The Hottie Challenge..

Well The Essess haven't been blogging much of late! But what better way of getting back into the groove than for a worthwhile cause close to our heart..?

My big sister Curlypops is entering a group entry into the Hottie Challenge.

The Hottie Challenge is organised by Open Drawer-Art Textiles and Learning Centre..

They are raising money for The Margaret Pratt Foundation......

So you've probably never heard of The Margaret Pratt Foundation, but I certainly have.From their website:
The Margaret Pratt Foundation Heart Lung Transplant Trust is a registered charity whose aim is to encourage, develop and maintain Australia’s world class expertise in the field of organ transplantation by supporting research that addresses the problems faced by children and adults after heart and lung transplant.
The aim of the research must be to improve the outcomes for heart and lung transplant recipients.
The Margaret Pratt Foundation has donated $700,000 to date in 2011 to promote research into the causes and prevention of chronic lung rejection. The foundation donates to provide funds for the researchers working at the Alfred Hospital, right here in Melbourne.

Pop on over to Curlypops to sign up.............

Groovy 70's Baby........!!!

Me way back in 1980? I was the angel in the kinder xmas show...

I'm joining in with my Big Sister's Meme......

Groovy 70's photo's of myself and some of the family.....

Some of my photo's are abit wonky due to the Scanner? Or maybe it's me? Any hoo....... I believe this would be 1979/1980, I am wearing this groovy number! With my favourite 'Happy Shoes', and the knee high socks.. Wish I could remember the picture on the side of my socks...

I picked this photo of My Paternal Grandparents, Parents and sisters... I obviously liked wearing the yellow dress!! Dad has the long sideburns and groovy shirt! And young Curlypops on the right! I think mum was pregnant at this stage with my soon to be little brother who arrived in 1980....

This is a beauty!! I'm the baby, not sure what's happening with mums hair? My older sister on the left has her "school case", used long before backpacks were the norm...

But Curlypops on the right has a fabulous outfit on, with the sandals flared pants and jumper...

I really like this one, Curlypops on the left, me in the middle and my older sister on the right.. I am guessing 1976/1977... My sisters look adorable in their groovy little dresses....

If you would like to join in or see who else is playing along? Pop over here!

Crafty Artwork.....

I have decided that the plain office wall needed some colourful wall art......

I found some photo frames from the Op Shop. Found some paint in Mr S's shed and gave the frames a new lick of paint...

I got these fantastic greeting cards from Curlypops! They are original illustrations printed onto cards.........

These are two designs of the flaming Dodo's and my favourite Retro Owl......

Need some greeting cards then head over here... Curlypops..

Afternoon tea and Woollen Blankies...

Today was more rain... We had the woodfire burning and made some yummy Buttercake for afternoon tea.......... Luckily I took a photo before we ate it all!

Last week we went for a walk down the main street of Clunes as the local Market was on...
There is an elderly lady who sells her craft.....


I got myself this beautiful blanket at a very cheap price! I love it......

We headed back home and then I thought I had better go back and get Curlypops a little blankie also! I found this Brown and Pink blanket for my big sis.. I shall get it to her soon...

Have a great weekend......

The Grand Opening of my Stall@The Mill Market Ballarat Wool Shed

The Essess has a new stall at the Mill MArket located at the Ballarat Wool Shed, Western Hwy, Ballarat, 3550.
The Market is open 10am to 6pm 7 days a week, and they also have a cafe open from 11am...

I will be stocking some Curlypops Handmade Bags and Brooches also...

Retro Sunbeam Hairdryer.......

Some Curlypops handmade bags....

Retro 1970's Eskies......

Very Collectable Corningware Pots in lots of different sizes...

Retro 1970s Bar.........

Lots of Vintage Books including: Childrens Books, Cooking Books...

Collectable tins, teapots, glassware, tupperware just to name a few...

All of these items are currently available at Stall 49........

Come in for a browse and sit by the open fires with a coffee.....

Also check out www.themillmarketsballarat.blogspot.com/

Spare Room Curtains.....

I finally whipped up some curtains for the Spare Room! When we bought the house it had White Lacey Curtains.
I painted the room a retro yellow colour.......
The Curtains have a pretty Flower pattern but they are a really Green Colour! Unfortunately My camera and the 1960's Lamp Shade Combination does not help with taking photo's......

It looks much better in person. And has brightened the very dark room......

Next project will be making sheers for the kitchen! I need to find some material that will hide the blinds and blend in with the red and orange theme...

The kitchen also had White lace curtains when we moved in. I took them down whilst I was painting and the cats managed to rip them to shreds!!!

I think I will wait for Curlypops to be released from the Asylum and take her on a shopping trip to Spotlight to find something appropriate!

buying back.......

Scheurich Vintage West German Pottery Vase





This little vase was given away from my sister to my mum........

I went to Beeac to visit my mum and whilst browsing the second hand store I spotted this vase..

Mum saw it in my hands and informed me that she gave it to the store to sell as she didn't want it and because the store owners had helped her whilst she had been renovating.....

I quickly informed her that the $4.00 I was about to pay to buy it back was a good investment as it is worth 10 times that?! This pottery is becoming very collectible and hence worth abit of money!

It is now safely stored in my kitchen cabinet..........

Lounge Room Make Over/Retro Style.................

You would have read from my last post that I had a special trip to make saturday morning. Mr S and myself took the van to a Monster Garage Sale......We bought quite a few items but I have been looking for a couch/fold out bed similar to one I owned in my early twenties... I found this couch at the Garage Sale for $10.00.................................................

Close up picture of the white vinyl pattern...................................

MAKE OVER TIME.............

My sister Curlypops has been advising me for quite a while to change our front room. When we first bought this house this room was our lounge room but now we use the extension at the back of the house as the loungeroom......

We set up the front room as a sitting room with an extra tv......

But guess what? We never use this room....

Cool coloured blue walls, with a fireplace and mantle that I love. Also love the old mirror that came with the house.......

So today I decided my new kittehs(retro cats) needed a new home...........

I bought this pair at The MAryborough Railway Station Antique Fair for $15 a few months ago!

I love the orange colour as it particularly suits my house.......

$10 Sofa/couch in the corner for any visitors, just need an orange throw rug/quilt to pop over the couch to break up the colour of the couch to the wall....

Moved our dining setting (Mr Esssess great grandfathers originally, when he passed we inherited it) so apart from looking great it has sentimental value for us!

So now the front room has become the dining room, and a place to show my Fire King collectibles in cabinets.....

I think it looks alot better.....

Next we may remove the carpet and stain and varnish the Hardwood floors, but that may happen after winter.

The carpet helps keep the house warm!

Thanks to Curlypops for her advise!

Next may be the kitchen, I am on the look out for a work bench to use in the middle of the room so I can surround it with my collection of retro stools.................................

The Essess Op Shopping Adventures across country Victoria..

Mr S and myself went on a little road trip, first stop Beaufort, second stop Ararat and last stop Stawell............................ First my favourite Op Shop purchase for the day was this great Orange Cake Platter with Plastic Lid that was in the Bargain Bin for .50c................

Another purchase was $2! This little duck will be going to live with my mum, perfect for her collecting fresh eggs from her chickens.............................

Some Vintage Table Cloths that will be rehomed to Curlypops, I am sure they will make great panels for handbags or something crafty...

We took the Transit VAn luckily because I found a great cabinet to store some of my collectibles.

Mr S purchased some magazines and waited in the van while I shopped, perfect way to get your husbands to join you shopping..

We drove past the Old J Ward Jail for the criminally insane! Entry was $14 for adults, so next time we will make time for a tour. The old Bluestone building was amazing...

The front of J Ward.........

I am guessing the van entry to J Ward to deliver inmates....

Whilst in Beaufort I came across this shop "Beaufort Keepsakes".

Inside was craft supplies and lots of handmade items, quilts, handpainted plates etc..

Also another craft shop in town but ran out of time to check it all out!

Its a nice drive from Clunes along the Western Highway towards the Grampians and well worth a day trip!

Beaufort has one Op Shop,m Ararat has 5 Oppys and Stawell had three that I found although the St Patricks recycle shop in Stawell closed at 2pm so we missed it!

Thanks for a lovely day out Mr S...................

P.S. I am very excited about our trip tomorrow morning, can't tell you too much but I have high hopes of finding some bargains.... Stay Tuned.................

Oh the Memories

Oh the Memories....................7th April 2006..

It is The Essess 4 year Wedding Anniversary today 7th April.......
This is one of my favourite photos because I was happy and have the photo to prove it!

We met through Curlypops, he moved in within 2 weeks, engaged in 4weeks and married a year later! When you find someone special you don't mess around and you snap them up!

I was extremely worried telling my family that after 4 weeks we were engaged.. I remember thinking they will be saying well she is the crazy one in the family and she has totally lost her mind!!

After spending my twenties convincing myself I never wanted to get married and that I would be happpily single my entire life I met Mr S.....

Curlypops was talking about fate on her blog today and this was fate! I remember Cam laughed and said we should meet because we were the only two people she knew who liked bbq sauce on pizza! Yes this sounds crazy but this is how it happened.....

Curlypops was a big part of the organistaion of our small immediate family only wedding in an old Mariners Chapel in Williamstown....

Here we are four years later and there has never been a dull moment! But I think we have finally found our place in the world where we will remain happy to live in the goldfields area..

The bride (me) wore black? I kept my maiden name and had a small ceremony to make a committment to each other!

Keeping my maiden name was keeping me? Thats who I am and I didn't see why I had to change my name or identity? I am happy with the decision.........

I was happy with our plans although I do wish I was one of those thin brides, but I am me and thats the way it goes..

Happy Anniversary Mr S and heres to many more together!............................................

A Little Birdie..(miss CUrly Pops).....

A Little Birdie named Curly Pops sent out a little mission for me to recieve a lot of Happy Birthday wishes yesterday!! My big sister can be a little sneaky and only when I read Curlypops Blog that I realised what she was up to?!

I am sure everyone saw those very attractive photos of me in my special Chefs Hat?! The nephews had a good laugh at me, and it fitted my big head really well!

Not only did Curlypops make me a Chefs Hat she also gave me this bag that I have had my eye on for quite a while! Anyone who knows me knows I love purple and I love this purple fabric, although my camera does not do it justice it is DIVINE!!! Thanks big sis!!

After I read all of my wonderful birthday wishes I realised I have not blogged for a very long time, so here is an update photo of my cabinet from my last post.. Retro Canisters, Corningware Pots and lots of cool stuff I love!

RAMBLING AHEAD!!

I would really like to say thanks to Cam for my suprise from blog land and every single blogger who sent me good wishes, just goes to show you never know how you may affect someones day with a good wish or a good deed?

I had a wonderful morning, slept in, Mr S made me coffee in bed then back to sleep with my three dogs on their beds inside...

Mr S bought me a beautiful set of White gold and diamond earrings that match my wedding rings. Firstly great present and secondly he managed to keep a secret...

Birthdays are a funny thing, you get excited about little cards and gifts and the you realise you are 34 and haven't quite done everything that you may have thought you would by this age...

We had a car accident 4 weeks ago and since then I have thought about the what ifs??

Did I do what I love! Who would look after our dogs etc..

What I love about crafty bloggers is that these people do what they love, they may never get rich from selling handmade but they are following their crafty hearts and doing what makes them happy!

After the initial excitement of my bday I was a little sad thinking about a few things I should be changing in my life. When I opened up my blog and saw so many wishes from people I may or may not know it warmed my heart and I may never meet you but I am ever grateful for well wishes....

So I am really going to organise myself this year:

Should anything happen, then Sophie my Silky Terrier is going to live with Curlypops!

Shelby our black Labrador and Socket my Chihuahua cross goes to my inlaws..

We never think about these things but now I have written it I feel better knowing there is aplan should anything ever happen......Whoa thats hard to write..

I work in a job I don't really like in the same industry since I was 15 years old. Having Curlypops find her love for craft over the past few years I always thought what is my passion? Will I ever work it out??

I enjoy some craft and sewing etc but really my passion is Op Shops and collecting retro items for my house!

So here it goes, my back should be better soon from the Car accident and I have been talking about holding a stall at the Mill Market for quite while. But I think its time, I need to just do it!

So over the next few weeks, back to blogging and reading blogs, organise my stall of collectibles, get a tattoo(I want to get THE ESSESS tattooed somewhere?)

And time to put my self first, do what I want to do! I am sure other people get the pressure of looking after family and spending time with them when it doesnt suit you and keeping the peace etc..

My family is fine but certain inlaws have been pushing the boundaries! Mr S and myself will be saying NO for now on and living and doing what we want.....

This may seem like rambling and I apologise but I feel much better writing this down and relieving myself from the pressure!

Thanks for my birthday wishes they really did arrive when I needed it most! And stay tuned, someone is celebrating a birthday very soon!! I have a couple of weeks to think of a plan for Miss Curlypops! Very lucky to have a good sister and great people in the land of Bloggers...........

More Op Shop purchases...

Last week Curlypops and I were galavanting around the countryside, visiting Op Shops when I found this Retro Kitchen Cabinet. I paid the nana at the counter and then Mr S and I headed back a few days later to pick it up with the trailer.

I love the orange laminate, the white pressed plasticy back...

The drawers are still in the van so I couldn't get a picture of them...

This was to be sold on but I have fallen in love with it so it stays and another cabinet I have in the lounge room will be sold instead..

I also find The Womens Weekly Cookbooks at the Oppy, this one set me back $1.00 at an Op Shop in Daylesford.....

I confess! I was at the Op shops again today....

Ihave already spent my days off work this week at Op Shops with my big sister Curlypops, but considering my favourite Oppy was closed early in the week, I though it best to drop by today after work...
I found this sheet of Calico I believe with these great prints. This is heading to the House of Pops, I am sure she will find a way to use it!

The great thing about having a sister who hits the Op shops is that she finds treasures for me and I for her!

Today I also found a local recipe book......

But my favourite find is this Vintage Mirror! The lovely green colour with the metal inlay. It says Made in England...

I just need to find somewhere to hang it so I can admire it! Head on over to Curlypops to check out another of our Op shop trips....