And one hundred posts later ....

Are you very good at stopping and counting the milestones?  Or giving yourself a pat on the back for achievements?  I must admit I am not.  Much happier to acknowledge that they are reached, but there is always more to be done, and I am much more comfortable to just get on with the task in hand!

Blogger lets me know that this is my 101st post!  Who would have thought, with my attention span, that I would have kept going this long!  And still feel I have something to say?!

I don't know what my expectations were coming into this ... and I am still somewhat unsure as to where it is all going! ... but I still seem to find things I wish to share with you!  I probably originally thought I would share just a few pics with you of the stock I had in my little store within the Woolloongabba Antique Centre in Brisbane, Australia.

But once I started, I found I had so much more I wanted to share than just a few product pics!

This is my last post before I am on the plane to France and England for this next buying trip - my fourth in two years - so here's a toast to wherever this journey of blogging takes me next!

{I thought of calling this post "by the time you read this I will be gone" but it seemed to melancholy to me.  Although it's appropriate at the time of writing as I am feeling a little sentimental about leaving my family for a few weeks!}

Your fellow traveller in life's interesting journey,
Jennifer

Vintage Lovin'

I found myself in the Lee Mathews store in Brisbane this week.  Stocking up on some great 'Ponti' pants for travelling.  Made from fabric does not wrinkle or stretch - amazing but true - so I won't roll off the plane after my 24-hour-journey, only to arrive in the capital of French style looking like the original version of the saggy, baggy elephant.  'Bonjour et Voila! Here is my shrunken elephant suit!' - not for me!

And so I arrived to shop, but then it began - the serious 'vintage lovin', that is.  I had forgotten how much I love the vintage styling of this store!

The wall above their changing rooms is a veritable architectural collage of vintage doors, frames, windows, wall and hardware.  Love!

And I adore the ribbons of cement that are edged with a double or triple moulding painted stark white - industrial commercial meets domestic and traditional.

And as a result of my drooling, I was invited upstairs to view the Marie Claire Up Late installation before it disappeared later that day.

And what did I find when I looked up?  One of my very own, a Vintage Finds light (on the right above) in the midst of the mix of the antique, vintage and industrial.

And the winter light is so clear here in Brisbane, I just wanted to take a few more pics,

of the morning light through the windows, on the pavement,

and up-lighting these pretty succulents.

Hope you're enjoying the start of your week, too!
Jennifer

{all images Vintage Finds, taken by permission Lee Mathews Brisbane}

It's a lovely day...

Happy 70th to my tennis playing, line-dancing, toe-tapping, gardener Mum! xxx

After much planning and anticipation, this afternoon was a brilliant gathering of so many dear and interesting groups of people!  The youngest there was five and the eldest 92 - a beautiful and still hugely active soul (the president of one of her clubs!) - who had actually looked after my mother as a child and had also looked after me!

{A cartoon I drew of my Mum ended up on her cake!}

Hope you're having a lovely weekend too!

Jennifer
x

Paris buying trip ... one week to go!

Being the 'turn on a dime' kinda gal that I am, I am pretty much now booked to go.  I have a few client appointments for orders to squeeze into the week ahead, but am mostly sorted on the planning front.  

Most of the buying plans are in place, with lists of what I am looking for, and where.  Please get in contact if you would like me to keep my eyes out for something - my ever growing list of contacts is likely to have just the right thing for you!

Checklist of car pickups, train transfers and car hire completed .... hey, wait!?!  International Driving Licence needs renewal!!

Quick trip and all sorted now ... one week today and I'll be off!

Jennifer
x

Last days of Autumn ... First days of Winter ...

Loving the autumnal colour that is still left.  Winter has officially hit, but the seasons have not yet quite turned.  I have been listening to the rain periodically drumming on our tin roof.

Gloomy day here in Brisbane ... and looking at the forecasts for Paris today is cloudy with showers and 16ºC - same as here!  

I hope the weather there improves in the next two weeks before I leave on my supposed 'Summer in Paris' buying trip!

Jennifer x

Shhh, Secret Sale ... Or ... To Share or Not to Share!

Should I share my secret lists?  My insider knowledge?  My little black book of go-to's?  That is the question!

This pop up shop in the foyer of Unique France is always a bit of fun.  Once a year, one weekend; genuine discounts off some lovely french designers - my personal favourite Athe by Vanessa Bruno!

So if we both I like it, I have first dibs because I have shared this one with you!

Jennifer
x

Do you Instagram? Join in the fun of #7vignettes!

I first logged in to Instagram about 2 years ago, when it was very new and I newly had my first iphone.  You know, looking around for 'cool apps' to use....  I had a bit of fun with photos but there was no one I knew to share with, and so did very little and actually deleted the app from my phone after awhile.

Well ... a couple of weeks ago I thought I would check out some of my favourite blogs' Instagram feeds, and blow me down - what a party this has turned into!  So, back I go to update my login {you can select my feed from the icon at the right} and join in all the fun!  And I am having a ball following others and checking out their view of the world.

I've also been enticed into joining in the The Interiors Addict competition #7vignettes {details here}.  Each day for seven days, you post a vignette on the seven topics - and above are this month's.  Here's my entries so far - I actually started on Day 2 - #set.

Day 2 timed with me looking at the little set of 'bedtime friends' that Will left on his bed when he went to tennis.  With the beautiful autumnal colours outside I couldn't help but get a pic of them.  Had to play around with the light settings to balance the bright light outside and the dark inside on a rainy day.

Next up on Day 3 was #gold, and I had been sorting my Paris photos in the morning and came across this beautiful one with the golden morning light - classic Fermob Luxembourg chairs in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.  Perfect!

Now I was committed.  So I was in 'catchup' mode.  Day 1 was missed, #holder.   Several photo searches later and I found some pics I had taken of my desk with all the cannisters of pencils and pins.  So my photo of #holder includes a holder of flowers, a holder of business cards, a holder of pencils, and of paper clips and pins.  Yay, I'm on my way and nearly halfway through.

If you're in Australia, why not have some fun too.  You can catch up as long as the entries are in by midnight on the 7th.  Good luck!  And if you can't enter you can still hashtag along with #7vignettes to join in the fun.  There are some amazingly creative people in this world, and you can view a live feed of creativity.

I know I'm late to this whole Instagram photo party, and would love you to follow my feed, especially as I head overseas.  I'll have far more frequent updates - as quick as I can take a pic!

Have fun,
Jennifer
x

Oh and PS: let me know if you've joined in the game and I'll check out your pics too!

Chagall Exhibition at the Musée du Luxembourg

I love to spend time in the Jardin du Luxembourg, my favourite park in Paris. Surrounded on its borders by the art galleries and luxury shopping of Ste Germaine, the uptempo life and restaurants of the Latin quarter, the student vibe around the Sorbonne, and Montparnasse to the south - the park is a haven in a bustling city. Such a welcome respite from the traffic and all that is just outside the wrought iron gates.

These 23 hectares in the heart of the left bank have so much to offer: row upon row of pleached trees, wide gravel boulevards, beautiful formal fountains and gardens, running track, tennis courts, playgrounds, orchards, pony rides, marionette show, sailboats - and even it's own museum as well.

The Musée du Luxembourg {on the north side on rue de Vaugirard, next to le Sénat} may be a small gallery space, with room for a smaller offering than the more famous museums, but is large on atmosphere and gives you access to some wonderful and changing exhibitions.   It was the first Paris museum to be open to the public, in 1750, and it annually presents several exhibitions, showing a wonderful caleidoscope of artists.

Currently on exhibit until 21 July is "Chagall: Between War and Peace" {open everyday from 10am to 7.30pm} illustrating four key periods in his work.  I love Chagall, his deep blues, and the 'dream-like sequence' aspect of his work - and so am going to enjoy seeing this in a couple of weeks.

Musée du Luxembourg, with it's great proximity to the Luxembourg Gardens, one is to keep on your 'Paris list'! It is ever changing and will always have something completely different to your last visit.

Jennifer.