Funky Finds Friday is going to Link Up.

In the effort to move forward, expand, share the love the blog love, mix with others and see some of the coolest finds from here and all over Australia and the world, My Vintage Vow is going to be linking up on a Friday. Funky Finds Friday will still be our day here to show off cool finds, you will still be most welcomed to post comment and link on my posts and share your finds. But My Vintage Vow will also be linking up with Sophie at Her Library Adventures and her Flea Market Finds.

If there is one thing I know about opping and thrifting is you can't just stick to one plan in mind of what you are looking for, it's an organic process and you just have to let things take your fancy. So with that being said, just hop to it each week, get your groove on and just get out there, search each nook and cranny in your favourite haunts and ones you've never been to before and see what wonders you come up with and then come back here each Friday and share with us and while you're at it why not link up with Sophie at Her Library Adventures on the weekends.

Wet and Rambling Sunday

I'm no stranger to being up early, with my two little Vowers it is to be expected. However this morning it was the rain that woke me. I had been laying in bed for a good hour or so listening to the rain on the roof and just thinking and letting my thoughts drift off to all sorts of different places. As it is I have slipped out of bed and left hubby at home with a doey eyed Master V quietly watching some kiddie show and Little V is still all snug in our bed. I am of course at my regular Sunday haunt now enjoying my soy chai latte and and raisin toast.

I am uncertain to today's plans now due to the rain. We are meant to be attending a big fundraiser day for a friends sick little girl. A local school is letting the organisers have the school grounds for the day, but with this rain I don't know if that includes use of the school buildings. I guess a few phone calls later on and we will find out. In lieu of the fundraiser day being cancelled, I think it will be a quiet day at home. If we have to stay in today I can probably get a bit achieved. I went out yesterday morning for a spot of thrifting with Little V and bought home another haul of vintage buttons, so I have some sorting to do there.

I could also make further headway on sorting out my creative space, I actually got started on that massive task this week and things are looking good. It won't be long though and that space will be a hub of buzzing creativeness as I have heaps of projects lined up which are going to be timely for spring, summer and the races. Those who have been fans of My Vintage Vow before Little V came along will be excited to hear that my uber cool clutch bags and purses with one off designs and embellishments will be back on offer. Along with the bags will be buntings with a shabby chic twist and more accessories, my staple at the moment.

So with all that said I best bid you all a good day even if it is a rainy one where ever you are. Come to think of it as I look off out the window here, it might just be a fun day to don the wellies and get out and about and splish and splosh around with Master V and do something fun and unexpected. Oh well clearly my day is up in the air, anything is possible. What are you doing today?

Oh and don't forget to check out the review for Juky and Beatrix if you are catching up on your blog reading today and deatils for a giveaway.

Juky and Beatrix Giveaway

If you are a book lover and have a bookcase or library of your own filled of much loved books that you can't part with but are forever on loan to friends on the recommendation of a particular book being a must read, this will be a giveaway you will want to be in the draw for.

I have four Juky and Beatrix bookplate sets. Bookplates go on the inside cover of your book for you to have your details neatly in one place. No more scribbling in pen on the inside cover. With Juky and Beatrix bookplates all of that is taken care of with these beautiful designs and a bit of whimsy. They make a great little thank you gift to that book loving friend who lent you a book, or maybe even a great little stocking filler for Christmas if you want to start getting organised.

If you would like to be in the draw for this giveaway you will need to be a follower for My Vintage Vow Blog or Facebook Page you will need to post a comment here or on Facebook telling us what your favourite book is. You can double your chances of winning a set of Juky and Beatrix bookplates, so if you aren't already a Facebook fan pop over there and double your chances. Likewise if you're a Facebook Fan and you are popping in here, and you aren't already a blog follower, double your chances by becoming a follower and leaving your comment here as well. Cut and paste comments will be fine for your entry.

I also have one last chance for someone to win one of the four bookplate sets as well as an additional mystery Juky and Beatrix surprise so if you would like to be in the draw for that you will need to meet three criteria leave me a comment here, to tell me that you are one of our Facebook fans as well, but you will need to pop on over to Juky and Beatrix Facebook Page and become a fan.

Entries Closed

ETA: I have had to edit this post due to a calender blunder in planning this post and giveaway. Entries were meant to in my planning to close 8pm on 24/8/2011. But in error I quoted the 31/8/2011 at 8pm to be the closing date. Due to this major blunder and oversight this giveaway and it's winner have already been drawn. I am clearly very upset that I have allowed made this blunder. All winners who were drawn will still receive their prizes legitimately and those who have entered since the draw have been contacted privately.

Juky and Beatrix Review

Juky and Beatrix sound like names from a wonderful children's fairytale don't they? I imagine them to be gorgeous rosey cheeked characters behind the cover of a well loved children's book of a time gone by.

Juky and Beatrix is a sweet little business based on the Gold Coast in Australia. A handmade stationery label which was conceived through creator May's experiences in her university library. These experiences saw her stumble upon a wall of old books that looked like they hadn't been touched in years. In May's words, "the dust was so thick I could have drawn a picture. The particular journal I picked out was called Temple Bar and there was just something magical about the way that time had aged that book. The pages were brittle and spotted with age. They felt rough and powdery and had that wonderful oaky smell. And there were stories! So, many. stories. I probably spent my first two years of uni in the library reading those journals. After that, I started collecting those sorts of books when I could. Sometimes you'd find stuff pressed between the pages like advertisements for soaps and medicine which could be more precious than the book itself".

Through May's experiences she has been inspired to create a range of products which I am so utterly in love with. Up cycling and recycling old books into functional, unique, more often then not one off journals, notebooks and stationery for your choosing. She is a women after My Vintage Vow's heart being inspired at times by genuine vintage fabrics and vintage inspired prints to cover many of her creations.

I stopped by to see May just last weekend at the Mount Tambourine Market on my birthday to look through her creations and to treat myself to more then one of her gorgeous designs.

My eye caught a glimpse of, one of Juky and Beatirx's storybooks and I couldn't pass it up, one it's my favourite colour green of course and two the book title spoke to me. It didn't speak to me because I am some sort of number crunching fancy pants, far from in fact, but the words of the title spoke to me and my opping and thrifting love. I am often reckoning with objects of desires from the racks and tables (discount tables if you like) in my thrifty adventures to op shops, garage sales, car boot sales and the like. May has included some of the original mathematical tables throughout the book amongst blank pages for my journalings and musings. I will be using this journal exclusively for My Vintage Vow musings, blog post ideas, crafty projects, products to work on and design and more.

I couldn't help myself and also nabbed a Mushrakazam Notebook which amongst it's pages includes images of old advertisements from a time gone by. I will likely use this journal for more personal musings about life, love and my children, hopes, dreams and goals, favourite quotes and words.
You can check out Juky and Beatrix's range of products here, listings of May's products can often be found online at her Etsy Store, mind you this wonderfully talented women has had her creations flying off the bookshelves so to speak lately that you might have to check in at the end of the month to see if she has re-stocked. Otherwise if you can't hold out until then and you are local to the Gold Coast/Brisbane region get along to one the markets Juky and Beatrix frequent and get up close and personal with May's creations and pick yourself up something special. May will be only too happy to see you and she will great you with the happiest of cheer and smile on her face. If you return that cheer and smile and you can't find a journal or notebook that's just right for you, you might be able to discuss a custom order with her.

Many thanks must got to May at Juky and Beatrix, I will be listing a giveaway over the weekend which will give you a taste of another one of Juky and Beatrix products. So if you are a lover of books, literature, times gone by, imagery, the unique and things that are lovingly handmade please stop by to check out terms and conditions.

Funky Finds Friday $20 Challenge!

I set the challenge a little later in the week for this weeks Funky Finds Friday, but hopefully it was an easy challenge. It was certainly an easy one for me in as much as I had one very short trip out to op this week and scored all my finds at the one place Salvation Army Molendinar. It was one of those trips where you throw a whole bunch of things in the basket and then think you might need to do a cull at the register. To my surprise when I got to the register I was bang on for the challenge. So what did I score:

1. The most deliciously beautiful vintage tablecloth one of those beautiful soft ones like chenille that will go straight from the wash to the line, to the table without an iron. 2. Brown woven bag, it's big and has an internal drawstring section to protect your goodies from falling out. 3. Navy patterned vintage dress (close up pic below). 4. Vintage black and white stripe pleat skirt. 5 & 6. Are 2 old school green and white check place mats and a collection of lovely dollies (close up pic below).....both the place mats and dollies will be up cycled into new products I will be selling coming up to spring, so stay tuned.

The dress pattern has yellow dots in it, I am thinking a nice yellow cami poking through underneath with a few buttons undone and some canary yellow pumps and this is going to be a too die for number.
Loving this little collection can't wait to get crafting with them, my favs are the sheer yellow ones on the right.

So how did everyone else go this week with their opping and thrifting adventures did you stay on budget? What did you score, post a comment and link and share. Whilst you're at it let me know what kind of thrifting adventures we should be on next week, what are we going to search for?

Would you believe?

Would you believe this bag and it's contents are packed full with wonderful thrifty, vintagey goodness? Before you ask yes it's all for this weeks Funky Finds Friday $20 challenge.

How are you going with your $20 challenge?

Let loose this Friday

It just occurred to me this morning.....yes I know it's early but I have been up feeding Little V, that we have no direction, no plan, no idea for what we are on the hunt for this week, it will be Funky Finds Friday before I know it. I guess that's what I get for derailing the process last week huh?

I have plans tomorrow with a very sweet and special mumma friend, she is going to be visiting me tomorrow to help with some babywearing techniques and so I can have a look at a stash of wraps and then we are thinking of heading off after to indulge in a love we both share......Op Shopping of course. So with no real plan in mind this week, how about a challenge for this Friday how far will $20 get you? Depending on what thrifty places you visit it could be a little or a lot, depending on where you go I probably would have no shame in a little bartering?

The challenge has been set, who can find the funkiest of things for Friday and how much of it can you score on a $20 budget. Check back Friday to see what I have scored and share your links and finds with me.

You'll have to be a follower......

Just thought I would pop in before I retreat for the evening for a little teaser. Just want to give any closet readers the heads up that I will be posting our first giveaway this week. So you will need to be an active follower of My Vintage Vow blog to have your chance at the giveaway. The giveaway comes courtesy of a wonderful business I will be posting a review on this week. So if you're a lover of books, literature, stationery, textiles, imagery, handmade, up cycled, recycled and the like you will want to see this weeks sweet, sweet review and giveaway.

Sweet Dreams Vowers.

Sweet Scent and Cents

Happy Monday to all my lovely Vowers, I hope this post finds you all enjoying a nice start to the week. I am off to a lovely, relaxing start to the week, after a weekend of celebrating my birthday. In fact the high spirits and good times have just continued with good company this morning with some lovely mumma friends visiting with their sweet poopets. I had an early start to my morning and got straight into some tidying up around here. One of my first jobs on hand was to take care of all the gorgeous flowers I got over the weekend, as I seriously didn't have a moment Saturday night or yesterday to take care of the appropriate snipping and trimming to rearrange them.

Because I had so many flowers I decided to group flowers as single varieties which I often like to do rather then having a whole mixed bunch on show. I like single varieties on show as you can often take in and appreciate them so much more. It was only on the weekend that I discovered how thin on the ground I am for appropriate vases to show off flowers. However I think I did alright with these up cycles here don't you think, all of which have cost me next to nothing?

From top left - miniature roses and if you saw last weeks Whoops....I got off track post you will notice my half litre bottle I picked up last week opping, middle is - Iris's with foliage in an old teapot I picked up for $2 many month ago only to get home to find the nob on the lid was busted........oh well good thing I kept the teapot it has come in handy, right is - white and red alstroemerias in an old jam jar, front left - apricot roses - old jam jar again and up front we have orange gerbras in a sweet little hour glass vases for 50cents at a car boot sale.

Pretty thrifty don't you think and no need for expensive vases and all these vessels can be used for all other variety of needs once I am done with the flowers.

Happiest of Days Vowers

Are you up? I am! Have been for a little while and have already had sweet lovely snuggles with my little vowers in bed. The sweetest words I have heard this morning are from Master V rolling over putting his little hand on my chest and saying "Happy Birthday, love you more, more". Awww he's is just the cutest, goodness me I love my life and love my family and to boot I have the best friends in the world I really, really do.

We had a little gathering at home yesterday afternoon with a few of my most wonderful friends, of which most of us have known each other for over 25 years. I have been utterly spoilt with love, kindness, kisses, cuddles, laughter, flowers, massages and all sorts. With the group of friends we invited to celebrate some of us have only just been reunited after a ten or so year absence but I am the one who has been the constant with everyone. It has just warmed my heart and put the smiliest of smiles on my face to have the gang together again. Friends are a great measure and reminder of who you are, where you have been and where you are going, with friends like I have I really can't go wrong.

I can't draw out my Sunday Zarrraffas jaunt to long this morning, because I must get home and get myself sorted because hubby and my little vowers are treating me to a visit up to Mount Tambourine this morning to the markets. I am so looking forward to it, because I am going to be nabbing myself a lovely handmade journal, of which delights I hope to be sharing with you during the week as well as the maker and designer behind them so stay tuned.

Anyways I best get on my way and munching down my raisin toast and steaming hot chai. I wouldn't mind some time before heading off this morning to enjoy some time with my birthday present....................a nice new, crisp clean apple, yes I got a white Apple ipad from my adoring hubby and vowers. I am a very lucky mumma. So looking forward to playing around with different applicantions and some photography and posting here. Hope you all enjoy your days today, it's the happiest of days, let me know what you're up to and take care.

Funky Finds Friday - A crafty project!

So I confessed the other day that I totally derailed Funky Finds Friday with a mid week opping session and didn't focus a moment on the task at hand of finding things to help sort my creative space. But the show must go on so here I am to report in with a little something to share with you. What I do have is just an ordinary something I picked up from an op shop years ago that we are going to get a little crafty with.

I picked up this plain white canister years ago to store my odds and ends and paintbrushes in when I went through a massive painting phase. It has been a long time since I have hit the canvases since my crafty and arty interests have taken me in different directions. So this canister is moving out of the dark laundry cupboard to a new home in my creative space. But not before it has a little revamp.

Inspired by an idea I saw over at Lil Blue Boo a while ago now. I have set about using that idea for my canister.
So this is what you will need: your canister or vessel in question, coarse sandpaper and blackboard paint, I selected black rather then green blackboard paint and I also decided on spray can rather then apply with brush or roller.....but it's up to you of course.

To start you will want to make sure the surface on your canister is clean and free of grime. If your vessel has previously been painted you will need to rough up the existing paint surface a bit, with coarse sandpaper to assist in getting good coverage with the paint. After a bit of roughing up give it another wipe down to get rid of that dusty paint residue, then your ready to paint.

Following directions on the can using sweeping motions back and forth to get an even coat, do a first coat and let dry.

Then finish off with a second coat and if you think you need it for coverage do a third. Make sure you follow directions allowing appropriate drying time between coats and then you're done.

Excuse the dodgy scissors drawing, I raided Master V's chalk stash only to find he had the big thick stuff left.
I like the functionality of the canister with the blackboard paint, I can choose to label it with a word, a phrase, a picture of what should be store in it. I am also often in the habit of (when already organised) reorganising myself and playing around with new places to store things. So now it will be easy if I decide today it will hold scissors and shears, tomorrow it might hold knitting needles, I can simply wipe off the label or pic and relabel. This should also help with anyone stepping into my creative space to find and identify where things belong, as I will be using this same technique with a few other vessels.

So there you go, I'm now about to slink off for a cheeky glass of red. I will touch base over the weekend and we'll have a chat about what I am contemplating for next weeks Funky Finds Friday.

Whoops...I got off track

After dropping off Master V at family day care this morning Little V and I headed out for an hour or so of opping. I was meant to be on the look out for odds and ends to help with organising my creative space in the the office I share with hubby. But, I must confess I got side tracked and my search for this weeks Funky Finds Friday has been derailed.....whoops. But it's ok I do have a little something up my sleeve for Friday that I can share with you and a little project for up cycling something into something functional. I further blame my derailment on not actually getting started on clearing the office on Sunday.....yes I know I said I was going home after my morning outing to do it. Unfortunately when hubby and I headed out later in the morning with our little Vowers we had an incident with Master V which saw him having an accident in a store we visited and a trip to hospital. Master V is fine, thankfully, a little bruised and shaken but fine.

So what did I score this morning?
1. Single bed vintage sheet set 2. Funky Half Litre Bottle 3. Two cute little bunny cups 4. Black bow espadrilles

Close up of the wee cute bunny's

How cool is the bottle?

I am so in love with the sheet set! My birthday is on the weekend and we are having a BBQ out in the lovely winter sun here on the GC and I needed a pretty tablecloth or sheet to dress up a trestle table we will be using to sit everyone around. Since I still have another sheet to use and a pillowcase, I am thinking some lovely A-line skirts might in order and a pillowcase dress.....what do you think????

The bunny mugs, well they were just so cute I couldn't pass them up. My first thought was to tuck them away for the kids for our special Easter breakfast each year and pass them on down to them when they leave home. I like having little traditions for my kids.

The 1/2 litre bottle, well I picked this up thinking I might put it to use in my creative space in the office. But I think, it's too cool for that I think it will be put to good use in the kitchen. I also think it could double as a funky vase. I like using unusual vessels for displaying flowers and foliage.

A little tid-bit about me is that I have completed a commercial floristry course.

The black espadrilles well, what women doesn't need another pair of shoes? They are in good shape and have had very little to now wear.

I also managed to pick up some other odds and ends this morning and a special little something for my darling husband a lovely pewter St Christopher medal and chain.

All of my lovely finds were found between 3 different op shops within walking distance at Nerang, I will have to post about this little precinct in reviews just as soon as I get a chance, so stay tuned for that. Oh and all these finds and the others not pictured for a little over $20, not bad huh?

Also make sure you still check in on Friday for Funky Finds Friday I have a little something I picked up awhile ago that I have a little project planned for and I will put that to good use my creative space.

Funky Finds Friday - Let's Have a Yarn

There is just something about knitted, crochet, woolie, yarnie goodies. I have always had an attraction to these type of goodies from my earliest and youngest days op shopping. I can't help myself when flicking through clothing racks and I spot a little number, I always pull it out for a full and thorough look. I can't really pin point my love for these sort of items, maybe it comes from childhood comfort from a crochet baby blanket (which I admittedly still possess and find comfort in). Maybe it's the appreciation of the love, time and effort gone into someone crafting an item. Perhaps it's a sum of both of these and more, but all I know is I don't currently possess the ability to craft an item like this myself (my yarnie talents a restricted to finger knitting/crochet lol) but I wish I did.

Sorry pic is slightly dodgy, battery died after this pic.......someone has been a bit snap happy

Isn't she lovely? She is going to see a lot of wear come spring and summer, perhaps even through the remaining days of winter here on the Gold Coast the clear days are perfect for her. She is light, but gives a enough coverage and warmth if there is a little breeze. She is perfect dressed down or dressed up with designer jeans and heals. She is perfectly pink but not too pink. I just love her and so thrilled I found a home for her in my wardrobe.

For the pretty sum of $4 how could I resist her, I nabbed my little darling at:
Salvation Army Nerang
Shop 4/5, 23-25 Station Street NERANG QLD 4211
Ph (07) 5596 2377
Fax (07) 5596 2377
Google Map

So what's on the agenda for next weeks Funky Finds Friday? Well I have confessed to needing to reorganise and revamp my creative space (hubby and I share an office, how I wish I could kick him out and have it all to myself). So I am going to be on the look out for some cool, funky odds and ends to store the array of different craft supplies, pens, needles, scissors, buttons, fabrics, clothing etc. Maybe old teapots or old pottery pieces, suitcases......I don't know anything that could be useful in holding and containing my supplies and goodies whilst being functional and funky. So if you like come join me this week on the search for something useful and funky for your home. Remember to share your find if you want to join in and post a comment and a link or send me an email and I will post a link for you.

Blog Lovin'

I have been spending more and more time recently reading and searching around blogs written by like minded people such as myself. I am having so much fun seeing what others are writing, creating, collecting and so forth. A few weeks ago I stumbled upon this wonderfully sweet and adoring blog Her Library Adventures. So much of what Sophie writes, shares, collects speaks to me on some many levels now and from memories past. I feel that I am often in tune with her thought process and inspiration for blog posts. I often find myself checking to see that she has blogged about something that I have being mulling over recently myself. So I can't help but want to share the blog love around and suggest you drop in check out her blog. So if you appreciate objects of design, handmade, thrifting, fashion, books, typewriters, inspiration, get on over now and have a look around.

At the end of each week she likes to share her Flea Market Finds and she always the cutest of finds to share.

Don't you just love this pic of her finds last week
She writes about topics that inspire me and this week has motivated me to get more organised with my creative process and space and documenting it. So I have some big plans on getting my creative workspace better organised.........which I hope to share that journey with you once I get started. As for documenting my creative ideas, thoughts and processes for my personal reference I have also put some very special journals on my birthday wish list for next week.

Thank you Sophie for your blog, I am loving what you are doing and sharing with us all and most of all thank you for inspiring me.

I have freed myself....again!

Yes Vowers I have done it again, I have left hubby with the little vowers at home. Well to be honest he has one still asleep in our bed and the other one is running around the house in the most obscene spritely mood that would kill a non-morning person. How a small child can do that after waking three times during the night carrying on about who knows what and then try and get up at just before 5am, I will never know. Hubby was none to impressed with Master V efforts last night and I thought he was going to beg me not to head off for my Sunday morning hiatus, but with Little V still asleep in our bed he said quick go get ready go, so here I am.

It's still a little dark out, yes it is that early but thank goodness Zarraffa's opens at 5am. I'm not going to be able to head out for a trawl around any car boot sales or garage sales etc this morning. We have other plans later this morning to catch up with a dear, dear friend of mine. We have known each other for over 25 years, but our friendship has me thinking. It has me thinking how much things have changed in 25 years and when we reminisce about things we either marvel about how cool something was or how daggy it was.

We thought some of the following were cool.

* New Kids on the Block........You've got the right stuff, yeah baby LOL

* Milli Vanilli......Blame it on rain

* Men's long tube socks scrunched all the way down

* Hypercolour t-shirts

* Bubble skirts

* Converse All Stars

* and plenty, plenty more......

My point is, vintage to me, is things that make you smile and reminisce with good times with friends. I hope all my vowers have happy times that make them smile. If you've got a cool list to share, why not post a comment.

Funky Finds Friday - Take Your Hat Off.

Well I set the challenge last week for this weeks find and I really wasn't sure that I was going to be successful. To be honest it has been a full on week since our last find and I only got out for a spot of opping yesterday with my two little vowers in tow. Little V was strapped on in the Catbird Pikkolo and thankfully Master V was happy to be pushed in the pram, kept busy with the job of holding my finds.........yes I trusted him with my finds, involved constant dialogue with him but he did a good job.


I am glad I took my little vowers out this morning not only was Master V helpful but he gave his opinion on today's find. I dropped into Lifeline Oxenford and whilst meandering around and rummaged through different racks and shelves, I kept popping the hat on to make sure it's really what I wanted. All I could hear each time was Master V's voice giggling saying "get hat mummy, get hat". So here it is, brown hat with beige trim it's one of those lusciously flippy floppy hats which will give plenty of protection from the sun when mucking about with my little vowers.


I'm not entirely convinced by the band and fabric flower but for $4 for the hat and the abundance of craft supplies I have I am going to set about turning this lusciously flippy floppy hat into the totally perfect number I'm wanting. Did anyone else pick up finds this week? Please share!

Hmmmm so what should we be on the search for this coming week, what about some knitted goodness? Go on get to it?

I've escaped......

I can't believe it Vowers I have escaped, this is a first in 5 months I am by myself having some mummy time to do something I want to do. I have left hubby with Little V and her brother and I am at our local Zarraffa's sipping on a hot Soy Chai Latte and nibbling on some raisin toast. The weather outside is winter perfect and I am thinking a search around later for a car boot sale or some garage sales might be in order. Since this is my first escape from home I have agreed with hubby that I would just come up the road and have some time and use up the WIFI time I get with my tall chai and then I would grab him a coffee and head home and discuss the day.

Anyways I am sitting here and wondering and dreaming about the odds and ends and little gems I hope to be discovering in my opping jaunts today and over this coming week. I'm always on the look out for so much as well as those unexpected gems that having you squealing on the inside, hoping that others close by don't realise just how cool the little number you picked up is. I've seen it before, when they do know you have one of those cool little finds in your hands they follow you around in the hope that you will put it down and not decide to buy it. I know this because I have done this. Stalking some may say, but I call it smart insert wicked laugh here.

So what I want to know is are you a stalker? What are you on the search for this week with your opping adventures?