When we were in Albany (was it only a week ago? It feels like forever!) we popped into St Joseph's Catholic Church. Not to attend mass - just for a bit of a sticky. St Joseph's was built in 1877 - this was a nice little coincidence because the last time I visited St Joseph's was in 1977 during the Saint Pius X Year 7 camp (now that was a long time ago!)
The thing that struck me most about St Joseph's, apart from its beautiful vaulted hull-like ceiling, were the red-hot pokers (I love them and have them in my garden) arranged so beautifully in front of the statues of Mary, Joseph and co!

Apologies to Joseph for chopping off his head. I'd offer up a Hail Mary, but somehow that doesn't seem quite right...poor old Joseph, he always gets a raw deal!

I love the symmetry of those candlesticks, et al. 

Here's that ceiling I mentioned...you can just make out Anthony pondering his days in the Melbourne Grammar School choir. Not.

I like the juxtaposition here. Pope someone-or-other and leopard print cushion. Nice.

The doors to the confessional remind me of your front door Dana ;)

Where I used to spend all my pocket money! Remember I'm the kid who wanted to be a Nun when I grew up!

I think this is a good place to end, don't you :)

Thanks for reading x

My collection of Religionalia seems to be growing lately... I'm not sure why I like it so much because I'm not very religious (despite attending Catholic schools for almost twelve years!) Perhaps its kitschiness appeals to me, that and the feelings of nostalgia they seem to evoke when I look at them...
I've scattered examples throughout my blog but today I thought I'd show you some more of them. I think you either like this stuff or hate it (like my husband!) Have a look and see what you think...

 I bought these from a local swap meet but I think they originally come from an old Sunday School. My plan was to hang one above each of my daughters beds but they refused to let me, so now they sit covered in dust in our shed! A great shame I think.

Here are a few pictures that I haven't shown you yet...I seem to have lots of these and I remember having similar ones in my bedroom when I was a child.

Look at Mary's beautifully serene face.

 Apologies for the glare - they are all covered in some kind of plastic which doesn't photograph too well (or at least not with my camera!)

These next two are my pride and joy...they are kitschy with a capital K and extremely OTT! I love them and even my husband thinks these are o.k. because they are just so wrong they are almost right!

And look at the back...

 This hung above Dora and Pasquale's bed for sixty four years. Real treasure. It also says Ricordo di Egiolio -please tell me if you know what it means.

This is from Dora and Pasquale's home too

Another beautiful Mary AND she lights up...

See.

I nearly bought some more of these on the weekend...Oh how I wish I had...

All of this religion has reminded me of when I was seven. My brother and sisters and I went to a fancy dress party... my brother went dressed-up as a policeman, one sister a ballerina, the other a Hawaiian girl and I went as the SINGING NUN! What was I thinking? Apparently it was all MY idea too, but I'm not sure if I believe my Mum about that! The Flying Nun would have been way cooler! I'm going to see if I can find a pic to show you. Hilarious!

Well that's enough religion for one day. God bless and here's the tea towel

Greetings from Darwin.

Isn't it wonderful! They must have a lot of b.b.q's there!



Hooray! Finally my Tretchikoff has a home! Have a look, doesn't she look lovely!

Chinese Girl Yellow Jacket. Tretchikoff. 1950.

 I received her for my birthday four years ago and she hasn't had a proper home till now. It's not a great pic because the sun really streams through that window but I am thrilled with how wonderful she looks against the Harlequin wallpaper. What do you think?

While I am at it here's another view of our t.v. room... 

A closer look at the print above the buffet

Martiques.

This print hung on the wall in my husband's Grandparents home for as long as he can remember. When Lucy Violet (his Nan) died (she was ninety eight!) it came to us.

We know it's a bit like the Tretchikoff and probably hung in hundreds of lounge rooms around the world but we can't read the artist's name and would love to know who he was. Please drop me a line if you can help.

Our t.v. room was like the "black hole of Calcutta" when we bought this house...rising damp, a huge hole in the floor where previous owners had ripped out the fireplace, it really was horrible! It's a big achievement for us to see it like this, nearly finished-only the curtains to go now (I've chosen the fabric-just need to get them made up)

Before I show you the rest of my weekend treasures I'm going to make you hugely jealous! I just can't resist telling you that I found the cow-hide you see in the pics on THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!  Can you believe that someone would put that out on the verge for council clean-up? You should have seen me slam on the brakes when I drove past and saw it sitting there!!!

The buffet is also a freebie - my husband came home one night with it tied to the roof of our car! I am always amazed at the things people throw out, aren't you?

Here are the other things I found on the weekend...

Paint by Numbers. I would never have the patience for this!

Another (very scary) religious picture...Hansel and Gretel meet??? This would've given me nightmares as a child. But then thankfully I found this and I felt better...

1970's Prayer book.

  

We also found this sketch in an op-shop, my husband really liked it and it was only two dollars



 I can't read the artist's name, but on the back it says framed in Tokoroa which is in central New Zealand on the North Island (not far from Rotarua) if anyone from N.Z. can explain its significance I would appreciate it.

Now something sweet and pretty...

And a pretty tea towel to end too

Pink, grey and yellow, how lovely. Look at that vase and those flowers! Gorgeous!  

It has been op-shop heaven this week for a fashionista like me! (I am definetely NOT one of those-I don't even know how to spell the word! but I do like vintagey clothes though and so do my daughters) What I'm trying to say is that I found some really lovely clothes at op-shops this week. Particularly at Good Sammies who had one of their 50% off sales. So so cheap! One of my best finds was a black leather pencil skirt made in Buenos Aires,in beautiful condition for two dollars fifty! I was a very happy girl when I found that!

Just a few treasures this week...

Not old just used but I still love it. Doesn't it look pretty with my old cushions (found at a school fete years ago) And have a look at it's underside...

Lovely

fifty cents

twelve little doilies in a little straw box.

snowflakes at Christmas or  pretty bunting?

two dollars

someone's needlepoint project

one dollar 

two old unused notebooks, ex education department I think

for my scribbles

two dollars



I also found three tea towels which I'll show you sooner or later! 

Yesterday my daughter and I went to visit my Mum who lives in one of the more Northern suburbs of Perth. The op-shops in the area are ALWAYS worth checking out,cheap and full of treasure! They rarely disappoint and yesterday was no exception. This is what we found (and for very little cash)...

Trio of vases. Which one do you think cost twenty cents? 

Pretty rosy tea towel.

Love this plate and how it looks on both backgrounds.

Lucky for me Vinnies were having a clean-out. I love these-

my husband says they're creepy but in a cool way...

Sweet pillowcase.

Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes. Never worn. Two dollars fifty! My daughter considers these the find of the day. Unfortunately too small for her but they fit her little sister perfectly.

Made in Italy.

More German Pottery.

We also came home with a pretty German sationary set-the envelopes are lined with the loveliest green tissue paper,a Betsy Clark candle-stick and two bags of clothes- I may show you these another time...

Here (as promised) are photos of some of the treasures I bought yesterday

And here are some snaps of treasure I found at the Salvo's in Midland on Friday.

Don't you love the Humphrey B Bear cushion(two dollars fifty!) My sister had one when she was little and I couldn't resist! He looks especially cute sitting next to my Queensland cushion from Penelope Durston and my lovely,lovely cocky cushion from Bonnie and Neil (bought from the equally lovely Storia in Guildford)

Lastly one more snap of a few of my concrete pots just because I love them so much!