Olive Grove Primitives, we shared a table) with a few of my critters.  We had a lovely time catching up with friends we haven't seen for awhile & making new ones.  I finally got to meet the lovely Tatyana, a fellow blogger.  It's so nice to finally put a face to someone that I've been trying to meet for awhile (the weather kept interfering with our plans to meet)!  Three of my critters were adopted & I got to sell a lot of my vintage bits & pieces so I was very happy!

This is Alison, another friend we hadn't seen for awhile.  She was there with her divine creations (if I wasn't going on hols this week I would have taken one home)!  She made the most divine little pug dogs & if that wasn't enough you should have seen her cute little pig!  By the time I took this photo she had sold them!  If you didn't get to the show you can see her in the current edition of Australian Bear Creations.  I have bought the mag but I'm not going to read it until I get on the plane!  

Right I'm off to clean the house, looks like a tornado has been through it!

Have a great week!

PS Just have to show you this adorable little guy, he belongs to Rosemary (Vintage Sisters) & was made by Whendi of Whendi's Bears.  Rosemary kindly let us have a loan of him for the day but I tell you it was hard handing him back!!

Two New Ellies

 These are my latest ellies I'm finishing off for this weekends show.  The top one I've made from viscose & she is sitting in a little cigar box that I've embellished.

This little one with the spotty ears is made from sparse mohair.  I found the cute little enamel cup in an antique shop.  Just need to grubby her up a bit & then she'll be ready.  It really is a lot of work getting ready for a show, never mind next week I get to fly to New Zealand for my grandson's first birthday so I can relax then!

Hope to see some of you at the Doll & Bear Show at the RNA Showground, Gregory Tce, Brisbane, Saturday & Sunday, doors open 9.30am!

New Bear & Bear Show

This is Annie, one of my latest creations.  I've dressed her in a grubby little vintage dolls dress that I found in an op shop in Atlanta last year & a very old baby jacket.  I found the jacket at a lovely little vintage shop in a small town called Esk when we were on our way to the Bear Show in Toowoomba last month. 
I'm slowly finishing off all my critters for Winter Wonderland this coming Saturday & Sunday at the RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane.  I love starting new projects but finishing them off is a bit of a chore!

Don't you just love the little vintage baby sandals, they are just the cutest.  I will be selling these (if I can bring myself to part with them) & some cute little vintage baby dresses.

Hope you can come, it's the biggest Bear & Doll Show in Brisbane!

Lots of Gorgeous Antique Lace....

These are some of the antique lace pieces I picked up at Collectorama on Saturday but I'm especially loving the little Gladstone bag I picked up from the lovely Wendy!  It's so cute and is only about 13" across.  I thought it would make a great prop for the Winter Wonderland Doll & Bear Show which is in Brisbane in 2 weeks time.  This is Lucy, she's one of my bears who will be coming with me to the show.

I am pleased to report that even though it rained on Saturday I had a fantastic day & managed to sell a lot of my stock!

I hope you've all had a fantastic weekend!

Collectorama This Saturday, Rain or Shine!!

Here's a few of my vintage items I'll be selling at collectorama this Saturday.  I have everything from buttons, old patterns, enamelware, old tins, books, doileys, tablecloths.  It won't matter if it rains as I will be undercover.

It's on from 7.30am to 2.30pm at Nambour Showgrounds.  If you love old treasures then this is the place for you as there's over 150 dealers with all their treasures!

Hope to see you there!

It's Raining Again!!

Sadly as it's raining this afternoon I won't be attending this Friday nights market.  I have been inside all this week nursing a cold so I didn't think it very wise to go out in the cold, wet weather tonight.

I had just finished this little upcycled bag to take with me as well.  Nevermind I'll try & list it in my etsy shop tonight.  There's gremlins in my computer at the moment so hopefully I'll be able to get it done!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

BrisStyle Market in Brisbane This Friday Night

These are some of my girls that are coming with me to tomorrow nights market in at the King George Square in Brisbane city.  The forecast is for rain but lets just hope it doesn't happen! 

Hope to see you there!

Lovely Laces

These are a few of the gorgeous vintage laces I found at this weekend's bear show at Toowoomba.  I didn't sell a lot but had such fun buying.  The blue trim is so sweet, it is finely pleated & then has a dainty lace edge (perfect little bear collar I'm thinking).  The 3 vintage buckles were another great find.  One is a lovely green bakelite, one gorgeous diamontes & the other more of an inlay diamonte.  Most of the laces came from a dollmakers estate.  I'm sure to treasure them as much as she did & hope to use them in lots of upcoming creations.

I hope you've all had a great weekend.  Still perfect weather here in Brisbane!

Vintage Kitchen Table - Latest Garage Sale Find

This is my great find from this morning's garage sale.  It's a lovely old 40's or 50's chrome legged table with a gorgeous blue laminex top (some marks on it though).  Now what to do, sell it or get it done up to use as a sewing table (it's very heavy & sturdy)??
I did find some other lovely old wall mirrors but I'll clean them before I do show & tell!

Hope you're all having an awesome weekend.  It's such beautiful weather here in Brisbane, so far it looks like it's going to be a great day for Mothers Day.  I'm heading out to Petrie Markets to sell some of my collectables so if you feel like a day out come & say hello!

Gorgeous Journals

These are the latest journals I have been working on.  I'm loving the fact I can get to use some of my lovely old laces & interesting bits & pieces on them.

This one I have wrapped in an old sewing pattern for a friend's 50th Birthday pressie.  I crafted the tag by dipping it in parisan essence & then stamping it with a Paris postmark, I then added a vintage stamp.  I'm really pleased how it turned out.

I think I'm becoming addicted to making them lol!

I'm hoping to list some on etsy later in the day.

Have a great week!

Home Again!

Well I've been home for over a week now!  We had an amazing trip & I am pleased to say the little boy we went to pray for is a lot better now.  He is still in hospital though & is having trouble with his legs but we believe that will change soon!

These photos were taken in Hue at the Forbidden City.  The girls above were from America, one was visiting Vietnam for the first time with her Mum who had fled Vietnam during the war.

Such a lovely place to wander around.  A lot of the buildings were destroyed in the war.

Oh well holiday over now it's time to get busy & get creative again!  I have a market this Friday night in the King George Square in Brisbane.  Hopefully this time there will be no rain!

HAPPY ANZAC DAY tomorrow!

What I'm Working On Today....

Well it's been awhile since I last posted!!  I never got to do the last market as it was just so wet & to drive into Brisbane in the wet weather just didn't appeal to Pam or I!  Anyway I have been busy creating & this little prim ellie is one of my latest creations.

I have also been planning a trip to Vietnam & will leave later this month.  We are going for a holiday but the main reason is to visit and pray for a little boy named Bo who has leaukemia.  I'm hoping to have a market stall this weekend to raise money for his medical bills.  I just hope it stays fine on Sunday!

I hope you're all having a great week!

Twilight Market Tonight....

Have just finished these journals that I'm taking to the Twilight Market in King George Square tonight.
Just praying for the rain to go away!!  It will still be on even if it rains but they may move us inside above the Groove Train.  Hope to see you there!  It's going to be handmade heaven!  Hope tonight we get to check out the other stalls.

Have a lovely weekend!

Don't You Just Love This Old Pram?

Look at this lovely old pram I scored off my friend Tina!  She was going to sell it at the bear show but it never quite made it there!  Lol!  It's old & rickety but I just love it!  Can't wait to use it for a prop at shows etc. 

Have a lovely week!

Gorgeous Flowers for Valentines Day

What a surprise when there was a knock on the door early this morning & I received this beautiful bouquet from my husband!!  The very talented Michelle Casey from Mary Casey Florist created this bouquet.  I used to work there once upon a time when I was a florist.  I miss those days of teamwork & the laughs we used to have!

Anyway Happy Valentines Day everyone & a big warm welcome to my new followers xx

Some of the things I'm working on today....

I'm finally finishing off these bears & ellie.  I love the guipure lace heart on the old blanket bear.  Still may have to grubby her a bit more.  Miss Ellie just needs sweet little dress & the other bear is presently hanging out to dry after another spray of parisian.  

I have my first bear show of the year on at Lawnton Showground on 19th February so am busy sorting & packing for that.

I was all inspired by Dawn's post on her Feathered Nest blogspot of the vintage baby shoe pincushions she was creating so here's what I created yesterday.
Such fun!

Have a lovely weekend!

Joolz

Adorable Ceramic Elephants

I just had to show you these gorgeous li'l elephants I picked up at a garage sale this morning.  The tag on one of them says Dumbo, Disney, Sydney.  The lady I purchased them from said they were quite old, maybe 50's???  I think they'll have to be keepers!

Have a lovely weekend wherever you may be.   Beautiful sunshine here in Brisbane, we can do with it after all the rain we have had!

Home Sweet Home

We arrived home from New Zealand on Friday night.  It was such a fantastic trip & I got to enjoy all 3 grandchildren in one country!   I managed to sneak in an Antique fair & the odd op shop as well as a garage sale where I scored a gorgeous old art deco wall mirror.  I packed the mirror in my hand luggage so I could carry it safely home but I hit a bump in the road when I was pushing the luggage trolley at the airport & sent all my bags flying, thank goodness for bubble wrap as it stayed in one piece!!

Today I've been working on this little guy.  I've recycled an old blanket to make him.  I'm just waiting for the rain to stop so I can spray him with parisian & age him up a bit.  I've used some old boot buttons I found in amongst my buttons for his eyes.  Will post another pic when I've finished him.  I'm trying to make myself finish a project before I start another one but somehow it hasn't quite worked!

It's That Time Of The Year Again.....

My bags are packed & in the morning I head off for Nelson, my home town in New Zealand.  This time my daughter & baby grandson are coming with me!  For the first time I will have all 3 grandchildren together!  Two baby boys & a beautiful grand-daughter who will be turning 4 while we are there!

I'm also planning to fit in a visit to an Antiques Fair, (and a few op-shops).  After I ditch all the pressies there should be plenty of room in my suitcase for some new treasures!!  The hatbox pictured I scored on my last trip home & the old bear is my very own from my childhood.  Sadly he has no eyes & his growler doesn't work.  He has glow in the dark paw pads though!  Hmm not sure if they still glow! 

See you all in 10 days!