vintage haven in Launceston

Just a quick post to show a recent buy from a local store of vintage-y goodness here in Launceston.
Squirrel and Dove is owned and run by Lisa - who has a keen eye for all things vintage, retro and interesting.

Will get myself organised soon and take some interior shots of the store to show, but for now, I am happily showing off some very funky plates I found there the other day.

I went in to buy a friends birthday present and just could not leave without these....

A set of seven sunflower plates - nearly didn't buy the matching platter but knew I'd regret it if I didn't! We've already had breakfast on our little porch this morning with them - ah...fresh made chocolate and ginger muffins......

This is how Lisa wrapped the present I bought - I thought it was a lovely touch with vintage wallpaper offcut and doiley (can't tell you what's in it though...it's a surprise!!).

fat free?....not likely....

Until today, I have been thanking a good friend in Brisbane (Hi Shan!!) for giving me this recipe for what she calls 'Awesome Biscuits'..... Now I am onto my fourth batch, I'm not so sure I should be thanking her at all! My hips sure aren't!
They are indeed 'awesome' and 'tempting' and 'moorish' and 'delectable' and just plain 'yum'!
Best of all (or worst depending on your point of view and current dress size), they are ridiculously easy to bake.
So, I am spreading the word and the nasty saturated fats to one and all.....enjoy.


Shan's Awesome Biscuits

1 medium jar of Peanut Butter (make it a good quality one) crunchy or smooth

1 cup Caster Sugar

1 Egg

1 cup Choc Bits

• 
  
  Preheat oven to 180 degrees


• 
  
  Mix all ingredients thoroughly (I sometimes warm the peanut butter in the microwave to help remove it from its jar - this also means the chocolate will melt through the batter)


• 
  
  With flour coated hands, roll into small to medium sized balls and place onto paperlined baking trays - press with a fork


• 
  
  Bake for 10-15 minutes - try to get the bottoms lighlty brown for that yummy roasted peanut taste


• 
  
  Cool for few minutes on trays before moving to cooling racks

Totally rockin' Moroccan!!

Firstly, apologies for not being as regular with my posts this past year.

My little business sanctum has been keeping me very busy and with three emails, two blogs, two facebook pages, one website and a Linkdin page to manage - well, some things do get squished to the back of the 'to do' list.

We've brought on board a business coach and so are hoping that with her help, we can create better time management.

Well... that's the plan anyway!

Anyway, it's the first day of 2012 and I had a hankering to make up some new candles I've been keen on for a while.

I found these containers at a local kitchenware store just before Christmas - when I went back to buy them the store was so busy that I ran out of time while waiting to be served and couldn't get them. Of course, when I went back again after Christmas - most of the glasses had gone and the colour choice was very restricted - but not to worry.

I just love Morrocan (also known as 'Turkish') Tea Glasses just by themselves - they invoke pictures of hiding out in dimly lit Tea Houses with hookah pipes and shady characters, wheeling and dealing and running about with big moustaches and scimitars.

But that might be just me...

I have wanted to make them into candles for some time and am pretty happy with the result. Now I just need to convince the store to either let me buy enough at a time to get a better price, or give me the name of their suppliers and I will get them direct.

I've got just twelve made up and will have them in at sanctum when we reopen as of the 10th. I kept the wax it's natural white as I think the glasses are the star of the show here.

Hope people like them as much as I do.

That's a Wrap!

That's it....
Another year done.....
Niche All Wrapped Up has come and gone once again.
With a record number of stalls (60) and spread over 4 rooms, this market proved to offer an amazing array of local talent and designer goods.
With weather not our friend, and a looming last minute Wedding to evacuate the space for on Saturday - we still managed to make the weekend as worthwhile as always.

The only thing we didn't get to do was to get photo's of other folks stalls (and they did look amazing) as we got caught up in our own set up and then the constant stream of lovely market goers!(The very unromantic start to every market day - the packing of your entire stall into your car or F100 truck!)

It's today!!

Niche preview....

Mosaic Container Soy Candles

Just a quick preview of what we've got in store for next weekends Niche market. Our kitchen looks like a meth lab and our spare bedroom looks like a bomb has hit it with cartons and waxes and containers and fragrances and wicks and all sorts of things everywhere. I have a very understanding hubby who lets me take over the house this time every year!

200g Frosted Square Soy Candles70g Small Frosted Tumbler Candles

Vanilla, Pomegranate & Black Currant; Moroccan Rhassoul & French Pear Goat Milk Soaps

Fragrant Soy Melts

So Chic...so Niche....

I can't believe it's that time of year again. Niche All Wrapped Up market is here again and this time, it's going to be huge!!! Apologies for not blogging in some time - the year has snuck away on me and we've been keeping busy what with sanctum, getting ready for Niche, a lovely double bout of chickenpox for hubby and myself and now a head cold that has hung on for over 3 weeks!! Good times.....

Nevertheless, we are very excited to be getting back behind the market stall and chatting and selling to all our lovely market goers. Can't wait to see what is in store for everyone - there are 60 stalls this time around - will need some pocket money to spend myself I am sure!

Niche All Wrapped Up

Inveresk Tramsheds

Friday 18th November 4pm - 8pm

Saturday 19th November 10am - 4pm