What's on: Golden West Collectors Fair (July 25 and 26, 2015)

Gorgeous finds will be up for grabs at this month's Golden West Collectors Fair.

Beautiful coloured glass.

Ever wondered how much that Royal Doulton piece might be worth nowadays? If you're unsure whether to keep or sell your collectables, you can have them valued in Perth for free next weekend!

Across July 25 and 26, all roads will once again lead to South Perth Community Centre for the acclaimed Golden West Collectors Fair.

The fundraising event, run up to three times a year by Retina Australia WA (RAWA), is part of the Seeking Treasure Series and is set to feature handmade crafts, antiques and collectables and a vintage market.

RAWA will run a 'valuation trail' across the entire weekend, inviting treasure hunters to bring along their coins, carnival glassware, antique metal, Royal Doulton, Wembley Ware and more for a free valuation.

The local charity is committed to raising funds for research that will enable treatment, prevention and cures of Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRD).

RAWA fundraising and events manager Renae Loftus said when someone is diagnosed with an IRD, there is little doctors can do. "The newly diagnosed can expect a progressive, relentless loss of sight, and ultimately, irreversible blindness," she said. "It can take years or decades, but it will happen."

Ms Loftus said RAWA's goal was a simple one - to cure Inherited Retinal Disease. "We know this is a big goal," she said. "But we also know that we can get there. Heart transplants, a cure for smallpox and immunisation against cervical cancer were all difficult to picture once."

Doors open at 9.30am sharp on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26. Entry costs $6, children under 16 go free. Free parking is available onsite. The South Perth Community Centre is on the corner of Sandgate Street and South Terrace in South Perth. 

For further information, check out their website or call 9388 1488.

Photos have been used with permission of RAWA.

Have an event coming up? Email centsofdiscovery@gmail.com 

Vintage finds like these will be on sale at the Golden West Collectors Fair across July 25 and 26.

OOTD: Homestead ruins

The weather and light can be unkind at times in the Australian winter, but we're pretty fortunate in Perth to be graced with cool, bright days most of the season. Style-wise, I find myself drawn towards something emanating warmth. Mustard yellow has endless possibilities and is a beautiful colour for the autumn / winter months. But the colour often gets a bad rap because not many people know how to wear it. I love yellow, but find my fair complexion is much better suited to warmer or burnt colours like mustard. With that in mind, I love this top, it's bright and warm and the texture is delightful! Good job, mustard blouse. I will appreciate you, even if no one else does. Plus you were a steal at only $1.50 from Vinnies! It was nice to team it with the thick Sportsgirl skirt (Salvos - $2), tights and faux-leather Rubi Shoes boots (Salvos $3.25). 

What about you, lovely readers? Are you pro or anti-mustard?

A little history for you: Perry's Shed ("linhay") was built before the death of George Shenton Snr in 1867. The linhay at Perry's Paddock is now referred as Perry's Cottage and Stables and was listed on the State Register of Heritage Places in 2000. Though the linhay is now in ruins, it's a beautiful example of the vernacular Georgian architecture of England, adapted to local conditions and built with local limestone. Perry's Paddock was named for John (Jack) Perry, who bred racehorses and held race meets on his property at the site. The paddock is part of the Yellagonga Regional Park, with a number of pretty walking and cycling paths open year round to visitors. Nice spot to take a few photos!

Photos © Reg Vardy

The look: 
Suzanne Grae mustard blouse - $1.50 (Vinnies)
Sportsgirl grey/brown skirt - $2 (Salvos)
Tights - my own
Tree of life necklace - my own
Rubi Shoes brown boots - $3.25 (Salvos)
Vintage-look ring - $1.50 (Salvos)
Brown shoulder bag - $3.25 (Vinnies)
Bird earrings - $2.25 (Salvos)
Total damage: $13.75

How to: Freshen your thrifted bags and purses

A leather handbag could cost $100 or more in the store, but find that same gem at a thrift store and the price is likely to be less than $10. Such is the beauty of shopping secondhand! This is one of the best ways to find high-end labels for less than clearance prices at a typical retail shop. Don't miss out on taking home a great bargain because of the discomfort of buying a product that has been used by someone else. With a little tender loving care, it's easy to make bags feel (and smell) like new again.

Here's one I worked on this week...

I picked this bag up at Vinnies this month for just $4! I was taken by the old upholstered style. The bag was in great condition when I found it but needed freshening up.

Meet Mickey, our family cat. He honed in on the possibility of something soft and went for it!

Cats... Definitely time to throw this one in the wash! (The bag :p) 

I immersed the bag in a bucket full of warm water and half a lid of eucalyptus wool mix to give it a proper clean. After a few minutes soaking I rinsed the bag out in clean, warm water before hanging it on the line. Best to leave it out to dry for a few days if the weather is as damp / cold on your end it is here in wintery Perth!

Depending on the material, cleaning can be quite a process, but I think it's worth it - especially if you've found a nice vintage purse. When it comes to hand-washing, use your discretion and always check the labels on the bag for tips before you get too water-happy with a bag that might not take it!

Ditch the dirt Even the best bag owners will find tiny particles of dirt, dust and paper accumulate in their bag. Once these are donated to a thrift store, more dust is likely to accumulate while your bag waits for you to take it home. So this is an important step. Use the wand attachment on your vacuum to suck out any crumbs, lint, etc. It may be easier to turn the bag inside out, or turn it upside down and shake it to get rid of all the residual dirt. 

General cleaning for most bags Use a damp (not wet) cloth moistened with soapy water. Wipe lightly over the whole bag, inside and out. If the fabric gives you cause to worry about water damage, skip this step. A good way to make sure you've caught all the little bits of dirt is to take a damp Q-tip and reach into the corners of the bag. You'll be surprised what you find! Use baby wipes to clean up those little marks that have been left on the lining of the bag. 

Cleaning leather bags If you want to clean a leather product, invest in a proper leather cleaning product to shine up the exterior. Chances are, vintage leather bags have been stored in attics and cupboards and likely need a good clean and condition. For your leather and leather-alikes, use the leather cleaner and follow up with a conditioner, if you can find one. The important thing is to keep the bag's leather soft and avoid losing the quality due to drying and cracking. Use a fresh cloth until there's no more dirt coming off. And remember: Follow the directions on the label - you will be surprised just how beautiful your bag will look after some love.

Cleaning patent bags You can use Windex on patent bags, but always do a test spot first. Whoa, hold up. Don't spray Windex directly onto your bag either. Best way to do it is spray onto a cleaning cloth first and then wipe lightly. If the bag is slightly soiled, use something like a Magic Eraser (and again, test it on the bottom of the bag). Note: Magic Erasers can sometimes dull patent leather bags if they're used too vigorously. If you want to add shine to your patent bag, use a steam iron. Hold the iron about two inches (roughly five centimetres) from your bag and apply a few bursts of steam onto your purse. Take a soft cloth afterwards and buff the surface. The steam should heat the patent and smooth the finish - and voila! Shiny! 

Be careful If you try any of these tips, I would highly recommend you testing a small (hidden) spot to make sure it won't ruin the material. Again, not all fabrics are the same so use your best judgment before hand washing.

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Above all, use your bags and enjoy them!

Lauren xoxo

What's on: Scroungers Day Garage Sale (Sunday, July 19, 2015)

If you consider yourself a bit of a Womble, then the Scroungers Day Garage Sale could prick up your ears and make your pointy nose twitch. These events take place in Perth only three times a year, meaning there'll be plenty on offer on the day. There are hundreds of bargains to be had for the devoted scrounger, with quality furniture, bric-a-brac, vintage clothing, white goods and household items touted to feature at this year's event. 

The Scroungers Day bric-a-brac paradise is waiting for you

Even Imelda Marcos might face some tough competition with this shoe collection

Both photos have been used with permission of the Spine and Limb Foundation Inc.

Even better, it's all for a good cause. All money on the day will head to the registered charity, the Spine & Limb Foundation, of which ParaQuad Industries is a division. The goods you see displayed on Sunday, July 19 have been received through the network of charity bins throughout the Perth Metropolitan area or through their on-site donation point. 

While you're there, Book Bazaar will be open, with a large number of quality used books. Opportunity Knocks, the retro and pre-loved clothing store will also be open for the discerning scrounger to hunt out hidden gems.

If you'd like to volunteer, you're welcome to help set up or run a stall. Give them a call on (08) 9381 0195 for more information.

How to get there? When you arrive at 10 Selby Street, turn onto Ellis Griffiths Avenue. The ParaQuad building is about 300 metres along.

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Event notices are something I'd like to look at doing more of in the future.

Have an event coming up? Let me know. Email centsofdiscovery@gmail.com and we'll take it from there.