Day 27, Buy Nothing New Month.
Hello. Last week I journeyed up to the Byron Bay hinterland to photograph designer and artisan Mary Wade in her home studio and I've been looking forward to sharing this one with you. For the vintage lovers among us, prepare yourself for a visual feast because here is one lady who knows how to take thrifting to a
whole new level.Not only is Mary's home filled with vintage treasures she has collected over decades; the house itself is a sweet old Queenslander that Mary transported onto some land and has lovingly restored. Yes, a recycled home! Why buy new when you can recycle, right? After all, it
is Buy Nothing New Month.
From her home studio, Mary, who used to work in the costume department at the ABC and studied textile design at RMIT, designs and sews children's clothes and crafts her adorable range of soft toys under the Eclectic Critters label.
 |
| Yes, another compost loo, folks! Just like yesterday's guest, Cath from Chunky Chooky |
"Back in 2002 I purchased a parcel of land, purely for the spectacular view," Mary said.
"I just couldn't find a house on land in my price bracket that appealed... so I chose a Queenslander to re-site as a cheaper option. An added bonus is that I
so love timber homes.
"It felt great choosing a house, a bit like going to the car yard, only I was shopping for a recycled, pre-loved home."The toilet and laundry in the original house were attached at the back, but were left behind as they most likely contained asbestos and Mary chose instead to build a compost loo. "I call it the loo with a view," she says. "Why on earth pay for a portaloo, which is a council requirement (when building), when you can put the money towards a no flush-compost loo and save on water?"
Inside, Mary's home is a vintage treasure-trove.
"I have been buying vintage stuff, for over 30 years," she says. "These days I pare back because you can only retain so much, but I do love the fact that someone has had an item before me, and someone else in the future will enjoy it one day, as I have."
 |
| Art-deco ceramics |
 |
| A vintage railway station clock and "nicotine-yellow" kitchen hutch take pride of place in the dining room. |
Mary's favourite vintage piece is her kitchen hutch which she found at a garage sale.
"My partner fondly refers to the colour of the kitchen hutch as nicotine-yellow," she says
"I spoke with the original owner who informed me that her father built the hutch back in the '30's when everything was yellow and green.
"I still adore it as much as day the I bought it. I love the history and the deco timber detailing and leadlight design."
"I have been told my taste is eclectic, hence my brand name; Eclectic Critters. I love 50's atomic, art deco, architecture and design in general from these periods. I have an abundance of porcelain deco china and various other colourful pieces. And especially textile and fashion dating from 30's-late 50's.
"Back in the 1980's I had a market stall at Paddington markets and I would hand-print lengths of fabric in retro influence prints and reproduce dresses using original 50's dress patterns. My toys have that old world charm about them, all very hands on. They are a keepsake that appeal to both adults and kiddies.
 |
| Detail from Mary's studio |
 |
| Detail from Mary's daughters' room |
 |
| The lampshade in the living room was woven by Mary. |
 |
| Mary's home has unexpected corners of creativity like this sand-blasted window and glass collection. |
"I love playing with colour and print. I am not trained in interior design, but I guess the process for me is planning the layout around the size and shape of a room; look at the natural lighting of each room, and experiment with colour shape and size, whether it be an object you are placing on the wall or picking up colour in, say, the curtains and carrying that theme on in subtle ways.
"The main objective is that you enjoy your space."
Thank you so much Mary ~ I certainly enjoyed photographing your home and studio.
Readers can see more of Mary's Eclectic Critters
here, and if you are visiting Brisbane next month you will find Mary's toys at
Blue Caravan's pop-up store at
Finders Keepers market.
x
Megan
6 comments:
Did you write the story? I must go dig it out now!
Lovely pics...gosh i would love that strawberry shortcake doll!
Jode x
Glad you saw The Northern Star story on Mary; her toys are brilliant.
I played photographer this time, not wordsmith. Good to mix it up a bit.
~Megan
p.s Don't think shortcake's for sale - I imagine Mary's girls would be most unimpressed!