The selling continues

What a curious collection of goods, so diverse. Two major garage sales, lots and
lots of donations to charities along the way.

That old adage of one man's trash is another one's treasure. Both parents collectors
across many themes, and now realising I'm going to curtail my own collecting. I have
plenty, and we need to at this stage of life reduce.

Sometimes sold or given goods go to the perfect home, and are well appreciated. This
is a good feeling. It makes it easier to let things go, and I have photos anyway.

 Books are currently so hard to sell. Somehow I acquired over a 100 cooking books.
Managed to reduce to about 16. Aren't I good? Though the residue remains. Future plans of multiple yard sales when the car park is up, working weekends. 

 A very nice and well-framed oil painting, but not to my taste. A known name painter.

 This antique, after research, needs either a metal trim and clasp or a
crocheted top and drawstring. Though do I sell as is or restore?

 Lots of interest in this vintage horse tack. I tried to make a well-styled shot. Bob is such a poser. 

 Hand built Ikebana pottery vases. Japanese maker's marks. Still trying to sell. 

 Sold this very old, weathered hat box at market. An old department store paper for the lining. 

 Mulga Wood clock. Very retro kitsch. I collect Australian Mulga Wood, but have enough. 

 A few retro toys. 

 Old ceramic kettles, roadside finds. I do sell these free collectibles. 

 I'm not religious but have lots of pics to sell. 

 Sold this British vintage character doll. Tweed trousers, knitted woolen jumper, and hat. 

 Sold this Mammie doll, my old folding carpenter's ruler for size. Will keep ruler. Can be tricky 

as this type of doll can be seen to be a bit racist by some. 

 Antique dolls have dropped off the market for now. So packed away for a day in the future. 

There are some repro items and more current vintage in there that I have sold though. 

I've kept the cabinet. Bottom far left is my grandmother's doll, kept of course.

Next to her is a Shirley Temple doll.  

 A very large religious print in an original old frame. Should be liked by someone. 

 No problem selling all the old garden statuary, special pots or plants. 

A shop from home

The girls in this family started an Etsy shop. Using one of our nicknames,
and other references similar, it is called Bunny Bear Moo.

Bec is Bear, I had always been nicknamed Rabbit, and Sam called herself
as a youngster 'Sammy Cow'.

Though we never quite stocked it. Anyway, we did OK at markets, Bec and I,
so I've just started selling again. This time online from home.

Already had photos, prices and descriptions from selling at market. So found
several suitable theme sites and away we go.

Our stock is eclectic to say the least. Ranging from Retro to Vintage, collectible
and sometimes Antique. It is Boho, rustic, shabby chic.

I also sell my art as prints in frames, and on cards.

So here is some of the stuff I sell.

This series of herbs are selling OK, some framed ones sold, no two the same. 

Sort of French Provincial look this one. Depends on the frame. Also have these as cards.
For this one, I did a shabby chic paint and sand back treatment,
reused a mount from another frame.

To market, to market, when we did the suitcase forage market. It is heartening to look at this early pic and see that at least 9 of these items are already sold. The old hat box, a cushion, the big doll, the small British doll, the record, the globe, the Japanese doll, the Mammie doll, the painting.

Lots of preloved frames for rustic charm, and taking over the dining table to put together. 

'Star Girl' an artwork that I did in the eighties that has proved very popular. 

Mainly as cards. Now all gone. Just sold my first framed one. 

2 blackboards I painted and made. Gorgeous old frames are thrown out kerbside all the time,
or can be found cheap at op shops. The left one is quite old and quality. Now there are lovely colours in chalkboard paint. Although not sold yet, make good display pieces at market. 

Used the blackboard to display this handmade angel for sale. 

I try to take nice, well-styled photos. Part of the process. 

Many cute vintage dolls for sale. Although repro this is already old. Have sold a few, 

also ones from other countries. Earlier souvenir dolls are better quality. 

Really great Disney Mickey Mouse money box, tempted to keep this cutie!

Retro toys for those adult collectors. The Space Ranger has a lever at back to move his eyes. 

Sweet Vietnamese doll has a lovely, traditional oufit, with silver detail. Her hat is 

a nice authentic touch. She is getting close to 50 years old.

My girls used this when young. It was a few years old then. I repaired it's handles, 

stronger than before, and painted them to match originals. It was sold to an 

expectant couple who travelled far to collect it.

Nearly sold this to an old gent, packaged and ready, then something happened. 

We then lost communication which was strange. He was so charming and polite. 

We think he may have passed away. 

Zen garden anyone? Large and heavy, ceramic dish and granite 'mountain' boulder. 

Rake gravel to suit. Japanese and maker's mark on tray.

50s or 60s chalkware sampan. It has holes for incense or flowers? Not sure. Pretty funky 

handpainted details. Sold and on it's way via post. 

Lovely story about what these will be used for. A lady purchased them for a couple's wedding. 

They are very into all things 'Games Of Thrones' and related fantasy tales. They are perfect 

for the theme of the wedding, and I'm told will be treasured. 

Spring colour

Interesting things happening in the garden, the colours red and orange
seem to dominate.

The Illawarra Flame Tree has blossomed, though not always, and this
year an abundance of Cacti flowers.

Bobbie is busy, inspecting and grazing on his catmint and catnip plants,
and also helping Bec study.

He loves to drape himself on the window ledge, and catch the breeze and
view.

Many visitors to our several birdbaths. Now the King Parrots are regulars.
Two baths in the back, and two in the fernery in the front yard. Another one
yet to install.

Waiting, in flux

Sometimes you are waiting. Life is messy sometimes. You yearn for order, but it
eludes you. Maybe by year's end you are tired and have lost motivation too.

Projects half finished are aggravating. Sometimes you just have to be patient.

These photos tell some of this.

 My photography and blogging has stalled. 6 weeks gap. I did go to the National Parks free day 

and took only this 1 photo. Thinking maybe a collagraph print from this?

 I have been selling things to bring the studio build budget closer to commencement. I will need 

'a bespoke builder' who will work with recycled materials. This dear old Art Deco clock 

was sold to a like-minded soul who will repair and restore it. Good to know there are still 

people like this in the world. I do like the retro quaintness of this photo. 

 Books seem to be suffering from a lack of use in the modern world. Cannot to date sell my cookbook collection, nor other people as hard as we try. Try to tell people these books are tried and tested recipes from a test kitchen, not like computer recipe sites where it is hit and miss.

Therefore you have boxes of goods just sitting, hoping. I only own about a 100+ only kept 16! 

  

 The work on the carpark must wait until our builders are free. They are doing a great job, 

but are very busy people. This is the clothing rack tree, from a warm Spring day.

 Waiting to see if this is acceptable, as an alternative small occasional table/stool for daughter 

who has moved into a weenie unit? Built from freebies and recyclables. Free legs, free paint,  

free MDF top and just elbow grease needed. Pinning down a largely absent girl to make a decision. 

 My new extra job, ironing and mending, negotiating pay fairness as to quantity. 

Also waiting to be paid for the last batch.

 Printmaking has stalled, have lost my creative mojo. Happens sometimes. 

Artist Block. Ideas yes, motivation no. 

The new studio site. The lowest corner before spilling into bushland reserve. Current tenants - the chickens, who will have a chicken Hilton built a few metres from here, and in their place, the new little glass cube studio will rise. Wishing for a sensitive bespoke builder.
Also needs to be very economical. 

Building a car space

We bought a block with no off-street parking 36 years ago.
As we get older carting goods up or down doesn't get easier.
There have been falls and Chris recently had a leg fracture from
one.

Parking inspectors want to book us for parking in front of our
property. There is nowhere else to park anywhere reasonably
closer.

So with the very generous work of Mike and Bec we are aiming
for 3 - 4 car spaces.

 From a long neglected jungle of weeds and exotic trees and shrubs like Privet, 

and an old Jacarandah, to a more cleared space. Weeds like Fishbone Fern,
and Asparagus Fern, some succulents, and Agapanthus too. The Agapanthus
finding new homes and lots of free firewood. 

 A sloping site which needs retaining and raising the level closer 

to the verge height, with a slight incline. 

 Revealing sometimes overgrown items like the water meter.
Deciding if we need to move the meter. 

 Stumps of sizeable Privet and the old Jacarandah which wasn't
too healthy, and over the power lines, and cars. 

 3 old Camellia shrubs are happier, seeing the light of day again 

and flourish and bloom in appreciation.

 Building on bedrock, and careful to see that we don't impact
on the root system of 3 mighty Blackbutt Trees. 

 A high pile of free delivered fill and large sandstone blocks. More historic, 

hand hewn sandstone blocks were relocated by trailer from friend's of 

Mike's family in The Blue Mountains.  

 The fill is a good mix of clay and crushed sandstone.

 We get a handy loan of a cement mixer from Gordon, and his concrete saws. 

 Bec and Mike do the hard yakka, lifting, rolling, and hoisting stones 

with the aid of ropes, pulleys and Mike's 4WD. 

 Levelling the wall with minimal cement. A large weeping wall takes shape.
It is backed up and plugged with smaller rubble. The fill is raked in and compacts nicely. 

With the aid of mattock, steel tooth rakes and shovels, the fill mound 

gradually lessens and the retained area rises. 

The wall grows.

 So half way now, and maybe only one more course of stone. A path is left between properties to access the gas meter and not impact on next door's carport and it's brick basement storage. 

 Essential refreshments, my job to supply as I can't work as physically hard
as the young. I can plug the back of the block wall and rake in fill. 

 Mike rakes over the fill at day's end, planning to test the space by bringing on George,
his large 4WD Jackaroo. It is a good test, there is just the right length off street,
and there is minimal depression of the fill which shows it to be quite stable.