Finders Keepers
It's hard to believe (and I have no explanation for it), but this was the first time I had ever been to the Finders Keepers Melbourne Market. I know, crazy right? It's like a market made for someone like me to wander through for hours...soaking up the creativity of all these stall holders & their pretty things. They started in 2008 in Sydney, and I think I always just assumed it was a Sydney/Brisbane event...but the Melbourne one has been going since 2010...twice a year...and I am now regretting not attending sooner! We went to Melbourne for my sister's birthday weekend and so I decided the Friday night version of the market would probably be the least busy (ha!) and I could say to her "here's the Royal Exhibition Building choc full of goodies...choose a pressie and I'll buy it for you"...although it's hard not to want to buy almost everything as a pressie for yourself.
Actually, this much gorgeous stuff in one place is really quite overwhelming. You might see something you love at one stall, but there are 50+ more just waiting to be explored...do you buy now or keep browsing and return later? In my experience...later your feet will be tired and you'll have forgotten where to find that first stall...maybe buying early on is a good plan. But, it's a good kind of overwhelming. The thing I love about markets like these is that the styling/props they use in their displays are just as interesting as the products themselves. Vintage suitcases, book sculptures, the Frankie Mag caravan....just a whole lot of eye candy.
I bought two birthday presents and one Christmas present...I'm trying to pretend to be organised in the hope that the pattern will continue. I found Paper Boat Press (congrats on the Brisbane store guys!) and stood mesmerised by all their gorgeous stuff right there in person...but was too shy to say hello! I had a chat to the Etsy chick...climbed into the Frankie caravan...tested out the panorama function on my iPhone...and had fun shopping with my sister. I also tried out a new app on my iPhone...8mm (edited in iMovie)...I wanted to have a go at making my own little vintage looking hand held movie of the trip. So, here it is...hope you like it. Soundtrack is Lisa Mitchell's Bless This Mess.