ODE TO MR STELLA

MR STELL


I have had some comments from customers in our shop as to why I don't mention Mr Stell much
Well he wants it that way, but has given me permission to say a few words.

He is from New Zealand originally but has lived in Australia for more than half his life.
However he still retains those quirky Kiwi ways, that most NZ's have.
Far too numerous to list all here.

What is he like ? well...he is a mass of contradictions...or should I say mess.......either will do in his case
He is very artistic...a trained upholsterer by trade, he is more gifted than most in his field.
He has a way with colors and a good eye for the small details...those ones that make all the difference but you don't really know why.
He makes the best cup of coffee I have ever had in my life, and for our Cafe, this is quite an accomplishment, for someone who for years has been making the worst cup of instant coffee imaginable !!!
He is now known as a Barrista "extraordinaire"he has a real feel and taste for it.
He is a very kind and gentle man, but has his moments of anger, mostly due to injustice of some kind, he is fair but tough...his star sign is Libra

Mr Sell fishing in our town

He is very clean, but will be the first to admit to being as rough as guts !
No tool lasts long once he gets hold of it, his excuse is...they don't make things like they used to.

weeding the whole world !!

He is capable and fast and can turn his hand to most tasks.
You would not call him book learned or scholarly...... yet he is the smartest, most aware man I know.
He loves to read
He loves mushy romantic movies
He loves good music
He loves beautiful things, but would prefer to live without the clutter I create from my collecting.
He has a good business brain without realizing it.
He has always worked hard, but has always been too busy to make a fortune
He is hopeless.... a lost cause on the computer
His great love is our land and cabin in the isolated Aussie bush...this is not our home as such, but a Holiday retreat.

Our Cabin in the bush

He is so involved when in the bush...I have a big problem getting him to remember to dress
He is so bull at a gate, to get things done...he forgets to wear clothing
He says he is modest........think again Dear heart !!

Laughs*.... this cracks me up...typical Mr Stell

He will kill me but nevermind

After a hard days work

A bush bath

He has 2 children a boy and a girl and 3 Grandkids that he loves dearly
He loves a beer
He loves me
He loves his cat Hector

He is as strong as an ox
He is the best host at our Coffee Shop
People love him
He cooks well
He takes good care of me, and tolerates my eccentricities, and lack of good housekeeping

Our Cafe come Art and gifts shop











Mr Stell and my Brother designed the sofas, and Mr Stell upholstered them
They are admired daily

We sell Stuff !!

Another of his creations... customer at counter...not me

Quite cool our shop...if I don't say so myself
We make no money
We work hard
And it would not work without Mr Stell
I leave you with another two of Mr Stell's favorite photos....Meditation by the creek and a rainbow at end of day

Taken from a scan me meditating

The date is set wrongly on my camera pic is recent

FIVE THINGS I LOVE

I got to thinking... being that this is a blog about collecting...well mostly....whats the the things I love most.
I love lists of things.
But problem !!...there are so many that I think I will have to make, say a monthly post of 5 things at a time.
So here goes post 1


No1} My Cat "Hector" I love my cat he is my little big man, here he is getting ready for Christmas ...lucky it was my Dad's plate he was sitting on.....

No2} Books...I love reading, mostly obscure random autobiography's here is 3 I have been reading this month.

 

No3} Vintage Perfume...Of course I collect vintage perfume why? because I don't like the new synthetic perfumes much.... this is just a small selection of what I own...my favorite is "Coeur Joie" by Nina Ricci it is just sublime... very rare and very expensive, I bought some when I did have money.. it stopped being made in the 1960's although sometimes they bring out special editions.

No4} Australian Pottery...I have been collecting these Vases and pots since I was a teen, I just love the colors and dripping glazes...photo was taken in my Cafe where I use them as decoration not for sale...ever...painting at the back is another of my brother's the artist, it is for sale !

And more

No5} Antique Art Deco and Art Nouveau Rings....I own a hundred or more.. sets in different colors one for each finger, most likely one of the best collections I have ever seen  [she says modestly] this is just a few I could be bothered to find today, stunning I think..

OK now that's done...What are your first 5 favorite things ?

JEWELERY AND "THE" CAT

As I said I collect vintage jewelery and I have a hugh collection in my home, but I sell my excess at my Cafe/Shop this is part of it...... I have a lot !!! I would think I would be the biggest collector of Antique Vintage Jewellery in Australia.
The below photos are of a few shelves only I have hundreds if not a thousand pieces ranging in eras from 1880 to recent times a lot signed.
My own personal collection is more discerning and consists of mostly Art Nouveau, I can hardly ever find "matching" sets and besides I like to wear different styles and eras together it is more interesting and less contrived, so I make say earrings or a necklace that co ordinate with various sets or colours.
If I had time and did not have to work 7 days a week at the Coffee Shop and cook all our cakes I would make a lot of things as I also collect vintage glass beads and findings, it is my great love and passion and quite a few people love my creations ........I just hope the day will come...sooner rather than later.
Will post photos of my own stuff when I can be bothered getting the camera out,,,also some of my latest hand made necklace .....I am quite pleased with that, at the moment I am using preexisting pics far too hot here in Aussie to be bothered doing anything much can't wait for the cold to come.

Board of earrings [not a good pic sorry!]

Another great love in my life "Hector" the King cat he is suffering in this heat...if I had my way I would collect cats too !!