Tripette to Tasmania Part II - The Hotel. Shops and purchases!

So, better late than never. Sorry I have procrastinated about getting this post out; so many photographs to sort out!! Here is a little more about our stay in Hobart, Tasmania. As I mentioned before, the hotel we stayed in was The Henry Jones Art Hotel. It is Australia's first dedicated Art Hotel and the site on which it is located dates back to 1804. A former jam factory has been transformed into this hotel but it has been converted in such a way as to keep the original features of the building.

Henry Jones logo.

Reception above and below.

The hotel houses over 300 pieces of art work from Tasmanian artists - all presented like a gallery and all for sale. It means you can experience the art in a completely new and unique way. Obviously it also means that the 'exhibitions' are continually changing as pieces are sold.

These two above are going to a house in Surry Hills, Sydney we were told. They were sold a month or so back.

In contrast to all the modern art the actual building has been preserved as much as possible within the conversion. I loved seeing the original beams etc. Right up my street. as they say.

These two machines I think were the actual 'clocking on' machines from the factory floor.

Exposed brickwork and very Australian, - the good old tin roof!

The whole hotel is so different - it's an unexpected combination of the antique and the ultra modern in every room.

Our bedroom.

And the lovely bathroom.

One of the original stones of the building. These stones have a dark past - see the little marks on them? The buildings were in part constructed by convicts and each convict had their own pattern on 'their' stones so at the end of the day the foreman could see how many had been laid by each convict.

I have to say I have never enjoyed a hotel so much. Each Friday evening there is a completely free tour of the hotel which gives an insight as to how it was converted as well as about the art in the hotel and a little about Tasmania too. And you don't have to be staying at the hotel to go on the tours. Highly recommended.

Go to
http://www.thehenryjones.com/ for more information about the hotel if you'd like. It's fascinating.

Now for the shops.

Tasmania is full of craft and artists. This shop above caught my eye.

I bought these silver earrings above. A bit unique and they appealed greatly.


The next two shops we went to were recommended by Janelle McCulloch who has a wonderful blog Library of Design. If you have not yet visited the library I highly recommend it... Click HERE.

A fabulous garden shop in Hobart called Karen Wagner Garden and Design.

And then joy of joys we drove about 25 minutes from Hobart to this GORGEOUS place... Again recommended by Janelle.

The Drill Hall Emporium in New Norfolk, Tasmania.

Just feast your eyes on the next few photographs.

I was excited just to see the outside of the shop!

And when I got inside I didn't know where to look first - it was filled with gorgeousness of the kind I LOVE.

I was fairly controlled (!) and managed to constrain myself coming away with 3 purchases only....

A gorgeous thick linen French red and white table cloth, a French white china heart shaped cheese mould and 3 old terracotta flowerpots. Am going to plant these 3 up with little rosemary plants.

And I leave you with another look at the goodies.

For more information about this wonderful antique store (and they have a blog) the link is :

http://www.thedrillhall.com.au/

It was such a fabulous tripette to Tasmania... I want to return again, and soon!

Paris Pics Part II. And Purchases

At last I hear you say..... what on earth has she been doing ? - that Halloween post has been up way too long (or that was Mr SE told me in no uncertain terms last night when he rang from Australia!) So without further ado here are a selection of the photos from our very quick trip to Paris which now seems like AGES ago. My time in England too is drawing to a close far too quickly - I return back to Melbourne early next week and I am running round in circles trying to get things done. Also there is a certain birthday to celebrate at the end of this week - darling daughter's. (Very exciting)
Photo above - me deciding that I had to do like the French femmes and wear a (small) heel for one of our days out and about!

Mr SE in Place de la Concorde. Ritz Hotel just behind.

Hanging out around CHANEL - Rue Cambon.

Ici, je 'leche les vitrines'!

Above and below - pics snapped in Laduree.

Outside John Galliano's local. This is the bar where he made his infamous comments.... It was PACKED with people spilling out over the pavements each evening.

Gorgeous restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely dinner. Marais district.

Place des Vosges.

So lovely and sunny - we were lucky with the weather.

This is where they store all the leaves - no wonder it all looked so beautiful !


Whilst I was sitting in cafes and watching the world go by I made a few observations/notes regarding fashion and things I had seen on the street as follows :

• Lots of short jackets (especially leather), with skinny legged jeans/pants with boots





• Scarves, scarves, scarves - all tied with a twist or big chunky wool 'snoods'





• If not slim legs then wide tweedy type 70's pants (worn with a heel)





• Man-ish long jackets as coats, again in tweed





• A lot of tan coloured leather in both bags and boots





• Many chic women with GREY hair - either in geometric short cuts or longer more casual in style.





• Although in the main there were lots of neutrals the odd pop of colour in a coat or pants appeared quite a bit
  
  

See my two photos below captured surreptitiously from the cafe to illustrate my last point.!!

Bright red coat... and

working a coloured jean en francais.

Sorry this post is rather long... quickly now, onto purchases...

Went a bit mad in MONOPRIX of all places and bought a navy cashmere v neck and a very nice 'Margaret Howell-ish' fine striped shirt with teeny weeny buttons... All at fabulous prices of course.

And a huge bottle of this wonderful body lotion at a great price... Very pleased with my bargains.


Oh, and talking of buying things also succumbed to these leopard delights last week!

They definitely called my name and will be great back in Oz... (Summer is around the corner and will look good with well, err...most things I figured, especially tan chino type pants/trousers)

So there we are, a round up of the last of the Paris pics and a few little bits and bobs! Hope you enjoyed!