Cover Me

Being s visual person I am highly prone to being a touch impractical; I choose a book by its cover, I choose wine by the label, I choose spices by the packaging (we have way to0 many tins of smoked paprika in the pantry)..... I find details to be extremely important.

One thing I love to do is to decorate and rearrange spaces using the covers of books. Even though I appreciate the graphic fonts and repetition of the spines of books in shelves, I love book covers.... especially old ones. A bundle of inexpensive books on an armchair or a randomly placed book on a side table gives a space a hint of activity and purpose.

Gotta dash!

Talk to you tomorrow!

K xx

Shoes That Last

© Kara Rosenlund

I love it when old utilitarian pieces slowly become less of an object of practicality and industry and shift more into an object of beauty.

This can be said about this bundle of old french metal shoe lasts I recently acquired for 'Travelling Wares'. I have always been a fan of the 'last' - in both metal and wood, they make great paperweights, door stops and I have even been known to turn one into a door knocker once. Yet above all I find them strikingly beautiful.

Every house needs a piece of French industry, no?

K xx

P.S. - Its a market week!! How exciting! Saturday here we come!

Stock Sneak Peek

©Kara Rosenlund

Would you believe I am actually doing a last minute source for tomorrow's market. I have been invited somewhere very secretive and very exclusive to have a poke around, so lets hope I find some delights for us all!

Above are a couple of shots of some new stock.

Old English platters, perfect proportions for roast chicken with heavy silver cutlery.

Trio of white French plates with gold trim.

Gorgeous old Tinware for baking cakes and making bread and also a set of cookie cutters.

Generous mule coloured French Napkins with silver cake lifters and pretty cake plates.

Enamel colanders in white and also cream!

Plenty more to come!

K xx

String Bags and Bentwoods

©Kara Rosenlund

String Bags and Bentwood Chairs.... I happen to love both... and both will be available at 'Travelling Wares' on Saturday!

Usually on Saturday mornings after I have set up 'Travelling Wares' I actually take my own string bag, pick up a croissant and do a quick round of the market, picking up fresh produce that we might need over the weekend, piling it into my string bag and feeling very chic at the same time! Giggle. They are surprisingly expandable and hold quite the load!

More to reveal soon!

Email me if you are interested in the little french string bags or the bentwood chair! hello@kararosenlund.com

K xx

Juice Me

©Kara Rosenlund

Citrus Juicer... do you have one... do you want one... I think everyone should have one... in particular a proper heavy moulded glass one!

Don't get me wrong, I have tried others, I take my citrus very seriously you know. I have a Philippe Starck 'Juicy Salif' stashed in the cupboard (looonng way back in the cupboard though, you know that spot, once it goes there is never comes back.. one of those spots), I also have tried an Italian manual citrus press too (the clamp broke) and I have also been known to use my good ol' bare hands. But nothing beats my moulded glass juicer.

Whenever we sell one of our glass citrus juicers at Travelling Wares I literally have a grin from ear to ear, its as though silently you and I have a secret that we both are in on - and that is that they may try but nothing can beat a well made classic!

K xx

Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

©Kara Rosenlund

Yesterday was a public holiday here in Brisbane and to be honest it is taking me a little while to get back up to speed (hence my late post!). Anyway, I spent the day with Timothy O at a near by beach (aka mudflat, it is Brisbane after all) collecting sea shells while he rode his new bike around.

I wasn't always into collecting sea shells, I was obsessed when I was younger, then as I got older I thought it was a bit over done and really not my style. Then a few years ago I went a bit sea shell mad. Along my journeys I would be smuggling shells and coral from all over the world.... and naturally also getting them confiscated at airports all over the world too... you win some you lose some.

I think the key to collecting sea shells or really any collection is having the right vessel to house or display them in. I keep my sea shells and coral and bones in an an old marble mortar and another collection in a large disused sieve.

I love a good collection; a little peep hole into someone's intricacies.

K xx

Ode to Enamel

I love old original enamelware! I love how practical and utilitarian the approach is with enamel - no nonsense. Plus I think it looks pretty attractive too, especially the white palette!

It looks as though I will have quite the collection come Saturday on offer at Travelling Wares, we have colanders, ladles, skimmers, pitchers, and some stunning old sets of white storage canisters.

All kitchens needs a dash of enamel!

K xx

© Kara Rosenlund

SUCCESS

Our Travelling Wares was a success on Saturday!!! We sold our beautiful stock to many happy customers who loved their new finds and also loved Frankie! We even had Rick from Frank Creates sign writing on Frankie at the market, which was an added element of interest too.

We had so much support from our wonderful friends and family and also our new friends that we met on Saturday. Thank you all so so much. Seeing all your familiar faces bright and early Saturday morning just melted my heart.

For all of our new friends you can also find us on Facebook.

Thank you and hope to see you at the next market!

K xxxx

Cheeky Reminder

Frank Creates Frankie

Its been a very exciting week here getting ready for the market tomorrow, though I think the most exciting chapter has been saved til today!

Rick at Frank Creates is signwriting on Frankie as we speak/type. I love Rick's philosphy when it comes to his craft. Couldn't believe how lucky I was to find a Traditional Sign writer, ( big thank you to Sally at Studio60) as his vision compliments my own with Frankie.

More to share soon!

EXCITING NEWS Travelling Wares Launch

Finally I can share with you my EXCITING NEWS! I recently bought a gorgeous vintage 1956 Franklin Caravan (affectionally known as Frankie) and have turned her into my 'Travelling Wares' pop up Caravan Shop! Yup, thats right, I have a caravan now, which is also a shop!

A love of early morning hunting and scouring at the trestle tables in Europe has inspired me to get amongst it myself and share my objets d'art and found delights with you from far and wide.

Come along this Saturday to the Jan Power's Powerhouse Markets at New Farm and say hi! On offer will be European porcelain, Polish enamel ware, silver cutlery, small furniture pieces and goodness knows what else!

Love Art

© Cressida Campbell

The more I look into our new piece of work (here) it reminds me of one of my favourite Australian artist Cressida Campbell. I adore Cressida Campbell's woodblocks and paintings. She really celebrates the small wonders of life and through her work she says lot about the way we live and interiors we inhabit. Love her work!

Take me to Calacatta

A couple of people have emailed asking what the surface is I shoot on. It is actually our brand new slab of Calacatta Oro Marble on our kitchen island. A traditional and also an exquisite work surface, this beautiful stone is only available from one quarry in the world, in the town of Carrara, Italy. To care for marble keep harsh chemicals and cleaning agents away, use warm water and a micro fibre cloth. It will reward you for many years. Also watch out for that tipsy friend pouring red wine near by, red wine and marble are not a good match.

'Before and After' kitchen shots to come soon!

xx

Milkie White

One of my all time favourite things to do is to go treasure hunting in thrift shops. I do approach it like a sport and I do tend to take it a tad seriously apparently; there are rules, strict colour codes, objects of desire, route maps and there are even 'lucky charm' favourite car parks in each of my regular op shops to wish me luck upon embarking.

Just yesterday I came across a little handful/armful of delights; white vintage glazed china. I just can't get enough of it (as you can see from the above image); I love the crazing and the delicate unique creaminess of each piece.

A friendly fellow treasure hunter approached me to compliment my selection, she told me that if I wanted to strengthen the pieces to soak them in hot milk for a few hours.

I love ol' world kitchen tales

vR x