Thrifting again today. It’s too much of a temptation when I have to go ‘up the street’ for groceries anyway. Rohan’s been on leave the past couple of days so besides catching up on some sleep (day light savings ending has been a killer in this household… ‘Eloise 4.45am is NOT time to start the day!’), it has been a good opportunity to get out without the little one in tow!

Look at this fabulous book I scored!

‘Ideas For Decoration‘
by Robert Seguin and Marthe Seguin-Fontes
Published by Evans Brothers Limited
Great Britain, 1977

It’s a wonderful resource and gives very detailed ‘step-by-step analysis of the decorative artist’s progress’.

Have a peek here at the contents page for more of an idea of what’s inside.

Motif themes include flowers, leaves, trees, birds, butterflies and insects, fish and houses. It talks of how to research and create motifs and patterns of your own and possible decorative applications for them (eg. bags, pendants, tiles, ceramics, fabrics, quilts). It is bursting at the seams with inspiring content, ideas and gorgeous motifs.

I will try and pop up my other thrifty finds soon. I’ve had a bit of a good run lately and it has left me on an op-shopping high! I am making the most of it as no doubt one of these days described in this post by Hillary on Thriftcraft is lurking just around the corner!

Not exactly what I was expecting to find on my mini op-shopping (aka: thrifting) jaunt for vintage and retro treasures! For 50c, this brand new boxed little voice activated Unazukin Fairy Doll from Bandai/Rainbow Spice.

This is Fei from China, part of the ‘World Version Unazukin’ series. These little figures shake or nod their head as you talk to them. Or as the UK website says ‘Ask her a question and she will offer you the benefit of her considerable wisdom.’

From www.unazukin.com:

Unazukin is a small fairy. Usually she is under the big Mushroom in a woods. She really likes to listen to the story of her friends. So, sometimes everybody comes together and she is very busy. Because she is very good at listening to the story. She is just listening without saying anything, She is just looking at you, and nodding silently or shaking her head sometimes. So, why don’t you talk to her?

The photos and illustrations are so…well….cute! Check out: this one and this one.

Now this is actually more perfect than you could imagine as I have a little collection of both fortune telling items and things I would class as ‘Japanese cute’. I think my fascination in little fortune telling games sprung from an old fortune telling box my Nanna had been given as a girl. It was a box with little rolled up fortunes and you picked one out with a tiny pair of tweezers. And Japanese cute? Well that all started in the stationary department when I was nine (Little Twin Stars, My Melody and of course Hello Kitty, started the ball rolling!)

I wonder if the Unazukin has made it onto Cute Overload yet? Take a peek at that site if cute is your thing! Definitely a bit of fun.

Featured Gem 5
Real Photo Postcard

‘Wings and Flowers’

Date: Unspecified
People pictured: Unidentified
Postcard Back: Foyle’s Photo Card — Studios, Liebig St Warnambool (unused)

Notes: I was beside myself with excitement when I spotted this treasure in a cabinet at my local antique store. Usually photographs of girls dressed up with fairy wings are beyond my budget, but here this one sat waiting, in a pile of old postcards priced for a song. I couldn’t wait to get it out of there for fear they’d say they’d made a mistake! There were many images of fairy girls reproduced in the masses early last century, but this one appears to be a personal portrait, not reproduced for sale, which makes it even more special.

I do also appreciate the backs of old postcards and this one is nice and decorative. I collect a lot of cards just for their typographic design. Other times it is for the postmark or the handwritten message, another dying art in today’s electronic world. Call me crazy but I also find the foxing of paper visually appealing and a great texture to add to my digital collage work.

Unfortunately I don’t have any information about the girls. I wonder if they are sisters? Most likely I am guessing. I love the flowers and ringlets…but the wings are the best bit!

Rohan had a meeting in the city this afternoon so Eloise and I headed into town for a quick peruse of the shops before picking him up. I love visiting the city, especially late night shopping. With areas like QV, the revamped Melbourne Central and Fed Square, it’s really come alive.

After a quick bite to eat we all headed for Max Brenner in QV and indulged in hot chocolate. It was a gorgeous evening sitting outside. Not too hot, not too cold. Perfect.

Every time I go to Max Brenner’s I ooo and ahhhh over the Alice cup and the Hug Mug. This time I was soooo close to making a purchase but I controlled myself. How many cups/mugs/teacups does a girl need? (Okay, okay you can never have to many…can you?!). The praline chocolates are really pretty too and the packaging is lovely. I also refrained from buying a sweet little cardboard package (with handle) containing just two pralines. I was very good wasn’t I? But it really was a very clever little box…

It’s been a very strange and unsettling week, and as a result I am feeling so behind in everything. Yesterday I felt the need to cheer us all up, so I decided to bake a cake! I was fully in ‘domestic goddess’ mode yesterday—not sure what was with that!

Miss Eloise has a dairy allergy so I have to do a bit of creative cooking (yes no cheese and no chocolate *gasp*!!). I have been finding many good cake and cookie recipes for those with special dietary needs on VegWeb. My first non-dairy cake attempt was her first birthday cake in December which I must admit was a deeeeelicious chocolate and raspberry cake topped with mauve coloured icing. Last night’s Pineapple and Carrot Cake has both fruit and veg in it, so it’s lulled us into believing it’s healthier.

Pineapple and Carrot Cake

1 1/2 cups wholemeal self raising flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup finely grated carrot
3/4 cup pineapple pieces with juice
1 tspn cinnamon
1 tspn vanilla
3/4 cup apple sauce
2 eggs

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well. Bake at 180 C for 30 minutes or until cooked through. NB: Would be perfect with cream cheese frosting, but I didn’t have the ingredients to do a dairy free version. Next time I might try and get rid of the sugar by upping the fruit…