i heart: my local thrift shop

It's a lovely sunny day in Melbourne so this morning I headed out for a walk to the green grocer to stock my kitchen full of fresh fruit and vegies for the week ahead. On my trip home I couldn't resist popping in to the local op shop - it's become a bit of a regular stop on my errand runs and I usually always find a treasure of some sort. 

Today was no exception.... I was just about to leave empty-handed when I spied these vintage wooden pegs in a plastic bag hidden at the back of a shelf. This is only half of them and they only cost me $2! I have since removed all of the hideous coloured plastic pegs that adorned my washing line, to be replaced with these beauties. 

The fabric is something I picked up on my most recent trip down to Mornington. It is in the 'to be made into an apron' pile. 

Now I'm in the mood for baking and doing housework in a pretty floral dress with a matching apron. I definitely think I was a 1950's housewife in a previous life!

it's time...

... to learn how to sew clothes!

How cute is this outfit? Perfect for the beach (I'm dreaming of the beach as it is currently freezing in Melbourne and I need to know that warmer weather will eventually return).

You can download the pattern to make this from Fabricworm. Hooray!

we're still here!

Just busy sewing madly in preparation for Magnolia Square in a couple of weeks!

Yesterday's project = new zip purses.

Today I am back on the sewing machine - I think I will be able to sew in my sleep soon! Actually, that could be quite useful... imagine the productivity!

Happy weekend xx

we're fashionable

The Rabbit & the Duck were very excited this week to discover that not one, but two of our products are featured in the current issue of the Fashion Journal! 

That's our tote bag down there... together with a great article on supporting handmade when it comes to filling up your wardrobe. 

Our envelope clutch was lucky enough to make it onto the 'fj loves' page. Hooray! Please note the price listed is incorrect... this clutch retails for $39 online (you can pick up a wallet in the same fabric for $24).

Happy weekend!

say hello to...

Our latest stockist - Onabee has just opened their doors in Kensington, Melbourne and oh my, it is stocked full of crafty goodness! Knitting yarn + needles + fabric + vintage buttons + lots of handmade products from local designers. 

I do love an organised stash of craft supplies....

And how cute are these?

Onabee

200 Bellair Street

Kensington VIC 3031

mark it mayhem

It was a beautiful clear and calm morning as I arrived at Federation Square to set up for Mark It, a new design market that was launched yesterday.

Little was I to know that only a mere couple of hours later, all sense of calm would disappear, like an icy pole on a hot summer's day. This was the view from my stall for most of the day....

Madness! I've shopped at a market with this many people but have never been on the other side. Thank you so much to all my lovely friends and customers who stopped by during the day with kind words and offers of drinks and snacks and loo breaks : ) A big thank you to Penny from Pocket Carnival who did a lunch run for me and helped out at my stall in the afternoon. And more thanks to the girls from Notions, who were my stall neighbours for the day and helped to keep me sane, particularly in the last hour of the day! I was lucky enough to take home one of their hand printed rabbit brooches - I love it!

And this was my stall before the crowds came. It was the only time it looked this tidy - I had to breathe deeply and put my ideals of a perfectly ordered stall on hold for the day. 

I would love to be able to put my feet up today but I'm already planning for the next market - no rest at Rabbit & the Duck headquarters this week!

sewing like a mad woman

If you wake up this Sunday looking for inspiration then come along to Federation Square for a double dose of local design goodness. You'll find Rabbit & the Duck in the atrium at MARK it, which runs from 10am-5pm. Down in the car park the Melbourne Design Market will also be happening. I've just seen that my stall is opposite Zaishu - this could be a very dangerous day for my bank balance!

antique roadshow

Today N and I jumped in the car and took a road trip down the Mornington Peninsula to check out some antique stores. Actually, 'store' is not the right word. Try warehouse. Or shed. These places are huge and overflowing with vintage clothes, kitchenware, furniture and all manner of wonderful things.

How about this old washing machine? Complete with wringer on the top; no spin cycle in those days!

I always get excited when I spy vintage kitchen goods. You know how much I love to bake...

How lovely would it be to have an old wardrobe filled with vintage night dresses? So pretty! I bought a lovely white baby doll style frilly number. It will have to wait until Summer to be worn though - right now all I want are my pj's and ugg boots.

Oh, how much did I want to buy this tin? Ironically, my budget wouldn't stretch that far. Inside it had separate compartments that your money would go into. Such a clever idea! 

And this is the goat with many names, who is a resident at The Vintage Shed, where we spent most of our day (and most of our cash). 

I came away with a few other goodies - a handmade summer dress from the 1950's and some floral fabric to add to my stash for apron making. Add to this the vintage aprons I bought last week and I have well and truly had my fair share of new old things. 

I'm now off to watch Sabrina on DVD and might start the jigsaw puzzle I got today that is based on old Kellogg's cereal packet designs. Fun!